For a few moments picture yourself living as a local in the small village of Bethany a little over 2,000 years ago. The village is slightly less than 2 miles from Jerusalem and you have made the trip back and forth many times. As is the case with most days in this part of the world, it's scorching hot. The blinding sun is beating down on you and all you really care about is finding a nice shade tree to sit under and eat your figs.
Just as you find a good spot on a hillside, you notice a dusty disturbance in the road below. More than a dozen people have gathered and are making their way toward another group walking into the village. The last thing you want to do is lose your shady spot, but Bethany is small and rarely has much excitement.
Even though it's probably nothing, seeing the crowd in the distance is enough to peak your curiosity. Thus, with a surrendering sigh you take the last bite of your fig, rise, and head back out into the baking sun to see what all the commotion is about.
As you make your way closer to the crowds you notice many familiar faces. Everyone in Bethany knows each other... there are no strangers in this paltry town and not a day goes by that you question why you haven't moved to Jerusalem yet.
As you are pondering your life circumstances a women abruptly bumps your shoulder and falls to her knees weeping to a man whom you do not recognize.
Instantly, you recognize the women. She happens to live in a small abode directly diagonal from your small home and her name is Mary. She and her sister, Martha, had recently buried their brother, Lazarus. Both sisters were still in deep mourning and you had just stopped by their home two days earlier to give your condolences.
In a quivering voice, you hear Mary say... "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Clearly, he must be physician of some sort, you reason.
As you look closer at the man (whom you still do not recognize), you see a deep compassion in his eyes and you can tell that he is deeply saddened by this situation.
“Where have you laid him?” The man asked.
There was something in his voice that made you stop in your tracks. It was as if everything around you went into slow motion and for a moment... you gave him your full attention.
“Come and see, Lord,” another replied.
Thus, Mary and her sister, Martha, led the stranger up the road and over some rocky terrain. Not knowing exactly what to expect, you decide to follow the crowd. It's not like you had a lot of other options anyway.
Walking up the hillside you recognize the tree that you sat under just a few moments ago. Curiously, you also realize the intense heat from the sun doesn't seem to bother you like it had earlier. Looking up, you see the stranger briefly look toward the tree, then to you, then back to the tree. For a moment you wonder if he saw you sitting under the tree as he approached Bethany. You quickly dismiss the notion, chalking it up as a coincidence and nothing more.
After a few more minutes of walking the crowd stopped. They had reached the tome of Lazarus... which happened to be carved into the rocky hillside.
There was complete silence and strangely, the wind was calm as you stand at the top of this hill.
Now what? You wonder.
As if he had read the question in your mind you hear the stranger say...
“Take away the stone."
If it could have been physically possible, your jaw would have hit the ground by your sandals.
Then Martha replied... “But, Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
You begin to interject in agreement, but instead you hesitate... your lips still slightly ajar.
Then the stranger said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone and the stranger looked up to the sky as if praying. Once finished, he cried out in a loud voice...
“Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
You hear yourself gasp as you fall to your knees.
The stranger said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Jesus raises Lazarus from the Dead
In a matter of a few short moments you went from being bored and hot, to curious, to witnessing Jesus glorify God by raising Lazarus from the Dead.
Can you truly picture the actions of the crowd as Lazarus walked out of that tome? I can't even begin to imagine what that would have felt like if I had seen it with my own eyes.
That day in Bethany started off like every other typical day. Yet, after a few short minutes of Jesus' arrival a miracle occurs. Not only did He raise Lazarus from the dead... He turned many from being lone bystanders to believers!
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, August 9, 2010
You took my parking space at church
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. The driver got out and said, "I always park there! You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear
fell from his eye, "I took your place."
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat and sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took my place!" The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the sanctuary and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit! You took my place!"
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing.
Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear
fell from his eye, "I took your place."
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Staring Truth in the Face
We've all been in situations where we try to explain an idea, concept, etc... to someone and they JUST DON'T GET IT. But, in saying that...I'm sure we've all been on the opposite side of this equation as well. It's kind of like when people drive while talking on a cell phone...many are virtually oblivious to what's going on around them...they are so totally engrossed in the conversation that they pay little attention to the other cars on the road.
There are similarities to this example in John 18. It's where Jesus was arrested and the people were demanding that He be put to death. During the ordeal, Jesus and Pontius Pilate have a short conversation (as Pilate is trying to figure out exactly what it is that Jesus is being accused of)...
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews...
John 18:35-38
The part I want to place your attention on is verse 38, when Pilate asks..."What is truth?" The irony of this is that Pontius Pilate asks Jesus "what is truth?" as he is standing there staring Truth right in the face! Jesus Christ is the TRUTH.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
It's clear that Pilate was oblivious to the "truth" that Jesus came to redeem the sins of the world...and most importantly that He was the Son of God.
Some people are oblivious to the truth, others just don't want to hear it, and some hear it, understand it, but choose to either ignore it or pick the parts that best fit in to their daily lives. Jesus Christ proclaimed the truth of God's Word in the first four books of the New Testament (which are called The Gospels) - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Never let the truth slip from your grasp. Study it...so that you never find yourself staring at the thorns instead of the rose.
“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose”
-Kahili Gibran
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
There are similarities to this example in John 18. It's where Jesus was arrested and the people were demanding that He be put to death. During the ordeal, Jesus and Pontius Pilate have a short conversation (as Pilate is trying to figure out exactly what it is that Jesus is being accused of)...
35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews...
John 18:35-38
The part I want to place your attention on is verse 38, when Pilate asks..."What is truth?" The irony of this is that Pontius Pilate asks Jesus "what is truth?" as he is standing there staring Truth right in the face! Jesus Christ is the TRUTH.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
It's clear that Pilate was oblivious to the "truth" that Jesus came to redeem the sins of the world...and most importantly that He was the Son of God.
Some people are oblivious to the truth, others just don't want to hear it, and some hear it, understand it, but choose to either ignore it or pick the parts that best fit in to their daily lives. Jesus Christ proclaimed the truth of God's Word in the first four books of the New Testament (which are called The Gospels) - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Never let the truth slip from your grasp. Study it...so that you never find yourself staring at the thorns instead of the rose.
“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose”
-Kahili Gibran
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Jacob's Well
It was a typical blistering Saturday afternoon in the middle of August in Tempe, Arizona and Bobby was making his way down a rural stretch of road that was void of any buildings for over 50 miles. Bobby had decided to go out for a ride on his new Honda Motard motorcycle and was planning on enjoying a few hours of wind and road.
Fifteen minutes into the ride, Bobby noticed another biker parked on the side of the road. It looked like the guy was having some sort of trouble, so Bobby stopped and asked the guy if he needed any help.
After over an hour working on the Harley in the 115 degree heat, Bobby eventually helped the guy get his bike working well enough to ride. Bobby insisted that he'd follow the guy home (45 miles from the current location) to make sure he made it back without any difficulty.
Before the guy on the Harley turned down the street toward his house, he waved Bobby over and handed him his business card. Bobby pulled out his wallet and did the same. Each gave the other a silent wave and off they went in separate directions. Bobby never even considered the fact that he had gone out of his way. He was in the mindset that if a fellow biker needed help, then he would help. It was just an unwritten rule of the road.
* * *
What this story doesn't tell you is that the guy on the Harley was actually the CEO of the same company that Bobby worked for. It wasn't until Bobby got home and cleaned out his pockets that he read the business card. He nearly choked on his Coke when he read the title... "CEO".
After reading the business card, Bobby's shock must have closely resembled the Samaritan women who spoke with Jesus at Jacob's Well in John 4. Here Jesus tells her that He knows who she is, the number of husbands that she's had, and that He is the Christ. I can't help but try and picture the look that must have been on the woman's face when she heard those words. I'm sure you could have heard a pin drop.
Fifteen minutes into the ride, Bobby noticed another biker parked on the side of the road. It looked like the guy was having some sort of trouble, so Bobby stopped and asked the guy if he needed any help.
After over an hour working on the Harley in the 115 degree heat, Bobby eventually helped the guy get his bike working well enough to ride. Bobby insisted that he'd follow the guy home (45 miles from the current location) to make sure he made it back without any difficulty.
Before the guy on the Harley turned down the street toward his house, he waved Bobby over and handed him his business card. Bobby pulled out his wallet and did the same. Each gave the other a silent wave and off they went in separate directions. Bobby never even considered the fact that he had gone out of his way. He was in the mindset that if a fellow biker needed help, then he would help. It was just an unwritten rule of the road.
* * *
What this story doesn't tell you is that the guy on the Harley was actually the CEO of the same company that Bobby worked for. It wasn't until Bobby got home and cleaned out his pockets that he read the business card. He nearly choked on his Coke when he read the title... "CEO".
After reading the business card, Bobby's shock must have closely resembled the Samaritan women who spoke with Jesus at Jacob's Well in John 4. Here Jesus tells her that He knows who she is, the number of husbands that she's had, and that He is the Christ. I can't help but try and picture the look that must have been on the woman's face when she heard those words. I'm sure you could have heard a pin drop.
The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
The point is that we never really know who we are going to meet throughout our journey in life. Many people that we meet, might only be placed in our lives for a short time. Others might be with us for many years. However, one thing is for certain...we will all see Christ one day and stand before Him to give account.
As you walk down this road in life, allow others see Christ in you so that you can see (and enjoy) the surprise on their face as you remain obedient to God and emulate the footsteps of Christ.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sweet Joe
There was once a boxer named Joe. "Sweet Joe" to be exact. Sweet Joe had trained for 5 solid months for an upcoming fight that could (if he won) make him a top contender for the heavy weight title. After 5 grueling months of training not only was Joe in the best shape of his career, he had also worked out a solid strategy to defeat his upcoming opponent. Actually it was Joe's trainer (who had been in the boxing business for 30 years) that had come up with a solid game plan to help him be victorious. His trainer had told him many times to be patient and stick with the plan. "It will work." He would say. "Just stick to the plan."
Joe's trainer was totally convinced that if Joe listened and "stuck with the plan", he would win and be next in line for a title fight.
On fight night Joe's adrenaline was pumping. He had never felt so confident and prepared for a fight like he did tonight. During the fight, Joe was controlling the tempo and was winning the after the first 5 rounds of the 12 round bout. He had stuck with the game plan and thus far, was doing rather well.
About 1 minute into the 6th round, Joe slightly dropped his hands and took a hard jab that broke his nose. Joe immediately knew his nose was broken and became furious. He fought back with a vengeance and in his fury nearly knocked his opponent down before the end of the round.
Joe won the 6th round.
In between rounds Joe's trainer evaluated the break and told Joe to settle down and stick with the game plan. Basically, the plan was to conserve his energy and not throw more than 25 punches for the first 2 1/2 minutes of each round. The idea was to conserve as much energy as possible up until the last 30 seconds of each round and then get really aggressive. The conservative game plan had worked up to this point, as it was really frustrating his opponent. Joe's opponent was stronger, had more knockout power, and did not fight well against conservative opponents.
Joe's strategy was to stay light on his feet, move around, and limit his punches. The strategy was to wear down his opponent and knock him out in the late rounds.
As the bell rang for round 7, Joe was reminded to stick to the plan. After a few exchanges Joe got caught (rather lightly) in the nose again. It didn't take much force to aggravate his already broken nose as the fresh break was swollen and extremely tender. At that moment Joe decided he had enough. He wasn't going to let his opponent continue to tear his nose up for the next 5 rounds...he was going to end this now.
As Joe hurled a flurry of punches at his opponents head, he could hear a distant voice from his trainer yelling, "Stick to the plan....stick to the plan, Joe!"
Joe blinked his eyes several times and was suddenly startled at the sight of his trainer kneeling beside him only inches away. "You okay, Joe?" The trainer asked.
It was then that Joe realized he had been knocked out. In his fury, he abandoned his strategy and got caught with an uppercut. Joe was knocked out cold before he ever realized what happened.
* * *
We all get advice. Sometimes we ask for it and sometimes we don't. Some advice is good and some...eh...not so good. Then there's advice that we just really need to listen to regardless of what/how we feel. Sweet Joe's story above ties into the Story of the Wise and Foolish Builders in the Gospel of Matthew...
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Matthew 7:24-27
Sweet Joe trained for 5 grueling months and had a solid game plan that should have aloud him to defeat his opponent. Then in the midst of adversity (and thinking he knew better than his trainer), he abandoned the plan and paid the price. He was knocked out and lost a chance to fight for the heavyweight title.
If we are to listen, remain obedient, and put God's word into daily practice then we emulate the wise man that built his house on the rock. Meaning that when the storms of life come (temptation, impatience, selfishness, greed, etc.) we are grounded in the foundation God's word and remain steady. However, if we abandon, get out of practice, or alter our path because we think that we have a better way...then we will soon meet a similar fate to Sweet Joe and the man who built his house on the sand.
There's only one way to salvation... and it's not your way... and it's not my way.... it's God's way.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Joe's trainer was totally convinced that if Joe listened and "stuck with the plan", he would win and be next in line for a title fight.
On fight night Joe's adrenaline was pumping. He had never felt so confident and prepared for a fight like he did tonight. During the fight, Joe was controlling the tempo and was winning the after the first 5 rounds of the 12 round bout. He had stuck with the game plan and thus far, was doing rather well.
About 1 minute into the 6th round, Joe slightly dropped his hands and took a hard jab that broke his nose. Joe immediately knew his nose was broken and became furious. He fought back with a vengeance and in his fury nearly knocked his opponent down before the end of the round.
Joe won the 6th round.
In between rounds Joe's trainer evaluated the break and told Joe to settle down and stick with the game plan. Basically, the plan was to conserve his energy and not throw more than 25 punches for the first 2 1/2 minutes of each round. The idea was to conserve as much energy as possible up until the last 30 seconds of each round and then get really aggressive. The conservative game plan had worked up to this point, as it was really frustrating his opponent. Joe's opponent was stronger, had more knockout power, and did not fight well against conservative opponents.
Joe's strategy was to stay light on his feet, move around, and limit his punches. The strategy was to wear down his opponent and knock him out in the late rounds.
As the bell rang for round 7, Joe was reminded to stick to the plan. After a few exchanges Joe got caught (rather lightly) in the nose again. It didn't take much force to aggravate his already broken nose as the fresh break was swollen and extremely tender. At that moment Joe decided he had enough. He wasn't going to let his opponent continue to tear his nose up for the next 5 rounds...he was going to end this now.
As Joe hurled a flurry of punches at his opponents head, he could hear a distant voice from his trainer yelling, "Stick to the plan....stick to the plan, Joe!"
Joe blinked his eyes several times and was suddenly startled at the sight of his trainer kneeling beside him only inches away. "You okay, Joe?" The trainer asked.
It was then that Joe realized he had been knocked out. In his fury, he abandoned his strategy and got caught with an uppercut. Joe was knocked out cold before he ever realized what happened.
* * *
We all get advice. Sometimes we ask for it and sometimes we don't. Some advice is good and some...eh...not so good. Then there's advice that we just really need to listen to regardless of what/how we feel. Sweet Joe's story above ties into the Story of the Wise and Foolish Builders in the Gospel of Matthew...
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Matthew 7:24-27
Sweet Joe trained for 5 grueling months and had a solid game plan that should have aloud him to defeat his opponent. Then in the midst of adversity (and thinking he knew better than his trainer), he abandoned the plan and paid the price. He was knocked out and lost a chance to fight for the heavyweight title.
If we are to listen, remain obedient, and put God's word into daily practice then we emulate the wise man that built his house on the rock. Meaning that when the storms of life come (temptation, impatience, selfishness, greed, etc.) we are grounded in the foundation God's word and remain steady. However, if we abandon, get out of practice, or alter our path because we think that we have a better way...then we will soon meet a similar fate to Sweet Joe and the man who built his house on the sand.
There's only one way to salvation... and it's not your way... and it's not my way.... it's God's way.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
"I thirst"
After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:28 (KJV)
For six agonizing hours Jesus suffered and carried upon Him the sins of the world as He was crucified. The "thirst" mentioned in John 19:28 was probably much more than a physical thirst, it was spiritual. Because Jesus was covered in our sins, He was separated from the Father and probably felt completely empty inside.
As human beings, we all have felt emptiness in our lives. These feelings can be brought on by disappointment, despair, guilt, loss, uncertainty, etc. Yet, throughout the Bible the Word of God continuously hits on one key point...Love.
God thirsts for our love.
Time and time again we are given chance after chance to redeem ourselves and ask for forgiveness. If God were not a loving and forgiving God then none of us would stand a chance at gaining eternal life.
It's easy to validate this statement because the most well known verse in the Bible proves it.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (KJV)
This point is also echoed in the words that Jesus spoke to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque when He said to her..."I so ardently thirst to be loved by men in the Most Blessed Sacrament that this thirst devours me..."
Do you thirst for Christ? Are you empty inside, do you feel alone, unmotivated or maybe just a little afraid of what's next in your life?
Then take a moment to quench your thirst by reaching out to Jesus.
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
John 7:37 (KJV)
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The time is now
Quick memory test...
Try to recall how often (just this week) you decided to put something off. Perhaps it was going to the store, cleaning the house or something else that was on your "to do list." It doesn't matter if it was a big deal or not, just think about it for a moment.
In most cases we start off with very good in intentions. Then somehow along the way we end up talking ourselves out of doing what we had originally planned to do. Often the excuses we have are legitimate...and yet some times they are not.
If we look inside the 8th chapter in the Book of Matthew we will find a similar situation.
Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Matthew 8:19-22 (NIV)
In this scenario, it's very likely that the man's father was not dead. It's most likely that he was old or even sick and the man wished to go home and wait for his father to die, and then he would follow Jesus.
Jesus' answer was a little tricky, but the message He was delivering was that we should never make excuses when it comes to following him. The time is now and there is no better time than the present.
Just keep this in mind the next time you have a little free time in the morning, afternoon or evening. Do you watch TV, get on the computer, pick up your Bible, etc. It's really easy to say "I can do it later."
Remember - On His way to the cross Jesus never paused, never said, "Ah, I can do it later." He had a job to do and He did it.
As followers of Christ we have a job to do as well and that includes interacting with God on a daily basis.
The time is now.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Try to recall how often (just this week) you decided to put something off. Perhaps it was going to the store, cleaning the house or something else that was on your "to do list." It doesn't matter if it was a big deal or not, just think about it for a moment.
In most cases we start off with very good in intentions. Then somehow along the way we end up talking ourselves out of doing what we had originally planned to do. Often the excuses we have are legitimate...and yet some times they are not.
If we look inside the 8th chapter in the Book of Matthew we will find a similar situation.
Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
Matthew 8:19-22 (NIV)
In this scenario, it's very likely that the man's father was not dead. It's most likely that he was old or even sick and the man wished to go home and wait for his father to die, and then he would follow Jesus.
Jesus' answer was a little tricky, but the message He was delivering was that we should never make excuses when it comes to following him. The time is now and there is no better time than the present.
Just keep this in mind the next time you have a little free time in the morning, afternoon or evening. Do you watch TV, get on the computer, pick up your Bible, etc. It's really easy to say "I can do it later."
Remember - On His way to the cross Jesus never paused, never said, "Ah, I can do it later." He had a job to do and He did it.
As followers of Christ we have a job to do as well and that includes interacting with God on a daily basis.
The time is now.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
When the game is on the line
There is a common sports analogy that goes something like this…
“Big players,
make big plays,
in big games.”
Essentially, this means that great players step up when the game is on the line and somehow (presumably through their skill or athleticism) turn the game into their teams’ favor.
Translating this into Christianity…
For many of us, when we tend to think about Jesus the first thing that comes to mind is His death on the cross. But what about all those other times that He stepped up and came through? As a matter of fact, can you think of a time when Jesus did not “make a big play?”
*Every time someone was sick or impaired…He showed compassion and healed them.
*Every time someone attempted to trick Him..He got the better of them and they left Him alone.
*Every time His flock was hungry...He fed them.
*Every time He was asked to dispel a demon…He removed it in the name of Almighty God.
*Every time He told a parable…it was done in order to help us understand.
*Every time He spoke…people listened.
*Every time He prayed…God heard him.
*Every time someone doubted Him…He proved them wrong.
*Every time we sin against Him…He has the power to absolve us.
Over 2,000 years ago, when “the game” was on the line, Jesus stepped up and made a “big play”. He sacrificed Himself for all of us. He suffered, was crucified and died so that our sins would be forgiven.
“Big players,
make big plays,
in big games.”
No one has ever had more responsibility placed on their shoulders than Jesus Christ did when He walked the earth. Once he gathered His apostles, He showed up every single day to teach the word of God and to turn sinners toward the path of righteousness.
Jesus gave us 100% then, and He gives us 100% now.
Can we say the same?
For us, it's a much more serious matter than winning or losing a game. It's a matter of eternal life or eternal suffering.
Think about it.
God bless you. And this if for His Glory!
“Big players,
make big plays,
in big games.”
Essentially, this means that great players step up when the game is on the line and somehow (presumably through their skill or athleticism) turn the game into their teams’ favor.
Translating this into Christianity…
For many of us, when we tend to think about Jesus the first thing that comes to mind is His death on the cross. But what about all those other times that He stepped up and came through? As a matter of fact, can you think of a time when Jesus did not “make a big play?”
*Every time someone was sick or impaired…He showed compassion and healed them.
*Every time someone attempted to trick Him..He got the better of them and they left Him alone.
*Every time His flock was hungry...He fed them.
*Every time He was asked to dispel a demon…He removed it in the name of Almighty God.
*Every time He told a parable…it was done in order to help us understand.
*Every time He spoke…people listened.
*Every time He prayed…God heard him.
*Every time someone doubted Him…He proved them wrong.
*Every time we sin against Him…He has the power to absolve us.
Over 2,000 years ago, when “the game” was on the line, Jesus stepped up and made a “big play”. He sacrificed Himself for all of us. He suffered, was crucified and died so that our sins would be forgiven.
“Big players,
make big plays,
in big games.”
No one has ever had more responsibility placed on their shoulders than Jesus Christ did when He walked the earth. Once he gathered His apostles, He showed up every single day to teach the word of God and to turn sinners toward the path of righteousness.
Jesus gave us 100% then, and He gives us 100% now.
Can we say the same?
For us, it's a much more serious matter than winning or losing a game. It's a matter of eternal life or eternal suffering.
Think about it.
God bless you. And this if for His Glory!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Knowing how it's going to end
I see many interesting things on my drive to work. This morning I saw a van with a vanity license plate. The plate read "DTH N TAX" which is eluding to the Death and Taxes quote by Benjamin Franklin which goes...
"but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Mr. Franklin got two-thirds of it right. The part that's missing, of course, is Jesus. There is nothing more certain in life than Jesus. He is our guide, our protector, our conscience, our inspiration, and our comfort. That much I'm certain.
When it comes to "Certainty" the entire Book of Revelation is based on certain events that will transpire before, during, and after the final coming of Christ. Since Revelation details these event for us the only unanswered question is when...
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
-Mark 13:32-33
Continuing on with this thought let's say someone records (DVR, Tivo, etc.) a sports game from their television. Before they get to watch the game, they hear who wins. So, the final outcome is already known and whether they choose to watch the game is up to them.
We have an advantage that we know for absolute certainty that Christ will come again. Our DVR is the Bible. It's God's pre-recorded message to us. It gives us the knowledge to follow the path to righteousness. We know how the story is going to end...whether or not we continue to educate ourselves with God's word is up us. But one thing is for certain...Jesus is the only way.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
-John 14:6
This post was inspired by my best friend who always says, "Jesus is the only way."
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
"but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."
Mr. Franklin got two-thirds of it right. The part that's missing, of course, is Jesus. There is nothing more certain in life than Jesus. He is our guide, our protector, our conscience, our inspiration, and our comfort. That much I'm certain.
When it comes to "Certainty" the entire Book of Revelation is based on certain events that will transpire before, during, and after the final coming of Christ. Since Revelation details these event for us the only unanswered question is when...
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
-Mark 13:32-33
Continuing on with this thought let's say someone records (DVR, Tivo, etc.) a sports game from their television. Before they get to watch the game, they hear who wins. So, the final outcome is already known and whether they choose to watch the game is up to them.
We have an advantage that we know for absolute certainty that Christ will come again. Our DVR is the Bible. It's God's pre-recorded message to us. It gives us the knowledge to follow the path to righteousness. We know how the story is going to end...whether or not we continue to educate ourselves with God's word is up us. But one thing is for certain...Jesus is the only way.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
-John 14:6
This post was inspired by my best friend who always says, "Jesus is the only way."
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
The Innocence of a Child
A small child walked daily to and from school. Though the weather one morning was questionable and clouds were forming, this child made the daily trek to the elementary school. As the day progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother was worried that her child would be frightened walking back home from school, and she herself feared the electrical storm might harm her child.
Following the roar of the thunder, lightning would cut through the sky like a flaming sword. Being concerned, the mother got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. Soon she saw her small child walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. One followed another, each time her child stopping, looking at the streak of light and smiling. Finally, the mother called and asked, "What are you doing?" Her child answered, "God keeps taking pictures of me."
* * *
The innocence of a child is heartwarming and so very enjoyable to be around. However, it's not long before they grow up, have their own views, and become responsible for their own actions. But, before this ever happens, a child starts off life totally dependent upon his/her parent(s). This dependency is not just during a time of convenience, it's a constant dependency that lasts for many years. Children have a very pure and unfiltered way of looking at the world. They are free from malice, do not hold grudges, do not desire authority or riches, do not lust, are teachable, and provide unconditional love. But again, they are 100% dependent upon their parents.And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:3
When Jesus spoke about this, His message was focused on teaching His children about how we should act if we want a chance to enter into His Kingdom. The message focuses on two key points:
1) Our hearts and minds must change like those of a child. Not in a childish sense, but in the sense of being free from hate, envy, malice, seduction, greed, and all evil desires.
2) Being totally dependent upon God and trusting Him as a child unconditionally trusts his/her parents.
3) Humbling ourselves and removing pride from our hearts
These three acts of obedience will not only change your own outlook on life, they will also change those who are influenced by you. Don't be surprised when you start to see more blessings being unexpectedly handed your way.
For the full reading click the link:
Matt 18:1-9
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Tenth Percentile
Parents know that kids will say anything in order to get what they want. One example of an age old promise is when a child asks to get a dog for a pet. The child makes promises to walk the dog, clean up after it, feed it, let it sleep in their bed, etc. But we all know that when it comes down to it that the parents end up taking care of the dog. But that's okay...they're just kids.
Even as adults we think that we need certain things and even promise ourselves that if were to get it, that we would be grateful. Another example of this is when someone decides to buy a treadmill. Treadmills are bought with the best of intentions, but they usually end up turning into a coat rack within a few weeks. This is typical human behavior that we all experience. We yearn for something and once we get it, the elegance of it seems to quickly diminish. Either that, or we convince ourselves that it was never that great to begin with.
Let's take a look at a similar example of this from the Book of Luke.
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
Even as adults we think that we need certain things and even promise ourselves that if were to get it, that we would be grateful. Another example of this is when someone decides to buy a treadmill. Treadmills are bought with the best of intentions, but they usually end up turning into a coat rack within a few weeks. This is typical human behavior that we all experience. We yearn for something and once we get it, the elegance of it seems to quickly diminish. Either that, or we convince ourselves that it was never that great to begin with.
Let's take a look at a similar example of this from the Book of Luke.
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well.
Luke 17:11-19
Isn't it amazing how quickly the lepers forget about Jesus and went about their merry way?
All except for one. That's one out of ten. Only one returned to Jesus to thank Him. To put salt on the wound and make it worse, this was a Samaritan, a foreigner, whom at that time was looked down upon by the people around Jerusalem.
So, the next time that you really yearn for something and end up getting it...will you fall into the tenth percentile?
God bless you. And this if for His Glory.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Unanswered Prayers
A man got off work really late one Thursday evening. He had tried everything that he could to get off earlier because halfway across the country, his son was playing in a Thursday night college football game that was being televised on ESPN and he didn't want to miss it. On top of already being late it had been storming outside with rain, thunder, and lightning over the past several hours. The drive home was slow and not only did he have to be cautious driving in the current conditions, he also had to navigate around the other drivers. As he was driving, he said a prayer to God. He asked God to allow him to get home in time to watch his son on television. The storm continued to rage as waves upon waves of lightning flashed nearby.
Finally, after a drive that normally takes him twenty minutes, he arrived at home after an hour commute. He arrived just in time to see a group of his neighbors standing with umbrellas in his driveway. They were pointing and looking at the second floor of his house. The man froze as he stepped out of his car and understood what had happened. A very large tree had been struck by lightning and had fallen onto his house. The tree had fallen directly over his living room where the man would have been sitting watching the game. The tree had caved in half the roof and knocked the top floor down into the living room area. It was easy to see that if anyone had been sitting in the living room they could not have survived.
The story above has similarities to when Jesus predicted His death to his disciples. Jesus told them that He would suffer, die, and rise from the dead. Peter was not able to accept those remarks and took Jesus aside and rebuked him. Peter was in denial and had no idea about God's master plan.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Mark8:31-33
If Peter ended up having it his way, Jesus would have never died for our sins.
We all wish and pray for things that don't come to fruition. We must trust in God's plan and have faith that He will see us through difficult times. Forcing or going against God's plan only seems to worsen the situation. Have patience and accept the situation you are in with thankfulness and reassurance that there is a greater lesson to be learned.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Finally, after a drive that normally takes him twenty minutes, he arrived at home after an hour commute. He arrived just in time to see a group of his neighbors standing with umbrellas in his driveway. They were pointing and looking at the second floor of his house. The man froze as he stepped out of his car and understood what had happened. A very large tree had been struck by lightning and had fallen onto his house. The tree had fallen directly over his living room where the man would have been sitting watching the game. The tree had caved in half the roof and knocked the top floor down into the living room area. It was easy to see that if anyone had been sitting in the living room they could not have survived.
The story above has similarities to when Jesus predicted His death to his disciples. Jesus told them that He would suffer, die, and rise from the dead. Peter was not able to accept those remarks and took Jesus aside and rebuked him. Peter was in denial and had no idea about God's master plan.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Mark8:31-33
If Peter ended up having it his way, Jesus would have never died for our sins.
We all wish and pray for things that don't come to fruition. We must trust in God's plan and have faith that He will see us through difficult times. Forcing or going against God's plan only seems to worsen the situation. Have patience and accept the situation you are in with thankfulness and reassurance that there is a greater lesson to be learned.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Did God Create Evil?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis1:1
Even those who have never read a single verse from the bible have (most likely) heard the first verse from the book of Genesis. However, God did not create man to act like robots. He did not create us to be pre-programmed to do His will or obey Him. God granted us with individual minds, feelings, and a free will to choose.
Without blinking an eye, we make thousands of unconscious decisions each day. However, God chose to give us the breath of life. God chose to put us on this earth and God chose for us to live in order to glorify His name. Obviously, we also have a choice to follow Him.
I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
Deuteronomy 32:3
With that being said, one question still remains...
If God created everything...Did God create Evil?
The following dialogue was provided by a new friend of mine (thank you Jan!) and with her permission I am posting it here. After you read this, it will make you think about things differently.
The Debate
At a certain college there was a professor with a reputation for being tough on Christians. At the first class, every semester, he asked if anyone was a Christian and proceeded to degrade them and to mock their statement of faith. One semester, he asked the question and a young man raised his hand.
The professor asked, "Did God make everything young man?" He replied "Yes sir he did!" The professor responded, "IF God made everything, then he made evil."
The student didn't have a response and the professor was happy to once again prove the Christian faith to be a myth.
Then another man raised his hand and asked, "May I ask you something,sir?" "Yes, you may," responded the professor.
The young man stood up and said, "Sir, is there such a thing as cold?" Of course there is, what kind of a question is that? Haven't you ever been cold?"
The young man replied, "Actually, sir, cold doesn't exist. What we consider to be cold, is really an absence of heat. Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist. We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there."
The young man continued, Sir, is there such a thing as dark?" Once again the professor responded, "Of course there is."And once again, the student replied, "Actually, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is really only the absence of light. Darkness is only a term developed to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally, the young man asked, "Sir, is there such a thing as evil?" The professor responded, "Of course, we have rapes, murders and violence everywhere in the world, Those things are evil."
The student replied, "Actually, sir, evil does not exist. Evil is simply the absence of God. Evil is a term developed to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. It isn't like truth, or love which exist as virtues like heat or light. Evil is simply the state where God is not present, like cold without heat, or darkness without light."
The professor had nothing to say...
Be full of Christ today, there is no room for anything else.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Genesis1:1
Even those who have never read a single verse from the bible have (most likely) heard the first verse from the book of Genesis. However, God did not create man to act like robots. He did not create us to be pre-programmed to do His will or obey Him. God granted us with individual minds, feelings, and a free will to choose.
Without blinking an eye, we make thousands of unconscious decisions each day. However, God chose to give us the breath of life. God chose to put us on this earth and God chose for us to live in order to glorify His name. Obviously, we also have a choice to follow Him.
I will proclaim the name of the LORD.
Oh, praise the greatness of our God!
Deuteronomy 32:3
With that being said, one question still remains...
If God created everything...Did God create Evil?
The following dialogue was provided by a new friend of mine (thank you Jan!) and with her permission I am posting it here. After you read this, it will make you think about things differently.
The Debate
At a certain college there was a professor with a reputation for being tough on Christians. At the first class, every semester, he asked if anyone was a Christian and proceeded to degrade them and to mock their statement of faith. One semester, he asked the question and a young man raised his hand.
The professor asked, "Did God make everything young man?" He replied "Yes sir he did!" The professor responded, "IF God made everything, then he made evil."
The student didn't have a response and the professor was happy to once again prove the Christian faith to be a myth.
Then another man raised his hand and asked, "May I ask you something,sir?" "Yes, you may," responded the professor.
The young man stood up and said, "Sir, is there such a thing as cold?" Of course there is, what kind of a question is that? Haven't you ever been cold?"
The young man replied, "Actually, sir, cold doesn't exist. What we consider to be cold, is really an absence of heat. Absolute zero is when there is absolutely no heat, but cold does not really exist. We have only created that term to describe how we feel when heat is not there."
The young man continued, Sir, is there such a thing as dark?" Once again the professor responded, "Of course there is."And once again, the student replied, "Actually, sir, darkness does not exist. Darkness is really only the absence of light. Darkness is only a term developed to describe what happens when there is no light present."
Finally, the young man asked, "Sir, is there such a thing as evil?" The professor responded, "Of course, we have rapes, murders and violence everywhere in the world, Those things are evil."
The student replied, "Actually, sir, evil does not exist. Evil is simply the absence of God. Evil is a term developed to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. It isn't like truth, or love which exist as virtues like heat or light. Evil is simply the state where God is not present, like cold without heat, or darkness without light."
The professor had nothing to say...
Be full of Christ today, there is no room for anything else.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Twelve Apostles
The CEO of a company is only as good as the people that work under him. Nearly every great goal requires the efforts of many people to accomplish it. Using a sports analogy…a coach can practice his team for hours, can teach them proper technique, fundamentals, and implant wisdom as to how to strategically play the game. However, a coach cannot be on the field with his team. He must trust that his preparation, enthusiasm, hours of training, and knowledge is strong enough to give them the advantage they need to persevere and win. This situation is not very different from what the twelve apostles went through when they were called to follow Jesus. They were twelve ordinary men whom God used in an extraordinary manner.
What does "Apostle" mean?
It’s the Greek word apostolos, meaning "a sent one", (by the LORD). Today we may call them Missionaries: those who are sent into other countries to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostles are part of the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11 (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers), and the word "missionary" is not found in the Bible.
The Twelve Apostles:
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Matthew 10:1-4
After Jesus’ resurrection and before He ascended into Heaven, eleven of these men were commanded to “Go and Make disciples of all nations…”
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
Final Thoughts:
"It is believed that all but one of the Apostles suffered and died a martyr’s death (even if we can’t be sure of all the details). Amidst some uncertainty, one thing can be made certain…the reason for each of their deaths were the same in every account. They were killed because they proclaimed to have seen Christ die and then to have seen Him alive. They all died because of an unwavering, unrelenting claim that Christ rose from the grave. "
– Sam Shaw
In the next couple of postings, I’ll talk more about the life and death of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and how they were charged with changing the world after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory.
What does "Apostle" mean?
It’s the Greek word apostolos, meaning "a sent one", (by the LORD). Today we may call them Missionaries: those who are sent into other countries to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Apostles are part of the five-fold ministry of Ephesians 4:11 (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers), and the word "missionary" is not found in the Bible.
The Twelve Apostles:
1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Matthew 10:1-4
After Jesus’ resurrection and before He ascended into Heaven, eleven of these men were commanded to “Go and Make disciples of all nations…”
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
Final Thoughts:
"It is believed that all but one of the Apostles suffered and died a martyr’s death (even if we can’t be sure of all the details). Amidst some uncertainty, one thing can be made certain…the reason for each of their deaths were the same in every account. They were killed because they proclaimed to have seen Christ die and then to have seen Him alive. They all died because of an unwavering, unrelenting claim that Christ rose from the grave. "
– Sam Shaw
In the next couple of postings, I’ll talk more about the life and death of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and how they were charged with changing the world after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Jesus' First Miracle
In John 2, Mary, Jesus and his disciples attended a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It is assumed that Mary might have been in some way related to the family of the bride or groom. This makes even more sense when Mary tells Jesus that the wedding party had run out of wine. Jesus responds by saying…
4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.
At that time, the term “Woman” was used out of respect and it seemed that Jesus was either implying that his time to work public miracles had not yet come, or that the time for Him to die for our sins had not yet arrived. Either way, Mary turned to Jesus for help as she certainly believed that he could do something. So, Mary turned to the servants and said...
5 Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Then Jesus said…
7 Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
8 And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
Essentially, this was Jesus’ first miracle where he turned over 30 gallons of water in fine wine and it was the beginning of a very long string of miracles that he performed while He was with His Apostles. For the Gospel says...
11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Temptation
Temptation is not a sin; however, giving into temptation is sin.Jesus was tempted by the Devil for 40 days in the desert after he was baptized by John the Baptist. If we remove the invisible chains that are keeping us from giving 100% of ourselves to Christ, temptation eventually becomes easier to defeat. The devil will ultimately realize that we are too closely connected to God and will concede (focusing his efforts elsewhere for the time being). However, we must always keep up our guard.
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
The Temptation of Jesus
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also 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 splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV)
I believe that a lesson can be learned in everything that Jesus did. In the above verses from Matthew, Jesus shows us a couple of things:
First, the devil is desperate for attention due to his extreme pride (which got him kicked out of Heaven in the first place) and will stop at nothing to deceive and poison the hearts and minds of men.
Second, Jesus shows us that even during the toughest times, i.e. hunger, lack of physical comfort, minimal sleep etc. that these are the times that we will be most vulnerable to temptation. During these times we must remain strong in our faith. Remember, Jesus was in the desert and he did not have the luxury of a bed or a roof over his head. The devil attempted to tempt Jesus right after he received the Holy Spirit thorough Baptism. That’s like attempting to stop a train at full speed traveling down a mountain…it’s just not going to happen.
Final thoughts:
If you look close enough, you should be able to find a message that ‘hits home’ for you somewhere in the Bible. I pray that you can find one that inspires you to have a life long relationship with Jesus Christ. You will always go through good times and bad times; but remember, the Lord will never leave your side.
I’ll leave you with this verse from the book of Romans:
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NIV)
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Beatitudes
I went to a Catholic grade school when I was younger and I remember learning about the Beatitudes but it never really stuck in my mind what they truly meant. So, I thought it would be appropriate to revisit these again.A short background to set the stage:
Jesus Christ gave us the eight Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, recorded for all posterity in the Gospel of Matthew, the first Book of the New Testament of the Bible. Jesus offers us a way of life that promises eternity in the Kingdom of Heaven.
-http://www.jesuschristsavior.net
The Beatitudes
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:1-12
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Are you with Him?
The following is a true story -
After giving a sermon and finishing up all of his duties the preacher was on his way out of church. Before the preacher was able to get out the door a man came up and introduced himself. The man said that he was a secret service agent and asked the preacher if he would be interested in visiting the Oval Office. The preacher agreed and met the agent the very next day. As the preacher walked with the secret service agent they passed through one of the main gates that allowed them to enter the White House grounds. Immediately, they were met by other secret service agents who said, “You with him? Then go on through.” As the preacher followed the agent down the endless hallways of the White House they saw several other agents that looked him over and asked, “You with him? Then go on through.” Finally the preacher and the agent made it to the door directly outside of the Oval Office. A single guard stood there at attention and looked at the preacher. He said, “Sir, you are with him, so you may enter.” So the preacher entered the Oval Office with the secret service agent that he had only met the previous day. The preacher smiled in wonder and amazement at both the beauty and history of the highest office in the land.
Now let’s look at this in a slightly different way…
Let’s say that your time has come and you are standing outside the gates of Heaven. Immediately, you are met by Jesus and He joyfully embraces you. Jesus turns and you feel compelled to follow Him. He passes through the magnificent front gates of Heaven and as you follow Him you see a dozen angels standing guard at the gate. They look you over and say “You with Him? Then go on through.” As you walk through Heaven you come up to a large mansion that is guarded by more angels. Jesus walks through the door and they look you over. “You with Him?” They ask. “Then go on through.” So, you follow Jesus into the mansion and pass many other angels that nod at you since they know you are with Jesus. Finally, you come to a great door of magnificent brightness that resembles no color ever seen on the Earth. Jesus walks through the door and you feel compelled to follow. As you take a step, you see a very large angel looking down upon you. The angel says, “Blessed are you, for you walk with Jesus. You may enter.” So, you walk through the door and into the glorious presence of God.
The previous story of walking with Jesus was provided by the very same preacher that visited the White House. I wish that I knew his name.
God bless you. And this if for His Glory!
After giving a sermon and finishing up all of his duties the preacher was on his way out of church. Before the preacher was able to get out the door a man came up and introduced himself. The man said that he was a secret service agent and asked the preacher if he would be interested in visiting the Oval Office. The preacher agreed and met the agent the very next day. As the preacher walked with the secret service agent they passed through one of the main gates that allowed them to enter the White House grounds. Immediately, they were met by other secret service agents who said, “You with him? Then go on through.” As the preacher followed the agent down the endless hallways of the White House they saw several other agents that looked him over and asked, “You with him? Then go on through.” Finally the preacher and the agent made it to the door directly outside of the Oval Office. A single guard stood there at attention and looked at the preacher. He said, “Sir, you are with him, so you may enter.” So the preacher entered the Oval Office with the secret service agent that he had only met the previous day. The preacher smiled in wonder and amazement at both the beauty and history of the highest office in the land.
Now let’s look at this in a slightly different way…
Let’s say that your time has come and you are standing outside the gates of Heaven. Immediately, you are met by Jesus and He joyfully embraces you. Jesus turns and you feel compelled to follow Him. He passes through the magnificent front gates of Heaven and as you follow Him you see a dozen angels standing guard at the gate. They look you over and say “You with Him? Then go on through.” As you walk through Heaven you come up to a large mansion that is guarded by more angels. Jesus walks through the door and they look you over. “You with Him?” They ask. “Then go on through.” So, you follow Jesus into the mansion and pass many other angels that nod at you since they know you are with Jesus. Finally, you come to a great door of magnificent brightness that resembles no color ever seen on the Earth. Jesus walks through the door and you feel compelled to follow. As you take a step, you see a very large angel looking down upon you. The angel says, “Blessed are you, for you walk with Jesus. You may enter.” So, you walk through the door and into the glorious presence of God.
The previous story of walking with Jesus was provided by the very same preacher that visited the White House. I wish that I knew his name.
God bless you. And this if for His Glory!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Jesus' Last Command
Embedded below is one of the most viewed religious clips on the Web. In 5 minutes and 33 seconds it pretty much wraps up most of our daily struggles with temptation and shows how Jesus always intervenes on our behalf...always out of love.
The question is not whether or not he is watching over us...
So Jesus came to them and said, "All authority (power) in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach those people to obey everything that I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world."
Matthew 28:18-20
...the question is whether or not we open our hearts to listen and allow Him in.
"That last hug. That last kiss. That last look. That last wave. Each of them is very important when you are leaving someone you love, especially if it could be the last time you see them for awhile. But the last word, that one last message, is precious. You try to make it pleasant ... you try to make it memorable ... you try to make it affectionate ... but most of all, you want your one last word to count!
The Great Commission is Jesus' last earthly message to his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. While Jesus still leads and guides, this is the message he wants his disciples to remember as his parting command. This is his final message. He stresses emphatically that it is based upon his authority over everyone and everything and everywhere. What is that message? GO MAKE DISCIPLES!
Notice Jesus doesn't want us running all over the place telling about him. Notice he doesn't just want us baptizing everyone we see. Notice he doesn't just want us to teach others to follow him. He wants us to do all three! Go, baptize, and teach to obey so they will be my disciples, too! If we heed these marching orders, if we get out of the shadow of our church buildings and culture, he will go with us! That's it. That's Jesus' one last word. It's also our first word!"
The above excerpt was shared from lightheart.org
Enjoy the clip.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
The question is not whether or not he is watching over us...
So Jesus came to them and said, "All authority (power) in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach those people to obey everything that I have told you. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of the world."
Matthew 28:18-20
...the question is whether or not we open our hearts to listen and allow Him in.
"That last hug. That last kiss. That last look. That last wave. Each of them is very important when you are leaving someone you love, especially if it could be the last time you see them for awhile. But the last word, that one last message, is precious. You try to make it pleasant ... you try to make it memorable ... you try to make it affectionate ... but most of all, you want your one last word to count!
The Great Commission is Jesus' last earthly message to his disciples in the Gospel of Matthew. While Jesus still leads and guides, this is the message he wants his disciples to remember as his parting command. This is his final message. He stresses emphatically that it is based upon his authority over everyone and everything and everywhere. What is that message? GO MAKE DISCIPLES!
Notice Jesus doesn't want us running all over the place telling about him. Notice he doesn't just want us baptizing everyone we see. Notice he doesn't just want us to teach others to follow him. He wants us to do all three! Go, baptize, and teach to obey so they will be my disciples, too! If we heed these marching orders, if we get out of the shadow of our church buildings and culture, he will go with us! That's it. That's Jesus' one last word. It's also our first word!"
The above excerpt was shared from lightheart.org
Enjoy the clip.
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Jesus Rant
This short video is one of those that "knocks you back" into reality after watching it. I find myself (all too often), not giving thanks for all of the wonderful gifts that the Lord has blessed me with. I often find myself taking the things that are considered "normal" for granted. It's so easy to get caught up in our daily routines...but what about God? I'd say that He's caught up in all of us. Suddenly my schedule doesn't seem so hectic after all.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:3
God bless you. And this is for His Glory!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
