No More Tears

Revelation 21:4

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Its almost impossible to imagine – living in a place where tears have been abolished. That is exactly the kind of place that John is describing. Look at each of the “things” that he names that brings us to tears now that won’t exist in eternity;

(1)  The first thing he addresses is death. Death is gone, it has been delivered to hell as promised. (Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.) Death came to mankind because of sin, so because there is no more sin, there is no more death. No more funerals, no more lonely walks through the graveyard. No more emptiness and pain of loss. No more questions of, “Why…”  Death has been outlawed, never to plague us again. It will truly be a great day!

(2) Next he calls out sorrow. No more sorrow, sadness, things that hurt our heart. From the break-up of marriages and families, to lost friendships, jobs, children who rebel and leave us in pain. All of that is removed. Not one more tear from an angry word or action, fear, or uncertainty. Nver will there be another sleepless night agonizing over the soul of a friend or a loved one. Forever we will live in the presence of our Lord without any of these earthly tears of distraction, disappointment, dissatisfaction.

(3) Moving to the next, John says there will not be any more pain. Not physical, emotional, or otherwise. To many, this will be the greatest relief of all. It seems to me sometimes that we are born through the travail of pain, live through pain after pain, and die through pain. I have to ask myself, “Is there a day that goes by that I don’t feel some kind of pain?” The answer, of course, is no.

The former things are passed away – wow – how much better can it get? Not a tear, not a misty eye, just joy in the Lord for all eternity. My friend, I hope you’ll be there with me so you too can know true joy (and no tears) forever!

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 30, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

Michael Vick and Second Chances

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

For an entire week, or should I say the past few months, we in the pro football circle have heard about nothing as much as the return of Michael Vick to the NFL. Even Tom Brady (much to my surprise) is not garnering all the talk, comments, and news posts. Nope – not since Michael Vick was released from prison intent on regaining his place among the sport’s greats.

For those of you who have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about, I’d seriously have to ask you what planet you’ve been living on for the past 2 years? For a detailed account of all the events surrounding the crime, arrest, release, reinstatement, and [now] return to the NFL stage, I recommend catching up at ESPN.Com.

For those familiar with the whole saga let me sum it up this way; Michael Vick was charged with and convicted of running a dogfighting operation which included extreme animal cruelty (details intentionally omitted). He served 18 of his 23 months in Federal prison for his crimes and was released to home confinement in May of 2009. Since then he was released by his former NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons and has been signed with the Philadelphia Eagles where he will be used in special plays and situations.

Well…so goes the debate. Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance. I mean after all, his crimes were of such a sadistic and inhumane nature that you would immediately question whether or not he should be out of jail, let alone making millions of dollars in the NFL. I’m certain this debate wont end anytime soon.

It did, however, get me to thinking. My friend, do you realize that no matter what Michael Vick did, no matter how cruel or malicious, that it never caused God to stop loving him?

In fact, as I thought a little more, I realized that this was a man who committed sin – a sinner and he was acting out what mankind does best, sin – not against himself, not against poor defenseless animals, but against God. The Bible makes it very clear that everyone of us is a sinner in Romans 10:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Not a single person since Adam and Eve lived has escaped this mantra.

The Bible tells us again in Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” In other words sin exists in the world because of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God, and the result was death – something we’re all too familiar with. But this death isn’t just physical, its a spiritual death – a separation from God, our Creator.

Because God is a holy God, He cannot fellowship with sin. You and I were born into this world sinners…lost…hopeless from the beginning. God loved us but could not fellowship with us because, well to put it simply, He is light and we are dark, and the two cannot co-exist in the same place. [1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.]

You might say that the whole human race is like Michael Vick – we were guilty, we were tried and found guilty, and we were sentenced to death, the payment for our sins. I know this doesn’t sound very encouraging – its not. In fact if our story were to end here, we would be most helpless, living our lives only to face the ultimate payment for our sin – eternal separation from God in a place called hell (which wasn’t even made for us).

My heart fills with joy and hope and my eyes fill with tears as I call to mind our next verse, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) You see, God loved us, and even though we were darkness…sinners, He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him and that way was the death of His only Son, Jesus Christ. It was through His shed blood that he paid the debt of sin for us, so that instead of receiving the punishment we deserved, we could now have eternal life.

But that gift of God isn’t automatic. We have to accept His gift of salvation by believing in Christ and asking for forgiveness of our sins. 1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Do you understand what that means?!! Even though we don’t deserve a second chance, God gives us the opportunity anyway. Do we accept that opportunity? That is up to you to choose.

Does Michael Vick deserve a second chance?

No. He committed terrible atrocities against animals that were not able to defend themselves. But he is given a second chance and we’ll see what he does with it. Only time will tell.

I’m so glad today that God gave me a second chance. I’m also glad that it didn’t stop the day I asked Jesus Christ into my heart but I continue to receive His grace every single day of my life. Chance number 2, number 3, number 4, and so on. The same grace is available to you too – won’t you accept this wonderful gift of God, Jesus Christ today and be redeemed by His precious blood…take God up on Hi offer of a second chance, and have life eternal.

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 29, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

A Friend Closer Than A Brother

It was a time of sadness. The world was dark and cold and the souls of mankind were heavy like burdens upon their shoulders. A cool mist began to fall on the streets of Jerusalem and the remnant of people in the marketplace were scurrying to find their way home. In the distance you could hear the hoof beats and familiar cling-clang of armor…soldiers finishing their daily duties and now enforcing the curfew. In a small second story room gathered a band of men seated around a table in usual fashion. Looking from face to face you could see a reflection of the gloom outside—cold, damp, pale, and ashen. At the head of the table sat Jesus Christ, God incarnate, the Truth dwelling in flesh among mankind.

The occasion was actually a celebration—the Passover—the deliverance and redemption of Israel from Egyptian oppression. But the air was filled with anything but revelry. It was thick and somber and each man could sense that Jesus was going to reveal something to them that was going to change their lives forever. Jesus had just announced that one of His disciples was going to betray Him into the hands of the Sanhedrin guards. The men, closer than a family after spending three years of intense work together, were stunned by what Jesus had just told them.

After a moment, His words sank in. They began to understand that the time of Jesus’ death was close at hand. Can you picture them as they sat around the table, legs folded to their side in Oriental fashion, a quiet tear here and there.

All of a sudden Peter jumps up and shouts, “Why can’t I go with you?…I would gladly lay down my life for You!” Some of the disciples agreed while the others just starred blankly or wept. It was indeed a time of sadness. But in the midst of their sorrow and tears, Jesus speaks what I consider some of the most encouraging words found in the New Testament. He says,

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

 Jesus is encouraging them to believe. He wants them to remember all of those things He told them about—the kingdom, the resurrection, eternity. He wants them to recall His magnificent transfiguration, the water turned to wine, Lazarus gyrating out of the tomb tripping over his burial shroud. Without saying anymore, Jesus looked into their eyes, drawing them to places and events that had occurred over the past three years, almost coaxing them to believe that He IS the Son of God—all power is given unto Him on earth and heaven!

How many times have you been in the valley of life? How many times have you looked around waiting for a miracle, any kind of miracle to happen? “Please Lord, take my hand and pull me from the sea – the waves are too high – the storm is raging” Jesus says to you, “Let not your heart be troubled…” Remember Who I am. Remember what I’ve done. Think back to my promises.

You can almost sense the Holy Spirit saying, “Have I ever left you alone? Have I forgotten you or any challenge you are facing?” Like the disciples in that upper room, the Lord has provided us with an opportunity to allow our faith to blossom and become stronger than ever. But it all starts with taking Christ at His Word. Either He is the Son of God and will carry out all He has promised, or He was a fake—not truly able to help the disciples or us. Faith, my friend, faith!

As Christ allowed His first statement to echo in the disciple’s ears, He took a deep breath and then continued, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” The word mansions describes a dwelling place. He is promising to prepare a home where they (and we) will live with Him forever. This is a promise from Jesus, the Son of God! Isn’t it truly amazing how the Lord chooses to encourage those around Him in need of His powerful touch?

I reflect on my own life and I see His penetrating touch time after time, just exactly what I need for that moment. The right verse, the right encouragement, the right direction—He is not only my God but also my friend. Unlike our earthly companions, He knows just what we need at all times. As He was to the disciples so He is to my soul, a friend closer than a brother.

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 24, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

Just When I Thought I Knew It All

Ephesians 6:1-4

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

These verses reminded me of something I wrote a couple of years ago to my children to illustrate how maturity causes us to change our attitudes toward authority.

There are times that we parents just have to teach our children what is right because the Bible tells us to. Obedience and discipline is a growing experience for both the parent and the child.

I pray the following words will cause you to reflect and be a blessing to you today…

Just When I Thought I Knew It All

When I was 10 my dad was so smart – he knew how to solve any problem – defend against any enemy.

When I turned 16 my dad was suddenly not as smart, had difficulty solving problems, and wasn’t as strong of a man as I thought.

On my 18th birthday my dad was probably the dumbest man I knew, couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag, and was the weakest man I’d ever met. How he ever got to be his age is a mystery.

At 21 I was feeling sorry for my dad. He knew absolutely nothing about life and how to deal with it. His philosophies and methods were outdated and how he functioned from day to day was a mystery.

When I was 25 I started to suspect that maybe I hadn’t calculated my dad’s intelligence right after all. Perhaps he did know a thing or two about life and he might even be stronger than I suspected, having been through a few turmoils himself.

By the time I reached 40 I was almost certain I had been wrong. As I faced the struggles in my own life I realized that I approached them in the same manner that he did. I began to wonder how he ever put up with me and my arrogant attitudes when I was younger. I started admiring how he was able to cope day to day with life’s difficulties.

On my 65th birthday it all became too real. My dad had been gone for many years but I could see and hear him in nearly everything I did and said. He wasn’t so dumb, in fact he was never dumb. He wasn’t so helpless, in fact he was amazingly strong. He lived day to day relying on the wisdom he had learned from his father.

Today is my 75th birthday. Today I finally admitted that my father and I are one.

(C)2006 R. Keith Richardson. All rights reserved.

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 23, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

The Great Chicken Adventure

Psalm 91:1-4

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

I have lived in Oklahoma on and off over my entire life. It’s my birthplace and Oklahoma City will always be the place I call home. While I am a devout city-dweller, I have had occasion many times to travel and visit with folks who live in small towns and on family farms. It never fails that on such visits that I become truly jealous of their slower-paced, more basic lifestyle.

When my oldest son was in elementary school, he was a member of the 4-H organization and spent nearly a whole school year learning about farming and agriculture. It was a marvelous opportunity for him, as far as expanding his education, and it gave his mother and I a chance to learn a few things too. One of our greatest lessons was what I fondly call, “The Great Chicken Adventure.”

As I tell this story you must promise to remember that I was born in the city and have lived in cities all of my life. I can already hear some of you snickering at me under your breath. So, without further delay . . .

THE GREAT CHICKEN ADVENTURE

As part of his 4-H project and grade, Jared (I) was required to purchase and raise 25 chicks into healthy, egg-producing chickens. To be honest, I was a bit excited, getting the opportunity to “get my hands dirty” with the real hard work that my farming friends experienced everyday. We hopped in my van and went down to the local feed store. It was spring so they had a wide variety of chicks and ducks and rabbits on hand. We picked 25 of the best ones we could see, then bought a warming light, feeder and feed, and the chicks.

What could possibly go wrong (I ignorantly thought to myself)?

It was only a 15 minute drive back home from the feed store. We pulled up in the drive with our new purchases, and Jared ran in to bring his Mom outside to see. Well, we opened the sack that had the chicks in it and to our surprise, there were only 23 chirping little fuzzballs in it – alive. I guess the drive home was too stressful on 2 of them, and they went ahead and left this old cruel world for their reward.

Following the instructions on the 4-H information sheet to the letter, we set-up a makeshift chick house in the main bathtub. Water in the bowl, food in the feeder, light shining down a warm red glow, we switched out the light and let the chicks get accustomed to their new home. All was well.

That is until about two o’clock in the morning when those darn chicks all woke up at the same time and started chirping to the extreme. I was sure the neighbors could hear them. No sleep that night or several others afterwards. I was beginning to think this wasn’t as exciting as I first thought.

For lack of time and space I’ll speed the story up a bit.

Over the next few weeks those cute little chicks grew up into the most annoying, ungrateful, peck-anything, tear-up-the-grass, I’m-gonna-drop-dead anytime anywhere chickens. I would come home to find them roosting on my car and leaving their “evidence” behind. Cleaning up after those chickens was the main reason it was difficult for me to even go through the Kentucky Fried Chicken drive thru for months after our experiment.

By the time the 6th week rolled around, I think we had about 10 chickens left. Here’s where it gets interesting… the day I had a bright idea and truly lost my mind.

My mother grew up in a small rural town and always lived on a farm. She would tell me stories of how it was her job to go out to the chicken coup on Saturday night and get a chicken for Sunday dinner. She graphically described grabbing the chicken by the neck, swinging it around a few times until the head popped off, and then plucking and finally baking the bird to eat.

So… if Mom could do it – so could I. I told my wife of my plans and headed out to “get us some dinner.” I made my selection, gathered my courage, and reached down to grab the chicken by the neck. (Thank God there was no such thing as Youtube back then!)

That dumb, dirty chicken saw my hand coming, and would have nothing to do with it. She attacked me with beak and claws leaving my hand bloody and me running back to the house as fast as my legs would carry. I know everyone was watching through the window, but it didn’t matter. The bird won and we were going to have Hamburger Helper that night – no two ways about it!

There are many other funny stories we have as a result of that spring. I will have to give the 3 chickens we ended up with credit – we got some delicious eggs – so many that we were giving them away. And finally the survivors were given away too (much to their happiness) and I was sure I would die a happy man if I never saw another chicken again.

Back to our verses. There was one very important lesson those crazy birds taught me. Every time a storm would stir up, they would huddle together in the tightest formation they physically could. They found their protection against each other.

My farmer friends tell me that its instinctive. On their farms when the storm clouds rise in the sky, all the little chicks come to mother hen and she tucks them under her wings, keeping them safe from the winds and rain all about them.

My friend, that is our secret place. When the storms of life encompass us our dear Lord takes us under His wings, keeping out the dangers that abound. Does He stop the storms? No. He stays with us, covering us, protecting us, until the storm passes by.

The next time you see the dark clouds start to gather in your life, don’t try to stand out in the open and take it on alone. Run to God and hide under His impenetrable wings, to the secret place that you share only with Him.

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 21, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

Dare To Dream

John 10:10

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Do you have a dream?

I’m afraid too many times Christians are encouraged to follow the Lord’s will without any explanation of what exactly the will of God is for their lives. Also, many religious leaders have a tendency to define what God’s will is for a certain individual based on observation of talent, lifestyle, or commitment.

I have something monumental to announce: I know God’s will for every Christian and it isn’t the cookie-cutter blah-blah-blah that is usually prescribed. The answer is found in John 10 where Christ describes exactly why He came to earth in the first place.

But before exploring that I want to lay just a little groundwork using another description of Christ’s mission by John, the historian: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Another way to say this is that He came to give us “life.”

What an amazing and insightful statement. Our method is mostly to condemn. We preach against this and that, making our lists of dos and don’ts for people of all walks of life. We predetermine what is acceptable and unacceptable. We blindly choose the paths of people without consideration for what God could conceivably accomplish in their lives.

We talk of faith and trust and obedience, while systematically undermining the great creative and independent spirit endowed us by our Creator. We discount the dreams and ambitions of some of the most remarkable people based on a false assumption that God isn’t interested in someone or something that doesn’t readily fit the mold.

But I want to ask you again, “Do you have a dream? Is there something that you want to accomplish for God and yourself here on this earth?

Why do we insist on denying ourselves the opportunity to do something for God. I’ve heard some preachers say something like this for years, “You need to go out there and do something for God.” And then when a person actually takes up that challenge many times their ideas get shot down faster than the words can come out of their mouth. They are reminded that it isn’t religiously correct to try and accomplish something for ourselves, never mind that great things happen for the kingdom of God in the process. How dare we try to be ambitious. Its so – - – worldly! It’s a little ironic that God was in the habit of giving credit where credit was due. Why can’t we do the same thing?

Dr. Martin Luther King was immortalized when he uttered these famous words to the crowd assembled on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial so many years ago, “I have a dream…” How mighty and strong is the person so determined to achieve something important that they can stand up and declare that they not only have a dream but can explain exactly what the dream is and how it can be accomplished. And something very important – Dr. King wasn’t afraid to CLAIM THE DREAM. That’s right, he declared that it was his – “I HAVE A DREAM…”

That is the same reason that Christ’s words in John 10:10 are so vital for us to hear and understand. He said, “…I am come that they [followers of God] might have life, and have it more abundantly.” This is the key – it is the answer. Within these few words are all the tools necessary for a follower of God to accomplish great things for God if they dare to dream.

He gave us life. Now lets re-examine John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” Although it is a blanket statement about the need for  mankind’s salvation, there are more far reaching implications to be understood. This “life” that John talks about is more than breathing and eating and sleeping and so on. It is genuine God-given full life. It is everlasting, it is secured, it is impenetrable.

This “life” gives us as followers of Christ endless avenues to serve God and others. With the confidence that our eternity is settled, we only need to be concerned with what we do here and now.

Look closely with me at the words of Jesus, (Matt 5:10-12) “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

Do we honestly believe that Christ wasn’t aware of the fact that a Christian, who was equipped with the confidence of eternal life, wouldn’t run into some kind of confrontation in this life? On the other hand, do you not see that perhaps He expected us to “ruffle a few feathers” as we live out our dreams to serve Him? With such assurance that our persecution would be rewarded, wouldn’t we be motivated to throw care to the wind and live out our dreams?

Lets look a little closer to that same sermon. Jesus says, (Matt 6:25) “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

So through Jesus Christ we have received this new “life.” We have no need to worry about persecution – He’s taken care of that for us. We have no need to worry about the physical things – He’s taken care of that. What then is it He wants us to be concerned about?
The answer comes from the same passage. (Matt 6:33) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” He wants us to focus on serving Him and serving others.

I like that word “seek” that the KJV uses. But what happens if we substitute the word “dream” in its place? “Dare to dream about what I can do for the kingdom of God…” Do you think He’s going to throw a monkey wrench into your dream? No. Now he may work with you a little bit and there may be some adversaries and difficulties that lie ahead, but ultimately you have a dream , a vision of what could happen if…

So the question comes down to this for every Christian. Its not if we are going to dream, but rather, when are we going to start?

Do you let the devil creep in and whisper in your ear all of the reasons why you can’t succeed? Are you accepting the scoffers opinions of your dream?

What is it that stands in your way?

Qualifications? Time? Resources? Stubbornness? Laziness? Apathy?

Jesus came to give us this amazing life, the reason and the tools to live out the dream – but He takes it a step further. He gives us the confidence to do so as well.

Let me ask you, do you think that the disciples had a dream about what the church would become? Do you think that the apostle Paul had a dream of what he could accomplish among the Gentiles? These were men of vision. The early church was full of men and women of vision. The pages of the New Testament are full of their adventures. They had the most exciting message to tell the world and they weren’t shy about getting that message out.

So why can’t you fulfill your vision? Don’t you know that you have the very same assurances that they had? They conquered their world helping people and giving them the message that Jesus came not to condemn them but to save them. You have the same message, just a different audience. How can you live out your dream.?

Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life [but not just this new life], and that they might have it more abundantly.

More abundantly. Greater than. Full of greatness. Full of grace and mercy, both received and given. A life finally full of hope. Abundance. My cup runneth over.

If our dream is to get through this life as quickly and painlessly as possible, then we don’t have a dream – we have a mundane, useless existence. If there is nothing that we aspire to accomplish for the kingdom of God, then why do we bother. I mean if you feel that you are fulfilling some kind of spiritual responsibility by showing up to church in your Sunday best carrying your family Bible and you manage to say grace at the dinner table every once in a while, you are sorely misinformed.

The Christian life is not about following rules and regiment. Its about having a loving, vibrant relationship with the abundant life-giver Jesus Christ. Its about loving Him so much that its impossible for us to sit on the sidelines and watch life go by. Its about having a dream – a vision to do something for Him at any cost.

He came, the creator of the universe came down to us on our level, not to condemn us, not to put us down and glory in His goodness and righteousness, but to lift us up, to offer us life – abundant overflowing life – a chance to dream and live out that dream – for ourselves, and for Him!

So what do we do?

I like the story in the Old Testament where the Lord came to Samuel as a boy three times in the night and called him by name. On the last instance the old prophet told him to answer with these remarkable words, “Speak: for thy servant heareth…”

The Lord will give you a dream if you earnestly want one and ask Him about it. This is God’s will for every Christian. So talk to Him. Tell Him you want to accomplish something for Him and His kingdom. And then listen. Listen closely to that still small voice in your heart when God gives you a dream – and then get up and go to it and let nothing stand in your way!

Dare to dream!

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 20, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

Peace

Romans 15:13

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

John Lennon made the phrase famous over 40 years ago, “Give peace a chance.”

Since Cain committed the first murder by bludgeoning his brother Abel to death, peace has not existed on the earth. Everyone cries for it, but it never comes. It’s on every Christmas list, in every song of hope, yet it remains elusive.

I once said that all I wanted was to live a quiet peaceful life but it’s impossible. No matter how hard I try, the reality of the world catches up to me, sometimes with a vengeance.

The Bible does tell us that there will be peace on earth one day when the Prince of Peace gloriously returns to rule the world. But I have to honestly ask; “How does that help me [or you] today?”

Well my friend, I guess the short answer is that it’s possible to have peace, at least on a personal level. Let’s consider the following;

• Inner Peace
• Family Peace
• Community Peace
• Spiritual Peace

Before I start let me give the ending of the book away… each of these “types” of peace are attainable and should be sought after by every individual. I do want to caution you at this point that peace is exactly like any other good thing that is desirable – it takes a conscious effort and good old-fashioned hard work to gain and maintain it. So if you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, then let’s get started.

INNER PEACE:

I would define inner peace as a general joy and contentment with who you are and where you are in life. Sadly, because of all kinds of hang-ups and issues damming up in our minds, this is a difficult plain to achieve. One reason is that everyone defines HAPPINESS differently.

But for the sake of our time here today let me cut to the chase – Are you happy? Do you like yourself? The Bible has clear direction where this is concerned. In fact it is so important that the phrase, “love thy neighbour as thyself” is used 5 times in the New Testament. The stair-step lesson is profound. It is impossible to properly love others until you first recognize the importance of loving yourself. I’m not talking about vanity or conceit. I am referring to an understanding of self worth and your importance to God and others in the big picture.

The truth is that God loved you so much that He gave His only Son to die for you over 2000 years ago. He “laid down His life” for you – that’s pretty important in God’s eyes. That makes each one of us very special. Recognizing this simple concept helps us accept that we are all a great treasure to God and therefore should be a great treasure in our own eyes. To view oneself any less is to believe a lie. So now is a good time to throw in another old saying, “God said it – that settles it – it’s to my advantage to believe it! (Yea, I know I changed it up a bit!)

Gaining inner peace is perhaps the single greatest quest for an individual. We can “know” the path or procedure, but actually allowing peace to take place is altogether something different. As I like to say, “Gaining inner peace looks easy on paper.”

It really is easy but we have to go a step further and achieve spiritual peace first. After Christ is leading your life, it’s not only possible for you to have inner peace but it is provided to you by the Holy Spirit. Christ said in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless : I will come to you.” Further, in John 10:10 He says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” That abundant life doesn’t come as a result of what we can accomplish but through the power of God working in and through our lives.

So let me summarize this way; inner peace is a direct result of (1) knowing God personally (2) believing the Word of God completely and (3) allowing God to work through us. This formula will lead to personal satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. We will be happy with who were are and where we are in life – inner peace!

FAMILY PEACE:

Believers and those who have not chosen to believe often find themselves in the same predicament. Husbands and wives at odds with each other. Parents and children screaming at each other. What a deplorable situation for everyone involved. Of all places on this cold and sometimes cruel earth, coming into your home ought to be coming into a place of refuge, a sanctuary of peace. But how many families never realize peace.

There are many factors that can destroy peace in the home. Alcohol/drug abuse, infidelity, lack of disciplining the children, or simply failing to spend quality time with one another. If ever there was a time in human history when Satan was throwing so many distractions into a peaceful home life, the time is now!

Peace can be achieved in the home. Friend, I don’t know your circumstances but I do know God’s Word. Whether its an addiction, physical or sexual abuse, adultery, or just an apathetic attitude, God can change that circumstance and heal your home.

The first step is to obtain personal and spiritual peace as discussed earlier. Remember what Jesus said about loving our neighbours as ourselves? SO we must first know Christ as Lord and Savior and be at peace within ourselves. Without this foundation we could never achieve family peace.

Next we understand that all of the havoc that the devil wreaks in our home is a spiritual battle against us. The Bible describes our enemy this way, “…your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion , walketh about, seeking whom he may devour…” That’s a pretty strong picture – a hungry lion that wants to eat us up.

Now let me give you the whole verse, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion , walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8) Our instructions are to be on guard, recognizing the enemy to be who he is; a destroyer and a liar. This is the first step – recognizing the enemy and understanding his motives. The next step is more proactive.

So how can we defeat the enemy who desires to crush us and destroy our family?

Remember it is a spiritual battle. You are not fighting against flesh and blood but against the devil. He must be fought with the spiritual weapons God has given us. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)

If you are under attack right now by the devil trying to wreck your home, I would strongly encourage you to read the whole chapter of Ephesians 6 and then seek out a spiritual leader/pastor who can counsel you with the Scriptures. Your home and family are worth it! The enemy can be defeated and you can finally attain a peaceful home.

COMMUNITY PEACE:

It is a proud feeling to raise a child and then watch them go into the world, armed with the Bible and your influence, and become productive and positive citizens. It is also a good feeling to be in a community of diverse people and yet be able to befriend and appreciate all in spite of the differences that abound. That is peace – peace in your community. That can extend to your neighbors, circle of friends, school ,workplace, church, community organization, or just your simple citizenship. The community is where we live.

How many people do you know that somehow live in constant strife with somebody? Either they have an ongoing feud with their next door neighbor, or they can’t get along during a PTA meeting, or they’re yelling at some poor clerk down at Walmart because they didn’t sack their groceries right. You know the type of person I’m talking about. I hope it’s not you!

So how does someone like this find peace? Well, any first years psychology student will tell you that the reason this person acts like this (and has no peace) is because they are angry. Whatever the source of their anger, they simply do not like themselves. So how does a person get rid of all that anger and find the peace necessary to live with others in their community?

Once again I don’t know your circumstances. I didn’t watch how your parents treated you growing up and I don’t have a clue into your relationships now. The only way I know to help is through God’s Word. You see Jesus said something truly amazing one day (and He didn’t even qualify it). He said, “Come unto me , all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

It doesn’t matter what your burden is. It doesn’t matter what your issue is or your up-bringing or why you are angry. Jesus can take that heavy load off of your back and He will even carry it for you. My friend, Jesus loves you and He doesn’t want to see you suffer with that issue or anger in your life.

Like every other type of peace, this one too requires a pre-requisite. Before your can obtain peace to get along with your fellow man, you must first find spiritual peace. Jesus has to be more to you than a name in an obscure book. He has to be your Lord, your Savior, your Master, and your Friend. When Jesus lives in your heart, He will help you release that anger, forgive past injustices, and unload all the guilt you live with every day. As a result, with God’s love in your heart you now have the desire and the freedom to love those around you. Amazingly enough, you will become a new creature. Old things will pass away and everything will become new! At last you will be able to experience the joy of living in a peaceful community.

SPIRITUAL PEACE:

Well here we come to the last “type” of peace, spiritual. Funny, it seems to me we’ve been talking about this since we started. Probably because everything else in our life (inner peace, family, peace, and community peace) all depends on this fundamental. Peace with God is the beginning of peace throughout your life.

If you are saved and having problems finding peace, then you should take a close look within yourself and determine why you feel the way you do. I used to know a dear preacher who would tell his congregation often, “We need to take a check-up from the neck up!” I love that.

The truth is we allow sin to creep into our lives, dampen our joy, separate us (in our minds) from God and the peace he so freely gives. The Apostle Peter put it this way, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

In short, as a child of God, you have the power [of God] inside you to overcome what is causing the disturbance in your life and keeping you from having true peace. Pray and ask God to help you identify the sin, confess it to Him recognizing all your sins are covered by the blood of Christ (1 John 2:2), and turn away from that sin (repent) and trust Him to walk with you as you grow closer to Him. You will find peace.

If you haven’t asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life, you too can have peace. The first step is to recognize that you are a sinner – one who commits acts that violate the holiness of God. Whether intentional or not is irrelevant. You are a sinner. (Romans 3:10; 23)

Next believe God’s Word when it tells you that you deserve eternal death because you are a sinner. “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a) But because God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross (John 3: 16) for our sins in our place, that sin debt has been erased and we can have eternal life with Him. (Romans 6:23b)

Even though we are all born sinners, God still loved us and wanted to restore fellowship with us, so He sent His Son to die for us. (Romans 5:8) We believe this and ask Jesus Christ to forgive us of our sins and to come into our heart and save us. Trusting in Him, He will do what He says. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Further, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9-13)

I ask you to accept Christ as your Savior today – right now where you are. He doesn’t want you to try and change ANYTHING on your own. He simply wants you to accept Him and trust in Him and He will make all the changes in your heart and life. Bow your head and tell Him that you know you’re a sinner, you know that Christ died for you, and then ask Him to forgive your sins and come into your heart and save you. Ask it in Jesus’ name and believe that He has done as He promised.

Whatever place in life you find yourself today, I hope you have peace. I hope you are enjoying inner peace, family peace, and community peace. But most of all, I hope you have spiritual peace – that is peace with God knowing that you have an eternal home in heaven with Him forever.

I hope that this meditation encourages you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 15, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off

Go Ahead and Give

Acts 20:35

35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

“It’s much better to give than receive…”

Do you remember your parents trying to teach you this lesson? And all the while you were sitting there thinking, “Are you serious?”

Well I do understand that as a child but like the Bible tells us, when we grow up we put away childish things. Somewhere along the line that particular lesson did sink in and I discovered the joy of giving. In fact, these days, I can’t wait for Christmas because its the most wonderful experience to watch my kids open their presents with great anticipation (even though now they give me a wish list complete with pictures and Internet sites where they can be purchased). Whatever happened to the good ol’ days when I had to listen in close as they sat on Santa’s lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas?

Giving is awesome! It brings a joy that can only be experienced by giving. It’s also a spiritual gift. God has specially gifted some to be “givers.” Maybe that is you! Has God blessed you with a talent or ability that would be a blessing to others? Has He blessed you financially so that you are able to help others in need? I would encourage you to pray and ask God what it is that He would have you give to another – no strings attached – just to give because you have the love of God full and running over in your heart.

Of course you can’t even think about giving without remembering the greatest gift of all. God gave us His Son to die for our sins. All the wickedness I have done or ever will do has already been paid for by Christ shedding His blood. I don’t owe God anything and He doesn’t require any further payment from me. When He looks at me He sees a redeemed and complete individual. The Bible tells us that He doesn’t even look down upon us for our sin; “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1) I am free from the bondage of sin in Christ to live my life because of God’s most wonderful gift!

God is the great example to us all of this verse, “It is better to give than receive.” The Bible also tells us that all of heaven rejoices when one person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. See my friend, even heaven is all about giving!

I hope that you have received this life-changing gift from God for yourself. If you haven’t I’d like you to read more about it and consider your relationship with God today. IF you are already a child of God I ask you to take a few moments today and thank Him for the wonderful gift you received. Then, acting on his example, go out into the world and give as He leads. I promise a big smile on your face and in your heart.

I hope that this meditation has encouraged you in a special way today. May God richly bless you!

September 3, 2009 | Categories: Meditations In the Word | Tags: Bible, christianity, faith, God, inspiration, Jesus, reflection, religion, spirituality | Comments Off