Walking With Jesus

Verbalized Faith

“Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, ‘Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.’ After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!’” (2 Chronicles 20:20-21 NLT)

What comes to mind when you read the words “verbalized faith.” Witnessing is a word that comes to my mind, but I believe there’s more here. What does our witnessing entail? What are we seeking to reveal in and through our “witnessing?” Our faith? Yes, of course, but how is that faith revealed, demonstrated through our verbalization, our words?

Notice in the verses above that Jehoshaphat’s battle strategy was based on his confidence in God; so much so, he placed a choir in front of his army. Under normal circumstances that would be equivalent to a suicide mission. Who is most likely to be killed first in battle, at least the kind of battle they fought in that time? First come, first “served”…death!

Photo by Somchai Kongkamsri on Pexels.com

But if you read further you see that because of the faith in the Lord that King Jehoshaphat displayed by making that courageous decision, not a single person in his army lost their life. Why? Because the Lord put the opposing army into a panic, so much so, they turned on and killed each other.

Think about what happened and what the implications are for you and me. Pastor Rick Warren gives us insight when he writes: “Praise and thanksgiving are verbalized faith. If you thank God after the fact, that’s gratitude. If you thank God before it happens, that’s faith…There is power in expectation.”

What was the king’s expectation? That if he exercised faith, God would intervene! And He did! What’s the lesson? What are you facing in this moment, this season of your life? What is your expectation? What outcome are you anticipating in the battle(s) you’re facing?

What if we verbalized our faith by singing praises and lifting thanksgiving to the Lord? What if rather than: “O God, what am I going to do?” We sang: “Great are you Lord, and greatly to be praised!” Or “Come, Thou Almighty King, Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise: Father! All glorious, O’er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.”

What if rather than focusing on the size of the “army” in front of us we focused on the size of the God who reigns over us and lives within us? Faith isn’t a feeling, it’s a reality with which we live, move, and have our being, it’s an all-powerful Father who knows us best, loves us most, and has our back. He doesn’t back down in the face of overwhelming odds. He simply smiles, gives a command, and the opposing army dismantles themselves in fear and awe of Almighty God!

When God is with us, who can be against us? No one or nothing has power or authority over us except it is given them by our all-knowing, all-loving Father, or by us when we doubt and fear. If God allows it, it’s for our good, not our demise. He will work it for our ultimate blessing and good…if we’ll trust Him! If we’ll exercise our verbalized faith by lifting to Him praise, adoration, glory, honor, and thanksgiving in the beginning, not waiting until He works, then recognizing and thanking Him.

When we wait, we miss a great opportunity for our faith to grow, and our heart of love for God to expand.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Real Is Rare

“The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.” (Daniel 2:10-11 NLT)

When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a very disturbing nightmare, he demanded his “wise” men, who, except for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishal, and Azariah, were sorcerers, astrologers, and magicians, to interpret his dream. But the plot thickened because he wanted them to tell him, not only what the dream meant, but what he dreamed, which, as they observed, was humanly impossible.

To make matters worse, the king told them if they didn’t, he would have them torn limb from limb. Not a very promising prospect for anyone. All there adult lives these astrologers, essentially worshipers of the devil, had made their living fooling people into believing things that weren’t true, even the king. But when real men of God were captured and their lives were being threatened along with the others, Daniel and his friends went to the Lord, the only logical thing to do.

What impossible situation do you find yourself in today? Hopeless? Helpless? At the end of yourself? All resources exhausted? Maybe it’s time you called on the One who has all power and all the resources of heaven. And maybe you’re thinking: “Yeh, I’ve tried that, and it didn’t work. I begged God to intervene, to heal my loved one and they still died. To save my marriage and they still left. To heal my loved one and they didn’t get any better.”

May I say with true empathy, I understand. I begged God to save my marriage, but my wife still left. But I begged the same God to heal my 16-year-old son of leukemia and he’s 50 years old today. Why answer one prayer, but not the other? I used to think I’d ask Him when I got to heaven, but the closer I get to Him, the less I need to know. Knowing Him is enough. He’s made it clear He actually answered both prayers…very clearly.

And yes, I realize that doesn’t answer all your questions, but let me just say, sometimes miracles come in small packages. Sometimes we ask for healing and what we get is a remembrance of a blessing shared or an unexplainable smile. Sometimes it’s the squeeze of our hand assuring us they and we are going to be okay. Sometimes a roadblock leads to a better route to our destination.

For the men of God being held captive in Babylon, God intervened in miraculous ways. He gave Daniel full revelation of the king’s dream which resulted in Daniel being given a high position and great material reward. But that wasn’t the greatest miracle.

In Daniel 4:34 the pagan king praises the Lord when he said: “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.” He elaborates even more, but the point is, interpreting dreams is a small thing for God. He knows our every thought whether awake or asleep. The miracle is when a person voluntarily opens their stubborn heart to Him in worship and confession of there sin.

What we don’t very often understand is the miracle for which we pray isn’t always the miracle God wants to give us. Rather than give us answers, He desires to give us the miracle of Himself. He is the answer to our every question. He is the fulfillment of every promise, every longing, every desire.

When we find Him, we’ll find out just how rare real really is.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Life We Seek

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.” (Psalm 16:11 NLT)

While physical existence begins at conception, true life, as it was always meant to be lived, doesn’t begin until we meet our Creator and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Realizing that may sound more like rhetoric than truth, may I assure you, based on my more than 60 years of walking with the Lord, and the testimonies of many others over the years, Jesus IS life in the truest sense of the word.

The testimony of martyr Jim Elliot helps us when he wrote: “I seek not a long life, but a full one, like you Lord Jesus.” Life isn’t measured by the number of times our heart beats, the number of awards on our wall, or the number of trophies on our shelves. It’s measured by our level of commitment to Christ and the degree of effectiveness we’ve had in allowing Him to live His life out through us.

If our goal to is to live conservatively, guarding our health, staying close only to family and dear friends, never risking involvement in the lives of those who may “compromise” us in any way, we may live beyond 100, but we won’t have experienced life. Life is living for Jesus and investing ourselves in His eternal Kingdom.

Kingdom investment requires risk and can cut our life on earth short, as it did for Jim Elliot, but when you compare 29 years on earth with an eternity in heaven, it’s a no-brainer. Yes, of course, there are many wonderful things we can and hopefully do experience on earth, but the greatest pleasure on earth can’t be compared with a single second in heaven with our Savior.

How can I possibly say that? Because the most wonderful, joy-filled, satisfying, stimulating, exciting, emotionally moving moments of my existence on earth are spent with Jesus. There is no earthly pleasure that can compare with moments spent in fellowship with the lover of my soul. No, not even sex!

Physical pleasure in the context of wholesome, God-ordained ways, is good, even great! But hearing God’s voice, sensing His pleasure, knowing your life matters to Him, can’t be measured by any earthly standard. Try to imagine the smile on Jim Elliot’s face and watch his tears of joy when he learns the man who took his life, later knelt at the feet of the King of kings as a result of his wife’s faithful service to his tribe.

Think of Jim and the man who murdered him embracing on the streets of heaven, weeping, jumping up and down, celebrating their Savior Jesus. The world can’t understand that kind of joy and satisfaction in that kind of context. Words can’t describe what God has done, is doing, and will do for one who cares less about their own life than their life in Jesus.

Is that the life you’re seeking? Thinking more of heaven and your investment in God’s Kingdom than your own life on earth? In this season He’s always on my mind. All I want is to be, do, think, say, or write, whatever He lays on my heart. As much as I enjoy my life on earth, and I do, I can’t wait to see my Savior face-to-face.

My sense is I won’t be on my feet long before I’ll be kneeling or likely lying prostrate in worship of my King; my life’s dream coming true at last.

This is the life I seek.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Tolerance

“Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?” (Romans 2:3-4 NLT)

Often our harshest criticism of someone is prompted by their commitment of the same sin we commit but are blind to it’s severity in our own life. Perhaps the clearest picture of this is gossip. We couch our sin in words like “concern,” “desire to help,” or even “prayer.”

A friend confides in us that they’ve been unfaithful to their spouse. They’re devastated and have come to us to get counsel as to what they should do to make things right. Being the spiritual giant we are, we tell them to see a Pastor and seek their advice. Then, the next thing we do is get on the phone or send a text to some choice friends asking them to “pray” for our friend who has just confessed their sin.

Can we not see the hypocrisy, shame, and sin in that decision? Why would we commit such a grave violation of a friend’s trust? There are likely lots of reasons, but the key as I understand it, is a desire to take advantage of another’s sin to point people away from our own.

How do you think the Lord views things like that? It breaks His heart! What if the Lord sent out a memo to all our friends every time we confessed to Him? He would NEVER do that for any reason. Yes, I realize we will give an account of every idle word (Matthew 12:36), but do you realize what “idle” means? It’s a word that means “lazy, shunning the labour which one ought to perform” (Strong’s).

They are words we speak without thought of consequence; without consideration of how they will affect others. What may seem like a joke to us can cut someone to the core. Where do these kinds of words or expressions originate? Judgment! We become the judge of another’s appearance, intellect, or social standing by their color, creed, or convictions.

We set ourselves up as “better” when we don’t even know someone. It’s the origin of racial hatred. We hate what we don’t know or understand, because it’s easier to hate than to get to know someone and learn they’re so much more like us than different from us.

We criticize someone because they have an accent, or they pronounce words differently than we do. Having traveled out of the U.S. and had people laugh at and criticize me because of my efforts to speak their language, my respect for someone who speaks more than their native tongue has grown exponentially.

Why do I mention that? Because when we make the effort to communicate, our relationship can be deepened, not necessarily because we were able to learn one another’s language, but because we learned there are non-verbal means of communication that can be far more effective than words. Love is a universal language that anyone can understand. Love is the key to overcoming intolerance.

While on a mission’s trip to a very poor area of Peru, we had the opportunity to participate in a Maundy Thursday foot-washing service. These were very poor, uneducated folks, but they loved Jesus and opened their hearts to us. What an honor and privilege to wash their dusty feet, not out of obligation or duty, but out of love.

Let me close with these words from Dietrich Bonoheffer: “Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating.” When we allow the Lord to illuminate our own sin, we will become much more understanding of the sin of others.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What’s He Doing?

“Your enemy is coming to crush you, Nineveh. Man the ramparts! Watch the roads! Prepare your defenses! Call out your forces! Even though the destroyer has destroyed Judah, the Lord will restore its honor. Israel’s vine has been stripped of branches, but He will restore its splendor.” (Nahum 2:1-2 NLT)

Ninevah was the “crown jewel” of the Assyrian nation, which was part of what is now Iraq. It was a city of luxury, wealth, prosperity, but also marked by evil, cruelty, slavery, and debauchery. Nahum’s prophecy was a warning, but was also a declaration of what happens when God’s warnings aren’t heeded.

You may recall the city of Nineveh was also of note in the book of Jonah, but rather than obeying God and preaching to the lost people of that very wicked city, he made haste to run from God. To no avail, of course, so, Jonah eventually did what God asked him to do, but rather than delight in the people’s positive response to Jonah’s message, he sulked and was mad at God.

Nahum’s very clear warning took place about 150 years or so after Nineveh’s “repentance” and turning from their wickedness and God’s warnings of judgment, indicating that after the generation that heard God’s call and responded positively, future generations failed to follow His directives, thus, once again became the center of God’s very negative attention.

What’s the lesson for us. Steven Furtick gives us a hint when he wrote: “Whatever God does next in your life will emerge from what you’re doing right now.” While I may have issues with some of Furtick’s teaching, I believe he’s on to something in this quote. Think about it. In Jonah’s prophecy related to Nineveh, the people were steeped in sin, living on the edge of a very slippery slope that had only one outcome – UNLESS! Unless they listened to God, repented, and turned from their sinful ways.

They did, and life was good until they slid back into their old ways. But note what happened then. The Lord didn’t send a Prophet to lead them out of their sin; He sent a pronouncement of judgment. For reasons God alone may know, He was finished with their rebellion. Where does that put us? It depends.

Are you walking with God or running from Him? Is your heart’s desire to please and honor Him or could you not care less? Time is short, it is literally RUNNING out (not crawling or walking slowly). The Apostle Paul said the Lord’s coming would “happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown.”

What’s the clear, undeniable implication? When the end has come for us, there will be no second chances, no do-overs, no time to repent or express regrets, it will be time to answer for the life we’ve lived, not the one we wished we’d lived.

Where are you, my friend? Are you ready for the Lord’s return, realizing His “return” for you may come in this second, when your heart stops beating for any number of reasons. My mom literally dropped dead. She was reaching for her medicine and was gone before she could get it. Fortunately, my mom loved Jesus and will be waiting with Him when I arrive, but what about you?

What’s the Lord doing as He prepares for the next chapter of your life? Will it be repentance and life or continued ignoring of His warnings and death. I pray you know your sins are forgiven and you’re walking with Him, but if you’re not sure, please click this link and get things settled with God right now.

Waiting is over. It’s time for action!

Blessings, Ed

Longing for Healing?

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36 NLT)

What do you think drove the multitudes to Jesus? Was it His charming personality? His beautiful voice? His handsome smile? His winsome manner? My sense is, they thronged to Him because they believed He could do something for them – teach them, encourage, feed, and heal them.

Things haven’t changed much over the centuries, have they? When do many people search for a church? Seek counseling? A doctor or hospital? In desperation! When they’re at their wits end! But why? Why are we so reluctant to come to the Lord when times are good and things are going well?

As we discussed in yesterday’s post, we like to be in control, even if that control leads us into great difficulty. We want to make our own decisions, and, ironically, there’s nothing innately wrong with that, if our decisions lead us to Jesus. Unfortunately, that doesn’t very often happen.

What if what we want and what Jesus wants are the same? I’m reminded of Matthew 11:28-30 when Jesus invites us to: “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.”

Are you longing for healing – of your heart, mind, soul, or body? Come to the Healer! When your longing shifts from YOUR healing to HIS presence, you’ll find the answer to your greatest need. Most of those throngs of people who flocked after Jesus never followed through on learning to walk in humble submission to His authority in their life, but for those who did, their lives were never the same.

It’s a different context but think of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. He was a valued commander in the King of Aram’s army, but he had leprosy. A young slave girl suggested to the king’s wife that Naaman should go see the prophet, Elisha. “He would heal him of his leprosy,” she said.

One thing led to another and finally, Naaman agreed to go see Elisha. In typical “pomp and circumstance,” he arrives at Elisha’s house, expecting for Elisha to come out and heal him, but instead, he’s greeted by Elisha’s servant telling him: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

Naaman was not happy. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!” but that wasn’t God’s plan. How many times do we pray with demands to “heal” us our way, but it doesn’t come, so we blame God.

Reluctantly, Naaman complies and is healed, and his life was forever changed because he was able to look beyond his healing to the Healer. Might that be what needs to happen in your life? Perhaps you need to shift your focus from healing your way to the desires of the Healer for you. Being yoked with Jesus is easy because He does most of the work, He bears most of the burden, but, in return, He expects us to go His way, in His time, and let Him make decisions about what He will do in and for us.

Stop longing for healing that may never come unless and until you turn your focus from your healing to your need of the Healer.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Surrender?

“Surrender your heart to God turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.” (Job 11:13-18 CEV)

Surrender is a difficult and often very frightening proposition. We’re so prone to doing things our way, but when our way paints us into an inescapable “corner,” our outcomes aren’t very bright otherwise.

Too often, even as Jesus followers, we want to treat surrender as something temporary. “Okay, Lord, get me out of this jam and I’ll serve you forever.” It’s the proverbial “battlefield” prayer: “Lord, if You’ll let me live I’ll devote the rest of my life to serving you!” But, too often, after He saves our life we run to the bar, rather than to the altar.

Why are we so afraid to surrender to the Lord? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines surrender: “to yield to the power of another: give up under compulsion: relinquish.” Some of that applies to our life in Christ, but not all. Yes, of course, in giving our lives to the Lord we are yielding to the power of another and, yes, without question, the Lord asks us to relinquish our rights to our own life, but it’s never under compulsion.

Of what are we so reluctant to give up? CONTROL! Therein lies the problem. But think about it – where has your control gotten you so far? On some levels you may have done very well, but in light of eternity, of what real value is it? I think of the words of Jesus in Mark 8:36-37 when He said: “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

Eternity is a very long time to be wrong. So, why not focus on what you gain by surrendering? Yes, we give up our sin(s) of choice, but what we gain far outweighs our perceived loss. Sin is pleasure for a season, but when it grows old, it leaves us lost, empty, bitter, and hopeless.

Jesus forgives, cleanses, frees, liberates, empowers us to live a holy, separated life for Him, fills us with joy, peace, confidence, purpose, hope, and puts us on a mission that is fulfilling and satisfying beyond anything the world can offer.

Job put it this way: “you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge,and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry.” What’s not to love about that! But here’s the best part.

Those are human benefits, but what knowing, loving, and being devoted to Jesus gives is – JESUS! There is no greater gift we could ever receive than Him, His friendship, kindness, love, grace, closeness, guidance, gifts, and, arguably, His best gift – His Spirit living in and working through us.

Surrendering control is hard, there’s no easy way around it, and it often takes time to give it up completely, but may I be honest? It’s worth the risk! I’ve learned the Lord does a much better job running my life than I ever did. My joy is complete in Him, my satisfaction with life is greatly enhanced, and the grace He extends is allowing me to grow closer and closer to Him.

Here’s the bottom line for me: there’s just nothing this world can offer that compares. Throw in eternal bliss and it’s a no-brainer. What are you waiting for?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Paradox of Death

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:10-11 NLT)

If you’re a Jesus follower your life was purchased by the death of God’s Son, but the only avenue of true, lasting, and meaningful life in Jesus is through death to ourselves, to our sinful nature. While it seems paradoxical, it’s completely true. Another irony of the Christan Faith is, while our eternal life begins the moment we receive Christ by faith, the fullness of that life doesn’t come about until we die (or until the Lord returns).

Isn’t it almost comical that the Lord took the very thing we most fear – death – and turned it into the only avenue of true life? Anyone who doesn’t believe the Lord has a sense of humor hasn’t read the Bible. Think of Peter, the Lord’s choice to be the “Rock” of His new Church, but Peter crumbles at the first sight of danger when the Lord is arrested and runs with all the rest. “I will die for you!” becomes, “get out of my way!”

A. W. Tozer grasps the paradox when he writes: “Jesus Christ our Lord surrendered in order that He might win; He destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” Might we gain insight into how to order our own lives as we view our Savior’s life as a model?

Think about it! How did Jesus surrender? He willingly laid down His life in our place. We belonged on that Cross, but the sinless Lamb of God took our place, but why? That we might become His hands, feet, and voice in a world that not only doesn’t know Him but also doesn’t understand their desperate need of Him. We’re His chosen “mouthpiece” to get the word out! How will they hear unless someone tells them? Could that “someone” be you?

What might that entail? Dying to self. Surrendering our will for God’s will. Choosing His hard way over our easy way. Picking up our cross daily and following Him. We have it so easy in America anything the least bit “stressful” freaks us out. “Speak with someone about Jesus? That sounds hard. I could never do that!”

And here’s the irony. No one cares. You won’t get arrested, tortured, or killed for your faith. The absolute worst thing that might happen is you could get your feelings hurt. “Oh, boo hoo!” When will we grow up! Jesus’ love for His Father and for us – YOU and me, cost Him His life. Following Him might cost us an hour or so on Sunday to attend church and a few minutes a week to read the Bible and say a few prayers.

Jesus “destroyed His enemies by dying for them and conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.” How do we die for those who need Jesus? By “dying” to ourselves. By making the decision to invest time in learning how to effectively share our faith; by learning how to study the Bible with intent to learn how to live a holy, changed life; by investing hours instead of minutes in prayer.

And please don’t misunderstand, I don’t spend hours a day on my knees, but I do spend hours throughout my day in conversation with my Savior, and so can you, if you allow the Spirit to put to death your old self.

It’s a paradox: spiritual life can only be born through death to selfishness.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Counterfeit gods

“What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than He is?” (1 Corinthians 10:19-22 NLT)

From the standpoint of Scripture an idol is a counterfeit god, a God substitute to which we give allegiance that should rightfully be given to the Lord God of heaven alone. Perhaps Tim Keller said it best when he wrote: “A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living.”

What is it for you? Have you ever thought of it as an idol, a counterfeit god? Therein lies the problem. We’re like the rich young man (Matthew 19) who couldn’t see his riches taking the place of the Lord Jesus, until Jesus asked him to make a choice.

It’s the same choice He’s asking me and you to make today. Who’s Lord? Who or what is the owner of our heart? What motivates us to be the person we are? Why do we do what we do? What serves as the reason behind everything we do? Our spouse? Our kids? Our job? Our ________?

Does this mean we can’t have nice things? That depends! If the “nice things” mean more to us than Jesus, they have to go, at least from their position in our heart and mind. I live in a nice house, but, by God’s grace, I own it, it doesn’t own me. I drive a “nice” 10-year-old car, but it’s a means of transportation, I don’t find my identity in it. What’s my point?

Counterfeit gods don’t have to be expensive, in terms of dollars and cents, to own our heart. If what I’m loving more than God is a person, position, profession, or _____________, what should I do? If anything is taking the Lord’s place in my heart, how do I reposition my priorities, my heart’s preferences to align with God’s heart?

That’s a spiritual matter that must be handled in prayer and time spent in the sole presence of the Master. Like the “rich young man” (Matthew 19) we must come before the Lord with an open heart and mind. He will direct us as surely as He directed the young man who had great wealth. My sense is the Lord doesn’t care what we have as much as He cares about what has us.

“How do I know who or what has me?” becomes a legitimate question. The simplest answer is: “Who or what stands in your way of becoming everything you believe the Lord is asking you to do or be?” Regardless of our age or stage of life, there are always obstacles, at least in our mind, to walking in the complete will of God for our life.

Perhaps it’s a relationship, a child, or a sin that is our “counterfeit god.” Perhaps you’re entangled in an adulterous affair; a homosexual relationship; or an unhealthy/illegal monetary arrangement and you can’t imagine how it can end any way but disastrous – emotionally, financially, relationally, spiritually. Here’s the truth, we bring nothing but our sin and shame to the feet of Jesus. He meets us there, heals us, changes our heart, and pledges to walk with us every step from there on.

When we’re walking intimately and closely with Jesus, nothing else really matters. When He’s first, everything else gets removed or takes its place behind Him. And no, we can’t hold on to our sin and to Him. We must make a choice.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Looking for the Perfect Church?

“I am writing to God’s Church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be His own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as He did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.” (1 Corinthians 1:2 NLT)

God’s Church, purchased and led by the Lord Jesus Christ, is not defined by the sins of man, but by the sinless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world. May I set your mind at ease? There is no perfect fellowship of God’s people on earth, regardless of the name over their door or the creeds which they follow. If you’re looking for a perfect church on earth, you search in vain.

And here’s the truth. Even if you found a perfect church, the moment you joined, it would become imperfect. Why? Because you, as every other blood-washed brother and sister, still have feet of clay and will be plagued by our sin nature until we draw our last breath.

Does that mean we can’t live above sin? Absolutely not! John reminds us in 1 John 2:1: “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin.” With the clear implication: “will not continue to live by the dictates of your sin nature.” Paul confirms this thought in Romans 6:12 when he writes: “Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to sinful desires.”

But how is that even possible? To the extent we give full reign and control of our lives to the Holy Spirit, to that extent we’ll walk in freedom from sin’s control. Does that mean we can’t sin? Of course not. We still have the ability to sin, to obey the lusts of our own flesh, but here’s the truth – it’s a choice! We don’t have to sin, we choose to sin.

When our heart is tuned to the melody of God’s love and grace, sin isn’t foremost in our heart and mind. The presence of the Lord’s Spirit with us, leading, guiding, loving, protecting, nurturing, teaching, and protecting us gives us everything we need to be everything He desires us to be. To believe we must sin is to believe a lie from the lips of Satan himself.

Why the emphasis on sin? Because sin is why there are no perfect churches, because there are no perfect people, except the Lord Jesus alone. Having been a part of “holiness” churches, I learned firsthand that every “holy” person doesn’t walk like Jesus. Should that turn us away from being a part of any fellowship of God’s people? Absolutely not! Because some walk very closely with the Lord.

The church of which I’m a part now, in this season of my life, is not perfect, but my contention is, we see what we want to see. If we want to see things that aren’t exactly as we wished they were, I’m confident we can find some. But if our attitude is – “I’m going to be the best person of God I can possibly be to the glory of God! I’m going to live well, serve well, love well, give well, and make the best contribution to this body of believers as I possibly can” – you’re going to find your place and you’re going to thrive as God’s child.

And beyond that, you’re going to love the people with whom you live, love, and serve. The words of Josh Howerton bless me when he writes: “In their (futile) search for a perfect church, a lot of people never get to pause and enjoy a good one.” I love my church, but here’s the best part: they love me! I feel part of a loving family that I would lay down my life for. The Lord is using His church (“my” church) to bless people all over the world with their generosity, kindness and love.

Don’t you long to be a part of a family like that? You can be and will be when you decide to be that kind of person, making that kind of contribution together with other imperfect, but God-loving people.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊