Tag: jesus

In the Firmness of Our Faith, When We are Tied up, Cast into the Hottest Furnaces, Standing Up in the Flames. Daniel 3:24-27

Daniel 3:24-27 Christian Standard Bible

Delivered from the Fire

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?”

“Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king.

25 He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”[a]

26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God—come out!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27  When the satraps, prefects, governors, the king’s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on[b] the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

King Nebuchadnezzar had made an image of gold and had ordered people to bow down and worship it (Daniel 3:1-6).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego steadfastly refused to do that, because they did not worship statues, idols or other gods. They worshiped only the true God.

So the king’s astrologers spoke harshly against these men and said they should be thrown into a blazing furnace for their very public display of disobedience .

Let’s look at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s reply:

Daniel 3:16-18 Christian Standard Bible

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists,  then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can[a] rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if he does not rescue us,[b] we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

They said they would not worship the image of gold for any reason, even if God did not deliver them.

They were hardcore determined to obey God, and they trusted in God to protect their souls even if the fire killed them and burned them up. Many people might expect “realistic compensation” for their actions, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared that they would always obey God, no matter what happened.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed­nego knew that their first allegiance was to God and they should worship only him.

Nebuchad­nezzar did not recognize any authority above his own; he wanted to be the object of worship. He had commissioned a great statue and ordered that everyone must bow and worship his image or face execution by fire in a furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed­nego were willing to face the harshest anger of the king and even die rather than deny their heavenly Father, in whose image they were made.

They faced adversity with courage and modeled for the king what it looked like to honor the convictions of their faith.

Their testimony is compelling.

In effect, they resolutely said, “We believe God is able to save us, but even if he does not do that in this life, we will not worship anyone but him.”

This statement enraged the king so much that he raised the temperature by 7 times to the point the soldiers in charge of these men were killed by the heat.

But God protected his servants from the fire, allowed them to leave the furnace unscathed.

After the dramatic res­cue of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the king had a major change of heart and praised God. Their faith mentored the king himself.

Do we have the courage to stand up for our convictions in the face of adversity?

What incredible faith!

God protected them from the fire when they refused to compromise their faith.

Only God can bring hope to the hopeless, and fearlessness to those who fear.

Sometimes, in the middle of our challenges, there might seem to be no end in sight of the mess.

It could be one event after the other that piles upon us, making us so heavy-laden with trepidation that we lose sight of where to turn. Instead of declaring,

“Only God,” we ask, “Why God?”

Even though it might seem like an impossible task to hold on to verses when we are in the middle of problems that seem to have no solution, be assured that Jesus promised to be with us even until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20)

Only God can bring hope to the hopeless, and fearlessness to those who fear.

Sometimes, in the middle of our challenges, there might seem to be no end in sight of the mess. It could be one event after the other that piles upon us, making us so heavy-laden with trepidation that we lose sight of where to turn.

Instead of declaring, “Only God,” we ask, “Why God?”

Even though it might seem like an impossible task to hold on to verses when we are in the middle of problems that seem to have no solution, be assured that Jesus promised to be with us even until the end of the age.

Let us be mindful — when we are facing financial burdens, family problems, or sickness — that our mess could just be the makings of something else: a future message for another brother or sister experiencing a similar hardship.

They might need our story to give them hope and keep the holding steadfast to the Lord.

Let us labor to model our steps after those three rebellious young men of the Old Testament.

Their names were some of my favorites that I loved to repeat as a child: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Faced with conditions forcing them to come face to face with their faith, they bonded together and took a stand against King Nebuchadnezzar’s commands.

Even though they were thrown into the fire, they did not feel the flames.

You might be standing in the middle of a blazing fire, but trust in the Lord to deliver you from your circumstance.

You may see the flames or hear the crackling, but you will feel no heat because you serve a mighty Father that will bring you through this trial. And when you have broken free from your mess you will have a testimony to say, “Only God.”

The story did not end with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego being rescued from flames unsinged.

It could have, and it still would have, been the glorious testimony of the faith of a few and the power of God.

But, reading this text further, we see King Nebuchadnezzar’s hardened heart was softened.

He even promoted them within the kingdom for their display of integrity and commitment.

Your time is coming.

Hold on to that unwavering faith that can move mountains:

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matthew 17:20)

In the flames, repeat that nothing is impossible with God.

When you walk away, praise His name and say, “Only God!”

What does it look like to live with courage, clarity, and conviction when everything around you feels uncertain?

The book of Daniel tells the story of faith under fire—of ordinary people who stayed rooted in God while living in a culture that didn’t share their values.

From exile in Babylon to lion’s dens and prophetic dreams, Daniel shows us that even the very smallest acts of faith can anchor us in our uncertain times.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit …

Praying …

Psalm 46
God Our Refuge
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its water roars and foams
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah

4 There is a river—
its streams delight the city of God,
the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
5 God is within her; she will not be toppled.
God will help her when the morning dawns.
6 Nations rage, kingdoms topple;
the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
7 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

8 Come, see the works of the Lord,
who brings devastation on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease throughout the earth.
He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;
he sets wagons ablaze.
10 “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”
11 The Lord of Armies is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Tested Faith of Ordinary People; Ordinary People-extraordinary God. God Is Not Dead! Hebrews 11:32-38

Hebrews 11:32-38 The Message

32-38 I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . . Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

I love how the Lord employed unlikely people to do extraordinary things.

Often, the outcast was embraced, the sinner was chosen, and the “labeled” was marked by God for an extraordinary divine purpose.

Some of the names in Hebrews 11 are well known.

Others are not.

But all are names of believers through whom God worked to keep his promises.

I find it interesting that the two Israelite spies, sent by Joshua to search out the land of Jericho, went specifically to the house of Rahab the harlot.

While it made sense they would lodge at a house located on the wall of Jericho—for strategic purposes, it doesn’t make sense they chose to lodge with a harlot.

Against the commandments of God, a harlot would normally have been avoided at all cost. Yet, against all of our rationale, God chose Rahab to help His people, and eventually become part of the lineage of Jesus. (see Matthew 1:5)

What a beautiful testimony of God’s character!

He truly sees past the physical and straight to the heart. God looks for those who will be faithful to Him, and often finds them in the most unlikely places.

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him…2 Chronicles 16:9

By faith, Rahab risked her own life to help the spies escape. It was her belief in the Lord that saved her and her whole family. Unlike the other inhabitants of Jericho, the miraculous things she had heard about God spurred her to action.

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Joshua 2:8-11

In holy fear of the Lord, Rahab acted in faith.

Instead of closing the door on the spies, she allowed her reverent fear of “God in heaven above and on earth beneath” to motivate her.

The lesson for us here is to let a holy and reverent fear of the Lord motivate our service to Him; to remember what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. God stirs us up and does amazing things in the lives of ordinary people.

All He looks for is faith in His Son Jesus—a faith that leads us to do great things for His glory. I don’t know about you, but I want that more than anything.

As we look to ponder and study and pray through Hebrews 11, which is also sometimes described as the Bible’s chapter on “heroes of faith,” we should note that this chapter never uses the word hero. It simply lists the names of those chosen ordinary people whom God used for extraordinary purposes.

Ordinary people stirred by the extraordinary acts of others, faith is something which tethers us to God, pulls pushes us forward—step by step and day by day.

Sports coaches and sports psychologists know the importance of faith.

You’ve got to believe … in yourself.

You have to believe you can do your sport, or you won’t win.

Faith gives drive, momentum, energy, confidence.

Whether novice Christians or matured, any group or solitary journey through Hebrews 11 points us directly to an enormous variety of extraordinary things ordinary people were able to do because they had faith. (Acts 2:14-21 Peter)

And their faith was not in themselves but in God.

Faith in God is assurance in what God has done and confidence in what God can do … and will most definitively do—at the exact right time, in his Kairos time.

True faith focuses both our eyes on God.

It also centers our gravity in such a way it keeps both our feet on the ground even while it lifts our hearts to heaven.

Faith enables us to stand tall and live straight.

It puts a spring in our step.

“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:20).

Faith that is as small as a mustard seed, said Jesus, can move a mountain!

We have all struggled at one time or another with our ability to fully trust God. I never truly realized the extent to which I wrestled with Him over both the very simplest of things, and the big things. Sometimes we just have more faith in a kitchen chair’s ability to sustain us than we do in God’s ++ ability to sustain us.

One person’s smallest measure of faith can change the world—think of the apostle Paul, for example, or of Martin Luther, John Wesley, Billy Graham.

In chapter 11 the writer of Hebrews gives us a high-speed recitation of history to illustrate the power of faith.

Perhaps you could add the names of some people you know of to the mighty events listed in the closing verses there.

Imagine your name in that list.

Imagine your finger’s trying to hold onto a single Mustard Seed?

What event(s) in your life might be mentioned as an example of faith at work?

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit … Amen

Praying …

19 1-2 God’s glory is on tour in the skies,
    God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
    Professor Night lectures each evening.

3-4 Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.

4-5 God makes a huge dome
    for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun’s a new husband
    leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
    racing to the tape.

6 That’s how God’s Word vaults across the skies
    from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
    warming hearts to faith.

7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.

10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.

11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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All of Life is a Test. God is constantly watching how we respond to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment and even weather! Job 23:8-12

Job 23:8-12 Amplified Bible

8 
“Behold, I go forward (to the east), but He is not there;
I go backward (to the west), but I cannot perceive Him;
9 
To the left (north) He turns, but I cannot behold Him;
He turns to the right hand (south), but I cannot see Him.
10 
“But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].
11 
“My feet have carefully followed His steps;
I have kept His ways and not turned aside.
12 
“I have not departed from the commandment of His lips;
I have kept the words of His mouth more than my necessary food

Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Where Is God in this unyielding fiasco called my life?

Years ago, there were two men I knew who had lost a whole lot of money.

I felt sorry for one of them, but not for the other.

The man I didn’t feel sorry for had applied for a hefty business loan and I had suspected provided a bit of false information; he had also continued to lie as he went from bank to bank and applied and borrowed more and more money.

He used this money to invest in wild and clearly high risk speculative schemes and to live a lavish lifestyle. Eventually his web of lies came apart, he left town, and the bank found that the loan would never be repaid. But the bank was large and this was just one unpaid loan, so the bank was able to continue operating.

The man I felt sorry for was an honest Christian.

He had done business with the other man, had been misled, and had been left with a mountain of mounting late payments due him that would never be paid.

But unlike the large bank, this honest man was ruined financially.

He lost nearly everything he owned.

He wondered why God had allowed this to happen to him and his family.

I pray that this man’s pastor and Christian friends were there for him in his time of crisis.

Even though there were no easy answers to the question “Where is God in this?” the book of Job and many prayers in the Psalms teach us that we may always bring our desperate cries to God. (Psalm 63)

The Thirsting Soul Satisfied in God.

A Psalm of David; when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

63 O God, You are my God; with deepest longing I will seek You;
My [a]soul [my life, my very self] thirsts for You, my flesh longs and sighs for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 
So I have gazed upon You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
4 
So will I bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 
My [b]soul [my life, my very self] is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises [to You] with joyful lips.

6 
When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate and thoughtfully focus on You in the night watches,
7 
For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings [where I am always protected] I sing for joy.
8 
My [c]soul [my life, my very self] clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

9 
But those who seek my life to destroy it
Will [be destroyed and] go into the depths of the earth [into the underworld].
10 
They will be given over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
11 
But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him [honoring the true God, acknowledging His authority and majesty] will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Jesus, cried his own prayer from the cross, will bring our cries to his Father.

One of the metaphors that the Bible says about life is that it is a test.

God continually tests people’s character, faith obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. Christian Character is both developed and revealed by testing.

And the truth of the matter is – All of Life is a Test.

You are always being tested.

God is constantly watching how you respond to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment and even the weather.

What I like to do today is offer several ways God’s people have been tested.

For you see trials can be:

1. A Test of Patience.

Trials and tribulation can be a test of patience.

The Lord has a timing for fulfilling His plans and purposes.

Often His plans take much longer than we expect.

In the meantime we go through severe trials and tribulations and they seem to last forever.

These seasons are tests of our patience.

Are we willing to wait for God’s timing?

Listen to what the scripture says in James chapter 1.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trial, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (NKJV)

Job’s life was a test of patience.

In fact the Bible says in book of James,

“Remember the patience of Job.”

2. A Test of Faith.

Trials can be a test of our faith.

Do we believe in God even in the midst of pain and suffering?

Do we believe in the promises of God even when everything looks impossible?

Do we trust in God even if He does not deliver us?

Do we trust in God even when we do not understand His ways and working in our lives?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tested and showed their faith.

Daniel 3:16-18 (HCSB)

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

“It’s not that we can’t do it. – It’s that we won’t do it.”

Thought: How do you know if you are faithful unless you are tempted with unfaithfulness?

3. A Test of Love.

Trials can most definitely test our love.

They can reveal whom or what we love most in our lives.

They reveal our priorities and desires.

The Lord wants us to love Him more than anybody else or anything else.

The depth of our love to God is revealed during the seasons of trials.

Peter is an example of this test.

John 21:15-17 (HCSB)

15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Feed My lambs,” He told him. 16 A second time He asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to Him, “You know that I love You.” “Shepherd My sheep,” He told him. 17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved that He asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know everything! You know that I love You.” “Feed My sheep,” Jesus said.

4. A Test of Endurance.

Trials can be a test of our endurance.

How much are we willing to endure for the Lord?

Will we give up easily from following the Lord?

Will we endure till the end?

The life of Paul is an example of endurance.

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (HCSB)

24 Five times I received from the Jews 40 lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. I have spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. 26 On frequent journeys, [I faced] dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own people, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the open country, dangers on the sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 labor and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and lacking clothing.

5. A Test of Humility.

Trials can be a test of humility.

The Lord humbles us by allowing us to go through seasons of trials.

The Lord wants us to have the mind of Christ who humbled Himself to take the form of a lowly servant and became obedient even to the death of the cross.

Moses went through times of trial and his humility shone forth.

Numbers 12:1-3 (HCSB)

1 Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he married (for he had married a Cushite woman). 2 They said, “Does the Lord speak only through Moses? Does He not also speak through us?” And the Lord heard [it]. 3 Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.

Thought: Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.

6. A Test of Sacrifice.

Trials can be a test of our sacrifice.

Are we willing to sacrifice everything for the Lord?

Are we clinging to the possessions and treasures of this world?

Are we crucified to the world?

When we lay ourselves on the altar and die to our self then we can bear much fruit for the Lord.

The Lord leads us to the point of total surrender by leading us through the path of trials.

He tests the level of our willingness to sacrifice for Him.

He tested Abraham in this way.

Genesis 22:7-8 (HCSB)

7 Then Isaac spoke to his father Abraham and said, “My father.” And he replied, “Here I am, my son.” Isaac said, “The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” 8 Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.

7. A Test of Obedience.

Trials can be a test of our obedience to God.

Are we willing to obey God even when He commands us to do what we do not like or what we wish to avoid?

The Lord teaches us obedience by leading us through trails.

Jesus is the prime example of obedience.

Matthew 26:39 (HCSB)

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Philippians 2:8 (HCSB) He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.

Jesus Passes the Test for Us

Matthew 4:1-11 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Testing of Jesus

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
    and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’ ”

11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Since the beginning, human beings have failed God’s test.

In Eden, Satan asked, “Did God say . . . ?” and then misquoted God’s words.

Adam and Eve responded by questioning the word of God and then doing what seemed right in their own eyes.

So do we. Jesus, the Son of God, came to live among us as a human being.

And, in his case, the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be severely tempted.

There Satan made some suggestions that sounded rather reasonable—“have something to eat; show your power; fall into the arms of God.”

Jesus responded to each temptation with a quote from the Scriptures.

Without twisting God’s words, said, in effect, “No, I live by the Word of God.”

This is still our challenge as well.

Will we live by God’s Word, or will we do what seems right in our own eyes?

Like Adam and Eve, we are experts at twisting God’s words to suit our own purposes. We lie, we lust, we get angry, we are greedy, we gossip—and so on.

Rarely does a day pass in which we don’t knowingly yield to some temptation.

We need to rely on the only One who passed the test.

He was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

What’s more, Jesus also laid down his life to pay the price for our sin—so that we can live forever with God. (Philippians 2:5-11)

If we posses as little as .001% of that mindset…what miracles becomes possible?

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit … Amen

Praying ….

A Psalm of Fearless Trust in God.

A Psalm of David.

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom should I fear?
The Lord is the [a]defense of my life;
Whom should I dread?
2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,
My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.
3 If an army encamps against me,
My heart will not fear;
If war arises against me,
In spite of this I am confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the [b]beauty of the Lord
And to [c]meditate in His temple.
5 For on the day of trouble He will conceal me in His [d]tabernacle;
He will hide me in the secret place of His tent;
He will lift me up on a rock.
6 And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,
And I will offer sacrifices in His tent [e]with shouts of joy;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, Lord, when I cry with my voice,
And be gracious to me and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,
“I shall seek Your face, Lord.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me,
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me,
God of my salvation!
10 [f]For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
But the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me Your way, Lord,
And lead me on a level path
Because of my enemies.
12 Do not turn me over to the [g]desire of my enemies,
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And the violent witness.
13 I certainly believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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What is so contentious about our Transforming our Everyday Faith? As you ponder, is it just me or is my faith really so broken? Psalm 71:17-24

Psalm 71:17-24 The Message

17-24 You got me when I was an unformed youth,
    God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
    I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.
God, don’t walk off and leave me
    until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
    news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
    ways, O God.
God, you’ve done it all!
    Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
    Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.
    I’ve been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
    turn to me, be tender to me,
And I’ll take up the lute and thank you
    to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I’ll make music for you on a harp,
    Holy One of Israel.
When I open up in song to you,
    I let out lungsful of praise,
    my rescued life a song.
All day long I’m chanting
    about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
    slink off looking ashamed.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen  

You know that space between heartbeats?

In the dead of night, when the house is finally quiet, the scroll wheel on your mouse has lost its zing – slows down, the mouse wont track or stops working?

That’s where it finds you.

A vague, shapeless ache.

A whisper thumps in your eardrums, hammering away; This can’t be all there is!

You signed up for life, and life more abundant.

You memorized the Bible verses about peace that pass understanding and joy unspeakable.

But on a sunny afternoon, and you’re stuck in traffic with a low fuel light and a lower spirit, and then the gospel feels like a theory. A beautiful, distant theory.

And you wonder, is it just me? Is my faith broken?

What if it’s not?

What if the problem isn’t the absence of faith but a misunderstanding of its fingerprint? What if the life of a believer isn’t about a glowing, ethereal perfection but a series of quiet, counterintuitive, and deeply human postures that, over time, carve the image of Christ into the very grain of our being?

This isn’t about performing for an audience.

It’s about the seven things that happen when the Audience of One truly takes His seat in your heart as a real Christian.

1. They Listen to a Different Whisper

Speaking from experience, I know for a fact the world’s voice is a crescendo.

It’s the algorithm’s curated envy, the news cycle’s curated panic, and the marketplace’s curated lack of profit for your new roof. It shouts of what you must have, what you must fear, and who you must become to be enough. It’s a heavy yoke, and it’s a yoke we often pick up and carry without a second thought.

But what if somewhere along the way we have learned to tune your ear to a completely different frequency? A lower, quieter, older sound.

It’s the sound you have to get still to hear.

It’s not in the earthquake or the fire, but the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12).

A real Christian isn’t someone who never hears the world’s noise; they’re just someone who has practiced recognizing the timbre of the Shepherd’s voice over the din of the crowd. 

“My sheep hear my voice,“ Jesus said, “and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

This is the first, most fundamental difference.

It’s not that real Christians are never afraid; it’s that they’ve learned which voice to answer when fear calls their name. They turn down the volume on the chaos to hear the whisper that says, “I am with you. I am for you. Be still.”

2. They See the World Through a Lens of Ownership—Not Tenancy

Most of us live as tenants.

We pass through spaces—our jobs, our neighborhoods, even our families—with a temporary mindset.

We complain about the mess but feel no real responsibility for cleaning it.

We see the brokenness but feel powerless to mend it.

“It’s not our house; it is not our problem we’re just passing through.”

But a real Christian operates from a wild, paradoxical truth: they are both a pilgrim and a steward.

They understand they are “a stranger and a pilgrim” on this earth, as stated in Hebrews 11:13-16; their ultimate citizenship is elsewhere.

Hebrews 11:13-16 The Message

13-16 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.

Yet, this freeing truth doesn’t breed detachment; it fuels radical engagement.

Because they know the Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it (Psalm 24:1-2).

24 1-2 God claims Earth and everything in it,
    God claims World and all who live on it.
He built it on Ocean foundations,
    laid it out on River girders.

They are not temporary tenants; they are only stewards of the King’s estate.

This changes everything.

It means the trash on the sidewalk is litter on the King’s highway.

The lonely neighbor is a subject of the King who needs companionship.

The injustice in the city is a stain on the King’s dominion.

They don’t see a world they are trying to escape from, but a creation they are entrusted to care for on behalf of its rightful Owner.

Their work, their charity, their civic engagement, ministry and mission—it’s all an act of stewardship, a way of tending the garden until the Gardener returns.

3. They Hold Their Plans With Open Hands

We clutch our five-year plans like life rafts adrift in the crashing waves.

We white-knuckle our careers, our relationships, and our dreams.

We see a closed door as a personal failure and a detour as a disaster.

Our identity gets tangled up in our itinerary.

But have you ever noticed how often God’s greatest works begin with a divine interruption? A detour on the road to Damascus. A change of route that leads to a Macedonian call. A Messiah who arrived in a feeding trough, not a palace?

The real Christian has a paradoxical relationship with control.

They make plans, yes.

They are diligent.

But they hold those plans loosely, writing “if the Lord wills” in the margins of their life.

Just like it clearly says in James 4:15, “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.”

Nothing but a Wisp of Fog

13-15 And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”

This isn’t passive fatalism.

It’s active trust.

It’s the difference between being the author of your own story, frantically trying to control the story plot, and our images of being a beloved character in God’s great narrative, trusting the author’s pen – never in His auto-pen

It’s the freedom that comes when your identity is rooted in who you belong to, not what you are accomplishing.

Understanding the closed door isn’t a tragedy but a redirection.

The interruption isn’t an annoyance; it’s an invitation to a better story.

4. They Find Strength in the Unmasking

The world teaches us to curate.

To present our highlight reel. To armor up with confidence, success, and togetherness. Vulnerability is seen as a weakness, a crack in the façade.

But the kingdom of God operates on a different economy. It’s a kingdom where strength is “made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The real Christian isn’t the one who has it all together in the church foyer. 

The real Christian is the one brave enough to unmask in a small group and say, “My marriage is struggling,” or “I’m battling a fear I can’t shake,” or “I feel so alone.”

They understand church is not a museum for saints but hospital for sinners.

It’s in the honest confession of our brokenness that the light of grace gets in.

It’s in admitting we are weak we finally tap into a strength that isn’t our own.

This is the scandalous exchange: our anxiety for His peace, our weariness for His rest, and our mess for His mercy.

We don’t have to pretend anymore.

We can bring our whole, tired, tangled selves to the foot of the cross and find that we are met not with condemnation, but with a love that heals precisely where we are most wounded.

5. They Practice a Gratitude That Doesn’t Ignore the Pain

It’s easy for us to be thankful on the mountaintop. When the sun is shining and the bank account is full and the kids are healthy.

But according to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, the call is to “in everything give thanks.” In everything. Not for everything.

There’s a profound difference.

A real Christian develops a gratitude that is not blind to the darkness but that chooses to acknowledge the single point of light.

It’s a defiant act. 

It’s giving thanks for the single flower growing through the crack in the pavement of a devastatingly dry year.

It’s the “sacrifice of praise,” like in Hebrews 13:15, that costs us something—our pride, our self-pity, and our right to be the center of our own tragic story.

This gratitude isn’t a plastic smile.

It’s the raw, honest prayer of the Psalmist who cries out in 

Psalm 13:1, 5, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?” 

and then, in the very next breath, declares, “But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” 

Real Christians can hold the pain and the promise in the same hand and thank God that the story isn’t over yet.

6. They Extend the Mercy They Themselves Desperately Need

We are natural scorekeepers.

We keep mental ledgers of who has wronged us, owes us, and who has failed us.

We withhold forgiveness until we feel the other person has suffered enough.

But then you really, truly understand the gospel.

You realize you are a debtor who has been forgiven a debt so astronomical it could never be repaid. 

Ten thousand talents worth.

And that person who cut you off in traffic, relative who betrayed your trust, that coworker taking credit for your work—their debt against you is, by comparison, a hundred pence (Matthew 18:23-35).

The real Christian doesn’t forgive others because they are a doormat.

They forgive because they have been lifted off the floor themselves.

They extend mercy because they are living on a daily supply of it.

They know holding onto offense is like drinking a 10 gallon jug of hemlock and waiting for the other person to get sick.

The command to love our enemies isn’t a weapon for guilt; it’s a prescription for freedom. Matthew 5:43-48

It’s the only way to unlock our own hearts from the prison of bitterness.

7. They Live from a Future Promise in a Present Tense

This is the thread that ties all the others together. Everyone lives with an underlying narrative about how the story ends. For some, it’s a quiet hope in personal legacy. For others, it’s a grim certainty of decay and nothingness.

However, the real Christian lives with a blessed assurance. 

A “hope both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19).

Hebrews 6:17-20 Christian Standard Bible

17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

This hope is not a vague wish but an anchor for the soul.

It’s the settled conviction the story ends with restoration, reconciliation, and resurrection.

That every wrong will be made right, and every tear will be wiped away.

And that future promise changes everything about the present tense.

It means our suffering is not meaningless.

It means our labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

It means that when we stand for justice, when we create beauty, when we offer comfort, we are not just delaying the inevitable darkness. 

We are planting seeds of a coming kingdom. Matthew 13 Parable of the Sower

We are living now as citizens of the world to come.

We are, as Anglican Bishop N.T. Wright says,

“celebrating Easter in the midst of Lent.” We live in the tension of the “already” but “not yet,” and it infuses our present moment with eternal significance.

So the next time that ache finds you in the quiet dark, don’t dismiss it as a failure of faith.

See it as a homing device.

A reminder that you were made for more than this world can offer. 

The difference for real Christians isn’t in the absence of the struggle.

It’s in the presence of a companion within it.

It’s not about doing more.

It’s listening, receiving, responding to a love that has already done everything.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ….

Praying …

Psalm 16

Confidence in the Lord

A Miktam of David.

1 Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you.
2 I[a] said to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have nothing good besides you.”[b]
3 As for the holy people who are in the land,
they are the noble ones.
All my delight is in them.
4 The sorrows of those who take another god
for themselves will multiply;
I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
and I will not speak their names with my lips.

5 Lord, you are my portion[c]
and my cup of blessing;
you hold my future.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me
in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I will bless the Lord who counsels me—
even at night when my thoughts trouble me.[d]
8 I always let the Lord guide me.[e]
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad
and my whole being rejoices;
my body also rests securely.
10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol;
you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.
11 You reveal the path of life to me;
in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and of the Priceless Pearl. How Much is the Kingdom of God worth digging, mining, for God’s hidden treasures?

Matthew 13:44-46 English Standard Version

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is a story about pirate gold, stolen from Spanish sailors, who stole it from the Incas in South America, who had invaded the lands of other people and built an empire in the Andes Mountains.

The pirates had buried the gold on a Caribbean island. After the treasure map was lost and later found, people from all over England went in search of it.

This is a cautionary tale of mutiny, bloodshed, and—in the end—untold riches.

It is a parable about people’s ill-gotten gains and all of the trouble it brings.

In Jesus’ parable about hidden treasure, our Lord doesn’t focus on where the treasure came from, who might have known about it in the past, and so on.

That isn’t why he told the parable. The important points here are that

(1) the kingdom of heaven is a hidden treasure worth more than anything else we could ever have, and (2) sometimes people stumble upon it unexpectedly.

How easy it is to be utterly wrapped up in the struggles of life:

getting an education, landing a job, finding a spouse, raising kids, fending off health problems, growing old, saving for retirement, eventually, facing death.

How easy it would be to brush off eternal life as vague religious stuff, and to listen to the continuous barrage of sneers of people who call it “pie in the sky.”

But what a surprise to find that Jesus came to show God’s love for us sinners!

Eternal life and the kingdom of heaven are as solid as treasure found in a field.

These two parables are like conjoined twins.

They are very similar but they also have marks of individuality.

They both teach the truth that the supreme blessing, by far the most priceless discovery in life, is the discovery of God.

To be in His Kingdom, to be a member of his family, to receive Him and His love and power is the true treasure of living.

They also teach that God is not only VALUABLE but ACCESSIBLE.

John 3:16-21 English Standard Version

For God So Loved the World

16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

We can all have Him, we all have unlimited access to Him from the very poorest dirt farmer to the wealthiest pearl merchant, the seaman upon the raging seas.

We may find Him in different ways but we have Him when we value Him above all else.

Romans 5:1-5 English Standard Version

Peace with God Through Faith

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that our sufferings produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

I. THE VALUE OF DISCOVERING GOD.

The two pictures are simple but powerful.

In first century Palestine, when armies marched across the land, people saved their possessions by burying them.

Rabbis had a saying, “There is only one safe repository for money – the earth.”

A poor dirt farmer is plowing somebody else’s field.

He does it to feed himself and his family.

He knows every clod in that old patch and probably hates each one.

When his plow goes deep and hits something hard he curses the rock. But when he digs it out it is not a rock but a chest – a chest filled with more money than he has ever seen. He buries it and sells everything he owns so he can buy the field.

The second man is a wealthy pearl merchant.

The pearl in that day was like our diamond, a rare treasure.

One day he came across the most beautiful, valuable pearl he had ever seen.

He too sold all he had so he could buy it.

The pearl and the treasure represent, of course, the Kingdom of God, all those blessings and benefits that are ours in being rightly related to Christ.

We often think of religion as something which takes all the joy out of life but, instead, it’s like daily work, finding buried treasure, like finding a perfect jewel.

When God opens our eyes we get our priorities right.

We see that which is truly valuable.

Passengers on a cruise ship give little thought to the life jackets under their bed.

They are crude and ugly and rough and uncomfortable.

But let the ship start to go down and the jackets are prized above all items.

To many, Christianity, like those jackets, is something to fall back on in life’s emergencies, but the rest of the time it is a hindrance to full and free living.

To others, however, Christianity is as valuable, every day and in every way, as a life jacket is to a drowning man.

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

He is the Water of Life.

Just as our bodies starve without bread and water, so our higher nature starves without Him who satisfies the hungers and thirsts of our souls.

Jesus is the most valuable thing in life, the one thing we could not do without.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit amen …

Praying …

Ascribe to the Lord Glory

A Psalm of David.

29 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,[a]
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.[b]

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
    and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth[c]
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
    May the Lord bless[d] his people with peace!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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O’ That Parable of the Great Banquet; Fasting or Feasting on the Gospel: We Have All Been “Invited” to the Party! Luke 14:15-24

Luke 14:15-24 Christian Standard Bible

The Parable of the Large Banquet

15 When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is the one who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”

16 Then he told him, “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’

18 “But without exception[a] they all began to make excuses. The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’

20 “And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’

21 “So the servant came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame.’

22 “‘Master,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’

23 “Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges and make them come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, not one of those people who were invited will enjoy my banquet.’”

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Praying, thinking, pondering, meditating about the synoptic gospels reminds us that at the very heart of the Christian faith is a life- changing message of joy.

That’s why I like this parable so much.

Jesus uses a powerful metaphor to describe life with Him in the kingdom of God: a great banquet.

In Jesus’ day, banquets often celebrated important events in the community.

In fact, Jesus’ first miracle took place at a wedding banquet.

To spare this family from social embarrassment when their wine had run out early, Jesus turned several 50 gallon jugs of water into wine (John 2:1-11).

In Luke 14, Jesus tells a story about a wealthy man who is hosting an enormous banquet for his friends.

They all accept the initial invitation, the day of the banquet comes and they are told the food is ready, they make ridiculous excuses, flat rejecting the host’s generosity. The angry frustrated host opens his table to whoever wants to come.

This becomes a picture of the kingdom we are invited to enjoy.

Sometimes this parable is summed up in a way like this:

“God is throwing a party. Are you coming?”

I love that!

This sounds like good news to me!

except, am I even .000001% willing to see that life in Jesus is better and more delightful than anything this world offers?

Am I ready to unbuckle myself from everything worldly and run to the feast?

How the Parable of the Banquet Should Mess With Our Imagination

Studying the Parable(s) of the Banquet, there’s a fairly obvious question we can ask – why is the Kingdom of God described as a banquet in the first place?

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2025&version=NASB

It’s a good biblical theme, with roots in Isaiah 25, and a banquet is a picture of fellowship and acceptance, which speaks of God’s grace.

However, all that said, I wonder if we need to embrace the picture in order to give us a more powerful vision of what God’s Kingdom is.

It’s been said people find it easier to envision hell than heaven, and that’s a shame, because surely it’s better to focus our imaginations on the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God, both in the future and right here and right now.

So why not take some quality time to envision, picture, how, why God’s image of a indescribably sumptuous banquet should easily capture our imaginations.

Because God’s great banquet isn’t quiet.

God’s great banquet isn’t serious and dull.

There’ll be laughing and singing and dancing.

There’ll undeniably be joy and hope and tears of gratitude.

For those who have been hungry there will be food to eat, and not just rationed portions but an all-you-can-eat perfectly prepared buffet you smell as soon as you walk through the door, cuisine from France and Italy, Japan and China and India and Pakistan, the very best English fish and chips you’ll have ever eaten.

For those of us who are heart-broken, there’s the chance to sit with someone in the kitchen and talk it through, but when we’re ready there’ll be music we can dance to without any guilt.

Those who’ve been down on their luck are still invited in, even if they’re wearing an old pair of trainers and jeans from Oxfam, and the angels on the door may even dig out a tuxedo or a Ralph Lauren evening dress for you.

And for those who are ashamed, who feel like they don’t deserve to be there, who feel like their sins and their past are too shameful for them to even step over the threshold, Jesus himself heads straight for them, he takes their coat and pours their drink because they need to know that the King of Kings who hosts this party wrote their name on the welcome list himself.

Simply because he loves them and wants them to be there, he wants them all to be there so much that he willingly went to the cross to make 100% sure the door to this great banquet could be thrown open to all who want to come.

Eating together, sharing a meal together, is how the Bible shows acceptance and fellowship, and that’s why the central ritual in Christianity isn’t a hymn or sermon, it’s a a simple meal of bread and wine that ultimately reminds us of what Savior Christ did for us that day, and of God’s great love for his people.

The realization of that can change lives: Zacchaeus is a tax collector hated by all, but one meal with Jesus and he’s giving away a fortune to make amends; a woman gatecrashes a party just to anoint Jesus’s feet, and he ends up telling her that she’ll be fondly remembered forever for the truly beautiful thing she did.

Parties with Jesus aren’t about a table of vol au vents and a few glasses of wine, they are all an opportunity for grace, and when you end up partying with Jesus…

Psalm 23:5-6Authorized (King James) Version

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 34:8 Authorized (King James) Version

8 O taste and see that the Lord is good:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

…Life is going to change forever.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit

Praying ….

Psalm 16 English Standard Version

You Will Not Abandon My Soul

A Miktam[a] of David.

16 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”

3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
    in whom is all my delight.[b]

4 The sorrows of those who run after[c] another god shall multiply;
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names on my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.[d]
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being[e] rejoices;
    my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
    or let your holy one see corruption.[f]

11 You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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How deep is deeply Rooted in Christ? On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Genesis 2:1-3

Genesis 2:1-3 Complete Jewish Bible

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. 2 On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

How often have you uttered any of these statements in the last few moments minutes, hours, days, weeks or months?

“I’m tired.”

“I need a break.”

“I could really use some time off.”

“I wish I had just one more hour of sleep.”

Or even,

“I am so ready for a vacation.”

For some, like my wife, it might be, “I could use a long vacation right now.” 

These statements are indicators you need rest.

The challenge is we live in a world that often runs at an exhausting pace, and the last thing we want to do is rest because we feel there is so much more to do.

While you might think there is something more noble in that, the truth tells us something different. God, in his infinitely greater wisdom, commands us to rest, and the benefits of rest are not just a luxury, they are really a necessity.

Exodus 20:10-11 Complete Jewish Bible

10 but the seventh day is a Shabbat for Adonai your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work — not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. 11 For in six days, Adonai made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why Adonai had blessed the day,  Shabbat, and separated it for himself.

As we consider this weighty topic, I want to be both spiritual and practical because, for as you will see, lack of rest is clearly not in your best interest.

What are the effects of lack of rest?

Sleep deficiency is linked to many chronic health problems, including heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression. Sleep deficiency is also linked to a higher chance of injury in adults, teens, and children.

What happens to the body if it doesn’t rest?

Higher stress levels

It all comes back to cortisol, the stress hormone: Sleep deprivation may raise cortisol levels, which can contribute to weight gain, heart disease, anxiety, signs of aging and so much more.

Can you get sick from lack of rest?

Yes.

Lack of sleep can affect your immune system.

Studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as a common cold virus.

Lack of sleep also can affect how fast you get better if you do get sick.

What happens to your brain when you don’t rest?

Studies indicate that lack of sleep leads to neurological damage in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory.

God Established the Principle of Rest

Before God ever established the law, he established a principle of rest.

Unlike us, God did not need to rest, because he does not get tired.

He rested because he was setting a standard for us to follow.

Later on, when God gave the law, he further solidified this principle.

Exodus 23:10-12 Complete Jewish Bible

10 “For six years, you are to sow your land with seed and gather in its harvest. 11 But the seventh year, you are to let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people can eat; and what they leave, the wild animals in the countryside can eat. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove.

12 “For six days, you are to work. But on the seventh day, you are to rest, so that your ox and donkey can rest, and your slave-girl’s son and the foreigner be renewed.

The Physical Implications of a Lack of Rest

Find yourself tired or exhausted?

It could be you are violating the principle of rest.

It is a lot easier to do that now.

If you go back in time, most businesses used to be closed on Sundays.

Not anymore.

Beyond that, studies have shown we are sleeping less and working more.

Even when we take time off from work, we don’t even know how to enjoy that properly.

Consider these statistics from Forbes.

  • 54% of people work while on vacation.
  • 59% of people struggle to switch off from work while on vacation.
  • 63% of people feel anxious if they don’t check their work-related messages while on vacation.
  • 86% of people receive relaxation-disrupting calls and messages from colleagues while on vacation.
  • 54% feel guilty if they work while on vacation.
  • 47% feel guilty if they don’t work while on vacation.
  • One in four admitted that their boss demands them to work on vacations.
  • 34% of people choose to work while on vacation because they love their job. However, 29% do so out of fear of losing it.

This lack of rest ultimately can have physical, emotional, and mental health implications. Within that same article, they mentioned two alarming statistics.

  • 70% of people have experienced mental health issues due to overworking, with 43% suffering from anxiety and one in eight turning to harmful substances.
  • Two-thirds of workers have experienced alarming physical health issues, such as chronic pain and a weakened immune system, caused by overworking. 

Further medical research has connected a lack of rest to several serious issues, including obesity, depression, heart failure, and even dementia.

Employees that don’t get enough rest are far more likely to be unfocused, miss days of work or get injured on the job.

With all these potential consequences from a lack of rest, clearly God knew what he was doing when he commanded us to rest.

He was looking out for our overall well-being.

Lack of Rest Has Spiritual Implications

Matthew 11:28-30 New American Standard Bible 1995

28 “Come to Me, all [a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is [b]easy and My burden is light.”

Lack of rest goes beyond just affecting job performance or health.

There are also some serious spiritual consequences that can result from a lack of rest.

Sometimes as Christians, we treat busy and tired as a badge of honor.

If you are extremely busy and exhausted, you must be doing something right.

While it could be true, have you considered it might do more harm than good?

Here is a simple truth I want you to consider.

A tired Christian is a vulnerable Christian.

If you ever watch sports, pay attention to what happens to athletes when they get tired.

They may have lots of energy, fight, and enthusiasm when the game starts.

However, when the game lingers on and fatigue sets in, you may notice their energy levels drop.

The strength and passion they had at the beginning diminishes.

When this happens, they can be a little less focused and pay less attention to details.

They may also lose the will to win.

When you are tired, you are more likely to give up, give in, or give out.

This same principle applies spiritually.

When you are tired, you become more prone to temptation, you may lose patience with other people, which can easily badly damage relationships, and spending time in prayer and in the word becomes less of a priority.

You just may not have the energy to do it.

That’s why you become vulnerable and why rest is so important.

There is a saying that I heard that says fatigue makes cowards of us all.

By ignoring your need for rest and pushing yourself beyond that, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Lack of rest is not a badge of honor but a recipe for disaster.

When you violate God’s principle of rest, as you can see, it comes with some potentially severe, even lethal consequences.

Jesus Spoke and Reiterated the Need for Us to Rest

When Jesus walked the earth, he was cognizant of the need for us to rest.

Going to work, whether secular or sacred, can drain us and we need to recharge.

You cannot pour from an empty cup.

Jesus even recognized this with his disciples.

In Mark’s gospel, Jesus commissions his disciples and sends them out to work.

“Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits” (Mark 6:6-7).

“So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them” (Mark 6:12-13).

The disciples went out and did this ministry work.

When they returned, look at what Jesus tells his disciples.

“Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves” (Mark 6:30-32).

The disciples worked so hard they did not even have time to rest or eat.

Jesus told them to stop, get away from the people around you, rest, and eat.

The disciples followed his instructions, got in a boat, and went on a cruise to a deserted place.

How many times have you worked through lunch, skipped a meal, or given up sleep because there was a sudden onslaught of work you needed to finish?

That might be okay for a brief period, but Jesus recognized that is not a good long-term strategy. He clearly defines there is a time to work and a time to rest.

My friends, you do not differ from the disciples.

You need times where you get away from the busyness of life and rest for a while. Take your cue from Jesus and do what the disciples did. Go on a retreat.

Final Thought

As long as you live, there will always be a time to work and a time to rest.

This is the principle and cycle that God established for us from the beginning, and if you violate that principle, eventually you will most assuredly give out.

You will have no strength left, nothing left to offer, cup is empty, you can’t pour anything from an empty cup, so stop believing you can “fake it till you make it.”

Acknowledge that it is okay and wise to rest.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Complete Jewish Bible

5 Trust in Adonai with all your heart;
do not rely on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him;
then he will level your paths.

7 Don’t be conceited about your own wisdom;
but fear Adonai, and turn from evil.
8 This will bring health to your body
and give strength to your bones.

God established rest as a principle and then a command. Jesus reinforced that idea. Now you need to incorporate rest into your life. There will always be more to do, but if you don’t get proper rest, then you might not be around to do it.

19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[a] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[b] I am with you always,[c] to the end of the age.”

Praying …

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
    for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    forever.[g]

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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How deeply rooted can we be in the soils of ‘Living like Christ’, are we to foolishly, realistically, believe we can get by with, “fake it till we make it?” Colossians 2:6-7

Colossians 2:6-7 Amplified Bible

6 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in all the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], 7 having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established [a]in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Christ-like or Christ-less?

What does it mean to fake it till you make it?

Fake it till you make it refers to the idea of 

projecting a level of self-confidence in order to convince yourself that you can attain a goal that you feel as though you do not yet have the skills to achieve.

In behavioral psychology, the idea of “act as if” and “fake it till you make it” can be a pivotal therapeutic intervention.

This is simply because it is much easier to act ourselves into feeling better than to think ourselves into feeling better, be talked by someone into feeling better.

What causes fake life?

Being dishonest with yourself creates a fake life.

If you are not being honest and lying to yourself about the state of health, or the state of your peace, or happiness, you are living a fake life. The repertoire of lies that we say to others do not harm us as much as the lies we say unto ourselves.

It’s very likely you have heard the famous Las Vegas advertising tagline: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

Think for a moment about what this actually implies.

Hey, you want to cheat on your spouse in Vegas? No problem, it all stays there.

Want to gamble away all your savings? Vegas will never tell.

Want to party until you puke? Fine. The smell will never make it to your home.

The implication of this approach is that it’s okay, even desirable, to live one way in complete secrecy in Las Vegas, then another “normal” way at home.

I fear that for Christians, too many live out their faith in a similar way.

“What happens away from church, stays away from church.”

This reveals a weak, shallow, empty faith that attracts an enormous weight of guilt and frankly, is a lousy way to live.

It’s a compartmentalized faith – a pick-and-choose lifestyle in which a person basically wanders and weaves at will in around and between a Christlike life and a Christ-less life.

Typically, such a person chooses to live God’s way when the church lights are on, sermons are preached, prayers are prayed and Christian friends are looking, but behind closed car and house doors, when no eye can see him, all bets are off.

Here’s my own personal experience following my open heart surgery: when I’m spiritually empty, I will naturally gravitate toward a compartmentalized faith.

I hate to admit it, but when I’m not feeling close to God, the actions of the world are attractive and even seductive to me. Thankfully, as I have matured in my faith, I have also learned how to recognize the signs of my spiritual emptiness.

Now I can usually catch myself before I experience the negative consequences of my actions.

I talk to a lot of Christians who believe living for God means not blowing it in big areas of life: committing adultery, stealing money, murder—kind of thing.

Wrong!

A non-compartmentalized, fully integrated faith means obedience in the small areas too.

Obedience to a managed thoughtful life, speaking kind words and the call to follow God’s way.

It’s what we think at night when no one is around.

It’s that extra jab we do (or don’t) when we have an argument with a friend or spouse. It’s the degree to which we keep (or lose) our cool while fighting traffic.

What’s the solution?

Obedience is much easier when we’re living topped off and spiritually refueled.

When we are consistent in connecting with God, our hearts are full and we’ll desire to live a consistent (non-compartmentalized) faith.

Today, Psalm 46:10-11 it, take time to refuel, by stopping, by being quiet and by making a connection with God.

This can take seconds or hours and it can take place anywhere and at any time.

GOING DEEPER:

In what areas of your life do you find yourself most likely to compartmentalize your faith?

Write out three reasons why you need to be spiritually refueled and focus on the one that gives you the biggest challenge.

In the name of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…

Praying …

Psalm 12 Easy-to-Read Version

To the director: With the sheminith. A song of David.

12 Save me, Lord!
    We can no longer trust anyone!
    All the good, loyal people are gone.
2 People lie to their neighbors.
    They say whatever they think people want to hear.
3 The Lord should cut off their lying lips
    and cut out their bragging tongues.
4 Those people think they can win any argument.
They say, “We are so good with words,
    no one will be our master.”

5 They took advantage of the poor
    and stole what little they had.
But the Lord knows what they did, and he says,
    “I will rescue those who are poor and helpless,
    and I will punish those who hurt them.”[a]

6 The Lord’s words are true and pure,
    like silver purified by fire,
    like silver melted seven times to make it perfectly pure.

7 Lord, take care of the helpless.
    Protect them forever from the wicked people in this world.
8 The wicked are all around us,
    and everyone thinks evil is something to be praised!

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

https://translate.google.com/

‘Our Weary Savior!’ “and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, then sat down by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (noon).” John 4:4-6

John 4:1-6 New Living Translation

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman

4 Jesus[a] knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). 3 So he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4 He had to go through Samaria on the way. 5 Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, then sat wearily beside the well about noontime.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

Jesus took the “shortcut” between Judea in the south and Galilee in the north.

He went through no-mans land Samaria. He was tired from his journey.

He rested by the historic site of Jacob’s well.

So much history and promise come together in this moment.

We expect something grand to happen.

Jesus has come to the well dug by Father Israel. (Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. [1]) [1] Genesis 32:22-28.

What great word do we hear from Jesus? None.

What triumphant deed does he do? None.

At least, not at first.

Jesus’ primary initial action was simply to sit down.

He was a weary Savior.

He was tired.

Sounds almost bizarre as our hearts exalt and hold Jesus in the highest of places.

At the same time, something wondrous is once again revealed to us: Jesus became flesh.

Human flesh.

Mortal flesh.

Wearying flesh.

He knows us not only because he is God, but also because he was one of us whose body got weary from a long journey, whose feet got dirty, whose legs grew weak and sore and tired, whose stomach growled when it was empty.

Jesus is a Savior who knows us; not just because he is God, but also because he has lived among us, in our world, sharing our burdens, feeling our weariness.

All of us will have times when we will have to care for our loved ones.

Maybe this is due to a parent going to a nursing home or a sibling getting sick.

I remember whenever my sisters got sick when I was a kid my mother made sure to separate us (in case it was contagious) and then she would have us help each other in various ways (cooking soup) while still keeping proper distance.

This could also be coloring a picture for the person who was sick or to bring them fresh soup while they were resting and recovering their strength.

However, as we get older, caring for our loved ones can get harder still because most of the time, it is something more than a cold or a flu.

It could be a chronic medical condition, cancer diagnosis or an incurable illness flare-up. Other times, it might be that unexpected diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Any one of these things can be hard and they can all lead to burn out. 

This is why we need to know how to care for our loved ones in Christ-like ways without burning out.

If we burn out, we will not be a good support system for anyone.

We will only become short tempered and more prone to get aggravated by any little inconvenience.

Rather than giving in to anger, frustration, or tiredness, we need ways to extend Christ-like love to others while also establishing our boundaries for self-care, to maintaining our own emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. 

1. Serving Your Loved Ones

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). 

Jesus tells us that He came to this earth to serve others, not to serve Himself.

In the same way, we need to serve others.

If we are going to extend Christ-like actions to our loved ones, we are going to have to serve them as Jesus did.

Jesus never saw a task as being too inferior to Him, but rather, He healed the sick, the blind, and the crippled (Matthew 4:23-25; Luke 4:38-41).

Because of His love, He was always going far out of His way to serve us. 

Your loved one might be living with a chronic debilitating illness where they cannot get around anymore.

Whenever you start to grow frustrated, remember what the Lord says in Matthew 20:28.

Also, try to put yourself in your loved one’s shoes and see things from their perspective.

It is really hard to live with a chronic debilitating illness and that might make a person hard to be around sometimes. 

Try to reflect upon all these things and carry your cross (Matthew 16:24-26).

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Amplified Bible

8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; 9 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in  [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!

James 5:13-18 Amplified Bible

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God]. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with [a]oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed [b]intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].

1 Thessalonians 5:14-19 Amplified Bible

be very patient with everyone [always controlling your temper]. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all people. 16 Rejoice always and delight in your faith; 17 be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 18 in every situation [no matter what the circumstances] be thankful and continually give thanks to God; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.

Jesus will give you the strength that you need to support and care for your loved ones. He knows some days will be harder than others, yet He will forever give you the strength you need to continue.

Jesus is faithful and He will help you as you continue to help your loved one. It pleases Him to see us all following in His footsteps and obeying His teachings. 

As Paul says in his passage, we need to consistently be praying for all of the Lord’s people. This includes our loved ones and the struggles they are facing.

We don’t need to cast off or discount nor ignore nor abandon the infinite power of prayer because a mustard seed prayer can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).

Denying, Disregarding Doubting God’s ability will only hinder our own life. We need to trust in Him and pray on behalf of our loved ones, even if their health is deteriorating. God can do all things—we just need to wait on Him (Luke 1:37). 

When you pray for your loved ones, you will notice your own strength will increase as well as your love for them.

This will help you to keep going without burning out.

Pray for yourself also and ask the Lord to keep you strong.

You want to be there for your loved one and help them in the best possible ways.

Continue to lean heaviest on Jesus, follow Him, pray for your loved ones, and be the best source of support that you can be. 

Burn out will eventually come for all of us, but we have to remember that this is part of the process.

Sometimes it will be impossible not to run ourselves ragged, especially when a loved one is becoming acutely ill, or is that much closer to their passing away.

Therefore, don’t get too hard on yourself if you do face burn out. It doesn’t mean you have failed, it just means you are human. Extend grace to yourself, take time to rest and recover, and ask the Lord to show you what to do next. 

2. Showing Up When Nobody Else Does

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). 

The Lord speaks of the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated in this passage.

Similar to how we would want somebody there for us, we need to be there for our loved ones. Even if nobody else is there for them, we need to be present.

We need to show up, be there, and extend support for our loved ones even when it is exceptionally dangerous, or hardcore or potentially lethal unto ourselves.

https://www.nps.gov/places/kirkland-memorial.htm

While we need to be careful not to burn out, we also don’t need to feel like we cannot do that much for our loved ones.

Find your balance and avoid all extremes.

It can be easy to restrain from doing anything to protect our own mental well-being, but we need to ensure we are doing all we can to help others.

Being there when a loved one is in the hospital can be a heavy strain, yet it is vitally important for us to be there. In the same way, it can be hard to see our grandparents in a memory care unit, but we need to be right there for them.

Just as Jesus is with us when nobody else is, we need to strive to be the physical hands and feet of Jesus to our loved ones in order for them to know that they are sincerely cared about, unconditionally loved, that they all do absolutely matter. 

3. Listening to Your Loved Ones

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19). 

As the Apostle James tells us, we need to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.

Being quick to listen requires wisdom because it is all too common that we begin to speak before listening.

Rather than saying the first thing that comes to mind or something that we believe might help, we need to listen and see what they truly need.

This will help our loved ones to know that they can rely on us and be open with us about anything. 

Our loved ones need us to truly listen to them.

They don’t need us to only half listen or to be doing something in addition to listening to them.

We need to give them our full attention.

Sit with them, put all distractions away, and truly listen to them.

Don’t interrupt or add in any advice unless they ask for it.

Sometimes all our loved ones need is for us to listen to them rather than to start a game plan of what they should do next. 

If your loved one wants advice, they will ask for it.

However, it is more important to be a listening ear than it is to be a speaker of advice.

It will also prevent burn out because you will be paying more attention to what they are saying rather than trying to come up with a plan to fix it.

Release the temptation to fix the situation and allow yourself time to simply sit quietly and attentively listen to your loved one. 

4. Sitting With Them in the Pain

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).

The Apostle Paul tells us that we need to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.

This helps others know that they are not alone.

Sitting with our loved ones will not burn us out because we are simply being there for them as Jesus does. We don’t have to do anything strenuous or hard.

All we have to do is to sit with them in their pain. 

Whenever I am struggling with my chronic illnesses, I need someone to sit with me and by me in the distressing moments.

Sometimes this is all that I need.

I need to know that there is someone who is willing to simply exist with me in the pain and to help me overcome the worries that the pain will never end.

With your own loved ones, it is important that you do this as it will help them feel more comfort, hope, and peace with their own daily struggles.

You never know how much this can help someone and bring renewed strength into their life. 

Servant Leadership

Matthew 20:25-28 Amplified Bible

25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them [tyrannizing them]. 26 It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27  and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your [willing and humble] slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [paying the price to set them free from the penalty of sin].”

In a world that often values power and authority, servant leadership stands as a powerful model for those who seek to make a lasting impact.

Jesus, our ultimate example of servant leadership, has shown us that greatness is found in humble service and selfless sacrifice.

Servant leaders place the needs of others before their own.

They lead with compassion, empathy, a genuine desire to uplift and empower the people they serve.

Instead of seeking to be served, they willingly serve others, pouring out their time, talents, and resources for the well-being of the team or community.

Servant leadership is not about the accumulation of titles or accolades, but about making a positive difference in the lives of others.

It involves active listening, fostering an inclusive environment, and also our recognizing the highest value and greatest contributions of each person.

As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace servant leadership.

By imitating Jesus’ selflessness and humility, we reflect his love to the people around us.

We strive to lead by example, showing integrity, compassion, and grace in our interactions and decisions.

As we embrace the call to servant leadership, may we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve.

May our lives inspire others to live this way too, bringing positive change to our families, friends, workplaces, neighborhoods, our churches and communities.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 25 Christian Standard Bible

Psalm 25
Dependence on the Lord
Of David.

1 Lord, I appeal to you.[a]
2 My God, I trust in you.
Do not let me be disgraced;
do not let my enemies gloat over me.
3 No one who waits for you
will be disgraced;
those who act treacherously without cause
will be disgraced.

4 Make your ways known to me, Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
I wait for you all day long.
6 Remember, Lord, your compassion
and your faithful love,
for they have existed from antiquity.[b]
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth
or my acts of rebellion;
in keeping with your faithful love, remember me
because of your goodness, Lord.

8 The Lord is good and upright;
therefore he shows sinners the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the Lord’s ways show faithful love and truth
to those who keep his covenant and decrees.
11 Lord, for the sake of your name,
forgive my iniquity, for it is immense.

12 Who is this person who fears the Lord?
He will show him the way he should choose.
13 He will live a good life,
and his descendants will inherit the land.[c]
14 The secret counsel of the Lord
is for those who fear him,
and he reveals his covenant to them.
15 My eyes are always on the Lord,
for he will pull my feet out of the net.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am alone and afflicted.
17 The distresses of my heart increase;[d]
bring me out of my sufferings.
18 Consider my affliction and trouble,
and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider my enemies; they are numerous,
and they hate me violently.
20 Guard me and rescue me;
do not let me be disgraced,
for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and what is right
watch over me,
for I wait for you.

22 God, redeem Israel, from all its distresses.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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Jesus did not pray that God should take any of us out of the world, but that God would guard, protect, and shield from the Evil One. John 17:15

John 17:13-19 The Message

13-19 Now I’m returning to you.
I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing
So my people can experience
My joy completed in them.
I gave them your word;
The godless world hated them because of it,
Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,
Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.
I’m not asking that you take them out of the world
But that you guard them from the Evil One.
They are no more defined by the world
Than I am defined by the world.
Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
Your word is consecrating truth.
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,
I give them a mission in the world.
I’m consecrating myself for their sakes
So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

Word of God for the Children of God

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

John 17:15-17 Amplified Bible

15 I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.

Jesus makes it good and clear those who have set their hopes in Him and gone on to follow Him are not going to fit in too well with the world around them. 

If we think about it does it make sense? 

Those so bold as to devote themselves to seeking Christ are shifting their center interest away from all that the worldly men will chase. 

Yet there may be a growing trend developing in many churches to blend in with our society as Christians. 

The religious concept behind this movement may appear to have good motives. 

We might think we could reach more people by rubbing shoulders with them. 

We could imagine ourselves to be more effective witnesses if we do not stand out as freaks to society. 

Although true to some degree could these kinds of sentiments hide clever tricks intelligently placed within the path of the true servants of the Lord? 

Could Jesus be bracing us for this movement by deliberately praying for us not to be taken out of the world, but to be shielded, be protected while we are in it?

For many years Christians were pleased to stand out on their faith in the Scriptures. 

They saw that a higher level of morals and going to church brought their hearts better in tune with God. 

For them, to wear the mantra of Christian meant to make this great distinction. 

Some took it further and ran to the hills in their devout effort to please God and prepare for Jesus´ second coming. 

They figured why flee in some future day when we can get out of society early by finding a more remote setting in which to live. 

They, like the Christian who embraces society with the idea of witnessing to it would like to think they are doing what they do to please God. 

So which one is right? 

Neither?  Or both?

If we dig a little deeper we could argue both extremes. 

Christians today could seek to remove themselves from their society and there are sufficient texts in the Bible to give them the notion that they should. 

At the same time the opposite is also clearly asked of Jesus´ followers to go to the world and give their testimony. 

So what does this mean? 

Do we have a contradiction? 

Are God´s children given conflicting instructions? 

Or would the Lord have us know what we are talking about when we are not of the world but must be in it?

The answer of our race is still the same. 

Jesus is our answer. 

He always was needed and He is still needed now. 

Old Testament religion looked forward to His day. 

New Testament religion heralded His arrival and His Sacrifice. 

Modern time religion will have to take its stand upon nothing less. 

Therefore our brothers and sisters who live in the big cities need their Savior just as much as those who are living in the most removed corners of the world. 

Everyone will need to come humbly to Christ. 

This is not a stand on doctrines but a real and personal, intimate encounter! 

Our distinction will never save us if it is a distinction of geographic, social or denominational sort. 

Our distinction can place us under the protection of God through Jesus´ priestly prayer only if we are truly right with Him.  What then should we pray for today?

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” John 17:18

Many churches send teams of young people on short-term mission trips.

As they serve, God uses them to bless others, but these young people often note that they are the ones who benefit most from the experience.

Their eyes are opened to the physical and spiritual needs of people of different cultures and races.

They also learn that we don’t need to get on an airplane to visit a mission field.

Jesus prays for his followers in John 17.

He asks not that we be taken out of the world but that God would protect us as he sends us into the world around us.

The call may be to another far off country, but let’s be careful not to ignore our classrooms, workplaces, neighborhoods which we already know many people.

As you manage your business, or teach the students in your class, or serve on a committee in your community, or follow up with a co-worker in the lunchroom about a rebellious child, be aware that that is our primary places of our mission.

People today are hungry for God.

We need to know how to engage people in conversations and relationships that don’t have a fake worldly “agenda” other than to simply show the love of Jesus.

Ask God today to give you listening ears and to give others an open heart that will respond. As he sends you, know that Jesus continues to work through you.

In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit,

Praying …

Psalm 121 English Standard Version

My Help Comes from the Lord
A Song of Ascents.

121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.

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