Jesus Our Standard
In the sixth century, most of the world lacked a reliable standard of measurement. Townships in Germany, for example, were advised to take the average length of the left foot of sixteen men to determine a “foot.”
The thirty-six inch “yard” comes down to us from King Henry I of England. The king established a yard to be the length from the tip of his nose to the end of his right arm, and decreed it would be the universal standard by which everything else in the kingdom would be measured.
This decree of standardization effectually transformed every act of measurement in the kingdom into an acknowledgment of his reign.
We acknowledge the reign of Jesus as King every time we allow him to be the standard by which we measure what is good and right and true.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2, ESV).
"Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge" (Romans 3:4, NIV).
A Gentler Kinder Easter
The Hill reports PETA President, Ingrid Newkirk, in a letter to the White House, requests they make some significant changes to their annual Easter Egg Roll, scheduled for April 1, 2024, on the White House lawn.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is calling on the White House to roll a different way this spring — swapping chicken eggs for potatoes at the annual Easter Egg Roll. ...
“Potatoes are the most popular vegetable in the country and can be safely dyed, allowing for spudtacular traditional activities, such as rolling them, seeking for them, and decorating them. You could even hold potato sack races and games of hot potato!” the letter to the first lady said.
Newkirk urged Biden to “leave a legacy of kindness” by starting a new potato-filled tradition at the White House.
Whether you think Easter Egg hunts are fabulous or frivilous, it's far more than some of the traditional Easter trappings which the world is calling us to revamp and rethink lately.
Churches across America (and across the globe) are being called to present a kinder, gentler version of the Gospel itself. In the name of leaving a "legacy of kindness," the world would have us to water down the truth and the power of the Gospel message.
Indeed, the offer of salvation is for ALL, regardless of our past or current sins or lifestyles. Yet it is a "Come as you are!" message, not a "Come as you; stay as you are!" message. That said, God calls us to repentence and newness of life.
Affirming unbelievers in their sin is neither kinder nor gentler. Affirming unbelievers in their need for a savior is both and more!
Don't settle for a counterfeit gospel which amounts to nothing more than a basket of colored potatoes. Celebrate new life in Christ this Easter, in all its redemptive glory!
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out ..." (Acts 3:19, ESV).
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, ESV).
Buy Truth
Years ago, many people were very dependent upon horses for transportation and farm work. Horses were expensive, and so the buyer needed to make sure the new horse was in good health. If the horse was sick, the success of the farm could be in jeopardy.
Prospective horse buyers would examine the animal's teeth. The condition of the teeth was a reliable way to determine the age and overall health of the horse. This examination helped protect the buyer from buying a bad horse.
Instead of taking the time to examine something, we could choose to go fishing, spend time with friends, or watch TV. Choosing to examine something costs us the pleasure of doing something else.
Proverbs 23:23 instructs us to "Buy truth and do not sell it...."
One way to "buy" truth is to "spend" time seeking truth and examining something before we believe it.
Buying the truth has nothing to do with spending money. Poor people can buy as much truth as rich people. Buying truth has to do with the effort required to find and acquire the truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:21 instructs us to, "Examine everything and hold fast to that which is good."
Examination takes work, time, and mental energy. In essence, this is how we buy truth or pay for the truth. No monetary cost, but a cost nonetheless.