I'm tired. It's 10:44 pm, and skipping-out on my bedtime prayer seems reasonable. But it doesn't seem right. My fleshly thoughts are reprimanded by experience. I've seen the power of prayer - words to being, heartcries to praise - so why don't I want to pray?
God's Promises.
What comes to your mind when you think of these two words? Maybe it's all of the things you can't see yet. The circumstances that didn't go the way that you'd thought they would. Often times, we have a negative connotation of these two words because we have a hard time embracing promises that seem like they'll never happen. Oh sorry, I forgot. Everything works perfectly in your life. You don't have any uncertainties and aren't waiting for anything from God. It's been a few days since April fool's day, but that would be considered a plain-out LIE! At least, it would have been a lie for Mary and Martha. Let's take a look at the Bible: A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.” But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this" (John 11:1-4). Did you see the bold text? The last two sentences from this piece of scripture is a promise. Not just any promise, though. God's Promise. But like you and me, Mary and Martha didn't see that promise when they thought they should have. The circumstances didn't go the way they had expected. And their connotation of those two words was getting a bit shaky! Why? Because... So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, he stayed where he was for the next two days. Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea” (V. 5-7). Wait! Scripture pause. God may not work according to your timing, but that doesn't mean he refuses to love you! All right, back to the Bible. But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?” Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him" (V. 8-15). Whoa! Now, let me get this straight. Jesus PROMISED that "...Lazarus's sickness will NOT end in death.." (V. 4). And now, he's dead! But let me tell you something. Jesus never promised Lazarus wouldn't die. He promised that in the end - eventually HE WOULD... Well, let me have the Bible tell the rest of the story: ...When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask” (V. 17-22). There it is! There is the doubt. The aggravation. The misunderstanding. I mean think about the last time you said, "Lord, if only you had______!" Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (V. 23-26). What about you? Do you believe that God is going to fulfill his promises in your life, even when you can't see them unfolding? Do you believe the promises, even though the circumstances make no sense? Martha did. “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” So Mary immediately went to him. Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept. The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” (V. 27-40). What if your empty faith is the only obstacle preventing the revelation of God's Promise? So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” (V. 41-44). Mary and Martha wanted a healing, but they got a resurrection. They got more than they asked for. They got more than they expected, despite the waiting, doubting, aggravation, and misunderstandings. God's plan for your life exceeds your expectations. When we think that God misses an opportunity, he shows us something more - something BETTER! While you are saying, "GOD WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" God is saying, "PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!" So instead of worrying and making "If only..." statements, get out the ice-cream and make a chocolate cake! It won't be long until you're celebrating! Prepare to be blown away by God's Promises! I felt selfish this morning. Here I am, on Twitter, following all kinds of random people for one reason: to get more followers.
You see, I began a Twitter account for Cross Words Ministries, and now I'm striving to reach out to as many people possible. I did the same thing a few weeks ago on Facebook. After setting-up a page for this ministry, I invited all of my friends to like it and encouraged others to spread the word. Sorry Instagram. Maybe sometime. Anyway, these types of actions make me feel selfish. They create within me this sense of "I'm doing it for me." It makes me feel horrible. I mean, I might-as-well get one of those "follower" apps on the App Store to get what I want. But, then again, perhaps that isn't what I want. Perhaps I just want to reach more people for Jesus Christ. I mean, there isn't anything wrong with reaching people for Jesus is there? "I press on to REACH the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us" (Philippians 3:14 NLT). "Jesus REACHED out and touched him. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be healed!' And instantly, the leprosy disappeared" (Luke 5:13). "All of this is for your benefit. And as God's grace REACHES more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory" (2 Corinthians 4:15). There isn't a problem with the desire to reach people for Jesus. However, there are three things that we all need to keep in mind as we do so. 1. We should strive to reach for the individuals in the group, not the group as a whole. As I've written and spoken blogs and devotionals, I've come across some interesting situations while reaching people for Christ. There have been times when I didn't get hardly any views, likes, or shares. However, ONE person that needs Jesus was greatly impacted. ONE person was affected. ONE person - spoken or unspoken - experienced God. And let me tell you something, ONE person coming closer to Christ makes every second of this ministry worth it! That's why I am giving you this first point to keep in mind while reaching people. As much as I'd like to see a thousand followers, 20 shares, and hundreds of likes, I would much rather see someone broken and hurting restored. Therefore, it is important that we strive to reach the group at an individual level. Individuals matter. Individuals are hurting. Individuals need redemption. Individuals - the ones that make the group - need Jesus. 2. The problem isn't reaching out, it is comparing your reach to someone else's. I struggle greatly with this. In fact, it is this very important part that I often miss while reaching people for Christ. How's come some ministries get millions of views on YouTube while I can't even get a hundred? How's come I only have 184 followers on Instagram while others have thousands? Millions? I wonder if the Facebook page will ever break 200 likes? Will my website ever get to where I want it. I mean, you should see how amazing______is! Okay. Maybe you don't compare your reach to someone else's the same way that I do. But have you ever said, "Wow! I wish I could preach like_____. Write like________. Live like________. Read the Bible like_______. Pray like_______. Sing like_______. Love like______. LIKE....LIKE...LIKE...it is a word of comparison. Comparison is the last thing you need while reaching people. The truth is simply this: since when have we decided that reaching people for Jesus is a competition? Many churches and ministries don't team-up because they are too busy comparing their successes of reaching people. WE ARE ON EACH OTHER'S TEAM, SO QUIT TRYING TO WIN! It's not about popular or personal gain. It's all about bringing people to Jesus. 3. Reach with the arm God has given you - on the platform he has called you to. There's nothing greater than embracing the platform that God has given you. Yeah, I said it! YOU HAVE A UNIQUE, GOD-GIVEN PLATFORM FOR YOUR MINISTRY TO GOD. He has called you to something ONLY YOU can COMPLETE. That means you are irreplaceable. If God didn't call you to be a pastor, don't be one. If God didn't call you to be in the military, don't join the military. If God didn't call you to Africa, it's okay. It is truly rewarding to reach with the arm (abilities, resources, gifts, talents) that God has given us on the platform (school, work, internet, social media, sports) that he has called us to. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). That's Jesus's Great Commission. He wants us TO REACH PEOPLE FOR THE KINGDOM. The key to living in an uncertain world is taking the steps in front of you that you know God has called you to take. What steps has God placed on your heart that still haven't been taken? What gifts, talents, and resources has God called you to use? As you strive to reach people for Jesus Christ, keep these three things in mind! They sure do make a difference! Have you ever walked-up to another person to give them a high-five, only to be left hanging? How do you feel? Perhaps you feel abandoned? Ignored? By-yourself? And eventually, you will just stop giving high-fives entirely because you feel it just doesn’t work anyway.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have felt prayer to leave me hanging. In fact, there have been prayers that I’ve lifted-up during the past year that have yet to come to pass. So I just keep waiting for that other hand. A response. An answer. Sadly, I often find myself being content to not pray. Maybe that’s why nearly every morning when I pull-out my prayer journal I want to groan. Maybe that’s why nearly every night before bed I’d rather just go to sleep. It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with God. Often times, I have no problem reading the Bible, writing blogs, preparing messages, and comprehending the miraculous journeys of Max Lucado and Bob Goff. I’d be happy to listen to Steven Furtick. And I am always beyond excited to go to church! But to pray? It’s interesting to me that I can so willingly post encouraging words on social media at 11:00 p.m. and so hesitantly pray before I close my eyes. We often base the success of our relationship with Jesus on the fruit that we see instead of the fruit that’s still growing and requires our faith. I quickly see the fruit of my social media posts. Before I fall asleep, I can see all of the notifications come across my lock screen, telling me of the people who have liked it and been influenced. It encourages me to see my entire day changed because of a verse in my leather Bible. I love to see blogs, devotionals, and sermon notes come together on a page. You know how exciting it is to see the impact of an author’s writing or a pastor’s words on my heart. And don’t even get me started on church! Talk about seeing God move! But prayer doesn’t always work that way. We pray and hear no answer. No response. So we feel left hanging by God. And perhaps worse of all, we see no fruit. This causes us to ask questions like, “Is prayer worthwhile?”; “Why pray?”; “Does God even listen? Care? Have ears?” “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not growing. Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it is any less powerful. We must walk by faith, not by sight. Interestingly enough, sometimes the unseen fruit only lacks our faith in order to come into sight. I love the story of Peter and John in Acts, chapter 3. It is here that we find a crippled beggar outside the Temple. Unable to walk, this man was placed “…beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple” (Acts 3:2 NLT). Then, here came Peter and John. The man asked these two disciples for some money, and Peter said, “’Look at us!’ The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, 'I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!'" (V. 5-6). And he did! I would beg to say that people had prayed for this man to be healed. In all likelihood, he prayed for himself. But I wonder if he would have never been healed had not a couple of disciples came along and used their faith in Christ to make the unseen fruit come into sight? Do you pray with the faith that God Can or the faith that God Will? Don’t get me wrong, the prayers that were lifted-up for this beggar were NOT worthless. God can do anything. No doubt about it! Matthew 19:26 says, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.'" I want to pray with more faith, fervency, and passion. I want to pray with the faith that if it be his desire, God will. This doesn’t mean we just get whatever we want; rather, it proclaims that we are walking by faith, not by sight. Jesus says, “You don’t have enough faith. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible” (Matthew 17:20). True faith, a faith that says, ‘God Will,’ not only involves an all-possible God, it makes an all-possible you. So does prayer leave us hanging? As much as we may wonder sometimes, I don’t believe it does. God definitely doesn’t leave us on our own. He never abandons us, ignores us, or refuses to hear our prayers. Instead, he just wants to develop our faith and trust in him. Don’t say Amen too fast. Give God time to talk too! Don’t doubt when you can’t see it. You may be only one faithful, God Will prayer away from something miraculous—just like Peter and John. And if not, keep proclaiming that God Will! A 2016 Kia Sorento occupies a space in the garage of a person I know.
Okay, Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “Duh! That’s what all cars do.” Let me rephrase that statement: It only occupies a space in the garage. It’s probably on its second tank of gas in five months of ownership! The wheels are spotless, the car is scratch-less, the engine—barely used—is powerless. Oh…okay! You thought that I meant the engine didn’t work. If that was the case, this whole situation would make sense. But it doesn’t. The potential is there, but the potential isn’t used. Instead, it just sits there—taking-up space and accomplishing nothing! That’s why the engine is powerless, ineffective, and potential-ridden. But NOT worthless. No sir! Definitely NOT worthless. I mean, anything that beautiful, expensive, and luxurious is NOT worthless. Why? Because someone paid for it. It’s sort-of like the Christian life. The car is your belief in God. It’s definitely wonderful. I mean, isn’t it awesome that this loving Father of ours sent his son to die for our sins? Believing in Jesus is beautiful and luxurious. AND it is NOT worthless. Christ paid an expensive price for you and I. But did you know that it can be powerless? It may not occupy the garage, but it occupies the pew on Sunday’s. What? You think I’m putting down church pews? No, I love pews and garages. It’s what’s occupies them that concerns me. Many people fall away from God and become spiritually powerless because they base their relationship solely on what Jesus DID instead of considering what the Spirit of God IS doing. Don't get me wrong, it's ALL because of Jesus, but he wasn't just an historic figure. He wants to work in you today! God isn’t done with you. It wasn’t his plan for you to find something amazing and let it sit in the garage. It wasn’t his plan for you to grasp ahold of what he purchased for you—freedom—and put it to no use. Jesus doesn’t just want to inhabit your heart; he wants to change your heart. He doesn’t just want to take a place in your life; he wants to be your life. There Is More to the Path. Don’t let something so grand, so life-changing and amazing lay dormant in your life. God doesn’t just want to get you to heaven, he wants you to enjoy his presence every day! “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6). Pick-up the keys—THE BIBLE! Get down on your knees and put air in the tires—PRAY! Open the garage door—YOUR HEART! God has great adventures awaiting you today. Heaven will be amazing, but so is today. Turn on some praise music, push on the gas pedal, and watch where God takes you. From dormant to Spirit-filled. From powerless to powerful. From ineffective to EFFECTIVE FOR THE KINGDOM. There Is More to the Path. There is more to your life. Throw away the mediocracy! This is life “more abundantly” (John 10:10). For as Brandon Heath says, “He’s Not Finished With Me Yet.” Paula Deen’s restaurant wasn't decorated like Thanksgiving should be—a cornucopia on the table; a turkey on the counter; and the oranges, yellows, whites, and reds that often accompany them. It surely wasn't cool outside, for the month of July in Savannah, Georgia, doesn't produce such weather. Part of the family was missing. Some were home, while others were flying back to Columbus to avoid their young kids the 14-hour drive from Disney World. But Thanksgiving doesn't always require those aspects to occur, especially after the blessing we restaurant attendees had seen that day.
We hadn't been on the road for an hour while traveling from Orlando to Savannah. It was during this time that we realized our cars—that is, my family’s and grandparent’s, needed gasoline. So we turned off on the exit and joined many other travelers on a multiple-lane road. Eventually, we came to a red light. Since the gas station was on the left side of the road, both of us stopped in the left turning lane. The intersection was so busy, however, that the drivers had the option of two different left turning lanes. Thankfully, both of us chose the left-most of the two. Slightly after making our turns, we heard the crash. Closely to where we had previously turned, a little black car sat hopelessly with flames and smoke overwhelming (bystanders were there to help). The truth is that this car took the other left turning lane beside us. I remembered looking out the right window of our blue mini van when we were at the intersection. A young woman drove that destroyed car. Had she not been there, or had we chosen that other left-turning lane, it would have likely been one of our cars in flames. My grandma gave us the reason for the accident: a truck across the intersection failed to stop at the stop light while we were turning. Shaken and greatly thankful it wasn't us, we said prayers of thanksgiving and prayers of intercession for that poor woman. We got back on the road to Savannah, and that’s how we had a July Thanksgiving at The Lady and Son’s. I will never forget this story, and you probably won’t ever forget similar occurrences in your life. But what if I gave you another? It will be much shorter, much less memorable, but definitely more common in both your life and mine. Yesterday, I had some awesome chicken for dinner. It had sour cream and cracker crumbs, and that baked-crisp that makes it all the more better. A baked potato joined it on the plate. There may have been something else, but I cannot remember. Why can I remember the wreck my family and I were saved from over a year ago and not the dinner I had last night? You see, when something life-changing and big happens, a lot of thanksgiving bursts from within us. However, what about the small things? Our excitement doesn't get nearly as high when just another day at the dinner table takes place. I mean, think about it. Did you even say “thank you” when you: got a new t-shirt from the mall? took the Whopper Jr. from the Burger King tray? purchased some great-smelling lotion from Bath and Body Works? passed the test? felt better from the infection? We just see these little items and occurrences as daily benefits. There isn't always a big “thank you” about them. There are likely no prayers of thanksgiving and feasts to celebrate. I mean, my goodness! We would be celebrating every single day—or, at least we hope so. I believe it is these little things that cause us to take so many blessings for granted. However, we aren't even guaranteed any of them. Whenever we take the common blessings for granted, we become so immune to them that we fail to recognize the true blessings they actually are. After all, it’s not common that you get saved from a car accident, but it is part of American life to be treated with a dinner and a new t-shirt. What does the Bible say about this subject? “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). “And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). So the next time something small comes your way, thank God for it. Besides, you never know how big it really is. Happy Thanksgiving 2015! Third Street looked like a spooky scene from a movie a few days ago. It was around seven o’clock in the morning, and fog rested freely on the town. I can witness this because I was there. The GPS watch on my left wrist and iPhone sleeve on my right arm were about to assist me in my run. Turning around wasn’t even an option in my mind, so I ran through it.
I know fog doesn’t harm anybody; therefore, running through it isn’t a big deal. I told you this short story because God gave me a word to share with you based on it. Truth is, you’ve been on a foggy road too. This word is for all of those who don’t have everything figured out. It is designed to be spoken to people of all ages who, despite hours of trying to understand, can’t find the answer. If that’s you, keep reading. The answer is on the road, but the fog prohibits you from seeing it. Everybody finds fog on their road of life. The important part is deciding what we will do about it. What will we do about the uncertainties of life? Answers vary tremendously. For instance, some people like to take a short cut. They believe they’ve found a way around all this uncertainty by getting to an answer faster. Notice that an answer isn’t always the answer. Short cuts often end where they began. Don’t be fooled. Some people decide to stop and quit hoping. Life they’ve tried to find for years just isn’t happening, so they assume it is alright to stay right where they’re at and never allow God to take their lives to new heights. It’s really sad to listen to somebody speaking about their own future when they have no dreams, no goals, and ultimately no intended purpose. Your life is valuable. It’s amazingly unique and special in every way. God wants to use you in ways that you think are impossible. Lastly, some people choose to turn around and walk back to where they started. They believe that following Jesus is too hard, so they go back to living by their own strength. They will still face uncertainty, for life is full of it. Truthfully, no human has the strength to live a life greater than the life God gives us. When following God, your story will be greater than you because it wasn’t you who wrote it. My encouragement to you this morning is simply this: Keep Walking. You and I will likely spend more time walking through life than running. Don’t give up. Don’t give in to temptations or short cuts. I want to leave you with some helpful words as you trust God on your uncertain walk of life. GOD KNOWS YOUR FUTURE. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” GOD DETERMINES YOUR STEPS. “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:19 NLT). TRUST HIM AND DON’T RELY ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Your perspective changes; God’s plan never will. YOUR FUTURE MATTERS. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). ASK GOD FOR DISCERNING WISDOM. What looks supportive could ultimately be destructive. Ask God for wisdom to avoid deception. God still cares, and he wants you to keep walking forward. Have a great Labor Day weekend! Maybe you don’t have an earthly father that you can go to, but I promise that your Heavenly Father is waiting for you to accept him.
God the Father still speaks, and the Bible does a good job backing-up this truth. “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God and the Word was God…So the word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son” (John 1:1, 14 NLT). There is no greater way to communicate than to be as near in truth and heart as possible, and that’s exactly what God did. He found it necessary enough to become like the human-beings he so faithfully loved. Through a manger in Bethlehem he appeared, fully human yet fully God. “No one has ever seen God. But the unique one [Jesus Christ], who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us” (John 1:18 NLT). And he still does. Ask an early-day Christian, and they would tell you the revelation of God. They experienced the sight of people being healed and listened as God’s son spoke directly to their lives. Today, God speaks through the sermons, Bible studies, encounters, and everyday situations. No matter how, when, and where God speaks, he has a message of hope in store for you. A few months ago, my earthly father made a very large impact on me with the words he said. He probably doesn’t remember them because they weren’t part of a big deal. But sometimes the small things fathers say heal, help, and guide their children. I had lost a school assignment that was due the next day. Losing patience from searching for this particular paper, I quickly became quite upset and stressed. So in midst of my pain and desperate searching, my dad decided to try and help me find the paper. In all honesty, my patience didn’t need another person in the room telling me things I already knew. Words like, “It wouldn’t be in there!” and “I can do this” were either leaving my mouth or dwelling within my mind. My mind was made up and my pride was set. And then, something happened. After following the advice of my father, I found what I needed to find. But I must say, I don’t know if this would have been possible if my dad didn’t pray first. God the Father did have a role in this, and he has a role in your life too. This article has two major purposes: to tell about the greatness of a father and how God the Father has been speaking to you. Soon after my dad helped me find the school assignment, I wrote down four stages of response that I visited. Truth is, although they may not be in perfect order for every person, many people go through these stages when God the Father speaks to them. Some may not go through them all. You Lose Patience This was the first stage I wrote down because it was the first I encountered. All of us have lost patience when a father speaks to us. We just can’t stand the advice. After all, we believe we can do it alone. But trust me, you can’t. This is true if your earthly father offers help or your Heavenly Father offers you salvation. Don’t turn them down for lack of patience. When your Father speaks, have some patience because their wisdom and direction will suit you well. Especially God’s. In Matthew chapter 13, Jesus speaks the Parable of the Four Soils. He talks of four different seeds that were put in four different soils. As he later explains, the seeds that were planted represent God’s word, and the soils represent what that message was either supported by or destroyed by in one’s life. The stage “You Lose Patience” is most like the seed that fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. “…The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died” (Matthew 13:5-6 NLT). God the Father speaks and pierces the heart, but you don’t have enough patience to withstand it. Therefore, they don’t have the patience to develop deep roots and withstand the problems or persecution that comes in their lives. People that seem to do as little as possible in their response to the Father are those that are likely to be in this stage. They are still saying, “I can do it alone.” You Strive to Finish Your Way Many people are stuck within the boundaries of this stage. They will spend the rest of their lives believing they are good enough—that is, good enough on their own to get to Heaven. But they don’t just believe it, they try to prove it. This is the proving stage. The Father in Heaven has spoken to you. But you know all too well than what he has to say. You feel like you can do it, and it is in your best interest to prove it to him. This is what I tried to do to my dad many weeks ago. However, I failed to prove anything. He was right. I was wrong. This is the same with God. He never has been wrong. The third seed and soil that Jesus talked about in Matthew 13 has most to do with this stage. He said, “Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants” (Matthew 13:7 NLT). Your way gets in the way of God’s, and God’s word gets choked. When Jesus explained this seed and soil, he said, “The seed that fell among the thorns represent those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced” (Matthew 13:22 NLT). When you feel you can make it on your own, do life your way, and believe that things of this world has little effect on you, God’s voice will be smothered and forgotten. You COULD Realize He is Right This can either be the awakening stage or the ignorance stage. We learn more about this in Matthew 13. Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” Jesus said, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. That is why I use parables, for they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand” (Matthew 13:10-13 NLT). During this stage, you realize there is something great about the Father. Some realize he is right. This is what I did with my earthly father. However, some are too ignorant or hard-hearted. Jesus even mentioned that they “look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand” (Matthew 13:13 NLT). They saw how Jesus healed, but they didn’t really see it. They heard his marvelous words but refused to listen. The choice is yours, even when the evidence is clear. Jesus said in Matthew, “As he scattered them [seeds] across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them” (Matthew 13:4 NLT). Jesus later explained what this meant when he said, “The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message of the kingdom and don’t understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches away the seed that was planted in their hearts” (Matthew 13:19 NLT). Let the seed take root and grow. Don’t let the devil snatch it away like those Jesus spoke of. You just got to dig deeper (Read the Bible, pray, ask for help). Have an open mind to what your Father spoke to you. You Truly Accept Him I pray that everyone would be able to truly accept the Father in Heaven. I chose to accept my earthly father after realizing what he did for me. The last seed and soil that Jesus spoke of is what goes best with this stage. He said, “Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Matthew 13:8 NLT). Jesus later explained this when he said, “The seed that fell on good soil represents those who truly hear and understand God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Matthew 13:23 NLT). Notice that God the Father doesn’t only want you to accept him. He wants you to produce fruit. That means he wants you to speak for him and proclaim the Good News of Jesus to others. That way, they can accept him too. By accepting Jesus, you become God’s child. John 1:12 says, “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” How will you respond when your Father in Heaven speaks? Don’t let grace take the back seat, and definitely don’t let it wear a seat belt. If it asks for permission to drive, say yes. Giving grace the keys will stop any weariness.
Don’t worry, grace drives slow. It may stop many times along the way, so don’t have a busy schedule. It will change your life if you just take the time to let it freely move. If it chooses to drive in the “wrong” lane, let it go. There are no limits to grace. And don’t even question grace if it drives in the wrong direction. Grace goes in many directions, all over the world. When the police begins chasing grace for breaking the law, don’t fret. Grace did break* the law, once for all time. And besides, I have a feeling grace would chase the police first. Just to make sure you are aware, grace doesn’t pass by any broken people. Broken people pass by grace. They, for whatever reason, find other ways to fill their broken lives. Warning: grace will make you laugh a lot. That’s right, grace is full of joy. When grace fully moves, there is no keeping it to yourself. Pray others truly see all that it is for them. And whatever you do, make sure nobody misses it. May they not die without it? For the word says, “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God…” (Hebrews 12:15 NLT). Wave them down if you have to. Trust me, grace will stop. “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people” (Titus 2:11 NLT). Believe in Jesus and live the life of grace he has provided. *(Romans 5:20-21 NLT) “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What comes to your mind when you think of a follower of Jesus? Are they "good" people who never sin or put people down? If so, I'm out. BUT that's not how it works. A Christian isn't a perfect person who is always polite and loving. In fact, a follower of Jesus recognizes they simply aren't good enough to live up to the high standard of living that God desires. I am going to tell of two encounters within this short blog. They are both people who have had problems with understanding how a sinner could ever be good enough in living the life God wants.
Number 1: Just last week, I heard someone say words similar to these: "I believe in God, but I am not good enough at living for God." Number 2: This one occurs within the gospel of Luke. In chapter 18, it says this: "Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: 'Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?' 'Why do you call me good?' Jesus asked him. 'Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: -You must not commit adultery. -You must not murder. -You must not steal. -You must not testify falsely. -Honor your father and mother' The man replied, 'I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young.' When Jesus heard his answer, he said, 'There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me'" (Luke 18:18-22 NLT). Did you notice how Jesus went through that checklist? The man passed...almost. I believe it is very important for us to realize how this man, despite a few checkmarks, wasn't good enough. In the New King James Version, Jesus' reply to the man's obedience says this: “You still lack one thing...” (Luke 18:22 NKJV). Or perhaps in your life it's multiple things, multiple weaknesses that keep you from being the "good" boy or girl that Christianity requires...right? Actually, it doesn't. Let's look more at this Bible story: "But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. When Jesus saw this, he said, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter into the Kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! '"(Luke 18:23-25 NLT) So the man realized that the enormous weakness he had wasn't going to be easy to overcome. Perhaps his sadness came from the fact of not being good enough unless... But wait! There is more to the story. In fact, some of the people around Jesus began to wonder how a man like that is ever going to be able to win against such a strong weakness. Let's return to the Bible story at verse 26: "Those who heard this said, 'Then who in the world can be saved?' He [Jesus] replied, 'What is impossible for people is possible with God’ (Luke 18:26-27 NLT). As human beings, it is impossible to be good enough. Romans 3:23 says, "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." It doesn't matter if it's from the life of a man who lived during the time of Jesus or just an ordinary person today. Two encounters...two "I am not good enough’s." But Jesus didn't stop there. He said that the things impossible to man is possible to God! And in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul tells of these words from the Lord, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” This is such an important piece to the puzzle. So does this mean God makes us good enough? Well, it began about 2,000 years ago on a hill. It was there that a man named Jesus took upon himself the cross, so we wouldn't have to. Because we aren't able to be good enough, Jesus made us a way. In John 17:19, Jesus says, "And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth." Jesus made a way for us to inherit eternal life. If you remember, this is what the rich man from Luke 18 asked Jesus about, only to realize that his own strength wasn't good enough. Indeed it wasn't, and neither is mine or yours. But one thing is for sure: Jesus Is Enough. So the next time you don't feel like the "good" person God desires of you, take heart and remember that none of us is good enough. Only Jesus is. It is only because of him that any person can make it into heaven. The next time you see a Christian, I challenge you to consider a few things: 1) They aren't good enough for heaven. They are unworthy of being associated with Jesus, but they can because Jesus died for them and then rose to life from death. Because of this, he made another way to God for anyone who desires. 2) The good actions aren't something you have to have before becoming a Christian. In fact, following Jesus requires imperfect people so God, through the sacrifice of his son, can make you right in his sight. 3) Christians aren't perfect. They make mistakes. Jesus didn't make people good enough in and of themselves; instead, he is enough! And those who follow him should seek him continuously. 4) He is good enough for you! No matter how hard you try, there will always be something you lack. That is why you need to quit focusing on how good you are and realize Jesus is good enough. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, Jesus is enough for you! |