Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.   Romans 12:9

A regular part of vegetable gardening is to ensure that the tall pea plants are entwined through the wire mesh trellis for support. You poke the curly tendrils through the wire until they cling and grip, knowing that in time as they grow they become firmly attached and support the whole plant. Often tendrils from the outer plants twine around stronger plants that are closer to the trellis and stabilized by the strength of the mesh. 

Pea plants have hollow stems that are easily bent and broken by strong winds or by being knocked over. The trellis is absolutely essential; otherwise the plants would be constantly fractured and the nutrients could not reach the flowers. Nor would we ever harvest pea pods!

The fragile pea plant reminds me to cling to the support we find in God’s word and to learn from those with strong faith. In a world where the winds of troubles and sorrows threaten our faith, we can reach out with tendrils of prayer. God’s word provides us with support and strength to withstand trials, to grow in our faith, and to produce a harvest.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through [God] who loved us.  -Romans 8:37

AS a child, I tried to imitate comic-book heroes; I was ready to wage battle armed with a wooden sword, a cork shield, and a vivid imagination. After I heard a bit about the book of Revelation, my curiosity drove me to read it. I made it to the third chapter. The fantasy aspects of the book grew and grew in my mind as I realized that the conqueror always received the prize.

I asked an adult, “Who is the enemy I need to vanquish?”

“Sin,” was the response.

How dangerous it must be, I thought, to confront this foe! I will have to use my sword, my shield, and if necessary, my fists.  Today, I continue to think about the word conquer. Over time, I have become convinced that the most subtle enemy is the one that, in a thousand ways, attempts to turn us away from being constant in prayer; from reading and meditating on the Bible, from attending church; and from rejoicing, praising, and adoring God. Let us be ever alert to invisible but powerful pressure to change our focus. And let us continually turn our gaze back to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. See Heb. 12:2.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

Life seems increasingly busy. In a major railway station during rush hour, hundreds of people are in transit, rushing to reach their destinations. On board trains or buses, everyone is talking on mobile telephones. At the shopping center or supermarket, people buy as if the shops were going to close at any moment. When we call a friend on the telephone, we often get the answering machine. Should our lives be like this: constant rushing, never a quiet moment, always listening to or watching some electronic device?

Jesus knew it was vital to withdraw from the crowds to gain strength for his task and peace for his soul. He knew that he needed time spent with God, listening as well as talking, to continue the work he came to do. We’re no different. We need moments of peace in our busy days and time to spend with God, to rest in God’s arms, to be still in God’s presence. That quiet makes a difference in our life.

God, help us to follow Jesus’ example, finding peace and stillness in our busy lives. May we not be too busy or too preoccupied to listen to your voice. Amen.

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  John 1:29

We all struggle with sin in our lives. But some of us like to rename it as an error or mistake and think that it’s no big deal. Others downplay the severity of it by saying that it’s just a white lie, or a gray area. But no matter how we choose to label it, sin is sin, and it separates us from God.

We mess up when we try to handle sin on our own. Thinking that we have the power to control our sin and its consequences, will ultimately spin us out of control. God knew we would struggle with sin. So he sent his son to take away the sins of the world. It’s a free gift from our Savior. And all we have to do is accept it.

Once we accept Christ, our sins are no longer a part of us; they no longer have the power to hold us down. As a result, God can once again look at us and welcome us into his presence.

Don’t convince yourself that sin is no big deal or that you can handle it on your own. Instead, surrender your sin to the one who has the power to take it away forever.

Lord, thank you for sending your son to take away the sins of the world. Help me to rest in the comfort of your care knowing that you see me as righteous and pure through Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

[Jesus] said to [the ruler], “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have. … Then come, follow me.”  Luke 18:22

When we consider the words of Jesus in Luke 18 to be only an indictment of the rich and a call to sell all possessions, we miss an important message. Jesus saw that the man wanted more out of life than possessions could bring him. So Jesus offered him a solution that would bring peace and fulfillment. Jesus simply told the man to cast aside his burdens and follow him. The man rejected this challenge either because he did not believe that the solution would work or because he saw changing as more painful than staying as he was. The man came to Jesus wanting a closer relationship with God, but he lacked the belief and trust that Jesus could fulfill that desire.

Whether we are rich or poor, believing that God can and will meet our needs and show us the way is key to living with meaning and purpose. Jesus models deep and abiding trust in God, and his teachings show us the way to life. However, it is up to us to accept or reject the offer. Jesus did not beg the man to follow him or explain why he should. Instead, Jesus used the situation to point out that those who are not burdened by possessions find it easier to gain life and peace by following him.

Lord help us to trust that everything we seek can be found in serving you. Amen

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.  Romans 12:4-5 

 

Think of how crazy it would be to wake up one morning and find that your legs and feet started doing the work of your arms and hands. Obviously, brushing your teeth with your feet would be a challenge! Our bodies were made with different body parts and each one has its own purpose and function.

The same is true in the body of Christ God has gifted each of us with different talents and abilities. And those gifts are to be used within the body of Christ, which is the local church.

God wants you to get the most out of life, and that happens when you make his house, the church, a priority. Wherever you live, find a local church to attend, and serve in whatever capacity you can, by using the gifts and talents that God has given you. Then, you can discover all that God has in store for you.

Remember, Christ was so passionate about his church, that he sacrificed his life for it. Make sure you are passionate about the church as well.

Lord, thank you for the body of Christ and the wonderful things that it does to spread the message of Jesus all over the world. Help me to realize my potential and find a church where I can make the most out of my gifts and talents. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit”        Titus 3:5

Today if you were to ask someone what a genuine Christian is, you might hear something like this: “They are someone who is at church every time the doors open. They serve on committees, teach Sunday school, sing in the choir, feed the hungry and pray for the needy. They never get discouraged, never doubt, but have little time for fun. They’re too busy working for the Lord.”  I think Satan has deceived us with the illusion that a busy Christian is a genuine Christian. It’s just not true.

Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying these are not good things to do, but I fear we’ve turned our walk with God into a frenzied pace by adding to our faith a lot of extra baggage that we don’t need. We need to get back to real, genuine faith.  The trouble is we are no different than the Galatians. They started with faith, but then added works as well. In Galatians 3:3, Paul asks the people this question: “Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?”

Good question. I can’t tell you how long I lived doing that same thing. I tried to live for God by my own efforts instead of allowing Him to live in and through me by faith.  Genuine faith is not about doing. It’s about believing God. It’s a relationship between us and God that begins by faith, is lived by faith, and ends in faith. It’s that simple. Everything else – such as good works – flows from the source of this relationship.  However, some Christians fall into the trap of organized religion instead of practicing simple, genuine faith. This kind of oppression is growing in our world today because nothing is simple anymore, especially our faith. We do a lot of extra stuff for all the wrong reasons, such as impressing others or trying to win God’s approval. It’s not that we shouldn’t do good deeds, but we need to ask ourselves, “Why am I doing what I’m doing, and who am I doing it for?” We just might surprise ourselves with the answer.

 Life is heavy enough with the responsibilities God has given us. I’m finding that many today are burned out from trying to do it all and then feeling guilty because they can’t. I know. I was a lot like the The Little Engine That Could. Do you remember that children’s story? At some point in my life, I adopted the engine’s motto as my life’s purpose. “I think I can, I think I can…” Whenever someone asked me to do something – especially at church – I quickly responded, “I think I can!”  Only to discover, I can’t do it all.  I had the same problem that plagued the Galatians. I was practicing religion instead of relationship.  Genuine faith is not a long list of performances we do to impress others. It’s about maintaining our relationship with God. This is the secret to the Christian life. 

Perhaps you’ve been trying to do all the work yourself. If you and I will daily stay connected to our source, then the natural outcome will be a simple life of genuine faith.

Dear Lord, I humbly lay all my works, efforts, and life before You today. I long to pursue You. Draw me closer to You, Lord. Teach me to live by simple, genuine faith in You alone. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Word became flesh and made his dweeling amoung us.  John 1:14 

Politicians want the public to believe that they are just like their constituents. But no matter how much they try, they will never truly understand the needs of their voters unless they actually share the same type of lifestyle and live in similar communities.

Unlike politicians, Jesus never gives us an illusion of identity. He knew that it would be hard to convince people that living a godly life was possible unless he became flesh and actually lived it himself. So that’s exactly what he did.

Just as he physically connected with people over two thousand years ago, he spiritually connects with us today on a level that we can understand. Jesus knows the things we struggle with in this life because he faced the same issues. He dealt with relationships and temptations—the same as we do today.  There will be times when you feel alone, and that no one understands what you are going through. But take comfort in knowing that Jesus has walked in your shoes, and understands exactly where you are. Trust in God as you deal with your daily struggles and allow him to help you walk through the storms.

 

Lord, thank you for coming to earth and experiencing the struggles of this life so that I can have my hope in you. Help me strengthen my connection with you so that through trusting you, I can be equipped to handle the storms of life. In Jesus name, Amen.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  Matthew 7:24

There is no disputing the fact that Jesus Christ was the greatest and most influential teacher to ever walk the face of the earth. And unlike many teachers today, his message was simple and easy to follow.  Jesus was so successful in his endeavors because he reached people where they were. He taught us how to love one another despite our differences and how to live a life that would be pleasing to God. More importantly, Jesus showed us that in order for us to get to God, we had to first go through him.

Jesus wasn’t just about teaching—he was a living example of everything he taught. So to simply recognize Jesus as a great teacher is not enough. We have to also acknowledge him as our Savior and live out those same lessons as well.

Take some time today to reflect on Jesus’ teachings. Become a student at the feet of the greatest teacher to ever walk the earth. And learn to be passionate about being this same kind of example to others.

Lord, your lessons of love and kindness have taught me what I need to do to live a life that is pleasing to you. As I reflect on Jesus’ teachings today, help me to put your words into action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.  Matthew 5:23-24

A friend and I were attempting to work out a peaceful solution to a long-standing conflict between us. As we talked, I asked her to forgive me. She refused, saying she wouldn’t forgive me, but perhaps we could move on and just not mention it again. Deep in my heart I knew that she was going to continue to let what had happened years earlier eat at her, and it saddened me.  Not sure what to do next, I asked the Lord for guidance. Speaking to me in my heart, God said, “Pray that she will desire my peace.”

Those words from God have come to mind many times since then. Everybody has conflicts in this life, but not everybody becomes bitter. I look to many examples in my own life of kind and loving people who like Joseph forgive those who have wronged them. Like Joseph, they have endured many hardships but have not let the circumstances of their lives destroy them. Instead, they can treasure the peace that comes from forgiving others.

Lord, thank you for the peace you give us when we forgive others as you have forgiven us. Amen.