Walking With Jesus

Knowledge Without Love

“But it wasn’t long before reports got back to the Thessalonian hard-line Jews that Paul was at it again, preaching the Word of God, this time in Berea. They lost no time responding, and created a mob scene there too.” (Acts 17:13 The Message)

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression: “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Having a lot of knowledge can also be dangerous, especially if what you’re learning has led you to believe something that isn’t true.

The Apostle Paul, though Jewish himself, suffered at the hands of angry Jews on many occasions, which on some levels was odd to me because Paul, more than any of the other leaders of the fledgling Christian faith, knew the Jewish faith inside and out. He had been a Pharisee, a member of the strictest sect of the Jews. Perhaps it was because he could argue convincingly from his personal experience and easily counter their objections.

For whatever reason, Paul was often confronted by intolerance and anger from people who were very knowledgeable, but not very loving. Things haven’t changed much, have they?

Many people today, both right and left, major on learning their agenda and jargon and seeking to spew it out on anyone who will listen, or perhaps more accurately, forced to listen. But, as much as that disturbs me on an emotional level, that’s not what saddens my heart the most.

What breaks my heart, and I believe breaks God’s heart, is when people or groups from differing denominational affiliations or systems of theological belief, take aim at each other. My personal growth and development as a believer took place primarily in the context of a small, conservative tradition. I didn’t notice it much initially, but it seems in retrospect that our concerns focused, not on what we believed, but on what others believed that didn’t align with “us.”

As a result, I was constantly evaluating people on what “church” they attended or pastored? Or what they believed about “this or that” specific doctrine. And honestly, my expectation didn’t center on hearing what they said, I just wanted to tell them what they should be believing. You’ll probably find this fascinating, but it never quite turned out the way I expected.

It didn’t occur to me for many years that Jesus rarely ever did things like that. And I can “hear” someone saying, “What do you mean He ‘rarely’ did that?” Well, He did give the Jews a hard way to go sometimes, much to the delight of most of His audiences.

But that’s not the purpose of this post. I don’t want to create further division; I just want to make a few observations in the hopes of pursuing oneness in love, even if not in doctrine. It wasn’t until I took some severe “beatings” from my like-minded brethren and sisters that the Lord began to open my heart and mind to those who didn’t believe exactly like me.

The Lord led me to Pastors with whom I enjoyed fellowship, not based on our differences, but based on our mutual understanding of the basic tenets of the Christian Faith. They had extensive knowledge, but more they had heart-warming and inclusive love. They accepted me and, by God’s grace, I accepted and loved them in return.

Knowledge is a wonderful thing, if it leads you to greater love and respect for, not only those with whom you agree, but those with whom you disagree. The Lord’s teaching me to listen a lot more than I speak these days. He’s also helping me to understand that in many cases, those with whom I have denominational or even theological differences aren’t nearly as “wrong” as I made them out to be. I’ve learned to love, respect, and appreciate them and look forward to being in heaven with them, where I suspect, we’ll both be surprised at some things we’ve missed.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Unity Without the Gospel

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1 NLT)

It is wonderful to live in harmony and oneness, especially in a family – husbands and wives, moms and dads, parents and children, and even as co-workers or neighbors. And as we think of the Church as the “Family of God,” it makes recognizing and following the dictates of God’s heart easier to follow and enables us together to fulfil His mission much more effectively and fruitfully.

Unity is certainly a Biblical instruction, but what does it mean? From a Biblical perspective it means: “unanimity, agreement, together, altogether, all together, alike.” (Strong’s) Notice what it doesn’t say – “uniformity!” “Like” and “alike” have reference to that which holds us together as one, not the characteristics of each one being held together. The common denominator that unifies and keeps us together is our common belief in the completed work of Christ on the Cross and our resultant common mission to spread the good news of new life and hope in Jesus. But we can approach the fulfillment of that mission in many varied and unique ways, both as local church bodies and as individual believers.

J.C. Ryle wrote: “Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity, it is the very unity of hell.” While I agree with what I believe to be the author’s heart in this quote, I believe it deserves some perspective. When it comes to the Church of Jesus Christ, we must be very cautious with whom we form alliances. There are causes in which I believe and to which I contribute money and time, but they are humanitarian causes that are very different than the mission of the church, and while they may be good, cannot be allowed to draw us away from our central calling as Christ’s Body.

There are also “churches” that preach and promote non-Biblical teachings in an effort to “unite” people under their particular banner. And please understand, these are often very friendly, nice, and sincere people, but they’re sincerely wrong in their theology. Any person or group who denies the deity of Jesus or distorts God’s Word to fit their agenda does not deserve our money or our time, unless and until they’re willing to listen to the truth of God’s Word and be transformed by it, which, unfortunately rarely happens.

That isn’t to say we can’t support other groups or activities that aren’t strictly evangelical, in the sense that what they’re doing isn’t directly inviting people to become believers. I think of organizations such as Right to Life or Family Life, Focus on the Family, CRU, InterVarsity, and the like. Some of these ministries were birthed from the hearts of people who love Jesus and just wanted to move in directions they couldn’t move within the context of a local church.

Photo by Lagos Food Bank Initiative on Pexels.com

Even things like “Food Drives” or “Blood Donations” can be helpful to the communities in which the local church serves and give the church opportunity to meet and learn the needs of their neighbors. There are numerous ways the church united can carry the mission forward to the glory and honor of the Lord.

One last consideration regarding the unity of the church. The oneness, like-mindedness, and corporate devotion to the mission of the church doesn’t mean we can’t individually be effective in forwarding our united purpose. Realizing the unity of the church is focused and centered on the Gospel of Christ as taught and understood by the Church universal across the ages, we must therefore allow the Spirit of God to inform and transform our efforts as individual believers. Being sensitive to and proactive at every opportunity to share love, kindness, compassion, gentleness, and the good news of Jesus with the ones we meet during the course of our daily lives should be part of our normal routine.

To believe the only “united” effort we can make is in the company of other believers is to misunderstand the call of the Gospel. People aren’t saved in groups; they’re saved one person at a time. The Lord often lays on my heart, and I hope on yours, to speak or pray with someone I meet. I consider those divine appointments that give me opportunity to forward the mission and promote the unity of God’s church while at the same time submitting to Christ’s authority in my own heart and life. The salvation of lost souls must be at the heart of our unified efforts, both collectively and individually.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Faith Without Good Deeds

“How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (James 2:20 NLT)

Throughout the Bible there are numerous truths that are emphasized in comparison with something else. Things like “faith without good deeds,” “knowledge without love,” “pleasing God without faith,” and many more. In the next few posts, I’d like to highlight some of these comparisons to see if it can help guide us in being more effective in our witness for Christ.

Our dilemma regarding faith and works is there are numerous points of view which tend to lean in one of two directions. There are those who believe all you need is faith to be saved, and those who believe works or good deeds is the real evidence of salvation. My heart in these articles is to understand what the Bible says and seek to understand it in a way that will exalt Jesus in and through my life most effectively.

James, the author of the above quote, is the half brother of Jesus. He lived his whole life in the shadow of the Messiah, yet he didn’t place his trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord until after Jesus was crucified and resurrected. To live your life with someone, watch them die, then see them after they’ve been resurrected would be a pretty strong argument that He’s the real deal. What’s my point? I put a lot of credence in James’ opinion on this matter.

“Acknowledge His Ways” “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

James lived through all of this. He watched the way Jesus lived, even before He put his faith in Him. He understood like few could, that there was never a point in Jesus’ life when He didn’t exhibit the presence and power of God in and through everything He said and did. Couple that with what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 11:6: “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

Additionally, one very strong argument to me is the emphasis Jesus placed on His own “works.” For example, when John the Baptist questioned whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responded by saying: “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5 NLT) But we have to balance that with what Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23: “On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’”

How do we give expression to our sincerity as we seek Him? Isn’t it through the disciplines of our life? How we pray, study, and seek to live God’s Word, as well as the fruit of His presence as it’s revealed in and through our lives. How can you love someone by faith alone? How can we demonstrate kindness, generosity, and compassion by faith alone? There must be tangible evidence of the life we profess to possess.

But, as Jesus explained, we can exhibit powerful manifestations, even miraculous things, without faith in Christ. We must understand that Satan also possesses miraculous power, that he will put on display, fooling many in the last days.

So, I’m with James. Faith not verified by good deeds, that not only reveal the power of God, but the fruit of His character, is worthless in God’s sight. And just for the record – life without Jesus is hell, whether now or throughout eternity.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Does It Mean That Jesus Has Overcome the World?

“…But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b NLT)

John Piper said: “You cannot know what prayer is for, until you know that life is war.” Neither can you know how valuable and profoundly important it is that Jesus has overcome the world, until you know that being a believer in Jesus is a declaration of war against Satan.

When Satan was tempting Jesus, the souls of all mankind hung in the balance. Had Jesus succumbed to Satan’s tempting offers, we would have no Savior! Do you remember what the context of the whole framework of Jesus’ temptation hinged upon? Worship!

Luke 4:5-8 says: “Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ‘I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them.’ The devil said, ‘because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will WORSHIP ME.’ Jesus replied, ‘The Scriptures say, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve ONLY HIM.””

We live in the tension created by the ongoing battle between these two kingdoms – the Kingdom of God, ruled by God, and the kingdoms of this world, ruled by Satan. Satan understands he’s a defeated foe and he’ll use any means at his disposal to “kill and steal and destroy” (John 10:10) anyone who refuses to bow down and worship him. And please understand – to not worship Jesus is to worship Satan! To not submit your life to Jesus is to accept and be motivated by the authority of the evil one. Yes, Satan can be very subtle.

Anyone born of the seed of Adam is, by default, a child of the evil one. We are not, as is commonly misunderstood, children of God by creation. Only Jesus, born of a virgin who carried the seed of God, is truly a “Child of God.” The only possible way to become a child of God is to be born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:7).

“Dead to sin, alive to Christ” “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

Until Jesus, the Messiah, our Deliverer came to earth, and voluntarily laid down His sinless life as the sacrificial Lamb of God who took upon Himself the sins of all who would one day yield their life and allegiance to Him, there was no hope of eternal life. And from the Cross Jesus declared once and for all that Satan no longer had any claim on those who would place their trust in Jesus. To believe we, as God’s children, can coast through life without feeling the effects of Satan’s outrage is to believe a lie, which is among Satan’s favorite tools.

But we must also never forget the words of 1 John 4:4: “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people (who are not of God) because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” When the Bible says that Jesus has overcome the world it means that Jesus has conquered, prevailed, that He is once and for all eternity victorious over Satan and his emissaries. It means sin’s case against you has been settled and, because of Jesus, you have won!

But it also means you must be vigilant as you walk the pathways of this world. Satan may know he’s defeated, but he wants to take as many to hell with him as possible. Peter reminds us: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

In any war there are casualties. May I remind you that no one escapes this life alive without Jesus. Until He comes, we must warn everyone we know that the end is near and the only answer to our sin is a Savior. His name is Jesus! Share Him with everyone you can, as often as you can, for as long as you can!

Blessings, Ed 😊

You’re Doing More Than You Realize

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart…” (Matthew 12:35a NLT)

Have you ever been discouraged? Of course you have, as I and every other believer who ever lived has. What does it mean to be discouraged? From a Biblical perspective, it means “to be disheartened, dispirited, or broken in spirit.” (Strong’s) What causes us to be discouraged?

At the root of virtually every cause of every negative emotion is a catalyst of some sort. For Jesus followers the key cause is most often satanic influence, but it can come in many forms. Things like an unkindness; failure to get a promotion or to complete an assignment; the breakup of a relationship or an argument with our spouse; disappointment our kids aren’t living as close to Jesus as we’d hoped. There are dozens of “triggers,” but the bottom line is, it derails us, preventing us from being as effective as we can be.

What often happens in those circumstances is we negate virtually everything positive the Lord has accomplished and is accomplishing through us. We gather ourselves in a big circle of pity and proclaim: “I can’t do anything right!” or “everything I do just ends in failure!” Of course, those observations aren’t true, but they seem true in that moment, don’t they? How can we combat those demonic attacks?

One way is by learning to believe the truth. Sounds right, but how do I do that? One way is by remembering that any good that comes from us is coming from the Lord. As His sacred instruments, He flows in and through us accomplishing more than we could ever begin to imagine.

Scottish Pastor and hymn writer, George Matheson wrote: “We are doing more good than we know. The things we do today – sowing seeds or sharing simple truths of Christ – people will someday refer to as the first things that prompted them to think of Him. For my part, I will be satisfied not to have some great tombstone over my grave but just to know that common people will gather there once I am gone and say, ‘He was a good man. He never performed any miracles, but he told me about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself.’”

In my mind I imagine entering the gates of heaven and seeing the faces of loved ones and friends who have preceded me. But beyond those I recognize, in my mind’s eye, I see those whose faces are unfamiliar, yet their smiles seem as if I should know them. The Lord explains: “These are the ones whose lives were touched by those whose lives you touched.”

We can never calculate the ways God will use a kind deed or word we share with a stranger, who may not even know our name, but God knows. And the Lord plants that seed of kindness in that person’s heart. Over the years and through the circumstances of that person’s life, God waters that seed, until one day it blossoms into a relationship with Jesus. But the Lord isn’t finished.

He takes that person’s new faith and uses it to plant seeds in other people’s hearts and minds until, over the years, faith has been ignited in multiplied thousands, and lives have been touched and changed by the power of God’s Spirit working through one small kindness. Think of what He can do with all the things you’ve done and words you’ve spoken intentionally to honor the Lord and point others to Him.

You have no idea how much good you’ve done. How much honor you’ve directed to Jesus. How many people’s lives in whom you’ve planted the seed of hope. By loving your children and grandchildren with the love of Jesus, you’ve opened the door of opportunity for millions of people to catch a glimpse of heaven because of your unselfish devotion to your spouse, children, grandchildren, extended family, neighbors, and friends who all know how much you love Jesus. You’re among God’s favorite heroes of the faith.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Is a Hypocrite?

“It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.”” (Matthew 7:5 The Message)

Have you ever been called a hypocrite? I have. And it stung. Not because I was offended, but because in that moment, it seemed an accurate observation. We know when we mess up and we must live with the unfortunate consequences.

The Christian hip hop singer, Lecrae, wrote: “Yes I’m a Christian. Yes, I make hypocritical decisions. Yes, I fall. I stumble. I struggle. I am a mess. But I’m God’s mess. And He can turn a mess into a masterpiece.”

Those of us who are Jesus followers understand what he’s talking about, but those words can be confusing words to someone who doesn’t yet know the Lord. We understand that we’re “works in progress,” but it can appear to be a clear case of fraudulence to an unbeliever when they see or hear something from us that isn’t a positive representation of what Jesus would say or who He is.

It’s ironic that pre-Christians expect us to be perfect when they clearly know they’re not. But think with me a minute. Put yourself in their shoes. Often to notice someone who professes faith in Christ has said or done something “hypocritical” can mean a couple of things. It either means the person making the accusation is a pharisaical “Christian,” seeking to judge you to make themselves look better, or they’re a seeker hoping and praying this Christianity business is real. They want you to be the real thing. They need you to be authentic and uncompromising.

When we fall; when we fail to live up to the standards of Biblical Christianity, we not only fail our Lord, we fail those who walk with us in our faith. But worse, we fail those whom the Holy Spirit is drawing to Jesus, painting for them an inaccurate picture of what it means to be a Jesus follower. Depending on how we respond to our failure we can push them further away. As believers, when we stumble, and we all do, let’s own it.

When I was just starting out as a youth Pastor, I was given responsibility to make sure each graduating senior received a gift from the church. Most were given during Sunday morning worship, but there were several that then became my job to personally deliver. The plot thickened because I was brand new. I knew almost no one, and especially not any students who didn’t regularly attend. So I procrastinated. Long story short, I got a call from the Elder who was overseeing the Youth Ministry. He was not happy.

He chewed my ear for several minutes, letting me know I’d failed the church, the kids, him, the Lord and on and on. I listened silently. Finally, he took a breath and said: “Aren’t you going to respond? Aren’t you going to defend yourself?” Sheepishly I admitted: “I have no defense; I was wrong, and I’ll make it right.”

That Elder became a Mentor and friend from that experience.

According to Strong’s Concordance, a “hypocrite” is “one who answers, an interpreter; an actor, stage player; a dissembler, pretender.” In other words, it’s someone who deliberately misrepresents the truth. They knowingly pretend to be something they’re not. I pray that’s never any of us who bear our Savior’s holy Name.

Yes, we mess up. Yes, we’re “masterpieces” in the making. And no, we’re not, nor will we ever be perfect this side of eternity. But when we fail or stumble or fall, or sin, whatever you choose to call it, let’s own it and make it right as quickly as we possibly can, with the Lord first, then with whomever we need to as He directs.

Those watching our lives may misunderstand and misuse the word “hypocrite,” but may it never be true of those of us who are seeking to walk circumspectly before our perfect Master, Redeemer, and Friend.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Are We Saved To? (Part 2)

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” (Philippians 3:10-11 NLT)

In yesterday’s post we began to look at what we’re called “to” as a child of God. It’s so comprehensive, yet I want to encourage you to dig deeper. Being a Christ follower is rich and full and meaningful on every level of our lives. If I wrote a hundred books to seek to describe what we are invited into as God’s child, I could barely scratch the surface. But having said that, let’s look at a few more today. As a child of God, His Spirit calls us to:

Become Students as we submit our lives ever more fully to God’s Spirit! Jesus said in John 14:26: “…the Holy Spirit – He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.” As a child of God, regardless of our age, we can never cease to be students of God’s Word. The Spirit will inform us, but He will go further in enabling us to know how to apply what we’re learning to our lives. It’s ironic to me that the elite followers of the Jewish faith memorized the Torah, the five books of the writings of Moses, yet they still missed Christ. We can know the Bible from cover to cover, but still miss Christ if we’re not allowing the Holy Spirit to inform us how to apply what we’re learning. Study without the guidance of the Holy Spirit is, for all intent and purpose, valueless. We must be filled, empowered, and enabled by God’s Spirit, not only in what the words and passages mean, but how they can best be used in teaching, leading, and equipping those in whom we’re pouring our lives.
Become contributing members of Christ’s Body, the Church! As I mentioned yesterday, we’re “born again” into God’s Family. It’s our responsibility to find our place, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and with the help of other members of the family, in a local congregation or fellowship of God’s people. As we grow and learn and allow others to pour into our lives, we must in turn, be pouring our lives into others. And remember, you don’t have to be a college graduate to teach a first grader, you only need to be a second grader. You will always have something to teach someone who’s hungry to learn of God.
Become One with God! We’re called to oneness with God. In the verse at the top of this post from Philippians 3, Paul says he wants to “know” Christ. This is the same word used in Genesis 4:1 when it says: Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife…” It’s a term of intimacy that can only be shared in the context of deep, abiding commitment. There’s no greater illustration of oneness physically. That’s why adultery is so wrong. It’s not only a violation of God’s law, it’s a violation of our bond of oneness with the one to whom we’ve pledged our lives in marriage. It’s ironic that someone who seeks oneness with multiple partners will never experience the oneness for which they seek. That kind of oneness, the oneness that God desires for us to have with Him, can only grow out of unreserved and undivided loyalty and commitment.

The life to which we’re called as a believer in Jesus is so liberating, yet can feel so restraining; so enjoyable, yet can be so heart-breaking; so exhilarating, yet can be so draining; so calming, yet so disturbing; so relaxing, yet so intense; so rich and rewarding, yet there are times we feel we’re just spinning our wheels. That’s why the disciplines we learn as we draw ever closer to Jesus, must demand complete surrender to the Spirit, who will then give us complete freedom to feel all the emotions our Lord experienced as He sought to carry out the will of His Father while on this earth. There is no greater privilege than to be a child of the living God.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Are We Saved To?

“Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life.” (1 Timothy 6:3 NLT)

There is much more to being a follower of Christ than being forgiven. The emphasis of many is what we’re saved “from.” We are delivered from a life of sin and estrangement from God. We’re filled with God’s Spirit and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We’re promised a life of hope that will one day lead us to our eternal home in heaven. We’re given power that exceeds anything the devil can send against us, and we’re given an eternal family, of which we become a member the moment of our new birth. That’s certainly a wonderful beginning to a brand-new life in Christ, but what are we saved “to?”

If the only reason we’re saved is to go to heaven, why not keep a shot gun by the altar and after someone prays for forgiveness, we can ask them: “Are you saved? Are you certain you’ve placed your hope and trust in Jesus?” And when they respond: “Oh yes, absolutely, Christ is mine and I am His!” Then we can say: “Hallelujah!” BOOM! Another saved child of God is off to heaven!

Yes, I know! I know how ridiculous that is, but no more so than someone who professes faith in Christ yet doesn’t understand or care that now the effects of the work Christ began in us must launch us into a life motivated, informed by, and lived for the Lord Jesus. We’re given new life in Christ for some very specific reasons. We’re born again by the Spirit of God to . . .

Become a Member of His Forever Family! Pastor Rick Warren wrote in a recent devotional: “Some people think of the church as a building, an institution, or an event you attend. The church isn’t any of those things. It’s a family you belong to.” While I sadly realize there are exceptions in the world in which we live today, as a rule, when we’re born as a human being, we’re born into a family. It’s like that when we’re born again of the Spirit. God has created the Church to be the place of spiritual nurturing and for the training of new believers, giving them insight and understanding as to how they should now live as one who has been saved to live a godly and exemplary life of faith.
Become Transformed by the renewing of our minds! Jesus said in Matthew 16:24: “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.” What does that mean? It essentially means to set aside your will in favor of knowing and doing God’s will. How can that happen? By learning to think differently. Paul wrote in Romans 2:2: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing, and perfect.”
Become a Witness to what New Life in Christ should look like! Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” We’re saved from sin to a new life of godliness, in the pursuit of holiness, seeking daily to become more and more like Jesus.

There are many more dimensions to the life into which we’re saved, so we’ll look at a few more tomorrow.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When God Says “No” – Part 2

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.” (2 Corinthians 12:8a NLT)

In yesterday’s post we looked at why God answered Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane “no.” Today we’ll look briefly at how God answered the Apostle Paul’s request for physical healing, using his experience as a springboard into why He sometimes answers our prayers with a “no.”

Paul had a physical issue, that I personally believe, had to do with his eyes. If for no other reason, I draw that conclusion from the fact that his “letters” comprise nearly two thirds of the New Testament. Why would he have someone else write the letters, then “sign” them with an oversized signature? That’s a discussion for another day, that’s just my opinion.

Regardless of what his condition was, he “begged” God on at least three occasions “to take it away,” yet God didn’t heal him. Instead, God said: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” What can we learn from Paul’s dilemma?

“Walk Humbly” – Tess Shoemaker “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

My conviction when I pray and ask God for answers is two-fold: First, if what I’m asking is not in line with His will, I don’t want it. And, secondly, if God can’t trust me to have whatever it is I’m asking Him to give me, I don’t want it. I’ve come to realize, as Paul did, that God’s will is best period!

So, how does Paul’s negative answer apply to our prayers? Why does God sometimes say “no?” One thing as we start is, God will never say “no” to something that is in line with His will. He may delay His response until other things are in place, but He will never deny a request that’s prayed in accordance with His will. But understand, there are some prayers that God is prevented from answering. How so?

We know that it’s always God’s will for people to be saved, to come to faith in Jesus. These requests fill my prayers every day. However, if a person is adamant that they will not yield their life to Christ, God will not override their resistance or force them to become a believer. The father in the story of the “prodigal son” in Luke 15 watched for the return of his son and opened his arms to him when he chose to return, but he didn’t go in search of him.

It’s always our responsibility to come to God in response to all He’s done for us. His Holy Spirit will draw us and create circumstances that will point us to God, but He will never make us come to Him against our will.

Otherwise, here are some (not all) reasons God will answer “no” to our prayers.

If, like the Apostle Paul, God has concern that our pride will get in the way of His use of us. Paul was a brilliant and capable man. And, like many today, he could easily have mistaken God’s activity in and through him, for his own strength and ability. God’s desire is that we become willing vessels through whom He can flow to do work that in and of ourselves could never be accomplished. That’s why it’s called “faith.”
If whatever we’re asking is not in our best interests. I’ve begged God for things He didn’t give me, but over time I realized it would have been a big mistake for me to have gotten that for which I was praying. (i.e. that relationship, that job, that material possession, etc.)
If it’s clearly (to God) not in line with His will. The best way to know if something is or isn’t in line with God’s will is to read and study the Bible (God’s Word). There are some things that are clearly wrong and would not be God’s will for us. I never have to pray for what kind of car I should steal; whose money I should seek to fraudulently obtain; who I should kidnap, kill, with whom I should commit adultery or fornication; live with out of marriage; etc.). These are all things clearly taught in Scripture to be displeasing and dishonoring to the Lord.

There are others, but hopefully that will point you to Scripture to help you better understand why God sometimes must tell us “No” when we pray.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When God Says “No”

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me.” (Matthew 26:39 NLT)

Has God ever said “no” to you when you thought you were asking in complete faith and trust?

Have you ever prayed, agonizing in your spirit, begging God to take something: a pain, some form of suffering/sickness, from you or a loved one? What about something you wanted Him to give you? Healing? Provision? Job? Relationship? Something material? Or perhaps your prayer focused on something you were facing that you didn’t want to go through? There are times in the Bible when God has said “no.”

God generally answers prayer in one of three ways: Yes, No or Wait. Sometimes the answer comes quickly, but other times it comes over a long period of time. Today I’d like to look at why God answers “no,” and what that can mean.

The two examples that first came to mind were Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane shortly before His betrayal and arrest, and Paul, as he sought healing for a physical condition.

In Matthew 26 we get background information that led up to Jesus’ request to allow Him not to have to go to the Cross. For anyone who thinks what Jesus endured prior to and including what He experienced on the Cross was easy, think again. Most men wouldn’t have made it to a cross, they wouldn’t have survived the torture and torment Jesus had to endure before He was nailed to the Cross. But the most painful part of what caused Jesus’ suffering wasn’t physical.

“Jesus Paid It All” “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

Jesus alone could have had insight into what His sacrifice would entail. He alone would have known that when the sin of the world was placed on Him, His Father would have to turn His eyes away (see Habakkuk 1:13; Matthew 27:46). Jesus had never in all eternity been separated from the Father for one millisecond. But Jesus also knew, if He failed to pay the penalty for sin, all mankind would be eternally lost, without hope, without a Savior.

Jesus didn’t die for His sins, He had none. He died for mine and yours. He traded His perfect life for every sin that has ever been or will ever be committed by anyone willing to receive His gift of forgiveness and eternal life by grace, and who will place their trust in His completed work on Calvary.

The other piece of this that I can’t prove Biblically but believe in my heart is true, is my conviction that had Jesus not been willing to accept God’s will and had made the decision not to move forward with God’s plan to be arrested, tortured, and crucified in our place, I believe God would have called a halt to the whole plan and rescued His Son without delay. Why do I believe that? Because no one, not even the totality of all creation, meant more to God than the life of His Son. If you doubt this, just ask yourself: “What if it was MY son?”

Mark 14:36 records the first word of Jesus’ prayer as “Abba.” “Abba” is a term of endearment. It can be compared with the words a child would use when they’re first learning to speak. Words like “dada” or “papa” or “daddy.” The picture that formed in my mind was of my son, when he was suffering from leukemia and my response if he’d asked me: “Papa, would you please take this cancer away?” Nothing would have prevented me from doing exactly what he asked if there was any possible way for me to do it.

God has unlimited resources as the Sovereign Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of everything that is. By His word He could have changed everything in Jesus’ circumstances in the twinkling of an eye, the same as He’ll change each of His children when Jesus returns. But because Jesus understood all of that, He was quick to add: “If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42 NLT) All praise to our glorious Savior for His willingness to allow God’s will to be done in and through His life, for us.

That’s just one time when God said “no.” Tomorrow we’ll look at why He sometimes says “no” to us.

Blessings, Ed 😊