Walking With Jesus

When You’re Singing the Wrong Words

“Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21 NLT)

When I was a boy, like so many at Christmas time, I sang the song: “Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh…” But that’s not what I heard. For years I heard and thought the song said: “one-horse soap and sleigh.” Of course, it made no sense, but that’s what I sang because that’s what I thought it said.

We’re so often like that with the words of Jesus. For example, in Matthew 10:38-39 Jesus said: “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.”

Those can be hard words to follow, but what we too often here is: “This crumby job I have is the reason I can’t serve Jesus like I’d really like to.” Or “If I just had a better spouse/child/church/___________” and you can fill in the blank – “THEN I could be more effective for Jesus.”

We want to believe that if everything “out there” would change, then I’d have a better life and I’d feel more inclined to follow Jesus more closely. What we “hear” is all about external things, while what Jesus is saying speaks to internal things.

Taking up our “cross” speaks to our moment-by-moment decision to put Him first in everything, beginning with our own heart and mind. If all that consumes us is our circumstances, that gives evidence faster than anything else that we’re “clinging to our life.” What we’re hearing is: “When Jesus gives me better circumstances, I’ll follow Him.”

But what Jesus is saying is: “When you give Me your life, I’ll teach you to be grateful for your circumstances.” We’re hearing “See and believe.” When what the Lord is saying is “Believe and see.”

As Jesus followers we walk by faith, not by sight, because until God’s Spirit illuminates our heart and mind, we’re walking in darkness. “Worth” is never to be measured by who we are or what we’ve accomplished. It’s always and only measured by Whose we are; by who owns our heart and rules our mind.

Giving up our life is not about quitting on life and living carefree and without regard to Biblical directives, it’s about allowing Jesus to become our life. He will give direction, meaning, purpose, fulfillment to what we do, whether it’s fulfilling our responsibilities as a spouse, parent, grandparent, employee, employer, neighbor, or friend.

The point is, Jesus becomes the center of our universe. Our life revolves around Him, not ourselves. Our worth, from a Kingdom of God perspective, is measured by our willingness to surrender to Him, and to allow our lives to be governed by His Spirit every moment of every day.

Giving up our lives doesn’t mean no longer caring about what we say, think, or do. Quite to the contrary, it means caring more about those things because we see them as opportunities to exalt Jesus’ life being lived in and through us. We’ll finally discover what our life was always meant to be when loving Jesus and serving Him become the supreme mission and call of our lives.

When Jesus is our life, we’ll finally get the words right as He plays the melody of who we’re becoming in Him.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Stick With the Church?

“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.” (Romans 12:4-5 NLT)

The Covid Virus was allowed to compound an already existing problem when the government chose to refer to the Church as “non-essential” when placing restrictions on who could and could not meet. Even now most churches haven’t come close to what their pre-Covid attendance was, and many have had to close their doors.

While many today view church attendance as “optional,” historically it’s been a significant indicator of vibrant faith. It was viewed as a church “discipline,” right along with reading God’s Word, praying, and sharing your faith. God established His Church so that together we could work for the greater good, not only of those who believe, but for those who still need to believe.

Our individual efforts, while vital, can be multiplied through a vibrant and growing fellowship of believers. Our corporate mission is essential, not only for the spiritual health of each individual, but for reaching those who have yet to believe in our Savior.

John Stonestreet of the Colson Center wrote: “If believers struggle to remember why church matters, they cannot effectively share the love of Christ with the world.”

When this great nation was founded, our forefathers penned a document that served as the guide in the establishment, not only of the few states that then existed, but for the massive expansion that would one day follow. When our Constitution was presented, those who signed knew they were putting their lives on the line. It wasn’t for them alone, but their families for generations to come.

Much blood was spilled to purchase our freedom as a nation, not only then, but across the years. Blood was also spilled to purchase our freedom as believers in Jesus. To view participation in the Body of Christ through faithfulness to a local fellowship as an option is a slap in Christ’s holy face.

To pretend that saying a prayer and believing a creed is all the Lord requires is to miss the point of salvation from our sin. It’s never been about us alone. It’s always been about the Body of Christ, His Church, submitting corporately to His authority and spreading the news of salvation through Christ alone by faith alone.

The Church is designed to give credence to our calling. Our corporate worship builds faith, and fellowship with other believers gives us courage and verifies we’re not in this battle alone. I heard an interesting statistic recently that said: “More than half of the Civil War soldiers never fired their weapon. They would just add shells to their already loaded weapon to make it look like they had.”

An argument could be made that there’s nothing more frightening than combat, but fear can drive us in many directions. In literal war our sense of self-preservation may move us to hide, while for others it drives them to heroic acts that boggle the mind. But what about spiritual warfare?

It’s estimated that only about 3% of professing Christ followers ever share their faith, and a growing number are “hiding” in the face of so many other options. Church attendance has taken a back seat to sleeping in, children’s sport’s leagues, and a myriad of other “better” offers.

Tim Keller said: “We’ll never know what prayer is for until we learn that life is war.” We’re in the battle of a lifetime. Satan is doing everything he possibly can to take as many people to hell with him as he can. The Church is God’s army to battle against the forces of evil. If we don’t stick together as Christ followers, lost people don’t have a chance. We MUST stick together

Blessings, Ed

When There Seems to Be No Way

“Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land.” (Exodus 14:21 NLT)

There are difficult times in the lives of every Jesus follower, but God ALWAYS makes a way. It may be unorthodox and unexpected, but He will never abandon us.

The children of Israel had just left Egypt where they’d been in slavery for four hundred years. Those living had never known freedom, yet, miraculously, God had delivered them. But now they stood on the shoreline of the Red Sea, trapped between the uncrossable water and the approaching Egyptian army. It seemed hopeless.

No doubt in the minds of many of the children of Israel they wondered why God would go to all the trouble of freeing them, only to allow them to be murdered. It didn’t make sense. Yet, God knew all along what He would do, and the result was celebration and worship of the only true and living God.

Being trapped in seeming impossible situations isn’t an isolated occurrence for lovers of God. After my divorce I felt trapped in what to me seemed like an impossible situation. Divorced pastors aren’t exactly “hot items” in the job market, so the only job I could find was a commission only position as a car salesman. I was grateful for the job, but had no money, so waiting for a paycheck seemed like an eternity.

Photo by Matthias Groeneveld on Pexels.com

My wife and I had accumulated debt based on both of our incomes, but when she left, I was stuck with about $60,000 of debt after we sold the house. I couldn’t in good conscience file bankruptcy because the Lord convicted my heart that I’d made the debt and was responsible for paying it back. On some levels it was like standing on the shore of a raging sea, with an army of debt-collectors bearing down on me. What impossible “mountain” are you climbing right now? Whatever it is, God WILL make a way!

My wife has a dear friend who is crippled with scoliosis, among other physical issues, and her husband has severe Alzheimer’s. Their day-to-day goal is survival. My precious wife helps in many ways, but there’s only so much anyone can do. They need a miracle. That’s where God comes in. We don’t yet know how He’ll do it, but He WILL meet their needs.

There are many other examples of tragic circumstances that I could share, but my goal in this post isn’t to paint such a picture of bleakness that it leads to despair. Rather, having walked through very hard times, I know that God can be trusted. He will make a way where it seems there is no way.

Wondering if I’d ever have opportunity to pastor again after my divorce, I was pleasantly surprised when I received a call from a church in Michigan inviting me to candidate. It seemed that everything went “right” when I was there. The people were loving, responsive to me as a single parent, and seemed excited to have me come. But there was a “check” in my spirit.

In the meantime, my mentor called and asked if I’d be interested in checking out a church in Ohio, but I couldn’t consider that until the Lord gave me an answer as to whether I should accept the call to the other church.

Long story short, I went to Ohio. Nothing spectacular about that, except for two very important reasons which never entered my mind. First, Cleveland, Ohio had the only approved site for a National Cancer Institute for many miles. Why is that important? Because my son and I arrived in Ohio in May of 1991. In February of 1992 he was diagnosed with leukemia. You don’t get better Cancer care than at an NCI facility.

But secondly, my son’s primary Nurse was beautiful and available, and has now been my wife for nearly 30 years. God ALWAYS makes a way where there seems to be no way. And His plans are always better than anything we could have imagined.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Heart or Head?

“You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say.” (Psalm 17:3 NLT)

The real measure of a person’s life isn’t what’s found in their head, but what’s in their heart. I can say and do many right things, but if my heart is wrong, at least from the standpoint of what pleases the Lord, I’ve said and done them in vain.

King David understood this principle when he wrote: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 NLT) And in Psalm 119:11 the writer records: “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Vance Havner wrote: “It is not the Word hidden in the head but in the heart that keeps us from sin.”

Why does it matter? There are at least two issues this topic addresses. First, if a person’s relationship with God is built and dependent upon knowledge, that which is conceived, pondered, considered, and followed predominantly from an intellectual perspective, they very likely aren’t following the God of the Bible. Why would I say that?

Jesus quotes Isaiah in Matthew 15:8-9 when He says: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.” Then again in Matthew 22:37 Jesus says: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Yes, of course, the heart will often reflect the understanding of the mind, but the point is, we cannot love the Lord with our mind alone.

The Gospel can be understood with our mind, but if we don’t respond with our heart, it’s valueless. It’s not what we know to be true that saves us, it’s our willingness to respond to that Truth, opening our heart and yielding our will to the governing presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

This is not to say that we follow with “blind faith,” a faith that is built on emotion void of a reasoned understanding. It’s not an “either or,” but a “both and” consideration. We need a faith that’s built on a clear understanding of God’s Word, but which is applied through a surrendered heart.

Which leads to the second issue that needs to be considered. Notice the Psalmist instructed us to hide God’s Word in our heart, “that I (we) might not sin against You.” How do we hide God’s Word in our heart? Primarily by memorization.

Reading casually, even if we read every day, will not suffice. Especially if we’re reading to fulfill an obligation or to satisfy a spiritual commandment. We’ve got to read every word with attentiveness and if we lose our train of thought, go back, and read it again. The point is not how much you read, but how much you understand and are hiding in your heart.

If a verse stands out, write it down on a 3 X 5 card. On the other side write the reference. Have an ongoing list of 8-10 verses you’re committing to memory. Why is that important? If you’re speaking with someone on a break at work, in a casual setting, on an airplane, etc. you likely won’t have your Bible with you. But if you can draw verses quickly from your memory, the Lord can use His quoted Word to apply Truth to the heart of the one with whom you’re speaking.

Here’s the bottom line: We need an informed faith that stirs the heart to share God’s love with others in order that our lives bless people and glorify God.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Does It Matter What We Believe?

“They (the apostles) told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.” (Jude 1:17 NLT)

Considering recent posts that I’ve written, the Lord prompted me to address a question that some may have. Someone may think: “So does it really matter what I believe, as long as I don’t cause division in the Body of Christ?” The fact is it matters very much what we believe. Some form of “believe, belief, faith” is used nearly 350 times in the New Testament alone.

We’re instructed in the Bible to believe many things related to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, prayer, the Gospel, holy living and on and on. Right living results from right belief. We live based on what we believe. But my point is that none of us get it all right. We’re all flawed human beings with imperfect minds and hearts.

My heart is to promote unity and loving tolerance within the Body of Christ, not to excuse heresy or teachings that clearly disregard or contradict Scripture. Jesus didn’t come to bring unity to the world, He came to bring unity to His Church, His Body, His eternal Family. Jesus certainly loves the world, but only those who trust Him and choose to believe and follow Him are invited into His eternal Family.

As one of my readers rightly pointed out, Jesus’ teachings can be very divisive, demanding we come to terms with what we believe about Him. We must also recognize that that decision alone will often bring division between us and those who don’t believe in Jesus, even within our own families. But even then, we don’t have to be obnoxious as if we’re better than those who don’t yet believe in Him.

We’re sinners saved by grace and still capable of anything anyone else in the world could do, say, or think. I love Jesus with as much of my heart as I know to give Him, but apart from the power of His Spirit I’m no better than the worst of sinners. We’re saved by grace, but we also live by grace. That’s why it’s so important to keep short accounts with God and others.

As God teaches and leads me from day to day, He will point out areas of my life that need to change. Ideas, intentions, attitudes, anything that’s unlike Him must go. That’s why I can’t be critical of another believer. We’re all works in progress.

It’s also critical that I’m kind, caring, polite, thoughtful, and non-judgmental even of those who don’t yet believe. I’m not aware of anyone who has ever been argued into the Kingdom of God. Yes, of course, I speak with unbelievers, but my life must speak much more loudly than my lips. I might think I believe perfectly and explain things with authority, but if it’s not done with love, humility, and kindness, I’ve missed the point of sharing in the first place.

Perhaps the Apostles’ Creed can serve as a starting point for our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ, which says: “I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived from the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, who suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, descended into hell, rose again from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty, who will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (the Body of Christ worldwide) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who Are You Following?

“Some of you are saying, ‘I am a follower of Paul.’ Others are saying, ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Peter,’ or ‘I follow only Christ.’ Has Christ been divided into factions?” (I Corinthians 1:12-13 NLT)

There were times I read the above passage and marveled that people could be so thoughtless. How could anyone be so stupid as to follow a man and not Christ? Then it was as if the Lord said: “Okay most bright one, do you actually dare to believe that you follow only Me?” And, at first, in my naivete I still clung to the hope that I was.

Then He asked me questions like: “Where did you go to school? Look at the names on your many books? Do you not think they’ve influenced how you see Me? Whose messages do you listen to? What do your closest friends believe about Me?” It caused me to question what it means to bear the name “Christian.”

There are so many opinions. Think of the many denominations, and factions even among those of the same church group. Even within any given congregation it’s difficult to get consensus on some issues.

Then we read a verse like Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that I mentioned in yesterday’s post, that says: “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

It’s frightening to realize that each of us as so-called “Jesus followers,” derive so much of what we believe, not from the Bible, but from the pens and lips of other so-called “Jesus” followers. Many who profess faith in Jesus rarely if ever read the Bible for themselves. The sum-total of their daily or weekly “readings” of God’s Word come from those in whom they’ve placed their faith, mostly their pastors’ messages, or podcasts or youtube messages from various pastors/teachers.

And the irony is, each profess and believe that their messages are straight from “God’s Word.” I get it. I really do. I say the same thing. But in my more lucid moments I understand that I rarely have a thought that hasn’t been influenced by something I’ve read or heard.

So, what are we to do? The message the Lord has been giving me, thus the reason I continue to write these kinds of posts, is to stop arguing! If we push back virtually everything anyone in history has ever taught, it rests, not on the Bible alone, but upon the teachings of someone’s understanding of the Bible.

Over the years the predominant “voices” have been Luther, Calvin, Arminius, Whitefield, Wesley, Spurgeon, Tozer, Lewis, and on and on. And today we listen to Jeremiah, Keller, Piper, Stanley, Warren, MacArthur, and on and on. And don’t hear what I’m not saying – I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t read any of these men’s accounts. Yes, absolutely, read them. But understand that the only Person who possesses absolute understanding of Truth is Jesus.

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Every other human being who has ever lived, is living, or who will ever live, does not and cannot know and understand everything that can be known about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Bible. What’s my point? Stop arguing and causing division in the Body of Christ seeking to persuade others to adopt your flawed understanding of Scripture.

What I share with you are simply insights gained from walking with the Lord for many years. But I’m a flawed human being and there are many things I don’t yet understand. None of us will fully understand everything until we pass from this life to the next, then it will all be crystal clear. Always test what I say with what you read in the Bible, not necessarily and only what you read in someone else’s books.

In the meantime, let’s be agents of good to embrace one another and walk with one another regardless of whose opinion we favor. Satan celebrates every time we separate as brothers and sisters because we don’t agree on points of doctrine.

Let’s read God’s Word and embrace what revelation the Lord gives us and use it to follow Jesus as closely as we can, while not using it to push those with whom we don’t agree away. Lord help us!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Jesus Sees You!

“’How do you know about me?’ Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, ‘I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.’” (John 1:48 NLT)

One of the most powerful desires we have as human beings is to be seen. In the world in which we live it’s so easy to feel invisible. The Covid virus surfaced and magnified the loneliness that many were already experiencing but had gone undetected. Being forced to be alone has caused an increase in anxiety, depression, and suicides.

What does “being seen” mean? Think of a continuum. On the one end is literally “being seen, acknowledged, being noticed.” Then slide a little further and you see things like “worthy of someone’s attention.” Keep moving along and you’ll finally come to “understood for who you are” and, for our purposes as children of God, “identified as having a legitimate place in the family of God.”

God sees us! Another way to say that may be – He gets us! He understands the idiosyncrasies that each of us has because He designed and created us to be this way. He doesn’t see us as odd or different, He sees us as His beloved child whom He has gifted and equipped to be the man or woman of God, He specifically desires us to be.

There’s a contribution to the Body of Christ that no one else can make; a role that no other person who has ever lived can play – except YOU! I believe that was the message Nathanael heard when Jesus told him He saw him under the fig tree.

It’s pure speculation as to what Nathanael was doing under the fig tree but suffice it to say that whatever it was it was important to him. The second season of The Chosen includes a scene in which Nathanael, a trained architect, has had a disappointing setback in his career. He goes to the fig tree to escape people, in order that he might pour his heart out to God.

He explains to God that his whole purpose for becoming an architect was so that he could build temples that would honor God. At one point he says something like: “Didn’t you see that what I was trying to do was all for YOU?”

Then to come face to face with God in human flesh who says to him: “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Think of the impact Jesus’ words had on his spirit. Nathanael was broken, defeated, discouraged, downtrodden, and on the verge of depression, yet Jesus spoke the very words he most needed to hear – “I see you!”

When we push all the exterior coverings away, isn’t that what you and I most want to hear? In our heart of hearts, isn’t what we most desire is to have someone see us for who and what we really are – warts and all?

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.” I get weak knees just thinking about that day. I can’t conceive of having the strength to stand in my Savior’s presence. Kneel? Maybe. Lie prostrate? Probably.

As Jesus followers we’re all on a pilgrimage of faith that ideally will render us more and more like Jesus as we grow and develop as His children. But to stand before pure holiness and perfection will surely reveal that the little bit of progress we’ve made is still grossly different, immeasurably less than that of the One in whose presence we stand.

Aren’t you grateful He sees you – not only for what you were and are, but for what you’ll one day become – in Him!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are “White Lies” Okay?

“And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” (James 3:10 NLT)

Some of the most unforgettable and irreparable damage we do for the Kingdom of God is caused by using words, the negative effects of which, we give little or no thought. We are so prone to open our mouths before we consult our brains, which often leads to hurt feelings, strained and broken relationships, or worse. The Biblical writer James spends much of chapter three addressing this issue.

One avenue of this subject is commonly referred to as a “white lie,” and is often justified by our desire to not hurt someone’s feelings. Say, for example, a male friend asks me: “How does this new shirt look?” I have a lot of options. I could honestly say: “Other than it’s three sizes too small, I think it looks great.” Or “I hate the pattern and it clashes with everything else you’re wearing.” Both of those may be true, but is there a more delicate way to respond?

That’s when we’re tempted to use the “white lie.” A “white lie” is a lie that’s couched in terms that we hope will be acceptable to the hearer. Using the above example, we could say: “Wow! That shirt looks great on you!” Or “It matches your pants perfectly.” But are we telling the truth?

Remember, we’re Christ’s Ambassadors, so honesty is the best policy. But how do you answer honestly without blowing your cover when you really don’t have a positive opinion? As a rule, I don’t struggle with what to say when my wife asks me about something she wears or cooks, etc. It’s easy to compliment her because we’ve been together a long time and we love each other. If I don’t like something I can tell her, but I need to explain why.

The plot thickens when it’s someone we don’t know well, a “first date” kind of thing. The safest way to avoid misunderstanding is to not comment unless asked directly to do so. But if she asks: “I tried this new eye liner, what do you think?” It’s probably not going to fly if you say: “I’d rather not say.” Busted! But even if you don’t like it, you can say something like: “I think it brings out the color of your eyes and I love your eyes.”

In case you haven’t guessed, I’m not all that good at this, but what I am really trying hard to be good at is finding ways to sincerely compliment someone whom I’m just meeting. They’re not likely to ask an awkward question, but if we’re proactive in affirming them in some way, it can go a long way in getting the relationship off to a good start.

What we must do well is exhibit the character of Christ through how we speak, not only the words we use, but our body language, especially to those we love the most.

In a recent Family Life devotional Janel Breitenstein said:“Rather than handing out half-truths like lollipops and calling it grace, honesty is actually an opening for true grace to pry its way in. As my husband and I speak accurately and humbly to each other, the culture in our marriage is changing. We are less defensive, less sensitive. This kind of culture says, ‘When we’re honest, this is what we are: both made in the image of God, and totally broken.’”

The bottom line for me is this – I want to be as honest with others as Jesus has been honest with me. It didn’t make me feel particularly good to be called a sinner in dire need of a Savior (not His exact words 😊), but it got my attention and ultimately led to my desire to walk with Him. His intention wasn’t to offend me. His desire was to love me. That’s what I want to do, but I don’t believe lying is the best way to accomplish it.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Rejoicing When Times Are Hard

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT)

There have been seasons in my life when things seemed barren. One of the hardest weeks of my life was shortly after my divorce. I was in a new commission only job and my check for two weeks was just under $20. I missed some meals and got lots of eviction notices in that season, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

While we’re generally reluctant to ask for difficult times, they’re very often God’s tools to shape us for His future service. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:4: “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

Some of the most rewarding moments in my life have been when I was able to secretly slip someone some money and say with genuine empathy: “I know what you’re feeling. I’ve been there.” Those are some of those “Ah hah!” moments when the Lord whispers: “Now aren’t you glad I let you go through that rough patch?”

I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy to rejoice in difficult times, but something the Lord is teaching me is that while I’m not required to love the difficult circumstance, I do need to always love Him. He is the reason for my rejoicing, not necessarily my immediate circumstance.

James writes I 1:2: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” I’ve learned to look for God’s fingerprints on my circumstances. What does that mean? There were times when I had no money and God would send someone to take me to lunch or shake my hand and give me $10 or $20. In times of great loneliness someone would become the arms of Jesus as they held me and let me cry.

God is good all the time! Whatever you’re having to deal with in this season of your life – don’t waste it! There’s always someone who is worse off than you. If you can still read these words, you’re blessed! If you have family, you’re blessed! If you have a job, you’re blessed! If you can speak, taste, touch, and smell, you’re blessed! The list is virtually endless of things for which we can give thanks regardless of our circumstances.

One suggestion. Rather than sit around bemoaning the fact you have problems, and please hear me, I know some who read these words have serious issues with which they must wrestle. But if only for a moment, focus on someone the Lord will bring to your mind, who could really use a call or note from you. Be the source of joy for someone else and I guarantee you the Lord will bless you for your kindness and thoughtfulness. You might be surprised at how encouraging the person you reach out to can be for you.

A loud thunderstorm was raging one night, and a mother rushed upstairs to check on her young son, as she suspected he would be frightened. But as she opened his door, he was sitting on the windowsill shouting with each boom of thunder: “Bang it again God! Bang it again!

Regardless of how bad things get, you’re never alone. NEVER!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Avoiding Infection

“For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes – so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to Me and let Me heal them.” (Matthew 13:15 – Jesus quoting Isaiah 6:9-10)

In a recent devotional article I read, Carlos Santiago was talking about a surgery he’d had and how the doctor explained that a single wayward bacteria could feed on his body and wreak havoc and how crucial clean bandages would be to keep any hint of them away from his wound.

He connected that to the Apostle Paul’s admonition in Ephesians 5:3 when he wrote: “Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.”

It’s ironic that we’re so careful to wear masks to protect ourselves from germs but pay little attention to the things we watch on TV or listen to. Our eyes and ears are windows to our soul that must be guarded as well. We take careful steps to guard against infection in our body, while opening the avenues of our mind to infection in our soul.

Carlos wrote: “Most of us are a lot more careful about our outward actions than our inward thoughts. But Jesus said, ‘… everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).’”

I’ve heard people say things like: “It’s okay to look at the menu as long as you don’t order anything.” Or “It doesn’t matter where you get your appetite as long as you eat at home.” Those are lies of Satan. It DOES matter if you look at a woman who is not your wife and ponder desire for her. It DOES matter if lust for another person is fueling your desire for your spouse.

Inappropriate sexual behavior has infected whole generations with poisonous lies that have ruined marriages and shattered families. Paul continues in verses 4-5: “Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes – these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.”

“Yeh,” you may retort, “but I’m saved. God will forgive me when I sin.” Yes, and no! If you’re a brand-new believer and are working towards eliminating these behaviors, yes, by all means, keep running back to the Cross and find forgiveness. But if you’ve said a prayer asking for forgiveness but have ignored all avenues of growth as a person of God, that’s a clear indication that God’s Spirit doesn’t reside in you, thus showing you aren’t walking with the Lord. If your walk doesn’t match your talk, you’re walking on a very precarious pathway.

Grace doesn’t overlook habitual sin from which I have no intention of turning. We are ambassadors of Christ, commissioned to carry the Good News of salvation to the people in our spheres of influence. But if our lifestyle is no different from the ones we’re seeking to reach, what are we calling them to? “Hey, come to Christ. He’ll forgive you, but you can continue to live any way you want.”

Paul wrote later in chapter 5:15-17: “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.”

When sin is infecting our heart and mind, we have no recourse but to give illustration to our sin-sickness in and through the way we live. If this is where you find yourself, seek out a godly person to walk with you if you genuinely desire to walk with Jesus. He will forgive you and fill you with His Spirit as you determine to allow Him to redirect your life.

And, yes, of course, it won’t be you doing the changing, but His power within you. But the point is – you change as you become a new person in Christ! You don’t stay the same.

Blessings, Ed 😊