Perfectionism

God tells us in His word to be perfect even as He is perfect (Matt. 5:48), so I guess that means we have to be perfect, right? Wrong. This perfection is the result, not the process. God knows we are sinners, saved by His grace alone (Eph. 2:8), but He also expects us to grow in our Christian walk. 

Just as a child grows from infancy to toddlerhood and finally to adulthood, so we are to grow from salvation to perfection. The theological term is sanctification, and that is simply allowing God to work through us to bring us to spiritual maturity. We do not expect our children to have the skill or understanding beyond their maturity level, but we expect them to mature and acquire skills and knowledge.

It is the same with our Heavenly Father. Once we are born into His family, we are expected to be babes in the faith, longing for the pure milk of His Word (1 Pet. 2:2), but as we mature, we put aside childish things and begin to long for the meat of the word (Heb. 5:13-14). We want to dig deeper; we long to know the reason and the how behind the glorious promises He gave us. 

Interestingly, the same Greek word is translated as perfect and mature. Those who are spiritually mature will be perfected in Christ Jesus. They will be complete in Him and have moral maturity and character. Yes, even wisdom and discernment. Just as a child moves from a tricycle to a bicycle to a car, so we should move from simply reading stories to understanding the character and flaws of the people in the Bible. We should learn from the lessons they learned so we do not have to repeat them. 

A popular saying is, "Choose the hill you are willing to die on." In childishness or maturity, that hill will change. It is for the mature to help the children choose wisely. 

The mature Christian will understand that even though we are all one family, we will have disagreements. Those disagreements should be broken into two categories - heaven or hell issues and everything else. If the dispute is based on eternal destiny - the Deity of Jesus, for example- it is a hill worth dying on. If it is not eternally based - the method of baptism, for example, then we should learn from each other and perhaps change our perspective or agree to disagree. 

Heavenly Father,

Help me to maturity, guide my footsteps ever closer 

to you and your will in my life.

Please help me give grace to those with whom I disagree and

the wisdom to know when I need to review and revise my understanding.

Thank you for bringing me closer to the perfection found in Jesus Christ,

In Christ alone,

Amen

The Catalyst

 I have read the whole Bible through many, many times. I have a degree in Christian Studies and consider myself well-versed in Scripture. Yet, I was humbled and dumbfounded today. 

"But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him, many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus." John 12:10-11 NASB

Wait! What? The same people plotting to put Jesus to death wanted to put Lazarus to death too? Why had I not seen this in my previous readings? More importantly, why did they want Lazarus dead? After all, he was a village neighbor, a brother to Mary and Martha—a friend. 

This was the last straw, or sign if you will. The Jewish leadership knew the Messiah would be known by the miracles He would perform. Jesus had already caused the blind to see and the lame to walk. He had healed lepers, a woman who had an issuance of blood and even raised others from the dead. Why was Lazarus different?

The physicians and magicians of the day also performed some signs and wonders. The difference is Lazarus had been dead for four days. Not four minutes or hours so to claim he was not dead at all, but four days. If you have hunted or been around dead animals, you know they start to smell in a few hours. In four days, rotten flesh is rank; it seems like the odor permeates your clothing and even your very pores. So Lazarus was not just dead; he was rotting. 

The fact that Lazarus was alive proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Messiah. Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, other family and friends, and professional mourners witnessed Jesus' miracle. John writes that because of Lazarus, many came to believe in Jesus. The Jewish leadership was about to lose its power and prestige. Lazarus must also die - again.

John then goes directly into Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on what we celebrate as Palm Sunday. I had not connected the raising of Lazarus and the triumphal entry so closely before. The two events were separated by two, maybe three weeks at the most. Lazrus' resurrection set into motion the rest of Jesus' earthy ministry. His hour had come. In less than a week, Jesus would be dead. 

Friends, life can shift in the blink of an eye. Events can change the focus of our lives in an instant. But, it does not have to be as dramatic as a friend raised from the dead. It can be a quiet phone call or a chance encounter with a stranger. Who will you turn to when life gets in the way of your plans? Turn to the One who is never surprised by circumstances. 

Lord God, Creator, and Sustainer,

 Someone is reading this who may not know you.

Or they might be caught in the circumstances of life. 

We all need You, Father. We need to know that You

hold the world, and our lives, together. 

The future does not surprise You or challenge You.

You knew Lazarus' resurrection would lead directly to the Cross

Yet you did not hold back. 

As we go into Holy Week, I praise you for your Mercy and Grace

I pray that all who do not know You will turn to You 

that they will find peace and comfort in Your arms.

In Christ alone

Amen

 

Just Write

I wrote the following a couple of years ago. I was having a moment while in school and not wanting to do what I needed to do. I have a much better idea of what the next thing in life is going to be. How it is going to play out, I still do not know. Perhaps one of you knows who I should talk to, who I should contact to learn the next step.

In the meantime, I will Just Write.

I am in school. As I write this, I have homework and studying that I could be (should be?) doing, but I choose to write instead. Just writing the previous sentence is funny because 75% of my homework is writing or researching my topics. The other 25% is reading. (ugh! research!)

I enjoy school; I should have pursued my degree many, many years ago. But sometimes, I just need a break. I need to put it aside for a few minutes and do something else, like simply writing. If I had gone back years ago, I doubt I would have pursued the degree I am earning now. I would have done something practical; business management or teaching. But I am earning a degree in Christian Studies. I do not know what God has in mind for me, but I want to use what I am learning for Him. 

I suppose this blog is the beginning of my dream job. To write. I want to write a story based on my life in the Bush. I want to write devotionals for people who need practical guidance. I want to write (and maybe teach?) Bible lessons for those who are not necessarily new believers but not old-timers. Maybe newer than older. I can explain difficult concepts in ways that can be understood by everyday people. People who do not necessarily speak "church."  

I have no idea how to earn a living doing any of that, though. I don't know how to get my words in front of people, let alone get them to buy them. God has it under control. He knows where He wants me, and He will direct my paths. 

Lord, thank you

 for those moments in life when we can set aside the “should” for the “want.”

Thank you for teaching us that our spirits need as much rest as our bodies.

I will learn to Trust You to guide my path

I will Trust You to show me to put myself aside and know Your will

Lord, guide my mind and my hand as I bring glory to You

With the skills You gave me.

In Christ alone

Amen

New Year, New You!

What a lie! You will not become a new person just because the earth rotates around the sun another time. However, the New Year is an excellent time to reflect on lessons learned and look forward to the next adventure.

I have been away from this blog for quite a while. I have spent the last few years in college and finally graduated this year. The day before my 62^nd birthday, I finished my last class for my first undergraduate degree. A couple of points about higher education: first, never go to school because you have to – go because you want to. Study something that interests and excites you that makes you want to hit the books. Secondly, college is expensive; even online schooling costs real money. So plan and look for scholarships and grants but do not expect the taxpayers to bail you out. Finally, you are not too old, seriously.

I got my degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis on Philosophy. Yet, I am asked all the time, why? See point one above - I love the subject matter. I love learning about God, theology, and the Bible. I am not a philosopher but learning from thinkers helped solidify my own views on many subjects.

Another thing I learned on this journey is that I enjoy writing and teaching. More specifically, I enjoy teaching about Christ. I like writing about Jesus and how He impacts lives and brings joy and fulfillment in even the darkest hours. So I invite you to join me as I explore real life with a real God.

Now that school is over and I have more time, I will be on this site more often in the future. I invite topic suggestions and feedback. As we go into the New Year, I pray that God gives each of us enough.

Make me know Your ways, O Lord

Teach me Your paths, lead me in Your truth and teach me

For you are the God of my salvation

For You, I wait all the day

Psalm 25:4-5

Lord, I am yours to do with as You see fit.

Take my fear and apprehension and leave only your clear direction.

Please give me courage, peace, and strength.

Bless each person reading this, and help them to see You working in their lives

even if they do not know you yet.

In Christ alone, Amen 

You Can be Sure

             So you are a Christian. You might have become a Child of the King years ago or days ago. How can you really know the prayer you recited worked? After all, you might not have felt any different. Sometimes you look at the chaos around you and wonder if there really is a God who loves and cares for you.

         My sweet friend, I am here to tell you that you can be absolutely sure of your salvation.

        John, the disciple Jesus loved, wrote 1 John to show us the blessed assurance of salvation.

There are usually signs of things happening around us. One sign of spring is budding trees. A sign of inclement weather is gathering storm clouds. Below are only a few signs of salvation.

•           Are you a sinner? If you are, you are probably saved. John tells us that if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:10).
•         Do you love the things of the world? John reminds us that loving the world and the things in the world - the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life – are signs that the love of God is not in us (1 John 2:15-16).
•          Have you given up your pet sin? 1 John 3:6-10 tell us that we are of the devil if we keep sinning after salvation. Those are pretty harsh words, but it does not mean that Christians will be perfect. It means we will give up that which grieves God. We will stop drinking, swearing, smoking, lying, and the thousand other things God brings to our minds. Not because we have to, but because we want to please God.
•         Do you believe Jesus Christ came in the flesh, was fully God, and fully man? Jesus is not just a good teacher or a moral leader; He is God Almighty, and according to 1 John 4:2-3, if you do not confess that, you are not of God.
•          Finally, do you love? Not just your spouse or children, but the noisy neighbor down the street, the homeless woman on the corner, or your co-worker who spreads rumors about you. Do you say you love, or do you show you love? Jesus showed His love by dying for us; John says we show our love, not in word or talk, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3: 18).

My friend, how sweet it is to trust in Jesus, to have the blessed assurance that God loves us, to know we have eternal life. Now we can have the confidence of knowing that we can ask God anything according to His will, He will hear us because we are His beloved children (1 John 5: 13-14).

Dear Lord God,

I praise you for the Blessed Assurance

For the gift of mercy and grace

For the love you give me, so I can love others

I pray for the blessing of certainty for each person reading this today.

In Christ alone, Amen

But I expected...

 Expectations are funny things. They are often reciprocal. Some expectations are met, some are not. 

Teachers expect students to turn in their work on time and according to directions. Students expect fair grades.

Parents expect their children to behave. Children expect rewards for good behavior.

Employers expect a full day's work from employees, and employees expect a fair day's wage. 

When expectations are spelled out, it is much easier to have them met: XX number of dollars for an hour's work for example.

What happens when expectations are not spelled out? Chaos, hurt feelings, bad tempers, maybe years of separation. Hurt feelings over expectations are most often found in families and good friends.

What about caring for aging parents? Will mom or dad go to a home somewhere or will the children care for them? Is a family member who is well off expected to support a family member who is struggling? Do parents expect child care needs to be met by siblings? What happens when these expectations are not met or are not met in expected ways?  

What about related adults sharing housing? In my opinion, it depends on the relationship. Is it a familial relationship or a tenant relationship?  If my adult relative is living with me rent-free, I am feeding them and occasionally doing their laundry, then I would expect a "my house, my rules" relationship. If my adult family member is paying rent, buying their own food, and doing their own laundry, then I would expect to treat them with the same respect as any other tenant. They are free to come and go at will with no expectation of housekeeping or yard work. (I expect this situation to arise in my family, I guarantee we will discuss our expectations beforehand!)

Expectations are dangerous things. I cannot expect my friend to care for my pets when I am on vacation just because they did it once. I cannot expect the person driving down the road to always stop at a red light, especially when it is icy. I cannot expect others in my study group to do their part of the assignment. I need to acknowledge my expectations and, if necessary, change them. I have heard it said that you should never expect anything, then you would never be disappointed. Maybe I am too cynical but I seldom expect people to keep their word; I am happily proven wrong quite often. 

Who can we always count on? Who is always there for us, even in unexpected ways? God! He is the same, always! (Heb. 13:8). That means if He brought Moses through the desert and was with Daniel's friends in the fiery furnace, He will be with me in whatever I am going through. I can count on God to be my comfort (Ps 94:19, John 14). 

God is the only one who will meet your expectations, man will fail you. Do not rely on man for your peace, comfort, or joy. Seek the only one who truly has your best at heart, 

Resurrection Sunday

I have had this song running through my mind all day. I think it is the perfect song for Resurrection Sunday. O Praise the Lord, by Hillsong Worship.

It has a somber, haunting quality. We remember why Christ died that Good Friday so many years ago.  He died so that I might live with Him in heaven. 

 Make no mistake, your soul, that part of you that makes you who 

you are, will live forever. Your soul, your spirit is eternal. 

God does not reject people, people reject God. 

God does not send people to hell, we are already headed 
there, God accepts people into heaven. 

 "Then on the third at break of dawn, the Son of heaven rose again!" Resurrection! He came back to life and hundreds of witnesses attest to the fact. Thousands, millions, have given their lives to proclaim Jesus is Alive. Billions have believed and many more will believe. Death, where is your sting? Jesus Christ has the keys to life and death. He alone knows when, where, and how you will die. You do not want to face judgment without Jesus standing in your place. 

The Bible says, "all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23). All is me and you. We are not good enough, none of us.  "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Paul is not talking about physical death; he is talking about spiritual death, and eternal separation from God. But God did give us Hope. Romans 5:8 tells us, "even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Jesus died for my sins 2000 years before I was born. He knew I would be born, and I would need a Savior; He died for me and you long before we knew we would need Him. 

So you know you are a sinner, you know you need a Savior, now what? Paul tells us in Romans 10:9-10 that all we need to do is "confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." He goes on to tell us that everyone who calls on Jesus will be saved. 

Jesus is coming back. "He shall return in robes of white; the blazing sun shall pierce the night." We do not know when He will come back, but we know it could be soon. The Bible tells us that "every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord" (Romans 14:11). Whether or not you accept Jesus as Lord and Savior before your physical body dies, you will confess He is Lord when He returns for the judgment. 

The choice is yours. Continue on the road to hell and damnation, or confess and accept Jesus as Lord. Do not wait. If you have questions, please leave me a comment. 

Lord, I pray for each person reading this, 

for those who do not know you, for those still

questioning. Lord, open the eyes of their Soul.

Show them You in a real, undeniable way. 

Thank You for dying for me, 

Thank you for the witnesses who saw You alive again. 

For endless days, I will sing Your praise. In Jesus' name, Amen.