Seeing Heaven

W-O-R-D
Whisper of God - "At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne." (Revelation 4:2)

Observation - John says it happened "at once." In the preceding verse he says that it was "after these things." How often do we want to be caught up "in the Spirit" like John? We want to be mature and spiritual, and if you will, look into heaven itself. Catching a glimpse of heaven; now that's beyond my wildest imagination.

Yet for all of our hyped up spirituality, do we take the time to notice what preceeded John's "at once?" Chapters 2 and 3 are the letters to the Seven Churches. The dominate theme of these letters are the words of Jesus, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." If there is just one word Jesus wants these churches to hear it is to REPENT. That's a word many Christians don't want to hear. Yet if I want to see heaven, then I must first humble myself and hear the loving rebuke of my Savior.

Real Life - I need to be aware of the times I "turn left" when the Spirit has not told me to go that way, and hear His call to repent and get back on the right path.

Day's Prayer - Lord forgive me for being hard of hearing and going off in my own direction. Help me to have an ear to hear, and then to see what You would reveal by Your Spirit as I have responded in obedience to Your voice."

The Contender

I thought of "Rocky" this morning training to fight Apollo Creed. When that first fight was over both fighters could hardly stand up. Yes, Rock does eventually go on to win the championship, but even then he is beat up pretty good. Why? Boxers have to fight in his own strength and take all the punches.

Jude encourages us to be contenders too. Out of necessity he urges us, "to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (vs.3).

Jude does not pull any punches. He tells us plainly this is not just another sparing match. We are contenders, like Rocky, underdogs engaged in the fight of our lives! Our adversary the devil is strong, so strong that even the archangel Michael did not go into the ring against him alone but relied completely upon the Lord.

Who will we have in our corner? Will we rely upon our own strength and wisdom, or will we have the God standing with us? Jude encourages us to not go it alone. He says if we want to be a real contender, then constantly be "building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God" (vs. 20-21).

Here's the best part. If we follow Jude's advice and have The Lord in our corner we can't lose! Jesus will "keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy" (vs. 24)!

The fight is on, but Jesus is in my corner taking me from contender to champion without a scratch!

Thanksgiving from A to Z

I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 69:30 NIV

Thanksgiving is not just a day, but a lifestyle impacting what I do and say. An old song encourages us to count our blessings, to name them one by one. Induldge me as I experss thanks today from A to Z.

A - Abba Father, Daddy God who loves me for me.
B - My Bride Susie who holds the key to my heart.
C - Children, Chrysta, Gracie, Greg, Pearl and Mike; forever and always my Ebie fab five.
D - Denny who lovingly holds Chrysta's hand.
E - Ebie heritage; the faith of my dad is living in me and my children.
F - Fresh starts knowing that I'm forgiven.
G - Going Crazy and enjoying being with those who love me most.
H - Half-centuries; with 50 on the horizon the best is yet to come!
I - Imagination dreaming the dream I dream about you.
J - Jesus; enough said.
K - Kimble - ah yes, gran-dogs hold the hope of grandbabies!
L - Love which always multiplies and never divides.
M - Musical melodies filling our house and hearts.
N - Nothing, having nothing to fear because God is with us.
O - Ovens with the fresh warm smell of good things to share.
P - Pictures that hold yesterday's smiles.
Q - Quiet times holding Susie's hand.
R - Riches that no one and nothing can take from me.
S - Stuff-Mart and other Veggie reminders that happiness cannot be bought at a store.
T - Tattoos thoughtfully marking an unshakable faith.
U - Unity that remains our unbroken promise.
V - Voices and laughter to fill our home.
W - Whispers of love.
X - X-ray vision to see each other's loving hearts.
Y - Your love that grows deeper.
Z - Zillions the inumerable reasons I have to give thanks today and always.

Happily Ever After

     Where has the past year gone? The days have flown by and we are are three days from Thanksgiving and 37 short days until the start of a new year.  2012 will begin all too quickly.
     As I sit around the dinner table to give thanks with family and fiends, I will have much to be thankful for. The past year has had more than its share of challenges, but God has been faithful. He has supplied for every need. He has provided peace in the midst of life's storms, and strength to carry on.
     As I think about the coming of a new year one thing is certain. We cannot end this year by saying, "And they all lived happily ever after." Real life is not like a fairy tale. Challenges and obstacles occur in all of our lives . . . sometimes daily. Unexpected tragedy comes suddenly. Happiness can be turned to sorrow as quickly as turning the corner.
     Yes our day to day ordinary lives are sometimes anything but ordinary. That's why I'm glad to know our God is extra-ordinary. Solomon prayed, "There is no God like you in the skies above or on the earth below" (1 Kings 8:23 MsgB). God is more than able to provide exactly what is needed as we face the uncertain realities of life. And we have this promise:

• We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:28-30 NIV)

     Everything in life may not be good or "happily ever after," but no matter what may come tomorrow God is still working His good purpose in our lives. I'm glad He loves me enough to use the difficulties of life to shape me in the image of His Son, Jesus. 
     And as His children we can look forward to the day when our "big brother Jesus" will come to take us to be with Him forever. That's a happily ever after worth waiting for!

Friend Pain

The old saying goes “No pain, no gain.” I’m in my second week of working out at the gym. Over the last few days I have been using muscles that once sat comfortably on the couch. Today as I have gone about my normal work routine it is with a new friend: Pain.

Please don’t misunderstand; I’m not looking for pity. If I wanted people to feel sorry for me then I would not have bothered going to the gym this morning. Most of us run from pain and seek comfort at any cost. I have chosen to embrace pain as a welcomed visitor, a new friend who will help me become a better me.

What is true for my physical body is also true for the real me. Will my spirit choose to satisfy the yearning of my flesh to eat drink and be happy at any cost, or will I obey God’s plan and purpose for me as His child to live each day just like Jesus?

• We do not enjoy being disciplined. It is painful . . . You have become weak, so make yourselves strong again.

Hebrews 12:11-12 NCV

Let’s be honest: we all like being “spiritual couch potatoes.” We make the mistake of thinking we can live on autopilot, but our spiritual life is just going through the motions. Spiritually our arms become feeble and our knees weak. Obedience to God’s word becomes the sin of complacency and compromise.

God awakens us from our spiritual slumber through the pain of discipline. God wants us to enjoy a “harvest of righteousness and peace,”* but it cannot be found through our pursuit of happiness. Lasting joy is found only as we embrace the pain making it our friend. Running from the pain won’t make it go away. Instead the pain will only intensify showing us our weakness - our sin.

I’m glad God does not want to leave me in my sin. I pray that the Lord will not let me sleep comfortably on the couch. Instead may I hear His call to “Wake up! Strengthen what remains”* As I wake up in the morning to make my way back to the gym may it be a reminder to also let pain be my friend spiritually. With God’s help I can live each day just like Jesus.

*Hebrews 12:11; Revelation 3:2 NIV

Maturity

It has taken me a lifetime to get into the shape I’m in. Round is a shape, and getting rounder is so easy; in fact it is effortless. My wife Susie and I knew it was time for each of us to take some action to improve our shape (literally it was time to start moving and stop being a couch potato). Thus we have joined a local heath club to start getting some exercise.  

But was it really necessary to get a family membership? My teenage kids hardly need to workout; I mean you could not describe their lifetime shape as “round.” After just two days of going to the gym I’m glad I did.

The first day at the gym I went by myself. I think I could keep myself motivated for awhile, but I know it wouldn’t be long until I’d give up on the whole thing. I’m sure that Susie would keep me motivated even longer, but let’s be honest: neither of us have ever been the “workout type.” Today I went to the gym with my daughter. My attitude was completely different. Not only did I enjoy her company, but watching her run and her encouraging words inspired me to do more than I had done the day before. 

It occurred to me that’s how it is supposed to be.

Until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other . . . fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ. 

Ephesians 4:13 MsgB

The goal of our faith in Christ is maturity, to live like Jesus. One thing I’ve learned, both in day to day life and as a believer, getting older does not necessarily make you mature. Jesus call us to “make disciples” not converts (see Matthew 28:19-20). Years have passed since I first accepted Christ as my savior, but maturity did not come by the passing of time. Maturity came by being a “doer of the work;” and with “perseverance” (see James 1:2-4 NIV, 25 KJV). Ultimately, however, I did not learn these things on my own. I grew with the help of the mature.

When it comes to fitness my teenage kids are more mature than I am. My kids will keep me going when I want to quit my morning workouts. Likewise you and I are called to encourage others, and especially new believers, to not give up but keep pressing on to maturity.

A New Beginning

Believe it or not a new year has begun. No matter how quickly you or others have felt like the last few months have flown by, the fact remains that we all have to get used to writing “2011” on our checks (it could be March before I get that right). Yet with a new year we all look forward to a new beginning.

What is it about the change of the calendar from December to January that gives us the sense of having a fresh start? Perhaps it is the thought that our mistakes and failures of the previous year really are in the past. We can leave the past and move into the coming days with a clean slate. The possibilities of the new year are before us. Seize the day!

Perhaps that’s why each new year so many of us make resolutions. We want to lose weight, get in better shape, or stop smoking. Relationally we plan to be a better husband or wife, a better friend. As Christians we resolve to pray more, to read through the Bible. Yet whatever our resolutions many are broken and abandon before Valentines Day.

I have some goals and desires that I would like to accomplish in the 365 days we call 2011, and with God’s help I will look back at the coming year, not with regret or amazement at how quickly time flies. Instead I intend to be thankful for what God has helped me accomplish.

• Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 NIV

Ultimately each of my goals for the new year boil down to this one thing. The more I purpose to keep God first in my life, the more I will see my desires being fulfilled. Not that God will simply give me everything I want. Better than that, God will fill my heart with His desires. God wants to transform me in to the person He knows I can be. Losing weight and exercising more is part of taking care of the Holy Spirit’s temple. That’s why I’ve joined a health club and got up early this morning when I would have liked another hour of sleep.

You can call these new year resolutions if you want. I choose to see each day as a new beginning in which God fills my heart with desire, not for a new year, but for this moment to live and breath and be the person He is making me to be.

The End

The last day of the year and I find myself standing beside an open casket. For the hundred or so family and friends of "Uncle Rich"* attending his funeral service was the last place they thought that they would spend the day on New Year's Eve. Just a few days before "Uncle Rich" sat around the table playing Apples to Apples. He was bright and witty; laughter filled the air. The next day he died suddenly of a massive stroke. No prologed illness, no warning signs. At 84 he was full of life one day and the next his life suddenly came to the end.

New Year's Eve marks the end of a year with the celebration of the new. When you think about it, the timing of our New Year is random at best. The seasons mark off the passing of one year and the coming of a new, but our New Year's Eve is situated between the winter and spring solstices. Personally, it makes more scense to mark a new year with the spring solstice as life renews itself (but the coming of spring in the north marks falls arrival in the southern hemisphere - hardly a new beginning).

Nevertheless New Year's Eve and the dawn of a New Year mark our calendar each year. "Uncle Rich" like you and me have no such date circled on a calendar to plan for "The End;" it comes whether we are ready or not.

• It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

"The End" is a day set for each of us by God. And when that day comes we will each be judged by God. "Uncle Rich" was read to stand before the Lord. His faith in Jesus and life of generosity made him rich toward God. Imagine "Uncle Rich celebrated his Savior's birth and when the end came he was literally born into heaven.

And so this New Year's Eve celebration takes on a special meaning. As we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of a new, I can also celbrate our faith in Christ. Death is not the end. For all who are ready for that day death is only the beginning.

*"Uncle Rich" was not his real name.

Fight the Good Fight

Over the last few weeks I’ve enjoyed watching the story of the fictional boxer Rocky Balboa. In “Rocky 3” Rocky is the heavy weight champion sitting on top of the world, that is until Clubber Lang knocks him down. Rocky struggles with not only the death of his manager Mickey, but the thought that he was only a paper champion. Filled with self-doubt Rocky said, “Nothing is real if you don’t believe in who you are.”

As Rocky trained for the rematch against Clubber, Apollo Creed told him what he needed was “the eye of the tiger.” Rocky had to rediscover not only the focus, but the hunger and drive to be the champ. Unfortunately Rocky was haunted by his past causing him to be half-hearted in his training. Apollo asked, “Rock, Come on! What’s the matter with you?”

“Tomorrow. Let’s do it tomorrow,” Rocky replies.

Creed screams back, “There is no tomorrow! THERE IS NO TOMORROW! THERE IS NO TOMORROW!”

As believers we to sometime lose our edge and like Rocky just go through the motions. In times like these we find it easy to compromise and give into temptation. In the days in which we live it’s easy for us to withdraw finding comfort and satisfaction in the things money can buy rather than trusting God.

• But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 NLT

The day is coming when for each of us, “There is no tomorrow!” When that day comes will we be fighting the good fight of faith or will we be lukewarm and indifferent like Rocky?

Whether you are haunted by your past or have simply become complacent today is the day of salvation. Purpose to live with your eye on the prize. None of us are promised tomorrow. Seize the moment and pursue Jesus again with first love passion.

Like Rocky strengthen your arms. With one love God wholeheartedly; with the other love others as much as you love yourself. Then on that day Jesus will raise your hand in victory saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“Wise Guys” In Training

“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” is the famous reply that originally appeared on the editorial page of the September 21, 1897 of The Sun newspaper in New York. Children around the world wait in anticipation of Santa’s arrival each Christmas with his bag full of presents. I can still picture both the joy (and sometimes the terror) of children sitting on Santa’s lap at the mall. Christmastime is a great time for kids.

We’ve made Christmas fun for our kids too. But at our house Christmas was not all about Santa. Don’t misunderstand. Our kids have gotten more than their fair share of presents. Susie and I enjoy making the magic happen on Christmas Eve. Even after all the passing years there is nothing better than watching the amazement and thrill on each of the kids faces - now teenagers and adults themselves.

I hope that Christmas morning at your house is full of the same excitement, joy and love that we have at ours. At our house it is not just the presents or even Santa that makes Christmas special. This might come as a surprise, but it’s the “Wise Guys” that help to make Christmastime so special at our house.

Who are these “Wise Guys?” Like Santa, one of the most legendary, the “Wise Guys” give gifts each year at Christmas time to remind us what’s most important at Christmas: Jesus is the Gift of Christmas.

What makes makes the “Wise Guy” difference? We all know that Santa does not work alone; he has a workshop full of elves making toys and preparing for Christmas Eve. With Santa all kids have to do is wait for Christmas morning to open all their gifts. Not so with the “Wise Guys.” At our house we have “Wise Guy Apprentices.” As the kids have grown up they got to be involved in the magic of Christmas. Whether its helping to pick out a gift or wrapping presents they are involved in not just receiving but giving. We don’t just have the suspense of what we hope to get for Christmas, but together we have the anticipation of keeping the secret and giving to each other. That’s what makes Christmas morning special. Jesus said it best:

• “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Acts 20:35 NIV

Wise Guys

If I’m not careful some might think that I’m anti-Santa. Let the record clearly show that I believe in Santa. Not the mythical character who lives at the North Pole surrounded by elves and reindeer. I believe in Santa one of the most legendary of all “wise guys.”

By now you’re wondering, “Who are these wise guys and what do they have to do with Santa?” Around our house we know Santa Clause as Kris Kringle or St. Nicolas who gave gifts to those in need especially at Christmas time. Like Santa, wise guys today continue the tradition of gift giving each year at Christmas.

Why do wise guys give gifts at Christmas? You might think it began with the first wise guys better know by many as the Magi or Wise Men who traveled from the east with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the new born King of the Jews. Matthew includes the story of these Gentiles (outsiders from a Jewish perspective) but who played such a big part in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. God used their gifts to provide for Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus’ escape to Egypt from King Herod’s murderous threat (see Matthew 2).

At Christmas no manger scene is complete without these “three kings” presenting their gifts to the newborn baby Jesus. I hope this does not spoil your Christmas but Matthew is careful to point out that these Magi did not find a newborn baby Jesus in a stable but instead “they entered the house and saw the child with his mother.” King Herod believe the “baby Jesus” could be as much as two years old. Why is this little detail so important? It shows the wisdom of God - “the Ultimate Wise Guy.”

• "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

“Wise Guys” like Santa don’t give to remember the Magi and their gifts. Wise guys give to remember the greatest of all gifts - God’s Son, Jesus. “God loved the world so much He gave. . .” (John 3:16 NLT). And who would have thought? God includes outsiders like the Magi and “wise guys” like you and me to be a part of His story of love and forgiveness. So give like a wise guy. Make each present a reminder ofJesus, the gift of Christmas.

Santa -vs- Jesus

I ran across this little letter to Santa:

Dear Santa, let me explain! See what happened was, well see it went like this, uh, one day I was, uh, dang, I'm getting coal huh?

It got me to thinking. We all know that Santa is making a list; he's determined to find out who has been naughty and who has been nice. As a parent it makes for a great motivator to get the kids to do their chores around the house . . . err that is until they outgrow Santa. As little kids we all wanted to be on Santa's nice list.

But as the years pass we begin to pile up some things that are not so nice. Yes I confess; Santa knows I've been naughty (much more than twice). It's not just the weather but my heat that's cold as ice. Will the good things I do be enough to suffice? When placed on Santa's scale my good deeds must be no more than a few grains of rice.

Okay, Dr. Seuss I'm not, but you get the picture. What good must we do to at least balance the scales of our naughtiness? None of us want to be written off Santa's nice list. And therein is the problem. With Santa we must earn the gifts put in our stocking or under our tree. And if we're not good enough then all we may find is that dirty lump of coal.

But Jesus is different by far. He does not require us to earn His favor.

• For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

Salvation is God's work from start to finish. We don't have to earn His forgiveness . . . rather we can't earn it. It's a gift for all who are simply willing to receive it.

"Dear Jesus, let me explain . . . "

"Don't explain it, just tell me."

"Well what happened was . . . God I've really blown it - again. Forgive me."

"Look to the tree. Remember my final words, 'It is finished.' I forgive you."

BANG! AND THERE IT WAS

One basic question has troubled the minds of those who look closely at the night sky for thousands of years. Does the universe have an edge somewhere out there or does it go on forever and ever? This question created a paradox for the ancient Greek philosophers. If the universe was finite what would happen if you reached your hand out past its edge? Where would your hand go?

In the early 1800s astronomer Heinrich Olbers argued that the universe had to be finite. If it were infinite then at some point a star would shine throughout the night sky. The dark empty space between stars meant the universe had to have limits.

Isaac Newton’s discovery of gravity pulling on every object in the universe created another paradox in a finite universe. If the universe were in fact finite in size (regardless of how big it actually is), then the forces of gravity should cause it all to collapse into itself. But the universe had not, and so scientists were left with more questions than answers.

Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity ran into the same problem. All of his equations showed that the universe should either be expanding or collapsing. Einstein believed the universe was static and unchanging. This he later said was his “greatest blunder.”

In 1929 astronomer Edwin Hubble made a discovery that led to scientific answers for these unanswered questions. Hubble discovered that the universe was expanding. An expanding universe solved Newton’s and Einstein’s problems But it also pointed to something else.

An expanding universe also pointed to a beginning. The universe was not eternal as some scientist believed. The expansion of the universe could be traced back to a time when everything was all together in one place. Thus the big bang theory, which explained the origins of the universe, was developed.

This may surprise you, but I believe in the big bang.

• 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth . . . 3 And God said, "Let there be . . .
  Gen 1:1-3 NIV

God said, “Let there be,” and BANG! There it was. The eternal God created the universe we live in by His spoken word. Bang! What do you think?

HOW WILL YOU DIE?

Here is a simple fact of life. Each of us has an appointment with death. No one can escape it because everyone eventually dies.

We all have an important decision to make before the day we die. You see we all get to choose how we will die.

Perhaps you are thinking that the way we die is out of our control. I mean who would want to choose to die of lung cancer and struggle to breathe? Who would choose to die through a tragic accident? If I get to choose the way I die then I want to avoid the hospital all together. For me I just want to go to sleep and not wake up. No suffering. No pain. When it is time for my life to be over then just let it end. That’s the way we would all want to die right?

Well you are right none of us can choose the way we die—that is the manner or means of our death. But we can all choose how we die—that is the eternal condition of our soul. You see when we think about death this way, then there are only two ways to die. We choose whether we will die in our sins, or forgiven and free from our sins.

• For unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.
  John 8:24 NLT

Jesus made some bold claims that upset many of the Jews. He claimed God as His Father. He further said that those who did not recognize Him did not know God because if they had really known God then they would know that He was who He claimed to be. Then Jesus told them that the time was coming when He would leave, but they would be unable to find Him because they would die in their sins. Their only hope of finding Him, and in turn knowing God, would be to believe that He is God’s Son, the savior of the world.

I find what happened next very interesting.

• Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.
  John 8:30 NIV

John does not record that Jesus performed any miracles on this particular day. Jesus just simple spoke the truth—God’s Word. Faith comes by the hearing the word of God. Jesus pointed to the final moments that each one listening to Him must one day face. What would happen when they died? Those who rejected Him would die in their sins. Ah but those who made the choice to believe in Jesus would be set free from their sins. So what do you think? How do you want to die?

SIBLING RIVALRIES

As the oldest of four siblings, I’ve had some first hand experience with the rivalries of growing up in the same home. As the father of five, I’ve also witnessed these brother and sisterly competitions. I know both how trivial these rivalries can be, and also the pain that they can cause. For some the commandment to “love thy neighbor” is easy—unless the “neighbor” lives under the same roof.

Jesus had his own share of sibling rivalries to deal with. The bible does not tell us a lot about Jesus and his siblings. One can only speculate as to what it must have been like to grow up in Mary and Joseph’s home. How much did these parents share with their children about the miraculous birth of their older brother? Did they ever talk about the visit of shepherds or the magi? Did Jesus’ siblings know how his life was threatened as a child, of their father’s dreams and the flight into Egypt?

As Jesus grew up we know that He became aware of His divine nature. His understanding of the scriptures marveled those at the temple as Jesus stayed behind to be about “His Father’s business.” Did Jesus’ family ever talk together about this visit to Jerusalem? Or did His siblings tease Jesus for trying to be a big shot? Was Jesus despised as Joseph was with his coat of many colors? What other family memories might they have shared growing up with Jesus?

While much remains a mystery, what we do know underscores the reality that even Jesus had to deal with sibling rivalries. As Jesus began His public ministry, teaching about the kingdom of God and performing miracles, those closest to Him were baffled by what they saw and heard. Could the brother they had grown up with really be the Messiah?

• For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
  John 7:5 NIV

If I were Jesus, I think that I would have turned these brothers into bugs or struck them with lightning. Of all people they should know better. They grew up with Jesus! How could they doubt Jesus, even challenge Him?

Sometimes we find ourselves facing the ridicule and rejection of our families for our faith in Christ. Parents can teach their children the truths of scripture and be involved in the ministries of a local church, yet their children choose not to believe. Let’s find hope in the life of Jesus and His siblings. While they were slow to believe, after the resurrection they too put their faith in Jesus. God will continue to work patiently in the lives of our family members to bring them to salvation. What do you think?

WORK TO BE DONE

Imagine you go to work today and tell your boss, “Hey I’ve got a great idea how I can do my job better.” You explain your idea to the boss, but then he shakes his head and tells you that what you have suggested has been tried before and is not acceptable. You are to do your job as you have been trained. Now if you are like me you may have heard what your boss said, but not really listened. You return to your work and decide that you can do the work better your way. After all, what does your boss know anyway sitting up there in his office? You are the one down where all the work is done. Isn’t getting the job done what is really important?

I can imagine several possible scenarios of how things might end up at work when you and I decide to do the job our way and ignore our boss’ instructions. We might be satisfied with our efforts; the work is easier our way. Over time we might even save the company some money by cutting some corners. Until . . . well you can fill in the blanks. The end of the story can’t be good. All of our work was unacceptable.

• 28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
  29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
  John 6:28-29 NIV

It sounds too easy doesn’t it? The work that pleases God is to believe in Jesus. In a word, ours is a work of faith. Is it any wonder that without faith it is impossible to please God? (See Hebrews 11:6)

We are saved by grace, through the work of faith and not good works. Yet how often do we try to earn our salvation? We strive to satisfy God through the things we do rather than with simple childlike faith. In the same way an acorn holds within it a mighty forest, so too our faith holds all the works that are acceptable to God. (See Ephesians 2:8-10)

Faith acknowledges God and depends upon Him. The man who trusts in his good works seeks salvation independently of God. Only through the work of faith do we submit to God and the work Christ has done for us. Therefore the work of faith gives honor and glory to Jesus as it is only through Him that we are saved. This is God’s way, not man’s. Let’s commit to doing the work that God requires—a work of faith. What do you think?

UNDEATH

Please forgive this crude illustration right from the start, but it illustrates the point. My computer was dying, so I killed it. Ah but then I brought it back from the dead and restored it. I had a picture of the kind of life I wanted it to live (computer geeks would call this the recovery partition and a full back up). Needless to say after hours of work yesterday my computer is alive and well today. Who would have thought that I have the power of undeath in my hands?

Actually God would. Ponder with me.

• "But you haven't seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses.
  John 5:20-21 MsgB

Jesus had miraculously healed a cripple on the Sabbath, for which the religious leaders were giving Him a hard time. Such miracles were only the beginning. Like the Father, Jesus would soon bring life to the dead too. Now this meant more than just the resuscitation of life to a corpse like Jesus would do with Lazarus in John 11. God is not God of the dead but the living! (See Mark 12:18-27) Like the Father Jesus had come to bring life to the spirit and soul of a man—to give eternal life.

You and I have received His miracle of life through faith in Christ. God now wants to use us as His hands of life to touch those we know that they too might also have life in His Name. Life always multiplies. The Father raises the dead. Jesus does the same. Now the power of undeath is in our hands. The apostle Paul puts it this way.

• 15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
  2 Corinthians 2:15- 16 NLT

Apart from Christ we are dead and smell like the grave. But we have been saturated with His life. Our hands have been washed and have the smell of undeath.

Some may resist our touch—it offends them. But like my computer Christ has given us a picture of what their lives can become. We’ve been given the ministry of recovery and if we stick at it long enough even the deadest of sinners can be made new through the hands of undeath (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-20). What do you think?

OUTCASTS

I want to believe that I’m not prejudice. People are people regardless of their race, nationality, economic level, or anything else. Yet if we are all honest with ourselves we notice people who are different from ourselves. We must choose to break out of our comfort zone and welcome such people into our circle of friends lest we begin to build walls that would separate us from such individuals just because they are different. Unless we are building relational bridges, we are adding to a wall of prejudice.

Prejudice is not anything new. It has been around a long, long time.

• Now he had to go through Samaria.
  John 4:4 NIV

The orthodox Jew of Jesus’ day would avoid Samaria because of their deep seeded hatred for these half-breeds—part Jew and part Gentile. The division was so great that the Samaritans established their own place of worship at Mount Gerizim which only added to the hostilities between the two groups.

Jesus was on His way from Judea in the south to Galilee in the north. Samaria was right in the middle of the two. Three routes were possible for this journey. Most Jews would chose to either travel west going up along the Mediterranean coast, or to travel east making their way up along the Jordan River. Jesus chose the third path—straight north through Samaria.

Jesus had to go this way. He was on a divine time schedule. The Father had arranged for Jesus to meet a woman at Jacob’s well. As a result of this encounter this woman and many others within the village would put their faith in Jesus. Jesus resisted the Jewish prejudice and built a bridge for these people to make a connection with God.

Sometimes we might feel like one of these Samaritans. We believe that we are an outcast, unwanted. We try to might even make our way to God, but we are always reminded that we are not good enough. Our hands are dirty. We’ve been to the wrong places and hung out with the wrong people. And so we go through the routine of life, burying our hurts. The devil has us trapped right where he wants us—alone in our Samaria.

Jesus won’t listen to Satan’s lies that saying that you and I are outcasts. Jesus knows we are sinners. He knows every time we have failed. He saw us each time we tried to make our way to God through our human efforts. But Jesus also knows where we live, and He has to make His way to our front door. Jesus does not see us as outcasts but loves us just the way we are. What do you think?

HERE COMES THE BRIDE

When Susie calls my cell phone the ringer happily chimes the tune to the bridal march. I’ll answer the phone with a smile saying, “Hi my bride.” Though the years have piled up since our wedding day, one thing remains true. Susie is not just another bride among many. She is my bride.

Some wanted to stir up a jealous rivalry between John the Baptist and Jesus. John wouldn’t let that happen. He knew his place was to go before Jesus just like a best man stands beside the groom. The bride was not John’s but belonged to Jesus.

• The bride belongs to the bridegroom.
  John 3:29 NIV

Jesus is the bridegroom of His Church—that you and me who have put our faith in Him (and not only us, but all who do so—past, present and future). Think about the implications of what this means that Jesus is our bridegroom.

1. Jesus, our bridegroom, did not want to remain single. His greatest desire is to be united with us His bride! Jesus has chosen us to be His very own (see John 15:19).
2. Jesus has His Father’s blessing for the bride that He has chosen. Jesus “came from the Father” to do the Father’s will (John 1:14; see also John 6:34, 38; 14:31).
3. Christ has fixed His affections on us. We are not deserving of His love for we are all sinners.
4. Our bridegroom purified us from our sin. We are better off because we are His bride. All our righteousness is “like filthy rags” but Jesus has cleansed us by His blood and clothed us in His righteousness (Isaiah 64:6; see also Hebrews 9:14, 22; Isaiah 61:10).
5. Our bridegroom has wooed us from the enticements of sin and death. Jesus has given us eternal life and made us co-heirs together with Him.
6. Jesus has given us His name. Not only does this show that we belong to Him, but with His name comes authority. We will receive whatever we ask for in His name (see John 15:16; 16:23, 24).
7. The bridegroom waits patiently for the one He loves. Jesus warns us if our love is misguided and shows us the consequences of being united to this world. He stands patiently at our heart’s door knocking (see Revelation 3:14-22).

Here comes the bride—that’s you and me. Jesus is our bridegroom. What do you think?

SEEING IS NOT BELIEVING

Being skeptical is part of our human nature. We question things we don’t understand. We may be easily awed, but we wonder about the things we have seen.

The illusionist has his own special way of pulling the wool over our eyes. The hand really is quicker than the eye. Just how do they pull a rabbit out of a hat, make a dove disappear and then reappear, or any number of other tricks?

We’ve all learned to be even more skeptical. We’ve seen enough of TV and movie magic to know that our vision can be easily fooled. A walk in front of a green screen can become anything from a walk on the beach, to a walk on the moon. In the digital age nothing is impossible.

Jesus did the impossible. He opened the eyes of the blind so that they could see. The lame walked, lepers were cleansed, the deaf could hear, nothing was impossible for Jesus.

• 23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.
  John 2:23-24 NIV

John doesn’t tell us exactly what miracles Jesus performed while in Jerusalem at this first Passover, but he does tell us how people responded. Many believed in his name. Jesus however did not “believe” or entrust Himself to those who believed (the Greek uses the same word in verse 23 and 24).

The same miracles had different effects upon people. Some believed while others rejected Christ. For instance Nicodemus, a Pharisee, comes to Jesus believing that He was sent by God while many other Pharisees rejected Jesus. Why? I guess that even with Jesus, seeing is not believing.

Jesus is full of God’s grace from which we receive one blessing after another (John 1:16). In some cases these are nothing short of miracles just like Jesus preformed in Jerusalem. However, Jesus came with more than grace. Jesus also brought truth (John 1:17).

We’re drawn to His grace; we may even say that we believe in Jesus because of His grace. But Jesus doesn’t stop with grace. Jesus speaks truth. God’s word exposes the truth of who we are. That’s why Jesus didn’t entrust Himself to those who believed in His name. Their faith was incomplete for they had not yet accepted the truth. Truth brings conviction which calls for a response. We will either confess our sins agreeing with God’s truth about our lives to receive His forgiveness, or we will harden our hearts and reject Christ—both His truth and His grace. What do you think?