Archives for April 2017

Mark 9:2-4, 7 – “After 6 days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him and led them up a high mountain where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Imagine you were living in the days when Jesus lived here on earth with us. Further, imagine that you had been invited to go up the mountain with him and there, experienced the transfiguration spoken of in this passage.

Now, set aside that Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell others what happened on the mountain.  If you were asked – how would you explain it?

Do you think you’d be believed? Or is it more likely that your friends or family would think you were a bit crazy?

You see, for believers, things happen regularly that are hard to explain. In my own situation, I was, for many years living an out of control lifestyle. From my late teens until my late 20’s alcohol was getting the best of me. Then, on my 30th birthday, I stopped drinking and have not had a drink in nearly 25 years.

Unexplainable. Except for God.

Ask my friends and family that knew me then and still know me today. They can’t explain it. They’d never seen anyone whose life was transformed like that.

I did not spend a lot of time in AA or support groups. I simply asked Jesus to help me and he did.

More than just help – he fixed the thing that was broken and the problem was solved.

Can you think of one area of your life that needs to be fixed? Perhaps you’ve tried everything you can think of and still, the problem exists. My suggestion is that you ask Jesus. Just understand that when he solves it for you that it may be difficult to explain to others.

If you’d like to know more about this concept and how to apply it to your life, I recommend this book from Pastor Don Cousins. You’ll find Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible at Amazon.

1 Peter 4:1-3 – “Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry.”

If you, like me, have a “past life” similar to the one Peter describes – the echoes tend to call out when times are challenging. As I’ve shared before, my past includes years of drunkenness and substance abuse. In many respects, I hear those voices even today.

When difficult weeks come – in my case it’s been a challenging week at work, the thoughts of escape are strong. It would be easy to live as I once did, as a pagan. Even if only for a few days. Can you relate?

When I asked the Lord today for a reference point to share this idea with you, he pointed me to the passage above.

This is when I’m convinced all over again that God is alive and deeply personal. Out of all of the wonderful things in the Bible, he took me to this specific passage and began to form this message in my heart.

He knew I needed some strengthening to get through this difficult period in my life. So along comes God to focus me on the truth that underlies all of life. Christ suffered in his body so that I could be free. He reminds me that my ‘escape’ is suffering. By numbing myself, I may not see it now, but it will come.

And that suffering is the work of my enemy, the devil. As you know, he exists only to steal, kill and destroy. Especially those who love God and seek to follow Jesus. So he whispers to me that I can escape all of this and that the pagan life is not so bad.

Just know it for what it is – a lie from the pit of Hell. And be strengthened today knowing that to live for God is freedom. To accept the lies of the devil surely leads to bondage. In that context, the choice is starker. Much more black vs. white. And it becomes an easier decision to continue in my quest to live for God as he lives in me.

Philippians 1:18b – “The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.”

Each of us whose lives are included in the book of life today have motives, agendas, and plans. All of these seem important to us but in the greater scheme of things probably are of very little importance.

Paul in his letter to the Philippians tells us something that is very important. That no matter what else happens today – believers are called to preach the Christ. Jesus and the good news that he was and is are truly important.

I learned many years ago that there are no coincidences in life. Everyone we meet today either has a message for us – or we have one for them.

When I first learned this, probably 30 years ago now, my life was transformed by the thought.

Think back to the last time you crossed paths with someone and thought “what a coincidence”. But it wasn’t. They were placed there in your path today for a holy and ordained exchange of information.

Now if you’re a believer in Jesus; in who he was and what he was here to do, you have accepted the role of sharing with others what you believe and why.

You’ve probably heard of a so-called chance crossing where one of the people secretly had a plan to end their life. But on the way, they crossed paths with someone who discerned that something was wrong and talked them through it. Often it’s later reported that this person, with their hopeful message, caused them to reconsider and not kill themselves.

Now let me add one thing. When Paul tells us that “Christ being preached” is the most important thing that can happen today, I am not talking about taking your bible and standing on the corner of a busy street yelling at people to repent.

What I am talking about is you (and I) simply sharing the reasons for your hopeful outlook with someone who may be or has lost hope. It’s not about memorizing scripture and shouting others down with it. It’s about being a living, breathing example of hope that even when life is tough – and things are far from perfect – that your hope is in the future. That future is to return to our heavenly father and to walk with our brother Jesus for eternity.

It’s quite possible that you’ll be the only example of that hope that many of those you meet today will see. By being Christ’s representative in the moment you are preaching the Christ without even trying.

Timothy 1:15b-17 – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of which I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen.”

I read a passage of scripture like this and know that it was written with me in mind.

So many times in my life, when it would seem as if I’ve blown it – Jesus reached out his hand to help me. Each time washing me clean of my sin through his endless grace and forgiveness. But why?

The first line says it – Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Like me.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is quoted as saying, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” He is the Great Physician after all.

Each time I, with all of my frailties, falls from grace, he’s there to scoop me up and restore me to what he calls my rightful place – one of an heir to the kingdom and a child of the one true God.

Whether my issue is drink, drugs or some other wretched behavior, it never seems to matter. Jesus always fixes things in my spirit and gets me moving again. Praise God!

Again today I’m grateful that he sees more in me than I often can see in myself. In that, I take comfort and hope.

The same set of principles applies to you as well friend. If you’re off track – If you’re struggling with this issue or that – know that if you’ve ever said you’d give control of your life to Jesus, you too will be saved. No matter what.

Regardless of what the religions of the world may tell you, once you’re saved – you are always saved. No one can take your salvation from you. Grab hold of that. Take comfort in that and praise him today!

 

John 15:7-8 (ESV) – “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

There are many references to fruit throughout scripture. Think of the time when Jesus ‘cursed’ the fig tree and told the tree it would never bear fruit again. God himself told us to “be fruitful and multiply.” Paul spoke to us about ’the fruit of the Spirit’.

In an agrarian society, long before the industrial age or those that followed – it makes sense, that Jesus and his Disciples would speak of things that the people understood.

So when John tells us that they key to life is to ‘abide’ in Jesus, we’re getting excellent advice. The result of our choice to abide in the Father is that you can ask for things and God will do them for you.

Of the many ways that the dictionary defines abide – the one that seems to fit his words is ‘to wait for or await’. Perhaps also ‘to remain steadfast or faithful to’ describes it equally well.

Hidden in plain sight in this scripture is the key to a good life. A life that bears much fruit and brings glory to the Father.

First, ask. Then wait (abide). In contrast we live in a world where everyone is in such a hurry that most won’t wait before taking the matter into their own hands.

I’m so guilty of this. I’ve had to ask forgiveness a thousand times and probably will need to be forgiven many times more before my time is up.

But when I wait in faith and I ask for things that are aligned with what the Father wants for my life (not only good things – but the best things) and then I wait in faith for them, its amazing how often he gives those things to me.

And to think that by God giving me the things I want, he is glorified… wow, what a concept.

So I encourage you, no matter your situation, to lean in, ask and then wait in faith for God to help you bear much fruit. Getting good at this one thing will give you cause to celebrate, not just today but every day.