Getting to Jesus

Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. Mark 2:4

Faith finds Jesus, especially when He seems hard to access. Faith is persistent to get to God, because it knows He knows what’s best. Like a honey bee is drawn back to the honeycomb for community and nutrition, so the soul is drawn to God by the Holy Spirit. In the presence of Jesus is forgiveness, healing, peace and contentment. So, faith does not rest until it rests in Christ. The condition of forgiveness and healing is faith and obedience is the fruit of faith. Faith finds Jesus.

Furthermore, faith finds creative ways to get friends and family to Jesus. Because we enjoy the love, healing and forgiveness of God, we want others to have access to His life changing blessings. Thus, we pray for opportunities to expose a person’s felt need to the power of Christ’s care. We may invite them to a Christian concert to enjoy an uplifting night of praise and worship. Or, we can take them for coffee, listen to their hurts, and pray for their heart to be healed by Jesus.

And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. Luke 14:23, KJV

Yes, our faith compels us to help friends find Jesus in personal salvation and forgiveness of sin. Perhaps, we pick them up in our automobile, promise them lunch after church, and take them to hear the Bible taught and the Gospel preached. Some religious people will criticize our zeal and even question the sincerity of someone’s salvation, but the fruit of faith is up to the Holy Spirit. Our part is to love people to the Lord, but it is God’s part to change their heart. Faith finds Jesus.

Lastly, if our faith does not compel us to help others find faith, we may have a false faith, or at best an immature belief. Mature saints are moved to tears over the sin stained souls of the lost. As we enjoy our sweet salvation, how can we sit still and not engage in serving those who have yet to taste the satisfying grace of God. Thus, by God’s grace we pray for innovative opportunities to get people to Jesus. Perhaps we give a book, offer a prayer, share a video or sit and listen. Whatever pure means we employ, we can trust the Holy Spirit to bring joy. Faith finds Jesus!

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Our God is approachable

 Another time Jesus was praying, and when He finished, one of His disciples approached Him. Teacher, would You teach us Your way of prayer? John taught his disciples his way of prayer, and we’re hoping You’ll do the same. Luke 11:1

Jesus is approachable to all who desire His company. God did not create the earth like a watch, winding it up and then stepping back to let it run without His intervention. No, the Lord is personal and approachable. He invites His children to ask questions on how to pray, how to love, how to forgive, how to live holy, how to serve, how to minister, and how to give. Yes, He loves to engage and instruct in His ways. Jesus moves the mind with clear teaching and He captures the heart with riveting and relevant stories.

A disciple who walked with Jesus on earth struggled with his prayers to heaven. He watched Jesus pray, but the student still needed some direction in how to pray. So, even today as we grow in our faith, we still need the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the ways of God. We are disciples who sincerely want to know how to live for the Lord. He is not shy in showing us what to say and how to serve. Just as we love giving to our children, God loves to give His Spirit to all who ask.

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 1 Kings 3:5

Are you approachable? Do others feel the freedom to seek your counsel and ideas? When people see the fruit of your character they want to ask you about how you live life. As you lovingly lead others, learners will want to know why you lead so unselfishly. Questions are your opportunity to point people back to the Lord’s love for you and your reciprocal approach to leading others. Tell stories of your struggles to lead in love and how you grew in grace over time. Invite questions.

Approachability is the outcome of acceptance. When your children, grandchildren, friends and co-workers know you accept them for who they are, they will want to know who you are. Your unconditional acceptance of someone is an invitation to love them for Jesus' sake. Lastly, approach the Lord often with your fears, dreams and desires. He delights in your prayers and He unleashes His Spirit to all who call on His name. Humbly approach Him and expect to be loved!

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Loving discipline

 .the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:12

There have been times in my life I have wondered about the Lord’s discipline. Exactly how does He discipline us and why does He do it?
 
Hebrews 12:7 says, “Endure hardship as discipline.”
 
This scripture reveals God disciplines us through difficult circumstances. Some of these circumstances come from our sin; some come from someone else’s sin that affects us, and some just come from the trouble of life and way of our world.
 
God can use any difficult circumstance to discipline us.
 
To ensure hardship as discipline says we need to trust God has our best interest in mind, that every difficult circumstance, no matter how awful, is being used by Him for our good and His glory. But it isn’t always easy to trust God during difficult times. Why?
 
First, because we may not have the right perspective of the Lord. We may not trust His heart and His love. Instead, we may see Him as mean, angry, or hateful.
 
This reminds me of a college friend who only saw Scriptures of wrath and punishment when they opened the Bible. They feared God and didn’t believe He loved them, so rather than being able to rejoice in their circumstances and trust He was working all things together for their good, they felt burdened under the weight of feeling they where not good enough and that the Lord wanted to punish them when they did something wrong.
 
If we have the wrong view of God when we go through troubles, we won’t be able to count it all joy as James 1:2 says and we won’t be able to see that His discipline is done in love. Instead, we will blame him and become angry with Him, perhaps even feeling betrayed and abandoned. But, the Lord wants us to have a deep conviction that we are held in His loving hands and that we are blessed in difficult times. 
 
Why does God discipline us? Hebrews 12:10 says, “God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness.” The purpose of God’s discipline is never to punish. Punishment is rooted in fear, but God’s discipline is rooted in love, because Love is who He is.
 
Discipline is never to subtract from us, but always to add to us so that we can become more like Christ. Even if that means God is removing bad habits or ungodly behaviors from us by disciplining us.
 
If the purpose of hardship is for us to share in His holiness, we must trust God knows exactly what kind of hardship and how much hardship to allow in our lives to make us more like Him.
 
He will never give us more than we can handle with His power.
 
During our time of discipline, it can be very difficult to see what God is doing. It’s only after we look back that we can see how He was molding, shaping, and changing us. It’s only after we have moved through the storm that we can see the purpose. As a result, we will experience greater faith and our relationship with Christ will be stronger.
 
Are you going through a difficult time? Remember that everything that happens in your life is filtered through His loving hand, and that He will never betray you.
 
“For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

Depend on God

 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:8

We all from time to time like to take the time to plan a vacation and what better way to do that then to look at travel sites, magazines and brouchures. I picked up a brochure describing the statistics of Lake Tahoe’s massive expanse: 39 trillion gallons of water, average depth 1,000 feet, 72 miles of shoreline and 99.9% pure glacier run off into this ancient crater. Stunningly, if you could pour all the water in Tahoe over the state of California it would be covered in 14 inches of water. God graciously spoke to my heart, “focus on the depth of our relationship and I will take care of the breadth of your ministry.” Deep spiritual roots create a sustainable dependence on God.

The prophet Jeremiah gives us a picture of a tree planted next to an ever flowing stream of water. Its root system gradually digs deep into the moist soil. It never lacks liquid nourishment for the green leaves high above the ground. God’s prophet says those whose confidence is in the Lord is like one who stays planted beside His living waters. Daily doses of Jesus grow us in grace, mercy, anointing, and strength. A life that always lingers near the source of life is sustained by the Spirit. The winds of adversity only cause us to bow down to Christ in praise. Faithfulness bears fruit even in heated situations.

“Remain in me [Christ], as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (John 15:4).

Our need for autonomy can be an enemy to our dependence on God. Jesus is not an add on to a full and balanced life, He is our life. It dishonors our Savior to use Him as a last resort only after we have exhausted ourselves and our resources. In contrast, when our confidence is in Christ our default is to depend on Him. Like a healthy tree’s roots automatically reach beyond itself for sustenance, so we who trust in the Lord, as a matter of course, cling to Christ for our spiritual sustenance. Autonomy thinks it sustains itself, dependency knows it is sustained by God.

Therefore, make sure the roots of your trust flow deeply in dependence on your Savior Jesus. Burst out of your cocoon of false security and fly by faith like a beautiful butterfly on a mission. Seek first God’s kingdom, not striving to build your own kingdom. Pray for bigger ways to give and avoid building bigger barns to stockpile stuff. Perhaps you downsize so you can upsize for the Lord. Faith rooted in Jesus remains fruitful, growing the green leaves of God’s grace, even during a spiritual drought. Autonomy fears loss, dependency rests in God’s peace and love.

“Whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:2-3).

Stillness

 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10

Be still with the Savior, for it positions us to see and hear God clearly. Stillness sets us free from busyness that can betray our trust in God. It is hard to be still in a society that values busyness and suspects and downplays the importance of stillness. We are made to feel guilty if we are not constantly on the go by the world. Why else would we stay habitually connected to computers, ipads, phones, social media, television, netflix, hulu, etc. etc. and caffeine? However, busyness is not a badge of honor, but a sad and seductive addiction. Overdone busyness is a lack of focus on God and His provision. However, to “be still” is the standard for serious followers of Jesus. Be still and rest; Be still and reflect; Be still and think; Be still and pray; Be still and write; Be still and enjoy your family; Be still with no agenda; Be still and see things more clearly; Be still and know He is God. Be still and remember His word and promises to us.  Being still is an investment that pays into eternity. Practicing stillness regularly means we trust God with the big things such as relationships, the future, finances, family, a job, and our health. Stillness also means we come to understand the small things and don’t sweat them because we know our Savior is in control. Stillness aligns our hearts with God. It is in our expressive stillness that we muse and meditate on His grace. Yes, there are seasons of busyness that make stillness seem foreign. An infant requires intense attention. A move to another home involves significantly increased activity. Launching a business or a ministry is an all-consuming affair. Starting something new most likely means you are extremely busy. However, do not use your busyness as an excuse to ignore God. Push back from your fatigue that comes from forgetting to be still. In our busyness, we can still carve out time to be still with Christ. Busyness is not meant to be a habit; it’s meant to be for a time. We are not designed to stay there. We move on and don’t allow busyness to backlog. We pass through busyness on the way to being still. Lastly, fill your stillness with the significance of knowing God. This is a potent perspective that facilitates faith and trust in the Lord. It is here that we are humbled with a massive dose of dependency on divine guidance and wisdom. It is in our stillness that we see God for who He is, high and lifted up, deserving of our honor, praise, and adoration. The sovereignty of God screams in our stillness. God grows bigger when we slow down and rest in the shadow of His stature. It is in our stillness that we see the unseen activity of the Lord our God. The Holy Spirit is melting hard hearts. He is orchestrating authorities in our life to bend them and us toward God. He is drawing men and women to Himself in the middle of Christless cultures. Stillness shows us what our Savior is up to, and gives us a living hope that can be ours daily and regularly. Stillness shows us the way. Stillness is God’s way of working with us. Stillness saves time. Be still, and we will see Him exalted among the nations and in the earth. Stillness knows God.

A leaders heart

His heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 17:6

What is the difference between devotion and discipline? Is one more valuable than the other? Devotion is an overriding commitment to Christ and His way of doing things. It engages the heart, mind, and soul in learning the ways of the Lord and then applying them through our daily living. Devotion must be the driving force behind a disciple’s faith for them to persevere in Christ’s call on their life of being influential and impactful. Your devotion to God dictates how you will live your life.

Discipline, on the other hand, is the ability to stay focused on the task at hand. It finishes the assignment or completes the course. A disciplined person trains to improve their strength and self-control. They are religious at carrying out routines, fulfilling checklists, and getting things done. Discipline is designed to grow your faith, with regular readings from God’s Word, and engaging prayers of praise, thanksgiving, confession, and repentance.

However, we must make sure our discipline is driven by our devotion or we become judgmental, callous, and insensitive like a pharisee. Devotion to Christ first keeps our heart of faith full of grace, love, compassion, forgiveness, and truth. Discipline without devotion is like a billowing cloud that gives no refreshing rain. It can become so rigid in its rules that it causes decent and devoted people to flee. Disciplined leaders are wise to not substitute their warm devotion for cold discipline. So, apply devotion to both God and people. 

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10).

We need to be into practice directing our passionate devotion to focus on one thing. Like Paul, learn to channel all our energies into one endeavor, and see it through to the end. “Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah” (Acts 18:5). It is better to complete one task than to start a dozen and leave them all incomplete. Indeed, our devotion to Christ determines our discipline over the long term. Keep this your motivation, and discipline will follow. A heart devoted to the Lord’s ways does not stray away.

Start at home

 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.  Joshua 24:15

What does it mean to be the spiritual leader of my home? Do I have to reach a certain level of spiritual maturity before I qualify? What if my wife is more spiritual than I am? Shouldn’t she be the spiritual leader? Spiritual leadership is determined by position, not knowledge. God places a man in the role of spiritual leader to lead his wife and children in faith. 

Our wife and children may know more of the Bible, but the Lord still holds us responsible for their spiritual well-being. So as husbands and fathers, we have to ask ourselves, “What are we doing to lead our family spiritually?” This non-optional assignment from Almighty God forces us into faith-based behavior. We want to model daily time in Bible reading and prayer. Spiritual leaders show the way in knowing God. 

“The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family” (Acts 16:34). 

Spiritual leadership does not require a graduate degree in theology, but it does require a degree of planning and preparation. Spiritual leaders create a prayerful plan of intentional actions that expose their family to faith opportunities. You spend time looking for houses of worship that meet the needs of your wife and child, much as you would seek out the right home or school that also meet their needs. Spiritual leadership seeks out a church. 

“Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool” (Psalm 132:7). 

Men who make it a big deal to lead their family spiritually make the most difference at home and in the community. Your investment in family Bible study, your example of faith under fire, and your Christlike character are living testaments to the truth of God. 

Talk about the Lord when you linger in traffic with your children, pray with them when they are fearful and upset, hold your wife’s hand and listen to her heart, sign up for the next marriage retreat, and serve others unselfishly. You can’t control the culture, but you and your house can serve the Lord. Spiritual leaders lead their family to love God. 

“For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:23-24). 

Silence is golden

 In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15

A five-day silent retreat is not required if you want to hear from God or grow a disciplined walk with Christ. But if you can afford this investment of time beloved you will not be disappointed. Always remember, prayer saves us time by aligning our agendas and will with God’s agenda and will for the day and our lives. Prayer is what fuels our faith and empowers our work, and service unto the Lord and others. It is important that we creatively manage our routines around experiencing the Lord in prayer, meditation, praise, fellowship,  Bible study, reflection, and worship. As there is a universal language the Lord speaks, it is silence. Quietly read these next few sentences. Perhaps turn off your phone, tv, music and all distracting things. Listen: the Lord is speaking, and He is speaking to you.  Avail the ear of your soul.
 
“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it…Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” (Isaiah 30:15,18).
 
Isaiah in this moment described the Sovereign Lord’s heart for His people to enjoy their salvation through repentance, rest, quietness, and trust. These attributes were the fuel for their strength. Though they initially resisted, the Lord remained compassionate to remind them of His justice. If they would wait for Him, He would fulfill His promises to His people. Blessings come when we wait for God’s hand and His best. When burdens beset us we don’t panic and act like we are alone, but quietly trust in the Lord. 
 
Silence is the soul’s remedy for spiritual fatigue. Be still, be quiet and listen to the voice of Love that comes from our Lord.
 
Are you becoming fluent in God’s language of silence? Are you able to comprehend what the Lord says to your heart through Holy Spirit inspired scripture, and through His creation? Be still and know He is God. Be still and know He is. Be still and know Him. Be still and know. Be still. Be. This is something to be learned, just like any new language. A linguist devotes their skill and energy to learn a new language, and in time is conversationally fluent. So, stay immersed in the process. Our heavenly Father is patient to work with us where we are. Also learn from others who speak the language of silence fluently. God’s language is not to be taken lightly. Let us take the time to silence our heart and we will grow into a disciples who finish well.

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
 
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:2-3).

Walk in freedom

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  2 Kings 6:17

When someone you love is struggling with sin or they are making choices you know won’t be good for them or others, it can really hurt. You grieve with the thought of them destroying their life because you love them so. 

So, you may try to step in. You speak truth to them. You try to stop them from doing what you know won’t go well for them. It’s good to gently point out someone’s sin to them in hopes of restoration (Galatians 6:1). But if they are unwilling to listen to what you, or others, have to say, it’s time to let go and give them to God. 

The Lord has recently reminded me that as much as I want to keep a loved one from the pain that will come from their sinful choices, it’s not my job. They are firmly in His hand. When a heart is hardened, and when eyes are blind, softness can only come through trouble and restored sight can only come through crushing.

For most of us, when we are caught in the snare of deception, a breakthrough only comes through a breaking.

“For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as a child” (Hebrews 12:6).

When I look back on my own journey, I am so grateful for the LORD’s discipline. Because He allowed me to feel the pain of my choices and sin, I am now on a straight path and will never go back to where I was before. No one could have lived my life for me back then or fixed my direction with a word. I had to learn difficult lessons that came from my sin on my own.

It’s so tough to see others walking into a situation that you know will burn them and hurt others. Today I am reminded I can’t fix anyone or their life, but I can pray, pray, pray.

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).

I know it’s the Lord’s will that my loved one walk in freedom, so I can pray. I know it’s the Lord’s desire that they personally know Him, so I can pray. I know it’s His best for them that they be loosened from the snare of sin, so I can pray. And I know He loves them more than I do, so I can pray. I may not be able to change their heart, but I can pray that they come full circle to Christ, experience a humbling through their circumstances, and find Him once more. 

Be encouraged today. Those you love are held in His loving, mighty hand. 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Pain relief

 Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5, NKJV

Pain hurts.

How many of us have multiple splinters embedded in our souls—forgotten, festering or fresh? Your hurt may be buried deep in the recesses of your memories, but on occasion it raises its ugly head and you discover your pain was buried alive. Forgotten from denial, but not dead because ongoing forgiveness in the power of the Spirit is the only remedy to remove the pain of past sins inflicted on your heart. You may never hear the words, “Will you forgive me?”, but you can still forgive and by God’s grace not be controlled by someone else’s past shaming. 

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

A festering hurt like a physical wound lingers with infection just below the surface: puffy, red and swollen intently waiting for love’s lance to bring relief. The puss of pride infects the blood of our emotions as it flows through our hurting heart with venomous affect—only the antivenom of humility can counteract pride’s deadly outcome. Humility recognizes and admits that the struggle of unresolved conflict corrodes relationships and clouds our judgment. Only when we go to our offender or the one we have offended and seek reconciliation, can we clear our consciences. 

“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

Or maybe your wound is fresh. Take courage and forgive fast so the hurt doesn’t fester and lie dormant in resentment ready to attack unaware. When you are hurt or offended the amount of time it takes you to thank God and forgive is an indicator of how close your walk is with Christ. Some die in bitterness, for others it takes years to forgive, fewer months, fewer weeks, even fewer days, the more mature in their faith hours, saints seconds and those who walk closest to Christ, their thanksgiving and forgiveness are simultaneous to the offense. By God’s grace keep no record of wrongs and you will be free to love others as your heavenly Father loves you. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mathew 11:28-29).

Humility

 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8:8, NKJV

Far too often, our sense of humility is rooted in a distorted view of self, not an elevated view of God.

It is easy to see our shortcomings and failures, to know better than anyone else the ways in which we have failed to be the men and women God has called us to be. We should therefore be quick to seek the forgiveness and mercy of God, asking him to heal us and make us whole. However, sorrow over our failures is not the same thing as genuine humility. True humility sees not only our failures, but even our absolute best selves, the full potential of who we are made to be, yet is still quick to embrace and celebrate one’s identity as a servant under authority.

You and I will never be humble until we gain clarity on the exceeding worth and value of Christ. In the words of the centurion, “I am not worthy” can only be a statement of true humility when it is said in relation to Christ and his infinite worth. By human standards, a centurion was a person of great significance, a military leader with command over 100 soldiers. In fact, it would be untrue for him to say he has no worth or significance, for everyone around him would have seen that to be false. 

Similarly, many of us have been entrusted with positions of leadership or given resources or education that invite great respect or honor. Faith in Christ does not require that we deny these truths or ignore the opportunities for influence that we have been given. What it does ask of us is a daily reassessment of our worth in light of the worth of Jesus Christ.

This centurion of old gives an example for all ages of the way of humility. Humility is found when we see Jesus for who he truly is and learn daily to see ourselves and the world around us through his great light.  And while his words are right and true - “I am not worthy” - as we welcome the Lord into our homes and lives, in the mystery of his goodness he makes us worthy. By his grace, we are seated at the royal table, invited to dine with the King as his sons and daughters. 

And so, mindful of the areas of leadership or influence we have been given, let us always remember and live with this reality before us, Christ is the King, and we are his faithful servants who lead, love, and serve, in order to invite others to encounter and abide in his perfect love. 

Freedom

 I tell you the truth: everyone who commits sin surrenders his freedom to sin. He is a slave to sin’s power. Even a household slave does not live in the home like a member of the family, but a son belongs there forever. So think of it this way: if the Son comes to make you free, you will really be free.

John 8:34-36, The Voice

Freedom can be allusive to disciples of Jesus if sin is able to gain a foothold in a our life. Sin may manifest itself through addiction, fear, lack of love or lack of identity. Jesus is making the case that He has come to set the captives free from the slavery of sin. Faith in Him shifts from the household of hell to the household of heaven. A child of God is free not to sin.

Here are three ways disciples of Jesus have been set free from sin:

Free From Addiction “The beauty of your new situation is this: now that you are free from sin, you are free to serve a different master” (Romans 6:18, The Voice).

A good friend has been free from his addiction to alcohol for over 500 days. How? A loving intervention from two family members who loved him more than allowing him to stay stuck in his pain, challenged him to get help. Their love gave him permission to do what he wanted to do, but lacked the moral resolve. Once he received professional help and re-surrendered to Jesus, he was set free from sin to begin making healthy life choices. And now he is engaged to marry, by God’s grace, the woman of his dreams, beloved by the Lord and beautiful (inside and out). Freedom from addiction starts by recognizing it as sin and then humbly seeking help.

Free From Fear “You see, you have not received a spirit that returns you to slavery, so you have nothing to fear. The Spirit you have received adopts you and welcomes you into God’s own family. That’s why we call out to Him, “Abba! Father!” as we would address a loving daddy” (Romans 8:15, The Voice).

Fear loses its voice and influence over your life when your spiritual ears become attuned to the truth of who you now serve as a follower of Jesus. The shackles of shame and guilt have been broken by the blood of Christ on the cross, purchasing you out of your old way of life. Your new Master, Father God, has a face of love not harshness, hands of comfort, a kind voice of wisdom and feet to show you the way. No need to look back on your slavery to sin, call out instead to your Abba, Father as you would address a loving daddy. Fear flees in the face of your loving Father. The Holy Spirit has adopted you into a heavenly home—full of peace, acceptance and love. Learn to be at home with the Lord’s love, resting in who you are: a beloved child of God. 

Free To Love “Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.” (Galatians 5:13, The Voice).

Love is relational currency! And, because you are free from the crushing debt of sin, you now have the riches of love to spend in service to others. A love without expectations of being paid back, a love that compounds with character dividends over time and a love that points people to the Lord Jesus Christ. Spread the seeds of generous love and reap a harvest of lives growing deeper in love with God and each other. Love guarantees relational success, because it looks out for what’s best for another. Use your freedom to love for the greater good of serving the least. Be an extravagant lover with a vulnerable heart, and watch others be set free from sin’s bondage! 

“God chose us to be in a relationship with Him even before He laid out plans for this world; He wanted us to live holy lives characterized by love, free from sin, and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:4, The Voice).

Bear it

 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 

1 Thessalonians 5:14

Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The word, “bear” comes from a Greek word which means “to carry, to take up” or to take away or carry off. The word burden comes from a Greek word which means “a weight.”

When you put these two words together, “bear” and “weight”, it means to take away or carry off the weight someone else is experiencing. Essentially, it means to bring relief and comfort to someone else’s life. 

In “The Law of Christ”  John Piper writes: 

“If a Christian brother or sister is weighed down or menaced by some burden or threat, be alert to that and quickly do something to help. Don't let them be crushed. Don't let them be destroyed.”

This doesn’t seem too difficult when you bear someone’s financial burden . . . so you buy them groceries. And it doesn’t seem too difficult when you bear a physical burden by taking someone to the doctor.

But when someone is experiencing a burden you can’t in any way solve, such as mental illness, a midlife crisis, a broken heart, or an ailing marriage, what can you do to bear their burden when you can’t fix their problem? How can you bear their emotional burden without getting crushed under the weight of it yourself when your heart is hurting for them? 

This is what I have been wrestled with many a time in my life. I love the individual. They have no idea how seeing them struggle emotionally and spiritually is breaking my heart. I so want what is good for them. It deeply pains me to see them confused and hurting. 

I was reminded that I cannot force them to see truth. I cannot make them understand. I cannot make them seek help. But I can pray, and in this way I can bear their burden. 

But in praying, I’ve realized there is one thing I must do: I must give the burden I am carrying for them to Jesus. I must let Him have it, or I will get crushed under the weight of it, under the weight of its sadness. Bearing another’s burdens can be crushing if we don’t know what to do with the burdens. But if we know what to do with them, we can experience hope. 

Bearing someone’s burden takes deep courage, faith, and trust. It takes courage to pray, and when needed, to speak truth. It also takes faith and trust to put the one you pray for into God’s loving hands and trust Him for an outcome that you cannot control. It means trusting that the Lord loves them more than you do. 

He knows the needs of the one you cover in prayer. He sees their heartbreak. You are simply called to stand in the gap for them, seek God on their behalf, and ask Him to move for them. 

Bearing one another’s burdens can be difficult, but our load can be made lighter when we know Who to trust, and who to give the other person’s burden to so we are not crushed under it.

Good > Evil

 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 

1 Peter 5:10

People have been asking why God allows evil in the world since the beginning of time. Why does He allow bad things to happen? Why does He allow people to hurt one another? Why does He allow death, disease, and emotional and relational pain? Why do disasters happen? Why do nations battle? 

I imagine there are many reasons, some of which I do not understand. But one clear reason is so He can draw people to Himself. 

A great example of this truth is in Acts 7 where the story of Stephen’s stoning is recorded. When Stephen was testifying about Christ to the Jewish Sanhedrin, the council became so angry that they rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death (Acts 7:57-58).

If we look at what happened to Stephen with eyes that discount God’s presence, or with a perspective that ignores the Lord’s providence or love, it seems evil has won. There appears to be no reason for God to allow such persecution. 

But we must remember that God doesn’t see things the way we do. His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). And, what seems like evil without purpose is always allowed by the Lord for good.

Christ never allows a sifting, shattering, heartbreak, hurt, trial, tumult, persecution, or problem without reason. God uses all things in His Kingdom for redemption as well as reconciliation (Romans 5:3-5). Nothing is ever wasted in His economy. 

In Stephen’s case, his stoning set off a tidal wave of persecution that scattered the Lord’s followers, (with the exception of the apostles), throughout the provinces of Judea and Samaria. (Acts 8:1)

This meant more people could hear about Christ and learn of His love. Because of persecution, not in spite of persecution, the gospel spread. “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went” (Acts 8:4).

This is a reminder that God uses evil for good. It’s a reminder that what brings temporary discomfort for us could mean eternal blessings for someone else. And it’s also a reminder that we do ourselves a mighty favor when we remember that He is the Potter and we are the clay (Isaiah 64:8) and that our lives are not our own (Jeremiah 10:23).

This is what the believers who were scattered experienced. But I wonder how they must have felt. They had experienced close fellowship with one another. Undoubtedly, they shared a profound fullness of joy in Jesus through their community.

And then. . . to have their normal lives ripped away, what pain. And also, what joy mingled in with sorrow too as they were scattered and were able to share Jesus’ love everywhere they went.  

During difficult times, we must remember that the Lord doesn’t waste anything, not even the worst things. We must remember that He works all things out according to His good and perfect will (Ephesians 1:11), for His good and glory (Romans 8:28).

We must also remember that life most often makes sense in the rearview mirror. Therefore, the hurt you experience now may not seem that it serves any purpose. But you will understand, either in the here and now or the then and there. 

“So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you” (2 Corinthians 4:12).

Moving forward

 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 

Isaiah 48:17-18 (ESV)

As our world slowly recovers from a season of crisis and begins to return to some levels of what some would called normal. We as individuals are faced with a similar set of questions and decisions that lie before us. What does it look like for you to emerge from this extended season of winter? 

For some, this spring feels endless in possibility, bursting with life and pent up energy. For others, while the world may spring to life all around, you remain in the depths of a dark winter, overcome by the grief and loss brought upon you and those you love during this pandemic. Perhaps you find yourself somewhere in the middle, neither joyful nor despondent, but suffering from the general malaise of apathy and exhaustion. 

In times like these, we know that we are meant to move forward, yet it can be difficult to discern where exactly we are meant to go.

Life is a journey, and movement is an essential piece of the puzzle, but movement in and of itself is neither virtuous or the point. To be redemptive and life-giving, our movement needs an aim and a destination. And so, before any one of us launches out into this new season of life, we must ask ourselves a fundamental question: am I being led?

In our desire for change, renewal, and growth, we must never assume our desire for these things means we know where to go to find them! As the old country song says, we so often are “lookin’ for love in all the wrong places.” Our ability to see clearly is often hindered, and this is especially true in times of extended crisis, grief, or exhaustion. 

Just because you desire something, even your deepest desires and longings, does not mean they are for your good or the good of your neighbor. For example, coming out of a season of economic loss and uncertainty, it is easy to justify excessive spending in the name of self-care or self-improvement. Cancelled vacations or long-anticipated experiences may leave us feeling wronged or slighted, with a goal in the coming season to make up for what was lost. 

It seems to me our greatest temptation in this moment is and will continue to be a heightened move towards self-preservation and personal fulfillment. Understandable as this may be, our first impulse as followers of Christ should not be towards “getting what is ours” but towards humility and daily repentance. Let us have a heightened attentiveness to our own motivations and desires in this season. Realize that your exhaustion can become a daily temptation to shut yourself off from the needs of others. Pay attention to this, but more importantly, as Isaiah reminds us today, pay attention to the Lord, who loves us and leads us in the way we should go.