Courage, by God!

 

A couple of days ago I flopped on my sofa at the end of a day of ministry (yes, I’m retired but I still care for others with joy).  The needs of others pressed hard on me – my mother-in-law hospitalized with terrible pain, a friend told that hospice was his next step, another trying to work through complications that followed open heart surgery. Added to that were the ongoing concerns about the ordinary ‘stuff’ of life that goes on around me.

I have made enough trips around the sun to know that it was mostly fatigue that was making me see insurmountable mountains, that a good night’s rest and a season of reflection in God’s Presence would restore the joy. And, Thursday did dawn with new hope, with strength for the day.

My Dad liked to quote from Job - "Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward." (Job 5:7, NIV)  He said it with a smile, an acknowledgment that life could be hard but his words were not born of despair, nor was he resigned to grim survival. We can, by God, face life with courage!  We need it, my friend, because today, or tomorrow, or next month, or next year – troubles will come. We could be philosophical about the reasons for that but for today I will simply state the obvious:  Life can difficult, fear can overwhelm us unless we have learned  that there are resources on which to draw to meet it and defeat it. 

Samuel wrote of a teenage shepherd boy, David, who saw fear and hopelessness and changed the atmosphere with his faith. Jesse of Bethlehem woke up his youngest son and sent him to with supplies for his three older brothers in the army. When he arrived where the battle lines with the Philistines were drawn he saw a champion of the enemy forces, Goliath coming out hurl insults at the armies of Israel. David saw men who were cowed into silence, fearful, overwhelmed.  David observed the situation but with faith not fear. He looked past the huge warrior shouting his challenges and saw an insult to the Lord God of Israel.

Faith rose up in him.  "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?" (1 Samuel 17:26, NLT) His oldest brother, Eliab, told him to shut up, that he was just a know-nothing kid.  David would not be quiet. He knew the Lord and entered the contest with the giant full of faith. The big man mocked the shepherd boy until he felt smooth stone from the slingshot connect with his forehead.  I wonder if his last conscious was, ‘killed, by a shepherd kid, with a slingshot?’   Goliath never anticipated his demise because he could not see the true power of the kid with a slingshot. God did not see a scrawny teenager. He saw a mighty warrior of faith and gave David the victory.

So, as you look over your world this morning, what is your perspective? 
Do you see only hardship, insurmountable challenges, sorrow, or chaos? 
Is temptation, loss, disappointment, confusion, or fear making you cower or cry?

The Word teaches us to be courageous.  "But Christ, the faithful Son, was in charge of the entire household. And we are God’s household, if we keep up our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ." (Hebrews 3:6, NLT)  "Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13, NLT)   Let’s not confuse bravado with real courage. We do not shout at the storms trying to drown our own fears.  Real courage comes from our faith in God, a trust that is bedrock solid, a confession that is matched by choices of faith.

Jesus and His friends has a spectacular day. They fed thousands with one small lunch, witnessing an amazing miracle.  Their hearts were overflowing with joy as they got into their small boat to head across the Lake of Galilee for home. But, their experience quickly changed. "About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him, they screamed in terror, thinking he was a ghost. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “I am here! Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25-27, NLT)   If you are in the dark, full of fear, choose to pray and listen for the voice of the Spirit saying to you: “I am here! Don’t be afraid.”

His Presence changes our perspective!  Pray often, "Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions." (Psalm 119:18, NLT)  Don’t strain to ‘make sense’ of your situation. Don’t settle for “Christian” cliches. Wait on the Lord, even if you cry. Confess your doubts, your fear, and invite the Spirit to renew your courage. Fill your mind with a Psalm, a passage of promise.  No matter what life ‘looks like’ at the moment, the truth is that He is there, He will never leave you, walking with us even in the ‘valley of death’s shadow!’ 

The hardest choice will be to wait, to grow quiet, to let the Spirit find and fill us. But, when He comes to us, and He will: we are prepared to meet the Goliath challenges with sight sharpened by faith!

Here’s a word from the Word.  Read it slowly, prayerfully. Let the amazing promise soak into your soul and mind today; then take on that giant!
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill you. They can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows." (Matthew 10:28-31, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Abide With Me (Eventide)

Abide with me fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless O abide with me

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day
Earth's joys grow dim its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not abide with me

I need Thy presence ev'ry passing hour
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r
Who like Thyself my Guide and Strength can be
Through cloud and sunshine Lord abide with me

I fear no foe with Thee at hand to bless
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness
Where is death's sting where grave thy victory
I triumph still if Thou abide with me

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heav'n's morning breaks
And earth's vain shadows flee
In life in death O Lord abide with me

William Henry Monk

© Words: Public Domain

A State of Grace

 

Sadness filled the person, the question a heart-felt one – “Did I offend God?”  This person is a life-long Believer and yet a moment came when the temptation to turn the focus from Jesus overwhelmed her during a time of suffering.  Christians nod in agreement with teaching about the grace of Jesus Christ. Few are prepared to take up the practices of the Law of Moses and yet a different kind of “law” creeps into the Gospel presentation so often.  

 So many times after preaching on the goodness and grace of God I am asked - "But what about all those people who claim to be Christians who still do...." and then I hear the familiar recitation of 'prohibited' behaviors. I understand the question because my Christian background was one that mixed moralistic law and the grace of Christ, too. There was always a list of 'do's and don'ts' that qualified the claim to be a Christian.

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a proclamation of the state of grace in which we live because of Christ Jesus. What a letter it is!  There we read this - "I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." (Galatians 2:21, NLT)  There is no wavering or waffling in this fact we receive through faith. "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:4-9, NIV)

I live with deep confidence of God’s love and acceptance of me – not because I have achieved a level of spiritual maturity nor because I can point to a long list of ‘spiritual’ accomplishments. I stand confidently in a state of grace.  It is rather like the law of gravity.  Gravity is!  You can deny it but you rely on it all the time.  We walk upright, drive cars, put furniture in place – knowing that our feet will stick to the ground, our car’s wheels will stay on the road, our sofa will stay where we put it – because of gravity.

Humans are incurably religious which means that many who are found by God’s grace, who are called to love Jesus Christ, receiving the gift of His love subsequently turn to the Galatian error explained by Paul in these words.  "Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" (Galatians 3:2-3, NLT)

God leads us to leave behind our sin and to be markedly different from those who are not alive in the Spirit. That holiness does not come from learning the rules and then putting ourselves under terrible pressure to conform with the 'Christian' lifestyle defined by others for us.  Near the end of Galatians we read - "The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) Fruit! Think of the implications of that. It is no accident that the Spirit uses this metaphor for our Christianity.

The apple tree that grows behind my home produces apples. Not once I have observed that tree working at the production of fruit.  No other tree needs to scold it for failing to be 'apple-ish' enough.  It exists and as long as it is alive it will produce fruit.   

When Christ draws you to Himself, and you respond with faith to receive the gift of the Spirit, you are made alive!  The fruit that is evidence of that life will most certainly come into your life.  Note Who is the primary actor in the process - "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7, NIV)

Grace is amazing, start to finish. As you live confident in Him – in a state of grace – no matter where you are, what is happening to you or around you, healthy or sick, rich or poor; you will be at peace, filled with the ‘abundant life’ of which Jesus spoke.  He will never lead us into any place only to abandon us there. We may run ahead of Him and find ourselves without comfort, but if we are listening and following, we have this absolute assurance - "Be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.” That is why we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6, NLT)  Yes, re-read that and let it shape your thoughts today.

Take some time to read through Galatians, the book of Grace,  again. Agree with the Word and receive, by faith, full and wonderful life that pleases God.

The word from the Word  for today - "So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus.… And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you." (Galatians 3:26-28, 4:6-7, NLT)

(Video of this blog at this link)

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Run To The Father

I've carried a burden for too long on my own
I wasn't created to bear it alone
I hear Your invitation to let it all go
I see it now I'm laying it down
And I know that I need You

I run to the Father
I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding
No reason to wait
My heart needs (found) a surgeon
My soul needs (found) a friend
So I'll run to the Father
Again and again
And again and again

You saw my condition
Had a plan from the start
Your Son for redemption
The price for my heart
I don't have a context
For that kind of love
I don't understand
I can't comprehend
All I know is I need You

My heart has been in Your sights
Long before my first breath
Running into Your arms
Is running to life from death
I feel this rush deep in my chest
Your mercy is calling out
Just as I am You pull me in
And I know I need You now

 

Cody Carnes | Matt Maher | Ran Jackson

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Light It Up

I drifted off to sleep last night with a song from my Sunday School days echoing in my memory - “This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."  When I was 5 years of age, I was not really sure what it meant to 'let it shine'  but Mrs. Hoferman was enthusiastically leading us so I sang joyfully, too.  As I thought about that song last night I asked my 67 year old self – “Jerry, are you letting the Light shine?”  It’s not about being a person of dazzling personality, intellectual brilliance, or great accomplishment.  The Light shines best in me when Jerry is hidden in the radiance of Christ!

What a great truth we find in these inspired words - "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NIV)  That is an amazing, challenging statement of mission and purpose for each of us at the beginning of this new week.  I pray, “Shine, Jesus, shine through me!”   

We shine most brightly when we are at peace with God, resting in His amazing grace, full of His love. In that secure place we have no need to judge, condemn, or criticize. Instead, our lives become a living invitation to know the One who gives meaning, purpose, and hope to people. I find it so tragic that the witness of so many Christians is made up of harsh judgements of the culture in which we live. 

I am not blind to the sins of our land. Americans worship Self, the modern idol. Materialism is the grand pursuit of millions. Sex fills our pop culture. And darkness has overtaken millions, leaving them unknowing victims of the Evil One who steals life.  We must not add to the darkness with words that give no hope. Rather, my Christian friend, we must walk so closely to the radiance of Christ Jesus that we become points of light wherever we go.

When we complicate Christianity, loading it up with guilt and shame, creating long lists of ‘ought to’s and gotta be’s’ for ourselves and others, the real radiance of His Light is blocked.   Jesus says that there is a radiance that shines into these dark corners from Christians committed to being good- loving, kind, humble, serving, generous, encouraging, authentic.   

The Message paraphrases His words found in Matthew’s Gospel.  

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?
I’m putting you on a light stand.
 

Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—
shine!
Keep open house; be generous with your lives.
By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God,
this generous Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:14-16, The Message)  

 Re-read that commission and calling.  It may seem that our light, by itself, is pitifully small but when combined with millions of other Light-bearers we can light up the world.

Let’s circle back to a thought I touched on when I began.  We reflect the True Light. Like the moon that has no radiance of its own, we are to reflect the true Light, Jesus.  Does He shine through you? Is there a wholeness about you that lets the Radiance of Christ reflect brightly onto your family, friends, and neighbors? 

Science has discovered that it is the sun that makes life possible. The energy of the light of the sun shines on our earth, is transformed by natural processes, and ultimately gives energy to the world. What an illustration of spiritual life. There is no life apart from Christ, Who is our life, our hope, our joy. 

Here is a word from the Word. May the truth help you see the glorious mission and destiny God has for you – to be a light in dark places.  "For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober. Night is the time for sleep and the time when people get drunk. But let us who live in the light think clearly, protected by the body armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. He died for us so that we can live with him forever, whether we are dead or alive at the time of his return. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:5-11, NLT)   

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine …
let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

 (Video of this blog at this link)

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 This Little Light Of Mine

(A fun song for this Monday morning)

This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine let it shine let it shine

 

Hide it under a bushel no
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel no
I'm gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel no
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine let it shine let it shine

 

Don't let Satan blow it out
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out
I'm gonna let it shine
Don't let Satan blow it out
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine let it shine let it shine

 

Let it shine till Jesus comes
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine tell Jesus comes
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine tell Jesus comes
I'm gonna let it shine
Let it shine let it shine let it shine

 

Harry Dixon Loes

© Words: Public Domain