police

When Will They Pay?

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Image by Max from Pixabay

I don’t recall ever getting out of a ticket! Speeding tickets, other kinds of moving violation tickets, nothing! I did manage to get one reduced though. It seems like any time I am out and driving on the road, I witness other drivers being reckless, excessively speeding, and, in general, putting others in danger! Okay, putting me in danger. I know, if I ever drove like them, I would definitely get caught. I don’t seem to get by with anything!

When I see this, I often fantasize about being a cop and pulling them over. I want to be the witness, the jury, and the judge. If that happened, they would pay big time! Honestly, I wonder if the fine would be steep enough to change their behavior.

This makes me think about others who do not violate the laws of man but live in disobedience to God’s commands. If they continue to live their life in such a way and never accept Jesus Christ, who forgives us our sins, they will certainly pay. Unfortunately, the fine will be steep – their life. Will knowing this change their behavior?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:23 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom. 6:23 (NIV)

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Heb. 9:27-28 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NIV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Don’t Miss It

/ Mark Brady / Leave a comment
Photo by RaphiD via Pixabay

Not every follower of Jesus recognizes them, at least in the moment. For instance, yesterday, I needed to return a package to Amazon. I was supposed to do it before picking April up from work. I didn’t. So I asked her if she minded us doing it together on the way home. She agreed. We walked into a grocery store that accepts Amazon packages. As I talked to the service rep, the conversation turned when she asked April if she was Filipino.

It turned out April had actually heard of this person but had never met her. During the conversation, an invitation was made for the Amazon rep to join April’s women’s Bible study group. After returning to the car, I turned to April and said, “Do you realize God set up that meeting?” She hadn’t.

This morning, I was driving April to work. It was 4:40 AM. As we passed a vehicle with no lights on at the roadside, a man was waving his arms frantically. Traveling at 65 mph, I had microseconds to decide what to do. I wanted to pull over, slam on the brakes, and perhaps back up to see if I could help him. I didn’t for many reasons. But I did call 911 and reported the man needed assistance of some kind. On the way back home, I saw there were two police cars on the scene helping him.

The incident reminded me of the story of “The Good Samaritan” in the Bible. Although there are some differences between his story and mine, our thoughts were probably similar. Do I get involved? Is it safe to stop to help him? Don’t worry. Someone else will help. The commonality is this: noticing you are in a moment where you can do good for someone and demonstrate God’s love toward them. Doing so can help them and perhaps allow you to share God’s plan for redemption.

“God moments” can happen fast and at any time. It requires us to be observant and mindful of these instances and then do our best to accomplish the will of God. Responding to such a moment may take some of your time and possibly some of your other resources. Honestly, though, those things belong to God. If recognizing a “God moment” is challenging, ask Him to help you see them. I’m sure He will. It is always pleasing to the soul when you are involved, and it is neat to know that God used you to help someone He has been loving on.

Luke 10 30-37 (MSG)

30-32 Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

33-35 “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

36 “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

37 “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady.

Protest Hell

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

060920 2Throughout this whole COVID-19 ordeal, I have been sad as the numbers climbed, but the impact did not land on my front porch, until now.  Ten days ago, my friend, Chris called and informed me he caught the disease from work.  Chris is 65.  Today, I called to see how he was doing, but he did not answer the phone.  About an hour later I received a text message letting me know he was now in the ICU.

I prayed for Chris and his wife, who also has it, but I felt as if I needed more people to agree with me in prayer on his behalf.  We needed to pray and protest hell!  You see, sickness, death, hate, and disease is of the devil.   There is power when people gather, agree, and pray.  Picture hundreds, or thousands marching against the gates of hell, pushing back evil.

“Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer my heavenly Father will do it for you.” Matthew 18:19 The Passion Translation (TPT)

I posted in Facebook the need, and right away people started telling me they were praying.  At first, three, then 20, and at last check over 90 people have said, “I will stand with you Mark, in the gap for your friend Chris.”  I even heard from people 8000 miles away.

My heart was touched, and to be honest, my eyes started leaking at the out pouring of concern, and love.  This is the kind of action we need to take right now for our world as well.  I would say, not one of those who said they would pray, knows Chris, but they took time to pray anyway.

I didn’t know George Floyd, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, or the others who have died when they shouldn’t have.  I didn’t know the five police officers ambushed in Dallas either.

My point is this; we, who do know God, should be praying more now than ever for all people affected by the recent events and for our country.  This cannot be the story of America.  We don’t have to know them first, like those praying for Chris don’t know him, but prayed anyway, expecting results.

Thank you to all who have prayed for Chris, or will after reading this post.  People of God cannot give up hope, grow weary, get discouraged, or turn to fear, because we know God is bigger than all things, and he is more powerful than evil.

Copyright © 2020 Mark Brady.  All rights reserved.