Faith Over Fear
A few years ago, Jami and I had LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank) laid in the entire first floor of our home. So, instead of having four different types of flooring on our first floor, with one being carpet, we now only have one. In addition to getting new flooring, we also have big rugs in two of the rooms with smaller rugs by the front door, the door to the garage and the back sliding door. We love it. However, our five-year old labrador retriever does not. She’s petrified of the new flooring! I don’t know what changed, but she now essentially lives rug to rug. And as she walks on the LVP to get from rug to rug, you can see the fear in her eyes. As she walks from the front room to the back tv room, this is her routine… She walks from the front room rug, to the stairs which are carpeted, to the front door rug, to the garage door rug, to the sliding door rug, and finally to the back room rug where she can finally relax. And as she’s walking, her legs are shaking as her nails are desperately trying to grab on to what’s not there. She won’t stop on the new flooring. She won’t sit. She won’t even pause to pick up a toy or eat any type of human food. She is simply paralyzed with fear. And so, her little life is confined from one rug to the next all because she has given in to fear. As I look back over my life, there are times that I’ve given in to fear as well. There are even times now where I’m still paralyzed by fear. But that’s not how God has designed us to live. Check this out:
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7
You see, fear is a powerful force. It can paralyze us and keep us from stepping into what God has for us. But God is all-powerful. And through His strength, we can face and confront fear head-on as our faith grows and our fears begin to diminish. So, let’s look at three truths of fear.
First, fear distracts us from what really matters. You see, we could place the tastiest chunk of steak on the floor, and our lab would crouch down desperately trying to grip the floor with her lab nails, and with shaking legs quake past it to get to the next rug. Her fear completely consumes her focus, causing her to miss out of something she desires. Isn’t that how fear works itself out in our life as well? Fear causes us to focus on the obstacles instead of God’s opportunities. When God calls us to something, whether it’s sharing our faith, making a big decision, or stepping into a new season, fear tries to keep us stuck. And we hesitate and overthink which sometimes causes us to miss what God has set before us because we’re too focused on our fear.
That’s what fear does. But when we shift our focus off fear and place our faith in God, the Father, He gives us eyes to see life differently. Instead of dwelling on the fear itself, we get to look to God’s promises, trusting that He’ll guide us even when the path seems uncertain.
Psalm 32:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Secondly, fear steals our strength, but God gives us power. I don’t know about you, but fear is exhausting. It drains my energy. Keeps me up at night. It makes small tasks and decisions feel overwhelming. This is everything fear gives us. It’s fear’s gift to us. But God has something different. You see, God gives us power… He gifts us His power. The power that the Apostle Paul talks about in 2 Timothy isn’t our own strength… it’s not our own power… It's God’s strength and power working in us. The Greek word for power here is the same word used to describe the power of the Holy Spirit. This means that, as we trust in Jesus, we don’t have to rely on our own abilities. We have access to the God’s power working in and through us. In fact, the result is 100 times better and greater because of this than if the result only depended upon my own abilities! How great is that!
Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
When we face our fear, we can remind ourselves that we are not alone. God is with us, equipping us to stand strong. Instead of giving in to our fear, we can walk in faith knowing that His power is greater than anything we face.
And third, fear is self-focused, but love looks outward. As I look at myself when I’ve been paralyzed by fear I’ve noticed that it turns my attention inward. I begin to worry about my safety, my reputation, my future. My attention is on ME. But God has given us a spirit of love, a love that gets rid of fear and redirects our focus to God and others.
1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
You see, when we operate out of fear, we hesitate to step into obedience. Maybe we avoid sharing the Gospel because we’re afraid of rejection. Maybe we hold back from serving because we’re afraid of failure. Maybe we don’t step into the new thing because we’re afraid of the unknown. But when love leads us, when Jesus leads us, we can push past fear because our focus is on God’s glory and the joy living within obedience to Him. Love empowers us to take risks in Jesus’ name. It encourages us to trust that God will work through us despite our fear because of His love for us.
Ultimately, fear keeps us wanting what’s comfortable, which in turn, keeps us from the joy and full life Jesus give us as we step past our fear in obedience to His will for our life. We don’t have to live lives controlled by fear. Through God’s Word we can renew our minds and replace fear-filled thoughts with faith-filled thoughts.
Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Are you missing out on what God has for you because you’re too focused on fear? Or will you trust the One who has given you power, love, and a sound mind?
Step out in faith. Walk in confidence. And remember, you were not given a spirit of fear! Trust Jesus over fear today.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10
Getting My Attention 120 Feet Under Water
I love to scuba dive. Or, should I say, I loved scuba diving. It’s one activity that certainly gave me the chance to explore the unknown, to see things and creatures you can’t see above the surface of the water. I haven’t gone in years, but there’s one memory that stands out. You see, me and a few of my buddies had the chance to go scuba diving off the coast of Cozumel. This was by far the most exotic place I have ever gone scuba diving. Like any other dive site, we rode out by boat, jumped into the water, and followed the assigned scuba diving guide.
We dove down to approximately 60 feet, followed our guide around through the different “canyon” type areas. And then, I noticed that there was a significant drop-off to our left. I tapped one of my buddies on the arm, pointed to the wall and the drop-off, and we began to dive down. This was our chance to dive at our max depth as advanced divers, 120 feet. So, with our heads down we hit 80 feet. 90 feet. 100 feet! The wall was crazy. Below us was complete darkness. 115 feet! And then, we both heard a quiet, “tink, tink, tink” sound. 118 feet! The “tink tink tink” sound was getting louder and faster… tinktinktinktinktink!
We look up, as our guide is tink tink tinking her way to us. She points at us, points to our group and then points to her side. You see, even though we were certified to dive to a depth of 120 feet, she didn’t give us permission to go out on our own. She was leading the way. She had a plan, the plan, for a successful dive. And that plan didn’t include two knuckleheads diving off into the deep unknown by ourselves. Her job was to guide us, and it was our job to trust and follow her.
While the Israelites weren’t out scuba diving off the coast of Cozumel, they too had a Guide. Check this out:
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels. – Exodus 40:36-38
If we look at the life of the Israelites during this time, one thing will ring true throughout… as long as the Israelites kept their focus on the Lord, they lived within hope, joy and peace. But when they began to rely on anything other than the Lord, their lives fell apart. And just as the Israelites relied on God’s presence and guidance through this cloud and fire, there are lessons from their journey that we all can apply so that we too can live a life of trust, obedience and awareness of God’s constant presence in our world.
First, wait for God’s timing and guidance.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Just as the Israelites waited for the cloud to lift before moving, we can practice patience and discernment in our decisions as well. Before making significant decisions, take time to pray and seek God’s will through Scripture and wise counsel. Avoid rushing into choices based on emotions or pressure. And as you do that, take time to journal your prayers, your concerns, and your decisions. Tracking how God provides guidance over time can strengthen your faith as you walk in His timing. And so we practice patience in our decision making.
Secondly, take time to recognize God’s presence in all seasons of life.
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6
This cloud and fire represented God’s constant presence with the Israelites. And the same is true for you and I. He is with us in both the day of clarity, and the night of uncertainty. Spend time in His Word every day. Spend time with Him through prayer. As you do, He will remind you of His promises as you meditate on His faithfulness as He holds you up even within uncertainty. And as you do this, you’ll be able to see all the ways you’ve seen God’s hand in your life whether it’s been through blessings, answered prayer or lessons you’ve learned through hard times. As you recognize God’s presence, He’ll develop a heart of gratitude within you.
Third, follow God with your obedience to Him.
“How joyful are those who fear the Lord – all who follow His ways.” – Psalm 128:1
The Israelites moved only when the cloud lifted and moved. They didn’t want to go anywhere where God’s presence wasn’t with them. And we can practice this obedience in our lives as we practice trusting and obeying God even when His instructions challenge our plans or timing. Even though it might be difficult, identify one area of your life where God might be calling you to obedience. Maybe it’s forgiving someone. Or maybe God is calling you to serve in some aspect of your life. Maybe it’s in the area of generosity. Or maybe, He’s calling you to ask for forgiveness from someone. Or maybe, you’ve never given your life to Jesus, repenting from your sin, asking Him to be the Lord of your life. Whatever God is asking of you, no matter how difficult it might seem, He's asking for your obedience. And because He’s asking for your obedience, He’s promised to go with you through His Spirit as you follow Him.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.” – John 14:16-17
And as your obedience to the Lord increases, share your journey with your friends who can either encourage you to keep going, or you can encourage them to begin their faith journey with Jesus.
My prayer for you is that you develop a life of obedience to the Lord as you follow Jesus. And as you do, that you recognize God’s presence in your life in both the clarity of the day and the uncertainty of the night. And that you continually depend upon God for guidance as you wait on the Lord. Peace.
“Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.” – Exodus 33:15
Not About It
I love me some me. This goes all the way back to my baseball years in high school. You see, more than being cheered, I loved to be boo’d. Not from our team’s fans, no. I loved it when the other team’s fans boo’d me. When those guys boo’d me it meant that I had gotten into their heads. The game transitioned from being about their team to being about me. I told you… I love me some me. I did a Google search on the phrase, “I love me some me.” You know what comes back? This video...
I don’t mind the spotlight. I actually like being the center of attention. In one aspect it’s helpful in connecting with people. In a completely different aspect, it can be a problem if that becomes my life philosophy. At one time it was. For many of us the main struggle in our relationships is that we “love me some me” too much. And while there’s an aspect of life that is about us, it’s not the end all be all of the matter. But if we’re honest, it’s easy to get caught in the “me” trap. So how can we either avoid this trap or find a way out of it? Check this out:
This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” – Mark 1:1-8
This dude John the Baptist, a relative of Jesus, could have made this preaching tour all about himself. He could have titled it the, “I Love Me Some Me” tour. And whether or not John consciously thought this way or not, he knew that this line of thinking was a trap. Yo, the “Me” trap wasn’t invented in the 21st Century! The “Me” trap has existed since the beginning. Adam and Eve fell into the trap. King David fell into the trap. Judas fell into the trap. This trap has been around for a while. So how did the John in these verses not fall into the “Me” trap?
First, John knew that the God of the Old Testament… Jehovah… the God of Moses who said in Exodus 3:14, “I am who I am” … this God fulfills His promises. John understood this and placed his trust in this God. He knew his Scripture. John knew that the Old Testament predicted that God would send a messenger to “clear the way ahead” of Jesus in Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3. John knew that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and the promise of God to provide the One who would restore humanity back to right relationship to God by trusting and believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we realize that God fulfills His promises, we can then place our trust in Him to make a way out of the “Me” trap.
Secondly, John committed to living a life devoted to God. John lived and preached in the wilderness (Mark 1:4). The wilderness in Biblical tradition is often associated with spiritual renewal, purification, and a return to God. It was in the wilderness that the Israelites wandered for 40 years and learned to rely on God. By preaching in the wilderness, John was symbolically calling the people to leave behind their sins and worldly attachments to seek spiritual renewal and repentance. It emphasized the need for a radical break from the old ways of life and a fresh start in anticipation of the coming of God's kingdom. And by choosing the wilderness as his place of ministry, John identified himself as the one preparing the way for the coming of the Messiah, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah. And maybe this wilderness is where you find yourself today. Sure, it may not look like a wilderness, but it sure feels like you’re mentally and spiritually in a desert land. Maybe God right now is telling you right now that you need to confess your sin, leave your worldly attachments behind you and seek Christ to renew you spiritually. It’s in the wilderness where John was preparing the people to connect with the Word, Jesus. And maybe right now, you need to reconnect, or connect for the first time, with the Word, Jesus. A step you can take is to begin by reading the book of Mark in the Bible. Not only did John live and preach in the wilderness, but he also chose to live differently than most if not all of the other people in the region. Check this out:
“His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.” – Mark 1:6
You see, this diet that John ate connected him to the Old Testament prophets who also lived in the wilderness. This diet demonstrated that he was separated from worldly comforts and committed to spiritual matters. Locusts were a natural and available food source in the wilderness and were considered a permissible food to eat in Jewish law. Additionally, wild honey was also natural and often symbolized the sustenance provide by God in the wilderness. Now I’m not saying that we need to change our diets to only eat locusts and wild honey, although my gut and waistline would benefit for sure. But maybe just maybe God is calling you to a different diet of what you watch, what you listen to, who you find yourself interacting with… Maybe God is calling you to a whole different way of living that recognizes your need for Jesus to enter your life.
Third, John recognized his standing in comparison to Jesus as the Messiah. Check this out:
“John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” – Mark 1:8
John knew that his purpose in life was to prepare the way for Jesus to arrive. He knew that he himself wasn’t the answer, it was Jesus. John didn’t point people back to himself, he pointed people to Jesus. I used to think I had all the answers. “Hey, you need help? I got you. Listen to me.” Maybe that’s you right now… you got all the answers… you just depending on you and your efforts to get by. Or… you may not have all the answers, but you got some self-help books to see you through. Here’s the thing though… you and your self-help books aren’t Jesus. Sure, you might get by for some time, but in the end, you come to the end of yourself. John didn’t fall into the “Me” trap because he pointed people to Jesus. It’s hard to fall into the trap when you’re saying don’t look at me, look at Jesus.
I love me some me. It’s funny when we watch Terrell Owens shout it from the sidelines. But “Me” isn’t the answer. John the Baptist didn’t “love me some me,” he loved Jesus and pointed people to Him. And maybe it’s time you put your trust in the God who fulfills His promises, change your way of living as Jesus enters your life, and recognize your need for Jesus to rule as King of your life.
“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11
Deep Roots
The other day our family began a weeding project for the front yard of our house. None of us like to weed. I mean, does anyone!? I still have flashbacks to when I was a kid weeding the sidewalk that ran alongside our backyard on our Altgeld street house in the summer. It was not fun. And guess what… It still isn’t fun. So, after one of our kids finished weeding in the side yard up against the house, we took a look to see what the ground looked like without weeds. It looked good as we scanned along the ground. As we were scanning, however, we noticed a vine that had started to grow up the side of our house. It was crazy. This vine had crawled up the house in and around the siding so high that it had grown to nearly seven feet tall. To my amazement, as I pulled it out of the siding of our house it just kept going. I’m glad Jami had seen this vine growing. Had she not, it would have ruined the siding on our home. I got all of the vine out of the siding and reached the ground at which point I pulled it out at the roots. If I hadn’t gotten to the root of the vine, it would have grown back and began its destructive process up our home all over again.
Roots are important. They are the lifeblood to the growth of the “thing” that depends upon its life. The Bible talks about a specific root. Check this out:
“Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” – Hebrews 12:15
You see, most of the time bitterness isn’t easily seen by the one in whom the root of bitterness is growing. But as it grows, it invades every area of the person’s life. This is tough because when bitterness grows like this, it doesn’t only affect the one who is bitter, it affects and influences those around that person.
Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there right now. It’s an easy pattern to fall into and a hard one to crawl out of. Maybe you’ve been hurt by those who were in your life to care for you. Maybe you put your trust in someone and they repaid you by betrayal. Maybe the people you thought were friends never reached out to you in your time of need. Maybe someone’s words cut so deep they attacked your identity. Here’s what I know, because I’ve experienced all of these things, the root of bitterness that can grow inside of us has nothing to do with “them” but everything in “us.” And God is saying to those of us who need to get rid of bitterness’ roots…
Let Me replace your root system.
God wants to replace your root system because He knows what the destructiveness of the root system of bitterness can do. Because here’s the thing, bitterness never rolls out alone. It’s always got an entourage… A bunch of hype men. Check out bitterness’ hype men…
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. – Ephesians 4:31
These are they hype men for bitterness… Rage. Anger. Harsh words. Slander. I’ve noticed these things creep into my life for a time. But here’s the thing, instead of the hype man who builds the person and the crowd up, these hype men tear people down. You see, if the root of bitterness isn’t dug up, destruction is sure to follow. So how can you tell if bitterness is creeping up in your life? One, you need to check your words. Or as I have told my kids over and over again, “You need to check your mouth.” I did this when they had ketchup on it or if they were being unkind with their words. Both aren’t a good look.
You see, it’s often true that what comes out of our mouths is actually connected to our hearts.
Check this out:
But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. – Matthew 15:18
Maybe it’s that we find ourselves critical or rude. Maybe it’s that we find ourselves talking poorly about someone (even though their actions might “justify” the descriptive words). Maybe, just maybe, the words that are coming out of our mouths are rooted deeply within our heart. Or secondly, are my branches of bitterness spreading to others? You see, when we walked outside and saw the vine-weed crawling up our home, it was also spreading on the ground to the point we couldn’t see the flowers that were trying to sprout up. Not only was the vine covering the flowers, had it been left unchecked, it would have sucked the life out of the flowers. The same is true for bitterness. It spreads. The last part of Hebrews 12:15 tells us so… “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” This bitterness has the potential to spread. Maybe your friends have become bitter. Maybe your kids have become bitter. Do your friends sit around to gripe and gossip? Maybe it’s spread to your spouse. Bitterness spreads.
But there’s hope if you find yourself here today. As long as you’re breathing there’s always hope. But unlike today’s culture, it isn’t found in self-help books or cute quotes. You can’t get rid of the root of bitterness on your own efforts. And that’s really good news. In a land far away and at a time that was long ago, God made a covenant with His people.
I am making this covenant with you so that no one among you—no man, woman, clan, or tribe—will turn away from the Lord our God to worship these gods of other nations, and so that no root among you bears bitter and poisonous fruit. – Deuteronomy 29:18
And God today, has brought a new covenant with us through His Son Jesus. A covenant is a fancy word that simply means “contract.” You see, it’s only through Jesus that we can rid all bitterness in our life. When we confess our sin to God, declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, then we will be saved. We are made new from the inside out.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! – 2 Corinthians 5:17
As we trust in Jesus, bitterness no longer has to rule in our life because God has given us a new root system. So where are you today? What is your root system like? Is bitterness growing? If so, there’s hope through Jesus. Confess what you need to today and pray that God gives and cultivates His root system in your life.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! – Galatians 5:22-23
And Runnin' Runnin' and Runnin' Runnin'
Have you noticed that young kids run everywhere? Maybe it was just our kids, but when they were younger, they ran everywhere. It didn’t matter where we went. We would drive them to a friend’s house, and they’d get out of the car and run to the door. We’d go to church, and they would run into the building. We’d drop them off at practice and they would run to their team. It didn’t matter where we were at, who we were with or what we were doing, they ran everywhere at all times! They were so filled with joy that they couldn’t help it! Morgan, to this day, at 17 years of age still runs places. It’s awesome.
As we read Scripture, we get another picture of a person running. It’s not a young child. It’s an older man and it’s found in a story that Jesus told in earshot of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you know the really “religious” people. You see, Jesus was teaching and eating with tax collectors and other notorious sinners. Pause. Stop. I love those two words… “notorious sinners” and the fact that Jesus took time to reach even “those people.” Well, this made the really “religious” people angry. So, Jesus, knowing that the Pharisees and other religious teachers were actively complaining, told two quick stories and one longer story. Maybe you’ve heard of them… The parable (story) of the Lost Sheep, the parable of the Lost Coin and the parable of the Lost Son. In one story, a shepherd has a 100 sheep and loses one at which point he leaves the 99 to find the one. In another story, a woman has 10 coins, loses one, and goes about the entire house until she finds the one. In both stories, there is rejoicing in the finding of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
This now, brings us to the story of the Lost Son. This one is a bit more complicated. It’s familial, it’s relational and it’s conditional. You see, in this story, a father has two sons. The younger son gets fed up with his life and his circumstances, and he demands that his father gives him his share of the estate now before he dies. What a brat, right! Isn’t that what we’re all thinking? Pause. Stop. The request, this demand of the son to the father to give him his share of his inheritance, would likely have been interpreted in that culture as a wish for his father’s death. It would have created a large rift between the son and his family, and most likely the whole town. Talk about a family beef! But, his father, upon hearing his younger son’s demands, decides to divide up his wealth and give it to his son’s before he dies anyway. The younger son gets his cash and says, “Bet,” and dips out to parrrrrtayyyyy. (Insert a Miami Vibes Spotify playlist and Will Smith here)… “Party in the city where the heat is on. All night, on the beach till the break of dawn… Bienvenidos a Miami." (Todd Stop). Okay. You get the point. He turnt up in the place. (Really Todd, stop).
So, the younger son wastes all, and I mean, ALL of his money. He had nothing left. After trying to make it on his own, starving on the streets feeling hopeless and stressed out, he decided to go back home. Pause. Stop. Maybe you’ve been there… Maybe not starving or left on the streets… But feeling hopeless and/or stressed out… Decisions you’ve made that have had horrible consequences… Maybe you’re there now… Or worse yet, maybe it’s the result of someone else’s decisions… Keep reading… The story gets better.
As the story goes, the younger son decides to go back home and throw himself at the mercy of his father. As he’s still “a long way off,” his father sees him. Check out what happens next…
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20
You see, when it comes to grace and forgiveness, it’s not necessarily us running to the Father, it’s that the Father has run to us.
This. Is. Massive. The fact that the father ran to his son is crazy. As Americans in our American culture, we miss this cultural note. In our culture we see running as simply as an expression of joy. But, in the Middle East, especially in rural areas, a man of this age would be expected to always walk slowly, with dignity. This father didn’t do that… He ran to his son… And he did so most likely to protect his son from the children of the town who might have decided to meet the son by throwing stones at him. The father humbles himself as he reconciles with his youngest son and becomes a powerful picture of the God of grace. Can you imagine the tax collectors and other notorious sinners hearing this message? Those were the most hated people within that culture. And hearing that story, maybe for the first time, now have hope.
Can you imagine the Pharisees and other teachers hearing that story? There’s one other son in this story… The older son. He too accepted his father’s inheritance early. He knows the beef his younger son created and accepts his own share of the inheritance and actually shares in the sin of his younger brother. The drama in this family would have made the drama of the Kardashians seem small! So, when the younger brother comes back, you might think the older brother would be happy and want to share in the celebration that his father is asking for. But he doesn’t. He becomes angry and throws a baby fit.
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.’” – Luke 15:28-29
And his father, who humbled himself to reconcile his little brother back to the family, replies to the older brother with just as much grace. Check this out…
“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’” – Luke 15:31-32
And in this moment, the Pharisees and other teachers would have likely known that Jesus was comparing them with the older brother’s attitude. And here’s the thing, whether you see yourself as the younger son, without hope and stressed out… Maybe you’ve strayed away from your relationship with God… Like the father in this story, He has humbled Himself enough to be born in the flesh, live among His creation, die at the hands of humanity, and rise again in victory.
Jesus is the humble grace that God has offered to us.
Maybe you’re the older son or the Pharisees in this story. You’ve stood in anger at people. You’ve sinned in your own way or maybe have stood in judgment over others. While we don’t know how they responded, this same grace is offered to you. Jesus has come to change lives and reconcile each one of us to God.
One more serious question… If you’re a follower of Jesus, is this the type of grace you’re offering to others? Are you willing to humble yourself… To look like a fool and extend the grace we see in this story to others?
No matter who you relate to in this story, God the Father has brought the possibility of reconciliation between all of His children.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
Connected
I’m gonna say something that might be controversial…
“I love to play video games.” There. I said it. Soccer. Football. Baseball. COD (IYKYK).
Even though I’ve reached the age where I’m not as good as I used to be, I still love playing video games. I grew up playing them, and I’ll probably never grow out of playing them. When I first started playing video games, I had a controller that was connected to the console with a wire. Now, my controller is connected via Bluetooth. As a result, I either need to replace the batteries in the controller from time to time, or I need to place it on a charger. Regardless, if the batteries in the controller go out, I can’t play because there’s no connection between the controller and the console. The design is such that unless there’s an active connection between the controller and the console, I can’t play the game… I can’t even get the game started… nothing can be accomplished. It’s designed in such a way that without connection, there is no sign of life.
As I look out over humanity in general and my life specifically, we are designed in the same manner. Check this out:
“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” – Genesis 2:7
From the very beginning of time, God created humanity to have connection with Him. God literally breathed life into the one He created in His likeness. This is much different than the way God created everything else. Outside of humanity, God simply spoke the world into existence. While this is a miracle in and of itself and shouldn’t be overlooked because it links power to the very word of God, His creation of humanity was much more intimate. God’s relationship to humanity was different than His relationship with the rest of creation. After creating Adam, we see God speaking directly with him just a few short lines still in chapter two of Genesis. Right away we see that humanity was created to communicate with God. Even prior to Adam sinning, Adam was dependent on revelation from God in order to live in the world that God created.
And what happens next? The connection is interrupted. It gets disconnected. The Bluetooth stops working. Not because of anything God did, no. It’s like my controller when it stops working. It doesn’t stop working because of the console or the people who made it, it stops working because I didn’t replace or recharge the batteries. And the same is true with humanity. It’s because of what Adam and Eve did to their relationship with God. And what their decision did not only broke their connection to God, but it also caused us to be born into a broken connection with God as well. And without connection to God, there is no sign of life.
God designed humanity in such a way that without connection to Him, there is no sign of life.
And what happens when that connection with God is broken? At the most basic level our eternal destination after we die is to be without relationship with God. Most of us has seen the billboards asking the question, “Do you know where you will go after you die?” or have heard someone with a megaphone on the street corner yelling about heaven and hell. And yes, that is a real concern, but this broken connection affects each one of us in a more immediate, deeper level. When my batteries go out on my controller, I’m not worried about tomorrow’s game, I’m concerned to get the connection back up and running for the game I’m currently playing. When my connection with God is broken, it affects my life right now. When my connection with God is broken, I’m not living life to the full because my perspective is skewed because I’m not connected to the One who can wholly comfort me, wisely counsel me and willingly convict me.
While this connection to God was broken leaving humanity in despair, God in His kindness made a way for the connection to be reestablished through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. Jesus is the Source of life. Check this out:
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” – John 14:6
Not only is Jesus the Source of eternal life, but Jesus is also the Source of the full life every one of us is seeking. As our connection to God is restored through Jesus, as we accept Jesus into our life as our Savior, we have access to the life Jesus offers and connection to God.
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” – John 10:10
This means that Jesus isn’t just the Source of life, He’s also the Course of life. That’s cute Todd… You can rhyme. But what does that even mean for me? That’s a very valid question. You see, when Jesus becomes the Source and Course of our life, we are changed from the inside out. Our perspective changes. Our response to people becomes different. Our reaction to life’s circumstances reflects the character of Christ. And hear me when I say this… This has nothing to do with what we can do differently; this is in direct correlation to the working of Jesus in the life of the follower of Jesus. Jesus as the Course of life means that our path of life is to live the life of Jesus as He lives in and through us wherever we are. Again, this can’t happen through our own efforts. It’s. Not. Possible. It only happens when our connection to God is restored through our trusting in and following Jesus.
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
This, my friends, is the hope that Jesus offers… connection to God for life now. Jesus doesn’t promise that life will get better or easier, but He does promise to wholly comfort you. He promises to wisely counsel you. And He promises to willingly convict you. And in everything, He promises that in Him you will find the joy of true life as you are connected to Him.
God designed humanity in such a way that without connection to Him, there is no sign of life.
Trust in Jesus today, allow Him to change you from the inside out as you are reconnected with God Himself.
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” – Psalm 16:11
The Weight of It
As I stand typing this, I turned 48 just eleven days ago. (Now’s your chance to wish me a belated birthday if you missed it on May 11!) And at age 48, I feel as if I’m at a fork in the road… a turning point if you will. I’m at the point age wise where it’s getting harder and harder to get into shape. If I’m honest (which I will be by the way), I’m not ok with where I’m at physically. There are things I need to begin to do to get back into shape sooner rather than later… thus, the fork in the road. What you’re looking at is a dismantled weight bench. It’s waiting to be put together. If I choose to remain on the road I’m currently on and not put together this weight bench, I’ll continue to get the results I don’t want and put on weight in places I don’t want it which changes me into the person I don’t want to be. Or I can choose to put the weight bench together and begin my new exercise routine.
Here's what I know from previous experience and by watching others, the weight I allow myself to carry will either produce positive results or negative results physically. That bowl of ice cream at midnight carries weight. That bag of chips I eat right after dinner has weight. Yo, that popcorn with butter, salt and parmesan cheese (don’t hate – it’s realllllllllllly good) carries weight with each amazing bite I take. And it changes me… for the worse. Likewise, when I allow myself to lift the weight off of the bench, after time, it changes me for the better. The weight molds me into the person I want to become. You see…
What we allow to carry weight in our life has the power to change us.
Check this out:
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” – Genesis 3:1
In just two short chapters Adam and Eve give in to the serpent’s lies… “Sssssssooooooooooo Eve… did God say?” (Cause that’s how snakes talk…) And in one moment, Adam and Eve allowed someone else’s words to carry weight. Quick back story here, the first two chapters of Genesis paint a picture of earth as a paradise. It’s everything as God intended it to be. God made Adam and Eve, male and female in the image of Himself. God saw everything He had created, and it was good. Humanity living in perfect unity with God and creation. As God placed Adam in the garden, there was one thing God wanted Adam and Eve to keep in mind...
But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden — except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” – Genesis 2:16-17
God Himself knew with Adam as He knows with us…
What we allow to carry weight in our life has the power to change us.
It’s what happened to Adam and Eve. The weight of satan’s words changed them forever. “Ssssssooooooo Eve… Did God really say…” “You won’t really die!” Satan knew he was lying. It’s what he does. He’s the author of lies. His goal is to trick people into not trusting the Truth of God’s Word. It was his goal for Adam and Eve, and it’s his goal for us too. Satan knows that…
What we allow to carry weight in our life has the power to change us.
Maybe you’ve been there… maybe you’re there right now. You’ve been walking around… Doing your thing… Everything seems to be going great… Great house… Great job… Great life… You’re looking at things and you’re thinking things are good. And out of seemingly nowhere it happens… Little lies start to capture your attention. For some of us, maybe it’s the following lies:
• It’s not hurting anyone…
• Nobody will find out…
• It’s just one time…
• It’s fun…
• Surely God didn’t mean what He said
• The Bible isn’t really true
And satan starts to place little lies into your thoughts to question God’s Truth. Or maybe it’s little lies that someone says to you that makes you question your worth. Maybe it’s the comment of a boss who tells you they wanted someone else in your position. Maybe it’s the comment from a person you thought was a friend. Maybe it’s your own thoughts of hopelessness and depression because of a situation you’re simply trying to endure.
This is what satan does… he comes to us in ways we aren’t expecting and whispers lies into our ears… ”It doesn’t really matter…” “You’re not good enough…” “It’s just one time…” “You’re not smart enough…” “What does it matter if nobody finds out…” “God’s Word isn’t true…” “It’s just one time…” “God can’t comfort you…”
Satan is subtle like that. He’s not going to come stand in front of us dressed in red with a pitchfork yelling. He’s going to be dressed as something that looks good on the surface as he whispers lies into your ears to make you question everything. It’s what he does. He did it with Eve. And he’ll do it with us. Satan wants to get us to the place where we say to God, “You might be the author of my life, but You’re not the authority in my life.” Because satan knows…
What we allow to carry weight in our life has the power to change us.
Maybe you’re at your own crossroads right now… A fork in the road. Adam and Eve allowed satan’s words to carry weight, and they not only changed their whole life for the worse… They changed the whole creation for the worse so much so that we’re still feeling and operating in a world that was changed because Adam and Eve allowed someone else’s words other than God’s to carry weight.
There is great news though. If you’ve allowed satan’s lies to carry weight in your life and you feel stuck, there’s hope. If you’re reading this right now, you still have the chance to be changed by the weight and power of Jesus and the Word of God. There’s only one person who can cause you to overcome the lies, it’s Jesus. There’s only one book that can change us from the inside out, it’s the Bible. If you find yourself in the same place as Adam and Eve, there’s hope for you today. If we give weight to God’s Word, they’ll change us for the better AND we’ll find hope and peace and life… we’ll be transformed by the power of Jesus.
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. – Romans 15:13
Bigger Than We Could Ever Know
I don’t know about you, but when I was growing up I had a number of fears. Some of those fears would come alive at night, after mom put me to bed. There’s just something about nighttime, the dark, that would open and consume my mind with fear. Once the lights went out, fear would creep into my mind and I’d start to wonder what horrible person was under my bed. And then I’d look across my room and notice my closet door was open. So, as slowly and as quietly as I could, I’d pull back my sheets, silently stand on my bed and jump as far as I could toward my bedroom door landing as quietly as I could. Then I’d run for my life downstairs to where my parents were and tell them I was afraid of who was under my bed and in my closet.
During the daytime, I had no fear of who was under my bed or in my closet. But once the night came, it was a different story. I know now that it was an irrational fear. But as a little boy, that fear overcame me on multiple nights causing me to run for my life.
You know, there’s someone in the Bible who was overcome with fear and ran for his life as well. Check this out, it’s found in 1 Kings 19, verse 3:
“Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…” 1 Kings 19:3a
If you’re like me and this is all you read or all you hear, you’re saying to yourself, “Why did he run for his life? Why was he afraid?” Surely he was being chased by some wild animal. Or maybe he was fleeing hundreds of troops from an army out to kill him. But it wasn’t for either of those reasons. Check this out… He was running because of a threat from a woman! Check this out:
“Now Ahab (the king) told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 1 Kings 19:1, 2
And so Elijah, upon hearing this, became overwhelmed with fear and ran for his life. But it’s interesting to me that, one chapter before in chapter 18, we see the courage of Elijah. In chapter 18 he wasn’t afraid of Jezebel. He knew that Jezebel, who happened to be the king’s wife, was killing off the Lord’s prophets… people like Elijah. And what did he do in response? He summoned the king, Ahab, and confronted him.
“When he (king Ahab) saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 1 Kings 18:17-19
You see, the very prophets of Baal that Elijah was calling out, were Jezebel’s very prophets. She installed the very prophets whom Elijah was calling out. And so the king sent word throughout all of Israel and assembled the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. And through his faith in the Lord, Elijah called out to the people saying if the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him. And then, Elijah set the challenge…
It was a simple challenge. He told the prophets of Baal to choose a bull, cut it into pieces and put it on wood but don’t set fire to it. Then Elijah would take the other bull and do the same. Once each bull was prepared, cut into pieces and placed on wood, Elijah told the Baals to call on the name of their god and then Elijah would call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by sending fire is the true God.
The prophets of Baal called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “O Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response. No answer. No fire. And they began to dance around the alter they made. At noon, Elijah began to taunt them… all 450 prophets of Baal. “Shout louder he said. Surely he’s just deep in thought, busy or traveling.” The prophets of Baal kept shouting and even began to cut themselves. They did this until evening.
At this point, Elijah was like, “Enough,” and called everyone over to him. He repaired the alter of the Lord that was in ruins, chose twelve stones and built an alter with them. He arranged the wood and placed the bull on the alter. Then, he instructed the people to fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and wood. They did this three times! How many of you know that if something is soaked with water that it’s pretty impossible to light it on fire!? And then Elijah prayed to the Lord and the fire from Heaven fell and burned up the sacrifice, to wood, the stones, the soil and sucked up all of the water that was in the trench! Then when the people saw this, they fell on their faces and cried, “The Lord - He is God!” And then Elijah instructed the people to seize the prophets of Baal, and had them brought down to the valley and killed there.
450 prophets of Baal. The prophets that Jezebel herself had picked. He stood up to them. Made them look like fools. And then had the enemies of God killed. All without flinching. In one moment, he stood tall… strong… courageously. And in the next instant, we find Elijah running for his life in the desert praying that he might die. Check this out:
“…while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.” 1 Kings 19:4, 5
Four words. “I have had enough.” He wanted to give up so bad that he wanted to just die. Emotionally tired. Physically drained. He preferred to give up and die. Just a short time ago he was facing down 450 prophets of Baal. And now, for whatever reason, he was running in fear, wanting to give up and die. Maybe you can relate. Maybe that’s you right now. You’re tired. Exhausted. And you’re saying to God, “I have had enough!” But God had a different plan for Elijah, and God has a different plan for you.
And so, the Angel of the Lord woke Elijah up twice to eat and drink. And after the second time, Elijah traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. Once he reached Horeb, he went inside a cave where he spent the night.
It’s on the road of misery where God often meets us. In the middle of our fear and running… there God is right in front of us asking us this question like He asks Elijah in verse nine:
“And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9
God didn’t have to hear Elijah to know the answer. Just like when God asked Adam and Eve where they were in the garden. He knew where they were. And He knew why Elijah was spending the night in a cave. The question wasn’t for God. The question was for Elijah. It was so that Elijah could hear his answer out loud to himself. Sometimes God asks us questions that He knows the answers to so that we can gain His perspective on the answers we give when we hear them out loud.
And then Elijah replied in verse 10,
“I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 1 Kings 19:10
All alone and on the run, Elijah thought he was the only prophet of the Lord left. And just like Elijah, in our trouble, in our despair, in our thoughts, we can often feel like we’re all alone… That there’s no one left to walk with us through our fears and path were on. But check out God’s response.
“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13
You see, God wasn’t in the great and powerful wind. God wasn’t in the earthquake. God wasn’t even in the fire. It was in the gentle whisper that God chose to be in. I would have expected God to be in the mighty things. The powerful things. But God wasn’t in any of those things. He was in the unexpected. He was in something Elijah had to be quiet enough to hear… a gentle whisper… something unexpected. Many times when we’re going through pain and fear and we feel all alone, God shows up in the unexpected moments. Moments where we need to be quiet enough to hear or see Him. What’s true in Elijah’s life, is true in our life as well.
And then God asked the question again… “What are you doing here?” Elijah had the same response. And then we come to verses 15 through 18 where God says something unexpected. Check this out:
“The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” 1 Kings 19:15-18
Go back the way you came!? What!? No, no, no. I can’t go back the way I came. Don’t you understand… pain and fear and despair are back that way. Hurt and conflict and uncertainty are back that way. I can’t go back that way God! But God says, “I know.” “But if you go back the way you came, I’ve got a different plan for you.” You see, for Elijah, God was up to something bigger than Elijah could ever have imagined. And what’s true for Elijah, is true for us…
God is always up to something bigger than we could ever know.
You see, God had a plan for Elijah. God told Elijah to anoint Hazael king over Aram. He told Elijah to anoint Jehu king over Israel. And he told Elijah to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. Then, as a result, these three men would see to it that anyone who seeks to harm Elijah. And God had one more thing for Elijah… He was like, “Remember when you told me you are all alone? Ya, you’re not. You’ve got seven thousand friends in Israel who haven’t bowed down to the false god, Baal.”
God is always up to something bigger than we could ever know. And in God’s timing, He will reveal His plan to us. You see, when you’re on the run… running for your life… running from your pain and despair… you can’t fulfill the calling and mission God has on your life. You’re running for your life when instead you’re meant to live your life. So instead of running for or from your life, run to God because He is always up to something bigger than we could ever imagine. We just have to quiet ourselves enough to be able to hear and see God’s plan.
Pushed Into the Deep End
As I was growing up, I never really learned how to swim. Sure, our mom would take us places to “swim” like Potato Creek State Park. But my idea of “swimming” was me laying face first in the water, kicking my feet while I moved my body by walking my hands on the bottom of the lake. If you measured swimming by that method, I was an Olympian.
By the time I reached the end of the eighth grade, I still hadn’t learned how to swim. But that didn’t stop me from going to the eighth grade graduation pool party I was invited to. I wasn’t really nervous about going because I had planned on hanging out on the deck around the pool and chilling in the shallow end. After being dropped off, I walked around to the backyard saying hi to everyone with my towel draped over my neck and shoulders. As I was getting ready to take my shoes off and say hi to the next person, I noticed them flinch and back away from me quickly. And in the next instant, I found myself falling into the deep end of the pool.
I went straight to the bottom and then pushed myself up to the top and tried to yell for help. But before I could get the words out, I found myself back under water. I started to kick and reach up to the surface of the water and barely raised my face out to get a little bit more air before I went back under. As I went back under, I noticed another kid coming towards me and I frantically reached out for him, yelled, “help me” with a mouth full of water, grabbed his arm and brought my face out of the water. I don’t think about this that often, but there hasn’t been another time where I’ve been that close to death. Had that kid not been there for me to reach out to save me, I’m not sure how this story would have turned out.
The Bible is filled with stories of people being saved and/or healed. One of them that I want to talk about briefly is found in Matthew chapter 14, verse 30. Check it out:
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30
You see, just before Peter got out of the boat to walk on water, Jesus had sent His disciples ahead of him to go across the lake. And while the disciples were on the water in the boat, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. And when the disciples saw this, they were terrified. But Jesus said, “Hey, it’s Me! Don’t be afraid.” But Peter was like, “If it’s really you Jesus, then tell me to come out to You on the water.” And then Jesus was like, “Fine. Come.” So, Peter stepped out of the boat and started to walk on water towards Jesus. But as he was walking, he started to look at the wind picking up, took his eyes off of Jesus and started to sink.
And this is where we find Peter in Matthew 14, verse 30. Sinking in a huge lake, crying out to Jesus to save him. I wonder what it really looked like back then. I wonder if Peter started to flail his arms around. I wonder if when he yelled for Jesus to save him if he had a mouth full of water like I did. And like we find Peter here in Matthew 14, I wonder if this is the exact place you find yourself in too. You may not be on a literal lake, but you find yourself sinking in life… in the grave of your own sin. And you’ve heard of this Jesus who saves, but you’ve never reached out to Him yourself. Reach out to Him today and ask Him to save you from your sin… your doubt… from yourself. And He will be faithful to forgive you and save you. 1 John 1:9 says,
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
You see, Jesus asked Peter to come out to Him, not only that Peter might walk on water so that He would know the power of Jesus, but that Peter would also know his own weakness. God often lets His followers have our choice, to humble us and to show us the greatness of His power and grace. When we look away from Jesus and look at the greatness of our difficulties and circumstances, then we too will begin to sink in our despair. But when we call on Jesus, He will be faithful to stretch out His hand to hold us up. I don’t know what’s going on in your life today, believer. But I do know this, when we keep our eyes on Jesus, read His Word and pray to Him daily, His grace and peace and mercy will overflow within our life. That’s His promise to us who believe in Jesus and have been saved by Him.
Jesus is the great Savior. For those of us finding ourselves sinking in the deep end, if we cry out to Him to save us in our deep sense of need, He will be faithful to pull us up out of the deep to Him.
**If you prayed and accepted Jesus as your Savior today, or if you recommitted your life to Him, I’d love for you to shoot me an email or a direct message on one of my social channels to hear about your decision and to help walk you through your next steps.
Worship is Greater Than War
Paintball.
I remember the first time I played. Myself and a few of the guys I worked with got a group together and headed out to this massive outdoor paintball complex. Once there, we selected our guns, bought enough paint to last for a few hours and got our gear on. After meeting some other random guys that were there to play, it was time to go to war.
The first course we played was within a mini city made out of plywood. It. Was. Awesome. Well, it was awesome walking through and seeing how massive this place was. But once the whistle blew and the paint began to fly, the sound of how hard it was hitting the outside of the walls of my “second story” position made me rethink my decision of playing. And then it happened… My friend I was positioned with took three shots to the face region right in front of me. The first shot hit him on the region of his mask. But his mask had five slits in it over his mouth so that it wouldn’t fog up. That was great for his breathing. But when the paintball made impact, it splattered all over the inside of his mouth. As he tasted the paintball, it caused him to turn his head at which point the second and third shots hit him on his neck. As he grabbed his neck he yelled out, “I’m hit!” It was like a scene in a movie.
As this dude walked by me to leave the field of play, I could see two massive welts left by the impact of the paintballs on his neck. And as I climbed down the ladder to the first story, I grabbed my other friend who was with me, told him “Nick was gone” and it was just us, and let him know we had to get out of there. Now, as we were exiting where we were at, I made sure he was out in front of me as we moved from building to building… I mean, he was much larger than I was and a better shot. Eventually we were both overrun and taken out. In fact, our entire team of 16 year olds were systematically shot so quickly that I’m sure we were playing against a team who I’m sure could have gone pro. It didn’t matter what we did, who we decided to put out in front of us to try to stop them, each game we played against them they destroyed us as we tried to do battle. They ran straight through us each and every time.
War. It’s something we see talked about in the Bible as well. But the war we read about has much greater consequences than what I experienced in my small paintball war as a sixteen year old. Check this out:
Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. - 2 Chronicles 20:2
And then King Jehoshaphat said to God,
Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. And all of the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord. - 2 Chronicles 20:12-13
Can you imagine standing there? Your wife. Your children. Standing next to you. Knowing that an enormous army was on their way to destroy you and your family. And as they stood there, they waited for God to answer them. And as God answered them through Jahaziel who told them not to be afraid. In fact, he said that the battle wasn’t theirs, it was God’s. He told them that they wouldn’t even have to fight this battle…
‘“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’” - 2 Chronicles 20:17
And so, early in the morning they left to head out to the battle field. And Jehoshaphat said, “Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)
And after consulting with the people, Jehoshaphat developed a plan. And what was the grand battle plan? Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise Him for His holiness and he placed them at the head of their army as they went out to meet the enemy that was coming to destroy them! What!? I’m sure General Patton wouldn’t have approved! But that’s ok. Because King Jehoshaphat knew that…
Worship is greater than war.
Jehoshaphat knew that worship is a weapon that the Lord uses to fight for us. You see, Jehoshaphat was faced with what seemed like an impossible battle. And in the face of what seemed like complete destruction, we see him seek the Lord in prayer and confess his complete powerlessness to do anything. And God responded to him through Jahaziel telling him, “the battle is His, do not be afraid, stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.” And Jehoshaphat and the people responded by worshipping the Lord. And then drawing courage from the Lord, and in their trust and obedience to the Lord, they went out to battle with praise and worship on the front lines.
You and I may not fight the same type of war that Jehoshaphat faced. But we all will come face to face with our own battles. And the Lord wants each of us to know that worship is greater than war. Worship is greater than the battles we face. And it’s through our worship that God fights for us.
You see, it is not up to us to slay the giants, to move the mountains, or even to part the waters. It is not up to us to fight our battles alone and defeat the enemy by ourselves. We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. And to worship Him alone. When we do this, He promises that He will be with us and fight our battles for us. Whether it is doubt or depression. Fear or failure. Whether it is rejection, frustration, anxiety or insecurity. In the waiting, the wondering, and even the reality, God wants to show us His power, His grace, His faithfulness, and His love throughout every season we face. And He wants us to know that worship is greater than the battles we face… He wants us to know that worship is a weapon that the Lord uses to fight for us.
And when we worship the Lord, a few things happen inside us. First, We remember who God is, what He has accomplished through Jesus. And when we are reminded who God is and what He has accomplished through Jesus, we’re comforted by the Spirit of God whom Jesus gave us when we trusted Him as our Savior. Second, What we know to be true in our minds flows into our hearts, and we’re able to engage the Lord with both our heads and our hearts. It’s not based on feelings, but coming into agreement with God at both a head and heart level. And third, “Spiritual power is released and we find peace and rest from oppression from the enemy.” - Matt Chandler
Worship is one of the greatest weapons against the battles we face. When we worship, God fights for us and prevents the enemy’s attempt to take over our hearts and minds. And we’re able to focus on our relationship with God and His love for us and deflect the attack of the enemy.
Worship is greater than war. It’s greater than the battles we face. And when we see people worshipping, especially in their time of need, we are physically seeing God fighting for them. And when we worship the Lord, we are worshipping the God who fights for us.