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 

Friday Thought – November 20, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Jesus replied: 'A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.' But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.' Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.' The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.''" (Luke 14:16-21)

There are many good things that keep people from following Jesus.

Sometimes people get busy with their career or business and can't take time for the Lord. Many of these people plan to make the Lord a part of their lives later in life, perhaps when they retire.

For others, family concerns and responsibilities keep them from following Jesus. There are so many responsibilities in raising a family. The house takes a lot of time to care for. It's important to have good and nutritious meals. The kids have more and more activities as they get older and their involvement in things helps them develop.

None of these are bad things, they are all good things, but they keep many people from following the Lord. They plan on having time later in their lives for spiritual things. It's not that spiritual things are unimportant to them, it's just not a good time for them.

Good things, important things, but are they worth endangering your eternity and the eternity of your family?

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – November 19, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, “Give this man your seat.” Humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. When you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place.” You will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.’” (Luke 14:7-11)

There is strong temptation to make sure we get what we think we deserve.

I think my position entitles me to the best parking place. I deserve the best seat at the game. No one should dare to sit in my chair in front of the TV. I want to be at the table at the front of the room. Let someone else sit by the restaurant kitchen – I should be in a quieter and better place.

It’s what I deserve. It’s what I’ve earned. It’s about respect. It’s about honor. It’s about my place in life.

In truth, it’s about pride!

Consider the place on earth Jesus deserved? Was coming into the world in the womb of a woman the kind of entrance He deserved? Was a stable the appropriate place for Him to be born? Was Nazareth a fitting place for Him to be raised? Should He have slept outside much of His life? Would a palace have provided accommodations more befitting who He is? Did He deserve the mocking – spitting – beating – execution? Was a cross the fit way for Him to die?

None of what Jesus got on earth was fitting for Him and who He is. What He deserved was the place He left in heaven – the glory that He knew in eternity past. What He accepted was a place of humility. He did that for us.

Are you following His footsteps to humility or walking in the pride that comes so naturally?

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 18, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“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! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Luke 13:34-35)

Can you sense Jesus’ heart in this passage?

He loved the people of Jerusalem. Now understand that these are the people who will kill Him. Jesus knew that. He knew what awaited Him in just a very short time. Yet knowing they would kill Him, Jesus still loved them.

That says a lot about the heart of Jesus for those who are lost. Jesus loves lost people. His heart breaks over their lost condition. He doesn’t look forward to the separation from Him that will result from their choice to reject Him. He weeps when He considers what fate awaits them in eternity.

Jesus considers lost people His children. He longs to sweep them under His protective wings like a hen does for her own chicks. That speaks of love and compassion. All people on earth are God’s children and He longs for all of them to be with Him in eternity.

The heart of Jesus is challenging to me because I have opened my own heart to Him with a desire for my heart to become like His heart. Yet I know that my heart often does not reflect the depth of love and concern for lost people that the heart of Jesus reflects.

Consider the way that many people responded when Bin Laden was killed – even many Christian people. There was rejoicing at his death. There was little weeping that he entered an eternity that broke God’s heart and should have broken ours. Was it justice?  Yes – but justice doesn’t bring God joy – it brings weeping instead.

Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 17, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’ He replied, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, “Sir, open the door for us.” But he will answer, “I don't know you or where you come from.”’” (Luke 13:22-25)

There are some troubling phrases in this teaching.

“Make effort to enter through the narrow door.” I thought it wasn’t by our efforts that we are saved, but only by the efforts of Jesus? What Jesus is speaking about here are not the efforts to earn our way to salvation. Rather, He is speaking of the effort involved in seeking God – in opening our heart to the Lord – in responding to God’s call on our lives. The work is all Jesus’ – accepting His work and responding to His invitation, that is ours.

“Many will try to enter and will not be able to.” Are there some who want to be saved and won’t be accepted? That’s sort of what it means. There are some who aren’t willing to come in the only way Jesus offers salvation. They want to come in a way of their own choosing. Some want to come on their merits. Some want to come through a means other than Jesus. Some want to redefine Jesus in a way that is more acceptable to them. Some only want heaven and want to exclude Jesus from their life on earth. Those are not ways Jesus will allow anyone to come, no matter how badly they want heaven.

The salvation Jesus offers isn’t just hell avoidance – it’s a life of following Him that opens to an eternity with Him. Those who don’t want to be with Him here won’t enjoy being with Him there, either.

No one who truly wants to know Jesus and is willing to allow Jesus to be Lord will be turned away. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 16, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"Jesus asked, 'What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.' Again he asked, 'What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.'" (Luke 13:18-21)

A mustard seed starts small and grows into a large plant, like a tree. God's kingdom is like that. The kingdom of God started with a handful of people and during Jesus' life it did not grow large. The biggest group that saw Jesus resurrected was only 500 people. After His ascension, there were only 120 gathered in the upper room. That's not a large group, the kingdom started small. It also started small in its geographical scope. The area in which Jesus lived and preached is not much bigger than the Willamette Valley of Oregon -- 90 miles or so north to south and 40 miles or so east to west. And it is an obscure area, tucked into a small corner of the world. The kingdom didn't start in Rome or Egypt or some other powerful and visible place, it started in a corner. But the kingdom has spread across the world. There is no place in the world that has not been touched with the Gospel. And the kingdom numbers into hundreds of millions. What started small has grown huge. What started tucked into a corner has spread around the world.

The kingdom of God is like yeast. Yeast makes up a very small part of the ingredients that are mixed to make bread. Yet, a small amount of yeast affects the whole batch of dough and causes it to change. So does the kingdom. It started a small amount, but it has impacted the whole world.

There are times when people think the church is so small and weak compared to the powerful forces of the secular world. Those people don't understand!

The church is everywhere and its influence is huge. It started very small, but now the world can't even contain it!

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 13, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, ‘There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.’ The Lord answered him, ‘You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?’ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.” (Luke 13:14-17)

Which do you think is more characteristic of God – loving action or strict legalism? If you said “strict legalism” then you would fit in well with the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and be far removed from the heart of God.

It’s not that God is unconcerned about His Law. God does want us to embrace His standard of right and wrong. But love trumps legalism. God said, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Hosea 6:6)

The Pharisees understood that principle when it came to the care of their animals. They would not deprive their ox or donkey of the water it needed on the Sabbath. They cared about their ox and donkey. But when it came to the needs of people – the strict Sabbath prohibitions took precedence.

Jesus healed a woman who had been crippled for eighteen years and the synagogue ruler chastised Him for His act of love. Jesus was expressing the heart of God for the woman – the ruler was far from God’s heart.

Sabbath prohibitions don’t bind many people anymore, but are there other ways we allow some aspect of strict legalism to get in the way of demonstrating love to others. Years ago one of the elders at the church I served was on his way to church one Sunday morning and didn’t get there. Instead, he saw a family with a broken down car and he stopped and helped them deal with the problem. Strict legalism might have said he was wrong for missing church. Love said that he made the right choice.

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – November 12, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, “For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?” “Sir,” the man replied, “leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”’” (Luke 13:6-9)

Which of the two men in this parable – the owner and the caretaker – displays more of the character of God? The answer is obvious – it is the caretaker.

The owner is impatient. He has waited three years and has not received any return on his investment. For him, patience ran out and it was time to do away with the unfruitful plant.

The caretaker demonstrates an abundance of patience. He, too, had waited three years to see the vine produce fruit and his efforts had been wasted. In fact, he is the one who had put in the work on the plant. He had the most invested. Still, he was patient. He didn’t want to give just the amount of time that was expected. He wanted to go above and beyond with patience. He was willing to put in more than the expected labor in order to see the plant flourish.

God demonstrates patience like the caretaker. He is the one who puts in the work to produce fruit in our lives. He has the most invested. Still, he is patient. He doesn’t want to just put in the expected amount of effort to see our lives change. He goes above and beyond with patience.

Even the caretaker’s patience had a limit. He was willing to invest one more year of work and waiting. By the end of the next year his patience would run out.

God’s patience also has a limit. He’ll put in far more than is expected in an effort to see change in our lives. But a time comes when His patience will finally run out.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 11, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, ‘Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them — do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.’” (Luke 13:1-5)

There are those who believe that people get what they deserve in life. If life brings a person health, prosperity and happiness, that means the person is doing something right. They are being rewarded for their good character and behavior. If life brings a person sickness, poverty and trouble, that means the person has done something terribly wrong. They are being punished for their sin.

That seems fair and most people want life to be fair, or at least have some semblance of fairness. People want to believe that if they work hard and strive to be good it will pay off for them and their family.

Jesus reminds us that life isn’t about fairness. The Galileans He mentioned weren’t more wicked than others. Their wickedness did not result in the tragedy they experienced. They were not being punished. The same was true of those who suffered in the fall of the tower in Siloam. They weren’t more sinful than the rest of Jerusalem.

Life isn’t about fairness. Bad things happen to good people. Good things come on those filled with sin.

There are lessons to be learned by all of us who see tragedy strike those around us. The primary lesson is about the need repentance. The truth is all of us deserve punishment. If life was about fairness we would all suffer tragedy. So let the tragedy we see move us to turn toward the Lord and seek His grace and mercy for our own sin. Let it be a reminder that punishment for evil will come and the only way to avoid it is through the protection that Jesus offers.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 10, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. ... You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-40)

I heard that something big would happen in the midst of the four blood moons – maybe even Jesus would come – O wait, the blood moons have all already passed and nothing significant happened and Jesus didn’t come. I heard the same kind of prophecies in 2011 and in 2012. Someone set the date in the early 20th century and someone else said 1994 and others have been sure of other dates. So far no one has correctly predicted when Jesus will come again. Here’s what Jesus says – no one ever will correctly predict the date of His coming. Jesus said, “The Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

The exact date of His coming is not the critical issue. If it was the critical issue then I’m confident that God would let us in on the secret. God always gives us what we need to please Him. If we needed the date of Jesus’ coming, we’d have it from Him.

The critical issue is to be ready on any day. Jesus challenges us to be dressed ready for service and with our lamps burning. We should live our lives – every moment of every day – in at attitude of surrender to Jesus and a willingness to respond immediately to whatever He asks.

If Jesus whispers in my ear tonight while I sleep, “Come with Me to heaven” – I need to be ready. If angel shouts and the trumpet blasts to bring this age to its end, I need to be ready.

Are you ready? Do you live in an attitude of surrender to Jesus? Are you ready to listen to whatever He asks and respond in obedience? Are your eyes open to see Him and your ears open to hear Him?

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 9, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus said: ‘Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’ … ‘For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.’” (Luke 12:22-26; 30-31)

These admonitions from Jesus are difficult to understand and from a human perspective they will never make sense.

We are not to even worry about the things that sustain our earthly life, like food. None of us can live without food and sometimes there are people – even people of great faith – who don’t have enough to eat. What does Jesus mean not to worry when we don’t have enough to eat? That makes no sense.

We are not to even worry about the things that are necessary to take care of our bodies – like clothes. None of us wants to live without clothes, and for many of us clothes are essential for the climates in which we live. There are people – even people of great faith – who don’t have adequate coverings and shelter for their bodies. What does Jesus mean not to worry when we don’t have enough cover or shelter? That makes no sense.

Even birds starve to death sometimes. Birds freeze to death in climates where there isn’t enough protection for them. Flowers are cut off before their prime, eaten by animals, or destroyed in a late freeze. If you look at the examples Jesus points to they don’t offer an ironclad guarantee that there won’t be any problems.

What does Jesus mean? He means that there are things more important than earthly life. There are things more important than taking care of our bodies. Life on earth is not the goal. To live here is not the purpose for which we draw breath. We live to serve God. Our goal is His glory, His will and the advancement of His kingdom.

Life will never make sense if all we look at are the years we spend here on earth. Life only makes sense when you look at it from an eternal perspective.

His, by Grace, Steve

Friday Thought – November 6, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

"And he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.'" (Luke 12:16-21)

This story is about priorities and ignoring what is important. The rich man thought he was being wise and taking care of the future. There are many people like him in our day. People store up resources for retirement. We plan and save so that we can be sure we will be comfortable in our older years.

People insure themselves to protect their lives against harmful incidents. We insure our houses so they can be replaced in case of fire. We insure our cars so we can buy another if it is wrecked. We insure our health so that a medical problem will not wipe out all of our savings. We insure our life so our families are provided for in case of our death. People look ahead and prepare for the future and do all we can to make provision for what might happen.

Yet, many of those who prepare so wisely for the future ignore God and ignore what happens after death. This rich man did. He did a good job of planning for life, but he forgot to plan for death!

This parable is not trying to teach us to make no provision for our future. Rather, it's pointing out that provision for the rest of our lives on earth is still just short-term planning. Don't forget to do your long-term planning, too!

His, by Grace, Steve

Thursday Thought – November 5, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:4-7)

Life is dangerous! There are evil people in our world who take pleasure in hurting others or who hurt others in order to get something they want. There are natural disasters that do great damage to property and people – hurricanes, floods, tornados, earthquakes, and many others. There are diseases that wreak havoc on human bodies. There are accidents that injure and kill – car accidents, plane crashes, falls, and many other kinds of accidents. Life is dangerous! We should all be afraid.

Or should we? Jesus reminds us that although each of those dangers can damage our bodies and end our lives on earth, none of them has the power to do eternal damage. They may take our lives, but they cannot touch the real us – our souls.

There is One who can destroy our souls. God created us – body, mind and soul and God can end us – body, mind and soul. We should all fear Him.

Or should we? Reverence Him – absolutely – but fright – no. Jesus reminds us that God knows us intimately – down to the number of hairs on our heads. Not only does God know us – God loves us. God’s basic character trait is love. You can see it in His care and concern for the creation – birds and animals. But no bird or animal can compare in worth to God to humans.

God loves us. God loves you. Don’t be afraid of the dangerous things of this world – nothing happens to us that catches God off guard and thwarts His will. Don’t be afraid of God – sense His love and rest in His care.

His, by Grace, Steve

Wednesday Thought – November 4, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.’” (Luke 12:1-3)

What is the feeling that springs up in your heart after reading that teaching of Jesus?

If you said fear, then you are pretty normal. There isn’t a one of us whose life could stand the scrutiny that Jesus speaks of. Every one of us has things from our past – and our present – that we want to keep secret. There are words that we have spoken in whispers and quiet places that we want to see left there for no one else to hear.

The reality is that nothing we have ever done or said will be kept secret and hidden. Our secret acts will be exposed for all to see. Our private words will be broadcast for all to hear.

For those whose sins have not been forgiven through faith in Christ, the prospect of exposure and judgment awaits. That should cause fear and lead to repentance and a plea to God for mercy and grace. That’s what judgment is designed to do – move people towards God’s grace.

Jesus doesn’t limit the exposure He speaks of just to those whose sins have not been forgiven. He doesn’t say those who follow Him will be exempt from having our sins exposed. Should that frighten us or cause to tremble in embarrassment? I don’t think so. Our sins will be revealed in context of God’s grace and mercy. Every sin we’ve ever committed is covered by Jesus’ sacrifice and forgiven through His blood. Those sins don’t remain a cause of embarrassment. Instead, they are a badge of grace, evidence of God’s love. God loves us so much that despite the enormous pile of our sins, He has forgiven us.

Praise God that we don’t have to tremble in embarrassment at the exposure of our sins.

His, by Grace, Steve

Tuesday Thought – November 3, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside [the dish] to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.’” (Luke 11:39-42)

Which are you more concerned about – the image you present or the actual state of your heart?

For the Pharisees, their image was of foremost importance. They believed that they would be judged by God by what they were on the outside, without regard to what was in their hearts. Boy, did they get that wrong.

Jesus looked into the hearts of the Pharisees and came down with greater criticism and judgment on them than He did on anyone else. Apparently, from God’s perspective, the heart is pretty important. In fact, God judges by what is in our hearts, not what our image looks like.

That doesn’t mean that our actions aren’t important. Our actions are important, but only if they come from hearts that are right before God. Our good actions can’t ever make up for our bad hearts. But pure hearts do make up for our failures of action.

So, here’s the point: open your heart to the Lord and allow Him to change you – from the inside out. That’s the only way real and lasting change happens – from the inside out. Real and lasting change doesn’t happen from the outside in.

His, by Grace, Steve

Monday Thought – November 2, 2015

Good Morning Friends,

“Jesus said, ‘This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.’” (Luke 11:29-32)

Sometimes God seems so absent and invisible. It would be a whole lot easier if I could see Him work miracles and act in ways that left no room for doubt.

That was the attitude of the people of Jesus’ day. They wanted to be convinced. They wanted all doubt to be erased. Even when Jesus did perform miracles it wasn’t enough. They always wanted more proof – another miracle – an additional sign of God’s presence and work.

There comes a point at which a person has to step over the line and trust what cannot be seen and what will not be proven beyond all doubt. That is what faith is – to trust when you can’t see everything.

That doesn’t mean no proof exists – there is proof of God’s existence and proof of God’s care – just never enough to satisfy all doubts. To remove all doubts would be to eliminate the need for faith. But faith is what God is looking for and what pleases Him.

Solomon was a living example of God’s gift of direction and guidance. Jonah was a living example of God’s desire to see people change and work to accomplish that. People were impressed with Solomon and people repented at Jonah’s preaching.

Someone far greater is here for us. The teaching of Jesus shows wisdom that exceeds Solomon’s. The compassion of Jesus shows love what Jonah showed. The sacrifice of Jesus shows grace and mercy unlike any that has ever been seen.

Look at Jesus. Examine His life. Listen to His teaching. Gaze into His love. In Him is the basis you need for faith.

His, by Grace, Steve