On D.E.C.K. with Roderick...

Image by Cemrecan Yurtman from Pixabay The ultimate desire of God is for us to become sons and daughters, our desire should be the same as His. We must desire to be like Christ. Our goal should be to reach maturity in Him and be as He is. We must not allow our Church duties to become more important to us than Him. If we are careful, ministry can become an obsession, rather than our relationship with God. We must be aware of this pitfall. First, love has to be present in order to be like Him. In the book of I John, God is called love. One of the greatest signs to the world that God is in us and we are His children is love. Love does not mean we do not recognize wrong and sin, but rather will seek to restore. Love covers many sins. In addition, when we are governed by love, we will fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus said that upon love the law and teachings of the prophets rested. Jesus said to His disciples that he gives them a new commandment. His new commandment was for them to love. I...

I know, I know, I know. The title of this post seems kind of harsh. Trust me, you will get it as you read on. In life, there are times when we have heard others use this expression or we have (or wanted to) use this expression in response to someone’s curiosity. Though oftentimes, it is used as a defensive and derogatory statement, it does hold value for the Christian. Consider these verses… Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. John 21:20-22 (KJV) Jesus is giving instructions to Peter concerning his future work and ministry. Yet, Peter becomes preoccupied with thinking about what someone else (John) will do. But Jesus’ response of “what is that to thee” is in a sense, asking Peter “what business is...

Having a good reputation is important to many. Some live their lives trying to impress others that their perception of them may be favorable. Even if we do not admit it openly, many of our activities and conversations are motivated by the desire to be accepted and well thought of. Much time is spent wondering, “What do people think of me?” Though we should strive to have a good reputation as Christians, it cannot dominate our motivation for how we live. The opinion of others will change according to circumstance, situation, and other invariables. Thus, their perception of you cannot always be trusted. This shows us that the Christian has to judge his lifestyle by this question, “What does God think of Me?” God’s view of us should challenge the Christian’s character development. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Job 1:8 (KJV) We find in the ...

What is your reason for living? Is it your spouse, family, job, ministry, friends, or even yourself? For the Christian, the reason for our existence should be Christ. When Christ is not at the center of our being, we will struggle internally to continue to serve Him. We must remember that He gave His life that we would have eternal life. On the shores of the beach, Jesus came to the disciples and ate with them. He asked Peter: “Lovest thou Me more than these? Or, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15). We must consider this question and our answer presently. Whatever you love will become your reason for living. It will become the “these” in your life. There have been many speculations of what is the subject of “these” in Jesus’ question to Peter. There are two popular viewpoints. First, they represented the fish. Peter and some of the others had returned to their former profession of fishing. Second, they represented the other disciples. Since Peter denied the Lord on the night ...

Everyone is on a road to an eternal destination. In life, different roads can be taken on a journey to reach a particular destination. Though we can compare our walk with Christ as a journey, there is only one way to reach our destination of heaven.  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Matt 7:13 (KJV) You cannot enter into the kingdom of God any which way you choose. Some promote the ideology that you do not need to go to church; that is, fellowship with other Christians or even receive Christ to enter into heaven. But, as Christians, we must stand on the truth that reception of Christ, fellowship with other Christians, and striving to live a life pleasing to Him is a perquisite for entrance into heaven. With the advent of personal GPS devices, people no longer have to depend on standard maps to reach their destinations. Now, they can pick and choose the route that they would...

How can I continue to mature when life brings so many struggles? Because LIFE, it does not stop. It just keeps coming, coming, and coming. If it is not one thing, it is another. Many can relate to these sentiments. Life seems more of a curse than a blessing. It can bring so many trials, tests, and troubles that death seems like the only escape. Even those that have faith in God can sometimes sink into this pit of discouragement, depression, and despair. The words of David become the hallmark of existence, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalms 22:1 (KJV) Some reading this article know this scripture oh so well. It forms the basis of thoughts and prayers. Why does God allow us to experience so many hard things? Why does it seem as if He is unresponsive to our prayers and requests? It feels as if He does not care about what we are going through. We know from David's words and the words of Christ on the ...

  It should be the desire of every Christian to be a useful and productive servant of the Lord; that is, a worthy Christian. On any job, qualified individuals are sought to fill positions. We know that anyone that is qualified makes necessary adjustments and work hard to obtain the necessary skills. The same is true of the Christian. We have to be willing to adjust and work towards being a qualified and productive servant. Jesus’ words to the disciples reveal to us that He would have it no other way. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matt 5:13 (KJV)      With these things in mind, the question arises, “How can I become a qualified Christian?” Many steps can one use to maintain their usefulness to the work of Christ. If the Christian employs these steps, he will become and remain a qualified servant of Christ. Let...

     Every Christian should ask this question: What makes me a Christian? And, if I am a Christian, what should define my “being” as a Christian? If Christians do not know their reason for being, they will not be all they can be in Christ Jesus. Christians have to understand that they can only define themselves based upon biblical standards. This is because culture and Christianity have varying viewpoints about what “being” a Christian is.      The Christian, then, has to learn to define their being in terms of their relationship with Christ (righteousness and character), rather than by the culture (which focuses mostly on external traits -strength, money, stature, beauty, family, etc).      Before going further, the Christian should understand: 1) A Christian’s being is not based upon external characteristics, but internal traits. 2) The Definition of a Christian is found in the image of God. 3) Culture (Secular or Church) cannot define a Ch...

From the beginning, we see that God's purpose for man never included perpetual solitude and isolation. When we consider the events of the garden of Eden, we see that God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. We sometimes focus on the romantic relationship of the first man and woman, but God said that He would give the man someone who is able to help him. This reveals that we all will need someone else in our lives as we try to live for Christ and do the will of God. We must appreciate the benefits of Christian fellowship. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Eccl 4:9-10 (KJV) Though Christ is able to do all things, He still entrusts the care of His body to other members within the Church. This is why the apostles continually challenged the people to love, prefer, and be compassionate towards one anothe...

Image by  StockSnap  from  Pixabay Well, here we are again: another day, another problem, another issue confronting me! Sometimes, things can go wrong for so long that your outlook on life can become bleak. Many end up asking the timeless, self-defeating question… “Why Me?” Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly? Job 3:11 (KJV) As Job went through his testing… his outlook on life turned from joy into utter despair.  It got so bad until he wished he were never born. Though some will not admit it, even Christians who know the Lord experience these types of feelings. Though they might surface, the Christian still has to know that he is not alone and that God will deliver. We know from further reading of Job’s story that the Lord did deliver him and rescue him from his troubles and pains. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. James 5:...

Image by  Dorothe  from  Pixabay Everyone is on a road to an eternal destination. In life, different roads can be taken on a journey to reach a particular destination. Though we can compare our walk with Christ as a journey, there is only one way to reach our destination of heaven. You cannot enter into the kingdom of God any which way you choose. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Matt 7:13 (KJV) Some promote the ideology that you do not need to go to church; that is, fellowship with other Christians or even receive Christ to enter into heaven. But, as Christians, we must stand on the truth that reception of Christ, fellowship with other Christians, and striving to live a life pleasing to Him is a perquisite for entrance into heaven. With the advent of personal GPS devices, people no longer have to depend on standard maps to reach their destinations. Now, they can...

In athletics, there are events that measure success by the speed, strength, and ability. However, there are events, which are a matter of endurance, rather than pure skill or ability. In many of the strongman competitions, certain events not only require skill, but endurance. Not only must the competitor be able to lift or carry the weight, but also they have to do it for a sustained amount of time. Thus, their ability to lift or carry becomes secondary to being able to endure the weight. The same applies to the Christian today. We learn the scriptures and spiritual truth, but many do not know how to endure hardships and challenges. We gain skill, knowledge, and understanding, but in the time of testing do not last. Every Christian has to learn The Art of Endurance as they grow in God's grace and knowledge. Without endurance, the Christian can possess spiritual insight and knowledge, but cannot last long enough to see the fruits of it flourish in life. There are six aspects to the ...

Am I Committed? Self-examination is a vital component to the Christian life. Without it, the Christian will not experience personal growth and spiritual maturity. Paul challenged his readers to examine themselves… Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. 2 Cor 13:5 (KJV) Self-examination in the life of the Christian serves a two-fold purpose. The first is to ensure that the individual is walking as a true Christian (characterized by the words “in the faith”). The second purpose is to propel the Christian to a greater expression of Christ’s character and nature in their daily walk. From this, we can see the importance of self-examination. Self-examination always leads to questions. These questions should challenge you to look at yourself in a candid fashion. One important question that should arise through self-evaluation is “Am I Committed?” Commitment keeps you focused during difficult times. It helps bring stability to your life when things around you ar...

It should be the desire of every Christian to be a useful and productive servant of the Lord; that is, a worthy Christian. On any job, qualified individuals are sought to fill positions. We know that anyone that is qualified makes necessary adjustments and work hard to obtain the necessary skills. The same is true of the Christian. We have to be willing to adjust and work towards being a qualified and productive servant. Jesus’ words to the disciples reveal to us that He would have it no other way, Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matt 5:13 (KJV)      With these things in mind, the question arises, “How can I become a qualified Christian?” Many steps can one use to maintain their usefulness to the work of Christ. If the Christian employs these steps, he will become and remain a qualified servant of Christ. Let us bri...

What is your reason for living? Is it your spouse, family, job, ministry, friends, or even yourself? For the Christian, the reason for our existence should be Christ. When Christ is not at the center of our being, we will struggle internally to continue to serve Him. We must remember that He gave His life that we would have eternal life. On the shores of the beach, Jesus came to the disciples and ate with them. He asked Peter: “Lovest thou Me more than these? Or, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15)     We must consider this question and our answer presently. Whatever you love will become your reason for living. It will become the “these” in your life. There have been many speculations of what is the subject of “these” in Jesus’ question to Peter. There are two popular viewpoints. First, they represented the fish. Peter and some of the others had returned to their former profession of fishing. Second, they represented the other disciples. Since Peter denied the Lord o...

     To believe or not to believe is the question at hand. Foundational to the Christian life is the ability to have faith; that is, believe. Without a belief in the work of God through Jesus Christ, one cannot enter into salvation. Moreover, the obtained salvation cannot be maintained without an ever-growing faith, hope, and belief in God. Our belief in God has to go beyond a general belief in His existence. It has to expand to a solid belief in His power and ability to move on the behalf of man. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:24 (KJV)      Why is it hard at times to maintain an unwavering faith God? Even after He has done so many things apparently, it can still be difficult to trust Him. Many believe and do not believe, simultaneously. They know that God answers prayer and can do all things, but the breakdown is that they do not believe that God will do it for THEM. ...

  As a boy, I participated in the Boy Scouts. Part of the activities of the group consisted of survival training.  We had to learn certain skills in order to receive badges. The skills learned were to be used in various situations that could arise in one’s life. In the kingdom of God, we must learn the necessary skills to survive in a world that is becoming opposed to God and His Christ. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour…Isaiah 43:2-3 (KJV)      God promised Israel that they would survive any situations that came upon them because He was with them. As a Boy Scout, I was taught to depend on my training and ingenuity. This made the effectiveness of the training limited for survival rested on me alone. However, in th...

In military action, they have covert operations. These are military campaigns, which are done undercover to surprise and subdue the adversary. In Christianity, there is a covert operation in place by the adversary; that is, frustration. Frustration is an inevitable part of life; even the Christian life. Frustration surfaces because life does not stop. Even those that have faith in God can sometimes sink into this pit of discouragement, depression, and despair. The words of David become the hallmark of existence, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? Psalms 22:1 (KJV)           Have you ever wondered: Why does God allow us to suffer? Why does He seem so uninterested at times to our supplications and prayers? It feels as if He does not care about what we are going through. We know from David’s words and the words of Christ on the cross that it happens in the life of those who possess ...

Spiritual growth and development is important to the Christian life. If one is to live successfully as a part of the Kingdom of God, continual education and insight is mandatory. The Church has leaders such as pastors, ministers, priests, deacons, and laymen who aid others in their spiritual growth. However, we can often miss one group who can teach many truths about the Kingdom of God; that is, children. 1. Become as Children In His own words, Jesus stated that we were to model the behavior of children if we want to enter into the Kingdom of God. He stated, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3) Jesus' statement has nothing to do with becoming childlike in our understanding and insight, but with our attitude and approach to our journey as members of His Kingdom. Hence, to follow His words, we discover three lessons children teach us about the Kingdom of God. 2. Lesson of ...

Growth is a natural part of life. Humans, plants, animals, and all manner of species from the time of conception until death experience growth in some form. As Christians, we are instructed through the writings of the apostles to grow But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV) This challenge to grow is a noble concept in the hearts of many Christians; however, many are frustrated in their pursuit of personal growth in their faith and in their walk with Christ. Personal growth can be challenging and rewarding. It is an ongoing process in the life of the Christian. To rise to the challenge, the Christian has to overcome faulty self-perception, the opinions of others, and the lies that the enemy may bring to the mind. In this post, we want to offer five practical steps that Christians can employ to stimulate personal growth in their lives and in their walk with Christ. Fear the Lord.  In...