February 27, 2023

 

Love Like Jesus

 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” -- John 13:34-35

 

What does love look like? I’m talking about the love Jesus had for us, the love He commanded us to have for others. When you consider that kind of love, what do you see?

 

Do you see the man who’s been unfaithful to his wife? Who is still being unfaithful? Do you see the woman who’s too busy gossiping to parent her children? Do you see the young woman with an “easy” reputation? Or the teenage boy who bullies those smaller than himself? What about the man with unethical business practices who brushes it all aside as “just business”? Do you see love when you look at these people?

 

The truth is that if those people look and talk like you and have solid economic status, you probably do. It’s easy to love those who are like us. It’s easy to ignore their sins and accept them. We may even agree with that businessman who believes that misleading people is okay so long as it’s not illegal.

 

Let’s look at another question: What does love look like when you don’t particularly like the other person? What does love look like when a baby cries incessantly throughout the worship service? What does love look like when you’re in a hurry to leave and an elderly person is blocking the way?

 

A few years ago, I asked my cousin why she and her husband stopped going to church. I was horrified at the reason. They were told that their adult daughter who had Down’s Syndrome was no longer welcome. This was a “child” who loved church with her whole heart, who tightly held the Bible she couldn’t read and listened intently to the pastor’s sermon each week. But because she sometimes “commented” on his words while he was preaching, she wasn’t welcome.

 

Love isn’t always easy. Sometimes it means accepting someone who makes us uncomfortable. Sometimes it’s loving someone in the midst of their sinful ways. Sometimes it’s extending the same grace and mercy Jesus has extended to us.

 

Who are you judging today? Who have you cast aside because of their “sin”? Who have you failed to love as Jesus loves us?

July 12, 2019

Grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

Grace is a concept we don’t understand. We can’t grasp the meaning of such an amazing gift. We look for the invisible strings. We hold back, uncertain of what it all requires.

We live in a society where we are constantly striving. We are judged by wealth and status, by beauty and weight, by address and pedigree. We can’t understand a God who loves unconditionally. We can’t imagine a Jesus who died so we could be saved.

We “know” we can’t be saved by works. We try anyway. We “know” God doesn’t really care about the exterior. He looks at the heart. Surely, we are “good” people. But are we?

Every time we judge by our standards, we fail Him. Every time we condemn, we fail Him. Every time we replace love with “service,” we fail Him.

God gave us an extraordinary gift of salvation. We can’t earn it or buy it or keep it only for those we deem “worthy.” None of us are worthy.

Embrace His gift. Let His love fill you to the brim. Then go out into the world and offer others the same gift, without reservation or judgment or standards. Do you truly understand grace? Then stop striving and simply go out into the world and love others like Jesus.

October 3, 2018

Show Mercy and Grace

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble.

– Proverbs 3:34 (HCSB)

She isn’t well liked. She’s the first to point a finger at anyone who makes a mistake. And she’s the first to respond with denial if she’s the one who made the mistake.

She’s quick to judge but not so quick to show mercy. No one ever meets her standards. All of her coworkers have been on the receiving end of her nasty comments.

She’s not a boss. She’s not even a supervisor. She’s a co-worker with less experience than everyone else in her department. Her attitude sends a different message. She thinks of herself as superior to everyone else.

The saddest thing isn’t her attitude. The saddest thing is that her attitude simply covers up a deep insecurity. She feels like people look down on her. She talks about discrimination. She’s determined to “prove” she’s better than they are. All she proves is that she’s got a mega chip on her shoulder that has cost her job after job. She doesn’t understand grace or mercy or compassion.

As Christians, we think of grace as a gift from God. We can’t earn it through works or money. He gives it to us when we believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

What if we offered grace to others? What if we showed compassion, not because they deserved it or had earned it, but because of Jesus? What would happen to their hearts? What would happen to our hearts?

Where does mercy fit in? What is it? Because mercy and grace aren’t exactly the same thing. I think now to the movie War Room. One of the main characters had done something illegal. He’d confessed and made retribution. The company owner had a choice: forgive or call the police. He chose to forgive. Would you have made that same choice? Would your hard heart have softened when you encountered genuine repentance?

How often do we have the option of offering mercy or condemnation? Do we fail to forgive an offense, choosing instead to “punish” the offender? Or, after a sincere apology and changed behavior, do we grant mercy and forgiveness?

This young woman thinks she’s being smart and tough and strong by lashing out at others. She’s actually being weak. She doesn’t understand the concept of being part of a team. She’s doesn’t understand grace and mercy. And it shows in the vicious words she throws out.

She wants to get ahead in the workforce but she won’t. Who wants an employee who’s so divisive? Who wants to promote someone who won’t take responsibility for mistakes? Does it sound like anyone you know?

The next time someone you know makes a mistake, offer grace. Be merciful. I know. It’s not always easy. Do it anyway. Grace and mercy have a way of coming back to you in ways you never expect.

September 29, 2018

What Do Your Words Reveal?

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29

One of the most interesting things about all the political talk is watching people justify their words and their opinions. It would be comical if it wasn’t so sad.

One woman, someone who sees herself as a fine Christian, was taken aback by a friend who responded to yet another hateful post on Facebook. The friend said something I’ve thought many times: She called the post hateful and mean and questioned this woman for writing it.

Naturally, it produced a defensive response. It’s “my opinion,” she insisted. “I have the right to express my opinion.” “It’s not hateful. I don’t use curse words.” “I’ve got a lot at stake in this debate.” And, here’s the clincher, “Christians have been silent too long.”

It took a great deal of self-control to keep from responding to that. Jesus has no part in this hatred that has spread over our land. He’s just the excuse some folks use for speaking from their own self-interests.

Let’s try something here. “He’s so stupid! Did you hear what he said? He’s nothing but a liar and a thief. Those people should be prosecuted. How dare they condemn a good man! I know he’s good. I don’t need to meet him. He’s good and those others are just awful people. I heard they stole money. Did you hear that? I know it’s true. I can tell. Can’t you? Yes! They need to go to jail. How dare they say something bad about such a good person when they’ve done so much evil!”

If you read or heard those words would you think the person was being hateful or mean? There are no curse words in there. A little gossip. A lot of commentary about something the writer would know nothing about. Slander. Lots of opinions. Words that are designed to fuel anger and spread hurt.

I made that up. You know that. But I could have copied and pasted those words from any number of Facebook posts from this woman or dozens more. Sure, they’re entitled to their “opinions.” I’ve big on the First Amendment and our right to free speech. What makes me angry is justifying this ugliness by claiming to defend Jesus.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Luke 6:45

This is what Jesus said about evil words. Jesus isn’t in this ugliness. Unfortunately, those who don’t know Him, don’t know that God is love, turn away from the One who loves them most because of these lies.

What’s also unfortunate is what the ugly words reveal about the person saying them. The woman who got called out for her ugliness is someone I’ve known a long time. I always considered her to be a strong woman of faith, someone who is a prayer warrior. I’m starting to question that. I don’t know how someone who truly has the love of Jesus inside of them can be so consistently ugly with their words and opinions.

It’s makes me consider her heart. It makes me remember the ugly comments I’ve heard her make about the poor or about immigration. I’d excused those remarks. I’d given her a pass because she’s led such a sheltered life, without ever having to support herself or do without anything. I’d extended grace, the same grace she refuses to extend to anyone who disagrees with her opinions.

Jesus said our words reflect our hearts. What do your words reveal about you?

July 28, 2018

Who Is Your Neighbor?

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

– Luke 10:29

This wasn’t just any man questioning Jesus. The Bible tells us he was an expert in the law. He wanted to test Jesus. But Jesus always has a way of turning the test back to the person asking the question.

What must you do to inherit eternal life? Love God with all your heart and soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus let the man answer for himself and then assured the “expert” that he had answered correctly.

But the man, much like us, wouldn’t leave it there. He wanted to know who his neighbor actually was. And Jesus, being Jesus, answered with a parable designed to cut right to the heart of the matter. We would do well to heed His words today.

Some Christians believe their neighbor is only an American. What do you believe? Do you believe that Jesus only meant for us to love those like us, those who share an earthly citizenship with us?

When Jesus told us to go forth and make disciples of all nations I guess He didn’t intend for those disciples to be our neighbors. Maybe Jesus never expected us to love them, to have mercy on them, to include them. What do you think? Did Jesus expect us to look down on others, much the way the Pharisees looked down on Gentiles (that would be me) and Samaritans?

We know the parable well. We call it the parable of the Good Samaritan. We understand that someone should help those in need. Just not us. That’s especially true if it means we might have to get our hands dirty or share what we have claimed as our own.

What did you sacrifice to live in this country? For most of us, the answer is absolutely nothing. We are here, enjoying the freedoms and privileges, because it’s where we were born. Most have never served in the military or fought in a foreign land. We don’t have a clue about a lifetime of daily suffering and fear.

Yet we reject those who come to us for refuge. We blatantly cast aside those who are hurting without bothering to hear their story. We tell ourselves they aren’t our neighbors. Jesus didn’t intend for us to love them. They need to follow the law. They have no right to grace or mercy unless they follow the rules.

Was it lawful for Jews to associate with Samaritans? Not really. It made them unclean. Maybe that was why the Samaritan had mercy in his heart. He understood how it felt to be cast aside, to be deemed unworthy, to be condemned because of his birth.

So, while the priest and the Levite went out of their way to avoid a traveler in need, the Samaritan stepped up. He got his hands dirty as he personally cared for the traveler who’d been beat up and robbed. He paid money for a hotel room and, when he left the next day, he told the innkeeper to look after the man and he’d pay him anything extra if the innkeeper had any added expenses.

It cost the Samaritan. It cost him time and money. But he did it because it was the right thing to do.

Jesus asked the “expert” which of the three men was a neighbor to the man who fell victim to robbers. He correctly answered: the one who had mercy on him. What was Jesus’ response? “Go and do likewise.” (v. 37)

We spend so much time trying to sort out who is worthy to be our neighbor. We want to pick and choose who to help and who to cast aside. But that’s not based on the Bible. Who is your neighbor? Before you decide, consider how Jesus would answer. Then go and do likewise.

July 22, 2018

Are You Better Than Others?

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” – Matthew 9:10-13

Who do you look down on? Oh, come on! Admit it. Who do you consider to be less than you? And, on the flip side, who do you consider to be better than you are?

Our pastor said today that we all want to associate with people whose sins are like ours. Why? Because it makes us more comfortable.

Of course, the Pharisees thought they were better than anyone else. They had all these rules and regulations to follow, far more than God had ever commanded. It made them feel good. It made them feel superior. It made them, well, much like us.

We don’t want to sit beside or socialize with the confessed adulterer. We don’t really care that she repented and changed her life. We prefer to paint her tainted and unworthy. We do it every time we walk away, every time we gossip about her past, every time we refuse to associate with a sinner such as she.

We would rather cast her aside with the convicted drug user. You know the one. He went to prison for his addiction. Some say he found Jesus and is leading a changed life. We’re not sure anyone can change that much. We don’t plan to find out. We’re keeping our distance. He can go to some other church, sing in some other choir, volunteer with some other group. We don’t need his kind in our congregation.

Have you felt a twinge of guilt yet? You should. Jesus associated with the worst of sinners. He even called them to His side, to be His disciples, to lead His people after He was gone.

Take Matthew for an example. Tax collectors were despised. They collected oppressive taxes. And, to make it worse, they could add extra to those taxes and keep that money for themselves. Why would Jesus call such a man to His side? Why would Jesus beckon someone like that to be a leader in the early church?

Jesus gives us the answer Himself. He came to save sinners, not those who consider themselves righteous. Jesus came to save those of us who know we need a Savior.

In turn, Jesus expects us to show grace and mercy to others who also need a Savior. Because we’re all the same. We’re all guilty. We’re all unworthy. And we can all find redemption at the foot of the cross.

Those who are most gracious, most kind, most giving, are those who truly understand the gift of salvation. They understand the depth of their sins and show their gratitude by welcoming all into their midst.

What about you? Are you still so impressed with your own righteousness that you see no need to associate with those who are lesser? Or are you still so ashamed of past mistakes that you hang back from fully participating in God’s amazing plan for your life?

No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, who you think you are, join hands with others and kneel at the cross. Jesus welcomes everyone. So should we.

June 25, 2018

We’re Destroying Ourselves

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

– 2 Corinthians 6:1

When was the last time you denied yourself for your faith? That was the question our pastor asked us yesterday. It certainly gave us all something to ponder.

You might think his sermon was on stuff. We all like our stuff. But it wasn’t about things. It was about pride. It was about assuming that anyone who doesn’t agree with your opinions must be from the devil. Ouch.

We Christians are destroying ourselves from within. He didn’t say that. I did. What he did say is that the church in Corinth eventually died because it couldn’t get over itself. Is that what will happen to us if we don’t learn to get along with one another?

It’s not about God. You can tell yourself that it is repeatedly but the arguments you have with other Christians have nothing to do with Him. Those arguments are about pride and power and the politics of religion. It’s why we have a society that believes only Republicans are Christians and that Democrats must be from the devil. It’s why we believe that citizenship on this earth is more important than citizenship in heaven.

We get caught up in our opinions and label them from Jesus. Our pride tells us we’ve got it right and everyone else must surely be wrong. We gather a group who agrees with us and suddenly we’re fighting for our own political agenda in the name of Jesus. Unfortunately, others are doing the same thing.

We are all the body of Christ. As our pastor noted, we should have great confidence in our ability to handle anything we face as the body of Christ. But we can’t get past ourselves to even invite Jesus into the discussion.

Society tells us that pride is a good thing. The Bible tells us something else entirely. Which do you believe? Pride is not the same thing as confidence. Pride isn’t the same thing as self-esteem. Don’t be fooled by the unchecked agendas of groups who claim to be from Jesus.

The Gospel isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s hard and it hurts and we suffer for its truth. We want to pick and choose the parts we’ll follow. We aren’t willing to surrender everything to the One who died for us. We aren’t willing to offer grace and mercy to those who disagree with us. And we aren’t willing to back away from our opinions so that we can be unified with fellow Christians.

Change happens all around us. Do we build walls or do we adapt? This isn’t an argument over basic theology. It’s instead an opportunity to see what matters. Jesus came to save us, died on a cross and rose three days later, defeating death and assuring eternal life for all who believe in Him. Do we even see that anymore?

Some of the biggest haters I know are people masquerading as devout Christians. They seem to forget that God is love. They’re so caught up in their own agendas that they’re missing the point. They don’t want reconciliation. They don’t want to get along with people with differing viewpoints.

We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. – 2 Corinthians 6:12

Love people. It doesn’t matter if they agree with you or you agree with them. Show kindness and mercy. Extend grace. Political agendas have no place in the body of Christ. Kick your pride out the door and open your ears to the voices of those around you. Extend the hand of Jesus out into the world. That’s what really matters.

March 23, 2018

Focus On What’s Important

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. – Titus 3:9

I wasn’t raised in the church. I have few memories of the days when we attended a little country church. By the time I was in school, we’d stopped going to church at all. I was in college before I found my way back.

It happens. I’m grateful that while I lost God for a while, He never lost me. But here’s the thing: I never learned all those little songs that teach children the books of the Bible – in order. I learned the Ten Commandments, Psalm 100 and Psalm 23 in school.

It placed me at a disadvantage, though I didn’t know that until I attended a church not too far from where I grew up. I found other women looking down at me because I didn’t “know” all they knew. I learned to keep my mouth shut. Not that it mattered. Because nothing I said would be taken seriously. After all, I was surrounded by people who had attended church all their lives. They had all the answers. Or so they thought.

God had a different lesson for me. As I grew stronger in my life, as I read and studied, both in Bible studies and alone, I came to know more and more. I will never know all I seek to know. My heart is hungry for Him. I hope it always will be.

But what I found is that while I moved forward in faith, the other ladies were simply content to rest in the knowledge they’d gained as children. There were a few who sometimes attended Bible studies. Most had the attitude that they were “retired” and had no need for such things.

I began noticing how they lived. God pointed out that sometimes “prayer requests” were just a sanctioned way to gossip. Did we really need to know all the details? No. The joke was that if you wanted to know what was going on in the community, just go to church. Except that truth was so sad.

I also noticed the upturned noses when someone showed up that wasn’t “appropriately” dressed. They frowned on jeans, for example. There seemed to be no gratitude that two long rows were filled with teenagers. Weren’t they happy about that?

They were always quick to complain. The politics of the church were almost comical. They’ve been through a lot of pastors because not one of them was ever perfect enough to suit their needs. They can be mean to outsiders, refusing to help anyone in the community who isn’t one of their own.

I don’t mean to pick on this church. There are way too many just like them. Some of the members lament society and how far our standards have fallen. They’d never consider themselves to be part of the problem.

We get so caught up with things that aren’t important that we miss what’s right in front of us. Do you love Jesus? Do you accept Him as Lord and Savior? Are you trying to live right and do good to others, whether you like them or not? Do you extend a helping hand, a kind word, maybe a meal, along with a dose of grace and mercy?

The world has way too many judges and not enough workers in the kingdom of God. Cleanse your own heart and trust God to take care of the rest.

March 7, 2018

Extend Mercy and Grace

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. – Matthew 23:23

What does it mean to show mercy to someone? My dictionary said it is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.

What is justice? A concern for justice, peace and genuine respect for people. Also even-handedness with a lack of bias.

What is faithfulness? Constant, loyal, stable and dependable.

Who are you holding a grudge against? Who have you condemned as unworthy?  Who do you avoid as being unworthy?

I’m sure you are doing it all in Christ’s name.

We are to be faithful to the words of Christ – even when it hurts. We are to treat everyone the same – even when someone else appears worthier. We are to show mercy – even when the other person refuses to admit guilt.

It isn’t enough to tithe. Sure, that’s important. It’s also important to attend church, pray daily and study your Bible. But living a life of true faith is so much more than that. It’s about letting go of the ugliness that binds you, not because someone else deserves it but because it’s what Jesus expects of you.

The Pharisees were all about rules. No one could live up to their standards. They were quite proud of themselves and didn’t hesitate to look down on the lesser Jews, the gentiles, all those who weren’t “pure” in the eyes of the law the Pharisees had created.

But that wasn’t what God wanted at all. Sure, He gave us rules and standards to live by. Think about the Ten Commandments. But all that other stuff? It was never about God and living for and worshipping Him.

The Pharisees wanted to place as many obstacles as they could in the path of those who longed to be righteous. They wanted to hold themselves separate and above all the rest of us. We see that today, don’t we? Every time someone doesn’t dress “appropriately” for church. Every time someone doesn’t know the books of the Bible in the correct order. Every time someone admits a less than perfect past.

We are so quick to condemn. We are so confident in our judgements, our words and actions that betray a dark soul. We’re so sure of our own righteousness that we forget it is only by God’s mercy and Jesus’ sacrifice that we can approach His throne at all. None of us are worthy. None of us.

So if you’re on your own pedestal, certain of how “good” you are and how “bad” someone else surely is, get down on level ground with the rest of us. We all need a Savior. We all deserve another chance. Is it easy? Not always. Do it anyway. We all are clothed in mercy that we are meant to extend to others.

February 13, 2018

Focus On Fixing Yourselves

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank our of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5

It was comical really. As we waited for a couple to cross the parking lot, he criticized the man for allowing the woman to carry a large, bulky box. “He should be ashamed,” he said with a shake of his head.

I looked to see if he was joking. He wasn’t. I laughed. “I can’t believe you just said that,” I told him.

He started to protest but it was my turn to shake my head. “If that were you and I, the situation would be exactly the same. Your back wouldn’t allow you to carry the box so it would be me toting it and you walking empty-handed beside me.”

“You’re right,” he admitted.

“We don’t know their situation. Maybe he is just lazy. Maybe she is determined to do it herself. Or maybe there’s something we can’t see at play here.”

We are just so quick to judge, aren’t we? We assume we know all the facts without really trying to learn anything about the situation. Not that it’s any of our business anyway. But that’s a different topic for another day.

It really is easy to tell other people how to live their life. It’s quite fun, actually, to focus on the “flaws” of those around us. It’s much easier to do that than to look at the person in the mirror and fix our own flaws first.

Please don’t excuse it with “At least my sins aren’t like that,” or “Well, you don’t know what he did.” It doesn’t matter. Sin isn’t about comparison. It’s not about whose sin is “greater”. We all sin and all sin condemns us to death. Except for the grace of Jesus.

I am so thankful that Jesus doesn’t look down and sort us according to our sins. I’m so grateful for His mercy and kindness. I’m filled with gratitude for the many chances He gives me each day to get it right this time.

We marvel at His grace in our own lives even as we condemn the lives of others. We fail to extend the same grace to others and we call ourselves justified in our actions.

Does it make us feel better about our own sin? We make our excuses. We defend our flaws and mistakes. We point bitter fingers at others even as we pray in Jesus’ name. We stamp ourselves with the label “hypocrite” even as we cry out to God for forgiveness.

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if we extended the same grace to others that Jesus has extended to us. Would we all be less angry, less hateful? Would we learn to get along better, seeing others as God’s children rather than as the enemy?

Perhaps we all need to take stock of the person in the mirror. Maybe we need to look for the good in others rather than focusing on the “flaws” we see. We are all in this together, doing life as best we can and failing Jesus every single day.

January 1, 2018

It's A New Year!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

It’s a new year! It’s time for a fresh start! How many of us made resolutions and rang in the new year last night with a determination to make changes? And how long do we really expect our new goals to last?

Making a fresh start is hard, no matter what day of the year it is. We have dreams and goals. We want to change our lives for the better. We want to lose weight or make more money or finally take our dream vacation. Maybe our goals aren’t so self-focused. We want to go on a mission trip, give more money to the church, volunteer at the food bank or help with the outreach program for the homeless.

We have good intentions. We’re going to make positive changes. And we’re going to move away from the bad choices of the past. Ah, yes. The past. That thing we can’t change and yet can’t seem to forget either. That albatross that has wrapped itself around us and refuses to leave us to peacefully live out the rest of our lives.

Other folks help us with that. A sweet friend once confessed that she only goes to church when she is at her family’s vacation home. Why? Because of the looks she gets when she attends a church in her hometown. When she was young and foolish – and weren’t we all – she made a mistake that broke up a marriage. She wishes she’d never made that choice but she can’t go back and undo it. She has forgiven herself. It’s everyone else who has the problem.

We can’t seem to let others change. We can’t seem to forget their sins. Why should we? We can’t forget our own sins either. And that is what keeps us locked in a past we can’t change.

What if we showed ourselves – and others – the grace and mercy God shows to us? What if we pressed forward into Jesus, forgetting what is behind, and focusing on the possibilities that lie ahead? What if we gave ourselves a chance without allowing the past to cloud our vision?

I pray that we all become better people this year. I pray that we reach forward and let go of all that is holding us back. I long for the opportunities Christ has given to all of us. We have a chance to live like we are His. How amazing is that?!

Each journey is different for the individual making it. I can’t tell you what path you should take and you can’t tell me what path to take either. But we can support each other. We can pray for one another. We can forget the past and move toward Jesus. We can do it together, one step at a time.

So make your goals and resolutions. Fill your heart with joy. Then take a step forward. Then another. Give yourself grace for the inevitable setback, getting up again and trying once more. Our days are measured in His love. Lean into Him. You can do this, not under your own strength and will, but because Jesus has hold of your hand.

March 8, 2016

Trust God

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.

-- Isaiah 30:15

This verse has shown up at different times in my life, always when I needed it most. God is good that way. He gives us what we need, when we need it.

It’s very simple really. We are to repent when we sin, then rest in God’s grace. A sweet friend wrote about leaving our past in the past. We don’t. We keep dredging it up. God has forgiven us and forgotten it. Not us. We’ve got to go over it again and again and again, beating ourselves up over something we can’t change.

We also have a need to fix things, to change other people, to control what goes on around us. We can’t, of course. Only God can. But we are so determined to try.

God calls us to be quiet and trust Him. So simple and so strong. Give it to God and walk away. Stop obsessing and let it go. Your strength -- your true strength -- comes in trusting God to work things out for your good and His glory.

This message was aimed at Judah. They were looking everywhere for military might instead of trusting God to save them. We do the same thing. When we need help we look everywhere but to the One who can save us. He’s just waiting for us to ask, to seek, to count on Him to do what He wants to do for us. We belong to Him and He loves us unconditionally.

But we would have none of it. Let’s not forget that last line of this verse. We can choose to ignore God’s help. We can choose to go our own way. We can choose to do it alone. Or we can seek God and trust Him to do what is best.

It’s quite simple really. Trust God or wallow in the aftermath of your own choices.

February 25, 2016

True Repentance Brings Change

27 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. “This time I have sinned,” he said to them. “The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 28 Pray to the Lord, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer.”

29 Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. 30 But I know that you and your officials still do not fear the Lord God.”

31 (The flax and barley were destroyed, since the barley had headed and the flax was in bloom. 32 The wheat and spelt, however, were not destroyed, because they ripen later.)

33 Then Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city. He spread out his hands toward the Lord; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain no longer poured down on the land. 34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts. -- Exodus 9:27-34

We all sin. That’s a given. We are humans living in a fallen world. The real question for us is what happens after we sin.

Do you confess your sin to God and ask for forgiveness? It’s what we Christians are called to do. And God forgives us. He grants us mercy and forgiveness we don’t deserve because of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Then what? If we truly regret our sin, our mistake, we make every effort to change. We repent. That’s what God wants us to do. Will we still mess up? Sure. But God knows our hearts and He knows when we are truly trying to change.

Unfortunately, many view God’s grace as just another reason to go out and do what they want. Saved people are saved. We won’t lose our salvation, if that salvation is real. But we will grieve the Holy Spirit when we don’t at least try to become more like to person God called us to be.

Have you ever had someone ask for your forgiveness, then turn around and do or say the same thing again? How did that make you feel? You probably thought the other person really didn’t mean the apology. You probably believe the other person really doesn’t intend to change. Because apologies and pleas for forgiveness without a change in behavior really don’t mean much.

So think for a moment about how God feels when we go to Him, confess our sins, ask for forgiveness -- then go out and do the same thing again. Do better. Mean it next time or don’t say it at all.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Extend Mercy And Grace

You should not look down on your brother in the day of his misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast so much in the day of their trouble. -- Obadiah v. 12

We live in a wonderful country that allows us to have trials by a jury of our peers. It’s a privilege we sometimes take for granted. And a privilege we frequently don’t want to be a part of.

I got called for jury duty recently. I was not a happy camper. Still, I was determined to go. What was the point in trying to get out of it? I’d just get called again. It’s better to get it over with. So I did.

And, yes, I was selected as a juror. Fortunately, the judge predicted it would only require a day. He was right. He seemed quite smart and competent. Personable even. Much nicer than those television judges I avoid like the plague.

That said, I hope I never, ever have to do it again. It was not a fun experience. I don’t revel in the fact that I was part of a wonderful event. It wasn’t pleasant listening to people lie -- and both sides tripped themselves up -- and even less fun having to make a decision with a group of very different folks.

That’s the point I suppose. But getting everyone to stick to the facts was difficult. Personalities were all over the place. And personal agendas can’t be totally hidden.

One woman seemed determined that the defendant “pay,” insisting that he had the money. We did explain that was irrelevant. I wondered how she thought she knew anything about the man’s finances. It wasn’t part of the testimony and I didn’t get the impression she was privy to his bank statements. But she’d already judged him guilty based on her own prejudices.

Others found themselves feeling sorry for the plaintiff based on their own experiences. Again, not relevant to this case. But none of us can leave our prejudices at the door. It’s impossible.

Why do we always want someone to pay? And why do we need to take our own experiences out on someone else? And why do we get such pleasure in seeing someone else take a fall? Do we secretly think it’s justice? Do we feel better about ourselves if someone else has something bad happen?

It is never wise to gloat over the misfortunes of others. Nor should we rejoice when others take a fall, even -- or maybe especially -- if we secretly think they deserved it. We deserve death for our sins. Each and every one of us. But God showed us mercy. Jesus gave us grace. Shouldn’t we also extend the same mercy and grace to others?

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Faith. Hope. Salvation.

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. -- Ephesians 2:3-5

Hope. It’s the foundation for so much of what we believe as Christians. We understand that by our own actions we are condemned. Our human nature assures us of that. But we have hope in Christ Jesus, who died that we might live.

…he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. -- Titus 3:5-7

There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Nothing. It’s not about doing right or living a good life. It’s not about attending church every Sunday or tithing just the right amount. It’s not about Baptism by water or going through the motions of Christianity.

We are saved by grace. That’s it. Pure and simple. Jesus’ blood poured out for us, washing over us, making us clean. So we reach out and believe, grabbing hold of the hand that saves us from certain destruction.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. -- Romans 6:14

The rules are overwhelming at times. We want to do right but sometimes it seems as though we can’t help ourselves. We sin despite ourselves. We repent. And, then, there we go again.

We are powerless on our own, controlled by a sin nature we cannot seem to shed. But He is there, giving us strength, picking us up, forgiving us and cleansing us and sending us on our way again.

The laws are there to guide us, even as the Holy Spirit fills us up and reminds us of the path we should take. Jesus is there to save us when we sin despite the best of intentions.

He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. -- Acts 15:9-11

There is no one Christian above the others. There is no denomination -- be they Methodist, Baptist, Catholic or other -- who rise to the top and always know best. We are one in the faith, in the blood, in our salvation. We all cling to grace.

Do not let yourselves be misled by the Pharisees of our day. Jesus Christ died so that we might live. We are saved by grace, not by rules or anything else. Jesus secured your salvation, promising that all who believe in Him will have eternal life. Hold on to that and never, ever let someone else shake the foundation of your faith.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Show Others God's Grace

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. -- Ephesians 2:14

What celebrity or public person do you think is least likely to ever know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Why do you say that? Do you think they’re too far from Jesus? Have they done bad things? Maybe they’ve laughed off Christianity? Maybe you’ve simply decided they’re unworthy?

We all have invisible walls around us. Some of the walls are natural and define who we are in terms of spouse, parent, child, co-worker, etc. Other walls come from those around us. We tend to unconsciously pick up prejudices and likes and dislikes, especially from our parents and teachers.

Other walls spring up as we live our lives. We look down on people who are struggling financially -- or who are super successful. We may dislike people who are a different color, speak a different language or dress differently than we do. We look at the exterior and make a quick judgment, whether we’re aware of it or not.

The same is true when we look at the past actions of people. We assume a kid in trouble will turn into an adult in trouble. We know that a recovering alcoholic will turn to the bottle once more. A thief is always a thief. A liar will always lie. We condemn without regard to our own past failures.

Jesus tore the curtain in two. It’s gone. We are one with Him. All of us who believe. There are no walls between God and His people. Jesus sacrificed Himself for us. Me and you. So why do we think that anyone is beyond the reach, beyond the grace, beyond the forgiveness, of God? Because no one has ever fallen too far or done too much to find grace at the cross.

It’s easy to hide ourselves behind our walls. They’re comfortable. But we’re not called to be comfortable. We’re called to love others as God loves us. So tear down the walls. Reach out to people who are different from you. Forgive someone who has wronged you -- again. Show others the grace that God has shown you.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Start Today

"And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again." -- Romans 11:23

Max Lucado once wrote a book titled In the Grip of Grace. He reminded readers that if cannibal and mass murderer Jeffrey Dahmer did accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and repented before he died, then God welcomed him into heaven. With Jesus, redemption is available to anyone -- no matter what they've done.

Or what we've done. It's never too late for what Beth Moore terms a do-over. We can always start anew, so long as we start with Jesus. That's what Paul was trying to tell the Jews. They'd rejected the Christ but it wasn't too late. They could be grafted in to the family of believers.

Do you ever feel like you've veered off the path God set out for you? Do you look back and wonder how you managed to mess it all up? Do you wish you could take a different road, maybe give a little more and take a lot less? Maybe instead of just getting by, you could make a difference. Maybe you could even be someone easily identified as a Christian by how you live your life.

It's never too late to change your attitude and your actions. You could start right now, this moment, and ask Jesus to come into your heart and direct your life. You can live today the way God has called you to live. No matter what you've done or where you've been. Today you are grafted in to the family of God.