Walking With Jesus

The Unifying Power of Prayer

“They all met together and were constantly united in prayer…” (Acts 1:14a NLT)

Unity on some level isn’t difficult to achieve. People unite under all kinds of banners, from politics to sports; from workout plans to diets; from rights to wrongs. But, ironically, the Church really struggles to get some measure of unity.

Why do you think there are so many churches in any given city? And many of them are of the same group! Churches often split, “believers” go from one fellowship and find or start another one, often not based on Biblical protocol or doctrinal differences, but based on personal preference.

Church fellowships have parted ways because they didn’t like the color of the new carpet, their beloved paneling got painted over, or they didn’t get re-elected to “their” position on the board. Why? Because we want what we want, when we want it, and we’ll leave if we don’t get our way. God’s will is too often forced to take a back seat to our will.

It often takes a tragedy or a literal move of God to get the people of God to unite under a banner of His choosing. After Jesus was resurrected and ascended back to heaven, the small band of Christ followers were frightened. The Romans had killed Jesus, their “Leader,” what will stop them from coming after them?

So, they all huddled together on the day of Pentecost, but when the Holy Spirit was given, they were filled and empowered and sent out to share the good news about Jesus with Jews from every nation. That unprecedented day resulted in the growth of the Church from 120 to over 3,000 in one day. The rapid expansion of their group led to the formation of a community of believers that focused on “the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NLT)

Prayer to those new believers wasn’t an obligation, it was a divine privilege. And when they prayed, God showed up in powerful and profound ways. People were healed and saved every day. The believers still struggled and, over time, began to suffer persecution, but their faith remained strong, and they kept their course.

What’s so different today? In many parts of the world, not so much. But in America and in other affluent societies, we lack unity largely because we lack devotion to the Biblical focus of unity – Jesus! Believers who understand their lives are dependent upon faithfulness to God, are grounded in the gospel message of the Bible and in believing prayer.

Prayer isn’t begging God for a raise, a new car or house, or to help my child get into the best school. Their united efforts in prayer are for God to show up in power; to fill and empower them, not to do their own will, but God’s; not to fill their pockets, but their hearts with compassion and purpose, to enable them to please Him, not themselves.

Unity in prayer must be based on the truth of the Gospel, motivated by hearts filled with love of God and desire to see their loved ones, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, friends, and whomever else the Lord brings into their spheres of influence, come to a saving knowledge of Jesus before it’s eternally too late. Powerful prayer is led by the Holy Spirit, empowered by the Holy Spirit, enabled by the Holy Spirit, and dependent upon the Holy Spirit.

Submission to God’s Spirit puts us in a position of usefulness where our greatest concern isn’t what other people think, but only what God thinks. When all that motivates our actions is obedience to the leadership of God’s Spirit, the Church will multiply exponentially, our love for one another in the Body of Christ will be strengthened, those without Christ will be saved, the angels will celebrate, and the God of Creation will be honored, glorified, and exalted.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Contentment

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth.” (1 Timothy 6:6 NLT)

My first mission’s trip was to an area near Lima, Peru. Nothing would have prepared me for what I saw. I cried much of the first day. The average life expectancy there was about 40 years. Children were running the streets begging, stealing, doing what they could to survive.

We were there to help build an orphanage for some of them, but it was a Band-Aid on a cancer. Yet, amid poverty I’d never imagined, there was a joy and contentment among those who knew the Lord.

We had a Maundy Thursday service at the church compound where we stayed. We sang songs in Spanish that I recognized but struggled to sing because I only knew them in English. But the joy that the small group exuded changed me. As I washed the feet of a young man it was as if I was washing the feet of Jesus. I wasn’t able to grasp it then, but I’ve come to understand that what was different wasn’t their view of the world, it was their view of God.

Joni Eareckson Tada, who dove into shallow water when she was 17, breaking her neck and confining her to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, wrote a book entitled When God Weeps. She writes: “We want what we do not have. We have what we do not want. And we are unhappy. A story about noble Africans who suffer joyfully is inspiring, but God – we convince ourselves – wouldn’t want to cramp our style as He might with poor people in Ghana. Our God exists to make our lives happy, more meaningful, and trouble-free. Our God deals differently with us.” (pg. 19) I highly recommend you read her book or any others you can find by her.

Unlike many with similar circumstances, she has devoted her life to helping through JAF Ministries (Joni and Friends). But that was after much soul-searching and anguish; begging God for healing and wrestling with why He didn’t.

Suffering can be a volatile subject. In America we’ve come to see God more as our servant than our Savior; our expectation is that God should serve our needs rather than we serve His; we tend to see suffering as punishment for disobedience rather than privilege that is born out of intimacy with God.

The truth is, life on planet earth after the fall of man in the Garden, is far from perfect. The things with which we are forced to deal as humans that break our hearts, cripple our bodies, and challenge our spirits, didn’t exist in God’s original plan. How we view God in suffering, on some levels, is like looking at ourselves in a mirror.

Suffering enables us to see God in ways we could never have seen Him in any other way. But it also reveals our heart and soul, magnifying what’s really behind our professed love of God. If the overriding cry of our soul is “Why?” we’ve missed the point. But if it’s “How?” we’re finding our way to the heart of God.

“Lord, why did you allow this? Why haven’t You healed me?” These are the cries of the heart bent on having God serve our needs, not His. “How,” on the other hand, is to mine the gems of wisdom, courage, and contentment that only the heart of God can reveal. “Lord, loving Father, while I don’t understand what Your purpose is in my suffering, please help me to understand how you want to use it, and me, to Your honor and fame. Help me to so rely on You in my current circumstances, that I can share Your life and love with others as my faith deepens and my love for You grows in ways it never has before. To You be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forevermore.”

That is the pathway to contentment. When nothing but deepening our love for and dependence upon our Heavenly Father is our heart’s will and desire, we will find contentment in our lives like we never imagined possible.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You a Door or a Window?

“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through Me will be saved.” (John 10:9a NLT)

As I pondered what the Lord is seeking to say, in relation to the purposes of doors and windows, it occurred to me that some doors are glass, thus the view of whatever is on the other side isn’t blocked. And, on the other hand, windows very often have coverings that alter or eliminate the view of what’s on the other side of them. So, what does this have to do with anything spiritual. Actually, quite a lot.

Think of the people with whom you have contact each day. Family members, friends, co-workers, classmates, servers in the coffee shop, in the aisles of the grocery, the list is virtually endless. And the tragedy is, we pay little or no attention to most of them, most of the time. . . unless!

What if we asked the Lord to open the windows of our minds to see what He sees? What if we took to heart the words of Jesus in John 10:9 above to mean He is the only “door” into salvation and eternal life? And what if, as a result of those considerations, we would see ourselves as a “window” and/or “door” through which all of those people we pass each day could catch a glimpse of Jesus?

For purposes of this article, let’s make a few distinctions between doors and windows. I desire this to be as simple as possible, so as we consider which one we may lean towards, think of a window as one through which a clearer view of something is seen. But a door is an entry way to experience what is seen.

For example. we have a water feature in our backyard. I enjoy standing at the sliding glass door and just looking at the water as it cascades across the rocks. But I’d much rather open the door and listen to the soothing melody of the water splashing over the rocks and into the pond beneath.

Perhaps you’ve seen photos and films of the Grand Canyon, but if you’ve been there, you know nothing compares to sitting on a huge boulder, feeling the wind in your face, watching the birds soar across the endless sky, hearing their songs, and watching the sun set over the edge of that massive expanse. To me, life in Christ is like the Grand Canyon. It’s impossible to explain to someone who’s never seen the Canyon, what it’s like.

And, similarly, it’s impossible to convey what having my sin forgiven, my heart set free, my spirit filled, my life given hope and purpose and meaning like I never imagined possible. How can I convey what it’s like to be alone, but not be lonely; grieving, but not in despair; enjoying life to it’s fullest, without the latest gadget, most expensive car, jewelry, house, or other possessions? How is it possible to share that Jesus is my life? That apart from Him I’m nothing and can do nothing? That I desire Him more than life itself?

The truth is, I can’t. And neither can you. BUT! We can give glimpses. We can be a window through whom Jesus can be viewed, if ever so slightly, as He loves, as He forgives, as He shows mercy, kindness, goodness, patience, and self-control through us. And, as opportunities arise, perhaps He will use us to be a door through which we can invite someone into a relationship with Him.

Whether we realize it or not, whether we even like it or not, if we know and love Jesus, we’re all windows of opportunity for others to catch a glimpse of Him. We must be more intentional about how we pray, how we live and love, and how sensitive to God and to others we are. So when the Lord prompts us to be a “door” of invitation through whom someone can walk into a new life in Jesus, we’re ready for Him to take over and do what only He can do in and through us to His honor and fame.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You Amazed?

“From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.” (John 1:16 NLT)

What amazes you? “Amaze” is a word we use often, yet I’m not sure we understand what it means. According to Merriam-Webster it means: “to overwhelm with wonder; astound; astonish, surprise.”

Philip Yancey’s book entitled What’s So Amazing About Grace? asks a question that deserves an answer. If anything should amaze us, it’s God’s grace. Why is that? To realize that God became a human being in the form of an infant is amazing, astounding, something that is filled with wonder and surprise. But the fact He traded His life for ours on the Cross is beyond amazing!

God delights in amazing us, sharing Himself with us in unexpected and underserved ways; at times and in places that we would never expect.

For those of us who have walked with the Lord for a while, it can become more difficult to be surprised or amazed at almost anything God does. We read in the Bible how Jesus healed blindness, sickness, even leprosy; He raised the dead; and walked on water; He quieted storms and cast out legions of demons all at the command of His voice.

Yet, when we get a cold or flu or worse, what’s our first course of action? “Well, let’s see if we have anything for that in the medicine cabinet?” Or “Honey, do you have the doctor’s number handy?” We become so familiar with the Jesus of the Bible, we forget or ignore the fact that He’s also the Jesus of our salvation and His Holy Spirit resides in us who believe. What’s that supposed to mean?

Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Then the writer adds in verse 9: “Your strength comes from God’s grace…” Since Jesus is the same, He’s still able and willing to do today what He did “yesterday” in Bible times. But please don’t hear what I’m not saying. Am I suggesting, as some do, that we should rely totally on God’s grace and kindness and mercy to heal us of every physical ailment? Not necessarily. But what I am suggesting is to BEGIN by asking Him what we should do. Prayer should be our first course of action, not our last resort. Medicine and Medical staff can be, and often are, God’s agents, but they can never take His place.

How often I’ve heard some form of: “Well, I’ve tried everything I know to do, could you please pray for me. Maybe God can do something.” You think? What a slap in God’s face when we think like that. What an insult to the Creator, Ruler, and Sustainer of all that is, including us. Perhaps the reason we find it hard to be amazed by God’s grace is because we’re too focused on other things; alternative avenues of serving ourselves and meeting our own needs.

Every morning as I begin my walk with the pups, I’m amazed at the beauty of my surroundings. The blueness of the sky, the formations of the clouds, the privilege of being healthy enough to walk my dogs. My dad was an invalid when he was my age. It is my goal to never take God’s amazing grace for granted. God doesn’t need me, but I sure need Him. He designed me and you to be objects of His loving kindness. His grace not only saved me, but it is also the context in which I live my life. God’s grace sustains me.

That’s a wonder-filled reality. If you want a clear definition of “sustain,” think of holding a glass in your hand, palm up. Then, as fast as you can, pull your hand out from under the glass. What will happen? It will crash to the floor. Guess what? You’re the glass, without Jesus and His amazing grace.

If God would choose, as He one day will, to pull His mighty hand out from under us, we’d crash as well. Please humble yourself before the Lord in recognition that God is God, and you are not. Willfully confess that apart from Him you are nothing and you can literally do nothing. Honor Him with the recognition that He IS your life and without Him you would be lost.

Allow yourself to admit that everything you are, everything you have or ever hope to have, is by God’s amazing grace! A love gift from your Heavenly Father.

Are you amazed! Check out this music video: Are you AMAZED? – YouTube

Blessings, Ed 😊

Do You Like What You See?

“’If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,’ Jesus replied. ‘But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.’” (John 10:41 NLT)

What draws you to another person? What do you look for in a prospective friend? If you’re looking for a spouse, what is it about that special someone you won’t live without? Whether we realize it or not, we all have, for lack of a better way to describe it, a mental “checklist” that we scan when we see or meet someone for the first time.

A phone conversation with my wife was our first contact with one another. She was an oncology nurse who was assigned to my son’s care when he was diagnosed with leukemia. That was nearly thirty years ago, but I still tell her that I loved her before we ever met. At first it wasn’t a physical attraction, but more of an emotional appreciation that I had for her. She gave me hope that my son would survive his illness.

The verse above is the closing verse of John chapter 9 that tells the story of a man born blind. After being healed the Pharisees badgered him for an explanation, which led to a verse that always makes me smile when I read it: “’I don’t know whether He is a sinner,’ the man replied. ‘But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!’” (John 9:25 NLT)

Jesus’ problem with the Pharisees was they were “blind” spiritually but claimed they could see. Unfortunately, that’s still a common problem. One of my greatest fears centers on the fact that I don’t know what I don’t know. That’s one of the reasons I love Jesus. He gives me hope. My “sight” may not be perfect now, but this one thing I know: “Once I was ‘blind,’ but now I see! Once I had no hope, but now I’m walking in newness of life I never knew existed before I met Jesus!”

When we first meet Jesus, similarly to how it is when we first meet anyone, we have no assurance that He is who He claims to be – God in human flesh! Savior of mankind! The only way to heaven!

When I first met my wife, I didn’t know what kind of nurse she was. I had no idea of her “credentials,” but I loved her anyway. Of course, had she proven over time she was the proverbial “quack” nurse, it might have changed my opinion of her.

But isn’t that the issue? She was the “real deal.” She was everything she claimed to be and more, just like Jesus. I’ve now been walking with my wife for nearly 30 years and the longer I’m with her, the more reasons she gives me to love her more. April 10, 1992 was our first date, and I was so nervous I couldn’t stop shaking. In my mind, she was (and is 😊) way out of my league.

That’s similar to the way I feel about Jesus. The more I get to know Him, the more assurance I have that He’s exactly who He claims to be. He’s never lied. He’s never made a promise He hasn’t kept. He’s walked with me on the mountain tops and in the deep, deep valleys. When earthly friends were walking away, Jesus was running in.

In John 9:35 Jesus asks the former blind man: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” To which the man responded: “Who is He sir? I want to believe in Him.” Jesus said to the man who now could see: “You have seen Him…and He is speaking to you!” That’s when the man fell at Jesus’ feet and worshipped Him! In my mind’s eye I can see Jesus asking those questions with His winsome smile, and the former blind man answering Jesus: “Yes, Lord, I believe, and I love what I now see!”

Being blind enabled that man to have heightened awareness in the use of his other senses. Even though he hadn’t seen Jesus physically, I have no doubt he would have recognized His voice. And, like me and my wife, I’m confident He loved Jesus even before he “met” Him.

Have you met Him? He’s the “real deal!” He delivers far more than He promises, and His promises are awesome. Maybe you’ve walked in blindness long enough. Let Him heal your “blindness” and enable you to see things you’ve never seen before. I’ll guarantee you – you’ll like what you see!

Blessings, Ed 😊

Wanting to Be Strong for All the Wrong Reasons

“Now all glory to God, who is able to make your strong…” (Romans 16:25a NLT)

When I was a kid, I wanted to be strong. Strong to me meant being everything I wasn’t. I didn’t weigh 100 lbs. until I was in Junior High, and my little mom could beat me arm wrestling until I was in the eighth grade. Fighting was a common part of my life growing up. It seems I was constantly trying to prove myself, yet, ironically, I wasn’t even sure what that meant.

In Acts 1:8 the Bible says: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” The word translated “able” in Romans 16 comes from the same root word that is translated “power” in Acts 1. There are several shades of meaning in these words, but when Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and Paul spoke of God’s power manifesting itself in our lives, they were addressing specific reasons for our need for that power.

We don’t need the Holy Spirit to make us powerful for the sake of having strength, so we can say: “Hey, look at me! Check out how strong I am!” As in everything that God gives us, there’s purpose. Two things demand our attention.

First, Jesus specifically said in Acts 1:8, that the reason we would need God’s power as His followers was to be His “witnesses.” That word can mean a “witness” as in a court of law, but it can also mean “martyr – those who after His example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.” (Strong’s) There are many in the churches of America today who believe because they attend church, serve, give money, and use the right words, they’re okay with God. I sincerely hope they are. But the rubber will meet the road when their life is on the line.

Many wrongly believe that dying for Christ is for people in the Bible, but the reality is, more people are being martyred for their faith today than in any other period in history. And the truth is, it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Why do you think so many people are going to deny Christ in the last days? Yes, of course, Satan will deceive a lot of people through miracles and impressive displays of his power. But many will fall prey to his tactics as a means of saving their lives, not realizing their futile attempts will end the same way – death – eternal separation from God!

Secondly, in the verse in Romans, the word translated “able” can mean: “to bear calamities and trials with fortitude and patience; to be strong in Christian virtue; to be able to excel in something or have power for something.” What does that mean? It means if you’re not being shaped by your strong faith in Jesus, the world will shape you into its own mold. It means the limitless power of the Holy Spirit has gifted you with abilities to become a beacon of strength and hope and light for those in your spheres of influence who are on the edge of being swept away into a Christ-less eternity.

People today, like in the days of Noah, are buying and selling; being married; partying; scratching and clawing their way up the proverbial ladder of success; doing what they’ve done as a matter of habit for what seems like endless years. But the day is soon coming when the only thing that will matter is – do you know Jesus. Is His life your life.

Too many people today want the strength of Christ to build their own kingdoms, but there’s only one Kingdom that will survive this world, and that is the Kingdom of God. If your efforts throughout your day aren’t investing in the Kingdom of God, you’re going to be sorely disappointed when the Lord comes and all you have to show for your life’s work is the meaningless trinkets of this world.

With all that’s going on in our world today, it’s no time to be on the proverbial fence of faith. Decide today to give everything you are to everything the Lord Jesus is for whatever amount of time you have left.

We must be about our Father’s Business. That’s the only reason God gives us His powerful Holy Spirit.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who Gets the Chair?

“When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessings, he was filled with joy…” (Acts 11:23a NLT)

One of my favorite devotions that I read each day is by Ron Hutchcraft. It’s called A Word With You. In a recent article he told the story of Cindy, who attended a campus ministry he led some years ago. He said it took her a while before she gave her life to Christ, but afterwards she was on mission for the Lord.

She came to Ron’s house one day and wondered if he could give her an argument that would convince her older sister to become a believer in Jesus. But instead of an argument, Ron said to her: “Ask yourself this question, ‘What change could I ask Jesus to make in me that my big sister, Megan, would have to notice?'” She said, “I’ve got it!”

The key, in Cindy’s mind, to winning her sister to the Lord was to give up her rights to the big red chair that sat in front of the TV, because they always fought over who got to sit in it. So, she told Ron, “I gave God the chair.” God used Cindy’s sacrifice, and two years later Cindy’s older sister came to know Jesus. So, now Cindy’s question for Ron became: “Who gets the chair?”

The question for us now becomes – no, not “who gets the chair” 😊, but “What change could I ask Jesus to make in me that ___________ (and you fill in the name of someone you’re seeking to reach for Jesus) would have to notice?”

It’s ironic on some levels, but what came immediately to my mind when I thought of the people I most want to influence for Christ was: “stop being so persistent in always leading conversations to Jesus.” In my “zeal” for the Lord, am I turning people away from the One I most want to point them towards? And, honestly, it’s not always the words I use, but my “in your face” attitude when I’m speaking.

It’s like I have all the answers and they just need to listen, right? Not necessarily! A very high percentage of communication is nonverbal, like “who gets the chair?” So, what can I do? Whoa! Exactly! Not what can I “say,” but what can I “do?”

Shortly after I gave my life to the Lord, I began praying for my mom and dad. I was 15, so hugging my mom wasn’t very high on my priority list. But one day mom was doing the dishes and the Lord laid on my heart to put my arms around her waist and tell her I loved her. It was a little awkward at first, but I did what the Lord asked, and you’d have thought I handed her a big box full of money. It changed the trajectory of our relationship and not long after I saw my mom and dad kneel at an altar of prayer at our church and give their lives to Jesus.

Who is it in your life you most want to see come to the Lord? What change are you willing to make to help them see Jesus in you like never before? Certainly, live consistently in submission to the Lord’s authority in your life – in the way you speak, the way you dress, the way you devote time to private and corporate worship, and the way you serve the Lord through your local church and community.

But in your specific relationship with the ones you most want to see become Jesus followers, what change(s) can you make? Can you be more kind? More thoughtful? More proactive in serving them, not in obnoxious ways, but by being courteous, gracious, merciful, loving?

The words of Peter in 1 Peter 4:8 come to mind: “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” Love is designed more to be seen than heard, so let the light of your life shine on Jesus. Then let His Holy Presence working in and through you draw that one or those ones you most want to see come to the Lord. Let them have the “chair.” 😊

Blessings, Ed 😊

When a Lion’s Den Became a Petting Zoo

“So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions.” (Daniel 6:16a NLT)

During the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Jerusalem was defeated. It was in that context that Daniel was chosen to be among those trained for the royal service of their new King. Daniel excelled and over the years when King Darius became ruler, he placed Daniel over his entire empire. As often happens, there were those who became jealous of the king’s preferential treatment of Daniel and schemed to get him removed. As a result, the king issued a decree that anyone who prayed to anyone, divine or human, except to himself would be thrown into the lion’s den.

Obviously, Darius had no clue of the implications, but after learning that Daniel was praying to the God of heaven, he had no choice but to have him thrown to the lion’s. He sought every way to prevent it from happening, but when all efforts proved futile, the king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”

There’s a song I heard on “The Message” recently called Crazy Love, by Casting Crowns, that has a line that refers to Daniel being in the lion’s den and God turning the lion’s den into a petting zoo. It caused me to think about how God turns what Satan intends for evil and harm into something good, positive, and helpful in our lives.

What are you facing? Does it feel like you’ve been thrown into the proverbial lion’s den? Are you frustrated, feeling helpless and hopeless as you focus on the surrounding circumstances? So many today feel crushed as they struggle “under the circumstances” of their lives, but God never intended for us to live with that pressure.

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 11:29-30: “Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

In my mind’s eye I see Daniel, no longer a young man, stepping into the lion’s den without a care in the world. The worst thing with which he concerned himself was having to sleep on the ground instead of in his comfortable bed. The lions paid no attention to him and he, very likely, paid little or no attention to them. But in contrast, the king had Daniel’s accusers thrown into the same lion’s den and the Bible says: “before they even hit the floor of the den” the lion’s had torn them apart. What’s my point?

If you’ve placed your trust in Jesus and are seeking to live faithfully before Him, God will protect you and deliver you from those who are seeking to harm you. Why would He do that? Because God gains glory, honor, and fame through your submission and faithfulness to His holy authority in your life, regardless of the circumstances.

As a result of Daniel’s faithfulness to God, King Darius issued a decree throughout his kingdom that said: “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God.” He wrote much more, but, hopefully, you get the point.

God is our everlasting Father, and He will allow nothing to touch your life as His child, except it passes through the filter of His permission. So, if you’re experiencing a trying time, be assured of at least these two things: First, God is with you and has allowed this difficult season in your life. And, secondly, He intends to use this circumstance for your good and His eternal glory. “But what if He lets me die?” you may be thinking.

Even if we’re killed for our love for Jesus, in my mind, that’s the best thing that can happen. How so? Because it leads to our eternal home with Jesus.

Therefore, walk in confidence that you are not alone, and nothing will come against you that you and your faithful Savior cannot handle together.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Jesus I Love

“Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair.” (Luke 7:38a NLT)

This is among my favorite stories about Jesus. In verse 37 Luke says of this woman: “When a certain immoral woman from that city heard He was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume.” Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house. A very prim and proper religious person. I’m confident, given the context, that those eating with the Pharisee were very much like him.

The word Luke used that’s translated “immoral” can also be translated: “devoted to sin; pre-eminently sinful; especially wicked.” This is not the kind of person who would have received an invitation to this dinner.

Having this type of woman come to his house for any reason would have been an horrific disregard to protocol, violating every sensibility this Pharisee and his cronies had. But this wasn’t just any immoral woman. This woman was from their city. They knew her, most by reputation, but I suspect, some knew her from having had “business transactions” with her. I imagine there was some squirming going on when those men saw her come in.

But her mind wasn’t on embarrassing or calling anyone out for their sin. The only sin on her mind was her own, and the only Person she had interest in seeing was the only Person in that room who would welcome her. The tables then were low, so to be seated meant to have your legs and feet behind you. Had this woman knelt behind any other person in that room, I have no doubt they’d have bolted. I very likely would have.

Can you even begin to imagine how hard it would have been for you or me to sit and be worshipped in that manner? How utterly inappropriate. Does the word “impossible” come to mind? Yet, Jesus saw what she was doing as an act of worship and applauded her for her courage.

Us religious types like to protect our reputations. We couldn’t be seen associating with anyone like her for any reason, certainly not to have her pour expensive perfume on our feet and wipe them with her hair. But the beauty of Jesus’ heart shown powerfully as He didn’t move a muscle. He made no excuse. He only defended her. That’s the Jesus I love. You want to know why?

Because that woman’s sin wasn’t any greater than mine, just different. Had Jesus pushed her away, it would have been me and you and every other sinner being pushed away with her.

He was the only One in that room who really knew her and knew why she was there. Yes, she came to worship the only One who could free her from her addiction to sin. But she also came to celebrate her declaration of independence from the shackles of slavery that once held her in her former profession.

The alabaster jar of perfume, we learn in another text, was worth about a year’s wage for the average person living then. Why would she have something like that in the first place? I don’t know with certainty, but I have a hunch she used it in her line of “work.” I believe for her to pour it on Jesus’ feet was a way for her to show that the only thing on earth that mattered to her in that moment was Jesus.

Again, I can’t give you a verse to prove it, but I’m thinking when I get to heaven, I’m going to meet this humble woman and she will confirm whether or not this was the case. But I won’t be surprised if this is the same woman we meet in John chapter 8 – the woman caught in “the very act of adultery.” Do you remember Jesus’ last words to her after He saved her from being stoned? “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.”

Kneeling behind Jesus, pouring perfume mixed with tears on His sacred feet, wiping them with her hair, was her way of saying more forcefully than any words: “I’m doing what You told me to do! I’m Yours now. Whatever You want is what I want. I don’t care what anyone thinks of me, I only care that You know what I think of You.”

That’s my prayer to the only One whose opinion matters, because He alone is the Jesus I love.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What We Can Learn from Peter’s Failure

“’No!’ Peter insisted. ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny you!’” (Matthew 26:35a NLT)

Have you ever made a promise or a statement of conviction that at the time you had 100% confidence you would keep? But afterwards life happens and everything you thought you’d do or be flies out the window and you’re left in a puddle of disgust, anger, sadness, and shame, the likes of which you’d never imagined. Peter can relate.

Peter was very self-confident, outspoken, rash, bold, and a natural leader. But on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, circumstances got the best of him. At first, when Judas arrived “with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs” Peter did what Peter often did – he reacted! When the men with Judas grabbed Jesus, Peter pulled his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave.

He may have been trying to go after the high priest, who knows, but he ended up hurting the person who was very likely the least threat to Jesus or anyone else – rash! Just swinging at anything in his path. Then reality set in and Peter and all the other disciples tucked tail and ran for their lives. But once Peter realized no one was chasing him, he followed Jesus at a distance, which led him to the high priest’s courtyard. That became the scene of Peter’s denial that he ever knew Jesus, not once, but three times.

Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him, but at that point it was incomprehensible to Peter that he would ever do such a thing. Have you ever done something you never dreamed you would do? I have, and it’s heartbreaking. Then the rooster crowed, and the Bible says: “Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know Me.’ And he went away, weeping bitterly.” (Matthew 26:75 NLT)

What would you have done in that circumstance? I would have wanted the earth to swallow me, never to be seen or heard from again. But it’s interesting that in Mark 16:7 the angel instructed the women to: “… go and tell His disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.”

What’s remarkable to me is there’s no indication in Scripture that anyone had to hunt for Peter. He was found with the other disciples. What’s my point? As much as Peter was hurting; as ashamed and angry at himself as he was; as heartbroken and distraught as he must have been; when the chips were down, he returned to the men with whom he’d pledged his life for the previous three years as they’d followed Jesus together.

What do we most often do? Isolate! Retreat! Hide! I believe there’s a very valuable lesson for us here. My hunch is that most of the time when tragedy strikes and we become pools of emotional jello, the reason we isolate is because we haven’t developed strong enough relationships with anyone to trust them enough with what we’re going through.

Peter sought healing with those who knew him best and loved him most. He went to his “small group!” Do you have a person or persons you can turn to in a time of crisis? If the most important person in your life dies, who will you turn to? I pray you have someone that immediately comes to mind, but if not, consider this.

Be certain your relationship with Jesus is secure and current. Hopefully, you’re not looking back to your baptism or a prayer you spoke thirty years ago and holding onto hope that what happened then is good enough for today. It very likely is not. Unless your relationship with Jesus is daily and vital, spend time with Him right now and make sure He’s your “very present help in your time of trouble.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Then, if you haven’t already, find a small group of men/women with whom you can grow and learn to trust with your life – literally. People who will be “closer than a brother/sister.” People to whom you can turn in the best of times and the worst of times. People who come immediately to mind when tragedy or crisis strikes.

Peter, with all his faults, became Jesus’ “go-to” guy after the Resurrection. And there’s no record that Peter ever denied the Lord again. In fact, when he was martyred for his faith in Christ, he wanted to be crucified upside down because he didn’t feel worthy to be crucified in the same way as his Master, Jesus.

We really do need each other.

Blessings, Ed 😊