While

 

Titus 2.

 

Verse 12 gives us a directive. An assignment. In the NLT it says this, “And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,”

 

Then take a look at verse 13. It says this, “while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”

 

Notice the comma between both verses.

The connection between both verses.

One being the command, the other including a promise.

 

And there’s one word in all of this text that is of enormous significance, and that is the word, “while.”

 

We should live in this evil world with WISDOM, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and DEVOTION to God.

 

Some versions say, “SENSIBLE, HONEST, and GODLY lives.”

 

Some say, “SELF CONTROLLED and MORAL.”

 

But either way, there is clear directive here.

 

And we are to do it all WHILE we look forward with hope.

 

Many tell us that living the Christian life is difficult. Painful. Challenging. Hard.

 

And all of those things may be true to some degree.

 

But they are possible.

 

We do all of it WHILE we look forward with hope.

WHILE we keep our eyes laser-focused on Jesus.

WHILE we remain steadfast.

WHILE we keep trusting in His goodness.

WHILE we press forward to win the prize He has awaiting us.

 

And so I make a declaration today: I shall have hope... WHILE!

 

You too?

We Must Remove And Replace!

I love the Psalms of David.

They give us such a fantastic example of someone who knew the Lord, intimately, walked with Him, depended fully on Him, consulted Him in all things, and yet still wrestled with issues of sin, doubt, frustration, and fear.

He’s an easy one to relate to.

And yet in all of David’s dysfunction, he was still considered a, “man after His own heart.”  (1 Sam 13:14)

In Psalm 39, we see a sort of self-talk going on in David’s prayer.

It’s not an uncommon practice for David.  It was quite natural for him to reveal to us the ways he battled within his own soul.

Psalm 139:1 says this, “I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.  I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.’”

This is marvelous self-talk.  Honorable in every way.
David, having learned about the danger that often lies in speech, was conditioning himself to watch over his tongue and keep guard of his mouth - lest any harsh words incriminate him.

But as we observe the next verse we see a whole new lesson emerge for the us, the students of the Word.

Verse 2 says this, “But as I stood there in silence - not even speaking of good things - the turmoil within me grew worse.”

Why?



I believe it’s because there’s more to our responsibility than simply avoiding improper conversation.  There’s more we are to gain in spiritual awakening and advancement, than what is found in the elementary lesson of tongue-holding.

Because silence often gives way to strife.
Remaining reserved can sometimes lead to resentment.

Because higher is the man’s spirit than is the man’s mind.
We were created to worship!
Psalm 95:1-2 says, “Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord, Let’s shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let’s come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving, Let’s shout joyfully to Him in songs with instruments.”

And so it becomes important for us to know that it’s not just about removing something bad from our lives, but it’s about replacing it with something good.

It’s about the removal of complaining with the replacement of praise!
It’s about the removal of arguing with the replacement of peace!
It’s about the removal of shame with the replacement of grace!

We must stay focused on the removal of evil, but also on the replacement of all that brings honor and glory to His name.
 
Oh that the Lord would always be magnified in what I do and what I say!  (Ps 34:3)

But Mightier Is He!

 

Judas the Betrayer.

We can read all about it in John, chapter 13.

It’s one of the most tragic places we can land in all of scripture.

And when we come to the end of the story, we read this,
“When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him.  Then Jesus told him, ‘Hurry and do what you’re doing to do.’”

In other words, “Get on with it, Judas.  I know you have set up the ultimate betrayal against the Son of Man.  Waste no time fulfilling your mission.”

John’s Gospel account is the only one that mentions the bread being given to Judas, and Matthew’s account is the only one that mentions Judas’ response when Jesus suggests that there’s a traitor among the disciples.  “Lord, is it I?”  He says in Matthew 26:22.

And it was.

The one who had walked with Jesus, learned from Jesus, experienced Jesus, was now the first within their small circle, to turn on Jesus.

Judas had shut the door of his heart to receive any more instruction, any more grace from the glorious Savior.

But it was that very action of betrayal that actuated the purpose of Christ.  It accelerated the impending arrest, but it served in advancing the very intention of redemption and mercy.

And isn’t it just like our God… to use evil for good.

We learn it from Joseph in Genesis 50:19, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

Psalm 93:3-4 says this, “The floods have risen up, O Lord. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore—the Lord above is mightier than these!”

Even if the floods try with their strength to destroy… the Lord is mightier than these!
Even if our brothers attempt trickery to kill like they did to Joseph… the Lord is mightier than these!
Even when the Judas’ of the world surrender their once blazing fire of faith at the altar of deception, meant to circumvent the purposes of good… the Lord is mightier than these!

My commentary says this, “Every Judas is unconsciously the servant of Him who he seeks to betray, and finds out, to his bewilderment, that what he meant for a death-blow is fulfilling the very purpose and will of the Lord against who He has turned.”

Ahh.. but MIGHTIER is He!

And I will repeat it as long as I have breath.

Sometimes God Says No

 

David wanted to build a temple for God.

But God said no.

It was mostly due to the fact that there was no peace in David’s life.  He was a warrior king who lived in the midst of turmoil, and with ongoing engagement of continual bloodshed.

But yet, even in all of this, there was a calling on David’s life.
Even still, God said He would make David famous.

In 1 Samuel 7:9 God tells David, “Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who has ever lived on earth.”

It was a promise God had made to one other person ever in all of the Bible and that was Abraham.

And strangely enough, the plan to use David would include expanding kingdoms and defeating enemies.

All of this would only serve to further David’s involvement in war and with bloodshed.

So it got me thinking.

Maybe sometimes God says no because there’s a greater charge coming ahead that will yield greater results for obedience.

God had said no to the building of the temple.
But He still said yes to using David in great ways.
God had said no to one thing, in order to say yes to the greater thing.

And God’s yes would serve not only for the purpose of God’s glory - but David’s good.

And the truth is that David may have otherwise only “settled” for the lessor yes, and missed His glorious usefulness altogether.

Sometimes God says no.
But it’s always for the greater yes.

Know His Heart and Fulfill His Purposes

 

The building of a temple for the Lord.

It was the great desire of King David.

It had been the intention of His heart.

He had told the prophet, Nathan in 2 Samuel 7, about the shame he was experiencing.  “Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!”

And so began his plans for building what he believed would be a more appropriate place to honor His God.

But as scripture tells us, because of unrest, and the absence of peace due to wars and bloodshed during his reign, God would disallow him success.

Instead, David’s son, Solomon, would be the one to build the temple.

A look into the heart of Solomon can be seen in 1 Kings 5:3-5.
The Word tells us that Solomon sent a message to King Hiram who had just congratulated the now new King Solomon, he said, “You know that my father, David, was not able to build the Temple to honor the name of his God because of the many wars waged against Him by surrounding nations.  He could not build until the Lord had given him victory over all his enemies…. so I am planning to build a Temple to honor the name of the Lord my God, just as He had instructed my father, David.”

I love this so much.  

Solomon knew the intentions his father, David had.
He knew his heart and was resolved to fulfill his intended purpose.

Solomon was behaving most like Jesus in this moment.
The One who knew the heart of His Father and was settled in accomplishing God’s objective for humankind.

And it begs the question - How I am living?  Am I so familiar with the heart of the Father, and in knowing that am I living in complete determination?  In knowing His heart, am I stewarding well my divine assignment according to His original plans and designs?

Oh God, that we would strive to live not only with the peace of Solomon, and the wisdom of this would-be King, but with high levels of integrity that is the result of pure intimacy with the Father.

May we know His heart, and fulfill His purposes!

Open His Eyes!

 

2 Kings 6 in part is the story Elisha entrapping the Arameans.

 

When the King of Aram was at war with Israel, he would often confer with his officers about where they would invade, and what their next move of attack would be.

 

And scripture tells us that immediately Elisha, the man of God, upon hearing about the king’s raiding strategies, would sound the alarm warning the then King of Israel (Joram), of the danger that lie ahead.

 

But once the King of Aram found this out, he was furious, and sent troops in to seize him.

 

And it was Elisha’s assistant who go up early on the day the troops were invading… with horses and chariots.. everywhere. And the assistant was so frightened he said to his master, Elisha, “Oh sir, what will we do now?” (verse 15)

 

And I love Elisha’s response.

Oh God how I wish it would be my response.. every single time.

 

Elisha said, “Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than there are on theirs!” (verse 16)

 

And then look what Elisha did.

 

He prayed.

 

“O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” (verse 17)

 

And the Lord did.

 

He opened his servants eyes and allowed him, this time, to see a broader vision than before.

 

“… and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses, chariots… and fire.”

 

Fire.

 

The word that denotes the presence of the Lord.

 

When Elisha prayed for the eyes of his assistant to open, they opened, but this time it was his spiritual eyes that could see. This time they were opened to the divine reality. It was as though God peeled back the veil that had long covered the weak man’s eyes, so that the proper view of God’s provision could be properly observed.

 

And it reminds me of our Jesus.

The One whose eyes saw only by divine perspective.

The One who saw what blind eyes could not see.

The One who was fixed with calm and joy even when all about Him was chaos and clamor.

The One who saw heaven as the ultimate prize, even in the presence of agony and death.

 

Oh that we would pray to have eyes like those of Elisha.

 

Those that see the flames of fiery presence in the midst of the enemy’s most formidable plans!

Embrace The Mystery

 

I don’t have the answers.
None of us do.
But it’s still a sticky note that lives on my bulletin board.
Something I felt God whispered to me, and JUST before the pandemic began.
“Embrace the mystery.”
 I would even say it to a class I was teaching in February, “I am embracing the mystery.. because all is an invitation.”

Mystery by definition means this = “anything that is kept secret or remains unexplained or unknown; obscure, puzzling, or mysterious in quality of character; any truth that is unknowable except by divine revelation.”

And what I have learned is this - we all live with a fair amount of mystery.
And it’s purpose isn’t to alienate us from God.
Quite the opposite.
It’s been assigned to us for the purpose of attaching us in closer relationship with Him.
It’s all invitation… invitation to deeper common with God.

This mystery is an invitation.
An invitation to know the Father.

I cannot always know what He’s doing - but I can trust Him in the process.
I cannot know why we are asked to endure some painful battles - but I can rest in His provision.

I cannot always look at the tree and appreciate it’s shadow, but I can look back as having relished in it’s shade.  I can look back and marvel at it’s beauty… the very thing I might have missed if not for it’s once inconvenience.

Proverbs 25:2 says it this way, “It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the kings privilege to discover them.”

You and I - are the kings.  And it is our privilege to “redeem the time, because the days are evil.”  (Eph 5:16)

So I will embrace the mystery.
I don’t have to know after all.
But I do need to know the One who holds it all.
And knows it all.
And is still redeeming it all.

Give Us Eyes To See!

 

God in His kindness has given me a gift.
And I’m not sure that I always viewed it as such, or at the very least could articulate it that way, but I see it now… as a gift.

I can see things.
While I am a known “feeler”, who can tangibly feel when things are “off”, or when a spirit of darkness looms about, I am, even more, a seer.

It became increasingly evident a few years back.
I had been writing on snapped images I had taken in my camera role.
Things like a stop sign, spilled coffee onto my kitchen floor, and my running shoes.
And then one day, out of nowhere really, a sweet friend sent me an image of a smashed and rotting pumpkin.  And the words she would send me with the picture were, “If anyone can tell a story from this - you can.”

My writings up to that point had been proof of special vision God had gifted me with.
And it took a friend calling it out in me to see it.
And it wouldn’t be the last time God would use a sweet voice of a friend to remind me of this fact… God had given me… has given me… eyes to see.

But it wasn’t always that way.
In fact I am still recovering from the “Glass Half Empty” Syndrome.  Because all too quickly old patterns resurface, and the ease and comfort of doom and gloom return.

And I understand it now to be choice.
And it IS a choice.
To see.

It’s the words that Jesus would speak to John the Baptist’s disciples who had asked Him, “Where are you staying?” (Jn 1:38)  Jesus had just asked the band of brothers, “What do you want?”  and their response was, “Tell us where you’re staying.”

They likely knew that closeness to the One was most necessary… the most important thing, indeed!

And Jesus’ response to them is simple, “Come and see.”  (vs 39)

It’s the words Philip would whisper to Nathanael who was sceptic of the authenticity of this so-called, “Savior”.  When Philip excitedly tells of the, “the very person Moses and the prophets had wrote about”… this, “Jesus from Nazareth”, Nathanael cynically replies, “What good can come from Nazareth?”

And Philip’s response to him was simple, “Come and see for yourself.” (vs 46)

Because there’s something about vision.
Spiritual vision.
One of the grandest faculties - and the most important in a “vision year” ironically eclipsed by panic and discord, is sight.

It’s what Elisha prayed for his assistant to see… the one serving as his helper against the Aramean army.  When the troops encircled Dothan, where the prophet and his assistant were staying, the realization of these mobilized troops along with their chariots and horses, proved too much for the young servant.  And looking to his leader, Elisha, he says it, “Oh sir, what will we do now?”  (vs 15)

And Elisha’s response is beautiful.  
He calms him, “Don’t be afraid.”  (vs 16) and he says the words of reassurance before even a prayer is whispered, “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”
The prophet knew God was protecting.
He knew because of the vision God had given him.
As both prophet, and of follower of Him whom the man of God walked closely with.

And then Elisha prayed.  “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!”  (vs 17)
And in His goodness, God opens his eyes to see not only chariots, troops, and horses surrounding them, but fire.
The fire of God!  Fire that was the well-known symbol of Jehovah's visible presence and protection or destroying might!

It was the words I would say to friends on a Friday night conference call: “I just want people to see!”  And so has become my hearts cry for those I love and those who need to know His love.
“Give them eyes to see!”

Sometimes people are blinded by unawareness.  They don’t know the love of the Savior yet.
Sometimes people are blinded by unwillingness.  They see sin, but are unwilling to depart from it.
And sometimes people are blinded by forgetfulness.  They have simply forgotten their God and His awesomeness; His protectiveness in times of despair and uncertainty.

Charles Spurgeon would say this, “To see yourself is well; but to see God is better.”

God open our eyes that we might see!
Help us to live AWARE!
Help us to surrender to vision WILLINGLY.
Help us to never FORGET Your great sovereignty and power.

May our set intention daily be to SEE YOU in all things!

Increase The Value of My Virtues

 

 

And so here’s the deal.
I know we are all dealing with stuff.
It’s been a ridiculously challenging year.

But I would whisper it to my soul at the same time I have said the words out loud to anyone who will listen, “We’ve GOT to do better.”

And I would read the words that would cause a shift… a stirring… in my spirit on a brisk fall morning in November.

The words were these, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven.  I have come to answer your prayer.”  (Dan 10:12)

The words stopped me in my tracks.

Because haven’t we, like Daniel, been in a season of fear?  And panic?  Haven’t we, like Daniel, felt the loneliness of isolation and defeat?  Haven’t we, from time to time, wondered where God is and why he seems to be far away?

And yet hadn’t I just read it somewhere - something about redeeming the time?
Ahh… yes… Ephesians 5:16.  We are to be people who are, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

And perhaps here the angelic voice speaking to Daniel was serving as a reminder that God had not left, had not abandoned, and was still overseeing all.

And then the thought came to me.
Because 2020 has felt like a challenge, a difficulty…. a trial.

Yes!  That’s it!  
A trial!

A look at the very word means this = “the act of trying, testing, or putting to the proof.”

Oh boy, and hasn’t that been true?
The year has been for the trying, testing, and putting to the proof.

But the trying and testing of what?  For what reason?

And on a Wednesday morning I see it!
A trying and a testing and a proving of all I am learning.

Because if what I am taking in by daily study of His Word and His ways doesn’t change who I am becoming, is it really serving it’s purpose at all?

I can learn about forgiveness and yet never experience it by the need to show grace to someone I’d rather stay bitter toward.
I can learn about showing honor to those in leadership and yet never participate in it by demonstrating proper esteem for those in power and control who would be much easier to despise and dismiss.
I can learn about loving my neighbor as myself and yet still wrestle daily with self-love that denies me the ability to love like Jesus.

And so I see it now, that answers… relief, really… often come(s) through trials of our faith and in seasons of exercised patience.

When God tries us or tests us, it’s so that we can not only employ those virtues we’ve been learning about, but also so that the value of them in our lives may be increased, multiplied, and strengthened.

It’s a proving to be improved.
We are proved so that every bit of virtue in us will be improved.

God, thank You for the proving.  While sometimes uncomfortable, it is always… always profitable.

Delay Is Dangerous

Acts 24.

It is a great story to learn from.

We can see a LOT about Paul from these passages.


But there is also one character to focus on.

And his name is Felix.

Felix was a governor who was known for corruption and evilness.

Paul was brought before him to plead his case and the accusation that were mounting against him.

Scripture tells us in verse 22, that Felix was familiar with the Way (Jesus and the Gospel message) that Paul was talking about, adjourned the hearing and told him to “wait until Lysias, the garrison commander, arrived.” He goes on to say, “Then I will decide the case.”

Scripture goes on to say that a few days later Felix came back with his wife, who was Jewish, and they called for Paul, listening intently to what he had to say.

Paul was clear in his message, just as he had been to all who would listen, and spoke plainly to them concerning righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgement.

Perhaps Paul knew, most, what they needed to hear.

But the bible tells us that, Felix "became frightened” (vs 25), and told Paul to, “Go away for now.” He said, “When it is more convenient I’ll call for you again.”

Ahh.. but it would be the last time we hear from Felix again.

In all of scripture.

He would leave Paul in prison because of the fear he had of losing favor with the Jewish people, and he would be succeeded by Festus who would take over control of Paul’s earthly destiny.

Felix procrastinated.

And it cost him dearly.

He needed to hear the truth.

But the truth was too hard to hear.

And so he put off turning from his evil ways.

My commentary says he ignored the urgency of the call… he ignored the acceptable time being NOW, for salvation. It say this, “He was in haste to turn from heating the truth. Was any business more urgent than for him to reform his conduct.”

The word REFORM means this = “the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, or unsatisfactory; to change to a better state; to improve by alteration substitution, or abolition; to cause (a person) to abandon wrong or evil ways of life or conduct; to form again.”

WOW!

For Felix the time came... and the time went.

The opportunity was RIGHT in front of Him.

Salvation was offered.

And denied.

Maybe it was because he thought he had more time.

Maybe he thought he needed time to “think it over.”

But scripture would tell us that TWO YEARS would pass that he was mulling it over, if this be the case.




TWO years.

And yet some of us, too, will die (spiritually) due to delays and distractions.

And we cannot afford to wait another day.

TODAY is the day of salvation. (2 Cor 6:2)

This is the most important time of our lives.

Today.

This moment.

And we have, in this moment, time to be reformed.

To improve.

To amend what is wrong.

To change to a better state.

To abandon what is keeping us from a full life in Christ!

But it might not come again.




I live with the verse from Amos 8 ringing in my ears all the time. “‘The time is surely coming,' says the Sovereign Lord, ‘when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.” (Amos 8:11-12)

Delay is dangerous.

We cannot affair to waste another day.

I Must Insist on High Integrity Still

 

Acts 22-24 

 

Paul had been mocked, ridiculed, judged, beaten, and now found himself in prison.

All for preaching the Gospel.

 

Paul had had a very powerful conversion, and was now living his life FAR from the darkness he once found himself in as a persecutor of Christians.

 

But maybe not so far away that he didn’t “remember” what it felt like on the “other side.”

 

Take a look at Acts 22:1. It says that Paul addressed the high council, the VERY ones who were scorning him and beating him and imprisoning him, this way, “Brothers and esteemed Fathers.”

 

He says it again in chapter 23, verse 1, “Gazing intently at the high council, Paul began, ‘Brothers…’”

 

And it’s important - SO IMPORTANT - to note that this was just following endured torture. 22:24, “The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime.”

 

And yet he addresses the council as “brothers.”

 

How?

Why?

 

Because Paul insisted on living with high integrity.

Paul insisted on maintaining dignity.

Paul insisted on showing honor.

 

Because Paul insisted to live like Jesus.

 

Maybe it is because Paul remembered hearing about the night of Jesus’ arrest, and the quiet display of surrender our Jesus portrayed.

 Maybe he remembered the story told about the anxiousness of Peter who “cut off a man’s ear” (John 18:10) for the sake of His Savior, and how Jesus in radical moment of grace, rebuked His student while repairing the enemy’s severed body.

 

Paul would go on to tell us ALL the ways we are to honor kings and leaders. (Rom 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13, 1 Tim 2:1-4, Titus 3:1, Heb 13:17)

 

And he wouldn’t just tell us that by edict, he would tell us that by experience.

 

He knew suffering for the cross.

He knew mistreatment at it’s finest.

He knew false accusation well.

 

And he knew it to come from those he once called friends (he used to sit on that same high council once upon a time.)

 

But he honored them even now as he was the recipient of harsh judgement.

 

Undeserving treatment.

 

Ahh.. but undeserving grace!

 

Paul understood, as we should, that honor was still due not because they deserved it, but because God deserved the highest form of integrity, and he feared the Lord enough to insist on a way of living that did unto the least of them, as if doing to the Lord Himself.

 

We owe honor - not because they deserve it, but because He deserves it. He deserves our very best in the middle of whatever circumstances tell us.

This is NOT Final Darkness

Acts, chapters 22-24.
Such a great look into the life of Paul.
His steadfast preaching.
His unwavering commitment to God and people.
His perseverance that came from knowing how close he had once been to the “other side.”

Paul was accused, ridiculed, mocked, beaten, and imprisoned.

It was a horrific experience, and one he endured without anyone coming to his rescue. His aid even.

They didn’t like him.
They hated him, really.

They didn’t understand him.
They didn’t welcome his judgement.
They didn’t acknowledge his insight.
They disregarded the evidence.
They didn’t heed his warnings.

AND it would appear, for a time, that the Lord was absent from Paul. As though God had deserted him.

My commentary talks about this “apparent” desertion from God.
And I know sometimes it feels this way.
Even the best of saints struggle.

Sometimes it feels like we are in a desert screaming, “Where is God?”
We wonder things like - What is going on God? Where are you?

And then I read the words, “Desertion is APPARENT, but it is not real.”

And yet I wonder SOMETIMES if it IS real, but real as in the sense that it is only TEMPORARY, not FINAL.

And even in the text Jesus comes to reassure the weary heart. The heavy spirit.

Acts 23:11.
Jesus appears to Paul (“that night”) and says this, “Be encouraged, Paul. Just as you have been a witness to Me here in Jerusalem, you will preach the Good News in Rome as well.”

HOPE after all.
The words of Paul’s Savior he so desperately needed to hear.
Hope IN THE NIGHT!
It was the light shining in Paul’s life from Jesus! And he encourages Paul IN THE NIGHT by saying, “THIS is not how it all ends. THIS night may be dark - but a new day is coming!”

THIS is NOT FINAL darkness!
And neither is whatever you’re facing now, friend.

It may be dark now, but Jesus comes to us IN THE NIGHT… in our darkest moments… in our saddest days… and whispers, “Be encouraged.”

This is not how your story… the story… ends.

Am I Impressed or Influenced By Evil Around Me?

 

I have a sticky note that lives on the bulletin board in my office.

 

I happened to look up at it just yesterday morning and was reminded of something that I desperately needed.

 

The words on the sticky note read: “I must live with a refusal to be impressed by the evil around me, an insist upon living influenced only by what what is going on above me.”

 

Ahh.. yes.

 

Maybe you need reminded of this too.

 

It could just be behaving like Jesus.

Who, “retreated” often to be with the Father.

Who knew where His help came from and maintained FOCUSED attention on the Father.

 

In Luke, chapter 4, Jesus returns to Galilee and is rejected in His hometown of Nazareth.

 

It is amazing to think that the very people who you would consider most LIKELY to accept Him in His position as Messiah, would do so. 

 

But they reject Him.

 

They ask, even in their amazement of Him, “How can this be?” (that He spoke such gracious words), “Isn’t this Joseph’s Son?” (verse 22)

 

He continues with some challenging content, and one that particularly outraged the onlookers. And that was His Jesus’s apparent favor of Gentiles as well as Jews. The Jews had viewed themselves as the sole recipients of God’s special favor, and retaliated against the very idea of that kind of grace.

 


Ahh… anything but THAT kind of grace! (sounds eerily familiar.)

 

And when the Jews heard this kind of talk from the One they hoped would bring the sword and incite harsh judgement, they jumped up, mobbed Him, and forced Him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. Scripture tells us in verse 29, that, “they intended to push Him off the cliff”, but He, “passed right through the crowd and went on His way.” (verse 30)

 

Oh how much we would be spared if we, too, “passed right through” and “went on our way.”

It’s making a choice…

 

To REFUSE to live REACTIONARY to the evil around me, and instead living in RESPONSE to the Father.

 

It’s turning the other cheek.

It’s giving up on a “right” to retaliate.

 

And so I would add to my sticky note this morning and say this - to myself and to you -

Let’s STOP living as if we’re so impressed and thus so influenced by evil. Let’s live, instead, with a DIVINE REFUSAL to be impressed by the evil around us - paying attention only to what’s above me!

 

It truly isn’t what is happening around me that is issue…

but what is happening ABOVE me and INSIDE me that matters most of all.

 

How are we allowing ourselves to be defined by the challenging times of our day?

How are we choosing, instead, to focus on what JESUS is doing?

 

It matters!

Where Are You Staying?

 

John, chapter 1.
The story of the first disciples.
All of this just following John the Baptist baptizing Jesus.

Verse 35 tells us that as Jesus walked by the following day, John looked at Him and declared, “‘Look!  There is the Lamb of God!’”

When John’s disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
John’s humility and awestruck attitude toward the Savior brought hope to those looking on.  The entire purpose of John was to announce Jesus... and he had given his followers permission to chase after the One being announced.

Verse 38 tells us that Jesus looked around and saw them following.  Some versions say He looked around, “attentively”, and He says to them, “What do you want?”

It was the first words we see Jesus speak in the book of John.
And they are…”What do you want?”

And I’ve considered how I would answer that question.
Because He asks us the same thing… “What do you want?”

The disciples respond in verse 38 with this, “Rabbi, where are You staying?”

It’s interesting that this is how they respond.
Because I am not sure it’s what I would have said.
I may have asked some question I’ve been wanting to know the answer to for a long time.
Something like, “Why did this tragedy happen”, or, “What will it be like when I die?”

But instead they ask Him, “Where are you staying?”

The same word, “staying” is the same word used in John 15:4 when Jesus tells His students, “Remain in Me, and I will remain in you…”

That same word in the NLT “remain”, is the same word found in the original King James version, “abide.”
“Abide in Me, and I in you.”  (KJV)

Abide refers to a life-union; to be joined with Jesus as the living Vine.
The word here denotes of dwelling… of making one’s abode, their personal, permanent dwelling in Jesus.  The word means to “put up with; tolerate; stand; endure; sustain; submit to; keep faithful to.”

Their question to Jesus shows their seeking of Jesus only, and it’s the right question.

It’s the only question we ever have to ask.
“Where are You staying, Jesus?”

In other words… Where are You walking today? - I want to walk there with You.


Where are You dwelling?  - I want to live there too.

I want to walk with the Life Source.
I want to abide in the “Shelter of the Most High.”  (Psalm 91:1)
I want to remain in the living Vine.

Where are You staying, Jesus?
It’s where I long to be!

A Mercy-Filled Marriage

 

I had to laugh on Saturday afternoon.

After making Trevor and I a big breakfast in the morning, I had to hurry down to my office to finish writing for a hard deadline I was facing for an upcoming speaking engagement this week.

It was a nice surprise to come upstairs hours later to a cleaned up kitchen.  
Everything was neatly rinsed and put away.

When I went to make dinner later in the evening, I grabbed for the cooking spray and I couldn’t find it.

“We have some - I know we do!”  I thought to myself.  “I just used it this morning.”
But it was nowhere to be found.

And then I remembered.
Trevor put things away from breakfast.
He probably put it back in the wrong cupboard.

He was outside mowing at the time… and so began the search for the Pam.

I chuckled to myself when I considered all the places it could be.
Big Pantry - no.
Little Pantry - no.
Spices Cupboard - no.
REFRIGERATOR???  - nope.  (That’s good.)

And then one more look.
One last peak into another cooking cupboard - yes.  There it was.
Standing in all confidence like it belonged there.

And I laughed out loud.
Because the kitchen… it’s my domain.
My territory - where no man typically goes.  (lol)

But on this day he did.
And he had tried.

And all was well.

Because the truth is that earlier marital years might have brought frustration… irritation… anger even.

In the naiveté of wedded “bliss” I might have missed the opportunity to extend grace.
And with now over two decades of matrimony experience, I can choose to let go of the things that don’t matter.  And count it all joy that God hand delivered me the sweetest soul to do life with.

Oh young married couples can I give you some advice today?
Stop the blame game.
Don’t look for all they lack.
Be grateful for the silly days that might feel like interruption... setback…. inconvenience… and rejoice that God loved you enough to provide you with a gift so imperfect as your spouse.
Rejoice in the ways you are growing together, learning together, mistaking together, and living your best life… together.

Laugh at the blunders… smile at the oversights… delight in the journey.

These really… REALLY are the best days.  And soon enough we’ll look back and realize that the small, trivial irritants are just that - small, and trivial, and they will always be outnumbered by the JOY of a mercy-filled marriage!

Hold Up Thy Goings

Psalm 17:5 in the NLT says this, “My steps are stayed on Your path; I have not wavered from following You.”

This is a prayer of David, and by reading these words we could walk away with the understanding that this is telling of his great confidence in himself. We could assume this to be David recalling the faithfulness of his unwavering journey with the Lord.
In fact, it aligns with what we find in the verses prior, “You have tested and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.” (verse 3)

But then take a look at it in the original King James Version. It says it like this, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths that my footsteps slip not.”

While in the NLT it tends to be a statement, here, in this version, it looks to be a request.
David is asking, “Hold up steps so that I don’t slip.”

And so here we have a choice to make.
Do we speak in confidence like David?
Do we request of the Lord to hold us up so we don’t make a mistake?

And the answer to both questions, I believe, is, “Yes.”

BOTH offer wisdom in obedience.

David was confident. He did speak as one who had, “honest lips” (verse 1). And he did know the authority he walked with God in.
But he was also VERY MUCH AWARE of his daily weakness.
He knew how easy it was to be tripped up.
How simple it was to be thrown off course.
And so there was always an incessant need to pray for the holding up of his feet so that he would not slip up.

He says it in Psalm 26:2, “Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart.”
There was an honest cry from David’s heart to get it right; to be found blameless; to be seen as worth to carry the name of the Lord.

David knew his own rebellion well. Psalm 51:3 he says, “For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.” And so he honestly asks for the purification his heart was in need of, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Ps 51:7)
His honesty.
His need.
His confidence in God’s ability to help him.

And so it is with us.
We can maintain confidence in our ability with God to claim victory in our yieldedness to Him, while acknowledging our weakness and capacity to fall, especially when we let go of our grip of Jesus.

God, may I stand poised with fortitude and resolution, at the same time honoring my position as a child of God, fully dependent on the reinforcement of a good, good Father!

There's Something About His Voice

 

In John, chapter 1, there's a terrific exchange between Jesus and a few of His first disciples.

One of these men was named Phillip. Another was Nathaneal.

Take a look at verses 43-45.

“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Come, follow Me.’ Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.  Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.’”

I love this portion of text for so many reasons.

Jesus finds Philip.

He simply says, “Come, follow Me.”

And the very next thing we see is Philip going to look for Nathaneal to tell him the good news.

That’s it.

Scripture doesn’t tell us that Jesus spent time trying to convince Philip.

Scripture doesn’t say there were any other words spoken between the two.


The command was… “Come follow Me.”

And we have to assume Philip knew instantly.

Maybe it was in the way Jesus spoke.

With authority.

With love.

With gentleness.

By way of invitation.

Maybe Philip had been looking for the Messiah and simply recognized the voice when he heard it.

Ahh, yes, it’s like I say about coming to the Word of God - read until you hear His voice.

Seek Him until the moment you hear it... you know.

It’s just something about the way He speaks.

And when He calls us - we know. We recognize.

And we come running.

His voice… His presence… it’s that irresistible.