Loving like Jesus

Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

The apostle reminds the Galatian Christian’s that they are heirs to the kingdom of God through Jesus Christ. For those who live in Christ and Christ in them there is no discrimination. Christ does not see nationality, the rich or poor, male or female, but a human being who is in need of love, mercy and grace.

Actress Reese Witherspoon, who plays the role of June Carter Cash in the movie Walk the Line, describes the benefit of attending church:

"I was raised going to church every Sunday, and I go to church most Sundays with my kids. For me, where I'm at in my career, so many people want to put you in a place that you're not real and treat you like you're not real. For me it's a great experience of grounding, and I stand next to people who have nothing and who have everything, and we all treat each other the same, because we all are the same. It's just like a little weekly reminder. [Peter T. Chattaway, "The Man in Black," Christianitytodaymovies.com (11-15-05)]

From Matthew 9:9-12: As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

When Jesus saw a need in people’s lives He was quick to attend to that need. Jesus put aside religious status, whether they were rich or poor, and even what others thought about those He was with. For Jesus was there to provide love, grace and mercy to those in need.

We need to learn to love as Jesus did. It is sad to see the conflicts taking place in life whether it is struggles of one race against another, rich against poor, nation against nation or even gender against gender. Look to see the needs of others and reach out to them. Let us begin to love one another as Jesus commanded us to do; for that is exactly how Jesus lived out His life.

Hope in Jesus

John 11:2 (NKJV)

2 And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples 3 and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

As John the Baptist sat in prison he became despondent and began to question whether Jesus was The Messiah. John’s spirit was broken and he began to doubt the things he had spoken to others. So he sent the question to Jesus, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

A study that was done in 2010 showed that approximately 79.5% of the United States is made up of Christians. Many people think Christians live without issues. There are even Christians who I have heard say, if your faith was just strong enough you wouldn’t feel depressed or this would not have happened to you. That is not true for Christians face trials in their lives. God allows trials to come into our lives in order to teach us and strengthen us.

John the Baptist had a strong faith in Christ. In Matthew 3:3 John said, “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’” John was the first cousin to Jesus and knew many details His life. Yet John was locked away in prison, facing the possibility of death, facing hunger, cold and other problems and he felt things just didn’t seem right. Surely this couldn’t be the life he was meant to face.

Jesus sent back an answer to John, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Jesus gave John reassurance that his work had not been in vain. John’s purpose had to proclaim the coming of The Messiah and John had fulfilled that purpose.

Each of us has a purpose in life. Sometimes even with our faith we can feel hopeless and despondent. There are times when we are faced with our own trials that seem like heavy burdens. The good news is Jesus reassured us that in those times He would be with us. The Bible also reminds us to be with fellow Christians so they may interject hope into our lives. For there are others who have faced similar trials, they survived and they can give encouragement. They know just as we can know that Christ was there with them even in the most difficult of times.

May The Lord Jesus bless you, keep you safe, keep you close and help you in your daily struggles. Amen.

The Lord's peace

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

The peace that comes when we our thoughts are fixed upon God is a peace of mind, peace with others, peace with one’s self, and peace through difficult times. As we keep our minds on God we must also trust Him at all times, under all circumstances, and adhere to His desires with total satisfaction.

While staying alone in her convent, an 85-year-old Catholic nun got trapped inside a broken elevator for four nights and three days. She tried pushing the inside elevator door, but the electricity went off. She had her cell phone with her, but there wasn't a signal. Fortunately, she had carried a jar of water, some celery sticks, and a few cough drops into the elevator.

At first she said to herself, This can't happen! But then she decided to turn her elevator into a personal prayer retreat. "It was either panic or pray," she later told an interviewer for CNN. She started viewing the experience as a "gift." "I believe that God's presence was my strength and my joy—really," she said. "I felt God's presence almost immediately. I felt like he provided the opportunity for a closer relationship." [Jenny Wilson, "Nun Stuck in Elevator Survives Four Nights on Celery Sticks, Water and

Cough Drops," Time.com (4-28-11)]

The nun’s choice, focus on panic or focus upon The Lord. Had she focused on panic, her fear would have increased. However, by staying focused on The Lord in prayer she was able to remain calm until her rescue.

All of us go through anxious or fearful moments. Let us turn to The Lord that He may supply the peace we need in our moment of desperation. Philippians 4:6-8 tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Your spiritual talents

Romans 12:4-5(NLT)

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

When the apostle refers to Christ’s body he is referring to those who are a part of church who Christ gave His life for. Just as there are many parts to the human body, each serving a special function; there are many members in a church, each serving a special purpose.

In 1 Corinthians 7-11 it says, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

As seen from the verses above the Holy Spirit imparts special gifts unto people. One person may be wise in advice they give, whether it be financial or legal. Another may be a servant who helps heal others. For example Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poor and the sick. Some are able to take God’s word and speak messages to the church so they too understand the desires of God for their lives. Some have been blessed with wealth that they may help others financially. Each person may have one or several gifts, but by working as a collection group The Church is able to serve many people.

If you are unsure of your spiritual gifts, there are tests available that can help guide you to them. Many churches have these tests available in their church. The internet is also another place where spiritual gift tests can be found. Learn how you can serve your church with the talents you have been given. You never know whose life you may enrich by doing so.

God will provide

Romans 8:32 (NLT)

32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?

Who can be against us, take away our comforts, keep our needs from us and leave us hopeless, when God loves us so dearly that He gave up the life of His own son for us. When God is for us who can be against us?

 In his book The Divine Commodity, Skye Jethani shares a story from a trip he took to India with his father. While walking the streets of New Delhi, a little boy approached them. He was "skinny as a rail, and naked but for tattered blue shorts. His legs were stiff and contorted, like a wire hanger twisted upon itself." Because of his condition, the little boy could only waddle along on his calloused knees. He made his way toward Skye and his father and cried out, "One rupee, please! One rupee!" Skye describes what happened when his father eventually responded to the boy's persistent begging:

"What do you want?" [my father asked].

"One rupee, sir," the boy said while motioning his hand to his mouth and bowing his head in deference. My father laughed.

"How about I give you five rupees?" he said. The boy's submissive countenance suddenly became defiant. He retracted his hand and sneered at us. He thought my father was joking, having a laugh at his expense. After all, no one would willingly give up five rupees. The boy started shuffling away, mumbling curses under his breath.

My father reached into his pocket. Hearing the coins jingle, the boy stopped and looked back over his shoulder. My father was holding out a five-rupee coin. He approached the stunned boy and placed the coin into his hand. The boy didn't move or say a word. He just stared at the coin in his hand. We passed him and proceeded to cross the street.

A moment later the shouting resumed, except this time the boy was yelling, "Thank you! Thank you, sir! Bless you!" He raced after us once again—but not for more money but to touch my father's feet. …

This, I imagine, is how our God sees us—as miserable creatures in desperate need of his help. But rather than asking for what we truly need, rather than desiring what he is able and willing to give, we settle for lesser things. [Skye Jethani, The Divine Commodity (Zondervan, 2009), pp. 113-114]

Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.” 

Give glory to The Lord

Matthew 6:5-7 (NLT)

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

In these verses Jesus is warning us about pride within the body of the church. There were those who called attention to themselves, not for the sake of glorifying God, but for the sake of glorifying themselves. These people receive acknowledgement from others while those who worshipped in private received their acknowledgement from The Lord.

I want to acknowledge and thank a local TV station, WXIA 11 Alive, for showing a group of their reporters at lunch, taking the time to pray before starting their meal on their Facebook page. Many of us have been taught to say a blessing before eating a meal. It is a sacrament that seems to have faded away from traditions of long ago. It is not only a Christian sacrament; for many other religions also give thanks for the food they are about to receive. However, it seems that it is the Christians who are attacked for their actions, sometimes even by those saying they are Christians. I think the quote I heard that says Christians are the quickest to wound their own and leave them on the battle field is so often true.

Let me say directly that there is nothing wrong in giving thanks to The Lord, even in public. Some people were using the verses above on Facebook to say these reporters should have kept their prayers private and away from the sight of others. If we want to take the verses above so literal then we need to see that it talks about those who stand before the crowds so they may be heard. These reporters were peacefully sitting and talking among themselves. The verses of The Bible need to be seen in the appropriate context and with an understanding of grace and mercy. Jesus was talking to those who wanted to place attention on them and not on God.

I once heard a Pastor named Tony Evans speak. Tony said he was once asked to say a prayer for a Dallas football team before the start of a game. I’m not sure who was communicating with Tony, but they said something to the effect he may not want to mention the name of Jesus. You have to know Tony. He is a faithful Christian who places his faith in Jesus and gives Jesus the glory for all that is done in his life. When it came time to pray, Tony didn’t hesitate in thanking Jesus and closing the prayer in the name of Jesus. Tony did not let intimidation keep him from praising the one he loved, JESUS.

So I applaud the 11 Alive crew for holding firm to what they believe. I am glad to see there are Christians who are not afraid to let their faith be seen. We are to shine as candles to the world so others may hear the wonderful news of God. Let us all give glory to The Lord for all that He has done!

Honor Christ

Psalm 16:7-9 (NLT)

7 I will give honor and thanks to the Lord, Who has told me what to do. Yes, even at night my mind teaches me. 8 I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. 9 And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear.

When we keep our eyes upon The Lord it is easy for our hearts to pour out words of thanksgiving just as David did here in these verses. He is reminded that The Lord is always out in front, leading him in life. Not only does The Lord lead, but He stands with us so we can stand firm. It makes our hearts and souls joyful to know The Lord for we can rest without fear of this world or fear of death. Our hearts can be glad in knowing the Lord’s love, grace and mercy.

[We live in a fast-paced culture, but some things just ought to happen slowly.

The book Final Salute tells the story of Major Steve Beck, a U.S. Marine whose heart-wrenching task is to inform the nearest of kin when a Marine is killed in Iraq. Beck doesn't just break the sad news and then leave; for several days he may help the family through the process of the funeral. That includes supervising the Marine honor guard that stands near the fallen soldier's body.

The honor guard learns from Beck how to salute their fallen fellow-Marine as they leave or resume guard with a slow salute that isn't taught in basic training. The slow salute requires a three second raising of the hand to the head, a three second hold, and then a three second lowering of the hand—a gesture of respect that takes about nine times longer than normal. Beck explains: "A salute to your fallen comrade should take time."

Indeed, those who die serving their country are worthy of great honor, worthy of a slow salute, worthy of extra time. To do some things fast, just to get them done so we can move on to the next thing in our lives, sends a subtle message of disrespect.

So it is with our worship of God. God deserves a slow salute. The Savior who gave his life for us is worthy of our time.

[Craig Brian Larson, editor of PreachingToday.com; source: Jim Sheeler, Final Salute (Penguin, 2008); as seen in "Death Comes Knocking," The Week (5-23-08), p. 37]]

Christ fought a battle against sin and defeated death by giving His own life that we may live an eternal life with Him in heaven. Remember to honor Christ and praise Him for the great things He has done.

Life from faith

1 John 5:12 (NLT)

12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

God the Father has placed the honor upon His son Jesus Christ to provide eternal life to those who place their faith in Him. So those who are united with Christ will have life and should honor Him just as the father has honored Him.

Theologian Alister McGrath outlines the following three stages of receiving what Christ did for us on the cross:

[First], I may believe that God is promising me forgiveness of sins; [second], I may trust that promise; but [third] unless I respond to that promise, I shall not obtain forgiveness. The first two stages of faith prepare the way for the third, without it they are incomplete.

Then he illustrates these three stages with the following true story:

Consider a bottle of penicillin, the famous antibiotic identified by Alexander Fleming, and first produced for clinical use in [Great Britain]. The drug was responsible for saving the lives of countless individuals who would otherwise have died from various forms of blood poisoning. Think of the three stages of faith like this. I may accept that the bottle exists. I may trust in its ability to cure blood poisoning. But nothing will change unless I receive the drug which it contains. I must allow it to destroy the bacteria which are slowly killing me. Otherwise, I have not benefited from my faith in it.

It is the third element of faith which is of vital importance in making sense of the cross. Just as faith links a bottle of penicillin to the cure of blood poisoning, so faith forges a link between the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ and ourselves. Faith unites us with the risen Christ, and makes available to us everything he gained through his obedience and resurrection. [Alister E. McGrath, What Was God Doing on the Cross (Zondervan, 1992), pp. 99-100]

The Bible tells us there are many who believe there is a Jesus Christ, but not all have placed their faith in Him. James 2:19 says, “You believe there is one God. That is good! But even the demons believe that, and because they do, they shake.” The demons that follow Satan know and believe there is a God, but instead they have decided to follow Satan. They shake at the thought of what God could do to them, but it does not stop their actions and cause them to return to God.

There are people today who admit to being agnostic. They believe there is a God, but they place no faith or trust in Him. He exists around them, but they have no relationship to Him.

It is a relationship we want with God and Christ. We want to deepen our faith by building that relationship of trust that says I will trust and obey. We want to listen to God’s words and know they are for our benefit. We need to know that God and Christ have our best interest at heart and no matter what circumstance we are faced with that we will be provided for. Faith is trusting in God and believing in His promises with hope.

To live is Christ and to die is gain

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life, the grace of Christ the principle of our life, and the word of Christ the rule of it. The Christian life is derived from Christ, and directed to him. He is the principle, rule, and end of it. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain: it is great gain, a present gain, everlasting gain. Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man; for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes: but to a good Christian it is gain, for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes; it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good. [Commentary of Matthew Henry}

In 1887, just following an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody, a young man stood to share his story in an after-service testimony meeting. As he was speaking, it became clear to many that he knew little about the Bible or acceptable Christian doctrine. His closing lines, however, spoke volumes to seasoned and new believers alike: I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey.

Daniel Towner was so struck by the power of those simple words that he quickly jotted them down, then delivered them to John Sammis, who developed the lyrics to Trust and Obey. Towner composed the music and the song quickly became a favorite. It remains popular with hymn singers today. Here are the words to the song.

Refrain:  Trust and obey, for there's no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

 What a glory He sheds on our way!

 While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

 And with all who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

 But His smile quickly drives it away;

 Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

 Can abide while we trust and obey. [Refrain]

 Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

 But our toil He doth richly repay;

 Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

 But is blessed if we trust and obey. [Refrain]

 But we never can prove the delights of His love

 Until all on the altar we lay;

 For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

 Are for them who will trust and obey. [Refrain]

 Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

 Or we'll walk by His side in the way.

 What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

 Never fear, only trust and obey. [Refrain]

Honor The Lord

Romans 14:8 (NLT)

8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Our purpose whether in life or in death is to honor The Lord. If we have a long life, live it to honor The Lord. If we die naturally or by other means let out death give honor to The Lord.

In their book Building a Church of Small Groups, Bill Donahue and Russ Robinson relate the words of Lyman Coleman as he reflected on the death of his beloved wife, Margaret:

The most painful decision of my life was asking God to take her home. She had been suffering from repeated brain seizures and her body was wasted. I whispered in her ear: "Honey, I love you. I love you. Jesus wants you to come home. We are going to be all right. We give you permission to let go." She closed her eyes and fell asleep….

As I write this letter, I realize I am without my editor. My greatest critic. My teammate. Soulmate. Prayermate. Partner in everything. We traveled the roads less traveled together in hard times and good times. Honey, I miss you. I miss you. I miss you. I will keep the light on for the kids. I will be there for friends. And one day, we are going to join you. All of us. Because Jesus promised it. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.” We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

There is a life eternal waiting for those who have placed their faith in Christ. So whether we live or we die let us honor Christ giving Him glory for the great things He has done.

In the presence of Christ

Revelation 3:20 (NLT)

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

In this verse Christ tells us He is ready to draw near to those who are willing to listen. He wants to have a kind visit that includes His love, mercy and grace. Man by his nature of sin shuts the door to Christ. Christ however does not walk away. Instead Christ calls to them and He moves them with the Holy Spirit by knocking at the door of their heart. Those who open their heart to Christ will enjoy His fellowship. In their repentance they will delight and enjoy sharing intimate time with Christ.

There is  a song performed by Christian artists called In Christ Alone, by Getty and Townend 2001 Kingsway Music . Let these lyrics be of encouragement to you:

 In Christ alone my hope is found

 He is my light, my strength, my song

 This Cornerstone, this solid ground

 Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

 What heights of love, what depths of peace

 When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

 My Comforter, my All in All

 Here in the love of Christ I stand

 In Christ alone, who took on flesh

 Fullness of God in helpless babe

 This gift of love and righteousness

 Scorned by the ones He came to save

 'Til on that cross as Jesus died

 The wrath of God was satisfied

 For every sin on Him was laid

 Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain;

Then bursting forth in glorious day,

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;

For I am His and He is mine—

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—

This is the pow'r of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home—

Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

A new creation

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Created anew - a reference to being reborn a new creature; changed by the marvelous love, grace and mercy of God. We are His masterpiece transformed because of the obedience of His Son Jesus Christ who died for our sin. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ was not an afterthought, but a part of God’s plan from long ago.

In her book, Unbroken, Laura Hildenbrand (author of Seabiscuit) recounts the amazing true story of World War II veteran and prisoner-of-war survivor Louis (or Louie) Zamperini. On May 27, 1943, Zamperini’s bomber left Oahu in search of survivors from a downed plane. About 800 miles from the base one of the engines cut out and the bomber plunged into the ocean. Zamperini and another soldier would stay afloat on a tiny life raft for 47 days—a world record for survival at sea. After confronting sharks, starvation, and dementia, their real battle would begin. Zamperini spent the next two years as a Japanese POW in the notorious Sugamo Prison. In particular, a guard named Watanabe (nicknamed “the Bird”) ensured that Louis endured constant physical torture and verbal humiliation—all in an attempt to shatter the spirit of the American soldiers.

In 1944, after Louis had been declared dead, he returned to America to a rush of publicity. Unfortunately, his life quickly descended into a new self-made prison of alcoholism and bitterness. In particular, Louis now endured constant nightmares about his past and an obsessive drive to murder “the Bird.” But the walls of addiction and hatred started to crumble in 1949 when Louis attended a Billy Graham crusade and heard the gospel and trusted Christ.

After receiving Christ, in the words of Laura Hildenbrand:

When [Louie] thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all that he had suffered but the divine love that he believed had intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man that the Bird had striven to make him. In a single, silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness, had fallen away. That morning, he believed, he was a new creation.

A year after trusting Christ, Zamperini returned to the Sugamo Prison in Japan where he met with his former captors, except the Bird. When Louis was told that the Bird had committed suicide, in Hildebrand’s words,

[Louie] felt something he had never felt for his captor before. With a shiver of amazement, he realized it was compassion. At that moment, something shifted sweetly inside him. It was forgiveness, beautiful and effortless and complete. For Louie Zamperini, the war was over. [Laura Hildenbrand, Unbroken (Random House, 2010), pp. 376-379]

2Corinthians 4:8-10 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

Message of reconciliation

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NLT)

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

We are ambassadors for Christ, taking the message of salvation to others so they may be reconciled to God. The message of salvation is a gift from God; a message that says come back to Me by placing your faith in My Son Jesus Christ, for He died for your sins.

I grew up in a Baptist Church. On Wednesday nights at our church I attended what is known as Royal Ambassadors. RAs as it was called, was a ministry to teach young boys about missionaries who were spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. We read stories about missionaries and the work they were doing in other countries. At times we even received letters from those missionaries asking us to pray for them and the work they were doing.

As I have grown older, I have learned much more about the work of those in the mission field. There are places where Christians go that they must be careful about what they say or they could jeopardize the lives their selves and others, because some countries do not allow freedom of religion such as the United States does.

In the news we have seen where missionaries have been put in prison for speaking the name of Jesus. Some have been tortured, and some deprived of the comforts of normal life. There have been missionaries who were even killed because of their mission to tell others about Jesus.

For those of us who live in the United States life is somewhat easier and yet we don’t always share what we know about Jesus. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” We should be sharing the wonderful message of reconciliation because we are free to do so.

When you hear God speaking to your heart to tell someone about Jesus take the time to listen and then speak up. Usually an opportunity will present itself where you can tell someone how much God loves them and that He gave His only Son so that we can live an eternal life in heaven. Christ gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation; let us share it with others.

Do not be enslaved to anything

1 Corinthians 6:12 (NLT)

12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

In this verse the apostle is reminding believers not to become a slave to anything, especially those things that are not good for them. For in Christ we have been freed from sin, but that freedom should not allow one to become entrapped to vices which they find themselves enslaved to.

My wife and I attended a taping of a new format for a Dr. Drew show here in Atlanta. Some of you may know Dr. Drew from TV shows such as his nightly HLN broadcast, Celebrity Rehab and Rehab with Dr. Drew. [Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician, Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and a member of the staff at Huntington Memorial Hospital. Pinsky is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck USC School of Medicine. [About Dr. Drew, drdrew.com]]

During the taping of the show Dr. Drew gave audience members a chance to ask questions. An attractive young woman stood up and said she had a question about the relationship with her boyfriend. The woman went on to say her boyfriend had been known as a lady’s man through the years. Dr. Drew asked her if that was still true, to which she responded she didn’t believe so.

Then as Dr. Drew asked her some questions at which point she admitted that her boyfriend had been addicted to having physical relations with the women of his past. She also said he had never been to therapy. Dr. Drew was very compassionate and concerned for her, especially when she said, “I just wonder if I will be good enough for him?”

Ladies, if the question has to asked, “I just wonder if I will be good enough for him”, there is a problem. The problem is you are wondering what it will take for him to be satisfied with you. In this case we are talking about a man who potentially has an addiction to women. If in face he does have an addiction, the cravings of an addiction make a person want more, and more, and more.

This man is enslaved and without help, without freedom for the sin, this man will want more until it consumes their relationship. Will she be enough for him? In his current state, she will never be enough.  He will look for and also ask for riskier behaviors. Without treatment he will continue to do so until he finds himself bored and desires more than he has.  So yes, she will never be enough, not because of who she is, but because of his problem. She may even find herself entrapped in his sin until she decides she can’t take it any longer at which point the relationship can no longer be sustained.

Her story is a good reminder to not become a slave to anything. The man should never have become a slave to the sin he has participated in and the woman needs to take care she does not become a slave to her boyfriend. 

Return to God

Psalm 149:4 (NLT)

4 For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

The Israelites are defined to God as “his people”. Yet God has called others to join with “His people” to gather close to God and receive the riches of His blessings. Those who humble themselves before God will find victory in this life.

From Romans 15:1-13, the apostle tells us the following: We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.” Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory. Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:

“For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.”

And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.” And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.”

And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.” I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So there are questions, have we humbled ourselves before God as the Israelites were asked to do? Have we placed our faith in Jesus Christ so that we would receive God’s gift of salvation? Are we helping others and building them up and teaching them what is right? Do we even consider ourselves a Christian nation or are we a nation that has turned their face against God? Do we even pray as we should?

As you read through The Bible you will find God was not always with “His People”. As they turned from God, God left them to their own devices. God waited for their return and then blessed them just as the father who welcomed the prodigal son. Return to God and receive His love, grace and mercy.

Good business

Psalm 112:5 (NLT)

Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.

This is a verse that reminds us that those who conduct their business fairly and use their profits to help others will find that good comes into their lives. It is part of the character of a good man that he will use his discretion in managing his affairs, in getting and saving, that he may have enough to share.

According to Richard Stearns, president of World Vision, the person who has had the single greatest impact on addressing global poverty in the past twenty-five years is a largely-unknown World Vision staffer named Steve Reynolds. In 1985, a young Steve Reynolds was working in Ethiopia, during what was the worst famine of a generation. Steve spent many dreary days in the relief camps as an eyewitness to the horrors of massive starvation and death, gathering information that he hoped would provoke people to notice and respond.

One day he got a call from headquarters asking if he would host a young European couple, Ali and Paul Hewson, who wanted to visit and learn firsthand what was happening. Steve was willing to help. Ali and Paul stayed almost a month, rolling up their sleeves to help and showing tireless compassion. Paul was a musician, so he entertained the kids by writing little songs. Paul and Ali finally went home but not before they had committed to do whatever they could to help. You may know Paul better by his nickname, Bono.

Since that trip in 1985, Bono, the lead singer of the phenomenal Irish rock group U2, has traveled the globe as an advocate for the poorest of the poor. He has met with kings and queens, presidents, prime ministers, and the pope. He has lobbied members of parliaments and congresses. He has persuaded governments to appropriate billions of dollars of aid to the poor.

But in a later interview with Christianity Today, Bono specifically mentioned the key influence of Steve Reynolds. Bono said, "All of this started for me in Ethiopia in the mid-'80s, when my darling wife and I went out there as children, really, to see and to work in Africa."

Twenty-seven years later Steve Reynolds still works for World Vision. He has served in numerous jobs, working behind the scenes on behalf of the world's poorest people. Steve has been willing and available to be used however God wanted to use him. [Condensed from Richard Stearns, Unfinished (Thomas Nelson, 2013), pp. 152-154]     

God puts people in places where He can use them to benefit others. He will take the good deeds of a business person and wisely put them to use. 

God our protector and healer

Psalm 91:1-3 (NLT)

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. 3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.

Unknown is the author of this Psalm. Some believe it to have been written by Moses while others think it may have been penned by David. Whomever the author they gave an account of their trust in God. For they knew the safety God provided; whether it be a trap of temptation or a real threat from a deadly disease.

Dr Kent Brantly, one of two Americans stricken with the Ebola virus in the West Africa nation of Liberia, was delivered Saturday morning to an Atlanta hospital for treatment and is showing signs of improvement, experts say.

Brantly "seems to be improved from the reports we got earlier," Dr. Tom Frieden, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

After transport from Liberia on a specially outfitted plane Brantly, 33, climbed out of an ambulance with the aid of another person and then walked the short distance to the entrance of Emory University Hospital. Both Brantly and the person who helped him were wearing special biocontainment suits and similar protective gear, NBC News reported.

Experts said that the fact that Brantly could walk on his own was an encouraging sign.

Brantly's wife Amber, as well as his mother and father, had traveled to the hospital to meet him but his two small children did not make the trip. [Healthday, August 3, 2014, Ebola Patient Dr Kent Brantly Arrives in U.S., May Be Improving, By Dennis Thompson and E.J. Mundell]

There are many who fear the Ebola virus and the two American’s who contracted the virus that was transported to Atlanta. It is after all a deadly virus that is severe and often fatal. Transmission of the virus from humans is usually due to contact with blood or secretions of an affected person.

The natural reservoir host of ebolaviruses, and the manner in which transmission of the virus to humans occurs (outside of human to human exposure), remain unknown. This makes risk assessment in endemic areas difficult. With the exception of several laboratory contamination cases (one in England and two in Russia), all cases of human illness or death have occurred in Africa; no case has been reported in the United States. [CDC)

For those who might be fearful of those who are being treated in the United States, we need to trust in The Lord. The Lord is watching over us because we are trying to do what is right out of love and concern for fellow citizens who risked their life to help others. The Lord will protect us from the deadly disease as He imparts wisdom to the doctors who are dealing with the disease. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, strength and a sound mind. Let use our sound minds to work through the dangers of this virus so that others may be healed in the future.

God's light to your life

Psalm 119:130 (NLT)

130 The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand.

God’s word is the instruction book to our life that illuminates and guides the directions we should take in life. God has used others to demonstrate life, the joys, the fears, the consequences and the contentment. God’s word is for all so they may understand life and how to live it well.

All of us have based our lives upon something we have learned. Some of what we have learned came through our parents. I was listening to a group of adults talking about parenting skills. Many said they had always told themselves they would not turn out like their father or their mother in the way they handled their children. Later they found themselves doing exactly what their parents had done before.

We learn from others around us. There are those around us who often give good counsel and advice. Often we learn just by listening to how others solved a problem. For instance some of my coworkers are handy at working on home projects, so we each end us sharing how the other can fix a problem with their home.

Then there is learning about how we should really live life. People seem to pick up their ideas from many places. There are both religious and non-religious groups from which people will seek out answers. There are those who offer self-help advice and since they seem to have answers people will often follow them. And yet some who offer good advice, even great advice have faced failures in their own lives. They are not perfect so we should be careful of all life advice.

Above King David was telling us that The Bible shines a light for us to see how to live life. It has simple concepts that anyone can understand. There are examples of failures and triumphs. We just need to take the time, spend it in God’s word, and spend time getting to know God and His will for our lives.

I always thinking of Jeremiah 29:11 that has these words, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” This is God’s desire for those who love Him and who He loves. Look to God’s word for the light to your life.

God is listening

Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NLT)

2 “This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: 3 Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.

This message comes from The Lord, the one who made, formed and established the earth. It is comforting to know that the one who has created everything is willing to entertain our questions and respond. We must seek out God in prayer and humbly ask that we may receive the answers we are looking for.

In the movie Gravity, veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (played by George Clooney) is in charge of the Shuttle Explorer's STS-157 mission to repair the Hubble Telescope by the rookie specialist Dr. Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock). Out of the blue, Houston control aborts the mission warning that a Russian missile hit a satellite, causing a chain reaction and now there is a storm of debris coming upon the pair of astronauts. Soon they lose communication with the Mission Control in Houston. As a result of the debris strike, both Stone and Kowalski must now make their way to the International Space Station.

Isolated and coming to grips with her mortality, Dr. Stone has the following conversation/prayer with God:

I'm gonna die, aren't I God? I know we're all gonna die...we're all gonna die. But I'm gonna die today! Funny that you ought to know. But the thing is I'm still scared … I'm really scared. Nobody will mourn for me; no one will pray for my soul. Will you mourn for me? Will you pray for me? Or is it too late? I mean, I'd pray for myself but I've never prayed in my life. Nobody ever taught me how. Nobody ever taught me how. [Gravity, DVD, Directed by Alfonso Cuaron, 2014; Warner Brothers; submitted by Van Morris, Mt. Washington, Kentucky]

Dr. Stone says nobody ever taught her how to pray, but out of necessity she finds herself doing what she had never been taught to do, pray. You see Dr. Stone was seeking out answers from God. She was faced with a life of death situation and in what seemed to be her final moments she was calling out to God trying to understand if it was too late to reconcile herself with Him.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” 

God's word

Psalm 119:114 (NLT)

114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

David comforted himself with the thoughts of God’s protection. David knew God was his shield against his enemies and also a shield against sin. David depended upon God’s promises for safety, comfort, love, protection and everything else he would need. These promises were the source of his hope.

In an interview about his book The Folly of Prayer (IVP, 2009), author and pastor Matt Woodley shared a story about his friend Theresa. Theresa was experiencing what St. John of the Cross calls a dark night of the soul—a period of spiritual loneliness and despair. Over the course of describing her story, listen to how Woodley discovered that what seemed most helpless in his ministry was actually the most helpful:

After marrying the man of her dreams, [Theresa] dropped into the abyss of a deep depression. Everything went dark in her mind and body. She even started writing her obituary. Three years ago I would have had plenty of answers and solutions for her. I would have been so clever and powerful. But now I could only sit with her in her pain. We prayed. I didn't know what to do, didn't have any answers, so I said, "Theresa, I have no idea what to say, so could we just read the Psalms?" Then I read Psalm 77, an agonizing psalm of lament, and I went home. I left feeling utterly powerless, and I sure didn't think that I made her feel better.

The next week another leader of our church visited Theresa. She was still suffering intensely, but when the leader asked if he could pray for her, Theresa said, "Yes, but before you pray, please read Psalm 77. I've been clinging to it all week. It's my lifeline to God." Apparently when we read Psalm 77 in utter powerlessness, God showed up in her life with power.

Woodley adds: "At times the best, most powerful and most useful way to love someone is to get to the end of myself. I admit that I can't fix or change you. My words and my advice won't heal your brokenness. But I can be with you, and we can go together to the Father." [IVP Books, "Are You There, God? An Interview with The Folly of Prayer Author Matt Woodley"]

God’s word is powerful and can change the thoughts and hearts of people. The scriptures remind us of God’s promises and His love for us. Proverbs 30:5 tells us, “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.”