Walking With Jesus

The Reason for the Season (of Advent)

By: John Stonestreet and Dr. Timothy D. Padgett

*In this Colson Center Article John Stonestreet and Dr. Timothy D. Padgett give us several meaningful ways to celebrate this Advent Season and why. Enjoy! Blessings, Ed 😊

The season has begun. Specifically, the season of complaining that the world has forgotten “the reason for the season.” It’s true, of course, but the “reason” many want restored often has more in common with Hallmark than with Christ. While celebration, family, and friendship are essential aspects of the holiday season as culturally practiced, the church calendar offers the season of Advent as a way of preparing our hearts and minds for the feast of Christmas.

Essential to the season of Advent is remembering and rehearsing the Story of Scripture, particularly those parts that promise salvation. To that end of remembering, Michael Card’s album The Promise is a staple in the Stonestreet household this time of year. The more musically gifted in our home, of which I am not one, also commit time to listen again to Handel’s brilliant oratorio, Messiah.

The brilliant and witty G.K. Chesterton was a big fan of Christmas. In 2023, Ryan Whitaker Smith wrote Winter Fire: Christmas with G.K. Chesterton, a delightful mix of essays, articles, poems, and meditations. Closer to Christmas Day, don’t forget about Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas.

For those interested in going deeper, the 2024 book by Rhyne R. Putman, Conceived by the Holy Spirit: The Virgin Birth in Scripture and Theology, is one of the rare works for both laity and theological professionals. In it, Putman describes Advent and the birth of Christ by reaching across the Scriptures and into various elements of the Christian walk.

Daniel Spanjer’s Advent is the Story: Seeing the Nativity Throughout Scripture combines rich theology with a day-by-day reading list for the entire month. From the first chapters of Genesis to the concluding verses of Revelation, Spanjer describes “Christmas as worldview”:

The history of the universe is a story with a specific plot. It began with a garden of beauty and goodness. … [God] will bring the universe to completion as it was designed—Yahweh’s permanent, eternal home among his people.

Dan Darling’s 2019 book, The Characters of Christmas: The Unlikely People Caught Up in the Story of Jesus, challenges those too familiar with the Nativity story. Darling reminds readers how God used ordinary people to do the extraordinary, including Joseph and Mary, Zechariah and Elizabeth, and Simeon and Anna. As Darling described it:

This is the real story of Christmas, the heart of Christianity: brokenness and new birth. The same God who birthed life into Sarah’s dead womb had breathed life into Elizabeth and Mary. And this baby, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, breathes new birth into His people.

Yes, the season is bigger than commercialism and decorations, but it is even more than time with family and friends. Everything that matters ultimately finds its significance in the Work God is doing in His world.

Advent is to remind us of God’s redemption. As Mary sang in the Magnificat:

[H]e has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with

good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his

servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our

fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.

It Is Well. Even When It Is Not.

*This 15^th of the month rather than a devotional by Sylvia Gunter, I’m offering a timely message from her daughter, Elizabeth Gunter Powell. She writes with similar passion to her mom. Enjoy! Blessings, Ed 😊

As many look forward to this season with great joy, there are just as many who wish the holidays would pass quickly because they are too painful. The same is true of the birth of Jesus. While Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and kings will savor fondly the joy of Jesus’ birth, thousands of families in the surrounding area will mark it as the anniversary of the horrific night their young son was massacred by Herod… great hope and great pain all in one story.

In 2 Kings 4:8-36 there is a beautiful picture of hope in the midst of pain. Elisha longed to bless the Shunammite woman for her kindness, so he promised that in a year she would embrace a son. She protested, begging Elisha not to play games with her heart. A year later, she had a son, and he grew until one day he suddenly died.

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What do you do in those moments in your life when it feels like what was promised is taken away? The Shunammite woman asked for a donkey that she might run to the man of God. When her husband asked her why, she simply said, “It is well.” In Hebrew, it is one word, shalom, which means peace, health, welfare, security, safety, wholeness, and completion.

All was not well. Her son, whom she never dreamed she would bear and then miraculously bore, was now dead. As she approached Elisha, his servant met her and asked her what she wanted. Again all she said was, “It is well” (2 Kings 4:26b). This was not a denial of the events or an attempt to give the right religious answer. It was a statement of hope. All was not well, but it is still well.

2 Kings 4:27-28 says, “When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet.” Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”

“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes?'”

I love her response. She ran to her only hope, the man of God. But when she arrived, she didn’t hold back how she felt about the circumstances. Can’t you hear her tone? “This was your idea in the first place. You invited me to hope, to dream of having a son, and then this happened. I told you before you did it not to play games with me, and now I am bitterly disappointed.”

But even more amazing was her next phrase. In the midst of bitter distress, she said to the man of God, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” As devastated as she felt, she continued to trust and hope because she knew regardless of what would occur “It is well.”

The Shunammite woman’s story has a happy ending. Her son was raised from the dead. But for many that is not the case. Despite praying, hoping, and dreaming, life circumstances have turned out differently than you expected. Regardless of what this season holds for you, may you be like the Shunammite woman, able to be honest about the pain and to bring God all your pain and distress. May you find a resting place in God who is your Hope. You may not like what is happening. You may not understand what God is up to. May you choose to receive the grace of God to be able to say, “It is well.”

Be blessed in the heart of Jehovah-Shalom, the God of “It is well.”

God’s Goal

“The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

In general terms a goal is an aim or purpose, a desired outcome, but often we enter a relationship with the Lord without any clear or defined goal. It makes sense to have an expectation; otherwise, why begin the journey? And yes, of course, we want to go to heaven, but are we naïve enough to believe that journey will not cost us anything; that it won’t be difficult or challenging?

Shouldn’t we, as Jesus expressed in Luke 14:28, count the cost? In that context He speaks of considering the cost of construction of a building, but the same principle applies to most anything we do, whether a major purchase, marriage, or singleness. Certainly, something as life transforming as becoming a Jesus follower deserves our utmost consideration.

Jesus made it clear that His goal for us wasn’t to make us happy or comfortable, two things most people highly value, but to make us holy. Why? Because without holiness no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14)! What does being holy look like? It essentially looks like being set apart for sacred use, pure, without spot or blemish, unmarred by the soiling effects of life in this world. But how is that even possible? It’s not in our own effort! That’s the point.

God’s goal is to enable us to become someone we couldn’t possibly become without Him. That’s why when we yield our life and allegiance to the Lord Jesus, He imparts to us the privilege of becoming the new residence of His Holy Spirit. We are filled with Jesus in the Person of His Holy Spirit when we’re born again.

Why is that so important? Because holiness demands the cleansing presence of God living in and through us; otherwise, as human beings we’re powerless to make the needed changes to conform to the image of our Savior. That’s why Paul pleaded with the Romans, and with us, in Romans 12:1-2: “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 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the 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.”

We want to give the Lord our heart, maybe even our mind, but our body? But we can never transform ourselves, that’s God’s job, His goal if you will. Transformation is the work of God in and through us, but it must include every dimension of our being – body, mind, soul. And here’s the irony, it’s not hard to let God do what He wants to do. Think of Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 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.”

My sense is the Lord is not finished with me, but I can tell you based on more than 60 years being yoked with the Lord, He is true to His Word and has never given me a burden I couldn’t handle with His help. Why can it sometimes seem so hard? Perhaps Pastor Corky Calhoun addresses this when he writes: “God’s goal is not to buy us more time on earth, but to make sure we spend eternity with Him in heaven.”

It’s not always an easy road, but it’s well worth the effort.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who Would Be Changed?

“One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. ‘There was a judge in a certain city,’ He said, ‘who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, “Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.” The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, “I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!”’ Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on earth who have faith?’” (Luke 18:1-8 NLT)

Is justice what you seek most in prayer? And, if so, for whom? In consideration of justice, as in Jesus’ illustration above, someone wins, someone is granted a just response to their pleas. For what just response are you pleading in your prayers? Are you most concerned about getting what you want or need? What someone else wants or needs? The outcome God desires? How can we know for sure?

One way of knowing is considering who will get the glory, honor, credit, or benefit? If the Lord answers your prayer exactly as requested, who wins? Who is glorified, honored, given credit, or benefits from His favorable response? Much of the time I spend in prayer is for those who are lost, who need to find forgiveness, wholeness, new life, and a new beginning in Jesus.

Where do I fit in that equation? I don’t. Why is that important? Because it gives me certainty that what I’m asking of the Lord is to His honor and glory, and to the benefit of those who respond to His invitation to come to salvation through Christ alone by faith alone. And even in the many cases where I ask for specific things that WOULD benefit me, I always seek to leave the final decision to the Lord. And no, I don’t say – “If it be Your will” because most of the time it’s a copout to get us off the hook if He doesn’t answer like we’ve prayed. We must leave the door open for Him to say “no” or “wait!”

If we don’t believe we’re praying in line with God’s will, why are we praying? We’re always praying in line with God’s will to ask for someone to be saved, healed, restored, delivered, and in most other instances. How do I know that? Because that’s why Jesus came in the first place – to deliverer, give life, health, strength, deliverance from the tentacles of Satan in whatever form they may appear. “Yeh, but what if it’s me I’m praying for?”

Knowing I’m selfish and like to get my own way, in that scenario I genuinely want the Lord’s will, so, I let Him know that I trust His judgment and will leave the ultimate decision up to Him. How is that different from saying, “If it be Your will?” It’s different because I ask with an attitude of expectation. I expect the Lord to answer, but where it’s different, I’m open to accept His response, on His terms, and in His way. I don’t demand my own way.

That relates to an interesting quote I came across a few days ago by Chris Hodges where he asked a very penetrating question: “If God answered all your prayers, would it change the world or just change you?” Another related question could also be asked: “If God answered all our prayers, HOW would it change the world and/or me?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Inoculation or Transformation? (Part 2)

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1:3-5 NLT)

Another misleading piece of the “inoculation” process is believing it’s all and only up to us. We’re “in” because we’ve been baptized, we attend a gathering, we give money, we serve, we’re a good person or any version of that, but they’re all wrong.

We’re only “in” God’s family through adoption and that adoption only comes through our union with Christ Jesus. It’s not enough to say a prayer, it’s only enough when we give our life in total commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It essentially means no longer living for ourselves, but for Him. What might that look like?

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It looks a lot like what the disciples in the Gospels did – we follow Him! But how? By daily making Him our priority. Peter reminded the Lord of their sacrifice in Mark 10:28 when he said to Jesus: “We’ve given up everything to follow you.” And Jesus responded: “Yes, and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for My sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property – along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.”

Just to be clear, Jesus is not asking us to forsake our parents, family members, or to forsake our spouse and children, He’s saying they must take a lower priority in our thinking and living. Ideally, my sense is, He’s calling us to choose Him over spouses and children in the first place – to never marry. That’s what Paul advocates for in some of his writings, to remain single and essentially be “married” to Christ and His Church.

What’s my point? “Marriage” to Jesus is full, undivided commitment. He’s to be first in priority, first in obedience, first in preference, first in thought, first in sacrifice. But what if I come to Him later in life and I’m already married or have kids, a job, and a thousand other things pulling on me? He’s still our first priority in preparing our heart and mind to face each new day.

Every morning, I ask Him to enable me to love my wife and children, even though they’re grown, as He would if He were their husband and father. He’s not asking us to abandon them, but love them like He would. Ironically, that’s how a lot of Pastors lose their way. They think the church is their “bride,” not Jesus, and they sacrifice their marriage to serve the church. I learned the hard way that’s never what He desires.

That’s one of the reasons ministry is so hard, balancing what is the Lord’s time, family time, and my time. Here’s the truth – it’s ALL the Lord’s time, but the closer we walk with Him, the more discerning He enables us to be, helping us choose well when and how to invest our time most wisely. That’s basically what transformation looks like – balancing our lives to exalt Him in and through every avenue of our life.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Inoculation or Transformation?

“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. 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.” (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)

When I think of inoculation I typically think of babies and young children who get inoculated for different childhood diseases or old people who need their shots to help prevent the flu, shingles, and other things old people get. Perhaps one day they’ll have a vaccination for Alzheimer’s, who knows?

Vaccinations are mostly well and good, but where the inoculation mentality fails is in our relationship with Jesus. Too many Christian groups who began with a heart for God and good intentions have watered down their “dosage” of Christian teaching to little more than “sermonettes” and pleasantries. Being a Christ follower has devolved into being a good church person, which can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people, depending on their “inoculation.”

If I’ve been taught being baptized as a child is all I need to go to heaven, it will likely skew what I believe to be my adult responsibilities as a Jesus follower. If getting to heaven is my goal and I believe I’ve met the entry requirements, I’m good to go. My attitude becomes: “I don’t need that adult discipleship, I was inoculated as a child!” “I read Bible stories as a child, I’m good. I know about the Bible.” “I went (or was forced) to attend church as a child, it’s not really my thing now.”

Truth be told most of what we “learn” as a child and/or new believer is the indoctrination of the particular group who has “recruited” us. Many, if not most churches today, at least in America, are looking to fill a seat in a building, not get people into heaven. We sing our songs and preach our sermons while people within walking distance of our church never hear the Gospel. What’s wrong with that picture?

Transformation of life and character only come through a personal relationship with Jesus. No amount of indoctrination into a certain “brand” of Christianity can prepare us for heaven, only Jesus can do that. He said in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” Guess where the Father’s throne room is? Certainly not on earth. The Prophet Isaiah wrote in the early verses of chapter 6: “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple.” He goes on in verse three to refer to God this way: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”

Who on earth do you believe will ever be given access to enter His holy presence? Someone baptized as a child? A good person? Someone who read Bible stories as a child but lives like the devil? According to the only One who knows for sure, the Lord Jesus, no one will ever enter the Holy Father’s presence except He be escorted by His Holy Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you been inoculated into believing your way of understanding life or even the “Christian” way is going to get you to heaven? Unless “your” way includes complete surrender and devotion to the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Lord Jesus Himself, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Please go to Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, click on The Bridge to God and let Ron Hutchcraft walk you through how to meet the Lord and know you’re forgiven and ready for heaven. You can even have a live chat with someone if you have questions or concerns.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😃

Be Not Deceived

“Don’t be misled – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let us not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” (Galatians 6:7-9 NLT)

Sin loses its grip when we learn to love Jesus more than we love our sin. I’m old, but I’m not blind, there are still women I find attractive; however, because of my love for Jesus and my devotion to my wife, I never look twice. Pondering leads to lust and lust leads in all kinds of sinful directions.

We must not deceive ourselves into believing “it doesn’t matter where I get my appetite as long as I eat at home!” You must not believe for a second that your spouse isn’t aware that your mind is not on them, whatever you’re doing. Sin flows from the heart and mind, and certainly involves the body, but to believe we can sin in our thoughts and not violate God’s law is to misunderstand the God who sees, hears, and understands everything, even our thoughts.

J.C. Ryle gives us insight when he writes: “Young men, be not deceived. Think not you can, at will, serve lusts and pleasures in your beginning, and then go and serve God with ease at your latter end.” The more we cloud our mind with evil, regardless of our age, the more clouded our judgment when it comes to sin. Things we know intellectually are completely wrong, seem oh so right when our emotions take over.

Why are we so quick to believe the lies of Satan? Could it be because we starve our mind of God’s Words found in the Bible. Remember what Jesus did when Satan confronted Him with temptation? With every threat Jesus countered with the words of Scripture. Are we to do any less? But we can’t bring to remembrance what isn’t stored in our memory.

To me it’s very simple? Who do you love most? Jesus? Your spouse? Yourself? Who you love will lead your heart and where your heart goes, so goes your thoughts. And where your thoughts go, so goes your life. Satan’s primary tool of deception is our mind. If he can get us to believe wrong thoughts, it’s a very short step to wrong actions.

God’s heart is for us to follow Him closely, that’s why He lives in us as His child. He guides and guards our thoughts, but He will not force us to think in line with His ways, we must want that for ourselves. But what does it look like to think God’s thoughts? It looks much like what He’s recorded in His Word, the Bible.

Saturate your mind with His words of Scripture. Don’t just read them, meditate on them, memorize them, talk to others about them, make them a part of your daily life. Post a verse on your mirror to memorize and guide you through your day. Post a verse(s) on your frig to remind you to cherish God’s Word in your heart and to feed your soul on His holy words.

Deception is Satan’s plan and our only defense is God’s Words empowered by God’s Spirit released in and through our heart and mind. “Don’t be misled – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” What are you planting in your heart and mind?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Cowards

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars – their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8 NLT)

Cowards aren’t cowards because they have fear, they’re cowards because they let their fear prevent them from doing what they know they should do. In my mind it’s not fear that keeps us from sharing our faith, it’s cowardice; it’s thinking more of our own feelings and possible backlash from people with whom we might share, than of their eternal damnation.

People who die without Jesus are doomed to an eternity of separation from Him and all that is good, right, and holy. But the thought of my loved ones and those about whom I care deeply, missing heaven terrifies me. It’s a small thing to risk ridicule, rejection, or even persecution if I can influence even one person to change their mind about Jesus and miss hell.

Someone took the risk and made the effort to share Jesus with me, the least I can do is do the same for someone I know or meet. What if we were as quick to share the good news of forgiveness and new life in Jesus as we are a morsel of gossip? Josh Surratt made the observation: “Leaders tell the truth to people. Cowards tell the truth to other people about other people.”

The irony, of course, is, too often what people tell other people ISN’T the truth! They’re simply perpetrating lies to make themselves feel better about themselves. Why not share the truth that Jesus is Lord, has died in our place to purchase for us a place in heaven, where we can go if we’ll yield our life and allegiance to Him by faith.

Sometimes I’ll tell a lost loved one or friend: “I can’t stand the thought of being in heaven without you!” Strangely, a lot of people are surprised I would say that because they have this misunderstanding that everyone goes to heaven, or, at least, all the “good” people, which, of course, they are. Satan has filled people’s minds with all kinds of lies that sound plausible, but are damning lies.

Perhaps a simple question can lead to helping someone have a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about heaven. A question like: “What do you believe about heaven?” Or “As you understand it, who gets to go to heaven?” Jesus is clear that no one goes to heaven except by faith in Him. In John 14:6 He says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.”

Being religious, a good person, going to church, or anything else will never take the place of a personal love relationship with the One who laid down His life in our place. Each of us must make the personal decision to open our heart and mind to the Lord by faith, asking for forgiveness and determining to walk in the power of the Spirit who will take up residence in our heart when we open our life to Him.

If you’ve never done that, please go to The Bridge to God and let Ron Hutchcraft guide you in how to give your life to the Lord Jesus. You will never regret opening your life to the Lord of life. Knowing my heart belongs to Jesus and my home in heaven is awaiting my arrival gives me peace to know that whatever I face here on earth, it’s only temporary, and because of Him, very manageable.

Don’t be a coward! Open your heart to Jesus today! And if you know Him, share Him with someone today!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Quiet Faithfulness

“Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT)

We live in a noisy world. There is no limit to the distractions we encounter regardless of what we’re doing. Then, on those rare occasions when it’s quiet, we tend to want to go to sleep! Of course, quietness involves more than the absence of noise, it also includes those private things we do for the Lord that no one knows about but Him.

No one sees us when we’re praying, reading God’s Word, writing notes of encouragement, making calls to those who may otherwise be forgotten, or being engaged in other ways that honor the Lord and bless others, but those things never escape the Lord’s notice. Another avenue of the quiet faithfulness of God is not only what He does through us, but what He’s doing in us.

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Every second we devote to listening attentively to the Lord’s voice and basking in His holy presence is opportunity for Him to do something helpful in drawing us to Himself and growing us to become more like Him. The Lord will never do anything through us He hasn’t first established in us. He can’t give us instructions until He has our attention and it’s hard to hear His still, small voice in the midst of confusion, turmoil, and noise.

Ray Majoran prays: “As we follow Your way, teach us to value the quiet faithfulness that honors You, even when no one sees the effort but You. Lead us in the small steps of obedience that shape our future, and give us grace to do the work You have called us to do, trusting that You are faithful and will complete Your work within us (1 Thessalonians 5:24) (See Reflecting Christ – 11-20-25)

The truth is the Lord can’t complete what we haven’t allowed Him to begin. Faith begins as a seed that grows as we prioritize our walk with the Lord and allow Him time and opportunity to nurture our faith and help it grow. He is always faithful to do what He promises, but we must intentionally work at learning what it means to be faithful to and for Him.

Quiet faithfulness begins in our heart with a desire to know Him, long for His presence, nurture His closeness, and treasure our time with Him. Yes, of course, He never leaves us, but we are so easily distracted and drawn away from Him. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to set aside specific time when you can find a quiet place to get alone with the Lord.

Devote specific time to read His Word, speak with Him in prayer, contemplate your day’s activities in light of your mission for the Lord. Ask questions like: “Lord, how would you have me invest my time today? Who would you have me reach out to for You? Who can I encourage, bless with a note or call? Is there someone at work, school, or where I volunteer who needs a smile and a word of encouragement? Whatever You have for me, please prepare my heart and mind and enable me to be attentive to Your leading.”

Solitude doesn’t have to be strange, but can be the best part of our day. The chorus of Johnson Oatman’s beautiful hymn reminds us: “Alone with God, the world forbidden, Alone with God, O blest retreat! Alone with God, and in Him hidden, to hold with Him communion sweet.”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Politics of Heaven

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him; God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:5, 10 NLT)

According to The Merriam-Webster Dictionary “politics” is “the art or science of government: as a: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy. And b: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government.”

The major problem with governments in our world today is their focus on themselves as opposed to being focused on those over whom they’ve been given authority. Government is a means to a very selfish end in most cases, even, perhaps especially in the United States of America. We’ve either forgotten why government exists or we’ve purposely redirected our efforts to please and honor ourselves as politicians.

Proverbs 29:2 reminds us: “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.” Paul reminded Timothy, and us, in 1 Timothy 2:1-5: “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus.”

A common understanding of the purpose of government in society is to maintain order, protect individual rights, provide public services, and promote the general welfare of its citizens. Perhaps Abraham Lincoln said it best in his Gettysburg Address when he spoke of “Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.” But how does that translate for us from day to day?

Juan Sanchez reminds us: “We are to display the politics of heaven on Earth,” but what does that mean? How do we do that without becoming some kind of radical nutjob? Think about the government of heaven. Who’s in charge? Whose interests does our King hold most dear? Who does He select to govern others?

The Lord God Almighty, Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the universe is the embodiment of all Truth, Justice, mercy, kindness, goodness, and every other attribute that preserves human dignity and protects the rights He Himself has given us. He rules in heaven and establishes leaders of His own choosing to rule over us when we’re there.

Of course, we don’t know with certainty how all of that will look, but because of who will be in charge, we can know that it will be done fairly and in a manner that will result in our best interests being addressed. So, how might that look on earth now as we seek to honor, obey, and represent our King well?

Doesn’t it mean ordering our lives based on the truth of God’s Word? Following His Commandments to love Him with our whole heart, mind, soul, and body and others as ourselves? Putting the needs of others ahead of our own and never pushing our personal agendas on someone else?

Might that be the most effective way to see His holy will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊