Walking With Jesus

A Final End

“So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.” (2 Peter 2:9 NLT)

Are there days you think will never end? How about seasons of suffering, heartache, or temptation? How about the seeming endless prayers for lost loved ones, for resolution to problems, or a solution to family issues? There are times in my life when I just want it to be over – the hassles, misunderstandings, stresses of getting old – all of it, over!

Then I think of Jesus’ words in John 14:3: “When everything is ready I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am.” The Lord sometimes reminds me of how badly I wanted to be 16 so I could get my driver’s license, but now it amazes me that anybody in their right mind would allow a 16-year-old to get behind the wheel of anything, let alone a machine that can go 100+ mph.

My “need for speed” now relates more to getting to the bathroom than driving a car, so, I see more clearly my need to see time and the issues with which I now wrestle in their proper perspective. There will come an end to everything, not only that cause us troubles and heartache, but the things about life on planet earth that we most enjoy.

Perhaps I’m weird in thinking these kinds of things, but when we first moved into the house in which we now live, I thought: “There will be a last time I’ll walk through this door, sleep in this bed, wash a dish in this sink, etc.” To me, that’s not morbid, it’s reality. I have a file on my computer to which I have directed my wife and son who lives near us. It’s heading is: “When I Die.”

It gives instructions as to what to do with my carcass, outlines who to contact, all of our bills, how they’re paid, and all essential information to help my wife and kids to move through the hassles created by my passing, as smoothly as possible. I’m also writing letters to my wife and each of my kids, letting them know how much I love them and how important it is to plan ahead for the inevitable end of their life.

It’s amazing to me that so few people think about death, even though last time I checked, the death rate for human beings is still 100%. We’re not getting out of this life alive – UNLESS we’ve settled accounts with the Author and Finisher of life, the Lord Jesus. My wife and I have a Trust that outlines what to do with everything we own, but more importantly, we’ve settled our eternal estate and know that when we die there’s a place in heaven for us secured by the Lord Jesus Himself.

Paul David Tripp wrote: “God’s promise is sure, there will be a final end to violence, suffering and sin and righteousness and peace will reign forever and ever.” There will also be a final opportunity to receive forgiveness for our sins and invite the Lord Jesus to become the Lord of our life. He’s the only way to heaven, so to postpone giving Him our life is essentially to sign our own death certificate: “See you in hell, because I waited too long!”

Please, dear friends, the most important decision you will ever make is to yield your life and allegiance to Jesus. My only regret is that I didn’t give Him my life sooner. Because of Him my final end will be the doorway to an eternal life the likes of which I don’t have the capacity to imagine just how good it will be.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When Jealousy Isn’t Negative

“You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about His relationship with you.” (Exodus 34:14 NLT)

Jealousy can be a very destructive emotion in any relationship, even with God, but it helps to see it in context. The jealousy that God has for us isn’t selfish or self-focused, it’s healthy and liberating. It focuses on us and our wellbeing, not on Himself.

When I was in high school, I was very jealous. I didn’t want another boy to look at my girlfriend, she was “MINE.” It will likely come as no surprise to you, but my jealousy cost me my relationship with her. My greatest fear became her reality because she translated my jealousy as a lack of trust. And why wouldn’t she? At its root that’s essentially what jealousy is.

Believing another human being belongs to anyone but the Lord is destructive, debilitating, and damaging. It violates who a person is at their core. If I suspect or know you don’t trust me, there’s nothing upon which to build a friendship. Trust is a critical foundation for any relationship. Would you take your car to someone you didn’t trust? How about a doctor, attorney, anyone whom you were concerned wouldn’t provide whatever service you needed?

God isn’t jealous in the sense that He wants to “own” us to the exclusion of any other relationship, fearing He’ll never measure up or that someone or something else will bring us more satisfaction, contentment, or joy. He knows that ONLY HE can give us what we need to be everything He designed and created us to be.

His jealousy isn’t fearing we’ll find more of whatever life offers from another source, it’s concern we’ll settle for less and miss all He has for us. For example, let’s say our goal is to become a millionaire by the time we’re 35 years old. That’s our life’s mission, so, we commit to doing whatever it takes to get what we want. We’ll lie, cheat, bend rules, break laws – they’re all “fair game” if that’s what it takes to make our goal.

Finally, we turn 35 and we assess our life. We have lots of money, but our heart is empty. We have no real friends because we’ve driven them all away with our selfish obsessions. We may live in a fabulous house, but it’s empty of love. We drive a very expensive car, but it’s no fun because we don’t want to leave it anyplace for fear it will be damaged or stolen. We don’t own the things we have; they own us. That’s far inferior to God’s plan for us.

But there’s another kind of jealousy that can be constructive and positive. Leslie J. Barner wrote: “I didn’t realize my marriage was suffering or that my husband felt neglected until he shared his feelings and asked, ‘When are you going to make time for me … for us?’ … my husband had become jealous. He felt like I had allowed other things in my life to take his place. I discovered this kind of jealousy isn’t negative, it’s natural.

Our spouse, who is our number one priority after God, if we are married (see Genesis 2:24), can experience that same type of jealousy at times. Sure, life can get a bit hectic with many things, even good things, vying for our attention. But we can still make sure that the priority of our marriage doesn’t get lost. We can find ways—like spending time with her before gaming with friends or cutting back on time spent serving others to lavish attention on him—that communicates, ‘You are my number one. Nothing is more important than our marriage.’”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Does Obedience Lead to Comfort?

“Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8 NLT)

My mind is being stretched as I consider the question above. My initial thought was Jesus on the Cross. His obedience led Him to suffer in ways that are incomprehensible to mere men. But you can’t think of the Cross without rejoicing in His Resurrection. The empty tomb is our promise that regardless of the pain and suffering we endure in our obedience to our Savior, one day all our suffering will end – FOREVER!

The reality is, obedience often leads to discomfort, at least initially. Perhaps that’s why so many professing believers continue to play it safe. It doesn’t cost me much to attend church, read the Bible, even pray, as long as I don’t let any of that effect my lifestyle. Once I learn the lingo I can “talk the talk,” but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m going to “walk the walk.”

For most of us, especially in America, suffering for Jesus isn’t an issue unless and until we put our life on the line and determine to submit to Christ’s Lordship regardless of the cost. I think of people like Hobby Lobby founders David and Barbara Green or , college swimmer Riley Gaines who was physically assaulted while giving a speech at San Francisco State University. As she argued against the inclusion of men in women’s sports, she was berated, threatened, and blockaded in a room until she paid a ransom.

Jackie Hill Perry wrote: “Being obedient to God rarely means you’ll remain comfortable.” It’s ironic that even as Jesus followers we tend to value comfort over obedience. It’s so much easier to smile and joke with my neighbors than confront them with their need of a Savior, but obedience demands surrendering our will to God’s. And if obedience led Jesus to a cruel Cross, it stands to reason we can’t expect to not have our comfort challenged.

If the Bible is true, and I believe it is, the days of coasting to heaven on the coattails of Jesus’ suffering are long past. A commitment to Jesus that doesn’t cost us our life is no commitment at all. Jesus said in Matthew 10:38-39: “If you refuse to take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for Me, you will find it.”

And yes, I’m aware that He’s not demanding we give our life in death, but He is demanding we give our life in living for Him, relentlessly pouring ourselves out day after day so that He might be glorified and honored in and through everything we do, say, or think.

If Jesus isn’t ruling our heart and mind, who is? If our goal each day isn’t to pour ourselves out in His service, for whom are we pouring it out? If our goal is comfort, we’ll be comfortable all the way to the gates of hell! But if our goal is to be obedient to our Master Jesus, we will agonize in our spirit over the ones in our families, friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and others who are headed to a Christless eternity.

There is a very real sense in which until we’re ready to die for Jesus, we aren’t ready to live for Him. We’re to die daily to ourselves, our desires for comfort and ease, our desire to be known and recognized for what a great person we are, or whatever else stands in our way of being all and only for Christ. Sacrifice will inevitably lead to pain and suffering in one form or another, but it’s a very small price to pay for all the Lord Jesus has done for us.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You a Rookie at Heart?

“Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man Jesus is not from God, for He is working on the Sabbath.’ Others said, ‘But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?’ So there was a deep division of opinion among them.” (John 9:16 NLT)

One of the people I most want to meet when I get to heaven is the “star” of John chapter 9. His name isn’t given, so, I only know him as the “blind beggar.” Of course, he isn’t blind now, and won’t be blind in heaven, but he impressed me so much because He was brand new as a Jesus follower, yet he stood toe to toe with the Pro-Pharisees and wouldn’t back down.

You may recall the scene: Jesus and His disciples seem to be passing by this blind man, so the disciples ask Jesus: “Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sin or his parents’ sin?” What’s the implication of their question? “Someone must be responsible for his blindness.” But Jesus, who saw this moment before the beginning of time, turned their attention to the real issue when He said: “It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”

What’s happened in your life so the power of God could be seen in you? As seasoned, “veteran” Christ followers we’re all about blame, and far too often we become the victim of our own difficult circumstances. When all else fails, we blame ourselves. And understand, we’re all sinners and each of us has had a hand in where we each now stand, for good or ill, but ultimately, God allows circumstances in our lives to enable us to become willing vessels through whom His Spirit can freely flow.

This young blind man hasn’t simply been pining away feeling sorry for himself. Yes, of course, he’s been begging, but what real option did he have in those days. But the way he stood up to the Pharisees shows he’s got a sharp mind, and sharp minds don’t just happen. Perhaps he engaged learned men who knew the Scriptures, asking them questions, training his mind to reason and to draw logical conclusions.

The Pharisees, because of their blindness, tried to paint a picture of Jesus that didn’t square with this young, formerly blind man. He explained how Jesus healed him, but when these scholarly veterans of the Jewish Faith drew conclusions that were clearly wrong in his mind, he called them on it.

The Pharisees made the mistake of asking this young man his opinion, to which he responded: “I think He must be a prophet.” How would he have known that unless he’s been listening to others speak about the Prophets, or, perhaps, even of Jesus? So, they called in his parents, but when that fizzled out, they said to him: “God should get the glory for this (his healing), because we know this man is a sinner.”

Now, think about this for a second. In that culture, what respectable Jewish person would dare stand up to the Pharisees? Most would have kept quiet or responded with something lame, but not this “rookie!” No, he says what’s been on his mind all along: “I don’t know whether He is a sinner, but I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

Would to God that we could all become “rookies at heart” in standing up to anyone who will listen and simply explain: “Once I was blind, but now I see!”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Equipped to Serve

“In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” (Romans 12:6a NLT)

How has the Lord wired you? What do you love to do? Hate to do? Do you enjoy being around people? Make instant friends? Love crowds – the more the merrier? Or do you prefer to be alone? Do projects on your own? Struggle in crowds, but find security being alone or maybe with a close friend? Are you a nerd? A jock? Love music? Hate to read? Love to dig into things and get to the root of the meaning of a Scripture or put things together with your hands? If you had to describe yourself in ten words or less, what would you say?

One thing to bear in mind, spiritual gifts and natural abilities are two separate things. For example, you may love to teach, but God may not call you to be a teacher of His Word. You may love to lead, but your spiritual gift may not be leadership. You may be outgoing, jovial, and love to be around people, but that may not necessarily reflect your spiritual gift.

So, how do you know what spiritual gift(s) you have? One of the resources that I used early on was a book by C. Peter Wagner entitled: Finding Your Spiritual Gifts. He also wrote: Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow. He lists several gifts and has a questionnaire you can take to get an idea of where your gifts might lie.

Depending on how long you’ve walked with the Lord, what your frame of reference is regarding church background, and other issues, I would recommend that you speak with your Pastor and get their recommendation as to how to pursue what gift or gifts you may or may not have.

Every believer has at least one spiritual gift, but most have more than one. But understand, knowing or having a good idea of what your spiritual gift(s) is/are is only the beginning. Test the proverbial “waters” when it comes to gifts. Don’t allow yourself to be pigeonholed because of your personality.

While it’s helpful to ask others who know you well what they think, it can also allow you to be pushed into an area where you don’t fit, or you just don’t like. Try many things on a volunteer basis. For example, rather than signing up to fill a position for a year, see if you can try it for a few weeks or a month. When it comes to your spiritual gifts, finding something you don’t like can be just as valuable as finding something you love.

Implicit in this whole process is laying yourself before the Lord and asking Him to guide you. No one knows you better or loves you more. Early on I sensed God’s call on my life to serve in full-time ministry, but it took years for me to find my “groove.” Even after retirement I’m continuing to discover ways the Lord can use me that I never considered while working in ministry as a Pastor.

For example, other than sermons, lessons, and things specific to what I “needed” to do, I didn’t take the time to write things like I get to explore in these blog posts. Neither did I have time to be involved in neighborhood ministry like I can now. The point being, regardless of where you are in terms of your age or stage of life, God has equipped you with gifts and abilities that are vital to where you are physically, spiritually, or otherwise.

If you have specific questions about any of this, please let me know. I’m not the proverbial “answer man,” but I may be able to point you in the right direction. I love that you’re reading my blog and I often thank the Lord for you and ask Him to lead you and enable you to sense His holy presence.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You Equipped? (Part 2)

“In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” (Romans 12:6-8 NLT)

In yesterday’s post we began to look at how intimately God knows us, even if we haven’t chosen to be a Jesus follower. He knows even before we are born whether we will choose to believe Him and follow Him, because He’s literally with us in every moment of our existence as a human being.

Because He knows what decisions we’ll make, does that mean we don’t have a choice? That He’s assigned us to heaven or hell? Absolutely not! Of all of God’s creation we’re the only species that has free will. Every other species of being is subject to His demands and control, except human beings. He will not force anyone to believe in Him or follow His commands, that’s completely up to us.

Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “Now, beloved, when you hear anyone laughing or jeering at a limited atonement, you may tell him this. General atonement is like a great wide bridge with only half an arch; it does not go across the stream: it only professes to go half way; it does not secure the salvation of anyone.

Now, I had rather put my foot upon a bridge as narrow as Hungerford, which went all the way across, than on a bridge that was as wide as the world, if it did not go all the way across the stream. I am told it is my duty to say that all men have been redeemed, and I am told that there is a Scriptural warrant for it — ‘Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.’ Now, that looks like a very, very great argument indeed on the other side of the question. For instance, look here. ‘The whole world is gone after him’ Did all the world go after Christ? ‘Then all Judea went and were baptized by him in Jordan.’ Was all Judea, or all Jerusalem baptized in Jordan? ‘You are of God, little children,’ and ‘the whole world lies in the wicked one.’ Does ‘the whole world’ there mean everyone?

If so, how was it, then, that there were some who were ‘of God?’ The words ‘world’ and ‘all’ are used in some seven or eight senses in Scripture; and it is very rarely that ‘all’ means all people, taken individually. The words are generally used to signify that Christ has redeemed some of all sorts — some Jews, some Gentiles, some rich, some poor, and has not restricted his redemption to either Jew or Gentile.”

Obviously, that will mean more to some than others, but I’m hopeful Brother Spurgeon makes it abundantly clear that anyone can choose Christ, but not all will. But, for those of us who have, the Lord has equipped us to fulfill the unique role to which He has called us. Which begs the question? Have you yielded your life and allegiance to Jesus?

If you haven’t, that’s the first step. Click on Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge to God link and get that question resolved. But for those of you who are now walking with the Lord, how has He equipped you? How do you know which direction He’s leading you to serve? Let’s look at that more closely in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Are You Equipped?

“I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know Me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:5 NLT)

This verse from the Prophet Isaiah gives us perspective as we evaluate how God has put us together as His child. Remember, He knew us before He laid the foundation of the earth. Every aspect of His creation was designed with us in mind.

Psalm 139:15-16 says: “You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” These verses can be confusing until we remember that God is ever present.

We ONLY see in this present moment, then have memories of past moments, but for God EVERY moment is present. How does that translate? My roommate in college believed that because God already knew what we were going to do, we didn’t have any choice, but that’s not true.

When I’m present with you, I can tell you what color shirt you have on. How do I know that? Because I’m present with you, so, I know because I can see it with my own eyes. But because I can see it in this moment doesn’t mean I influenced you in any way in the moments I wasn’t with you when you decided to wear that shirt. That was completely your decision.

Because God is ever present and all-knowing He is with us in every moment of our life – past, present, and future. His knowledge doesn’t change the fact that we have free will to make any decision we choose. However, with all of that knowledge that God has about us, He knows each decision we will make, thus, His knowledge of us enables Him to equip us with exactly what we’ll need to be everything He desires us to be whenever we decide to follow Him.

The Holy Spirit calls us, but we have the freedom to accept His invitation to follow the Lord Jesus or not. But once we do answer His call and yield our life and allegiance to King Jesus, then we can be assured that He has equipped us with everything we’ll ever need to be everything He designed and desires for us to be.

Christine Caine wrote: “God has equipped you with everything you need to do what He has called you to do.” He’s done that by giving you the personality you have, the spiritual gifts He’s chosen for you, even the physical, mental, and emotional makeup that you have. Sometimes we wrongly assume that God made a mistake when He made us. Surely He can find someone better suited to do what He’s called us to do, but we’re wrong.

He hand-picked you and me to do exactly what He’s filling, empowering, and calling us to do and be. But how do we know what that is? That’s a great question. Let’s look at that in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Who’s Thirsty?

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.’” (John 4:13 NLT)

Water is one of life’s essential elements. There are variables, but estimates give us 2-5 days to survive without liquids. The irony is, there are thousands of people all over the world who are well hydrated but are dying of “thirst” every day without Jesus.

Where I live it gets very hot in the Summer, so when someone comes to our house to work outside, usually they will bring water with them, but I always offer. We do things like that as a courtesy, it’s a thoughtful gesture that may make them more open to an invitation to church or to speak with me about Jesus.

Corky Calhoun wrote: “We live in a world of dehydrated people who would rather die of thirst than fully humble themselves, repent of their sin and drink from the well of living water, Jesus Christ.” In light of the number of people who are unhappy it seems many would be open to having a conversation about the Lord Jesus, but too often they don’t make that connection. That’s why we have to make it for them by living contagious lives; lives that are living examples of what it means to be a Jesus follower.

Every day as I walk the streets of my neighborhood, I encounter people who are dying inside. Their faces tell the story of loneliness, heartache, and grief resulting from the trials of life. They’re hungry for life, but they’re searching in all the wrong places. How can we make a difference for them? How can we effectively convey the message that we have an answer for their “thirst?”

Two things I’ve learned about ministry to neighbors: 1. It takes love. If you don’t love your neighbors, you’ll never reach them for the Lord. Love involves thoughtfulness and kindness. When we care about someone, we need to let them know. My love “language,” at least for my neighbors, is prayer.

I met a new neighbor on my walk this morning whose mom is struggling physically. As I was leaving our brief conversation, I let him know I would be praying for his mom. Years ago, someone told me: “If you want someone to love you, love what they love.” It was obvious that this man loved his mom, so, I want to do something loving for his mom, so I pray for her (and for him, of course), not necessarily only that he would love me, but ultimately that he would learn to love Jesus.

There are many other ways to express love to my neighbors. By taking them out for a meal, helping them with a project, expressing interest in their family, by encouraging them to participate in our neighborhood BBQ’s or potlucks, and by inviting them to church, especially at Easter and Christmas.

But secondly, it takes persistence. Neighborhood ministry isn’t a “one and done” process. We moved into our current neighborhood a little over three years ago, and on many levels, I’m just now beginning to see some fruit. A young man I’ve taken out several times for breakfast or lunch has finally agreed to come to church with me for an Easter service. Perhaps he’s finally getting thirsty.

Every Easter and Christmas, among other times whenever the Lord prompts me, I pass out notes and attach an invitation card from my church. The key for me is to not allow the enemy to discourage me. I didn’t respond the first time someone invited me to church, but they were persistent and now it’s been more than six decades since I gave my life to the Savior.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

How Do You Respond to Life’s Challenges?

“When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside.” (2 Corinthians 7:5 NLT)

My wife and I attended a marriage conference a few weeks ago and part of the process was to take a personality inventory. The outcome was very revealing. It turns out my wife is a Beaver and I’m a Golden Retriever. What does that mean? It basically translates that we have a lot of differences in how we see and do things. How does that translate? We have a lot of differences, thus, a lot of challenges.

On some levels marriage is the perfect training ground for life. Perhaps that’s why the Lord Jesus referred to the Church as His Bride. Marriages, like the Church, are comprised of imperfect people who struggle with sin and often wrongly assume that their heart will lead them to happiness. But what if happiness isn’t on God’s radar for marriage or for our lives as believers?

Photo by Du01b0u01a1ng Nhu00e2n on Pexels.com

What does that mean? It basically means that the Lord is more invested in our holiness than our happiness. Our goal as a believer in Jesus, including those who are married and unmarried, is to grow in our likeness of Jesus, to become ever more closely aligned with who He is and how He lived His life. In that light it makes sense that as we grow in our likeness of the Lord, we should be able to handle life’s challenges more effectively, both in our marriage and in the world.

Craig Groeschel wrote: “The way we respond to life’s challenges today will determine the strength of our faith tomorrow.” We basically have one of two choices: we can pursue Christlikeness (following God’s will) or pursue our own agenda (following our own will). Greg Stier wrote: “…the Bible is humanity’s instruction manual. And it’s clear on issues of identity and sexuality. We’re all born as slaves to our flesh—which encompasses our genetics, hormones, natural instincts, and sinful desires—and into a sinful, fallen environment—which includes abuse, unbiblical ideologies, and more. But the amazing news of the Gospel is that when we trust Christ, His Spirit frees us from that slavery and enables us to live in God’s ways—no matter what caused our sin to begin with.

How we respond to life’s challenges will dictate not only how well we get along with our spouse, but how we get along with ourselves and everyone else in our world. Unfortunately, statistics tell us that most of us are more interested in getting our own way than God’s. How do I know that?

The divorce rate in America in 2023 for first time marriages was right at 50%. The statistic climbs as we enter into 2nd and 3rd marriages, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s also estimated that of the 50% who stay married only about 15% are happy. That’s actually not that surprising to me. Ask me on any given day and I may or may not be very happy in my marriage, but happiness isn’t my goal.

Life in Christ isn’t designed to make us happy, it’s to fill us with joy – two very different things. As we age life becomes harder, if for no other reason than our fluctuating health. But whether I’m healthy or sick doesn’t change the fact that I’m forgiven, filled with God’s presence, and destined to be with the Lord forever in heaven.

My circumstances can’t dictate my joy, only Jesus can do that. What I can do, in my marriage and in my life as a Jesus follower, is decide to believe as long as I have life I have purpose. That essentially means that when challenges come my way I don’t fold and give up, I run to Jesus and get the strength I need to get through them.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

There’s No Rescue Without Risk

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” (Proverbs 24:11 ESV)

Recently I read in a Ron Hutchcraft devotion about a young woman named Jenny who was walking near the ocean one night and heard someone screaming for help. As she got closer to the water, she was able to determine that indeed the cry for help was coming from out in the water. I’ve stood at the ocean’s edge at night and there’s nothing more terrifying to me than the thought of being in the ocean at night, so, I’m quite certain Jenny was having second thoughts about trying to find her way to the screaming person. But, overcoming her personal fears, she plunged into the dark waters and found her way to what turned out to be a drowning girl. When asked why she did it she said: “I had to do it, someone was dying out there!”

You and I may not be standing at the edge of a dark ocean, but the “screams” are no less real coming from our family, friends, and neighbors who are without Jesus. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 1:9: “They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power.”

Can you hear their screams? Can you see the emptiness in their eyes? They may not be literally screaming, but the day will come, sooner than they can imagine, when it will be too late for them, just like if Jenny hadn’t overcome her fear to enter those dark, ocean waters, it would have been too late for the girl she rescued.

Will it be risky? Of course, there’s always risk in doing what’s right. But I’m reminded of the words of J.R. Miller when he wrote: “Our humility serves us falsely, when it leads us to shrink from any duty.” As a Jesus follower it is our command to go into all the world to share about Him and what He did on the Cross.

Just because someone is smiling, maybe even rejecting your attempts to share with them, don’t stop praying and don’t stop trying to share with them the truth without which their eternity is very bleak. What if no one had shared with you? Where would you be? It challenges me to realize had God not engineered circumstances to put me in touch with the right person at just the right time it could easily have been me on the other end of some of the conversations I have with my family and friends.

There is nothing we do that is more important than helping someone find life and wholeness in Jesus. Please don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from being God’s voice of truth to those who are in your spheres of influence. Call them, write them, invite them to a meal, whatever it takes to get them to listen to you as you compassionately share your heart with them.

I’m often reminded of a conversation I had with “Garb” in college. That was the nickname he received for the way he talked; it was short for “garbage mouth.” Garb gave me a ride home from work one day and I shared with him briefly about who Jesus is and what He’d done for him. When I finished, he looked at me with almost a sense of astonishment and asked me: “Why hasn’t anyone ever shared this with me before?”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊