Good morning, everyone.
Our verse for today comes from Acts 1:25, “To take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”
A couple weeks ago, a man named Jim Bakker turned 79 years old. If you happened to be around back in the 80’s, you will most likely remember Bakker in a variety of ways and for a variety of reasons. He was, and still is, a televangelist. Back then, he hosted a show called The PTL Club, operated a Christian theme park called Heritage USA, and had a wife named Tammy Faye, who was known herself for wearing impressive amounts of makeup and crying on the show at the drop of a hat. Jim’s world came crashing down in 1987 when it became known that he had had a sexual relationship with Jessica Hahn, and had paid her a quarter million dollars in hush money. While this scandal was raging, Jim’s PTL Club was being investigated for fraud and conspiracy, charges that he was found guilty of after his federal trial in 1989. Jim eventually served almost five years in prison, and now has remarried and is once again a televangelist hosting The Jim Bakker Show. Even though I spelled out some of the details of one particular tragedy associated with God’s name, the main point has nothing to do with Jim Bakker and his real or pretend ministry and relationship with our Lord. What his journey should remind us of is the power and lure of sin in its infinite forms.
To be sure, Jim acknowledged much of his sins and failures. But we must not be fooled into thinking that our sincere, authentic salvation insulates us from the sights of the evil one. I could list a myriad of areas with which you might struggle, whether you admit it or not, from gossip, being judgmental, impatience, pride, and on and on. But unless you come clean before God and plea for His mercy and grace, truly declaring your dependence on it and not just reciting the words, your struggle with temptation is less of a struggle and more of a surrender. We all fall, some further than others. But a genuine, heartfelt falling to your knees before your loving King can deliver you from many others of a worse kind.
As we seek Him today, bow before Jesus and ask Him to perform the deepest of cleans.
Have a great rest of the week, and I will be with you again on Tuesday.
#4 Rich Holt
Dad of Ripken, Koy, TrishaJean, Samantha, Kakie Holiday and Raleigh
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.
