Walking With Jesus

Hallmark Christmas or Saving Private Ryan?

“The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He calls his magicians to look for omens. They cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They inspect the livers of animal sacrifices.” (Ezekiel 21:21 NLT)

We tend to see our life from one of two distinct vantage points: We should always be happy, light-hearted, and positive. Or we see life as a battlefield where there are clearly “winners” and “losers.” How do you view your life? More to the point, how should we as Jesus followers view our lives?

Lisa Lakey wrote in a Family Life devotional: “I love a good romance. I’m more than happy to curl up with a blanket and a bucket of popcorn and waste an entire day watching chick flicks. Throw in a snowy day, a Christmas mix-up, and a happy ending? You had me at Hallmark. My husband, not so much. If nothing’s being blown up, shot down, or wrecked (apparently emotions don’t count here), he’s out. That’s a pretty good picture of who we are. I entered marriage with a Hallmark Christmas mentality. I wanted to experience love and laughter with a cute guy (nailed that part!) and experience my happily ever after. Sure, we’d have a few arguments here and there that would threaten to pull us apart, but we’d always find our way back to each other. We were ‘meant to be.’”

How do you envision Jesus as He walked this earth? Always happy, cheery, upbeat, positive? Or was He saddened by the deluge of sin that permeated the world He created, the world to which He’d chosen to visit for a very specific purpose? Why do we so often feel so insistent that it has to be one way or the other?

On some levels it seems we must prefer the Old Testament or the New. The verse above from Ezekiel typifies so many verses in the Old Testament that seem to paint a picture of constant strategizing on the part of kings and military leaders bent on conquering their world, or, at least, defending themselves from those who were seeking to conquer them. Yet, even in the New Testament, we see the same principles being applied on a spiritual level.

Paul urges us in Ephesians 6:10-11: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” In this season of my life, I tend to be a strategist, constantly planning, hoping, praying to win one more “battle.” Either battling to keep the enemy at bay in my own life or battling in prayer to make headway in leading someone to the Lord.

How is it for you? Are you always looking for the Hallmark “happy ending?” Or are you content when the “bombs” of life miss your house? Can it ever actually be that clear cut? Jesus said in John 16:33: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

The reality is life on planet earth is hard. Sometimes it’s frightening, sad, lonely, anger-inducing, and just plain mean. But there are times when we can celebrate the victories of love, kindness, gentleness, generosity, and hope. I’m not naïve enough to believe there aren’t some people’s lives where much of their life is pure, unadulterated hell. But for most of us, we have the privilege of having joyful seasons to offset the torments and tragedies of loss and heartache.

I believe the truth is, life to a large degree is what we choose to make it, especially as a Jesus follower. If Paul and Silas can pray and sing in jail after having the flesh ripped from their backs with a Roman whip, I can deal “courageously” when someone takes my favorite parking spot.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Evil We Face

And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13 NLT)

What is your greatest temptation? A lustful heart and mind were issues for me for years, but in this season of my life my greatest temptation is to dishonor the Lord by not recognizing His hand on every detail of my life. When completing any project, whether writing an article for this blog or changing a light bulb, I thank the Lord for enabling me to have the knowledge to do whatever it is, but also for the resources to make it possible – i.e. a computer on which to write, post; or money to buy the bulb, etc.

Perhaps you think that’s a bit extreme, but in my mind, it helps me keep my focus on the Lord, remembering that apart from Him I can do nothing (John 15:5). “Yeh,” you may be thinking, “but isn’t that taking that verse a little too literally?” Perhaps, but where do you draw the line? Every thought leads to something else – another thought, an action, a reaction – which leads to another and another.

Think of the worst sin you’ve ever committed. Think of the evil it represented and the vile repercussions of that one sin. Think of the people you love who were most affected. Think of the ongoing implications on your effectiveness as a child of God. Like the proverbial ripples in the water from a single stone.

One of the tragedies of modern Christianity, especially in America, is we’re asking the wrong questions. We’re asking, “How far is too far?” Or, as John Piper wrote: “People who are content with the avoidance ethic generally ask the wrong question about behavior. They ask, What’s wrong with it? What’s wrong with this movie? Or this music? Or this fame? Or these companions? Or this way of relaxing? Or this investment? Or this restaurant? Or shopping at this store? What’s wrong with going to the cabin every weekend? Or having a cabin? This kind of question will rarely yield a lifestyle that commends Christ as all-satisfying and makes people glad in God. It simply results in a list of don’ts. It feeds the avoidance ethic.”

The most terrifying evil doesn’t exist “out there.” It’s not the pedophiles and sex traffickers that keep me awake at night; it’s not the rapists, murderers, abortionists, or crooked politicians. Emerson wrote: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” Of course, that can point to the wonderful things of which we’re capable, the inventions, ideas, resources we can pour into making our world a better place to live.

But what frightens and begs my dependence upon the Lord is the evil that lurks, of which I may not even be aware. Do you realize what you’re capable of in your darkest moments? Anything! The greatest potential for evil may be masked by our religiosity, but without Jesus and the power of His Holy Spirit guiding and protecting us from the evil one, we can’t even imagine what we’re capable of doing or being.

Why is this even important for us to consider? Because we have the tendency to coast, to rest on our laurels, to become satisfied with what we’ve done, been, or have become. We begin to believe the lie of Satan that we’re “a good person.” That we’ve actually earned or deserve the accolades of others; that we’re a notch above those poor saps who can’t seem to get their act together. We become the Pharisee at the temple praying, letting God know what a good catch He made when He got us.

Should the fact of our propensity to evil alarm us? Absolutely, but only to the extent it drives us to the arms of our Savior. Fear is for those who haven’t yet met or wander away from the Savior, Jesus. In His care we have no need to fear anything or anybody. Remember David’s words: “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.” When our heart and life are tucked safely and securely in the protective custody of our Savior it’s not us who need to be afraid, but Satan and his devilish emissaries.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Does It Mean That God Is Sovereign?

“Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.’ But Abram replied, ‘O Sovereign Lord, what good are all Your blessings when I don’t even have a son?’” (Genesis 15:1-2 NLT)

In the text above where the NLT translates Abram’s response as “Sovereign Lord,” he’s literally saying, “O Lord God,” using two Hebrew names for God: Adonai and Jehovah. These are transliterations of the Hebrew, meaning we take English letters and substitute them for the Hebrew letters.

Essentially what Abram is doing is recognizing that the Lord God of Israel is the ever-existing, Sovereign Creator who reigns supremely over everything and everybody. According to the Webster’s New World College Dictionary (Fourth Edition), Sovereign means: “above or superior to all others; chief; greatest; supreme; supreme in power, rank, or authority…”

John Piper reminds us: “God is sovereign over your life, and God is good.” That sounds very spiritual and it’s certainly theologically correct, but what does it mean in layman’s terms? Does it mean since God’s got the “wheel” all I have to do is ride out the journey? Does it mean since He’s all powerful He will “auto correct” my bad decisions? Does it mean since He’s all-knowing He will give me a “heads-up” when I’m about to do something really stupid?

God’s sovereign rule in our lives is a process in which we have a part. How so? First, by yielding our will to His we allow Him to forgive us, which sets in motion the transformation of our life and character, resulting in an ever-increasing likeness to our Savior, which is our goal as a Jesus follower. When we align our will with His by being born again of the Spirit, we invite the Sovereign Ruler of all that is to enable us by His indwelling presence to allow Him to rule and reign over us – body, mind, soul, and spirit.

Does that mean God will make us do whatever He wants? No, it means we give Him permission to do whatever He wants – a big difference. God isn’t a bully who forces us against our will to do anything. He’s a gentleman who will work cooperatively with us to accomplish His sovereign will in and through our lives.

Micah Wood said it well when he wrote: “Before the Gospel heals a man, it humbles a man. It tells him the depth of his need for God.“ Until we get a glimpse of who God is in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, we likely won’t trust Him, nor realize that His rule in our life is best. How can we be so sure?

Having walked with the Lord for more than 60 years it has become crystal clear that He loves me most and knows me best. I trust Him without reservation with anything and everything related to my life. He will never do anything in me, to me, or for me that isn’t loving, merciful, and leading in some way, even if I may not understand, for my good and His glory.

Does that imply I’ll always love what He does? Of course not. Did I love it when my parents disciplined me? We see the proverbial “parade of life” through a keyhole, while God sits on the roof top. He sees our lives from beginning to end and has the vantage from which to see things we can’t possibly see. That’s why I trust His sovereign wisdom to guide me in the ways He sees best.

His sovereignty doesn’t force us to do anything against our will, but it does enable us to walk confidently in the paths on which He leads us. Learning to trust His wisdom and follow His Spirit’s leading are two very rich and rewarding aspects of His sovereign rule in and over our lives.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

A Friend of Mine

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” (Proverbs 17:17 NLT)

True friendship is a blessing that is a rare treasure in today’s world. Friendship, like what many think of when they use the word “love,” is not “a many splendored thing,” as the old song suggests, rather it has become a matter of convenience. In too many people’s lives friendship comes with conditions.

I have very few lifelong friends, partly because at my age some of my closest and dearest friends have died, but also because friendship, if it’s worthwhile, requires an investment of time and effort. How many times has a name raced across your mind and you realize it’s been years since you even thought of them?

The Hebrew word that is translated “loyal” in the verse above can also be translated “love.” But unlike the Greek word “agape,” used of God’s love in the New Testament, the Hebrew word used here is more akin to how we use the word in English. We say: “I love ice cream, sports, cars, jewelry, hats, oh yeh, and Jesus.” The point is, love and friendship, at least as the Bible uses those terms, are inextricably interwoven.

Jesus said in John 15:14-15: “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are My friends since I have told you everything the Father told Me.” Friends confide in one another, they share life together, they sacrifice time, energy and effort when it’s not convenient. They’re what we hear often at church – “our 2 a.m. friends.” They’re the ones who are called in an emergency knowing the hour isn’t an issue.

In our relationship with Jesus, though unique on many levels, the basic template for loving and being His friend is the same as loving and being anyone else’s friend. John Sammis was a songwriter, likely best known for his song: “Trust and Obey,” but he wrote another song entitled “A friend of Mine,” a couple lines from which say: “The golden sun, the silver moon, and all the stars that shine, are His alone, yes, every one, and He’s a Friend of mine. Why should I charge my soul with care? The wealth of every mine belongs to Christ, God’s Son and Heir, and He’s a Friend of mine. He’s your Friend too!’”

Have you ever stopped to ponder the weight of those words? Have you considered “What a Friend you have in Jesus?” What if you’d never heard His holy name? What if no one had ever shared His life and love with you? It’s frightening to consider spending an eternity separated from Him, yet that’s the plight of billions of people, largely because we assume someone else will tell them.

In Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. According to the story, the rich man went to Hades or the place of the dead, while Lazarus “…was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.” As in life, the rich man was first concerned about himself and asked Abraham to send Lazarus “to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.” But when he learned of the unbridgeable chasm that separated them, he begged Abraham to send Lazarus “to my father’s home. For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.”

Would to God that we would be the kind of friends who warn our friends and loved ones of the coming wrath of God for those who are too busy, too lazy, or too preoccupied to give Jesus a thought, oblivious to the coming tsunami of God’s eternal judgment that is on its way.

If you know with certainty that Jesus is your Savior and Friend – Hallelujah! That’s great news, but please, I implore you, don’t keep that Good News to yourself!

Blessings, Ed

When Fear Tries To Stop You

“Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11 NLT)

Have you ever been really scared? When I was a boy, I had a clown about four feet tall that stood just inside my bedroom door. It had sand or something in the base so when I hit it, it would bounce right back up. I must have watched a scary movie or something, but when I turned to go into my room one night, I saw a shadow and it scared me so badly I immediately raced back down the steps, skipping most of them.

Apparently, the dim hall light caused the clown’s shadow to appear larger than it was, but for whatever reason, I was terrified. Can you even begin to imagine how the guards must have felt who were guarding Jesus’ tomb? And that was just an angel! Do you even want to contemplate what it will be like to come before the King of kings and Lord of lords on judgment day? I love Jesus with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength, but I don’t think there will be anything casual about coming into His presence when this life ends.

Fear is a legitimate emotion given the right circumstance, but I’m convinced we give fear far too much credit when it comes to our obedience to the Lord. Rick Warren wrote: “There is a myth that godly people are never afraid. That’s nonsense! Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving ahead in spite of your fear.”

Is there something the Lord has laid on your heart that is causing fear to paralyze you? The most frightening thought for me is that someone in my spheres of influence will miss heaven because I was too frightened to share Christ with them.

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah finds Jerusalem’s wall destroyed, leaving the returning Jews very vulnerable. This news set in motion a series of events that began in Nehemiah’s heart and mind but led him to courageously share his burden with the King for whom he was his cupbearer.

Being a cupbearer wasn’t a job many would seek because their job was to supervise the staff that prepared the king’s drinks. And though it was on some levels a prestigious position, it required, at least on occasion, tasting the king’s drink before giving it to him. Why? Because not everyone loved the king and some would try to take him out by poisoning him, thus, the need of a cupbearer.

Nehemiah had reservations about sharing his people’s needs with the king, but once the king asked, Nehemiah described his dilemma in detail and, much to his delight, the king provided everything he needed to help his people rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.

Sometimes we have fearful reservations when it comes to sharing our needs with the Lord, uncertain as to how He will respond, or even if He will respond. We may already have in mind a plan to address the project the Lord has laid on our heart but are getting conflicting advice from those with whom we speak about it. Ask yourself: “What’s the basis of the fear I have in light of the possible outcome if I do what I believe the Lord is leading me to do?”

Are you more concerned about what YOU will look like if you fall flat on your face, or that it might reflect badly on the Lord you’re seeking to represent? Or is your fear based more on the possible consequences for the person or persons who will be affected by your decision? Whatever your fear, wait patiently before the Lord. Do your homework thoroughly, pray specifically, listen carefully, then move forward boldly, being confident the Lord is with you, for you, and will use your willingness to follow Him faithfully as a means of increasing your faith and furthering His purposes to His honor and fame.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Is Love the “Greatest?”

“Three things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)

When I think of faith, hope, and love I think of concentric circles, almost like a target, with faith and hope being in the outer circles that point to the middle target of selfless, sacrificial love, like that illustrated so vividly in and through the life of Jesus.

Jesus spoke of the power of faith as small as a mustard seed, to move mountains. In my mind I envision a small “dot” like grain of faith that expands and grows into hope for what can’t be seen except with the eye of faith, that results in our faith and hope becoming visible in and through the sacrificial, loving lifestyle of a Jesus follower.

David Jeremiah wrote: “Why is love the greatest of these? When we place our faith in Christ and develop a hopeful attitude, the stage is set for our love to flourish—and love is the fulfillment of all the law. Thank God for His tremendous trio of Spirit-inspired attitudes to rule your mind today.” What do you envision as you think of faith?

For me I see those, especially the “stars” of the Bible, who by faith defeated giants, conquered armies, walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, provided for the hungry, and laid down their lives rather than deny the Lord who saved them.

How about hope? What do you “see” with your eye of faith when you think of that word? I see people in my spheres of influence kneeling before the Lord of lords and King of kings pouring out their praise, adoration, and honor to the One to whom they owe their new life in Him. I see the face of my glorious Savior as He welcomes me home to heaven. I see the faces of the saints of old who have persevered and now line the balconies of heaven cheering the arrival of those who have finally found their way home.

And love? Haddon Anderson wrote: “Faith and hope are, in one sense, means to an even greater end, without which they would be incomplete: they transform us so that our lives overflow with Christlike love.” The picture that fills the window of my mind is that of Jesus on the cross, dying so that we might live! Paying the penalty for our sin and for the sin of all those whom He knew would one day kneel at that old rugged cross and plead for mercy.

Love is greatest in my mind because love is a call to action. I can hide my faith and hope, but love demands an outlet. I can’t speak of love and not act upon it. As a Jesus follower I can’t profess to love someone and not intercede on their behalf, nor meet them in their need, nor invite them to share the joy of new life in Jesus.

Love lays down its life for the sake of another; it becomes a beacon of light to those who walk in darkness; a song of hope to those who grieve; a “meal” to those who hunger; a friend to those who are lonely; an extended hand to those who have fallen; a word of encouragement to those who are struggling; a voice of cheer to the sorrowful; an offer of forgiveness to those who have failed.

What is your need today? Whatever it is know this: you are loved! You bear the image of the living God and are of incalculable worth! Christ’s love for you is a doorway, an invitation to find faith, hope, and love. Please don’t shun His great gift that He literally died to give you. You can be more and do more as a Jesus follower than you ever dared dream you could. Trust Him. Extend your hand by faith and say “Yes” to the Savior!

It’s time to come home to Him and experience firsthand why love is the greatest!

Blessings, Ed 😊

What’s the Ugliest Thing in the World?

“If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person?” (1 John 3:17 NLT)

Please bear with me as there is method in the madness: Have you ever been constipated to the point that no matter what you took to help, it seemed to make no difference, the pressure and pain just intensified? The Greek word from which comes our word “compassion” in the verse above literally means “to be moved with compassion or to be moved as to one’s bowels.” The ancients believed the bowels were “the seat of love and pity.”

It was the equivalent of what we might say today: “our heart is breaking.” It was a metaphor to describe the physical discomfort brought about by an emotional attachment to something or somebody we see who is in great need. Then to show compassion by actually interceding and helping bring the accompanying “relief.”

Jesus used the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what it might look like to show compassion. And I can hear someone thinking: “That’s all well and good, but what in the world does any of this have to do with the ugliest thing in the world?”

Francis Schaeffer wrote: “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.” What does that mean? It essentially means to believe all the right things about Jesus and Christianity, but not allow that knowledge to translate into us helping those in need in our spheres of influence.

David Jeremiah wrote in reference to the story of the Good Samaritan: “Jesus’ point was this: Your neighbor is anyone with a need that you are able to meet. Look for a neighbor whose need you might meet.” The Lord has caused my heart to break (my bowels to ache) for my lost and hurting neighbors. Who has He laid on your heart? I love what Bob Pierce wrote: “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.”

If you profess faith in Jesus, yet your heart isn’t breaking for the lost, lonely, and hurting people in your spheres of influence, you may need to check your pulse. We’re not born again to live comfortable, trouble free lives then go to heaven. We’re given His life to share with others. To be a believer in Jesus and be self-focused is a contradiction. Dr. Jeremiah wrote: “Love and compassion always come with a price in time, talent, or treasure—and often, all three.”

There’s enough ugliness in this world without Jesus followers adding to it. May I pray for us:

“Holy Father, cause our hearts to ache to know You so well that Your loving kindness and compassion would just spill out of us in every circumstance we encounter from day to day. May the lens of Your love enable us to recognize in the lives of our family, friends, fellow believers, neighbors, strangers, in short, anyone we encounter, the hurt and pain of their lives. Whether physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, financial, relational, or in whatever other way it may manifest itself, guide us as we seek to be Your eyes and ears, hands and feet, and voice of compassion to enable them to see, hear, and desire You. You alone have the resource of strength they need to find healing and wholeness. Impart to us wisdom, insight, understanding and power that we may accomplish Your purposes as we become Your provision to those in need. We love You and confess our need of Your bountiful provision, not only for us, but for others. In the strong name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”

Blessings, Ed 😊

How Do We Honor God?

“So the Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” (John 1:14 NLT)

How did Jesus most effectively honor His Father in heaven? He allowed the Father to pour Himself into the infant Jesus, who would one day become the Savior of the world, sacrificing His life for ours, that the Father may be known, loved, and worshipped.

The word translated as “glory” in the above verse comes from the Greek word “doxa” from which comes our word “doxology.” It can also be translated “honor, praise, dignity, worship,” and is often used in reference to God – His magnificence, excellence, preeminence, and grace.

In John chapter 5 Jesus is speaking with some Jewish leaders and He says to them in verse 44: “No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.” What is He implying? Essentially, that the very ones for whom Jesus was sent to earth failed to recognize that Jesus came from God. They were actually giving glory, honor, and recognition to one another that rightfully belonged to Jesus.

Their honor was misplaced, as, I suspect, is too often the case in our lives. It’s ironic on some levels that the longer I walk with Jesus, the more knowledgeable, committed, devoted, and desirous I become to do His will instead of my own, the more quickly I am to assume I know what He would want for me in any given situation.

So, rather than spending time in worship, seeking His opinion, His direction, His wisdom, I’m in such a hurry to believe I know best when the opposite too often proves true. How often the Lord puts my spirit in check, even as I write these posts. I may have a “great” idea that I don’t take the time or make the effort to allow Him to sift through the attitude of my heart, correcting, not necessarily the words, but my heart and mind.

Our goal as a Jesus follower is to honor the Lord in every avenue and dimension of our being. We want what He wants, right? We want our lives to be a doxology of praise, adoration, and worship. Yet, the devil is in the proverbial details! So, if in our haste to be all He wants us to be, we miss an opportunity to be kind, caring, understanding, affirming, or a thousand other seeming small expressions of His love to others, the bigness of our overwhelming love for God gets lost in our lack of attention to the needs of others.

Jesus’ goal was to give expression – visibility – to His Father in every detail of His life. And what is His will for us? To be so filled with Jesus that in our every word, literally – our every breath – we give those in our spheres of influence visibility, insight, understanding as to who He is and what He desires to do in their lives.

While speaking with a neighbor recently about who God is and why Jesus came to earth, he asked me: “But how can you believe? Isn’t God invisible?” I explained that God reveals Himself in what He has created – the sun, moon, stars, all of nature, especially through His followers, and in a thousand other ways.

If our goal is to honor God and exalt Jesus as Lord in and through our lives, the best, most appropriate, and most powerful way we can do that is to let Him live His live out through us – guiding our thoughts, giving us insights to share with those we know need Jesus, allowing us to be His hands and feet as we seek to love others to Him.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Really Matters?

“The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.” (James 1:11 NLT)

Everything we see with our eyes, except human beings, will one day be destroyed and cease to exist. For someone who isn’t a Jesus follower to try to take that thought to heart is very difficult. It’s unimaginable. But the real kicker is – YOU and I are stamped with an expiration date. This life on planet earth is temporary, but our soul, the essence of who we are, will live forever…someplace!

The staggering reality of that claim attacks us every time a loved one or friend dies, or even when a beloved pet is taken from us. Death is harsh and hard and is no respecter of persons. The rich, the poor, and everyone in between are mortal beings whose body will one day die.

The good news is, death and the grave have been overcome by the Hero of Heaven, the Savior, Jesus. He did what no other human being has or ever could do – He died in our place to pay the penalty for our sin. He shed His priceless blood to free us from the tyranny of sin and deliver us into a right relationship with our heavenly Father. That’s all that really matters on this earth.

To miss that relationship is to miss everything! Nothing + Jesus = EVERYTHING! He is the embodiment of all truth, the lover of our soul, the provider of our every need, the deliverer from every torment, trial, or trouble, and, gratefully, He has promised a home in heaven when this tired, old body gives out. Jesus is literally the Gift that keeps on giving.

Jared C. Wilson said: “Satan wants us to find in the gifts what can only be found in the Giver.” Satan’s plan is to distract us with glitter and glamour, hoping we’ll miss the Gift of life that can only be found in knowing, loving, and serving Jesus. He’s the Treasure, not the things of this world.

Ben Lippens wrote: “All earthly things are given a start and end date. This butterfly, this flower, and everything around it, including you and I, all have an end date. And it doesn’t matter how great we think we or something else may be. It will come to an end. Things of the Spirit, like the Word of God or salvation itself, are quite the opposite. They are eternal. While on this earth, let’s set our focus toward the eternal, the things that matter most, so the Creator is known more than His creation.”

The goal of our soul’s bitter enemy is to have us so focused on what is temporal, we miss the eternal. He doesn’t have to make us bad, just keep us so busy we forget to think about and live like Jesus. Wherever our mind is our heart will follow. What we think about comes about! Think about temporal things and they become our frame of reference, often negating any hope of allowing Jesus to live His life out through us.

What really matters to you? What are the things on which you spend the most time and money? Remember, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:21). Is your family precious to you? Friends? Vocation? Church? Travel? Vacations? Whatever matters to you, please view it through the lens of eternity.

Does that mean you should never do anything that doesn’t have spiritual implications? Well, the reality is, everything DOES have spiritual implications, but realize that Jesus is interested in EVERY area of your life, thus can be your constant companion regardless of what you’re doing.

Our priorities will reveal what really matters to us. Just understand they also reveal who owns our heart – who or what is our real treasure.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Does God Allow Suffering (Part 2)

“Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.” (Proverbs 19:29 NLT)

Why do the questions for which we struggle to find an answer haunt us the most? Why is it so difficult for us to understand why some suffer in extreme and, from our perspective, undeserved ways, while others seem to coast through life without any serious issues?

In yesterday’s post I wrote: “Does God not care? Is He not aware? Why doesn’t He do something? May I confess that on some levels my mind can’t stretch far enough to understand some things – these kinds of questions included. But what I can’t comprehend intellectually I turn over to my heart to trust that where the limits of our understanding end, God’s clarity of heart and mind takes over.”

Many of us suffer, not because we don’t know the Lord, but because we misunderstand clear Biblical instruction. “Does God not care?” Of course, He does. Why else would He allow Jesus to die in our place? Is He not aware? He’s ever-present, all-knowing, and all-loving! He knows everything, of course He knows the whispers of every heart. “Why doesn’t He do something?” What more do we expect Him to do?

Stop evil people from exercising their free-will? Intervene and interrupt any plans that would affect us in a negative way? Stop us or the ones we love from getting sick or dying? Where do we draw the line? How many restrictions do we want to apply to God before He’s crippled by our ineffectiveness to see Him for who He is?

Personally, I’ve found answers to the questions I have and, honestly, every question I’ll ever have, in Jesus. He’s my “worldview!” For me, He’s the beginning and the end of every conversation, every problem, every sickness, every disease, every person who suffers any calamity, heartache, or pain. While He doesn’t cause these things, He is willing and able to walk with us in and through them.

And, yes, I realize that seems like a cop out, especially to an unbeliever, but the reality is He IS the answer. The Psalmist nailed it when he wrote in Psalm 46:1-2: “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

What’s his point? Nothing, absolutely nothing, regardless of origin, can touch us without God’s permission. So, if I get a debilitating disease, lose a loved one, suffer unbearable heartache and pain, face challenges with which I’m far inadequate to deal, what’s my recourse? Run into the arms of my loving Father and trust Him to enable me to cope.

Listen child of God, we don’t have to apologize or make excuse for our unwavering trust in our Father, Savior, Creator, and Friend. He’s with us and for us regardless of what comes our way and, ultimately, when we face our own death – wow! What a gift from God – to be ushered from this life of heartache and suffering into the eternal arms of our awaiting Savior! It literally doesn’t get any better than that!

Life brings frightening circumstances over which we have no control, but I know Someone who doesn’t flinch in those times. He’s Someone who never loses control and is always ready, willing, and able to walk with us – even into the hottest fires, scariest, and deadliest environments.

Whatever you’re facing today, know this – our everlasting Father is with you! Nothing catches Him by surprise, so if you haven’t placed your full trust and faith in Him, please click the link below and find out today why God’s people never have reason to fear anything! https://hutchcraft.com/the-bridge-to-god

Blessings, Ed 😊