by Tim Hall

"I'm not afraid of Old Man Hanks. Why, I wouldn't be scared to run up to his house and knock on his door."

"Oh, yeah? Well, I dare you!"

Such conversations are common between young boys. Some are prone to making big boasts of what they can do, and others aren't slow to call their bluff. "I dare you" is another way of saying "Prove it!" Show me by your actions that your words are true.

God has issued challenges like that to us. But we're not the ones of whom he speaks; he speaks of himself. Yes, he has made bold claims. But before we can mutter our doubts about what he has promised, he urges us to "Prove it!"

In the days of the prophet Malachi, the people of Judah had lost faith in the promises of God. They brought inferior offerings to God instead of the best of their flocks. Their gifts fell short of the amount God had commanded. God responded with this challenge: "'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it'" (Malachi 3:10, NKJV). Those who had faith enough to do as God commanded would realize that God is always true to his word.

God's challenges extend to us as well. Just how much does God expect of us? Here's how Paul described it in Romans 12:1,2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ..." Reflect on those words and realize the awesome nature of the demand. God doesn't ask for a few hours of our weeks -- he asks for our entire lives! Why would anyone respond to that kind of calling?

The final words of the passage appeal to our faith: "... that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). God's will is good, acceptable (to us) and perfect. I often stand in pulpits and confidently proclaim that message. But in the final analysis, I can't prove that claim to you or to anyone else. You've got to prove it for yourself. And the only way to do that is to accept God's challenge and put him to the test.

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in him!" (Psalm 34:8) God dares you! Come give his will a try. Hold back nothing; throw yourself completely and unreservedly into his will. When you do -- and only when you give it everything you've got -- you will discover that God can indeed be trusted. Deceptive advertising didn't originate with him.

by Tim Hall

As I open the closet, boxes tumble out. Instinctively I am angered, almost as if the boxes had planned this stunt to get my dander up. Then I remind myself that boxes have no ability to plot or scheme; it was the force of gravity working on unstable objects. Even I become unstable as the day wears on. As my energy level drops, gravity's tug is felt more and more. I find it difficult to keep from falling (into my recliner).

There is another downward pull that affects us more strongly as the years pass: the recognition of our mortality. Just as gravity tugs at physical objects, so the grave pulls at our souls as we draw nearer to that dreaded destination. Consider the similarity of those two words: "gravity" and "grave." Both beckon us to lie down in rest.

Job was jolted into sober contemplations of the grave: "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. Oh, remember that my life is a breath! ... As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore" (Job 7:6-7,9-10, NKJV). Job, because of the tragedies that had struck his family, felt the downward pull of the grave, and it was dreadful to him.

In our early years, we give little thought to the issue of mortality. We are young, strong, and full of potential. The world is ours and there is no limit to what we can become. As we age, however, our dreams burst one by one, and limitations settle subtly upon us as dew falls upon the grass. Our thoughts turn more often to the grave. We try to deny the inevitable, or soften it with humor. But the grave will not go away. In all of human history, only two have ever escaped its clammy clutch (cf. 2 Kings 2:1-11 and Hebrews 11:5).

Enter Jesus Christ and a stronger pull upward. Paul declared the glorious news in this way: "... but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Timothy 1:10). Immortality? It has long been a dream of mankind. Searches have been conducted for the Fountain of Youth and golden elixirs that keep us forever young. All such pursuits have ended in frustration, however, and the goal of immortality has remained shrouded in darkness. Until Jesus.

If we wish, we may lay aside our fears and frustrations. Jesus came to do away with our dread of the grave. "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:14,15). Jesus has ripped open the prison of mortality in which we cowered for so long. Tragically, many -- some of whom are Christians! -- remain inside the cell.

Yes, gravity pulls objects downward. So does the dread of the grave. But Jesus came for the very purpose of releasing us from the downward pull of the grave. His pull -- a blessed pull upward -- is stronger than any other force.

by Tim Hall

Certain scriptures give emphasis to preaching God's word. Paul's familiar "Preach the word!" (2 Timothy 4:2, NKJV) is a notable example. Passages like these give clear guidance to those who venture to proclaim to others what God expects.

Another passage often cited when speaking of the responsibilities of preachers is 1 Peter 4:11: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God ..." This writer believes that preachers are to be guided by this principle. But are preachers the only ones Peter had in mind? Could Peter have been thinking of other Christians when he wrote those words?

Peter's thought began in verse 7: "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." The apostle gave advice in view of the seriousness of conditions. Distress was looming over the church, and Peter urged them to give attention to prayers, love, and hospitality. No one questions the audience Peter had in mind when he wrote those things; he was writing to all Christians.

The thought continues in verse 10: "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." How important it would be to minister to one another! When the enemy attacks, it's time to circle the wagons and band together. Christians must watch out for their sisters and brothers in Christ. God had equipped each of them with various gifts, and they were to use them to strengthen one another.

What kinds of gifts did Peter have in mind? He mentions two in verse 11: speaking and serving. But it's not so much the acts Peter wanted to emphasize as the spirit in which they were to be exercised. Those who served others were to do so "as with the ability which God supplies", i.e., zealously and gladly. And those who would speak words to encourage their brethren were to speak "as the oracles of God."

"Oracles" simply means "words." Peter's idea seems to have been that we should speak only after considering how God would convey our message. Are we about to speak the truth? Will we speak it with a spirit that imitates Christ? Care must be taken when we speak to others about God's will, for it's possible we could make things worse.

Paul addressed the same issue in Galatians 6:1: "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." It's commendable that some Christians want to restore their erring brethren. But are they heeding Paul's admonition to do so "in a spirit of gentleness"? Are they truly speaking "as the oracles of God"?

The surgeon who found a tumor in the patient's body has offered to remove it in order to prolong life. It's wonderful that this physician has the desire to help. But will he be gentle in removing the tumor? Or will he, by clumsy actions and blunt instruments, make matters worse?

Yes, Peter's words are for all of us. We ought to reach out to one another in order to encourage and exhort. And those of us who speak must be careful to speak "as the oracles of God."

by Tim Hall

One of the most common tendencies among people is to put great value on things. Things can be essential; our daily existence depends on having enough food, clothing, shelter, money, etc. But when we allow things to become more important than people, we've made a serious mistake.

Early in Israel's history, God attempted to teach this lesson to his people. Consider this passage from Deuteronomy 24:10-13: "When you lend your brother anything, you shall not go into his house to get his pledge. You shall stand outside, and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you. And if the man is poor, you shall not keep his pledge overnight. You shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the sun goes down, that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you; and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God" (NKJV).

Those who are forced to borrow from others are at their mercy. Lenders stereotypically show little, if any, mercy. God, however, required his people to show mercy and consideration to those who were poor. In the passage above, God warned the lender against entering the home of the borrower for the purpose of taking a pledge (collateral). That would send the message that the lender was now in control of the other's life, and God forbade such an attitude. Also, the lender was not to keep the borrower's garment overnight. Sometimes the collateral given on a loan was the cloak in which the poor man slept. Without it, he would be cold and sleepless through the night. It was another way of stressing that people are more important than things.

We sometimes forget this lesson. We allow things to eclipse long-time friendships and relationships. Families feud over estates following the death of a loved one -- things have become more important than people. Friends envy one another's success and prosperity, and gossip breaks the friendship -- things have become more important than people. In so many ways, we forget what God has tried to teach us.

You've heard Paul's words of warning; hear them again: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10). The love of money, the love of things -- Satan has found a vulnerable spot in many hearts.

One other observation from our text in Deuteronomy 24: Why is it so necessary that we learn this lesson about people vs. things? ". . . and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God." Do we want to be righteous? "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). Righteousness comes first; God will see to it that needed things will follow.

by Tim Hall

A fellow Christian told a powerful story from a mission trip to Haiti. The medical team was traveling by flatbed truck to a remote village. Along the way they stopped to give a ride to an old man walking in the same direction. The two Haitian preachers with the group began talking fervently with the old man in their native Creole tongue. When asked what they were telling the man so excitedly, one looked at the Americans and said, "We're telling him about Jesus, of course."

The part that hits hardest is "of course". It was as if the man was saying to most American Christians, "Duh!" Why did you need to ask? Isn't that what any Christian would want to do?

We are often distracted from what is truly important. We become involved in church projects, building programs, Bible camps, special days and retreats. There's nothing wrong with any of these. They are important in their own ways, and attention should be given to them at times.

Our problem is that we don't always put first things first. The very first thing a Christian should be thinking about is telling friends or family members about Jesus. They need a Savior, don't they? We know the Savior. So isn't it up to us to tell them about Him?

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies" (Psalm 107:1,2, NLT).