Walking With Jesus

The Darkness of That Saturday!

“But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.” (Luke 23:56b NLT)

We, as followers of Jesus, celebrate Good Friday, commemorating the day Jesus died for our sin. And we joyfully worship on Resurrection Sunday, acknowledging Jesus’ victory over death and the grave. But seldom do we hear a message regarding the Saturday in between.

Luke 23:49 references “Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, (who) stood at a distance watching.” What were they watching? When Jesus was being removed from the Cross, they wanted to see where His body would be buried.

They loved Him and followed Him in His life and ministry, and they wanted to honor Him in His death, even amid their heartache and sorrow. They needed to know where to go on Sunday morning, following the Sabbath restrictions, so they could prepare His body for a proper burial. Little did they know on Friday what they would find when they went to His tomb on Sunday.

As the sun set on that horrific day, many of those who loved and followed Jesus thought all hope was lost. They hadn’t been privy to what Jesus had told His disciples about His resurrection, and even those who heard, including the disciples, didn’t understand. How could they?

Though they’d seen Jesus raise the dead during His life, they hadn’t yet connected the proverbial “dots” that by the same power that raised Lazarus and others, that same Spirit would enable Jesus to walk out of His grave under His own power.

The darkness of that Saturday couldn’t have been blacker or more foreboding as those who loved Jesus anticipated the beginning of another chapter of their lives, without Jesus. Think of their grief. They’d believed Jesus was their answer to the hope they’d held for liberation, peace, contentment, happiness, life itself, but now He was dead. How could life go on? How could they face another day without Him?

Have you ever lost someone who, to you, represented everything good in your life? In your mind, it was as if life without “them” was like life without love, without meaning, without purpose, without hope. Multiply that by a thousand and you’ll get a sense of what those “friends” of Jesus were experiencing.

Like the men on the road to Emmaus, many were struggling to discover how they would – how they could – go back to life without Jesus. All their hopes were centered on Him. Their futures were envisioned with Jesus as their primary point of reference. Every thought, every decision, and every relationship was filled with Jesus and living out the plans He had for them.

What do you do when you lose hope? When sadness envelopes you and seems to swallow you into a deep, dark hole? Where do you turn? My first thought is Jesus! But what if, like those early followers who had seen Jesus die on a Cross, Jesus was removed from the equation? What if you had to face life without Jesus?

My heart can’t conceive of not having life and hope in Jesus. So, as you consider how it might have felt without having Him as your life and hope, think, too, of the elation, the absolute triumph of your Spirit when you learn on Sunday morning – “HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Do Infinitely More! (Part 2)

“By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving Him by spreading this Good News.” (Ephesians 3:7 NLT)

Yesterday I shared with you about my experience during worship. Today I’d like to tell you about another way God showed me a few things that I understood intellectually but needed to experience personally.

In Exodus 16 we’re told about the manna from heaven that God provided for all of Israel. Manna literally means “what is it?” Moses explained that it was their food supply, but they were to take each day only what they needed for their family, thus, everyone had exactly enough – no more, no less.

The Lord laid on my heart to give an invitation card to Easter services at our church to everyone in my neighborhood. At one point I had counted the number of houses, but on Sunday, when I picked up the cards, I couldn’t remember how many to get, so I just grabbed a few hands full. When I finished with the last house, I searched all my pockets, but there were none left. I had exactly the number I needed.

So, what’s the big deal about that? I had enough! It was as if the Lord was saying to me: “Every person in this neighborhood, that you’ve been lifting to Me every morning for months, is vitally important to Me. I want every single one of them to receive an invitation, because for those who accept, it will be life changing. I’m working in ways no one has ever seen before, but what I’m doing in Las Vegas is unique. I’m going to start a worldwide revival, giving people of the world one last chance to see Me and come to Me before I call a halt to life on this planet.

My love for the lost is beyond human understanding, but if you’ll obey Me in the seeming small things, like passing out these invitations, I will work in unbelievable ways. I will draw your neighbors to Me and show them things that they’ve never dared dream possible. I’m going to show up in Resurrection Sunday services all over the world in unprecedented ways.

I’m going to work powerfully, healing marriages, freeing addicts, delivering those with demons, and transforming the lives of those who will place their trust in Me. My Spirit will bring such conviction to those who are lost that they literally won’t know what’s happening to them. I’m going to send people who love Me and trust Me to let them know what they need to do to find forgiveness and wholeness the likes of which they couldn’t have imagined. I am coming soon for My Bride, and I want the banquet hall of heaven to be filled with those who are willing to put their hope of eternal life in Me alone.

I’m not looking for ‘miracle workers.’ I’m the only miracle Worker you need. I’m looking for vessels through whom My Spirit can flow without restriction. People who will obey me in the small details of their lives, so that I might work in unimaginable ways in saving, healing, restoring, and investing them in My Kingdom while there’s still time.”

What is the Lord prompting you to do? I’ve got to tell you; the devil was trying his best to discourage me. Everything from: “Your neighbors don’t care about Jesus; they’re going to run you off their property. You’re going to be the laughingstock of the neighborhood. You’re just going to make a fool of yourself” and on and on he went, until the last card was handed out. Then I saw a big smile on God’s face, and it was like He said: “You’ve done your part, now let Me do Mine!”

Whoever you are. Wherever you live. However long you’ve been walking with Jesus. I have a word from the Lord for you – “You’re enough!” I’m just an old man who loves Jesus, but God made it clear to me that I’m enough, when I’m empowered by His Spirit. And so are you, my friend, so are you!

Whatever you’re led to do that is in line with His will and Word, just do it! Don’t second guess and don’t question, just do it and leave the results to Him.

Wow! I can’t wait to see what’s coming. God is up to something really good and I’m grateful that He’s letting us be a part of it. It’s going to be “infinitely more than we can think or imagine!” Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Do Infinitely More!

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20 NLT)

It’s nearly impossible for us to comprehend what God is seeking to say to us through this verse. Let’s look at Ephesians 3:20-21 in the Amplified Bible: “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare} ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams] – To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).”

One of the sweetest times I spent with my daughter when she was just a small child was the first and only time, I spanked her. She was misbehaving in church, and I asked her to stop, but she ignored me. I warned her a few times, then when she persisted, I took her to another room of the church. I explained to her why I was spanking her, then swatted her a few times on her bottom. She began to cry, not so much because it hurt her physically, but because she had disappointed me.

Seeing her cry, I began to cry, so I just held her and told her how much I loved her. In my mind, I’d pretty much decided from that experience I would never spank her again, but, honestly, she never gave me reason. In my heart, then and now, nearly fifty years later, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her if it was within my power to do it.

On a very much larger scale, I believe that’s what our Heavenly Father is seeking to convey to us through the words of Paul. The Lord Jesus is my life. There’s nothing I want to say, do, or think except it pleases and honors Him. Because of that, I sometimes try to imagine these grandiose ways that I can serve and honor Him with my life. But what I’m discovering is, that’s not typically how He works.

Yes, of course, there are men and women of God who are like shining stars to us, who speak well, write well, and live well, and it sometimes causes us to wish we could be more like them. But that’s not always God’s desire for us. He wants us to be more like Him, not in a “superstar” role, but as the best man, woman, or child that we can be, where we are, in our family and in our other spheres of influence.

Two things happened last Sunday that helped me to see this more clearly. We were having Communion at the end of the service and my wife and I were sitting in the first row of a series of seats, and in front of us was an aisleway. A young woman and her small son came up and sat on the floor right in front of us, so the Lord prompted me to ask her if she’d been served the elements for Communion, but she had not. Without giving it a thought, I gave her mine.

They were packaged together and mine was unopened, so she took it. When I sat back down by my wife, we decided we’d just share hers, but when she opened it, two little crackers dropped out, not one, as was the way they’re packaged. So, we each had the “bread” and shared the juice, which is what they did in the Bible anyway. What’s my point?

It would have been okay with me to miss that one time of sharing the Lord’s Supper so that someone else could participate, but that’s not God’s plan. He doesn’t “take from us to share with another,” He gives us in abundance so that we never lack. There’s never a shortage when we obey the Lord.

I’ll share the other “sign” God gave me tomorrow.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Establish You!

“Now all glory to God, who is able to make your strong, just as my Good News says.” (Romans 16:25a NLT)

There have been times in my life as a believer that I was so burdened by my inability to be strong enough, in the sense of being able to keep my focus on Jesus, and my thoughts and motives pure, that I literally didn’t know what to do. I’ve begged God to help me but was still unable to see any significant change.

The word that Paul uses in the above verse that is translated “make you strong” is from the Greek word “sterizo.” I don’t know with certainty, but I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it’s the word from which comes our word for “steroids.” I’ve taken prescribed steroids, and I can’t be sure I got stronger, except for my appetite.

The Holy Spirit has many roles in our lives as Jesus followers, one of which is to give us strength/power. I do know that the word in the above verse that is translated “able” is the Greek word “dunamai,” from which comes our English word “dynamite.” What’s my point? God is very capable of making us stronger.

It’s like Paul is reinforcing the fact that God has all power to do whatever He chooses to do, whenever He chooses to do it. Of course, the kicker for us is – “then why doesn’t He do something more quickly when I pray?” That’s a good and legitimate question. Thanks for asking 😊.

In John 11 we find the story of a man named Lazarus. He’s the brother of Mary and Martha who were Jesus’ close friends. You’d think when Jesus got word that His good friend Lazarus was sick, He’d go right away to check on him. But John 11:5 says: “So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He stayed where He was for the next two days.”

Of course, Jesus later raised Lazarus from the dead, and He will do the same for those of us who love and trust Him. But in our journey to strength and endurance as God’s child, there are some things we need to understand. First, God is not our spiritual “Genie.” We don’t “rub” the proverbial “prayer lamp” and expect God to come immediately to do our bidding. He works on His time, which is always perfect, not on ours.

Additionally, as Pastor Rick Warren is fond of saying: “God never wastes a problem.” Strength and spiritual power come incrementally, not all at once. In much the same way as we build muscle in our body over time, God grows our heart muscles as we learn to trust Him. And when do we tend to need Him most? In difficult seasons! So, that’s when our strength and power are developed most effectively.

We may not always realize it, but God is developing and building our strong foundation in Him. The word translated “make you strong,” implies a period of time, not unlike the time it takes to pour the foundation of a large building. It means “to make stable, to place firmly, to set fast, to make firm, to render constant.”

It takes time to lay a foundation and it takes time for the concrete to dry before it’s fully useable. While God is our firm foundation, we come to Him as spiritual “infants” when we’re born again. It takes time for us to grow and develop our spiritual “muscles,” but once we begin to form godly habits like reading, studying, and memorizing God’s Word; when prayer becomes our constant companion; when worship, gratitude, and praise become our reflex actions in and through our daily activities; we’re going to see in increasing measure, our hearts, minds, spirits, and body, fall in step with the activity of God’s Spirit in and on our behalf.

My sense is, you’re probably a lot stronger than you realize.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Subdue Everything Under His Control!

“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” (Philippians 3:21 KJV)

When we first place our faith and trust in Jesus, there are things with which we wrestle, many that pertain to our body. If you think about it, we are “prisoners” of our body as long as we’re residents of this world. That’s why Paul said in Romans 12:1: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice – the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.”

Loving and serving Jesus, as in loving and serving anyone, isn’t only a matter of our heart. The commandment instructs us to love God and others with our whole being – with everything that is within us. Where is the “everything” within us? While on planet earth, our bodies are a critical part of who we are, how we function, what we’re capable of doing or not doing. Our bodies are critical in our service of God, because they house our soul.

Our bodies can also be the key contributors to our waywardness from God, not only keeping us from coming to God, but also from serving Him effectively once we’re God’s child. And, on the other hand, while we’re to care for our bodies, we’re not to obsess over them to the point of giving them priority over the care of our heart, mind, and soul.

Philippians 3:21 (above) speaks to the much-needed change of our “vile” body, with the clear implication that we have little or no ability to make those changes ourselves. The term speaks to our abasement, lowliness, humility, essentially a willingness to submit the rulership of our bodies to the Lord. Similarly as pilots control an airplane, God can give guidance and direction to our bodies and lives.

If I were to ask you: “What was/is the biggest hindrance , as you think of those things that cause you the most problems in coming to Christ or your service to Christ?” Would you agree that the top of our lists will be filled with those things we do habitually? We do them without thinking or we crave them without provocation. Thus, they’re the hardest things for us to “subdue” or control.

Specifically, this verse is speaking to what God will do in changing our bodies from earthly bodies to heavenly bodies when the Lord returns or when we die. But the clear implication is that one day He will bring everything under His control. But, because God is God, He has the ability and desire to enable us to bring everything in our lives, including our weak mortal bodies, under His divine supervision and control.

Think about the power of Jesus’ voice. He spoke and the winds and waves obeyed; demons had no choice but to obey; the dead returned to life; the lame walked; blind eyes were enabled to see; lepers’ skin was healed; sin was forgiven; dignity restored; the courses of people’s lives were changed; and the eternal addresses of billions have been changed from hell to heaven.

You, personally, may never have been addicted to alcohol, drugs, sex, or other addictive behaviors common to so many today. But I can guarantee that without exception we’ve all been addicted to the vile and degrading effects of sin in and on our lives. God has broken the chains of sin in the lives of each of us who have placed our trust and given our allegiance to Jesus. It may not have been in a moment, but over time, Satan’s grip on us has lessoned and the only thing that now matters is loving and serving Jesus and others to His honor, glory, and praise.

He is able to free you from anything and everything that hangs you up or holds you back! He’s God, He can do anything we ask of Him in faith for Him to do that will result in greater measures of praise and honor for His Father! Submit your addictions, your sins of choice, any habit that is dishonoring to Jesus or harmful to you or others. He will bring it under His control. He IS able!

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Make a Way Through Temptation! (Part 2)

“And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT)

Yesterday we looked at what temptation is and why Satan’s strategy is often so effective. Today I’d like for us to examine more closely, our own strategy to avoid the crippling effects of falling prey to the enemy’s deceptions.

Temptation can come in many forms, but universally it appeals to our own desires. For example, let’s say you’re going home from church. You’ve just listened to an amazing message on patience and humility, outlining how Jesus always put the needs of others ahead of His own. You’re humming along with the Christian music that is playing, you’re smiling, just having a great time of worship as you drive home. Then a couple of guys in a little sports car whiz around you shouting obscenities and flipping you off with the international sign of displeasure.

What moments before was an auditorium of praise has now become the cockpit of a fighter jet! The race is on! Why? What changed? You did! You allowed Satan to shift your focus from Jesus to something inside of you that hates to feel put down or out done. Suddenly your desire to praise God became a desire to get even, or worse. Where did God go? Nowhere! He’s still right where you left Him. You’re the one who left Him, He didn’t leave you.

What’s my point? Most often our “means of escape” from temptation isn’t a voice from heaven or a big red sign saying “STOP!” It’s a still, small, persistent voice within saying: “I know what you’re thinking and it’s a very bad idea! Think about what you’re about to do!”

The above scenario has happened to me numerous times and I’ve let it get the best of me and done careless and reckless things before I finally saw the futility of it all. But now, I rarely give it a second thought. By keeping my focus on the Lord and asking for his help to calm down, I avoid potentially dangerous scenarios.

One of my deepest regrets centers on a decision I made to stay when I should have left. God sent someone to tell me to walk away, but I didn’t listen. That one decision ultimately led to the demise of my marriage.

God is faithful to give us a way of escape. Sometimes that escape is to literally run. Leave as fast as you can the place of temptation. If you’re tempted to surf porn sites, get blocks on your device. If you’re an alcoholic, stay away from the liquor store and/or bars, but most importantly, stay away from those who tempt you to drink, or do whatever God has clearly instructed you not to do. With every addiction, there’s a trigger, and the only means of escape is intervention. By God certainly, but very often by others.

Please trust someone to walk with you through your “storm” of sobriety, whatever that may look like for you, and allow yourself to build a team of people who love Jesus and love you, who will walk with you through your healing journey. There are lots of things I’ve learned about temptation and how to overcome it, but the most important lesson I’ve learned is: you can’t walk faith’s journey alone!

You’ve got to have someone watching your back. It’s critical that you allow yourself to be open to others who are walking a similar path. Trust and accountability are the only roads to healing and wholeness. Put your full trust in Jesus, then allow Him to point you to one or two others who will be your lifelines to physical, spiritual, and emotional health.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Make a Way Through Temptation!

“Since He Himself has gone through suffering and testing, He is able to help us when we are being tested.” (Hebrews 2:18 NLT)

Temptation to sin, to disregard what we know is right, is something every believer holds in common. The temptation may be different in its form, but everyone is tempted by something, even Jesus. As we begin, I’d like to make some general observations, then zero in on how God often works to help us escape temptations deadly grip.

First, temptation is not sin, but it very often leads to sin if we don’t allow the Holy Spirit to guide us away from it. Secondly, God NEVER tempts us to sin. He does TEST us, but the purpose of His testing is to make us better, not make us fall or fail. Thirdly, our own lustful, wrong desires are the seedbed of temptation. Fourthly, Satan cannot make you sin.

James writes: “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (1:14-15) Desires always give us a choice.

The word most commonly used in the New Testament that is translated “tempt or temptation” means: “to try whether a thing can be done. To attempt, endeavor. To test for the purpose of ascertaining a person’s quality, or what they think, or how they will behave in a certain setting.”

Satan is a liar; in the sense he is incapable of saying anything that is truthful. But he aligns his lies with what we want to believe, either about ourselves, someone else, or something that is not in our best interests. God is unable to lie. He must tell the truth in every circumstance in order to be true to His holy and perfect nature. That’s the reason He will never tempt you to sin.

God is so committed to keeping us from sin that He ALWAYS gives us an out when we’re tempted. When Jesus was tempted, He defeated Satan’s efforts to feed Jesus’ own desires by quoting Scriptures that clearly evidenced the lies that Satan was seeking to use by twisting them to his own advantage.

That heightens our need to know, not only what the Bible says, but the truth it’s intending to convey through what it says. Satan will twist truth to make it say what it was never intended to say. He will appeal to our emotions, our desires, given by God, but will seek to have us fulfill those desires in ways that will not honor God.

For example, sex. Sex is God’s invention. He made it pleasurable for one man and one woman to enjoy in the context of a lifelong commitment to one another in marriage. Yet, mankind has distorted and defiled God’s perfect plan for intimacy within the safe boundaries of marriage, in ways that not only break the heart of God, but can damage and destroy our bodies, minds, and souls.

Hebrews 2:18 points to Jesus’ own temptation as a point of reference so we can be assured that Jesus understands what we’re going through, but more importantly, can help us overcome and/or escape its devilish claws. But how?

Since temptation draws on our own desires, God enables us, through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit within us, to change and sanctify our desires. What does that mean? It means we learn, over time, to desire God and what He wants for us, more than the sinful things we want for ourselves. The longer we walk with the Lord, the more clearly we are able to identify the “escapes” He provides for us.

We’ll look at this more closely tomorrow.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Make You Stand!

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT)

When I was in college, like most college students, I always needed money. A friend of mine asked me to take his shift at a soft-drink warehouse, as a night watchman. “How hard could it be?” I thought to myself as I said “yes!” He told me: “Just walk around and keep an eye on things.”

For the first few hours I did fine. But then, it got more and more difficult to keep my eyes open. I figured if I could just stay on my feet, I could stay awake. That was the only time in my life, before or since, that I actually slept standing up. Paul writes in Romans 13:11 regarding our need to “Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”

When you think about it, it’s interesting the numbers of times in the Bible and in life, we’re urged by God to wake up or stay awake, to stand up or stand strong. Why is that so important?

My family moved about the time I was beginning seventh grade. In an earlier article I mentioned how skinny I was when I was in junior high school. Kids would tell me if I stood sideways and stuck out my tongue I’d look like a zipper. I can laugh now, but it wasn’t very funny then. I didn’t know anyone the first day of school and, apparently, it was obvious. I became the immediate target of a bully and his crew.

They taunted me, following me through the hallways, but especially in gym class. I was able to evade them for a couple of weeks, but finally I decided I was tired of running. There are times it takes courage just to take a stand.

Jackie, the bully, got right up in my face and began to outline all the things he was going to do to me, much to the delight of his crew. And as he reared back his arm and made a fist, I said to him: “Just one thing. You’d better know what you’re doing.” I was paralyzed with fear, but I wasn’t a stranger to fighting, so I figured I’d just see where it went.

His fist came like a flash of lightening but stopped abruptly just as it got to my chin. Jackie smiled, released his fist, and put out his hand to shake mine. We became friends that day. Satan is a bully, but if you stand strong and call his bluff, he has no choice but to back down.

The word most used in the New Testament that’s translated “stand,” has several nuances of meaning. For example, it can mean: “to cause or make to stand; to make firm, fix, establish; to be kept intact; to establish a thing, cause it to stand; or continue safe and sound, stand unharmed; to stand ready, or prepared; to be of a steadfast mind.” (Strong’s) Why would I bore you with all those meanings? Because not all our attacks from Satan are the same.

Unfortunately, Satan knows our weaknesses, and he’ll do all within his power to take advantage of them. The good news is, Jesus also knows our weaknesses, and He’ll stand with us and/or give us power to stand firm in the face of Satan’s attack. How so?

Each of us have vulnerabilities. Each of us have areas of weakness, that when attacked cause us to fear, worry, crumble emotionally, doubt, outwardly attack or inwardly retreat. With what end? Typically, if Satan has his evil way, we’ll become useless to ourselves, but more importantly, to God and to others.

That’s when it’s critical to allow the Holy Spirit to empower and enable us to do what in and of ourselves, we’re unable to do. What’s that? To stand firm! To trust and rely on the strength of God, not depending on ourselves. All you have to do is: “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Is Able – To Do Whatever He Promises!

“He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises.” (Romans 4:21 NLT)

Are you fully convinced that God is able to do what He’s promised to do in your life as He did in Abraham’s life?

It’s not uncommon for a parent to hear their child say in varying contexts: “I can’t!” And, depending on what it is, they may be exactly right. For example, ask a small child to do a “pull up” or solve a math problem or write an essay and their answer will likely be “I can’t!” But the truth is, as their parent, we’d never expect them to be able to do those things on their own when they haven’t learned how to do them. So, we can step in and help.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Even as a child of God there are circumstances that overwhelm and discourage us to the point of saying even to God: “I can’t!” But unlike an earthly parent, God has no limitations, so when we’re willing to admit we’re not able to do something, God steps up and says: “I can!”

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 1:20: “For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for His glory.”

What has the Lord promised to do in and through us? Whatever it is, He is able! Paul wrote in Ephesians 3:20: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Think about some of the things God asks of us. He desires a relationship with us, so He asks us to come to Him. He asks us, as His children, to love Him and others; to worship only Him; to obey Him; to serve Him by serving others; to be holy as He is holy; to live lives that are set apart for His sacred service. There are others, but let’s start with these.

None of the above things can be accomplished effectively in and of our own strength. In Philippians 1:6 Paul wrote: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Jesus told us in John 15:5 that without Him we can do nothing, but when we remain in Him, we have no limitations. That’s why Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit – to empower and enable us to do and be everything He desires for us to do and be.

That’s how we bring glory to the Father. Jesus asks us to remain in Him, but how do we do that? By obeying His commandments. He asks us to bear much fruit, but how? By allowing His Holy presence to fill us and change us from the inside out. Whatever He asks of us, He provides whatever we need to fulfill it, but we must remain in Him. What does that mean?

If you’re married, what does it mean to remain in that relationship? It essentially means to continue to do whatever is required of you to keep the marriage vibrant, alive, healthy, fulfilling. If you’re employed, what does it mean to remain in that job? Do your job! Continue to do what you were hired to do to the best of your ability.

In the verse at the top of the page, Abraham, often referred to as the father of our faith, was completely confident that God would do exactly what He promised Abraham He would do. What did He promise Abraham? That He would make him the father of many nations. Okay, no big deal, right? Until you realize that Abraham was an old man, and his wife was well beyond the years she could bear a child.

God promised him that his offspring would have their own land and become their own nation. So, when God told him to go to the land He’s going to give him, Abraham didn’t blink, he just started packing.

We want to complicate things by demanding all the answers before we move. That’s not faith, that’s sight. And as God’s children we don’t walk by sight. We walk by faith. That’s when God works in our lives in miraculous ways.

Let’s believe, not only that God is able to keep His promises, but that He desires to give us far more than we could possibly imagine – not of the trinkets of this world, but of the abundance of the Treasure of Himself!

Blessings, Ed 😊

When You Reach the End of Yourself

“The commander of the Lord’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did as he was told.” (Joshua 5:15 NLT)

Joshua was the man God chose to lead the children of Israel into their promised land after the death of Moses. There were two predominant themes that the Lord used in Joshua’s life to prepare him for his new role: “Be strong and courageous!” and “Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

His leadership began with the miraculous parting of the Jordan river, enabling the Israelites to walk into the promised land across a dry riverbed. A pretty good start. Everyone’s “pumped” as they begin the conquest of their new homeland.

Then the plot thickens a bit because the first city they come to is Jericho. Jericho is a walled city with massive gates, and most of the “army of Israel” has never been in battle, let alone faced a walled city. Add to that the presence of a man with a sword in his hand standing in Joshua’s path.

The man describes himself as “the commander of the Lord’s army.” Hmm. That’s the name the Lord uses for Himself in other parts of Scripture. So, Joshua rightly falls face down in reverence and declares his allegiance. Then He asks: “What do you want your servant to do?”

That’s the perfect place to be when we reach the end of ourselves – at the feet of Jesus, declaring our allegiance to Him and asking for His instructions.

Sometimes we’re tempted, even as Jesus followers, to believe when we get to the end of ourselves – in terms of resources, energy, understanding, strength, courage, even faith – that there’s no hope. No place to turn for help. Yet, that’s exactly the position God desires us to reach; otherwise, we’ll tend to take credit when things work out. It’s most often at the end of our strength that Jesus is able to shine most brightly through our weakness.

The Apostle Paul asked the Lord on three occasions to heal a chronic physical issue with which he suffered, but each time the Lord said: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) There are times God will work in a person’s strength, like with David or Samson of the Old Testament. But it’s much too easy for us to take credit ourselves for what God is doing, unless we understand just how weak and powerless we are.

Joshua was a warrior at heart, but he was humble. He’s a perfect example of meekness – power that is harnessed and kept under control. He recognized the Lord and took his rightful place at His feet. It’s ironic in some ways that Joshua was the leader of millions yet recognized his need of God’s rule and leadership in His life. The most effective leader understands where he fits in the chain of command.

There was no way, humanly speaking, that Israel’s army could have taken Jericho without God’s intervention. And the miracle began long before the walls of Jericho fell. God’s plan was for Joshua and his fighting men to march around the city once a day for six days, being led by seven priests walking ahead of the Ark, each of them carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day they were to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. Then as the priests gave one long blast on the rams’ horns, all the soldiers were to shout as loud as they could, and that’s when the walls would collapse, and they could just run right into the town.

The best place to be when times are hard, we’re frightened, we don’t know which way to turn, or what to do, is to fall face down in reverence and honor of the Lord of heaven’s army. He’s a master strategist and knows exactly what you need to do. But remember, it may not look like anything you could have imagined, but, if followed, will lead to a victory you would never experience without Him.

Blessings, Ed 😊