An Apples to Oranges Comparison
Father, as we anticipate another wintery blast tonight after so many days enjoying the beauty of spring may we not be dependent on warmth anywhere but in Your presence. We find security in Your love and the sacrifice that enabled us to embrace it. Amen.
John 3:22-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
There is a pastoral acquaintance of mine whom I hold in the highest regard. He has been serving at a nice size church not too awful far away from where I am. He is young. He is creative. He has a charisma about him that makes people want to get on board and follow him wherever he may lead. He is inspirational in the way he leads his parish and to his fellow pastors…at least to me.
I would guess that I am 15 to 20 years his senior and though I have faithfully served my one church for almost twenty years, I’ve seen nothing take place as he has. In a lot of ways, it’s an apples to oranges comparison, and really it is not fair to even begin comparing them to each other.
He and I are different people with different gifts and abilities. Our congregations differ as well. It would be so easy to feel downhearted or, even worse, jealous of what he has accomplished in just a few years. But I don’t feel that way.
If anything, it brings me great joy to see him at his calling (I’ve watched a few of his virtual services). He is exuberant and in reality, it is contagious! It is exceedingly obvious that the Lord is with him. The genuineness of his faith in Christ exudes a glorious life that one cannot help but be drawn, too. I pray the Lord continues to fill and bless his ministry for years to come!
John was first on the scene, as well. At this point in his life, Jesus was moving forward with His calling and John’s ministry was shifting. Unbeknownst to him, very soon his life would be forfeit much in part because of his obedience to his calling.
But, please note, he most definitely was not discouraged and the green tinge of envy coloring nothing of his persona whatsoever. John’s reply when Jesus’ success was brought to his attention?
“No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” John 3:27-30 AMP
Lord Jesus, may we avoid feeding jealousy in our lives. May we instead focus on the calling You have given us and be filled with joy at the success You give to others. Each of us has our callings to fulfill! Amen.
Apr 20th, 2021, 7:55 pm
Light Needed
A beautiful day, oh Father, Creator of all! And to think I am so blessed as to be able to take part in it these moments – walking through Your vastly intricate handiwork! All praise to You!
John 3:19-21 (<<click here to read the passage)
I would really struggle at being the school bus driver I need to be if I attempted to do my job without a good flashlight. You may have never thought about it, but school bus drivers are at it way before the crack of dawn.
I don’t know if my schedule is typical, but I am up most mornings a little after 4:00 a.m., which is time enough to wake up, get ready, have a bite of breakfast, and then be at the bus compound by 5:30 or so. Even on the students’ last day of school this year, sunrise still won’t take place until 6:04 a.m.
So, when we go to prep our buses for the day (we call it a pre-trip) it is still dark. And we have to see all kinds of things under the hood alone. Without light, I can’t tell if the wiring is in good shape or if something has burned or broken. I can’t read the oil level on my dipstick. I can’t make sure steering fluid is at the correct level…just to name a couple of things we check every day before we take students anywhere!
Remember when we looked at John 1:4-5? And don’t forget the “Him” John is talking about, the Light he is referring to, is Jesus.
In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]. AMP
If a bus were a person, it would probably not like to be examined so closely on a regular basis. When something is found, it is poked and prodded until the issue is resolved. Just this year alone a few things on my bus have needed addressed – low coolant, wear on my fan belt, and seeing a consistent small decrease in oil level led our mechanics to find out that I need an O-ring replaced.
We don’t like it when others see our faults and our issues. It’s bad enough when they’re physical issues but most of us don’t volunteer to have a light brightly shone on our spiritual lives…but that is what Jesus, as the Light, does.
Here John helps us understand why we have issues
This is the judgment [that is, the cause for indictment, the test by which people are judged, the basis for the sentence]: the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For every wrongdoer hates the Light, and does not come to the Light [but shrinks from it] for fear that his [sinful, worthless] activities will be exposed and condemned. vs19-20 AMP
Then on the flip side, when we yield to Light shining on our lives, we accomplish what He wants for His Kingdom.
But whoever practices truth [and does what is right—morally, ethically, spiritually] comes to the Light, so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are—accomplished in God [divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence on Him].” v21 AMP
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Apr 19th, 2021, Mon, 7:09 pm
Flowers Along the Road
Father, what a blessing Sundays are. Time spent with family revitalizes and refreshes the soul. Thank You for being our companion and guide.
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Earlier this evening on our way home from Columbus, I veered off the direct route home to check out some wildflowers growing along the roadside that I had seen the last few days from my bus. I didn’t immediately recognize them from that high vantage point of my bus, and even when I stopped this evening to take a picture, it didn’t register what they were.
When I sat to write, I searched and found that they were wild phlox. They’re beautiful, aren’t they? Like most wildflowers, to my knowledge, no one planted them. No one has tended them. No one spread their seed or caused their root systems to spread. But wait…I stand corrected! No human being has done those things, but someone did set all of those things into motion.
Our magnificent Creator God did it all! Did we see Him do it? No. Did He tell us His plans? No. It all began before the human race had even come into existence!
The Old Testament Book of Job is considered one of the first written and no author is named. It is the story of a man wholly devoted to God. Satan, referred to as the Accuser, comes to God saying that the only reason Job is faithful is that he is abundantly blessed. God knows better but allows Job to be tested. Job loses his children, his riches, and his health…but he never loses his faith!
His “friends” try to accuse Job of some wrongdoing, for why else would he be allowed to suffer so? But he denies it and gives testimony to his faithfulness. He does cry out to God in his loss and hurt.
After the accusations are complete and Job has done his best to rebut them and has called out to God, God gives His response. Here is a portion of it but I would encourage you to read the entire 38th chapter of Job. (<<click the link to do so)
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
….Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions
….and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations,
….and who laid its cornerstone
as the morning stars sang together
….and all the angels shouted for joy? Job 38:4-7NLT
This passage is but one example of the mighty works of our God! Our finite minds cannot begin to fathom the greatness and glory of who He is and all that He has done.
A casual glance around us and it is obvious that all we see could not have happened by happenstance. As I searched for the name of these flowers, I saw picture after picture of the many wildflowers in the state of Ohio alone! And the world is replete with them! Every size, shape, color, and fragrance. There was no chance involved in their coming to be but there was the hand and mind of a great Creator! Give praise to Him this and every day! Not just for the flowers of the field but for His far-reaching love for you and me! Amen and amen!
Apr 18th, 2021, 8:07 pm
Perfect Timing
Father, thank You for Your presence that never leaves me. There is immeasurable comfort in that firmly established fact alone. I am grateful, too, for those who reached out with words of comfort and support. Please, bless them for their sensitivity to my needs and for acting on Your prompting to do so. Amen.
John 3:17-18 (<<click here to read the passage)
Do you ever question God’s timing? When we do, especially in our modern “instant gratification” culture, we seem to find Him acting too slowly for our expectations. But in truth His timing is perfect!
The Apostle Peter wrote in his second epistle,
Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 AMP
God “delays” or is “slow” to act because He loves us! And because of that love, He is [extraordinarily] patient toward us. Another word for patient is long-suffering. God has suffered for millennia because He holds us in the highest esteem despite our rebellion and wandering hearts. His greatest desire is not for us to perish because of those things but that in response to our repentance, He can enjoy an eternal relationship with us.
Today’s passage speaks of Jesus being sent into the world not as Judge but as Savior. At this point in time, we bring judgment upon ourselves by rejecting His salvation. But there will come a time in the not-too-distant future when Jesus will fulfill His appointed duty as judge of all—the living and the dead as Luke shares Peter’s proclamation in Acts 10:38-42.
And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. NLT
God’s timing, as always, is perfect. We may think of eternity as some “thing” of the future, but we all make the beginnings of eternity here and now. And as Scripture makes abundantly clear the choice is ours. Whether we will be welcomed into eternal life with God or cast into eternal death apart from Him is totally up to us. We bring judgment upon ourselves based upon our decisions in the here-and-now.
Lord Jesus, first and foremost thank You for the salvation which You have purchased for us with Your very life. May we see ourselves for who we truly are and turn from our wicked ways to follow You with all that we are. Amen!
Apr 15th, 2021, Thurs, 9:04 pm
Stop the World! I Want to Get Off!
Father, I am struggling. I simply pray for Your intervention and work in my heart and mind. Amen.
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I’m sure at some point you’ve heard the phrase, “Stop the world! I want to get off!” Well, I’m saying it and I just wish it were that easy! There are very few pieces of my life right now, that if I had a choice, I would continue to hold onto.
If you have read very many of my blog posts, you probably realize that I am very careful to only write from what I hold to be a Biblical perspective. I don’t take sides on things outside of that perspective. It is rare for me to share any political reference. I have never even really addressed things that many Christians hold to be overwhelmingly important. I diligently try to apply Biblical truth to life – everyday, ordinary life.
But our world is becoming more and more polarized on just about everything!
Some don’t spend any time on social media whatsoever, but you can’t post anything about anything without people taking sides. Things you would think everyone would like? Most do, but there is always a handful of people who don’t. I don’t know if they just want to be different and just always take the opposite opinion or what.
I would love to share what is tearing apart my world but doing so wouldn’t help. If I expressed my opinions, sides would be taken. Some would readily agree with my viewpoints, others would vehemently disagree and would gladly, readily say so. And once again, we would be polarized.
You should do that.
You can’t make me do that.
It would be for the best.
Not for me, it wouldn’t.
…and on and on and on.
You could guess what I am alluding to and you might be right. But honestly, it applies to more than just one thing. And the way I put it you don’t really know what side I would align myself with. So just pray…it would be much appreciated.
I am grieving and all the synonyms that run with it – mourning, heartbroken, distraught, anguished. I am on the precipice of making life-altering decisions. And unfortunately, regardless of what decisions are made, they will affect others as well.
I lay claim to the Apostle Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:6-7,
Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. AMP
Apr 14th, 2021, Wed, 7:59 pm