Jesus - enough for your situation?

Who among us has not thought at some point – “I just can’t do this.” Chronic illness can sap our physical strength as well as the will to live. A marriage that is without passion can feel like a life sentence. Maybe it’s your job that wears you down.  Or, it is could be a struggle inside of yourself with doubts or fear.  

 Just as a day full of sunshine can quickly turn to one darkened by a tempestuous thunderstorm, life can turn dark filled with hardship, difficulties, challenges, and tests!  What can we do when we go past tired to a fatigue that feels unending?

Paul’s letter we call Philippians is full of encouragement from a man who knew what tough times were! But, he never quit.  Though the up’s and down’s, he went on serving, loving, and hoping. How did he do it? There is a little phrase that lets us see the Source of his courage: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)  Simply said, Paul declares – “Jesus is enough!”  You could say, “sufficient!”

I add my ‘amen’ to Paul’s declaration.  At the end of my strength, at the end of my determination, at the end of my abilities – Christ Jesus has kept me on my feet and ready to meet whatever comes my way.  I have known real fulfillment in my life and I have known deep disappointment. I have known great joy and deep sorrow. I have experienced failure and success.  And at the end of  it all –my life centers in Christ Jesus Who gives me hope, joy, and strength for each new day.

The open secret of the Christian life is found in making Him our hope and reason for being above all else.  If we would experience that sufficiency of Christ Jesus, He cannot just live in us for an hour on Sunday morning, our be a lucky charm for hard times, or a magical mantra for the hard days.  When we choose to live our life centered in Him, shaped by an eternal purpose, we will join His friends to say, as they said after He calmed the winds - "The disciples just sat there in awe. “Who is this?” they asked themselves. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”" (Matthew 8:27, NLT)

Prior to declaring the open secret of his joy, Paul wrote -
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:6-13, NIV)

How I love the interplay of Jesus’ power and our faith.  He is enough for all of life – the good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the bright, the dark – but we have to choose to walk in faith and to fill our minds with His truth.

Friend, look at the circumstances that you are facing and tell yourself, “Yes, I can!”   It is true - not because you are smart, rich, courageous, or lucky.  You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength because you are a child of God.   I love to talk with people who have lived through storms, who have a ‘testimony!’  They have credibility because they are not just talking about something they read, they are speaking from experience. 

Our word from the Word is the testimony of the same man who wrote of being content and knowing Christ’s sufficiency.  As he neared the end of his life, Paul looked back over it all without regrets, without complaint, full of hope.  "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:7-8, NLT)  “I did it! Now, all that’s left is the awards ceremony!”

Christian, choose His strength today.
Invite Him to lead you through today.
You can do everything through him who gives you strength.

Yes, you can!

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Way Maker

 You are here moving in our midst
I worship You I worship You
You are here working in this place
I worship You I worship You

(You are) Way Maker Miracle Worker Promise Keeper
Light in the darkness my God that is who You are

You are here touching ev'ry heart
I worship You I worship You
You are here healing ev'ry heart
I worship You I worship You

You are here turning lives around
I worship You I worship You
You are here mending ev'ry heart
I worship You yeah I worship You Lord

That is who You are
That is who You are
That is who You are
That is who You are

Even when I don't see it You're working
Even when I don't feel it You're working
You never stop You never stop working
You never stop You never stop working

Osinachi Kalu Okoro Egbu

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CCLI License # 810055

 

I hate you!

 

Warships are poised in the Black Sea. 150,000 Russian soldiers ring the borders of Ukraine.  Fighter jets and bombers are loaded with death. Presidents gather at tables to strategize.  Will there be war? The world is trembling wondering if the horror of another European war could engulf the world in conflict. My daily prayer is that God will move the hearts of men bent on conquest, that the mighty angels of Heaven would do battle with the demons of death.

I don’t have to look to awful and bloody wars to see the violence that can come from the human heart. Last night I spoke at the funeral of a man shot down on the street, as his family said, “just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”  His murder seems so senseless. But, violence usually is.

The early chapters of the Scripture tell a story of human violence and reveals that callous excuse that kings, presidents, and gunmen have used for centuries to excuse killing. “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor.

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied.  “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:1-9, NIV)

Christian, we are our brother’s keeper!  Part of our function as ‘salt and light’ in this world is to serve as seekers of peace, to strive always to build bridges and resolve conflict. Our responsibility is to go past avoiding be one of the ‘haters’ to engage in the work of reconciliation. Disciples of Christ Jesus, who know peace with God, are to become people of peace who work actively for peace on behalf of others.  Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9, NIV) 

The mission of peace-making may strike you as impractical, even silly.  “Come on, Jerry, get real. The world is an angry place. What can I do about it?”    We can begin by being committed to peace right where we are. We must deal ruthlessly with the hate in our own heart.  When we find ourselves angrily demeaning another, even in the quiet of our own thoughts, we need to drag that sin before our Lord in confession. Jesus reminds us of an inconvenient truth - “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell." (Matthew 5:21-22, NLT)  The Lord desires a changed heart, that we deal with our angry impulses before they reach our fists or our mouth!

We must challenge hatred when we see it, not with angry displays of power, but with overwhelming goodness.  The wisdom of God guides us. "Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."  (Romans 12:17-13:1, NLT)  The Spirit calls us to work actively on behalf of those we might naturally regard as our enemies.

Apathy is just another way to say “I hate you.” What a challenge.  Oh God, change my heart.

Today, will you join me in that prayer that His ‘kingdom will come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven?’   Pray, too, that God, the Almighty,  will defeat the work of demons who delight in destruction – starting in our own hearts.

The word from the Word -

"Turn your back on sin; do something good. Embrace peace—don’t let it get away! " (Psalm 34:14, The Message)

"Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth." (1 Peter 3:11, The Message)

 

God and Father, break our stubborn wills. Turn our hearts to You.
Break our hearts with those things that break Your heart.
Secure us in Your goodness and teach us to live in the ‘peace that passes human understanding.’
We pray earnestly that Your Kingdom will come and Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Prayer Of St. Francis (Lord Make Me An Instrument Of Your Peace)

Lord make me an instrument of Your peace
Lord make me an instrument of Your peace
Of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love
Where there is injury pardon
Where there is doubting let me bring Your faith

Lord make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there's despairing let me sow hope
Where there is darkness Your light
Where there is sadness let me bring Your joy

Lord grant that I not seek so much to be consoled
As to console
Nor to be understood as much as to understand
Lord grant that I not seek so much to be loved
As to love others

For it is by giving that we receive
It is by pardoning that we are now pardoned
It is by dying that we are now born again

Lord make me an instrument of Your peace
An instrument of Your peace

 

St. Francis of Assisi

© Words: Public Domain

Here comes the judge

 

Did you enjoy the Superbowl? I did, except the halftime show. No surprise there, right?  It is quite alright to acknowledge that what I was seeing was an artform that I do not understand or appreciate, but, when I assign a value to that which is not my preference, I make myself a judge.  We who are disciples of Jesus are taught to lay down the gavel.

Our Lord’s words are well-known:  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2, NIV)  These are among the most abused and misunderstood words in the Bible. They are often used to excuse others from accountability or as a reason to justify choices that are plainly wrong. Jesus never asked us to suspend our good sense, to set aside a discerning heart that sees the truth, or to refuse to seek positive change. What He asks of us, as His disciples, is to be kind and patient, not quick to condemn, ready to step into the messes of humanity to work to make them better.  

 The Message, a paraphrase of the Bible, helps us to grasp His meaning. “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." (Matthew 7:1-5, The Message)

In that passage Jesus talks about a person trying to get a speck of sawdust out of another’s eye while have a post in his own eye! When we see what appears to be failure, Jesus is not teaching us to turn a blind eye or excuse it. Genuine love seeks the best and speaks the truth. Is it a loving choice to watch a person going full speed towards their own destruction and say nothing? The answer is obvious. But we can only help others when we are able to see our own need, our own failures without excuse. Then, we can act in compassion.

Our model is none other than God as He works with you and me. He is a God of amazing love; merciful, and redemptive! We know this and are comforted by it. When we fail, when we are willful;  He does not sweep down upon us to slap us down in rage. Instead, the Spirit comes with persistent conviction, urging us to turn around. He shows us the Way and offers forgiveness. And, He leads us through the process of spiritual growth that changes us from the inside out. In this age of cancel culture and harsh judgments, we who are loved by the Savior must lead the way in redemptive behavior, seeking to restore, not erase. In our personal relationships we must take care to contextualize the words and actions of others, acting with compassion.

And, we must remember that our preference is not the same as God’s principle!  In his letter to the Romans, Paul reminds those Christians to keep Jesus first, over their personal convictions about dietary habits, days of worship, and other religious issues.  "Who are you to condemn God’s servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord’s power will help them do as they should. … For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord. … For the Scriptures say, “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.’" (Romans 14:4, 7-8, 11, NLT)

Got a brother in the Lord who’s failing?
Love him to life, starting with prayer for understanding. Meet him where he is.

Wrestling with how to help that person who keeps making the same self-destructive choice?
Frame your response with loving kindness that seeks transformation without condemnation.

Here is a word from the Word for this new week. Pray for the perspective of an eternal being, Christ above all. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Before The Throne Of God Above

Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav'n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart

 

Hallelujah
My life is found in Jesus Christ
Hallelujah
For I am His and He is mine

 

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Saviour died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

 

Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Saviour and my God
With Christ my Saviour and my God

 

I bow before the cross of Christ
And marvel at this love divine
God's perfect Son was sacrificed
To make me righteous in God's eyes
This river's depths I cannot know
But I can glory in its flood
The Lord Most High has bowed down low
And poured on me His glorious love
And poured on me His glorious love

 

Charitie Lees Bancroft | Vikki Cook

© 1997 Sovereign Grace Worship (Admin. by Integrity Music)

CCLI License # 810055