Ideals, Principles, and Ordinary People

I recently watched a documentary series about the third President of the United States, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, a man who penned those enduring words that shape our national ideals: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Thomas Jefferson embraced lofty ideals and principles but did not consistently live by them. He died without freeing the more than one hundred enslaved people whose labor sustained his life and estate. Equally disturbing is his decades-long relationship with the enslaved woman Sally Hemmings, who was more than twenty years younger than he was and with whom he fathered several children. She remained a slave until her death!

It’s not fair to hold Jefferson to standards of the 21^st century, but it is troubling that a man who inspired a revolution for liberty and freedom refused to apply the ideals of which he wrote to his own life mostly because of the cost to his chosen way of life. Do Jefferson's choices make his words meaningless? I don't believe they do. Rather, his actions should remind us that we all, even the ‘great’ are just ordinary sinners!

My purpose is not to excuse sin or minimize failure. Instead, I hope we can learn to extend grace to one another, to remain inspired by truth even when its messengers fall short, and to recognize that we are all striving toward a life that none of us has yet fully attained.

I love Paul’s words that were inspired by the Spirit.
“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3)

Did you read that carefully? Paul aspires to turn his back on desires for recognition, on his legalistic religious accomplishments, on his own pride so that he can fully know Christ. BUT he recognizes that he is a work in progress – ‘not that I have already obtained all this.’  He refuses to wallow in guilt or shame. He does not go back repeatedly to try to fix it all. He pushes forward focused on the grace of Jesus and the prize the Kingdom of Heaven. “I press on!”

Who among us can honestly claim to live every principle or ideal we hold in our mind?

In my 70 years on this earth there are some chapters of success and some of glaring failures. Perfection eludes me. I am quite certain that there are places in my life to which I am blind, moments of sin despite my best intentions, compromises of convictions made for convenience of the moment.

Yet I, like Paul, aspire to ‘know Christ’ and I press on.

The wonder of the Gospel of Christ is its reach, totally removing our guilt even as He inspires us to look higher. The Word tells us that we are ‘God’s masterpiece so that none of us can boast’ of our self-perfection or look down on those we might consider weak or failing. I confess that I am an ordinary sinner and I hold to the promise of adoption into God’s holy family through the inexhaustible grace of God, shown to me in Christ Jesus! The realization of that grace humbles me.

Are you conflicted, confused, or unsure of God’s grace?

Let God love you to life today.
Set aside the condemnation of Self or others.
Aspire to live by the Spirit and grow up into spiritual maturity.
Pray for the ‘beauty of His holiness’ to be seen more clearly each day in your life.

The word from the Word says “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do.

He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.” (Romans 8)

Let’s live by the Spirit, no guilt, no shame – beloved Children of the Heavenly Father – who press on to greater glory day by day.  Amen

Morning Prayer 74

Abba, I awakened with thanksgiving for Your amazing goodness – for life, health, peace, and joy. The lyrics of an old song ran through my mind. “Who am I that a King would bleed and die for? … The answer I may never know, why He ever loved me so.”  Lord, teach me to live hopefully in that love.

Lord, my heart felt real sorrow when memories of the successes and love of yesterday came to the forefront of my thoughts. Renew the hope of eternal life even as You lead into a new day and the opportunities for life and love that yet remain. May this word guide me. “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”  May I remain contented in this moment but never without vision for what remains.

As I walk into a new week lead me, Spirit of God. Grant focus and clarity.
Shape my life so that I bring blessing and peace into my corner of the world.

In Jesus’ Holy Name, I pray.
Amen

Let the Spirit Speak!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend time with a young man who is in jail on some serious charges. Sitting in that little visiting room, I opened my Bible and shared a passage from Philippians with him, urging him to spend some time thinking it over when he returned to his cell. Later in the day his sister texted me what he texted to her -  “what he read hit me so hard… it meant a lot. … next time I want to take notes and bring back to everyone here what he has to say.”  In fact, it was not what I said that spoke to him, it was the Spirit using the Truth of the Word.

Do you love Truth? Do you receive the Scripture eagerly, allowing God’s Spirit to shape your thoughts? In Psalm 119 we read “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.”

What you feed your mind becomes what you believe. On those convictions you lay the foundation upon which your life is built. For the Believer, there is a primary source of truth. It is the Holy Scripture that teaches
Who God is,
What He has done, and
How we can please Him.

You do not have to be a Biblical scholar to read the Word. You do not need a degree in ancient literature to understand. What you need is a faith-filled heart that invites the Spirit to speak. Yes, of course, it is important to have teachers who help you to unwrap the text’s meaning. We need the counsel of wise and skilled Pastors and teachers to keep us from going off the rails with false conclusions. BUT we will gain great wisdom IF we open the Bible and read it for all it’s worth.

It is powerful! Paul urges us to "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." (2 Timothy 2:15-16, NIV) Correctly handle the Word of Truth! Do you study, know, understand, and apply the truth of the Scripture to your life, Believer? God gave us the Scripture to bring us to life, godliness, and wholeness. The Psalmist says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105, NIV)

It is of great concern to me that so many Christians in 2026 have a such superficial knowledge of the Bible, knowing only a few verses they cherry-pick from favorite passages but lacking a deep understanding of the magnificent wisdom for life that is revealed in those pages. Yes, we must avoid using the holy text like a ‘magic book’ or as ‘verse of the day’ source!

We are rich in resources for study. (A caution – not every commentary, book, or You-tube teacher is of equal value but that is for another CoffeeBreak.) If you want to start to learn Scripture I offer this advice.

 

 

1.       Get a modern language translation so that you do not have to struggle through English that is 500 years old. I recommend the New International Version (NIV) or the English Standard Verson (ESV) as trustworthy.
There are some great apps for your phone such as YouVersion that give you the texts.
Online for your PC I suggest – Biblegateway.com

2.       Find a Bible study group that is solid. Avoid the ones that are tangled up in single cultural issues, or obsessed with prophecy, or who read the text looking for support for their own pet ideas.

3.       Regularly read it with prayerful expectation of God’s Spirit to speak to you. Fifteen minutes each day that are focused on reading and meditating on the Word can be life changing.

4.       Respect it. There will be passages that leave you wondering. Some will provoke real doubts. Others will become shining light for your life. Regardless, treat the Word as it is – the revelation of God to us.

This word from the Word is an inspiration. May the Spirit write it on our hearts.
“I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you.
I praise you, O Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
I have recited aloud
    all the regulations you have given us.
I have rejoiced in your laws
    as much as in riches.
I will study your commandments
    and reflect on your ways.
I will delight in your decrees
    and not forget your word.”  (Psalm 119, NIV)

Let’s read the Word again and become ‘people of The Book.

Morning Prayer 72

Abba, I praise You for the joys of yesterday, for the Presence of the Spirit that I sensed as I made my way through the moments and opportunities that came my way. In this new day, I ask to be kept by Your grace, living an adventure of faith.

Forgive me, Lord, for slipping into lazy ways, self-indulgent moments that avoid what is hard or challenging. Lead me to those who are in need. Give me an awareness of ways in which I can serve You and others and may I do so generously and joyfully.

Help me to be voice of mercy and reason in a culture of fear and hatred. This nation in which I live is torn by strife and too many are influenced by leaders who make scapegoats of those who are ‘different.’ Give me courage to love well, to be an advocate for those without a voice or power, and to point the way to a balance of justice and mercy.

I remember Your love for me and confess this Word – living Truth! “I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

Jesus, let me live well today, guided by the Light of Eternity that is my final home.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
(1 Timothy 1)

Just exhausted?

Are you tired? 

Millions of Americans are coping with exhaustion. There are many underlying issues – the inability to ‘unplug’ from work and responsibilities for meaningful breaks, the phones we carry with us that keep us ‘on the alert’ for too many hours, a culture that floods us with information creating a sense of crisis even about those things we cannot control … well, you could probably add your own idea.

I am blessed by the ability to fall asleep in about 30 seconds. When I am on the road, I often find myself nodding in the mid-afternoon. I can fight it, but the best remedy is to find a rest stop, pull up under a shady tree, recline my seat, and drift into a 15-minute nap. Many find it hard to believe that I fall asleep in 10 seconds and wake up with no fatigue.

Unlike most mornings, today I realized that I'm tired! Last week was a high output time, quite enjoyable but a drain on my energy and I need time to recharge, something that does not happen quite as quickly these days as it once did! Being a ‘doer’ by nature, my inclination when I’m tired is to push harder.

However, God's wisdom teaches me that He creates ‘rest stops’ and invites us to find renewal – even while He leads us to be steady, faithful, and to pace ourselves while we wait on His will to be revealed.

Isaiah was inspired to give us these words, mostly likely familiar to you, but rich in promise and hope. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)

Fatigue can be dangerous! As I mentioned, I get tired when I’m on the road. IF I push myself too long in that state of drowsiness, when I’m nodding off, I am risking real injury to myself or others because of my lack of alertness. It’s just plain dumb to try to deny the reality.

Friend, when we are tired, we can say cruel things, reach wrong conclusions, making a wreck of life.
When we are exhausted, we are much more likely to experience the tug of temptation as we see what looks like certain relief in things we know are not in the will of God for us. 
When we're really exhausted, we might even become open to the lie that God does not care, that He is not listening.

Pull over! Take a break!

Our American culture presses us to work harder, to keep the lights on well into the night. It’s almost a badge of honor to be exhausted. God invites us to a different way. He says that "those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength." (Isaiah 40:31, NIV)

That phrase is translated in various ways in different Bible versions. In place of 'hope,' some translations say 'wait.' Others say 'trust.' The Hebrew of the original text being expectation, anticipation; hence to “wait hopefully!” Since that is God's counsel, we would be wise to let it speak to us, wouldn't we?

Are you exhausted – mentally, physically, or spiritually? There’s no shame in admitting it.

Find a rest stop and 'wait' for Him.’ 
Learn how to step away for an afternoon to refocus, taking a break where you find a quiet place with God’s Spirit.

Let me add this caution. While entertainment and distractions can be great for us and wonderful fun, there is a difference to be found in real rest, in turning it all over to the Lord, and taking a real rest. It is not something many of us do naturally, but anyone can learn to have a ‘quiet heart.’  How?

1.       Schedule regular time for contemplative prayer, time when you are silent before the Lord.

2.       Turn off the technology for an hour every day; no phone, no noise, no TV – just alone.

3.       Make worship a faithful habit, relearning the “Sabbath” principle taught by the Scripture.

4.       Turn your attention to others. Surprised? So much of what we do is centered on our own agenda, our hidden need to feel ‘successful.’  Regularly serving in a way that has no benefit to us but gives time and attention to others is amazingly renewing.

The birthright of the Christian is ‘abundant life’ not exhaustion! Refuse the lie that you must ‘do more’ or ‘work harder’ or go ‘somewhere to retreat’ before you can rest. Make time to ‘wait on the Lord’ and I can assure you from experience - there will be 'fresh strength!'  Isaiah beautiful picture is that of an eagle that soars on the air currents under his wings.

“Spirit of God, may your gentle Wind blow over me, helping me to rise up, to soar when others sink.”

Happy Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day. A few voices raise their objections to the celebration of fathers, claiming that it only perpetuates harmful traditions that turn men into tyrants and forces them to be emotionally repressed in a role as breadwinner and protector. To that I say, “really?” with some scorn.
Dads need to celebrated. Sure, there are men who do not do a good job of nurturing their families. There are a few who abuse their place and misuse their influence. But millions are doing their best to fill a unique place in their family. I was blessed with a good father and Father's Day is happy occasion for me—a day filled with pleasant memories and grateful tributes to the man who was not perfect but was and remains a powerful shaper of my life and values.

God included this command among the Ten Commandments: "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12, NLT)

Being a Dad is not a job for cowards, is it? It's hard to know when to be firm and when to be tender, when to put your arms around your child and when to apply discipline. It's difficult to know when to give directions and when to step back and let them learn on their own.

We begin the journey of fatherhood staring at the evidence of pregnancy in our wife and we wonder what in the world we've gotten ourselves into and what new challenges we face. Then in a moment when that tiny bit of humanity is placed in our arms, we are overwhelmed with love. How clearly do I remember that moment on February 10, 1977, when my first son was handed to me in a hospital room and I wept- tears that spoke of the love I felt and the terror of a whole new role in adulthood! A life depended on ME!

When that first day of school rolls around and they climb onto the school bus we suddenly realize that someday this child we love will leave us behind. By seventh grade, stormy moments make us think that tomorrow will not be too soon!

The teenage years are amazing for fathers who stay engaged. Herding cats comes to mind. Despite our best efforts, our kids often do what they want, sometimes rebelling simply because they can. Many dads spend those years wondering where they went wrong.

Then come the big decisions—college, career, marriage, and buying that first car. We feel pride, mixed with fear, because we know disappointment is inevitable. We don't want our grown children—the ones we still think of as "our kids"—to feel the same hurt we all know, yet we also realize that they will and they must if they are to grow in fully productive adults.

Here's one thing I've learned about fatherhood, for whatever it's worth:

Your child—whether four, fourteen, or twenty-four—doesn't need a man who knows it all or who is flawless. They don't need someone issuing decrees from some lofty throne of authority. That child – be she 4, 14, 24, or 44 - needs a coach—someone watching carefully over her, who prays for her, and helps to develop character, faith, and wisdom.

Dads who have an inflated sense of their own importance, who demand subservience, are fools! They bark out orders and demand things from their children that they themselves refuse to do.

They say foolish things like, "Who taught you to talk like that?" while cursing like a sailor in the garage when things go wrong.

They tell their son, "Go to church with your mother. It's important," and take off for another weekend at hunting camp.

They emotionally disengage from their children because "their Mom takes care of that stuff," and then wonder "Why doesn't he talk with me?"

Life Coach dads take up the hard work of showing the way.  They say, without pride, "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Life Coach dads understand that values are more often caught than taught. They don't compartmentalize their faith. They allow their children to see not only their successes, but also their failures. They admit when they don't have all the answers. They demonstrate that they need mentors and that they need God. They show their children that doing what honors God is sometimes costly—but always right.

Life Coach dads model grace by practicing it. They are confessing their sins to God and admit their mistakes to their children. They love even when it is undeserved because they know their own need of God’s forgiveness and grace.

Life Coach dads teach generosity of spirit by giving themselves, their time, and their resources to others and to the Lord. They do not hold grudges, refuse to seek first place, and quickly forgive as they know they are forgiven.

Just about anyone can become a biological father. It takes courage, endurance, wisdom, and the daily help of the Holy Spirit to become a real Dad.

I am now in the stage of life where I stand aside, an occasional advisor to my own children whose successes have exceeded my own!  I did not do it all exactly right in years past, but by the grace of God they arrived at adulthood intact and now are productive members of their own communities. All in all, I breathe a prayer of gratitude – “Thank You, Lord, for being faithful to me, to them.”

A word from the Word says – “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”  (Ephesians 6) And from Hebrews –  “Our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (12)

Happy Father's Day.

Stay hopeful!

A long conversation with a friend yesterday circled around a much misused and misunderstood core doctrine of Christianity – the Second Coming of Christ. When I was a child hearing of Jesus’ return was not so much a source of hope, but a reason for fear. What I heard was “you better be ready or you will get left behind.”  In that era, many Bible-believing Christians chose to retreat from ‘the world’ into their own isolated communities as they prepared for a Great Tribulation.

The book, The Late Great Planet Earth (Hal Lindsey), as well as the apocalyptic writing of a man named Salem Kirban fueled feverish visions of the judgment to come when Christians were caught up in the Rapture to be with Christ.

The tragedy for me at least was that when the hype faded and the fever cooled what should have been a doctrine of great hope was ignored and marginalized. The speculation of teachers mixed with the truth of Scripture diluted a key truth into a mere curiosity.

In the letter of 1 Thessalonians Paul urges us to take hope from the promise inspired make a difference here on earth for God's sake even as we are steadied by the sure promise of our King’s return! The Blessed Hope of Christ’s ‘Kingdom Come’ will infuse us with courage and gives us reason to serve and love in Christ's name through dark times and great difficulties. Why?

Because we know that even death itself cannot steal our reward. Our destiny is not a grave. Even if our voice falls silent here on this earth in death, we will shout with the saints when we are gathered 'round the Throne of God! Each chapter of 1 Thessalonians closes with a reference to the promise of Christ's return.

The apostle tells us to stay hopeful because our Lord has not left us to fate. He is working out His will in us, building His kingdom through us, and will come for us in the moment chosen in the will of God, the Father. Paul does not see the return of Christ as a reason for fear or dread at all! He takes great hope from that promise. "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, NLT)

Who among us has not felt a sense of despair at one time or another, when our lives seem to be without purpose, a random mix of good and bad days, victories and defeats?  We experience sorrow when we or a family member is laid low by disease, or when divorce destroys a marriage, or when economic security disappears because of circumstances beyond our control.

Sometimes the darkness is inside of us - a recurring depression, a sinful habit that threatens to overwhelm us, or fear of some undefined nature.

Paul reminds us multiple times in that letter of both the certainty of God’s justice and our own salvation.
1.  We “wait for His Son from Heaven… who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1.10)
2. “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes?” (2.19)
3. “May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (3.13)
4. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep (died) in Him.” (4.14)
5. “You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” (5.2)

Paul encouraged those first century Believers as well as you and me by assuring us that our Lord has not left us to fate. He is working out His will in us, building His kingdom through us, and will come for us in the moment chosen in the will of God, the Father. Paul does not see the return of Christ as a reason for fear or dread at all! He takes great hope from that promise.

Christian friend don’t let foolish speculation, complex prophecy charts, or even the long delay of the Promise to rob you of your hope - a hope based not on wealth, health, or sunny days- but rather on the coming Kingdom of God.

Pray for wisdom in dealing with the challenges, for restored perspective on current events, for the power of the Spirit to overcome the Enemy, and for faith to remain faithful!

The word from the Word is a call to faith. Hear it. Live it. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3)

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Video of this blog https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55

 

Are You Afraid of Questions?

Would you be shocked if I told you that there are days when I question the goodness of God? Most of the time I live contently and with faith. From my childhood my day-to-day existence has been formed around the basic assumptions that there is a God Whom I can trust, Who is active in the world and to Whom my prayers are addressed with real expectation that He loves and cares for me.

Moments come when, for reasons I do not fully understand, that faith comes under assault, when I wonder if God is cruel or loving, if He is involved or aloof, if He is ready to save or destroy. In those moments, I call to mind the fact that perspective matters! Look at the ground, you see rocks. Lift your eyes, you see mountains! If I take only the short-term view, seeing God through the lens of the moment’s trouble or disappointment, I might conclude that He cannot be trusted. If I look at life over the long-term, if I consider the testimony of the saints of the ages, faith grows.

There is an ancient story in the Scripture from the life of Elisha. The elite soldiers of Israel’s enemy were chasing the prophet and his servant. Finally, they were surrounded in a little village named Dothan. When Elisha’s servant went out in the morning and realized they were trapped he panicked. Elisha ‘saw’ the situation differently. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6)

That story helps me to understand that I too am surrounded by the goodness of God, that despite situations that seem overwhelming or that invite me to fear, a change of perspective will bring new faith. I am not speaking of wishful thinking or escapism into an alternate reality created in my own mind. We should pray, as Paul does, for the Spirit’s work, that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1)

IF we judge God by the limited wisdom of the human mind we are exercising an awful arrogance. That does not mean that we will never question, nor does it mean that we will find every bump in life’s road smoothed away. In my 70 years, I have endured seasons of loss, of disappointment, of failure. There are things in my life for which I have no present explanation. I could accuse God of being uncaring or forgetful – except for the Truth that the eternal Word reveals to me.

So, even when I weep, I pray for eyes that see beyond the moment, that I will live in the ‘knowledge of God’s will’ so that my life will be worthy of the Lord, full of spiritual fruit of holy and good behavior. In the same letter of Ephesians Paul prays that Christians “may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3)  

When faith allows me to take hold of God’s love in a way that is beyond human reason, there is a visible result in life – I will overflow with God’s ‘fullness,’ living in a supernaturally charged way that is incomprehensible to those without the Holy Spirit living in them.

Are you accusing God of forgetting you, mistreating you, or of being unfair? Pray for a change of point of view, asking to see all the way to Heaven! God is not afraid of your questions so go ahead and ask them, but not with bitterness, nor in angry. Come to Him as a broken-hearted child takes the sorrow of life to a loving Dad. Rest in Him, realizing that some things are simply beyond our understanding in this moment but that He is a good, good Father.

Here’s the word from the Word. As you read it, give thanks that the Spirit calls you
from darkness to Light,
from mere religion to eternal glory, and
then with a perspective of eternity guiding your thoughts learn to live like a King’s kid today.

"This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God wanted everyone… to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing.

The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less."
(Colossians 1:26-30, The Message)

Amen!

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Video of this blog

https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55

I’m right, you’re wrong!

The smug smile on the well-known Christian leader’s face made me angry. Without a hint of humility, he proclaimed his superior understanding of the Bible, dismissing all who thought differently from himself as ‘ignorant’ and ‘incapable of true study.’ 

Arrogance is a deadly sin and can creep up on any one of us. The moment we stop trusting the grace of God shown in Christ and begin to compare ourselves to others, measuring our ‘holiness’ against theirs, evil gains a hold in us. If we start to think that our knowledge is without error, that we have gained a kind of perfection, or that we enjoy some special status with God a stinking thing called ‘spiritual pride’ begins to grow!

Hubris is a point of vulnerability in many Christian lives. What’s hubris?

It is “excessive pride or self-confidence, arrogance.”  We want to believe the wonderful things about ourselves that others say. A great compliment is encouraging. Many of us are tempted by the same sin that plagued the Pharisee who saw the sinner standing to one side of the Temple and ‘prayed’ – “I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.”

Spiritual growth and victories should be celebrated, but only with thanksgiving to God. Paul bluntly warned the proud Believers in Corinth that they were in danger – “if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! “(2 Corinthians 10) This is a word worthy of our attention.

None of us has completely mastered sin or managed every challenge in life well. We all have blind spots, broken places, and unfinished business in life. Arrogance will blind us to our brokenness. Nothing has cost me more regret than becoming too confident in my own wisdom and failing to listen – to the Spirit of God and the wisdom of counselors!

The story of Rehoboam, son of King Solomon, who came to the throne from a prince’s privileged life is a lesson to us. Everybody admired him, told him he was wonderful- and he believed it! After his coronation, the citizens of Israel asked for relief from taxation. Solomon’s expansion of the kingdom was costly.

Knowing the young king did not have the affection of the people that his father enjoyed, older counselors told him to listen to the people "but he rejected the counsel of the elders and asked the young men he’d grown up with who were now currying his favor." (1 Kings 12:8) Stupidly he told the people “If you think life under my father was hard, you haven’t seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with whips; I’ll beat you bloody with chains!”  (1 Kings 12:14) A short time later the nation divided, with the northern half rebelling and appointing their own king!

Success carries danger spiritual danger than a string of failures. When we win plenty of people will remind us of our amazing talents. Governments, corporations, and even churches falter when those leading them start to believe in their own ‘exceptionalism.’

Yes, we should study to understand. We should apply ourselves to know the Word and will of God, but the moment we trust our own wisdom, we lose touch with the revelation of the Spirit!

Yes, we can and should rejoice when we do well, when our lives enjoy the fruits of our efforts, however, we should acknowledge grace and God’s gifts. "Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. … yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." (1 Corinthians 15:10, NLT) 

There is a choice to be made, Peter says. The bold fisherman turned apostle had stumbled over his excessive self-confidence in his early life. From those experiences he advises us to “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5, NIV) 

Paul asks us to remember God’s grace, too. “Who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). A key principle should guide us. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3)

Are you walking pridefully, judging others lesser, believing in your own wisdom, filled with self-righteousness?

Go to Christ Jesus, who though Lord of Glory, choose the way of a Servant. Confess the sin of pride and be renewed in grace. True humility will make Him shine brighter through your life and will ultimately make you a much happier person.

Here’s a word from the Word. “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3-4, NIV)

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Video of this blog https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55

Your Love Broke Through!

Yesterday a friend showed me a vacation picture of a couple in Paris with iconic Eiffel Tower in the background. “Nice,” I said admiring the scene. She laughed and said – “It’s not real! It’s AI.”  

AI (artificial intelligence) is a mixed blessing that helps us write better, creates graphics for those of us without artistic skill, analyzes vast amounts of data for us in the blink of an eye, and so much more. AI can also dupe us, tricking us with fake images, false stories, and wrong conclusions.

Sorting out truth from falsehood is a problem as old as Eden. How easily you and I can be misled, wandering down the wrong road, chasing mirages. The Genesis story tells us about God’s directive to Adam. “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”  (Genesis 2) 

What happens next is tragic and world changing. The Serpent shows up with a whispered invitation based on a lie. “One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”  He twisted God’s directive, suggesting that they could not eat of any tree. Eve quickly corrects the Serpent - “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied.  “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

Then he lies, inviting her to question God’s goodness. “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman.  “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”  (Genesis 3)

That same lie has plagued humanity from that moment to now.
God points us to the good, the life-giving, the abundant life of love, joy, and peace discovered in obedience and faith, through Christ Jesus.
Evil whispers in our ears that He is keeping us from the best, hindering our happiness, that He is a tyrant Who does not care, or Who does not really understand us. IF we listen, we risk the same fate as the First Parents who found themselves ejected from the Garden and alienated from their Father/Creator.

An early Christian artist, Keith Green, penned lyrics that echo in my mind 50 years after first hearing them -
Like a foolish dreamer,
 trying to build a highway to the sky.
All my hopes would come tumbling down,
and I never knew just why.
Until today, when You pulled away the clouds
That hung like curtains on my eyes!
Well, I've been blind -
All these wasted years - and I thought I was so wise
But, then You took me by surprise.

Like waking up from the longest dream
How real it seemed,
Until Your love broke through.
I've been lost in a fantasy
That blinded me
Until Your love broke through!  (Copyright 1977 Keith Green)

Are you struggling to separate truth from error, delusion from reality? Are you at risk of losing sight of God’s best for you, substituting momentary happiness for real fulfillment?

You are not the first, nor will you be the last to be tempted! Evil finds the cracks in each one of us; unrealized hopes, rejection, pride, just wanting to be loved, a wish to be ‘known,’ some need unmet because our choices or those of another …  It’s a long list!

It is important that we refuse to hide in shame or guilt. When we find the shadows of excuses, we make ourselves even more vulnerable to the darkness. The basic Truth is this – God loves us and is reaching for us.

“Even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!”  So, we look up, honest in our confession of both failure and hope and reach for Him. The Word says that “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  (1 John 1)

There is no limit to His forgiveness, dear friend. By faith accept the invitation of Christ to ‘come home’ to the life He has prepared for you.

I love the story of the Lost Son and the Waiting Father that Jesus told to illustrate the great need and amazing love that meets us at that point of need. Luke 15 records the story of that son who took his inheritance, ran off to live wildly, and finally found himself broke, alone, and hopeless. He concocted a story about just wanting to live as a hired hand on Dad’s farm and started for home.

“And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So, the party began.”

Don’t be taken in by the lies of the Destroyer of lives.
Trust the Grace of God, shown to us in Christ Jesus.
Walk with God in worship, in regular times of meditation and prayer.
Associate with others who desire His love.
Quickly respond when the Spirit of God convicts you of error.

Here is a word from the Word, one rich in hope and promise. I pray for us that we will know the love of which it speaks, kept from temptation and led to life eternal.

“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. … When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”  (Ephesians 3)

Will you say “Amen?”

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Video of this blog

https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55