Walking With Jesus

Forgiving Like Jesus

“If another person sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” (Luke 17:3b-4 NLT)

How does Jesus forgive? Think of the most insidious, demonic, vile, painful, horrific sin anyone could commit against you! Then ask yourself: “How could I ever forgive them?” The short answer is – you can’t! There are some things that are humanly impossible. But what is impossible for us is possible with God.

For some, it doesn’t take a second to bring something to mind, because they live with the horror of that remembrance every day. Why? Because there are some sins that we commit against one another that are inconceivable for us to even imagine, thus impossible to forget.

The truth is, what we, yes, what WE did to Jesus is far greater than anything we could ever do to one another. John Stott wrote: “Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us.”

Another consideration that is difficult, but with which we must come to grips, is this – you and I are capable of ANYTHING given the right set of circumstances.

Why is it so important that we understand these two truths? Because our tendency is to believe we’re better than we are, thus setting ourselves above those who commit sins of which we can’t conceive ourselves possible of committing. The other reason is, we underplay “our” sin, believing we’re a good “catch” for Jesus. Yes, of course, we’ve sinned, but not like __________, and you can fill in the blank. (i.e. murderers, rapists, child molesters, villains like Hitler, etc.).

That’s why forgiveness is so hard. We can’t envision ourselves ever doing to someone else what has been done to us. The fact is, we’ve done far worse when we nailed Jesus to the Cross and ignored His sacrifice as not needed by a good person like “me!” The same “goodness“ that prevents us from finding forgiveness from Jesus (because we don’t think we need it), is the same “goodness” that blocks the path of our forgiveness to those who sin against us.

Jesus forgives us COMPETELY! He casts our sin into the sea of forgetfulness NEVER to be remembered against us again. He doesn’t hold grudges. He doesn’t dig up past sins and hold them up in our face every time we come to Him – even far beyond four hundred and ninety times a day for the exact same thing! How can He do that? Because to Him, since He’s chosen to forget every sin, every time we ask, it’s as if we’re asking for the first time, every time.

Jesus forgives us REDEMPTIVELY! What does that mean? It means to Him our sin doesn’t disqualify us from future service. His blood “buys us back” from the pit of hell. He restores. He redeems, qualifies, and equips us to be whatever He has imagined we can become. Our sin doesn’t destroy His image of us, because He sees us through the lens of His holiness and perfection. He doesn’t focus on what we’ve done, but on what we can become, because of His sacrifice, and by His grace.

Yes, of course, what has happened to you is deeply regrettable, but by God’s grace and with His help you CAN forgive. What’s impossible for us is possible with God. Trust Him. Seek Him. Believe Him when He assures you that He will NEVER leave you or forsake you. You’re NOT ALONE in your pain. What happened to you isn’t your fault.

Forgiveness isn’t beneficial to the person that hurt you, it’s your lifeline to a new beginning. Please, for your sake, learn to forgive like Jesus.

Blessings, Ed

What Is Forgiveness?

“Then Peter came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?’ ‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven!’” (Matthew 18:21-22 NLT)

What is the Lord seeking to teach us about giving and receiving forgiveness? What will we do with that knowledge? How are our lives being affected by what we believe about forgiveness? What does it mean to be forgiven? To forgive? These and many other questions invade my mind as I wait before the Lord to hear what He would have me share today.

Forgiveness is a multi-faceted consideration. God needs no forgiveness, but we do. Yet, His forgiveness of us is often contingent upon our willingness to forgive others.

In Matthew 18 Jesus tells the story of a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with his servants. He brought one servant in who owed him millions of dollars. Because the servant couldn’t pay his debt, his master ordered that the servant, his wife, and each of his children should be sold in order to pay his debt.

As the story unfolds, the servant fell down before the king and begged him to be patient, telling him that he would find a way to pay the huge debt. The king was so moved by his pleading that he decided to forgive the servant his entire debt.

But when the servant left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him a few thousand dollars. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded immediate payment of his debt. The man fell down before him and begged for a little more time. But, unlike the king who had forgiven him his debt, he demanded his fellow servant be thrown into jail until every penny was repaid.

When some of the other servants saw what had happened, they went to the king and told him. Then the king called in the servant whose debt he’d forgiven and, because of his unwillingness to extend mercy to his fellow servant, the king had the man sent to prison and tortured until every penny was repaid.

Then Jesus said: That’s what My heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”

Obviously, He’s speaking of our brothers and sisters in Christ, because, while He paid the debt of sin for everyone who would seek His forgiveness, only those of us who have received His mercy and grace and found forgiveness from our sin, can begin to fathom the mountain of debt we owed that we could have never repaid, even if we had an eternity to try. We have no recourse but to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.

But what of those outside the family of God who hurt us in innumerable ways? What of those who’ve committed sins against us that literally have eternal consequences? Drunk drivers who have killed a family member or maimed us for life? Assaults against us, our children, or others we love, the consequences of which we’ll struggle to our last breath? The scenarios are too numerous to list, but you likely drew to mind a person or circumstance even as you were reading these words.

We’ll look at this more closely tomorrow but consider this: the reason forgiveness of others is so essential is because the grief, agony, and suffering experienced because of our unwillingness to forgive isn’t an issue for the offender, it’s an issue for us. It’s as if we’ve swallowed a cup of poison, expecting the other person to die. Unforgiveness only hurts one person – us!

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Christ-Life

“And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple.” (1 Peter 2:5a NLT)

As I reflect on some of my posts, the Lord is enabling me to see a couple of things that are critical that I understand. First, I’m not the “judge” of another person’s lifestyle or character. I cannot know another person’s heart, thus have no business trying to figure out why someone does or says something that I don’t understand or with which I may not agree.

My goal in these posts is to share what the Lord shares with me, believing He alone knows whose eyes will read the words He gives me. If I can bare my heart, I’m not writing to receive credit or recognition, I only want to exalt Jesus and point others to Him. HE gives me the words, so if any credit is due, it should all go to Him. So, to that end, today I’d like to share a few things that have helped me in my walk with the Lord, things that I trust will be useful to you and others with whom you do life.

In John 5:24 Jesus said: “I tell you the truth, those who listen to My message and believe in God who sent Me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” Our eternal life in Christ doesn’t begin when we die, it begins the moment we “listen … and believe.” Further, just as Jesus did only what He saw His Father doing, in our lives we should be doing only what we see Jesus doing. He IS our life, thus the life we live should give visibility and, on many levels illustrate what living the Christ-life should look like.

For example. In John 17:16-17 Jesus said: “My message is not My own; it comes from God who sent Me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether My teaching is from God or is merely My own.” If we desire to do God’s will, God’s Spirit within us will give us insight and understanding that what we’re reading in His Word is from God. I believe the same principle applies to those of us who are following Jesus. OUR words should be from the Spirit of God, modeled after the patterns of Jesus’ words. What might that look like?

The Light “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

Beth Moore wrote: “It will become increasingly vital that we learn to distinguish between what is pro-Christian and what is actually Christlike.” Jesus, in John 8:12 said that He is “the light of the world.” We can believe that statement without walking in the light ourselves. In other words, we can be “pro light” without leaving the darkness.

If I’m walking in the light of Christ’s life, I, too, must bear His light. If His life resides in me through the power of His Holy Spirit, it will be reflected, not only in my words, but in my life. To walk in light is to leave the darkness behind. How do I know that? Because Jesus said in the same verse: “If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Corky Calhoun wrote: “A journey only becomes a journey once you’re clear about the destination; otherwise, it’s just aimless wandering.” Walking with Jesus is a journey that begins the moment we step out of the darkness of sin and disobedience and begin to walk in the light of His loving grace and forgiveness. Trying to live with one foot in darkness (sin) and the other in the light of Jesus is like trying to hold onto the tails of two wild stallions headed in opposite directions.

To faithfully walk the Christ life doesn’t mean we’re perfect and will never sin again. But it does mean the longer we walk in His light, the less we desire the darkness.

Blessings, Ed 😊

A Lesson on Prejudice

“Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Please give Me a drink.’” (John 4:6-7 NLT)

Many, including Jesus’ Disciples, would have questioned Jesus’ judgment in traveling through Samaria. The hostility between Jews and Samaritans was well known. Yet, as the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Jesus planned this visit through Samaria because there was a specific person with whom He wanted to meet. Like in yesterday’s post, the “person was the purpose” of going that way.

It’s ironic that though Jesus was God in human flesh and had only three years to train eleven men to change the world with the Good News of His coming Kingdom, He was never in a hurry. Though He likely did as a child, there’s no evidence that Jesus ever ran as an adult. He walked circumspectly, in the sense that His life always had purpose. His mission was to “seek and to save the lost,” and He never missed an opportunity to go to the ones who needed Him most, yet likely would never have come to Him.

Jesus took a pause every day to seek His Father, from whom He would get His day’s assignment. On this day He didn’t pursue anyone, He just waited for her to come to Him. Why a well? Because it was the place the women of the village would come for water. Why noon? Because none of the other women would be there. Why not? Because all the “respectable” women came in the morning when it was cooler.

This unnamed woman who had been married five times and was living with a man to whom she wasn’t married, came to the well just as Jesus knew she would. To open His conversation with her He had only one request: “Please give Me a drink.” No doubt startled, not only that a Jew would ask a Samaritan for anything, but a Jewish man speaking to a Samaritan woman was very unorthodox. I encourage you to read the discourse between Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John 4 but let me make a few observations.

Their discussion touched on religious practices of the Jews and Samaritans, but then the woman revealed that she knew “the Messiah is coming, the One who is called Christ. When He comes He will explain everything to us.” And, for the first time, Jesus makes His true identity known, thus launching His public ministry. He said to her: “I Am the Messiah!”

Can you begin to grasp the significance of what He’s doing? The disciples’ believed Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, but Jesus is declaring – I AM is the Messiah for ALL lost sheep, not just those who are Jewish. He was telling this woman and US, the same thing He had told Nicodemus earlier: “For God loved the world (not just the Jewish people) so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that EVERYONE who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

It would have been like a black Jesus going into an all white neighborhood in the South in the 60’s. Hearts were blocked, not to God, but to each other because of prejudicial things that blinded them, but through which Jesus could easily see.

Jesus also knew that this very lost, and very hopeless woman, once she understood who He was, would tell anybody and everybody she could. So much so, the Bible says: “So the people came streaming from the village to see Him.”

Who are you telling about your Messiah? Like the Disciples, we’re often very prejudiced, not simply because of race, but mostly because we don’t like anyone who is different from us. But Jesus loves EVERYONE! That’s one of the many reasons I love my church so much. We have more than 50 language groups represented in our church. It’s literally like heaven every week when we worship together. When we come to Jesus, we’d better leave our pride and prejudice at the proverbial door, because there’s no room for hatred of any kind in the Kingdom of God.

Take a pause! Kneel in worship of Jesus, then rise to tell the world how loving, kind, good, and gracious He is. Perhaps He will use your testimony to draw others to Himself, as He used the testimony of the woman at the well.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Take a Pause!

“When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from a cemetery to meet Him.” (Mark 5:2 NLT)

Jesus told His disciples in the later verses of Mark 4: “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” There were two very significant events that took place on that short journey.

First, there was “a fierce storm” that threatened to sink their boat, while Jesus slept. Who caused that storm? Who rules over nature? God! But why that storm, on that lake, at that time? The disciples, in a panic, woke Jesus. Remember, this was in the midst of loud wind and crashing waves, so they’re shouting, “Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?” Jesus didn’t respond to their question, but immediately “rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”

These are simply words on a page to us, but to those early disciples the storm was an object lesson to build faith in a bunch of very fearful disciples. Do you understand that Jesus is still “causing storms” in people’s lives? Not to “drown” them, but to help them see who He is more clearly and to build their faith. Why is that so vital?

Remember the point of the boat ride? To go to the other side, right? What was waiting for them on the other side? A naked demon possessed man who was shrieking and screaming, and he was running straight for Jesus and His disciples. Can you even begin to imagine how frightening that would be? What do you think the disciples were thinking? Yet, what had they just experienced moments before in the boat?

Jesus had essentially taught them, that regardless of the severity of the “storm,” He has authority over it. Then He immediately puts them in this other horrifying “storm.” That may have been a “Depends” moment for me, and I suspect for some of the disciples, but as with everything else Jesus did, He had it under control. His mission wasn’t a location or an event, it was a person. This man WAS the reason for crossing the lake. We can learn a lot from that if we’re willing to take a pause.

The demon-possessed man was healed and wanted to follow Jesus, but instead, Jesus told him to “’go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.’ So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”

How like us when we have a “mountain top experience” spiritually. We just want to “camp out with Jesus.” But that’s not always God’s plan. Every circumstance in our lives, both good and bad, is a tool which Jesus is using to build us into His faithful followers who can share what He’s done for us with those in our spheres of influence. Some are orchestrated by Jesus, but some are not. Some are experiences that terrify and change us in ways we can’t imagine ever getting over. We carry the “nightmare” of those things so closely they begin to define us.

On some levels they become the “demon” that robs us of our will and dictates our behavior. Only Jesus can free us of those. No amount of willpower, counseling, or determination can do what only God can do in and for us. Trust Him, He knows your pain and He’s able to deliver you, if you’re willing to run to Him and cast your pain and fear at His feet. Let Him change your focus from what you were, or what happened to you, to what He can free you to become. He’s still a miracle worker. Take a pause with Jesus and let Him set you on a new course.

Blessings, Ed 😊

No Place Like Home

“But Jesus said ‘No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.’” (Mark 5:19 NLT)

Recently my wife and I met some dear friends in Utah and visited Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon. Wow! Trying to process what your eyes are seeing is a little bit like trying to take a sip of water from a fire hose. IMPOSSIBLE! Paul wrote in Romans 1:20 “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

The beauty and majesty of parks like Zion and Bryce Canyon become extended times of worship as we bask in God’s presence, realizing only God could make something that awe inspiring. But then, the natural progression of thought becomes: “If earth is THIS magnificent, what will heaven be like?”

Of course, nature is only part of what makes life on this planet so enjoyable. As believers we have not only our biological family, but we are members of the Body of Christ, the Family of God. It’s impossible to imagine what heaven will be like, not only in terms of its splendor and appeal visually, but also in terms of the people we’ll have opportunity to meet and get to know.

Think of Biblical characters of whom you’ve read. How about Jonah? How many people do you know on earth who have taken a three-day ride inside a huge fish and lived to tell about it? Or Daniel, who spent a night counting stars with the lions? Or David as he faced the giant? Or the three Jewish young men who took a walk with Jesus in the blazing furnace? Do you realize you won’t need to be introduced to any of these people, or anyone else in heaven for that matter, you’ll know them and they’ll know and love you.

What about language? Who cares! All I know is we’ll be able to know as we’ve been known, without ANY barriers between us and Jesus or other members of our eternal family. Also, you know that memory that seems to have taken leave? It’s coming home to you when you get to heaven. Every fond memory will be like you’re experiencing it for the first time. What’s my point in all these musings?

Simply this. When Kathy and I returned from our wonderful trip, even as we marveled looking at photos we’d taken, you know what we said when we pulled into our driveway? Yep, you guessed it! “It’s so good to be home!” There’s really no place like home is there?

Yet, even as I write these words, I realize there are millions of people across our world who don’t enjoy the privilege of a home of their own, or even a bed of their own. I’m reminded that the writer of the Hebrew letter speaks to the fact that as children of God we are “strangers and pilgrims” on this earth. We’re just passing through. This earth is not our home for long.

One day those of us who have pledged our allegiance to the King of kings and Lord of lords will go to our eternal home and to our loving Father. Whether we’ve lived in a castle or a cardboard box on this earth, we’ll be given a home of our own – one that we’ll enjoy for all eternity! One that will never be taken away! One that we’ll love, because it will be designed specifically with each one of us in mind.

This world, on many levels, is wonderful and enjoyable for many of us, but for far more, it’s a daily grind in a cycle of suffering, torment, and misery. By the grace of God, ANYONE and EVERYONE is invited to have a home in heaven through faith in God’s only Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the verse above from Mark, Jesus is telling a former demon possessed man who was begging to go with Him, to go back to his family and tell them the wonderful things God did for him. I believe that’s what Jesus is asking us to do.

Starting with our family and reaching out to everyone in our spheres of influence, let’s tell everyone about the unimaginably good things our Savior has done in, through, and on our behalf. We don’t want anyone to miss an opportunity to go to heaven. After all, there’s no place like our eternal home – with Jesus!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Praying Like We Expect an Answer!

“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 NLT)

There are numbers of stories in the Bible that inspire and challenge me, but none more than when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in John 11. I’ve often wondered why He postponed going to see His friend Lazarus when he was dying, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clearer. What can we learn? How might it teach, inspire, and encourage us to pray with more confidence and conviction?

Listen to what Jesus said when He got the news of Lazarus’s illness: “Lazarus’s sickness WILL NOT END IN DEATH.” How did Jesus know that? Because He’s God and He knows everything. We will do well to remember who we’re praying to. It may actually be a catalyst for bolder, more faith-filled prayers.

After Jesus arrived at Mary and Martha’s house, who were sisters of Lazarus, Martha ran to meet Jesus and immediately said: “Lord, if only You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever You ask.” Another valuable insight! The God to whom we pray can do anything we ask. He has no limitations; He’s all-powerful; all-knowing; ever present. But, like Martha, we say the words, but we don’t believe He’s really able to address OUR need in THIS moment.

Jesus even told Martha what He was going to do. “Your brother will rise again.” But she filtered that information through what SHE knew, not what Jesus knew. So, she responded: “’Yes,’ Martha said, ‘he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.’”

In the next verses Martha verifies her theology is right, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God who was sent from God, but she still doesn’t have a clue as to what Jesus is about to do. There are even those present who blamed Jesus for Lazarus’s death, but they didn’t make the connection, as we most often do not, that the power that could have healed Lazarus and kept him from dying, is the same power that can raise him from the dead.

“’Roll the stone aside,’ Jesus told them.” This is where the proverbial “rubber meets the road.” We can talk all day about what we believe about Jesus. How much power He has and that “nothing is impossible for God!” But we’re rarely, if ever, willing to roll the “stone from the tomb,” for fear it will cause a stink.

Martha, the one who just moments before said all the right things about Jesus, now says: “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Duh! Like Jesus didn’t know how long he’d been dead! How like Martha we are, yet we wonder why we never pray bold and “impossible” prayers. Jesus won’t raise our “dead” prayers unless and until we allow Him to roll the “stones” of our doubt away.

Jesus responded: “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” So, they rolled the stone away and Jesus did something that, hopefully, will give us insight into how we need to pray with expectation. He said: “Father, thank You for hearing Me. You ALWAYS hear Me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here (or reading these words), so that they WILL BELIEVE YOU SENT ME.’ Then Jesus shouted, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ And the dead man came out…”

Our Heavenly Father loves us as much as He loves Jesus. He listens to us as if He were listening to Jesus. He gives us the authority to do whatever He asks us to do, not for our recognition or glory, but for His. For God’s glory, let’s pray like we believe our own theology. Let’s boldly ask God to do things that will bring Him honor and fame. Let’s pray like we really expect an answer!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Praying With Intentionality!

“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24 NLT)

What is the Lord teaching you in this season of your life? Regardless of your age or station in life, if you love Jesus, His Spirit will continue to fill your heart and mind with truth.

While at a Spiritual Retreat, sponsored by our church, the Lord opened my spirit to some things about prayer that I’ve known in my head, but hadn’t connected to my heart. I “believed” them, but my faith hadn’t activated them as a regular part of my prayer time.

The first thing the Lord is seeking to teach me is to listen more attentively to His “voice,” whether through His written Word, other people, or directly from His Spirit. Then I need to live more intentionally, being guided by His Spirit, based on what He’s teaching me, especially in the arena of prayer.

The Power of God “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

Have you ever googled “Promises of God,” or looked in a Bible Concordance to begin to see how many times God has made promises to His children? Some calculations estimate there are more than 7,000 promises in the Bible.

During the retreat we reviewed about 40 promises, and I was amazed at how many times I read the words “I will!” For example: In Isaiah 40:31 – “the Lord WILL renew their (our) strength…” Or Isaiah 43:2 – “When you pass through the waters, I WILL be with you…”

Then I zeroed in on promises related to answering prayer. Verses like James 1:5 regarding God’s promise to give us wisdom when we ask. Or Mark 11:24: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and IT WILL be yours.” Or Jesus’ words in John 14:13: “And I WILL do whatever you ask in My name…You may ask Me for anything in My name and I WILL do it.” There are others, but that’s enough to make my point.

And, yes, I understand that implicit in these promises is the understanding that we ask in line with God’s will. But here’s the kicker, we don’t always know if something is in line with God’s will until we ask in faith. For example, as I’m writing this article, at least two people that I know, and love are on the threshold of death. Both, to my knowledge, are believers, and both are in their 70’s or beyond. How do I pray for them?

To me, death is the ultimate healing for a believer. To be in God’s presence whole for all eternity! It doesn’t get any better than that. BUT! What if God has other plans? What if God knows, for whatever reason, they need to live longer, that’s between them and God. Of course, it’s always our option to pray for God’s will to be accomplished, but on some levels, that’s a cop out.

Here’s the bottom line for me. This is what the Lord is teaching me regarding how and why I pray. He told me I need to pray with CONFIDENCE that He hears me. Why is that important? Because what’s the point of prayer if no one’s listening?

Secondly, He told me to pray with CONVICTION that His Words are true. Again, why is that important? Because if God’s Words aren’t true, we’re living a lie and we might as well just be speaking to the mirror. If we REALLY believe God is alive and what He tells us in His Word is true, then let’s pray like we believe it!

Thirdly, I need to pray with CERTAINTY that my Father will answer me. When I boil all of this down this is what I come up with: I need to pray in such a way that I’ll look foolish if God doesn’t answer. I must pray specifically and with intentionality, or why bother?

I may expand on this tomorrow.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The End of Our Life

“End the evil of those who are wicked, and defend the righteous. For You look deep within the mind and heart, O righteous God.” (Psalm 7:9 NLT)

The time I spent with my mentor and friend was so rich and there were so many “nuggets” of wisdom he shared, I must let you “hear” what the Lord was saying through him. You also need to know that he gave me liberty to “develop” his “gems” as the Lord directed me. May I remind you that Jim is suffering from dementia that has taken its toll on a once eloquent and powerful preacher and teacher. I marveled as I sat with him for more than four hours as God poured out these “words of wisdom.”

He said: “The end of your life is not ‘where,’ it’s more ‘what!’” How does that speak to you? For me, it speaks to God’s desire to have us so focus on Him and how He’s wired us to live and serve Him that heaven or hell is not our foremost concern.

Early on as a believer my efforts to please God weren’t so much for Him, but for me. On some levels I wanted to “deserve” heaven. I wanted it to be an easy choice for God to let me in. This is embarrassing to admit, but it took me a while to figure out our good works don’t “buy” us favor with God, they simply give expression to our gratitude for what God’s already done for us and given us by grace.

As God’s child I have a home in heaven He’s been preparing for me for a couple thousand years, so the “where” is no longer a concern. But what about the “what?” That’s an ongoing saga. As I see it unfolding in my life, I understand the “what” to be significant for a number of reasons.

I’m much closer to the end of my life than I am the beginning. So, as I look back on the portion of my life I’ve already lived, I must ask: “what have I accomplished for Christ to date?” As I understand my relationship with the Lord, I’m not the best judge of that, He is. It’s a “heart” issue more than a “performance” issue. It’s not so much about how much I accomplished, as it is how well did I love, serve, and obey?

Ultimately, it’s about how I fulfilled my role as God’s child. Was I the rebellious son who took what was his and headed to a faraway land? Or was I the pious, but very lost, son who stayed at home, hating every minute of it? Truthfully, probably a combination of both – until I came to my senses!

Sonship comprises the “what” as I understand it. Not so much “what did I do with my life?” as “what, by God’s grace, am I becoming as a man of God?” The “what” determines the “where.”

God gives each of us, as His children, gifts to be used specifically for our service in cooperation and coordination with the other members of the Body of Christ. That’s what makes the Church, the Family of God, so magnetic. We’re not brothers torn apart by the pull of the world, we’re brothers and sisters banded together by our love for the Father. It’s no longer “what do I want to do with my life?” It’s “what will most please my Father who loves me and always has my best interests at heart?”

Actually, in this season of my life I’m not focusing on the “where” or the “what,” I’m focusing on the “Who?” My daily goal is to keep my eyes on Jesus, seeking to walk as closely to Him as I possibly can. The person I most want to please is my Savior. He gave His all for me, can I give less than my all for Him?

Blessings, Ed 😊

Be Courageous!

“’Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged.’ Joshua told his men. ‘Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is going to do this to all of your enemies.’” (Joshua 10:25 NLT)

Have you ever asked yourself or someone else: “Where did courage originate?” On some levels it’s an easy question to answer. Where did any human emotion come from? Where did anything find its origin? “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1)

Is courage like character? Can anyone have it or is it just for special people?

The story in Joshua 10 that precedes the above quote may be enough to give anyone courage. Five Amorite kings combined forces to battle against the city of Gibeon, an ally of Joshua. So the king of Gibeon sent for Joshua and his army to come and help. As he was leaving his camp the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid of them, for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.” (vs 8) The Lord threw the enemy army into a panic and the Israelite army slaughtered many.

But the day was passing quickly and there were still many enemy soldiers to pursue, so Joshua prayed this prayer in front of all the people of Israel: “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” Then the next verse says: “So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.”

Courage isn’t built on strong prayers. Strong prayers are prayed by people of courage. Why did Joshua have such courage? Because he trusted God to do what only He could do.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

What “mighty army” are you facing today? A health issue? A financial problem? A relational challenge? An addiction? A law suit? Divorce? Whatever it is BE COURAGEOUS! You and God are a majority! Albert Mohler said: “Instead of praying for comfort, we should pray that the Lord would get us into the right kind of trouble.”

We don’t grow unless we have a challenge. When everything is going well, we rarely if ever pray as sincerely and as earnestly as when our back is against the wall. The great evangelist, D. L. Moody said: “Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The only way to trouble God is not to come at all.”

God’s not going to equip us with courage to stand on the sidelines and watch others go to battle. He only gives courage to warriors who are willing to risk everything for His honor and fame. God chose Joshua to take Moses’ place at the helm of the Israelite people. He was God’s choice to lead them into their promised land. He was to lead men who were the children of slaves and who had never been in battle, against seasoned warriors who were much bigger and stronger.

We don’t pick our battles, God does, and He knows what He’s doing. Whatever you’re facing, put your trust in God, not in yourself. God’s Word, the Bible, is His battle plan. Read it. Learn it. With the Spirit’s help, apply it to your life.

We’re not courageous because we’re comparing ourselves with the enemy. No wonder we’re afraid. Vance Havner wrote: “When a man (person) makes alliance with the Almighty, giants look like grasshoppers.” Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and our hearts aligned with His will and leave everything else to Him. The battle is the Lord’s. Therein lies our courage.

Blessings, Ed 😊