Walk In The Light

The Scriptures often refer to people who have turned their backs on God, deny His existence, and reject Him as blind. A thread that runs cover to cover in the account of God’s dealing with people is that those who reject absolute truth and biblical standards of thought, speech and lifestyle are in “darkness.” The Prophet Zechariah said the Messiah would “Give light to those who sit in darkness.” Luke 1:79 (NLT) The Apostle John used similar words describing Jesus’ arrival 2,000 years ago. “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light.” John 3:19 (NLT) Jesus spoke to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus saying, “I am Jesus… I am sending you to the non-Jew to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light.” Acts 26:15-18 (NLT) Our modern culture describes those who no longer embrace God, absolute truth and biblical morality as “enlightened.” While it considers people who live as a disciple of Jesus in the “dark ages.” The mission of enlightened societies is to “enlighten” Jesus’ followers and the church, thus bringing them out of the “dark ages.” I find it interesting people that who “walk in the light as He Himself is in the light” are living in the “Dark Ages” while those who “love darkness more than the light” are considered “enlightened.” We live in an upside down, backwards, confused, unstable world that has drifted far from common sense! Paul describes those who reject God in the ancient world this way: “They knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.… Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.” Romans 1:21-28 (NLT) Media, entertainment, policy makers, activists of every sort, higher education, and sophisticated people will try to convince you that Jesus’ followers are living in the “dark ages.” Don’t believe their narrative and propaganda! Jesus taught, “Ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.” Matthew 15:14 (NLT) The Apostle John told the 1st century believers: “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT) Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NIV) Walk in the Light!

What Does The Passage Of Time Reveal About Your Life?

At some point, you’ve probably come across facts and figures about time. They might have meant something to you at the moment, but for most of us, they pass through our brain but don’t stick. You might have read that everyone has 10,080 minutes in a week or 8,736 hours in a year. If a person sleeps 8 hours every day, they sleep 56 hours in a week or 2,912 hours in a year! The person who keeps that sleep routine for 30 years, in those 30 years sleep 262,080 hours! Time is uncontrollable. We can’t stop it. We can’t start it. We can’t stockpile it or save it up. People often ask, “where has all the time gone?” or “Where did the years go?” Andy Stanley’s wife, Sandra, often says to young parents, “The days are long, but the years are short.” Her statement is so true. Kids and grandkids are cute little tikes, and in a flash, they are budding young adults. I’ve been thinking about some things that time reveals. Time unearths the level of our patience or impatience. Patient and impatient describe our attitude towards circumstances and time. Time and how we use it uncovers a person’s priorities and the values. Time, or passaging of time, unearths a person’s character. It is uncomplicated for people to be honest for a minute. Being honest for a day, a week, a month, a year, a decade or a lifetime is another matter and is exposed by the passing of time. The passing of time shines a light on a person’s integrity, faithfulness, diligence, work ethic, financial habits, and so much more. The Apostle Paul ordered believers to “Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) In other words, “Pay attention to how you are living. Don’t be a fool. Learn to be wise. Make the most of the time you have. You won’t get any more.” What did the passing of last week, month or year reveal about your life? Are you ashamed by what has been uncovered? Is there some area that you wish you could take a mulligan on? What foolish things need changed? What wise things need to be integrated into your life? Jesus, thank you for your patience with us! Keep transforming our lives and help us make the most of our time. Amen.

Prayer Changes Me

I have been thinking more about the mystery of prayer. As I wrote last week, Jesus said, “Your Heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask,” and then directs us to pray. He knows, yet He tells me to pray. That is head scratching! One thing I’ve learned over the years of praying is that my perspective changes when I pray. The circumstances may not change, but my outlook and attitude experience a transformation. People often describe the change saying praying “lifted a weight from my shoulders,” or when I prayed, “my fear melted away.” King David wrote is Psalms “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” Psalms 34:4-8 (NLT) King David doesn’t describe changes in his circumstances or situation. He describes a change of heart. “He freed me from all my fears.” Those who pray “will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” I’ve had instances and episodes where God answered very specific prayers. He has answered prayers for provision, direction, wisdom, comfort, deliverance from troubling circumstances, resolution to broken relationships, and more. I’ve also had times when I’ve “prayed without ceasing.” I’ve prayed while awake and in the middle of the night when I wish I was sleeping. I’ve prayed desperate, almost frantic prayers. I’ve prayed in the quiet of my heart and out loud, LOUDLY! God did not answer some of those prayers the way I had hoped. What will I do? I will pray and “keep on praying and not stop praying!” Prayer might not always change things, but prayer always changes ME!

Never Stop Praying

The longer I serve Jesus, the more I find myself intrigued by prayer. There is a mysterious aspect to prayer that time has not clarified for me. Jesus said the “Father knows what you need even before you ask Him! Pray like this.” Think about His statement. The Father knows what you need even before you ask, so pray! Over the 40 years in ministry, I’ve probably heard most of the “reasons” people have for praying. I could list many of them off the top of my head. They still don’t completely clarify the mystery. Through the rest of my life, I’ll probably have unanswered questions about unanswered prayers. You have them too, I know you do! Why does God come through on certain, seemingly unimportant prayers and yet seems silent on other, what seem to me desperate needs? I wish I knew. I’ve read the books on how to get your prayers answered. I’ve got a pile of books on prayer. I’ve learned from other people’s experiences, and I’ve learned from more than 40 years of praying. I have to admit, I might have more questions now than I did when I first prayed. Here’s what I do know about prayer, Jesus said: Ask and don’t stop asking, seek and don’t stop seeking, knock and don’t stop knocking,” Matthew 7:7 (NLT) and “Your heavenly Father will give good gifts to those who ask.” Matthew 7:8 (NLT) The great Apostle Paul said to “Never stop praying,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) and “Pray about everything.” Philippians 4:6 (NLT) I might have lots of questions about praying but I know for certain that I’m told to pray, so pray, pray, pray I will. Can I encourage you to press through the mysteries surrounding prayer and pray, pray, pray? Don’t forget when you are praying to quiet yourself and listen. God’s promptings and “God thoughts” are life changing.