God's promise to us

2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

The apostles tells us that God will carry out the promises He has made, maybe not in our perception of time, but in God’s perfect timing. God waits for the right opportunities in our life to bring about repentance and a change of heart; for God’s desire is for all to repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that they may be saved.

 

 

I walked out of my office one morning, and a guy I had never met was just getting off the elevator. He was about six foot four, at least 250 pounds, and he wore cut-off jeans and a sweatshirt. His body was all tatted up …. We talked down the hall together, and he told me he was going to his first ministry meeting, and he was really nervous.

[I asked], "Nervous? How come you're nervous?"

"Pastor Miles, you always encourage us to do something, so I figured I got to do something. I want to serve the Lord."

Since our church has over a hundred outreach ministries, I asked him, "What's the ministry you're joining?"

"The knitting ministry," he said.

He added, "Well, actually, I don't knit, I crochet."

Here's this huge guy who looks like he could be an NFL tackle, and he's nervous about joining a ministry that makes blankets and hats for hospitalized children.

Curious, I asked him where he learned how to crochet.

"I was in the Hell's Angels for 12 years," he told me. "I learned to crochet in prison. I know it's the one thing I can do for the Lord."

Just then the lady who heads up the knitting ministry walked toward us, said a quick hi to me, then asked the former Hell's Angels, "Are you Jim?" She gave him a big grin and took his hand. I watched them go down the hall together. It may not seem like a unique ability to crochet, but when you package that with his life, the ripple effect can push countless others out of their comfort zone to step up and stand out the way God designed them to. Imagine if Jim was worrying about what others would think about him crocheting for Jesus. [Miles McPherson, God in the Mirror (Baker Books, 2013), pp. 51-51]

 

In this story we find that God took a 6’4”, 250lb man named Jim who had been in the Hell’s Angels and even served time in prison to become a man who could minister to hospitalized children. God promises a change if we have faith in Jesus Christ and walk along with Him in fellowship.  Revelation 21:4 tells us, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” That is God's promise to us.

A time to be quiet and listen to God

Job 40:1-5 (The Message)
1-2 God then confronted Job directly: “Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?” 3-5 Job answered: “I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen.”

Throughout the book of Job, Job questioned why God was causing him to suffer. Job’s friends kept questioning Job as to what he did wrong to have God angry at him. But we know from the first book of Job that God was testing Job to show Satan that Job was a man of character. For God had said to Satan about Job, “He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

 

In chapters 38 and 39 God begins to speak to Job and his friends ask questions –

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come.  Here your proud waves must stop!’ Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors. The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence. “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!

And the questions didn’t stop there, they went on for another chapter and a half. It is at this point one might think, OOPS, I have spoken things about God I did not understand and now God is asking me questions I don’t understand or have an answers to. So Job responds by saying, ““I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen.”

There is probably none of us who at times have not questioned God, questioned His purpose, or questioned why He might have placed us where we are. We have to remember God created us and God is a loving, merciful and just God who loved this world so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins. We need to learn to be like Job and close our mouths and listen to what God is telling us. We are so quick to come to our conclusions and make our own plans that we don’t see God’s big plan for our life. Let us all learn to listen to God by reading His word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer and then remaining silent to wait on an answer instead of making senseless statements and questioning God’s authority.

Love your neighbor as yourself

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)
18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

We are not to seek revenge for a wrong done to us nor are we to dwell on the trespass and use it against the offender to berate or harass them. We must both forgive and forget the trespass against us, for in the same way we are forgiven of God. We are to love our neighbors are we love ourselves for this is what The Lord desires.

 

 

In Portland, Oregon, the homeless gather under the Burnside Bridge. For more than three years, carloads of Christians from Bridgetown Ministries have shown up on Friday nights and ministered to these needy men and women. In addition to providing hot meals, shaves, and haircuts, some of the volunteers wash the homeless people's feet. Tom Krattenmaker, a writer for USA Today, was stunned by the display, calling it "one of the most audacious acts of compassion and humility I have ever witnessed."

This group of society's outcasts had their bare feet immersed in warm water, scrubbed, dried, powdered, and placed in clean socks. One man reported with a smile, "I can't find the words to describe how good that felt."

Krattenmaker commented on the significance of this foot washing: "Washing someone's feet is an act best performed while kneeling. Given the washer's position, and the unpleasant appearance and odor of a homeless person's feet, it's hard to imagine an act more humbling."

In preparation for their outreach, the leader of Bridgetown Ministries offered these words: "When you go out there tonight, I want you to look for Jesus. You might see him in the eyes of a drunk person, a homeless person…we're just out there to love on people." [Tom Krattenmaker, "A Witness to What Faith Can Be," USA Today (12-18-06); submitted by John Beukema, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania]

 

Can you imagine being homeless and these strangers come in to minister to you in ways that you could not have imagined? You find yourself with a hot meal, a shave and a haircut, and even clean feet with clean socks. Now that is showing love for your fellow mankind to reach out in kindness and do for them what you would wish for if you were in their position.

Don't hide sin, confess it

Jeremiah 23:24 (NLT)
24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?”    says the Lord.

There is no art of concealment that can hide anyone’s intentions in their heart from God. God is present everywhere and His eyes are upon Man so God cannot be deceived.

 

 

If you were to look at Rembrandt’s painting of The Three Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus died. Then as you would look at the crowd gathered around the foot of that cross, you’d be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. Finally, your eyes would drift to the edge of the painting and catch sight of another figure, almost hidden in the shadows. Art critics say this is a representation of Rembrandt himself, for he recognized that by his sins he helped nail Jesus to the cross.

 

We are all sinful people for The Bible says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Yet we pretend to hide those sins. Pride just won’t let us admit we have faults. For instance King David had Bathsheba’s husband killed so he could cover up his act of adultery. David thought his sins were hidden; but God saw it all and knew what was in David’s heart. Even David’s best friend Nathan was aware of the sins David committed and Nathan as a friend confronted David.  

When we hide our sins it makes it difficult to heal from them. We need to be able to have friends who can hold us accountable and care enough to tell us when we are wrong. We need to open our hearts to God and listen when He convicts us of our sin. It is then we can confess our sin and let the burdens of the sin be lifted away.

God loves us

Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)
13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”

15 But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

John the Baptist was a relative of Jesus. When their mothers, both pregnant, saw each other it was said John moved in is mother’s womb with joy. Separated by years John became a prophet proclaiming the coming of The Messiah. Here we find Jesus asking to be baptized by John. Baptism was the foretelling of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus as He was emerged beneath the water and raised to fullness in life. They God’s spirit came down upon Jesus and voice from heaven declared, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

 

 

God dearly loved His son Jesus who brought Him great joy. Most of us love our children that we would do anything for them. We would protect them, we would shelter them and we would ensure they were safe. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Now remember God loves Jesus dearly, yet God planned for Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sin. God was willing to let Jesus die a suffering death to save us who are in the world from sin. Now what does that say about God’s love for us? God’s love and desire for a relationship with us is as strong as his love for Jesus. God loves us so much he was willing to let go of the son who brought him great joy so that God could save us from sin and give us eternal life with Him in heaven.

There is no question God in heaven loves us dearly. God wants to have a loving relationship with us. God wants us to draw close to him so he can draw close to us and spent time with us. Jude 1:20-23 says, “20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Stay close to God and God will stay close to you for God loves you as deeply as God loved Jesus.

In Christ we find rest

Psalm 91:1 (NLT)

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

In Matthew Henry’s commentary he states, “It is the character of a true believer that he dwells in the secret place of the Most High; he is at home in God, returns to God, and reposes in him as his rest; he acquaints himself with inward religion, and makes heart-work of the service of God, worships within the veil, and loves to be alone with God, to converse with him in solitude.  It is the privilege and comfort of those that do so that they abide under the shadow of the Almighty; he shelters them, and comes between them and every thing that would annoy them, whether storm or sunshine. They shall not only have an admittance, but a residence, under God’s protection; he will be their rest and refuge for ever.”

In his book Mayflower, historian Nathaniel Philbrick recounts the struggle of the Pilgrims during the shaping of early America. Although the first Pilgrims managed to establish a peaceful relationship with the Native Americans, the following generation devolved into bloody warfare. The war, known as King Philip's War, began in 1675 and lasted 14 months.

One conflict between the two groups is notable because of the minimal number of casualties. In March of 1676, a group of Indians numbering as many as 1,500 attacked the village of Rehoboth. Philbrick writes:

As the inhabitants watched from their garrisons, 40 houses, 30 barns, and 2 mills went up in flames. Only one person was killed—a man who believed that as long as he continued reading the Bible, no harm would come to him. Refusing to abandon his home, he was found shot to death in his chair—the Bible still in his hands.  [John Beukema, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; source: Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower (Viking, 2006), p. 300-332]

Now some reading the part where one man was found dead after reading his Bible might think there didn’t seem to be any shelter for that man. Yet this man most likely found the greatest shelter of all, eternal life with God and Christ in heaven. You see God shelters us, He strengthens us, and He leads us, but God never promised a perfect life or that we will always be kept from the evils of this world. God does however promise salvation leading to eternal life in heaven when we place our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In Christ we find rest that will last an eternity.

Gaining the world

Mark 8:36 (NLT)
36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

The disciples have proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. They have been witness to His miracles and have heard His remarkable teachings. Jesus talked openly about His coming death and the resurrection that would take place to overcome death from sin. Peter tried to reprimand Jesus for His comments, but Jesus took Peter aside and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” With that Jesus addressed the crowd and asked the question in verse 36 followed by the question, “Is anything worth more than your soul?”

 

 

In the 1959 Twilight Zone Episode of - Time Enough at Last, the character Henry Bemis, wore thick glasses and loved to read books beyond anything else. Henry worked at a bank and would steal away time to read the books he found so precious. One particular day Henry wanted to read in silence during lunch so he locked himself in the bank vault. It just so happened that a thermo-nuclear attack was launched during his time in the vault. Henry emerged to find a city that had been destroyed and no life in sight. As he walked around he came across a crumbled library with books scattered all about. Henry thought - now there will be time enough to read all the books I desire. In his excitement Henry dropped his glasses and they were smashed on the steps of the library. The narrator closed saying, “The best-laid plans of mice and men - and Henry Bemis, the small man in the glasses who wanted nothing but time. Henry Bemis, now just a part of a smashed landscape, just a piece of the rubble, just a fragment of what man has deeded to himself.”

 

Henry gained what he thought was the whole world but lost what was dear to him, the ability to read. Now time was meaningless because it would not be spent the way Henry wanted to spend it.

Christ asks that we put aside the desires of the world and place our desire and faith in Him. When we do we find a lasting relationship with Christ that leads to eternal salvation with God in heaven. Ask yourself, “What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”

More into His likeness

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV)

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, works in us, convicts us of sin, and provides liberty of access to God in freedom and assistance of prayer. Moses had to cover the glory of God, but those who have placed their faith in The Lord Jesus Christ are to reflect His glory for others to see. As The Spirit of The Lord directs us we are transformed more into the likeness of Christ from one degree to the next.

Mike Yaconelli, in Messy Spirituality (Zondervan, 2002), writes on p. 13 …… Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives. Accepting the reality of our broken, flawed lives is the beginning of spirituality, not because the spiritual life will remove our flaws, but because we let go of seeking perfection and instead seek God, the one who is present in the tangledness of our lives. Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God's being present in the mess of our unfixedness.

I was reminded about transformation looking at photos taken prior to the Daytime Emmys. Slowly the celebrities were transformed from their everyday hairstyles and clothes to something special for the event. They had stylists helping them with their clothes, their hair, and their makeup. Yes they could have done it themselves, but it was so much easier to have a relationship with someone they trusted to take care of the essentials for them. That is how we should be in our relationship with Christ, trusting Him to take care of the essentials and allowing Him to transform us more into His likeness.

Unconditional love

Matthew 5:47 (NLT)

If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.

Jesus speaking to a crowd explains it is not enough just to love friends and family, but our love should be extended to all people; for those who do not know God know how to love a friend. Since God loves us despite our sins, we too should learn to love despite the problems and faults of others. We need to learn to love unconditionally.

Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities, told the following story about persevering in our practice of unconditional love:

I know a man who lives in Paris.  His wife has Alzheimer’s.  He was an important businessman – his life filled with busyness.  But he said that when his wife fell sick, “I just couldn’t put her into an institution…  I fed her.  I bathed her.” I went to Paris to visit them, and this businessman who had been very busy all his life said, “I have changed.  I have become more human.” I got a letter from him recently.  He said that in the middle of the night his wife woke him up.  She came out of the fog for a moment, and she said, “Darling, I just want to say thank you for all you’re doing for me.” Then she fell back into the fog.  He told me, “I wept and I wept.”

Sometimes Christ calls us to love people who cannot love us in return.  They live in the fog of mental illness, disabilities, poverty, or even spiritual blindness.  We may only receive fleeting glimpses of gratitude. But just as Jesus loved us in the midst of our spiritual darkness, so we continue to love others, even as they may walk through a deep fog.

(From Leadership Journal – Winter 2011, quoting from Living Gently in a Violent World by Stanley Hauerwas and Jean Vanier.)

There are many of you who can probably relate to the story above. I also know there are many who have been able to love unconditionally. You have given a part of your life to serve others. May God bless you and allow to continue loving others with mercy and grace just as God loves you.

Faults forgiven

Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)

9 Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

The best way to keep peace among all is to not tell others what a person has said when they did not through their words. If their actions cause no harm to others and no issues of safety  are present then consider an act of amnesty by keeping quiet that which has been said. Allow the fault to be forgiven. For to dwell on the words only increases our own frustrations and anger and before we know it we are repeating things that should have remained unsaid.

It is impossible to keep peace between man and woman in family life if they do not condone and overlook each other's faults but watch everything to the smallest point. For who does not at times offend? [Martin Luther. "Martin Luther--The Later Years and Legacy," Christian History, Issue 39.]

Each day I walk through life my sinful nature eventually wants to reach up and take control. My weak and faulty self makes me relate to the words of the Apostle Paul: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do” (Rom. 7:19). In marriage we make a vow before God to love honor and cherish and that includes forgiving the faults of our spouse. For that reason, we do not want to allow our flesh to get the upper hand to diminish the gift God has given, but in order to keep it, we must practice humbleness, patience, kindness, forbearance, and forgiveness (Col. 3:13, Eph 4:2). We must allow love to prosper so that we remain close.