The Car Wash - Pt 4

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV).

Today we come to the last principle in The Grace of Change: It’s only grace that protects us from self-righteousness. This is the other side of the coin. We must understand the dynamic that operates so subtly, yet so destructively, in our relationships. Because we all suffer from some degree of personal spiritual blindness, and because we tend to see the weaknesses and failures of the other person with greater accuracy, we begin thinking of ourselves as more righteous than the other person. When we do this, it becomes difficult for us to think we’re part of the problem, and it makes it difficult to embrace the loving criticism and correction of the other person. This means that it is not only blindness that prevents us from change, but also assessments of personal righteousness. If we’re convinced that we’re righteous, we desire neither change nor the help that can make change happen. When both people in a relationship think they are righteous and the other person isn't, each person becomes more dissatisfied, impatient, and bitter. Meanwhile, the condition of the relationship worsens. But there is hope! Grace decimates self-righteousness. Grace opens our eyes and softens our hearts. Grace deepens our sense of need. Grace faces us with our poverty and weakness. Grace causes us to run after help and welcomes us with open arms. When we quit arguing about who’s more righteous and instead grieve over our respective sins, we can know that grace has visited us and that it will work change in our lives. Confession shouldn’t be this scary thing we do our best to avoid. Sin, weakness, and failure shouldn’t be the constant elephant in the room that we all know is there but can’t (or won’t) talk about. Instead, confession is a wonderful gift that every relationship needs. It should be liberating, not understood as a moment of personal and relational loss. Our confession should be propelled by deep appreciation and gratitude toward God, who has made it possible for us to no longer fear being exposed. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we do not have to hide or excuse our wrongs. We’re freed from posing as if we’re perfect. In our heart of hearts we know we're not. We can stare our problems in the face with hope and courage because Christ has made possible real, lasting, personal, change in our relationships. Go ahead… get a good “car wash”!

The Car Wash - Pt 3

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 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 1:5-10 ESV).

Mary and I try to visit with our youngest son, Aaron, at least once a year in Washington DC. He actually lives in Georgetown. That part of DC is an old, quaint part of the capital. One of our “must visit” places when we go is not far from his apartment. On the main street through Georgetown is a bakery, Ladurée, specializing in French pastries. My favorites are the macaroons. They are very expensive, a dozen costing more than $30.00! And, I promise, you cannot eat just one! Sweets are one of my besetting sins! Knowing that brings me to a third principle concerning the grace of change. It is a grace to understand the concept of indwelling sin. One of the most tempting fallacies for us, and for every human being in this fallen world, is to believe that our greatest problems exist outside us rather than inside us. Despite this, the Bible calls us to humbly confess that the greatest, deepest, most abiding problem each of us faces is inside of us, not outside. The Bible names that problem "sin." Because sin is self-focused and self-serving, it is antisocial and destructive to our relationships. Let me be more specific. You know that you have been gifted with grace when you are able to say, “My greatest relationship problems are because of what's inside of me not outside of me.” Many relationships travel a one-way road in the wrong direction, the direction of a hardened heart. In the early days of the relationship we’re concerned with winning the other person, being loving, kind, serving, respectful, giving, forgiving, and patient. But before long we let down our guard. We quit being so solicitous. Selfishness replaces service. We do and say things we would have never thought of at the relationship’s beginning. We become progressively less giving, patient, and forgiving. We look out for ourselves more than for the other person. At first, our conscience bothers us. Eventually our heart hardens and our conscience doesn’t bother us anymore. It’s a perverse ability that all sinners have: becoming progressively comfortable with things that should shock, grieve, and embarrass us. It’s a sign of God’s grace when our consciences are sensitive and our hearts are grieved, focusing not on what the other person’s wrongs, but at what we have become. This sensitivity is the doorway to real and lasting change. It is then that we can simply agree with the Spirit’s prompting and begin the change with our confession and repentance.

The Car Wash - Pt 2

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:19-25 ESV).

Yesterday I began this short series dealing with the grace of change. I’ve titled it “The Car Wash” simply because the cleaning out of my old Tahoe recalled for me how easy it is to simply forget to do the little things each day until they become big things that require much more effort. We have often heard it said that we should not “make a mountain out of a molehill.” Having lived in Middle Tennessee for six years I am well aware of what a molehill looks like. They liked the soil in our back yard. Our dog, Teddy, was a little hard on them. More than once he caught one. I made it my mission to get rid of them as quickly as they appeared. But, like anything left unattended, they can get bigger with that neglect. This is the thought behind James’ assertion in our reading today. It is a grace to know right from wrong. James likened the Word of God to a mirror (vv. 22-25) into which we can look and see ourselves as we actually are. It is impossible to overstate how important this is. Accurate diagnosis always precedes effective cure. You only know that the board is too short because you can place it against a measuring tape. You only know that the temperature in your house is too hot because you have a thermostat. The Bible is God’s ultimate measuring instrument. It is meant to function in each of our lives as a spiritual tape measure. We can place ourselves and our relationships next to it and see if we measure up to God’s standard. God’s Word is one of his sweetest gifts of grace, and open eyes to see it clearly and an open heart to receive it willingly are sure signs of God’s grace as well. The real key is being intentional in our self-examination and then taking action as quickly as possible to correct what we find. I find in my life that the longer I wait to work on those little habits that indicate a problem, the longer and more difficult it becomes to change. Make it your priority today to both examine your life in light of the Scripture and take the first step toward changing. You will be glad you did.

The Car Wash - Pt 1

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).

Through the generosity and kindness of several folks our 15 year old Tahoe is going away soon. We were able to drive it with relatively little maintenance or service issues for over 250,000 miles! Unfortunately the last few weeks have not been maintenance free and it required us to think about a replacement vehicle. That is going to be possible soon. This necessitates the cleaning of the Tahoe. Over the years I have put various little things in the storage areas of the car. Funny how I forgot that that twelve foot measuring tape was in the side pocket; and, I wonder what I needed that for! Well, it’s going to be clean for the next step in its journey. As a result of cleaning out the old car, I began to think about how easy it is to put “stuff” in the storage areas of our lives. It also reminded me of how many people I see who are stuck in their relationships in a cycle of repeating the same things over and over again. They repeat the same misunderstandings. They rehearse and re-rehearse the same arguments. They repeat the same wrongs. Again and again things are not resolved. Night after night they end the day with nothing reconciled; they awake with memories of another bad moment with a friend, spouse, neighbor, co-worker or family member and they march toward the next time when the cycle will be repeated. It all becomes predictable and discouraging. They hate the cycle. They wish things were what they once were. Their minds swing between nostalgia and disappointment. They want things to be different, but they don’t seem to know how to break free, and they don’t seem willing to do the one thing that makes change possible – clean out the car. This is the effect of confession. Here is the point: no change takes place in our lives, or the lives of those we know, that does not begin with confession. The problem for many of us is we look at confession as a burden, when it is actually a grace. This grace begins with a change in our attitude, focus, and intent. Change is all about measuring yourself against a standard, being dissatisfied with where you are because you see that you have fallen short of the standard, and seeking the grace to close the gap from where you are to where you need to be. In the next few days we’re going to look at how to make those changes. After all, it is spring; and, perhaps it’s time for some deep cleaning!

Texas Bluebonnets

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9 ESV).

Last week Mary and I visited the Ennis area and the Texas Bluebonnet Trail. You can see from the little picture I took that we happened to get there at the time of peak bloom. In some areas they stretched out for acres. I did a little research and Texas bluebonnets are most easily adapted to the rocky, alkaline soils of the Hill Country. They are very well suited to the frequent droughts of this area; in fact, they thrive in heavily disturbed, poor soils. Texas bluebonnets produce large, hard-coated seeds that may cause them to have a low germination rate the first year or two. That hard seed coat is an excellent mechanism for survival during unfavorable years. I also discovered that increasing the germination rate requires you to “scarify” the seeds (I promise I did not make that word up). Scarification means scratching or nicking the seed coats to simulate natural weathering processes. Once scarified, most seeds will germinate quickly. You can do this by physically nicking the seeds with a knife; rubbing the seeds with sandpaper; or, freezing the seeds overnight and then quickly pouring boiling water over the seeds and soak for several hours at room temperature. It is interesting how this information combines with the parable of our reading today. Jesus says that the “good seed” that is sown on “good soil” produces a bountiful harvest. If we are a child of God, we are good seed. But how do we get to the good soil? That requires some preparation. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit as he leads and directs us along our path. Sometimes I feel as if I’ve been scarified! I suppose I need to be a little more intentional in recognizing that’s the best way to truly bloom. As some of the natives around the Bluebonnet Trail call the displays of wild flowers, that’s the “show.” We were able to see a wonderful “show” of bluebonnets. My hope is that I will be more and more given to whatever preparation God has for me to put on a “show” in my life. I hope you’ll join me in that work!

Modern Examples of the Faith - Pt 4

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 5:5 ESV).

Our fourth modern example of the faith comes from the area of literature. Scholars thought he would be forgotten in less than a decade. His fellow professors looked down on him because he became a Christian and wrote novels. But the legacy of C.S. Lewis lives on. Perhaps you are most familiar with one of his most famous novels, The Chronicles of Narnia. He has written many others, some of which I will mention later. However, it his life that matter to us. In 1954 C.S. Lewis wrote, "I'm tall, fat, rather bald, red-faced, double-chinned, black-haired, have a deep voice, and wear glasses for reading." In fact, others would have added that his trousers were usually in dire need of pressing, his jackets threadbare and blemished by snags and food spots, and his shoes scuffed and worn at the heels. His physical appearance was never one of his “strong points.” However, his life story has become a powerful force in the encouragement and inspiration of millions. As Lewis continued to read, he especially enjoyed Christian author George MacDonald. One volume, Phantastes, powerfully challenged his atheism. "What it actually did to me," wrote Lewis, "was to convert, even to baptize … my imagination." G.K. Chesterton's books worked much the same way. While MacDonald and Chesterton were stirring Lewis's thoughts, close friend Owen Barfield pounced on the logic of Lewis's atheism. Soon after joining the English faculty at Magdalen College, Lewis met two more Christians, Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien. These men became close friends of Lewis. He admired their brilliance and their logic. Soon Lewis recognized that most of his friends held to this Christianity. In 1929 these roads met, and C.S. Lewis surrendered, admitting "God was God, and knelt and prayed." Within two years the reluctant convert also moved from theism to Christianity and joined the Church of England. Almost immediately, Lewis set out in a new direction, most demonstrably in his writing. Lewis's 25 Christian books sold millions of copies, including The Screwtape Letters (1942), Mere Christianity (1952), and the Chronicles of Narnia (1950–56). In spite of his intellectual accomplishments, he refused to be arrogant. The Take-Away: When God calls to us, we are bound to respond, regardless of how far we have strayed. If you feel the least bit drawn to Him, just say yes!

Modern Examples of the Faith - Pt 3

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV). Hollywood is not always so friendly to people of faith. When someone comes out as being a Christian, they are torn to shreds by critics that think faith should stay out of the limelight. Knowing they will face harsh words, it’s not a surprise that some celebrities would want to keep their faith under wraps. Our third modern example comes from the world of entertainment. Carrie On stage, in person, or in song, she has never been shy about sharing her faith in Jesus Christ. Most fans of Underwood have long known that she is a devout Christian due to her philanthropy efforts, Christian lyrics and regularly sharing scripture with her fans through social media. Underwood grew up as a conservative Christian in Oklahoma, and has continued that legacy by taking her son to church every week and routinely reading him children’s Bible stories. She does this all with the help of her husband, Mike Fisher, who also celebrates being a Christian. The couple has spoken about living a Godly marriage in interviews and hope others are inspired to do the same.

Underwood has a history of being unashamed of her faith that includes singing “How Great Thou Art” on national TV and talking openly with Oprah about prayer. In 2012, she responded to whether or not she worried about the success of her single, “Jesus Take the Wheel,” due to its religious message. “It wasn’t a worry to me at all. Country music is different. You have that Bible Belt-ness about it. I’m not the first person to sing about God, Jesus, faith (or) any of that, and I won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last for me, either. If you don’t like it, change the channel.” It has always been one of my favorites (you listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDNFqMDKyt4). It has now been over 12 years since Underwood won American Idol, but she has proven that fame has not destroyed her faith. Without hesitation or reserve, Carrie has strived to live a life of Christ and openly shares that journey with her fans. Carrie has always shared her faith with the world, and has never apologized for doing so. Despite facing constant backlash for her love of Jesus, Underwood has been a great example of how you can share God in all aspects of your life and it will only bring you eternal happiness. The Take-Away: It will never be easy to model Christ in front of our world. However, just as Moses told Joshua not to fear those that would oppose him, we can also have that same fearless attitude. Let Jesus take the wheel of your life also.

Modern Examples of the Faith - Pt 2

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6 ESV).

Our second celebrity comes from the ranks of the professional athletes of our modern era. Without a doubt, the most maligned Christian athlete in modern times must be Tim Tebow. Since the start of his football career, he has been one of the most recognized Christian athletes in the sports world, not ashamed of Jesus in word and in action, on and off the field. When he speaks at events, he often encourages people to stand up and act for God in their lives. He recently called on fellow athletes to allow Christ to lead their paths, believing that their lives will be clearer once they follow Christ. Tebow is a two-time national college football champion and was drafted by the Denver Broncos and then moved to the New York Jets. He had high hopes of having a solid NFL career and when this didn't happen, he left the league in 2015. He also played baseball as an outfielder with the Columbia Fireflies of the Class A South Atlantic League, a farm club of the New York Mets. "It's not what you do when you're up. It's what you do when you're down. That's what guys look at you for, how you handle it when something goes wrong. That's playing through adversity, that's perseverance, that's determination. That's all the character qualities you want. Coming back from those hard times, that's what makes you who you are." Tebow called on Christians to stand up for their faith during a "God's Purpose for America” event. He discussed when life is unclear, believers need to press into the power of God and stand on their values. When your identity is discovered in Christ, your identity never changes. Take a stand as nobody else can do it for you. You are always a child of God you don't need to be on the roller coaster like the rest of the world. We are told in 2 Corinthians to cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God. Today is the day you can rise above the pain, hate, anger and doubt. The Take-Away: Tim Tebow has modeled the second commandment (our reading today) with unwavering commitment. While never easy, and not always met with acceptance or approval from fellow athletic celebrities, often ridiculed by the media, we can see the personal blessing of choosing to bow only to our God and Father!

Modern Examples of the Faith - Pt 1

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV). At the risk of being “politically incorrect” to someone in the next few days, I am going to focus on some inspirational and encouraging stories from the lives of people who have modeled faith in our modern era. It would be easy to go to some of the great men and women who have been or were (until their death) ministers or missionaries; however, I want to look at some others who find themselves in what could easily be seen as a hostile environment in regard to living their faith. So, these people may be a bit of a surprise to you. I hope they will be a great encouragement as well.

Let’s begin in the political realm. There are many that I could have chosen; however, one stands out for me in helping me see the grace of God at work in our lives. George W. Bush is our first “famous Christian.” While Bush was at a backyard barbecue in 1977, friends introduced him to Laura Welch, a schoolteacher and librarian. After a three-month courtship, she accepted his marriage proposal and they wed on November 5 of that year. The couple settled in Midland, Texas. On November 25, 1981, Laura Bush gave birth to their fraternal twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. Prior to getting married, Bush struggled with multiple episodes of alcohol abuse. Bush said his wife has had a stabilizing effect on his life, and he attributes her influence to his 1986 decision to give up alcohol. While Governor of Texas, Bush said of his wife, "I saw an elegant, beautiful woman who turned out not only to be elegant and beautiful, but very smart and willing to put up with my rough edges, and I must confess has smoothed them off over time." It has widely been reported that his daily readings have always included passages from the Scripture and his consistent declaration to being a “born-again Christian” have caused many to both applaud and ridicule him. For better or worse, accurately or not, George W. Bush became the face of American evangelical Christianity during his eight-year presidency. From his campaign debate statement that Jesus was the philosopher he identified with the most “because he changed my heart” to his claim that he had “more of a theological perspective” on the Iraq War, Bush’s faith and religious remarks are still discussed at length by pundits and believers alike. The Take-Away: Bush will never be called a “perfect” man, or president for that matter. However, his unwavering understanding of the grace of God ought to encourage each of us in the face of both failure and success. I find it encouraging that he was able to point to his faith in Christ even when it was most unpopular and unacceptable. Perhaps this is the at the heart of honoring so many heroes with his “Portraits of Courage.”

Life Is Good - Pt 3

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-7 ESV). The third principle of living the good life is to face your problems. Everyone has problems, big or small. Ignoring or avoiding them only makes them get bigger and bigger until they've taken over your life. You don't have to face them all at once, but dealing with things as they arise, rather than waiting, will help your long-term ability to love life, because problems won't be building up.

There are few who have had as enormous an impact on our culture and entertainment as Walt Disney. As co-creator of Mickey Mouse he helped to create the most popular and well-known cartoon character in the world. He was an artist who changed animation and film-making forever and has been delighting and inspiring audiences for nearly 100 years. And, of course, when he brought us Disneyland he created a place unlike any other, one that still thrills the imaginations of children and adults today. But the road to this kind of success and influence wasn’t easy, and it couldn’t have happened without Disney’s ceaseless hard work and unwavering belief in his dreams. He was put to work at just nine years old, had only an eighth-grade education and almost no formal training in art, and suffered multiple business setbacks. However, he saw these not as failings but as the things that helped to make him the great visionary and businessman he became. He refused to ignore his problems in the face of his dream. Focus on finding a solution to the problem, rather than focusing on the problem itself. Ask yourself whether a problem is actually a problem. Sometimes you build something up into a problem without realizing why. Forcing yourself to come up with a reason for something that seems nonsensical can actually help you release the anxiety around what you feel is a problem. Walt Disney applied this principle like this: “A person should set his goals as early as he can and devote all his energy and talent to getting there. With enough effort, he may achieve it. Or he may find something that is even more rewarding. But in the end, no matter what the outcome, he will know he has been alive.” Living the good life! Certainly one practical behavior is to face our problems rather than ignore them. Live the abundant life!

Life Is Good - Pt 2

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). The second step in experiencing and living a good life is to remember that you are highly valued, no matter what circumstances you find yourself. Our reading today is so clear. God has specifically created each of “fearfully and wonderfully.” I read a wonderful illustration of this truth recently:

A speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill high in the air, waving it around. In the room of over 200 people he asked. “Who would like this $20 bill? Raise your hand if you would.” Hands started going up throughout the room. The speaker then said “I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first, let me do this.” He then proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up in his hand, crushing it as hard as he could. He then asked the audience. “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He then dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He then picked it up, now crumpled and dirty and asked the audience “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air, nobody put their hands down. The speaker then addressed the audience and said “My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson here today. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by someone or something. We are tempted to feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. That value did not come from you or anything you did; it comes from the heart and mind of God in His creative act. Examine your thoughts and self-words. Look at what you're thinking and saying to yourself. This is especially true if it has to do with why you can’t do something. My good friend, Sheriff Bucky Rowland, is running for reelection this summer. I can hardly believe it has already been four years since he was sworn in as the sheriff of Maury County, Tennessee. I remember that year well. It began with many hours of thoughts and prayers. He was correctly convinced that God wanted him to be sheriff; however, there were many, both friends and competitors who told him he had no chance to win. It would be a waste of time and resources for him to enter the race. I’m proud to say that he refused to listen to those voices. Even in the face of great personal sacrifice, he persevered. I was with he and his family when the results came in announcing he had won convincingly. That’s living the good life!

Life Is Good - Pt 1

Sometimes I write so much about suffering and difficulty it may give the impression that I believe there is nothing in this world that the believer has to live for. That’s not the case. Jesus didn’t just come to give us a great “then and there;” he also came to secure a wonderful “here and now.” Our reading today simply states Jesus saying, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (v. 10). There is no hidden paradox in that statement. Jesus wants us to have know that life is good.

Tucked away in “The Village” at downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is one of Mary’s favorite shops. If we go to the Smoky Mountains, we will visit that shop and likely come away with a new t-shirt. It will have one of the latest prints depicting the goodness of life. It may recall memories camping, lounging at the seashore, hiking, golfing, cycling, or any one of the dozens of images they have in stock. As comfortable and useful as these shirts are, it takes more than wearing a shirt to make life good. So for the next few days I want to concentrate on some specific actions we can take to realize the abundant life Jesus has won for us. The first thing you can begin to do is to let go of the outcome. One of the biggest obstacles we all face is our stubborn refusal to accept that we simply cannot control the outcome of every situation. In fact, the truth is that the only thing we can control is our reaction to a situation. We may be able to have a part in determining our circumstance, but real control is way above our pay-grade! The need for control is rooted in fear, and if you're acting from a place of fear, you are not able to experience a good life. So, today, begin by asking yourself what you're afraid of if you relinquish the need to control the outcome of a given situation. I enjoy watching “Iron Chef” on the Food Channel. In each episode the competing chefs are given a specific ingredient that they must make the “star” of their meal. As they being to cook, they are given the “culinary curveball.” That’s always something very odd and very difficult to incorporate into heir menu. Listen, our lives are full of culinary curveballs; however, when we let go of our need to control those things, we now have freed to see the joy and happiness of life explode into our consciousness. Whatever challenge comes our way, Jesus is always enough! Life is good!

Count It All Joy! - Pt 4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV).

You may recall that yesterday I wrote that “steadfastness” is another word for “endurance.” The picture I conjure in my mind is that of the lighthouse standing against the enormous wind and water of the storms that crash against it. It really is an incredible sight. Alone, standing for one purpose only, it shines its light to lead others to safety regardless of the consequences of being in the eye of the storm. In other words, one of the things God is doing when he tests our faith is he is preserving our faith. When he lovingly brings trials into our lives, and he does so lovingly for all who are in Jesus, he is working for us, and in us, one of the greatest goods imaginable. When he tests us, he is taking action to keep us. And he keeps us not just by protecting our present level of faith, and not just by growing, enriching, developing, and maturing our faith. But in testing our faith, he is keeping it alive. God’s preserving work in us through our pain and difficulty is essential to what matters most, and James makes that connection explicit: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (v. 2). God lovingly injects our lives with trials to train, grow, strengthen, and sweeten what matters most in us. Faith does not flourish when it lies untested. It atrophies when it goes unexercised. And eventually it dies. So, when God loves us with his saving love, and gives us saving faith, he commits, because he cares for us, to inject our lives with various trials to train, grow, sweeten, strengthen, and mature what matters most in us. Our “various trials” in this life are not superfluous to our enduring in faith. And they are not just threats to losing our faith. They are one of God’s essential means through which he preserves the faith he has given us and keeps us as his own. This is what we have been created for. Like the lighthouse, we were not created for the calm weather inland. We were created for the storm. The added benefit of drawing others to the safe harbor of the focus of our faith is even more comforting. I often wonder if I will know those who have been guided to the safety of God’s grace by my suffering, especially my joyous suffering. I think that would make heaven even sweeter. Remember, pain is painful; and, suffering can be joyful. It won’t last forever. Maybe it will kill you. If it does, you get heaven in return!

Count It All Joy! - Pt 3

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV).

I often tire of hearing the well-intentioned platitude that “whatever doesn’t kill you makes you better.” The truth for me is that whatever doesn’t kill me hurts – a lot! So, when James tells us to be joyous in all of this pain, I need more than just a command to own it and see it come to life in me. I simply need a reason why it is happening to me. I do like the meme for today’s reading: God doesn’t give the hardest battles to his toughest soldiers, he creates the toughest soldiers through life’s hardest battles. That rings true in my experience. I could rehearse many of the clear biblical reasons why we can “count it all joy” when we encounter various trials. We’ve read them many times. They have been taught and preached thousands of times over the years. You know them:  “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  We can write over every trial, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).  And we can say with the apostle, “I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).  Or with Jesus, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:12). However I need something a bit more substantial in the face of some of my trials. After all, I often don’t want to be stronger; I don’t want to be a better soldier. I suspect many of the people of James’ day felt the same in the face of the severe conditions they faced in exile. So, James sees something very specific in answer to my question: “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:3). “Steadfastness” is not a word we use frequently today, and so likely this does not feel especially compelling at first glance. Another word for it would be endurance. Endurance on its own isn’t necessarily desirable (for instance, enduring in error). What makes it compelling is what we endure in. And what James has in view is very clear: faith in Christ. And for Christians, enduring in faith is what life is all about. If we do not endure in faith, we will be on the wrong side of what matters most in the universe: being right with God, and enjoying him forever, in Jesus. Now that’s worth the pain!

Count It All Joy! - Pt 2

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:1-4 ESV).

Life can often be little more than a jumble of letters that we are given to write a story with. Our reading today does not seem to make it any easier when James says to “count it all joy.” We must understand where the emphasis should be placed in the reading. It should be on the all. James is not talking about all our pain, all our trials, or all our hardship; he is talking about the joy. It is the joy in and of itself. Pain is pain, not joy. Trials are trying, not sources of pleasure. Rather, what James has for us, and what the gospel of Christ provides, is a lens on life, and a true vantage point on reality, through which even life’s most painful trials have a vital part to play in our joy. God draws his straightest lines from life’s greatest difficulties to our deepest joys. And not just “even,” but “especially.” In God’s strange and wonderful ways of ruling this world, life’s most painful trials serve a special purpose for our good. God often draws his straightest lines from life’s greatest difficulties to our deepest and sweetest joys. And not just in the long run, but even in the midst of trial. When trials assault our surface pleasures, we’re pressed to consider our deepest, fullest, richest treasures and to tap those roots for sustenance in ways we simply do not when all is well. We also need to understand that James does not say, “Count it only joy.” God does not expect us to receive our trials as only joy. In fact, Christians, of all people, should be most ready to receive pain as pain, tragedy as tragedy, trauma as trauma. We count, or reckon, our trials as joy, because we don’t simply feel them naturally to be so. And, further, don’t think that James only has little trials in view here. He says “trials of various kinds” because he means the big ones, too. It can be easy to see how God is at work in life’s little inconveniences, but our greatest tragedies press the hardest, darkest questions on our soul. Has God abandoned me? Is he really in charge and also good? Is he even there? James will not have us relegate his charge to “count it all joy” simply to the easy stuff. The very issue at stake is the hardest things — the “trials” of tragedy, loss, distress, despondency, and long-term despair. Here is our beginning, where it always should be. It begins and ends with the graceful sovereignty of God who know exactly what we need and when we need it. This is how I may begin to see every trial as a joy unfolding.

Count It All Joy! - Pt 1

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:1-4 ESV).

Recently I had a friend ask me to help him with a very difficult experience in his life. It is amazing what happens in our world and so many people seem to think that’s “just the way it is.” Without going into any detail, let me say this experience is nothing of that; and, it ought to be met with swift and total retribution. However, our system is such that that often does not happen. The feeling of helplessness and pain in view of what seems to be injustice is often overwhelming. Such was the case. Our visit was long and difficult at times; however, our friendship is such that nothing less than the truth would be acceptable from either of us. It was very productive and encouraging for both of us. While the story is still unfolding at the writing of this devotional, I am convinced that joy will come of it all. That brings me to the next few devotionals inspired first by our reading today. Few things in our lives turn heads like genuine joy in the midst of deep pain. Not only is this kind of unshakeable peace a distinctively Christian experience, but it also amounts to one of the most powerful witnesses we can make before an unbelieving world. It’s one thing to describe joy-in-trial from the outside and ponder it in theory, but it is something distinctly different to actually walk through it yourself, experiencing it from the inside, in practice. When we are experiencing pain, whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual it is near impossible to navigate that stormy path and not simply want the pain to go away. In and of themselves, our hardships are emphatically not joyful. That’s part of what makes them hard. This is where James, the writer of our reading today finds himself; and, he says, “Count it all joy.” There is an important clue in the salutation that helps us understand the pain of James and his readers. He writes to the “twelve tribes in the dispersion.” The “dispersion,” or Diasporah, is simply the “exile.” Without getting too historical for this short bit of encouragement, let’s just say that the Jewish people at this writing find themselves at yet another time of being forced from their home and all they love. They are once again under the subjugation of a foreign nation. After the destruction of the Second Temple and most of Jerusalem in 70 AD, Jewish leaders and elite were exiled from the land, killed, or taken to Rome as slaves. Families and whole communities were left tattered and broken. Poverty, hunger, and disease were rampant. They were a hopeless people in a hopeless situation. And James says, “Count it all joy!” Don’t we need that today? Of course I am not indicating our nation is in shambles physically. However, do you not feel the uncertainty building with each new report from the media? Add that to the incredible threat of personal and private pain in your life and we have the same challenges. The answer is the same. Count it all joy! We will examine how to do that in the coming days. It all begins with your trust in Jesus. Settle that today.

Peace and Resurrection - Pt 6

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:24-27 ESV).

We come to the close of our look at “Peace and Resurrection” today. I want to give you a short illustrations and then one last note. The illustration comes out of the life of Oswald Chambers. He is one of the great Christian writes of the last 100 years. After reading his biography I discovered he didn’t start writing until he was 70. He wrote a book every year after until his death at 89. He said, “That’s better than golf, fishing, lollygagging around in some coral reef while you’re supposed to look cool and tanned at age 70.” My thought was “really?” At 68, I’m thinking I need less time spent in ministry so I can have more time to “lollygag”! I digress. Here’s the story Chambers told. I’ll paraphrase. There was an itinerant evangelist in India, very poor, walking from village to village, sharing the gospel. Sometimes received, sometimes spurned. It’s late in the day and he comes to one more village. He’s not sure if he has the energy, but he goes in, and he receives a terrible reception and they literally drive him out of the village. He’s frightened and he’s exhausted. He lies down under a tree and goes to sleep. Just at dusk, he’s startled wide awake and he’s surrounded by the villagers. The big man in the village said, “We wanted to come see what you were doing out here and now that we have seen your blistered and bleeding feet to bring us this news, we would like you to tell us again what you said in the village.” This is the perfect illustration of our reading today. I complete in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Now, those blistered and bleeding feet do not add one iota to your salvation. They simply display the value that you put upon Christ and the love that you have for people and thus, they become a kind of embodiment of Christ’s own afflictions, displaying the authenticity of the message so that people are willing to listen. This is the clear indication of both the “what” and the “why” of our suffering. You can know both that it has great purpose and that it has a glorious end. This is our hope! He has already forged ahead and made our eternal life an irrevocable part of our future!

Peace and Resurrection - Pt 5

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-16 ESV).

Our reading today is a follow up from yesterday when I made the statement that our sufferings in this world serve to affirm the validity of the call to Christ. When Paul talks about “completing the sufferings of Christ” (cf. Colossians 1:24) it isn’t just that he says we are accomplishing this great feat as an example to the world, it is also doing it with joy. Paul reminds us that grumbling sufferers for Jesus are a contradiction in terms. This is to be a mark of a believer. This is the tangy salt and the bright light of the believer. Jesus simply says, “Rejoice in that day and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven.” To be happy when all is going well, witnesses to nothing but ordinary human life. But to be glad, with Paul, while suffering, to transfer the afflictions of Christ to some new person or new people group, that’s a miracle. It is no wonder that the world asks, “What is the reason for the hope that is in you?” They can’t account for the way this kind of believer lives. It is so easy to lose sight of this truth in America. When Mary and I went to Florida recently, we flew on Spirit Airlines. For those of you not familiar with this carrier, they are known for their “Bare Fare.” They pride themselves in being the least expensive means of air travel in America. Now, I’m not endorsing Spirit; in fact, I’m not sure they are the least expensive when you factor in all the fees. However, I can tell you, cheapest or not, they have got to be the most uncomfortable airline I have ever flown. The seats are narrower and do not recline, the leg room is less, it is not comfortable. Did you notice? I was complaining about flying to Florida! When 10% of the world’s population or about 795 million people are classified as chronically undernourished, I’m complaining about how I flew to Florida. I am thoroughly Western and thoroughly endangered. It’s when you walk next to eternity that good things happen. Things get real. You’re not just playing with Jesus anymore. He’s real or he’s a fake. This is a myth or I’m real. Joy is there because the resurrection is true and real. “HOPE” means “hold on, pain ends.”

Peace and Resurrection - Pt 4

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:24-27 ESV).

I have found that the single most difficult task we have been given in applying the principles of hope in our lives is to embrace risk for Jesus. It will look different for all of us, but it will be the embrace of risk. It may be the embrace of suffering; or, it may be the embrace of pathways of love that you know will be costly. This kind of risk is always costly; however, the only kinds of lives that are really going to change people are those kinds of lives. This is the kind of radicalism of the Apostle Paul. We see it in our reading today. He says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings” (v. 24). That’s a very strange statement for him to make at first glance. However, he’s talking to the church when he says your. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. That sounds heretical. It is almost as if he thinks he’s got to suffer to add to an unfinished work of Jesus. We know from Paul’s own writings there was nothing lacking in his atoning work. The afflictions of Christ were the price that bought our forgiveness of sins. The afflictions of Christ were the place where all the wrath of God was absorbed for all those who would trust in him so that nobody who trusts in Jesus would ever have God wrathful at them anymore. The afflictions of Christ are the consummation of his earthly obedience so that a perfect righteousness is wrought out for you, so that when you trust in him, that righteousness is counted as yours, so that when you stand before an all holy God, he sees perfect righteousness and welcomes you into everlasting joy. There is nothing lacking in the atoning worth of Christ’s afflictions. What the apostle is saying is that there must be a personal, in-the-flesh, presentation to those for whom Jesus suffered. That comes from the community of faith. God designed that the sufferings of his Son, for all the centuries following, would be carried and presented to people in the sufferings of his people. Your sufferings do not sneak up on you as though they were some extrinsic and strange and foreign thing that has nothing to do with God’s purpose for the world. The church is being gathered. The church is being strengthened. The church is being built up, inspired, and sent through the sufferings of its members. Any suffering that comes into the life of a believer is designed to bless somebody. Don’t waste it. Rejoice in it and KNOW that it ends in the wonder of resurrection and glory! There’s the secret to peace in our affliction. Not only does it merely result in our own glory and elevation, it also serves to call out clearly to others the message of the gospel. No matter how dark it gets, there’s the light at the end of all!

Peace and Resurrection - Pt 3

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:16-19 ESV).

Today we come back to the reading we began with a few days ago. Our focus is on the on the incredible joy Paul had in his life. It was the joy of hope. It is not the same concept we see so often taught and sought today. He was not your typical “driven man.” Had he been a man seeking success and prominence in this life he would not have turned down the gifts that were offered to him so often by the churches. He would not have pummeled his body so completely as to keep himself under such total discipline. He would not have risked his life, again and again and again, with mobs and oceans and thieves and false brethren. He would not have endured these crummy, backsliding Christians. He would not have gone without food and sleep so often as he did. He wouldn’t have risked imprisonment in city after city after city. He wouldn’t have stayed single all his life because it was the loving thing to do. That’s what he meant when he said, “We are, of all people, most to be pitied if there’s no resurrection from the dead.” If you want to maximize eating and drinking here, there are plenty of other religions that you can follow. Almost all Americans believe it, but we are called to be a remnant here; we are called to live another way and to devote ourselves to another value and another age. I emphasize once more, if your goal is to maximize the joy, pleasure, comfort, and success on this planet, Christianity is not for you. Paul did not see his relationship with Christ as the key to maximizing his comforts in this life. He could have walked away from the Damascus Road experience because you know what Jesus told him. He said to Ananias, who went to open Paul’s eyes after he was blinded for three days, he said, “Go tell him how much he must suffer on my account.” So when Ananias shows up and tells Paul what the deal is, “You are now called by the living, risen Christ and his mission for you is to maximize your suffering for the sake of the extension of his kingdom,” Paul could have said, “No, thank you,” and walked away. He didn’t do it. This is that turning point in his life. And, it is a turning point for us as well. At this point in this series I really am on a recruitment mission. I’m not here to entertain you. I’m not here to even just get you believe in the resurrection. I’m here to recruit you into this kind of lifestyle. It is a lifestyle of hope which produces peace. Take that hope into your mind today. Even in the crucible of fire you find yourself, take that hope and find real peace.

Peace and Resurrection - Pt 2

Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:30-34 ESV).

Let me say something counter-intuitive to “good marketing”: There is a better way than Christianity to maximize your earthly comforts and pleasures. G. K. Chesterton said: “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.” If your goal in life is to maximize the joy and pleasure and comfort and success on this planet, Christianity is not for you. You can find another gospel, and there are plenty of them out there, to help you on that crusade. That’s not what Christianity is designed to do. It won’t do it for you. Paul knew this. Paul knew, when he wrote 1 Corinthians 15, that there was a better way to maximize comforts and pleasures on earth than Christianity than following Jesus, which is why he said, “If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow, we die” (v. 32). He did not mean let’s all become gluttons and drunkards, because gluttons and drunkards in this life are to be pitied just like stupid Christians who have bought into a myth that isn’t going to come true. That’s not the way to maximize your pleasures in this world, to become a glutton and a drunkard. When he says, “If there’s no resurrection, let us eat and drink,” he means be normal. Be middle-class. Just eat and drink and exercise. Clearly, people are concerned about health and Paul said, “That’s exactly where you should devote your energies if you want to maximize your pleasures on this earth.” He is admitting that to those who merely want maximum pleasure in this life, then heaven is irrelevant, hell is irrelevant, resurrection is irrelevant, eternity is irrelevant, but this life, today’s pleasure, that’s relevant. So, you must maximize how long you live here and how fit you are or you won’t enjoy this life as much. We’re going to look more specifically at this tomorrow; however, let’s just agree that health and well-being is important in this life. The real key is how to get it. You cannot get well being from just a good life here. As good as you may be, it will never be enough to bring peace. That can only come from know that as long as there is a “future” you are secure in it. Try as much as you like, without that hope, the bad things that always seem to come our way will destroy any peace you may have mustered. Resurrection brings ultimate hope and peace!

Peace and Resurrection - Pt 1

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV).

I hope you have let the last verse of our reading really impact you. It is the heart of our hope and peace in this world. The apostle recognized this incredible truth. So he says, “If, in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” There are many voices who would simply declare without thought or basis that whether there is a God or not, whether Jesus and the resurrection are fact, a life of love and labor and sacrifice is a good life. They would tell us that today’s reward is enough, even in the face of significant trial. Paul didn’t think so. He calls that belief foolish and those people fools. For all of us who are Christians in the wealthy west, especially America, who some have dubbed “the Disneyland of the world,” this is the central question. It seems like in evangelicalism today we are prone to offer Christianity to people and persuade them with the earthly benefits that it will bring them. We hear the prosperity preachers boasting the benefits of peace of mind or relational benefits. They tout the immediate transformation of our situation if we but have enough faith. Their message is to be a Christian and all will come together. It will go better for you. And honestly, it’s not a good sell for Christianity to tell the truth of this new life which is often filled with hardship and heartache. Paul knew that following in the steps of Jesus was a life of freely chosen risk and suffering in the cause of love for other people in great need. It would be far from easy. It would be juxtaposed to that which is so easily preached and believed today in many churches of America. And that’s where we begin today. You may be tempted to skip the next few days as morose and bleak. After all, who needs more bad news? Well, please don’t; this is the beginning of real good news. Paul was the preacher of joy, unspeakable joy. But that joy, according to the Apostle, was the joy of hope. That joy streams back into this world, but it’s a joy rooted in hope. Paul is saying here, that this hope of resurrection, and what would come with Christ beyond the resurrection, freed him to embrace suffering that he never would have chosen if he did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. “The life I have chosen is a fool’s life,” he said, “if there is no resurrection from the dead for me and for those for whom I am suffering.” This is the root of his peace; and, should be ours as well. Rejoice! He is risen! And so shall we be!

Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-5 ESV).

Our reading today is the beginning of Paul’s address to the Galatians who have wandered away from the truth. He simply says, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The emphatic subject is “Grace.” He’s commending God’s grace and Jesus’ grace to his readers who are being beguiled by legalists. They are coming with law to them. Imagine them greeting the Galatians from their gospel (which is not a gospel at all). It would say “Law to you.” It argues that God and Jesus send us law to live by through which we can win God’s favor and acceptance. The phrase might be “Law to you, and strife, or stress, or anxiety, from God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ.” Relating to God on the basis of law is a relationship that is totally unsettling, uncertain, and unloving. It feeds a miserable life. Paul’s desire is for them to consider the difference between what is being offered by the legalists and what he has preached to them which is what is being offered from God through Jesus Christ. With Grace comes peace from God. Peter begins his second letter with an even stronger greeting regarding grace and peace. It took Peter some time to comprehend the extent of God’s grace with which He would deal with sinners. But once he got it, grace and peace became the central theme of Peter’s life as well. It’s not a righteousness earned through obedience to a law. People don’t need law. People need God’s grace and peace. Most people are well aware of their failures and shortcomings, even if they are unwilling to admit it. They know they have a need for help. I’ve heard people say they don’t want grace they want justice. What we want and need from God is grace and mercy. God extends his gracious hand to his children from the cross. And he seals it trough the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the coming days I’m going to highlight some things that the grace and peace of God allow us to be and do. These things are not the prerequisites for our redemption. They are the result of it. Jesus has indeed finished that work of grace. Peace has come to us. Now the work of peace can go out from us. Today, I want you to simply bathe in the wonder of forever forgiveness. Stop holding your breath waiting for the next crisis. A crisis may come, however, it is no match for the grace and peace we have been given!

The Risen Jesus - Pt 5

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 3:13-21 ESV).

The first appearance of Jesus is so full of assurance and encouragement for our journey. At the end of the passage the Apostle John tells us that Jesus came to convey to them three gifts: the gift of peace, the gift of power, and the gift of purpose. The opposite of peace is conflict. The opposite of power is weakness. The opposite of purpose is aimlessness. Our reading today explains that peace Jesus brought to us. So many lives are ruined by conflict, weakness, and aimlessness. Jesus did not come into the world and die and rise again to ruin our life. He came to save it. And what we see is that he saves us from ruining our lives by becoming himself our peace and our power and our purpose. This is the result of Jesus being “in our midst.” He is with us and therefore His peace is with us. After the resurrection Jesus said twice: “Peace be with you.” 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.” Before Jesus says anything about power or purpose he wants to establish peace. The order here is really important. The peace that Jesus gives is before and underneath any of our empowered actions or any of our purposeful deeds. We don’t initiate peace with Jesus by our actions. He initiates peace with us. This is what the apostle Paul means in our reading today. We are no longer in conflict with God; and, that peace affects every other relationship we experience. Those who may appear to be our enemies we may now forgive and move forward, whether they do or not. Others no longer have power over us. Jesus does. His power trumps all others! Sleep well tonight. He has it under control!

The Risen Jesus - Pt 4

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). Today we will look at the third of the things we learn in this reading: Jesus comes to them and stands in their midst. Read it again: “… the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them.” The point here is that he came right into the middle of their meeting. He did not come to the edge and call out through the wall and deal with them as a distant deity. He wasn’t playing games with them. He wasn’t toying with their faith. He wanted them to see him and know him and believe in him and love him.

There’s a great story behind the image I have attached with today’s devotionals. You will no doubt recognize the raging bull in the background. You can find this sculpture in New York City’s financial district. It is the symbol of the power and might of a strong, robust financial market. About a year after this sculpture was finished and placed on Wall Street, another sculpture was placed defiantly facing the charging bull. It is the diminutive, only about three feet tall, representation of a little girl. Hands on her hips, you can almost hear her quietly say, “Go ahead, give it your best shot. I’m not afraid of you!” There’s lots of controversy about this statue, and I certainly don’t want to endorse any political side of the issues. However, the image speaks to me. This is what Jesus wants for us today. He wants us to truly experience his power and life in every circumstance we may face. He wants us to see him come and stand in our midst, resurrected and coming to right every wrong and set all things straight. He wants to help us in our fear the way no one else can help us. And he is not calling to us from a distance, but coming right into our midst. So, whatever you are facing down in your life, even if it looks like a raging bull about to obliterate you, it is nothing compared to the Risen Christ who is within you! Look that fear in the eyes and defiantly dare it to give its best shot. It will never be enough to defeat you! You have the Ruler over life and death in your midst. He cannot be defeated! Nor can you!

The Risen Jesus - Pt 3

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).

Today we will look at the second of these things we learn in this reading: the disciples are afraid. Look at verse 19 again: “The doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews . . .” Their leader had just been crucified as a threat to Caesar. Their fear is totally understandable. And into that fear Jesus comes. I suppose I want to draw your attention to this because this is the way we most feel the need of risen, living Jesus. It is when we are afraid. It may be as simple as a fear that we won’t be prepared for what we’re expected to do; or, it may be as gripping as the fear that our children or grandchildren will make shipwreck of their faith. Sometimes I fear that I won’t have the faith to die well. Or I fear that I might drift into uselessness as my capacity diminishes with age or illness. To all of these fears, and hundreds more, the little meme has an answer for us. “F-E-A-R has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run; or, Face Everything And Rise. The Choice is yours.” Well, this first appearance of Jesus is a declaration that Jesus will indeed come in to our midst, locked doors and all. He declares: I come to my own when they are afraid. I don’t wait for them to get their act together. I don’t wait for them to have enough faith to overcome fear. Jesus comes to help us have enough faith to overcome fear. And I can unequivocally say that after fifty years of being a Christian, this is still true in my life. The risen, living Jesus is still doing this. He comes when we cry out to him in our fear. He helps us. I have called to him a thousand times: “Jesus please help me.” And he has come near with the promise: “Fear not I am with you, be not dismayed, I am your God, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10). He will do this for you too! What are you afraid of today? Is it really a match for the risen Christ? Don’t run in hiding. Rise in the face of your darkest enemy!

The Risen Jesus - Pt 2

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). We’re going to see three important things about how Jesus dealt with the disciples when he first appeared to them after the resurrection. Remember our reading is set in the evening of the day he rose from the dead. That morning Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene (cf. John 20:1-18). But now he appears to all the disciples (the eleven apostles) at once. The three important things to notice are: the doors are locked; the disciples are frightened; and Jesus comes to them and stands in their midst. Those three facts tell us three things we can know about how the risen Christ deals with us today. Today we will look at the first of these things.

The doors were locked. Yet, Jesus did not have to knock. He did not even have to open the door. He simply was there. And he wasn’t a ghost. Look at verse 20: “He showed them his hands and his side.” In another place he said, “Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” (cf. Luke 24:29-39). So he has a physical body. But it is not exactly like ours; it is the same, yet different. He was simply there, in spite of the closed doors. That says so much to me. I know the disciples were afraid. Their purposefully locked the doors to keep everything and everyone else out. However, if a sealed tomb and death itself cannot hold him, how could a simple locked door? He simply appeared. Which means that today in your life, Jesus can go where no one else can go. He can go where no counselor can go. He can go where no doctor can go. He can go where no lover can go. He can reach you, and reach into you, anywhere and anytime. There is no place where you are, and no depths of personhood that you are which Jesus can’t penetrate. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead fits him to do what no one else can do. There is no one else like him in all the universe. He is alive, and he is the one and only God-Man. What he is capable of you cannot imagine. And it is a healing wonder to contemplate that in all the complex layers of your life, which neither you nor anyone else can understand, are familiar territory to him. He comes in!

The Risen Jesus - Pt 1

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).

Our reading today is so benign. It is almost as if there was a resurrection everyday as far as the disiciples were concerned. Part of that is in the fact that John is writing this account sixty years after his experience. He has certainly seen much in those decades. It is not that this great miracle was not wondrous beyond imagination; it was that he had had much time to see even more of the miraculous power of God and he had simply come to expect nothing less than that from his great God. After all, there is nothing simple about this event. It would become the centerstone of a religious movement that would shake the world. We do well to remember that the Bible has two parts, the Old Testament and New Testament. The New Testament has 27 books; four of these are gospels that tell the life of Jesus, 21 letters to explain the meaning of Jesus for our lives, one history about the early church, and one prophecy. All 27 of those books deal with Jesus as alive, risen from the dead and the central, living reality in the universe today, he himself being very God and very man. In the next few days I want to take a few of the passages that describe Jesus’ first appearance to all his frightened disciples after the resurrection. I want us to see is how Jesus acted in each of these encounters. We’ll see what He said to each of the disciples and draw strength and encouragement from each of them. Tomorrow we’re going to look more closely at this first appearance; today I want to simply concentrate on that first verb: “Jesus came.” His work was done, yet he came to the disciples. So often we talk about coming to Jesus when the truth is that He comes to us. We don’t need to look far at all. He is not hidden in some far off place that is unreachable. He is “in our midst.” When you find yourself not being able to “feel” the presence of God, it is not because He is gone. Jesus is with you. Assume that truth and welcome His presence to transform all of you. He won’t disappoint you!

Happy Birthday, David!

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. 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. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:1-5 ESV).

Today is my son, David’s 39th birthday. As is my custom in writing Morning Devotionals, I use these special days to reflect particularly on family. I suppose it should not be a surprise that I would turn to the psalms for the reading today. I am particularly drawn to the last verse of this reading: “He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (v. 5). It is a verse that is a conclusion. Because the man spoken of by the psalmist has his children, they are like arrows in his quiver. This is the reason he has nothing to fear from his enemy, even if they approach the gate of the city. God’s blessing is already on this man. No enemy is enough to defeat him. Family is that important. And family is one of the very best and most important things in life. I’m even more aware of this truth as I am actually in West Palm Beach, Florida, at David’s house at the posting of this devotional. Mary and I have traveled here to help with some of the moving and unpacking as David and Becca get settled in their new home. David made the decision to move there at the end of last year. It was a very difficult decision as it meant moving away from extended family; however, it was also easier knowing that this career move would mean much to the future of his immediate family. I have made those decisions many times in my own history. They are not easy, but they are necessary. I am proud that he has done what is best for his family. As I looked through some of the pictures I have stored in my computer, this one with David walking beside Maggie on a hiking trail seemed appropriate. It shows the commitment to walk beside his children while not overshadowing them. I hope that’s what I have taught through the years. A part of the Lord “building the house” is teaching our children the importance of following him wherever he might lead. Sometimes that path is uphill and narrow. Sometimes it is filled with pain and challenge. There are other times when we can hardly bear to take another step under the burden of our journey. However, taking care of our children as we raise them can never be dismissed in favor of anyone or anything else. God’s desire for us is to raise them through word and example to put Him foremost in every decision of life. I hope that is how you are raising your children. It is my renewed commitment. Make it yours as well. While I cannot say I have always done it “right,” I can say that when I have it proved to be best. My quiver is full. I am not afraid to face my enemy in the gates. Happy Birthday, David! May your quiver be as full as mine has been!