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Father and Son

I recently visited my son Peyton whom I’ve not seen since he left for college about two months ago. After that, I visited my father whom I’ve not seen for several months.

Peyton is of course not exactly like me, but we are a lot alike. We have been a very close family since he was born. We share similar values, and he looks like me in some ways. I know very well the sound of his footsteps and could literally spot him from a mile away based on his posture and walk.

Like my observations and relationship with Peyton, my father and I have many similarities. He’s been my teacher and mentor ever since I could remember. My father humbly and quickly makes new friends and acquaintances. He is outgoing, kind, and genuinely wants to get to know people and make them laugh so I strive to be like my father in these ways.

I could easily say that because of our similarities, if you don’t like my dad and/or if you don’t like Peyton, then you won’t like me. Conversely, if you don’t like me, well, you probably won’t like my dad or Peyton.

Whoever hates me hates my Father also. (John 15:23)

Jesus lived to please his Father God by following his commands, loving and serving others as directed by God. Jesus, while king, came not to be served but to serve (ref Matthew 20:28). Jesus lived without sin yet he was still hated without cause (ref John 15:25). He was hated because we wanted (and still want) to do things our way with no repercussions. He told it like it is, and he taught the will and ways of his father. He and the father are one. He was the utmost example of perfection, God in the flesh, and so it rings true when Jesus said that if we hate him, we hate his father.

John 15 closes as follows:

And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:27)

This is our opportunity to walk and live with the Holy Spirit in us as he guides and speaks the truth into this world. For us to trust and obey. For us to bear witness with our lives honoring God instead of ourselves and our idols, not with our lips but with our actions and full hearts.

Today’s reading: Ezekiel 43-45; Psalm 135; John 15

The Way

Today’s reading:  Ezekiel 40-42, John 14

Saturday before last (Oct. 21), my sixteen year old daughter announced she had scheduled a campus tour at the University of Tennessee.  I was encouraged that she was thinking about college and had taken the initiative to make plans, until…I figured out she set the tour for this (past) Friday…a mere six days away.  Ugh, that was pretty quick. While it didn’t give me a lot of time to plan, I didn’t want to squelch her momentum, so I re-arranged my calendar and found a way to make it work.

I’ve made the drive from Bloomington to Knoxville five or six times in my life, so I was comfortable that I knew the way.  We headed out on Thursday afternoon about 1pm.  Turns out I’d forgotten a few things since I last made the drive in 1991 – you lose an hour on the way, the tricky interchange is in Louisville not in Lexington, and the Smoky Mountains are between Lexington and Knoxville not between Knoxville and Johnson City.  I thought I knew the way, but in reality I had forgotten some of the most important details.  Thank goodness for GPS.

In John 14, our text for today, Jesus’ was forecasting his death and eventual return to Heaven.  His disciples, however, weren’t tracking with him.  These men had given up everything to follow Jesus, but they didn’t know the way to where he was now talking about going.  Notice that Jesus’ response was not directions on where they needed to go, rather who they needed to follow, who they needed to trust.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:5-6).

Jesus was and is still the way.  The reality is we don’t need all the details on where we are going and how we’re going to get there, we just need to keep our trust firmly placed in Jesus.  Stay close to him and he will guide your path.

Is It Me?

Ezekiel 37-39, Psalm 87, John 13

Gathered around the table, Jesus is talking to his disciples.  “One of you will betray me.”  He says.   The disciples looked at each other, wondering who he was talking about.  But it wasn’t that simple.  The disciples were struck with fear.  Matthew 26:22 presents them as “greatly distressed.”  In their worry, each man asked Jesus, “Is it I?”

instinctively, the disciples knew their hearts were fickle.  They could, at any moment, fail Jesus.  But that only explains part of it.  In a moment the disciples reaffirmed their hearts, clarifying their motives and commitment.  Having satisfied their inner turmoilI, they ask Jesus ‘Is it I,” with confidence.  Its as much a statement of ‘It is not I.’

It is easy for me to forget that this conversation occurs during the Last Supper, right in the middle of communion.  Can you imagine passing the elements at church and the Pastor says, “one of you…?”  The direct question brings to the fore my own betrayal.  The things I have done, the words I have said and the longings of my heart lay out before me.  My guilt overwhelms and is quickly followed by shame.  Thankfully, this not an ending, it is a beginning.   Like the disciples,  when I affirm my faith in Him I find hope.  One step farther takes me to his sacrifice.  Through it, I am justified.

 “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:26-28 (ESV)

 

Undivided Heart

Today’s Readings: Ezekial 34-36, Psalm 86, John 12

11 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
12  I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13  For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead.

Do you remember what it was like to feel dead?  Have you ever experienced moments where you felt useless, lost, or confused? I have.

David’s prayer on today’s readings was a prayer I’ve prayed for many nights, days, and moments when I’m seeking direction. This prayer is one I pray today. His Word can take a divided heart and mind and point you in a direction where you can find hope, peace, and truth.  Every day, I try to remember to invite the Lord into the moments I open His Word.  I ask Him to show me all I need to hear, all I need to know to take my heart that can feel divided towards my desires and help me understand, believe, and obey.

I seek God to answer my anxious thoughts, prayers, and struggles. I’ve realized the closer I grow to Him and the more I seek Him, the more I have less of a divided heart. Teach me and unite my heart.  Cast your worries on Him and choose to be thankful. Lord, I pray You will help us walk in Your truth and Fear Thy Name. No matter how close we are to our Lord, we can always ask Him for ways to increase our awareness and improve our obedience.  Lord, help me always to know You will provide and are the source of my hope and joy. Will you commit this prayer to memory with me?

 

 

Faith In Action

Today’s readings are Ezekiel 25-27, Psalm 82, and John 9.

The story is told of a man who was watching the news when they reported a flood was coming from a storm. They said those in his area needed to immediately evacuate their homes. However, he thought to himself that he didn’t need to because God would save him. Shortly thereafter the flood waters approached his house and a neighbor knocked on his door telling him he needed to leave, but he told the neighbor he didn’t need to do so, and he’d be fine because God would save him. As the flood waters overtook his house and he fled to the roof, a rescue crew came by boat and asked him to get onboard. He declined again saying God would save him, and he didn’t need their help. Finally, he climbed up on his antenna on his house as the waters now covered the roof. A helicopter flew up and dropped a rescue ladder, but his answer was the same in that he didn’t need the help because God would save him. This ultimately led to his demise.

We read in John 9 today where Jesus spit on the ground creating mud, rubbed it on a blind man’s eyes, and told him in John 9:7 to “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” The man followed Jesus’ prompting and was able to see after doing so. Let’s unpack the craziness of this a little more for a second. John 9:1 tells us this man had been blind from birth so him believing anything could help him see is far-fetched to say the least. We don’t know if he had ever even heard of Jesus prior and in any event, he might find it a little weird when a guy hawks up a loogey and rubs mud from it all over his eyes. Jesus then doesn’t just tell the man to open his eyes. The man must walk to the pool of Siloam. We aren’t told how far it is away, but it doesn’t seem like it’s right there by him and remember the man is blind. So that means it’s going to take quite a bit of work for him to get there. He’s going to have to get a friend (if he has any) to take him there or ask quite a few people for directions along the way. This man has plenty of opportunities for excuses to not only think this wouldn’t lead him to see because he was blind for his entire life, but also now he must go through some extra steps and challenges to make it happen. However, he follows Jesus’ steps, and we all know the miracle is complete and he’s able to see.

Well known pastor Mark Batterson says there is a human element to most all the miracles Jesus performed. Each person had to take a step in faith for God to perform a work in or on them and for them to see the completion of it. You can’t get the job or change careers like you’ve been praying for if you don’t send out your resume or apply to college to get your degree in the field you want to go into. You can’t save your marriage if you don’t work on it and take actions to heal it through conversations, counseling, and putting God first through going to church and studying His Word and praying together. You can’t fix financial challenges of overspending without creating a budget and sticking to it. You can’t fix your addiction problem if you don’t admit you have a a problem and get some help from others. He wants to see that you will take a step with faith in Him to help you complete the rest.

My question today for all of us is…what miracle are you asking God for? And from there…what is He laying on your heart for you to do first in faith trusting Him so that He will then complete His work in you?

Faith in Action

Today’s readings are Ezekiel 25-27, Psalm 82, and John 9.

The story is told of a man who was watching the news and heard a flood was coming from an approaching storm, and he needed to evacuate his home. However, he thought to himself that he didn’t need to because God would save him. Shortly thereafter the flood waters approached his house and a neighbor knocked on his door telling him he needed to leave, but he told the neighbor he didn’t need to and he’d be fine because God would save him. As the flood waters overtook his house and he fled to the roof, a rescue crew came by boat and asked him to get onboard. He declined again saying God would save him, and he didn’t need their help. Finally, he climbed up on his antenna on his house as the waters now covered the roof. A helicopter flew up and dropped a rescue ladder, but his answer was the same in that he didn’t need the help because God would save him. This ultimately led to his demise.

We read in John 9 today where Jesus spit on the ground creating mud, rubbed it on a blind man’s eyes, and told him in John 9:7 to “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” The man followed Jesus’ prompting and was able to see after doing so. Let’s unpack the craziness of this a little more for a second. John 9:1 tells us this man had been blind from birth so him believing anything could help him see is far-fetched to say the least. We don’t know if he had ever even heard of Jesus prior and in any event, he might find it a little weird when a guy hawks up a loogey and rubs mud from it all over his eyes. Jesus then doesn’t just tell the man to open his eyes. The man must walk to the pool of Siloam. We aren’t told how far it is away, but it doesn’t seem like it’s right there by him and remember the man is blind. So that means it’s going to take quite a bit of work for him to get there. He’s going to have to get a friend (if he has any) to take him there or ask quite a few people for directions along the way. This man has plenty of opportunities for excuses to not only think this wouldn’t lead him to see because he was blind for his entire life, but also now he must go through some extra steps and challenges to make it happen. However, he follows Jesus’ steps, and we all know the miracle is complete and he’s able to see.

Well known pastor Mark Batterson says there is a human element to most all the miracles Jesus performed. Each person had to take a step in faith for God to perform a work in or on them and for them to see the completion of it. You can’t get the job or change careers like you’ve been praying for if you don’t send out your resume or apply to college to get your degree in the field you want to go into. You can’t save your marriage if you don’t work on it and take actions to heal it through conversations, counseling, and putting God first through going to church and studying His Word and praying together. You can’t fix financial challenges of overspending without creating a budget and sticking to it. You can’t fix your addiction problem if you don’t admit you have a a problem and get some help from others. He wants to see that you will take a step with faith in Him to help you complete the rest.

My question today for all of us is…what miracle are you asking God for? And from there…what is He laying on your heart for you to do first in faith trusting Him so that He will then complete His work in you?

Bless the Lord

A few weeks ago my family gathered to celebrate my father. It was his 80th birthday, so that called for a party. We ate, sang happy birthday, opened gifts and then blessed him with special memories we had each experienced with him. The room was filled to the brim with laughter and love! The memories brought a closeness and a joy to each one in the room. Our reading today is about blessing.

Psalm 134
Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord! May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!

We know how to bless others (celebrate them), but how do we bless God? Celebrate God! We can celebrate him alone or we can celebrate Him with others. We remember and thank Him for all that He has done in our lives. We bring Him gifts. We bring Him the gift of ourselves.

It is easy to celebrate God during the good times. But we bless Him even in our darkest hours, when life seems the hardest. We praise Him when life seems unfair.

Every day is an opportunity to lift up our hands in thanks to God for what He has done for us. May we all give thanks and adoration where ever we go. May we bless Him in the good times and the bad, for He is worthy.

Where Would You Rather Be?

Ezekiel 19-21, Psalm 84, John 7

In almost every circumstance, I am thinking of where I would rather be.  If I’m at work, I’d rather be at home.  I’d rather be at my desk when I’m in a meeting, and when I’m at home, I’d rather be at the lake.  Thinking about it now,  I see it’s foolishness.  The places I’d rather be are not very thoughtful.  If they were, maybe my rathers would look more like the Psalmist in Psalms 84.

His thoughtful approach starts by considering the dwelling place of the Lord.  ‘Lovely,’ he calls it.  We see quickly that he would rather be in the dwelling place of God.  My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord, he says. (v2)

Quickly determining the value of one day in the Lord’s courts, the Psalmist understands that he would rather spend one day there, than thousands elsewhere (v10).

Finally, the Psalmist compares the many options he has before him and determines that he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God (v10), than

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than live the good life in fine homes amongst the wicked (v10).

There is no doubt that today we will find ourselves longing for a place that we would rather be.   Setting our minds on the dwelling place of the Lord will be a good start.

Jesus is the Bread of Life

Today’s Reading:  Ezekiel 16-18 and John 6

The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible contains several important messages. One of the central themes is the concept of Jesus as the “Bread of Life.”

This chapter recounts the story of Jesus miraculously feeding a large crowd, some scholars think over 15,000 which included men, women, and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish. Afterward, Jesus teaches that he is the true sustenance for spiritual life, emphasizing the importance of faith in him for eternal life.

Here are some key messages from John 6:

The Bread of Life: Jesus uses the feeding of the crowd as a metaphor to teach that he is the true nourishment for the soul. Just as physical bread sustains physical life, Jesus provides spiritual sustenance for eternal life.

Faith in Jesus: Jesus emphasizes the necessity of believing in him for eternal life. He says, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35, NIV).

Eternal Life through Jesus: Jesus promises that those who believe in him will have eternal life. He says, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:40, NIV).

The Role of the Father: Jesus emphasizes that his mission and purpose are in alignment with the will of the Father. He states that he has been sent by the Father to accomplish specific tasks.

The Resurrection and the Last Day: Jesus speaks of the future resurrection of believers, assuring them that they will be raised up on the last day.

The Importance of Spiritual Understanding: Jesus challenges his followers to seek spiritual understanding beyond physical signs and miracles. He encourages them to focus on the deeper spiritual truths he is teaching.

Division and Rejection: The chapter also highlights how some of Jesus’ followers struggled with his teachings, leading to division and, for some, a decision to stop following him.

Overall, John 6 emphasizes the significance of faith in Jesus as the means to obtain eternal life and underscores the idea that Jesus provides spiritual nourishment and fulfillment in a way that nothing else can. This chapter also foreshadows Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, which would become the ultimate demonstration of his role as the Bread of Life.

This is a key chapter where Jesus started to see many of His followers doubt Him.  They could not reconcile Jesus’ reference to “the flesh as food” and “blood as drink.”  The extended crowds and disciples that chose to follow Him, due to the many miracles and acts Jesus had performed, left Jesus.  They heard Jesus’ message in the literal sense rather than as a parable.

Jesus very clearly started to see at that point, it was the beginning of strife and ultimately the divisiveness amongst the Jewish people that would ultimately cost Him his life.

A story is…

A story is “a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it”. That’s the definition of a story as written by Donald Miller in the book “A million miles in a thousand years”.

What is the story of your life? We all want something, and we all face conflict. I spent some time thinking about “what I want” in my own life story and one thing I want is to love and be loved. To get what I want I am intentionally vulnerable thereby facing the “conflict” of risk of being hurt. You cannot have real love, real life, or a real good story unless you let your guard down and even allow the pain to shape you.

This isn’t referring to romantic love or to being loved by the masses such as a famous character; this is about a few deep personal relationships where there is meaning. In the relationships there are substories, there are adventures, there are sacrifices and selfless acts, and there is teamwork. We keep each other upright, we laugh without fear of embarrassment, we have old jokes and new memories, and there are traditions made and traditions broken. In these relationships we face pain, we fight for each other, we respect each other, we honor each other, and we are loyal almost to a fault. And when we wrong each other, we apologize and we forgive permanently and repeatedly. That’s what I think love is.

The author of Psalm 136 tells the story of God with gratitude for what he has done and for who he is. Each line ends by saying “for his steadfast love endures forever”. Notice that none of this points to a perfect life here on Earth. This Psalm exists to help us remember, for us to be grateful, and to give God the glory. I thought it would be fun to write my personal story in a similar fashion to Psalm 136 and I challenge you to do the same. Write to remember his love which endures, and that it endures forever.

God allowed me to be born into a loving family teaching me in the ways of Christ.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
I was blessed with an education.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
I have been blessed to have ample food, clothing, and shelter in my life.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
God blessed me with friends who love me.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
God allowed me to be relatively unharmed through the course of experiencing two separate vehicular rollover accidents.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
God answered my prayers by blessing me with a loving wife and loving children.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Through my darkest hours, God gave me peace beyond understanding.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
He sent his son as a sacrifice for the millions of sins I’ve committed, and he forgave me.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Through my failures, God has taught me.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
In times of joy, I’ve felt God celebrate with me.
For his steadfast love endures forever.
Through the Bible, God has revealed his will, his ways, his story, and his wisdom to me personally in a supernatural way.
For his steadfast love endures forever.

A story is a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it. Think about God as the character who wants a relationship with you and me. He overcame the greatest conflict known to mankind because of his love for us. That’s his story, that’s THE story. For his steadfast love endures forever.

Today’s reading: Ezekiel 13-15; Psalm 136; John 5