A New Reality

"Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?" (John 3:9-10)

Jesus Christ Himself is the ultimate correction of the Father for us all. He is the light of the world, and everything (and everyone) is lost in darkness without Him. That is the message Jesus was conveying to Nicodemus, and that is the message He is speaking to us. If we look for answers from God, we are missing the Answer He has already given, and there will be no other word than what has been spoken — Jesus Christ. 

Efforts to solve men's problems, deal effectively with the issues and ailments all around us, to make a difference, or to make the world a better place are foolish and futile in the light of God's revelation in Christ. The reason so many, even in the church, are fearful, confused, and frustrated is the failure to understand that our complete and obsessive focus must be on Jesus and Him alone. He is the WORD of God. That is what Jesus is saying to Nicodemus, and it was very difficult for him to hear.

Jesus' words are spirit and life, but Nicodemus was accustomed to law and religion. That is why he and the Jewish leaders were so confused about the Lord and His work. Jesus was drawing him to the truth — He had come to give His life and save those who would believe. That was the wonderful plan of God, and that is what He was sharing with Nicodemus. We are called to share the same message with the world today. Let us be sure to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that message alone. 

Let's Pray - Father, open the ears of men and women all over the world to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. Release us from the bondage of religion and blessc us with spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear. In Jesus' name, Amen.

From That Time

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) 

. . . and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. (Matthew 4:22)

 

I am convinced that the repentance is among the most awesome privileges any man or woman will ever have — it is a gift of God. Repentance is more than the determination to stop sinning, and it is more than feeling sorry for our sins, no matter how sincere we are. Repentance is the decision to turn from our ways and to follow Jesus. That is when He gives us a new life, and that new life takes divine energy to live.

 

Repentance is an unfathomably rich and gracious opportunity to see and receive the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God? It is the life and perspective He gives us when we believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receive His Holy Spirit. No one will see the Kingdom of God without repentance.

 

Kingdom life brings us an ever-changing, ever-advancing viewpoint on all things. As we open our hearts to worship Him in spirit and in truth, we experience remarkable changes as the power of God invades every part of our being — and we gladly offer ourselves a living sacrifice for Him to employ as He wills! It is an exciting journey, and the choice is ours, if only we will REPENT!

 

Let's Pray - Lord God, I appreciate the gift of repentance more and more. It is not only the opportunity to turn from my sins, but the doorway into a life of devotion and ministry. I will repent and turn to You every time the Spirit instructs me, through the power that dwells in me. Amen.

Offenses Must Die

. . . and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matthew 18:3-6)

God’s economy is antithetical to that of the world. His values are higher, because they are spiritual, and His ways are superior, because He is holy. God’s standards are strange to the casual observer, the casual Christian, and to the unbeliever alike. For example, the requirement that we become like children is ludicrous to the world, but essential for eternal purposes. Humility is the door God has provided for His “little ones.” Yet, in our efforts to be something in this world, we can miss the most precious spiritual truth — we are the "children" of God.

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6)

That which compromises or violates the well-being of a child is a great offense to God. Therefore, it is of the gravest importance that we pay attention to our behavior and avoid any controversy whatsoever with another child of God. We are to be “perfect” in our dealings with one another, and if anyone has a legitimate issue with us whatever, we must not sleep until we humble ourselves and set things straight. If there is a trait or disposition that offends, we must tend to it and put it away. We are not to counsel it, coddle it, think about it, or pray about it — but take the initiative and put it to death. Offenses must die so God’s children can live and be free — free indeed. Help us, Lord.

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I want to be blameless in my dealings with others, particularly with those within the household of faith. Teach me to measure my words and actions, and to treat each conversation as an opportunity to shine Your light and share Your love. In Jesus, Amen.

Before We Go

And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the Lord met him and sought to kill him. (Exodus 4:24) 

In this passage, the love of God and the anger of God collide in a baffling way. Moses was God’s man going forward with God’s plan, with His commission and permission. Then, the same God who sent Moses met him on the way with the purpose of killing him! This should cause us to ask what habit, action, mindset, or sins are we carrying that is an offense to God? Where has Satan hitched a ride on our heaven-bound expressway? What old issues and attitudes are a hindrance to your new season? What is there about you or within you that needs to die? Where do you need to repent before moving forward?

 

These are the questions we should ask ourselves before taking another step.

 

Let's Pray - Father, open our eyes and show us the truth about ourselves. We desire to be righteous and blameless in Your sight, and that is only possible when the Holy Spirit shines His light on our lives. Help us, Lord. Amen.

Beware of Contempt

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:48-50)

The singular truth of the New Testament is Jesus came to save sinners — not black sinners, white sinners, brown sinners, yellow sinners, or red sinners. There is no skin color in the kingdom. There are no good sinners and bad sinners — no cultured sinners and uncultured sinners — no acceptable sinners and unacceptable sinners — no worse sinner and better sinners — just sinners in need of a Savior. Those of us who are saved would do well to remember this.

 

Christian workers, especially those of us from prosperous places, must be careful that our prejudices and a sense of superiority and privilege do not frustrate or limit the grace of God. That is a danger for ministers and missionaries, and we are often unaware, because pride is blind to itself.

 

Let us not ruin the opportunity to reach souls by protecting ourselves and projecting our world view. We must repent of even the slightest bit of superiority or contempt for the very people God sent us to help. 

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, it is a privilege to serve You and minister to those who are lost and needy. May we see ourselves and others as You do, and may we pursue Your interests in the world, not our own. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Endure and Enjoy

Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (2 Timothy 2:10)

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance . . . (Proverbs 15:13)

 

As the Word says, we enter the Kingdom of God through many trials and much tribulation. That is because the forces of darkness are set against the children of light at every turn. While we are on earth and until Jesus returns, things will be difficult, and we must be prepared. Satan is relentless, but our God reigns supreme, and we are more than conquerors in Him.

 

God gives us wisdom, joy, and strength to pass every test. The battle is the Lord’s, and the victory is ours in Him. So, be of good cheer, for Jesus has overcome every obstacle we will ever face.

 

We are known by our love and our joy, so let us face every day with a heavenly outlook. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, He transforms us into men and women of faith and hope. We are prepared for every task, no matter how difficult, mundane, or pointless it may seem now. 

 

God has a purpose and a plan. So, enjoy as you endure. That is God’s will for His children. That is His will for you.

 

Let’s Pray - Dear Father, I am determined to walk before You joyfully and with a bright and uplifted countenance. I have learned to trust You and give You the sacrifice of praise You deserve. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Dwelling in Unity

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore. (Psalm 133)

 

For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. (Ephesians 5:30)

 

Unity - as one (not one, but “as” one), existing and working as a unit, in step, in agreement, accountable and accounted for. (My definition)

 

Believers, collectively, make up the church of Jesus Christ, and individually, we are members of His body. As such, we are the expression of our Lord on the earth, and our fellowship should reflect the perfection and unity of the Holy Trinity — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They express oneness in all they are and all they do, and so must we, if we are children of God.

 

We are not called to dependence on one another or independence from one another, but interdependence with one another. We are much better together.

Psalms 133 likens our unity to the anointing oil poured upon Aaron the High Priest, who was set apart for God’s purpose and pleasure. We, too, are a royal priesthood, set apart by the Spirit to be witnesses of our King and Savior, Jesus Christ, all to the glory of God the Father. It is our Lord’s greatest desire that we stand together in our love for Him and each other, enjoying the peace and power of unity, and standing apart from the world around us. When we lay aside our agenda and pick up our crosses, we learn to prefer others before ourselves, thus fulfilling the law of love as Christ requires.

 

Remember, the Lord would have us unified and focused on one thing only — Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Father, please continue to pour Your Spirit upon us as we come together in true fellowship as believers in Jesus Christ. It is an honor to members of Your church and heirs of Your promises. In Jesus alone, Amen.

Pearls of Wisdom

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." (Matthew 7:6)

When you speak of order to an undisciplined man, he will resent you, because he is immature in his ways and his thinking. It is foolish to discuss visions with a blind man or expect vigorous work from a lazy man. A prideful man will disdain your good counsel, and an angry man is impossible to reason with.

 

So, while we are to share God's Word and wisdom freely, we must also realize some do not have an ear to hear, eyes to see, or a heart to understand. It is important to be discerning, and we must know when and where to engage others or to be silent. Help us, Lord.

We have all wasted our good words and resources, only to realize we were unwise to share them with those unwilling and unable to receive them. Even the right words spoken at the wrong time or place will be unprofitable for the hearer. Therein lies the danger of going forward without the Spirit. We need the Lord's leading and timing, because only He knows who will hear, see, and receive — and only He knows when.

 

Wait for God's direction before you say another word or take another step. Your time and wisdom are too precious to waste.

Let's Pray - Father, teach me to be still and quiet until it is time to speak. May I treat every encounter and conversation as a precious opportunity to share the love of Christ. In His name alone, Amen.

Never Lose Heart

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)

 

Our Lord is sharing something essential with His disciples — prayer is the only way to keep a hopeful outlook through the bleak seasons we are sure to experience. The prayerful saint is the hopeful saint, and Jesus wants our hope to flourish, so we must pray!

 

Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:46)

 

Jesus told us we will suffer tribulation in this world; yet we are to be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world, and we overcome through Him. There are people and circumstances for which we would lose all hope apart from the assurance we receive from prayer and intercession. The Lord has ordained our prayer life as His formula for spiritual sustenance and success. 

 

A praying saint may travail and suffer, he may struggle and wonder when God will answer, she may grapple with feelings of defeat and depression – but the fact that we persevere in prayer is the surest sign we have not given up. The prayer of faith girds and guards the heart of the intercessor, keeping us connected to an invisible stream of spiritual strength through faith. We never doubt that God will keep His Word and glorify His Son if we will just believe — and pray.

 

May the Lord increase the faithful in the earth, and may we never take our eyes off the promise or the Promise Keeper. May we pray and never lose hope.

 

Let's Pray - Father, Your Word says You will keep me in perfect peace, if my eyes and heart are fixed on You. Help me stay focused and prayerful, so that I might see Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus alone, Amen.

The Holy Challenge

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  So, when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.  (Luke 5:8-11)

No man understands who he is until he meets a man of God. Only when he is confronted by God’s righteousness in another man can he compare himself to God’s standard — “I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 

 

Immediately, he must make the decision. “Do I shrink back in fear, or do I answer the call and follow Jesus?”

 

No one stays the same once they have met Jesus. Peter would have turned back, "Depart from me…" But the call of God on his life would not let him. His fear would have caused him to run from the One he should run to; but Jesus promised him a relationship with God that would make him all he could be — “From now on you will catch men.” It was an irresistible opportunity to become a real man— God’s man — and Peter took that challenge.

 

Have you ever met a true man of God? Have you taken God's challenge? Have you decided to follow Jesus? There will never be a more important question, or a more consequential answer.

 

Let's Pray - Dear Lord, I, like Peter, take the challenge to become a real man. I desire to all You have ordained for me, and I will walk in the steps You have ordered. Here I am, Lord. Use me. Amen.

Commanded to Love

“These things I command you, that you love one another.”  (John 15:17)

Many believe love to be a voluntary emotion, and that we should love according to what we feel in our hearts. If so, does God honestly expect us to love unlovable people, or those who hurt us and mean us harm? Does God expect us to love those we do not like, who are nothing like us, or whose behavior we disdain? These are tough questions to wrestle with as we learn to love as Christ commands, and this is where we must surrender our understanding and receive the love poured in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it is impossible to get beyond ourselves and our fears into the realm of holy love.

 

It may seem odd that Jesus commands us to love, but it makes a remarkable difference to see love as a commandment and not an emotion. Jesus can command and empower us to love, because He has taken it out of the natural realm and placed it in the framework of the spirit. He did that when He bore all our sins and sicknesses, and when He gave His life for ours on the Cross of Calvary — all out of love. God's love is spiritual, based on the work and person of Jesus Christ who is God, and who is love.

 

So, let this true of us; that we love like Jesus loves, that we love by the Spirit, and we love one another. That is God’s command, and if we are His, we will obey.

 

Let's Pray - Father, it is good and right to learn to define love as You do. Teach me to appreciate the opportunity to love as You command. May my words and deeds be salt and light in the earth, and may You be glorified in Your servant. Amen.

The Power of Words

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63)

 

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)

 

What a marvelous blessing it is to become a wise steward of the tongue! Jesus tells us His words are spirit and life — much more than syllables and sounds, but they are alive, living, and able to carry out the purpose for which they are spoken.

 

There are no idle words from the mouth of God, and as we mature in Him, there will be fewer from us. Our words are pregnant with meaning and effect, and the Lord will hold us accountable for them. We should give longer and wiser consideration before we speak.

 

The Lord is pleased when we speak words of blessing and truth, and when our speech reflects His express viewpoint. The lips of the child of God should release the sweetness of the heart of God and be rooted in faith and kindness. Let us avoid bitter and scornful words that do not reflect the love of our Lord.

 

Jesus is the example we are to follow in our conversation, and His example is one of perfection. May the Holy Spirit teach us to communicate in a perfect way that strengthens and redeems those who hear us.

 

Let's Pray - Father God, help me to speak words that bring life and love to every conversation. I will follow the example and instruction of my Lord to speak the truth in love, and in a way that builds up and strengthens the one who hears me. In Jesus alone, Amen.

The Friend of God

"No longer do I (Jesus) call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all the things I heard from My Father I have made known to you."  (John 15:15)

 

The Lord has many followers, but few friends. Friends are those who come to Jesus on His terms, and His terms are spiritual, not soulish, emotional, or religious. Friendship with Jesus draws us into the realm of spiritual intimacy where the love, knowledge, and counsel of God are available to us. Close friends are free to share themselves with one another, and they enjoy that freedom because of a bond of trust developed over time and experiences.

 

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:14)

 

Most human friendships are based on affinities, shared interests and desires, or emotional ties; but it is not so in the Kingdom. The Lord is holy, and He will only have friendships with holy men and women. He will never be related to sin and selfishness, and He is not interested in associations and affiliations that do not glorify the Father.

 

Therefore, we must be obedient to His Word if we want to be His friends. Once He can trust us to follow Him closely, He will share His heart with us, because He can trust us as one trusts a friend. Are you trustworthy in that way? Do you follow His commands? Are you a friend of God?

 

Remember, we are not His friends until He says we are. What is He saying about you?

 

Let's Pray - Father, thank You for calling me Your friend through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I want to be the kind of friend that stands with You and obeys Your every command. In Jesus, Amen.

The Ultimate Test

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

This is, perhaps, the most quoted verse in the Bible, and rightly so. It is the best news ever proclaimed, and the simplest and most direct answer to life’s most important question. It is the revelation of God’s love manifest in His Son, Jesus, whose life on the earth, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead is the central reality of all time and eternity. 

 

Everything done or said will be measured by this verse. There is no truth beyond it or outside its reach, no one above it, and every human thought and deed will be judged by it. God’s love in Jesus Christ is all we need to know about living well, and it is the key to being at peace with God and men. 

 

What an honor to come to God, and to come on His terms — to come through Jesus Christ. Everything that matters depends on Him!

 

Let's Pray - Father God, thank You for the gift of everlasting life through Jesus, my Savior. It is the solid rock on which I stand. All glory to You, Lord. Amen.