Walking With Jesus

What If Our Prodigal Doesn’t Return?

“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my faither and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ So he returned home to his father.” (Luke 15:17-20a NLT)

The context of the story of the prodigal son makes clear the son was “lost” when he left home but was repentant and desiring to be “found” when he came home. Those about whom I asked the question in yesterday’s post are those who are clearly walking with God but have a change of heart and mind and willingly choose to walk away from Him.

If they never “come home” to God, will they be lost for all eternity? And, secondly, if they come back to the Lord will they find forgiveness and restoration? Again, as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, as I understand it, it’s a matter of free will. Can we exercise our will to walk into a relationship with God, but not a will to walk away again?

Everything in Scripture shouts to me that God is love and holds us with open arms. His arms invite us to come to Him and they remain open to release us if we choose to leave. But as I think about the “prodigals” in my own family, and yours, who once opened their heart to the Lord, were baptized and walked faithfully with Him, then turned away and have no room in their heart for Him now, what’s their fate? Can they repent and return or is there no longer any hope for them? Will the Lord “force” them to come to heaven against their will? Or will He sadly allow them to go to hell as they follow their will?

As the Bible describes it, salvation is a free gift we receive by faith, or we can choose to reject. When we “receive” it, as with any other gift, it’s ours to do with as we wish. We can embrace it with our whole heart and life, as I and many of you have, or we can sit it on the proverbial “shelf” of our life and grab it when we think we need it. It either becomes the all-encompassing joy of our life or it can become a novelty that passes over time.

As believers we like to think of our salvation as something that can or cannot be “lost,” (i.e. can someone lose their salvation?), but as I understand it, it’s more like a marriage. I didn’t “lose” my marriage, it was ripped away like a limb from my body. Relationships aren’t “lost,” they’re ignored or nurtured, treasured or forgotten.

We don’t “lose” our relationship with God; we simply prioritize our life to include or exclude Him. As with any relationship we enjoy and value Him or we crowd Him out with other, more important people or things. Can a person be “saved” and walk away from God? Honestly, I can’t imagine why or how, but the truth is, yes, they can.

When that happens, when they die, will they still go to heaven? That’s ultimately a question that only God can answer, but I do know this, if someone who once walked with God, turns away, then returns, repents, turns from their wickedness and seeks the Lord with a sincere heart, on the authority of God’s Holy Word, I believe they will find forgiveness and restoration with the Lord.

So, what’s the bottom line? Don’t stop praying for your prodigals! Entrust them to the Lord, and, like the father in Luke 15, keep watching for their return, then receive them with open arms.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Someone Walks Away From God

“For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened – those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come – and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing Him to the cross once again and holding Him up to public shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-8 NLT)

This is a frightening and difficult passage on many levels, but, like the whole of Scripture, is more easily understood in its original context. In Hebrews 6 the author is teaching about spiritual growth and maturity. Believers in Jesus were experiencing severe persecution, many to the literal loss of their lives, but some, in an effort to save their lives, denounced their hope in Jesus, and walked away from their faith. The above words were written to describe the seriousness of such a decision.

However, it also opens the door for us to consider the fate of those who walk away from Jesus under less demanding circumstances. Is there no hope for ANYONE who once walked with the Lord, but for whatever reason decided to walk away?

There are at least three considerations when someone walks away from God. First, we can write them off as “never saved” in the first place. Second, we can say while they walked away from God, God never walked away from them, their salvation is still intact, they didn’t “lose” their salvation, thus their home in heaven was never in jeopardy. Or, third, we can recognize people of faith who once genuinely and sincerely walked with the Lord, but because of circumstances of life, change their mind and, like those to whom the Hebrew writer referred, “they turn away from God,” and therefore forfeit their home in heaven.

The man who led me to Jesus, who loved and served Jesus faithfully for many years, was drafted during the Viet Nam war. He went through boot camp, but refused to go to war, instead he went to Canada and lived out his days there. In that process he walked away from God. He divorced his wife, became a womanizer and never looked back.

In his later years as I sought to speak to him about the Lord, he told me: “those words (my words of Jesus’ love for him and willingness to forgive him) no longer register with me.” Is the Lord going to force my friend to spend eternity with Him? I don’t believe He will violate his or our will to do that. I can’t imagine, and don’t find anything in Scripture that says the same free-will we exercised to walk into our relationship with Him can’t be exercised to walk away.

In such a circumstance a person doesn’t “lose” their salvation, they set it aside willfully. Think with me. Logically it doesn’t make sense to me that the Lord gives me the right and the will to receive Him, but not the right and will to reject Him after I’ve “received” Him.

That’s what happened in the first century, it’s what happens today and has happened in every century between. People make decisions to follow Jesus with every intent to never look back, but things change, whether it’s a literal threat to their life, or a different lifestyle. The question then becomes, based on the passage above, when that happens, does it mean they can never come back home to their heavenly Father?

Let’s look at this more closely in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Questions?

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could lay His hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. But Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to Me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children. And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left.” (Matthew 19:13-25 NLT)

We can learn a lot about Jesus through what His disciples didn’t want Him to do, or sought to intervene on His behalf to protect Him from something He thought was important. The disciples were concerned that the parents with their children would “bother” Jesus, but in His holy mind what they sought to prevent was actually a vital way to accomplish what He came to do – connect people to Himself!

What Jesus wanted to do for those children is a ministry that we need to allow Him to do for us every day. The Bible says that Jesus placed His hands on the children’s heads. We have no way of knowing how many children the parents brought, but in my mind’s eye I envision Jesus holding these children’s faces in his hands as if holding a precious jewel or treasure of some sort.

As you might cup your child’s face in your hands, He held each one and told them how special they were to Him. He shared how much He loved them, how proud He was of who they were going to become for Him. Then He prayed an unforgettable prayer that their parents never forgot and, I’m quite sure, they didn’t either.

As His eyes met theirs, regardless of their age, they were mesmerized by the beauty of his eyes, the tenderness of His touch, and the soothing nature of His voice. They felt safe and secure knowing He would never hurt them or seek to violate them in any way. He didn’t rush but took His time as He focused 100% of His attention on each one.

As He prayed for them there was a sense in which they felt they were the only child in the world, as if in that moment the world stood still and all else, but His face was erased from view. It was as if He cared ONLY for THEM in those moments, because He DID!

Do you realize that’s how He cares for YOU in THIS moment? Have you ever wondered what Jesus does all day in heaven? While time isn’t an issue in heaven, the Bible assures us that Jesus bears intercession for us – for me and for YOU.

Why have I devoted so much space today in seeking to help us to see how personally the Lord cared for each child on that day in history? Because that’s how personally the Lord cares for YOU today.

Elisabeth Elliot wrote: “Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them.” None of us is perfect or has perfect understanding of everything that happens or why, but if we understand how personally interested the Lord Jesus is in each of our lives, we’d know there’s Someone to whom we could run with whatever question we have.

But my sense is, the answer to our question won’t be nearly as satisfying or beneficial as just resting in His hands and listening to His sinless heart beat with love for us. But how can He do that? How can He give each individual person on earth His undivided attention? The same way He can know the names of every star and planet though there are far more of them than people on earth – because He’s God (see pic above).

It’s impossible for us to grasp the vastness of our God, but know He has no limitations in terms of His expressions of love for us. You don’t need to question it, just bask in it.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Is Faith an Emotion?

“When Jesus heard this, He was amazed. Turning to those who were following Him, He said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!’”(Matthew 8:10 NLT)

Faith is a non-religious word. The conversation that led to the above response wasn’t about following Jesus, it was a declaration of an officer’s authority which he was under, as a soldier, and had over his men, as an officer. But Jesus marveled because the proverbial “light” had come on in his mind and spirit that enabled him to recognize that Jesus had authority that was not of human origin. That insight created the foundation for his faith in Jesus.

We exercise faith every day as we push the buttons on the microwave, open the frig expecting food and drinks to still be cold, or take prescription medication to heal or help what’s wrong with our body or mind. As a rule, those decisions have nothing to do with what kind of mood we’re in, whether we’re happy or sad.

Our faith is based on expectations that may or may not be based on anything related to religion of any kind. Faith is a function of our daily existence. We have the right of way at a 4-way stop, but we may or may not proceed, depending on how much faith we have that the driver of the approaching vehicle will stop.

For someone to place their faith in the God of the Bible is, on some levels, no different than choosing white bread over wheat, it’s a personal choice. A decision. An activity of our mind, heart, and, perhaps, our emotion. Toby Mckeehan (also known as TobyMac) wrote: “Faith isn’t a feeling; it’s a choice to trust God even when the road ahead seems uncertain.”

Some people say they are not a person of “faith,” and while I may understand their intent, that is not a statement of fact. They may not be “religious,” whether that faith is in Jesus or UFO’s, but EVERY person is a person of faith. You can’t be a resident of planet earth and not have faith in something. The only question is: On what will your faith be focused?

Faith is a decision based on our consideration of the facts. We’ll either have faith our car will start, or we won’t. We’ll have faith our spouse will be faithful, or we won’t. We’ll have faith the degree will help us find fulfilling employment, or it won’t. Our mind is involved as well as our heart.

Life’s experiences will affect the decisions we make. If we’ve taken our car to a certain mechanic and gotten burned, we likely won’t take it back or recommend them to anyone else. If, on the other hand, we find a restaurant we dearly love, we’ll tell everyone we see they should try it. Why should it be any different in our relationship with Jesus?

When I tell someone about my Savior, I’m simply responding as a very satisfied “customer” recommending they should check Him out for themselves. It’s no different than bragging on my wife or telling someone I have the smartest kid in the world. On some levels it has nothing to do with emotion, it’s a decision based on experience.

And yes, of course, something I believe with such certainty is going to affect my emotions, but the “faith” decision doesn’t grow out of my emotion, it grows out of my intelligent decision to act on what I’ve seen and experienced for myself. Realizing the same people can have the same experience and respond to it in completely different ways.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Light In The Darkness

“I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night – but even in darkness I cannot hide from You.” (Psalm 139:11-12 NLT)

*The fifteenth of each month gives me opportunity to let you catch a glimpse of the Father’s “fingerprints” on the life of one of His dear saints. The writings of Sylvia Gunter have inspired and encouraged me for years so, let Him speak to you through her timely words today. Blessings, Ed 😊

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” (Psalm 139:11-12)

Christmas is often a time of joy filled with lights, decorations, and the warmth of family. But for some, this season also brings a sense of darkness from grief, uncertainty, or a feeling of being lost. When life gets dark, my first instinct is to find a way to turn the light back on. But there’s a purpose in the darkness. It’s not a pleasant journey, but it’s one that God has designed for my growth and deeper understanding of Him.

Have you ever been in a remote location with city lights nearby? At night, the deep darkness allows you to see so many stars shining so brightly. I have only experienced it once, and ever since, I’ve found myself longing to return to dark places just to see it again. You can’t truly appreciate the light until you’ve been in the darkness. In the same way, life often involves walking through darkness to better see the light of God.

May you find deep comfort in knowing that even in the darkest seasons, you are never alone, for God is with you in every shadow. Though darkness may surround you, remember that it is not dark to God; to Him, the night shines as bright as the day. When the weight of darkness feels heavy, may the light of Christ illuminate your path, for the darkness cannot overcome His light (John 1:5). Be blessed to trust that His light will come, and when it does, it will be all the more beautiful because of the darkness that preceded it.

Be blessed with unwavering trust in God’s presence, even when life feels overwhelming and unclear. May your heart be anchored in the truth that He is the light that shines in the darkness, guiding you with His love. As you walk through this season, may you embrace the lessons found in the shadows and wait with hope for the dawn. May this Christmas season renew your trust in God’s promises and remind you that the darkness will not last forever. The light of Christ is ever near, bringing hope, peace, and the assurance of His eternal love.

Why Do Beliefs Divide? (Part 2)

“Then someone called from the crowd, ‘Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.’ Jesus replied, ‘Friend, who made Me a judge over you to decide such things as that?’ Then He said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” (Luke 12:13-15 NLT)

Why would I seek to convince two young Mormon Elders to forsake their faith and turn to mine? For the same reason I would seek to persuade an atheist to turn from their unbelief to faith in Jesus – they’re both lost and destined for an eternity separated from the only One who can equip them for heaven.

The goal of every relationship I have is to exhibit Christ’s loving character in a way as to encourage someone who knows Him or create a desire to know Him in anyone who doesn’t. I can overlook a lot of things about which I disagree with someone if I can have an opportunity to influence them positively for the Lord.

In my mind it’s pointless to try to convince another believer in Jesus to believe exactly like I do. If they know Him and the fruit of their life bears witness to that, we can walk in harmony even if we disagree on other subjects related to Christianity. As in marriage, the Lord doesn’t call us to unanimity, but to harmony and cooperation with one another.

The truth is, there’s a lot you and I may not know, but as brothers and sisters, we do know Jesus. The Lord and I communicate nearly every moment. I take my cues from Him, so, if He lets me know I need to pray for or speak with someone about Him, I’m all over it. They may seem like a perfect example of a believer, but whatever He tells me to do, including challenging them in their “faith,” that’s what I’ll do. If I get it wrong, I confess it, seek God’s and their forgiveness, and move on.

While we should be constantly learning, it takes a lifetime to mature, and we’ll not know everything until we get to the other side. We all have the capacity to sin as long as we’re in this body, so when we sin, we seek forgiveness, and we should have people in our lives who will hold us accountable if we continue to walk in habitual sin. There are some gray areas where there’s some “wiggle room” for us to disagree, but it should never drive us apart.

Personalities can sometimes prevent agreement, so, in some cases, it’s best to part ways in disagreement as friends, rather than maintain a determination that one or the other must yield to the other person’s view.

In all situations we must extend grace by answering this question: “What would Jesus do?” “How would He handle this situation or circumstance?” whether it’s an individual issue or something that must be resolved between parties. As Nikola Tesla said in yesterday’s post: “We are all one. Only egos, beliefs, and fears separate us.”

“Egos, beliefs, and fears” can be deal-breakers for good or evil, depending on the subject of our disagreement. The point, in my mind, is how will the solution of this disagreement exalt or demean Jesus in our lives and/or in the lives of those who are participants and/or observers of this situation or circumstance? Will it move us closer to or push us further from one another and/or Jesus? Has grace been given and received?

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Do Beliefs Divide?

“Then He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then He said, ‘Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.’” (Luke 22:17-18 NLT)

In the King James Version of the Bible there are only two times the word “divide” is used. Once is in the verse above in reference to the wine of holy Communion, and the second is found in Luke 12:13 when a man is asking Jesus to tell his brother to divide his inheritance with him.

How diametrically opposed are the thoughts of God and the thoughts of man. God desires to divide what He has to bring people together, while we’re more prone to desire more for ourselves, for our own benefit. Nikola Tesla wrote: “We are all one. Only egos, beliefs, and fears separate us.”

Why are we so prone to division, even within the Body of Christ? My sense is our misguided ego that tells us we’ve got to be “right,” even if we’re clearly “wrong.” Isaiah addresses this in Isaiah 5:21 when he writes: “What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.”

Have you ever wondered why there are more than 45,000 denominations in the Christian Faith. There’s only one God, one Bible, one Christian Faith, yet there are more than 45,000 groups who don’t see eye to eye on how to interpret the Bible and understand the God of our Faith. And, honestly, that’s not all bad!

Think of the differences between members of the same family or even within a marriage between two people. Each person is unique, and rightfully so. We’re all created differently, even to the point of having different fingerprints, DNA, eyes, teeth and other physical characteristics, not to mention personalities, I. Q., E. Q., and many other factors that can tend to be underlying issues in why we have different beliefs about many things, including God. But those things can be very positive and good in the right environment.

My love is deepened when I meet someone who is brilliant and has used their brilliance, not as a means of erecting barriers between them and God or me but instead to open avenues of partnership with God and others to learn more about Him, and to be drawn closer to Him. I think of great men of God in my own generation who have used their intellect and spiritual prowess to point people to Jesus and to each other.

We allow our beliefs to divide us when we see our view as superior to another’s. Beliefs DO divide, there’s no way to prevent that; however, beliefs don’t have to alienate us from one another. I have gay friends that I deeply love and care about, but we don’t share common beliefs about many things. I have believing friends who love Jesus who have different views on what some consider “major” doctrines like eternal security, the Rapture, the Millennium, speaking in tongues, divine physical healing among others.

Differences exist, that’s a given, but whether we allow them to drive us apart is a personal issue. I’m in dialog with two young Mormon Elders with whom I disagree, but the Lord has also given me love for them and a strong desire to see them come to the Christ of the Bible. I can argue with them to no good end or, in Christian love, tell them the Truth as friends and seek to help them see the error of their understanding. Even as I write these words, I see the dichotomy in which we’re entwined.

Let’s look at this more closely in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Is Church Boring?

“The master was full of praise, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’” (Matthew 25:21 NLT)

The Bible has nearly 200 verses that speak directly to the theme of celebration. The Jews had many seasons of celebration to give recognition to all the Lord had done in their lives and in the lives of their ancestors.

In recognizing that the “Church” is not a building, but a people of God, it is an avenue and outlet of celebration. Unfortunately, some who lead our churches may be “boring,” but being with Jesus and celebrating Him with His born-again family is NEVER boring. If you think the gathering of God’s redeemed is boring that may say more about you than about the people with whom you worship.

When I think of worship, I think of the woman kneeling at the feet of Jesus, covering her Savior’s feet with expensive perfume mixed with her tears and drying them with her hair. Or the blindman when he discovered who it was that gave him his sight. Or the woman with the issue of blood the moment she realized what the Savior had done for her. Or the Jewish leader the moment he saw his daughter had been brought back to life at the word of the Lord Jesus. Or __________ and you can fill in the details of your story when the reality of the Son of God’s power and authority were released into your hopeless life.

When I think of “boring,” I’m reminded of the poor souls who had to endure my too-often ill-prepared messages, when I had to prepare 3 messages a week with a full load of hospital visits, counseling, and administrative duties that no one else could do but the Pastor. Of course, now I know that was a lie, and if I’d been smart enough and willing enough to ask, I’m sure someone would have stepped up and helped me. But the point is, when we come to worship with an expectant heart, corporate worship with other like-minded souls, is exhilarating, encouraging, enlightening, uplifting, and like fuel that ignites our heart, soul, and mind.

It occurs to me that worship isn’t simply something we do at church, it’s an attitude that guides our mind and rules our life as we live our daily lives. To believe we can accomplish ANYTHING without the Lord is to not understand who He is and who we are as His servant. When Jesus said in John 14:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing,” that wasn’t figurative language, it was a statement of fact.

Try drawing a breath, lifting a finger, bending to pick up something off the floor and remind yourself, “I can only do this by the grace and mercy of God.” At any second our body or mind could be paralyzed or disabled, and we’d be begging God to restore and heal us.

Worship should be like breathing for those of us who love Jesus. He’s our everything and deserves constant worship, honor, praise, and adoration. Worship and celebration should be synonymous terms that are embedded in the fabric of our being, illustrated in and through our lifestyle, our attitudes, our vocabulary, and especially how we respond to and treat those with whom we have contact during the course of our day.

R.C. Sproul nailed it when he wrote: “People in awe never complain that church is boring.”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Struggles

“For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for Him. We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.” (Philippians 1:29-30 NLT)

The greatest battlefield for a believer is between our ears. Our mind will lead us places that will test our faith in ways nothing else will. Why does it seem the harder we seek to be close to the Lord, the more we struggle with other dimensions of our life?

It comforts me to know that the Apostle Paul faced many struggles on very practical levels – being hungry, cold, homeless, alienated, mistreated, scourged, imprisoned, shipwrecked, and in other ways, but his conclusion was essentially – it’s part of the deal, it’s what we signed up for! How so? Many of the issues we face aren’t necessarily because we’re believers, but because we’re part of the human family.

The upside is, we never face any of them alone. As a Jesus follower He is with us every step, but additionally, He knows how what we’re experiencing is equipping us to be effective for Him. Suffering isn’t our enemy. On many levels it’s our friend, our “instructor” if you will.

Because I have the “gift” of Alzheimer’s I’ve been blessed with insight into the heart of God that I never dreamed I would have. He’s given me more boldness in speaking out for Him, more courage to face the future with hope and expectation. Whatever the future brings, it will ultimately bring me face to face with my Savior.

To know the Lord Jesus is with me and for me; that every step of my journey has been mapped out by the Master Strategist and only includes those things that will in some specific way contribute to the success of my life’s journey, means everything to me.

Max Lucado wrote: “Don’t see your struggle as an interruption to life but as preparation for life.” What you’re experiencing right now, in this season of your life, is not by accident, it’s not an interruption, it’s an instruction. What you’re learning through this struggle will prepare and equip you for the next chapter of your life.

It can frighten you, as it does me, when I think about what “might” be, but it comforts and brings me peace to know that whatever that looks like, there’s Someone who is walking beside me, holding my hand and leading me through.

Think of the three young Israelites who knew they were headed to the furnace, but rather than panic, they walked right in like they were going out for coffee. Why? Because they knew no matter how hot the fire, they had a Friend who would walk with them and protect them from anything that wasn’t in line with His eternal purposes.

That’s true for you as well, my friend. What you’re facing may be terrifying, but one of two things is guaranteed: 1. It will kill you, which will make you eternally whole. 2. Or it will open avenues of opportunity you don’t have the capacity to understand in this moment. Either way, God’s purposes will be accomplished in and through your life in ways you don’t have the means of even imagining.

So, don’t dread your present struggles, embrace them to the glory of your Savior.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Greatest Benefit

“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NLT)

What is your greatest pleasure? Yeh, I know this could get a little “ify,” but when we’re honest, especially as we age, it will reveal a lot about what’s most important in our life. Let’s just get this out on the table, because I know it was the first thing that came to some of your minds 😊. Throughout my marriage being intimate sexually with my wife was my greatest physical pleasure. God designed it to be.

But in this season of my life my greatest pleasure isn’t physical, it’s spiritual. My intimacy with God by far outweighs all other pleasures in my life. To know God supersedes any earthly form of enjoyment. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10-11: “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”

You may find it interesting that the word Paul used in verse 10 that’s translated “know” is a derivative of the same word that Moses used in Genesis 4:1 in the KJV when he wrote: “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain…”

It’s confounding to some that love of the Lord Jesus is more satisfying than any earthly pleasure, especially when you consider the fact the satisfaction isn’t derived only in what we get, but in what we give to His honor, glory, and praise. Paul uses words like “suffer,” “sharing in His death,” as well as “experience the resurrection from the dead.”

That’s why millions across the centuries up to and including today, choose to die rather than deny their faith in Jesus. On some levels I believe it’s true that you’re not ready to live for Jesus unless and until you’re ready to die for Him. Perhaps that’s why we have so many lukewarm “pew” sitters in the church and so few whose lives are a torch of light for the Savior.

A recent quote attributed to Mike Reeves says: “The greatest benefit of union with Christ *is* Christ.” In some ways it’s like me saying: “The greatest thing about marriage is being married to MY wife.” In those themes is exclusivity – no one brings me more satisfaction, pleasure, enjoyment, yet also, there’s not one to whom I have more commitment, devotion, or a willingness to “lay down my life for” kind of passion.

If your greatest desire isn’t to walk pleasingly before your Savior, your savior must not be Jesus! Why would I say such a thing? Because Jesus doesn’t call us to mediocrity or for Him to be our proverbial “genie in a bottle,” responding to our every beck and call. He bids us come and die!

Jesus said in Matthew 9:23-24: “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake, you will save it.” While many literally die every day for their faith, for most of us our “dying to self” looks like putting Him first in everything we do, say, or think.

If you’re not enjoying life to the fullest, I invite you to give your life to Jesus who IS “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6) If you’re not sure how to do that, please click on the highlighted name and let Ron Hutchcraft explain it to you.

Blessings, Ed 😊