The Short Month

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV). The month of February is the shortest of our calendar. Thinking about that brought me to our reading today. The Apostle Paul uses two important words to help us look at our time. The Greek word, translated “making the best use,” is exagorazo. It actually comes from two Greek words, ek (meaning from or from out of) and agorazo (meaning to purchase). Exagorazo appears four times in the Bible. Other than here, we find it in Colossians and Galatians. Exagarazo is a marketplace term. When you redeem someone from slavery, as Christ redeemed us, you are purchasing them, purchasing them out of (exagarazo) their slavery. You are paying the price to take them out of a bad situation. The Greek word for “time” is kairos. But not just any idea of time: Kairos isn’t about minutes and seconds and wristwatches and sundials. It’s not about the flow of time or a specific measurement of time. Instead, kairos carries with it the idea of the right time, the idea of a pre-determined time or an opportune time. “How much time before lunch?” would not use the word kairos. “Is it time to have lunch?” would. One is speaking of time in minutes and seconds, where the other is speaking of a point in time. Furthermore, kairos doesn’t have to be an instant. It could be a short window of time, like time to take a break. Or it could be a longer window of time, as in harvest time. And in those examples, the kairos is the time where you better get moving. Those crops aren’t going to harvest themselves. It is the appointed time, the proper time, the slice of time where you have an opportunity, but that kairos is going to eventually slip away. Redeeming the time, to exagarazo the kairos, you are purchasing out of slavery the fleeting opportunities that you are presented with. In other words, you “make the most of every opportunity” or “make the most of your time.” How can we best do that? Paul says it is through understanding the will of God. That might seem to be a difficult thing if it were not for the specific direction of the Scripture. Micah helps enormously: With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8 ESV).

To Whom Shall We Go?

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69 ESV). Our reading today provides us a very intimate look in the earthly ministry of Jesus. After the miraculous feeding of the 5000, the people wanted Jesus to regularly provide food for them like the manna in the wilderness. Jesus told them that there was something much greater to seek after. He encouraged them to look for food that lasts forever. Then He explained that it came through His body and blood. This was a thought so difficult for them to grasp that many turned away convinced that He was not the One. After all, the law that God gave forbade such a thing. But as we see so frequently in John, the people are taking a spiritual expression to literal extremes. John explains it to us in the first verses of this gospel. He states plainly that Jesus is the Word made flesh. Some have taken these words just as the Jews of Jesus' day and said that the bread of communion is transformed into the flesh of Jesus and the wine becomes His blood. There are some today who still hold to that theology. However, when we come to verse 63 we see that he is clearly referring to His Word and His Spirit. At any rate, this teaching marks the end of Jesus’ popular period with the multitudes. The crowds would not be back until Jesus goes south in the last month of His earthly life. It is interesting to wonder why Jesus made it so hard. After all, by every standard of measurement, he was a success. People were coming to Him by the thousands. If Jesus were a modern preacher today, every news network would seek an interview; all the Christian media outlets would try to encapsulate his methodology for their use; and, no venue would be big enough to hold the crowds he would draw. However, most of the people had come to Jesus for the wrong reasons. They wanted food and health, not the Spirit and truth. There were a few who were desperate for the words of life. When Jesus asked if even His closest would leave too, Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." I find a great challenge in this passage for all of us. We ought to ask ourselves, why do we follow him? How desperate are we for Spirit and truth? Nothing and no one else can provide us with eternal life. There are no new programs or messages. It is the same “old, old story of Jesus and His love.” That’s the chorus we should sing… I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love. How about you… to whom will you go?

The Pursuit of Perfection

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 ESV). I have one last quote from the afterword of my book. This quote was written by Aaron. Again, I want to be sure that your focus is not on me, but on the truth that I have tried to impart and follow. I can assure you that I have gotten it wrong at least as much as I got it right. The key is not in the doing, but the striving. Perhaps it will be an inspiration and encouragement to you. Aaron wrote: Perfect. This one little adjective carries perhaps more weight in our society than any other. Whether it’s a physical or emotional goal, we all seem to be seeking perfection in our lives. Unfortunately—as we all discover at some point in our lives—perfection doesn’t exist. This is probably the greatest lesson that I learned from my father growing up. Now some might say that this is at the very least a quite ordinary lesson, or some might even go so far as to say it’s encouraging the mediocre, but I see it in a different light. When we stop striving for perfection it isn’t that we’re no longer working to better our lives and the lives of those we love, but rather we learn to focus on the things that really matter. Letting go of our incessant need for perfection allows us to stop and appreciate all of the wonderful moments that come and go throughout our lives. I look around at some of the people in my life, whether they be friends, coworkers, or extended family members, and I see how the pressure for perfection from their parents growing up has negatively affected the rest of their lives. They have become convinced that anything short of perfect is somehow a failure. I feel so blessed to have experienced a different childhood—one where my father never asked for perfect. Instead, he asked for my best. Whether it was my grades in school, a tennis match, or a piano recital, he never demanded that I be perfect. He encouraged me to do my best. This encouragement is what I am most thankful for in my life, as it allowed (and continues to allow) me to explore life without fear of disappointing. The pursuit of perfection indeed is empty and unfulfilling. We simply cannot get there from here! Demanding perfection from ourselves or others is more than God does with us. It is arrogant to think that we have the right to demand more than He does. The real key is in the journey. I have often reminded myself that every failure is merely another step in the progress I am making to my ultimate position of glory through the work of Christ. My failures become experiences that make that journey better in so many ways. I learn from each of them that I may be wiser in the future; I recognize them as the markers of life. Be kind to yourself, your family, and others. Do your best and encourage others to do the same. Then celebrate the experience as God works for your good!

Loving One Another

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:9-13 ESV). Yesterday I quoted from the afterword of my latest book. Reading those snippets from my sons made me rethink some of the basics of the faith. Today I am going to reproduce the afterword from David. It will again seem to be self-serving. I hope you will recognize that it is intended to be an encouragement to you as it was to me. It is a call to me to reevaluate and renew my commitment to love my family as Christ has loved me. All of the family counseling I do revolves around the breakdown of this principle. Let me use David’s words to inspire and encourage you as it did me: When my Dad asked me to write this afterword for his book and tell people just a little bit what it was like growing up with him as my father it gave me a great opportunity to remember back and think about my childhood. My Dad taught me many things, but one of the things I most remember and cherish to this day, teaching me is love. Not only the love he showed for all of us kids growing up but how to be a loving husband to my wife. He showed me how to be a true man and take care of your family and always be the strong backbone and center for the family. Nothing means more to my Dad than my Mom and his three boys. I see so many of my friends and co-workers that struggle to even be around their family. However, to me the time I get to spend with them is the most important thing. It saddens me to hear those stories from others, but I am also so fortunate never to have experienced it firsthand. I don’t get to see my father as often as I would like anymore because of the distance we live apart, but we still talk often and I always keep him in the loop with what’s going on here in Texas. Because of the love my Dad showed me all of my live it has helped me to be a better man and husband to my wife. I wish that I could duplicate that sense of love and commitment to everyone I come into contact with in life. It might mean the end of the ministry I do now; but, wouldn’t that be a good thing? I’d like to be able to really “retire” knowing there were no more husbands and wives who can no longer find a way to be with one another because they don’t “love one another” any longer. I’d like to stop ministering to parents who have lost the ability to deal with their children because they have no longer found their children “perfect.” Real love changes how we see one another. It extends our patience; it expands our understanding. Or, as Paul said, “…love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV). I need to love more; don’t you?

Invincible

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV). Yesterday I mentioned a Scripture. It comes from our reading today. The Apostle Paul said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Today I have a long quote from the afterword of the book I have most recently written, A Time to Laugh and a Time to Cry. It is written by my oldest son, Kyle. It will sound self-serving. Please don’t take it that way. I use it only as an illustration to emphasize how wrong I was in my early years as I lived within my own strength rather than that of God. Once I learned that lesson and began to depend more on His grace, so many good things happened in my life and the lives of those I love. I desire that you be inspired by the Scripture, because His grace is sufficient to you as well! Kyle wrote: When I was a child, my father was larger than life to me. On Sundays, I watched him thunder from behind a pulpit, delivering sermons to hundreds of people sitting in the pews of our church. Dad also taught me how to hunt and fish. He spent hours upon hours pitching batting practice or catching baseballs from me as I pitched off of the mound he had built in our backyard. When I was six years old and decided that I wanted to play soccer, my father went out and bought all of the books on soccer he could find and began to learn a game that was totally foreign to him and just about every other man his age living in East Texas in the 1980s. That was Dad – preacher, baseball and soccer coach, hunter, and fisherman. Like a lot of kids, I thought he could do just about anything. Also, like most kids, I was ever so wrong. When I was in high school, Dad got really sick. At first the doctors thought it was arthritis, but it wasn’t. It was a rare disease called hemochromatosis that caused iron to build up in his bloodstream, eventually leading to iron deposits in his joints and tissues. One of the prescribed treatments was weekly phlebotomies – removal of a pint of blood each week. This and other treatments made Dad incredibly weak and sick. Not the sort of thing that I was used to seeing. During this period, I noticed some other changes as well. If Dad lost his temper with one of us, he apologized. More and more though, he didn’t lose his temper. Times when I had broken the family rules were times of discipline to be sure, but they were also moments when I sensed the unconditional love and acceptance of my father. One other thing, Dad also talked about ‘grace’ – all of the time! See, during this time, I believe that he was experiencing the sufficient grace of his Father – his Heavenly Father – so that His power could be made perfect in Dad’s weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Dad eventually got better and now manages his disease with much less frequent trips to the phlebotomist. But things have been different ever since, and how glad I am for that. I am equally glad for that! Turn to Him… His grace and only His grace is sufficient!

Come Unto Me

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV). Today’s devotional might be a little difficult for some to read. I don’t desire it to be so; however, I know that our traditions and embedded beliefs often make it difficult to hear the Scripture. There are so many proverbs we have come to believe through the years. Sometimes we have even attributed them to the Scripture. You’ve heard them before. One of my favorites is “God helps those who help themselves.” I have heard that one quoted many times. It was wrong the first time I heard it, and continues to be wrong today. God does want our participation in His work. Of that we may be certain. However, the prerequisite for God helping us is not anything we may do (cf. Ephesians 2:8-10). God’s grace is simply not dependent on anything we do. But, I have diverged a bit. The proverb that is both dangerous and destructive is another one that is very common among Christians. It usually is quoted something like: “God will never give you more than you can handle.” Well, let me know how that’s working for you! I know that sounds like the ranting of a bitter, angry old man who hates his station in life and the trials that he has faced. Actually, it is quite the opposite. I am a very happy old man, who has faced some interesting challenges. They all broke me in some way or another. However, what I discovered in the breaking was a God who loves me so much that He came in and carried my load. He exchanged my impossible burden for one that was manageable and even light. These trials that seemed to swamp me in the flood of pain and difficulty, threatening to overwhelm me brought me a great gift. When I recognized that gift, I also recognized an incredible truth. God is not interested in helping me make it. In fact, his desire is that I die. Oh, I’m not talking about the death that is a part of the judgment. Jesus has already taken care of that in the Cross. I’m talking about that death that a grain of wheat experiences when it is planted into the ground so that it might sprout bringing forth an incredible harvest. I’m talking about that death that allows me to experience the glorious victory that awaits me in Christ. I’m talking about that death that gives me the depth to walk beside others who have yet to find their real strength is in their weakness. Like the Apostle Paul, I am grateful to have found the truth that His grace is sufficient! How about you? Are you still trudging through life? Well, Jesus said, “Come unto Me!”

Don't Forget

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 ESV). I was reminded of a very important truth found in our reading today by the following humorous story: A couple in their nineties are both having problems remembering things. They decide to go to the doctor for a checkup. The doctor tells them that they're physically okay, but they might want to start writing things down to help them remember. Later that night while watching TV, the old man gets up from his chair. His wife asks, "Where are you going?" "To the kitchen," he replies. "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?" "Sure." "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" she asks. "No, I can remember it." "Well, I'd like some strawberries on top, too. You'd better write it down, because you know you'll forget it." He says, "I can remember that! You want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries." "I'd also like whipped cream. I'm certain you'll forget that, so you'd better write it down!" she retorts. Irritated, he says, "I don't need to write it down, I can remember it! Leave me alone! Ice cream with strawberries and whipped cream -- I got it, for goodness sake!" Then he grumbles into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes the old man returns from the kitchen and hands his wife a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment and says... "Where's my toast? I have found that my level of forgetfulness has increased with the number of birthdays I have celebrated! I prefer to say that it is not a function of age, but just the amount of information that I have had to store in my brain as I get older! At least that sounds better than me simply becoming forgetful. Yet, I find we all become forgetful concerning the things God has blessed us with in our lives. And, it seems it is easier to forget when things are going well than when they aren’t going so well. Maybe we should start to write it down! Personal journaling is a very effective way to both chronicle the work of God in our lives and to remember the blessings we have received through his work. I have some of these journal entries saved in my files that are pretty old. It is amazing to read them after so many years. God’s grace is instantly renewed and refreshed as I read them. If you haven’t written any of these stories yet, start today. It won’t be long until you will find great comfort in both the writing and the later reading of them. It is a wonderful way of making sure we simply don’t forget!

Things Aren't Always What They Seem

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 ESV). There’s a great story from an unknown author that illustrates the truth in our reading today. Things simply aren’t always as they seem. Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem." The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem." Of course this little story is one of fiction. However, the truth is that of the Scripture we read today. God has promised to work all things to our good. When things don't turn out the way you think they should, we should remember this promise. We might not know it until sometime later, but the good is already accomplished through the will and purpose of God. I have found in my life that some of the things I never thought could be used for my good have turned out to be some of the best provisions from God. You may be facing one of those times now in your life. Trust the work and will of God in your life. He has not failed you. He will bring good to you! Things aren’t always what they seem!

Sing tot he Lord

Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. (Psalm 96:1-4 ESV). There are many stories surrounding some of the great hymns of the faith. They always encourage me; I hope they will do so for you as well. After all, what better way to praise the Lord than with the singing of some of our favorite hymns. The psalmist certainly knew that and encourages us to sing to the Lord! One of the great hymnists of the 17th century was Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748). He wrote as many as 600 hymns, including Joy to the World and Alas and Did My Savior Bleed. While there aren’t many stories surrounding his songs, there are two that stand out. The first of these is from the writings of John Vassar. He was a lay pastor and missionary in the late 1800’s. He had the habit of going from house to house to distribute tracts and tell people about Jesus. At one particular house, when a woman slammed the door in his face, Vasser wearily sat down on her doorstep and began to sing the Isaac Watts song, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed. Upon hearing the beautiful words of the hymn, the woman opened the door, opened her home to the evangelist, and listened to him explain the grace of God in Christ ultimately leading to her redemption that day! The second story was during the lifetime of Fanny Crosby. She lived from 1820-1915, and was one of the best known women in America of her time. She is still well known today as the blind woman who wrote more than 8,000 hymns, including Draw Me Nearer, Blessed Assurance, and Take the World but Give Me Jesus. In 1851, when Fanny Crosby was 31, she attended a Methodist revival meeting. It was there while the congregation sang the last line of Isaac Watt's song, Alas and Did My Savior Bleed, that Fanny prayed the words of the hymn "There Lord, I give myself away..." and found herself a changed woman. Just one of her hymns is a favorite of mine; perhaps it is one of yours as well: Blessed Assurance. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long; This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior all the day long.

Softly and Tenderly

For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? This God is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. (2 Samuel 22:32-37 ESV). Our text today was the words of David near the end of his life. God certainly had blessed David’s life in so many ways. He had been taken from caring for his father’s sheep to ruling the nation of Israel. He had seen great military victories with the help of God, including the slaying of Goliath. The Lord had given a host of mighty men to serve with and under David. God used David to write many of the Psalms. With the help of God, David became one of the greatest men to ever live. David said to God, “your gentleness made me great.” When we think of God and all of His powerful attributes, we might not consider His gentleness. The Bible records for us numerous examples of God’s might and power. We see such demonstrations as the lightning and thunder on Mt. Sinai, the earth opening and swallowing the rebellious Korah, the dividing of the Red Sea, the feeding of Israel with manna, or the floodwaters covering the wicked in Noah’s day. However, just as surely as God is powerful, He is also gentle. If He so desired, God could always act in overpowering might, but it is not His choice to do so. God’s choice was to send His beloved Son to be the propitiation for our sins; to restore our relationship with him in a way that nothing could ever break it again. The work of Christ could have been one of judgment rather than redemption. That will be his work when he comes again. However, when he took humanity into himself, becoming a man himself, he came with gentleness and compassion. We should not take that gentleness for a lack of justice. In fact, the cruelty of the cross speaks of the depth of the justice demanded by the holiness of God in regard to our sin. Sin is serious, however, God is great. This is revealed in His gentleness. He can as easily speak in a still small voice as in the thunder. God is not overbearing or brutish. He is not cruel, unkind, or unreasonable. He does not act impulsively or inconsiderately. God is approachable and kind. God could accomplish His will by being forceful and demanding, but that is not the way He acts toward us in this day. Will Thompson wrote the perfect hymn to summarize this wonderful truth: Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; See, on the portals He’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. Come home, come home, you who are weary, come home; Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! Come on home! That’s where you will be forever secure!

At the Butcher Block

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:21-24 ESV). It’s strange how memories come back to us at the oddest times. Many years ago when I was a teenager, I remember skipping school one afternoon (and, no I am not excusing such behavior). I really didn’t have anything I wanted to do; I just didn’t want to go to school that afternoon. I was a senior in high school and most of my classes were pretty easy and my grades were good. I just didn’t want to be in class. So, I left. As I got into the car I knew I could go anywhere. I could go to the beach and spend a little time running up and down the sand; I could’ve gone home and gotten one of my rifles and made a trip to the woods to hunt a little; or, I could’ve simply gone home and done nothing. My choice was different than any of these. I went to the store where I knew my Dad was working. He asked why I wasn’t in school. Of course I lied, though I’m sure he knew the truth. I put on an apron and began to help him with the butchering for the rest of the day. We worked the rest of the day, side-by-side, talking and working at the old wooden butcher block in the meat market of our store. It was one of the most memorable afternoons of my teens. As I read our text for today, I remembered that afternoon. The great gift of being one with the Father is in the sharing of one another’s presence. Here Jesus tells us to “ask” of the Father. The word doesn’t primarily reference a request for provision. It indicates a request for information and explanation. Jesus was their source for understanding everything about the new revelation of their relationship. They were not being tutored by the Law any longer. They were to be led by the Great Shepherd. Now that’s the heart of our relationship with God! Isn’t it interesting how much of our prayers are about stuff. Some of the stuff is pretty important. I pray for my family to be kept safe, that’s important. However, it shouldn’t be the any more important than understanding more of the new life that God has given me. It would be easy to think I am simply reemphasizing the need to more Bible Study. That’s good. But, that’s not the impact of this verse. Jesus’ resurrection was the crowning event allowing us access to the very side of our heavenly Father. Most of the time he will speak to us from the Scripture, but there are other times when we will hear his voice in the beauty of the sunrise or the majesty of his creation. Those are the times we should draw aside and just stand beside at the old butcher block and listen. I’m glad I had that time with my Dad. After high school I got busy with life and those days were few and further apart. Funny how that happens with our heavenly Father as well. Take care to spend time with Him every day!

Jesus' Prayer

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” (Luke 22:31-34 ESV). There are many references in the Gospels of the prayers of Jesus. Some of them actually recall the words he used; others simply mention that he prayed. I find the most encouragement from our reading today. The context is immediately prior to Jesus’ arrest. He is celebrating the Seder with the disciples and begins to speak in a direct way to his death and their resulting faltering faith. Finally he tells them that one of them will betray him to his death. Judas’ plot is revealed and he departs the group. It is in this charged atmosphere that Peter boasts of his allegiance and Jesus foretells his failure. It is at this moment that Luke tells us of Jesus’ prayer. There is an important grammatical feature we should note. Jesus said that Satan has asked to sift “you” (plural in Greek), but he told Peter, "But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail." This time the Greek takes the singular “you'”. Jesus told Peter that he did not just pray for all the disciples, but he prayed for Peter by name. I find that incredibly comforting in my life. When Jesus prays for us, it is not merely a general intercession, but a specific supplication for strength and comfort in our troubles. Peter was indeed severely sifted by Satan. He denied our Lord three times. Jesus knew that Peter would fall. But that would not be the end. Peter, like everyone besides John fled in the face of the danger of association with Jesus. Peter couldn’t imagine how this could be even a remote possibility; however, Jesus saw it clearly. That night as Jesus was questioned by Caiphas, he gathered in the firelight on the fringe of Jesus’ line of sight. He was asked three times about his association with Jesus; and, three times he denied even knowing who Jesus was! When the rooster crowed, their eyes met and surely Peter remembered his boast and Jesus’ words earlier in the evening. To say he felt like a failure is surely an understatement! Winnowed like the wheat; Satan had tested him and he had failed! Haven’t you felt that kind of failure before? I certainly have. Well, I have good news for you. Jesus has prayed for you! While we don’t know the words of this prayer for Peter, we do know the words of his prayer for us. John recalls: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:20-21 ESV). Being one with the Father is the singular position of eternal life. There is much to be said for our position in the face of the trials of this life. Perhaps most important of them all is that it is a declaration our ultimate victory, regardless of our past!

The Power of God - Pt 3

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV). Third, we must note that Jesus didn’t die so we wouldn’t have to change. Jesus died so we could change. Without his death, there is no justification before God. Without this justification, there is no Holy Spirit coming to heal our rebellious souls and make our small acts of worship worthy. There can be no sanctification without the death of Jesus. Without Jesus we’re trapped. We are slaves to our own sinful desires and couldn’t obey God even if we wanted to. And God had every right to leave us this way, but he didn’t. From the depths of his loving will, because of grace alone, he sent Jesus to take on our sin. This encounter with such unimaginable grace will change you. Will you still sin? Yes, until the day you die. But, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christian will persevere. God will begin to grow your love for him and his people and begin to kill off your love for your sin and self. Salvation is both a radical directional change as well as a slow, steady march, which allows us to be more and more like Christ each day. Grace not only saves us, it trains us. It teaches us to take Jesus’ side against our sin rather than the other way around. It is this grace that brings you to repentance, not like a kid forced to eat his vegetables, but like a slave shedding his chains for the first time. I find it amusing, though thoroughly tragic, that far too many people simply don’t understand the truth of grace in our sanctification. We hear the message to just try harder, do better, or make a greater change. Any transformation that is not rooted in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit will only fail miserably. We simply can’t muster up the strength within ourselves to change; only God can change us. He has provided the instrument and path for that change through Christ. That is good news! That is something I can have hope in!

The Power of God - Pt 4

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV). Fourth, Jesus did not die to raise our moral standard. This statement might be a bit surprising to some; however, it is an essential part of this greater truth. The moral standard doesn’t need to be changed. God has had the same moral standard since the beginning of Creation. He has revealed himself and this standard in both direct and indirect revelations of his will and purpose. Adam and Eve were given the simplest of instructions about morality. Their problem was not that they needed to raise the standard of their morals. They needed the power to overcome their unwillingness to obey. They had a sin problem; not a rule problem. Look around the churches of our day. Don’t you wonder how many people are there for morals rather than salvation? How many want law rather than grace? Isn’t it more acceptable to get a list of things to do than a principle of life? I have often heard it said that the problem with grace is that it’s not useful. It’s not marketable. It’s also not too complicated, and oh yeah, it’s free. Can you think of anything less American? And yet, grace is all we need. Our religious, pharisaical hearts scream for us to add our “Do” to Jesus’ “Done.” But he doesn’t need it. Somehow we’ve fooled ourselves into believing that it is our spiritual resumé that will make us acceptable to God. We get comfortable with a moral standard to which we can attain, and then pass judgment on all those that can’t. Our pride and self-righteousness are just as offensive to God as the sins of the murderer and the terrorist. And they both have one thing in common: they need the redemption that is found at the foot of the Cross. Jesus didn’t die so we could amass a spiritual resumé of good works, but so that we could rest in his righteousness as we obey out of love and humility. Jesus died for things much, much greater. That is the power of our God!

The Power of God - Pt 2

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV). Happy Valentines’ Day! Today we continue to look at some of the things that the Cross Event is not in our lives. Remember, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the greatest love letter that could ever be written. Second, Jesus did not die to be the poster boy for our political, social, or economic causes. Whether you call yourself liberal, conservative, an environmentalist, a conservationist, or any other “ism,” Jesus didn’t die for your cause. Strangely in our world the name of Jesus has been used for all these “isms” and more. It’s so easy to take our own traditions, worldviews, and causes, paste Jesus’ name on them and call it “Christian.” Jesus isn’t a conservative republican. Jesus isn’t a progressive liberal. Jesus is God. Jesus’ death was the glorious inauguration of his coming Kingdom, not an invitation to use his name to legitimize our own little kingdoms. Please don’t mistake my remarks for a belief that I do not support many of these good causes. I’m for social and political reform; but, we cannot forget that those things cannot save. They cannot change people’s sinful hearts, they cannot save people’s souls from eternal death, and in the end they cannot offer anything more than a better life in this world. We, as believers, ought to remind ourselves that we have one message: the gospel of Jesus Christ’s atoning death, glorious resurrection, and coming Kingdom. We ought to be defined by that; preach that and let everything else come second. That is the truth that sets a man truly free. Whether it is in our personal relationship with one another, or in more global settings, freedom can only come through Christ. Armies do not win the peace. Jesus does. Nations do not secure freedom. Jesus does. Put your energy into eternal things that will not change with time.

The Power of God - Pt 1

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV). The death and resurrection of Jesus is an essential of our faith. I have found it incredibly more misunderstood in our day than any other doctrine of Christianity. For the next few days I want to draw some conclusions about the efficacy of the Cross. We will look at it from both a negative as well as positive perspective. We will see what the Cross was not and what it was. First, we must understand that Jesus didn’t die to make you healthy, wealthy, secure, and comfortable. This may be your current state, but don’t let that to lead you into thinking it’s a promise. God blesses those that belong to him, sometimes with temporal comfort but spiritual chastening, and sometimes with temporal suffering but spiritual flourishing. There is only one sure sign of God’s favor: the death of his Son. However, there is a devastatingly harmful teaching present in churches across America, which claims that physical “blessings” are a sure sign of God’s favor. Not only does this fly in the face of the entire Bible, but it is also a horrible offense to those Christians going through immense persecution in countries all over the world, often in impoverished circumstances. Travel to Iraq and Syria and tell the Christians there who have been forced from their homes, some brutally killed, that the solution to their plight is simply more faith. They are living and dying in their faith and God’s promise is that they will inherit the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matthew 5:10). There is only one sure sign of God’s favor: the death of his Son. Jesus’ death means he has taken on your sin, in exchange for his righteousness. God has shown us “the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7) These are the only riches we are promised in this life; the joy and peace that comes with knowing that you have a good, loving God that has saved you at the infinite cost of his only begotten Son. God’s great grace to us is a wealth far beyond the material, temporal possessions we prize so highly. For those who cling to the mistaken concept of God’s blessing resting in the things of this world, there is a much greater prosperity available to you through the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior. With Valentines’ Day on the horizon, this is certainly the greatest message of love of any ever written!

When I Grow Up

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (Psalm 139:13-16 ESV). As soon as you read the title of today’s devotional there are many of you who would simply remark that I have never grown up. So, why worry even ask the question? My hope is that you are not in the same place that I am and you are interested in the answer! There’s a wonderful little story that I came across recently. Meg F. Quijano relates the following incident that happened upon her return from a meeting of the National Organization for Women. Her five-year-old daughter, Lisa, greeted her with the news that when she grew up she wanted to be a nurse. There was a time when nursing was thought by many to be a “woman’s job.” She was very concerned that her daughter was limiting her future by the “gender bias of the present culture.” Quijano told Lisa she could be anything she wanted to be. “You can be a lawyer, a surgeon, a banker, President of the United States; you can be anything.” Lisa looked a little dubious. “Anything? Anything at all?” She thought about it, and then her face lit up with ambition. “All right,” she said. “I’ll be a horse.” While the humor in the story does convey an important message, I’m afraid many people miss it altogether. The real question we ought to seek the answer for is not what I want to be when I grow up; but, rather what has God created me to be? Our reading today is so clear. Before anything that was made was indeed made, God designed me. That includes all of the characteristics and gifts I possess. Of course, this is not to say we don’t play a role in developing those characteristics and gifts. We do. As we mature we develop various interests according to these characteristics and gifts. Some are gifted artistically. They become exposed to the arts and find an interest that could ultimately lead to a marvelous career and life-long path. Others may find their gifts tend to follow a path of analytical or scientific pursuit. These individual hone their gifts through education in these areas. Is one more important than the other? Where would we be in our world without the arts or sciences? Tragically we tend to undervalue one while overvaluing the other. Whatever pursuit you have chosen is vital to the plans and purposes of God. Do it with faithfulness and commitment. And, if you feel you’re in the wrong path, seek help to determine where God wants you. It is never too late. Who knows, maybe I’ll be a horse when I grow up!

On Hold

O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! (Psalm 39:4-6 ESV). How would you like to spend 2 years making phone calls to people who aren't home? Sound absurd? According to one time management study, that's how much time the average person spends trying to return calls to people who never seem to be in. Not only that, we spend 6 months waiting for the traffic light to turn green, and another 8 months reading junk mail. These unusual statistics should cause us to do time-use evaluation. Once we recognize that simple "life maintenance" can chip away at our time in such huge blocks, we will see how vital it is that we don't busy ourselves "in vain" (Psalm 39:6). Psalm 39 gives us some perspective. In David's complaint to God, he said, "You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before you" (v. 5). He meant that to an eternal God our time on earth is brief. And He doesn't want us to waste it. When we do, we throw away one of the most precious commodities He gives us. Each minute is an irretrievable gift and an unredeemable slice of eternity. Sure, we have to make the phone calls, and we must wait at the light. However, we must examine what we are doing with the rest of our time. I have seen it said that “time is the inexplicable raw material of everything. With it, all is possible; without it, nothing. The supply of time is truly a daily miracle, an affair genuinely astonishing when one examines it. You wake up in the morning, and lo! your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of the unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life! It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. It is not something that can be stolen. And no one receives either more or less than you receive. Moreover, you cannot draw on its future. Impossible to get into debt! You can only waste the passing moment. You cannot waste tomorrow; it is kept for you. You cannot waste the next hour; it is kept for you.” There is so much truth to be found in David’s psalm today. From all of it I take comfort in a proverb I have adopted for many years: Never let past failures or future fears rob you of present joy. We are given today as a great gift of grace. And, we are given the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to be able to use every minute for God’s glory and our good. How’s your time management?

Picture of God's Grace

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. (Ephesians 3:7-12 ESV). Paul understood God's grace. As a persecutor of the Church, Paul stood and watched the stoning of Stephen. He had made his goal to keep people away from learning of the gospel of Christ. Now, as Paul writes to the Ephesian church, Paul is a chief spokesman for God's Kingdom. He has been elevated to a position of prominence in the New Testament church. Deserving death for his actions, Paul is given prominence. The apostle understood grace. Recently I received a wonderful portrait of this grace. A couple, having one natural child, unselfishly opened their home to six other children, whom they now have, or are in the process of adopting. Their children, who instantly start to call them "Mom" and "Dad", come from various races and backgrounds. They are truly a "blended", God-made family. One pair of the children is a biological brother and sister. Because of misbehavior of the boy, the two had been tossed from foster home to foster home all their lives. It was then that this couple started the adoption process so they would finally have a real home. Recently the boy began once again to cause problems. The fear this time, however, was that the boy would cause physical harm to others in the household. They knew they had to do something to protect the other children. The boy has since gone through evaluations which have revealed a mild mental retardation. He has been placed temporarily under the care of doctors. It was hoped that now the boy could get the help he needed. The picture of grace, however, came from the little girl. When she learned that her brother would leave the home, she assumed her position would remain as it had all her life. She assumed she would have to leave the house as well. She asked her adoptive parents "Do I have to leave too?" They quickly assured her that she was now home. She never had to leave again, no matter what! Isn't that what God did for us all? Deserving nothing but condemnation, God, who is rich in mercy, made a way for you and I to live with Him throughout eternity. God caused His Son to give up royalty, lower Himself to the point of death on the Cross, so that you and I might be saved. We become a part of the family of God, based only on what Jesus did at Calvary! Isn’t grace truly amazing!

Finding the Goodness of God - Pt 2

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (John 15:1-6 ESV). Today’s reading is very specific. Jesus simply states that we cannot have any part of God unless we are “abiding” in Him. I know we have heard that principle on many occasions; however, I doubt we really know what it means. Our relationship to Christ is unlike anything else in the human realm. It can be described only by comparing it to relationships we are familiar with. It is like a deep friendship. It is like two people in love with each other, or like the love and respect shared by a parent and child. The vine-and-branches concept makes the ideal metaphor, because it is filled with parallels to our relationship with Christ. A branch grows through its connection with the vine, and we grow because of our relationship with Christ. A branch is nothing apart from the vine, and we can do nothing apart from Him. A branch draws strength from the vine, and we become strong through Him. So, if we need that kind of relationship, how do we get it? It begins with knowing Him. We can only get to know God through the Scripture. The more we read the Bible and study the promises it contains the more we will connect with Him, hearing Him speak to us, receiving His love, transforming us, and growing in our faith. We have to read the Bible every day to keep our connection with God alive. There really isn’t a short-cut to develop this relationship. The Bible is how we hear God speak. We ought to also be disciplined in our prayer life. While God speaks to us through the Scripture, we speak to Him through prayer. Can you imagine never speaking to the love of your life? Of course not! Let’s go back to the vine and branches imagery. While the vine provides the connection to the roots, which bring the water and nutrients of the soil to the branches, the branches must be connected to receive those life-giving provisions. It is a dual relationship. It is not one in which the branches merely take; they also give. We ought to be giving through our praise and prayer. How’s your connection?

Finding the Goodness of God - Pt 1

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:13-16 ESV). Yesterday we saw the importance of seeing the goodness of God in the ordinary blessings of life. I am sure that many began to ask “how?” Today we will begin to examine that part of this principle. The first principle is to understand with absolute certainty that God loves you. Anybody who has accepted Jesus into their life must know that God loves them and that Jesus died because of this amazing love. However, knowing things in our heads is not the same as knowing things in our hearts and accepting God’s love can sometimes be a bit more complex. Many people I see each day struggle with guilt. They have come to a crisis of life and feel as if they have failed. They believe that if they could have somehow done better, been better, or performed better they would not have failed. While it is true that all of us have looked at past failures with some level of regret, we must not take those failures into our present life without the knowledge of the love of God. He does not measure us against our performance. We are measured by the performance of Christ, who is perfect, and has taken our place before God. His love for us is the same as his love for His beloved Son. Let me dig a little deeper with you. Our focus often is how we might compare ourselves to what we ought to be. We begin to look at ourselves and others and come to the conclusion that we ought to be a better husband, parent, employee, friend, neighbor, or church member. This is often the message of so many sermons and self-help books. The problem is that it can only lead to failure. Just as soon as I get better at any role I have, I find there is still more to be done and better is not good enough. Some have suggested that we don’t need to compare ourselves to others; rather, we need to be like Jesus. That means instead of being better, we now must be perfect. Let me know how that works out for you! It leads to a deeper level of failure. The key is found in our understanding the full work of Christ on our behalf. He has lived the perfect human life so that he might be our substitute. God loves us because he loves His Son. Believe it!

God Is Good!

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100 ESV). I love the exclamation we sometimes hear: “God is good… All the time! All the time… God is Good! However, I wonder if we really understand the implications of that truth. The words are so familiar and mundane they barely draw interest out of us, let alone awe. This leads to the place where when we read that God is good, what is supposed to happen inside of us doesn't happen. When you read the words, "God is good," our heart should be filled with wonder, amazement, gratitude, humility, and love. We ought to be awestruck. We live days, maybe even weeks, without wonder and amazement. We walk through the situations and locations of our daily lives without an overwhelming sense of gratitude. We don't notice the display of the glory of God that is all around us. One of the ladies in my church often posts a picture of the sunrise overlooking the valley of the farm she and her husband have. Her caption always expresses the glory God has displayed in terms that emphasize awe. It’s not that she has never seen a sunrise before; in fact, she is blessed to live in a location where the sunrise is always beautiful. That makes it all the more important for us to note the good of it. When I was growing up, my family had a small grocery store and meat market. My dad also barbequed every day, selling to the large customer base he had developed because of the unique taste of his recipe. There was never a day that I couldn’t get the best cuts of meat, cooked in the tastiest of ways. It was “normal.” I don’t remember a time when I thought how remarkable that privilege was. Later, as I traveled and ate at some of the most renowned restaurants in America, I do remember comparing the food to what my dad cooked! To this day I still haven’t found as good a plate of ribs as he cooked everyday! What was “normal” for me has come to be “spectacular” as I increase in understanding. That’s what the psalmist is communicating in our reading today. The call today for the spectacular is rooted so deeply in our inability to see and sense the “good” of God, we must return to an emphasis of simply paying better attention to the many interactions we have each day with God. When we look for that kind of good, we can be lifted out of our boredom and quiet our longings. After all, God is good… in every possible way!

Weep No More

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:1-5 ESV). James Lee, a young father, phoned a large city newspaper from a hotel telephone to give a reporter a heart-rending story. The reporter frantically tried to have the call traced but was too late. By the time the police arrived, Lee had ended his life. In Lee’s coat pocket the police found a tattered crayon drawing signed in childish print by his daughter, Shirley, who had been incinerated in a fire five months earlier. On the drawing Lee had written, "Please leave in my coat pocket. I want to have it buried with me." At the time of Shirley’s funeral Lee was so grief-stricken he had asked strangers to attend the funeral. Shirley’s mother had passed away when Shirley was only two years old. There were no other family members to attend. Immediately before his death, Lee told the reporter that he had nothing left to live for and felt all alone in the world. He gave his few possessions to the church that Shirley attended and said, "Maybe in ten or twenty years someone will see her memorial plaque and wonder who Shirley Ellen Lee was and say, ‘Someone must have loved her very much.’" James Lee lost all hope and ended his life in a lonely telephone booth. Tragically, his story is not an isolated case. Our world is filled with people who feel overcome with a sense of hopelessness. John, weeping in heaven, shows us this depth of hopelessness. In the midst of the throne of God, he still is overcome by despair. He hasn’t seen Jesus yet. He sees the need for someone to open the scroll. He knows that will begin the deliverance of all men, but there seems to be no one worthy to open it. Then, in a moment of understanding and recognition, he sees Jesus! He then knows hope. That’s the key for all of us. We must see the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, who has conquered all for us! Then we have hope! Hope, like love, is an indispensable quality of life. Many people, when they lose it, curse the day they were born. Nothing in our contemporary society, with its slick promotion, promising hope in some very appealing packages, can ever really deliver hope. Look at Jesus, the Lamb of God in the midst of the thrones. He is worthy! Weep no more!

Trapped by the Past

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:12-16 ESV). Today’s reading has been a part of Morning Devotionals on several occasions. It is one of the pivotal truths of the Scripture. Today I was drawn back to it because of so many people who are just stuck. They have surrendered to their past as if there is no hope for the future. Many of them have the same response to my queries about their future that that Martha had of Jesus after Lazarus had died. Jesus asked her if she believed he would live again; her only response was yes, but that won’t happen until the resurrection of the dead (cf. John 11). He response was simply one in which she couldn’t imagine Jesus not doing something now. She was stuck in the fact that for four days her brother was dead. How could that be changed? I have read that if flies are placed in a jar with air holes in the lid, they will fly frantically, banging into the lid, desperately trying to escape from the jar. If left there long enough, eventually they will stop hitting the lid. Later, if the lid is removed, they won't even try to escape. Being stuck in the past, recent or far removed, is like those flies! Because of a traumatic or painful experience in our past, we have been "conditioned" to believe that we are trapped in a prison of helplessness without escape, so we are afraid to try again for fear of failure or of being hurt again. To begin to move forward and experience freedom, we need to acknowledge where we have been hurt and begin the process of healing with an attitude of complete trust in the will and purpose of God. It may be necessary to get some help. The second step is to develop a spirit of forgiveness toward those who have hurt us. As Peter said, "… put away all malice" (cf. 1 Peter 2:1). The same principle applies to all negative feelings, especially the supercharged repressed negative emotions that come from a bitter experience. Repressing or denying these feelings doesn't get rid of them. It only adds "interest" to them and makes matters worse. Furthermore, we can never truly "get rid of" a negative painful past until we have resolved it. Only then are we truly able to forgive any and all who have ever hurt us. Until we do this, we are still bound to and controlled by our past. Let’s press on! God’s promise to us to work all things for our good!

Expectations

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:25-34 ESV). Stephen Hawking was one of the most renown astrophysicists at Cambridge University and perhaps the most intelligent man on earth. He has advanced the general theory of relativity farther than any person since Albert Einstein. Unfortunately, Hawking is afflicted with ALS Syndrome (Lou Gehrig's disease). It will eventually take his life. He has been confined to a wheelchair for years, where he can do little more than sit and think. Hawking has lost the ability even to speak, and now he communicates by means of a computer that is operated from the tiniest movement of his fingertips. He is too weak to write, feed himself, comb his hair, fix his classes--all this must be done for him. Yet this most dependent of all men has escaped invalid status. His personality shines through the messy details of his existence. Hawking said that before he became ill, he had very little interest in life. He called it a "pointless existence" resulting from sheer boredom. He drank too much and did very little work. Then he learned he had ALS Syndrome and was not expected to live more than two years. The ultimate effect of that diagnosis, beyond its initial shock, was extremely positive. He claimed to have been happier after he was afflicted than before. How can that be understood? Hawking provided the answer. "When one's expectations are reduced to zero," he said, "one really appreciates everything that one does have." Stated another way: contentment in life is determined in part by what a person anticipates from it. To a man like Hawking who thought he would soon die quickly, everything takes on meaning, a sunrise or a walk in a park or the laughter of children. Suddenly, each small pleasure becomes precious. By contrast, those who believe life owes them a free ride are often discontent with its finest gifts. What are your expectations?

Ordinary Heroes of the Faith - Pt 4

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. The LORD has made everything for its purpose. (Proverbs 16:3-4a ESV). We’ve seen a few examples of relatively obscure individuals in history who simply did their jobs and God brought wonderful results from their seeming insignificant contribution. They were ordinary, while their God was extraordinary. Today I want to close our little series with a particular thought. When we constantly seek a new height in our relationship with Christ it often denies the truth that is already ours. We actually miss the purpose of God by constantly looking for more. “More” has already been given to us. In fact, everything has been given to us in Christ, the resurrected Son of God and our Savior. Looking for more is an insult to God in his eternal provision. Listen to the psalmist: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1-4 ESV). That certainly doesn’t sound like someone who is searching for more; it is the high praise from the heart of a man who has found it all! In my own experience I have found that life is not a steady climb to bigger and better. It is often more of a meandering mess. I do not suppose that it is a mess to God. He is directing my steps. However, there have been those times when I simply don’t understand why a particular path was given to me to travel. I have also found that as time passes, God has always proven to be perfectly faithful to do and to work his good will in my life. That knowledge only serves to remind me that whatever it is I am doing at this moment must pass two simple criteria. First, is it God? If it is not of him it will be clearly shown to be so through the Scripture. Second, am I doing it to Him? Those days that seem to crawl by in the endless drudgery of the mundane; those days are the ones that often get neglected as I forget to do the ordinary things as best as I can in an offering of thanksgiving to him. So, let me close with this encouragement to you. Set your expectations not on your accomplishments, but on his power to work his good will in your life and the lives of others. Often it will be that simple, seemingly insignificant task that makes the great difference in life! And, above all, enjoy the full presence of God as he has come to dwell fully in you. There is not a “more.” He is already more!

Ordinary Heroes of the Faith - Pt 3

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV). Steve Morris was born in Saginaw, Michigan, a premature arrival into the world, he was blind from birth. When he was young, his family moved to Detroit where Steve would meet a woman who would give him the courage and the confidence to one day be extraordinary. As such an inspiration, Mrs. Beneduci is the real hero! She was Steve’s elementary school teacher. She was a wise woman who embraced the challenge of not just teaching her class of rambunctious 9 year-olds but helping them find purpose, direction and motivation in their lives. In Steve, she saw immense potential and was determined to help him see not his limitations but his gifts. She knew that inside the shy, introverted and at times intimidated exterior that Steve’s blindness cloaked him in, there was a boy who was exceptionally intelligent. “Amy,” asked Mrs. Beneduci one day in class as they studied history, “who was Abraham Lincoln?” The class exploded in laughter as Amy stumbled through a response about how he was a man with a beard. “Steve Morris?” the teacher continued, “same question.” “He was the sixteenth President of the United States,” came the answer without hesitation from the otherwise quiet youth. Steve always knew the answers. He was remarkable, a virtual prodigy in whatever subject they were studying. But Mrs. Beneduci realized that the boy’s intellect was wasted unless he recognized it and had the confidence to apply it. But how? Her answer came in a mouse. In the middle of her ensuring lecture about President Lincoln’s role in the Civil War, she stopped abruptly and called out, “Who’s making that noise?” Her puzzled class looked at each other. Steve sat quietly. The excited teacher continued, “I hear something like scratching … very faint,” she said, “it sounds like, like a …. mouse!” The class erupted in chaos as children screamed, some standing on their chairs but not Steve; he sat quietly and listened. “Calm down everyone,” Mrs. Beneduci extolled, “It’s nothing to be excited about. Steve, will you help me find the creature?” The young Morris sat upright in his seat immediately invigorated by this important assignment from his teacher. “OK,” he said, “everyone be quiet!” The classroom fell silent as Steve tilted his head, paused deliberately for a moment, and then pointed in the direction of a sound that none of his other classmates could discern – pointed in the direction of a wastebasket in a corner of the room. “He’s right over there!” the blind boy exclaimed, “I can hear him!” And indeed, Steve was right, for rummaging through papers at the bottom of the wastebasket was a small gray mouse who probably hoped no one would find him. But someone had found him – and found much more in the process. Steve could not see the tiny creature who would soon become the class mascot but he could hear its faint sounds as if trumpets had announced the hidden rodent. It seems that while Steve’s eyes did not work, his ears were exceptional. So it was that in the heart of small, blind boy that day, the seeds of pride were sown in the most unlikely of moments. It was a pride that would swell in the boy and a moment he would remember all of his life and retell many times as he grew into one of the world’s most beloved artists. Without the mouse, Steve Morris would not have discovered his passion for sound – and eventually music – and the world would have missed out on this musical titan, composer and producer; missed his seventeen gold records, four platinum albums and the five Grammy’s he won in 1975. Steve Morris could never see the multitude of fans that stood to applaud his work but he heard every one of them. He was blind at birth but he had a gift – an extraordinary gift that from age ten he shared with a world who knew him simply as … Little Stevie Wonder. Everyone surely remembers him; but, the story really begins with Mrs. Beneduci doing the ordinary! What ordinary thing do you need to do today? Do it heartily!

Ordinary Heroes of the Faith - Pt 2

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24 ESV). Some of the people we will look at in the next few days will not be familiar names. While they have not been lifted to superhero status with all the acclaim and accolade afforded to some, they certainly played their role in life with courage, consistency, and faith. Henrietta Lacks is the first person I’ve chosen to examine in our little study. She was an African-American mother of five who migrated from the tobacco farms of Virginia to the poorest neighborhoods of Baltimore, and died at the tragic age of 31 from cervical cancer. She was a simple, hard-working woman who never realized she’d be the donor of cells that would create the HeLa cell line. Perhaps that means nothing to you. It is a bit obscure to all but those who have been familiarized with various forms of medical research. The HeLa is a cell line that didn’t die after a few cell divisions, making possible some of the most important discoveries in modern medicine. While she didn’t know the full repercussion of her donation of tissue at her death, she did know that it seemed a good thing to do. Perhaps it could help someone in the future. Certainly it seemed to be a reasonable request from the doctors. Well, the HeLa cell became a crucial discovery in everything from the first polio vaccine to cancer and AIDS research. To date, scientists have grown more than 20 tons of HeLa cells. In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the author, Rebecca Skloot tells us of these far-reaching accomplishments through the eyes of Henrietta Lacks’ daughter, Deborah. She didn’t know her mother, but always knew she wanted to be a scientist. It is through her study of science that she discovers the contribution of her mother. Not very spectacular, was it? She just gave something that was of no use to her with no knowledge of what it would do. She didn’t set out to change the course of medical research. She merely did what she felt was right and honorable. But, isn’t that precisely what God asks us to do? Countless people have been cured or helped with devastating diseases because she was simply doing what seemed good and true. I hope you are encouraged. You may be called on to do some simple task that really requires very little thought or deliberation on your part. You simply know it to be true. It follows the path of Scripture. Do it! Do it without expectation and make it your offering to the Lord. It may be answering the phone at work for the umpteenth time with a pleasant voice not knowing that on that umpteenth time, the other person just needed a soft voice of kindness and gentleness. It may be something much more complicated. Whatever it is, do it to the Lord heartily!