Jesus Will Give You Oil

I trust a person who left the planet over 2,000 years ago and hasn't returned. Younger me would have thought that was crazy. That young guy didn't trust many people to begin with but to trust someone who had disappeared was just out of the question.

Trusting Jesus isn't just part of my life now it is a BIG part of my life. It is what often restores me. I don't trust Him to do what only someone who is here to do. Those things must be done by us but I trust Him to supply me and others what they need like someone who can send me peace, power and provision wherever I am because He knows me and is there at the source of all blessing.

I trust that He will give me oil for my lamp if I ask and that I can send others to Him to get the oil they need.

'Go get oil from the One who left 2,000 years ago.' ...I know it sounds far fetched but Jesus sent His Spirit (The Holy Spirit) to indwell us and bridge the divide. John 16:24 ESV — Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

"But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut." - Matthew 25:6-10 ESV

I can't give you my oil and you can't give me your oil but we can get oil today and plan to have it as needed. Where do you get it? Your Bible... by talking to God and asking Him.

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18 ESV

Instead of looking for a way out with pleasure we give God a way in with worship and true biblical confessions... be in the word so you can speak the word to yourself and others.

--

The Non-Violent Christus Victor

Jesus' 'victory' is unique in that it is a non-violent victory. He wins but He never uses the methods of those who are against Him. Jesus 'won' by giving His life not by conquering Rome or by wrestling each Pharisee to the ground one by one.

Our victory is a non-violent one also.

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." - 1 John 2:10-14 KJV

Love wins.

Television shows us violent people who can only be overcome by violence but Jesus shows us a different victory. It is one that transforms. It isn't a purely moral change. An eye for an eye is moral. Turning the other cheek sows a seed that can win a soul and that is forever.

--

Divine Possibilities

Today I was thinking about being a person who 'knows what is possible'. Some folks have unrealistic expectations based on fiction or an idea in their mind that just doesn't match up with reality but then there are others that aim too low because they just don't see a path that leads to the result they want. There is a third category... the person with 'know how'. They have experience of some kind that helps them spot the possibilities.

I went out and got a sandwich at lunch and started talking to an older man who ordered before me. It turns out we were both from NYC and he is a Jewish person who accepted Christ at 30 years old. He is now 75 and just had a hip replacement. We began to talk about the Bible.

Another man broke into our conversation who was kind of mocking what we said. He had been a Catholic most of his life but was now an atheist. A truth seeker but discounting everything but what his senses could tell him.

There were three of us talking but only two of us saw what was spiritually possible for that third man. At one point the older believer said to me, 'Don't bother with him. He has a mocking spirit. It isn't His time.' he then said to the man, 'You are angry at God because of something someone in your family did. You need to get over that.' The atheist man reacted. It was an interesting exchange.

At one point I said, 'You are interested in the truth but I know for a fact that the truth is interested in you.'

I had to leave but I fist bumped the atheist man after getting his name and he gave me a warm grin. Then I did the same with that older believer. Walking away knowing something great was possible for both of those men. One I knew I'd see again. The other one I hoped I'd see again.

A person who is actively believing God 'brings' Him into things. He is there already of course but the believer has had experience with the miraculous and they see it as possible anytime and anywhere. In every illness there is the possibility of health. Every loose end can end up with a redemptive conclusion. Every rift can be mended and replaced by a stronger bond.

"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." - Matthew 19:26 KJV

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." - Mark 9:23 KJV

The year isn't over yet... there are still amazing things that can happen as we bring God with us into situations.

--

The Third Dimension Of Time

"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV

What is time? It seems like an easy question because we live in it but we need to know what time is to function properly in this verse.

Time is an ingredient in relationships

There are no goals if there is no time. At the end we are not planning because it makes no sense anymore.

Last night we were talking about time being 'a measurement of our movement through space' and in a way that is the third dimension of time. 60 minutes make one hour. 60 miles per hour is that same hour but we have gone from here to there. The planet is spinning and moving around the sun. The solar system is moving also at maddening speeds. Speed actually seems to affect the experience of time but that is a slippery slope better explained by physics and mathematics.

Now I'll quote more of the passage to give us some broader context...

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.' See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:11-18 NKJV

I must be awake to redeem time. I must understand the days are bringing me to a ending and there is something to do before that happens. Jesus. He Is needed. He isn't optional. Darkness has 'works' but if we walk in the light the 'work' is finished. Jesus has finished the work that pertains to us. It is possible that 'drunkenness' will hinder us. If we are wise we will not get intoxicated in ways that distract our focus because our mind being filled with light is also an ingredient in this 'time redeeming' venture.

So we continue in Ephesians chapter 5 and see what this 'time redemption' looks like...

"Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God." - Ephesians 5:17-21 NKJV

It is relationships! Not doing things! Not pleasing God. God Is pleased with Jesus and no one who believes in Christ needs to do anything to please God. Believers are hidden in Christ but we are also moving through the world. A solitary person is going to be continually vexed by what they see around them. They need someone to sing with. They need someone who thanks God as they thank God. That worship redeems the time. That life has a third dimension.

--

The Good News Is Just Good News

Attacking someone's identity, or core beliefs connected to their identity, is a terrible tactic to try and get someone to change their mind. All it does is trigger a fight or flight mechanism.

The word 'gospel' means 'good news' and the New Testament Gospel is just that.

This is the Apostle Paul speaking...

"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." - Acts 20:22-24 KJV

I've heard many people add things to the Gospel of grace but in truth it is 'news' that God sent His Son to Earth to die on a cross in our place as individuals so that we could be reconciled to God if we believe. The fact that Jesus rose from the grave is proof that He accomplished His mission and that His sacrifice was accepted. Our sins are paid for whether we believe it or not but when we believe we are made alive and a large list of things happen (adoption, rebirth, justification, sanctification, open access, etc...).

This message does not attack anyone or demean anyone. A person might say, 'I don't need that.' and they might get offended but it is not at it's heart an offensive message. On the contrary. It is very good news for the lost, broken and needy. It is great news.

It is very natural to 'mud sling'. People don't just want to be right they want to show how wrong the people on the 'other side' are and grind the opposition into powder. Not God. He isn't insecure. All injustice is going to be dealt with in the end. He Just wants people to come to Him.

"At that time Jesus declared, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."" - Matthew 11:25-30 ESV

Yes!

"The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." - Revelation 22:17 ESV

So please... don't add anything to the Gospel. People don't have to 'change' to be accepted. Change will happen later... it will be organic.

--

Go Out And Collect It

You know what... no matter how you feel right now there are new mercies available for you today...
- If you miss someone... there are new mercies
- If you feel like you won't be ready for the holidays... there are new mercies
- If you have failed... the mercies are new
- If you feel cut off... go out the door of self and get the mercy that has collected like manna on the ground

This mercy is out there under God's sky not inside... it is outside... God sent it to Earth from Heaven because He wants you to have it.

"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day." - John 6:35-39 ESV

Eat this food. Drink the blood of the new covenant.

You and i are not limited by what we can and can not do. God sent someone to us and He sends new mercy to us today.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." - Lamentations 3:22-25 ESV

Leave that dark room of self, go out into the sunshine of His love and collect as much as you can carry.

--

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Perhaps we have all heard the phrase...

'There are no stupid questions.'

That may be true in some settings, like a classroom, but that isn't true in life. Asking a 'good' question may become the start of a long friendship. It can make the difference that gets you the job at an interview. I think it is a key ingredient in giving the Gospel to people.

Do you know how to ask a 'good' question? I mean a question that has care and empathy... one that shows a person you are listening to them and truly see them.

Jesus asked great questions.

"so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:11 ESV

I do believe this is true.

If you machine gun scripture at people God may just use that scripture in spite of you but we are called to make disciples. Disciples ask questions and appreciate good questions. Friends do also.

--

Spirit Leading In The Book of Acts

I was supposed to travel this weekend to minister in a different state but i 'didn't have peace' about it... that is a difficult thing to explain to people but it has biblical precedent for this in the book of Acts.

"After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not." - Acts 16:7 KJV

"And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:" - Acts 20:22 KJV

"And finding disciples, we tarried there seven days: who said to Paul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Jerusalem." - Acts 21:4 KJV

The Spirit directed people to connect with other people on several occasions (see Acts 8:29-31, 9:10-12, 21:4) and He also gave 'stop' and 'keep going' types of directions but it was always in the context of 'pre-existing movement' the person was moving by faith already and the Spirit steered them. I see this as important. I want to keep moving by faith... not striving (trying to make something happen) but moving towards a redemptive goal and in that we can be led by God.

"And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people." - Exodus 32:9 ESV

They could not be easily directed. They wanted to move in a straight line.

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God," - Romans 8:13-16 ESV

If someone we love and respect directs us to turn we are much more likely to do so. God is that person. We have things to do today but are we available to stop and talk to a person who isn't on the 'agenda'? Can we stop our movement or change our destination? Are we asking for that direction and leading as we get moving by faith?

--

Black Sheep and/or Prodigal

Thinking today a lot about the 'black sheep of the family' and the prodigal son. The prodigal leaves their roots. The black sheep is rejected for some reason... usually linked to pre-existing dysfunction in the core family unit.

It is possible for one person to be both. The leaver who is also rejected.

Perhaps that has been us... we have been rejected... life is full of leaving and sometimes returning.

I want to be like the 'Father' in the prodigal story. God is like that Father. He isn't rejecting either son. He is planning for the child's return not blocking the way. He runs to greet the returning one.

Thank you God.

--

The Light Of The World

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 KJV

Jesus is the illumination of God's love.

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." - Genesis 1:3 KJV

God wanted to make it possible for us to see things that were far away in this creation He was making so He illuminated it.

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." - John 8:12 KJV

Yes! Yes! Yes! He Is the light that lights every man and shows us the love of the Father. Love is invisible unless you show it... It is unknown unless you say it. God didn't hide His love. He showed us His love.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV

---

Truth Brings Order

I hope everyone who is reading this has been in a place where they heard something in a moment that utterly changed their life. Truth. When you hear it order comes in. Perspective comes in. Light shines into darkness. For some it might have been in a movie or a song. I hope we have personal relationships where deep truth is shared. It might have come in the form of humor.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6 KJV

Jesus claimed to be 'The Truth'... Wow... that is a wild claim. It is on par with claiming to be uniquely divine in origin... The only Son of God.

I have been in rooms where chaos reigned. There was no order or just disfunctional order and there is great vunerablity there because a charismatic force can just enter and take over with little resistance.

Then there is the ordered place or person. Integrity is there. Illumination and yes even healing... Can words heal? I say 'Yes' if the illness is disfunction and function is restored there can be healing.

Let's both say truth things today... not just factually true but deep truths that heal... the only way we can do that is if we 'know' the Truth with a capital 'T'... if 'He' is what we are talking about and what we say aligns with how things really are then what we say matters. It can restore order in a world where people 'lie down in darkness'. If we see Jesus we see a 'great light' and that light can shine in us and through us to others.

---

Predictors versus Indicators

The past is not a very good predictor of the future. I see many Bible teachers using the what has happened to try and say what will happen. Historians also. They are rarely right.

One thing many Bible teachers do get right, from my viewpoint at least, is that things do happen for a reason. Nothing is random. Events get pushed along by some force, or forces really, because there are always several reasons that something has happened.

We can see 'indicators' and then we make choices based on those things. The wise know how to spot indicators that are not obvious to the untrained eye. "for we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

Character is a good indicator. Our 'Faith' is based on God's demonstrated character. That applies to people also and loosely to groups but because leadership changes hands and circumstances change even that is not the best 'predictor'.

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." - 2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV

God tells us certain things about what he will do and how He thinks and that information is 'precious' because it gives us hope in a very uncertain world.

--

The Stranger Becomes A Friend

Thinking about faith this morning. Really this word means trust and in order to trust we must be aware of a thing and some of it's attributes.

The word 'stranger' is used for a person who is an unknown quantity. We know they exist but we don't know much about them other than that they are different from us in some way. They are outsiders.

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, 'He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us'? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ' God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' " - James 4:4-6 ESV

This speaks to me. A stranger could be an enemy or they could become a friend.

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." - Romans 8:5-9 ESV

Some teach that the natural man hates God and the soul needs 'help' from God in order to believe in Him but when i look in the scriptures i see that individuals see God as a stranger and God is estranged from man and will never 'buy into' the system we have created that is outside His holiness.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility." - Ephesians 2:13-16 ESV

The fallen man sees God as a powerful stranger who made rules and then demanded we follow them but the cross shows us a God who loves us and bridges the gap by coming to us and serving us. If we look at God through the lens of the Gospel we see that He Is a friend and not an enemy.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:1-6 KJV

I could go on and quote the whole chapter...

Faith is seeing God as He Is and that pleases Him. It is impossible to please God if we see Him as a stranger or an enemy. Once we see that He loves us we can give Him love in return and that is a glorious exchange.

--

Winning, Giving And Worship

Worshiping this morning... Jesus is amazing... He has put His righteousness on our account... we can be winners in Him and there don't need to be any losers in order for us to win...

"And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death...' " - Revelation 12:10-11 ESV

The accuser has not been cast down yet. This is a future event but the path to victory is the same.

"He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes." - Mark 6:38 KJV

I'm looking at my lunch and I have a little but not much... still... I'm worshiping and giving it to Jesus to bless.

The accusation is that we only have enough for ourselves and even then it may not be enough. The promise is that we win by... 'the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death'... my life... my lunch... my bread... my fish... or we can give it to Jesus.

--

Fellowship That Illuminates Truth

Jesus is sitting on a throne in Heaven right now and the people that have gone before us who believed in Him are there also. I often wonder what that must be like. It must make Jesus very happy that those people are there. He Is God who forever took on the 'form' of a man and people need people no matter who you are.

Jesus really had no one to fellowship with on Earth that understood Him. You can see His frustration at times...

"And Jesus answered, "O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me."" - Matthew 17:17 ESV

"Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" - John 14:8-9 ESV

So many things must have seemed 'self-evident' to Him but the people around Him were blind to those realities.

As a thirty year old man He met with an older teacher in Israel that seemed to know some things. Most of the other teachers stood against Him but not this one. This one wanted to meet and talk...

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" - John 3:1-12 ESV

I read this and see Jesus as a 30 year old man hoping to connect with an older respected person but they hit a wall because the older man is blind to what Jesus plainly sees as true.

Ministry is often filled with times when we converse with others and find that they know something deeply that we were blind to. Then on other days we know something that the Spirit taught us that the other person is blind to and gracious interaction is needed to bridge that gap.

"Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." - Matthew 15:14 ESV

So true.

If we find someone who sees beyond what we see it is wise to be quiet and listen. The Spirit will give witness and we have scripture to act as a guide. Real wisdom will never fall outside what scripture says. Wisdom from above will be illuminated by scripture and will connect concept to concept. Jesus will be central. Grace will be in the mix. God will become bigger and Heaven will seem closer.

--

Seven Attributes Of Jesus Revealed To Seven Churches

In order to have eternal perspective in any given situation you and I need to know something specific about God. We need to know who He Is and how He functions...

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:1-2a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:8-9a KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:12-13a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; I know thy works.." - Revelation 2:18-19a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:1 KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:7-8 KJV

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:14-15 KJV

Seven is a number representing completion is the Bible. That concept comes from the Hebrew. It is why we have seven days in a week. Seven days give us a complete cycle. God is addressing seven Churches in these chapters for a reason. These seven statements are things that the 'angel' (leader/representative) needed to know about Jesus. Putting them all together gives us a complete view of what we need to know to handle every problem we face.

Every statement is followed by 'I know thy works'. Jesus is telling us and them who He Is and that He sees what they are doing. That order is important because we need to think that way also. We are wise if we look at Jesus to see who His Is first then put what we are doing second and in the context of who He Is.

I'm going to read these seven statements again and again today because they are special. You can't see this in nature, anthropology or through self examination. This is who Jesus Is and only He can tell us that and He does so we can be equipped. It will change what we do and when we do it if we know what God says here about Himself.

--

Good, Pleasing And Perfect

I really like how this translation treats the second part of this passage...

"... Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." - Romans 12:2 NLT

That word translated 'perfect' is teleios (Strong's G5046) and it comes from the same root as...

"When Jesus had tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit." - John 19:30 NLT - teleō (Strong's G5055)

Who is the one who is going to be pleased when you look back at your life? You are.

Who is going to say 'God was good and He had a good will towards me every step of the way.' You are.

Who is going to say, 'God's will was perfect lacking nothing. He had every detail covered.' You and I will.

Say those things now by faith. They are true statements. Your emotions will start to respond if you say them out loud.

"Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful." - Psalm 33:1 NKJV

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;" - Philippians 4:4-5 ESV

"My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed." - Psalm 71:23 KJV

--

Finding Jesus In Revelations

"The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near." - Revelation 1:1-3 ESV

I have studied this book before. I read some of it days after I became a Christian and had nightmares about it. It has been decades since then. I have taken classes focused on this book... heard sermons... preached messages focused on passages.

Still. Today as I read the first few verses they seem fresh to me.

This book can seem like a puzzle. Names. Events. References to other parts of the Bible. Mysteries. 

The other day I got before God and said something like, 'I want to come at this book like I know 'nothing as I ought to' and have you teach me.' then I started to just look for Jesus in each chapter. What was God saying? What is His attitude? What was His tone? I skipped the names and events and just looked for Him.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."" - Revelation 1:1-8 ESV

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last," - Revelation 1:1-17 ESV

"'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary." - Revelation 2:2-3 ESV

"And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."" - Revelation 4:9-11 ESV

"...saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."" - Revelation 7:3 ESV

There is more, so much more, but Who do you see reading this? I see someone who cares deeply and knows people. He sees, observes and rewards. Those who experience Him can't say enough about Him. He is sensitive to pain and suffering. He times things and doesn't rush.

This is MY Jesus. I am His and He has become mine. 

The events are important... sure they are... but Jesus is revealed here and those things blur in the backround as He comes into focus for me.

This book scared me but now I want to eat it like candy.

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." - Revelation 22:16-21 ESV

Come quickly Lord! Thank you for this book. It is a great gift.

Think On These Things

 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8 KJV

How needed this is when it seems like we see so much of this in the world...

"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law..." - Daniel 7:25a ESV

This is one of the potions in the Hebrew scriptures that isn't written in Hebrew. Many of the words used can only be found in Ezra and Daniel.

'... times and the law...' is interesting because 'law' here is not one of the Hebrew words for law. It means 'a decree for or against a person'. It basicly means that the people who have favor one day are reviled and the ones who don't are suddenly applauded.

We need this...

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:7-9 ESV

Wrongs need to be made right but rebellion is never the answer. If we live on the eternal foundation we will have peace not bloodshed.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28 KJV

--

Help My Unbelief

"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' " - Mark 9:24 ESV

Many things have been said about this passage. I see one detail that really puts this passage into context.

"And someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.' " - Mark 9:17-18 ESV

...So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able...

I have prayed, 'Help my unbelief!' many times. I think it is a good honest prayer that God will answer and wants to answer. What causes this 'unbelief'. I think we could point at many things. Lack of trust. Lack of knowledge. Uncertainty about God's will in a situation. Other People... yes... it could be that other well meaning people have failed us because or their weakness, ignorance or lack of faith.

In a way I think the man was saying, 'I wanted to bring my child to you but I got them instead.'

Jesus says this...

"And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.' " - Mark 9:19 ESV

I think He was talking more about His disciples than about this father who was 'faltering' in faith.

"And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, 'He is dead.' But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose." - Mark 9:25-27 ESV

God's plan is so interesting to me. Jesus sent people out to cast out evil spirits but then they run up against this and their failure shakes things up.

He sends out you and i also and we mess things up. Then people have to choose based on our often imperfect witness. Still... God sends us and we are accountable.

"And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why could we not cast it out?' And he said to them, 'This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.' " - Mark 9:28-29 ESV

Some translations say 'prayer and fasting'.

I imagine these disciples were hungry for this answer with an urgency. I am hungry for the answer. I am hungry to be so centered in on Jesus that I am not hindered. I don't want people to doubt because of me. God knows. He knows. That comforts me.

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.' " - Mark 16:15-16 ESV

We go knowing our focus and prayer life is important. The stakes couldn't be higher.

--

The Drive To 'Make Our Mark'

Men have this 'need to accomplish things' or a 'desire to leave a mark on the world'. I think it is a 'broken' desire that stems from the very real command that God gave Adam to 'be fruitful and multiply'. Man turned it into a works program but God never intended it to be one.

Video game addiction, career addiction and many other addictions are ways to try and fill the void but mankind is just broken until God enters in and makes us whole. We need the sense of 'accomplishment' and enter into a crisis if we think that our life is like a sand castle that will dissolve at high tide.

Jesus accomplished more in 33 years than any man ever will. His deeds will last forever and when our identity is 'hidden' in Him we have a mystical fulfillment. It is a peace that passes understanding.

Now we can live in the excellence of the moment. Now becomes more than enough as long as 'now' is not living in solitary mediocrity. We can strive to function in the excellence that we already have on our account in Christ.

At times I feel like I fail more than I succeed but is it really failure if I'm walking by faith and walking on the excellent upper highway of praise. Is my boss (God) pleased? Is my father (God) happy when He sees me. Yes! He is happy because of Jesus and that happiness spills over on me because of my association with His Son. I am adopted into the gathering.

I want to be the best {fill in the blank} right now. That means I learn... grow... and walk by faith. Self hatred can only happen if I believe a lie.

--

How Did Jesus Deal With Demons?

"But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." - Matthew 16:23 KJV

When Jesus dealt with demons He didn't deal with them like they were people. Pride, selfishness, greed and the whole list of other negative 'emotions' are not natural. They are demonic in origin. Demons are not people. They are a 'host'. They are more like bees or ants than people. The individual has a will but it is lost in the group.

"When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They lived in a cemetery and were so violent that no one could go through that area. They began screaming at him, "Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God's appointed time?" There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. So the demons begged, "If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs." "All right, go!" Jesus commanded them. " - Matthew 8:28-32a NLT

If a group has a favorite place to hang out they build a sentimental attachment to that place. If they have a bad experience in that place once or a couple of times they will find some other place to hang out.

Bringing Jesus into the room gives darkness a bad experience. 

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him; remember the battle--you will not do it again!" - Job 41:1-8 ESV

Darkness works in darkness for a reason. Leviathan (which can represent that organized darkness) is so seamless and strong that most people don't even know what they are dealing with. Demonic powers are nearly invisible to us in the natural.

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." - 2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV

Jesus always ruins darkness' day because His light exposes leviathan. He can no longer take pride in his victory in a place. He is greedy and makes reasons to move on to greener pastures.

Don't reason with the Devil. Just bring Jesus into the room and make Him the focus. Tell darkness Christ owns the place, situation and people. 

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." - James 4:7 KJV"

--

Some Thoughts From Galatians Chapter Five

Reading Galatians chapter 5 over and over. It talks about freedom and falling back into bondage. It talks about living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit.

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." - Galatians 5:16 ESV

On Saturday I was talking to a woman, actually the group was engaging her, and she said, 'I need to quit smoking.' and I said something like, 'You can't focus on that. Those cigarettes fill a void for you. You need to start filling that void with something spiritual and the habit will likely just fall away.'

"Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:19-24 ESV

This chapter defines the 'works of the flesh' but does not demand a change. It provides an answer. We can function in the fruit of the Spirit which God will produce if we are available to Him. That involves the cross. We picture Him on the cross and reckon that we were there with Him. We get involved with what He Is doing in the world and 'walk' with Him. We plug into the vision of a local group who is doing that. 

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another." - Galatians 5:13-15 ESV

If you are 'flying solo' then who are you living for? You.

We were designed to love one another and be involved in things that bless, help and support others. Strangers and neighbors not just family.

Walk in the Spirit! Wow. What a challenge. What a protection. What a way to live.

--

Begin

Take the first step. Draw the first line. Put in the application. Find out the steps and do the first one. Put a little in savings to get what you need. Get a garbage bag and just start cleaning up the mess one piece at a time.

Sometimes I want to draw but I don't know how to start so I just draw a line and then another line. Often, but not always, it turns into something. I might end up discarding that page but it gets me started.

"[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." - Hebrews 13:5-6 KJV

Some look at this passage and think, 'I shouldn't want things.' but looking at it today I see, 'I need to stop talking about wanting things and take the first steps with God!'

This is the contentment that comes from practicing God's presence and not being paralyzed by the fear of losing the illusion of control over what we seem to have.  

The things we want are bought with a currency... it just isn't money. It is faith that with God all things are possible if we are willing to leave our comfort zone and go with Him into the next thing.

---

Go Boldly

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." - Hebrews 4:16 ESV

Where is this throne? Are we just speaking words into the air and mentally directing them at God or is it more than that?

"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for." And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me."" - Isaiah 6:1-8 ESV

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here, while I go over there and pray." And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me." And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will." And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour?" - Matthew 26:36-40 ESV

Will we sleep or will we go? I say this throne is just a few steps away but those steps are impossible for the natural self-oriented person to take. We must go or be taken past our self centeredness to get there. 

Boldness is a prerequisite and boldness means there are no barriers. No guilt. No shame. No sense of unworthiness. Only Jesus can produce that in us. When we are 'hidden' in Him we can come boldly and we have access.

Some say we must go like small children running into a room and sitting on their father's lap. It is a good picture but I think we must deal with this King like an adult and not a child. We are his children but we are adult children with real adult issues that need His influence to be resolved.

--

Stay Sensitive To Pain And Loss

"You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." - Exodus 23:19b ESV

The does not say, 'Don't eat young goats.'

It also doesn't say, 'Don't use milk for cooking.'

This is a nuanced commandment that became oversimplified in tradition. It is talking about sensitivity to suffering and having a hard heart that just uses things and people indiscriminately. 

Our life is going to cause suffering in others. That is an inescapable reality we must face but we still want to minimize that suffering and deal compassionately in life instead of just gobbling things up indiscriminately because we have 'a good recipe'. The context is this... which I think is striking.

"You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord GOD. You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the fat of my feast remain until the morning. The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk." - Exodus 23:16-19 ESV

Interesting. In a way I think God is saying, 'I know doing these things is going to be inconvenient for you but do it anyway and be sensitive about what you do and who you hurt.'

The goat doesn't know or care but what you know and care about is what God is interested in.

--

There In Our Midst

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20 KJV

Yesterday I was at Starbucks with a few brothers in Christ who I often evangelize with. One of them had been a missionary in Australia for a few years. He told us a story about a man in one of the Churchs there that had a chalk ministry. He didn't speak well because of years of working in harsh conditions. This man went all around the city he lived in and wrote 'ETERNITY' down on the side walks. A news agency went looking for who was doing this and when they found him they did a big 'write up' on his life.

We had never heard this particular story and of course in my mind I starting thinking about present day applications. Could this, or something like it, be done in my city? How would that work?

The missionary gets a video call from Australia. He is thrilled to talk to the man and so are we. This man was there for some of the other stories we had heard many times.

Then the man says something like, 'I think I'm going to start a chalk ministry. Remember old so and so and how he used to write on the side walks? I think I may start doing that here.' We all explode in 'Wows' and tell him that we just heard that story for the first time twenty minutes before he called.

God is there when we meet. He Is letting us in on secret things in interesting ways.

We all knew that was God. If His 'name' (identity, character, nature, etc...) are why we are together He Is there also. He gives us answers to questions we have not formed yet in our minds. The communication of the Word of God clarifies our individual and 'corporate' (group) relationships with Him. Prayers uttered in those settings have the context of Christ being there listening and participating in the group dynamic.

I might say to one of the guys there, 'Would you look at my car before we leave? I need your input.' and he would say yes or no but likely yes.

We say to God, 'Would you heal my sister before we leave?' and He might just say yes. Yes and Amen. He Is right there.

"Can two walk together without agreeing to meet? " - Amos 3:3 CSB

We agreed to meet in Jesus' name and He showed up. Thank you God.

--

Are They A Soul Winner?

"As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - 2 Timothy 4:5 ESV

I see a finger pointing right at me in this passage.

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." - 2 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV

A teacher who teaches but doesn't evangelize isn't worth very much. You may say, 'That isn't their ministry'... perhaps but if that is so I don't need to be their student. They may be able to teach you some things but they can't teach you the things that will allow you to 'fulfill your ministry'.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." - 1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV

The internet isn't the place to find this out. Going out on the street with the person is where you will see this. Watching them greet people at the door and loving them is where you will see this. 

I often hear these quotes that sound good but I wonder... 'Is this person a soul winner or just a page turner?'... until I get that question answered I take it all 'with a grain of salt.'

I don't think any of us need two dozen teachers... just a few who win souls.

If I stop evangelizing stop listening to me. It will just be past tense and theoretical. I hope to win the nurse to Christ who is wiping the sweat off my brow on my deathbed. If that changes read someone else's posts that has that mindset.

--

A Good Weekend

This weekend was so interesting...

There were some truly frustrating times... traffic... I missed a memorial service for a person I care deeply for... I got there so late that everyone was gone and I had to ask the security guard to unlock a door so I could use the restroom.... then back out into angry drivers... not feeling well... several demoralizing things like that... 

Then there were also some sublime times that were just so good... Church today... worship... eating pieces of a roasting pig while celebrating someone's birthday... two people in fact... simple times of just giving a person a hug and meeting her grandbaby... kind exchanges with strangers on the boardwalk with a group out evangelizing... singing a hymn off-key as we walked back to our car in the cool air with the sun shining on the Chesapeake bay right there... sitting out in front of Starbucks with Terry Therres and other men whose shoes I am not worthy to tie... relaxing enjoying the coffee and company while wondering at the nearness of Christ's return... 

I was at a meeting at a Panera bread and few us us were speaking about the Bible and a woman with her husband came up to us to ask what Church we attended because she overheard us... She wanted to go where we go because of things we said... I am so humbled and broken by that.

Life is hard but good. To learn, live, repent and then rejoice that I am forgiven. To love. To be humiliated because I need my dirty feet washed again but to also rejoice that I can tell people that the King of Glory is willing to wash their feet if they will just come to Him.

To Love and be loved. I am so grateful.

--

Rereading Romans Chapter 12

Reading Romans 12 over and over again.

Wow.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:1-21 ESV

I see the first and last verse in this chapter as bookend. They hold the sandwich together. Both ideas need to be kept in mind in order to even attempt to pick any of this up. Bitterness and comparison can happen if we try to do any of this with out those two concepts in mind.

These two ideas:

- We worship God through 'presenting our bodies for action'.

- Evil seeks to overcome us and others. This worship can overcome evil in the world. 

I see an order here. Right after 'mind renewal' is having the humility to be a part of a group of people joined in this common cause. Then he speaks of conduct done among those people. Then conduct done to everyone else. Lastly, he speaks of love for ones enemies. Each thing orients us for the next thing. 

Oh God... renew us in our thinking today. As we re-read this chapter give us creativity in allying it. We fix our eyes on Jesus. This chapter is a description of His ministry. We want to live as an extension of that. Jesus is our Shepard. He leads us as overcomers into victory over darkness. Thank you God. Thank You. Thank You.  

--

The Eyes Of A Parent

I'm thinking about bad parents and good parents. Some people love their children in wisdom and others have little capacity for love. A child sees their reflection in the eyes of their parents and sometimes the reflection they see is tainted and untrue.

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me." - John 8:44-45 ESV

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:1-3 ESV

The Devil is a bad Father. His children never find out who they really are. They never know where they stand. He is a gas-lighting narcissist. He is a liar.

God is a good Father. He is 'The Good Father'. In His eyes you discover who you are. You like how you look there. If you forget where you stand He reassures you. You are loved. When you go far away and come back He runs out to greet you and pile on gifts you don't deserve that He has set aside just for you.

You and i don't really know who we are. We must discover who we really are in kind loving eyes that are wise. Some people never discover their identity. They just run from one thing to the next looking to fill a hole that grows ever larger.

Don't forget to look up today and make sure you stay in touch with those wise humans on Earth that care for your soul. They are rare treasures... and remember... the Devil is a liar.

--

For Or Against

Matthew 12:30 ESV - "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

This is the passage I woke up with on my mind.

I remember as a young man I was 'against' many things and people. I spent a lot of time talking about and reasoning as to why thing were 'wrong' and unfair. I knew people who talk mostly about things they were 'for' and it was good to be with them at times but even then I could be 'against' them because I thought their positive outlook was naive and ill informed.

The Gospel is an all 'for' message. It proclaims that God has made a provision for us based on what His Son accomplished on the cross. There are no negatives. It is not against anything or anyone. It is all 'good news'.

Jesus is polarizing. If you don't gather with Him you will scatter. I've seen it happen again and again with people and in my own life.

If I stop gathering with God I become a critic of everyone and everything including myself.

If I gather with Him and rehearse the good news I have hope.

--

Going And Listing

Lately I've been thinking of some of the unique aspects of Church life.

One is 'the prayer list'. I know many people have 'phone books' where the keep phone numbers of people. Perhaps they write in birthdays and names of that person's relatives and/or children also. That way when the call they also can mention those people by name. The prayer list is another animal really. I have had these lists of people... no contact information... some entries read like 'that guy with the blue shirt you talked to at Home Depot'. The list isn't one we use to contact the people. We use it to talk to God. Unique.

The other is Church 'seating'. I have purposed to be a wandering Jew in this area. I try to vary where I sit on purpose. That way I get exposed to many different people and interact with them. It does seem however that once a Church grows to more than a few people 'seating zones' begin to form. The 'upfronters' want every drop they can get. Sometimes it is family who will just dominate a certain area. The youth often like to sit together. Once in a while I'll just plant myself right in the middle of the teenagers just for fun.

Church has added so much to my life. It isn't always an easy place for me to be but it has added much more than I can list here.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

A believer living 'in application' goes. They go out to evangelize. They go to other countries. They go to God. They gather. Believing is active not passive. I never want to stop going and listing things and people.

--

Access

Love gives access. In many ways it is access. At the same time access isn't necessarily love. I am seeing this theme everywhere in life and in the scriptures.

It isn't the people who say they love you that really love you. It is the people who invite you into their lives that love you. It is the people who share their time, space and inner thoughts who are the 'loving' people.

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:1-3 ESV

Love is rare. 

I don't want to focus on those who don't love me. I want to cherish those who do and be a loving person in practical ways.

God loves you.

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." - John 14:1-3 ESV

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus," - Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV

The gospel is the good news that Jesus has taken care of everything that would bar us from God's presence. He makes us holy when we believe and restores the access that Adam lost so long ago.

Access requires trust doesn't it. I hesitate to let untrustworthy people into my home but God lets us into His home and that is amazing. It speaks about the quality of His Love.

A passage in the last chapter of the Bible says this...

"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come.' And let the one who hears say, 'Come.' And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." - Revelation 22:17 ESV

That is love.

--

Quick To Hear And Slow To Respond

 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:19-22 ESV

Grace, mercy, love... unsentimental love... put away the 'filthiness' and be slow to anger. We remember that people are not a project for you to fix. 

I see the plural nature of 'which is able to save your souls' as referring to us and the people we are listening to. Perhaps what they are saying might be prone to make us angry but are we hearing their point of view? Are we referencing the 'implanted word' in our mind as they are speaking so that we have a life-giving reply ready as the Holy Spirit manifests the risen Christ through us?

Part of 'doing' here is not fighting fire with fire and burning the relationship down. Doing might be a 'kind answer' that has clarity and eternal content. We can know about grace but not give it. That is one option. We can also listen and respond instead of react. We can be slow to react and then respond with love because we are listening to the person but looking at Heaven's heart.

--