Unseen Eternal

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18

We live in a world of the here and now always trying to gain more in the least amount of time.  Often we are a people of short sightedness and have little time for the waiting game.  We want to acquire wealth, success and money so that we can live a comfortable, oftentimes, materialistic lifestyle.  Short sighted only to what we can see and touch.  The same goes for our periods of trials and difficulties.  We get short sighted and can only see how we are suffering instead of seeking and praying to God while waiting for healing and restoration.  We can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We don’t see how God could make anything beautiful out of our pain, or loss.  But He can and He often does.  The things of and in this world are all temporary.  Even if your pain, affliction, or earthly wealth last all the days of your life - it is still temporary compared to our eternal glory.  Your life will ebb and flow, have ups and downs, but this is not all there is and it’s not even the end.  The apostle Paul understood this principle and urged believers that if you keep an eternal perspective, you will understand that everything will come to an end - our earthly possessions, our earthly troubles and trials and even our bodies.  Everything outside of eternal and spiritual realities will come to and end.  Only the spiritual world will live on.  Eternal means forever and these eternal realities cannot be lived here on earth.  Believers will not have eternal difficulties, but they can have eternal hope.  Believers will not have eternal wealth, but they can have eternal joy.  Believers will not always have strife, one day they will have complete peace.  The world and all that is in it will perish, but believers of Jesus will live an eternity with their Maker where the world’s realities will be no more.  Put your faith, trust and hope in the fact that your trials will one day be no more.  Hope.  Hope for a better future, and know that this is not all there is to life.  The here and now will pass away. A new sunset will appear, a new trial will arise, but neither will last forever. Let us keep our eyes and hearts focused on our eternal perspective so that we can live a hope filled life here on earth. ~ Amen

Yourselves Testify

You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but am sent ahead of him.’  The bride belongs to the bridegroom.  The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.  That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ~ John 3:28-29

How often have you wondered about your role in life as a follower of Jesus?  John the Baptist knew he was sent ahead of Jesus to prepare the way for Him.  He was considered a best friend of Jesus’ and was excited to be part of the plan.  Are you excited to be part of His second coming plan, or do you just sit idly by awaiting His return?  How have you planned and prepared yourself and others?  Do you tell them of the good news that is the gospel?  Following John’s example, we should be humble and full of service to others so that they may see Christ in us.  Not for our own glory, but for His glory so that Christ can do work in the people that we meet.  We are called to have great influence in this world not for self gain, but so that people can see Christ in us and repent and turn their lives to Him.  Joy is when we see souls of loved ones and friends make the decision to follow Jesus.  True joy.  When God is lifted high in our lives people take notice and we find fulfillment in being a soul winner for Christ.  John the Baptist knew he must be humble and obedient for Christ to shine through him for others to see.  We must become less worldly and more humble and Christlike to win souls for his glory.  Humbling ourselves for his use and happily taking a back seat to Jesus’ will in our lives.  In this world and culture of self-gratitude and promotion, we need to be mindful that Christ has paved the path for us and share that news with others.  Life is not about us, it’s about Him.  Every role, every position we have has been granted by God for His purposes - not our own. There is no greater service to God than to humbly love others, plant the seed of the good news and step aside to watch the Holy Spirit takeover.  Let us be an example like John and put our best foot forward by humbly preparing the way for Jesus’ return. ~ Amen

 

Seasoned Salt

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. ~ Colossians 4:5-6

People are drawn to others who make them feel heard, respected, important and who make them feel genuine.  Boy, I have a lot to work on here myself.  Each of us knows people who we are happy to be around and people who we dread to interact with.  Most of us are drawn to positive and uplifting people, not negativity and complaining.  Then there are the people who don’t share your same values and morals; how do you treat them?  How do they see you?  What kind of message do we send them?  Man, in a world of  “my way, or the highway”, and in a country where it seems like we’ve forgotten that it’s okay to think differently, I hope I come across as kind and caring no matter who I speak to.  Some people will only come to know Jesus through my actions and words.  That’s scary.  That’s a big pill to swallow.  Lord, help my heart be prepared to be genuine and authentic to everyone in love.  There is no room for judgement.  We must love people for who they are and where they are in life.  Christ died for them just as much as He died for me and I pray I never pass up an opportunity to speak of God when prompted by the Holy Spirit.  We must be ready.  Every word that comes out of my mouth must be full of grace and life for those I might run into.  Many people will come in and out of our lives, yet some of them may still not have seen, or heard Jesus.  Ouch!  How tragic.  I am not saying that every conversation has to be about your salvation, or God, but every conversation should make the other person feel good and make them wonder what is so different about me.  Sometimes it’s about planting little seeds of kindness and compassion that later become watered, take root and grow into a big stalk of faith.  Let us never miss an opportunity to speak of and act like Jesus.  No judgement here. ~ Amen

Have Given

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. ~ Luke 10:19

When Jesus sent His disciples out to proclaim the good news of God and His coming He also gave them a small taste of His power and authority.  We know that in Genesis Satan came to Eve in the form of a snake to deceive her and now in the verse, again, snakes and scorpions are used as a metaphor for the devil.  We know that the demons and the devil have to submit to the Lord.  They tremble; they cannot stand Jesus.  Power and authority has been given to every follower of Jesus through the Holy Spirit that will make the devil flee.  We can fight our spiritual battles and know that God will answer us.  We need to meditate on God’s work, be prayerful and thankful for what He has done and is going to do and we need to remember that we have victory over our sinful nature.  There are dark forces in this world and Satan would like nothing more but to destroy you, but you have the power to fight back.  Fight!  Just as Jesus gave His disciples power to overcome the enemy, we as believers must embrace that same power.  The enemy has plans to destroy your life, but God can turn what the enemy plans for bad and turn it into a beautiful work of art and good.  Through our salvation and because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are no longer bound by the world, or sin.  We have the power to overcome.  It is not by our own power, but only through Christ can we trample evil and wickedness.  The evil one has no authority over us anymore as followers of Christ.  Let us show him who is boss!  Let us take back our families, homes, and communities and trample the evil and wickedness out.  When you are afraid….stomp it out!  When you feel hopeless….stomp it out!  When you are tempted….stomp it out!  When you feel yourself getting sucked down by the weight of the world….stomp it out!  Let us use the authority and power to defeat the enemy and give God all the glory. ~ Amen

Their Destiny

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ….~ Philippians 3:19-20

Our world is full of self-indulgence.  Too many people try to fill their lives with things that they think will make them happy only to find themselves unsatisfied in a matter of time.  They are insatiable.  For people who only rely on themselves and this world will never be completely satisfied.  They have no hope beyond their worldly pursuits.  In the end, their pursuit of selfish desires mixed with their denial of Jesus Christ will lead them to an eternity apart from God and will end in destruction.  These unbelievers have rejected God and sought to find peace in their earthly flesh.  They try to fill the void in their life with the world's pleasures only to be led to despair.  Instead, believers of Christ walk in His ways, trust and hope in the things to come and drink from the well of life that will bring victory and joy.  Forging ahead through life in prayerful and right living, we believe and know that everything will work out in the end.  Understanding that this world is our temporary home, believers don’t get swayed by the pursuit of worldly happiness.  We know our real rewards will be in heaven given to us by our Creator and the Maker of the universe.  There will be some who will have rejected God in order to pursue their selfish desires.  We are called and expected to be different as followers of Jesus.  Selflessness should be part of our being and we should live humbly seeking God’s ways and desires over anything this world has to offer.  Paul urges believers to follow his example in Philippians 3:17, Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.  Be faithful, be on guard, do not let people sway you from the truth.  Keep vigilant and close to God.  Just as Jesus warned the New Testament churches that there would be many false teachers, the same is true today.  Be awake.  Be alert.  Let us keep our minds and hearts on the things of God, which will never pass away. ~ Amen

Great Love

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ~ 1 John 3:1

It astounds me that the Creator of the universe calls me one of His children.  Through my acceptance, belief and faith that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and rose again I have gained favor with the same God who tells the wind where to blow.  And I have a hope and a love that no one can take away from me.  Being a child of God means I never have to walk this world alone and I have tremendous hope knowing all things will work out for my best in the end.  Weathering storms of life can be less difficult as I've acquired a whole army of brothers and sisters to help.  The Holy Spirit has made a new home in my heart and gives me peaceful guidance and direction when I ask and listen.  Jesus has shown me the way to live in a broken world.  When we become part of Christ’s family, we put our old ways and attitudes up and put on a new armor.  We become co-heirs of a greater kingdom and God’s love and grace are poured out on us.  What kind of God sacrifices His only son for people who may not even acknowledge Him?  My God did.  My God loves me so much that He wanted to reconcile my relationship to Him by sacrificing His perfect son.  That is unspeakable and unfathomable love.  All that God ever bestowed on Jesus is now for me also.  People, don’t do life alone without hope and a love that covers a multitude of sins.  The world does not know this kind of love, peace, hope and forgiveness because the world hasn’t accepted Jesus like believers have.  If you haven’t checked Jesus out and all that He wants to do for you, I ask you to just say a simple prayer to Him.  Just ask Him to reveal himself to you and see if He doesn’t come through.  Jesus wants you to be part of His family.  What do you have to lose?  Basically nothing.  Jesus, if you could reveal yourself to this reader today, what would you say?  When you become a child of God,  you will desire a purer and holy life and you will be guided by the grace and love of the Holy Spirit.  The world may not know us, but we will know each other for our love.  Let us rejoice in our new family! ~ Amen

More Grace

But he gives us more grace.  That is why scripture says:  “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ~ James 4:6

In chapter four of his book, James is scolding and warning the believers of the church on how they have been acting towards each other.  They have looked no different from non-believers in the way they fight, covet, back bite each other and go after worldly pleasures.  Without realizing it, they have put God in the back seat and have taken their lives back over without submitting to Him first.  They have sort of lost their way, got off track, became distracted by their own desires and pleasures.  In essence, they became prideful and thought they could do life on their own; their way.  They became cheaters of their faith and therefore, took a step back into their old worldly ways.  James tells them to snap out of it!  You can not be best friends with the world and still live as God has commanded you.  However, there is good news.  God is in the business of grace for His children and it never runs out. When we have turned away from God and put our life in the ditch, God is there waiting for our return.  When we realize we have gone astray, if we repent and humbly come back to God with a sincere heart, He is more than willing and able to show us grace.  The gift of unmerited favor is poured onto us and He draws near again.  He lifts us up and we get a fresh start.  He delights in giving grace to the humble who come back.  No questions asked.  However, be warned, if as a follower of Jesus you stray too far and do not come back humbly on your own accord, one day God may use His own method to get your attention.  God always gives us opportunities to come back on our own, but if we don’t take those opportunities, in His timing, He may use a method of His choosing to bring you home.  He will leave the 99 to find His lost one.  So stay humble and submit to what God has for your life.  Let us be mindful of how we act and where our loyalty lies so that we may always be covered in God’s grace. ~ Amen

Work Impartially

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. ~ 1 Peter 1:17

When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are accepting and believing that He has paid for your sins and the Holy Spirit begins to transform your heart, mind and life to want to live in accordance with God’s ways.  This way of thinking and living is counter intuitive to how the world wants you to live and your judge on the matter no longer becomes the world, but God himself.  No one else’s opinion should matter.  The world would have us live for ourselves, but as believers of Jesus, we should live in hope, holiness and out of a deep respect for God.  Being a child of God, we know that He has good things in store for us, but we must remember that He will judge us all fairly for our time here on earth and our actions, or the way we lived.  Not that our salvation can be taken from us, but that our heavenly rewards will be justified.  We don’t fear God out of a terrified state, but we should fear God as an act of reverence, respect and awe.  We should want to live a God pleasing and God fearing life when Christ takes His rightful place in our hearts.  2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” Living lives set apart from non-believers will have its challenges when we live in such a self-centered world, but we must learn to love people and God first.  We should not fit comfortably into the world’s view of things.  We should act humbly and learn to walk the way God desires.  Our hearts should not desire monetary growth for personal gain, but we should long for spiritual growth and a profound reliance on our Creator.  Let us live differently so that our hope and light will attract others for His glory. ~ Amen

Sincere Love

Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ~ Romans 12:9

So many of us use the word “love” casually.  We love hot dogs, we love a certain band, we love our new jeans, and I really love your new hair cut!  What happened to the word “like”?  Because believe me, my love for my children is not the same love I have for a piece of cheesecake.  Do not love as the world loves.  As Christians, we are to love genuinely, sincerely, and authentically.  We should not have a fake attitude of love, but love out of genuine care and act as such towards people in meaningful ways.  We are then called to hate evil; not people, but the sin - let me be very clear about that.  God loves all people, but He hates sin and we are called to do the same.  Living in a world and society where there is so much confusion about right and wrong we need to spend a lot of time in prayer and making sure we know God’s word.  Morals and values have shifted so much that what used to be wrong is now considered acceptable and what used to be right is now considered close mindedness.  Make sure you know what God’s word says and continue to love and pray for people with a genuine heart, but loathe sin.  Having eyes and ears like Jesus and seeing the world and people as He does brings a fresh perspective to how we are to live.  Finally, we are told to cling to what is good, or stick to it and hold to it.  As children of God, we are supposed to be lovers of good.  When we hold onto what is good and righteous according to God, we become transformed and can touch others in our lives with that same goodness.  We must love moral goodness and hate evil because it is the destroyer of good.  Let us love people, hate sin and cling to the goodness of God’s authority so that we may be lights to a dark world. ~ Amen

Built House

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. ~ Matthew 7:24

During his sermon on the mount, Jesus tells a parable, or story of two men who build houses.  One man built a house on rock and another man built his house on sand.  When the storm came, the house on the rock could withstand the pressure while the house on the sand collapsed.  The man who built his house on the rock was considered wise while the other man was considered foolish.  Well of course!  Who builds houses on shifting material?  The point of the story is that foundations matter.  In order to have a strong, steady and stable home the foundation must be of solid and sturdy material, or else the house won’t last long.  The same is true of our lives.  Our spiritual and worldly lives.  The spiritual meaning of the parable is that we are each building a life that is either stable, or shaky.  The proper foundation for life is God’s word and Jesus’ teaching and not just listening to them, but acting on them and living His word out.  In today’s culture it is easy to get turned around and swayed by the world and our flesh.  Our human nature and reactions are often contradictory to what Christ would have us do.  We have to be intentional about following His ways even when they seem hard and don’t make sense to us.  A wise man will follow God’s ways no matter the pressure of the world because he trusts God.  A life lived with God as the foundation will be much more stable, protected and steadfast when the storms of life come their way.  When the world’s house on sand gets caught in a storm it often crumbles and leads to destruction as there is no sure foundation, faith, or trust in the life they have built.  Do you want a strong, anchoring, trustworthy home?  Anchor yourself and your life in Christ.  Do not build your house on the way of the world that changes at a moment's notice.  Let us build our homes, families, work, church and communities on the firm foundation of God’s word and truth.  The wise man has faith and hope here and a life of everlasting love, peace and hope for the next. ~ Amen

Your Commands

I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. ~ Psalm 119:19

Until I reach my heavenly home with Jesus, I realize that I am a soul living in a temporary body in this temporary world.  I am making a pit stop, if you will, for the sole purpose of bringing glory to God by living for Him and praising Him.  This earthly home will be destroyed one day and followers of Jesus will be with their Maker in their eternal home forever.  I pray I will not be worldly driven, but divinely driven and live a life pleasing to no one else other than God.  To be his hands and feet in this world and bring others to know Him as their Lord and Savior.  To desire to hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.  Seeking to live in God’s ways of obedience, trust, patience, love and humility are my ultimate goals instead of living according to the desires of this world and my flesh.  The truth is I should act differently than the world and I should feel a little uncomfortable down here when I am following God’s commands, for His ways are higher than our own and the world’s.  However, I get complacent and sometimes I act just like everyone else.  It’s easy to get sucked into selfishness, gossip, whining and an entitled attitude, just to name a few.  That’s why I try to start each day off with my quiet time; to dive into prayer and God’s word.  The word of God, the bible, should be my instruction manual on how to live life and how to live according to God’s guidance, direction and wisdom.  There will be times of confusion and discord on earth, but as followers of Jesus, we can find the truths and stability for right living in the bible.  We should look, act and respond differently than the world does.  We should find great strength, hope and direction in God’s word when faced with struggles and confusion.  Instead of getting caught up in the desires of our flesh and the arguments of the world, we need to remember that this is our temporary residence and that our true home is with God in HIs kingdom.  We should seek God’s guidance and His alone, not the world’s, to live a righteous life in a broken world.  Let us ask God to reveal His word and truth to us so that we do not fall into the world’s ways.  Turn to God and ask for a deep desire for His guidance and trust in Him. ~ Amen