Push Back!
Sitting down to write this evening and these wonderful words came to mind. Thank You, Father, for inspiring the heart and mind of Fanny Crosby so long ago (1875)!
Ev’ry day, ev’ry hour
Let me feel thy cleansing pow’r;
May Thy tender love to me
Bind me closer, closer, Lord, to Thee.
John 15:18-27 (<<click here to read the passage)
As I read through these verses, I can’t help but think that, on a least some fronts, I’ve been going about it all wrong. Or maybe I should say, what I have done I may not have done strongly enough.
In the previous verses, Jesus expounded the importance of love from numerous angles. But here he blatantly speaks of hate. No one has ever loved us as much as He did. No one has ever sacrificed as much as He did, proving His love for us. He was literally the personification of love. His words, His actions all pointed to the reality of who He was and why He came.
As a faithful believer in Jesus and what He clearly proclaimed, I strive to love. I pray that my actions, despite my humanity, which inevitably taints those actions, overall communicates Jesus’ love for everyone with whom I come in contact.
But if I am truly following Jesus and make every effort to conform to His likeness, I’m not getting something right. I should love so strongly, as He did, that others would hate that love and for all of which it stands.
OK…my brain is hurting… How can we love to the point where it turns some people off? But it is painfully obvious throughout Jesus’ ministry, that He did just that! His goal was to show everyone the love of the Heavenly Father in everything He did. But the rub came when the truth of what he did and said didn’t gel with what they saw as truth.
And aren’t we called to do as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did? Paul admonishes us in Ephesians 4:15,
But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ. AMP
There are things being spouted as truth that I will stand up against, but at least for me, that’s a very hard thing to do. I’ll be the first to admit that I am by no means perfect and encourage anyone listening to what I say or reading what I write to check it out. If it doesn’t mesh with Biblical truth, call me out! I need to know! But am I as forthcoming with my challenges? Not nearly often enough. And in so doing, do I allow “false truth” to flourish and grow?
Yet…that is what Jesus did. He did not hold back. So many times, “false truth” was aggressively pushed by the religious leaders of His day…and Jesus pushed back! Jesus spoke the truth. He lived the truth. He was (and is!) the truth!
I cannot lay claims to those things, but I can lay claim to Him, for He surely lays claim to me! Jesus said in verse 19,
“…you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
Lord Jesus, this is becoming a reality in my mind. Help me with the utmost of love to make it a reality in my life and actions, as well. May I stand for Your truth and no one else’s! Amen.
Sept 29th, 2021, Wed, 6:06 pm
We Would Pray for Joy!
Father, it is overcast and unfortunately, it reflects the mindsets of many today. Help us to seek Your joy to fill us, may it seep through our cracks so that’s warmth and light may touch the lives of others. Amen.
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It seems that we are in an unprecedented time of despair and depression. Some held false hope that we had been through the worst of COVID…but that is not the case. Where in the past we have had some sense of unity in the midst of such things, this thing has brought division on multiple fronts. And one of our mainstays – the Church – has seen more division than I can recall it ever having before.
And that is just one of the many points of division that we find ourselves surrounded by…and there seems to be no escape.
Just a few days ago, I wrote of the joy we find in Jesus (Speed Bumps!) but I must admit I, along with many friends and family, are struggling. Everything seems to have piled up on us – it is overwhelming!
So, I went back and looked through some of the many posts on More Than Useless that have spoken of joy. And I thought I would share one from a few years back (and its picture, too!)
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The shepherd boy David, who became one of Israel’s greatest kings, was more than a shepherd, more than a warrior, more than a king, and he excelled at all of those things – he was also very gifted in expressing himself in his writings. Hear his inspired words recorded in Psalm 30:4-5,
Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!
Praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning. NLT
How often in life are our eyes downcast from the circumstances in which we find ourselves. I will agree that ofttimes our “weeping…through the night” may seem to last for an eternity. Many trials in this life overwhelm us – the passing of loved ones, crumbling of relationships, loss of jobs, shattering of dreams…need I go on?
It may never seem to end…but it does. The cold and rain do not last forever. “Joy comes with the morning” as the dismal, disheartening elements give way to the brightness and warmth of joy!
We most assuredly serve a mighty God. And regardless of the roads, we must travel, He is with us all the way. The portion of Hebrews 13:5 states,
“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” AMP
We are blessed beyond measure even in the midst of the storms of life. Again, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
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Lord Jesus, we come humbly before You. We need You, as we always do, but we would pray for joy! We know that You are there for us and have an unending supply for us. Help us to not look so much at where life finds us, but may we look at You. You are our hope and salvation! May it ever be! Amen.
Sept 28th, 2021, Tues, 12:35 pm
What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Father, weariness is still upon me and other things, some within my control and others beyond it, are impacting me as well. In it all may I focus on You, for that is most important! Amen.
John 15:12-17 (<<click here to read the passage)
If I asked if you have ever heard of Anna Mae Bullock, most would probably shake your head “no”. But that’s the name she was given at birth, not the name by which you would recognize her. If I asked if you had ever heard of Tina Turner, most would probably nod a solid “yes”. (By the way, in case you were wondering, in a couple of months, the good Lord willing, she’ll turn 82!)
I am not necessarily a fan, and her life, though admirable on many levels, would probably not be one we should emulate. The reason I mention her at all is because of a song with which she hit the top of the charts way back in 1984. Many of us are familiar with “What’s Love Got to Do with It”.
The chorus goes like this,
Oh-oh, what’s love got to do, got to do with it?
What’s love but a second-hand emotion?
What’s love got to do, got to do with it?
Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?
Well…I would beg to differ. Love has got everything to do with, not just “it”, but, well with everything! And there’s nothing second-hand about it! God’s love is the end-all answer to all of life’s questions if we will stop long enough to really give Him our total attention!
In the 49 verses between John 14:15-15:17, the word “love” in some form or another pops up about 20 times depending on the translation you’re reading. Being the Jesus is love personified, He’s got a lot of room to talk! He speaks of His love, the Father’s love, their love for us, our love for them, and our love for each other!
Jesus knew it was of the utmost importance that we understand it and not just think about it but live it! Remember a few verses back in John’s Gospel, He stressed,
“By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” John 13:35 AMP
But there’s the rub! We all have this unshakeable habit of looking out for Number One! Loving takes a lot of work, a lot of undivided attention and we are far too easily distracted by almost anything!
The last statement in this cluster of verses is simply,
This is my command: Love each other. v17 NLT
This [is what] I command you: that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another. v17 AMP
And what better way to wrap it all up with the greatest commandment in all of Scripture.
“…you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 NLT
So, what’s love got to do, got to do with it? Absolutely everything!
Sept 27th, 2021, Mon, 6:59 pm
Laying Down Our Lives
My life is an example to many,
….because you have been my strength and protection.
That is why I can never stop praising you;
….I declare your glory all day long. Psalm 71:7-8 NLT
John 15:12-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
Many have read this story before – it’s been around – and though it is a work of fiction, it drives home the point.
Many years ago, as a hospital volunteer, I got to know a lovely little girl who was suffering from a rare life-threatening disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had somehow survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
The doctor explained the situation to her little brother and asked him if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. He hesitated for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale, and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”
The little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood to save her.
If you’ve never read that story before, it can have quite an impact. Obviously, it impacted me. I read it years ago, but it was one of the first things to come to mind as I read through today’s passage. Here they are from the Amplified Bible.
“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.
The “no greater love…” portion of this passage is often used regarding first responders and those who serve in our military, and rightly so. They often are placed in positions where they willingly, knowingly put their lives on the line for others, many of them total strangers.
As I read through the notes of my study Bible, it stressed that laying our lives down for others does not have to mean that we may die in doing so…there are other ways to practice sacrificial love.*
Sacrificial love can be shown in any number of ways. Sometimes it takes a lot of patience and concerted effort just to listen…not just to hear, but to really listen.
Sometimes people need more than just what we have to say. This passage from 1 John 3:18 speaks volumes!
Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words]. AMP
How about encouraging? Our world is really bad about stepping on other’s feelings just because we can. People, especially on social media platforms, love to tromp all over someone else’s simple statements or cries for help. Putting ourselves out there for their defense may find us attacked as well…but isn’t it worth it?
And lastly, others may need the benefit of our giving. It could translate to monetary gifts, but it all might involve time, or energy, or even a voice of influence to change the course of events.
God can – and does! – use us in so many ways…if we will but let Him! May He inspire us to lay down our lives for others.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Sept 26th, 2021, Sun, 8:06 pm
Speed Bumps!
It has been a crazy week, Father, far from the norm! I give praise to You that I have come to the end of it relatively unscathed. But I also pray for those who are yet going through much more fearsome valleys than mine. Be with and touch them as only You can, Father. Amen.
John 15:9-11 (<<click here to read the passage)
During the busy autumn and spring sports seasons at our school, speed bumps are strategically placed in a couple of spots near our main sports fields. I would think that they accomplish what they are put in place to do, to slow traffic down through the center part of our campus. They are not on any of the roadways in the area but along the drive that links our three schools together.
Now one thing I will tell you, pretty much all of the bus drivers slow down as we come up to them. Being the type of vehicle it is school buses have shocks and leaf springs but, go too fast and you’d definitely feel those speed bumps! Another truth is that there are vehicles out there that you’d hardly notice going over them. The suspension is engineered so as not to feel all those bumps and potholes in the road. Karen’s mini-van rides a lot smoother than my little pick-up does. That’s the way they are built.
Give today’s passage a read.
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” NLT
When was the last time you went a whole week without a few speed bumps in the road of life? Most of us probably can’t even recall that last day that we didn’t have at least one!
Many days are we just cruising right along when right in the middle of the road pops up a huge speedbump! Out of the blue and there it is! And the standard equipment with which we are born does not include a very good suspension system. Our head hits the roof, and our rear end bottoms out where when we hit rock bottom.
That is far too often the case…but do you realize that when we allow Jesus to “take the wheel” if you please, that that package of fellowship includes a top-of-the-line suspension upgrade? It’s true! When we are in a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ, joy is included – and at no extra charge, I might add!
The ups and downs of life – speedbumps included! – are all too common. When things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance… When our lives are intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs.*
Our way will not be perfect by any means but when we allow Jesus to take the wheel, we will be filled with [His] joy. Yes, our joy will overflow! Lord Jesus, may it be so! Amen!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Sept 23rd, 2021, Thurs, 7:24 pm