Another prominent Christian fell away from faith recently, and believers around the world have been saddened by his rejection of God’s Truth.  But as tragic as his fall from faith is, we shouldn’t be surprised.  Why?  Because Scripture reminds us that these situations will occur, especially in the times in which we live:

Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to Him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal Your return and the end of the world?” Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many … And many will turn away from Me and betray and hate each other. 

(Matthew 24:3-5, 10)

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. 

(I Timothy 4:1)

The term “fell away from faith” is often used when someone chooses to turn away from the Lord, but we don’t really hear that someone “fell into faith.” The reason for this is simple.  Faith in Jesus is a choice, not something we jump into or just happen upon.  Instead, belief in the Lord is a deliberate decision an individual makes at some point in his or her life.  Romans 10:9 explains it clearly: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus offers everyone the chance to know Him and accept Him as their Savior, but He will never force anyone into that decision.  Actually, like a polite friend, He gently calls to each of us—the opening of our lives to Him is entirely up to us.  The Lord Himself put it this way, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20).

A friend of ours made the choice to “declare Jesus as Lord” a few weeks ago.  After years of searching, the message from John 3:16 finally rang true for him: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” Our friend didn’t fall into faith—he made a conscious decision to accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior.    

This singular choice changes our eternal destiny, but our faith journeys don’t end there.  Each day we are presented with choices, especially about how to know the Lord better and strive to live in a way that pleases Him.  The following reminder from Scripture reveals some important steps we can choose to take in this faith journey, and it explains how these choices can help others stay faithful too:

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.  You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.  For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. 

(Hebrews 3:12-14)

The author of Hebrews urges every member of God’s family to be careful, watching out for anything that might cause us to fall away from God.  And we also need to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord to avoid bad choices or misleading teaching.  That’s why being faithful must be a step by step, one good choice after another, kind of process.

Assisting you in your faith journey is what Sonkist Ministries is all about.  We’re strengthened by God’s Word as we write these messages, and we pray you’ll be encouraged as you read them.  We know many of you send these Sonkist messages on to other believers, and even to friends and family who are yet-to-be-saved.  We especially pray for those searching for the Truth.  Like our friend, may they believe in Jesus soon!

While there’s no falling into faith, each one of us can grow deeper in our faith this Fall.  Let’s keep reading God’s Word and fellowshipping with one another.  And may we continually uplift and encourage everyone around us during this beautiful season of Harvest.

  Thought of the Month

And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, He has identified you as His own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

Ephesians 4:30-32

For the Lord has told me this: “I will watch quietly from my dwelling place— as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day, or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.”
Isaiah 18:4

It’s hard to believe another summer is upon us, yet sunny days and warmer nights beckon us to change things up, get outside, and enjoy life in new, exciting ways!  It is also time to step out of our shoes and slip on a pair of sandals, open that great book that’s been on the shelf too long, and find a shady spot to stretch out in. 

Is it possible to find time to rest and unwind in our busy schedules? Perhaps the more challenging question is this:  Is it okay for us to relax and enjoy when so much needs to be accomplished?

The answer to both questions should be yes—most definitely yes!  Not only is it alright to take care of ourselves in this way, but we also have the Lord beckoning us to do so.  To help you consider this unique perspective, here are three recommended areas to contemplate adding to your calendar this summer:

Rest:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  
Matthew 11:28-30, NLT 

Jesus took time to rest and get away from the busyness of His life, and He also calls out to us to rest in Him.  When we take time to relax, we will actually be more effective in our relationships and in our work.

Reflect:

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.  If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.  
Psalm 40:5 

Summer is a perfect season to reflect on all that the Lord has done for you.  When the sun rises each morning, thank Him for the miracles He has done for you throughout the years.  As you move through your day, consider the blessings in your personal and professional life.  And as the sun slowly sinks into the horizon, praise God for the things He helped you accomplish and the new life that awaits you tomorrow—whether you wake up here or in eternity!

Re-energize:

But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one…as for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.  
II Thessalonians 3:3, 13 

With all of the craziness in our world, it’s easy to get down and discouraged.  Yet as we rest in the Lord, taking time to reflect on the truths in His Word, He will strengthen us for the journey that lies ahead.  We need to do our part too, which includes not letting people or circumstances distract us from our real mission:  to glorify the Lord in all that we do!

These are some of the thoughts I wrote in Summer under the Son:  Daily Devotions to Bring Light into Your Life.  My prayer is that you will make time to rest, reflect, and get re-energized this summer—enjoying all of the blessings the Lord provides each and every day!

Thought for this Summer

Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me.
Psalm 116:7

“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.”
   Proverbs 22:6 NLT

Have you ever heard of the Old Deluder Satan Law? If not, you aren’t alone. This 1647 piece of legislation from the Massachusetts Bay Colony is one of three original public education laws put into place in the early days of what would eventually become the United States.

Why would our founding fathers and mothers discuss Satan when establishing a system for public schooling? In brief, they wanted to ensure children would be able to read and understand spiritual truths to counteract the negative forces at work in the world in which they lived. As soon as a town had fifty or more families, they were required to hire a teacher to assist them with this process. Once 100 or more families comprised the town, an official grammar school was to be established based on the foundational principle of creating an intellectual, spiritually-aware populace. The hope was that some of these well-educated children would also be prepared to enter Harvard College, whose mission after being founded in 1636 was to prepare individuals for the ministry.

While our history books are often missing these amazing details about American public education, we shouldn’t miss out on the transcendent message behind this legislation from ages past. First, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about when it comes to the foundation of faith established centuries ago. Our forbearers infused timeless truths into the very fabric of their community, culture, and country. Shouldn’t we, in modern times, be willing to do the same? Second, parents were considered the primary educators of their children. They were responsible for hiring qualified teachers. They were to ensure schools were established—and that those same schools fulfilled their obligation of providing superior education to the young citizens of their day.

Those original settlers were aligned and attuned with what Solomon penned in Proverbs 22:6:  “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” For those of us helping to guide the future leaders of our homes, communities, and country, that instruction is ours to follow and carry out too.

Whether we are parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles, we can inspire children and young people to understand the spiritual principles God has provided for all human kind. His guidelines for great living haven’t altered with changing seasons or shifts in laws and culture. And those of us closely involved with local schools should stay connected! Whether public, public charter, parochial or private, educational institutions need our involvement and input. After all, this is one of our earliest callings as citizens of the great nation we’ve inherited.In spring, schools across America begin planning for the upcoming academic year. As they do so, let’s be in prayer for those engaged in this process. In addition, let’s carefully consider how we can assist children discover the incredible path that leads to success as well as eternal security!

We at Sonkist Ministries hope you all have a blessed start to your Spring!

  Thought of the Spring

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
 stories we have heard and known,
    stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
    we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
    about his power and his mighty wonders.
 Psalm 78: 2b-4

As I change my calendar to the month of October, I’m looking forward to the routines that lie ahead. There’s something comforting about packing away summer essentials and getting ready for the fall season.  Sandals and shorts are exchanged for sneakers and sweaters, and soon shorter days will bring cooler breezes and colorful leaves.

In our home, we also look forward to exchanging summer décor for autumn decorations.  This usually involves at least one trip to a local farm to find pumpkins as well as apples and cider to be sampled.  These routines have become part of our family’s fall regimen, which offers a reassuring rhythm to our lives.

I’ve been thinking a lot about routines and habits lately—and not simply because of the shifting seasons.  I recently read a book by a famous dancer and choreographer who penned these words:  “Even in the worst of times …. habits sustain, protect, and, in the most unlikely way, lift us up”  (Twyla Tharp, The Creative Habit, p. 243).  This particular reflection happened to be about how she, as a New Yorker, coped with the tragedy of September 11, 2001—but Ms. Tharp has also found that fostering certain habits has been beneficial to many aspects of her life.

I believe the same principle is true for our walk of faith.  By building spiritual routines into our experiences, we create patterns that help us in the good, bad, and in-between times of living.  Actually, from the beginning of His ministry, Jesus made it clear that the Christian walk must be one of routine:  “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me’” (Luke 9:23-24, New Living Translation).

What are some of these daily habits—or “take up your cross” activities— that you and I can be developing as we strive to follow Jesus?  Here are a few routines to consider:

1. Read God’s Word each day. This involves setting aside specific time to get into Scripture so we can find out more about the Lord and how He’d like us to live. As II Timothy 2:15 encourages us: “Work hard so God can say to you, ‘Well done.’ Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what his Word says and means” (The Living Bible).
2. Pray daily for the Lord’s provision, protection, and wisdom. Read how the psalmist David started his day: “Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:2-3, NLT).
3. Attend church and fellowship with other Christians.We have the example of early believers to follow on this one:  “They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for Communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God” (Acts 2:46, TLB).

The investment we make in our relationship with the Lord will always pay off, especially as we create routines that will help us know Him on a deeper, more personal level.  And I definitely believe that these spiritual habits will indeed “sustain, protect, and, in the most unlikely way, lift us up!”

May the days ahead will be filled with family, fun, and a harvest of blessings as well as lots of great habits that will help you through all seasons of life.

Happy Fall from all of us at Sonkist Ministries!

Thought of the Month