It Begins…
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. John 12:24
Thank You, Father, for a solid good night’s rest! I pray for Your infilling as I take on this day with all its many components. May my recollection be complete in my training and may my heart be guided by You in my preparation for Sunday. You are my guide and stay. Amen.
Matthew 26:1-5 (<<click to read the passage)
It begins… In reality, it began before the beginning and if you think it all through what may seem like the end is just part of the story that has no beginning or end…much too deep a thought for this early hour!
God has always been and always will be. If we think that the story of Christ is just a young, rogue prophet life taking a turn for the worse then we are sadly mistaken. It – everything – was a part of God’s plan to redeem us – to rejoin us, His crowning achievement of Creation back into His family. There was no arbitrary chance involved. It was strategically, meticulously laid out before all the “nothing” become something – before the first breath was breathed into the first man.
I love the synopsis that my study Bible* places before chapter 26 begins.
After facing much opposition for his teaching, Jesus is betrayed by Judas, denied by the disciples, crucified, and he dies. Three days later he rises from the dead and appears to the disciples, confirming that he is indeed King over life and death. The long-awaited King has brought in his Kingdom, but it is different than expected, for he reigns in our heart until the day he comes again to establish a new and perfect world.
Several times John, in his Gospel, states that Jesus’ “hour had not yet come” (John 2:4, John 7:6, John 7:30, John 8:20). But as we transition into Matthew 26 that changes, “his hour had come” (John 13:1, John 17:1, Matthew 26:18).
Lord, all praise goes to You! Where, oh where, would we be if it were not for You! You knew from the very beginning what we would do but Your desire to love us and have us love You in return was so strong You did whatever it took to do just that!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 1st, 2018, Thurs, 6:45 am
Pick a Side
Father, it has sure been a challenge recently to make the time to be with You. Every day this week I have been up at 4ish to be at work by 6:00. I’m not sure how well my mind would process anything at 3:00, so instead, I have been trying to write in the evening. I am so grateful that You are available anytime I can sit down with You. Bless our time together this evening. Amen.
Matthew 25:31-46 (<<click to read the passage)
In life, there are things that we can choose or not choose to participate in. We can be in the thick of things or we can choose to hide in our shells. But in our relationship with Christ, we cannot abstain from participation. We may choose not to follow Him but in so doing it does not exempt us from participating. Either we are for Him or we are against Him. Period. It’s an all not, nothing kind of thing.
Jesus makes it very clear, by repeatedly speaking of it, that He will return to take His rightful place as King of…well, as King of absolutely everything! Just because many believe that to be a false statement does not make it any less true. We are allowed to be delusional but, again, it does not exempt us from participating in a relationship with Him.
When the final judgment comes, every person who has ever come into existence “will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.”
That division will be based on what we did in regards to our relationship with Jesus and interestingly enough that is based largely on what we did in our relationships with others! What it really boils down to is service – addressing the basic needs of one another’s existence. And those needs would be food, drink, shelter, clothing, physical care and companionship to the lonely.
Love is a participation sport. If we truly love we cannot sit on the sidelines. We cannot skip attending the game. All of us are in the game, even as you are reading this. For whatever we did for “the least of these my brothers and sisters, [we] were doing it to [Christ]!”
No excuses! No notes from your mom or your doctor! Pick a side and go! And make it count! “Eternal punishment” or “eternal life” – it is our choice.
Oct 31st, 2018, Wed, 7:11 pm
Grow Where You Are Planted
Father, I praise You a productive day – for strength to accomplish the tasks at hand, for the intellect to process all that needed to be done, for the enjoyable interaction with fellow workers, for a wonderful time with my beautiful wife this evening and everything we were able to get done. I am blessed by One who loves me more than I ever could comprehend!
Matthew 25:14-30 (<<click to read the passage)
Many years ago, while I was still in college, I had the privilege of serving under a wonderful man by the name of Tom Lasley. He was a bi-vocational pastor. He was an educator by vocation but was a pastor by the calling of God. He told me early on that he felt he had been called to serve in that dual capacity because, “Small churches needed good pastors, too.”
And truly, that is the way I have gone the last third of my life. In high school, I felt called to ministry but felt no tugging on my heartstrings at all to be the pastor of a church. I was called to be a minister of music and pursued an education in that direction – my first two years out of college that’s just what I did.
My next place of service called for me to be a minister of music but included ministering to youth as well. Then eventually I became a children’s pastor (one of my most favorite jobs ever!) But then the winds of change came upon me. As I began taking courses toward becoming an ordained elder, God began leading me in the direction of being the pastor of a church. It wasn’t a smooth transition but I have now served in that capacity for 16 years!
I feel Tom Lasley’s influence. I’ve had opportunity to pursue a full-time pastorate but…I decided to grow where I was planted because small churches need good pastors, too. I’m not a spectacular pastor by any means…but I love my people. I feed them faithfully what the Lord lays upon my heart. I’ve not seen vast growth numerically but I can tell the people with whom I work, both in the church and at Kohl’s, are impacted by the God who lives within me – who lives through me.
When the Lord returns I want to be about His business, no matter where I am. It may be behind the pulpit or behind the jewelry counter or behind the wheel of a big yellow school bus. It makes no difference where we are planted but it makes all the difference in eternity that we grow where we are planted and that we bear fruit to impact the lives of people around us. Amen!
Oct 30th, 2018, Tues, 8:54 pm
Not Me
Today, Father, was a day to “mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15 NIV) Father, please comfort them in their loss. Amen.
Matthew 25:1-13 (<<click to read the passage)
Growing up a favorite comic strip of mine was Family Circus and as I read a little about Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (or as I recall – The Ten Virgins) one of Bil Keane’s characters from Family Circus came to mind – Not Me.
Whenever Billy did something he shouldn’t have done and he was confronted with it, and as the comic above shows, his answer would often be, “Not Me.”
When it comes to our own spirituality, we may think we can pass the buck, as it were. But the reality of the matter is that I, and I alone, am responsible for my spirituality. No one else can make that decision for me – not my mom or dad, not my pastor or my Sunday School teacher. I alone am the one to decide if I will follow Christ as my Lord and Savior…or if I will place myself upon the throne of my soul.
In Jesus’ parable, five of the ten virgins were prepared – and five were not. Five made responsible choices and five chose not to be responsible. When the bridegroom returned for the wedding party, the five who had chosen wisely were able to join him. By the time the irresponsible five returned from taking care of what should have been taken care of from the start, it was too late.
When the time comes and our Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ, returns and we are asked, “Are you ready?” we will not be able to answer “Not me.” and think someone else will take the blame for our foolishness. We alone will have to answer for our actions.
Are you ready?
Oct 29th, 2018, Mon, 8:01 pm
A Lesson from Pompeii
A busy but good day, Father – time with others in worship, time with family, and now, time with You! Thank You, Father, for all You are and all You do!
Matthew 24:36-51 (<<click to read the passage)
I really enjoy history. It was one of my favorite topics in school and to this day I still like reading it and watching documentaries when I get the chance. In fact, currently, I am reading a book entitled, If the Allies Had Fallen: Sixty Alternate Scenarios of World War II. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is for me!
I’m sure most people have heard of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and the catastrophic devastation in inflicted upon the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum on that fateful day of August 24, 79 AD.
Many can recall seeing pictures of the preserved victims. Many of those who did not flee when the eruption started were buried alive by ash and other molten material. It is estimated that about 16,000 people died in it. Most victims died instantly as the superheated air burned their lungs and contracted their muscles, leaving the bodies in a semi-curled position to be quickly buried in ash and thus preserved in detail for hundreds of years.
Although the eruption caught people off guard, the signs had been coming for years. Just 16 years earlier a massive earthquake shook the region, and damage from the earthquake was still being repaired when Mt. Vesuvius erupted.
Are you ready for what is coming our way? My study Bible* says,
“Christ’s second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining. The choice we have already made will determine our eternal destiny.”
Right now, you have a choice. “…no one knows the day or hour…” when Christ will return. There are warning signs of His imminent return all about us. Is it safe to put off a decision to repent of sin and follow Him? Or is it better to decide today to be ready for His return?
1 Corinthians 15:52 tells us,
“It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.”
Lord, help us to see clearly what will transpire. It may not be today. It may not be tomorrow. But You will return.
“…choose today whom you will serve… But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Oct 28th, 2018, Sun, 7:55 pm