I was reading a commercial about paper towels being the “quicker picker upper”. Each day over the past week, there were news reports of all sorts of downer events, each one, a job for the real picker upper, our Lord and Savior. Each of us understands some brands do better than others, while some brands appear to be mislabeled. Comparing as products, God has always proven to be the best, while Satan, the great pretender or the mislabel one, always fails the task. God’s will, will never take us, where His grace will not protect us. The competition can not guarantee a claim like that.

            Put on new clothes and see how much better you feel, at least until the new wears off. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV “Put off your old self…put on the new self”. When you put off your old self and put on the new, you must learn to control your thoughts before they control you. Lying, cheating, deceit, anger, moods, foul talk, is all old clothes that need to be changed. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.”

            There are a lot of people who struggle with depression. In the Old Testament, Jeremiah struggled with depression. He had gotten so discouraged with his people that he was ready to open a lodging place for travelers. (Jeremiah 9:2) I feel depression comes from not recognizing or being aware of the blessings God has in store for you. Sometimes we just get too tired and lose control of our thoughts. Jesus encouraged His disciples to rest so that their thoughts did not wander. God’s word is a picker upper: Jeremiah said, “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight.” (Jeremiah 15:16)

            From time to time everyone needs lifted up; we are human, needing to be in control, in lieu of trusting God, creating disaster in the making. We just get in that, “if every thing else fails read the directions,” mentality. God’s word has all the answers if we are willing to look for them. One of the most frequent promises in the Bible is: I will be with you.” My Lord and Savior is the Quicker Picker Upper. Is yours tried and tested?

            “The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, Faith, Meekness, temperance” found in Galatians 5:13. The Fruit of the Spirit grows equally in us as we are led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must be present in a believer, enabling them to live a Holy Life. Growth in the Fruit of the Spirit comes by making Jesus, our Savior the focal point of our lives.

            There is a Religious Nut, it seems, everywhere we go. You know the type; always right and have a well refined spiritual vocabulary. They believe that their actions entitle them to be saved. A Religious Nut can find fault with others while holding themselves absent from fault. God’s judgment on others, the unbelievers and those who disagree with God’s word, is an obsession with a Religious Nut. There are pastors, as well as other church leaders and members, who qualify as Nuts. They claim honor and glory that belongs to God. Religious Nuts use religion as easy passport to notoriety; they bypass God’s rules and follow Satan, where of course there are no rules.

            Satan uses Religious Nuts to maintain a false sense of direction for people to follow. Operating out of the church, or other religious structures with steeples on top, they can easily operate under the camouflage of Christianity. Deception has been used by Satan, in the churches, I believe more than anywhere else. New and untrained Christians are an easy target for the Religious Nut. When you see a person relying on works and not on grace, you are probably looking at a Religious Nut.

            Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” While our foes are not always of the human type, we must realize that Satan does use man to carry out his dirty work. Satan uses humans from all walks of life to carry out his work. Too often the spiritual wickedness is carried out by a Religious Nut. Paul writes in Philippians 1:12-18a; that while some tend to speak in support of the Gospel, there are some that lack love. Paul didn’t approve of some of these Religious Nuts, but he did not allow it to bother him. Paul says in verse 18 that the master should be announced and less importance be placed on the servant.

            As Christians, you should only concern yourself with the Fruit of the Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to dwell within you. If you were to examine yourself, what would you see; Fruit of the Spirit or a Religious Nut? Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.”

            As I began studying about the three crosses, another question came to mind; why does Easter fall on a different day each year? Record keeping, along with the lunar calendars of 354.36 days, and the Julian calendars of 365.25 days caused most of the confusion. In 325 AD the Ecumenical Council in Nicea (present day Turkey) adopted the following accord: “Easter shall fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon following spring equinox.” You can find more on the Easter date by reading, “Why does Easter’s date wander?” by Farrell Brown. You can read the article online at http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/aprilweb-only/4-5-42.0.html

            We have heard the story of how Jesus was crucified, but why three crosses? Jesus with his importance could have easily been there alone. When I read Luke 23:32-43, I find an importance to the three crosses. A thief hung to the right of Jesus and another thief hung on Jesus’ left side. Jesus hung on that cross like a common criminal, disgraced, and enduring excruciating pain. Roman soldiers gambled for his clothes and religious leaders made fun of him. The two thieves also taunted Jesus by suggesting that he not only save himself, but that he save them also. It is recorded in Luke 23:42 that one of the thieves actually asked for forgiveness, and was forgiven by Jesus in verse 43. The cross of suffering, stood between the cross of repentance, and the cross of rejection. I believe that there were three crosses at Calvary so that Jesus could finish His work in a world divided between acceptance and rejection.

            Crucifixion was the most horrifying means of torture the world may ever have known. Jesus was not killed on that cross but chose to give up his life for the salvation of the world. If Jesus had not freely given his life he would not have been able to take it up again and be resurrected. The sin of the whole world was carried by Jesus as he hung on that cross.

            The name Easter originated form the goddess of spring, Eastra, and was adopted in the 8^th century to designate the resurrection. This is but another example of HELL in the church; using a pagan name for a Christian celebration. Easter Sunday should be called Resurrection Sunday. The cross of suffering stood between a world of light and a world of dark. The choice is yours, the cross of repentance, or the cross of rejection. Make this your Resurrection Sunday.

            David wrote in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” The psalmist recognized that we are like sheep with God as our Shepherd. We like sheep are very prone to getting ourselves into situations that only a shepherd could save us from. David realized the guidance of a good shepherd was the only way to accomplish life’s journey. The shepherd will lead us through both inner and outer struggles of life.

            The Bible says in John 10:1-6 that Jesus is the good shepherd. Verse one says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He who enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” This verse tells us that there is only one way or door and that Jesus is that only door. To enter the fold by any other means would be wrong. Verse two continues, “But he who enters in by the Door is the shepherd of the sheep.” Jesus is the only true shepherd; there is no other way or door. Verse three says, “To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.” This door is opened to Jesus, the only one who had perfectly kept the law. True believers, which are the sheep, will recognize the shepherd’s voice. This is a connection to the shepherd that only salvation brings.  Following of God’s word will lead you to better things. Verse four, “When He puts forth His own sheep, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him; for they know His voice.” Not only is He the shepherd, but also the owner of the sheep. God loves us as an owner would love his sheep and also as the shepherd who cares for them. As a Christian you will know the voice to follow. Verse 5, “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.” Jesus is referring to thieves, robbers, and false prophets as the strangers. True sheep will not be tricked by the strangers’ voice. Verse 6, “This parable spoke Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spoke unto them.” This parable was not understood by the Pharisees as they were not true sheep.

           Jesus, in John 10: 7-18, explains the parable of the Good Shepherd. Jesus clearly states that He is the only shepherd; past, present, and future. True sheep would receive salvation, since they would recognize His voice and not the voice of the false prophet. Jesus referred himself as the door, the church. The Door, allows the sheep to come in for safety and to go out for pasture. Jesus told the Pharisees that the thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came that we might have life without fear of a false way of life. A true shepherd would not run in fear but would be willing to give his life for his sheep. Jesus in John 10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them I must bring….” claimed the Gentiles as part of His flock. Jesus, as the true shepherd claimed all of mankind into His flock.

            Jesus told the Pharisees that He would lay down His life and take it up again for His sheep. No one would take His life; it would be willingly laid down for His flock. His Father had given him the ability to not only give his life, but to take it back again. Jesus was obedient to his purpose here on earth. He laid down his life so that as sheep of His flock would have a door of protection from evil. The price has been paid, the choice is yours, claim victory in Jesus and enter into the protection of His fold.