The Source of True Love
Every Valentine’s day, flowers and chocolates are exchanged to symbolize a person’s love for another. They may do something romantic like going to dinner or taking a sunset walk. The gestures are usually heartfelt, but people go back to the way things were the next day. You can live with the assurance that you are loved every day. Jesus is the source of true love.
JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
By far, this is the most famous verse in the Bible. More people know this verse than any other, which is a good thing because it is the Gospel wrapped up in a neat package. God so loved the world. That love was before we loved Him. It was there before He created the heavens and the earth. That love propelled Him to fix man’s greatest problem. God the Father sent His only Son to pay the price for your sin. He willingly gave up what was most precious to reconcile man.
Called to Live Differently
Have you noticed that people’s morals and language have taken a downward trajectory over the last few years? Language has become more angry and insulting, and people’s focus has turned toward inward pleasures. We now live in a time where divisiveness and conflict are the norm. A disciple of Jesus Christ is called to live differently.
EPHESIANS 5:3-4
“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
The Apostle Paul had been all over the known Roman Empire. He had seen different cultures and behaviors. He has to remind Christians that they are not to emulate the culture. They are to stay away from immorality and impurity, prevalent in places like Ephesus and Corinth. Worshipping at the Roman & Greek Temples often included sleeping with a temple prostitute. Living for Jesus made you stick out like a sore thumb in these places.
Teach Me Your Way Lord
No one will argue the importance of teachers in the lives of children. They pour into the children of a nation, teaching the basics necessary to become an adult. Most families emphasize education. Often we diminish the importance of learning Scripture. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, your heart needs to plead, “Teach Me Your Way Lord.”
PSALMS 86:11-12
“Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever.”
A recurring theme in the book of Psalms is “Teach me your ways.” The Psalmist signaled to God that they wanted to learn God’s lessons. The Psalmist asks God to teach him how to walk in truth and glorify His name. David was famous for having this heart. He wanted to learn from God and grow closer to Him. We need to replicate this model in our lives and churches. In a world where everyone wants to be an expert, we need more disciples begging God to teach them His ways.
No Endorsement Needed
Every politician scrambles for certain endorsements from important organizations and businesses. Some want the local labor unions and newspapers to support their campaign while others look to law enforcement and the chamber of commerce for theirs. Jesus knew the heart of man and there was no endorsement from anyone. He got His instructions from the Lord.
JOHN 2:24-25
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”
Jesus kept His wits about him when His popularity was at its highest. People not only clamored for His healing touch but they wanted to be associated with His ministry. They were clamoring for His coattails and Jesus was having none of it. He knew the heart of man and the was no endorsement needed from them. He didn’t entrust Himself to them or rely on their testimonies.
Your Words are a Witness
When a witness sits on the stand in court, they testify to what they witnessed. Usually, it is for a crime, but sometimes it can be over a dispute. When needed, a lawyer will bring in an expert witness who will shed light on the circumstances based on his expertise in...
Putting On the New Life
My wife has been a thrift store shopper since I met her. She can find expensive, well-made clothes for just a few dollars. Now she has my oldest daughter hooked, and they often go shopping together. When they get home, they want to show me all of their new finds and tell me how much they spent. Choosing to follow Jesus is putting on a new life.
EPHESIANS 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
You receive a new life when you put your faith in Jesus Christ. You have to take off the old one to put on that new life. It’s much like putting on a clean outfit and taking off the old dirty one, except this new outfit comes with more than any of your others. When you put on the new life, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ righteousness is deposited into your heart, and you start the transformation of looking more like Jesus. Only Jesus offers this.
Point People to the Lamb
All of us have that loud relative that says what everyone is thinking. They liven up family parties and often spark controversy. Jesus had a cousin like that, John the Baptist. People thought he was crazy by how he dressed, and he never shied away from confrontation. God used him to be a voice in the wilderness and to prepare the way for Jesus. He declared that the Messiah had come. Point people to the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
JOHN 1:29
“The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
Jesus went by many names. His favorite to refer to himself as “Son of Man.” Here, John the Baptist proclaims in front of everyone, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” To the Jewish people, the correlation of a sacrificial lamb given for the sin offering and Jesus might have been odd. John was declaring what Jesus’ primary role was going to be on earth, the perfect sacrifice to take away everyone’s sins. Jesus’ primary purpose wasn’t to be a moral teacher or a champion for the poor. He did all of those, but He came to die on the cross to appease God’s wrath.
Enlighten Your Life
Imagine inventing this incredible product that changes millions of lives for the good. It’s hailed as revolutionary, stores can’t keep it on the shelves, and Amazon can’t deliver it in two days. Your face would be on social media feed, and people would be begging for you to come on their TV show, podcast, or YouTube channel. Jesus created the world, came as a light for lost people, and the world did not know Him. He is able to enlighten your life.
JOHN 1:9-10
There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
Some asked if John the Baptist was the Messiah. He had a fiery personality and was willing to stand up to Herod. The Apostle John sets the record straight by saying he was not the light but came to testify to the light. There was a light that came into the world to enlighten your life. That was Jesus Christ. Sadly, the world doesn’t know Him. The solution to every problem people have is being ignored by those who need it most.
Surrender Your Heart
What does it take to really change? It doesn’t matter what you want to change. There are some principles that need to be in place for permanent change to take place. First and foremost, it starts with your heart. You’ve got to be willing to sacrifice temporary pleasure to see new habits formed. For the disciple, it starts with surrendering your heart to Jesus Christ. Stop striving and let the Spirit do His work.
GENESIS 32:28
“He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Jacob gets his name changed by the Angel of the Lord, which is pre-incarnate Jesus. He goes from being called a “scoundrel,” which is what Jacob means, to Israel, which means “contend” or one who strives with God. Of course, this is where the nation of Israel got its name, from the father of the twelve tribes. Jacob had the strength to strive with God throughout the whole night, and he had striven with his Uncle Laban for years to marry the woman he loved and get a start for his young family.
Are You Thinking Too Small
What makes some people accomplish great things for God, while most people fall short of what is possible? Some might say it is faith, while others argue that it is talent. The Apostle Paul presents another option. Are you thinking too small for a God who can do more than you can dream?
EPHESIANS 3:20
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,”
Look at how Paul combines the words “able to do far more abundantly beyond.” He is trying to convey God’s ability in a way that we can understand. We can’t possibly ask or even think more than what God can do. Ponder that for just a second. God’s power is infinite, and He has placed that inside of you. While you can use it like a magic wand, you can ask the Holy Spirit to activate it for the purposes of the Kingdom.
All That You Need
In old western movies, the good guy had what they called a silver bullet. It was a magical solution to cure everything. That has become a figure of speech for an easy solution to solve a problem. They often call a medical solution or miracle drug that because it’s all you need. The Bible tells us that the Lord is all that you need.
PSALMS 84:11
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
This verse is packed with incredible promises! First, the Psalmist says the Lord is your sun and shield. The sun brings both light and life. Without sunlight, nothing would live or grow. The Lord is also your shield. He protects you from the fiery darts of the enemy. (Eph 6) Second, the Lord gives grace and glory. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. God loves to give gifts to His undeserving children. Finally, the Lord doesn’t withhold from those who walk uprightly. If you have a heart after Him and obey His commandments, he showers you with good things.
Find Your Strength
Muscles need to be used to work properly. If a muscle goes with exercise, it will atrophy. When a muscle diminishes, the person loses strength and isn’t as strong. To regain strength, that muscle has to be used beyond its capacity to grow, which leaves people exhausted. Where do you find your strength? David shows us his source.
PSALMS 84:5
“How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion!”
David was a mighty man who was followed by multitudes of mighty men. He sleighed Goliath and got the foreskins of two thousand men to win the hand of Saul’s daughter. If you picture a strong man in the bible, he is one of the ones you think about. This is what makes this Scripture so intriguing. David didn’t rely upon his strength. He found it in the Lord. He modeled what the prophet Zechariah said: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.” David tapped into that strength by going to the House of the Lord and worshipping.
Where Can You Be Found
Google maps is a great invention. Pull up the app on your phone, insert an address, and find the path of least resistance. There is one flaw. Sometimes the path of least resistance isn’t the best. I have used the map several times, and it has taken me to a service entrance or on a windy path that took twice as long. If someone was to look for you, where can you be found?
LUKE 24:52-53
“And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.”
After Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples didn’t get into a period of mourning; they didn’t go back to their old lives. They went and worshipped Him in the temple. Their hearts were full of joy, and they made it a daily habit of going to the temple and praising God. In the Jewish culture, they regularly stopped working in the mid-afternoon and would go to the temple to worship. The Apostles used that time to preach the gospel at Solomon’s porch and worship together.
Are You Dead or Alive
Are you surprised how crazy people have become about zombies? TV shows like The Walking Dead and movies like World War Z have brought the obsession with the living dead to the mainstream. In all of these shows, the heroes need to determine if a person is dead or alive. If they are zombies, they must be eliminated. Did you know that before you came to Jesus, you were dead in your trespasses? You were part of the living dead, but Jesus in His great mercy made you alive!
EPHESIANS 2:4-5
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”
You have been saved by grace. That means you were guilty of your sins and deserving of the consequences, but God, in His infinite mercy, extended forgiveness, and your slate was wiped clean. This shows how deep He loves you. You were once dead but now have been made alive by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Live the life Jesus has given you. Don’t long for your old sins. Focus forward and keep your eyes on Jesus, and He will direct your path.
Choose to Forgive
One of the dangerous paths people can get on is trying to guess people’s motivations behind why they did something. The problem is that we always assume the worst in people, and it could’ve been a simple misunderstanding. When Jesus was on the cross, He asked His Father to forgive the people because they didn’t know what they were doing. Be like Jesus and choose to forgive.
LUKE 23:34
“But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.”
Imagine the state of mind that Jesus was in as He hung on the cross. There were nails in His hands and feet, His back was torn up from being whipped, and people were mocking Him on the ground. In the midst of that, He asks His Father to forgive them because they didn’t know what was happening. You can’t imagine doing that, can you? Remember this scene if you ever wonder how God can forgive you of your sins. He came to earth to take our sins and give us His righteousness. You can’t beat that trade.
A Spirit of Wisdom
The popular in education saying is “knowledge is power.” There is some truth to that, but knowledge is only valuable when used and transformed into wisdom. There are a lot of intelligent people who know everything they should do but do the opposite. The Apostle Paul wants you to have a spirit of wisdom as you grow in your knowledge of Jesus Christ.
EPHESIANS 1:17
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.”
In almost every one of Paul’s epistles, he writes a prayer for the people. It starts most letters like this one in Ephesians, but there are a few in the middle. In these prayers, you see Paul’s love for the people and his heart to see them grow in their faith. Each one is specific to the particular church and reflects what they are going through. Here he wants Jesus to give them a spirit of wisdom and a revelation in the knowledge of Him.
Become Like a Child
Sometimes I look at the lives of my children, and I envy them. They are carefree, and having fun is always at the top of the list. I’m usually awoken out of that daze by some drama or problem they bring home from school, and I remember why I am thankful I am an adult. Jesus tells us that if we are going to follow Him, we need to become like a child.
LUKE 22:26
“But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.”
Jesus had a way of flipping everything common belief on its head. The greatest in His day were those who had crowds who followed them. They reveled in having others serve them and the downtrodden coming to them for charity. Jesus flips this upside down by saying if you are going to follow Him, you need to be like a child and take the position of a servant. Serving others was repugnant to the religious and political leaders. A sign of influence was how many servants you had in your house.
Do Not Grow Weary
I was writing a brief history for the webpage of the church I pastor. Part of that history was recapping all of the outreaches we have done. During the fifteen years of our existence we have had a food pantry during Covid, handed out backpacks, donated shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child, and more. Each of those outreaches had a season and then they were done. Paul reminds us “Do not grow weary in doing good.”
GALATIANS 6:9
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”
Doing good works for people who don’t appreciate is wearisome. Not that you are doing it for the applause, but when you’re doing something nice and people are mean and take advantage of you it can make you cynical. This was true during Paul’s time as well. He is encouraging the Galatians not to lose heart or grow weary in doing good because in due time you will reap a reward for your actions. Your work is unto the Lord and His rewards are eternal where man’s applause is temporary.
Examine Yourself
At the end of every semester, students at universities and colleges take final exams. They are tested on how much they have learned after sixteen weeks of sitting under a professor who is an expert in their specialty. Those who have mastered the curriculum get higher...
What Are You Doing Here?
There have been times in my life where I have asked myself, “What are you doing here?” I knew I shouldn’t be there, and the results of my choosing to do it was disastrous. The whole time I knew God was there and felt His tugging me to go back to where He had me. God will not leave you, but He will ask, “What are you doing here?”
GENESIS 28:15
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
God never goes back on His promises. He had promised that He would make a nation out of Abraham that would number as many as the stars in the sky. That promise went through Jacob. God tells Jacob in this passage that He will go with Jacob wherever he goes and will bring him back to the promised land. That’s what happened. Jacob went to his uncle Laban’s house, married Rachel and Leah, and returned to Canaan. God was with Jacob the whole time.