Silence....Time To Seek God's Direction

John 8:4-8 – “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. Moses’ law says to kill her. What about it?”  They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.  They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, hurl the stones at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!”  Then he stooped down again and wrote some more in the dust.

 

Jesus had been teaching at the Temple when the leaders dragged this woman in front of Him. He knew they were coming….he knew what she did…and He knew the real reason they had brought her.  They thought they had finally thought of the perfect way to trap Jesus into an answer that would surely lead to His death…one way or another. Don’t stone her would be a serious violation of Mosaic law… validation to stone her would violate the Roman laws that denounced Jewish laws acting without Roman Leadership.

 

It was the ultimate silent treatment that gave Jesus the upper hand.  No one will ever know what he wrote in that sand as he let time tick slowly by before he finally answered.  Perhaps he was writing down scripture that would give Him the answer he needed.  Perhaps he was writing down his options of answers and their results.  Perhaps he was writing down the prayer he said to His Father to give him the perfect answer. Some theologians think he may have been writing down all the sins of those that stood ready to stone her.

 

It is a strong reminder to me that there are times that silence is a better answer than words could ever be. Silence gives us time to reflect on the problem…cool the anger or bitterness we feel….think about how the Bible tells us to handle it….pray for answers….or simply admit that we don’t have an answer for everything until God reveals it.

 

I admit that silence is one of the hardest things for me to do. I am a talker…a writer…my brain bursts double time with ideas and solutions that would fix everything from world hunger to the lack of a backsplash in my new home. The problem is that they are my ideas…not God’s…and they haven’t been approved yet by His great wisdom and Spirit. I needed the reminder today that I need time to reflect and ask His advice before I act on anything ever again.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you alone have all the answers to every problem that I will ever face.  Forgive me for the times that I have spoken too soon and acted on my own.  Thank you for even cleaning up the mess I made from my decision.  Help me to be more like Jesus and use silence to give me time to reflect and seek your direction and wisdom.  Amen.

God's Plans Are Revealed By Knowing Him better Than The World

John 7:3-6 -  and Jesus’ brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration.  “Go where more people can see your miracles!” they scoffed.  “You can’t be famous when you hide like this! If you’re so great, prove it to the world!”  For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.  Jesus replied, “It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference,

 

Jesus had gone back to His hometown of Galilee for a time.  God had revealed to Him the plot to kill Him…and wanted Jesus to avoid any public confrontations for a while. His brothers however just did not understand.  They wanted Him to go to a more public place and flaunt His powers. Jesus kindly reminded then that it was not time for Him to reveal any more about Himself.

 

Jesus was so confident in His purpose because He stayed in constant contact with God the father.  He knew that being famous was not the reason God had sent Him…the plan God had was not yet ready to be fulfilled. Jesus used the power he had not just to heal and help others…but to know when to wait….when to go…and when to step out in public to show the world God’s real plan to save the world.

 

What a great reminder that God has a plan for all of us.  It is a plan to prosper us…to give us hope for our future…to build the kingdom that we chose to believe in.  If I want the confidence of Jesus to know exactly what to do and when to do it…I must build the same relationship with God the father.  I need to be more careful not to let my human tendency to be swayed by the praise of man move my feet too soon.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you have a big picture for my life….and I only have a small vision of it because I limit my time with you.  Forgive me for thinking that some time…even though it is routine….is enough to build the kind of relationship with you that Jesus had.  Help me to identify more time in my day that I could spend with you…so I can have the confidence that Jesus had to wait on your timing.  Amen.

God Can Do So Much More With What What We Can See Than We Think

John 6:7-11 -  Philip replied, “It would take a fortune to begin to do it!” Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a youngster here with five barley loaves and a couple of fish! But what good is that with all this mob?”  “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus ordered. And all of them—the approximate count of the men only was five thousand—sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks to God and passed them out to the people. Afterwards he did the same with the fish. And everyone ate until full!

 

Jesus always had a crowd following Him…but this day they had traveled a far distance …the closest town a round 9 miles away. Jesus had compassion on their physical needs and knew that they needed to be fed before they traveled any further…so He used the moment to test Philip. He  asked Him where they could buy bread enough to feed around 5,000 men…not counting the women and children that were there as well.

 

Philip’s first thought was of the huge expense buying that much bread would cost. One site approximated the coast as 200 denari….about 8 months’ pay in that day….roughly $4,000 dollars in American money. Andrew actually found some food…but his attitude about the small find matched the amount he found.  All he saw was hopelessness in his find.  But Jesus saw the supernatural power of His father…and an opportunity to show these followers what can happen when total trust and confidence is placed in God.

 

The blessing of that small meal packed for a sweet son probably fed over 15,000 people that day….a small estimate if each man had a wife and one child traveling with him. And don’t forget there were 12 baskets of leftovers after everyone ate till they were full. That makes me picture the putting away of food after a Thanksgiving dinner….enough food to eat on the rest of the week.

 

I admit that I am a Philip at times…and an Andrew at others.  Rarely do I possess the attitude of Jesus and see the big picture that God has planned for the small thing I see in front of me. I see the roadblocks…the cost…and voice excuses like Moses at that burning bush. I need to be more like Jesus….and have so much faith in God that I trust Him to turn my small thing into more than I need to finish the task.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that God is more than capable of exceeding every human thought I have for the future. Forgive me for the times that I limit you by my excuses… and my lack of faith. Help me to build a relationship with you that is so strong that I too will see the overabundance that you can create with the small resources I see physically in my hands. Help me to trust that you always have more in mind than I can conceive in my head. Amen.

Take Your Orders From God Alone

John 5:39-43 -  “You search the Scriptures, for you believe they give you eternal life. And the Scriptures point to me!  Yet you won’t come to me so that I can give you this life eternal!  “Your approval or disapproval means nothing to me, for as I know so well, you don’t have God’s love within you.  I know, because I have come to you representing my Father and you refuse to welcome me, though you readily enough receive those who aren’t sent from him, but represent only themselves!

 

Jesus had healed again on the Sabbath….upsetting the religious leaders once again.  They were worried that Jesus had broken one of the 100 procedures they had written to explain the commandments God gave to Moses.  Fullness of Life had been restored to a man who had all but given up the hope that he would ever walk again…but the leaders of the day took issue with the day the healing had been performed.

 

Jesus quickly reminded them that he took His orders from God alone. He did not need their or any other man’s approval to heal on any day he chose. He modeled the love of His father…and only had the power to heal because God gave it to Him in the first place. He added that this was just the beginning of the great miracles God was going to do through Him.

 

It was His unity with God that gave Him the confidence he needed to speak so boldly to these men.  He had built a relationship with His father that no man could ever rival.  It created a passion in Him to love others above Himself…His compassion spilled out into miracle after miracle of healing …forgiving sin as he healed.

 

I admit that I have always worried too much about what others think of me and what I do. I needed the reminder that God is my only judge…and I need to separate myself more from what others think about me. I need to work on the problem I have with pride.  I love to hear praise…it makes me feel loved and needed and worthwhile to know that what I did was good for someone. Those pats on the back swell my soul with happy thoughts that I am helping others.  Guess I need to be more worried about getting pats on the back from God than anyone else. His are the only ones that matter in the end.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are the only approval I need.  Forgive me for the times that I have worried too much about what others think…and forgotten to even ask you if what I did was okay.  Help me to build a relationship with you so strong and deep that I know with confidence what you want me to do….so that passion to love others and serve you will drive me the way it did Jesus.  Amen.

Worship God In Spirit And In Truth

John 4:21-24 ­- Jesus replied, “The time is coming, ma’am, when we will no longer be concerned about whether to worship the Father here or in Jerusalem. For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us. But you Samaritans know so little about him, worshiping blindly, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes to the world through the Jews.”

 

Jesus had been walking on a hot day and was so tired that He stopped to rest by a well near Sychar where many hated Samaritans lived. While He was there he spoke at length to an adulteress woman who came to draw water. There discussion started with how she could have water that would make her live forever….and ended with Jesus explaining that He had come to change the way people worship God.

 

Even before the veil was torn separating the Holy Of Holies….Jesus began to open the realm of who could approach God. The world had known a world of sacrifice and intervention…but Jesus was soon to provide the last sacrifice that would make worship and communication with God a personal experience.

 

What a great reminder that God is available to all that call on His name. We must admit that we are powerless to help ourselves and let Him help us. We need His help to worship and follow Him as he wants. Worship and communication with Him should be spiritual and real.

 

Father thank you for the reminder that I am nothing on my own. ..and I can call on you to help me any time I need.  Forgive me for the times that I have tried to leave you out of the picture.  Help me to always communicate with you and search for the spirit that can sustain me through all things.  Amen.

Become Less....so God can Become More

John 3:25-28 -  One day someone began an argument with John’s disciples, telling them that Jesus’ baptism was best. So they came to John and said, “Master, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River—the one you said was the Messiah—he is baptizing too, and everybody is going over there instead of coming here to us.” John replied, “God in heaven appoints each man’s work. My work is to prepare the way for that man so that everyone will go to him. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him—that is all.

 

As Jesus began His own ministry….some of John the Baptist’s disciples took issue with Jesus baptizing. They were concerned that Jesus had more followers than John.  They were concerned that Jesus was baptizing more people.  They were concerned that John was not as popular anymore.

 

John’s response models for all of us how to react when people try to sow seeds of discontent in our hearts.  John knew his job was to prepare the way for the Messiah…and now the Messiah was here.  He refused to let the words of these followers sway him form the task that God had sent him to do.  He continued to prepare the way for the messiah and pointed people to Jesus.  He became less…so Jesus could become more.

 

What a great reminder that it is not about any individual. God gave us life to do something for Him…Everything we do should point people to God...not to what we have done ourselves. No one man...minister…preacher…teacher….is better than any other.  We need to focus on our individual job so that the big picture can be seen by as many people as possible.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I was sent to Earth to point people to you.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the seeds of discontent take root and grow into pride and hypocrisy.  Help me to be more like John….sure of what you sent me to do for you…ready to become less…so people can see more of you. Amen.

Jesus Knows Our Heart

John 2:23-25 - Because of the miracles he did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many people were convinced that he was indeed the Messiah.  But Jesus didn’t trust them, for he knew mankind to the core. No one needed to tell him how changeable human nature is!

 

Jesus had barely begun His Earthly ministry…he  had chosen 12 men to be is closest helpers…attended a wedding where the extra wine he produced from water became His first public miracle…and predicted the greatest miracle of rising from the grave changeable human nature would put Him in.

 

Jesus could see the heart of the requests before Him.  His mother’s intentions were to keep embarrassment from ruining the beginning of a marriage.  The leaders however wanted some kind of proof He was who he said He was. Jesus knew that many of the ones that said they believed would turn in three years to beg for His death.

 

Our changeable human hearts still block our full understanding of who God can be to us. Evil still penetrates too often to our souls and keeps many a man from believing in any miracle they have seen or read about.  Even those of us that claim to be believers don’t always trust God completely. We are by nature blown by the wind that surrounds us at the moment…only building a solid faith and base of scripture can hold us firm against the world’s influence. Only daily repentance and humility will keep our hearts washed clean of the temptation to be fickle.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me that you can see into my heart all the time. Forgive me for the times that I have let the world’s influence lessen my faith in you. Help me to be strong…to build a foundation of scripture and prayer that satan finds too strong to fight against.  Amen.

Reflect The Light Of The World

John 1:1-5 -  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 

John’s poetic description of Jesus goes beyond a physical description of what He looked like. It stretches the creation of His life back to the beginning of time….connects Him to God Himself…then connects Him to the human life that all Christians understand as the light of the world. God did not just crete the physical light that allows our eyes to function...he created the emotional light that allows our hearts to love anything that was created.

 

It is the basis of what I believe.  God created everything.  With God I am everything.  Without God I am nothing. With God I am special and unique and lovable. Without God I am cookie cutter… bland…. intolerable. If I do not believe in God I have no hope for anything.  Since I do believe in God…His Son …. and the Holy Spirit…I have hope for a successful future….I get to use the light He gave the world and shine it for others.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you were in the world before anything else. You made and are everything….and I may use anything you made because you made me as special as you made it. Forgive me for the times I take the creation of the world…and the emotional light you sent to save it from evil for granted.  Help me to reflect more of the light and stop collecting it for myself.  Amen.

Study To Show Thyself Approved

Luke 24:25-27 - Then Jesus said to them, “You are such foolish, foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures!  Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?” Then Jesus quoted them passage after passage from the writings of the prophets, beginning with the book of Genesis and going right on through the Scriptures, explaining what the passages meant and what they said about himself.

 

They had no clue they were talking with Jesus at the time….their hearts were burning inside them and they were drawn to this man who was walking with them the opposite direction that Jesus had told them to go…but God had hidden the real identity of this man to them. He explained God’s plan to them one more time…using scripture all the way back to Genesis. They only recognized Him at dinner…when He broke the bread they were to eat.

 

What a great reminder of what to do when we are confused…sad….mad….or wondering what we should do for any reason. Open up that Bible and rethink all the wisdom it has for us to make the best decisions for the life God granted us. Every answer for every decision has already been written down for us…we just have to take the time to read and search for what it says.

 

These disciples…and the women that found His grave empty had a hard time believing because they did not know the Bible…or trust what it said as completely true. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says…. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

 

I admit that even my nightly study is not enough.  I want to be a stronger witness and know the Bible so much better than my one chapter a night study can give me. The short lessons of my Bible study at church don’t begin to give me the depth that Jesus had of His Father’s word. I need to memorize and know by heart all the scriptures that Jesus might need me to use as I walk around each day….I really have no clue who will cross my path each day…and what wisdom or strength they might need form the Bible. Sure I can fall back on the internet…I have an ap and a browser on my phone so I can look it up….but is that really the best way to use what God gave us. What if service goes out???or my battery goes dead unexplainably???would I have what I need in my heart so that God can use me like He did Jesus on that road to Emmaus????

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that your word needs to be embedded into my soul and heart so that you can use it to help me help myself and others through the struggles of life.  Forgive me for the times that I have shortened my study time…and relied on the internet alone to give me what I need from your word.  Help me to take my study of your word more seriously…to memorize scripture…to study it in depth…so that you can make me stronger…and use me to help others.  Amen.

Open Your Heart To The Full Vision Of God

Luke 23:40-43 -  But the other criminal protested. “Don’t you even fear God when you are dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done one thing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”  And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”

 

Jesus was near to death….having hung on the cross for about 3 hours. The people closest to him had either deserted him and gone into hiding…or watched in hopelessness from a distance. Only this one criminal that hung beside him saw the hope and joy that was coming after death.

 

James and John had asked for this spot earlier…but they envisioned thrones beside an earthly king. Even as Jesus died they held fast to the idea…not even letting the 3 explanations that Jesus had given sink in to their souls.  But this criminal…full of repentance and humility could feel the presence of God at his side.

 

I admit that I am more like James and John than I am the criminal because I tend to limit my thinking to earthly ideas.  I need to take lessons from this dying man…who felt the glory of the Savior beside him and was brave enough to ask for forgiveness and mercy. Every sin He had ever committed was forgiven in that moment...and he passed from earthly suffering to Heavenly glory with Christ that day. 

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that your ways are so much more intricate than my human mind conceives on its own.  Forgive me for the times that I have limited my heart because I failed to see and feel your presence.  Help me to focus on you so closely that I let your vision take shape in my mind and replace all the earthly ways I thought of. Amen.

Repent...Let God Use Your Mistakes

Luke 22:31-32 -  “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have you, to sift you like wheat, but I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers.”

 

Jesus had sat at the Passover table and dined the last earthly time with the twelve men who knew Him the best.  Satan had won the battle for Judas Iscariot’s life….but Jesus was still battling for Peter. It is one of the rare times that we hear the details of one of Jesus’ prayers. The difference was that Judas would die alone and completely engulfed in his sin….and Peter would repent and use the mistake he made to increase his faith.

 

Satan has asked at least once to have all of us that choose to follow Christ.  Like Job…we are all tested. We can chose to let our sin harden our heart like Judas…or we can choose to let the blood of Jesus sacrifice on the cross wash that sin right out of our heart…so God can replace it with faith to do what He needs us to do.

 

What a comforting thought that Jesus prays for all of us…that Satan never be given complete control of our faith.  If we have asked Jesus to be our Lord…He takes that job seriously…and intercedes for us…even when we are too weak to pray for ourselves. God will use every mistake…every time we fall to build us up…and use us to strengthen others.

 

Father…thank you for never leaving me completely to Satan’s wicked ways.  Thank you for sending your son to win the battle over evil so that I can use His strength when my own fails.  Forgive me for the times that I take that gift for granted. Use my mistakes and failings to build me up for your use like you did Peter.  Amen.

Give Beyond What Is Safe Or Convenient

Luke 21:1-4 - As he stood in the Temple, he was watching the rich tossing their gifts into the collection box.  Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small copper coins.  “Really,” he remarked, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them combined.  For they have given a little of what they didn’t need, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

 

Jesus watched man rich and well to do people come put tons of money in the Temple collection boxes …but was unimpressed till a poor widow came and dropped in 2 small coins. Her small…seemingly insignificant offering caught His heart because it was all that she had in the world.

 

The difference in her offering was the sacrifice involved in making her gift. Her gift was all she had to care for herself in the future. Tossing those coins in the box meant she was totally relying on God for everything she would need in the future. Those rich and well to do folks just tossed in their extra….the income they did not need…or perhaps a mathematical calculation that measured their offering in exact 10 percent.

 

Jesus was impressed because the widow showed love beyond the others in giving sacrificially. She had the faith she needed to trust that God would provide all that she needed. Just like we are told in 2 Corinthians 8:2-3 …. “that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity.  For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily.”

 

I admit that I thought I was above the curve in giving.  I mathematically calculate my tithe each paycheck.  But this scripture has me reflecting on the motives for my simple routine of supporting my church. Sure I give to other things on a routine basis…and I hear in my spirit to help out with other causes from time to time...but I have never really sacrificed anything to do it. I give from the abundance of what God has blessed me with…sure that the checkbook still has plenty to cover the bills I know are coming that pay period.

 

I needed the reminder to examine my motives and rethink my routines. Perhaps I need to listen a little closer to what God needs me to support with what He has allowed me to handle for Him…for its His money after all….every penny. The object of true giving isn’t to set up some math formula…but to give beyond what is convenient and safe…to show our faith in God to care completely for us.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that everything I have is yours. Forgive me for the times that I have been selfish and used the resources you gave me to benefit only me.  Help me to be more like this widow…and give sacrificially…beyond what I know I can handle…so you can show off and prove your promise to care for me completely. Amen.

We Are The Clay

Luke 20:45-47 - Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said,  “Beware of these experts in religion, for they love to parade in dignified robes and to be bowed to by the people as they walk along the street. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at religious festivals! But even while they are praying long prayers with great outward piety, they are planning schemes to cheat widows out of their property. Therefore God’s heaviest sentence awaits these men.”

 

Jesus had spent most of the day redirecting the tricky questions of the religious leaders that were trying to trap Him into an answer they could use against Him. He saw the heart of the ones that questioned Him and let the Holy Spirit give Him the perfect words to turn their tricky questions into a way to expose their motives. After they had given up and walked way for the day he turned to the crowds and gave them this warning about becoming too like them.

 

What a great reminder that the object of becoming a servant of God is not to build ourselves up with rules and pious attitudes about how good we have become. The best motives for becoming a child of God is to become like His son…a servant of all that are lost. Once we know Jesus….and accept what He did to save us….His love should transform our heart into the humble servant that He became.

 

I admit that I had it wrong for years. I also admit that it is a really hard habit to break. Once you have let your heart become even the least bit selfish and self-righteous….it is hard to wash the remnants of the pride and piety completely out of your heart and soul. The world tries to trick us into thinking that we still need to depend on material things…and that we still need to prove how good we are to others.

 

It’s like that old hymn….Have thine own way Lord…we are the clay….not the potter.  That job belongs to God.  If we take over His job for even a second…pride and selfishness are planted into the clean heart that He gave His life to wash clean for us. It takes root and fills the space with so much junk that God has a hard time fitting in what he needs us to have there.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to weed my heart every time I look at it to make sure that humility still has a place to take root and grow.  Forgive me for the times I let pride and selfishness flourish so well that humility is choked completely out.  Help me to spend more time weeding the bad stuff out so you can plant more of what you need to grow in my heart. Amen.

 

https://youtu.be/Zg-DJjEV6R4

Love All People....Show Them God's Love

Luke 19:5-7 -  When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name! “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick! Come down! For I am going to be a guest in your home today!” Zacchaeus hurriedly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.  But the crowds were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

 

Disabled at birth by his short stature…he compensated for his lack of height by becoming a rich man. He collected taxes for the Roman government and skimmed off the money he needed to make himself very comfortable.  Even though he was despised by every Jew for his actions… hated for his wealth….he was still very curious about this Jesus that everyone talked about ….and climbed up in a tree close to where Jesus would pass by just to get a glimpse at what was causing so much excitement.

 

His excitement at hearing his name when Jesus looked up into his face was unmistakable.  He climbed down quickly…and took Jesus straight to his house. He was used to the sneers and grumbling of the crowds…he had dealt with that all his life.  But this Jesus sat and calmly talked with him.  While they ate Jesus took the time to love him despite the sin in his life. And that was all it took to transform tis despised sinner into a loving man with a heart to repent and make restitution for the money he had taken wrongly from others.

 

Zacchaeus’ story is one of my favorite models of why we are to take the time to love all people. Everyone deserves to hear the great news of Jesus sacrifice on the cross…so that they can decide for themselves if they want to make Him Lord of their life. We should never take the attitude of the people is this story and think that anyone…rich…poor….of color…white…homeless…bartender…drug addict…prisoner…battered….murderer… they all deserve to be loved.  Some of them even seek love out like Zacchaeus did.

 

I am guilty of picking and choosing who I will show God’s love too.  I know that I am getting better…but know in my heart that I don’t always love all people the same. I let fear of the unknown…or the fact that I have no experience dealing with one kind over another let me make excuses not to speak or try to love them on any level. I need to be more like Jesus…not afraid to look right into their eyes and invite them to sit and talk a while about what God’s love has done to transform me.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that we are called to love everyone. Forgive me for the times that I pick and choose who I want to love.  Help me to cross the barriers of fear and have the courage to look into all the eyes of any person you let cross my path.  Let me count on you and the Holy Spirit to give me the words I need to show your love to all people.  Amen.

Pray With Purpose And Passion And Persisitence

Luke 18:6-8 - Then the Lord said, “If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don’t you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night?  Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying*?”

 

Jesus told many stories to help teach the people who came to hear Him the things they needed to have a strong relationship with God. This time he told a story about a persistent widow who kept asking a judge till she got what she needed.  He said that is the way we should pray to God for the things that we need.

 

Jesus could see the future and knew that many would fall away from the practice of prayer.  Their faith would weaken and they would become self-sufficient.  There prayers would become routine…or petty requests that increased self instead of helped others.  They would replace prayer with material things that satisfy only for a short time.

 

I admit that my prayer life is not a strong as it should be. I spend too much time relaxing in front of a TV or knitting or shopping. My prayers have some petitions for others…but they are mostly requests for myself. I rush through my prayers…or fall asleep before I finish. I simply don’t pray like I know I should…like Moses….or Jesus…or this widow model.

 

I needed the reminder that what  I need is the focus…the purpose of this widow.  I need to have her passion to keep praying for something until God gives me an answer. I need to write the requests of my friends down…so that satan can’t make me forget my promise to pray for them. I need to schedule a time in my day that is dedicated to prayer…just as waking minutes are dedicated to understanding and processing His word. I need to have the same passion for prayer as I have for writing.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that prayer is a key to my faith in you.  Forgive me for the many times I have failed you in my prayer life….and thank you for never stopping to try and teach me how to get it right.  Give me the passion of this widow to pray without ceasing…to pray with purpose….to pray no matter how tired or sleepy I am from my days work….to pray instead of filling my time with meaningless things like TV or shopping or knitting just to fill time. Amen.

Thank God In Advance....Then Step Out In Faith

Luke 17:11-14 - As they continued onward toward Jerusalem, they reached the border between Galilee and Samaria, and as they entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance,  crying out, “Jesus, sir, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go to the Jewish priest and show him that you are healed!” And as they were going, their leprosy disappeared.

 

Everywhere that Jesus walked people begged for Him to heal them. These men…cut off from society because of a contagious…life altering disease…gathered together as close as they dared to shout at Jesus as He passed by to have mercy on them. He did…and simply told them to go show themselves to the priest…so that they could be proclaimed free of the disease that separated them from family and friends for years.

 

They did…knowing that when their feet left that spot the disease was still evident on their skin. They left in great faith…even before the healing happened. It was as they traveled toward the priest….as they followed the command of Jesus…that their skin lost all signs of the leprosy.  

 

The one that came back to thank Jesus was even a Samaritan.  He had no other religious experiences to gauge what had happened to him.  Jesus was quick to exclaim that he had greater faith than the ones who had been raised with Moses law all their lives.

 

I needed the reminder this morning that sometimes God asks us to do things that we see no obvious reason for. He has asked me to move from a comfortable home…successful job…and a great church and friends to a huge unknown.  There are blessings in the move.  I will be retired.  I will be close to my family again.  I will be able to go to the church where I was raised. But I will be living on less income…and have no clue what he is sending me there to do for Him.

 

In less than a month I will be moving into a new season of life with many unknowns.  I think that I will praise God in advance for the wonderful thing he is about to do. I will let my faith keep me from being scared….and trust that God has a wonderful plan or me….it will prosper me beyond my own dreams…and give me continued hope that He is the most important thing in my life. I will cling to that promise in Jeremiah 29:11 harder than ever as I prepare for this move.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to have more faith. Forgive me for the times that I have let fear and doubt keep me from being completely obedient.  Give me the strength and courage that I need to step out in total faith so I can see the wonder of what you have planned for me.  Amen.

No One Can Serve Two Masters Equally

Luke 16:11-13  -  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be entrusted with money of your own? “For neither you nor anyone else can serve two masters. You will hate one and show loyalty to the other, or else the other way around—you will be enthusiastic about one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

 

Jesus knew the heart of everyone that came to hear Him teach or heal.  He saw their longing for material wealth to make life easier…but knew in the long run that the money they longed for would separate them from the father. He saw the little white lies they told to justify having things…or not being completely honest with others about what they treasured most.

 

Jesus walked this earth with nothing but the clothes on His back….He relied on His father to provide everything He needed. Jesus did not let any material possession get in the way of serving others…or completing the task His father had sent Him to do. Jesus’ radical way He dealt with wealth….helped Him focus completely on serving others.

 

I admit that it is a very hard thing to do. But I know in my heart that this is one of the keys to a closer relationship with God. Jesus said in Matthew 19:24…. “I say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God!” The less we have …the easier it is to rely completely on God.  The more we have…the bigger the temptation to be self-sufficient. 

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are all I need.  Forgive me for the times that I have replaced serving you with gathering things about me. Help me to keep foremost in my heart and mind that all the material things you have blessed me with really belong to you…and you gave them to me to use for you. Amen.

Love All People The Same

Luke 15:1-2 - Dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus’ sermons;  but this caused complaints from the Jewish religious leaders and the experts on Jewish law because he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them!

 

Jesus was surrounded with people who came to listen to Him teach.  Some were high in positions of honor…..some were poor and needy…and others were dishonest and notorious sinners. Jesus loved them all…and met each one where they were willing to sit and talk about their soul. Jesus was a friend to sinners…he did not hide form them or judge them because of the things they had done in their past.

 

What a great reminder that we should feel the same way about people. We should love others and meet them where they are in life…offering our friendship and love.  We are not to judge them…just love them with the love that God has given us. We are not to be fearful of them…but let God’s power and strength give us all that we need to minister to their needs. And as they see Jesus in our lives…they may just want to know what gives us the power to love all people.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that all people deserve your love the same. Forgive me for the times that I have judged instead of seen the pain of others….ran away in fear instead of hugged and loved….or made excuses not to help because of pride. Help me to see all people the same…and not to judge them by the things they have done in their past.  Amen.

Keep Humility High On Your Proirity List

Luke 14:10-11 - “Do this instead—start at the foot; and when your host sees you he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place than this for you!’ Thus you will be honored in front of all the other guests.  For everyone who tries to honor himself shall be humbled; and he who humbles himself shall be honored.”

 

Jesus had attended a fancy dinner as a guest and noticed how all the people struggled for the best seats of honor at the table. He took one more opportunity to remind those that attended of the importance of humility.  He told them to choose the lowliest seat in the arrangement…and let the host decide if they deserved a seat with more honor.

 

I admit that humbleness is one of the hardest skills to maintain…if you have mastered it at all. Anyone that has started at the bottom of any career choice works hard to move up the corporate ladder of success.  Jesus wanted to remind is of the need to always keep the promotions we get in life in the proper perspective.

 

The other point He wanted us to remember is that we should do things without even thinking about the reward we will get when we do it.  Our motives should be to help others…not think about being repaid ….or patted on the back for our help.  Our choice to follow Him means we count our blessings…but always turn every one of them over to God and make Him first in our lives.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder to keep humility at the center of our walk with you. Forgive me for the times that I let my heart feel discouraged because I put my need for attention before my need to serve. Help me to love you so fully that I see and perform the many tasks you give me to do that will get no reward o earth….just because I love you that much. Amen.

Focus On Today

Luke 13:31-33 - A few minutes later some Pharisees said to him, “Get out of here if you want to live, for King Herod is after you!” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and doing miracles of healing today and tomorrow; and the third day I will reach my destination. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day! For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

 

Three days away from His own death….served with cruelty that He did not deserve….Jesus spent His time healing and serving others. His determination to help as many people physically as he could…before He gave everyone the opportunity to be completely healed spiritually…was unstoppable.  God had filled Him with power to see His hard task…and yet walk toward it with a resolve to keep modeling how to be a perfect servant to others.

 

It proves to this woman…struggling with lesser troubles…that I haven’t begun to learn everything there is to know about love yet.  Jesus knew exactly where He was headed…and he did not run away from the task.  He walked toward it…focusing on others instead of Himself….gaining strength from the healing He did for others.

 

It makes my tendency to focus on my own problems….to stop and pause….to let fear freeze my feet ….to worry instead of keep working….an enormous reminder that this behavior weakens me instead of helping me. I have to somehow be more reliant on God’s big picture…and let go of the future fear that keeps me from focusing on the present. Sometime before this Jesus had already told them not to worry about tomorrow.  His words are recorded in Matthew 6:34…  “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.”

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you have everything under control.  All that happens is allowed only if it is according to your will.  Forgive me for letting worry and fear freeze ….pause too long….and maybe even miss the task you had for me in that moment. Help me to keep my eyes so completely focused on you that I can see the task and yet keep serving others as I walk toward it…even if it is hard. Amen.

Hypocrisy Cannot Be Hidden

Luke 12:1-2 -Meanwhile the crowds grew until thousands upon thousands were milling about and crushing each other. He turned now to his disciples and warned them, “More than anything else, beware of these Pharisees and the way they pretend to be good when they aren’t. But such hypocrisy cannot be hidden forever. It will become as evident as yeast in dough.

 

Jesus was constantly surrounded by crowds of people. Some came for healing….some came to seek inner peace …..some came just to see what the big deal was about this man. Jesus ministered to them all….helping each one as time allowed.  But Jesus constantly felt the darkness around Him as well….from those that came to taunt Him….to persecute Him…to kill Him.

 

He warned His disciples to be careful of hypocrites above anything else.  He saw the dangers that their fake goodness caused in the hearts of those that followed rules that brought order to the world…but left compassion and love completely out of the picture. He saw the hate that hid deep in the heart of these men….a jealously….a pride that hid the sin in their hearts from ever being forgiven.

 

I know this sin very well…I was a hypocrite for many years. I judged without ever trying to know the heart of the sinner…I loved myself more than I loved the one that God sent me to help and serve. In some ways it is a sin that is much like other addictive diseases.  I have to confess my addiction to myself every day…so that I never let it take root in my heart again. I have to remind myself every moment that helping others know God is more important than any need I will ever have again.

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that you are the most important thing about life. Forgive me for all the times I fail to make it about you because I am so focused on my own needs. Help me to grow daily in my walk with you so that I will see clearly the people you let cross my path that need to hear how you have changed my life…and helped me through evry tough time I have known. Amen.

Praise God...Just For Being Holy

Luke 11:2-4 - And this is the prayer he taught them: “Father, may your name be honored for its holiness; send your Kingdom soon.  Give us our food day by day. And forgive our sins—for we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And don’t allow us to be tempted.”

 

Jesus prayed a lot….but this time the disciples noticed.  They noticed enough to ask Jesus to teach them what was so special about His prayers. The answer He gave them was beyond wise….so simple…yet so hard to complete with our whole heart and soul and mind…and body…and spirit.

 

He told them to acknowledge the Father who had sent Him there…and worship Him in His holiness. Then ask for His kingdom to come as soon as He could send it. He included a reminder that food from God is freshest and most beneficial to our lives if we feed ourselves on a daily basis…and to forgive others just because God forgives us. Then He ended His best advice on prayer with a reminder to ask God to help us weather temptations.

 

What a great reminder that Prayer isn’t so much about me as it is the one who allows me to live on this earth even one millisecond. I am not given life to be served…but to serve the one who sent me here.  I will admit quickly that I get it backwards more that I get it right….my prayers more like God help this and God do this…and oh God you know how much my heart wants this too.

 

I am so very thankful to God that the forgiveness part of His model prayer is there….because I cash in my need for it every day. I fail so many more times than I succeed in the thing He sent me to do…and will admit that most of the time I have no clue what that really is on any given day. Perhaps the key is in that middle part….forgiveness.  I will say that things seem so much richer and purposeful in my life since I started to practice this more in my life. And…forgiving others is getting easier the older I get.  Maybe it is just that we weather so many storms that we relax in His grasp a little….and He does it for us.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to come to you on a daily basis….if for no other reason than to praise you for being Holy.  Forgive me for the many times I have made my prayers about me and my needs.  Help me to follow your advice and make my prayer time with you more about worshiping you than requesting help.  Amen.