Through a Glass Darkley
Father, I would ask that You be with my mom tonight as she has been in emergency surgery this evening. Please lay Your hand upon her, may she be able to rest. May her healing be complete. Amen.
Matthew 17:14-21 (<<click the green)
The human experience is quite often complex and simple at the same time. Take this situation for example. A boy was having uncontrollable seizures. His father brought him to the disciples to be healed but they were unable to do so.
So…if we were to start pointing fingers (which our culture does way too often) as to whom was at fault for the boy not being healed, who was guilty? The disciples? The father? And I really think my answer would be…yes. Both struggled when it came to faith…but don’t we all?
When things don’t go well, concentrating on our faith is not usually the first thing that comes to mind. We make things way more complex then they need to be. We may pray but quite often our mind goes the direction of thinking we have to try harder – to work at it more diligently. But in reality, the answer is simply –we must trust more, pray more. We really need to give it over to God. But it sure isn’t easy. Our earthly eyes see what they see. The scripture that comes to mind is actually from the King James Version, “For now we see through a glass darkly…”
Here’s how the Amplified Bible puts it,
For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 1 Corinthians 13:12
The main reason the boy wasn’t healed by the disciples is that neither they nor the father could see clearly enough for God’s power to impact the situation. A stronger faith would have cleared that up but…we are who we are.
Lord Jesus, may we strive to see You more clearly, to cling to You…to believe in You with all that we have. Amen.
June 21st, 2018, Thurs, 7:13 pm
I Yam What I Yam!
I am always grateful, Father, that You wake me each and every day. Wednesdays are different in that I need up at 4:00 am rather than 6:00 am and You are always right on time! Thank You, Father!
Matthew 17:10-13 (<<click the green)
A famous character once stated about himself,
“I yam what I yam!” ~ Popeye the Sailor
And I believe an important Biblical character proclaimed the same thing – minus the “yams” of course!
As I read through this passage, several went through my mind and as I looked a little further into them, I found connections in both Old and New Testaments.
First of all, the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?” (Matthew 17:10 NLT) An Old Testament passage that many scholars point out to confirm this is found in Malachi 4:5-6,
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance], so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse [of complete destruction].” AMP
So beginning in verse 11 You explain, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and they chose to abuse him… Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist.”
An apparent complication arises when “priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem” (John 1:19-28 NLT) came out to ask John the Baptist who he was. Right up front, he stated he was not the Messiah. But when they asked him if he was Elijah or the Prophet they were expecting, John’s answer was, “No.”
When they pressed him for an answer he quoted from Isaiah 40:3,
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”NLT
In reality, there is no complication. John is not Elijah; John is John doing what John was supposed to do in readying the Israelites for the coming of the Messiah – whom the religious leaders did not recognize or acknowledge either.
A big part of all the confusion is that, as we’ve mentioned before, the religious leaders were just as it implies, they were “religious” – there was no real relationship with God. They assumed they would see the original Elijah – after all, he never died but was taken up in a chariot of fire. (2 Kings 2:11-12) But they were dead wrong!
In a very real way, John the Baptist is the Prophet of the new covenant. He is the “Elijah” to come. He may not have seen himself in that light but that makes it no less true. He did what God called him to do and cleared the way for the Lord’s coming.
Lord Jesus, we may not totally understand where we fit into Your master plan but understanding is not what is important. Doing what You call us to do is of utmost importance. Help us to be faithful. Help us to be obedient. Help us to be who we are in You. Amen.
June 20th, 2018, Wed, 8:06 pm
Push Forward, Draw Back
Father, I love waking up after an early morning rain! Everything looks so fresh and green. Thank You for the innumerable gifts You give me each day! Amen.
***************************
I’m not sure why it popped into my head but somewhere in the middle of the night, I got to thinking how, as a married couple, Karen and I are like a hand saw. For a hand saw to work most efficiently if must be pushed forward and drawn backward. It can be pushed just one way but it takes much more effort in that you have to line everything back up for the next stroke.
As a couple, we quite often work to accomplish the desired end but we have different strengths and weaknesses – what I do works one way and what Karen does works another. We complement each other in the way God intends.
If one of us insisted on doing things only the way we saw fit, it would mess up the flow. We wouldn’t get nearly as much done and the result would probably not turn out as nicely either.
From 32 years of experience, I can vouch that marriage is not easy. There are lots of ups and downs. Sometimes we may be tempted to throw in the towel. But we must fight for it! And sometimes sacrifice is called for…sometimes humility is called for. In the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul admonishes us to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35) And I can also vouch that marriage is one of the greatest blessings we can ever experience!
Lord Jesus, I would pray that You would bless our efforts – and not just those of Karen and myself. Many couples out there realize that their marriages are worth fighting for. Help them to continue the task of working together pushing forward and drawing back to accomplish what You would have them do. Amen.
June 19th, 2018, Tues, 6:55 am
Happy Third Blogiversary!
It’s exciting to realize that this past weekend marked my 3rd Blogiversary! My very first post was on June 17th, 2015 and probably had my longest title, “EVEN BEFORE HE MADE THE WORLD, GOD LOVED US AND CHOSE US…” It is beginning of Ephesians 4:1 and is still my favorite verse. In the eyes of God we are so very much “more than useless” and as the verse above states, even before God made the sun to shine for the very first time, the first drop of water, the first blade of grass, the first porcupine, He loved us AND He chose us. Simply AMAZING!!!
We are not mistakes! We are not one giant “oops”! We are here for a purpose. We are special and we are unique! God put you exactly where you are for a reason. And He will walk beside you all the way.
Over this last three years, I have published 771 blogs that have had over 21,400 views from 102 countries! (There’s a list below if you’re interested. ) I realize that not every view from every country is someone who reads my post in its entirety. But…I also am a firm believer that some out there may have unintentionally landed on my blog but God had other things in mind.
I would ask that you, my readers – the intentional ones – that each day that you read my posts that you would pray for those who may inadvertently come upon what I have put out there. Beyond the blog website, of course, I also post on Facebook, as well as, Pinterest, Google+, StumbleUpon.com, and Twitter. I have had many views from countries that would in no way count themselves a Christian nation. Only God knows what He can accomplish! Pray that More than Useless would provide one more door by which God can touch people who so desperately need to know Him.
Also, if you are encouraged by what you read, share it! It takes one click to share on Facebook. Forward the link to a friend. Send it out! This is simply me sharing what God has laid upon my heart. If it speaks to you, it surely will speak to others.
Thank you all so much! I count you all as one of my congregations – the largest by far. I pray that you will continue to be encouraged. Hang in there! God loves you more than you can imagine and you are definitely more than useless!
June 18th, 2018, Mon, 8:45 pm
Views per country since June 17, 2015
| Algeria | 5 |
| Argentina | 9 |
| Australia | 92 |
| Austria | 4 |
| Azerbaijan | 1 |
| Bangladesh | 2 |
| Belarus | 1 |
| Belgium | 2 |
| Bolivia | 1 |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2 |
| Brazil | 157 |
| Bulgaria | 9 |
| Cambodia | 7 |
| Canada | 200 |
| Cayman Islands | 1 |
| Chile | 5 |
| China | 47 |
| Colombia | 6 |
| Costa Rica | 7 |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 1 |
| Croatia | 1 |
| Cyprus | 2 |
| The Czech Republic | 54 |
| Denmark | 4 |
| The Dominican Republic | 2 |
| Ecuador | 2 |
| Egypt | 4 |
| El Salvador | 5 |
| Estonia | 1 |
| Ethiopia | 1 |
| European Union | 44 |
| Fiji | 1 |
| Finland | 7 |
| France | 44 |
| Germany | 62 |
| Ghana | 4 |
| Greece | 5 |
| Hong Kong SAR China | 9 |
| Hungary | 13 |
| Iceland | 3 |
| India | 80 |
| Indonesia | 18 |
| Iraq | 3 |
| Ireland | 62 |
| Israel | 14 |
| Italy | 18 |
| Jamaica | 5 |
| Japan | 18 |
| Kazakhstan | 3 |
| Latvia | 1 |
| Lebanon | 2 |
| Lithuania | 3 |
| Luxembourg | 1 |
| Malaysia | 12 |
| Malta | 1 |
| Martinique | 1 |
| Mexico | 23 |
| Mozambique | 1 |
| Myanmar (Burma) | 1 |
| Namibia | 1 |
| Netherlands | 51 |
| New Zealand | 12 |
| Nigeria | 9 |
| Norway | 17 |
| Oman | 1 |
| Pakistan | 6 |
| Papua New Guinea | 2 |
| Peru | 5 |
| Philippines | 41 |
| Poland | 23 |
| Portugal | 12 |
| Puerto Rico | 2 |
| Qatar | 1 |
| Romania | 16 |
| Russia | 30 |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 |
| Serbia | 1 |
| Singapore | 27 |
| Slovakia | 8 |
| Slovenia | 2 |
| South Africa | 38 |
| South Korea | 29 |
| Spain | 34 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | 1 |
| Sweden | 18 |
| Switzerland | 13 |
| Taiwan | 17 |
| Tajikistan | 1 |
| Thailand | 14 |
| Trinidad & Tobago | 1 |
| Turkey | 9 |
| Uganda | 2 |
| Ukraine | 5 |
| United Arab Emirates | 8 |
| The United Kingdom | 106 |
| The United States | 19,728 |
| Venezuela | 8 |
| Vietnam | 8 |
| Zambia | 2 |
| Zimbabwe | 2 |
Just the Appetizer?
Good morning, my Father! Thank You for the wake-up call so that I’ve had time to read through my sermon once more and that I get to spend some one on one time with You! Bless our time together, please.
Matthew 17:1-13 (<<click the green)
Have I mentioned how I enjoy my Life Application Study Bible? So many times it highlights a portion of Scripture and points out something that makes me stop and think.
This morning it points out that the “Transfiguration was a foretaste of heaven.” How many think of heaven as being a place where we just sit around on clouds and play harps for the rest of eternity? I don’t think so! If we think of this world in which we live as just the appetizer for the reality to come, how can we think of just clouds and harps?
We know some of heaven and eternity but I am sure that the certainty of what it will hold is far beyond what our minds can conceive at this point in time. Lord, You told us that You are “going to prepare a place for [us]”. (John 14:1-4) The Apostle John states in Revelation 21:21 that one of the highest esteemed commodities here on earth, gold – in its purest form even – will pave the streets!
Lord Jesus, sometimes we are so reluctant to think of our time here ending. We fight to prolong our lives here at exorbitant expense but again this is only the “appetizer” and the “main course” – an eternity in Your presence and under Your guiding hand may only be a breath away…literally! May we be prepared and may we be diligent in bringing as many with us as we possibly can. Amen!
June 17th, 2018, Sun, 6:50 am