The Last Day of the Month

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4 ESV). Every month I seem to get to the end of it and not realize where it all went! It appears the older I get the more time passes more quickly than before. I find it both disconcerting and convicting. I wonder if I have really squandered such a precious gift as time. I always seem to have unfinished projects and plans yet to be executed. I have a wonderful stack of lumber that was given to me over the winter. It is red cedar, poplar, and walnut. I can see within that stack some beautiful pieces of furniture; but, I have yet to make the first cut. I have another project constructed, but not stained or finished. I know it wouldn’t take long; however, another month has passed! I sometimes am reminded that my relationship with the Lord does that too. It is not that I don’t want to read the Bible or pray; it just becomes too easy to procrastinate. The psalmist of our reading today must have felt some of that frustration. He looks to the heavens and finds a declaration of His glory. He sees the work of God in everything created. All of this reminds him of the incredible glory of God. I suppose that this last day of April ought to do the same for each of us. We have seen a change of seasons; the beginning of new life all around us in the natural world ought to call us to renew our wonder at the work of Christ in our life. C. S. Lewis wrote: “Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word glory a meaning for me.” Nature is not the last word, but it is a word about the majesty of our God. The last word was spoken in the Cross. That is the word that has gone to the very ends of the earth. It speaks of a love that poured out mercy on those who in no way deserved such. It speaks of a grace that was completely undeserved. It calls to the center of our soul for a response. My response today is to sit in awe as I am left speechless in wonder. When I think of that I am always drawn to read the Psalms. Over and over again these hymns are written to give us words to express our gratitude. Perhaps you are struggling with that today. Your circumstances have shrouded the glory of your heavenly Father. Take a moment and read a few of these wonderful expressions of glory. Let the words seep into your mind and heart. It is a good way to end this month and begin a new one. Maybe it will even motivate you to finish one of your projects!

A Lick and a Promise

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV). I have a confession to make. While I clean the house a little, I don't like to really clean. In fact, Mary always does a more thorough job of cleaning. She says I clean “with a lick and a promise.” I guess the “lick” is a quick swipe of a damp cloth; and, the promise is “I’ll do it better later. Of course, later never really seems to come. That is sort of the way I clean things. I know that’s not very good, but I really don’t like to really clean. In the Old Testament, God established that the sins of individuals would be symbolically transferred to an animal that would die in his or her place (cf. Leviticus 1–8). This atoning sacrifice was necessary to meet the righteous demands of a holy and just God. In the Old Testament, the word atonement can be translated to say, "a covering" or "to cover over something." While this atonement provided covering, it didn't get to the root of the problem. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross did. His atoning sacrifice washed away, eliminated, and wiped out all of our sins. Jesus was the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament pointed toward. He became the final sacrifice. Jesus was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (cf. John 1:29). When Jesus uttered the words, "It is finished," it could also be translated, "It is made an end of." Or, "It is paid." Or, "It is performed." Or, "It is accomplished." Our sins and the guilt that accompanied them were made an end of. The price of our redemption was paid in full. The righteous requirements of the law were fully met. The work the Father had given Him to do was completely done. Jesus didn’t clean us with a lick and a promise. His work fully cleansed us from every sin, past, present, and future. As Peter wrote, “By his wounds have we been healed.” Did you notice there are no limits on that healing? He did not say we are healed if we do something to help. We can do nothing that can help. Clean yourself all you want and you will still be dirty with sin and guilt. Be washed by the blood of Christ and you will be completely clean! Isn’t it time for you to really clean? Trust in him alone!

Wrestling with God

The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” (Genesis 32:22-30 ESV). It's interesting to look through the pages of Scripture and note how God came to various people in the way they needed Him to come. To Abraham the pilgrim, God came as a traveler. Remember those three visitors who came to his tent before the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah? One of them was the Lord himself. To Joshua the general, Jesus came as the Commander of the Lord's army, telling him to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. Jacob, in turn, was a wrestler. Figuratively speaking, he was always wrestling with people: he wrestled with his father Isaac; he wrestled with his brother Esau; and, he wrestled with his father-in-law, Laban. As we see in our reading today, the Lord came to Jacob as a wrestler. Jacob had been left alone with God. He was always conniving, always scheming, always plotting, and always had an idea. So the Lord stripped everything away and said, "OK, I want you alone with Me." C. H. McIntosh said, "To be left alone with God is the only true way of arriving at a just knowledge of ourselves and our ways." The conniving, plotting, scheming Jacob was all alone with God, and they began to wrestle. What God wanted from Jacob was his surrender. But that wasn't going to happen until Jacob came to the end of his strength. So on it went throughout the night. Then a life-changing moment transpired for the scheming Jacob. Instead of fighting with God, He was clinging to Him. The Lord said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." Jacob responded, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" It was a valid response on Jacob's part in asking for this blessing, because in surrender to God's plan, he would find what he always wanted. Maybe you’re wrestling with God. Surrender! You won’t be disappointed with the victory you will receive.

Kept to the End

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:17-25 ESV). Jude tells us to “build ourselves us” and then that God will “keep us.” It sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? Yet, these verses serve to complement each other in a very important part of our spiritual lives. We don't keep ourselves saved, but do have some responsibility in the life we live. God's love is unconditional. And fortunately for us, Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father. But we can do things that will get us out of harmony with His love. That's why we are reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we are to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep away from any influence that would violate God's love and bring sorrow to His heart. We are loved by God, and He will protect us. Those of us who are parents know the care which we take keeping our children safe. None of us would knowingly allow them to do anything that would endanger them in any way. In the same way, we are preserved, we are protected, and we are being kept by the power of God. The unfortunate truth is that sometimes, like our children, we run off and do things that will result in difficulty. A 1990 Subaru car commercial shows a Volvo heading toward a wall, and then, in slow motion, crashing into the wall. The Volvo is built so sturdily that the passengers are not hurt, in spite of the severe nature of the crash. Then a Subaru is shown heading at a high rate of speed toward a wall. At the last possible moment the driver slams on the brakes and the Subaru stops inches from the wall. The announcer then cuts in and asks what you would prefer: to live through wrecks, or not to get in wrecks in the first place? Our part in sanctification is to avoid the wrecks! God’s part is to put us in a “vehicle” that can withstand the wrecks when they come. We are indeed kept to the end!

A New York Minute

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7 ESV). There is a wonderful quote from Billy Graham’s autobiography. He wrote that while he was at a university speaking, after the message, a student asked the question, “What is the greatest surprise you have found about life?” He answered quickly, “The brevity of it. Time moves so quickly, and no matter who we are or what we have done, the time will come when our lives will be over.” That is so true. Time passes quickly, and we don't want to squander this precious thing that God has given to us called life. I have often heard the idiom “as quick as a New York minute.” I suppose the fast pace of New York City makes time seem shorter. What I have noticed is that no matter where you live, time often slips away from us. Over the years there have been some surprises as I look back. I have been surprised by some people that I thought were going to do great things for God, but actually fell away from Him. I have also been surprised by people that I thought would never make it as a Christian, but are now serving the Lord with great effectiveness. We sometimes think we have nothing to do with the way we finish. However, we must know we are not mere victims without any ability to determine whether or not we are going to do well spiritually. Spiritual failure usually isn't a result of a deliberate decision to sin; rather, it's the result of wrong choices made in life that lead to a spiritual breakdown. It is never too late to change. As quickly as you fall, you may also be picked up to get back on your way. Peter certainly experienced that on several occasions. When he stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus on the water, it looked great for a moment before he began to sink. Jesus was there, immediately extending his hand to lift him to safety. Whatever difficulties you are facing today as a believer, whether due to your choice or circumstance, you are preserved in Christ. He is going to keep you; he will lift you up and allow you to keep going.

A Bad Haircut

When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. (Judges 16:18-20 ESV). It’s been a long time since I have played tennis with any regularity. However, when I was a BSU Director at Tyler Junior College, one of the young men I was trying to reach was on the college team. Needless to say he was much better than I was. The first time I went to play a set against him, I truly thought I might be able to stay in the game and make it somewhat of a challenge. After all, I had played through high school and did have some success. I was badly mistaken. He took the serve first. I bounced on the balls of my feet waiting for the serve and before I knew what happened, it had already come and gone by me for the ace! He won in straight sets while I didn’t score a point! We both had a good laugh and I promised myself to never do that again. We spent a lot of time talking and sharing with one another. After some time, I asked him how he could be beaten. He said, “Really my only weakness is to lob the ball to the far court and my backhand.” I was never able to do that consistently, but when I did, I was able to get to the net and score a few points. Have you noticed that is what the devil does with us. He looks for our weaknesses, and when he finds them, where do you think he starts lobbing the temptations? This was Samson's problem. Because he was such a formidable adversary, he thought no one could ever take him down. So his enemies were clever and found Samson's vulnerability. Every time Delilah asked him the question of the source of his strength, she got a little closer to the truth until one day. Finally, he told her the secret of his strength. So what do you think happened? He fell asleep in her lap. Talk about sleeping with the enemy. He took a one-way trip to Delilah's Barber Shop. He woke up with a bad haircut and no strength. He didn’t even know it was gone until he went to fight the Philistines. Funny how pride blinds us to the absence of the Lord in our lives; we become so sure of ourselves, we abandon the only real Source of strength. If that’s where you find yourself today, turn back to him. Like Samson you can be restored!

The Mask of the Lone Ranger

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (Luke 12:1-3 ESV). When I was younger I remember both listening to the radio show and later watching the television show of The Lone Ranger. It was based on a series of books by Zane Grey, one of the most prolific of Western writers. He, and his faithful friend and companion, Tonto, would always arrive in the nick of time to save the day. He wore a mask to hide his identity, which would lead to the famous question, “Who was that masked man?” as he rode off into the sunset as he shouted to his horse "Hi ho, Silver… away!" It was a great show. A mask was necessary for the Lone Ranger to protect his identity. However, Jesus warned us about hiding behind a mask, or pretending to be someone we are really not. In our reading today he uses a word which means "to hide behind a mask." It is “hypocrisy.” In Greek theater of that day, actors would hold masks in front of their faces when they were playing a part. Hypocrisy was simply trying to be someone you're really not. Perhaps Jesus gave this warning at this time, because the disciples might have been tempted either to gain popularity by pleasing the crowds or to avoid trouble by pleasing the scribes and Pharisees. This is a part of our human nature. We want to be accepted. We want to fit in. So Jesus said, "Be careful. Don't be a hypocrite." Notice that Jesus said, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Leaven is yeast, which is a rising agent. It is something that works in secret with penetrating power, starting small and working its way through our lives. That is why we must carefully guard against it. Little things inevitably lead to big things. Often we will rationalize a sinful act, telling ourselves it's just one time. But that one thing ultimately leads to other things. Today, can the question be asked of you, "Who was that masked man?" or "Who was that masked woman?" Fear may cause us to back down on what we believe, especially in the presence of others who don't hold the same views. It might cause us to put on a mask, so to speak. But remember what Jesus said. Be real. And don't be a hypocrite. Be gentle and kind, but stand firm in the faith you have been called to live out each day. Be real and there will never be a need for a mask!

Show Me the Way

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-7 ESV). Have you ever been through a “Fun House”? Usually you enter the door and either walk or ride through a maze of hallways. Around each corner there is some new ghost or goblin to scare you. There’s one at a theme park we have been to several times not far from Nashville. It’s not really very frightening and it is air-conditioned, so lots of the patrons will ride through multiple times on a hot summer day to get a little respite from the heat. You don’t need to worry about being lost along the way. The car carries you through on the prescribed route and delivers you safely at the end. I have often thought it was an interesting look into real life. We really never know which way to go into our future. And, often there lurks something scary around the corner. The great difference is that with the Fun House you know you will arrive safely at the end of the maze. Life becomes more difficult to believe that you will be safe at the end of it because of the unknown of the future. Jesus recognizes this truth and gives his disciples a clear picture of how we can overcome this fear. During World War II, an American pilot who was shot down over the jungles of Burma was able to safely eject from his plane. As he landed in the deep, dense jungle, he was met by a friendly Burmese man. The man gestured for him to follow. So the American soldier followed the man through the jungle. There was no path that he could see, and ahead of him was the Burmese man, slicing away with his machete. It didn't seem like they were going in any particular direction. The American became frantic. So he yelled out to the man, "Where is the way?" In broken English, the man told him, "I am the way. Follow me." That is what Jesus says to us in the maze of life: "I am the way. Follow Me. I will get you to where you are supposed to go." The entire meaning of the Christian faith can be condensed into these four words: "I am the way." Which road are you on today? Which way are you going to choose? There is only one way to find a life that is full and rich on this earth and then to know for certain you are going to heaven. Follow Him. He is the Way!

A Helper

These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. (John 14:25-29 ESV). “Hey, Dad, can you help me?” I suppose I have heard that request hundreds of times before. Every time I have heard it I respond with, “Sure. What do you need?” That’s a good response; but, wouldn’t it be better if I knew what my sons need before they even asked and helped immediately? That’s the backdrop of our reading today. There are times when we don't really know what or how to pray. We know we need help, but we don’t know what kind or how much. Perhaps that’s where you are today. You may feel overwhelmed by a burden. You may find yourself discouraged, depressed, and in over your head. It is at that point that the Holy Spirit will help you. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our “helper.” Other translations use the word “comforter.” We have lost the meaning of the word "comforter." It comes from the Greek word Paracletos, which means "called alongside to help," a helper, aide, or assistant. Some versions translate Paracletos as the word "advocate" (cf. 1 John 2:1). The purpose of an advocate is to plead the cause of another, an intercessor. This is part of the work that the Holy Spirit has come to do in your life. You may be thinking, “I don’t even have the energy to pray.” Well, often, merely a sigh will do. We don't always have to put words to our prayers. The Holy Spirit will do the rest. I have been in those positions before. I don't know what to say, or how to say it. I just know that I am in pain, so I sigh, I groan, and sometimes I cry. That's where the Holy Spirit comes in. As Romans 8:26-27 tells us, "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Now, that’s a helper! Go to him, even if it’s just with a sigh.

Remember the Alamo!

Today is a special day in the history of the State of Texas. It is a story that has thrilled Texans for more than 175 years. It is a story of desperate valor and high adventure; of grim hardship, tragedy and romance; it is the story of the epochal battle that established the independent Lone Star Republic, on April 21, 1836, and indelibly inscribed the names of Texas patriots on history's scroll of American immortals. The actual battle of San Jacinto lasted less than twenty minutes, but it was in the making for six years. It had its prelude in the oppressive Mexican edict of April 6, 1830, prohibiting further emigration of Anglo-Americans from the United States to Texas; in the disturbance at Anahuac and in the battle of Velasco, in 1832; in the imprisonment of Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas," in Mexico in 1834. Immediate preliminaries were the skirmish over a cannon at Gonzales; the capture of Goliad; the "Grass Fight," and the siege and capture of San Antonio all in 1836. The Texas Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836, officially signalized the revolution. So it was, with the cries of “Remember the Alamo” that Sam Houston and his ragged band of 910 pioneers routed Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, President and Dictator of Mexico and self-styled "Napoleon of the West," with his proud army, and changed the map of North America! Being a Texan by birth it is easy for me to celebrate this day. However, it also calls me to remember another great day of victory. Here’s how the Apostle John describes that day: On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:19-23 ESV). It was in this little room, where a small group of men and women had gathered that Jesus announced a “new state.” It is the beginning of real freedom. We should take the time to celebrate this freedom seriously. What may have appeared to some as the greatest of defeats became the ultimate victory! Jesus is alive! Remember the Resurrection!

A Ready Harvest

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38 ESV). Everywhere Jesus went, He was very much in demand. There was always a crowd around Him, and understandably so. He was God in human form, walking through their streets. Everyone wanted something. There would be those who always wanted a touch, like the woman who had spent all of her money on doctors, trying to be cured, but to no avail. When she touched the hem of His garment, she was restored and healed. There is the story of the Syro-Phoenician woman who brought her demon-possessed child to Jesus; and, the story of Jairus, who came and asked Jesus to touch his sick daughter. Everyone needed something, but Jesus knew they needed more than just a healing, more than just a touch, and more than just a word. He knew the deepest need was in their soul. We see this demonstrated time and again. Despite His incredibly busy schedule, He went out of His way to meet someone in a little town where Jacob's well was located, even though she had no idea she had an appointment with God. She went to that well at that time of day, because she was a social outcast. Sometimes when people do things that are wrong, we get angry with them. Not only do we hate the sin, but we end up hating the sinner also. Yet God wants us to see that while we can hate the sin, there is still a sinner who is loved by God. Maybe no one has ever told him or her there is another way to live. That’s the story of Matthew. Matthew was a local “bad guy” since he not only worked to collect taxes, but did so for a foreign government. When Jesus came to Matthew’s house for dinner, the local religious leaders didn’t question the menu; they questioned motives. They simply couldn’t believe a person who loved God would share a meal with people who didn’t. Christ’s response is filled with irony. He responded that he had come to call sinners to repentance. The irony is that he was explaining this to religious leaders he would later address as being some of those sinners. We should be reminded that Jesus has already seen to the harvest. It is ready. Our call is simply to go into it loving others has Jesus did. We will see a great bounty then!

Jesus, God and Man

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:46-52 ESV). Our reading today is revealing and very encouraging. Jesus was not an apparition. He was not some spirit roaming about the Earth. He was an actual flesh and blood human being. And, he was fully God as well. Even Mary and Joseph did not fully grasp that at first. We have difficulty with it today. However, it is essential to the comfort we so desperately need in our walk. When Jesus was on Earth, He didn't empty himself of His divine attributes, but accepted the limitations of humanity. For example, we know that Jesus became weary like we do. On one occasion as He came to the city of Samaria, we read that He was weary (see John 4:6). Why? He had been walking all day in the hot sun of Israel. Now if I were God, I probably would have said to the disciples, "You boys go on up to Samaria, and I will see you there." Then I would have just appeared in Samaria. After all, why tire myself out like that? But Jesus voluntarily went through the process of feeling what it was like to be tired and exhausted. We see this throughout Scripture. We know that Jesus was tired. We know that He experienced physical thirst. As He hung on the cross, Jesus said, "I thirst" (Luke 19:28). The very God who created water allowed himself to experience thirst. We also know that He was hungry. Jesus experienced physical hunger after fasting for 40 days during His temptation in the wilderness (see Matthew 4:2). Jesus grew as a human, but there was never a moment when He suddenly became God or when deity was transferred to Him. That was always a part of His life. He was fully God and fully man. What this means for us is that not only does he know what we experience; he also has the power to do what needs to be done to help us endure each one of them. Our journey is made easier because he is God made man! Trust that he knows and cares. Trust that he can and will bring good from every circumstance.

A Real Glimpse of Jesus

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:1-8 ESV). There have been thousands of pictures painted depicting Jesus. There is one of the earlier icons called “Christ Pantocrator” that now hangs in the Monastery of St. Catherine, in Egypt. As I have seen it, it doesn’t strike me as a true glimpse into what Jesus actually looked like. Some might point us to the Shroud of Turin, but that has not been authenticated as actually Jesus’ burial cloth. It is interesting to ponder his appearance. For all practical purposes, some of history's greatest minds and creative geniuses have grappled with this question. But it's worth noting that the Scripture gives us some answers to this question. It should be noted that Jesus never became God, nor did Jesus ever cease to be God. His deity, which means His divine Lordship, the fact that He was God, was pre-human, pre-earthly, pre-Bethlehem, and pre-Mary is plainly stated. In the incarnation, in that moment when Jesus came to this earth and was born of the Virgin Mary, He didn't lay aside His deity. He was God before He was born, and He remained God after He became a man. The transfiguration was Jesus showing the disciples what he really looked like as God. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him up onto a mountain. The disciples fell asleep (as they often did at critical times), and when they woke up, there was Jesus, standing with two great prophets. The Bible says His face shined like the sun. He was radiant. To me, it wasn't a miracle that Jesus shined like the sun during His transfiguration. I think the real miracle was that He didn't shine all of the time. You see, Jesus veiled His glory. But there, for a moment, He let people see who He really was. And He was indeed God and man. That’s the real glimpse of Jesus!

Who Are You, God?

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. (Matthew 27:11-14 ESV). There are so many different characters involved in the telling of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. One of those is a fascinating study. He is the governor of Palestine during the Roman occupation, Pontius Pilate. Without going into detail of his life either before or after the resurrection, it is important to note his questioning of Jesus in our reading today. Pilate asked a central question of Jesus. It was akin to what pharaoh asked of Moses when he confronted him about the demand to let the Jews go free. Pharaoh asked, “Who is God?” It is a question being repeated today as well. Listen again: But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2 ESV). I’m quite sure that at the end of the ordeal of the plagues and the final judgment of God in the killing of the first-born of Egypt, he knew quite clearly who God was! However, before I’m too hard on either Pilate, or Pharaoh, I must admit that the question of "Who is God?" is not an easy question to answer. It is because we are trying to grasp the infinite with the finite. We are trying to grasp something far beyond our temporal, mortal capacity. Until the day we see Him face to face there are things about God we are never going to completely understand. For instance, I believe that God is holy, but I don't understand everything about His holiness. I also believe God is a triune being—He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But I can’t begin to fully understand that concept. The Apostle Paul put it clearly when he said, For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV). So yes there is coming a day when it will all make sense. At the same time, though, with the help of the Holy Spirit, there are many things that we can and should know and grasp about God. After all, knowing what God is like is foundational to knowing God Himself. Knowing God and making Him known is the essence of being a Christian. I encourage you to begin asking the questions as you read your Bible. It is replete with answers!

A Hand or a Foot?

For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. (1 Corinthians 12:14-20 ESV). The Apostle Paul uses the image of the physical body to help us understand the church. We are called as Christians to be functioning, participating, contributing members of the body of Christ. We need to be a part of a body where there is accountability, where there is friendship, and where there is koinonia. We need to be a part of a body where we come to receive and to learn, but we also need a place where we can contribute and serve the Lord with the gifts He has given us. There are so many different things that need to be done in the church just like our bodies. Can you imagine what it might be like if some part of your body decided to stop doing what it was designed to do? Let’s suppose the foot suddenly decided it wasn’t going to allow the rest of the body to put all of that weight on it anymore. After all the hand doesn’t have to do that; and, the hand gets to wear all the pretty jewelry. The hand gets to avoid the really hard work. Oh sure, some women will paint the foot’s nails like they do their hands, but it’s just not the same. The foot does twice the work that the hand does! It’s just not fair! That’s pretty silly isn’t it? Yet that is the thought and practice of many people in today’s church. We tend to act independently when the church as a body is interdependent. We cannot live and flourish apart from other believers. God wants us to engage. He wants us to be a part of what He is doing. Attending church is not a spectator sport. We are here to be a functioning part of His church. Everyone has a job to do. Everyone has a need to serve. There is a place for you. Finding our place and working in that place is the best way to experience real joy. For some this means being faithful at home caring for the children; for others, it is doing that job God has gifted you to do in your community. Others may be called to vocational ministry. However, all of us are to be vitally connected in the ministry to one another and those of our world. Just like the foot is essential to the hand and vice versa; so are all of us vitally connected to one another in the church. Celebrate your uniqueness and your interconnectedness.

Singing in the Rain

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me. By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life. (Psalm 42:5-8 ESV). This week we have had rain forecast everyday in Middle Tennessee. While it has not rained every hour of each day so far, it has rained some each of those days. I always feel a little worse when it is raining. Some have suggested there is a physical correlation between the falling barometric pressure that accompanies a rainstorm and the increased joint pain I experience. Perhaps that is true; however, whatever the cause, I do know it does make me feel worse. I have also found that when it is an emotionally “rainy day,” it is harder to feel good. It’s always more difficult to maintain emotional balance when we are experienced difficult circumstances. Singing in the rain of life is no easy task. Anyone can sing when things are going well. But when the bottom drops out, when hardship hits and we keep singing, that is something unique to the Christian. In Acts 16, we read that Paul and Silas were arrested and taken to prison for preaching the gospel. But at midnight, they began to sing praises to God. Instead of complaining or calling on God to judge the people who had done this to them, they were worshipping. The other prisoners listened, because they were having a real encounter with God. And when the Philippian jailer saw it for himself, it opened his heart to the truth of the gospel. This is the background of our reading today. Although the writer of this psalm is not named, some believe David to be its author. If so, David probably penned this psalm during the period of Absalom's rebellion. During that time, he endured the oppression of his enemies and rumors that God had forsaken him and that there was no deliverance for him in God. This psalm depicts the struggle that many people experience when they are in the midst of adversity. In it we see the psalmist vacillate between doubt and faith, despair and hope, pessimism and optimism, and looking at his circumstances and looking at God. When you are in pain, the midnight hour is not an easy time to have a worship service. C. H. Spurgeon said, "Any fool can sing in the day. It's easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight. But the skillful singer is the one who can sing when there is not a ray of light to read by. Songs in the night come only from God. They are not in the power of man."

Something for Nothing

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:20-25 ESV). Buying a car is often one of the most anxiety filled experiences of our lives. It is a major purchase and often is accompanied by the kind of negotiation we are not familiar with, nor comfortable doing. Most people are suspicious of the entire process. Having been in the car business, I found it most difficult helping people trust they were getting a good deal on their trade-in. Often folks don’t realize that the moment you begin talking about your trade-in you become the seller, not the buyer. As a buyer we want the lowest possible price; as a seller, we want the highest possible price. Hopefully you meet somewhere in the middle and get a fair deal. But, regardless, you can't get something for nothing. God has said to us, "I will give you eternal life. I will give you the forgiveness of sin." Isn’t it natural to ask, "What's the catch? Surely there is something I need to do." It is hard for us to accept that God could simply give us something for nothing. The truth is that God says, "No, you have broken all the laws. There is no way you could earn grace or forgiveness. I offer it to you for free. I give you everything. All I ask in return is your life." Now, some of us have a pretty battered, beat up life. I remember some of the dairy farmers that would bring their trucks in to trade them for new ones when I was in the car business. None of my sales staff wanted to deal with those! The dairy business is a messy kind of ranching. There’s just no way the inside of that truck is not going to look and smell like the inside of a cow barn. Yuk! I hope that was not too graphic for you; but, it is true. They were always beat up, battered, and yucky! They weren’t really worth much to us for resale. Sometimes our lives are like that. Jesus doesn’t want our lives for resale. He wants to give us a new life as the old life is destroyed. To gain life, we must embrace that destruction. Those old trucks from the dairy farmers were just auctioned off for scrap. Then they drove off in a brand new truck. God does that for us through Jesus. We fall to our death and he raises us up in newness of life! That’s God's deal. Because Jesus paid the price, we get something for nothing! Pretty good deal, isn’t it?

Delays

And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days. (Job 42:12-17 ESV). The story of Job is so stark that it is difficult to believe. Many have consigned it to “fable” because of this. However, the incredible truth presented in this book is so often repeated in the Scripture that it is not a stretch at all to take all of it as an historical account. Just one of those examples is Jairus, a well-known, powerful, wealthy individual who was the head of the local synagogue. When his 12-year-old daughter, his only child, was in great need, he sought out Jesus to heal her (cf. Luke 8:4-56). We don't know whether Jairus was a believer in Jesus. As the head of the synagogue, he would have been a religious man. He probably had heard about Jesus. But Jairus believed that Jesus could save his daughter's life. So he went and found him, begging to heal his daughter. But as they were on the way to his house, the news came that his daughter had died. The reason they did not get to his daughter more quickly was because a woman in need of healing came along and touched Jesus, and He stopped and demanded to know who it was that touched Him. That “delay” had cost Jairus the life of his daughter. I can only imagine how he must have felt. Mary and Martha were in such a situation when Jesus delayed getting to Lazarus and he died. They had to wait. There are those times when God asks us to do the same. Job surely grew impatient with the Lord. Though his faith remained strong, he questioned the delay of the Lord in healing him. Don’t you grow impatient with God from time to time? I do. I find that to be one of the most dangerous times in my life. It is then that we can foolishly take things into our own hands and make them far worse. However, we I remember that God's delays are not necessarily His denials, I find it much easier to persevere. We need to wait on the Lord. The timing of God’s work in our lives is as important as the work itself. He doesn't ask for us to understand. He just asks us to trust. If you are experiencing one of these “delays”, wait. He will be found faithful!

Words of Strength

Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! (Psalm 31:23-24 ESV). The Book of Acts tells the story of the spread of Christianity in the first century. We see the first disciples of Christ as they preach, teach, and minister in the name of Christ. One would think that this would be a story of great triumph and peace. It was anything but that! One of the first scenes is that of Stephen being stoned to death because of his faith with Saul of Tarsus looking on, holding the cloaks of those throwing the stones. Later we know this man as the Apostle Paul who takes the gospel throughout the Roman Empire facing the same trials and dangers as the Jerusalem apostles. In one experience we see Paul preaching in Jerusalem, and being arrested, he ends up locked up in a cold, damp, dark prison cell. For many people this might have signaled the end of his ministry. There have been many people who were discouraged by less. The question we ought to be asking is why? What made the difference? We have a clue when Luke writes, The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11 ESV). In Scripture, whenever an angel of the Lord would appear and say, "Fear not," it was usually because someone was afraid at that given moment. So I conclude that when the Lord himself told Paul, "Be of good courage," he needed a special word of encouragement at that particular moment. it is important to note that “the Lord stood by him.” Sometimes, it may seem as though the Lord is the only one standing by us. But if everyone else had abandoned Paul, Jesus was company enough. If all others despised him, the smile of Jesus was approval enough. Though his circumstances were less than ideal, I am sure Paul knew that it was better to be in jail with the Lord than anywhere else without Him. He understood what it meant to “wait on the Lord.” Our reading is such an encouragement as we face the challenging experiences of life. We can be assured that Jesus is with us at every step of our lives. Whatever or wherever that prison is in your life, Jesus is standing by you. And He is saying, "Be of good courage." He has already conquered our greatest enemy. There is no death awaiting the children of God. Jesus has won the victory over death and whatever “sting” it might have had in our lives! Be of good courage! Be strong!

Fearless

The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! (Psalm 111:7-10 ESV). Today we take up another wonderful benefit of the resurrection. The victory of Jesus over death, proven by the resurrection, should bring us to a position of strength in the face of fear and anxiety. Even the most committed believer has those moments when fear or worry can rise in their lives. Anxiety is a part of the common experience of man. Maybe we are concerned about our future, or maybe we are discouraged about some things we have done or failures we've experienced. I have found that I am often afraid of the wrong things in life. The real issue is not fearing the right things. Many people don't fear God. Yet the Bible tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. To fear God doesn't mean that we must cower in terror before Him. Rather, the fear of God has been properly defined as a wholesome dread of displeasing Him. So if I have sinned, my fear should not be based on the anticipation of what God will do to me, but on what I have done to displease Him. That is what it is to fear the Lord. It is to love the Lord so much that you don't want to sin against Him. In The Chronicles of Narnia, an allegory by C.S. Lewis, the author has two girls, Susan and Lucy, getting ready to meet Aslan the lion, who represents Christ. Two talking animals, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, prepare the children for the encounter. "Ooh," said Susan, "I thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion." "That you will, dearie." said Mrs. Beaver. "And make no mistake, if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knee's knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly." “Then isn't he safe?" said Lucy. "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Of course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king, I tell you!" We need to fear God. The remarkable thing is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else. On the other hand, if you do not fear God, then you fear everything else. This is certainly what David reminds us of in our reading today. So, if you feel that your life has been a failure, or you are discouraged about something, or afraid of something; if you're gripped by fear and worry today, then let the Lord be the strength of your life. He is good!

Words of Encouragement

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:17-19 ESV). It all started to fall apart for Peter in the upper room. Jesus warned the disciples that one of them would actually betray Him and the others would desert Him. Peter couldn't believe that Jesus would make such a statement. Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” (Matthew 26:33 ESV). Then Jesus told Peter that not only would he deny Him, but he would deny Him three times. Peter thought that was absolutely impossible. But Jesus knew Peter, just like he knows us. We are all Peter in that moment. We all have within us the makings of betrayal. It wouldn’t be long after that bold declaration that Peter would fall asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus had asked him to “watch” with him. And, of course, after Jesus' arrest, he followed at a distance and denied the Lord three times before the rooster crowed the dawn. Immediately after that third denial, the eyes of Peter and the eyes of Jesus met. Peter was devastated, and he went out and wept bitterly (cf. Luke 22). Imagine how hard it must have been. Then, a few days later, he heard that wonderful message that the Lord had risen. Not only that, but Jesus said to the women at the tomb, "But go, tell His disciples —and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you." (cf. Mark 16:7). Tell the disciples—and Peter. Jesus singled him out. Peter needed to be encouraged. He had forgotten that the Lord said he would pray for him and he would encourage the others when he came back. I’m there from time to time. I find myself at a place where nothing seems to be going just right and I need to be encouraged. Maybe you need encouragement today. Life seems to get in the way of my happiness. It may be because of something I’ve done or not done; yet, the results are the same. I find myself wondering if it is ever going to be alright. It is then that I am called to remember that Jesus has thought of me. He has prayed for me. He desires me to be encouraged. That encouragement comes in different forms. Sometimes it is something I have read in Scripture; or, it may be a friend with an encouraging word. The important truth is that it does come! Jesus is resurrected in part to provide those words of encouragement. Take them to heart today. He is risen!

Words of Peace

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV). It was natural for the disciples to be fearful after Jesus' crucifixion. They were afraid that the same authorities who executed Jesus would come after them as well. Their solution was to hide behind shut doors. It is telling that Jesus comes to them to bring courage to these frightened disciples. He appeared in the midst of them and said, "Peace be with you." Then He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The day in which we live is full of fear at many levels. There is instability in our world. There are wars and rebellions on multiple continents. Our nation is involved in each of them to one degree or another. The economic position of our country is in the slowest recovery since World War II. Many people fear at one level or another. There was a test conducted by a university where 10 students were placed in a room. 3 lines of varying length were drawn on a card. The students were told to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the longest line. But 9 of the students had been instructed beforehand to raise their hands when the instructor pointed to the second longest line. One student was left out. The usual reaction of this student was to put his hand up, look around, and realizing he was all alone, pull it back down. This happened 75% of the time, with students from grade school through high school. The researchers concluded that many would rather be popular than be right. Fear does that to us. Perhaps you have decided to hide behind “closed doors.” Jesus wants to come into your life and set you free from that fear. The same answer Jesus provided for those early disciples is our answer today. Stop and consider the simple fact that these very panic-stricken, fearful disciples went out after this and boldly and courageously shared the gospel. Most of them, in fact, laid down their very lives and became martyrs for the faith. Think about it. It is because Christ was risen, because He was alive, that these men went and, for all practical purposes, turned the world upside down. It is the explanation for the change in their lives. It is the explanation for the Christian to this present day. We serve a risen, living Lord who is still transforming lives. And He can transform your life as well. It is always better to be right than popular! Jesus offers us that position. He gives us words of peace in a fearful world!

Words for the Grieving

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (John 20:11-16 ESV). Mary Magdalene was one of the most devoted followers that Jesus had. Luke's Gospel tells us that she and others ministered to Him out of "their substance," which simply means that she financially supported Him. She traveled with Him. She wanted to be near Him. She wanted to hear Him. She had the courage to stand at the foot of the cross when most of the disciples were in hiding. Imagine how her heart broke at His crucifixion. She was the last at the cross, and early Sunday morning, she was the first at the tomb. She was not there to see a risen Lord, but to anoint His dead body. She came with grief and sorrow, not joy and hope. Jesus came to her in the midst of her sorrow. Looking at this wonderful inclusion to the resurrection story leads us to understand that Jesus comes in the same way to the grieving person today. Perhaps you feel desperate in your own grief. You may feel the loss of someone you love. It may be a loss of position or finances. You could be grieving at the loss of relationship in your family. Perhaps you are facing divorce or a child who has walked away from your love. Whatever the cause, you are grieving. The good news is that things can change. Things may look their darkest today. Can I tell you that husband or wife may return? That prodigal child may come back to you. And as a believer, you will again see that Christian loved one who has died. The key is in the truth that no matter what your circumstances, Jesus will be there with you. He may resolve your circumstances immediately; or your problems may continue. But you never will be alone. That is the message of the resurrected Lord to us. He knows what we are going through. He understands. And He cares. Trust Him!

Thomas, the Skeptic

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29 ESV). While we have come to know Thomas as the “doubter,” I have always thought of him more as a skeptic. After all, Thomas did not ask for a special revelation from Jesus. He simply asked for the same proof the other disciples had been given. Thomas had not been with the others when Jesus appeared to them (cf. John 20:24-25). Being an analytically inclined man who wanted to know for himself; he wanted to see for himself the resurrected Christ. Like so many others through the ages, he would not let others do his thinking for him. I am thankful that he was included in the story. It gives so many people the encouragement and hope that Jesus will still come to the skeptical. Jesus made a special resurrection appearance for Thomas. He condescended to Thomas and his desire to know for himself. What amazes me about this is that Jesus came to Thomas on his level. He didn't rebuke him. He didn't humiliate him. He could see that deep down in Thomas's heart, he really wanted to know God. Jesus came to him and said, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” It must have been an incredible moment in his life. You might be someone who is a bit skeptical, a bit unsure of your faith. You may have a lot of questions. Deep down inside, you want to know God. You want to know for yourself. The risen Lord has something for you. He can turn your skepticism into belief. While Jesus may not come in physical form to you, He will bring the truth to you as you search in earnest. For me that was accomplished through the patient teaching and guidance of my father-in-law, Bruce Perry. There were many Sunday afternoons that we sat in the living room as he opened their family Bible to various passages showing me the answers to all my questions. It took months of patient leading and prayer from many others, but finally every question was answered so that I could merely come to Him with my doubts and have them satisfied. Like Thomas I was able to say, "My Lord and my God!" So can you!

Beautiful Feet

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14-17 ESV). If there is one thing that can begin a debate among Christians it is the methodology of ministry and evangelism. Without digging too deeply into the theology of the atonement, let me merely reference the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. Here we find the story of a foreign dignitary from Ethiopia. As the queen's treasurer, he was a powerful man who would have traveled with an entourage. He went to Jerusalem in search of God, but found a dead, lifeless religion instead. Somehow, he obtained a scroll of Isaiah while he was there. And as it happened, he was traveling through the desert, reading aloud about the suffering of the Messiah, when Philip finds him. Philip walked up to him and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The man didn’t. Philip climbed up into the chariot, took the scroll, told him what it meant, and pointed him to Jesus. This is what people are still looking for today: someone to show them the way. So much of the time we are told how much we need to prepare to evangelize. We are given booklets or placed in study courses that will teach us the “sales method” of our faith. Listen, God doesn’t need sales associates; he needs people who will simply talk to others about what they have seen and heard. Often the privilege to do this isn’t even earned. Much of the time it happens “coincidentally” to our being in the right place at the right time. We are all missionaries to one degree or another. Whether you are a store clerk, physician, or minister, God has given each of us a unique story to tell of the impact of Jesus in our lives. Engage the people in your circle of influence with kindness. Treat them with respect. You will find them along that same road you travel. They will be looking for the answers you have already found. God has primarily chosen to reach people through people. So engage them, and most importantly, keep praying for them. You may have just a simple thought to share, a seed sown in the soil already worked by the Holy Spirit. Someone else may come later and water; and, someone else even later to harvest. But you will be a part of the plan of God to call his children. Give it a try, and you will discover what a joy it is to tell others about Jesus. You will have “beautiful feet.”

Happy Easter!

The following story is from an unknown source, sent to me by a friend. I found it describing the grace of God we celebrate today so well as to share it in its entirety: It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The creeks and streams were long gone back into the earth. It was a dry season that would bankrupt several farmers before it was through. Every day, my husband and his brothers would go about the arduous process of trying to get water to the fields. Lately this process had involved taking a truck to the local water rendering plant and filling it up with water. But severe rationing had cut everyone off. If we didn't see some rain soon... we would lose everything. It was on this day that I learned the true lesson of sharing and witnessed the only miracle I have seen with my own eyes. I was in the kitchen making lunch for my husband and his brothers when I saw my six-year old son, Billy, walking toward the woods. He wasn't walking with the usual carefree abandon of a youth but with a serious purpose. I could only see his back. He was obviously walking with a great effort...trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, toward the house. I went back to making sandwiches, thinking that whatever task he had been doing was completed. Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow purposeful stride toward the woods. This activity went on for an hour. He would walk carefully to the woods, run back to the house. Finally I couldn't take it any longer and I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey (being very careful not to be seen...as he was obviously doing important work and didn't need his Mommy checking up on him). He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked, being very careful not to spill the water he held in them...maybe two or three tablespoons were held in his tiny hands. I sneaked close as he went into the woods. Branches and thorns slapped his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much higher purpose. As I leaned in to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site. Several large deer loomed in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. A huge buck with elaborate antlers was dangerously close. But the buck did not threaten him...he didn't even move as Billy knelt down. And I saw a tiny fawn laying on the ground, obviously suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap up the water cupped in my beautiful boy's hand. When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house and I hid behind a tree. I followed him back to the house, to a spigot that we had shut off the water to. Billy opened it all the way up and a small trickle began to creep out. He knelt there, letting the drip, drip slowly fill up his makeshift "cup," as the sun beat down on his little back. And it came clear to me. The trouble he had gotten into for playing with the hose the week before. The lecture he had received about the importance of not wasting water. The reason he didn't ask me to help him. It took almost twenty minutes for the drops to fill his hands. When he stood up and began the trek back, I was there in front of him. His little eyes just filled with tears. "I'm not wasting," was all he said. As he began his walk, I joined him...with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him tend to the fawn. I stayed away. It was his job. I stood on the edge of the woods watching the most beautiful heart I have ever known working so hard to save another life. As the tears that rolled down my face began to hit the ground, they were suddenly joined by other drops...and more drops...and more. I looked up at the sky. It was as if God, himself, was weeping with pride. Some will probably say that this was all just a huge coincidence; that miracles don't really exist. That it was bound to rain sometime. And I can't argue with that...I'm not going to try. All I can say is that the rain that came that day saved our farm...just like the actions of one little boy saved another. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 ESV).

The Dark Day

It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46 ESV). G. Campbell Morgan said the following about the three hours of darkness that enveloped Calvary just prior to Jesus’ death: Much has been written about the three hours of darkness, much of which is not warranted by any careful spiritual attention to the story itself. Many years ago, it was argued that the darkness was that of the sun's eclipse. But that is entirely impossible, for Passover was always held at full moon, when there could be no eclipse of the sun. The darkness has been described as nature's sympathy with the suffering of the Lord, but that is a pagan conception of nature, a conception of nature as having some consciousness apart from God and out of harmony with His work. It has been said that the darkness was brought about by an act of God and was expressive of His sympathy with His Son. I immediately admit that that is an appealing idea and has some element of truth in it, in that we may discover the overruling of His government; but to declare that that darkness was caused by God because of His sympathy with His Son is to deny the cry of Jesus which immediately followed the darkness and referred to it. The darkness was to Him a period when He experienced whatever He may have meant by the words, "Why have you forsaken Me?" Whatever the reason for the darkness, we can be assured that the suffering of Jesus was real and complete in every way. To think of Him being left alone to die in the darkness is very difficult for me to grasp; yet, this is precisely what happened. All of his disciples except John deserted him. His mother wept while he died. It was indeed a dark day. I cannot say that I have ever imagined much less experienced such a day. Of course there have been some days that were filled with trial, pain, or difficulty; but nothing could compare to what Jesus endured. Perhaps more painful is the truth that Jesus did nothing to deserve such pain. He was obedient in every way. In fact, he was perfect in every measure. Yet, on my behalf, he suffered horribly. Can you see this is what we celebrate today? We call it Good Friday; however, without Easter there is nothing good in that day. We do have Easter though. This makes that day, and every dark day we have easier to bear. You may be experiencing such a day today. Will you recognize the great love God has extended to you through Jesus? Will you respond to the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life this moment? It is never too late. You cannot have gone too far while there is yet breath in your body. Trust HIM!

Happy Birthday, David!

Today is David’s thirty-sixth birthday! I wish that I could honestly say that the last thirty-six years have been remembered day by day; however, looking back I realize that I remember them in “bunches.” There are many days that seem to rise above the routine and stand clearly as special memories, but over all I seem to recall the whole of the experience with a clarity that transcends individual moments. Perhaps that’s why it is so easy to celebrate this day with my son. To honor this day, as I have traditionally done with all my family, I want to do something a bit different. I am going to look to a few of the Scriptures that point to the enormous love and grace God shows to us through our children. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV). Your mom and I weren’t the only ones singing over David when he was born; so was God. Can you imagine the sight of God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe singing over your child? It boggles the mind, yet it is true. And, it is not with a quiet, still voice but “with loud singing?” Yes, God rejoices over each of us. David is precious to God even as he is to us. That gives me great pause for thanksgiving! 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. (Psalm 139:13-14 ESV). There were no mistakes made when David was born. God saw and fashioned him long before. And the purpose was for these wonderful works. I have been privileged to see just a few of them through the years. Now that my son is a father I can see the beginning of even greater works ahead. Perhaps we all need to look within to see the purposeful creation God has willed bringing us into this great creation of his. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. (Psalm 127:3-4 ESV). When I celebrate the birth of my sons, I always go to these verses. It reminds me of how God thought of me as well. He thought to give me the protection of these “arrows” to be put in a “warrior’s hand.” Arrows were never intended to be a defensive weapon. They are not like a shield or helmet. They are offensive. The warrior takes up his bow in the face of an enemy and uses them to win the victory. My battles have always been easier when I leaned on the strength and joy that are rooted in my children. For these and many other reasons I am so grateful for my children! Thanks you, David! And, Happy Birthday, son!

April Fool's Day

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 ESV). Last week in Middle Tennessee we felt the plunge of temperatures as it went into the 20’s two days in a row. Perhaps that was winter’s last gasp for this year. I certainly hope so. Cold weather and I don’t do well together. And, this year it’s felt like the winter that would never end. Aside from a few warm days that teased us with a bit of spring-like weather, we’ve had a pretty cold and nasty March. I know March is supposed to come in like a lion. But it is also supposed to go out like a lamb. That’s hardly been the case. But, I suppose that fits the day. After all, this is the day that people in countries all over the world play jokes on one another in the name of “April Fool’s Day.” We have all been the recipient of those pranks. We all also understand that in addition to the jokes of this day, life has its own pranks also. We set our plans in motion. We have our expectations and timeframes. We look for the patterns and seasons of life to take a particular course. But, then things don’t turn out the way we expected. We are left wondering, is this for real? We feel taken! We feel as if someone has played an April Fool’s Day joke on us. Although life may play some pretty cruel “jokes” on us, each of us needs to be reminded, God will never do so. He’s not one to make us think one thing when the truth is something completely different. He’ll never lead us to trust him for something and then pull the rug out from under us. You’ll never hear him say, “April Fool’s” after you’ve believed him. Rather, God is always good and kind. He’s always true and faithful to his word, fulfilling everything he has ever promised his children. Certainly this is the meaning of Jesus’ words in our reading today. We can ask and know we will be answered; we can seek and know we will find; and, we can knock and know it will be opened. He gives to us better than we give to our children. Be encouraged today to know that in the midst of the disappointment, pain, sorrow, and cruel “jokes” that life can sometimes bring our way, we have a Father in heaven who loves us. He has promised to always be with us, to hear us as we pray, and to meet our needs. He will always be faithful to his word. And, that’s no April Fool’s Day joke!