Can These Bones Live?

He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?  I said, “O Sovereign LORD, you know.”

Ezekiel 37:3

As Ezekiel stood seeing in a vision, a valley of dry bones; bones that the Bible describes as “very, very dry and scattered abroad” he must have wondered whether any hope was possible.  To the naked eye, it appeared that the bones were brittle and completely devoid of life.  There was no way, a reasonable person could imagine that these bones would ever come to life.  Therefore, when God questioned him, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  Ezekiel could only answer by saying, “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”  Ezekiel knew in his heart, that no human being could ever bring about change.

Beloved, have you ever looked at a desperate situation and thought, it’s never going to change?  Has your human mind ever told you, “This is hopeless!”  You are not the first to think in this way and you will not be the last.  As the house of Israel experienced captivity in Babylon, they too felt hopeless.  They wondered, “How can we sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:4).  Many of them were dead in sin and yet God intended to raise them to holiness and restore them to the land of their fathers, and he eventually did in his time.

I don’t know what you are going through today.  Maybe you are on the verge of giving up and letting go.  Perhaps your grief and your tears have blinded you and silenced your voice and your joy.  Maybe sin has overtaken you, and you feel as though you can no longer sing the Lord’s song in a “foreign land.”  Or maybe an illness has reached its crescendo as it ravages your body.  Instead, of looking at what God can do, you may have reached the end of your own strength and decided you can do no more.  Today, God asks you the same question about your situation, “Child, can these bones live?”  How will you answer?

To the captives in Babylon the LORD said, “Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors (Ezekiel 20:42).  God makes the same promise to you today.  No matter what a reasonable person may think, God is on your side and his promises for you stand true.  He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,”…”plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  May his peace lead you back home into the embrace of his hope and his joy. 

Eternal God, there’s not a friend like you.  You are the one who sticks closer than a brother; the one that will never forsake me.  Lead me back into your embrace and let me dwell in your hope and peace.  I know that through you, these dry bones will live again.  Amen.

His Name is Wonderful!

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

Isaiah 55:8

In Hebrew, the word “Wonderful” means SURPRISE!   Dear friend, our God is a God of surprises.  Just when we think we’ve got him figured out, he tells us “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8).  God is constantly looking for ways to surprise us, and like a loving parent who hides treats in Easter eggs waiting for the children’s faces to light up when they are discovered, God hides his surprises in his Word, waiting for us to discover them as we search earnestly for his truths.

The enemy wants us off-track and so he keeps us “busy.”  We find ourselves overstretched and unfulfilled with too many commitments and such little time for rest in God’s presence and God’s Word.  We whittle away seconds, minutes and then hours on the phone, on the TV, on our iPads, iPods, social media and all the other shiny gadgets “that we just cannot live without.”  The principalities and powers of the world also get on band-wagon with trying to keep the glory of God’s Word under wraps (Isaiah 5:20.)

This conspiracy to veil or supplant the Truth will not prevail.  Our God whose name is “Wonderful” has a hidden surprise in store in his final act.  He will penetrate this darkness and shine his light, revealing his Truth to his Church.  Like the loving parent, who guides his child as close to the hidden Easter egg as he/she can, God continues to guide us gently to himself and to his Word by his Holy Spirit so that we too might discover the hidden treasures therein.

Beloved, there will be nothing in your basket, unless you show up for the hunt (Jeremiah 29:13).  You will not find the deepest, richest Truths just by showing up to church on Sunday morning.  You must carve out time to ask, and allow him to direct you into the inner layers of his divine wisdom.  But now is the time (2 Corinthians 6:2), the invitations have gone out, the party is on, the search is underway (Acts 2:17; Joel 2:28) and the curtain call is coming.   Join the throngs and allow this Wonderful God, this SURPRISING Savior, to guide you into his abundance and his Truth.  He alone can give you the ending that you didn’t see coming by his mercy and his grace.  Hallelujah!

Wonderful God, let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love for me.  Let your presence arch over my life in the daytime and let your Truth grow in me at night.  Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.  In Jesus’ precious name I pray.  Amen.

Alpha and Omega

“It is done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.”

Revelations 21:6

Happy New Year!  2016 is gone and 2017 is here.  Praise the name of the Lord, God Almighty, who allowed us to cross over.  Last night, many excited people stayed up to celebrate the New Year.  They did so with food, with alcohol, with pulsating lights and with loud, throbbing music. In some cases, they did so with superstitious rituals and practices.  In Times Square, New York, many gathered to see the crystal ball fall to signal the start of 2017.  But if you go by this morning, they are sweeping up the broken crystals and the confetti and putting all the pieces in huge trash bags even as they look forward to next year.  All that excitement though intense, was just temporary.  The pulsating energy from the masses of humanity has morphed into hangovers, extreme exhaustion and trash.  That’s all that’s left as many ponder what a new administration will bring to America and to the world; as many ponder what a New Year will bring to their lives.

God, the Holy One of Israel is seated high on his throne enshrined by his holy angels.  His word is true and it is trustworthy.  He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End.  His work is finished.  It has been established through the completed work of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  So, 2017 should elicit excitement in every believer.  The Light has come and it is getting closer and brighter.  The return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is one year closer.  Our Glorious God, our Beautiful Savior and our Excellent King is even now establishing a New Heaven and a New Earth through Jesus Christ; a New Earth where there will no longer be any weeping, dying or mourning.  He will purify this New Heaven and New Earth and purge it of all evil.  There will no longer be any broken crystals or trash or wondering what the future might bring because he has already established the future.

Instead, God Himself will dwell among his people.  He will be in relationship with those who seek after him.   He will be their God and they will be his people.  We do not need to fear any horses or chariots that may be bearing down on us.  We do not need to be afraid of dark beasts and other creatures looming in the shadows.  He has parted the waters through his Son, Jesus Christ and we can safely cross over to 2017 with full confidence that in him, we will find the peace we need (Psalm 46:1-3).  So, let 2017 be a year of worship, of witness and of harvest as you prepare the way for the soon Returning King.  Tell all your friends and family, “The Light is here!” and whoever is thirsty can come to Him for water from the spring of life.   Let them know that they too can inherit God’s blessing and peace for 2017 and for all eternity.

May the New Year bring you renewed vitality as you abide in Him and He in you.  He was, He is and He is to come.  Amen.

The Prince of Peace

He will be called . . . The Prince of Peace”

Isaiah 9:6

For many people December is a month of great joy but also of great anxiety and stress.  What with all the buying, wrapping, planning, cooking, entertaining, impatient lines and clerks at the stores, lack of parking, shoving crowds, financial strain and for some depression and loneliness.  And yet, December is just a microcosm of our modern lives which come laden with all manner of complexity and strain.  There is a great need for peace in our world, not just any peace, but God’s Peace.

God could have called Jesus any number of names, but one of the top four names he gives him is, "The Prince of Peace."  The Bible goes on to mention the word peace more than 400 times; sufficient references to cover each day of the year and each situation in our harried lives and then some.  Jesus did not just come to bring peace; he is our peace.

On the night Jesus was born there were many similarities to the hustle and bustle of our lives, but also one stark contrast.  The huge and weary crowds, returning to their homes for the official census, filled the roads and the inns. The shepherds were busy keeping watch over their flocks by night; the wise men were busy following the star, but in that humble stable, a new-born child lay in a manger.  It was a silent night; it was a holy; it was a peaceful night.  The Prince of Peace had come to live among humankind and his presence changed everything.  His presence caused the wise men to bring him their best gifts.  It even sent the shepherds back to their flocks, “glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen.

Many of us may be in the same situation today.  Perhaps like the shepherds and the wise men, you find yourself going about your life, worrying and fretting about all manner of things.  Maybe you are wondering what the New Year will bring to your life, your church, your marriage or your family or your nation.  Worry is a tough foe, but peace is a big deal to God that he would send us The Prince of Peace.  Christmas should remind us of the prophetic nature of his coming.  Jesus will come again (Revelations 22: 12-13) to bring us all the peace we crave; both internal and international peace, and of his kingdom the Bible says, there will be no end.

So this Christmas, as we attend to everything else, let us not forget to make room for The Prince of Peace.  The gift that he gives is internal and eternal.  It cannot be wrapped in a gift box or bought on Amazon.com.  It cannot be exchanged, re-gifted or returned.  It is that inner peace that surpasses all understanding.  It is the peace that cuts through the clutter of our modern lives and reminds us that we are loved just as we are;  It is the gift that can only be received with a genuinely grateful and desiring heart and it is the one gift that is a "must have" this Christmas season.

I don't know how many gifts you hope to receive this year, but I pray and  hope you will recognize and accept The Prince of Peace.  You don't have to give him anything back in return.  The Prince of Peace offers you his peace; so that you might be free from worry and the uncertainty of a life lived apart from him.  Will you accept him today?

Heavenly Father, giver of all peace, visit those whose lives are falling apart; visit those who are struggling with depression and loneliness; visit those who suffer from cancer and other debilitating illnesses, visit those who have lost loved ones this year; visit those who have been displaced from their homelands by war; visit those who wait anxiously for your return; visit those who long for your presence and peace; and please visit those who are ready to welcome you into their lives today.  We praise you and glorify you for what you have done in our lives and for what you will continue to do in the days ahead.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Everlasting Father

“He will be called . . . Everlasting Father”

Isaiah 9:6

I loved my father.  He was a good, kind and loving man, and an especially doting father.  As a young child, I felt safe and secure around him, like he would always be there for me.  Until one day in 1999 the phone rang and my childhood fantasy came to a screeching halt.  He was gone. Suddenly and unexpectedly, he was gone and without as much as a good-bye.  My father had died.  He was a wonderful father, but he was not an “everlasting father.”

The term “everlasting Father” literally means “the Father of Eternity” or the eternal father; or the forever father.  Through this name God describes the purpose of the messiah’s coming into the world.  He would be a father forever, one who would never leave nor forsake his children.

This passage of scripture reminds us once again during this advent season that our Father is there for us through all the twists and turns of this human life.  That no matter what we are facing in this turbulent world, he is there for us encouraging us to cast all our cares on him for he cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  Our Father is there for us not just in this life, but also in the life to come, promising eternal life to all who would believe in him (John 3:16).  His love for his children is steadfast and it is everlasting.

The singer and songwriter, Chris Tomlin, reflects on the everlasting Father’s character through his song “Good, Good Father” by Housefires singing thus:

You're a good, good father, It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are
And I'm loved by you, It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

If Christmas preparations have left you feeling "left out" and insignificant, realize that our everlasting Father’s nature is good and he is here with you.  You can depend on him to be there for you whether here on earth or beyond the grave, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Counting on his presence is not a fantasy, but a reality because God himself has said, he will be called “the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6).”

 Father, someone is hurting today as they approach Christmas without the physical presence of their earthly father, I pray that they would find comfort in you as their everlasting Father and cling to your steadfast love.  Someone else is hurting because of the failures of their earthly father, Lord bring healing to their hearts and remind them that you are the Father to the fatherless. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Mighty God

He will be called Mighty God, ....

Isaiah 9:6

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had several conversations with believers who shared that they have been experiencing intense persecution lately.  One young woman talked of feeling marginalized and silenced by colleagues at her place of work.  Another has been isolated by family members because of her faith.  Perhaps you can relate to these or other similar situations.  The truth is none of these circumstances should come as any surprise to those who trust in God and choose to practice his Word.  Speaking to his disciples in Matthew 24:9 Jesus said, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”  Again in 1 Peter 4:12-14, and 16 believers are reminded, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.…Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”  Persecution is part and parcel of the believer’s heritage in Jesus Christ.   

In these mean times it is important for us Christians to remember Isaiah’s prophesy concerning the child to be born.  He will not just be called a Wonderful Counselor, but also "Mighty God".  "Mighty God" means that this child will come as a powerful, undefeatable warrior, clothed with God’s strength and authority to conquer the kingdom of the enemy and to establish the Kingdom of God.  So no matter how weak and defeated one may feel in these mean times, Christians can gather strength by focusing on the character of this "Mighty God", who will come with the arsenal of heaven to put Satan in his place.

Christmas time reminds us to wait in expectation for Jesus’ return, and just as the people in Isaiah’s time were facing extreme darkness and looking for a political leader to free them from Roman oppression, today believers can look with anticipation for our Savior’s return because he will free his people from spiritual oppression and will dwell with them forevermore.  The writer in Hebrews 10:37 assures us he is coming, and will not delay.  I believe that we have not seen anything yet.  What we call persecution today is just the tip of the ice-berg. God is using these times to strengthen believers for what lies ahead, the “big leagues.”  Of this James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

If you are facing persecution of any kind today take heart because this word is for you.  First, remember, you are not alone in this trial.  Secondly, This Mighty God is your refuge and fortress, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).  Trust in him because he will do what he says he will do for you.

 Mighty God, in our weakness, you are strong.  Remind us again, as we contemplate the meaning of Christmas, that though you came as a little child, you came to us with all the power of heaven and conquered every spiritual battle that we have ever endured, are enduring or will ever endure.  Give us grace and strength to rejoice and be glad for the battle is already won.  Amen.

Wonderful Counselor

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

What’s in a name?  Some will argue, absolutely everything.  Names are very important to us human beings; and names are very revealing too.  Some of us name our children after those we love; others after those we admire or after those we honor.  There are believers, for instance, who will name their children after biblical characters because of certain attributes in those biblical figures.  Names reveal something unique about the bearer of the name.  Names may also reveal the parents’ hopes and aspirations for the child.  In Isaiah 9:6, God gives his son the name “Wonderful Counselor”.  This is especially significant because the Almighty God himself does the naming and the first name he assigns is “Wonderful Counselor”.

These are confusing times.  We live in a world ridden with ambiguities and contradictions, a world that has blurred lines.  Of this world Isaiah says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20).”  In times like this we need a counselor.  Not just any counselor, for I believe we have entered that time that Timothy describes thus, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear (2 Timothy 4:3)”.  In times like these, we need a wonderful counselor who is not merely concerned about political correctness but rather one that will provide clarity and direction for life regardless of the consequences.

This is the kind of counselor that Isaiah prophesied about.  A counselor that is filled with God’s wonder, one that is capable of leading humanity into all truth (John 16:13).  As we prepare to celebrate Christmas yet again we have competing counselors urging us to want more, spend more, and indulge more in order to make this season wonderful.  The Wonderful Counselor is here to remind us that the season is already wonderful, not because of the things we will get on Christmas Day but because Jesus has already given us the most wonderful gift of all, eternal life. This counselor is here to remind us that the same God who brought such a wondrous story from a humble manger, is able to bring wondrous outcomes from the humble situations of our lives.  He is able to transform us from ordinary humans into heavenly beings.

Today we can seek his counsel concerning all the confusing messages and questions of our time, and we can trust his counsel knowing that his wisdom is both “wonder-full” and infinite.  

Dear Father, your name is above every other name.  We invite your presence to lead us and guide us through the Christmas season.  Remind us of the wonder you have accorded us that we might be called, Children of the Most High God.   Give us the wisdom to be humble listeners in this noisy time of the year; and show us how to honor you with our decisions we make about Christmas. Amen.

Go Sell Everything You Have

Jesus looked at him and loved him.  “One thing you lack,” he said, “Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me.”

Mark 10:21

Christmas is almost here, and with it the impulse to buy, buy, buy.  Wherever you look, there are Black Friday deals, Cyber deals, electronic deals and all kinds of deals vying for our attention.  And then there are the strident voices on the airwaves inviting us to “Shop till you drop.”  The invitation is extended to us as the most natural conclusion to our annual Thanksgiving tradition of getting together, feasting at heavily laden food tables and being thankful for what we have.  The implication seems to be, “Be thankful, but shopping is what you are supposed to do before Christmas gets here, so everything will be perfect.” 

In Mark 10, we encounter a man, who by all standards is a man of stature and greatness in society.  He had obviously gone through life shopping to his heart’s content and seemed to have everything he ever wanted but in great humility he comes to Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?  Jesus tells him, “Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven (Mark 10:21)”.  In other words, give all your worldly possessions to the poor and then come, follow me.  But who does that?  We are all guilty of wanting more, buying more, and desiring more than we need.  The danger of our times is that the constant invitation to self-indulgence can cause us to become mindless consumers.  We can find ourselves imitating culture without any critical thought.  As Christmas draws near, I’d like to share a story I came across recently that might help refocus the way we prepare for Christmas.

There was a diamond expert who happened to be sitting on a plane next to a woman with a huge diamond on her finger.  The man eventually introduced himself to her saying, “I couldn’t help but notice your beautiful diamond.  I am an expert in precious stones.  Please tell me about that stone.  She said to him, “This is the famous Klopman diamond…one of the largest in the world, but there is a curse that comes with it.  The man asked, “What is the curse?”  “It’s Mr. Klopman,” she answered.

The true curse of any possession is its ability to steal our hearts and souls.  The rich young ruler was a good man in all respects.  He had kept the commandments since he was a boy, but he was greedy, he went away sad, because he had great wealth (Mark 10:22) and didn’t want to part with it, and this was the curse.  As you contemplate Christmas this year, what’s your curse?  You too may be a good person in all respects but does the thought of being counter cultural make you sad or uneasy?  Are you holding on too tightly to traditions and things that are a curse and therefore stand between you and eternal life?  Are you able or willing to give these up and do something different?  What will you do to ensure Christmas is as perfect as God intended?  What will you do to ensure that Jesus has his rightful place in your heart?  Remember that even now, his gaze is still on you, loving you.

The writer of the gospel of Matthew reminds us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19).”  Now, how will you respond to that impulse to buy more?

Dear Father, thank you for loving me and sending your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for me.  Thank you also for the blessed Holy Spirit who leads me and guides me into your truth.  Help me to live my life purposefully and to value what you value.  Give me the courage to be counter cultural when necessary.  This Christmas, I welcome you into my heart and my home.  Take your rightfuI place in my life and keep me at the center of your will.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

I Choose You!

Greetings! You are highly favored.  The Lord is with you.

Luke 1:28

It is a wonderful honor to be chosen to carry out a sacred task; but it can also be a troubling thing when you feel ill-equipped for the task.   Mary was troubled when the angel of the Lord appeared to her announcing that God had chosen to pull off a major miracle through her.  After all she was only a teenager with no life experience.  She wasn’t even married!  The Bible records, she was greatly troubled at the angel’s words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel reassures her with these words, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

You may not be accustomed to angels appearing before you, but you are accustomed to hearing God calling you to carry out his miracles to our world.   And perhaps like Mary, you have been afraid.  You have worried that you are not holy enough, experienced enough, mature enough and all the other one hundred excuses you’ve hidden behind in the past.  You are not alone; others have gone to the “land of excuses” before you.  Remember Moses (Exodus 4:10), and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5) and Elijah (Elijah 19:1-14) among many others?  They all felt ill-equipped for the task, but God “chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27).”  He does it every time.

He chose Abraham and Sarah despite their advanced ages (Genesis 18:10); he chose Samuel despite his youthfulness (1 Samuel 3: 1-15); he chose Hannah though she was barren (1 Samuel 1-2:11); he chose Rahab even though she was a prostitute (Joshua 2: 1-21); he chose David even though he had committed adultery (Acts 13:22); and today he chooses you no matter what you have done or not done; no matter your age, talent or experience.  He chooses you to pull off his great miracle in this age even though you are weak and flawed; inexperienced and ill-equipped.  And his word has as much power for you today, as it did when he spoke to Mary.  God’s word says, “Do not be afraid, you are highly favored.  The Lord is with you.”

May you find the strength to choose him as you give the same response that Mary gave by faith, “May it be to me as you have said (Luke 1:38).”

Holy Spirit, nothing is impossible with you.  Today, I choose you.  Work in my life with your power; equip me for the task ahead and fill me with your presence so that I can be an effective ambassador for Christ.  In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

God is Our Fortress

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:7

Wednesday, November 9, 2016, found many Americans and many other people across the world in one of these states:  Shocked, shattered, stunned, devastated, horrified, crushed, brokenhearted, saddened, defeated, depressed, fearful, angry, incredulous, speechless; excited, jubilant, triumphant, celebratory, happy, on cloud nine, pumped, thrilled, or elated. After pulling off a stunning victory against Hillary R. Clinton, Donald J. Trump was slated to become the 45th President of the United States of America. The news reverberated across the world like an earthquake bringing a multitude of reactions from various groups and certainly from you, and me. Since then, fear has gripped many minority groups across these United States and extremist groups appear to have become emboldened.  But do not be swayed by the noise of the multitudes, and do not get sucked in by what you hear on the airwaves because the God of Abraham, the God Isaac and the God of Jacob; the God we call our LORD God Almighty, sits enthroned in the heavenly places looking low upon the earth, seeing all, knowing all, unperturbed and speaking to you through his unchanging word (Deuteronomy 20:1).

Believer, it is easy for all of us to forget that it doesn’t matter who won this election or any other election, past, present or future, because God is still the one in control.  Our trust cannot be in chariots or horses, but rather in the name of the LORD our God (Psalm 20:7). It is he who establishes governing authorities and commands we submit to them (Romans 13:1). This same God who speaks from heaven is the Lord, your Savior; the one who promises to watch your going out and your coming in (Psalm 121:8); the one who says he will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5b). Trust in him, hope in him and be confident in him for he is your helper; so, do not fear; what can man do to you (Hebrews 13:6)?  Amid this deep confusion that threatens to overwhelm, he alone remains the steadfast anchor in the storm. The psalmist reminds you, “Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.  When they breathe their last, they return to the earth and all their plans die with them (Psalm 146: 3-4).  Instead put your confidence in the God who knows the future.

So, put away anger, fear, discouragement and sadness; wipe away those tears and confront your disappointment with faith.  Place your hope for your nation and for your family in God. Praise your God and Savior even now (Psalm 42:11).  Like the psalmist, praise the LORD as long as you live; sing praises to him even with your dying breath (Psalm 146: 1-2) and pray for governments (1 Timothy 2:2) for it is the will of God.

And remember this, there is a way that seems right to a man, but it ends in death (Proverbs 14:12). Beware of those who boast about the future; for no one knows what tomorrow may bring, but we know who holds tomorrow and therefore we can confidently say (Psalm 46): 

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 

   the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
    He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shield with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.  

May his peace engulf you now and forevermore, and may he come down from heaven and heal our land and our world. Amen!

Patience in the Dungeon

… but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Waiting is not easy.  For little children waiting is excruciating.  For teenagers, waiting is a minor annoyance and inconvenience.  For many adults, waiting produces impatience and anxiety.  We all want what we want as soon as possible.  Some of us want it immediately!  For the believer, waiting produces discipline and character, but no one likes to wait, and no one wants to wait in the dungeon.  The dungeon is damp and dark; it reeks of hopelessness and despair.  God however, wants us all to learn to wait; he wants us to have patience in the dungeon.  Are you in a difficult situation?  Have you prayed for release?  Has God asked you to wait?  Then be patient and do exactly that, WAIT!

In prison, Joseph learned patience (Genesis 39: 20-21).  The Lord’s presence was with him in that dungeon and God caused the prison wardens to show him kindness and favor.  Job, learned patience in the ash heap of his sickness (Job 2:9-10).  Even one, as intimate as his wife, could not persuade him to turn his back on God.  In the end, God gave him favor rewarding him with everything he had lost, and then some (Job 42: 10-11).  Abraham, learned patience in his tent in the desert.  After waiting a lifetime to become a father, God granted him his wish in the desert (Genesis18: 2-14).  Despite their advanced ages, God granted Abraham and Sarah his wife, a son.  David learned patience while he waited in the back of a cave (1Samuel 24: 1-22).  David had the opportunity to kill Saul who was pursuing him, but he did not do so.  He would not touch the Lord’s anointed (Vs. 10).  God granted him favor and a renewed relationship with Saul.  Jesus, waited patiently in a borrowed tomb.  Even though he was God and he had the power to free himself immediately, he did not do so, so that prophecy might be fulfilled and we might be reconciled to God the Father.

Friend, you don’t get to choose where you will wait.  You may have to wait in a hospital, in a dead-end job, in a court room, in a loveless marriage, in solitude, in financial limbo, in single-hood and in any other dungeon you find yourself in.  And I cannot say how your situation will turn out, but I know what will happen to you when you wait.  Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that: “…but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  No matter where you wait, God will give you the strength to soar over those things and situations that pull others under.  So be patient and wait for him.

Dear Loving God, help me to remember that every trial that comes my way has already been known to you in advance. I know that you are with me. Teach me to be patient in affliction and to remember you are always in control, no matter what. Help me by your grace and mercy to be patient and to persevere in all circumstances, yes even in this dungeon.  I love you, Father! Amen

Are You Prepared?

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Who knew that three small oranges could turn out to be so valuable?  You see, on April 15th, 1912 the Titanic sank.  Those who built it had boasted that this ship was unsinkable.  The passengers who boarded it, believed what they heard.  As the ship began to sink that fateful day, a young woman found a place on a lifeboat that was about to be lowered into the North Atlantic.  Suddenly she remembered she needed something and begged to be allowed to return to her stateroom.  She was granted three minutes, and then the lifeboat would leave without her.

She raced across the tilting deck, through the gambling room where all the money had rolled to one side.  Once inside her room, she pushed aside her diamond rings; she ignored her expensive bracelets and necklaces and reached for three small oranges.  What mattered to her thirty minutes earlier had become worthless!  Death had boarded the Titanic that fateful day, turning all values upside down.  The young lady knew that her survival on that lifeboat depended on those three oranges.

Today you and I live in one of the richest and most powerful countries on earth.  There are those who swear that this country is indestructible; perhaps as unsinkable as the Titanic.  These are the ones who trust in their own workmanship.  And for the time being, we feel lucky to live here, just like those lucky people who managed to get tickets to board the Titanic.  To a large degree, despite the waves, we are sailing along smoothly and life is relatively wonderful.  Society has given us cues for success; a good education; a high paying job; promotions and titles; a corner office; a car and a large house and so forth.  These are the things we treasure today.  But dear friend what if a Titanic-sized tragedy visited our shores?  What would you depend on then?

Writing about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul summarizes the most important thus: “Faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”  God wants us to be prepared for our descent into the lifeboat.  When our ship begins to tilt, (and may even now be tilting) we’ll need the right items in our survival bags.  When the time comes to disembark, will you be prepared or will you be laden down with all the perishable treasures of this world?  What does your life say about your values and about your readiness to disembark? 

Faith, hope and love; three small oranges are all you will need for the journey.  Choose wisely, so you are not left behind when the lifeboat leaves this sinking ship for safe harbor in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He is all you need.

Heavenly Father, you are not willing that anyone should perish.  Help me to align my values to your values.  Remind me of the things that matter to you, so that I will not be swayed by the attractions of this world.  Help me remember each day, that I am an alien in this world so I will not get comfortable with the status quo and the values of this life.  Today, I choose faith in you; hope in your resurrection and love for you and for my fellow brothers and sisters.   In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Follow Me!

Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Matthew 4:19

It is quite a bold move to ask people to follow you.  And yet, in calling the disciples to follow him, Jesus did so again and again.  In Matthew 4:18, he says to Simon and Andrew, “Come, follow me, …and I will make you fishers of men.”  In Matthew 9:9, Jesus says to the tax collector, “Follow me.”  In Luke 5:27, he calls Levi, another tax collector with these same words, “Follow me.”  Today we see many modern-day leaders who also say, “Follow me.”  But should you?  Jesus could say “Follow me,” because he had proven he understood what it means to lead. 

Jesus earned the right to say, “Follow me,” because he understood what it meant to follow God.  He had modeled the behavior first.  Philippians 2:8 says, “Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men.  He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.”  Jesus emptied himself.  Yes, he emptied himself of all the crutches of leadership that we see today, namely; ego, pride, greed, hypocrisy, politics and grandstanding, desire for status, popularity, power, and money among other things.  Jesus took on the form of a bond-servant.  He served God as a slave serves his master, becoming obedient even unto death.  He did not take credit but gave God all the glory.  He did not promote himself but promoted God’s purposes.  He did not do it for power, but rather out of obedience to God.  He did not do it for financial gain, but did it for love of humanity.  And only after modeling the way of obedience and devotion to God, did he find the boldness to say, “Follow me.”

Recently, I listened to Chuck Swindoll, a well-known theologian and Bible teacher, talk about his own call to discipleship on the radio.  Many years ago, when Jesus said to him “Follow me,” he said he had sold everything he owned, and had added the proceeds to his life savings and then decided to give it all to God’s work.  It was $10,000.00.  But then he heard the Spirit of God say, “Is that all?”  So, he dug deeper, found a few more dollars and surrendered that as well.  But he still heard God say, “Is that really all of it?”  So, he threw in his family, immediate and extended, saying, “I surrender them to you,” and still God said, “Is that all?”  Finally, Swindoll said, “Lord, take all of me, my dreams, my passions, my time, my talent, take all of me and use me as you will.”  And at this point of complete surrender God said, “Now all these things belong to me, but I give them to you to use to honor me.”

Swindoll had to die to himself; he had to surrender all his wants, needs and desires to find the abundant life he longed for.  Today, God says to you, “Will you follow me?”  Before you answer think about this; have you died to all your needs, wants and desires?  Have you given up all your connections, possessions and selfish motivations?  Have you died to self?   Have you surrendered all for his sake or are you holding on to parts of you?

Secondly, consider whether you have earned the right to say to those around you, whether at home, at the office or elsewhere, “Follow me.”  Not “Do what I say,” but, “truly and willingly follow me even as I follow Christ.”

Dear God, give me the courage to shun the popular secular notion that we can live compartmentalized lives with one foot in the word and one foot in the world without consequence.  Teach me what it means to empty myself of everything that hinders me from following you fully.  Help me to mean it, when I say, “I surrender all to you.”  Then give me the boldness to extend an invitation to others to follow me, even as I follow you.  In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Confident Effective Faith

“He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Psalm 102: 26-27

 Faith, someone has said, is taking God at his word.  It is a holy reaction to the wondrous words of God.  It is knowing and trusting God’s word and believing he will do what he says he will do.  That same faith, “comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17)”. 

Jesus had to leave the region of Tyre, and travel deep into the region of the Decapolis to meet the two men in this story; one was deaf and the other mute; both conditions present a significant communication barrier.  Jesus’ movement towards the two men, took intentionality and effort.  In response to the confident faith of the men’s friends, he removed the barriers and the two men were healed immediately.  Confident faith in God opens the gates, the opportunities and powers of heaven.  In fact, in the letter of James 5: 16, the writer says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person (the prayer of faith) has great power and produces wonderful results.”  God may not always remove the barrier “immediately” as he did in these situations, but he will provide the fullness of his presence and the strength to wait, endure or overcome any situation.

When you are facing a barrier in your life, start by exercising confident faith.  Know what God’s word says about your situation.  Jesus reminds the disciples in Matthew 17:20, “…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."  Secondly, understand that Jesus is always moving towards his people (Psalm 116:2):  and he will do whatever it takes to meet you at your point of need.  Thirdly, continue to trust him and surround yourself with those who trust him (Matthew 18:20).  Next, don’t forget to pray.  Prayer is the spiritual sword that cuts down any barrier you face.  Finally, expect his divine touch in your situation, whatever that might be (Hebrews 13:5b).  This is the season of open heaven so ask for whatever you need in his name and wait in faithful expectation.

The children of Israel faced a barrier at the Red Sea; God split the waters, bringing them safely through on dry land (Exodus 14: 21-22).  Hannah faced a barrier to motherhood; she was barren. But God opened her womb and gave her a child, whom she named Samuel (1 Samuel 1:6).  Humanity was sinking in sin, a barrier that blocked us from a relationship with God, but Jesus conquered sin and death and reconciled us to God (John 3:16).  He is the barrier-breaking God who responds to confident faith.  He heals; he restores; he renews and he reconciles.  He’s been there before and he will go there again just for you, because he does everything well.  Don’t let the enemy or anyone else tell you anything different (John 8:44b).

Loving God, you do all things well.  You are Elohim, creator of heaven and earth.  Nothing is too difficult for you.  I commit to you my situation right now, believing you are already at work in it.  Here I wait, in faithful expectation for your answer.  My faith is in you and you alone.  Amen.

Get Out of Town!

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

Wabush, a town in a remote part of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time.  But a couple years ago, a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it.  Wabush now has one road leading into it and thus only one road leading out.  If someone would travel the unpaved road six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only one way he or she could leave the town, and that is …by turning around.

Each one of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin, encumbered with the “Adamic” nature inherited through our ancestor Adam.  As in Wabush, there is only one way out of this wilderness.  One has to take the road built by none other than Jesus himself.  It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in this wilderness; it doesn’t matter what you have done; everyone must take the same road out of town.  But in order to take this road, one must first turn around.  Without this complete about face; without this change of direction called repentance, there is no way out of town.

Sadly, despite the warning signs of our times (Matthew 24:4-8;22-25), and despite God’s patience, many people choose to linger in the wilderness.  Others hang around the border (Joshua 24:15), an extremely dangerous to do.  Still others ridicule the warning, calling it a myth that only the feebleminded believe. All these responses result in loss of life (Genesis 19:26; Matthew 24:37-39).  God wants every man and woman to get out of town urgently.  There is only one way out (John 14:6), through Jesus Christ, who has already paved the way and purchased our ticket.  He did it on the cross at Calvary (John 3:16) and he did it for everyone.

Where do you find yourself today?  Are you still in the wilderness or are you lingering on the border with one foot in and one foot out?  It’s time to get out of town.  Do you know anyone that needs to get out?  Warn them.  Yes, really, warn them (Jude 1: 22-23). The Bible tells us that the end will come suddenly. “While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3).”  It happened in Noah's time and the Bible says, it will happen again, when Christ returns like a thief in the night (Revelations 16:15).

Loving Father, thank you for your mercy.  You do not want anyone to perish, but that all come to repentance.  I commit my friends and family, who I now name…to your care.  Reveal yourself to them, that they might encounter Jesus as LORD and Savior.  I commit (re-commit) myself to you fully.  Give me the courage and the opportunity to share the Good News of salvation with those I meet today.  Thank you for showing me the way out of the wilderness of sin.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.  Amen.

Rejection: Pathway to Grace

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.

I John 2: 15-17

Rejection hurts.  The dictionary lists synonyms like: refuse, spurn, dismiss, turn down and decline for the word rejection.  When you are rejected, it means you are excluded and do not belong to a group.  Whether it is little children being mean at school, teenagers being cliquish, office workers sticking with their own kind, the boss ignoring you, a wife or husband divorcing you or members of a political party spurning you, or some other kind of marginalization, rejection hurts deeply.  In addition, rejection can scar one’s psyche.  But it doesn’t have to.

Jesus prepared his disciples for rejection telling them, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”  The same is true for believers.  We must understand that rejection is part and parcel of our lot as believers in a sin-sick world that does not believe Jesus is the Son of God.  In order to navigate rejection, we must look to Jesus for direction.  He loved those who rejected him; he prayed for those who falsely accused him; he forgave those who persecuted and crucified him and he loved us though we had sinned against him.  God’s word further instructs that by responding to those who reject us in love, we will be heaping hot coals on their heads and the Lord will reward us for our obedience (Proverbs 25:22).

Have you suffered rejection?  Does the pain continue to wound your spirit?  Look to Jesus.  He was rejected even unto death.  Your situation may be excruciatingly painful, but you have the opportunity to pray for those who persecute you and to forgive those who have hurt you.  You have the opportunity to grow in love and grace as you tap into God’s supernatural power that resides in you.  What the enemy meant for evil, God will use for good (Genesis 50:20).  Jesus triumphed over his enemies, and by your obedience you will too.  And though the world may continue to hate you and what you stand for, take heart, Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).

Father, enlighten the eyes of my heart so that I may see you more clearly.  Thank you for reminding me that in this world, I will have trouble.  Give me the grace and strength, to forgive, to love and to pray for those who reject me for the sake of your holy name, Amen.

While We Were Sleeping

But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.

Matthew 13:25

News commentators often report that America is one of the most sleep deprived nations in the world, while The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR) states that up to 70 million Americans cope with sleep disorders and as a nation, we spend up to 3.6 billion on prescription sleep medication!!!   And yet, despite our sleep deprivation, the devil has effectively lulled the church into a deep spiritual slumber, one that threatens our very existence, …but God. 

As I thought about this disheartening situation, I was reminded of the parable of the sower (Luke 8: 5-15).  In this parable, a farmer went out to sow his seed.  We know that some seed fell on the path and was trampled and the birds of the air ate it up.  Some fell on rock and withered for lack of moisture.  Others fell among thorns, grew up with it but eventually were overrun and choked to death.  And still other seed fell on good soil, and yielded a crop, one hundred times more than was sown.

In this space, between Jesus Christ’s ascension and Jesus Christ’s return, the parable comes alive for believers.  God’s word sown in our hearts and lives is threatened by so many cares, temptations, philosophies, life and faith alternatives.  It is while the farmer, is away, that we find all kinds of weeds, thorns, rocks and other seed-stealers swooping in.  America, history reminds us, was founded on Christian principles and yet looking at America today, one has to wonder, what happened to us?  But it’s not just America, it is humanity in general.  Looking at the news headlines from around our world today one has to wonder, what is going on?

Spiritually speaking, humanity has fallen asleep.  We have allowed our hectic schedules, plans, programs, appointments and secular-like thinking to tire us and lull us into a kind of spiritual stupor.  We may have trouble falling physically asleep, but the accompanying exhaustion of our merciless existence has lulled us into a deep spiritual slumber.   One that denies how far we have strayed from the path Jesus mapped out for us.

The Lord says to the disciples in Matthew 26:41, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”  Paul tells the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing….”   Jesus himself modelled a life of prayer, often pulling away to be alone with God, in order to find guidance, direction and strength to do God’s bidding.  Prayer is the prescription for spiritual slumber.  Prayer is the antidote that exposes the weeds, the rocks, the thorns that choke our spiritual alertness.  But how can we pray, when we are sleepy or sleeping?  Consider your own prayer life.  How would you rate it, vibrant or lethargic?

I stumbled upon a book published by Cleon Skousen (1958).  It is titled, “The Naked Communist.”  The book articulates 45 goals for America by communist Russia.  Here are some eye-opening goals:

15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them “censorship” and a violation of free speech and free press.
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as “normal, natural, and healthy.”
27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with “social” religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a “religious crutch.”
28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of “separation of church and state.”
40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity, masturbation and easy divorce.
41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

These goals should be cause for pause.  Are you surprised that so many of them have already been achieved?   If you’re still wondering when all these things happened, or why they happened, they happened while the church was sleeping?  These goals were achieved while the church was overdosing on the spiritual "Ambien" of social religion.

But:  here is the good news:  The parable of the sower does offer hope.  Some of the seed fell on good soil, and yielded a crop one hundred times more than was sown.  Translation:  But God... there is always a remnant and therein lies our hope!  No matter what the state of the church might be today, Jesus has decreed, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18b).

Be encouraged, don’t give up.  God’s ways are higher than our ways and what he has decreed will come to pass.  In these days before the farmer returns for the harvest, ask God to help you stay alert, and to recognize the enemy’s lies in our generation.  Continue to read the word that it may be lamp for your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119: 105).  Then practice the word so the world will see your good deeds and glorify God in heaven (Matthew 5:16).  Besides, it is impossible to be spiritually lethargic, when your lamp is burning bright.

Dear Father in heaven, keep our minds and our hearts focused on you and on your Word, that we might gain wisdom for these times.  We pray for believers around the world; awaken us, Oh God, that we might be faithful ambassadors of your Word to a restless and seeking generation.  And may this Word that you have sown in us, continue to grow and yield a harvest of souls for your Kingdom.  Let it come alive in our homes, in our churches, in our work spaces, and in our relationships.  Stir us out of our lethargy and give us a faith that is relevant for these times.  Expose the enemy by the light and power of your truth.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

When God Seems Silent

I cry to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up but you merely look at me.

Job 30:20

There are times in our lives when God is active and present and we enjoy telling friends and family of the many wonderful things he has done for us.  However, there are also those times, when God seems silent; those times when our world caves in and we feel abandoned.  In the silence, it is easy to be afraid; to feel threatened and to feel abandoned.  Yet none of these things are true of the God we serve. 

Every child of God goes through different seasons of their faith, and the wilderness of faith is one of those seasons.  Elijah experienced it when Jezebel threatened his life (1 Kings 19:10); The children of Israel experienced this dry season while journeying through the desert (Exodus 14:11); The psalms are filled with laments and moments of desperation (38, 51, 86, 102), and even Jesus experienced such a season in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:40).  It should therefore not surprise us when we go through such a season in our own lives.  And yet time and time again many of us cry out, “God, where have you gone?”  This might be the season you are experiencing in your own life.

Job found himself in the wilderness, having lost absolutely everything when he cried out, “I cry to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up but you merely look at me (Job 30:20).”  Where was God?  Where was God when Job needed him most.  Where was God when Jesus needed him?  Where is God when you need him?  Where is God indeed when our nation needs him?  Andrew Peterson captures the desperation we feel in this silence in his song titled, “The Silence of God”:

It’s enough to drive a man crazy, it’ll break a man’s faith

It’s enough to make him wonder, if he’s ever been sane

When he’s bleating for comfort from thy staff and thy rod

And the Heaven’s only answer is the silence of God

When God seems silent, trust his word.  He says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).”  When God seems silent trust his character.  He is Elohim the eternal one who was in the beginning, and will always be (Genesis 1:1).  When God seems silent, trust his creation.  It is evidence of his presence and his power.  When God seems silent, wait patiently for him (Psalm 27:14; 37:7).   The Psalmist reminds us, “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry (Psalm 40:1).” God eventually came through for Elijah, for Job, for the children of Israel, for his Son Jesus Christ and for many others throughout his word.  And no matter how long it takes, God is coming through for you too.

Loving Father, I am here in your presence waiting patiently.  Speak Lord, that my heart might not faint. Amen.

Who Are You?

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.”

Psalm 139: 14

We cannot genuinely know who we are, until we let go of all the worldly roles and labels that define us.  “Who am I?”  is a critical question that you’ve probably wrestled with at one time or another.  Are we who people say we are or are we who people say we are not.   What if they change their minds?  What happens to our sense of self?  Have the challenges and trials of life ever forced you to confront the question of who you are?  Are you currently struggling with a situation that’s forcing you to examine your identity in Christ?

For many of us, there are the usual flippant answers, someone’s daughter, son, sister, brother, mother, father, friend or some other role we play in the world.  These are essential roles, but beneath that surface, when it counts the most, who are you really?  Our celebrity dominated culture forces us to confront this question daily.  Many other systems of our world suggest that unless you are wealthy, beautiful, talented, successful or hold some fancy title, you are of little significance in this world.  And yet sooner or later life has a way of forcing us to confront this question of identity so that we might discover who we truly are. 

Perhaps you are going through this test at home, at work or in some other circumstance.  The answer is hard to come by until we can figure out whose we are.  When we grasp whose we are, we will then know who we are.  I thought I knew who I was in Christ until I faced deep humiliation recently when someone slighted me in a public gathering.  In the heat of the moment, I found myself grasping at my title, my role, my education and my family heritage, and all the other familiar crutches many of us turn to when our faith is tested, but these all fell flat until I turned to the word of God.  There I was reminded that whenever I am tested, I will find my answers in no one and nothing else, other than in my identity in God.  The psalmist who knows a thing or two about testing declares in Psalm 139:14 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.”  Whatever the world says you are, positive or negative, do not believe it.  Believe only what God’s word says about you.

In the good days and in the bad days, you too are fearfully and wonderfully made.  Whether you are an executive or a stay at home parent; in a salaried occupation, self-employed or unemployed; married, divorced or single; young, middle-aged or old; black, white, yellow or brown, thin or fat, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.  And as the psalmist says, God’s works are wonderful (filled with wonder) at all times, in all circumstances and in all places.  God has created us, male and female in his image (Genesis 1:27) and no title or status in this earthly life can compete with that.

You are a miracle, uniquely designed for his purposes (Ephesians 2:10).  You are his child loved, provided for and protected (Matthew 7:11).  You are his friend, called to dwell in knowledge of him, in his presence and his favor (John 15:15).  You are his disciple, called to walk in love, in obedience and in power (John 13:35).  You are an heir to the kingdom of heaven, called to share in his sufferings and in his glory (Romans 8:17).  You are everything God says you are, no more and no less.

Gracious and loving God, I thank you for who I am in you.  Remind me each day, and in every circumstance I face, that my worth is only in you.  Empty me of myself and increase your Spirit in me.  Give me the power to see me as you see me.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

What's the Point?

"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher.  "Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless."

Ecclesiastes 1: 2

A few weeks ago, I was taking an evening walk at a park near my home when something caught my eye.  I saw a man playing fetch with his dog.  I would have thought nothing of it, except when I came back an hour later, the man and the dog were still in the same area playing the same game of fetch.  Over and over again he threw the ball, and over and over again the dog fetched it.  I exited the park wondering “What’s the point?  (Hold it dog lovers, I am getting there.)”  No doubt they would be there the following day, week, month and year playing this game of fetch all over again.  It all seemed so futile

Life can sometimes feel like a game of fetch.  You go to work every day bring back a paycheck, pay the bills and then you repeat the same process every day, every week, every year.  Sometimes the rhythm can feel like a game of fetch.  Perhaps you’ve found yourself wondering, “What’s the point?”  Maybe you’ve found yourself asking this same question about the other circumstances you face.  What’s the point of staying in a marriage where you feel alone?  What’s the point of staying in a job that aggravates your spirit and makes you feel like a worthless hired hand?  What’s the point of trying to patch up a feud with family members who don’t seem to care twopence about you?  What’s the point of reaching out to neighbors who want to be left alone?  What’s the point of living any longer when you are in unbearable pain and life seems so hopeless?  “What’s the point?” is a question common to humanity.

Solomon appears to ask this same question in Ecclesiastes even though he seemed to have it all.  This chasing after pleasure, wealth, power and even wisdom, Solomon says, is a mere chasing after the wind.  And there’s none better than Solomon to remind us of this truth.  After all, he had it all; 700 wives and 500 concubines.  In addition, Solomon had so much money that it is said, he would instruct his money counters to throw the small bills away.  And yet despite all these worldly possessions, Solomon declares it is all meaningless; mere vanity.  Even Solomon wrestles with the question, “What’s the point?”

That game of fetch seems pointless and repetitive until you consider the intimate relationship that exists between the dog and its owner.  The dog fetches the ball to please its owner.  Likewise, our lives can only make sense when we live in intimate relationship to God and stand in awe of him (Ecclesiastes 5:1).  Our lives can only have meaning when we are crucified with him, and the sole aim of our lives is to please him.  Like Solomon, you will discover that neither pleasure, wealth, power of wisdom will bring satisfaction.  Only an intimate relationship with God will.  Do not delay, make him the point of your existence today.

Father Almighty, you are the Alpha and the Omega; the first and the last.  Without you I am nothing, so reign in me today and every day.  Amen.