“Will I find faith on the earth?” - Jesus

A study released this week predicted that Christianity would be ‘extinct’ in New Zealand, Australia, Austria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland when this generation dies off. One of the talking heads on cable TV spent much of two recent programs ranting against the truthfulness of the Bible claiming that it is a work of fiction that ‘no sane person would believe in its entirety.’ Several books written by atheists declaring the end of faith and the rise of reason have gained wider audiences suggesting a new popular interest in godlessness. Even Evangelical preachers in America seem intent on committing a kind of suicide, as they pull out their guns on their blogs and blaze away at each other over a recent book that suggests that we ought to re-examine our penchant for sending people to Hell given the Gospel’s great message of salvation through the Cross.

Don’t let all this noise get to you, disciple. The study about Christianity dying out ignores the astonishing increases of numbers of Christians in China, on the continent of Africa, and in Korea. The TV ranter reveals his ignorance about how to read the Bible. No real student of Scripture reads Revelation in the same way they read the Gospels! One is an allegory, the other history. Both are true, in their own genre. Atheism hangs on but only among a single digit percentage. Truthfully those who claim to be Christian but living unholy and uncommitted lives are much more of a concern to me than those who publish angry screeds fighting with a God they claim does not exist.

Jesus teaches His followers to stay steady through it all. "Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8, NIV)

Faith is neither simple, nor easy. It is a precious gift from God that must be nourished by obedience. Studying from the book of Exodus and the sins of the Israelites who God delivered from slavery in Egypt and called to become His own holy people, we need to learn a radical kind of dependence, a willingness to look past our cravings for self-satisfaction to find and live in the will of our Father. Failure and subsequent falls into sin always begin with unbelief! God does not ask us to suspend reason, nor does He demand that we enter a world of madness where we live in silly superstition. That is not faith.

The Lord offers us an assurance of His salvation, a destiny in His eternal home, and a life that is marked by purpose but only if we will let Him lead us. “Trust Me,” He says. That phrase is genuinely frightening when it comes from someone who motives and intentions are unknown. When God invites us to trust Him we need not fear, at all. He is good. He is loving. He cannot fail. So, will you let faith flourish?

Even when the world is shaking (and it literally has been doing that recently) and the opponents of faith are screaming, let’s go to the Father and renew our hope. “Will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones?” Yes, but will we remain faithful until it comes? That’s the question.

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Let Your Glory Fall

Father of creation
Unfold Your sov'reign plan
Raise up a chosen generation
That will march through the land
All of creation is longing
For Your unveiling of pow'r
Would You release Your anointing
Oh God let this be the hour

Ruler of the nations
The world has yet to see
The full release of Your promise
The church in victory
Turn to us Lord and touch us
Make us strong in Your might
Overcome our weakness
That we could stand up and fight

Let Your glory fall
In this room
Let it go forth from here
To the nations
Let Your fragrance rest
In this place
As we gather to seek Your face

© 1992 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
David Ruis
CCLI License No. 810055

To a woman of excellence

Today is my wife’s birthday. Were you to guess which one after seeing her, you would probably miss it by at least a decade. God and DNA have been much kinder to Bev than me but I don’t mind, not even a little bit. She is a gift from the Lord to me, more treasured with each passing year, my complement in every sense of the word! I sang “Happy Birthday” softly to her in the darkness this morning and reminded her that we are a team, inseparable, stronger together by far than we could ever be apart. In that moment, all was right with my world: God in His Heaven, my love at my side.

To watch her in her work- be it teaching her first graders, leading a chapel worship session, or conducting a woman’s Bible class - is to see grace in action. Her diligence is phenomenal in every season, no matter what’s going on in her life. She loves me quietly with steady affection. She’s not one to hang all over me in a crowd, but she will rise to my defense like a lioness. She prays for her family and is my able advocate before the Lord. She offers counsel to me that comes from a place of reflection and submission to the Spirit. And, she’s beautiful.

The familiar passage in Proverbs describes her accurately. It says, "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise." (Proverbs 31:25-32, NLT)

She’s tender, still given to tears when overwhelmed by life’s sorrows; and she’s tough, resilient in the face of critics and the stormy times that blow through every life. She’s sometimes thought to be fragile, but she’s actually quite strong like steel covered with velvet. She’s not perfect, but she knows her weaknesses and let’s God work in those very places. I am blessed and thankful that the Lord gave me this gift and today I say, “Happy Birthday. The world was blessed when you were born!”

I'll always remember the song they were playing,
The first time we danced and I knew.
As we swayed to the music and held to each other,
I fell in love with you.


Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner, every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?


I'll always remember that magic moment,
When I held you close to me.
As we moved together, I knew, forever,
You're all I'll ever need.


Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?
Would you be my partner, every night?
When we're together it feels so right,
Could I have this dance for the rest of my life?

- Annie Murray

What can I do for God?

My phone rang at dinner time. A scared voice announced, ‘Me and my friends got no place to sleep tonight. Belvidere (the county welfare office) blew us off. Can you help us, father?’ I drove to where these young adults stood in the rain, cold and miserable, and took them to a local motel where I was able to secure a room for them. They had not eaten all day, so I bought them a couple of pizzas. Driving home I mused about their situation. Sure, they were warm and fed for one night, but they had greater needs for loving guidance, for help with life skills. I’ll probably spend some more time with them today to see if there is a way to point them in the right direction.

Cynics might say that getting involved with those that society has written off as ‘losers’ is a waste of time. I’m not naïve and know that I get ‘used’ by people looking for a quick fix to problems they have created for themselves by sinful or unwise decisions. But, my rule is one Jesus taught, "Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:30-31, NIV) To me, this is ministry that is just as important as preaching the sermon in church on Sunday morning. It is a point where the Gospel of Christ becomes more than an idea! It happens because I am available and willing to participate in His work.

The one question I am asked by God’s people more than any other is “what can I do for God?” Further conversation usually reveals that the inquirer is looking for a ministry role, something to do in church work. I am so very thankful that they want to help with teaching or music ministry or leadership. However, ‘doing for God’ doesn’t need my blessing, nor does it require holding a position in the church’s structure of ministries. We all can do His work and will have plenty to do, if we open our eyes, pay attention to the people around us, and are willing to love. One day, after He had engaged a sinful woman at a well in Samaria, bringing her to a moment of heart change, Jesus urged his friends to change their perspective. Instead of thinking God’s time and God’s work was in another time and place, He said, "I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!" (John 4:35, The Message)

Want to do God’s work? His only requirement is availability. That’s not as easy as it sounds! It’s not an activity for the occasional evening. It’s a way of life birthed in a prayer that says, “Lord, here I am. Use me.” He won’t wait until it’s convenient to call on us. He won’t let us only do His work when we have time, or wait until we have ‘enough’ (whatever that is), or choose to work in the way that we think is fun or attractive to our personality. He calls us to serve, with no reserve.

There is no joy that is greater than becoming a participant in the work of the Lord, right where you are. Having the privilege of praying with someone whose heart is broken, of giving a meal to someone who is hungry, of sharing the hope of new life in Christ with someone who is hopeless – is to feel the smile of your Father in Heaven. What compares with His favor?

Here’s a word from the Word. May it inspire us.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’" (Matthew 25:31-40, NIV)
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True Religion

You came for the lost the sick and the blind,
With salvation and hope You gave to us free.
So, what will we do with this treasure we hold?

Let justice roll on like a river!
Let mercy shine bright as the sun!
Take care of the orphan and widow,
Take care of our own flesh and blood.


'Cause this is the way that You've call us to love,
To share what we have with the hungry and poor,
Put clothes on the naked,
And heal up the broken and torn;
True religion!

© 2008 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Music Services)
Ryan Delmore
CCLI License No. 810055

Can you see Him in me?

Harry was in his late 70’s when I first met him. Despite 30 years difference in our ages, I eagerly anticipated times that we spent together. Harry represented Jesus wherever he went because he belonged to Him and loved Him more than life itself. He carried a little notebook which he would pull out from time to time and say, “let me tell you what the Lord and I have been discussing.” Then, he would share some insight he had gleaned from reading Scripture or meditation. Lest you think he was preachy or religious, let me quickly tell you that Harry was neither. Mostly, he was loving, encouraging to kids and octogenarians, men and women, sinners and saints. He was equally at home among the firefighters with whom he served and at a table of preachers. I cannot remember a visit with Harry that wasn’t challenging, or inspiring, or comforting! He was an ambassador for his King.

The Bible says, "We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”" (2 Corinthians 5:20, NLT) An ambassador gives up the right to speak his own mind when he accepts the privilege of representing his Sovereign. If he becomes too independent, if he confuses his own policies with those of the nation he represents, he will be recalled from service. Harry was a great ambassador of Christ! Are you?

When others spend time with you is it obvious that you have spent time with Jesus? Peter and John were hauled before the ruling council of Jerusalem and after a lengthy interrogation the council reaching this conclusion: “these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13) His love, wisdom, strength, and character had become theirs.

Just being sanctimonious or religious is not at all what we’re aiming for. I have had to spend time with people trying too hard to be like Jesus without actually having spent much time in His Presence. It came off as forced, phony; a weird and ugly parody of the Christian life. The words were right, but the tone was wrong. You can’t fake love; well, not for long anyway. I want to be an authentic disciple of Jesus who has been with Him in prayer at the beginning of each day so that He will be with me. It is important to humble myself before, to listen for His voice so that Self remains submitted to the Spirit. How quickly life becomes about our plans, our reputation, our feelings unless we are before His throne regularly and often. When I fail to take time to pray, the likeness of Christ is eclipsed by the ego of Jerry.

Ask a trusted, mature Christian: can you see Jesus in me?

Here’s a word from the Word that reveals the key to being a person like Harry, a real ambassador of Christ.
“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing." (John 15:1-6, The Message)
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Let the beauty of Jesus
Be seen in me;
All His wonderful passion
And purity.
O, Thou Spirit divine,
All my nature refine,
‘Til the beauty of Jesus
Be seen in me.

© 1943. Renewed 1970 Word Music, LLC
Albert Orsborn
Bentley DeForest Ackley
CCLI License No. 810055