April 2024 - Creation Beckons

Love As Jesus Loves

Ephesians 5:1,2 Love As Jesus Loves

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (NIV).

I came across this picture and was struck by a deficiency in my walk with the Lord. If I see the glacier as the love that God has poured into me and see the tickle of water flowing out from the glacier as the amount of his love that I allow to flow through me to others, I realize what a small amount of His love that I share. I should be overflowing with His love. I should not be able to hold it back. I, as a Christian, may be the only Bible that some people see. When I realize that, I know that it is my joy and responsibility to share the love of God with many.

We often think of the mission field as being in other continents, other countries, but there is a great mission field right in our neighborhoods, in our work places, and even in our families. When our lives mirror the love of Jesus Christ, we will draw many to Him. I’ve quoted this before, but it deserves repetition. I don’t know who first said it, but it speaks volumes: “Preach a sermon every day. When necessary, use words.” My life should be lived in a manner that reveals the love of God as shown through Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life for us. I don’t mean that I need to die on a cross as Christ did, but I do need to put more sacrifice in my life so that others can be blessed by my actions. God’s love and blessings are straining to gush forth. That’s his nature, and I need to incorporate it. I need to preach a sermon to someone today without using words.

Oh, just a note about glaciers. When a lot of water flows from a glacier, it usually gets smaller because the source has become less. Here’s where the analogy of this message breaks down. The source of love from Father God never decreases. In fact, the more we share His love, the more love He gives us. We can never outgive God, especially in love.

Justice from the Heart of God

Luke 18:6-8 Justice from the Heart of God

“Then the Master said, ‘Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think that God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?’”

The corrupt judge in the earlier part of this parable gave in to the persistent widow who kept badgering him with her plea for justice. Jesus assures His listeners that the Father will step in and gain justice for His people, particularly for those who are persistent in their prayers, asking Him for His help in granting justice. This is definitely an encouragement to keep on praying even when we haven’t yet been granted what we ask. There is a key word in this parable, and that word is “justice.” I don’t believe that we can use this parable as encouragement to continue to pray for just anything we may want or desire. It is specific to the quest for justice, for His help when we have been wronged. God is not the spendthrift gift-giver who gives gifts haphazardly. He always has purpose in His giving of gifts. He knows the difference between good gifts and bad gifts that may eventually bring harm. He, the omniscient God, certainly knows what is good for us and what is harmful to us. When we have been wronged and deserve justice, He will see that we get justice.

God’s ultimate judgment comes about when we die. If we have any sin listed in our account we will not be permitted in heaven. Wait a minute! I have sinned, and I don’t know anyone who hasn’t. You mean that I have no chance to get into heaven? No, that’s not quite true. What is true is that we have all sinned, and what is also true is that Jesus died on Calvary for our sins and arose three days later with victory for us because He had paid the debt for all our sins, and they are no longer listed in our accounts. So, I can spend eternity in heaven even if I have sinned? That’s right, as long as we have asked Jesus to forgive us for our sins and have accepted His sacrifice on our behalf and call Him Lord. So, God gives us more that the justice we deserve; He also gives us grace in the forgiveness of our sins. He provides justice for us here on earth and grace for eternity.

When Do I Need God’s Help?

Philippians 4:13 When Do I Need God’s Help?

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV).

I think we all like to quote Philippians 4:13, and we may even believe it almost all the time. It’s great to have the confidence that Jesus Christ is backing me up or even going before me to prepare the way so I can go through to victory. Do you ever have tasks to do, and think, “I don’t need God’s help. I can do this on my own.”? If we look at the picture above and know that we have to get from the foreground to beyond the imposing cliffs across the water, we may realize that we need God’s help. But when do we need it? “I can swim across the water on my own. I can walk over the rounded hills just across the water, but I think I need His help to get over the cliffs.” All of that may be true, but is it best for us to count on our own strength for the “easy” parts and reserve the request for God’s help for when we get to the hardest part? It will probably work that way, but I would like to have Jesus Christ beside me the whole journey. If there is unseen danger under the water, like a strong current, will I be able to swim against it? What if there are wild animals or serpents hidden in the foothills? I’d certainly like to have Jesus with me in those circumstances. Okay, it’s good to have His help for unseen dangers, but I think there’s a better reason to have the help of Jesus Christ for the entire journey. Any time I am with Him, I experience His love. It’s a much better experience when we walk with Him and talk with Him the whole time. Whenever I am in the great outdoors that He created, I like to know that the one who created all this is right with me, that He loves me enough to spend time with me during even the “easy” times of my life. Thank you, Lord, for being ever present.

A Season for Everything

Ecclesiastes 3:1 A Season for Everything

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens….” (NIV)

As a former teacher and a photographer, my seasons have been somewhat confused. Spring is a time of new birth as I witness trees sprout leaves, flowers begin to bloom, and even baby animals frolic through the fields, a great time for a photographer. Fall, on the other hand, is the beginning of a new school year, and as a teacher the excitement of a new group of students and sometimes a new subject to teach. The vibrant colors of the leaves as they change excite the photographer’s creative juices as much as the surging of spring.

Summertime is the time of preparation for me as a teacher to prepare for the coming school year, but it is also the time when we explore God’s beautiful creation. Of course the photographer in me enjoys the longer days, the lingering sunsets, and the stirring sunrises throughout this fantastic creative work of God.

During the winter many animals hibernate, the trees rest, but the teacher is hard at work plying his trade, the nurturing of young minds. The photographer deals with special challenges with light as the snow falls and confuses the camera, but many of my favorite photographs have been taken in this challenging time.

So, what does all this talk about teacher and photographers have to do with “a season for every activity under the heavens?” Annual seasons affect all of us in different ways according to our life situations, and lifetime seasons can easily be seen in each life. Is it time for me to reflect on my spiritual life, my life of work for our Lord, and see how productive or non-productive I have been so far? Is it time for me to realize that I may have wasted the time of preparation for the harvest? Will my harvest be as full as it could have or should have been? These are cogent questions, but we should rejoice over the lives we have affected for Christ, the lost we’ve helped find Jesus, the Christ followers we have helped grow, and the children, our own and others, we have nurtured with the faith. We know that the angels in heaven rejoice over every soul saved, that’s right EVERY ONE, none more so than any other. So, don’t be discouraged but rejoice with the angels whatever your season of life.

Wind-Blown Surf of Hawaii

Luke 8:23-25 Wind-Blown Surf of Hawaii

“As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.” (NIV)

The great storm scared the disciples, and they went to the rock that had sustained them many times before. There was a difference this time: they really believed they were going to drown. Jesus, as we easily see, had no fear as He spoke to the wind and the waves, knowing they had to obey Him. The disciples were astonished that the winds and waves subsided. They had been with Jesus and had seen Him perform miracles before, but in their panic they had forgotten.

Jesus was there, and He saved them in what was an obviously unruffled manner. From our perspective, several thousand years removed, we say, “Of course Jesus could and would save them.” Do I have the same perspective when storms arise in my life? Sure, I pray for Jesus to save me from the difficulty, but how many times have I wondered, “Will He really save me from this problem I brought on myself?” I need to collapse those two thousand years, look in Jesus’ eyes and believe. Jesus doesn’t ask who caused the problem, He just asks, “Can I help?” Actually, I should quote Jesus as saying, “I can help.”

Hidden? Found!

Deuteronomy29:29 Hidden? Found!

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (NIV).

If God has truly hidden something, we will not in any way see it. Some of the things that seem to be hidden can be seen and experienced. It just takes some effort. I believe that God expects us to search His Word to find blessings in order to help us grow. The waterfall shown above is in Grand Teton National Park, and it is called Hidden Falls. As can be seen, it is beautiful waterfall, and it is worth the effort it takes to view it. The search for Hidden Falls begins with a boat ride followed by a walk through the woods alongside a rushing roaring river. The trail narrows and steepens, and still no waterfalls even though it can be heard. Finally, a bend in the trail takes the hiker around a group of trees and Hidden Fall is no longer hidden. Its beauty is there for all to see, all that is who are willing to take the boat, the walk, and the hike.

Of those things that God reveals, some are easily seen, and others are revealed only after the seeker commits to a test set by God. The test is not set to keep us from seeing some deep deep secret. The test is designed to help us grow in our walk with Him. Salvation does not depend upon our submittance to a test or trial. It is available simply by request and an acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord. We can stop there and experience a perfectly wonderful eternity with Him in heaven. If we are willing to undergo trials, willing to strive to grow, and willing to accept the daily guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will reap great rewards in heaven. All of us are equally loved, but the reward of completing a task given by God is certainly to be desired.

No Fanfare Needed

Luke 17:23,24 No Fanfare Needed

“And they’ll say to you, ‘Look over there!’ or, ‘Look here!’ Don’t fall for that nonsense. The arrival of the Son of Man is not something you go out to see. He simply comes” (MSG).

What a marvelous day that will be! We are told to be on the watch for that day, expect it at any time, for all has been accomplished so that He can return for His Church at any time. It may be today, or it may be tomorrow, or it may be in 2035. We just need to be ready, for our Lord is coming back for us. I predict that there will be no fanfare leading up to His appearing. In Luke, chapter seventeen, it says “He simply comes.” No time to get ready at the last moment. The moment after the Father tells Jesus, “Go get your bride,” He will appear, and it will be too late to say, “Oh, I was meaning to accept Jesus at church last week, but I put it off for next Sunday. That’s okay, right?” The answer is simply, “No, you are too late for this gathering, but if you can accept Jesus during the coming times of abject evil, you will be welcome into the Kingdom then.”

I love the statement, “He simply comes.” His coming will be so spectacular that no fanfare will suffice or be needed. The Word says that all will see Him. His coming will be instantaneous, instantaneous everywhere. But, how can Jesus appear everywhere at the same time? How can He be seen on opposite sides of the earth at the same time? How can He be seen in the parts of the earth that are experiencing night time when he returns? Believe me, it will be bright everywhere, and I know that neither God nor Jesus is concerned about how He will be seen everywhere at the same time. They combined to create the universe. They are omniscient, omnipotent, and, as the Word says, they are omnipresent. Nothing is too hard for any member of our Triune God.

The big question, the important question is, “Will you be ready when He comes back for His Church? Will you be counted as one of His followers? Will God find your name in the Lamb’s Book of Life? It’s not too late right now. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, and then accept Him as Lord and Savior. Then you will join us for the most spectacular ride of your life on that day that He comes for His Church. See you on the way up!

Unseen Greatness

Psalm 16:8 Unseen Greatness

“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” (NLT)

There it is, right in front of you, right beside you. Do I mean the sunset? No, I mean the Grand Canyon. This picture was taken right at the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the most awesome canyon on earth, and we can’t see it. You have to take my word that the entire bottom half of the photograph includes the Grand Canyon with its wondrous features. The same can be said for the presence of our Lord; He is always with us, as David says above, but He is not visible. The question is, “Do I really believe He is there even if I can’t see Him? That’s why it is called faith. I must have faith that my Lord is with me always. How do I know that He is there? First of all, He says He is always there, and His word is His bond. If it isn’t true, He doesn’t say it. Second, when I have really needed Him, He has done something that lets me know that He is there. He brought my wife back from the brink of death in 2011. In the same situation, He kept her from having a tracheotomy by a means I wouldn’t have believed, and I’m sure some of you won’t believe even if I tell you. The day she was to have the tracheotomy, the gas line to the operating room broke; they couldn’t sterilize their equipment, so no operations were performed. The next day, Norma began to breathe better, and the trach was not needed. If you ask me if God is there even though we can’t see Him, my answer is a resounding, YES!

Thoughts to Ponder

1 Corinthians 2:11 Thoughts to Ponder

“For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (NIV).

This will not be long today, but if you will take some time to think about each statement or question, I assure you that it will be well worth the time spent. I have chosen eight thoughts to consider today.

Even on my worst day, when I am most ashamed of myself, Jesus still calls me His friend, and He speaks to the Father on my behalf.
Probably someone you love needs to hear you express that love today.
When Jesus returns, will I be glad to have Him see what I am doing?
God sent His best. Jesus gave His all. The least I can do is praise Him every day.
When I walk toward Christ, I walk away from sin.
Do you have a Christian heritage in your family? If so, thank God. If not, thank God that you are beginning one.
When the lines of communication between God and me are not clear, guess who is at fault, and guess who is ready, willing, and able to strengthen and re-establish the connection.
Lord, show me how to make a difference in someone’s life today.

I hope and pray that these thoughts will draw you closer to our Lord today.

God’s Story for Everyman

Jeremiah 29:11 God’s Story for Everyman

“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” (NIV).

Please read this as a personal devotional. The pronouns “I, me, my, and myself” refer to you as well as to me if you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.

God has a plan. God always had a plan. I AM PART OF THAT PLAN. WHAT A JOY!! Since I have accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, God has me for an inheritance. I’ve never thought of myself as an inheritance – particularly not one worth enough that someone would sacrifice His Son to gain.

When Christ returns, all things will come under His rule and control. It will all work together as God intended it to from the beginning. What a joy it will be to see how all science, art, business, philosophy, psychology, medicine, education, and administration will work together under God’s plan and Jesus’ rule. I have a part in that. There is a particular job to do, a job chosen for me by God – one that He has prepared for me specifically. It is exciting to know that I am a vital cog in the work of the Lord.

Lord, give me wisdom and strength to learn those things I need to learn to be an important part of your plan. Help me to put aside those things that hinder my development toward the person you want and need me to be. My need to be the person of your plan and purpose is paramount, and without your guidance and help I will not (cannot) fulfill the promise given to me. Lord, at this point I don’t know what you are preparing me for, but I yield to your wisdom and ask you to move my feet where I need to go, focus my mind on what I need to study, hold my heart to the journey, and give joy to my spirit as I walk with you. Thank you most of all for Jesus Christ who took my sins upon himself and paid my sin debt in full. He left my sins in a place I cannot go, so keep me from remembering them and returning to them. I have been cleansed and set free. Lord, I thank you for choosing me, for giving me purpose, and for preparing me for the work ahead. Praise, glory, and honor to the name of Jesus. Lord, speak to me whenever and wherever; interrupt me if need be; get my attention; and speak deeply into my heart so that I can understand your Word. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.