A Bit of a Hiatus
There is a lot going on in the next few days, so I am going to take a bit of a hiatus from writing. I will be back soon. There are many posts to look back on – my first posts were in June of 2015. Just click on morethanuseless.com to access my archives. There is a “Search” button on the top right corner of the page. Type in a topic or a passage of Scripture – if I’ve written about it, it should bring up possible titles. There is also an “Archives” button partway down on the far right column where you can select posts from past months and years.
Have a blessed week and I will see you in the near future!
Dec 8th, 2020, Tues, 11:01 pm
Enough to Pull Your Hair Out!
It was a different kind of day, Father. I am repeatedly reminded that there is lots of room for improvement in my life. I am grateful that You don’t give up on me. May I not give up on myself. You are there to encourage and guide me all along the way. Praise Your Holy Name!
Luke 22:24-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
Driving a school bus during this difficult time has added a new line of rhetoric to my long list of phrases that commonly spew forth from my mouth to spur my passengers to behave in a safe a becoming manner as they ride. Phrases like, “Stay in your seats,” “Stay out of the aisles,” and “Please, don’t lick the windows!” are now joined by “Get your mask up!”
They have to keep their masks on as they ride to and from school. Masks do not work (and I won’t say as well but at all!) when worn on their chins! You would think that after hearing me repeat the command over and over again for the last three months that I wouldn’t have to reiterate it ever again…but like with all the other rules they like to ignore on the bus that’s exactly what I have to do! It’s enough to make me pull my hair out!
I don’t have to tell my middle school and high school students not to lick the windows, so they can learn but often I have to keep on them about staying in their seats!
I am surprised that Jesus wasn’t bald… After all the many hours…the days – literally three years He had spent with His disciples, it seems they had learned nothing at all! But, though from a human viewpoint He may have had reason to, He never gave up on them but kept steering them in the right direction. Eventually, the disciples did learn to follow Him in the way they needed to.
Beginning with verse 25,
Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles have absolute power and lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not to be this way with you; on the contrary, the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest [and least privileged], and the [one who is the] leader, like the servant. For who is the greater…” AMP
Or as the New Living Translation says, “Who is more important…”
…the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at the table? v25-27 AMP
And I love what New Living Translation interjects here… “But not here!”
Then He pointedly exclaims, “But I am among you as the one who serves.” v27 AMP
John’s Gospel (John 13:4-17) mentions a very important element of their time together in the Upper Room. He shares the details of Jesus’ act of service. The God of all creation took upon Himself the lowly task of washing the disciples’ feet! This task was reserved for the lowliest of servants, but Jesus humbled Himself and tenderly washed every single dusty, grimy foot…even the feet of the one who in a few short hours would betray Him.
As followers of Christ, we are to serve. Our goal is not to get to the top of the heap, but it should be to lift others up as we labor at the bottom to do what we can to love and touch the lives of those considered most unlovely.
We relinquish any “rights” we may have to do what Jesus has called us to do. And not just in the Church, but in the lives of everyone, big and small alike. May it be so, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Dec 7th, 2020, Mon, 9:19 pm
Silence…
Father, I am grateful for our relationship. It is further down the road than we have ever been. It seems that for a very long time I was trapped in a never-ending cycle of struggle – defeating struggle. I can’t say things don’t come to mind of my past struggles but, Father, because of our relationship, I am able to stand firm. And when I am tempted, I call out to You…and You are there. Every. Single. Time. I realize that my journey is not over…but, Father, I praise You for my victory and for the promise and the hope that I can only find in You!
Matthew 27:11-14 (<<click to read the passage)
Reading this passage made me think of an old Spiritual, He Never Said a Mumbalin’ Word. There is a lot of history behind the song itself but His story is so, so much more important.
In reality, we are just at the beginning of many hours of what has become known as Christ’s passion – the beatings, the crown of thorns, the whipping, the nails driven into his hands and feet, the spear thrust in His side.
What would our response to any of these things be? Anger? Cursing? Crying out? Whatever they may be, our first response would probably not have…silence.
“Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they are testifying against You?” But Jesus did not reply to him, not even to a single accusation, so that the governor was greatly astonished.
Jesus had spoken…many times and they had not listened. His words would make no difference to the outcome now…and He knew it. Now he lived out His love…it’s what He had come to do… AMP
Lord, as we enter this season of celebrating Your birth may we never lose sight of why You came. Amen.
If you’d like to ponder this just a bit more, click on the link below. It is simple. It is beautiful. It tells His story…
Dec 6th, 2018, Thurs, 8:30 pm
Do Our Words and Actions Match?
A very full day of normal things, Father, but it has still worn be out! May our time tonight be productive in a way that would bring glory to You. Amen.
Luke 22:21-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
Not too long ago we grabbed a bite at one of our favorite eateries, Skyline Chili. We don’t go there too often anymore but it was a treat!
Shortly before we left a family of 6 came and sat in the booth behind us. We were in the last booth on one wall and they were in the last booth on the other wall so I could plainly see their interactions.
The father was a big burly man and I quickly saw that he was in charge…and not in a nice way. Before they all got situated, very quietly he spoke to the oldest child, a boy. He spoke softly but I could tell from the boy’s flinching that what was being said normally came with physical contact – not a hug but probably a slap.
As they got seated the father made the boy move to the other side of the booth while he got a highchair for the youngest child. Before the server even made it to the table, he laid into the oldest boy again – once more it was in a voice just above a whisper, but the boy’s face communicated that he was being berated. His eyes were downcast in shame. And reading the father’s lips, he was ready to drag them all out of the restaurant right there and then. The whole time, the mother’s eyes were downcast, and her face was straight but strained. The server saved the day by her arrival and things seemed to settle after that.
It was a very disturbing interaction and it was not the least bit surprising that when the server arrived, the father was all smiley and jovial, even, as if nothing at all was wrong with his “happy” little family.
How often do our words and our actions not match? Others see one thing and reality is something totally different…and most distressingly it may very well be something so very wrong.
Jesus reclined at this last supper with those whom many would have called his closest friends, and many were…but one was a traitor. The traitor knew it. Jesus knew it. But none of the others had a clue.
Read what my study Bible* had to say about Mark 14:19 (a parallel to today’s passage).
“It is easy to become enraged or shocked by what Judas did; yet professing commitment to Christ and then denying him with one’s life is also betraying him. It is denying Christ’s love to disobey him; it is denying his truth to distrust him; it is denying his deity to reject his authority. Do our words and actions match?”
That is one great thing about a regular observation of Communion – we should come face to face with answering that question in our own lives. Lord Jesus, do our words and actions match? And if they don’t, if they are askew in some way, that is when we should make amends and set things right with the One we have hurt the most…our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
July 25th, 2019, Thurs, 9:39 pm
Mystery in the Midst of It All
Father, as we come together this evening, I do so humbly. The utmost of respect is due You for You are my God. There is no one higher. All praise to You God Almighty!
Luke 22:14-20 (<<click here to read the passage)
So, what do you call it? When we had in-person worship we observed the Lord’s Supper monthly and I noted it in the bulletin as The Sacrament of Holy Communion. My study Bible* notes had this to say in regard to Matthew 26:17-30 (a parallel to today’s passage).
Each name we use for this sacrament brings out a different dimension to it. It is the Lord’s Supper because it commemorates the Passover meal Jesus ate with his disciples; it is the Eucharist (thanksgiving) because we thank God for Christ’s work for us; it is Communion because through it we commune with God and with other believers. As we eat the bread and drink the wine, we should be quietly reflective as we recall Jesus’ death and promises to come again, grateful for God’s wonderful gift to us, and joyful as we meet with Christ and the body of believers.
It is vital to believers everywhere to partake and remember. Some churches observe it quarterly or maybe once a month. Many partake of it each Sunday. It is so important! It links us to God. It connects us to each other. But there is a mystery in the midst of it all. How Christ accomplished what He did as symbolized in the act of observing Communion.
This is one area where, as a pastor, I struggle. Over the years, I have observed this special time together many ways but for me, at least, I never feel like I do it justice. And honestly, I can’t really put my finger on it to be able to say why specifically. …and maybe that is the way it should be…
I am humbled every single time I stand in front of my congregations. How am I worthy to administer such a holy thing? After all, I am who I am, and that is far from perfect…far from holy…far from worthy. But once again the mystery is in the midst of it all.
In and of myself, I am not perfect or holy or worthy but, ah, in Christ – by He choosing to associate with me by my coming to Him for forgiveness – I can be perfect and holy and, shockingly enough, worthy!
Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are the reason that I am. You are the reason that I am who I am. You are the reason I am able to be who You want me to be. Work through me. Use me. I am an instrument in Your hands. Amen and amen!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 11th, 2018, Sun, 7:08 pm