Chuck McCament
THE SEPARATE AND OBEDIENT SOUL
“Has the voice of God long been silent to thee — no fresh command, no deeper insight into truth? Separate thyself not only from what is clearly wrong, but from all that is questionable, and the Lord will speak to thee things it is not possible for a man to utter (express)…Whatever Abraham renounced, when he left his home or gave Lot the right to choose, he received back in the usual measure of God, with an overflowing overplus (more than what he actually needed). God gave him the entire land, including Lot’s portion. We can never give up for God, without receiving in this life more than we gave.”
ON LETTING GO
“Be still,” says the Lord, “and know that I am God.” A careful word-study of this simple passage brings out some wonderful, applicable truths for all of us pilgrims of the Faith! As we dissect this verse, we’ll see just how marvelous and encouraging is the Word of God.
WAXING THEOLOGICAL
I’ve presented many a sermon over the years on Biblical Christology, and recently I read an excellent synopsis (from Tabletalk/Ligionier Ministries) of Christ’s divine-human nature. Indeed, the quickest way to identify a non-Christian cult, false teacher, or off-base religion is to simply see what they teach about who Jesus was/is!
ON LETTING GO
Pondering the recent loss of two former beloved parishioners, as the Lord would have it, I “happened” to begin reading excerpts from the memoirs of revivalist Charles G. Finney (1792-1875) in which he wrote about the extreme affliction of mind and immeasurable grief he suffered over the loss of his first wife (Lydia).
ON MAKING A DIFFERENCE
I think most of us wonder from time to time if our lives have or are truly making a positive difference within the limited sphere of our influence. Having been involved in quite a variety of Christian ministries since 1975 (not to mention earlier attempts to impact fellow military comrades for Christ), I ponder this one often! For those of us who take our faith seriously, nothing is more important than leaving behind a legacy of effectiveness for the Kingdom of God.
GROWNUPS GOD USES
When asked what the most profound thought was he’d ever entertained, a very brilliant (and universally known) theologian responded with “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” As another “well-known” recently put it: “Success [in God’s economy] is measured not in accomplishments but in faithfulness.”
A COMMON STRUGGLE
The heart-desire to be well-pleasing to the Lord is something God sees. I believe this is what David had and hence God’s declaration, despite many heinous shortcomings, that David was a man after His own heart (Psalms 32 and 51 are examples of why God thought this way of David).
PINNING A DIAPER
In the old days, before disposable diapers were so popular and affordable, parents used cotton diapers and diaper pins. It was great fun trying to get your kid to lie still long enough so you could pin on the diaper! Legs and arms going 90 miles an hour; arching their back; screaming. You’d say, “But Billy, this diaper is for your own good” — as you’d stick him with a pin! God goes through that same thing with us! He sees the need, but we won’t lie still long enough and quiet enough for Him to take care of it. We think He’s gonna’ “stick” us with something bad! But the sooner we settle down, slow down, the quicker He can administer the antidote.
SETTLED CONVICTIONS
F.B. Meyer (1847-1929) spent the last few years of his life working as a pastor in England’s churches, but still made trips to North America, including one he made at age 80 (his earlier evangelistic tours had included South Africa and Asia, as well as the United States and Canada). A few days before his death, Meyer wrote the following words to a friend: “I have just heard, to my great surprise, that I have but a few days to live. It may be that before this reaches you, I shall have entered the palace. Don’t trouble to write. We shall meet in the morning.”