Tag: Pondering our Living Hope

When “Church” Seems Bigger Than God. Much like the Grasshopper is as to Man. Numbers 13:30-33, Isaiah 40:21-22.

Moses sent twelve men of Israel, one from each tribe, to explore the land of Canaan.

Only two of the explorers, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a good report (see Numbers 14:6-9).

They said, “The land is good, and God will lead us into it.”

They trusted God to give Israel the land he had promised. The other ten explorers were gripped with fear because the people of the land seemed too big.

They said, “We seemed like grasshoppers to ourselves and to them.”

When fear takes over, our perspectives on many things can get distorted.

For example, our view of God may become skewed.

God may seem small in light of our problems, or God’s Word may seem empty in the face of our difficulties.

Even our view of ourselves may get cloudy when our faith is weak.

Israel said they felt like grasshoppers when in fact they were the chosen and cherished people of God.

It’s important to remember who we are in Christ.

We are the body of Christ. We are sons and daughters of the King.

We are called “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession” (1 Peter 2:9).

When fear creeps in, remember the God you serve.

Remember who you are and whose you are.

Then step forward in faith, leaning on God’s promises and power.

Numbers 13:30-33Amplified Bible

30 Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession of it; for we will certainly conquer it.” 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are too strong for us.” 32 So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we went, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all of the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

In Numbers 13, the Israelites came near to the Promised Land.

God instructed Moses to send 12 men to spy out the land He was giving them.

They passed through a fertile land filled with grape clusters so large it took two men to carry one bunch. They walked through an area blessed with sweeping grasslands, abundant fresh water, and almost perfect weather.

But it was also a land inhabited by strong, giant people. And 10 of the 12 men couldn’t see past that perceived threat. They had an unrealistic view of the problem, thinking they were so large that they were impossible to overcome.

Many people have called this way of looking at life as “grasshopper thinking.” It is a manner of thinking which leaves God completely out of the equation.

Such Grasshopper thinking has prevented many people, down through the ages, from expanding their perceptions of selves, becoming everything God intended them to become and has robbed them of things He intended for them to enjoy.

It keeps believers from ever even attempting any great thing for God, defeating and preventing them from faithfully bringing the Kingdom of God unto others.

Grasshopper thinking is leaving God out of His plan for our lives. When God shows me His plan for the next step in my life, it is not my job to begin to evaluate His plan. It is my job simply to trust Him, believe that He will provide everything necessary for it to succeed, and then to start walking forth into it.

Caleb, the spy from the tribe of Judah, encouraged Israel to go forth anyway and possess the land (Numbers 13:30). But ten of the other spies threw cold water on that suggestion, emphasizing the strength of the adversaries, considering themselves as grasshoppers in comparison (Numbers 13:31-33).

Israel went the way of the ten spies; they went so far as to express the desire to return to Egypt and slavery (Numbers 14:1-4).

Caleb, along with Joshua, the spy from Ephraim, begged Israel to reconsider, affirming the goodness of the land and that YHWH would give it to them, confident that if YHWH was with them, it would not matter how strong their foes might seem (Numbers 14:5-9).

But it was too late; Israelites sought to stone Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:10).

Before we unnecessarily Judge, let us consider Israel’s perspective. The reality “on the ground” is never in doubt: the ten spies recognize that the land is of excellent quality with great produce; Caleb and Joshua recognize that the inhabitants of the land are numerous, strong, living in well-fortified cities.

The Israelites have just left slavery in Egypt; they did not have the resources and strength among themselves to overcome their enemies’ advantages.

They, as with the ten spies, assess the situation as it looks on the ground; their response is entirely natural according to such a perspective.

If it is their strength versus their opponents’ strength, they will die in battle.

Such thinking and reasoning seem to be quite realistic in that historical context.

And then there was the faith motivating Caleb and Joshua.

If all Israel could rely on was its own resources and strength, then Caleb and Joshua would agree that any invasion was a fool’s errand.

But Caleb and Joshua remembered that YHWH had just redeemed them from Egyptian slavery, from the very Egypt which dominated Canaan and boasted the strongest empire of the day.

If YHWH could rescue Israel from Egypt, then YHWH could dispossess the strong Canaanite nations from before Israel (Numbers 14:9).

No, Israel would not obtain Canaan because of their own abilities.

They could only obtain it if they trusted in YHWH.

But Israel was not trusting in YHWH. They were rebelling against Him!

He promised He would bring them into the land flowing with Milk and Honey.

However, instead all they wanted to go back to Egypt, to give up on YHWH’s mission halfway through (Exodus 3:7-9, Numbers 14:1-4).

To return to Egypt would be to forsake YHWH and everything which He had done for Israel.

They even wished they had died in Egypt or the wilderness; such is how little they trusted in YHWH or thought of the efficacy of His power in this situation.

Rejoice in God’s Power

Have you heard the story by Max Lucado about a man who prayed that God would show his power and collapse a wall like that of Jericho (Joshua 6) and stop a storm the way he did in Galilee (Luke 8:22-25)?

God answered the man by bringing down a wall–not of brick, but of sin.

And he stilled a storm–not of a sea, but of a soul.

Tragically, because the man was looking for the wrong things, he complained that God had done nothing.

He asked God, “Have you lost your power?”

And God answered, “Have you lost your hearing?”

Sometimes we wonder if God has lost power in these 2022 times and seasons.

We wonder if God really is in max control in these 2022 times and seasons.

Isaiah 40:21-22Amplified Bible

21 
Do you [who worship idols] not know? Have you not heard?
Has it not been told to you from the beginning?
Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth [the omnipotence of God and the stupidity of bowing to idols]?
22 
It is He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.
[It is He] who stretches out the heavens like a veil
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

According to Isaiah 40:21-22, God has not lost so much as one ounce of his power, but we all have diminished listening skills and have lost our hearing and our ability to comprehend the spoken word has been sacrificed to “itchy ears.”

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? … He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers… The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.”

Still, we look at the verses from Isaiah and say to ourselves – those words are two thousand eight hundred years old, and these are New Testament times.

It is the year of our Lord and Savior 2022 …. The context is radically different.

To this day there is a place for assessment of the situation “on the ground.”

In general, there is consensus about the situation of the faith “on the ground.”

Its influence, however strong it may have been in the past, seems to be waning.

Church membership, ministry, mission and participation is definitely declining.

More and more people are just as likely to identify as “spiritual, not religious.”

Strong secular and spiritual forces attempt to subvert the faith and marginalize those who proclaim it.

Following Jesus seems to be a quaint relic of the past, a historical legacy many feels are better to discard.

Likewise, there is general agreement that by our own resources and strength it will prove nearly impossible for the church to turn the tide on these trends.

“Realistically” we have definite reasons for much lamentation and mourning.

Brothers, Sisters, For the whole of the Body of Christ, God’s Church in God’s ever more complex Neighborhood, there are many Calebs and Joshua’s and so many more than those “10 spies” who have forceful opinions counter to theirs.

In the face of such enormous “giants” “Sober assessments” recognize the seeming futility of our endeavors. “On the ground,” it would seem that we should make sure to ask the first person to enter to turn on all of the lights and we should also make sure to ask the last person to leave to turn off the lights.

Yet such assessments, however “realistic” or “sober” they seem to be, do not take into complete account the existence of God and all He has done for us.

They do not take into complete account that “realistically” Christianity should never have existed, and even if it had been started, by all “realistic” scenarios would have died out a long time ago if there was not the infinite power of God.

Jesus has won the victory; Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:31-33).

The forces of darkness in this world are arrayed far and wide, far as the east is from the west, north from south against us and are strong (Ephesians 6:12).

Nevertheless, He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Many Christians have fallen into the trap of cynicism and pessimism dressed up as being, or needing to be more “politically, culturally correct” “honest” or “realistic” about the manifold problems facing Christianity and the church.

We do well to remember the spies and Israel were the people of God, and they were being quite “realistic” and “honest” about the situations they were facing.

They “made their assessment.” Yet God punished that generation for rebelling against Him; they ironically got their wish, for they all but Caleb and Joshua would die in the wilderness and would not inherit the land (Numbers 14:10-35).

The ten spies died by plague (Numbers 14:36-37).

It would be the next generation who would trust in YHWH and obtain the promised land, and Caleb and Joshua would lead them to victory (Joshua 1:1-24:33).

We must remember this because what the Israelites thought was “honesty” and “realism” betrayed a lack of faith and rebelliousness (1 Corinthians 10:1-12)!

YHWH had already proven Himself by delivering them from Egyptian slavery and providing for them to that moment.

Likewise, God has proven Himself to us through the life, death, resurrection, and lordship of Jesus His Son (Romans 1:4, Romans 5:6-11, 8:17-25).

He is able to do more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21).

The only reason we have ever had the opportunity to hear the Gospel ourselves is on account of His great power working through successive generations of His servants (Hebrews 12:1) and His Son Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith who for the joy set before Him; endured the cross; despising all of the shame and is NOW set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow because if it were only ever based on the resources and strength of the faithful the message would not get very far!

The world gives many reasons for cynicism, despair, doubt, and pessimism.

It always has; and it always will. Christians are called to put their trust in God, recognizing the victory comes through Jesus even in difficult circumstances, and the ways of the world are folly to God (1 Corinthians 1:19-25, 1 Peter 1:3-9).

The decision is up to us.

It always was, is and forever shall be ….

The Body of Christ, the Church in God’s ever more complex Neighborhood …

Are we going to so (too) easily surrender to our version, our vision, of our so called allegedly “correct” “honest” “realistic” “Grasshopper” assessment and be driven far and wide to cynicism and despair and division as the ten spies and Israel, proving to have more faith in our perception and the ways of the world than in our own Creator and Redeemer, and be judged to be in “max” rebellion?

Or return to the Word of God to find our God’s answers to our souls “wisdom?”

Psalm 25Amplified Bible

Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.

A Psalm of David.

25 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 
O my God, in You I [have unwavering] trust [and I rely on You with steadfast confidence],
Do not let me be ashamed or my hope in You be disappointed;
Do not let my enemies triumph over me.
3 
Indeed, none of those who [expectantly] wait for You will be ashamed;
Those who turn away from what is right and deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed (humiliated, embarrassed).

4 
Let me know Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
5 
Guide me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You [and only You] I wait [expectantly] all the day long.
6 
Remember, O Lord, Your [tender] compassion and Your loving kindnesses,
For they have been from of old.
7 
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
According to Your lovingkindness remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

8 
Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore, He instructs sinners in the way.
9 
He leads the humble in justice,
And He teaches the humble His way.
10 
All the paths of the Lord are lovingkindness and goodness and truth and faithfulness
To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 
For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my wickedness and my guilt, for they are great.

12 
Who is the man who fears the Lord [with awe-inspired reverence and worships Him with submissive wonder]?
He will teach him [through His word] in the way he should choose.
13 
His soul will dwell in prosperity and goodness,
And his descendants will inherit the land.
14 
The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him,
And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.
15 
My eyes are continually toward the Lord,
For He will bring my feet out of the net.

16 
Turn to me [Lord] and be gracious to me,
For I am alone and afflicted.
17 
The troubles of my heart are multiplied;
Bring me out of my distresses.
18 
Look upon my affliction and my trouble,
And forgive all my sins.
19 
Look upon my enemies, for they are many;
They hate me with cruel and violent hatred.
20 
Guard my soul and rescue me;
Do not let me be ashamed or disappointed,
For I have taken refuge in You.
21 
Let integrity and uprightness protect me,
For I wait [expectantly] for You.
22 
O God, redeem Israel,
Out of all his troubles.

Or will we prove willing to put our maximum measure of trust in God in Christ, aware of the long odds and impossibility of our mission in worldly terms, but be ever mindful of God’s strength and faithfulness, and to put our maximum hope in God and His strength, as Caleb and Joshua did? May we maintain faith and hope and not give in to cynicism and despair and obtain the victory in Jesus!

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

Let us Pray,

Heavenly Father, there are days—even long stretches, when people gain more influence over our hearts than they deserve. As Moses wrote in one of today’s passages. some people can make us feel like grasshoppers in the presence of giants. When this happens, any of a number of broken relational styles results.

When people seem bigger than you, they impact how we see ourselves and spend our days, and how we sleep, eat, and stress.

Through the truth and grace of the gospel, help us take back the power we’ve given mere people to shape, shame, or shut us down.

No one deserves that much sway.

If we’re going to feel “grasshopper-sized” anywhere in life, it should only be before you; for you are God, and people are not.

The good news is, in Christ, we are your “beloved grasshoppers”—safe, not threatened; cared for, not used; held, not harmed. (Matthew 6:28)

Indeed, Father, free us from looking to anybody to fill us up or “complete us”; or functionally to replace You.

Whether it’s our spouse or children, parents or friends, employer or employees—mere men make lousy idols, wannabe gods, and salvation-less saviors.

And free us from patterns of unforgiveness, resentment, and bitterness.

When fear of man morphs into wishing others harm, dreaming of their demise, or calling down fire, or vast darkening plagues of Locusts, they win, we all lose.

Bitterness defiles, envy rots, and revenge belongs to you.

Father, you’ve placed a Jesus-shaped void in our hearts only Jesus can fill. Keep us restless until we rest in him; peace-less, until he is our peace; and longing, until he is our life. So very Amen we pray, in his glorious and grace-full name.

All Glory be unto God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!

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When our Work Becomes our Real Identity: Was the Apostle Paul the “Original Energy Bunny Christian?” Philippians 3:7-11

Your resume is a valuable tool, whether you are a high school student looking for that first part-time job, a seasoned employee hoping to secure a prestigious promotion high pay position with a leading company, or something in between.

On your resume, you will definitely boast about the degrees you have earned, the awards you have been given, or the success you have enjoyed on the job. It will include a “diverse array” of “relevant” on the job hands-on experiences.

But what happens when we make these “relevant hands-on” qualities into the very central piece of who we are in the context of the new role we want to fulfil?

It’s ever so easy to get so wrapped up in our identity as employees, employers, students, or parents that we can feel as if our worth depends on the work we do.

Leaving our “original” or “former” work behind—whether it is temporarily or permanently—causes us to lose that particular sense of identity from that job.

If we experienced failure in our work, it probably leaves us feeling worthless, and looking for “self-redemption” while success creates a sense of arrogance and superiority. Our work is distorted by sin when we make it into our identity.

The Apostle Paul’s resume was most definitely unmatched by most others.

In our reading for today from Philippians 3:7-11, Paul lists every quality that could have formed his identity: a top-notch education, professional success, religious devotion, moral excellence, and more.

Yet he is unhesitatingly, unashamed in the least to add that he would gladly throw it all away in exchange for a better identity as a child of God in Christ.

Your resume is not your identity; God has made you someone far greater than the sum of your accomplishments and failures.

What to do with that possibility?

“Rest” in the joy that your identity is found in Jesus!

Get “Energized for God” and “Keep going and going and going and going.”

Going and going and going into all of the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom. Matthew 9:35

Going and going and going …. Walking, Running, the Hard Road before us …. “Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves [have no self-serving agenda]. Matthew 10:16

Going and Going and Going and Going ….

Motivated ONLY by the FIRST Love of our Resurrected Savior Jesus Christ, Tend the Lambs and Feed the Sheep of God’s Kingdom on Earth …. John 21:15-17

Spread the Gospel as Jesus Commanded: Matthew 28:16-20

Witnessing unto the Lord Jesus Christ unto the “ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19)

Always ready to testify unto our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as to the eternal hope that is within us, and which surrounds our every single step. 1 Peter 3:15

So, prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1Peter 1:13

Philippians 3:7-11Amplified Bible

7 But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. 8 But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; 11 [a]so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Several years ago. I heard, was inspired by a testimony given by a Lay Person on a 3-day Spiritual Retreat. The title of the Witness Talk was “Christian Action.”

He testified to us that as he read, and studied the New Testament Epistles, he became thoroughly convinced Apostle Paul was the original Energizer Bunny.

I guess, maybe just a little, you remember those battery commercials where a mechanical pink bunny would zoom across the screen beating a bass drum and it would just keep on going and going and going never stopping for anything.

The implication was it was using the power of Energizer batteries, which were long lasting.

The Testifiers implication about Apostle Paul was nothing stopped him; things like being blinded, walking long hard roads, great distances between cities and villages, being wrongfully arrested, 39 lashes, being beaten, being stoned with rocks, great storms upon the high seas, panicked crew members, shipwrecked, snake bit, robbers, assassins, sleepless nights, hunger, thirst and in cold and exposure, great physical and Spiritual weakness, and those thorns in his side …

You get the picture. I get it.

This guy did not know how or why or when or where to give up living for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; he simply kept on going like the Energizer Bunny.

Energizer-Bunny (Christian) definition: (slang) A person who seems to have limitless energy and endurance (for the sake of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit).

Luke 9:23-24 Amplified Bible

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests] and take up his cross DAILY [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake, he is the one who will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].

This is a most laudable endeavor for any of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

We are called to Love God, our Neighbor and ourselves with everything we are.

You may be that Brother and Sister in Christ with that drive – God Bless You!

But in this time and in this season, I am not him, nor am I the Energizer Bunny.

I become fatigued. I want to quit. I want to not have to face any harder things than I am right now. “I simply have far, far too much on my ‘Christian Plate!’

The thing of it is, is that there is no time when this life is not being tough, and sometimes we need to face it head-on and keep doing good no matter the cost.

As my dad would frequently tell me when I was a boy, and as my Leading Petty Officer in Navy Basic, “Son, sometimes you just need to keep on keeping on.”

“Gut it out!”

“Get back up and on your Bike and just keep pedaling ….!”

“Never, ever look back ….!”

I got to be frank with you all.

Fatigue really gets me really tired sometimes.

It hits me hard, and I want to quit.

This is difficult for me because I’ve been daily working on and writing these blog entries now for nine (9) straight months without one single day missed.

Through my daily preparation of these blog entries, the Word of God, my Bible readings, my studies, my prayers, my hours of research through Commentaries and so much more efforts at being “curious,” I simply cannot remember it all.

God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit has revealed unto me:

I found out that there’s this push in me to not be a quitter.

The reason for this is many, but one thing is for sure is that when I was a young boy, I had too many someone’s tell me I give up too easy and that I am a quitter.

Navy Basic Training as an 18-year-old, everyone was telling me: “never quit!” because you have the “rest of your life” to live out from what you learn here.”

In Army Officer Basic Training in Fort Sam Houston Texas, as a 29-year-old newly minted Nurse Corps Officer, everyone was in my face, commanding me –

“You are an Officer Now – You are Grown Up Now, Never Quit on yourself!”

“You are an Officer Now – You are in Charge Now, Never Quit on your men!”

“You are an Officer now and Quitting is NEVER an option on the Battlefield!”

“If you never quit – you will never die …!”

“If you never quit moving- you will never give the other guy a “good” target!”

And the marching orders and the cadence of the beating drums – kept going!

And I was as eager, if not trying to be more eager, to do my part and far more.

What I didn’t know at the time is that quitting some things is okay – like calling a halt to my military career when my father became terminally ill with COPD.

Then there is “every single day living into and out from” the “Christian Life” which Paul speaks these very poignant and yet deeply inspiring words to:

Philippians 3:7-11The Message

7-9 The very credentials these people are waving around as something special, I’m tearing up and throwing out with the trash—along with everything else I used to take credit for. And why? Because of Christ. Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I’ve dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ and be embraced by him. I didn’t want some petty, inferior brand of righteousness that comes from keeping a list of rules when I could get the robust kind that comes from trusting Christ—God’s righteousness.

10-11 I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

but now most things, require our re-prioritization of our values, like not ever giving up on doing good is something you and I do not ever want to quit doing.

Matthew 6:19-26The Message

A Life of God-Worship

19-21 “Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse! —stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

22-23 “Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

24 “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.

25-26 “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Giving up completely – relying on our past as the best guide towards our future.

Giving up completely not relying solely upon those “rusty worldly resources.”

Never giving up on God, the Father!

Never quitting on God, the Father!

Never giving up on God, the Son!

Never quitting on God, the Son!

Never giving up on God, the Holy Spirit!

Never quitting on God, the Holy Spirit!

Never giving up doing GOD things that are good and noble and loving and true!

Never quit doing GOD things that are 100% good and noble and loving and true!

ONLY AND FOREVER AND EVER, ALLELUIA! AMEN, BECAUSE ….

Philippians 3:9-11 Easy-to-Read Version

9 I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in[a] Christ to make me right with him. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death. I want to share in his sufferings and be like him even in his death. 11 Then there is hope that I myself will somehow be raised from death.

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

Let us Pray,

God my Father, God, Author of my Life, all wisdom and understanding is found in you. Your word brings wisdom and instruction, giving me insight. Your word teaches me knowledge and discernment. Your word helps me understand the confusion in this world. Your word instructs me in what is right, just and fair. You say that fools despise knowledge and instruction but that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Lord, may I come before you in reverence and find that you are faithful to fulfill all your promises. Your word always achieves your purposes, it never fails. Through our Savior Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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Make, Take Time for the Holy One. Take, Make “Every Effort” to do what Leads to Your Peace and Your Mutual Edification. Mark 1:35-39

In the streaming series The Chosen, one episode depicts Jesus returning to a camp where he and his disciples are staying for the night.

It is late, and Jesus has spent the day healing crowds of people.

He stumbles into camp, exhausted from the day’s ministry.

The disciples can only watch him, surprised at how tired he is.

His teaching and healing work must have been exhausting.

Though he was fully God, Jesus was also fully human, so he got tired and needed sleep (see Mark 4:38; John 4:6).

Our narrative reading for today explains that after a long day of teaching and healing, Jesus rose early in the morning to pray.

Jesus needed time to connect with his Father in prayer, resting in his Father’s presence and focusing and resting for a while to then refocus on his purpose.

He had come to do much more than heal people in Capernaum, even though that was clearly important while he was there.

When the disciples went out and found him, he said, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Does Jesus ever stop?

Does Jesus have limitless energy to just “keep going and going and going?”

No! Even Jesus needed His rest and time to refresh his physical body and soul.

Jesus too spent considerable time in prayer with his Father, and in the process and short, but extremely intense ministry he remained focused on his purpose.

If this was important to Jesus, it is certainly important for his followers too.

Be sure to spend personal time with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each day!

Mark 1:35-39Amplified Bible

35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left [the house], and went out to a secluded place, and was praying there. 36 Simon [Peter] and his companions searched [everywhere, looking anxiously] for Him, 37 and they found Him and said, “Everybody is looking for You!” 38 He replied, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so I may preach there also; that is why I came [from the Father].” 39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching [the gospel] in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

“Let us therefore make every effort [possible] to [‘perpetually’ keep right on doing every single day] what leads [us all] to peace and to mutual edification”

But lets us be reasonable with ourselves – what does that phrase mean to Us?

Are we expected to be like the “Energizer Bunny” that can outlast all others.

Are You and I Energizer Bunny Christians?

Or always like the “other bunny” who runs out of battery power far too soon?

We don’t make it easy for new Christians to become engaged with their faith journey because we throw some pretty confusing concepts and ideas at them.

Two of my favorites that are really not intuitive for most people are the idea of the Holy Spirit or simply The Spirit and the concept of “growing in your faith.”

Our evangelical reflex is to strive to simplify the equation by simply telling new Christians to “follow Jesus” which is not necessarily any more helpful.

The real trick is to show them how to engage with the Spirit for the strength to follow Jesus that will facilitate our faith growth.

Easy, right?

No, most lifelong Christians struggle to understand how to live a Christian life, so how can we expect a person new to Christianity understand it any better.

A metaphor to help us understand these concepts and ideas a little better is to “borrow” from Madison Avenue one of its most iconic spokespersons

– the Energizer Bunny.

The Energizer Bunny is powered by Energizer batteries that reputedly are longer lasting than the average battery.

So, the Energizer Bunny continues moving in the direction that it is pointed until its batteries run out of power – if it ever runs out of power.

Has anyone ever seen on those television commercials the Energizer Bunny running out of battery power even ONCE? Does anyone ever change batteries?

It keeps going and going and going… remember.

A new Christian, or any of us mature and maturing Christians for that matter, is trying their hardest, with all available energy, to be the Energizer Bunny.

On Sundays, we ‘preach it,’ set them in motion to follow Jesus by instructing them in worshiping, reading the Bible, serving others, loving our neighbors.

Our batteries are powered by the Spirit which can actually keep our “bunny” moving forever forward and around and drum beating, but our batteries run out because of our human incapacity to sustain anything for a long period of time.

So, we are “making every effort” at “growing in faith” by ‘perpetually’ doing these activities that help us to follow Jesus, propelled by the power of the Spirit.

Again, this ‘perpetual motion Christianity’ is easy, right, because if we are all doing all these things then ‘Holy Spirit empowered’ we should be good forever.

Well, the problem with that supposition is that we are still merely human.

Our capacity to convert the Spirit’s power into action in our lives can cause us to become excessively weary due to our own overexertion, excessive enthusiasm.

Or we will run headlong and head strong directly into adversity which causes us to disconnect from the Spirit because we can fix the problem on our own power.

Sometimes, we just get distracted by those shiny, new indestructible thingies being stored up for us in our heavenly storehouses that appear into our path.

No matter how many times you talk about “consistency in your spiritual life,” realize we are human and inherently, inconsistent creatures.

If we as God’s “chosen” preachers and teachers or Laity are truly worth our salt, we will be encouraging people to be the best ‘faithful’ followers of Jesus they can be, giving them tools to help them be better today than they were yesterday.

Now back to the problem of ‘Energizer Bunny Christianity’ which is what do we do when we will finally let our batteries run out of power – how do we recharge?

I think there are three critical tools that God created so that we can energize our batteries on the fly and help us to be the servants we were created to become.

Like the man Rabbi Jesus intentionally planned for regular “time away from the crowds” Fellowship and intentionally praying and worshiping regularly with a community of other Jesus followers which gives us an energy boost as well as a better understanding of what all this new 2022 Christian ‘stuff’ means for us.

Now, hear me clearly, I am endorsing you to go to church somewhere else with other people; not just listening to Christian satellite music or Spotify or a preset list of “meditative” music or some sermon podcast in the car on your daily work commute. And don’t get me started on the “I can worship God anywhere” folks, which is a whole different – and YES! a very aggravating topic for another day.

I am a very strong advocate and even stronger proponent of ‘living’ in Acts 2:

Acts 2:43-47Amplified Bible

43 A sense of awe was felt by [a]everyone, and many wonders and signs (attesting miracles) were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [in Jesus as Savior] [b]were together and had all things in common [considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole]. 45 And they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all [the other believers], as anyone had need. 46 Day after day they met in the temple [area] continuing with one mind, and breaking bread in various private homes. They were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, 47 praising God continually, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

Striving to be Acts 2 Community – Making Every Effort – to be GOD’S Church;

Actively seek other Jesus followers to go on this journey with you. God created Eve from Adam so Adam would not be alone, and God intends the same for us.

Start or join a small “accountability” fellowship group or a Sunday School class, serve on a prayer team or ‘go forth’ mission team, whatever works best for you.

Go on a Christian Retreat make the effort to engage with people one-on-one,

to find new and insightful answers to old lingering energy draining questions, Koinonia support for making tough decisions, or a mentor to provide guidance.

Intentionally take Sabbath time regularly to rest and relax your brain and body.

God created the concept of Sabbath, which is another one of those complex church ideas, but simply stated its our time to let the Spirit re-energize our batteries so that we are prepared to go [refreshed and refocused] where Jesus asks us to go and [refreshed and refocused] do the things God calls us to do.

Let’s make it a [refreshing] priority to help people find the best place to engage ‘their Sabbath Day‘ keeping it holy, with the Holy Spiri, keep batteries charged.

I truly believe if Christians of any maturity level can help their own people find worship, find other people, and find their Sabbath rest, then they will find Jesus!

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

Let us Pray,

Father, I so very much need to spend time with you, just as Jesus did. Lord, lead me, guide me, and give me the strength I need for the work you have planned. Amen.

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Maximum Availability: Make Every Effort to Pursue, Promote Peace and Mutual Edification. Romans 14:19-21

Romans 14:19-21Amplified Bible

19 So then, let us pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth]. 20 Do not, for the sake of food, tear down the work of God. All things indeed are [ceremonially] clean, but they are wrong for the person who eats and offends [another’s conscience in the process]. 21 It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine or do anything that offends your brother, and which weakens him spiritually.

Romans 14:19-21The Message

19-21 So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. You’re certainly not going to permit an argument over what is served or not served at supper to wreck God’s work among you, are you? I said it before and I’ll say it again: All food is good, but it can turn bad if you use it badly, if you use it to trip others up and send them sprawling. When you sit down to a meal, your primary concern should not be to feed your own face but to share the life of Jesus. So be sensitive and courteous to the others who are eating. Do not eat or say or do things that might interfere with the free exchange of love.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

From one of those many “feel good” stories I receive on my Facebook feed.

“Yesterday my young son and went to the local Animal Shelter. I adopted the oldest, sickest, and sorest shelter dog. I’ll never forget his eyes. When I went into the cage he didn’t even bother to look, he knew I wouldn’t even see him.

Curling around the corner He’d accepted his fate. The volunteer said to me many times… Are you sure this one? Are you sure? He was abandoned six months ago. Many have looked at him. YES! This is our dog. He opened the cage and the other dogs fell on me. I ran towards that old and sullen dog as he cowered in the corner shaking and shivering, suddenly he looked at me as if he saw an angel… I hugged him and told him now; he will be happy again. Now, he sleeps in my son’s lap… probably the first peaceful sleep he ever had.”

On a nearby wall of the animal shelter hung an old sign:

“Give it a life. Give it a hug. They need all of us all of the time.”

“From a dad and his son who just saved a lost soul.“

Make every Effort to Pursue Peace and Mutual Edification—Romans 14:19

“Make every effort!”

“Make every effort???”

“Make every effort to do the minimum with the maximum amount of effort.”

“Make every effort to do the maximum with the minimum amount of effort.”

Those statements present our 2o22 representation of alleged “Christianity,” quite the significant personal and corporate (meaning our church) challenge.

“Make every effort …!”

But notice where that exertion is to be focused: peace and mutual edification.

Both sides of this exhortation are two-way responsibilities.

I must pursue and share peace if I am going to have it myself.

I must edify, be open to being edified, if mutual edification is going to happen.

In other words, we live with other people in God’s family.

He wants us to be responsible for making relationships work in our spiritual family.

He reminds us it will require strenuous effort.

But isn’t that true in every family relationship?

Love means sacrifice, effort, and concern for others. When we all share our love willingly, however, we are much more likely to see blessings coming back to us!

Instead of taking this “maximum effort with maximum effect” seriously, what have we instead accomplished with the minimum effort with maximum effect?

DIVISION – “US versus THEM” IRRECONCILABLE MINUTIAE – CHASMS –

Mind the Chasm ….

Make the effort to “mind the chasm” ….

Make every effort to “mind the chasm!”

Make the effort to Mind the Chasm with the maximum amount of effort ….

With maximum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God and HIS Neighborhood.

With minimum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God and HIS Neighborhood.

With maximum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God’s Neighborhood and our “irreconcilable” nit-picky Minutiae ministering inside of God’s Neighborhood.

With minimum effort, “Mind the chasm” between God’s Neighborhood and our “irreconcilable” nit-picky Minutiae ministering inside of God’s Neighborhood.

Make every effort to “hit the ground running” pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

Make the effort to Mind the chasm with the minimum amount of effort ….

Make the minimal effort to “hit the ground walking” to pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

Make the effort to Mind the chasm with no effort whatsoever …. in other words,

make no effort at all to expend any level of energy to barely “look up from our smart phones” to pursue [with {any}enthusiasm {from our church pews}] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth]. – Make the maximum effort to pursue the Status Quo.

In other words, make every single effort to be like the guy who ignored Lazarus:

Luke 16:25-26Amplified Bible

25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things [all the comforts and delights], and Lazarus likewise bad things [all the discomforts and distresses]; but now he is comforted here [in paradise], while you are in severe agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you [people] a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to come over from here to you will not be able, and none may cross over from there to us.’

Luke 16:25-26The Message

25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’

Jesus taught his followers highly insightful things about the kingdom of God.

Care and compassion for everyone in God’s Neighborhood without exception.

With maximum effort expended: Breaking down those “uncrossable” barriers.

Risk everything to take a sledgehammer, vigorously pound into and through “worldly values, worldly traditions, rituals, worldly morals, worldly ethics.”

To rigorously pound down, pound through every single facet of what divides us.

Without any mind or thought for whose agenda was more right or more wrong, thoughts of whose beliefs were more correct than the others, care for the poor was high on his agenda, as we see in his parable about the rich man, Lazarus.

Lazarus, an extremely poor man, was covered with sores and was hungry. An untouchable. For who knows how long, he lay outside the gate of a wealthy man who lived in power and luxury. But he was ignored, and his needs went unmet.

When the poor man died, he was taken to rest with Abra­ham, where he finally was comforted. And when the rich man died, he was consigned to Hades, where he was in torment. He pleaded for relief and begged for a warning to be sent to his brothers. Abraham explained that there was an impassable gap between them, and that the man’s brothers already had all the instructions they needed.

The chasm is the result of the “rich man” ignoring all of God’s teachings about neighbor love and justice for all of our brothers and sisters. These teachings are plentiful in the Bible, reminding us God loves the all poor, the sinners, demands justice for all of them, and “upholds the cause of all the needy” (Psalm 140:12).

The reasons for God loving everyone in His neighborhood are often complex and far beyond our ability to question, but the reality is simple: there is great need to pursue [with enthusiasm] the things which make for peace and the building up of one another [things which lead to spiritual growth].

God’s Word still reminds us of his special care for every single neighbor we share with God in His Neighborhood. The reality is that God’s Word does not allow, make any room whatsoever, for exceptions to living out the example of Jesus established in his earthly ministry to follow as we love all our neighbors.

Make Every Effort to Pursue Maximum Peace and Maximum Mutual Edification—Romans 14:19.

Romans 14:19-21NKJV

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may [a]edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with [b]offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles [c]or is offended or is made weak.

As believers we have more in common than we acknowledge with our brothers and sisters in Christ than we have with the natural family we were born into.

When we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we were reborn into God’s family and now share with everyone a wonderful heavenly heritage based on His promises.

This all stems from faith in Jesus and is a bond that will transcend both time and distance. We will spend all eternity with these people, so it makes sense for us to aim and eagerly pursue harmony and mutual edification with each other.

So many times, we let nit-picky minutiae, minor divisions separate and cause dissension among us instead of realizing that we were ALL called into one body.

We should be pursuing peace among each other, encouraging and building up one another instead of tearing each other down by our actions and behaviors.

No matter what personal and or “Christian” or “Biblical” convictions we hold to we are to always give a greater measure of consideration to every one of our fellow brethren and conduct our “Christianity” in God’s neighborhood, behave in such a way that will build them up instead of causing confusion in their lives.

The Apostle Paul said in the previous verses of Romans chapter 14 ….  

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:17-18).

There are infinitely more important things to consider than satisfying our own needs. We are all a part of the kingdom and what we do has eternal significance.

So many people struggle for acknowledgment and validation over these kinds of issues such as “eating, drinking” or “traditions” and “doctrines” of the church.

But Paul gave a great rule of thumb in 1 Corinthians, 

“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (I Corinthians 10:31-33).

God’s Word! The bottom line is that whatever you do make sure you are doing it for the glory of God, and absolutely none of your own and it will be accepted.

Our behavior should be above reproach in this world not because our acceptance with God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior depends on it, but because our “truest” behavior will be seen by others and by this thereby glorify our Father in heaven or make every single effort to run like crazy in the opposite direction.

Paul sought to please others in order that many would be saved. The same principle applies to us today, we should not seek our own interest, but the interests of Christ and all of our actions should build and encourage His body.

What an amazing thing to belong to something so wonderful.

We do not belong to ourselves anymore and as such we should live like WHO we are and WHOSE we are.

Today I pray that we will behave with an eternal perspective in life and that our behavior and our actions reflect that mindset.

May you live your life making every effort, leading to the maximum pursuit of peace and mutual edification in the body of Christ and your actions lead others into this fellowship by turning them towards Jesus who can save them, Amen.

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

Let us Pray,

Dear Heavenly Father, turn me towards the Cross where your Son died for me. Pray, forgive me for my impatience and selfishness. Defeat the bad attitude of shallow divisiveness that I often display in arguments and disagreements with others in your family. Energize me by your Spirit to see areas where I can be a truer blessing and an encouragement to others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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What About “Maximum Availability of our Hearts and Souls?” The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit—Romans 14:16-18

Romans 14:16-18Amplified Bible

16 Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else]; 17 for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Romans chapter 14 encourages us to consider everything we do as if we are all doing it for the Lord. It is a call to do what leads to peace and mutual edification within the body of Christ.

We are not to condemn or look down on those who are weaker, less mature, slowly, slower growing in faith but be fully convinced of what is acceptable in our own minds, as everything which does not come from faith in God is sin.

Paul’s full throated and thorough presentation of the gospel in Romans, places the Christian pilgrim, regardless of degrees of maturity, on a firm foundation.

It brings us, step by step, into spiritual maturity and holy living. It develops in us a steadfast and prayerfully immovable faith with a total Christlike attitude towards others. Slowly it helps to conform us into the image and likeness of the lovely Lord Jesus, as we develop in godly discernment and wisdom from above.

This epistle to the followers at Rome lays a solid foundation on which to build.

It warns of several pitfalls to avoid and behaviors to cultivate.

Paul’s approach was incredibly practical, gave eminently practical instructions.

He knew that all of us were accountable to God and every person was at a different level of understanding.

Because of this he gave instruction that lead toward mutual edification and building up of the body instead of tearing down by focusing on these divisions.

Much of his instruction in Romans 14 is about eating and drinking, what is (not) acceptable, and the underlying principle is just as true today as then.

The principle of what Paul is saying is that we are to fully live for God, what we do and don’t do should come out of a heart and soul conviction and not because of “obeying” rules and regulations given by others. What God has revealed to us as acceptable before him, we should accept and be confident in. (Acts 10:9-22)

Paul also reminded us that in our approach with our brothers and sisters we should be patient and loving with others in their walk without causing them confusion and putting stumbling stones in their way (Romans 14:15).

But in the same way we should not allow or give room to others to condemn us for the freedom that Christ has revealed to us.

Perhaps that is accomplished by not giving them opportunity to criticize us.

We can do this by abiding in our freedom without flaunting or making a big deal about it.

The bottom line is that the kingdom of God which we have been called into is not about these physical things and mental debates but about our availability.

Making ourselves fully available to God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

100% Surrendering, unhitching ourselves from what burdens our souls so much we are infinitely too distracted from giving our full attention to God, neighbor.

We should settle in our hearts and souls to consciously remove the minutiae, walk in the truth we know, as the kingdom is about righteousness, peace, joy.

Righteousness is the state which makes a person acceptable to God.

Through our Savior Jesus we are righteous before God as we have been given His righteousness through faith (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

Next comes peace and joy, this should continually be the state of our heart.

We should strive to always walk in supernatural peace and joy because these are the fruit of the Spirit that was given to us at salvation (Galatians 5:22-24).

22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the [a]sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.

Paul said in the next sentence, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. 26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

These things are the true things that we should consider important and which we should, with eyes and hearts of utmost humility, see operating in our lives.

When we “arrive at that place” and “understand” the kingdom isn’t about the natural but is about the amazing things Jesus did and provided for us we can toss aside all of these minor details, habits and hang-ups that hold us back.

Verse 18 says that “anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men” (Romans 14:18). 

As much or as little we make our hearts and souls available to God, if we truly, genuinely, live this way in righteousness, peace and joy, then God has accepted and approved our behavior and we will win favor among mankind as well. 

Colossians 4:1-4J.B. Phillips New Testament

4 Remember, then, you employers, that your responsibility is to be fair and just towards those whom you employ, never forgetting that you yourselves have a heavenly employer.

Some simple, practical advice

2-4 Always maintain the habit of prayer: be both alert and thankful as you pray. Include us in your prayers, please, that God may open for us a door for the entrance of the Gospel. Pray that we may talk freely of the mystery of Christ (for which I am at present in chains), and that I may make that mystery plain to men, which I know is my duty.

Today, I am simply pondering the fullness of God and pray that you understand this amazing truth and disregard the meaningless minutiae, the non-essentials that divide, hinder you and I pray you maximally pursue God’s kingdom today!

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

Let us Pray,

Loving Father, I want to please You, not only in what I do but by who I am in Christ Jesus – my Lord and King. Thank You, that my salvation does not depend on keeping rites and rituals, but comes through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Thank You, that righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, comes through faith in Him. May my life be a reflection of His beauty so that in thought, word, deed, and motive I will proclaim His kingdom through my life, to the glory of Your name. In Savior Jesus’ name I pray, Alleluia! Amen.

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We are Accountable for our Christian Actions. Put No Stumbling Block in Your Brother’s Way—Romans 14:13-15

Romans 14:13-15Amplified Bible

13 Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way. 14 I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean. 15 If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

It is so easy (actually far too easy) for us to be incredibly judgmental of others.

We don’t know their struggles.

We don’t know their situation.

Most of all, we don’t know their hearts or their souls or their minds.

When we are judgmental, we erect a barrier between others and ourselves.

We often spread that judgmental impression to others in gossip.

Our stubbornness to only view them with a judgmental spirit erects a barrier, a true stumbling block, that can cause them to become discouraged and stumble.

It is easy to read a passage such as our text, think it does not apply to us today.

In general, we do not see the dietary struggles that the early church experienced because we are not barely trained with the Old Testament laws and regulations, they were trained in.

However, the underlining principal that the Apostle Paul is addressing in this passage still very much applies to our being accountable for Christian Actions.

First: Christian Actions first!

We are to judge ourselves to make sure we are not causing others to stumble by our actions. 

This should be a mindset not to use our freedom to destroy the faith of our brothers and sisters.

Paul was fully convinced that no food was unclean, but it was how that food was received that made it unclean for that individual.

If they were not receiving from a mindset of faith, then to them it was unclean.

Sometimes these truths take a while to take hold in our lives.

Paul told Timothy, 

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 1:4-5).

Everything that God made is good and nothing has to be refused if we receive it with grateful hearts and thanksgiving and from a mindset of true genuine faith.

This struggle between the old covenant law and the new and better covenant that we enjoy today extends far past dietary laws of eating and drinking.

Early Christians struggled over these things because they did not understand that they were a shadow of the things to come.

Colossians 2 speaks directly to this very thing, 

“Therefore, do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:16-17).

Likewise, it is still true to this day, today, that some Christians still hold to Old Testament ritual without any idea that the ritual has become reality in Christ.

But now that our Savior Jesus Christ has come, the rituals are meaningless and can, sadly, become oppressive. This is why it is important to fully understand the differences in the covenants so we can walk in the freedom and liberty that Christ purchased for us, His enemy, ratifying it with His precious life’s blood.

The bottom line is that we are all in different stages of maturity in Christ. We should encourage one another, and we should decide to walk in the freedom that Christ has revealed to us while making up our minds not to cause our brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble in their faith by our faulty actions.

In the first twelve verses of chapter 14 Paul has taught Christians in that church to stop passing judgments on each other and despising each other.

Jewish Christians were condemning Gentiles Christians about eating unclean foods and not keeping the festivals of Moses.

Gentile Christians was despising Jewish Christians for not eating with them, eating all foods, and for keeping the Sabbath and other feasts of Moses.

They were to recognize God had received them both and that God was the judge.

Therefore, they were to welcome and accept one another, but not for the purpose of disputing over these things.

Paul is going to pursue this thinking further as he directs these early Christians concerning how to, and how not to act over these significantly divisive issues.

Romans 14:13-15ESV

Do Not Cause Another to Stumble

13 Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. 15 For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.

Never Put a Stumbling Block in The Way of Another Christian (14:13)

This is the key thought for this paragraph.

Stop passing judgment on one another.

Instead, resolve to never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

The same Greek word is used for what is translated “pass judgment” and “decide” in the ESV in verse 13.

Literally, this would read:

“Therefore, let us not judge one another any longer, but rather judge to never put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”

In a sense Apostle Paul is saying that if you are going to judge, judge to never put a hindrance in your brother’s way. Stop judging one another.

Determine to not be a stumbling block or a hindrance.

This is a very important principle that we also must determine to do in our lives.

We need to make the Christian decision to never put a stumbling block in the way of our Christian brethren.

This is one point that we find in parallel to 1 Corinthians 8-10.

At the end of 1 Corinthians 8 Paul teaches that he would never eat meat again to keep his brother or sister from stumbling.

In chapter 9 Paul taught that he forfeits his rights for the sake of the gospel.

These points are similarly made here in Romans 14.

We need to determine that we will choose not to do things when we know that such an activity is going to be a hindrance to other Christians.

The question is not simply is this okay for me to do.

The question is also is this something that could cause my brother or sister in Christ to engage in sin or be weak in conscience.

Do Not Grieve Your Brother (14:14-15)

Paul continues in verse 14 about his knowledge in the Lord that there is nothing clean or unclean any longer in Christ.

But can you imagine how difficult this knowledge was for those who grew up in Judaism?

All their lives they were rightly taught that certain foods defiled, and only other foods were clean for eating.

For years the conscience had been trained that these foods were unclean.

Even Peter did not readily accept this when three times in a vision God said, “Rise, kill and eat.” (Acts 10:13) (Whole thought: Acts 10:9-22)

Now these Jews had become Christians.

How difficult it was for them to change their eating habits from being Jews to liberated Christians.

Paul knows that all foods are clean.

However, for those who think the food is unclean, it is unclean.

The other parallel to 1 Corinthians 8-10 is found at this point also.

What another person believes is just as important as what you believe.

If a person sees the food as unclean, they should not engage in eating that food.

One can easily imagine the Jewish Christian knowing that the food is okay to eat, but the conscience is so strong that it will not allow that Jewish Christian to eat that meat.

Rather than instructing the strong to teach the weak the truth so that they are no longer weak, Apostle Paul is calling upon the strong to stop, to empathize, to come to a place where they try to understand where the weak are coming from.

The strong need to understand that the conscience is involved.

It is not simple for them to change regarding foods.

It is not so simple a thing for individuals to “dismantle” their belief systems.

It took them a lifetime to arrive at that place of practice and understanding.

Verse 15 capitalizes on this thought.

If your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love.

You know you have a liberty, but you must have concern for your brother above all else.

We must have the determination to not put a stumbling block in the way of any person.

If we do not care what we are doing is causing a problem for another Christian, then we have a bigger problem.

The bigger problem is that we are not acting with the love that Jesus commands.

There may be things I think we should do in our worship or in our gatherings.

But I know that this could and would cause problems for other members.

Should I bully them into going along with me because “only I” have the proper understanding of the scriptures?

Absolutely not.

We may have beliefs concerning the scriptures which are different than the beliefs of others.

Should we “push” them into “seeing things my way?”

No. We are commanded to work with one another.

We are commanded by God to be more considerate, understanding about where the other person is coming from.

We need to consider that the other person may have serious convictions or a trained conscience that we do not want to “rush headlong into” and violate.

We need to acknowledge, recognize there are occasions when we need to hold back from our freedom for the sake of those whose Christian faith would be irreparably damaged by such behavior.

Paul gives us a very important thought that we must continue to keep in mind: “By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.”

How many ways to “stumble all over ourselves” to damage the faith of another?

How could we possibly live with ourselves if we ruin the faith of another?

We cannot and must not use our liberties to be a hindrance to another Christian.

Romans 14:13-14The Message

13-14 Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is. I’m convinced—Jesus convinced me! —that everything as it is in itself is holy. We, of course, by the way we treat it or talk about it, can contaminate it.

How we do this is by first Loving God, then loving our neighbor as ourselves.

In the previous chapter Paul summarized that our duty was to love and act in love toward one another (Romans 13:10).

If we ignore the influence our own actions have on others, we are not walking in love. So, we must continue towards the freedom into which we have been called while loving our God and extending grace and patience with all fellow believers.

As an incredibly wise sage once wrote some three thousand years ago:

(Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV)

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

And only God knows the end of it all ….

And in the end of it all, only God’s judgement of it all matters in the end.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14Amplified Bible

13 When all has been heard, the end of the matter is: fear God [worship Him with awe-filled reverence, knowing that He is almighty God] and keep His commandments, for this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, every hidden and secret thing, whether it is good or evil.

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

Let us Pray,

God my Father, I ask you to conform my attitude toward others to match the redemptive grace you have for them. I want to be more patient with the failures of others, just as you are patient with mine. Forgive me for not being more of an encouragement to those who are weak and struggling and open my eyes to the ways I can be a blessing to them. Forgive me for those times when I have been a hindrance to others and pray, open my heart to share your blessings with them. Please use me to be an instrument of grace. In my Savior Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Pondering our Living Hope: Everyone Will Have to Give an Account to God—Romans 14:10-12

Romans 14:10-12 Amplified Bible

10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your [believing] brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God [who alone is judge]. 11 For it is written [in Scripture],

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Attending to the affairs of self, versus our attending to the affairs of others.

Understanding that we are only responsible for ourselves takes the burden off trying to make everyone else into a model Christian.

When we understand that we can share, encourage, teach and equip others for this life but ultimately the responsibility for what they do with it falls squarely on their shoulders, this gives us the liberty to simply love and care for them.

We do not need to take the burden of their behavior and decision or indecision upon our shoulders, our hearts or our souls.

Standing before God, we have the first burden of accountability.

We are the only ones who have to give an account of ourselves.

We have an ultimate responsibility to account for our whole selves first.

When I am standing before God – I am standing in my own shoes which I myself crafted for myself through my own actions through my own very own lifetime.

We will all give an account of ourselves to God in the end.

So, perhaps instead of wasting time worrying about all of the affairs of our brothers and sisters, we should see to ourselves first to make sure our motives are right, our hearts pure, we are walking in the plan the Lord has set for us.

We have to be true to ourselves, how God shaped our connection, our right relationship with God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:13-18Amplified Bible

13 Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way. 14 I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean. 15 If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else]; 17 for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way [recognizing that food choice is secondary] is acceptable to God and is approved by men.

We are not to judge our fellow brothers over trivial matters such as eating and drinking.

Nor should we look down upon or be impatient with them when they do not understand these truths.

The Lord will reveal in due time this freedom to which they were called.

Instead, we need to be concerned with our own hearts and actions because we will be the only ones standing who will be giving an account to God for them.

Understanding this puts judging others in perspective. Instead, we can make up our minds not to put stumbling blocks in their way. We should allow their paths to remain clear so they will not falter in their walk with the Lord on our account.

Knowing that we will stand before the Lord and confess his Lordship should excite you as a believer.

Everything in heaven, earth and under the earth will eventually confess that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Acts 4:8-12, Philippians 2:9-11).

If we fully acknowledge this, recognize it, confess this now while we live on this earth, then there is no fear in that day, because perfect love casts out fear.

1 John says, 

“In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (I John 4:17-18). 

Association with Jesus is what gives us eternal life and a hope for heaven.

Believing in Him is the deciding factor of whether we live or die.

The good news is we can live to the maximum for him now, confess and rejoice in what he did for us while, we are all looking forward to that one day when we will all be standing before our Savior, and confessing this Lordship to his face.

Understanding this provides perspective on our personal responsibility.

We are not to judge or confuse our brothers and sisters by the freedom we enjoy rather we should understand that everyone will give an account to the Lord.

So, it is in our best interest to walk in our convictions with pureness of heart because the Lord has accepted them.

In the same way, he has accepted fellow believers and their convictions.

Utterly overwhelmed by this acceptance as we should all be, we are to make every effort to live our lives as unto the Lord no matter how trivial our tasks.

Because this shows a max heart change, and this is magnifying His name alone, above all others glorifying to our Savior Jesus, because of it, He has accepted us.

Today, I pray that you make up your mind to encourage your brothers and sisters instead of maxing out efforts, ripping, shredding, tearing them down.

Make every effort to live in peace, guarding and protecting your heart and walking in the truth. May you pull yourselves back, evaluate your own motives today and instead walk in pureness before the Lord as this is pleasing to him.

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

Let us Pray,

O Lord my God, you are my shield, my strength and my wisdom. Help me so to trust you with my decisions and my future. Let me lean on you with all my heart instead of relying on my own understanding. Give me clear guidance in my life Lord. As I learn to submit myself fully unto you, I know that you will direct my paths and I can have confidence that your direction is always the best way to go. Lord, bless me and keep me, make your face to shine upon me. Turn your face fully towards me and give me thy peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

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Our Personal Accountability to God: Biblical Guidance. Hebrews 4:10-13

Hebrews 4:10-13Amplified Bible

10 For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness]. 12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Accountability is a big topic.

Does Integrity count for anything anymore?

Does Honesty count when, in this age of social media and the internet, we try so very hard to hide everything about us, who we are, every single thing we can in mindless minutiae, and cyber-cookies – just trying to get away with so much?

There are a whole lot of places to “hide stuff” on the internet in “cyberspace.”

Does Accountability matter?

Do we try too hard to let too much just slip into a state of cyber-anonymity?

“Who is going to know what to look for anyway?”

“Who has the time to look anyway?”

“Who has the energy to look anyway?”

“What are the chances of ever our “being discovered or found out?”

“Isn’t everybody too busy “minding their own business” anyway?

Do a quick google search!

You will find a whole lot of people are asking things like:

What is personal accountability?

What is the difference between responsibility and accountability? 

What does the Bible say about accountability?

Why is personal accountability important?

And searching things like: How to hold people accountable, how to hold yourself accountable, and how to be accountable to others.

But around here, our primary interest is in what the Bible has to say on any matter, so the main question we want to answer today is, what does the Bible say about accountability?

We will strive to faithfully, hopefully, lovingly, prayerfully learn that personal accountability is a major key to living a life of victory, so of course, we want to strive to give practical application advice for how to hold yourself accountable.

What does the Bible Say about our Personal Accountability?

It’s hard to narrow the answer to this question down to just one verse, because there are so many facets to personal accountability. Of course, we will try to cover some of these facets and verses below, but if I had to choose one verse that kind of sums it all up, I think it would be this one from Hebrews 4:12-13

12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b]soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.

Nothing whatsoever is hidden from the Lord our God, the Word of the Lord our God, the POWER behind the Word of the Lord our God and there’s not one single creature exists that is concealed from HIS sight, but ALL things are open and exposed, AND revealed to the EYES of HIM with whom we have to give account.

Psalm 139:1-12 Amplified Bible

God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

139 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me.
2 
You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do];
You understand my thought from afar.
3 
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 
Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken],
Behold, O Lord, You know it all.
5 
You have enclosed me behind and before,
And [You have] placed Your hand upon me.
6 
Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.

7 
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there.
9 
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me.
11 
If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me,
And the night will be the only light around me,”
12 
Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You,
But the night shines as bright as the day;
Darkness and light are alike to You.

What an incredibly stunning revelation spoken, penned, then sung by David!

The question that always seems to linger in my mind when I read these verses is what David’s emotional state was when he wrote and then sung these words.

Was he singing them from a place of hiding -from man, from God, or both?

Was he singing them from a place of intrigue?

Was he singing them from a place of joy?

Was he singing them from a place of gratitude?

Was he singing them from a place of thanksgiving?

Was he singing them from a place of fear and trembling?

Was he singing them from a place of anger?

Was he singing them from a place of anxiety?

Was he singing them from a place of depression?

Was he singing them from a place of deceit?

Was he singing them from a place of subterfuge?

Was he singing them from a place – “secure” in his knowledge he just pulled the wool over everyone’s eye – including God’s – In essence – committing criminal acts, conspiring to commit criminal acts, Mocking man and God?

Was he singing them from a place – secure in his absolute authority as King and anointed by God, being a child of God – “now I will get away with everything secure in the knowledge, belief, “because I know God will forgive me anyway?”

Was he singing them from a place of a soul needing to be humbled before God?

Was he singing them from a place of kneeling on his way towards repentance?

Any one of these starting places is fully and equally valid – even for us in 2022.

Whether trying to be honest or trying to be deceitful or somewhere in between,

Whether we accept it or not, the Bible is clear that we are all accountable to God, and since no one and nothing is ever hidden from Him, we WILL have to give an accurate account of ourselves. The excuses, manipulations we are all tempted to employ in this life simply just will not work when we’re standing before Him.

Since that’s true, let’s dig a little deeper to discover how to hold yourself accountable now so that when you stand before Him, you will be prepared.

What is Personal Accountability?

Before we go too much further into answering the question, “What does the Bible say about accountability,” let’s take some time to define exactly what personal accountability is and why it’s important.

To understand personal accountability, we really just have to break the word down and find some definitions.

The root of the word is account, and the definition of account, in this case, is a report or description of an event or experience (Oxford).

So, to be accountable for something is to be “able to give an account,” or to have the capacity to report or describe that thing.

To be accountable to someone is to have the responsibility of offering an account to that person.

Most of us are accountable to someone (a boss, partner, board members, or shareholders) in our jobs, but that’s not personal accountability, that is corporate accountability.

So, what is personal accountability?

Romans 14:11-12Amplified Bible

11 For it is written [in Scripture],

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

As we’ve already discovered,

GOD SEES IT ALL!

GOD KNOWS IT ALL!

GOD HAS HEARD IT ALL!

We are all going to have to give a personal account to God.

That means, we are all going to have to answer to Him for our own lives. Not anyone else’s. That is what personal accountability is, and whether we choose to accept it or not, none of us will be able to escape from our God’s Judgement.

If you and I want to take that even .01% seriously, you and I will have to learn how to hold ourselves accountable to someone here. And just as no one will have to answer for you or me before God, no one can do it for us here either.

Accountability vs. Responsibility

Many people will think and believe that accountability and responsibility are the same thing. In fact, many sources will even use one of these words to define the other. But in reality, there is a very important difference between the two.

The word responsibility carries with it culpability or fault, while accountability simply necessitates giving an answer.

In the corporate world we can see this easily demonstrated in the relationship between boss and employee. The boss is not responsible to do the job of each employee but is accountable for whether or not the job gets done and the job gets done according to established manufacturers’ specifications correctly.

In our personal lives too, we’re not responsible for each and every detail.

Much of it is out of our control.

We don’t have any say in whether or not people treat us well, how certain events play out, or a thousand other little incontrollable details.

But according to the Bible,

We are still, will remain, 100% accountable to God for every detail of our lives.

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

Let us Pray,

Generous God, you are my soul’s provider, you give me everything I need. Our prosperity is only found in you. Give me clarity of mind and thought as I face difficulties and confusion in my life. Help me make choices that are obedient to your word and your will for my life. Help me to walk in your ways, obey your commands and trust in the name of Jesus. Help me to do this and prosper in everything I do, wherever I go. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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