The God Who Sees, Cares and Walks With Us

Reading the accounts of people’s journey of faith in what is called the Old Testament [The Jewish Bible] can be confusing. Life was very different 2, 3, or 4.000 years ago. If you’ve read the account of Abraham’s life, you’ve probably had moments where scratched your head and thought “What?” Abraham and his wife Sarah couldn’t get pregnant. Sarah suggested to Abraham that he sleep with her servant, who could give them a child. Abraham agreed to Sarah’s solution for a child. Hagar, Sarah’s servant, got pregnant and gave birth to Abraham’s son, Ishmael. “When Hagar knew she was pregnant, she began to treat her mistress, Sarai, with contempt. Then Sarai said to Abram, ‘This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt.’ … Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.” Genesis 16:4-6 (NLT) God appeared to Hagar, spoke comfort, encouragement and promises to her. “Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, ‘You are the God who sees me.’ She also said, ‘Have I truly seen the One who sees me?’” Genesis 16:13 (NLT) “The One who sees.” God is not only the One who sees, He is also the One who understands, cares, and acts on people’s behalf. Jesus said His Father is aware of every sparrow falling from the sky and every hair that you lost last time you showered. “Our Father, who is in heaven,” sees everything! Nothing happens in secret or “behind his back.” He sees you! He sees what you are going through. He promises to walk with you through the water, the fire and the “valley of the shadow of death.” This week I reminded someone under hospice care of the poem “Foot Prints in the Sand.” The poem reveals a God who cares and a God who carries. No one knows the author of the poem popular in the 20th century. The idea of “foot prints in the sand” is found in print as far back as the 1700s. Here’s the poem. Let it remind you of the God who SEES, CARES AND WALKS WITH US. One night I dreamed a dream. As I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, One belonging to me and one to my Lord. After, the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the path of my life, especially at the very lowest and saddest times, there was only one set of footprints. This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it. "Lord, you said once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me." He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you Never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

The Lovingkindness of God

The last couple of weeks I’ve been meditating on the “LOVINGKINDNESS” of the Lord. Dozens of times in the Scripture the word lovingkindness is used to describe God, His character, and nature. During the Temple reconstruction project led by Nehemiah, the scribe Ezra read the Law to the people. As they heard the words of the Law, they realized they had repeatedly rebelled against God. The people joined for a time of confession for the nation’s transgressions. The leaders of the Levite priests led the confession. “You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.” The Levites continued confessing their repeated rebellion against God. Eventually the Levites acknowledged the lovingkindness of the Lord. “You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them…” Nehemiah 9:17 (NLT) God had every reason to abandon the rebellious and disobedient people, but because HE IS LOVINGKINDNESS, He could not and would not abandon them. Lovingkindness includes forgiveness, grace, mercy, slow anger, and rich unfailing Love. The Hebrew word “chesed” means giving oneself fully, with love and compassion. Faithfulness, unfailing love, mercy, or good favor are often used in newer translations of the Scriptures instead of lovingkindness. Lovingkindness, faithfulness, unfailing love, mercy, and good favor are not how God chooses to act. They describe who God is. You can trust God because HE IS lovingkindness, faithfulness, unfailing love, mercy, and good favor. God is different from us. We can choose to show lovingkindness or not. We often respond based on our emotions, moods, and attitude, and that response often falls far short of faithfulness, unfailing love, mercy, and good favor. God cannot think, feel, or act contrary to His character. Whenever something seems less than loving, kind or lovingkindness, it is because we can’t see what He sees. I encourage you to spend some time meditating on God’s faithfulness, unfailing love, mercy, and good favor. It’ll without a doubt strengthen you.

The Goodness of God

We’ve been singing a song lately that is becoming one of my favorites. The song is “The Goodness of God.” Every time one of our worship leaders starts the song, tears want to well up in my eyes. I’m overwhelmed to the core as we sing the song and reminded of how good God has been. Theologian Wayne Grudem says in Systematic Theology, “The goodness of God means that God is the final standard of good, and that all that God is and does is worthy of approval.” Over and over the Scriptures declare God’s goodness. “The LORD is good and does what is right.” Psalms 25:8 (NLT) “You are good and do only good.” Psalms 119:68 (NLT) “Give thanks to the LORD … for the LORD is good.” Jeremiah 33:11 (NLT) “The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” Psalms 145:9 (NLT) Grudem also says in Systematic Theology, “God’s mercy is his goodness toward those in distress, his grace is his goodness toward those who deserve only punishment, and his patience is his goodness toward those who continue to sin over a period of time.” One of the most loved passages from Psalms is found in David’s declaration in Psalm 23. David wrote, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.” Psalms 23:6 (NLT) Not only is God good, but He does good for His children. “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 (NLT) God is good! Let your spirit meditate on God’s goodness. The truth will transform you.

Persistence

Persistence I can think of many examples of persistence. The child repeating the question “Why?” over and over. The teenager wanting the time of a curfew changed. Jim Russell’s dog Rowdy wanting someone to throw the frisbee for him to chase and catch. God’s persistence might not be a character trait that you’ve thought about, but God is persistent. I often think of God as being ruthlessly persistent. He never ceases in His quest for a relationship with His creation.I described his persistence as “jealousy.” Jesus’ brother James described God’s jealousy in his letter to the early believers. “Do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’”? James 4:5 (ESV) The New Century Version translates James’ word “Do you think the Scripture means nothing that says, ‘The Spirit that God made to live in us wants us for himself alone’”? James 4:5 (NCV) God is aggressively determined to gain people’s attention and devotion. The disciples were told by Jesus to prioritize the Kingdom of God, and in return, He would fulfil their needs. When people seek everything they need, they do not get what they need. When they center their life on God, they get what they need. God’s ruthless persistence is not self serving or pathological. He is ruthlessly persistence is for the well-being of His creation. I am thankful for God’s ruthless persistence. Like anyone else, I’d be in a ditch somewhere if God wasn’t ruthless and persistent towards me. Jesus describes His Father’s persistence, saying, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29 (NLT)

The Character and Nature of God

Some people see the Bible as a “to do” book. Others see it as an “owner’s manual,” “playbook” or “road map.” There are countless ways to see the Bible. One of the primary purposes of God giving people the “Bible” is to reveal Himself to us. It is impossible for God to reveal everything to us. We would have to be like God to comprehend everything about God. There are a few things we can know about God. There is an unlimited number of things we cannot know about God. God proclaimed, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, … And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) We can only know about God is only what we can comprehend. He only revealed to us what we are capable of comprehending. Why reveal to us what we could never comprehend? That would make no sense. Bible teacher A. W. Tozer said: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” (The Knowledge of the Holy) C.S. Lewis saw things slightly different. “I read in a periodical the other day that the fundamental thing is how we think of God. … By God Himself, it is not! How God thinks of us is not only more important, but infinitely more important.” (“The Weight of Glory”) Joy Dawson is one of my all-time favorite Bible teachers. I can still see her and hear her voice as she used adjective after adjective to describe God’s infinite character and nature. “When we see Him face-to-face in all His awesome holiness and blazing glory, it will seem incredible to us that we ever had a casual thought in relation to Him.” Joy Dawson The character and nature of God is something that deeply interests and enthralls me. In the weeks ahead, I will describe some of God's revealed character traits. I hope your understanding of God’s character will grow and along with mine and we will leave behind every “casual thought in relation to Him.”

Love God and Love Your Neighbor

One day, a teacher of the religious law challenged Jesus, which was the “most important,” commandment. Jesus answered the teacher, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT) He expanded on the topic, saying, “Equally significant is the commandment to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:39 (NLT) Jesus tied the two commandments together. The two he made of equal importance. Loving God and loving your neighbor became the “Prime Directive” for every follower of Jesus. A disciple of Jesus isn’t truly loving God with all their heart, soul, and mind if they don’t love their neighbor. A person can love their neighbor without loving God, but they can’t love God without loving their neighbor. In Leviticus 19:18 (NLT), God commanded the Israelites to “love your neighbor as yourself.” JESUS QUOTED THIS MORE THAN ANY OTHER OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE. From the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” comes the Golden Rule “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Matthew 7:12. Jesus referenced “love your neighbor” so often that his brother James refers to it as the “royal Law.” People often ask, “What’s God’s will for my life?” Another way to state the question is, “What’s my purpose in life?” The specifics of those questions are different for every disciple. But the general answer could not be clearer. Love God and Love your neighbor. That’s God’s will. That’s God’s purpose. Jesus’ mother Mary told the first few disciples who were with them at the wedding in Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, “Do whatever He tells you.” John 2:5 (NLT) Do whatever He tells you. What has He told his disciple to do? Love your neighbor as yourself. Let’s do it.  

Sticks and Stones...

My recent examination of James' letter for Sunday teaching, along with some conversations and a blog I follow, has led me to review the importance of my word choice. The way I speak sows either life or death. As a child, I learned the adage, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.” Though widely quoted since 1857, the second half of the line is false. Words can definitely harm people. I could quote dozens of verses from every portion of the Bible about the power of how we speak and the words we use. I’ll just quote one passage from Jesus’ brother James. “It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.” James 3:5 (MSG) I’ve been guilty of careless and wrongly placed words. My words have damaged people’s worlds, “turned harmony to chaos” and muddied reputations. I’m not proud of some things I’ve said. I know they’ve hurt others and I will have to give an account for destructive words. The words we use are so important that Jesus said: “I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Matthew 12:36-37 (NLT) Did you catch that? We “must give an account” for every idle, careless, useless word we speak and what we say will either leave us innocent or guilty. Those verses, and many others, fosters the fear of God in me. I wonder how “accounting” will work. Will my words be played back for me to review and defend? Will other people listen to the review of my words in a giant tribunal? I’d like to know how the “give an account” works. Maybe I don’t. If I knew what the defense of my words was going to look like, I might never talk again out of sheer panic. I periodically pray King David’s prayer: “LORD, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say.” Psalms 141:3 (NCV) Memorize his prayer for those precarious moments when your mouth is about to get you in trouble.

Self-Deception

I remember as a teenager watching, with my family, The Flip Wilson Show, the number two rated show on TV during its four-year run. If you’re over 50, you probably remember the show. One sketch I remember is “The Devil made me do it.” It was a sketch about temptation and the work of the Devil tempting people. You might remember that just after Jesus’ baptism, he went into the wilderness for 40 days where he fasted and prayed. During his time in the wilderness, the devil appeared to him and tempted him in three different ways. Jesus resisted each temptation and eventually the devil left him alone until a more favorable time. Luke 4:13 The devil tempted Jesus, but most of us don’t need the devil to tempt us. Our own desires lead us into temptation without the devil’s help. Jesus’ brother James described the work of our desires, saying, “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” James 1:14 (NLT) James continued, “These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” James 1:15 (NLT) When Jesus taught the disciples to pray, “lead us not into temptation,” or “don’t let us yield to temptation …,” he was teaching them to pray against desires that would drag them towards sin. (Matthew 6:13 ESV and NLT ESV) Temptation always works in cooperation with self-deception. When we are wrestling with temptation, we deceive ourselves by saying things like: “No one will ever know” or “Just this once” or “I’m not hurting anyone” or “I deserve this” or countless other self-deceiving justifications. Temptation won’t work on us unless it can find an inroad of self-deception. Pastor and author Tim Keller comments on self-deception saying, “Self-deception is not the worst thing that we do, but it is the reason we do the worst things.” Self-deception and its partner in crime, temptation, are why we need to pursue our relationship with Jesus constantly. Jesus is “The Truth.” When we’re connected to Jesus, self-deception loses its power. Jesus, “The Truth”, reveals every area of self-deception in our lives and teaches us to resist evil desires.

Teach Us to Pray

After over 40 years of praying, I’m still amazed at the mysteries and paradoxes surrounding prayer. Jesus prayed regularly. His disciples were so used to him praying that they asked him to teach them to pray. He often taught the disciples and crowds about prayer. “When you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private.” Matthew 6:6 NLT “When you pray, don’t babble on and on.” Matthew 6:7 NLT “Your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” Matthew 6:8 NLT “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 NLT “Your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11 NLT We’re told to pray in a private place, yet Jesus and the disciples prayed with others around them. We’re told don’t “babble on and on,” and we’re told to “keep on asking.” We’re invited into a prayer relationship with “Our Father who is in Heaven” even though He knows what we need before we ask. There are things God does because we pray. There are things God doesn’t do because we don’t pray. When I pray, a transformation takes place within me. As we increase our prayers, God will bring about more action in us, in others, and in the world. Lord, teach us to pray!

I Did the Crime - He Did the Time

The Apostle Paul announced: “Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 (NLT) Everyone includes you. Everyone includes me. We all fall short. We’ve not only fallen “short of God’s glorious standard,” our sin has hurt others. Some of our sins have hurt others in small ways and some sin has wounded people deeply. The sin of others has hurt us in small ways and other sin in unforgettable ways. The answer to falling “short of God’s glorious standard” is mercy. I’m thankful that God’s mercy toward me is “afresh every morning.” Lamentations 3:23 (NLT) (I find it interesting that the solution for Romans 3:23 is Lamentations 3:23) Mercy, by us towards others, is not deserved. If it were deserved, it wouldn’t be mercy. God gives mercy because of Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus’ death paid the price for me “short of God’s glorious standard.” The old song says: “He paid a debt He did not owe; I owe a debt I could not pay.” I could also say “I did the crime, but He did the time.” Because of God’s mercy toward us, He commands us to have mercy on others. Jesus said: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV) Mercy, by us towards others, is not deserved. If the person deserved mercy, it wouldn’t be mercy. Jesus’ brother James understood Jesus’ teaching about mercy. He wrote: “There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.” James 2:13 (NLT) Who in your life do you need to forgive? Who do you need to quit “making them pay” for their wrong? What if God withheld mercy from you?” Are you able to rely on God’s mercy because you’ve been merciful to others? If you don’t figure out mercy, there will be “no mercy” for you. Jesus, help us grow in mercy towards others. Amen.

Closing The Gap

I heard a wise woman recently say, “The gap between her and Jesus was greater than the gap between her and people in her life far from God.” Interesting! I had to think about what she said. I wondered, is it true? Is the gap between Jesus and me, in character, nature, purity and holiness larger than the gap between me and people I know who snub God? After pondering and meditating on her statement, I concluded she was right. I might be a friend of Jesus, a child of God, walking in a relationship with Jesus, but I’m nowhere near the grandness, purity, and character of Jesus. Jesus has been working on transforming me since 1979, but the gap between Jesus and me is still massive. I have so far to go. I am being transformed into His likeness, but being transformed is a lifelong process. I will only be like Jesus when I see Him as He is. (2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 John 3:2, Romans 8:29-30; Philippians 3:21) Realizing the gap between Jesus and me is greater than the gap between me and people who ignore God has changed my perspective and attitude towards friends and family. The gap between Jesus and me gives me common ground to love, care about and for people in my life. We are told to “love our neighbor, love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.” (Matthew 5:43 NLT) I can love them because I’m just like them. I wonder how many times Jesus has prayed over my life, “Father, forgive Matt. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.” (Luke 23:34 NLT) You and I are a lot more like our neighbors and enemies than we are like Jesus. We need Jesus’ love, forgiveness and grace every day. Let’s not kid ourselves, we’ve got a lot of transforming to do. “I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

Runing With Endurance

The Apostle Paul references running throughout his letters to the various churches. He used the ancient Olympic games that happened every four years throughout the rule of Greece and Rome as an illustration of the race of faith. The Olympic games were familiar to the citizens of Rome. Paul compared running and “the race” to the Christian life. Running is an apt metaphor for the race of faith. When someone does not finish a race or event, the officials put next to the person’s name, DNF. DNF is the acronym for Did Not Finish. The officials do not list the reasons for DNF. For most serious runners, DNF is the worst result they can imagine. Runners will limp, crawl, creep, and fall across the finish line rather than DNF. Anyone can start a race. Starting a race is easy. In High School, I ran with someone who started every race in front of the pack. His starts were great, but he would lose steam and not finish well. Starting great but not finishing was one point of Jesus’ Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed. “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.” (They started well.) “But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long.” (They DNF) Matthew 13:20-22 (NLT) To the church in Corinth, Paul wrote: “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step…. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) To the church in Galatia, he wrote: “You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth?” Galatians 5:7 (NLT) To the church in Philippi: “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:14 (NLT) Towards the end of his ministry and life, he wrote to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT) Paul ran with endurance. He ran to win; he ran to finish. There was no DNF next to his name. Over 40 years of ministry, I’ve seen lots of people start the race. Most of them with great enthusiasm. I wish I could say I’ve seen them run with endurance, run to win and run to finish. Too many have settled for a DNF next to their name. Many more start the Christian life than finish it. I’m always excited when I talk with someone or see someone who “dropped out of the race” but then re-enters the race. Maybe they “dropped out” because of a spiritual injury, or a team member who disappointed them, or a coach who was hard on them. Whatever the reason for “dropping out,” my heart surges with joy when I see them get back in the race. The letter written to Hebrew Christians encourages endurance and finishing the race. “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT) Keep running! Get back in the race! Let nothing stop you from running! Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Can You Say, "Imitate me"?

The last few weeks I’ve been thinking about parenting and what parents’ “model” for their children. Everyone knows children learn by what they see their parents do. We have common statements that describe this reality. “Do what I say, not what I do.” “Monkey see, monkey do.” “The seed doesn’t fall far from the tree.” “Actions speak louder than words.” Children watch their parents closely. There is a tendency by the child to pick up the habits and practices of their parents. If the parents yell at each other, throw around insults and “name call” they almost guarantee their children will do the same. When confronted with the reality that children imitate their parents, people respond by saying, “I know a child who … his parents were the worst! He didn’t pick up his parents' traits. We can all think of situations like that. Those children are the exception and not the norm. The Apostle Paul told the believers in Corinth “… you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT) That is a very bold statement by the Apostle. He knows he is adequately imitating Christ and, because he is imitating Christ, he can challenge the believers to imitate him. I want to live a life that is worthy of imitating. Could I say, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ?” or “Imitate my honesty, my integrity, my leadership, my serving, my compassion, my kindness, and my forgiveness?” As a parent, the onus is on me to live a life that is desirable for my children imitating. Do I want them to tell the truth? I better be a truth teller. Do I want them plugged into a church and regularly worshipping with God’s people? I better be involved and regular. Do I want them to be generous? I better be generous. Do I want them to live a life of service? I better be serving. The inescapable truth is our children will imitate us and they will live the kind of life we live. The Apostle Paul said, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) Jesus, transform us so we live lives worth imitating. Amen

Talking About Jesus

I love talking to people about Jesus. The night I said yes and surrendered control of my life to Jesus and began the journey as a follower, I immediately wanted to spend my life telling others about Him. That is what Jesus has allowed me to do. I get really excited when I talk with someone, especially if they know little about Jesus, and we discuss the most amazing person who ever lived. We can see his influence in many aspects of life, from the calendar to the way people communicate, even if they don't recognize it. I’ve talked to three people in the last week that have almost no knowledge of Jesus, the Scriptures, or why people believe and go to church. The “church” world is completely foreign to them. I love talking to them. It’s all new, interesting, and challenging. Unfortunately, those who have been around the church can become bored with living a life of faith. I often wonder how someone who follows Jesus, the most intriguing and impactful person in history, can ever get bored. I’m baffled by bored “Christians.” The immense interest in Jesus, has caused both the TV series “The Chosen” and the movie “Jesus Revolution” to become popular. People want to know about Jesus. Take advantage of the season we are in and invite people to join you for Easter. Engage in conversations with them. It's likely they want to know about the King of Kings. Easter is coming. Jesus, help us! Give us the courage to share the wonder of the Most Wonderful One. Amen.

Easter Is Coming

We are only a few weeks away from one of those times when people are more likely to accept an invitation to a church gathering. It’s Easter. There are people in your life that you want to know Jesus in the way you do. You want them to experience His love, grace, hope, and forgiveness. Easter gives you an opportunity to invite them to join you for our Easter Celebration. There is a month until our Easter Celebration. Now is the time to pray for your friends and for opportunities to invite them to join you. Jesus is more concerned about your friends and family than you can imagine. He loves when we pray for people to come to faith. The Apostle Paul wrote: God “wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4 (NLT) The Apostle Peter wrote: “The Lord … is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) Jesus sacrificed Himself for the people you are praying for. He is working in their lives and desires to use you as a messenger of compassion and mercy. God “brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’” 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NLT) Jesus gave me a couple opportunities to talk to people this week about Him. During our conversation, I invited them to join us for our Easter Celebration. It’s never too early to invite people to our Easter Celebration.

Fruit Of The Spirit

Paul the Apostle wrote to the Galatians about the “fruit” that is developed when the Holy Spirit is given permission to work in the lives of His believers. “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) The last sentence always pops out to me. “There is no law against these things.” Every one of the fruits the Holy Spirit produces are totally and always legal. There can’t be a law against love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Jesus was the epitome of the “fruit of the Spirit.” Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control define Jesus. The “fruit of the Spirit” shone in His teaching, His healing, and His suffering. Hanging on the Cross, Jesus spoke words of hope to the thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” To the Father he prayed, “Forgive them they don’t know what they are doing.” Jesus wants to produce in us the “fruit of the Spirit.” Producing fruit often requires the pain of pruning (John 15.) He prunes us to produce LOVE by bringing people into our lives that are hard to love. He prunes to produce PATIENCE by leading us into and permitting situations that try our patience. If the fruit came naturally, He wouldn’t need to prune us and it wouldn’t require the Spirit to produce fruit. The fruit doesn’t come naturally so it requires pruning and the flow of the Spirit to produce. That is why it is called “fruit of the Spirit.” Next time you are in a tough situation, ask yourself, “What is Jesus pruning in my life? What fruit is the Holy Spirt trying to produce or ripen in my life?”

Jesus Never Stops Working to Transform Us

God’s ultimate plan is to transform His children into the image of Jesus. Everything God does in His children’s life is about that transformation. The Apostle Paul instructed the followers of Jesus to “Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” Colossians 3:10 (NLT) God created Adam and Eve in His image. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (ESV) The image of God in Adam and Eve was altered when they disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit. Their rebellion did not destroy the image of God in people, but disfigured it. God has been working since Adam and Eve’s “fall” to restore His image in his creation. Jesus is God’s key and ultimate work, enabling the restoration of people “in His image.” Followers of Jesus “all show the Lord’s glory, and… are being changed to be like Him. This change in us brings ever greater glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NCV) People often wonder what God is doing in their lives. I can tell you what God is doing. He is working to transform you into the image of Jesus. Our transformation will only be completed when we finally see Jesus face to face. As the Apostle John wrote: “… we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like Him, because we will see him as He really is.” 1 John 3:2 (NCV) Jesus never stops working to transform His followers. He’s working in your life to transform you! Don’t fight the transformation! Work with Him.

Listening to The Holy Spirit

I’ve been reading the scriptures for almost 45 years. I’ve read a variety of translations, some older and some newer. Almost every time I read the scriptures I see something new and wonder “How did I not see that before?” I read a sentence by R. A. Torey, one of the giants of the faith from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I had never seen his insight and I had to chew on the statement for a while. The idea was new to me. “The Holy Spirit came into this world to be to the disciples of our Lord after His departure, and to us, what Jesus Christ had been to them during the days of His personal companionship with them.” In other words, the Holy Spirit always does what Jesus would do if he were here walking with me. Jesus said: “All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’” Some will remember the WWJD bracelets that were popular in the 1990’s. (That’s an odd sentece to write. It seems like only yesterday!) WWJD - “What would Jesus do?” Jesus would do exactly what the Holy Spirit wants to do. The Holy Spirit does what Jesus would do if He was walking with you. Is there a situation in your life that you are trying to figure out WWJD? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Ask and listen, ask and listen and you will find yourself doing “what Jesus would do.”

"Kindness is Like Snow"

The Holy Spirit is continually working to produce kindness in the followers of Jesus. The Spirit desires kindness In relationships, moments of conflict, and seasons of trials. The Apostle Paul regularly wrote about kindness. Here’s a sampling of what he wrote. “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” Romans 2:4 (NLT) “The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness …” Galatians 5:22 (NLT) “Love is patient and kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT) “God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility ...” Colossians 3:12 (NLT) “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:4-5 (NLT) Are you letting the Holy Spirit produces kindness in your life? Are you growing in kindness? Are you asking yourself what kindness looks like in difficult situations? One last quote by the philosopher and author, “Kindness is like snow. It makes everything it covers beautiful.” Kahlil Gibran

Be Brave

As the time for Jesus’ capture and ultimate execution came near, He talked to the disciples about the coming trials they would face. He knew His arrest, trial, conviction, and execution were right around the corner. He wanted them to be prepared for the coming hardships. The Apostle John remembers Jesus saying: “I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but be brave! I have defeated the world.” John 16:33 (NCV) Jesus’ words to the disciples 2,000 years ago are just as applicable today as they were when He spoke them. Every follower of Jesus can have peace in Him even though everything around them seems to be coming apart. Jesus reminded them, and us, that in this world and life we would all experience trouble. The types of troubles people face are varied and too many to list. Jesus’ encouragement is to trust in Him. By trusting in Him we can have peace and can be brave as we face troubles. If you are not facing troubles right now, you were recently or will in the near future. Not to be a “downer” but it is true. Trust Jesus! He warned you so you could have peace. Be brave! He’s with you.

God is in the Cleaning, Transforming and Restoring Business

I’m a collector of quotes and sayings. I have thousands of quotes saved. My Dropbox folder of “Teaching Resources” has 688 sub-folders, as of today. Each of those sub-folders has multiple files of quotes and sayings ranging from “abortion” to “zealots.” Anytime I’m reading and find a useful or memorable statement, I collect it. Recently, I saved a couple of quotes that have been running over and over in my mind. They have to do with God’s desire and ability to work in and transform our lives. He desires reconciliation with every person. “All our bad does not make us harder to save, and all our good does not make us easier to save. What saves us is Christ, and therefore all we contribute is honesty—admitting we are sinners and casting ourselves on him.” Dane Ortlund Someone else has said, “You can’t do anything to cause God to stop loving you and you can’t do anything to cause Him to love you more.” He loves us despite who we are, and not because of who we are. He loves us because of who He is. “No matter where you have been, what you have done, or what has been done to you, the grace of God can wash you clean, consecrate you as his child, and restore what sin has stolen.” Garrett Kell God is in the cleaning, transforming, and restoring business. Admitting we are sinners and casting ourselves on Him paves the way for Him to do what we have deep down wished could happen. Who doesn’t want forgiveness, freedom, cleansing, a new life, hope, purpose, and destiny? Don’t wait. Admit you are a sinner and cast yourself on Him. “Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (MEV)

Have You Dropped the Church?

This week, Bear Grylls, survivalist and TV host stated in an interview: “I think Jesus would really struggle with 99% of churches nowadays.” He commented on a variety of things that are wrong with churches. Some of the stuff he critiqued I agree with. The church has and always has had some messed up practices and behaviors. He said: “Drop the church if you need to …” That is terrible advice! Jesus did not and would not tell people to “drop the church if you need to …”* Leave unhealthy churches, yes. Find a healthy community of faith, led by healthy leaders, yes. Drop the church, No! Hear me out. Especially if you’ve “dropped the church.” The movement that we call the church is not like Rotary, Kiwanis or any other community group. The church is the Bride of Christ; it is the body of Christ. Jesus never dreamed that people would follow him without being part of a faith community. Read through the accounts of the life of Jesus and you’ll see Jesus inviting people into a community of faith, not telling them to abandon one. A person, as an individual, is not the “Bride of Christ.” A person, as an individual, is not the body of Christ. Jesus never intended for an arm, leg, foot, or tongue to be separated from the body. A hand is not a body, it’s not even part of the body unless it’s connected to the body. A body is a body! The 21 feet that have washed up on the shores of Puget Sound over the last few years**, are just those feet. Some feet were in a shoe or boot, and some were not. Authorities are hunting to figure out what “body” lost a foot. They aren’t bodies, they are feet. In the creation account, God said: “It is not good for man to be alone.” *** People say, “Nature is my church.” Nature is wonderful, amazing and soul refreshing, but Adam had nature in its untarnished state. But God said it was not good. God’s plan was for people to have people. God’s plan for your life is that you gather with other believers. Your spiritual health depends on it. “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)

Admitting Our Mistakes and Asking for Forgiveness

Just a few weeks ago, Liberty Mutual Insurance published results of their 2022 research from their “Responsibility Project.” Over 1,000 adults were asked about their attitudes toward responsibility. Participants were asked to define “personal responsibility.“ 46% choose “Doing what’s expected of you or what you’re supposed to do.” 31% choose “Admitting to or owning mistakes.” 23% chose “Doing something especially hard or challenging.” The definition I find interesting is “Admitting to or owning mistakes.” Admitting to mistakes or wrongs is foundational for followers of Jesus. Jesus taught the disciples to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses.” Confession is necessary for healthy and obedient living. Jesus famously challenged people to stop pointing out the speck in someone else’s eye and ignoring the log in their own eye. “Speck watching” and “Log denying” are both contrary to admitting mistakes. Steps 4 and 5 of Alcoholics Anonymous are about “admitting to or owning mistakes.” 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. One of the primary causes of broken relationships is unwillingness to admit wrongdoing. Over the years I’ve heard countless people complain “they never ask for forgiveness.” Forgiving others does not depend on the offender admitting their wrong or asking for forgiveness. BUT, living a healthy life IS dependent on admitting offenses and asking forgiveness. How are you doing in this area? Do you admit your offenses? Do you ask others for forgiveness? Your health as a person depends on admitting your wrongs and asking for forgiveness. Strive to make admission and confession part of your life.

Put Your Full Trust in Jesus

Things in our world are changing so quickly that people are feeling unsettled. What used to be normal is no longer so. Every day seems to reveal something new and different. What was once “true” is no longer seen as true. Someone commented, “My kids tell me ‘That’s not how it is anymore!’ And I don’t know how to respond.” It’s like we are living in a land where someone changed the names of the streets. The on-ramps and off-ramps aren’t where they used to be, and familiar buildings are now empty and new buildings have sprung up. I want to remind you God doesn’t change. God is the same day in and day out. God does not change because “that’s not how it is anymore.” God spoke to Moses and said, “God is not man, that he should lie or … that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19) God declared through the prophet Malachi “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6) and Jesus’ brother James wrote “there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17) In a changing and often unreliable world, God is reliably dependable! You may look around and wonder who you can trust. You may be like many who are wondering if there are any institutions that can be trusted. People find it almost impossible to commit when, at every turn, trust has been broken. Why would anyone commit themselves to leaders, businesses, churches, schools, governments, or movements when the landscape is pocked with immorality, unethical and untrustworthy behavior? When there are few who can be trusted, there is one who can be trusted. His name is Jesus! “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) You can put your full trust in HIM! “Jesus, I need your wisdom, peace, and guidance to navigate this crazy world! Thank you, that you can be trusted and that you’ll walk every step with me. Amen!”