Thursday Thought – December 31, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching, and the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people. Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.” (Luke 22:1-6)

I am appalled at the depth of human sin and blindness.

The chief priests and teachers were the premiere leaders of Israel. They were the spiritual leaders. They should have been the most spiritually sensitive men in the world. Yet, they either realized that Jesus was the Messiah and rejected Him because He would interfere with their power and privilege or they were blind to the reality of who Jesus was. Either way, it is appalling that they would not just reject Jesus but intentionally seek to get rid of Him.

Judas was one of the twelve closest followers of Jesus. He had lived with Jesus for years. He heard Jesus teach. He watched Jesus work miracles. He knew who Jesus was; there could be no denying that. Yet Judas betrayed Jesus for money.

Was Judas so greedy that the money he received was worth betraying the Messiah? Perhaps he thought he needed to help Jesus show Himself as King – surely if Jesus was arrested and threatened He would reveal His power and take His rightful place as king. Whatever the reasons they were about Judas’ sin or his blindness. That’s appalling from someone so close to Jesus.

Yet, I look around me and see the depth of human sin and blindness in people today. I can even look into the church and see men and women making decisions that are clearly wrong and sinful. Is it intentional sin or blindness? I am appalled.

I wonder what sin God sees in my life and what blindness. I desperately need His patience and His grace.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – December 30, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

In Luke 21, Jesus talks with His disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. It is a hard passage to decipher. It is hard to tell when Jesus is talking about the destruction of Jerusalem and when it is about the end of the age.

“The time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” (Luke 21:6) What Jesus predicted came to pass with precision when in 70 AD the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem and the very stones of the temple were thrown down.

“When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away." (Luke 21:9) Wars and revolutions will happen, but they won’t be signs that the end of the age has come.

“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:11) Earthquakes, famines, pestilences, signs on earth and in heaven – terrible things will happen in this world.

Persecution will happen to those who follow Jesus. In a strange twist, in one verse Jesus says, “They will put some of you to death.” (Luke 21:16) Two verses later, “Not a hair of your head will perish.” (Luke 21:18) Physical death will occur, sometimes because we are followers of Jesus, but our lives, our real lives, will never even be touched.

“Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24) You can trace the history of Jerusalem and recognize the clear fulfillment of that prophetic word. Jerusalem has always been in turmoil and never have the Jews lived in peace there – not since before Jesus – and not till God declares that the day of the Gentiles is over.

So many confusing prophecies and pictures. Troubling times seem the norm, not the exception. History testifies to the truth of that picture. The earth has lived in turmoil for thousands of years.

So what? “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life.” (Luke 21:34) “Be always on the watch.” (Luke 21:36)

Those bits of wisdom from Jesus provide the bottom line for all of us as we wait the fulfillment of the confusing prophecies about the end of the age: be careful to follow the Lord and be watchful for His coming.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – December 29, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 'I tell you the truth,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" (Luke 21:1-4)

It's not about the size of the gift that is given to God, but about the heart attitude with which it is given.

The rich gave to the temple treasury out of their abundance. They wouldn't even miss what they gave. It really cost them nothing. The reason many of them gave was not out of a desire to help, but out of a desire to be seen by others. They wanted others to know they were wealthy and could give large gifts. They wanted others to know they were generous and applaud their large gifts. Many gave out of their desire for the praise and respect of other men.

The widow gave out of her poverty. She put in very little, but it was all she had. She held nothing back from God. She gave all that she had to live on. It was an act of great faith on her part. She was trusting God to provide for her. She certainly did not give so others would see her gift and be impressed. Those who noticed her gift would have laughed at it because it was so small. Her gift identified her as poor. Her gift would not do much to provide for the needs of the temple. But God was very pleased with her gift, because it came out of her sacrifice and out of a heart that loved God and wanted to give Him what she could.

It wasn't the size of the gift that mattered that day, it was the attitude of the heart that mattered to God. That's still true today. Gifts that count with God are gifts that come out of sacrifice and are given out of a heart that loves Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – December 28, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.’” (Luke 20:45-47)

The work of God is never about honor and reward for the one doing it. That’s what the teachers of the law in Jesus’ day were after. Perhaps their service to the Lord started out of pure hearts and right motivations, but it deteriorated into something they were doing for what they got out of it. They enjoyed the praise they received from others. They enjoyed the special honors that fell to them. They loved to walk into rooms and be noticed. They loved to be seated in the best places. They were hoping God was watching, too, and would notice their service and reward them for what they did. It was about them and about what they got out of what they did.

The work of God is always to be about God. It’s about God’s message. It’s about God’s will. It’s about God’s honor. It’s about accruing praise to Him and lifting His name before others.

As we do the work God has called us to do – no matter what that work is – our role is to be His servants and deflect all praise to Him.

I wonder what caused the teachers of the law to lose their focus on the Lord. I wonder how many of us fall at times into that same trap.

The focus is always to be on God – and not on us.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – December 25, 2011

Good Morning Friends,

Gabriel visited Mary with this message, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was troubled by Gabriel’s greeting and then Gabriel continued, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Mary wondered how what the angel said would be accomplished and so the angel continued, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ... For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:28-37)

What an assignment God was giving to this young woman. She was being asked to carry God’s Child. She was being asked to set aside her reputation, put at risk her relationship with Joseph, and walk into an assignment that no one had ever been given before or would ever be given again. How would she respond?

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered, “May it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

She willingly and fully submitted to God’s plan and God’s will.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, too. The angel’s message to Joseph confirmed the story that Mary had told him about what Gabriel had said to her. How would Joseph respond?

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” (Matthew 1:24)

He willingly and fully submitted to God’s plan and God’s will.

It’s Christmas and we are celebrating God’s great Gift to the world in sending Jesus. Let’s respond in the same way Joseph and Mary did to the first Christmas. Let’s willingly and fully submit to God’s plan and God’s will.

Have a Merry Christmas,

Steve

Thursday Thought – December 24, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus replied, ‘People of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.’” (Luke 20:34-36)

The life we live in eternity will be different in many ways from our life in this age. Jesus mentions a couple of those differences.

There won’t be any marriage. That seems strange because marriage is such an integral part to life here. Having a partner in life makes life more enjoyable and satisfying. How can life in eternity be satisfying without the kind of partner that marriage brings? Perhaps that is the point. A professor I had in college used to tell us that it wasn’t that his relationship with his wife would be worse and less close in heaven than it was on earth, but that the relationships he enjoyed with the multitudes in heaven would rise to a new level of closeness. Perhaps the best of marriage is only a glimpse of the kind of close relationship we’ll have with everyone in eternity.

We really don’t know what the relationships in heaven will be like, but can rest assured that the best of earth is only a small glimpse of eternity.

One more difference that Jesus mentioned – there will be no death in eternity. I know of nothing that casts a darker shadow on life here than death. The prospect of our own approaching death brings anxiety to most and fear to many. The deaths of those we love, even when they are expected and come at the end of a long life, still bring deep grief. The unexpected deaths of those whose lives are cut short rip at the very fabric of our emotions.

What a joy to consider a place and a time where the shadow of death will no longer hang over us – that’s eternity – that’s heaven.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – December 23, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the governor. So the spies questioned him: ‘Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ He saw through their duplicity and said, ‘Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?’ ‘Caesar's,’ they replied. He said to them, ‘Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.’ They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. Astonished by his answer, they became silent.” (Luke 20:20-26)

There are multiple things in this short passage that are worth talking about.

There is the deceptive scheming and hateful opposition of the priests and teachers of the law. They weren’t out front in their opposition. They schemed and spied trying to trick and trap Jesus. These were supposed to be men of God, but they acted in such ungodly ways.

There is the incredible discernment and deep wisdom of Jesus. He saw through the schemes and defused them. He offered an answer to the question that was posed by His enemies. Although the question was meant to trap Him, He answered it with a straightforward and honest answer that showed such wisdom that not even His enemies could argue with it.

There is the principle found in the answer itself. Jesus provided a fundamental principle about life – we give to authority what is rightfully due them and we withhold those things that are not rightfully due. God is due our ultimate allegiance and unquestioning obedience. Government is due its imposed taxes that provide for the services they give. Other authorities are due other things.

Do you see the incredible wisdom of Jesus? Are you honoring Him for that wisdom? Are you submitting to His wisdom?

Are you giving to God what is rightfully due to Him?

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – December 22, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Jesus looked directly at them and asked, 'Then what is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.'" (Luke 20:17-18)

The leaders of the Jewish people, the Pharisees, Sadducees and chief priests, rejected Jesus. He did not fit their projection of what the Messiah would be like. Or, perhaps they were happy with the way things were and didn't really want a Messiah! For whatever reason, they rejected Jesus. In doing so they thought they were in control and that their actions were hurting Jesus. They failed to understand that they were really hurting themselves, and only themselves. In rejecting Jesus they were being crushed and broken themselves.

Ever since that time many people have followed their example. They have rejected Jesus because He doesn't fit what they want in a god or because they don't want anyone, even God, telling them how to live their lives. In rejecting Jesus, most people believe they are gaining freedom. They don't understand that they are not gaining freedom, but are being crushed and broken themselves. They reject Jesus to their own hurt, and they don't even realize it until it is too late.

Jesus presents Himself to us and offers us the opportunity to become part of His family, to enter into a personal relationship with Him. The offer is not for Jesus' good, but our own.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – December 21, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“As he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. ‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,’ they said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’ He replied, ‘I will also ask you a question. Tell me, John's baptism -- was it from heaven, or from men?’ They discussed it among themselves and said, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will ask, “Why didn't you believe him?” But if we say, “From men,” all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.’ So they answered, ‘We don't know where it was from.’ Jesus said, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’” (Luke 20:1-8)

Jesus taught as one who had authority. (Matthew 7:29)

Jesus declared that He had the authority to forgive sins. (Matthew 9:6)

Jesus gave authority to His apostles to drive out demons. (Matthew 10:1)

Jesus said that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. (Matthew 28:18)

Where did all of that authority come from? Jesus gave that answer, too. “Father, you granted your Son authority that he might give eternal life.” (John 17:2) It was the Father who gave Jesus His authority.

The Father gave Jesus authority to teach so that everything Jesus said is binding on us. The Father gave Jesus authority to heal, forgive and do other miraculous things that were outside the scope of what is natural and normal. The Father gave Jesus the right to pass on authority to His followers. The Father gave Jesus all authority. The Father gave Jesus the authority to grant salvation to those who come to Him.

There are those in the world – many – who are fine with God, but question who Jesus is and question whether Jesus has a place that deserves and demands submission. That question has been answered by the Father – He is the One who has placed Jesus in the position of authority and honor and glory. To deny Jesus His place is to deny the Father.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – December 18, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer'; but you have made it “a den of robbers.”’ Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.” (Luke 19:45-48)

In Jesus’ day, the Jewish leaders had allowed the temple to become a place of business – even corrupt business. They profited from the extortion they allowed with vendors charging unfair prices for the sacrificial animals and huge exchange rates for changing the common coins into coins acceptable to pay the temple tax. The temple was no longer focused on the worship of God; greed had infiltrated and corrupted it.

Not much is sold in places of worship today and very little of what is sold is done so at corrupted prices. Generally, what is sold in places of worship is focused on providing ministry and help to people at reduced cost, not at extortionary rates. It doesn’t seem like such things as that would have upset Jesus so.

But I wonder are there ways in which we use our places of worship today for things which are not right? Would that be true if we were using our places of worship as venues to say what people want to hear instead of preaching that is faithful to the message of God? Would that be true if our worship assemblies were more about their entertainment value than about an honest focus on the Lord? Perhaps another way we could misuse our places of worship is to focus them on own needs instead of a focus on God? Perhaps you can think of other ways it is possible to misuse our places of worship today.

The point is that when we gather our focus should be on the Lord – on what He says – on what He desires – on His honor and glory.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – December 17, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace -- but now it is hidden from your eyes.'" (Luke 19:41-42)

Jesus expressed a similar sentiment about the people of Jerusalem a little earlier in His life, recorded in Matthew's Gospel, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." (Matthew 23:37)

The Jews, His own people, largely rejected Jesus. That's especially true of the people of Jerusalem, the educated, religious leaders of His day. They saw what Jesus did and could not explain it. They heard what He taught and could not refute it. Still, they could not or would not believe. To believe in Jesus would have meant to leave behind their positions and privileges and all that they had given their lives to. That would have cost too much, they enjoyed their lives too much to see them so radically changed.

It is so easy to get caught up in doing life the way we've always done life and miss what God is saying and doing around us and wants to do in us. We get comfortable with life the way we know it, and that’s true even if our lives have problems. It is easier to keep walking the same familiar road than to make a U-turn and take a new path.

Jesus offered peace to the people of Jerusalem. He offered to take them in under His protection. They weren’t willing to leave what they knew behind, even for what Jesus offered!

I don't ever want to become so deaf that I fail to hear God's voice. I don’t want to be so blind that I fail to see the new places He wants to take me. I don’t want to be so comfortable that I’m unwilling to follow the Lord.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – December 16, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying, 'Go to the village, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'' Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, 'Why are you untying the colt?' They replied, 'The Lord needs it.' They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it." (Luke 19:29-35)

I marvel at the colt’s owner. They had something that Jesus needed and Jesus sent His disciples to get it. The disciples didn't ask before they began to take it. They just started to untie the colt so they could bring it to Jesus as He told them to. When the owners questioned what the disciples were doing they simply said, "the Lord needs it." That was enough for the owners. They let the colt be taken without further question. There was no promise that the colt would be returned. There was no explanation of why the colt was needed. There was simply the statement that it was needed by the Lord and that was enough.

I don't own any colts, but I do have a lot of other stuff that I consider mine. I have a house, cars, clothes, money, time and talents. They all belong to me. I own them. I determine how they will be used and what will be done with them. I wonder how I would respond if the Lord sent someone to say He had need of them. I wonder how I do respond to that kind of statement, because I'm convinced that there are times when the Lord does call for me to relinquish what is mine and use it for Him. Am I like the owners of the colt, gladly willing to let go of what is mine, without questions, when the Lord lets me know He needs it?

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – December 15, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.' His subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' He was made king, however, and returned home. He sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what they had gained with it. The first said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'” (Luke 19:12-17)

Jesus is the man of noble birth who went away to be declared king.

Not everyone is happy that Jesus is king. Some have tried to do everything they could to keep that from happening. They rejected Him on earth and killed Him. Despite their efforts to disrupt the plan to make Jesus king, He was still made king. God declared Him so in the resurrection and promised a day when Jesus will return as King.

When He returns it will be for judgment. Those who have rejected Him as king will be punished. Even those who avow their allegiance to Jesus will be judged. Jesus will be looking to see if their allegiance is genuine or not. The mark of genuine allegiance will not be how much work a person has done for Him. Each person will accomplish different things and different amounts. People won’t be judged by how much they have accomplished, but by their faithfulness, their willingness to follow Jesus as His servants.

Jesus has entrusted to us are such little things … talents, time and material resources.

How we handle these few resources with which He has entrusted us here – whether or not we are faithful in following Him with these few things – that’s what He’ll be looking at when we stand before Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – December 14, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a “sinner.”’ Zacchaeus stood up and said, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’ Jesus said, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.’” (Luke 19:1-10)

Why did Jesus come to earth?

Jesus provided the clear answer Himself. He came to seek and save the lost. That was the purpose of Jesus’ coming. It was the goal of God’s decision to send Him. Zacchaeus provides a great example of Jesus fulfilling His purpose.

Zacchaeus was lost. His sinful ways were obvious. He had cheated people as a tax collector. He had become a puppet of the Roman government that was oppressing the people of Israel. The truth is, though the sins of some are less obvious, all of us are sinners just like Zacchaeus. We are all lost.

Jesus sought Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus didn’t ask Jesus how to be saved. He didn’t invite Jesus to come to his home. Jesus invited Himself. Jesus did the seeking. Zacchaeus probably felt too unworthy to invite Jesus to his home, too unworthy to be saved. The truth is that none of us comes to Jesus at our own initiation either. Jesus seeks us – He seeks us all.

When Zacchaeus was found his life changed. Jesus didn’t have to require it – it was the natural response to what Jesus was doing in Zacchaeus’s life. He became generous. He repented of his cheating. Zacchaeus changed because of Jesus. The same thing happens to every person that comes to Jesus – our lives change. Change is the natural response to what Jesus does for us.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – December 11, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.” (Luke 18:35-43)

This man’s need was obvious – he was blind. His blindness reduced him to begging to sustain his life. Anyone could easily discern what the man’s need was – he needed to see.

Why did Jesus ask, “What do you want me to for you?” Jesus operated with supernatural discernment. He knew what was happening in people’s lives even when they were not near Him. He knew what people were thinking. But He couldn’t even figure out the obvious need of the blind man.

Why did Jesus ask His question? Not very beggar wants to be healed. Begging is what they know and are comfortable with, perhaps the only way they’ve ever made a living. Jesus was asking the man to be sure he knew what he really wanted.

Jesus wanted to draw attention to what He was about to do – heal the man. Taking the time to ask the question would have gathered the crowd around the blind man. More people would see the miracle and praise God.

Jesus wanted the man to ask for what he wanted. Jesus wanted the man to spell it out to focus the man’s mind and heart on what he really needed.

Are you sure you really want what you are asking of God? Are you asking for your own benefit, or are you truly interested in bringing praise to God? Have you taken the time to focus your mind and heart so that you can ask God specifically?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – December 10, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.’ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.” (Luke 18:31-34)

One phrase in this passage stands out for me: “The disciples did not understand any of this.”

That is a comforting phrase for me because there are many things in my life and in the world I do not understand. I don’t understand what God is trying to accomplish. I don’t understand how they show God’s love and compassion. I don’t understand how God is using them to build His children into the image of Jesus. I just plain don’t understand a lot of things.

I have a friend who had lympoma. I don’t understand the why of that.

I have another friend who has breast cancer. I don’t understand the why of that.

I have a friend who has ongoing health problems that defy explanation and treatment. I don’t understand the why of that.

I have friends who have lost spouses and children and parents to death. I don’t understand the whys of those things.

A tornado hit the city where I went to college – Joplin. It killed hundreds and did unimaginable damage. I don’t understand the why of that.

I could go on and on with my list. There are many things that I don’t understand. God hasn’t prevented any of them, perhaps in some way they are a part of His plan.

The earliest and closest followers of Jesus didn’t understand, either. Here’s something else that becomes evident as their lives unfolded – despite their not understanding, they trusted Jesus and kept following Him.

That’s my decision, too. There are many things I do not understand, but I choose to trust Jesus and keep following Him.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – December 9, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good — except God alone. You know the commandments: “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”’ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.’” (Luke 18:18-24)

This young man had several problems –

He thought he could earn eternal life. That was his question for Jesus. Jesus’ answer was that he couldn’t do anything to earn eternal life. If he would just have acknowledged that he was lost and unable to do anything about it, Jesus would have freely offered His grace.

He thought he was righteous. The young man declared that he had kept all the commandments since he was a boy. That’s self-delusion. No one has kept all those commandments – except Jesus. The young man didn’t realize he was guilty. Jesus was looking for an honest admission of guilt – but it never came. An honest admission of guilt is the first step toward salvation. The realization of our need comes before the acceptance of God’s solution.

He loved his money more than he loved God. It’s not that money is bad – it is often a gift from God. But nothing can be more important to us than God. God won’t take second place to anything.

Jesus was willing to save this young man! It’s just that He wasn’t willing to save the young man on his own terms. He could only come to God on God’s terms.

That’s true for us, too.

His, by Grace, Steve 

Tuesday Thought – December 8, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’" (Luke 18:15-17)

We sang a song at church when I was young: “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” It’s true. Jesus does love children – all children.

He loves them because they are so honest. When a child doesn’t like something it is fed there is no pretending that they like it. When a child is unhappy there is no faking happiness in order to keep the mood light. A child will honestly express what it is feeling.

Jesus loves honesty. You can see that in the Psalms. David expressed anger, frustration, disappointment, joy, passion, and every other imaginable emotion. He didn’t hold back. He honestly expressed what he was feeling. And God called David a man after His own heart.

He loves children because they trust. A child will allow his father to toss him into the air and he will laugh with delight. He isn’t afraid because he knows his father won’t hurt him. He trusts his father.

Jesus loves trust – He calls it faith. He says that without faith a person can’t please God. With faith a man is acceptable to God in spite of his sins.

God loves children – and He longs for children to be brought to Him. So, we should love children too – protect them, teach them, be role models for them, love them – and bring as many of them to Jesus as we can.

And God loves it when we develop the positive characteristics of a child in our own lives – honesty and trust are two of those characteristics.

His, By Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – December 7, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men -- robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'  But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.'" (Luke 18:9-14)

The principle is: those who are proud of their own righteousness are far from God and those who acknowledge their own sinfulness are closer to Him.

There isn't a man or woman who has ever lived (except Jesus) who could come to God on the basis of his or her own righteousness. Those who have tried are always turned away. It isn't until a person understands the depth of his own sin that he is ready to come to God. The truth is that the way to God is not to seek a reward for your righteousness, but to seek grace and mercy from Him.

The Pharisees thought they were okay with God, they considered themselves to be doing all they needed to do to please God. How wrong they were! No one can make that kind of claim.  All of us fall far short of the standards required to reach God on the basis of what we do.

The tax collector knew very well that he wasn't living up to God's standards. He knew his own sinfulness. The only hope he had was in God's forgiveness. That's the only hope any of us has!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought – December 4, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

What does God want from you more than anything else? According to Jesus’ statement above, He wants faith. Faith is what He will look for when Jesus comes again. Faith is what He will examine in your life when you stand before Him in judgment. Faith matters to God.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) You can have a life filled with religious ritual and that won’t be enough to please God. You can have perfect purity and that won’t be enough. You can work hard in your church, attend every service, give generously, and none of those things will be enough. Without faith, nothing is enough to please God.

“That which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.” (Philippians 3:9) A right standing before God comes by faith.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith.” (Ephesians 2:8) Salvation comes by faith.

Faith seems pretty important – vitally important – so it would be good to know what faith is.

Faith is not just knowledge of a set of facts. Faith is not just believing the right things, the true things about Jesus. Faith is more than those things.

To have faith is to trust in God. Trust has to be based on knowledge – so there are things that we are required to know in order to have faith – like that God exists, that God wants to have a relationship with us, that God did what was required for us to have a relationship with Him. Trust is also based on believing certain things – that Jesus really lived, that He gave His life for our sins, that He came back to live again in the resurrection by which God established that He has accepted His sacrifice.

But to trust also means that on basis of that knowledge we believe what God has said and follow Him. We surrender to Him because He has proven Himself trustworthy. We respond to Him.

When the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth? When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith in you?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – December 3, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

Have you ever wondered what the Second Coming of Jesus will be like? You aren’t the first one who has wondered. Jesus dealt with that question and He provided some hints about what it will be like and some advice about how to approach it.

“The Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. … Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot's wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.’” (Luke 17:24-34)

You won’t have wonder whether or not it has happened. It won’t be a secret coming. “Like the lightning, which flashes from one end to the other.”

People will be taken by surprise when He comes. “As in the days of Noah.”

Some will be ready and some will be left behind. “One will be taken and the other left.”

Therefore …

Give your life away to Him – don’t try to hold on to it. “Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” If you try to keep your life for yourself – doing what you want to do, living for yourself, following your will – when Jesus comes again you won’t be ready. If you give your life to Him, serve Him and His will – when He comes you will be ready.

The point is you don’t have to know when He is coming. You don’t have to make any special preparations as the day gets nearer. It’s all about having a right relationship with Him every day. Do that, and you are ready – whatever day He comes.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – December 2, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out, 'Jesus, Master, have pity on us!' When he saw them, he said, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him -- and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?'" (Luke 17:12-18)

Sometimes saying "thank you" is hard to remember. I'm sure all ten lepers were thankful. But they needed to get to the priest and be declared clean by him. That was required before they could reenter public life. They probably had wives and children, mothers and fathers, they wanted to see them. The things that occupied the attention of the nine lepers were not trivial things, they were really important things. It's not that they weren't thankful, they were just preoccupied with important things.

The one who came back to say thank had important things to do, too. He needed to get to the priest, too. He probably had a wife and children, a mother and father that he wanted to see. It wasn't that he didn't have anything better to do than go back to Jesus and say thank you -- it was that he considered saying thank you important enough to interrupt the other important things.

Most all of us know how important saying thank you is. Our mothers and fathers taught us that -- and most of us did it easily as children. But we're not children anymore. We don't have mothers and fathers to remind us. We don't have to follow their rules any longer. Saying thank you is easy to forget and easy to put off till a more convenient time. One considered it important enough to do right away -- and Jesus was pleased!

I think I'll try to remember to say thank you to the Lord more often!

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – December 1, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The beggar died and angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. He called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'” (Luke 16:22-26)

Death marks the end of choice. Until the very last moment of life, there is an opportunity to turn to the Lord in repentance and faith. God will accept anyone who turns to Him with an open and honest heart.

The moment after death all opportunity is passed and eternity is fixed.

The story of the rich and Lazarus is the story of two eternities.

For Lazarus, death marked union and comfort. He was taken into a union with those of faith and with the One in whom that faith is placed. Lazarus experienced pain and difficulty. Life was hard for him, as it is for many people. Life isn’t always fair and easy. Because Lazarus trusted God, eternity was comfort for him. God prepared a place for Lazarus and death ushered him into that place.

For the rich man, death marked separation and torment. Life had been easy for the rich man on earth. He received more than he earned and deserved. Though he was blessed, he did not use his blessings to provide for others, he spent them all on himself. There was no thought of God while the rich man was on earth. His failure to take advantage of the opportunity to turn to the Lord left him separated from the Lord in eternity.

The eternity of each man was fixed. There was a chasm that kept Lazarus safely at Abraham’s side. There was a chasm that kept the rich man eternally separated.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 30, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Luke 16:10-13)

Money makes a good servant, but a bad master. The trouble is that too many people allow money to be their master. They make decisions based upon how it will affect their money. Money becomes more important to some people than anything else -- more important than doing God's will, more important than people, even more important than God.

God calls us to have the right perspective on our money, to consider it a servant, a tool to be used to accomplish what God wants to accomplish with it. Money is a "very little" thing, it has no importance in the eternal scheme of things. It is given to us as a test of how we will manage the more important things that will come later, the "true riches" of eternity.

We are to consider the money we have as someone else's property. It belongs to the Lord and He has only entrusted its care to us. When we are caring for someone else's property we are to do with it what they want, not what we want.

So the questions are --

Is your money your master or your servant?

Are you passing the test with your money, showing yourself faithful in how you use it?

Are you using the money entrusted to you in the way its Owner desires, or do you consider it your own?

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 27, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. His father went and pleaded with him. He answered his father, 'All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. You never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. When this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" (Luke 15:28-32)

The story of the prodigal son ends with the encounter of the father with the older son. When the prodigal turned toward home the father ran to meet him. The father sought the prodigal and brought him back into a loving relationship. The prodigal was lost in his sin and the father sought him and brought him back.

The older son was lost, too. He was not lost in the same kinds of sin his younger brother was, but he was lost just the same. He was lost in the sin of pride, self-righteousness and duty. He wasn’t enjoying the loving relationship offered by his father. He was serving for what he hoped to get from it.

When the older son’s sins became evident, then the father sought him out, too. “So his father went out and pleaded with him.” The father didn’t just want the prodigal to come back into a loving relationship with him, that’s what he wanted for the older son, too. The father longed for both of his sons to be in a loving relationship with him and in a loving relationship with each other, too.

Apart from a relationship of love with our Father, we are all lost in sin. Some lost in sins similar to the prodigal and some lost in sins like those of the older son. Without a loving relationship with the Father we are all lost in sin.

The father longs for all of His children to be in a loving relationship with Him and in a loving relationship with each other, too.

His, by Grace, Steve 

Wednesday Thought – November 25, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Jesus said: 'There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. He went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.'" (Luke 15:11-16)

The parable of the prodigal son tells the story of what it's like to be lost. It's a story most of us are familiar with because it is our story. The world looks so inviting, especially when we are young. We feel confined by the things we've been taught about God's standards and we want out. We want to be free live like we want to live instead of being bound by things that seem only designed to take away our fun. Many of us left the Father's house and traveled down that road of what we thought was freedom.

Like the prodigal, we find that what looked like freedom and fun from a distance wasn't so free and wasn't so fun. In the end, we realized that life away from God was empty and miserable. That's what the son realized after he squandered his money. He found himself in deep need and in that need he turned back toward his father's house.

When you look at the lives of the people around you who do not know God their lives sometimes seem so good. They are free, they are having fun -- or so it seems. But remember your own story and the truth told by the prodigal -- the freedom and fun of the world are illusions that last only briefly and turn to the emptiness they really are. True freedom and satisfaction are found in only one place -- with the Father!

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 24, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus told this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.’” (Luke 15:3-7)

Using the criteria found in this parable are you able to call yourself a friend of God?

Friends of God care more about lost sheep than they do about their own needs. They give up their time and resources to celebrate the finding of a lost sheep. It’s not even their sheep. The sheep belongs to someone else. But they care so much about lost sheep, and the One whose sheep it is, that they celebrate when it is found. Do you celebrate when lost sheep are found?

Friends of God care more about lost sheep than they do about the sheep that are secure in the sheepfold. Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents more than over the ninety-nine who do not need to repent. Friends of God are willing to put the needs of the secure sheep aside in order to look for lost sheep. Even though there are far more secure sheep than there are lost sheep, finding the one lost sheep matters more than meeting the needs of the secure sheep. Do you care more about finding lost sheep or being sure the needs of the secure sheep are met?

Let’s bring that home even more. Do you care more about lost sheep being found than you do about your own needs being met? Are you willing to lay your needs aside in order for lost sheep to be sought after? Friends of God are willing to do that because they know how much lost sheep matter to God.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 23, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.’” (Luke 14:25-27)

Jesus was not interested in attracting crowds. He was interested in attracting followers. That’s what a disciple is – a person who follows someone else. A disciple of Jesus follows Jesus. Literally, a disciple is a learner. So a disciple of Jesus listens carefully to Jesus in order to do what He says. A disciple of Jesus watches Jesus closely in order to do what He does.

A disciple of Jesus is someone who focuses more on Jesus than on anyone else. A disciple of Jesus focuses on Him more than he focuses on his family. A disciple of Jesus focuses on Him more than he focuses on his own life – what is best for him and what he wants. Instead, a disciple of Jesus focuses on what is best for Jesus and what Jesus wants.

A disciple of Jesus is willing to sacrifice anything for Jesus. A disciple will sacrifice his time for Jesus. A disciple will sacrifice his energy for Jesus. A disciple will sacrifice his possessions and resources for Jesus. A disciple will sacrifice his talents for Jesus. A disciple will even sacrifice his life for Jesus if he is called upon to do so.

Jesus is looking for disciples. He longs for us to go into all the world to make disciples – not to gather crowds. He longs for each of us to be His disciples. He doesn’t just want us to be a part of His crowd – He wants us to be His followers – His students.

Are you just a part of Jesus’ crowd? Or – Are you His disciple?

His, by Grace, Steve