Have Questions? He’s Got the Answers!
A little later than normal, Father, but I would ask for Your hand on my shoulder as we come together this evening. Direct my thoughts and may I share Your word with whoever might observe it. Amen.
John 1:29-34 (<<click here to read the passage)
A struggle we all have when shopping for particular items is finding a knowledgeable associate. Having worked in retail for close to half my life I realize pretty quickly if the person helping us knows what they are talking about. The inexperienced can yap all they want but often their ignorance speaks much louder than their words.
J.T. was already working for Kohl’s when I came on board back in 2000. At the time he was a very knowledgeable and experienced head of maintenance. If anything needed to be addressed in the physical plant of our facility, he was the one to go to.
After a few years, they outsourced our maintenance and J.T. became the supervisor over the Home Department. Very quickly he became the go-to person over the merchandise in that entire area. Vacuums? Pillows? Electronics? He seemingly knew everything that needed to be known and if for some reason he didn’t, he was sure to find out in short order. When you needed something or advice on which way to go, J.T. was the man! He was the best person to go to for the answers to our questions.
In the opening line of today’s passage, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! v29 NLT
Reaching all the way back to Exodus in obedience to the Law a lamb was sacrificed every morning and evening (Exodus 29:38-42). Only the ones as perfect as possible were chosen to appease the Lord’s command. The penalty for sin was death, a life had to be given. For thousands of years, day after day, lambs had been sacrificed but not one of them could cover their sins but for a few hours.
But God had a plan, and it would fulfill all of His requirements in their entirety! To bring this about God himself had to choose the Lamb, and God’s Lamb was His one and only Son. No other sacrifice would suffice.
No matter how hard we try we are but novices. We may think we know everything but in the grand scheme of things we know next to nothing. So, to whom do we go when we need hard answers to all of life’s hard questions? We go to the One who knows all of the answers. Before we even knew the questions, He already knew the answers!
Lord Jesus, enable us to avoid wasting time trying to find the answers to life’s questions all on our own. No one but You will know how to help us because You alone are the answer! Amen!
Mar 4th, 2021, Thurs, 8:01 pm
A Gentleman Like No Other
Thank You for a productive day, Father. I was able to get quite a bit done with everything else going on. And thank You for the assistance given to do so.
John 1:24-28 (<<click here to read the passage)
One of the finest managers I had the privilege to work under at Kohl’s was a gentleman by the name of Roland. I know of no one who thought poorly of him. He was (and still is) well respected by all.
When I typed the word “gentleman” I felt compelled to look it up and came across an article in the Columbia (South Carolina) Metropolitan Magazine. It was entitled, Qualities of a Gentleman: Letters from refined Columbians and it fits Roland to a T.
My primary point to you is that a gentleman strives to excel as a person and provides kindness and respect toward others. He does this regardless whether it is beneficial for him to do so. He demonstrates humility and shows graciousness to all people and things. The gentleman puts others first before himself. Education, breeding and wealth are not necessary determinants of a gentleman. A gentleman is a man of character. The gentleman shows respect and a sense of pride in himself, e.g. health and appearance, but is not boastful or “wears it on his sleeve.” The gentleman personifies the total concept of chivalry, not just in manners, but also in knowing that there is “right and wrong.” The gentleman is willing to stand up for what is “right” and be willing to fight for it with his mind and/or body. A gentleman does not “play the fool” or act as a doormat. Some people do not understand how one can be both gracious and firm. A gentleman understands balance.
Another man that this could be said of was John the Baptist. Yes, he most definitely was quite a unique character, but these qualities fit him to a T, as well.
Before Jesus came on the scene, John had acquired quite the following, hence the arrival of representatives from the Pharisees. John could easily have been full of himself but absolutely everything he said and did showed submission and humility.
Take, for example, his statement when pressed answers as to why he did what he did.
“It is He [the preeminent One] who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie [even as His slave].” v27 AMP
First a definition of preeminent. Simply put it means surpassing all others. Jesus was preeminent – no one even came close. John wasn’t put off by the fact but made it very plain where he stood in relation to Jesus.
An Amplified Bible note had this to say regarding John’s statement about the sandal strap.
During this era it was customary for a household servant to remove a guest’s sandals and wash the dust from his feet. John is saying that he is not worthy even to remove Christ’s sandal, let alone to touch His feet.
Humility…isn’t it refreshing? You would think that pride would be a rarity at least in the church! …you would think…but it is not. There are most definitely gentlemen in the church but there are more than a few who are full of themselves.
The bane of the Church is pride. Another word for bane would be ruination. Nothing so readily tears down the Church as pride does. I have seen far too many “followers of me, myself, and I” in my life. They are the ones in charge. They are the ones who make the necessary decisions. Nothing can be done without their fingerprints on it.
How many lives have been shattered because people have followed the creation instead of the Creator?
Lord Jesus, may we follow the example of John. You alone are worthy. You are preeminent. May humility infuse all we say and do. Amen!
Mar 3rd, 2021, Wed, 7:01 pm
A Bark Worse Than a Bite
Father, I have every reason to rely on You. When I am shaky at best, You are solid as a rock. May I fall into Your almighty arms for You will surely get me through anything and everything I might come up against! Amen.
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Early on my elementary route, there are two stops across from each other. The first house has a German Shepherd (and a couple of other little dogs) and the other house has three Labradoodles. Inevitably when I pull up to the first house, the dogs are at it. I think the German Shepherd has been trained to not leave his yard and the Labradoodles have an invisible fence in theirs. But believe you me, that doesn’t stop communication between them. The one on the left holds his own with the three on the right – back and forth, bark, bark, bark!
I don’t know if they are just catching up with everything since their last meeting or if they’re giving a vocal defense of their territories.
How often do we “bark” at each other? (And my mind isn’t going down the path of friendly interaction here.) I’m pretty sure that I am not alone when it comes to “barking” at my loved ones on more than rare occasions. When we are close and familiar with those around us it is very easy to jump on easy targets. Things are said or done and we in turn “interpret’ them to mean such and such. How many times are they just things said and done with no offense or affront intended? But we are all over it with quick retaliation!
Or how about when we are tired – maybe totally worn out, even – and when things don’t go the way we think they should, it doesn’t take much for us to blow up and really, we are just blowing things way out of proportion! Many times there is non-stop “barking” with our “opposition” getting no opportunity to get a “bark” in sideways!
Thoughtfully take time to digests these verses from the book of Proverbs and see if, just maybe, your bark may be worse than your bite. (All passages are from the New Living Translation.)
With their words, the godless destroy their friends,
….but knowledge will rescue the righteous. Proverbs 11:9
It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;
….a sensible person keeps quiet. Proverbs 11:12
Your kindness will reward you,
….but your cruelty will destroy you. Proverbs 11:17
A gentle answer deflects anger,
….but harsh words make tempers flare. Proverbs 15:1
Gentle words are a tree of life;
….a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
Kind words are like honey—
….sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. Proverbs 16:24
Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
….the right words bring satisfaction. Proverbs 18:20
Telling lies about others
….is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
….or shooting them with a sharp arrow. Proverbs 25:18
Lord Jesus, may Psalm 141:3 be the prayer of our hearts today.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly]. AMP
Mar 2nd, 2021, Tues, 7:15 pm
Gotta Keep on Keepin’ On!
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
….your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Psalm 36:5 NLT
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I have sat here for 30 minutes and I am no further ahead than when I began. I’ve read through portions of John and, at least for tonight, nothing. I have looked through a couple of my books regarding hymns and again…nothing. In desperation, I looked back to this day 5 years ago when I was in the middle of Titus. As I backtracked to the beginning of my writing of that particular epistle of Paul it took me to my writings for January 11th, 2016. I wrote concerning Titus 1:1-4…
I am still struggling, and time is ticking away. I suppose I could compare myself to the island of Crete where Titus was sent to minister. The Good News had touched many lives but there was much to be done – to take numerous individuals all going different directions in life and attempting to bring them together as one body of believers would be the challenge.
Established mindsets are difficult to overcome. Even some who seemed solid in their determination to follow Christ would have issues with things that had long ago been laid to rest. As are we, the church is a living breathing organism. And as in any and every setting, the church continues to grow and decline, and mature and fall back. It is an ongoing endeavor both for the church and the individual to maintain their relationship with You, Lord, through all the many ups and downs. We kid ourselves if we think it doesn’t happen to us or that it only happens to us. All of us must continue to strive to keep our relationship with You alive and well. Jesus, You are there for us, You don’t give up on us, You forgive us when we fall but We are the ones who must decide to move forward – to not give up, but to advance.
Five years later that is still my plea. It has been a relatively short period of time, but our world has changed so much. I, too, have changed. No matter your take on COVID-19 we have all been impacted.
When I look back over the last year, I realized that our last date for “normal” worship was March 8th, 2020. Initially, I made attempts to contact people of my congregations but as time has gone on it has overwhelmed me. I have interacted with some, but my time seems to be taken with preparation for virtual services, writing, and work, as well as family responsibilities. I realize that I really need to reach out and interact with the people of my churches and they probably pray that I would.
Have you ever been in a position where you needed to tackle a big task but were stymied by the sheer volume of it all? You’ve held back not knowing where or how to start, so those roadblocks totally immobilize you. It is a difficult place to be.
Lord Jesus, my prayer from 5 years ago is appropriate in this time and place, too.
Lord, help me to keep in line with You – to not throw in the towel but to keep on, keeping on!
May it be so. Amen.
Mar 1st, 2021, Mon, 7:25 pm
Cleaning House!
It’s been one of those days, Father. I am weary of body, mind, and soul. Please guide and direct us in all we think, say, and do. May You control every aspect of it. We fall into Your hands of love, mercy, and wisdom. Amen.
John 1:19-28 (<<click here to read the passage)
Early in our marriage, I served as an associate pastor in southern Ohio. We lived in a simple duplex that sat behind a ranch-style home. Karen at one point was invited into the home and was shocked to find that it was so full of piled-high “stuff” that there was but a single path through a good part of the main living area!
Today we would think of them as hoarders. Many are held captive by that lifestyle. I see homes on my bus route where people of the same mindset live. We have extended family that at one point lived that way as well.
If someone of great importance to them were to say they were coming to visit them in their home, there would have to be an overwhelming amount of work for their visitors to even get into the house! Much more so for them to make it presentable for their guests.
Many people struggle in the same way when it comes to their souls. The clutter of the world and its many vices are piled high in their lives. When someone attempts to introduce them to Jesus they are just overwhelmed! They may realize their need for meeting Him but the work they would have to do to ready their “house” is too great to gain Him entry and they balk at the idea.
In today’s passage, John the Baptist, when asked who he was, right away said, “I am not the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed)! v20b
When pressed further, he also denied being Elijah or the [promised] Prophet. v21
The nation of Israel was eagerly expecting all of these characters but finally, in response to the religious leader’s query, John proclaimed,
“I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” v23 (quoting Isaiah 40:3)
My study Bible* points out that the religious leaders were demanding to know who John was, but John’s emphasis lay only in proclaiming why he had come! “Alright, boys! It’s time to clean house! There’s too much clutter!”
The [the preeminent One] – that is the expected Messiah! – was even then standing among them. But they did not recognize Him and though they thought they knew it all, knew nothing of Him whatsoever! v26
John was there at that moment in time specifically to ready the world for Jesus’ arrival. He was literally shouting in the wilderness for them to ready themselves for His coming. He’s not what you think. He’s really way beyond what you think He will be, but we’ve got to start somewhere…right?
Yes, it’s a starting point but in the bigger picture what we must grasp is that we have to accept what Jesus has come to do but He in His greatness will take care of cleaning our “house”. If there is any point of contention in the process it will be us letting Him do what needs to be done. So many things are deeply embedded into our hearts and minds and eliminating those things at the very least is uncomfortable and at most, it can be heart-wrenching.
Most importantly we must realize that He is there, not to hurt us, but to help us. He loves us beyond anything we can comprehend and has only our best interests in mind. Even those of us who have followed Him for many years can require a good “house” cleaning. As any homeowner can tell you, things often accumulate, and to regain use of our garage or that spare room, some hard decisions may have to be made.
Lord Jesus, help us not shy away from Your work in our lives. May we give ourselves over to Your will for our lives for Father knows best! Amen!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Feb 28th, 2021, Sun, 7:57 pm