"A Trusted Love"

It seems there is too much sweetener in our understanding love. As a result we make our Heavenly Father a "Heavenly Sweetheart." We take the approach in our sins to God as a God who approaches us in our wickedness saying, "There, there now, I know you didn't mean to be sinful!" But is that really true? There are times we want to behave badly because we are upset about something or someone! Just try to talk to someone when they are angry about something and just see how difficult it is to speak to them about a holy love.

What we need is a love that is a holy love. We are missing true love. People speak of God loving us unconditionally. God's love is holy! A love that isn't holy can't be trusted!! A love that finds no offense in corruption and sinful attitudes isn't holy. A love that yawns at our sins will yawn at the sins of a universe. A god who loves like this is not a god worthy of our worship because he is not a righteous god.

God wants to forgive us and longs to forgive us and made means for our forgiveness by providing a sacrifice of justification. That sacrifice is Jesus Christ. Jesus came into our world and identified Himself with us. But there is another side. He identified Himself with the holiness of God that He offered His Father nothing less than complete, holy obedience. He identified Himself with sinful humanity that He took on our sins because we have sinned against a holy God and dishonored His holy name. He died our death, bore our sin, confessing for us the justice of God's holy judgment.

There we have it! This Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knew what God's love was about and His love was holy. God's holiness was met in Jesus and we as humans can meet and face the holiness of God. Forgiveness is not something just shrugged off by God. It was met in Jesus completely. That's why we repent, we are baptized into His name because God's holiness demands it. God abhors sin and His abhorrence is seen in the cross. Why? Because God loves and this holiness is a love that can be trusted!!

"My Classmate"

While visiting home, my parents were sharing with me about one of my classmates of years gone by. We weren't really that good of friends growing up but I do remember many things we did. He was a handsome guy and many admired him but he had a wild side which seemed to attract certain type of girls. He started drinking in Jr. High. By the time we hit high school, he would be drunk, sometimes at school! I couldn't believe the teachers never noticed but it was obvious to all of us.

After graduation, he went to college, only to drop out...yes, drinking cost him. He got engaged but soon afterward, she dropped him. That seemed to do it! It started a downward spiral in his life like a rock falling from the sky. He would frequent bars, get into fights and his body was having the markings of scars. He got hooked on drugs along with his alcohol. Rehab came and went. Visits to the "6th floor" at the hospital were in order. (That's the floor of those mentally unstable.) His life was completely out of control.

A picture was handed to me. It was his obituary. He looked worn and wrinkled. It was hard to believe this man was my age with the way he looked. His face was one of sadness and lostness. His life had spiraled downward so far that he lost everything in life and for eternity! He was lost in relationships and to himself and lost with the Lord. 

Too many are like my classmate. Chasing things that cost and ruining their lives in the process. Trying to find meaning while in the process of losing! We see it today. Many a young man or woman thinking that living a life of wanton pleasure, party spirit is where life is while it spirals them downward into self-pity and ruin. Here we have a gospel message for people like this yet we keep it to ourselves because of fear. Fear of offending. Fear of rejection. Fear of not saying something the right way. Yet here people are looking for some meaning in life and we withhold that life from them because of fear. Maybe we don't see the power of God that's found in that gospel (Rom. 1:16-17)? Maybe we are searching too? The Lord God is right there, found in Jesus if we would only look and get others to look.

"Reflections"

Sometimes we need to sit and reflect about things. Reflections about our lives, our loved ones and the journey we are taking. Some bring great joy to our hearts while other things make us realize how we really missed things.

As we spent our time with our family in Texas over the Thankgiving holiday, my mind was filled with reflections. I spent a day with my brother and sister-in-law. She has a serious brain tumor that only the Lord knows what will be the outcome. I reflected on our past as we spoke. We brought up things we did and where we had gone. It was good to bring back the memories. But in the reflection I saw a strength in my sister-in-law that was extremely encouraging. She knows she has a life threatening situation but her attitude and view of it was what we would call...GODLY. She had her hope and heart set. As we reflected that was good to see.

While at my parents house, my dad told me to go out into his garage, which was his work place over the last few years since closing down his tv and appliance business, and look through the things to see what I wanted. He brought so much from his shop with him and it is all set up in his garage. There were so many memories when I would pick something up that would flood my mind. My two sons were with me and they would find something and ask me what this was or that was. I found myself explaining things to them as I reflected. My grandkids were just having fun with it all. There was an old televsion set my dad has been tinkering with for several years trying to fix and my grandaughter asked, "What is that grandpa?" I explained about the older tv's to her surprise. I showed them soldering irons, tools and parts from years gone by. There were so many things that I can't begin to say how it made me feel. I was handling my past and how my dad had been blessed by the Lord to support us. It was incredible.

It is good to reflect. Sometimes it is good to sit and reflect where we came from and how we got to where we are presently. In the whole, as we each look at the journey we have taken, make certain you reflect on the Lord who brought it all about and where He is leading us. That's a reflection that leads to our present reality. Let's reflect on our past how it brought us to the present but this isn't over yet. We still have a future, a bright and blessed future, if we just hold to the promises of God in Christ Jesus. And smile as you reflect! 

"Until Later..."

I want to wish all a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love the Thanksgiving holiday because it is one of those holidays where people can sit and enjoy their family together without all the craziness of gift buying and fear of debts. Just simply familes getting together and sharing in a meal.

It's a lot like some of the times in the OT. Families would sit together and eat in a meal and reflect on the Lord. I know many don't do this but what a great opportunity for each of us. The Lord has blessed us and blessed over and over. Even in our down times, we are still blessed. It's the difficulties that make one thankful or that's how it should work.

Enjoy your time to get away from everyday business! Take time with your family. Make it an opportunity to listen to those around you. You might be surprised what you hear and find out they have a heart for things you were unaware. This is my last post until after the Thanksgiving holiday. May God richly grant you His graciousness and care for you and your loved ones.

"Peter Did!"

There were few as up and down as Peter. One minute we find him rebuking His Savior and the next calling out to Him to save from a situation. He fought to defend His Lord and yet denied Him at the most critical time. Peter was so different than Judas. Judas was just...well, the devil. Jesus calls Him that! Judas was a petty thief, a deceiver and greedy! Judas had no answers for life but suicide.

But that night of Jesus' arrest, Jesus tells Peter that Satan has demanded permission "to sift you like wheat." (Luke 22:31) The devil didn't have any right over Jesus. It shows his weakness in dealing with Father and Son. He had to ask permission. That alone speaks volumes to us.

That night, Peter loudly and boldly proclaimed not to allow anything to happen to his Master. But that was short lived. Peter observed Jesus taken into custody and stayed back to watch until his hand was called. "This man was with him too!" a servant-girl said (Luke 22:56). Peter denied it!  Another person approaches Peter and speaks "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Peter didn't just deny it, he denied it with an oath (Matt. 26:72). A third bystander came up and said, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away." Peter didn't just deny it or swear with an oath. He began to curse and swear (Matt. 27:74). Can you imagine an apostle of the Lord doing such?

What was Peter to do? Suddenly out of nowhere, Jesus locks eyes with Peter. There you were, looking into the eyes of the Redeemer of mankind that you had just sworn and cursed about! As we would say, Peter threw Jesus under the bus. The cross was for Peter too! Peter went out and wept bitterly. Bitterly! Not just a few flowing tears but tears of pain and sorrow for having sold out the One who he said he would defend. It makes us wonder where Peter was (or the others as well) when that sky turned black upon the death of Jesus? More tears and sorrow!

But here is the thing. While Peter and Judas both walked with Jesus, they had witnessed His miracles, His working with and among people, heard His teachings of truth and knew what forgiveness of sins was. Judas didn't believe. Peter did! Jesus prayed for Peter and knew that Peter would turn after his great and horrific failure in his life. Peter did! Peter found forgiveness! Peter knew forgiveness!

We've been there. We have failed and too ashamed to ask for forgiveness but our faith won't give up asking. That part in our lives where shame and guilt hit us but we just had to respond to our Savior with an open heart. We walked in the shoes of Peter many times. The ups and downs. The arrogance and humblings. The denying and realizing we are nothing. What made Peter return? He witnessed Jesus forgiveness among many. Jesus willingly forgiving those of faith. There was a rock, a security for the heart of mankind if man would be honest. What about us? What makes us return? What makes some never to return? Jesus showed His willingness and the depth of His forgiveness. What are we going to do with that? Are we going to humble ourselves and cling to Jesus? Peter did!

"Close But Far Away"

If we look closely we will see it. Here the men were, soldiers close to the cross but so far away. It meant little to them as they saw Jesus as another commoner. I don't know what really happened but John gives us a little insight: "Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be'; this was to fulfill the Scripture: 'They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.'" (John 19:23-24)

Heartless, unfeeling men below the feet of Jesus gambling for His clothing! Close to the cross but so far removed from the impact of what was happening. It makes me wonder what Mary, her sister and Mary Magdalene thought as stood by the cross watching the thoughtless and uncaring actions? What a scene that demonstrates man's calloused hearts.

But wait, could that be us today? Our eyes on everything around, our faces turned away from the cross while we claim we stand beneath it. Many have been carried away by the things of the world while claiming Christ. What about those who have little interest in worship but they claim Christ? Personal gains and condemning one another seem to run rampant. Why, if things don't go just the way we want, we take what little we have left of ourselves and walk away justifying why we did what we did. It didn't matter if Jesus wants us to love and forgive. You know we were hurt, or at least believe we were. Many are so close to the cross but so far away.

Swords of bitterness are drawn ready for battle the next time something happens. Blame, divisions, make worship about what we think is okay, another doctrine, new twists in teachings, misuse of Scripture and in some places that are so small in population, the church has 3, 4, 5 different congregations that have started all in the name of the Lord but the motive for starting them was far from the Lord. Wasn't it Jesus who spoke, "That they all may be one, just as We are one!"? (John 17:22)

Are we really so different from those soldiers that day? As they gambled for the clothes of Jesus, they were throwing eternal life away. How many are at the foot of the cross playing the same games? Little pursuit of His righteousness. Just day by day throwing away our lives. I wonder what Jesus thought that day? Too many are close but so far away. Have you ever sat down and taken serious inventory of yourself? Are you close but far away?

"Almost"

"Almost!" It can be one of the saddest words that so many use today. It comes in different flavors. The one that got away. I nearly did it. It was right there in front of me. But most of the time it's "almost!" I "almost" got to play. I "almost" closed the largest sale in history. I "almost" got married. I "almost" climbed to the top.

We listen closely to Scripture and read about Jesus standing face to face with Pilate. Can you imagine? The governor standing face to face, eye to eye with His Creator and His Redeemer. The accusations were flying at Jesus past Pilate like hot volcanic rocks that have been hurled into the air. Each time Pilate brought Jesus before himself and found no crime, no fault and nothing to accuse Him. All the power that Pilate had to release Jesus was there too and Pilate knew it. Jesus did explain that Pilate's authority came from heaven above but still the decision was Pilate's to make. There are at least five times Pilate was weighing in on what to do. The crowd roared. Our Savior stood quietly. His silence had to be more deafening than the crowd yelling!

But then we have that sad word show up..."almost." Pilate's wife sent him a message to have nothing to do with this righteous man (Matt. 27:19). Pilate "almost" listened. Pilate over and over wanted to release Jesus and "almost" did. Who knows what Pilate really felt after handing Jesus over and knowing what happened from that point.

"Almost" is to fail! Just as Pilate washed his hands, that didn't eliminate the decision. One can't close their eyes to their wrongs with some outward justification and be released of their guilt. We too, because we "almost" did it God's way, we "almost" helped someone in need, we "almost" gave Jesus 100 % entrance into our heart but yet many stand still in their filth and defilement. There is no "almost" with Jesus! Jesus doesn't "almost" forgive us of everything. We are forgiven or not forgiven. We are either with Him wholly or against Him...there is no place for "almost" in relationship to Jesus.