Be the Victor!
Thank You, Father, for who You are and for who You made me to be. May I be ever striving to be that person. Amen.
Luke 18:1-8 (<<click here to read the passage)
Sometimes the best thing I can do is to put the Word out for us to take it in.
Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and had no respect for man. There was a [desperate] widow in that city and she kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice and legal protection from my adversary.’ For a time he would not; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and legal protection; otherwise by continually coming she [will be an intolerable annoyance and she] will wear me out.’” Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says! And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf? I tell you that He will defend and avenge them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?” AMP
As believers in Christ, it is important to be transparent. And so, I want to share from my own personal experience.
Up to the middle of this past August, I had been dealing with some personal issues on a couple of fronts. I didn’t like being controlled as I was. No one but myself was putting these things on me. I struggled under the weight of them. Off and on throughout my life, I have dealt with them. Sometimes I was powerful enough to not let them control me and other times they just ran me over and it was easier than fighting them.
But on August 17th I once again went to my Father, realizing that only in His strength, only with His wisdom, only with His mindset could I be the victor. So that was my prayer. And here it is almost two months later and in Him, I am conquering that which once trampled me underfoot!
As God has empowered me to overcome, so He can empower anyone! If we give ourselves over to Him, nothing – absolutely nothing – can separate us from his love (Romans 8:31-39<<click here to read the passage).
But, again from experience, we cannot give even the smallest of footholds to the enemy, be that the greater deceiver himself, or our own hearts and minds which are bent to sin and destruction. Every day when the thoughts that have overpowered me in the past begin to even peek around the corners of my mind, I stop them dead in their tracks by calling out to my Father…and He is there!
…will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on (our) behalf? I tell you that He will defend and avenge (us) quickly. v7 AMP
Each day I give myself over to God. It is truly the only possible way to overcome whatever wants to overtake and control us. Whatever we struggle with, God can enable us to be the victor!
My continued prayer for myself and you is that when Jesus – the Son of Man comes, that He will…find [this kind of persistent] faith in each of us! Amen!
Oct 14th, 2020, Wed, 12:18 pm
Fire and Rain
A psalm of praise to begin our time together, Father! All praise to You!
The Lord is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield;
My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him. Psalm 28:7 AMP
Luke 17:22-37 (<<click here to read the passage)
Many may think it strange but although I was a child of the 60s and 70s, I was an odd duck when it came to music. I don’t remember my dad saying I couldn’t listen to popular music of the day but in our home, beyond Gospel music, I remember listening to The Carpenters, Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass, The Lawrence Welk Show, lots of easy listening music, with a bit of classical music thrown in for good measure. Some of my fondest memories are of me and dad laying down in front of our big console stereo and starting a stack of albums with the volume turned up so that’s all we could hear!
Anyway, as I read this passage a song came to mind – and from an unusual source to boot! As I thought of rain and fire found in the verses, my mind flipped to a song in which those words factored in prominently. When I typed them into Google of course up popped James Taylor’s well-known hit, Fire and Rain. I was 7 years old when it was released but I remember several of my high school friends, about a decade later, being pretty big James Taylor fans.
So, once again, you’re probably thinking, “How in the world does this connect to what Jesus is saying in this passage?” Well, let me tell you!
In Jesus’ discourse, he speaks of the flood in Noah’s day (brought on by rain) and the destruction of Sodom (brought on by the rain of fire and burning sulfur). In both instances, calamity was brought upon mankind… judgment was brought upon mankind. When these events took place, life was going on as it seemingly always had.
…the people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage… v27 AMP
People were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building [carrying on business as usual, without regard for their sins] v28 AMP
For as verse 27 concludes, [they were indifferent to God]
That is a perpetual mentality for mankind. Many are indifferent to God throughout much of their lives.
Taylor’s inspiration for writing Fire and Rain fits in well here, too. Wikipedia says,
The first part of the song was about Taylor’s friend Suzanne, who died while he was in London working on his first album after being signed to Apple Records. Friends at home, concerned that it might distract Taylor from his big break, kept the tragic news from him and he found out six months later.
The second part details Taylor’s struggle to overcome drug addiction and depression.
The third part deals with coming to grips with fame and fortune, looking back at the road that got him to where he was at the time.
Life. Death. Struggles. Celebration. Perspective. We all experience these things – variations on a theme, for sure.
Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed. v30 NLT
But in verse 33 Jesus brings everything into focus.
Whoever seeks to save his life will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] will keep it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God] AMP
We for sure experience those variations on a theme, but most importantly amongst all the other things in life, we must focus on the most important thing – Christ and our relationship with Him. In the end, that is all that will really matter.
Oct 13th, 2020, Tues, 7:24 pm
Autumn Beauty
The virus is starting to make things crazy again, Father – not that that is a surprise to You! May we abide in You. May we think of others before ourselves. May we do everything we can to reflect Your love and light to the world around us. Amen.
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It was a cloudy day, but despite the lack of sunshine this is still a beautiful tree isn’t it? As I drove past it this morning heading out for my elementary route its stunning vibrance caught my eye. (And by the way, I didn’t take it from my bus! I drove back later in my truck.)
The first thing that went through my mind is that it would be absolutely gorgeous in my front yard! But can you tell me where it is growing? It is smack dab in the middle of an overgrown marshy area. The whole area is cattails and marsh grass. There is probably a spring in the area that feeds the pond on the other side of the road – but it obviously feeds the tree, too! An amazing display of autumn beauty!
In some ways, it hardly seems fair. We have a huge maple in our front yard, and it has more color this year than it ever has…some magnificently brilliant reds. But this other tree is breathtaking with all of its many hues of fiery orange!
The farmer across the way might be able to enjoy it while harvesting his soybeans and the house on the hill the other way might be able to see it. Motorists could admire its splendor if they happen to look that way as they zoom by. But otherwise there it sits.
But as I mulled these things over in my head, I became grateful that God placed that tree right where He did. It displays its radiance in a somewhat unexpected location. It was not crafted or shaped by any man; it just grew where a simple seedling fell. No one but God Himself can take credit for where it is and what it is.
How about you? You and that tree are very similar to one another! You are a magnificent example of His personal, hands-on creation. There is not another you in all the world! He made you just the way you are and placed you where you are. Never sell yourself short!
Take a moment and read through a psalm written by King David – a praise song to God!
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
…..and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
…..Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
…..as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
…..Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
…..before a single day had passed.
How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
…..They cannot be numbered! Psalm 139:13-17 NLT
Oct 12th, 2020, Mon, 5:03 pm
Lightning!
As I think back on this morning’s sermon, Father, may we all be diligent on being the light our world darkened by sin so desperately needs. May we shine brightly no matter how much the storm may howl around us! Amen.
Luke 17:22-25 (<<click here to read the passage)
In thinking about lightning storms, one huge storm, in particular, comes to mind. I had gone with a group of men from my wife’s home church to an event out of state. On our way home we ended up in the biggest thunderstorm I had ever been in and I’ve never been in one as bad since!
I truly don’t know how the driver even stayed on the road and moved forward. There was a constant flashing of blinding light and the incessant booming of thunder! And this was all accompanied by a relentless downpour of drenching rain! It was crazy!
To not have noticed what was going on around you would have had to be blind, deaf, and without nerves to feel for the whole experience was blinding, deafening and you feel the thunderous impact of sound as the lightning split through the night sky!
“For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man (a title Jesus used for himself) comes.” Luke 17:24 NLT
In a parallel passage of these words of Jesus found in Matthew’s Gospel, the commentary from my study Bible* made a profound statement regarding Jesus’ second coming. It said, “If you have to be told that the Messiah has come, then he hasn’t.”
Jesus admonished His followers in verse 23,
“People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them.” NLT
When Jesus returns – and He most assuredly will – we will all know. And ready…or not…that’s where we will find ourselves. May we all make our decisions now, while there is still time. When He returns, time will be up.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Oct 11th, 2020, Sun, 7:17 pm
Right Under My Very Nose
Thank You, Father, for being with me throughout the last several days. I feel Your active presence in my heart and mind. I pray for Your continued touch in every aspect of my life. Amen.
Luke 17:20-21 (<<click here to read the passage)
I am sure that I am not the only man, amongst the multitude of men, who occasionally struggles when it comes to my ability to find things in my home when asked by my wife to do so. She says it is in a certain place and I can look several times in that location and cannot for the life of me find it. She, in exasperation, walks over and quickly picks the item up, under my very nose! (I will say, though, that I did find the extra container of Miracle Whip yesterday, after I asked where it was! …and I’m sure that Karen would go, “Whoop-de-doo!”)
As I was thinking along these lines, I saw a meme on Pinterest that read, “Sweetie, of course I know where we keep everything in the house. I live here, remember? Said no husband ever.” Well! I resemble that remark!
Here is today’s passage.
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?”
Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” NLT
In the New Living Translation’s notes, it says that that last line “…is already among you.” can be translated as “…is already with you” or “…is already in your grasp.”
It’s like Jesus, in exasperation, is saying, “Guys! The Kingdom of God is right under your nose! And you don’t even see it for what it is!” Or more than likely there’s a good chance that they didn’t want to see it for what it was because it didn’t fit their idea of what it was supposed to look like or be like.
Unfortunately, we have that same tendency when seeking His Kingdom. Once again, my study Bible* makes a great observation.
The Kingdom of God…begins with the work of God’s Spirit in people’s lives and in relationships. We must resist looking to institutions or programs for evidence of the progress of God’s Kingdom. Instead, we should look for what God is doing in people’s hearts.
Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see where You are working in the world around us. And once we see Your Kingdom in action may we get on board without delay! Amen!
Oct 8th, 2020, Thurs, 7:46 pm
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation