Walking With Jesus

A Holy Nation

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)

Is it safe to say that many professing “Christians” in America have little to no real understanding of who the Church is and what her role is? What do you think of when you hear the terms “holy nation” used together? Perhaps the children of Israel?

What first comes to mind when you hear the word “holy?” Do you see and understand it in a behavioral sense? Do you equate perfection with holy or holiness? Do you envision a particular lifestyle or style of dress? Perhaps like the Amish or Quakers?

The term “holy” literally means “to be separated to God,” but in its highest application it has reference to God’s holiness, “His purity, majesty, and glory.” (Strong’s). When you think about it, isn’t that our goal as Jesus followers?

Jesus was the embodiment of all truth, the visible presence of the invisible God. As He lived His life as a human being, His goal was to be perfect as His Father in heaven was perfect; to be holy – completely and without reservation to be set apart for sacred purpose. Jesus’ goal was to let the Father live His life out through Him. Do you realize that’s His desire for you and me as His followers?

“Yeh, but we can never be perfect like Jesus, at least not on this earth, while we’re in these bodies.” And you’re right, but that’s not the point. We are already flawless and perfect when seen by the Father through the lens of Jesus’ perfection. So, to the extent our lives, individually and corporately, reflect the purity, majesty, and glory of Jesus, we will be a holy nation, separated to fulfill God’s purposes.

Jackie Hill Perry wrote: “We must show the next generation what it means to be a holy nation. This holy nation isn’t America. It’s the church of God.” Yes, and amen! But how? How can we most positively and powerfully impact a whole generation of young people to follow after the heart of God? I believe it begins in our heart and mind.

We must, by God’s grace and with His guidance, live lives above reproach. What might that look like? We will be people who model our lives after Jesus – finding strength and guidance in our love for and devotion to His Holy Word, the Bible; we will be truth-tellers in the broadest and best sense – NEVER lying, and seeking to never allow ourselves to get into compromising situations.

We must pursue holiness of heart, mind, soul, and body, by seeing ourselves as God’s sacred instruments, set apart for His exclusive use. And we must learn to love one another as brothers and sisters – as family – in the Body of Christ. What does that mean? It means we must be more “inclusive” and less “exclusive.” And, honestly, I realize that can be scary, but we’ve got to find a way to share our lives with our blood-bought brothers and sisters. None of us are specimens of human perfection, but we can strive together to be better.

While serving a small church in Kentucky there were 8-10 churches in our little community. We, as Pastors, began to meet together and formed a co-op ministry to address the needs of the community. It brought us together as men and women of God. We loved each other and helped each other in practical ways. Our common bond wasn’t doctrine, it was Jesus. We preached in one another’s churches, celebrated one another’s victories, and suffered with one another in our defeats. I loved those Pastors, and they loved me.

Let’s work, soul by soul, church by church, to be a holy nation united to the glory and honor of our Savior and to live a positive example worthy of following for those who are watching, both young and old.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Is Forgiveness and Why Is It So Vital?

“He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” (Ephesians 1:7 NLT)

Have you ever done or said something that literally at the second the words passed through your lips, or the deed was done, you knew it was a major mistake? How we wish we could have do-overs for those instances! Gratefully, that’s exactly what happens when we seek God’s forgiveness!

The word Paul uses in the verse above that’s translated “forgiveness” means: “remission, deliverance, liberty.” It means: “letting them go as if they had never been committed” (Strong’s). That’s why when we come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness of our sins, He can view us as if we’d never sinned, just like Him. We’re liberated from our sin debt, and it’s never remembered against us again. Wow! What a Savior!

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That’s what the Lord wants to see happen between us when we forgive one another. And your knee-jerk response might be: “That’s impossible!” And you’d be exactly right, it is. But do you remember what Jesus said from the Cross in reference to those who had just put nails through His holy hands and feet? “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Jesus never expects anything from us that He doesn’t model in His own life.

You may wonder how you’d ever muster the strength to forgive the person who did __________ to you (and you can fill in the worst thing that’s ever happened to you). You may not believe me but think about this for a minute. Jesus was sinless, we’re not, but He voluntarily bore the penalty for every sin we’d ever commit. How did He do that?

Colossians 1:19-22 says: “For God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through Him God reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.”

Though it’s impossible for us to understand, think about this: Jesus bore the weight of our sin in His body on the cross. Have you ever had someone walk on your back? Have you ever had an emotional trauma weigh on your soul? Think about the weight of the sin of billions of people upon your heart, mind, soul, and body. That’s what Jesus did to make it possible for us to be forgiven – and for us to forgive those who sin against us!

There are atrocities that my mind can’t comprehend that are committed every day in our world. Children are murdered in their mother’s womb; millions are kidnapped, raped, tortured, and murdered at the whim of the rich and powerful; lies are stated as truth from the mouths of the government and media, from those we should be able to trust; and we defile each other in ways that were unimaginable only a few years ago.

We live in a world that is circling the proverbial drain. Isn’t it time for those of us who profess the holy name of Jesus to get over ourselves and forgive each other? Can’t we muster the grace to obey the One who forgave us and lay down our “rights” to be heard? I hate the sin of others, but what makes me sick to my stomach and keeps me awake at night is the sin that lurks in my own soul.

The world will never come to Jesus unless and until they see a clear picture of Him in and through the lives of those of us who bear His Name. O God, help us!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed

The Way Forward

“So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” (Matthew 5:23-24 NLT)

What has the Lord laid on your heart to do for Him? Is there a family member, friend, neighbor, stranger you just met, a co-worker, or a long, lost friend who has come to your remembrance and the Lord is asking you to reach out to them?

Is there a specific reason He’s prompting you to reach out? Is there an opportunity to be a witness for Jesus, to be a friend or advocate, guiding them in what they’re seeking to do or be? Perhaps you have experience in dealing with something with which they’re struggling? Whatever the reason for His prompting, pray carefully before you move forward.

In my experience and, as I understand Scripture, it’s not uncommon for us to receive mixed messages when it comes to the voice of God, not because He doesn’t make Himself clear, but because Satan is often seeking to mix God’s signals with his own. As a Jesus follower we are never immune to Satan’s interruptions, especially when we’re wanting to hear the Lord clearly and precisely.

Spiritual warfare is real, and Satan and his devilish emissaries are alive and active. That is not to say that we need to be fearful or alarmed. Satan is subject to the authority of Christ Jesus just like we are, so the good news is, while Satan can harass and tempt us, neither he, nor his evil spirits, can indwell us. If you are filled with God’s Spirit, you never have to be afraid of evil controlling you or forcing you to do something against your will.

Nothing can enter your life except it passes through the filter of God’s permission, so, if you’re dealing with temptations, ungodly habits, or a lifestyle you know is dishonoring to the Lord, run to the Lord, seek His forgiveness and be certain you’re filled with God’s Spirit. Every born-again believer in Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit upon repentance and conversion.

If you’re not certain you belong to Jesus, please check out Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge Illustration by clicking this link.

Okay, so what does all of this have to do with moving forward? Everything! Until you know with certainty that Jesus is your Lord, you’ll be groping in spiritual darkness, and guess who loves the darkness? Satan and his demons. If you’re trusting your feelings or receiving conflicting answers to your inquiries of God or others, the only way forward is to look back and make sure you don’t have any “skeletons” in your closet. What does that mean?

It means that if you have unforgiveness in your heart for someone, that you’re trying to cover up with good deeds or by being more “spiritual,” you’ve got to take a step back and make that relationship or those relationships right before you can move forward. If you’ve hurt someone or someone has hurt you, you need to ask forgiveness or offer forgiveness before you’re going to make progress moving forward.

Forgiveness is a multi-dimensional process, so let’s look at it more closely in tomorrow’s post.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Why Does Christianity Work?

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NLT)

Christianity, as I understand it, isn’t a religion, as much as it’s a relationship. So, the question above could also be asked, as with any relationship, “Why does a relationship with the God of the Bible work?”

I’ve mentioned in previous posts that when I first came to know the Lord, at age 15, my adventure with prayer began when I sat an empty chair across from me and believed Jesus was sitting in it. So, I began talking with Him as if He was exactly who He claimed to be – God in human form.

An invisible God is a mystery, one with whom it’s very difficult to have any kind of meaningful relationship. Perhaps that’s why so many other religions tie their belief systems to a human being, now dead, of course, but who once lived. Buddha, Muhammed, Joseph Smith, to name a few.

Their religions work for them because they tie their beliefs to a person who taught what they now believe. On some levels they saw their beliefs embodied in and revealed in and through that person. Even though, in most cases, their religions were only helpful in this life, it sustained them and gave them something to hold onto while on this earth.

The second issue that is troublesome about other world religions is that they are incomplete. For the most part they create an environment that demands loyalty defined by “good works.” These good works can, and often do, result in some very pious and, from all outward appearances, good people, but their performance on earth leaves them wondering whether they will ever qualify for life after death, if indeed there is life after death in their belief system.

The third element that calls to question the validity of a founder of a religion is honesty – is the proponent of all the good things they taught truthful about their own adherence to their expectations of those who follow them? Is what they taught true?

Lee Stobel was an atheist who used his investigative skills learned as a journalist to seek the truth about Christianity. Lee wrote: “Christianity isn’t true because it works. It works because it’s true.” Christianity is the only world religion where God came to man. Every other world religion has some means of man working their way to God.

God poured Himself into human flesh, becoming a man who gave visibility to the invisible God. He not only taught well, He lived what He taught, so much so He was killed for claiming to be God, whom He of course was, but not many believed Him – until He walked out of His grave under His own authority.

Christianity works for me because the “invisible” person in the chair to whom I prayed was and is real, alive, and actively involved in my life. You can go to the tomb of every other founder of a world religion and find their remains, only Jesus’ tomb is empty. Only Jesus is alive and interacting with His followers every day and in ever detail of our lives.

Who are you following? If it’s not the God of the Bible, revealed in and through the person of Jesus, you’re wasting your time and effort. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Not your goodness, personal merit, and not your efforts to prove you’re worthy. The blood of Jesus alone is payment for sin and the only way anyone can “deserve” heaven is by placing their faith and trust in the only One who paid for their admission.

If you don’t yet know Him, yield your life and allegiance to Jesus today. Click on the link below if you’re not certain how to give your life to Jesus. You are loved beyond measure. You’re the reason Jesus was willing to give His life on the Cross. If you’d been the only person on earth who needed a Savior, He would have still died, just for you! Please go to Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge illustration so you can be certain your sins are forgiven and you have new life in Jesus.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Which Fire Are You Stoking?

“’Haven’t you read the Scriptures?’ Jesus replied. ‘They record that from the beginning “God made them male and female.”’ And He said, ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.’” (Matthew 19:4-6 NLT)

If you’re not already, you may want to sit down for this, it’s heavy! Are you ready? Men and women are different! Revolutionary, right? Yes, I know, we all KNOW that, so why do we act so crazy when it plays out in our marriages and friendships?

As men we’re expected to know exactly what our wives are thinking (but rarely do), but isn’t it nuts that our wives want to know what we’re thinking (but we rarely know that either)? That’s why forgiveness is such a vital need for our homes and relationships. None of us, male or female, get it right 100% of the time, so why not exercise our God given command to forgive?

It’s my opinion that a very high percentage of divorces occur, not because of mistakes made, even serious issues like unfaithfulness, but because of our inability to give full expression to what we’re feeling and or, because of a failure to forgive. Sometimes, unfortunately, we’re not forgiven because we don’t ask, either because we’re stubborn or, in a very few instances, we don’t realize what we’ve done wrong.

What’s gained when we forgive? Perhaps the best outcome of asking for forgiveness is reconciliation, but even if that doesn’t happen immediately, at least it opens the door, if even a crack, to allow healing to come at a later time. To refuse to forgive is to close the door to forgiveness. How do I know that?

Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” To what end? Unforgiven sin separates us from each other as well as from the Father. It builds a wall that over time can be insurmountable.

Leslie J. Barner used an expression in reference to herself and her husband in a devotional that clicked with me. She referred to their marriage partnership as: “Team Us!”

When my kids were small, we used to camp a lot. The kids would usually wear themselves out and turn in after a smore or two, but after getting the kids tucked in, my wife and I sat by the fire. It felt good in the evening cool, but it also was an opportunity to review the day and share things that went well and things that didn’t.

It gave us opportunities to cement the “Team,” to say things to one another that needed to be said, both positive and negative. But even if we just sat in silence, we were together. We didn’t need anyone to remind us that if our little family was going to thrive, we had to work together. If harsh words had been spoken during the day, it gave us the perfect platform to ask for or give forgiveness.

Fire, like many other things in life, can work positively, to warm us and cook our food, but it can also kill us and burn up the things we’ve worked a lifetime to attain. Which fire will you stoke when it comes to your marriage? How about your relationships with co-workers, friends, loved ones?

Barner wrote: “Fire isn’t all bad. Controlled fires, like kind, encouraging, supportive words, are life giving and warm the heart. Wildfires only break hearts. We can choose which type of fire we will stoke.”

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When We Use Our Tongue Irresponsibly

“In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (James 3:5-6 NLT)

Growing up I was often audience to unkind and demeaning things my mom would say to my dad, usually while she was drinking. To hear her rants caused anger to rise in my own heart. While I knew my dad had faults and was far from perfect, he was always good to me, and I hated it when mom would humiliate him in my presence. It was only by God’s grace that their marriage held together.

Fast forward to today when I say things to my wife, that in my mind are justified and “need to be said,” but that hurt and or push her away. What am I thinking? In most cases, I’m not, and that’s the point. Proverbs 18:21 says: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

It’s frustrating when we use our tongue irresponsibly in private, but it creates a whole new set of dangers when we speak to a loved one or friend inappropriately in a public setting. What might have been quickly forgiven and forgotten in a one-on-one setting, becomes an environment where another’s feelings are not only hurt, but embarrassment humiliates them in front of others.

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Think of how Jesus used words. The only people with whom He was ever “short,” were self-righteous religious people. Why? Because of all people they should have known better than to put themselves ahead of others, treating another person made in God’s image like they didn’t exist, as though they were dirt under their nails.

Leslie J. Barner wrote: “Have I ever said things I shouldn’t have? Yep! Or hurt my husband’s feelings with my words? Unfortunately, I have. But one thing I hope to resist at all costs is embarrassing Aubrey in public.“ It’s not unusual for us, even as Jesus followers, to engage our tongue before we put our brain in gear, but when that results in embarrassing or belittling our spouse, family member, friend, or even an enemy, it lessens Christ in the minds or those in whose mind we most want Him to be magnified.

We’re not perfect and won’t be until Jesus completes our transformation, but to use that as an excuse for hurting others with our attitudes, expressions, and words is to fail to understand that what we say and do to “the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!” (Matthew 25:40)

We tend to be on our guard, our best behavior, when we’re with people from church or good friends, but too often that “good behavior” gets set aside like our shoes when we come in the door of our homes, and we end up saying things that hurt and sting those we profess to love the most. Why do we do that? Aren’t we commissioned and commanded to treat others, especially our loved ones, with honor, dignity, and love?

Two things the Lord is teaching me in this season of my life: Train my eyes to not look the second time at an attractive woman and train my tongue to remain silent when I’m upset with my wife. Isn’t it ironic that the person I love the most is the one whom I have the greatest capacity to hurt? Perhaps we need to confess to the Lord our weakness and inability to do what we need to do, not only as it relates to how we use our tongue, but in every area of our life.

Until we realize that “apart from Me (Jesus) you can do nothing,” we’ll continue to fail miserably in the ways we treat others, especially those for whom we most want to be Jesus. By His grace let’s determine to use our words to bless and uplift, not tear down and destroy.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

The Dark Side of Truth

“I will darken the bright stars overhead and cover your land in darkness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” (Ezekiel 32:8 NLT)

Do you ever mourn for lost people? Does the thought of a loved one or friend going to hell fill your heart with grief and bring tears to your eyes? It does mine. Sometimes there’s such a darkness that fills my soul that it literally is hard for me to function. Having walked with the Lord for so long it’s incomprehensible to me why someone would trade heaven for hell, forgiveness for condemnation, the Light of life for darkness.

In the verses of Ezekiel 32 the Lord shares with Ezekiel the fate of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. In verse 2 the Lord literally asks Ezekiel to “mourn for Pharoah, king of Egypt, and give him this message.” The message was of his impending doom and destruction. It was the truth, but it was very dark, filled with despair and hopelessness.

We invited friends to come to church with us on Christmas Eve last year and afterward one of our guests made the comment that she thought the Pastor’s message was “dark.” It set me aback as I love the message of Christ’s birth, in anticipation of His sinless life, death, and resurrection, knowing that apart from His sacrifice we’d all be hopelessly lost forever.

The pastor had simply shared the fate of lost people and our state, in this life and the next, apart from the Lord’s saving grace. It wasn’t graphic, in the sense of being something that would purposely induce fear, but honest, straightforward truth from God’s Word.

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Ron Hutchcraft said in a recent broadcast: “Some of us live like the truth will scare us to death or hurt too much. But it can’t hurt nearly as much as avoiding the truth about yourself – that truth that continues to poison your relationships, or limit your life, and bring you down. Someone listening today has been running from your mirrors, even trying to break your mirrors by shooting them down. But God put those people in your life because He loves you too much to let you keep running from the truth that is costing you so much.”

Do you realize how vitally important the “mirror” of your life is as a Jesus follower? Ideally, the light of our lives as believers in Jesus, shines into the darkness of this world and into the lives of those whose lives are being lived apart from His saving grace. Perhaps you’re reading this today and you’re not yet a Jesus follower.

Maybe the darkness of the truth of why Jesus died confuses or confounds you because you view yourself as a good person. On many levels that may be true, but please let the knowledge of what Jesus did, drive you to a point of yielding your life and allegiance to Him. You need to allow the darkness of your own soul to awaken you to your need to repent (turn from your sin) and receive the gift of eternal life that only Jesus can give you.

Why is that so vital to understand? Because the Truth of who Jesus is and what He did for us, is our only avenue of forgiveness from sin and the hope of eternal life. Jesus is the embodiment of all Truth, which means it’s impossible for Him to lie. The truth is we’re all sinners whose lives are hopelessly leading to an eternal death, separation from the sanctuary of God’s presence, for all eternity, unless and until we open our lives to Jesus.

I implore you to come to Him today! Click the highlighted link and find out for yourself how to know you’re forgiven of all your sin and on your way to a life of peace and joy in Jesus. Ron Hutchcraft’s Bridge to God illustration.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God’s Art

“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.” (Psalm 8:1 NLT)

What comes first to mind when you see or hear the word “art?” The first two things that came to my mind were the “masterpieces” of human beings when transformed by the renewing of our minds in and through our relationship with Jesus. The second picture I envisioned was dozens of train cars passing, most covered in graffiti painted by wannabe “artists.”

In my understanding there are only two ways to live our lives – by accident or on purpose – and please note, this isn’t a Christian or non-Christian phenomenon. Just because a person doesn’t have faith in Jesus doesn’t by default sentence them to live a life without purpose or intent. On the other hand, being a Jesus follower doesn’t guarantee that we will enlist our God-given resources to live a life of determined intention.

Where do you find yourself on the continuum of purpose? And what does that have to do with God’s art? God, our heavenly Father, is an artist in the best and broadest sense of the term. Depending on how much you’ve traveled or watched programs which display the vastness of the beautiful resources this earth and beyond possess, you may not appreciate the varied degrees of awesomeness of the world in which we live.

Pictures can’t do justice to the beauties of nature. You can watch documentaries on the Grand Canyon all day long, but it doesn’t compare to walking the path along the top of the canyon or descending on a donkey into the depths of its valleys. There’s something awe-inspiring about personally experiencing the breath-taking beauty of nature and realizing you know personally and intimately the Author of it all.

What is it about the artwork of God that becomes so personal, so moving on an emotional basis? Could it be His holy presence? Have you ever stood in front of a piece of art, whether in nature, hanging on a wall, or playing on a screen and found your eyes filling involuntarily with tears? Have you ever met a person so unique, whose life was so God-inspired, you sensed God’s presence just being in theirs?

Larry Norman wrote: “Life is God’s art.” When I read that I thought of the phrase “earth crammed with heaven” which comes from a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a Victorian English poet who knew how to look at the world and see heavenly truth. In Aurora Leigh, she writes: “And truly, I reiterate, nothing’s small! No lily-muffled hum of a summer bee, But finds some coupling with the spinning stars; No pebble at your foot, but proves a sphere; No chaffinch, but implies the cherubim; And (glancing on my own thin, veined wrist), In such a little tremor of the blood The whole strong clamour of a vehement soul Doth utter itself distinct. Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes …”

Would to God that we’d live our lives with such intent-filled purpose that our whole being would become an act of worship, a living, breathing expression of God’s art put on display for all the world to catch a glimpse of Him! With our countenance, our contributions to the lives of others in practical ways, and as we open our lives more fully to the Spirit’s control, may God’s kindness, goodness, mercy, thoughtfulness, patience, and love paint for all who know us an unmistakable masterpiece of the glory and majesty of our Savior!

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Do You Aspire to Be a Gospel Superstar?

“This is a trustworthy saying: ‘If someone aspires to be an elder,’ he desires an honorable position.” (1 Timothy 3:1 NLT)

Aspiration can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, if I lack aspiration, I can waste the gifts and talents the Lord has given me and miss opportunities to be used of Him in His service. On the other hand, if my aspirations seek to exalt me and gain recognition, praise, and honor for myself, including or apart from the glory due the Lord, I’m on a very treacherous path.

The word Paul uses that is translated “aspires” in the above verse, is an interesting word. According to Strong’s, it literally means “to stretch one’s self out in order to touch or to grasp something, to reach after or desire something,” which can be fine. I believe that’s what all of us should desire as we pursue the Lord.

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But it can also mean: “to give one’s self up to the love of money.” Paul explores what aspiring to be an elder should look like in verse 2 when he writes: “So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach.” Then he sites several practical applications as to what that would look like. The context suggests that Paul is likely defining the role of what we commonly refer to as a Pastor today.

“Above reproach” literally means to be “blameless or unrebukable,” words that we don’t often use today, but point to the kind of person who is solid in their faith, well liked, trustworthy, pure in motives and actions, a good husband and father, and one who isn’t a pursuer of what the KJV refers to as “filthy lucre,” which is basically being greedy for money or personal gain.

Okay, all of that is well and good, but what does it mean for us today? We have our favorite preachers and teachers, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but the great men of God, past and present, who honor and bless God are those who aspire, not to make much of themselves, but to make much of Jesus. To aspire to be great to gain prestige, recognition, or fame, for oneself, is to dishonor the Lord and trample His holy name.

As in every generation, there are those today whose methods and message aim to draw people to themselves in an effort to build their “kingdom.” Their desire is to promote themselves, to grow in popularity, and to generate the big bucks; to live a life of wealth and prosperity and to twist the Word of God to justify their extravagant lifestyle. But please don’t hear what I’m not saying, there are many very godly and gifted men and women who, through legitimate and honorable means have made a lot of money. That doesn’t in any way need to disqualify them from being effective and respected leaders.

Money, in and of itself, is neutral. The Kingdom of God is forwarded by the generosity of God’s people. Someone who generates a high income doing what God has called and gifted them to do is not the problem. I applaud men and women who have earned millions of dollars who funnel much of their wealth into the expansion of God’s purposes worldwide.

Those who dishonor God and defame His holy name are those who aspire to positions of authority to manipulate others and seek recognition for themselves. And this may or may not have anything to do with money, and the persons may or may not aspire to be a Pastor. I’ve seen Elders, Deacons, Board members, teachers, and others who serve in various positions in churches large and small whose motives have crippled the effectiveness of ministries. There are still wolves in sheep’s clothing in the Church today.

In God’s service there are no “Gospel Superstars,” only devoted followers who aspire to celebrate and give praise and glory to the Savior with every ounce of their being. To aspire to gain anything for ourselves through our service to Christ and His Church is to dishonor the holy name we profess to bear.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊

God Provides

“’Well then,’ Jesus said, ‘the citizens are free! However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.’” (Matthew 17:26b-27 NLT)

The premise upon which I base this post is that God is our provider, but I hasten to add that nowhere in Scripture does the Bible teach that He will provide everything we want, nor even everything for which we ask. And yes, I realize that Jesus said in John 14:13-14: “You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it!” And there are other verses that say similar things, but you can’t ignore the context in which Jesus said them.

In John 14 Jesus is speaking with His disciples about what is coming after His death. As always, His focus is accomplishing God’s will in God’s prescribed way. That’s why He prayed in the Garden: “Not My will, but Yours be done.” Jesus was perfect and knew what to ask the Father and when, but we don’t have that insight or understanding.

In our ignorance we may ask the Lord for a new Ferrari and a mansion in Maui, but unless that somehow fits into God’s plan to enable us to carry out His purposes more effectively, it’s not going to happen. Jesus’ whole life’s orientation was to carry out the will of His Father. Allowing the Father’s Spirit to live in and through Him was His purpose on earth.

His goal was to make the invisible God visible in His life and ministry. That’s His goal for us, so to give us permission to “ask for anything in My name” implies His desire for us to lean so heavily on Him that it would become more and more clear that apart from Him we are nothing and can do nothing. It’s an invitation to trust the Father for everything, just like Jesus did. To understand that everything we need to do everything He desires comes directly from the Father, just like it did for Jesus.

That said, I can attest to the fact that everything I’ve ever asked of God that was clearly in line with His will and purposes, He’s given. Not always the way I asked or in the timing I desired, but He’s always given me everything I’ve needed to be everything He’s desired me to be.

Jorge Rosario, in a Family Life devotional, wrote: “The provision of dollars and cents doesn’t always make sense. But we can rest assured that God will provide.” “But how?” you may wonder. You may be out of work, without any source of income, penniless, and hungry. How can you trust God in those times? The same way you trust Him in good times. How’s that? One minute at a time.

When I was penniless and hungry, I prayed for God’s provision, but He didn’t always answer on my schedule. Think of all the times Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, cold, and in many other ways suffered and was in need, but Paul’s conviction, as is mine, is that God never wasted a problem.

His Spirit was always teaching, always protecting, always informing in ways that Paul, and I, and you, and every other believer on the planet always has in this moment everything we need to be everything for which we’ve been called to be.

Whatever you’re feeling in this season of your life; whatever ways in which you’re suffering, I implore you to trust in your Creator. If you know Him, love Him, and are seeking to serve Him put your palms out in front of you and say, as I say everyday: “Father, this is my life. Take whatever I don’t need and give me everything I do need, so that I might be all you’ve called and equipped me to be for You. May my life reflect Your love and light and be lived today to Your honor and fame.”

He always answers and He always provides.

Blessings, Ed 😊