I kinda like being comfortable. I like it when things are ordered and moving along as planned. It is nice when things move along smoothly. Do you like it when things are comfortable and ordered and all seems good?
Yet it is dangerous to live on cruise control. When we are just cruising down the rut it is sometimes hard to see what is going on outside of our little trench. And isn’t a little excitement OK sometimes? Isn’t it invigorating to feel the tension of the unknown or the “what if”?
In John 14 Jesus states that He is the way, the truth, and the life. To know Jesus is to know God. It raises the question in my mind: how well do I know Jesus? Do I really know enough of Him? Or am I on cruise in my relationship with Jesus? Or do I read the Word with questions? How will I know Him better today? How will this word cause me to grow? To trust Him more?
No one is ” there” yet. All of us have room to grow, to know Him better, to trust Him more. To seek these things brings us to the edge of the unknown. Step out – it’s kinda exciting out here.
Tag Archives: Jesus
Sharing the News
Stephen was the first of many to die for his faith in Jesus Christ. Many more have died in the name of Jesus over the centuries. Some will die today, some will die tomorrow, and so on. It even happens on a rare occasion here in America. There are Christians out there willing to die for their faith today.
Relatively speaking, we live in a country where it is pretty safe to share our faith. Certainly in the public arena the worst things we face are rejection, scorn, and maybe a helping of ridicule. In some work environments the subject of faith is ‘taboo’ and to talk about our faith may risk our job. In some settings we may find ourselves ostracized or unwelcome anymore because we chose to speak about our faith.
Yet despite the relative safety we generally don’t like sharing our faith. Maybe we will share our faith in just the right setting with just the right person at just the right moment. There are definitely these times and it is joyful to God when we take these opportunities. But most of us are not an “anytime, anyplace, anyone” type of person when it comes to sharing our faith. It is my prayer that my mighty God and amazing Savior fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit and empower me to share my faith with any and all that I meet to the end of my days. Will you make this your prayer too?
A Heavenly Gasp
Does your family have any unique practices or traditions – a special dish at the holiday season, a quirky birthday celebration, something you do every Easter…? Maybe you don’t understand it or even understand where it came from, but you go along because that is what is expected. Then at some point, someone says something like, “Hey, this year instead…” and you gasp! Or sometimes the tradition or practice fades because you moved away and one Easter morning you realize you don’t ‘x’ anymore and you feel like something is suddenly missing. As a Christian family we get our traditions and practices from Christ. He is our firm foundation, our Cornerstone. We are called to be His “living stones” – to live our lives in a way that brings Christ to the world. Like our family traditions, we find our identity in Christ. Sadly, like some of our own family traditions, sometimes we don’t always fully understand or even like some of the Christian traditions and practices that we are called to. Sometimes we fail to live them out. For example, do we always embrace tolerance and practice respect? Do we always love our neighbors as ourselves? Sadly, not always. At these points the gasp does not come from us. But the good news is that we are precious to Jesus. Despite our human limitations, He continues to build us into His holy nation, a people called to God. We belong to Him. Our journey is simply growing more and more like Jesus every day. And despite ourselves, we do. It is through Jesus. Thank you Lord!!
The Reality of Eternity
Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” He also told them that no one comes to God except through the Son. Just as these words are meant to encourage and strengthen the disciples, He meant the same for us. Jesus wanted all to know that the path to eternity led through him. For the disciples, soon Jesus would die and He wanted them to trust in His continuing presence. He was going on ahead of them to prepare a place for them – a heavenly home. As they continued the work that He had begun, He wanted them to work in the peace and comfort of the reality of eternity.
Jesus knew, as He spoke these words, that His disciples – both the 12 and us today – would face trials and would be asked to go into uncomfortable situations and places. He asks us to trust into His “everlasting fellowship”. The earthly Jesus is now the eternal Jesus, calling us to know Him more and more through how we engage Him in study and Word and prayer and in how we participate in His mission in the world. His call is today and every day, in the here and now. To know is to love, To love is to serve. To serve is to know.
As we continue to grow in this cycle that Jesus calls us to, we step closer to that reality of eternity. For some of us, we are a part of bringing the new creation to this place where we dwell. Some may see the new creation come right before their earthly eyes. For others, while we share in the building of the kingdom here on earth, we are bringing ourselves closer to our eternal glory. We will be a part of the coming of the new creation. It matters not. We are all part of the same plan. Thank you Jesus!
At the Gate
Jesus is often known as the ‘Good Shepherd’. On one level it is an odd choice – in Jesus’ day it was one of the lowliest jobs you could have. It was hard work. It was lonely work. It was thankless work. It was dangerous work. Your sheep were in almost constant need of care and protection. You lived outside with them day in night, in the cold, in the rain, in the wind, in the scorching sun.
Yet in many ways the analogy makes perfect sense. Tending to a fellow Christian can be hard and lonely work. In parts of the world it can be dangerous. Some people require lots of care. You may have to go out in the middle of the night or during a snowstorm to be with them.
Yet I have a feeling that none of this would have even slightly bothered Jesus. Anytime, anywhere, anyplace is His motto – He loves us that much. His love is so great that He would lie down His life for us – again and again and again. Like a shepherd lying down before the gate each day to keep his sheep safe, Jesus lays down at the door to our heart each day and says, ‘Satan, you shall not enter. This one is mine’. And safe and secure, we say ‘Thank you Jesus!’
What a Shepherd!!
Sheep have a reputation for being animals that lack intelligence. They are known to do stupid things at times – they wander off and find themselves lost or in danger. When the shepherd isn’t around or when they cannot hear his voice, they can become lost or worse.
Sheep are a pretty good metaphor for us, aren’t they? Not the lacking intelligence part – humans are pretty capable intellectually. But this make it all the more ironic that at times we too wander away from Jesus, our shepherd. We know He paid a price. We know he bled, suffered, and died to pay for our sins yet sometimes we are prone to wander off down a different road.
When the shepherd notices a sheep is missing, he will search for that sheep until he finds it and bring it back to safety. At times, danger comes near the sheep. The shepherd takes up staff or sling and protects the sheep.
When we wander away, surely we will hear His voice. When I hear Him calling, ‘John, where are you?’ then I respond, ‘Here! Here! Here I am!’ and I come running back. As I come to walk again with the shepherd I wonder why I ever went astray. But Jesus just smiles ad welcomes me back into the fold. There is no “tsk, tsk’ or sad look in His eyes. Just a smile and love in the eyes. At times, do you hear Him calling? Run to Him! He will do the same for you. Jesus offers love, grace, and mercy to all. What a Good Shepherd we have!!!
More Than Enough for Me
In times of pain or sorrow, stress or anger, we like to have someone to go to, to talk with. Life just seems better when we have someone to bear and share our burdens with. Often times this is with a friend or a couple of friends, but God wants in on the conversation too!
Reading Psalm 116 this morning, I am reminded of the song “More Than Enough for Me.” It speaks of God being in our every moment and knowing all of our needs and emotions. The psalmist cried out to God and just knows that because of His great love for her, He will hear her cry. And like the psalmist, we too can know God in this way.
And what then is our response? Out of our recognition of and in response to His great love for us, out of ourselves we offer praise, worship, service, and sacrifice. When we are loved our natural response is to love back. That great love of God flowing into us in turn becomes love flowing out of us into other’s lives. The chorus from that song goes, “Jesus you’re all I need, You are more than enough for me.” He is all we need. He is more than enough. So let’s share a little!
Arriving Sooner
As the two disciples walked towards Emmaus, the loss of Jesus was heavy on their hearts, but the story of Jesus being alive provided some hope. As I read these verses in Luke 24 I can gear some excitement in their voices as they ponder the possibility. But there is still a little doubt and confusion because they don’t fully understand that it is all part of God’s plan.
We have all been there – in the midst of some heartache or struggle – questioning why and feeling oh so lost. And then suddenly He is right there, walking alongside of us, right in the here and now. And like Jesus walking along the road to Emmaus, He too speaks into our situation and we begin to come out of our sorrow or confusion. God’s plan starts to come into focus.
We begin to see again that we are part of God’s plan, and we continue to walk on. But we walk with a new warmth in our heart for that little taste of heaven has put a little bounce in our step. As we continue on our journey of faith, the taste of heaven becomes a taste for heaven as God becomes a 24/7 part of life instead of a here and there part. We become a part of helping heaven being a part of this life. And like the two on the road to Emmaus, we wonder why we didn’t “arrive” sooner!
The Word is Enough
In our society there is often a quest for “more”. People want more money, more prestige, more time off, more friends, more and more. The quest can be consuming and the goal can become their god. But Paul found the secret, how to be content in plenty and in want, hether well fed or hungry. In Philippians 4:13 Paul writes, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Today it seems many cannot be content.
In John 20 it is revealed that there are other words and miracles of Jesus not recorded in his gospel. Should that spur our natural instinct to want more? No! But it does make me wonder. It makes me wonder, would more stories help more people to believe? Sadly, I think not. God led men far wiser than I to make prayerful and divinely inspired decisions about what writings to put in the Bible. Similarly, God led John to write what John wrote, no more, no less.
Our faith rests upon Jesus as risen Lord. He died for our sins. That is really the story we need. True, we want more. And there is value in knowing more. There is much written in the Bible that teaches us how to live a Christ-like life and about the nature and desire of God. If we delve in and study the Word, it is enough. We do not need to know more. God has provided all we need to be content. Continue reading
From Doubt to Love
Have you ever been a second late to a really funny happening at work or at home? Have you ever looked away from the game at just the moment the ‘big play’ happens? The laughter or cheers draws you to the fact that you just missed it. Then you want ‘instant replay’, right?
Oh doubting Thomas!! Thomas is the first one to be called to believe in the risen Lord on faith alone – without seeing Jesus. I don’t think Thomas thought all the others were lying to him, he too wanted to see Jesus for himself. Can you blame him?
Jesus again appears to the disciples and this time Thomas is there. And Jesus, ever the same, meets Thomas where he is at and offers him just what he needs. As always, no judging or condemnation. Oh loving Jesus!!
We relate to Thomas, often wrestling with doubt, often questioning. That is natural. It is good for our faith. We relate to Jesus too, but if you are like me, could do so more often. Jesus simply offered what was needed to the one before Him. He calls us to do the same.
