Behold and Be Bold

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].  Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition)

What an on-time God we serve! It’s no small thing to think of how He meets needs with a word from Scripture. Just when anxiety creeps in and diminishes your confidence, if you are engaging in His Word, He answers with His perfect message. He sees you! He hears you! He cares for you! He is so good. He is so faithful.

I’ve a restorative story to tell those who need encouragement. It’s a story of God’s redeeming love. Though trials beset my life with a prodigal daughter, she came to her senses and “returned home” to the God that loves her so. While I waited for her return, God taught me about His character, replete with His promises from Scripture. He supplied me with strength and comfort for which I am eternally grateful. 

But I had allowed time to fade some of my memories until I was asked to give my testimony live on a local television station. Then doubts filled my mind. “I’m not capable,” I said to God. 

And I heard God say to Moses from the fourth chapter of Exodus, “Who has made man’s mouth? Is it not I, the Lord?”

Humbled but with boldness, I told the Lord of my fear, and He answered with His Word from John 14:26. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Memories flooded my mind and I echoed what He had taught me. I remembered what He had done for me and my daughter. Boldly I proclaimed His power to all those who would listen. All glory to God through Jesus Christ who brought both my daughter and me out of darkness into His glorious light. From bringing home captives in Isaiah 43:5-7 to praying persistently in Luke 18:1, God caused me to remember His goodness. He is so faithful. 

What’s your story? How has God made Himself known to you? Which of His characteristics most resonate with you? If He is a new acquaintance to you, allow Him to help write your story. If you have walked with Him and continue to walk with Him, tell your story. There are many ears that need to hear of the goodness of our loving God. 

Maybe the lyrics of H. Ernest Nichol (1896) will inspire you to boldly go before God’s throne of grace and find the help you need to share the good news of Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world with family, friends, and even strangers.

We've a story to tell to the nations,

that shall turn their hearts to the right,

a story of truth and mercy,

a story of peace and light,

a story of peace and light.

Refrain:

For the darkness shall turn to dawning,

and the dawning to noonday bright,

and Christ's great kingdom shall come on earth,

the kingdom of love and light.

We've a song to be sung to the nations,

that shall lift their hearts to the Lord,

a song that shall conquer evil,

and shatter the spear and sword,

and shatter the spear and sword. [Refrain]

We've a message to give to the nations,

that the Lord who reighth above

has sent us His Son to save us,

and show us that God is love,

and show us that God is love. [Refrain]

We've a Savior to show to the nations,

who the path of sorrow has trod,

that all of the world's great peoples

may come to the truth of God,

may come to the truth of God! [Refrain]

Be Still and Behold

A month has sped by and I’m remembering the fun and fury ushered in during December 2023. I describe it as Christmas chaos. Having downsized to a two bedroom condo, my husband and I have little space to offer guests. The challenge to occupy our modest place with our visiting family began three days before Christmas and lasted a week. 

The days were noisy and chaotic, thrilling and extraordinary, full of food and surprises. But nighttime didn’t bring the needed rest as the toddler slept on a small bed with us, his grandparents, in one bedroom and the baby slept in a crib by his parents in the other. Terror, tears, feedings, and fears beset us all as we dealt with the two young children adjusting to a cramped and strange environment in a different time zone. Sleepless nights evolved into bleary days. 

As time ticked on, we gathered together with extended family members, creating more disorder and at times, discord. Tis’ the season, right? To gather and give thanks for the Savior baby with the families we love who also infuriate us. Merry Christmas. 

Whenever I got the chance to hold my four month old grandson, I wondered about Mary and her baby boy. What a chaotic mess to be pregnant and traveling by donkey to the hometown of her husband. Arriving and awaiting delivery, they found no place to stay. No room in the inns. 

They finally settled into a stable as a birthing room and placed the newborn babe in a manger or trough where animals feed. Mary probably felt some anxiety and stress. But oh to behold Him, the One who was a special delivery from a Heavenly Father. What honor and joy she must have felt to bring into a chaotic world the Prince of Peace, Immanuel the God with us. 

Silently studying my grandson as he lay defenseless in a crib, I realized his helplessness. With stillness all around, I thought of my God, my Savior, the Creator of the world. He came into our world, the one He created, to live like His created ones. What sacrificial surrender! What supreme humility! What amazing love!

Suddenly the chaos became hushed harmony. Behold, shepherds and magi came from afar to see the fulfillment of the promise of a newborn King. And far off into the future, many more people gather to celebrate the birth of this Promised One, Jesus the Messiah, the Savior of the world. 

Praise the God who entered our chaos and gave us a silent night of promise. 

Waterless Clouds

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 3-4

These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.  Jude 12-13 (ESV)

Hidden reefs, waterless clouds, fruitless trees, wandering stars—these descriptions reference false teachers. Their heresy threatened the churches. Jude used imagery to help readers visualize the hazard. Because clouds captivate me, I focused on waterless clouds and thirsted for more. 

While examining the letter of Jude in Scripture, I discovered Jude’s initial desire to write an inspirational letter to Jewish Christian churches about the common salvation of believers in Jesus Christ. Instead he changed course and confronted the threat of false teaching within those same churches by encouraging his readers to grow in their knowledge of Christian truth. Fast forward to today and his words still ring true. 

Along with several other New Testament writers, Jude addressed this heresy because it impacted the faith of believers. Followers of Jesus then and now must contend for the faith and resist false doctrine. Rather than conforming to this world, God appeals to His church to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ Jesus (Romans 12:1-2).

God’s Word even compels church leaders to live a higher standard (Titus 1:5-9). They are to follow Jesus’ example, demonstrating to church members how to live holy lives that please a holy God (Philippians 3:17-19). Yet some leaders who appear godly actually please themselves instead of pleasing God (1 Timothy 3:1-6). They practice immorality as Jude, Peter, and Paul describe in their letters to fellow believers. When leaders fall short, many of their followers do as well. 

Jude understood the deception behind false teaching and how it could lead people astray. In his epistle, he figuratively waves red flags of warning. Don’t be deceived by calm waters as hidden reefs or rock barriers could be present, creating danger to ships. Harvest time won’t produce fruit when trees are barren. The brief appearance of a wandering or shooting star provides little light. The lack of rain from waterless clouds hinders growth. Jude knew his readers needed the gift of living water from the Lord Jesus Christ (John 4:7-15) who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

In Jude’s day, the area teemed with thirsty souls as untrue teaching prevailed. The same is true today. People wander aimlessly in search of truth while being misled by waterless clouds, those false teachers who cultivate spiritually impoverished churchgoers. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah describes this age-old situation:

…for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
    the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
    broken cisterns that can hold no water.  Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV)

When a pastor and his congregants embrace the things of this world, seeking after society’s affirmation instead of adhering to God’s commands, they wander from God’s truth. They sympathize with a sinful culture and attempt to appease rather than speak truth in love. Addressing these issues, pastor, author, and professor Dr. Voddie T. Baucham, Jr. bluntly states, “You shave off the edges of the gospel to be liked by others.”

Attempting to make the gospel of Jesus Christ fit the standards of society pollutes the truth of God’s holy Word. The church then drifts with culture’s changing beliefs instead of firmly standing on the unchanging Word of God. “It’s the Word that creates the church, not the church that creates the Word,” said W. Robert Godfrey, chairman of Ligonier Ministries. 

Most people understand right and wrong, but the deceit of false teaching lies within its subtlety. A pleasant-sounding truth can be misleading. As Charles Spurgeon said, “Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

— Charles Spurgeon

So how does one know the difference between right and almost right? By focusing on truth, God’s Truth. Those who are trained to recognize counterfeit money study only genuine currency. Those who distinguish truth from fallacy study and believe the authoritative Word of God. 

In order to discern false teaching, Jude instructed his readers to grow in the knowledge of Christian truth through the trustworthy beliefs given by God to the church through the apostles. In other words, we must contend for the faith that was once delivered to those who would believe the word of our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, as in Biblical times, heed the words of Jude. Increase your knowledge of Christian truth. Study daily the Word of God, rightly handling those words of truth, in order to show yourself approved (2 Timothy 2:15). Hold tight to the teachings of Jesus and contend for the faith. And God will keep you from stumbling as you stand firm on His inerrant Word.  

…for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.  Hebrews 5:13-14 (ESV)

Within a Cloud

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere….

After saying this, Jesus was taken up into a cloud while they were watching….suddenly two white-robed men stood among them, and said, “Why are you staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”   Acts 1:8-11 (based on NLT)

          Jesus disappeared into a cloud while His disciples stared skyward. Did they lose hope? Had they paid close attention to Jesus’ departing words and the words of the two white-robed men about His departure and return? 

          The disciples had suffered Jesus’ absence following His horrible death on a cross. After a miraculous resurrection, their friend returned to them and comforted them with His presence. But after several weeks, they watched Him leave again. Imagine the emotional roller coaster. 

          And yet, Jesus hadn’t deserted them. He had decreed Holy Spirit power to come upon them and two messengers declared He would reappear just as He had disappeared. Even though eyesight told a different story, did Jesus’ followers believe the messengers?

          Sight plays a huge part in my emotions. If life’s circumstances suggest all is well, I’m content. But if trouble arises around me, anxiety engulfs me. I forget about the faithfulness of my Heavenly Father. I forget about Immanuel—God with me. I forget about the Helper (Holy Spirit) that God sent in Jesus’ name. All I see is cloud cover. 

          The disciples saw a cloud conceal Jesus. Were they discouraged by His departure or encouraged by His words of revelation? Did the promise of Jesus' return on a cloud flood them with hope?

          Scripture tells us the disciples returned to Jerusalem, gathered together in the upstairs room of a house, and constantly prayed in unity. Eventually 120 believers assembled and Peter lead the charge to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and committed suicide (Matthew 27:1-5). Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven (Acts 1:13-26). 

          Then it happened just as Jesus had foretold His disciples. A mighty roar from heaven, flames of fire, and different languages—signs of the Holy Spirit’s arrival—filled the room as well as the believers (Acts 2). Mighty acts of God through His apostles began to take place. Jesus’ presence, through the Holy Spirit, abided in them. 

          These apostles, eagerly awaiting His return, served Jesus until their deaths. A cloud may have concealed their Savior, but the revelation of His power revealed His spiritual presence. Even though present day believers have never seen Jesus, it works the same for us. We may focus on cloudy situations separating us from God, but if we study His Word and pray, His presence will be revealed to us. 

          Where’s your focus when troubles besiege you? Are you filled with anxiety or comfort? It all depends on your center of attention. 

          If you’re staring at cloudy days as if Jesus is absent, doubts will assail you. But if you are gazing at the clouds in hope of His return, your faith will increase. Jesus left for heaven on a cloud, but He’s also returning to earth on a cloud. 

          Oh the beauty of a cloudless day. But what enhanced loveliness those clouds display when the sun shines through them. Allow God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to shine through your cloudy days. Talk daily to Him in prayer. And soon, like a mighty wind, His presence will descend upon you in power.

…for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—  2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP)

When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.  Psalm 94:19 (NLT)

The Stain of Sin

Have mercy on me, O God,

because of your unfailing love.

Because of your great compassion,

    blot out the stain of my sins.

Wash me clean from my guilt.

    Purify me from my sin. 

Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT)

“Out, damn’d spot,” said Lady Macbeth, while she furiously rubbed her hands as if washing them. 

The stain of blood and guilt wracked the consciences of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Their desire for more power escalated into murder. Macbeth seized the throne of Scotland after killing King Duncan. And both Macbeth and his wife were left with incessant remorse. 

Shakespeare wrote bits of history into his plays. And his characters exuded the human spirit of intellect, emotion, fear, passion, creativity, love, and iniquity. Readers have had no problem relating to various characters in Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies. After all, they resemble real people. 

The stain Lady Macbeth tried to purge came to mind as I read Psalm 51, David’s psalm of confession and repentance. Honest, gut-wrenching self-analysis had me confessing like David. While I had chosen to diagnose the shortcomings of others, God had pinpointed my personal sin of bitterness. Words of the psalm spoke loud and clear—blot out the stain of my sin. It’s hard to admit to sinning, but being reminded of its stain stung.

King David wrote this psalm after being confronted with his own sin. God had spoken through the prophet Nathan to discipline David, after he had committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). When he completely understood the shame of his sin, David humbly asked God to have mercy on him, a sinner. He repented and asked for removal of the stain of his guilt. “Give me joy again. Create in me a clean heart,” he pleaded to God. 

Like David, I began to ask God to remove the stain of my own sin and guilt. Uncovering the offenses of bitterness and malice had stunned me. Those vices belonged to other people, not me. When I finally admitted my misdeeds, I stood ashamed before a holy God. I cried out for His mercy and forgiveness. And my Heavenly Father lavishly gave me those gifts, wrapped in His unfailing love. Encountering the discipline of a loving and gracious Father God freed my soul. I experienced joy. 

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
    nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

…he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

Hebrews 12:5b-6, 10b-11 (ESV)

No one wants personal sin exposed. How humiliating. But when God reveals our wrongdoings, it’s humbling. His loving discipline declares His holiness and our sinfulness. When we repent and turn from sin, God has mercy on us and forgives us. He delivers us from evil and creates within us a desire for righteousness. What freedom! 

Ever felt guilt from sin? How about its ugly stain? Torment develops in the pit of your stomach. Shame results until an encounter with the liberating discipline of a God who loves you. A captive soul is set free. 

The joy of the Lord erases the stain of sin. 

“We can never be cleansed until we confess we are dirty.  ”

— ~Max Lucado 

From Mess to Message

If we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.  2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)

I sat alone in my living room, recovering from the flu and a horrible lingering cough. While my body regained strength, my heart grew weary with regret. Christmas decorations still adorned my house. I couldn’t put them away because I wanted a do-over. 

The expectations of a joyful holiday had collided with disappointments: outdoor Christmas Eve service cancelled due to extreme weather conditions and our annual extended kinfolk gathering halted due to illness. Then the last day with our out-of-town daughter and her family concluded with misunderstandings and arguments. And yet, the hope of Christmas, Immanuel—God with us, abided with us. His faithfulness transcended all of our faithless uncertainties and divisiveness. 

Sitting solo in silence, I desired restoration with my people and forgiveness from God. I looked around the room and caught sight of the jumbled toy nativity set on a nearby shelf. It had provided entertainment for my two-year-old grandson. Tears fell as I stared at the jumbled mess. What a mishmash he had left. But what good news it now proclaimed!

God loved the world so much that He sent His only Son to provide salvation for sinful mankind.* Jesus entered a broken world in desperate need of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. He exchanged heavenly royalty for earthly humility, giving up indescribable power to be born a babe in a manger. Jesus lived life with humanity, modeling the love of His Heavenly Father. He was Immanual—God with us.* Through His crucifixion, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ gained abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven for whoever would believe in Him. 

What love the Heavenly Father lavished on His children.* He sent His Son Jesus to die for us while we were still sinners.* And He loved me enough to remind me of His marvelous message of salvation through a little messy manger scene.

God composes messages out of messes. They’re evident, if we’re paying attention. My soul despaired until God spoke and thankfully, I listened. He brought new life to the new year. 

How was your Christmas? Did you confront discouragement, division, disaster, or defeat? How about the new year? Do you already feel like a failure? Have you lost all hope?

Let the image of a messy manger remind you of God’s love. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. For He sent His Son Jesus into a wicked world, not to condemn us, but to save us. Now that’s a message this mess of a woman can take to heart.

*John 3:16

*Matthew 1:23

*1 John 3: 1

*Romans 5:8

Turning and Overturning

Jesus —

our example

How to overturn the tables and turn the other cheek

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer, ‘but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”  Matthew 21:12-13 (NIV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.”  Matthew 5:38-39 (NIV) 

        Eye for eye and tooth for tooth—revenge appears to be the norm in our society. If you bear no resemblance to the status quo or hold contrasting beliefs, beware! Retaliation is fair game. All the while faith and morality has been diluted and compromised so as not to offend anyone holding divergent beliefs. What is going on in our society? How have we gotten things so distorted?

          God’s ways have always been countercultural to society. Jesus, the Son of God, lived with humanity to exemplify the better way. He taught His disciples to turn the other cheek, to respond to personal harm with humility. But humbly turning the other cheek becomes difficult when pride desires revenge. Human nature habitually contends with God’s ways. 

          As a result, walking the world’s ways powerfully pulls people astray. Jesus taught His followers to topple the trend of assimilation with the world, choosing rather to be transformed by godly values and virtuous attitudes. Easy to say, difficult to do without God’s help. A benevolent response seems so inopportune when we desire immediate justice. And we presume to advance tolerance when we actually fail to stand against a society that promotes wickedness. These wayward behaviors and ever-changing worldly norms conflict with the steady standards of a righteous God. Our relative truths reign in stark contrast to God’s absolute truth.   

          I believe the past several years have been a wake up call for believers in Christ. When churches were forced to close, it prevented in-person gathering of believers to worship together and support each other. Of course there were online church services for families at home, but let’s be honest. How many people were really listening while sitting in their pajamas with a cup of coffee? The years of Covid have definitely revealed the decline of Christianity. The American church has become lukewarm, allowing secular beliefs to make inroads through the doors of churches as well as the hearts of believers. Hence the church has acquiesced to moral decay. 

“The American church has become lukewarm, allowing secular beliefs to make inroads through the doors of churches as well as the hearts of believers. Hence the church has acquiesced to moral decay. ”

          What would Jesus do? He would turn things upside down. Jesus’ prayerful relationship with His Heavenly Father kept Him focused on God’s ways. So when He entered the temple in Jerusalem and saw irreverence, He took action. He cleared the temple by upending the money changers’ tables, driving out those who were buying and selling doves and merchandise in the temple courts. He declared the temple had become a den of robbers instead of being a house of prayer for all nations (Matthew 21, Mark 11).

          Before and after cleansing the temple, Jesus utilized a fig tree to explain the spiritual condition of the people of Israel. He walked up to an exceptionally leafy fig tree, expecting to find some fruit to eat. Even though the tree possessed many leaves, it had yielded no fruit. Jesus then declared it to never produce fruit again (Mark 11:12-14, 20-22). Why?

          “You will know them by their fruit,” Jesus had spoken earlier while teaching on a mountain. Fruit symbolizes productivity, well-earned harvest. The leafy fig tree with no figs symbolized Israel’s spiritual barrenness. They had been practicing a form of religion and saying all the right words, but their hearts were far from God. And they had turned their house of prayer into a marketplace. Is the American church in the same condition as Israel was? Have we allowed society to weaken our measure of faith in an Almighty God? What if we followed Jesus’ example of speaking out in righteous anger? 

          As Jesus followers, we must be aware of the fine line between righteous anger and submissive humility. When do we act and when do we humbly submit? When do we stand firm in an uncompromising way and when do we quietly yield to those in authority? Observing Jesus’ life in Scripture can help us discover the answer.

          It is perplexing to believe that the same man who overturned the moneychangers’ tables would turn the other cheek to the ones who beat and crucified Him. Shouldn’t He have fought back? Isn’t that what we would have done? 

          Jesus lived to do the business of His Father. It’s why He cleansed the temple that was supposed to be a house of prayer. It’s also why He humbled Himself before God His Father and became obedient, even to death. He took no revenge. He sought no payback. Instead He willingly yielded to authority. His submission was not a sign of weakness but one of disciplined strength, enabling Him to trust His Heavenly Father who judges all people with justice.

          In a world seemingly gone mad, humble people seem to be a rare find. Yet during the riotous summer of the pandemic, a news story about a black female shop owner standing outside her decimated store exemplified humility. Her life seemed to be in shambles and she was in tears. She had worked hard all her life only to watch her livelihood destroyed in minutes by those that looked like her. Amazingly she wanted no revenge, but simply desired that the people who wrecked her life discover the error of their ways. Only God can soften a heart to reject evil for evil, and instead offer blessings over offenders. It’s what humble submissiveness is all about. 

          How can we know whether to humbly submit or to speak out against the wrongs of mankind? A prayerful relationship with God will equip us to discern our reactions. Then we’ll know whether to turn the other cheek or overturn the societal trends in our world.

          If we view all people as image bearers of a mighty Creator God, we can learn to honor and respect them no matter what. Responding with a quiet and gentle nature to human institutions, earthly rulers, bosses at work, marriage partners, and even our enemies will steer us away from wrongdoing. And turning the other cheek will demonstrate a complete trust in the God who judges justly. Jesus exhibited the better way to live as He silently stood before His executioners.   

          We can’t allow our worldly understanding of kindness or tolerance to be equated to biblical morality. Jesus willingly died for the sinners of this world. Will we speak out against the sins in this world? Jesus knew when to turn the other cheek and when to overturn the tables. He displayed a principled life to an immoral world. When we follow His example of biblical morality, we will stand up for the virtue of our righteous God.

Deep-Rooted Trees

The

Word of God

is a firm foundation.

       What do you do when you’ve received wise advice twice, even thrice? Dismiss? Consider? Or heed and follow? Whenever I’ve heard or read something twofold in a short amount of time, I take notice.

          Quiet time in the wee hours of each morning resets my footing on a firm foundation, the Word of God. I find strength and encouragement to aid in facing the day, come what may. Using a daily devotional, I meditate on the words of Scripture and pray. What joy I experienced the morning God spoke two times to my heart from His word.

          The recommended reading for that day—Psalm 1:1-3. 

Oh, the joys of those who do not
    follow the advice of the wicked,
    or stand around with sinners,
    or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord,
    meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
    bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
    and they prosper in all they do. (NLT)

          The daily devotion was entitled “How to Succeed” by Dr. David Jeremiah. Who doesn’t desire accomplishment in their endeavors? The worldly way to success can be found in many self-help books that deliver details for achievement. The Bible also records methods of profit in the promises of God, but it comes with a caveat. Meditating on and living by God’s principles will produce many excellent benefits; godly success only comes when we submit our wills to God’s will and follow His instructions. It may not be achievement by the world’s standards, but it will bring victory to our souls. 

          I weighed the advice of the devotional writer while also concentrating on the worth of God’s words from the first Psalm. When I started to close my Bible, I noticed a highlighted section in the book of Jeremiah.

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
    who rely on human strength
    and turn their hearts away from the Lord.

They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
    with no hope for the future.

They will live in the barren wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salty land.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit. Jeremiah 17:5-8 (NLT)

Trust in the LORD

and be blessed.

        God had reinforced the lesson using a different book of the Bible. As I meditated on everything I had read, I began asking myself some questions. Do I want to be like a stunted shrub or a deep-rooted tree? Will I choose to turn away from the Lord or put my trust in Him? Will I walk in the ways of the wicked or delight in the word of God? Do I desire success the world’s way or God’s way?

          Later that day I walked around my neighborhood, taking note of both natural and manmade environments. There are places to rest and places to play, all surrounded by many trees, small and large. Down an incline runs a small brook. Neither the hill nor the water upends any of the large trees. They are deeply rooted, having withstood their natural surroundings. I’ve only seen the effects of one tall tree that fell.

          Deep-rooted trees denote the importance of standing firm on the word of God, not being swayed by the whims of society. Yet cultural norms and societal gauges exert much pressure on righteous living. Getting caught up in the ways of the world can cause sin and sorrow. But open the Scriptures and discover another nugget of truth about growing deep roots—Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

          In light of the degenerate world we live in, where morals and morale seem to be declining every single day, I choose to listen to the wisdom of the Lord. Yes, I’ve made mistakes and suffered the consequences. God tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). But He offers us a chance to humbly repent of our sins and trust in the saving grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. When we accept His offer and meditate on His Word daily, even bad circumstances won’t hinder our godly success. 

          I choose to stand, deeply rooted, on the word of God. What about you? Will you heed God’s advice and follow Him, regardless of the way the world goes? If so, like a deep-rooted tree, you will stand firm, bear fruit, and successfully weather the storms of the day.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
”

— 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

Be Refreshed

“Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”  John 4:29

          She trudged up the hill to the community well, her face glowing from the heat of the day. No other woman would be fetching water at noon. An ideal time to avoid the stares, the scandal, the sting of their cruelty. By herself, encumbered by an immoral life-style, the Samaritan woman began to do the hard work of drawing water. 

          “Please give me a drink,” he said. Surprised, she looked up and saw a man, a Jew, talking to her. How could it be? 

          “Why do you ask me for a drink?” she said. 

          “If you only understood the gift of God, you would be asking me for water, living water,” he answered. “The water you draw from the well quenches thirst temporarily, but I give water that takes away thirst entirely, becoming an endless spring within you.”

While leaning over and pulling up the bucket from far below, she thought about the depth of her disgrace. The daily drudgery of fetching water in the middle of the day. The despair of detachment from society. 

          “Oh sir, please give me the water you speak of. I’ll never be thirsty again. I won’t have to come here at midday to haul water.”

          “Then go get your husband,” He instructed. 

          “I have no husband,” she said. 

          “That’s right. You have no husband because you’ve had five husbands. And now you are living with one you are not even married to.”

          Ashamed and astonished, she began to wonder who this man was. How does he know this about me? Could he be a prophet? 

          She tried to throw him off by asking why Jews worship in Jerusalem and Samaritans worship at Mount Gerizim. He told her that one day it will not matter where one worships as long as the Father is worshipped through the spirit and in truth. The soul will recognize God’s worth and delight in the true worship of God.

          She responded, “I know Messiah will eventually come and explain these things to us.” 

          “I am the Messiah,” Jesus said. 

          Could this be true, she wondered, is the wait over? He certainly knows everything about me. She meditated on the possibility that the Messiah stood before her. 

          Shaking with amazement, she left her water jar and ran back to her village. Forgetting the hard work of fetching water. Living water refreshing her soul. Hurrying to tell the good news of the Christ, the Messiah, who knew her without having ever met her.  (John 4:1-30)

          Jesus Christ, the Messiah, knows each one of us just as He knew the Samaritan woman. He longs for us to know Him, to know of His truth and grace. Too many times we try to bury our sin, avoid the fallout, and pretend everything is okay. What a deep dry well we dig, working hard to make things better when in reality they only get worse. Before we know it, we’re constrained by a heavy burden and captive to our own disgrace. Not until we confess our sins to Jesus will we be set free from the pain it causes. Once forgiven, we too will drop what we’re doing and run to tell everyone the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

          Oh the joy of being known and yet pardoned of sin. Jesus had confronted this woman’s past, present, and future with truth and grace. He had met her where she was. Suddenly she faced her sin and delighted in receiving His favor. Shame and humiliation forgotten, she ran to tell others about the Messiah who knew her fully. He had called her to truth, and when she received Him, He granted grace. She stood refreshed from a spring of living water welling up inside of her, never to thirst again. 

          Are you pursuing a trove of earthly treasures? Or are you avoiding the result of those choices? Maybe you are fetching water that only temporarily quenches your thirst. 

          Look to the Messiah who yearns to quench your thirst permanently. Tell Him your troubles and receive His gracious mercy. The living water He offers will forever refresh your soul. 

His Name is Freedom

Standing under the canopy of blue skies and billowy clouds, I sense the vast space afforded me by our Creator God. Descriptive words—airy, expansive, immense, open, unconfined—achieve their purpose, and still the opportunity to experience such a spacious place fills me with indescribable delight. Breathing room. Elbow room. FREEDOM! 

Quite the opposite of an open space, the confines of four walls hem in. Breathing room diminishes to a corner. Tentacles of anxiety surround and suffocate. Worry plagues the mind. Angst sets in. And fear claims another captive.

The years of Covid–yes, we are nearing the close of a second year—have been anything but free. Sickness, confusion, and gloom have shrouded the world in darkness. Various forms of confinement have been forced upon us. Disease and death seem to have become the norm. Because of the polarization of the facts about the virus and its cure, people are more estranged than ever. Fear waxes while freedom wanes. 

Our generation is not the first to have experienced a plague. We’re not even the first people to be ruled by authoritarian leaders. From the beginning of time, every generation has faced trials and tribulations. The Israelites, known as God’s people in the Old Testament, encountered all types of ordeals. Just as they were increasing in number and thriving in Egypt, a new king, who knew nothing about their patriarch Joseph, came to power. The massive population of Israelites threatened this new authority figure. So he began to oppress them with forced labor. 

Subjugation, ill-treatment, persecution, tyrannical rule—the Israelites groaned in their slavery for hundreds of years. They cried out to God for help and eventually He sent them a deliverer named Moses. Through many miraculous acts of God, Moses was able to free the Israelites from Pharaoh’s rule. They walked on dry land between walls of water that had formed the Red Sea. As their captors chased them, the Israelites watched the walled water splash down around their enemies and drown them. The Lord had saved them. They celebrated freedom with songs of victory.

But freedom didn’t last. For generations, the Israelites lived in cycles of bondage and deliverance. When they faced adversity, the Israelites looked to God to send a deliverer. They longed for a messiah to rescue them. When the Messiah finally came to earth, many of God’s people overlooked him because they were seeking a military leader. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, entered the earth as a babe. God sent Jesus, His Son, to be the Savior of the world, to bring salvation to all who would believe in Him. 

At 30 years of age, He began His ministry with a proclamation. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18-19

And He went about completing His mission, preaching good news to the disenfranchised, giving sight to the blind, freeing people from oppression and captivity. All this was done under the religious eyes of the Jews and the tyrannical rule of Rome. Because these groups enjoyed power, they despised the freedom Jesus was spreading among the common folk. The authorities sought to quiet Him through physical death. Even though these authorities achieved that goal, it wouldn’t have happened if Jesus hadn’t willingly given His life to save humanity. After all, He was and still is God, and He came to earth as the final sacrifice for sinfulness. He offered His life to deliver us from the bonds of sin and death. His resurrection from death made a way for all who believe in Him to live eternally with Him and enjoy abundant life while on earth. 

Once the Holy Spirit had empowered the believers and followers of Christ Jesus, they discovered it didn’t matter what the authorities did to the body. Holy Spirit power through belief in Jesus had freed their spirits. He had rescued them from the fear of human power. Maybe their bodies were in chains, but their minds and souls enjoyed freedom by trusting in Him. 

Throughout the years and around the world, many people have suffered the pangs of captivity. The burdens of mental, physical, and spiritual restrictions have weighed heavily on the hearts, minds, and souls of humans, and it continues to this day. The confines of four walls, chains of captivity, oppression and affliction hem in people, suffocating them. 

““Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victim may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.”

— C. S. Lewis

No matter the persecution we may endure, our spirits can be unshackled through the power of Jesus. A heart’s desire is freedom and a wide open space offers breathing room, but true freedom only comes through belief in the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. He saves and delivers, extending peace and strength. When you believe and trust in God through Jesus, even if physically confined, nothing can exploit your spirit. If Jesus has set you free, you are free indeed.  

“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  ”

— John 8:36 (NLT)

Hope Fully

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)

          Hopefully, she’ll get better and be released from the hospital. Hopefully, their marriage will grow stronger. Hopefully, my prodigal child will return home. We hope for things to go well despite past experiences of shattered hope. When heartbreaking memories intensify, our utterances begin to express doubt that stem from wishful thinking. Uncertainty increases as confidence dwindles. 

          When I learned my dad had fallen ill and was placed in a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, we rushed to be by his side. Alarm, panic, dread, distress, worry—these emotions agitated my gut while tears dripped onto my shirt. Even though these sentiments obstructed most of my thinking, I hoped he would be healed and return home. But it wasn't to be. With life support pulled, death was inevitable. Hope faded as despair loomed. I promptly left my dad’s room in search of the hospital chapel. I needed time to pray and reset my thinking. 

          Sitting in the small chapel, I cried out to God. I thanked Him for my daddy’s salvation through Christ Jesus and pleaded with Him to peacefully carry him to his heavenly home. Quietly pondering God’s promises of salvation, my mind became fixed on eternal life. A peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) overwhelmed me, and even though tears continued to fall, I knew I could face the future with God’s help. Death has no power over those who belong to God. I would see my daddy again.    

          My thoughts then turned to Jesus’ disciples. What devastation they must have felt when they witnessed their beaten and bruised Friend and Messiah nailed to a cross. Any hope they had held onto dwindled as Jesus bled and died. What would they do? Where would they go? The days surely hung heavy with sorrow as they hid in horror and fear until news spread about an empty tomb. Some of the women who had followed Jesus were saying He had been restored to life, resurrected three days after His death. Can you imagine their uncertainty and astonishment? Several of Jesus’ disciples couldn’t run fast enough to see for themselves. Were they hopefully wishing all would be well?

          During the weeks after the resurrection, the risen Jesus appeared to His disciples causing them to reset their thinking. Their doubts turned to certainty, skepticism turned to trust. And when Christ returned to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to embolden His disciples, their confusion became complete confidence. Their hopefully had become hope fully, not wishful thinking but abiding hope. Their Savior and Friend had conquered death—He was alive. Because of their belief in the resurrected Savior, they could hold onto hope, a living hope. They would see Jesus again. 

          The certainty of new life through our Savior Jesus Christ changes wishes to fact. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God holds an imperishable inheritance in heaven for those who believe in the Savior. Yet while on earth, the believer can cling to living hope, the essence of faith in God through Jesus Christ.

          Even though the disciples suffered excruciating trials because of their faith, they placed their hope in the power of their resurrected Savior. They set their minds on Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to empower them to hope fully. 

          I carried immense sorrow into the chapel as my dad lay dying in his hospital room. But the Holy Spirit enabled me to walk out with stronger faith. As I set my mind on Jesus’ resurrection, God reminded me of the imperishable inheritance saved in heaven for both of us. I fixed my hope fully on eternal life. 

          Hope fully in the risen Savior Jesus Christ’s power over death. Hope fully in new life on earth with Jesus and eternal life in heaven with Him. Because we have a Savior who defeated death and rose to victory, we have a living hope. We don’t have to hopefully go to heaven when we die. With our minds set on Christ, we can hope fully on the finished work of Jesus, and receive an imperishable inheritance, waiting for us in heaven.

“God rewards fearless hopers with the fruit of their hope.”

— Chris Tiegreen

          All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

          So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT)

A New Thing

“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up;
do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. 
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

I'm stuck in the past and downcast. The trials of today draw my mind to former days when life seemed easier. Are you dwelling on times gone by instead of focusing on the present, the now? 

The year 2020 is about to be a memory, an impactful memory. It’s left devastation in its wake while replenishing each day with more uncertainty, fear, and hopelessness. Most of us long for the good ole days. Or we at least yearn for a change as we seek a better future. But what about today? What about now? What are we doing to make the most of our present? 

This year has sped by, but the days have dragged on. Trepidation, apprehension, and isolation have almost been established into our everyday routines. With many churches shut down, it appears hope is lost. The past materializes mentally as a divine dream while the present petrifies our day-to-day existence. The comfortable order of things has changed. Powerful people continually remind us to adjust to a new normal. We submit to fear and surrender to masks and quarantine. Anxiety blooms, worry flourishes, grumbling bears fruit, rotten fruit, and the will to thrive dies. The sight of our situation shakes our faith in an Almighty God. 

God’s chosen ones, the Israelites, also failed to recall the power of their Savior God. They had been enslaved in Egypt for over four hundred years. When the time was right, God delivered them from the injustices they had endured. He used Moses to lead His people out of slavery. God sent disease and death to cause the Egyptians to let His people go. As the Israelites fled Egypt, God parted the waters of the Red Sea, forming dry land for His people to cross over into safety. Those same waters swept away the enemies who had enslaved them. God’s people had witnessed a mighty miracle. It was then that they praised and worshipped their Savior God. 

Yet only three days later in the desert without water, they began to grumble against Moses and before God. “What are we to drink?” they whined. Oh how soon they forgot.

God performed another miracle through Moses as he threw a piece of wood into the water, turning it sweet. Imagine being a spectator of such supernatural phenomena. Wouldn’t your faith increase substantially? 

Because of God’s love for His people, He made a decree for them. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.” 
Exodus 15:26

God then added grace to His command. He provided springs of water surrounded by shade where His people could camp and rest for a while. What a faithful God.

But after traveling in the desert for a month, the Israelites began complaining again against Moses and before God. They said, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread until we were full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this entire assembly with hunger!”  Exodus 16:3

Were the Israelites stuck in the past, clinging to their slavery? Even though they had been removed from their brutal slave masters, they looked back to what seemed like a good thing. The comfort of routine, no matter how harsh, had become customary. But was it good? Were they allowing the wilderness in which they now walked cause them to forget the freedom they had gained by the hand of a Savior God?

“How quickly we forget God’s great deliverances in our lives.
How easily we take for granted the miracles He performed in our past.
~David Wilkerson”

We are no different than the Israelites walking in the desert. The stark reality of this pandemic called Covid has exposed, revealed, and uncovered abundant omissions about ourselves, our institutions, even the church. We believers have failed to heed the decree of our Lord, disregarding His spoken Word. Instead of standing up for God’s absolute truth, we’ve surrendered to the ever-changing morals and values of this land. Manmade religious traditions have enslaved us. Christianity in America has become casual, where only a crisis causes us to turn back to God. We’ve allowed the church to become a cruise ship instead of a battle ship. Our Heavenly Father never intended for us to have an apathetic relationship with Him. 

When God rescued the Israelites, He wanted them to rely solely on Him, to trust Him for daily protection and provision. He wants the same for us. Family and friends will disappoint us. The things of this earth will disappear. Religious and governmental leaders will let us down. But God never disappoints, disappears, or lets us down. He won’t fail us. He never changes. He, Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday and today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We can surely trust Him. 

Could it be possible that God has allowed disease and violence to restore in us a powerful prayer life? Deep faith in a trustworthy God will cause us to rely on His daily provision instead of looking back to what seemed comfortable. Why grumble about the presence of Covid, masks, lockdowns, and change. Instead choose to allow God to move us forward as He does a new thing.

Each day is a new day, another chance to begin again. God says to forget the former things, remember Him, and focus on the new thing He is doing right now. His mercies are new every morning. 
Isaiah 43:18-19, Lamentations 3:22-23

Do we have confidence in the power of Almighty God? Will we hear and follow His Word? Turn away from the deficiency of earthly things. Hope in the One who loved us enough to offer salvation in His Name, the Name of Jesus. Watch and wait expectantly for His new thing!

“God is not running an antique shop!
He is making all things new!
~Vance Havner”

“Trust the past to God’s mercy,
the present to God’s love,
and the future to God’s providence.
~St. Augustine”

May I?

He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may take refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and wall.  Psalm 91:4 (NASB)

“Mother May I” is a game for the ages. A group of players selects someone to be the Mother who faces away from the group. Her goal is to bring the players toward the finish line as equally as possible, hampering anyone in the lead. The goal of the players is to be the first one to reach the finish line and replace Mother. The players politely request they take various steps to move them closer to the end. Mother controls when and how they move. It takes quite a bit of maneuvering with some luck to reach the end and become Mother. 

God stands in sharp contrast to the image of Mother in this game. He watches over us (Psalm 33:113-14). He invites us to call to Him for answers (Jeremiah 33:3). He instructs us to follow Him (Matthew 4:19). He directs us to remain in Him (John 15:4). He longs for us to be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). And He promises He will provide refuge under His sheltering wings (Psalm 91:4). 

God loved us so much that He sacrificed His own life to free us from the bondage of wickedness. He died to set us free, yet He doesn’t force His will upon us. He allows us to choose whom we follow and serve. Even if we choose to go our own way, He waits with open arms for us to return to Him. 

Who knew that 2020 would usher in a plethora of struggles? Covid and death, fear and detachment, division and strife, distress and despair, suffering and sorrow, political rivalry, virtual reality—have I left anything out? During these many conflicts, I wonder where people sought help. Where did you go for help? Who or what do you trust to protect you?

Months ago while quarantining, I began to search for help. I opened my Bible to Psalm 91. An intensifying calm settled in my soul as I read each verse. I decided to read it again, but the fourth verse interrupted the flow. I needed to unravel the meaning. What I discovered has imprinted my mind with beautiful imagery—God is like a mother hen. 

Yes, God is like a mother hen where we can find shelter. Listen with your heart as you read these words: He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may take refuge.

The flight of birds, especially eagles, renders vigor. Their wings mirror strength. Scripture informs us that hope in the Lord renews our strength, like soaring on wings of eagles (Isaiah 40:31). The image of such a flight illustrates the power God supplies His people. 

But oh the surprising and yet comforting picture of a mother hen. The hen moves about in a big backyard near the chicken coop. Her little chicks are scattered and roaming all over. Suddenly a shadow flies over, resembling that of a hawk. The mother hen sees the danger, but doesn’t chase after her chicks. She simply expands her wings and clucks her warning sound. It’s the choice of the chicks to run to her for shelter. Once she is surrounded by chicks, she pulls her wings in close, tucking them close to her. If the hawk plans on getting the chicks, he must go through her first. What a beautiful illustration of Jesus’ love for us all. 

The depiction of the sheltering winged feathers of a mother hen exemplifies God’s protection and intimacy over us. He offers His help while allowing us the freedom to choose. He will cover us with His feathers where we may take refuge if we run to Him with faith, confessing with our mouths and believing in our hearts.

When Jesus walked the earth, He tried to warn the religious leaders about all the evil they were involved in. He reminded them how prophets had been sent to them with God’s truth. He loved even them and yearned to save them. But they chose not to take heed. His heart grieved as He spoke these words to them:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.”  Matthew 23:37 (NLT)

Father God loves us like a mother hen. He will shelter us under His strong arms, if we run to Him. We can find refuge under His wings, but it’s our choice. If we choose His protection, we can rest assured that any danger lurking nearby must contend with Him first. Secured under His wings, we gain trust in Him because He is faithful to His promises. 

20/20 Vision

“
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes.
Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored,
and he saw everything clearly.
Mark 8:25 (NIV)”

          Suppose you lived on a city street corner, a vagrant with no place to call home. The sounds of gathering crowds and the unpleasant smells of livestock daily pass you by. You begin to imagine what it would be like to take a look at your environment. But you know that will never happen because darkness engulfs you. You are blind.

          There was a blind man in Bethsaida. When news spread about the arrival of the Man who performed miracles, the blind man’s friends led Him to Jesus. The disciples and bystanders all watched as Jesus lay hands on the man’s eyes. Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

          The man said people appeared dim. He described them as trees walking around. Jesus again placed his hands on the man’s eyes. Immediately his sight was restored. His eyes were opened. He saw everything clearly. What a miracle to have experienced. 

          Earlier Jesus had initiated a tough discussion with His disciples after abundantly suppling bread and fish for a massive crowd of people. The bounty was so great that they had experienced an overflow. Following the massive meal, the disciples had picked up baskets full of leftover pieces. Jesus then warned the disciples of the yeast of religious leaders and the adherence to man’s ways. But they failed to understand Him. “Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?” Jesus asked.

          Throughout His cross-examination, Jesus tried to enlighten His disciples about God’s ways. Jesus, the Bread of Life, had supplied the needs of a hungry crowd and the disciples had witnessed the miracle. But the Pharisees tried to deny the supernatural event with requests of more signs. Jesus recognized the dangers of the religious elite’s unbelief circulating among His followers. Though He reminded the disciples of His divine power, He knew they misunderstood.

          Like a loving teacher who desires for His students to learn, Jesus closed the discussion with another miracle. He healed the blind man brought to Him in Bethsaida. After placing His hands on the man’s eyes twice, his vision was restored. He saw everything clearly. Did the disciples now see and understand?

           Again, suppose you encountered vision problems and your world began to grow dark. Would you follow the ways of man and allow fear to consume you? Or would you cling to faith in God even though you couldn’t see what stood in front of you? 

          I recently discovered that three of my friends grappled with eye disease. Struggling with cataracts and glacoma, all three needed surgery. I could only imagine the uncertainty they faced. Asking for prayer, these ladies resisted fear and clung to faith. And praise God, they’ve all had successful surgeries. 

          Are you burdened with a bodily disease? Or are you overloaded with dis-ease and difficulty from work and finances? Most likely Covid and its ramifications have stressed you to a maximum level. Has your focus been faith or fear? Can you hear Jesus saying, “Do you still not understand?” 

          After Jesus gave sight to the blind man, He continued on with His instruction to His disciples as they traveled to neighboring villages. Jesus asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

          Several of them offered various answers, but Peter said, “You are the Messiah.”

          What a declaration. It seems the disciples were finally developing eyes to see and ears to hear. Was truth beginning to be revealed?           

          How about your eyes and ears? Have the happenings of the year 2020 distracted you with fear and terror? Or have you been awakened to God’s powerful presence and His promised faithfulness? Jesus is the Bread of life. Everyone who is spiritually hungry will be satisfied by belief and trust in Him. 

          Focus on Jesus, the Bread of Life, the spiritual staple that fills hearts and souls. Look to Him and know He is God. With clear vision and receptive ears, grasp the truth of His words. And He will supply all your needs abundantly, even to an overflow.

Seeing is Believing

          “Do you still not understand? Do your eyes fail to see and your ears fail to hear?” Jesus asked His disciples as He attempted to warn them of the corrupt religious elite. “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod,” He declared. 

          Prior to that discussion, Jesus had miraculously fed 4000 people from several loaves of bread and some fish with an abundance of leftovers. The disciples were eye-witnesses to this supernatural event. After the miracle, Jesus began to speak about yeast. But the disciples became confused. They failed to notice the spiritual depth behind such a phenomenon. Have we too overlooked the wisdom God provides in His marvelous Word? Must it always be hindsight that clarifies God’s work in our lives? 

          Many years ago I sat alone on a back pew at a church concert. While enjoying the worship music, a Bible verse came to mind. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

          My daughter happened to be a senior when this seemingly overused Scripture verse became popular among high school graduates. I felt as if God had spoken it directly to me for my daughter. It brought me overwhelming peace. I left the concert joyfully trusting God’s promise for her life. 

          But when my daughter began making poor life choices, I forgot God’s words. I gave into fear. I shuddered with panic. Worry consumed me every single day month after month. When I finally regained my senses, I humbled myself in prayer before Almighty God. I cried out to Him in praise and He reminded me of our long-term relationship. He had proven Himself faithful throughout my entire life. He even miraculously restored me to health after a dangerous bout with clots in my lungs. How could I have allowed doubt to compromise my faith in Him? Why had I focused on life’s adversities instead of God’s victories?

          Hindsight is 20/20. Sometimes in our moment of discontent, we can’t see the forest for the trees. We get so wrapped up in the situations around us that we fail to see the bigger picture. We struggle in our troubles instead of first praying to an Omniscient God. El Roi, the God who sees, knows all about us, and yet we fail to see His power prevail over our suffering. We lose sight of Him until He’s all we have. When we return to Him in repentance, His light shines in the darkness and our vision clears. Finally we begin to acknowledge with clarity His faithful presence in our lives. 

          Have you found yourself riveted by fear this year? Have your eyes focused anywhere but God? There are certainly plenty of problems to pinpoint—pandemic, panic, isolation, violence, hatred, death, masks, cancel culture, personal struggles, no church gatherings. The problems of 2020 continue to intensify. Many of us are nearly undone with the weight of it all. And Jesus says to each of us, “Do your eyes fail to see and your ears fail to hear?”

          Just as Jesus warned His disciples of the yeast of the religious elite, I can hear Him questioning me for my lack of faith with the words of the apostle Paul. “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. A little yeast works though the whole batch of dough.”  (Galatians 5:7-9).

          The yeast of corruption has definitely escalated throughout our institutions. Control and overreach has restrained the lives of the masses while evil and lawlessness has flourished. Churches are shut down, fellowship and worship are frowned upon. And Jesus says, “Do you still not understand?”

          In this ninth month of the year 2020, where are our eyes focused? Are the maladies so tremendous that we fail to see what God is doing? Are we allowing our physical sight to outweigh our spiritual sight? 

          Mankind hungers for more than this world offers. Wandering souls long for the liberating authority of a Mighty God. And humanity desperately needs a Savior. I hope you’ll return next time to discover more of Him with me.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)”

Yeast of Corruption

““I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
~JESUS 

John 6:35 (NASB)”

          Boil. Foam. Bubble. Words that fashion in my mind’s eye a cauldron of evil. On second thought, I see a substance activated by water and flour. Combined with a few more ingredients, the dough doubles in size after several hours. Once baked, it yields a delicious staple. Fresh baked bread gives way to a mouthwatering experience, aromatic and appetizing.

          Jesus and bread seemed to go hand in hand throughout His time on earth. The New Testament testifies to the many times He talked about bread. He miraculously provided bread for hungry crowds. He called Himself the Bread of Life. Surprisingly He even discussed the active ingredient in bread. However, when he mentioned yeast, it had nothing to do with bread. God’s Word in the eighth chapter of Mark conveys some crucial eye-opening knowledge applicable for readers still today. 

          The chapter opens with a mighty miracle where Jesus fed a large hungry crowd after praying over several loaves of bread and a few fish. It’s a second account of Him miraculously feeding a colossal crowd from a meager source. The throng of people certainly enjoyed plenty of food as there were baskets overflowing with leftovers. Imagine witnessing such a phenomena. Think about how swiftly the news must have spread among the people. 

          Eventually reports of the supernatural event reached some Jewish leaders called Pharisees. Once they discovered Jesus’ location, they began questioning and testing Him. They demanded proof of His divine authority by requesting signs from heaven. They dismissed the power behind His miracles by challenging Jesus for more evidence. Because He recognized their unbelief, Jesus refused to grant them any information concerning His identity. He walked away from them and joined His disciples in a boat.

          As they sailed across the Sea of Galilee, Jesus warned His disciples of the yeast of the Pharisees. Yeast? The disciples assumed Jesus referred to the lack of bread for their trip as only one loaf had been stored in the boat. Could there be more to yeast than a loaf of bread?

          “Why are you talking about bread?” Jesus asked. “Do you not understand? Do your eyes fail to see and your ears fail to hear? Remember the two miracles? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”

          The disciples answered respectively, twelve and seven, but Jesus knew they failed to comprehend the meaning. They only grasped the concept of yeast in the physical sense. They were spiritually blind to the evil brew of the Pharisees and other leaders (Mark 8:14-21).

          The disciples recognized yeast as a fermenting agent used to make bread. Jesus equated yeast to an attitude of corruption. Think of the cauldron of evil—boil and bubble. The Pharisees had perverted their religion by making it exclusive to law keepers. As Jewish leaders, they had harnessed the people with many impossible rules to obey. By veiling the authenticity of Scripture, the religious elite had blinded the common folk to God’s truth. 

          Public opinion began changing when Jesus showed up, ministering to the masses and upsetting the methodical religion of the Jewish leaders. The crowds following Jesus increased and His divine authority exposed religious hypocrisy. The sanctimonious Pharisees seethed with anger and envy as their impact seemed to dwindle. Powerful leaders despise the freedom gained by people whose eyes have been opened to truth.

          Religion has burdened mankind with man-made rules for centuries. The law exposes sin and sometimes those in control dictate observance to laws through works, negating the work of Jesus on the cross. When the doctrines of denominations supersede faith in a self-sacrificing Savior, we become divided. Adding man’s way to God’s way is like adding water to yeast and watching the cauldron of corruption boil over into trouble. Eventually our fallen nature clouds our vision. Recognizing truth becomes nearly impossible.

“When the doctrines of denominations supersede faith in a self-sacrificing Savior, we become divided.”

          During the 60’s and 70’s, some American pastors preached fire and brimstone, the wrath of God against sinful souls. People left church services feeling shame and defeat. Surely good works would pave the way to heaven instead of hell. Eyes became veiled to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

          As a new generation grew into influence, various church services, along with the sermons, were redesigned to focus on grace, the cheap grace that minimizes sin. Comfortable with coffee described a regular Sunday at church. Again eyes became veiled to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

          Jesus the Messiah came to earth to demonstrate a holy life to His disciples and followers. Through His Word, He shows us all a better way of life, offering grace and mercy to repentant people. The truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ is for every single person who will believe in Him. He died an excruciating death, taking upon Himself the sins of the world while offering His righteousness to humankind. It’s a beautiful exchange that requires humble recognition and repentance of our own sinfulness. It is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

          Jesus the Savior is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He wants us to know His gospel and its liberating truth. He yearns to deliver us from the yeast of corruption that infiltrates the church and the world. He longs to rescue us from wickedness and free us from sin’s bondage. He desires for us to focus on Him, living as He lived, loving as He loved. 

          But what are we to do when we don’t know what is true? It seems the yeast of the Pharisees has spread throughout the ages. The cauldron of evil appears to have boiled over into our modern world. Have we been blinded to truth? Is it even possible to see clearly through the haze of confusion? How can we use discernment and make truth visible?

          Turn away from the yeast of corruption. Change your focus from man’s way to God’s way. And return next week to see more of God’s truth revealed. 

Before you go, share with me in the comment section below some of the ways God is revealing His truth to you.

Gratifying Personal Misconceptions

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NASB) 

          Winds of change blow through the atmosphere turning heads and tickling ears. Time-honored traditions deteriorate as people substitute personal principles for foundational beliefs. Truth is exchanged for lies. Creatures are worshipped rather than the Creator. And the world spins out of control while God waits with abundant grace for repentant hearts.

          In the beginning God spoke life and created everything good. He placed mankind in a plentiful garden to maintain and utilize, giving instructions that the fruit of only one tree was not to be consumed. But the Creator’s numerous blessings weren’t enough. Desiring more, Eve and Adam consented to a seductive voice. Temptation pricked their ears, enticed their hearts, and moved their hands and feet to act in direct contrast to God’s commands. Once they exchanged the Heavenly Father’s truth for the devil’s deceit, consequences engulfed them. Even so, God had a plan of redemption and waited with abundant grace for humanity’s repentance.

          In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal, the younger son wasn’t content living with a loving family on an enormous estate. He desired his inheritance and the pleasure it afforded. So he walked away from the fundamentals of home, choosing to satisfy his cravings. Eventually he found himself penniless, lost, and alone. At the same time, his father waited with open arms of abundant grace for his son’s return. 

          Ideologies come and go. Lifestyles are chosen. From flattery to foolery, compliments to compromise, temptations entice people. Men, women, and children satisfy itching ears by scratching them with the latest fascinations. Attractions, idolization, or devotion to anything but God strengthens as we allow what we see and hear to move us toward instant gratification. We want it, we want it our way, and we want it now. So we open ourselves up to current trends instead of standing firm on the bedrock of truth. In the mean time, God waits with abundant grace for our return.

          Led astray and away from our Creator’s absolute truth, we begin to see all things as relative to our personal perspective. In time we find ourselves drifting toward places we never thought we would go. To soothe the tension within ourselves, we seek like-minded people. God is pushed aside and we’re slowly swept away like shifting sand. For the time being, God waits with abundant grace for His creation to turn back to Him. 

          Are your ears itching? Is temptation pulling you away from the Heavenly Father’s sound commands? Turn back to God before it’s too late. You’ll find Him waiting for you with open arms full of abundant grace.

Do We Have to Die to Find Rest?

’Rest in peace’ placards dot roadsides where fatal accidents have occurred. Tombstones inscribed with those same words mark final resting places. Is rest only found in death? Can we rest in peace in the land of the living? 

Two months ago, I flew to California to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and their newborn, my grandson. Plans to stay a little while extended to five weeks. During that length of time, I observed my grandson’s growth. As his little body developed, he began to suffer from intestinal problems. 

Through no fault of his own, the poor baby squirmed, pushed, kicked, and cried. His discomfort displayed itself through restlessness. Eventually gas build-up in his body expelled itself in several ways. When released, he settled down to rest. And when he rested, his mother, father, and I enjoyed a quiet interval.

Watching my grandson’s restless kicking and crying conjured up images of an agitated society. I didn’t need to use much imagination as violent visions of chaos were splattered all over social media. The social distancing way of life due to the Covid virus had already instilled fear in folks. Worry had begun to plague the minds of persons separated from their nearest and dearest.

Like a virus, discontent has now spread through all walks of life. For months, alarm and anxiety has hovered over earth’s population. Between the unease of encountering a disease to the unrest of rebellion in city streets, humanity wreaks of weariness.

“I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, only turmoil.” 
Job 3:26

In some form or fashion, these words have most likely been proclaimed all over the world during the past several months. They were actually spoken by a Hebrew patriarch named Job to his three friends who tried to comfort him after disaster struck his household.

Scripture describes Job as the greatest man to live in a land located east of the Jordan River called Uz. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants. He had seven sons and three daughters. In one day, he lost it all, including his health. How did he survive such devastation? 

He suffered in stages, one day at a time. He reported his hardship as a continual churning inside his body, causing him daily to wake in agony. Most of us experiencing loss of any kind could understand his torment. And like anyone attempting to find answers, he eventually blamed both God and man. He wrestled with his past life, a life full of God’s blessings in which he had shared with others. He asserted his goodness. He detailed his thoughts through discourse after discourse of his former happiness, his loss of everything, and his innocence. Until God spoke.

“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”   Job 38:3

The wise and all-powerful Creator God asked Job where he was when the earth’s foundation was laid. He questioned Job about the workings of the entire universe. He interrogated him over the behaviors of animals and birds. God’s cross-examination broadened Job’s mind to everything in existence upon the earth. He lead Job to be conscious of more than his own life. Then the Lord said, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”   Job 40:1-2

Imagine the humility Job must have felt. He immediately expressed his unworthiness before God saying, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”   Job 40:4-5

Have we spewed too many complaints lately in the midst of a pandemic and massive violence? Are we continually asking God why? Do we talk more than listen? Maybe we need to sit still in quietness before an Almighty God. Possibly we need to ingest some humble pie. 

God is God and we are not. Who are we to assume His role in our lives or to even extract Him from our lives? Why do we blame Him for life’s adversities? Could it be He is ready to say to us, “Brace yourself like a woman, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”

Maybe God has given us over to the worldly things we desire. Possibly He wants us to be distressed enough to turn back to Him. He has plans to prosper us, not harm us, if we seek Him with our whole heart.* He desires for us to learn from Him and experience His rest when burdens plague us.* Will we listen to Him and obey His words? Or will we continue our self-absorption? 

Job met the One True God and humbly repented of his unworthiness. He gained spiritual understanding and a deeper faith as he walked a road of suffering. In due course his restless angst found peaceful rest in a God who loved him. 

Over the last several months, restlessness has settled in around us. We’re fatigued from the world’s troubles. Have we turned away from God or run to God? Are we listening for His answers or doing all the talking?

Be still and get to know God.* Listen to Him and learn of His wisdom. When you trust Him with your burdens and concerns, He will give you peace. No matter your circumstances, you will find rest for your souls. 

*For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

*“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

*He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. 
Jeremiah 31:25 ”

FREEDOM in Jesus' Name

“Freedom isn’t free” has been a motto for many military units. It’s an idiom expressing gratitude for the service of military members who risk their lives for others. It reminds us the path to liberty isn’t free. It proclaims freedom comes at a price. And it derives from love.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

America recently celebrated Independence Day. I imagine the shouts of freedom resounded with vigor throughout the new land over two centuries ago. But it resulted at a great price.

Over two thousand years ago, true freedom was presented to all of humanity, but it cost one Man His life. God, our Heavenly Father, because of His great love for mankind, sent His Son to earth to save any sinner* who would believe on the Name of Jesus. While on earth, Christ Jesus taught His followers about God’s truth. He proclaimed His mission before the Jewish leaders in the synagogue, reading from Isaiah 61:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. vs. 1-3

Good News. Freedom. Liberty. Comfort. Crowns instead of cinders. Gladness instead of grief. Praise instead of panic. Jesus brought the glory of the Lord to everyone. And we have the freedom to choose….. or not. 

To the Jews who chose to believe in Him, He said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31-32

Free. Freedom from the slavery of sin that entangles and snares.* Jesus came to save captives from the trappings of sin.* He said to His followers, “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Throughout His ministry, Jesus spoke to His disciples about salvation through His death and resurrection. Though He knew they didn’t fully understand, Jesus told His disciples not to be troubled. As they had believed in God, they were to believe also in HIm. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me,” He proclaimed. John 14:6

Jesus declared Himself the pathway to liberty through redemption in His Name. He came to earth to demonstrate the freedom found in the truth of God’s Word. He professed Himself the way to the Heavenly Father. 

When the time came for Him to exchange His righteousness for the sins of the world through death on a cross, He stood before Pilate answering the question of His kingship, proclaiming His mission fulfilled. Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37

TRUTH SPEAKS AND TRUTH HEARS!

Before He died, while gathered with His disciples, Jesus prayed for them and future believers. Jesus prayed for us! Pause for a moment and let these words of Christ fill your heart and become reality.

“I am not praying for these alone but also for the future believers who will come to me because of the testimony of these. My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me—the glorious unity of being one, as we are—I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one—so that the world will know you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me.”  John 17:20-23

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR PRAYING FOR ME!

Sisters and brothers, Jesus prayed for us. He died for us. His words to His followers are written down for us. They are as relevant today as in the past. When we believe in Jesus Christ and the truth of His Words, we find freedom. We discover His love and grace. We become one in Christ Jesus, united in God’s love.* 

Are you captive to earthly pursuits? Do the things of this world have you in a panic? Are you grieving the emptiness of this temporal life? 

Open your heart to God’s truth. Allow Christ Jesus to unite you to God’s love. Live in the freedom of God’s grace through Jesus. By accepting salvation in Jesus’ name, you will experience freedom. You will be set free. You will be free indeed. 

*Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

*Hebrews 12:1-3 (NASB)
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

*Galatians 5:1
It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 

*Psalm 133:1
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 

When Clouds Gather, Listen to Him

Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” Mark 9:7 (NASB)

A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”  Luke 9:35 (NIV)

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”  Matthew 17:5 (NIV)

Voices all over the world have uttered intense declarations during the last few months. The noise level seems to have reached fever pitch, especially in the United States. Covid, quarantine, masks, riots, protests, violence—these extreme experiences have generated enormous fear. Has the multitude of mouthpieces distracted us from the one voice that spoke all of nature into existence? The one voice that expresses deep love for all of His creation? 

Facts as well as fiction have rendered anxious hearts, causing panic and alarm. The more information we’ve heard, the more confused and distressed we’ve become. The only thing that seems to be certain is uncertainty. Earthly life is certainly unpredictable. 

Peter, James, and John possibility faced trepidation when they experienced a startling phenomenon. After traveling with Jesus to a high mountain, they stopped to gaze at the lush plots of green growth, patches of brown barrenness, and villages situated throughout the region below. Everything appeared tranquil until they witnessed Jesus radiantly glowing within a bright light. Before their eyes, Jesus was transfigured while conversing with Elijah and Moses. Wait a minute. Weren’t the prophets Elijah and Moses dead? 

Seeing Jesus in dazzling white array and speaking with apparitions had to be unnerving. As if that wasn’t enough, an immense cloud had formed around them as a thundering voice rumbled in their ears saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

What an encounter. It’s likely Peter, James, and John stood before Jesus, shaking with fear and trembling. What emotions erupted as an enormous cloud engulfed them? What thoughts transpired as that single thunderous voice trumpeted from the cloud? 

The initial fright experienced by Jesus’ disciples may resemble the recurring fears we’ve undergone the past few months. From one disturbance to another, we’ve faced many challenges. A multitude of voices carrying a medley of messages have contributed to mass confusion. But the disciples met the clarity of one message through the voice of their Heavenly Father. “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Prior to Jesus’ transfiguration, the disciples had seen Him perform miracles. Peter had declared Jesus to be the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Jesus had predicted His death. And He had informed them that in order to be His disciples, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. 

Imagine reasoning with those memories after seeing the transformation of their friend and teacher. Surely the event verified Jesus’ identity after God’s voice broadcasted His instruction from the cloud, “Listen to Him!”

Throughout Scripture, clouds have symbolized God’s presence, protection, and guidance over His people. God’s people, in turn, knew they should obey His instructions. Even if the disciples walked down that mountain with more questions than answers, they chose to follow the One who had called them. They decided to listen and obey.

In the midst of a pandemic and disastrous riots, are you listening to many voices or one voice? Are you making decisions based on society and culture or on the truth of God’s Word? 

The confusion of mixed messages from various voices distracts, causing disorder and chaos. Uncertainty increases and fosters fear. If the gathering clouds fill us with doubt, indecision, and angst, our lives will begin to unravel. 

On the contrary, a message of truth from one well defined voice provides clarity and peace. Assurance develops and faith strengthens. If we choose to believe God’s Word about a Savior who loved us enough to die for us, then those gathering clouds will remind us that God is near.

God is a God of order. He offers peace in a disorderly world. Pay attention to His voice through the reading of His Word. Hear Him when He says, “Jesus is my Son. Listen to Him!”

Will we allow dissenting voices to prick our ears or will we choose to listen and obey the voice of God? As Jesus has said, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.  James 1:22-25 (NIV)

“For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. 
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)”