Walking With Jesus

86,400 Ticks of the Clock

“So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise! Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 The Voice translation)

*Please read these “timely” words of Sylvia Gunter. May they be helpful and serve as a blessing to you as they were to me. Blessings, Ed 😊 (used with permission)

All of us are conscious of time, in one way or another. We feel that we don’t ever have enough time, but we all have 86,400 ticks of the clock every day. Time is a non-renewable asset.

The writer of Ecclesiastes said, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” The psalmist prayed in Psalm 90:12, “Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 5:15-16, “So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiots as the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise! Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times.” (The Voice translation)

God values time. Receive my heart for you in this blessing. May all the ticks of the clock register in your life that is filled with obedience, enjoyment of God, and awareness of His watchfulness and love. May every present moment be blessed in Him to experience His thoughts and emotions and to receive goodness from His hand. May your days be filled with teaching, intimacy, and trust. Be blessed with eyes on God and not on self, with humility, confession, and certainty of His ever-present forgiveness and cleansing.

Be constantly aware of His feeding hand, aware of tasting the Bread of Life in Jesus. Be blessed to be aware of His fire that burns within you by the Holy Spirit. Let Him translate truth and grace into you with life and power.

May you be aware constantly of God moments in your daily routine and of special God-appointments along the way. May eternal God come into your present time with love, joy, peace, and hope. May you always live in eager anticipation, standing on tiptoe of expectation of seeing God in every moment of your day. God bless your spirit, soul, and body to be aligned with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Are You Planning to Fail?

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLT)

You’ve likely heard the cliché: “If you’re failing to plan, you’re planning to fail.” The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” These words of Jeremiah were written “to the elders, priests, prophets, and all the people who had been exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar.”

God basically instructed Jeremiah to tell those who had been exiled to make the best of it. Build houses, marry and have children, continue to live the best life you can, because you’re going to be there for 70 years. But then, I’ll bring you back to Jerusalem.

Where are you in this season of your life? Do you feel like you’ve been exiled by God to a place, a job, a marriage, a physical, emotional, or mental state, a season in your life when you just feel lost, alone, forgotten? Sometimes life sucks and there seems to be very little we can do about it. Try as we might things don’t improve; in our mind and heart they just keep getting worse. Do you feel like God has abandoned or forsaken you?

Sometimes our best plan is to kneel at the feet of our Savior and seek Him with all our heart. If He’d not allowed me to go through times when I felt alone, I may never have realized there’s never a second of my life when I’m not desperate for His presence.

We’re so prone to run on autopilot when everything seems to be going well, but the truth is, we’re just as needy for the Lord when we’ve got everything as when we have nothing. If we only desire Him in times of struggle, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Jesus isn’t our “genie in the bottle,” He’s our Lord, Master, Ruler, Redeemer, Savior, and Friend. When we plan our life around trips and vacations and work commitments with no regard to what His desires for us are, we shortchange ourselves and miss the joy of moment-by-moment communion with the Lover of our soul. Jesus isn’t our “ticket” to heaven, He’s “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

If you’re just hanging out with Jesus for what you hope to get out of Him, you’re going to be grossly disappointed. You’re not only going to miss heaven, but you’re also going to miss knowing the Treasure of this life and the next. If you miss Jesus, you miss everything. Heaven is nothing without intimacy with Him, and if you’re not enjoying closeness with Him now, what makes you think you’d all of a sudden want it after you die?

God no doubt has plans for you, good plans, enjoyable plans, but if you see your future void of a meaningful relationship with the Lord, you’ll miss them because you’ll be looking in all the wrong places. So, back to the original question – Are you planning to fail? You are if your plans don’t include knowing, loving, serving, enjoying, sharing, and celebrating Jesus with every ounce of your being.

If you’re not developing and practicing daily disciplines like reading and studying the Bible; praying throughout your day, not only for yourself and those close to you, but for your brothers and sisters across the world who are struggling in ways we as Americans can’t imagine; worshipping with people who love Jesus and love you; and meeting regularly with others who are building their lives around their love for Jesus, then you’re definitely planning to fail.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Do You Know Who You Are?

“Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God.” (John 13:3 NLT)

The setting for the above verse is the upper room where Jesus and His 12 disciples had their last Passover celebration before Jesus would be betrayed and murdered. It’s very likely that Jesus was the only One in the room who was aware that this would be the last time they’d share a meal together until after His resurrection. They didn’t have a clue as to what the next 72 hours would hold, but Jesus is preparing them in ways they wouldn’t yet understand.

It’s a gross understatement, but Jesus was able to do what He did because He understood who He was. He knew He was God’s Son in a literal way, not just “spiritually” like those of us who are God’s children today. In John 3:16 Jesus is identified as the “monogenes” – the only One of His kind! There has never been, nor will there ever be another Jesus – God in human flesh.

Paul said in Colossians 2:9: “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.” Why is that so vital to understand? Because it’s in Him we find our true identity. Paul continued in the next verse: “So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”

But what does that mean? What does being “complete” in Him supposed to lead to? What is the value of knowing who we are in Him? Paul uses the rest of His letter to the Colossians to explain what our new life in Christ should look like, in terms of not only accurate belief, but holy, set apart living to God’s honor.

But in John 13 Jesus painted a picture of what knowing who we are in Him should look like: on our knees before our brothers and sisters washing their feet. “Yeh,” you may say, “I understand what that meant and why Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, but what does it mean for us?” It means the same thing for us as it meant for Him – humility! Unpretentious devotion not based simply on who we are as a human being, but who we are as a child of God.

Rich, poor, slave or king, we’re all equal in the sight of God and should be in one another’s sight. Remember Paul’s words in Romans 12:3? “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

Jesus washed Judas’ feet along with all the others, even though He knew within a few hours Judas would betray Him. What’s the message for us? It’s easy for most of us to understand we’re just like John or Peter or one of the other disciples, but the fact remains, we’re no better than Judas. Who among us hasn’t “betrayed” Him with our devilish tongue or cunning deception or blatant misbehavior?

Until we can view the Lord of Creation washing our feet through the eyes of Judas, we’ve missed the point of who we are in Christ. We’re not called to humble ourselves in service only to the people who look, smell, act, and live like us. We’re called to love and serve whoever the Lord puts in our path. Why? Because that’s what Jesus did, and we’re His Body on earth today.

Did you notice the first words of the verse from John 13? “Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything…” The fact the Lord has given us His authority doesn’t give us cause to bypass those in need, it gives us authority to love and serve them to His honor and fame.

How will the world be drawn to Him if those of us who bear His holy name don’t give them an accurate picture of who He is? And how will we ever illustrate what He’s like if we don’t know who we are in Him?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

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 😊