Walking With Jesus

Stand Up to Your Bullies!

“In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea.” (1 Chronicles 20:6-7 NLT)

When I started seventh grade it was right after we’d moved, so I was attending a new school and I literally didn’t know a single student. What was worse, I was the proverbial “98-pound weakling.” I was 5’ 10” tall, the same height as I am now, but I didn’t yet weigh 100 pounds. It must have been obvious to the school bully, because he lost no time cornering me with his “goons” and making my life miserable.

After a couple of weeks of his hounding and humiliating tactics, I’d had enough. In gym class, when I had my shorts and t-shirt on, and looking my awesome best, he got right up in my face. Using words I’d never heard, he outlined exactly what he was going to do to me, where he was going to hit me, and how hard.

With uncharacteristic calm I looked him square in his eyes and said to him: “Okay, but you’d better know what you’re doing!” He smiled and sent his right fist straight to my face, but stopping just short, he smiled, retracted his fist, sticking his hand out to me to shake. I’d just made my first friend!

Our bullies come in all sizes and shapes. Sometimes they’re our two-year-old – defiant and unruly, but other times they’re the voices in our head that belittle and degrade us. Like the giant Philistine, they tower over us causing us to withdraw in fear. Fear is one of Satan’s most effective “giants.” Coupled with discouragement, fear can cripple the best of us.

Regardless of how long we’ve served the Lord or walked in the strength of His Holy Spirit, we all have moments of weakness and doubt. We don’t necessarily doubt the Lord, but we doubt He’ll provide what we need in any given moment. And ironically, it’s often right on the heels of a spiritual victory.

That great service we left just beaming with strength and courage to face the new week. Or right after that retreat we attended that was exactly what we needed, leaving us certain that discouragement, doubt, and fear were all in our rearview mirror. Then someone stops too quickly in front of us, spilling piping hot coffee all over our new outfit. Or we have a huge disagreement with our spouse on the way out the door to give our testimony at a group meeting.

Our foe is rarely subtle and never attacks when it’s convenient or when we’re feeling prepared for battle. We’re susceptible in different ways, but all of us are nonetheless vulnerable to attack. So, what can we do when those inevitable skirmishes with our spiritual enemy arise?

When the Philistine defied the God of Israel and belittled His army, just like David when facing his giant, Jonathan, David’s nephew, killed the giant that taunted him. Just as I learned in Junior High, bullies will often backoff when confronted with someone who won’t backdown.

Satan is a defeated foe and while we may sometimes doubt this, he is no match for you and Jesus. Just as Jesus was the mirror image of His Father in heaven, His plan for us is that we would so reflect His likeness that Satan has no choice but to flee when we face him in the might of Christ.

James 4:7 reminds us: “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.” Stand strong in the face of opposition knowing you are never standing alone!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Our New Ordinary

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NLT)

If there’s anything special about me it’s that I’m not special. I’ve sometimes perfectly fit the description that I heard when I was selling cars – “a rock with lips!” Have you ever felt that way? It used to bother me because I would see every guy I knew, even, maybe especially, my friends, were bigger, stronger, smarter, better looking, and better athletes. And every girl to whom I was attracted was “out of my league.” I wasn’t distinctive, just very ordinary – then I met Jesus!

The Lord didn’t immediately turn me into a superhero, but He did immediately begin to change me from the inside out. He forgave, cleansed, healed, and redirected my life, beginning the transformation of my mind and character that He’s still working on as I write. In short, He gave me a “new ordinary.”

The person I was before I met Jesus is becoming a whole new species of being, one that’s never existed before (2 Corinthians 5:17). Am I perfect? Only as God sees me through Christ, but I’m working with God’s Spirit to become more like Jesus every day. So, what’s changed? Why do I have a new ordinary?

Christine Caine made a great observation when she wrote: “Life is too short, the world is too big, and God’s love is too great to live ordinary.” To believe you can come to Christ and stay the same is to believe a lie. So, what does this new life look like?

Categorically, there are many areas of change in our lives that should illustrate and illuminate Jesus’ life being lived in and through us. I’ve seen people who when they came to the Lord were very plain and almost expressionless, but with God’s Spirit indwelling them, they became radiant and literally beamed with new life.

Habits change, the way we spend our time and money must change, giving time for the development of new godly habits like prayer and reading/studying God’s Word. But also finding a fellowship of God’s people who will walk with us and help steer us in right directions.

There’s a never ending season of learning and maturing that takes time and effort to discover, not only about God, but about ourselves. For example, how has God gifted you? You may be a teacher or salesperson, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your spiritual gifts will be teaching or evangelism. They may be, but you may have gifts of compassion or helps; leadership, giving, or dozens of other spiritual gifts that send you in a direction you never would have considered before you came to Jesus.

The Lord called me to pastoral ministry early in my walk with Him. I didn’t have a clue what that meant, but the Lord put people in my life who did know, and they mentored and guided me. That’s one of the many values of being part of a vibrant and growing fellowship of believers. Something else I learned that had great value to me – in my quest to find my place in God’s plan for me, I learned a lot from my mistakes and failures.

If you’re not sure where God wants you, try many things, not necessarily at the same time, but don’t be afraid to work in the nursery, teach teens, go on missions trips, work with the elderly, serve on boards, volunteer in different areas of service within and outside the church. Test your proverbial wings and don’t be afraid to say “yes” when asked to do something that may frighten you. But never, never, ever settle for being ordinary! Stand out because you’re set apart to be a sacred tool in your Master’s Hands. And don’t be shy in sharing Him with others.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Where’s Your Security?

“I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.” (2 Peter 3:17 NLT)

Even in the early days of the Christian Faith there were those who twisted the truth of Scripture to seek to prove Jesus wasn’t who He claimed to be or wasn’t going to keep the promises He made to His followers. Foundationally, Jesus is the “Rock of our salvation!” His life, His love, His sacrifice, His victory over death and the grave, His ascension and promise to one day return so we’ll never be separated from Him in all eternity.

Clearly, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of liberation from sin, guilt, and shame, not because we earned or deserve it, but by faith in His completed work on the Cross. Anytime we put faith plus anything else, it ceases to be a grace gift of love and seeks to become something for which we’ve worked or in some distorted way, what we think we are owed or deserve.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

There are days I struggle to comprehend why anyone, especially God, would love and do anything for me. How could my sins be cancelled and treated by God as if they never happened? It doesn’t make sense, at least not to a mortal mind. But isn’t that the beauty of forgiveness? Jesus paid a debt He didn’t owe, to free sinners like me and you from a debt we could never pay, even if we had all eternity.

Because foundationally our trust is in a love-based Gospel, we’re sometimes tempted to believe we can help our cause by trying to be good enough to earn or deserve God’s love. Matt Smethurst reminds us: “There is no security in a love that’s been earned.” So, does that negate in any way God’s desire for us to live holy and acceptable lives for Him?

No, of course not. Holiness is how we give visibility to His life being lived in and through us. We have no worth, no merit, no goodness apart from Him. To take credit for what He is doing in and on our behalf is blasphemous. To find in our own goodness or in the “good” life that we’re living any sense of security is to shift to us what rightfully belongs only to the Lord.

There is no security, in this life or the next, apart from Jesus. He is the center and must be the focal point of our hope for the future. Had He not paid the penalty for our sin and opened an entryway to the Father, we would remain hopelessly lost and spiritually undone.

The Bible doesn’t warn us of things that have no bearing on our lives as believers. There will always be those whom the enemy will use to distract us or seek to redirect our efforts to live faithfully and fruitfully for our Savior. That’s why we need to be rooted in Scripture and grounded in godly relationships with others who love Jesus and His Word.

It’s amazing to me how quickly we can be led to believe or at least consider, something that is contrary to Scripture, yet that can be so destructive to our walk with Jesus. There are things that Jesus taught that don’t make sense to a carnal mind and heart but are a lifeline for those of us who love and serve Him.

Erroneous teachings abound in our day and wolves in sheep’s clothing are hungry to feed you lies from the depths of hell. Be on your guard and find strength in the security of your life in Christ rooted deeply in the truths of Scripture, which bears all the evidence we’ll ever need of who Truth really is.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Is the Resurrection So Important?

“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying.’” (John 11:25 NLT)

The resurrection of Jesus is God’s stamp of approval, not only on Jesus’ life on earth, but on the sacrifice of His life to pay sin’s penalty. Every person who would one day bow in recognition that what Jesus did on the cross He did for them, would be forgiven and be given eternal life in God’s only Son.

When Jesus uttered from the cross “It is finished!” Satan’s grip on man’s soul was released and every one who by faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross would be freed from sin’s eternal death sentence. Our sin debt was paid in full by Christ on the cross. All we have to do is receive it as our own.

There is no better news than that! That’s the glorious declaration of the Good News of salvation in Christ alone, by faith alone. Michael Ramsay said: “The Gospel without the Resurrection is not merely a Gospel without its final chapter; it is not a gospel at all.” There’s no good in the news that Jesus died unless three days later He walks out of His tomb alive.

Death isn’t the final victory – resurrection from the dead is! How excited could you get about following Jesus on earth if there was no promise of an eternity with Him after death? How many people would get excited about a message of salvation that said: “Come to Jesus and live for Him in this life. You’re still going to die and go into nothingness, but it’ll make you feel good while you’re here.”

For me it would make more sense if I was told: “Eat all the chocolate cake, ice cream, pie, candy – everything that’s not good for you, because you’re going to die anyway and nothing we do here on earth is going to change that.”

Think of all Jesus’ resurrection now means to us. Mark Jones said: “There has never been a greater humiliation of a person than that of Jesus. No one has ever descended so low, because no one has ever come from so high.” If someone doesn’t realize who Jesus is, they can’t understand the value of His death and resurrection. That’s why Jesus is the subject!

To some salvation from sin has no appeal because they believe this earth is all there is. And who can blame them? That’s why the resurrection is so vital to understand and share. Because of who Jesus is – the King of kings and Lord of lords; the Author of creation; the sinless, blameless, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; our only hope of eternal life – without Him there is literally no hope!

Yes, I know people want proof. “How do you know that all that Jesus business is real? Prove to me that it’s true!” That can be frustrating, but to me it’s a no brainer. More than 500 people saw Jesus after His resurrection. The claims of the early Christians were easily verifiable. But think of the implication of 10 of the remaining 11 original disciples dying rather than denying Jesus rose from the dead.

Would you die for something you knew was a lie? The better question for me is: “Prove to me that it was a lie!” If I live my life loving my family and others in the name of Jesus, only to find it wasn’t true, I’ve lost nothing. But if Jesus is who He claimed to be and did what He claimed to do and I don’t embrace it while I still can, I’ve lost everything. It’s not worth the risk in my mind.

Besides, Jesus’ Father assures me every day that He’s real and I’ll be able to spend all eternity enjoying being with Him in the special place He’s preparing for me . . . and you, if you’re trusting in His resurrection!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Pain of An Empty House

“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. That will be the experience of this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45 NLT)

Something is filling your life! It’s either God’s Spirit or something else.

You may be overloaded by near frantic busyness, but not be fruitful; addicted to tv, the internet or your phone, but not filled with the Spirit of God; your time and life may be filled to the brim with commitments that aren’t producing Godly character; maxed out by your pursuit of happiness, filling your life with trinkets, but which leave no time or desire to seek the Treasure. But why?

Why are we so preoccupied by the need to live such a crowded life? Perhaps we’re terrified by emptiness. In the verses above “empty” can mean “vacant” or “unoccupied,” but it can also mean “to cease from labor, to loiter” or “to be idle” or “to give oneself to a thing.”

Each day as I’m walking my pups, I pray for each person in each house, asking the Lord to release His Spirit in unprecedented ways to open the hearts and minds of my lost neighbors. I try as often as I can to engage any neighbor who is outside. One such neighbor is often sitting at his workbench in his garage. I asked him if he was working on a project, to which he replied: “No, I’m just killing time.”

The “house” of his life is empty. He put in his time working, so now he’s just waiting to die. I invited him to breakfast or lunch and he got a funny look on his face and said: “Not if you want to talk about religion.” I assured him I had no use for religion, that I mainly wanted to listen to him, to hear his story. He told me he’d think about it.

What’s your story? Are you filled with zeal for the Kingdom of God? Or are you “kicking the tires” of “religion?” Satan thrives on people whose lives are empty, pointless, idle. He doesn’t even care if you’re not living like the devil, as long as you’re not living like Jesus.

It’s ironic that emptiness can result in inactivity – “just killing time” or hyperactivity devoted to a “thing.” What’s my point? You don’t have to do anything to end up in hell. It’s your default destination when you’re not purposely and wholeheartedly following Jesus. Or, you’re pursuing some “thing” that occupies your mind and time, but not your heart.

Think of hobbies that people love – golfing, boating, camping, hiking, running, surfing, canning, eating – the list is literally endless – but to what end? NOTHING! There is no purposeful end other than occupying a person’s time. So, what if you become an expert in whatever it is you’re devoting your life to? If it’s not Jesus, it’s valueless and your eternal destination doesn’t change.

And please don’t misunderstand. The irony is, you can be involved in any of those things, using them for a tool to reach others for Jesus and it’s not idleness, it’s ministry! It’s not necessarily what you do that occupies your emptiness, it’s why you do it.

Why are you alive? What fills your life? You see, the pain of an empty “house” sometimes isn’t realized until we stand before God when this life is ended. Accounting for idleness isn’t going to set well with a Father who gave His only Son so that your meaningless life could have purpose.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Courage to Fail?

“But no one had the courage to speak favorably about Him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.” (John 7:13 NLT)

Of what do you think when you ponder the term “courage?” As I considered the idea of courage the first “picture” that came to mind was of Jesus on the Mount of Olives shortly before His betrayal. There, kneeling alone, He asked His Father: “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.”

Courage, as I’m sure you’ve heard, isn’t the absence of fear, but moving forward with what lies ahead despite the fear. Sit with Jesus as He prays. Luke records in 22:44: “He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.”

It’s safe to say that you or I have never prayed like that. We’ve never feared that greatly, and neither have we come close to going through what Jesus went through on our behalf. And to what end? To the end that the penalty of all the sins of all who would one day proudly declare allegiance to His holy Name would be cleansed and forgiven.

Was it worth it? He surely believed it was. But why? Because He knew there would be those brave souls across the sands of time who would willingly give all they possessed, including their lives, to see His fame declared and His sacrifice celebrated.

If you study the Sacred Text, you’ll find that many we today deem the “heroes” of our Faith were cowards who did everything they could to weasel their way out of following the Lord’s directives. And, interestingly, many for the same reason we are so hesitant to do what He asks of us. Fear!

Even Jesus was terrified of what lay before Him. And unlike any of us, He was God, which meant He knew in vivid color, almost as if He’d watched this whole process being played out on a giant screen for Him to view the gory details. Every fist that struck Him; every lash of the lead-tipped whip; every drop of spit on His holy face; every ounce of the weight of His cross that drove Him to the ground; every sound of the hammer striking the nails that pierced His sacred hands; and the horrifying efforts to grab a breath once the cross crashed into the hole that would signal the spot of His final words before He died.

Do you think He ever wondered if it was all going to be in vain? That the price He paid would ultimately not be enough to change the course of history? Do you think He feared He might fail in His efforts to change the hearts of men and women, boys, and girls?

David Prince wrote: “Courage to fail always precedes the courage to succeed.” There’s a sense in which courage is built in the fear of failure. How so? If there’s no chance of failure, why do you need courage? Success isn’t simply the accomplishment of a purpose, it’s the triumph of courage regardless of the outcome.

Jesus’ sacrifice has “failed” to change millions, likely billions of lives, yet, His triumphant courage has been rewarded countless times in the hearts and minds, not only of those who profess His wonderful name, but in and through those who overcome fear to share His name with others. When you’re tempted to be afraid when speaking with someone about Jesus, look at the Cross. Behold the courage of the One who literally gave everything to prepare a place in heaven for that one with whom you’re speaking.

Please don’t let anything stop you from opening your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit as He shares the heart of the One who died in that person’s place, to give them a future and a hope. Be courageous for Him, even in the face of possible failure! You cannot fail when you are faithful!

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Words Aren’t Enough

“Then David asked the Lord, ‘Should I chase after this band of raiders? Will I catch them?’ And the Lord told him, ‘Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!’” (1 Samuel 30:8 NLT)

1 Samuel 30 records a story of the Amalekites raiding Ziklag, where David and his men lived, and stealing everything they had, including their wives and children. When David and his men learned what had happened, they wept bitterly, but their weeping soon turned to anger that ultimately focused on David. It got to the point they were talking of stoning him, but to his credit, David immediately reached out to the Lord and sought His guidance. Nothing David said would appease his men until David got a word from the Lord to go after the men who stole their families.

The battles that rage in our lives may not be as dramatic as this story of David, but there are lessons to be learned, nonetheless. As a younger man I lived with near constant anger. It seemed to simmer just beneath the surface of my life. I could erupt at a second’s notice, often without provocation.

Derelict house, desolate location by Zorba the Geek is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

What I learned was that depression often manifests itself in anger, largely focused inward, but outwardly expressed through mistreatment of others. It’s as if we verbalize how we feel about ourselves but can only handle hearing it when expressed in reference to others. I’ve pushed a lot of people away, most of whom I dearly loved and truly desired in my life.

In the scenario above from David’s life, no amount of talking would have appeased his men, they needed to DO something about what they were feeling. They needed to channel the anger and frustration and grief they were feeling into concrete action that would bring resolution to their problem – they needed to at least make every effort to get their wives and families safely back to them.

That’s why it was so critical that David had the good sense and spiritual maturity to seek God first. Too often in the heat of our “moments,” the last thing on our mind is a conversation with God, but it’s the most vital piece in finding a suitable resolution. I implore you as God’s child to bathe your life in prayer and never allow thoughts of Him to drift far from the surface of your heart.

Yes, of course, there is a time and place for words, but when your heart is breaking or there’s such an urgency to find an answer to a critical issue, all we sometimes hear is “blah, blah, blah, blah, blah!” One thing I’ve learned and continue to learn about God is He will answer! In my darkest moments when I had no heart or desire to move forward, He’s ALWAYS met me there.

He’s closer than the air you breathe and cares so deeply about you and your concerns that He’s promised NEVER to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). There’s never a millisecond you’re not on His holy mind. It may seem counterintuitive to believe, but there are times God desires your company without your words.

Sometimes in the midst of our crisis, the most soothing “word” we need to hear, is the silence of our Savior as He envelopes us with Himself. Being in the arms of the One you love more than life itself, brings insight and understanding and healing. It’s in those critical moments you realize that words just aren’t enough to give you what only His closeness can.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Loss of Meaning

“’Everything is meaningless,’ says the Teacher, ‘completely meaningless!’” (Ecclesiastes 1:2 NLT)

Solomon, purported to have been the wisest man who ever lived besides Jesus, was essentially a spoiled son of king David who delved into every conceivable avenue of life to find meaning, but found none. He concluded in Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.”

John Stonestreet of the Colson Center wrote: “We are in a culture-wide crisis of meaning. More than 1 in 3 American teenagers, for example, say they feel ‘persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness,’ an increase of 40% since just 2009. Our dominant philosophies tell us that each person is responsible for creating his or her own meaning out of an otherwise meaningless life. In essence, philosophy classes around the world are taking a page out of wikiHow’s playbook… and it’s not working. Because we are more than a series of self-edits. As the intentional handiwork of a Creator, we have a foundation to discover the meaning our culture has lost.”

How would you define “meaning?” Have you discovered meaning in your life? To me meaning and value are inextricably interwoven. To have one is to have the other, and they’re both found in a positive and fruitful walk with Jesus. I believe that’s why America and much of our world is drowning in an ocean of meaninglessness.

It starts small, or so we think. We skip our devotional time; then a small group meeting; then a worship service. It’s a few days at first, then a month, until we can’t remember the last time we sensed God’s presence. What’s happening? We’re losing the anchor of our soul, the meaning of our existence, the purpose of our being.

Having meaning gives us value as a person, a sense of self-worth, a sense of purpose or validation for our taking up space on the planet. Whether we realize it or not, Jesus is the One who gives us all of those things.

Spotted lanternflies free vines at Waltz by U.S. Department of Agriculture is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0

Jesus said to His disciples and, by extension, to us: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.” There are those who will scoff at these words as “religious jargon,” but to me they’re words of life. I know Jesus’ words are true because I understand that He is Truth incarnate. He’s God in human form and, as such, is incapable of speaking anything but that which is true.

We now have generations of people, not only in America, but across the world who haven’t found meaning for their lives because they’re looking in all the wrong places. Solomon wasn’t only smart, he was rich. He was also a king, which meant he had access to anything and everything money could buy. Yet, at the conclusion of his rampage of wildness, he concluded the only place to find meaning, purpose, and wisdom is in submission to the authority and purpose of Jesus.

Most people who are lost today, thus whose lives have no meaning, didn’t lose anything – you can’t lose what you never had. And yes, of course, there are those who swear they find meaning in their work, whether that’s medicine, sports, law enforcement, social work, or some other “serving” vocation, and I don’t question that that’s true. But to me, meaning is something you can’t outlive. It’s something that gives you purpose, validation, meaning, and value not only in this life, but the next. And the only One who can accomplish that in anyone’s life is Jesus. If you’re missing Him, you’re missing everything,

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Pain Isn’t Good

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4 NLT)

Pain comes in many “packages” and is useful for many reasons, not the least of which is to enable us to see Jesus more clearly. When we or someone we love is injured, ill, or dies, the pain we feel is healthy and can be good, in the sense that it enables us to process their loss and/or ours. In his book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis writes: “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

You’ve likely heard the expression, “No Pain. No gain!” that’s used largely in the context of physical training when we’re pushing ourselves beyond the boundaries of our physical comfort to experience the pain of progress. But the metaphor can lose its value if we’re causing ourselves or someone else emotional or relational pain for the purpose of their or our “growth.”

For example, when we’re children it’s not unusual for our family or friends to say to us – “grow up!” – in the context of our childish behavior. And on some levels, while it may seem to encourage us in that direction, it can also seem cruel and devoid of empathy.

It’s the same principle when we “push” someone who isn’t feeling well to eat or exercise or ________. Our intentions may be good, but we sometimes overstep our bounds when we interject our desires onto them. I’ve battled depression most of my adult life and when I’m “down” and don’t even understand why myself, the last thing I need is someone who doesn’t know me or “thinks” they have a right to speak into my life to tell me, “Just get over yourself!” It’s not helpful.

I love it when my wife will just take me in her arms and ask me: “Honey, is there anything I can do for you?” And I can say to her: “Just hold me.” It’s as if I can draw strength from her love for me that gives me strength to push through my pain. That’s what I believe the Lord wants us to do for each other.

John Stonestreet wrote in a recent BreakPoint article: “Pain is never the point of God’s plans, any more than it is the purpose of physical exercise. Never pushing ourselves to the point that it hurts means never improving our health. On the other hand, seeking pain is more likely to do harm than to aid our well-being.” In some ways pain is the “reward” for the love we give to others. We’re not nearly as likely to be hurt by someone we don’t care about.

Stonestreet continues: “In and of itself, pain is not good, but it is meaningful. Pain indicates that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. Without pain, we’d never know. In the same way, breaking bad habits of the past requires pushing beyond our comfort levels, through the pain, and onward on the path to full restoration.”

We tend to believe that pain is never good, failing to realize it can be the catalyst for much needed change, not only physically, but spiritually. Until we feel the pain of remorse or regret for hurting God or others by our sinful words or actions, we may not find the path of healing and help we so desperately need.

The worst pain I can imagine is being in hell and having to live with the full knowledge that in this life on earth I was duped by the evil one to believe that God’s ways weren’t best. That I could have been forgiven and given new life, but I rejected them because I believed a lie from the depths of hell. That’s useless pain that has no point but torment and anguish of heart, mind, and soul.

Please, I’m begging you, if you find yourself continually pushing aside the things of God in favor of the “thrills” of sin, face the “pain” of transformation before it’s eternally too late. If you’re not walking with Jesus, but not sure what to do about it, click the link below and find out right now what it means to be forgiven and walking with Jesus in newness of life. https://hutchcraft.com/the-bridge-to-god

Blessings, Ed

Is Jesus Coming Soon?

“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” (James 5:7-9 NLT)

Why is waiting so hard? Does it depend on that for which you wait? If I’m having a kidney stone attack and I’m on my way to the ER, the ride and wait seem endless. Or, if I’m waiting to be reunited with my beautiful bride when I’m away. Different “pain,” but similar anticipation.

There are those who seem to think that because Jesus hasn’t come in two thousand years, maybe He’s not coming at all. Does it seem strange to you that we, in the 21^st century are using the same words James and others used in the 1^st century? It depends on how you understand it.

On some levels Jesus’ “coming” has already occurred in the person of His Holy Spirit. Notice James uses the word “near – for the coming of the Lord is near.” But, yes, of course, He is coming again to gather those who have pledged their allegiance to Him by faith. He said in John 14:3: “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.”

Our longing for His coming, while it seems to intensify the more deeply we love Him, the closer we sense and learn to depend upon His ever-presence. Yet, we’re also comforted in His “absence” by His Holy Spirit. It’s exciting to think about what it will be like to actually see Him, touch Him, and share all eternity with Him. But at this point, since we’ve not experienced His presence in that way, we really can’t comprehend what we’re missing.

It’s a little bit like waiting to get your driver’s license. It’s fun to ride in the car; to take trips; to be able to go places with your friends, but it’s quite a different dynamic when you’re the one behind the wheel. We can think about it, but it’s not the same as being the driver.

Similarly, based on the day to day things we do with the Lord, we sense His presence and long for His still, small voice to speak to us, but the older we get and the closer we get to leaving this earth, the more our longing to be with Him grows, as well it should. But rather than fret because He hasn’t come yet, we should rejoice, because every second He delays is a second we can encourage someone who doesn’t know Him to open their heart to Him.

Perhaps we miss the reality of His coming everyday for those who pass from this life to the next. It’s not simply a matter of Jesus’ second coming for us as believers, it’s a matter of His coming every second for those who may not be prepared to meet Him. Worldwide roughly 4 people every second go into eternity, the majority having never come to a saving knowledge of Jesus.

Yes, I can’t wait for Him to come in all His glory, but in the meantime, I want to be about my Father’s business of leading as many as I possibly can to a saving knowledge of my soon coming King! How about you?

Blessings, Ed 😊