The meek inherit the land....

Psalm 37:11 “But the meek shall possess the land, they shall delight in abounding peace.” (NAB) “But the meek will inherit the land, and enjoy great peace.” (NIV) “Down to earth people will move in and take over…relishing a huge bonanza.” (MSG) “The poor will take the land and enjoy a big harvest.” (CEV) (vs.9) “Those who hope on the LORD…” (vs.11) “The meek….” (vs.22) “Those the LORD blesses….” (vs. 29) “The righteous….” (vs. 34) “He will exalt you to…..”

Heavenly Father, Inheriting the land, the earth…what does this phrase mean? “The meek shall inherit the land (earth).” Elsewhere in Psalm 37 others are described as inheriting the earth….”those who hope on the LORD”…”those the LORD blesses”….”the righteous”…..as well as ”the meek”. If we “hope on the LORD” than we trust You as our God, our Father, our Creator. We expect to receive blessings from you because you love us and care for us. We come to you. This requires the next step…”meekness”…to see that you are holy and we are sinful, and that you are supreme and in charge, and we are to bow down seeking your presence and forgiveness. That brings the 3rd step…”those the LORD blesses”….you are able to bless us when we seek you humbly. You want to give us love and care for us, if we come and wait and ask. Next is “the righteous”….we only become righteous through Jesus Christ, the blessing you sent to save us and to restore us as your children. We are made righteous through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, and inherit all he inherits. In verse 34 it says: “He will exalt you to inherit the land”. We hope and trust in you, we become meek and repentant, you bless us and make us righteous through Christ. So we have moved from initial hope to being exalted by you and given all that you have for us! The land, the earth that we inherit is your kingdom, eternal life with you, dwelling in your presence where we have all that is necessary or wanted. Verse 11 ends with: “…and enjoy great peace”. That is our reward…the peace of your presence found when we are in harmony with your will. A righted relationship that makes all well and peaceful and perfect. The righteousness we gain in Jesus Christ is all we are made for, all we need, all that will satisfy and bring peace. Thank you! Amen.

Made himself nothing.....

Philippians 2:7 “He emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men.” (NAB) “But made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (NIV) “But stripped himself of every advantage by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born a man.”(Phillips) “He gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father, Understanding the two-fold nature of Jesus Christ is always confusing. He was God….a part of You….equal in every way…Son of God. But he “emptied” himself of that stature, that nature. He “made himself nothing”…”stripped himself of every advantage”…”he gave up everything”. What does that mean? Did he give up being God? No. He gave up his privileged, untouched heavenly spiritual “form” to take the “form” of a slave or servant. The “Worshiped One” became the worshiper. The heavenly Spirit nature, became a totally human…man…nature. He was a man from birth to death…a human nature just like ours…Son of Man. His “God-nature” was set aside to experience all we experience and live exactly as we live. Every human son holds the nature of both parents. Jesus had a heavenly parent and an earthly parent. He held both natures within, but the human body “grounded” him. It is always slightly out of our comprehension to understand this completely. We have no experience as “God” to tell us what it was like to give that up. Jesus was unique! His nature as “slave” or servant came from his total obedience to his Father’s will. He came to serve…not rule. His Father is Love. Love serves the one it loves. His being was totally keyed to serving the humans that he became one with. When he “became like one of us” he saw us all through Your eyes as potential children to love, serve, and save. He was born of You, and we are to be born of him. As You and he are one, we are to become part of that oneness through his loving service as Son of Man. The unique and only sacrifice that can save us. Allowing ourselves to abide in him and follow his example and be filled with his Holy Spirit, is our goal, our salvation, our eternal reward. Obedient men and women through his nature, his obedience. Christ’s body and blood uniting us all in your love as one Body, your Church, where you are worshiped and obeyed. Thank you, for your Son, and all he sacrificed for us. Amen.

The One who can do all things....

Luke 1:49 “God who is mighty has done great things for me, holy is his name.” (NAB) “For the Mighty One has done great things for me…holy is his name.” (NIV) “The One who can do all things has done great things for me….O, holy is his name! (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, God who is mighty! “The-One-who-can-do-all-things!” Mighty One, Holy One, Doer of all things! Mary recognized your might and honored you with praise. I see an echo in this praise of what Jesus taught us about praying: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name!” Whenever we recognize your role in our lives as the Mighty One, as our Father, as the One residing in heaven who “can do all things”, we respond with praise for your holiness. You, and you alone are holy! You, and You alone deserve praise and honor! Mary stated what we should all state: You are, “the one who has done great things for me” and You are holy! We spend so much time complaining about little things, petty irritations, that we don’t honor you for the “great things” you do for us each day. You keep the world spinning on its axis! You cause the sun to shine and the rains to fall! You fill our world with delightful things to see wherever we go! You provide food and water and air to breath! You created our wonderful bodies that function without our constant thought and direction! You order our physical world for our good! The “great things” don’t stop there. You give us Words to live by, to teach, to guide, to discipline. You sent us your Son to save us despite our unworthiness! You give constantly and we take without honoring your might or your holiness. There is no reason for a Mighty God to love or even tolerate us….but you do! All life is in your keeping and under your omnipotent eye. You provide, protect, and give peace when we come into your presence in recognition of your might, your supremacy, your holiness, your love, your role as Our Father, the One-who-can-do-all-things! Thank you, O Holy Father! amen

No servant is greater....

John 13:16 “I solemnly assure you, no slave is greater than his master; no messenger outranks the one who sent him.” (NAB) “I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater then the one who sent him.” (NIV) “Believe me, the servant is not greater than his master, and the messenger is not greater then the man who sent him” (Phillips) John 13:15 “I have set you an example….”

Heavenly Father, Jesus taught his disciples by example…”I have set you an example, that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15) The more their minds began to see visions of an earthly kingdom and earthly honors, the harder Jesus tried to show them that his kingdom was about love…serving each other, helping each other, carrying each other’s burdens, sacrificing for each other. This was his last night to teach them before his death. They call him Rabbi…teacher…Master. OK….if he is their teacher and master than they need to observe, and listen to him, and to follow his teaching! “No servant is greater than his master”…they are not greater than Jesus and must do what he does. “No messenger is greater than the one who sent him”…Jesus was a “messenger” from his Father, and they would become “messengers” for Jesus. It all goes back to the ultimate authority…YOU, the Father! Jesus is showing us You! Jesus is teaching us about You. We must always remain n the role of servant and messenger for you. That role is one of humility and obedience to your will. It isn’t about earthly honors and earthly gain and success. We are seeking salvation, eternal life, oneness with You, abiding in your presence at all times. We want to be healed, reborn, redeemed, resurrected! Jesus is our teacher and our Master. We must do as he shows us. We are forgiven…so we forgive others. We are loved…so we love others. We received mercy…so we are merciful to others. We have been served…so we serve others. We were made the focus of all Jesus did…so now we focus on others rather than ourselves. Humility is borne out in service. Humility never sees self as “greater” but recognizes its lack of deserving, its role as a child who has received mercy and love from You. Thank you! Amen.

Let the children come....

Matthew 19:14 “Let the children come to me. Do not hinder them. The Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (NAB) “You are let little children come to me, and you must never stop them. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to little children like these.” (Phillips) (vs. 15) “When had had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Heavenly Father, People brought little children for Jesus to lay his hands on and pray for them. The disciples wanted to chase them away. Jesus said, “let the little children come to me. Do not hinder them”. Little children are innocent and eager and ready to accept love. Jesus wants “little children to come”. We are not to hinder this coming in any way, thinking that only “adults”, only the wise can understand the gospel. Little children are open and ready to believe. They can sense love and acceptance. Jesus laid his hands on them and prayed for them. We are all potential children of God! Allowing ourselves to be brought to Jesus to be blessed is a beginning and an ending. After Jesus blesses us, he “leaves”. He went to the cross for all of us so that we might be eternally blessed. His blessing is all that is needed! Once he lays his hands on us, his physical presence is not necessary. We have his Holy Spirit to remain with us. The blessing continues in the Spirit’s presence. The little children were brought by those who loved them and cared for them. We must be first brought and blessed and then we join those who bring other children to find your blessing. We bring all who we care about, all who we love, all who are “childlike” enough to be led to you. Jesus wants all the children to come! Jesus will bless and pray for them and has already died for them. How do we “hinder” the children? Through apathy, hypocrisy, lack of loving them enough to bring them. We have to want this blessing for them and know Jesus is the place where they can receive it. We have to take seriously the command to “let them come”. We must make it a priority and the evidence of our own love and trust. Jesus blesses! Jesus saves! Bring the children! Let Jesus bless them. Thank you that your message is simple enough for children to understand! Amen.

God's wisdom vs. the world's wisdom and power....

1 Corinthians 1:27 “God chose those whom the world considers absurd to shame the wise; he singled out the weak of this world to shame the strong.” (NAB) “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” (NIV) “But God has chosen what the world calls foolish to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world calls weak to shame the strong.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, Confounding the wise and the powerful. Turning the world upside down. Who is the world to judge what is wise or strong? Does the world know your mind? Does the world know the design and plan of its Creator? We always think we “know it all!” We assume that if we don’t understand it or know the answers, then it must be wrong. You chose Jesus Christ to save the world. Our understanding or lack of understanding doesn’t make it otherwise. Paul points out that with the world’s “wisdom and power” it failed to know you. The world failed to remain in right relationship with the God who created it. We didn’t find our way on our own. We didn’t manage to follow the rules you gave us to show us the way. No amount of “trying” brought us success. So you enacted a “foolish plan” in the world’s eyes. You chose to “come down”, to send a Son in the form of a baby, Jesus Christ, who would grow as a man, live a perfect life, die as a pure sacrifice to cancel out sin and death, rise again as a new risen Lord (Son of Man, Son of God)….who is now King of Kings, Savior of mankind, first fruit of the Kingdom of Heaven. We can’t even tell it so it sounds like wisdom! But we can feel the power of Jesus Christ when we seek him. We can know the forgiveness, the grace found through him. We can repent and be reborn! All of this through faith…no proof that would stand up in court, no explanations that show us worldly wisdom or worldly power at work. All from you! All a gift! All flowing from a “foolish” cross and a “weak” Son of Man/Son of God who was willing to die rather than rule, sacrifice rather then claim his rightful glory, serve rather than have worldly honor. His glory is heavenly! His wisdom is your wisdom. His strength is your strength. Now it can be ours through abiding in your love and grace with Jesus Christ, our “foolish” Savior. Thank you that your wisdom and strength are ours through Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen.

Come to me....

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you.” (NAB) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (NIV) “Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Phillips) “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest.” ((CEV)

Heavenly Father, “Come to me”. Jesus calls us. We have a place of refuge to go to whenever we choose. He is speaking to all who find life a burden, who are weary of the daily struggle to be in control and “do” for ourselves. You, O LORD, who created us, who are our Father, have always desired to provide all we need. But we choose to try to carry the loads of life by ourselves without your help. Jesus came to lighten our load. He came to heal…to save…to release the prisoner…to remove the bondage of sin….to give sight and to open ears. We must come to him and listen and accept his help. He’ll walk beside us. He’ll share an easy yoke with us. We never need to be in charge or in control. We “rest” in him. We rest in the hope he brings. We rest in the knowledge that he saves us from sin and death. The world says, “do it yourself”…Jesus says, “I’ve already done it.” The world says, “Life is hard and futile”….Jesus says, “life is in me and I bring rest and peace and salvation and eternal life.” Jesus leads us to you, our Father. Jesus brings us home. Home is always a place where we want to be, where love is found, where we choose to abide. You are home. You are love, peace, joy. Jesus gives us this rest. We don’t earn it or make it happen ourselves. Rest can only come when the world’s burden is lifted….sin and death. The burden of sin and death can only be lifted by Jesus Christ. We “come to him”….eager, hopeful, ready, confident in his saving grace. The world slips away. Peace rests on us and in us. Home. Father! When we recognize our weariness our inability to carry the burden, we can come and release it forever through Jesus Christ. Thank you! Amen.

Welcoming a child....

Mark 9:37 “Whoever welcomes a child such as this for my sake, welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me, but him who sent me.” (NAB) “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (NIV) “Anyone who welcomes one little child like this for my sake is welcoming me, and the man who welcomes me is welcoming not only me, but the one who sent me!” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, Welcoming you! We welcome You, our Father, when we welcome your Son, Jesus Christ. You and the Son are One. We welcome Jesus every time we welcome “one of these little children” in his name. The disciples had just come from the mount of transfiguration and from watching Jesus heal and listening to him talk of his death. They are on a “high” from the power and glory being exhibited, but they are not understanding the death talk. They are ready to roll forward in power and rule the world! John and James argue over greatness and what position they might gain in Jesus’ kingdom. Jesus puts a stop to it. He wants them to understand that his power is spiritual and has nothing to do with ruling in this world. He wants them to understand that his work involves suffering, sacrifice, and serving. Children are pretty much ignored in the world’s schemes of power. Children are better “seen and not heard”….to be kept in the background, insignificant. Jesus pulls a child to the foreground. Jesus embraces the child and says in effect, “this little one you consider unimportant is of great importance to me. This little one represents my role…humble obedience. If you don’t consider this child important, you will also miss my message. You must began to look at others…all others…as people to be noticed, loved and served. Not what they can give you or how they can honor you, but how you can help them….heal, save, teach, nurture, serve.” If we welcome the child, we welcome Jesus. If we welcome Jesus, we welcome You, the Father. Loving You, loving others. Looking outward, not inward. Seeing You in every “child” we meet and humbling ourselves for their sake. Not “me first”….You first! We must stop the power plays and games of position and climbing the worldly ladders of success. Your kingdom is a kingdom of love, of “children” being noticed and important. Oneness with you and others. Equality based on love from You towards others. I want to welcome you and your Son and all the “children”! Thank you! Amen.

Seeing ourselves through God's eyes, not the world's....

Romans 12:3 “I warn each of you not to think more highly of himself then he ought. Let him estimate himself soberly, in keeping with the measure of faith that God has apportioned him.” (NAB) “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (NIV) “Don’t cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities in the light of the faith that God has given to you all.” (Phillips) “It’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” (MSG)

Heavenly Father, Self-assessment based on God’s will for us. Seeing ourselves clearly in his light…through faith…rather than the world’s assessment. God’s eyes and worldly eyes see differently. We can easily think too highly of ourselves and “cherish exaggerated ideas of ourselves and our importance”, when we view ourselves through worldly eyes. The world judges importance…”success”…by how much we have and what we have done. You judge us by how we use what we have and what we do for others in obedience to your will. It isn’t what we gain for ourselves, but what you have given us. Faith eyes are necessary to look at what “gifts” you have given us and how you want us to use them. Are we prophets, teachers, encouragers, healers? If we are assessing our worth in terms of your gifts we will boast only in what you have done. We will use the gifts you give us in accordance to your will and think little of our own worth or accomplishment. It is a new way of living. It becomes our life, not a “job”. Verse 2 says, “Let God remake you…” This is the key. We have to be remade, reborn, reshaped into the godly creature you meant us to be. Being “remade” is in the hands of the Maker, not in our own hands. An outside influence…Your re-shaping and renewing.... is necessary and we become clay with no life but what you give us. Faith is necessary for this remaking. Faith lets us see our unworthiness and our need for our Maker to “fix” us. We need a Savior to remove the impurities within us. We rest freely in the hands of our Maker, knowing you will shape us as we need to be. Our role is obedience or willingness. You will do the rest. As the Message translation says, we must “understand ourselves by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him”. You are the potter, we are the clay…mold me! Amen.

Go..sell all...give.....

Matthew 19:21 “If you seek perfection, go sell your possessions, and give to the poor. You will then have treasure in heaven. Afterward, come back and follow me.” (NAB) “If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” (NIV) “If you want to be perfect, go now and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor…you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.” (Phillips) Heavenly Father, This verse has an “if…then” construction, but you have to search for the tie. The “if” is about seeking perfection. The young ruler had asked, “What do I still lack?” or “What is still missing in my life?” He was convinced he had so far done all that was expected of him to gain eternal life, but he obviously felt unsatisfied, still far from assurance of his goal…what was missing to give him the security he sought? He wanted something he could do to gain this secure assurance. Jesus points out to him his reliance on his own provision rather than trusting the God who he claims to seek. “Go...sell all…give”….empty your worldly security chest, your comfort zone of ease, your ability to feel “safe” because you have no hardship to deal with. The “treasure in heaven” is not tangible, not easily found or felt when you are hungry or cold or homeless. But the “treasure in heaven” is eternal…it rests on God’s love and mercy and sovereignty, and his position as Father and Creator and Sustainer. When you no longer rely on your own ability to provide comfort and security, but only trust your Father for “daily bread” you will find that “perfection” you are seeking. Most of us never find that perfection, that oneness of abiding in complete trust. But the rich young ruler came to the right place. Jesus can provide us with heavenly security through grace. What we can’t do he already did. Once we are willing to yoke ourselves to him, we will find the treasure. The “then” of this passage comes after the “going, selling, giving”. We can’t come to Jesus to follow, until we go and sell our reliance on self. Ridding ourselves of whatever stands between us and complete trust and reliance on him. Cutting the cord to our safety net and reaching out in faith. Perfection can only come through Jesus Christ. Following is a change of attitude and a change in what we trust…ourselves or Jesus. Help me to trust more. Help me to be willing to go and sell and give until all that’s left is you! Amen.

I am not worthy.....

Luke 7:6 “I am not worthy to have you enter my house.” (NAB) “Lord don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.” (NIV) “Don’t trouble yourself, sir! I’m not important enough for you to come into my house.” (Phillips) “I’m not that good of person, you know. I’d be embarrassed for you to come to my house.” (MSG) “Lord, don’t go to any trouble for me. I am not good enough for you to come to my house.” (CEV) Heavenly Father, I am not worthy”…not good enough. Comparative worth, comparative authority. The centurion was important in his job and in the city. The Jewish elders were willing to beg for help for this non-Jew because he loved their nation and even built their synagogue. He was a nice man who cared about his servant. Yet he recognized that Jesus had even greater authority and greater worth. He felt “humble” about asking for Jesus’ help himself…after all he wasn’t even Jewish and Jesus was obviously important and powerful! He saw himself in relation to Jesus the way we should: “I am not worthy”….”I do not deserve”…”I’m not important enough”…”I’m not that good of a person”….”I am not good enough.” This is humility. The centurion knew his own “worth” and importance but his faith saw that Jesus was greater by far. The Jews were debating and arguing over Jesus, but this outsider saw someone who had the authority to heal a dying man and the greatness that made him feel humble in comparison. We often have these doubts about “bothering” You with our requests….we feel unworthy and undeserving, and so often we don’t follow through for those very reasons! This man asked even though he didn’t feel that he deserved help. This man persevered in his faith that Jesus was the one to come to. His method may have been unorthodox, but he persisted for the sake of his servant. He felt unable to face Jesus himself because of his unworthiness, but he still asked for help. We must come to Jesus. We must ask with expectation of receiving! We must bow to Jesus’ greater authority and understand that the power to heal lies in him. Jesus’ physical presence is not necessary. He is the Word! We reach him in faith and prayer. His spirit of healing is everywhere we need it! We must trust and seek humbly from the One who is most worthy and who loves us! Thank you, amen.

Elevate others above self....

Philippians 2:3-4 “Never act out of rivalry or conceit; rather let all parties think humbly of others as superior to themselves, each of you looking to others interest rather than his own.” (NAB) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (NIV) “Never act from motives of rivalry or personal vanity, but in humility think more of each other then you do of yourself. None of you should think only of his own affairs, but consider other people’s interests also.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, Outward focus based on heavenly example. This entire passage deals with harmony, love, unity of spirit, and purpose. It’s about: “let your attitude to life be that of Christ Jesus” (vs. 5). Christ was our example of how to live with and love each other. If every human being lived his life in the attitude of Jesus Christ there would be no war, no famine, no hatred, no fear, no worry! Sounds too simple? Actually it’s very hard! These verses list what not to do…” act out of rivalry or conceit”…”selfish ambition or vain conceit”…”rivalry or personal vanity”…”jealous or proud” (CEV). All those words have a “me” focus. I want to be on top. I want to be the center of attention. I’m best. I’m important. Me, me, me….look at me! Jesus Christ was the exact opposite in every way! Jesus was humble. Jesus acted in the best interests of others. Jesus sacrificed himself for all. Jesus set aside his own comfort to tend to other’s needs and to teach others about your holy love. We are told to “think of others as superior to self”…”consider others better than self”…”think more of each other than you do yourself”. This goes against everything the world teaches us. The world says, “look out for number one” and “if it feels good, do it” and “you deserve it all”. Satan turns us from God and others and keeps us busy satisfying our own wants and desires. This is not a Christ-like attitude! We don’t like the idea of true humility…actual care and concern focused outward towards others at all times. We don’t like those words “better” and “superior” applied to someone else. We will consider “equal”, but not “superior”. We still have our own interests very much in the forefront. Jesus says, “look to other’s interest.” We break Satan’s hold each time we focus outward on someone else in true humility! Change my attitude and make me Christ-like. Let me follow this example more fully and show your love to others first and always. Thank you, amen.

Hidden from the learned, but revealed to the children...

Matthew 11:25 “On one occasion Jesus spoke thus: ‘Father, Lord of heaven and earth, to you I offer prayer; for what you have hidden from the learned and the clever, you have revealed to the merest children’.” (NAB) “….I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (NIV) “….I thank you for hiding these things from the clever and intelligent and for showing them to mere children.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, “What you have hidden….you have revealed.” Do you really hide knowledge of your kingdom and Jesus Christ from anyone? No, but you make that knowledge contingent on faith. We can’t find you or your kingdom by seeking proofs and digging up archeological sites. Those who read your message and continue to say, “but what about…?” will always have more questions that have to have an answer before they are willing to believe and accept your truth. Acceptance based on proof rather than faith. The problem with that approach is that there will always be one more thing that needs to be proven. The learned are trying to prove God exists while the children just accept it in faith. Jesus is thankful for childlike faith and acceptance because that is the only way to really “know” the important truths about him. We can’t prove Jesus Christ by any human means…no matter what secrets of the past are dug up and confirmed, or how many ancient writings are discovered. The witnesses are now long dead, but their eye-witness accounts have been passed down in scripture and by the faith of each generation who has “discovered” Christ through simplicity and faith. It’s heart knowledge, not head knowledge. We feel and experience his presence for ourselves through scripture and prayer. You make yourself known to us when we come as children, accepting all possibilities in faith. When we allow the Word to speak to us in words of scripture and give them life, we too find life forever in our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior. You will continue to “hide” from those who must prove you to their own satisfaction. You will continue to be “revealed” to the children of faith. Thank you! Amen.

To serve, to give....

Mark 10:45 “The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve…to give his life in ransom for the many.” (NAB) “For the Son of Man himself has not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life to set many others free.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, To serve and to give….Jesus states his purpose as Son of Man. Jesus’ purpose on earth in human form wasn’t to be an earthly ruler sitting on a throne being served by others. Jesus’ purpose as a human was to be a sacrificial lamb given as a ransom for the sins of all mankind. He came to sacrifice, to serve, to substitute for us. This verse ends his discussion with John and James about their request to sit on his right and left when he began to rule. They had no idea what they were asking or what Jesus’ “rule” would be like! They envisioned over-throwing Rome and leading the Jewish people to freedom. They envisioned being heroes and being honored. Jesus knew they had the potential to be what he really wanted them to be…leaders in the Church that would rise up after he was gone…but this was very different from what they saw for themselves. Instead of honor they would be hunted and persecuted, but by then they would understand and go forth willingly to serve, to sacrifice. They would learn the lesson but not until Jesus’ work was finished and they saw the risen Christ, the victor over death, the Savior of the world, the Suffering Servant who sacrificed for all mankind. Then they would understand what his work and his kingdom were really all about. At this time their thoughts were turned inwardly in concern for their own advancement, for what they might “gain” as his followers, rather than what they might “give”. The real gain…salvation, eternal life, freedom from sin and death…was still not understood. The idea of love equaling service, sacrifice being more important then their own lives, was new to them. Jesus had yet to “rise up” showing his power over death, his victory through giving and serving. Jesus teaches sacrificial love as a way of life, service as the mark of son-ship in the kingdom of God. Teach me to serve. Thank you! Amen

Going the extra mile....

Matthew 5:41 “Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him two miles.” (NAB) “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (NIV) “If anyone forces you to go a mile with him, do more….go two miles with him.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, Roman soldiers were allowed to force people to carry their packs for one mile. This was not “choosing” to help someone, this was being “forced” to do so. It had a limit placed on it, but Jesus says ignore that and do even more. Each thing listed in this passage is an example of responding in love to our “enemies” or those who take advantage of us. Our natural inclination is to resist, or at least to resent this sort of forced cooperation. This is how people become our “enemies”….by going against our wishes and hurting us in some way in the process. “Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your heavenly Father.” (vs. 44-45) We show our relationship to You, our son-ship, when we act in love to our enemies. If an enemy is someone who hurts us against our will, then we are your enemies by our own fallen sinful nature. But you loved us enough to look past that and want to save us anyway! Instead of wiping us off the face of the earth, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ as a Savior to reconcile us to you. Love makes the difference. Going the “extra mile” makes the difference. Not counting up our hurts, but counting up our blessings and sharing them. You don’t choose to make enemies of any of us…you let the sun shine and the rain fall on all equally, and you sent the Son to save equally….but we can choose to reject your love and make ourselves or others into enemies by our actions. Jesus says do the hard thing, the unnatural thing, the sacrificial thing, the loving thing, the “extra mile” thing, just as he did it for us. Then we will show we are “sons of our Heavenly Father”. We can’t hate and be sons. We can’t seek revenge and be sons. We have to love the hard ones….our enemies….and make them our friends or die trying. Teach us…amen.

Our example....

John 13:14 “But if I wash your feet…I who am teacher and Lord…then you must wash each other’s feet.” (NAB) “Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (NIV) “But if I, your teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you must be ready to wash one another’s feet.” (Phillips) (vs.15)…”I have set you an example…do as I have done for you.” Heavenly Father, Master and Lord. Jesus rightly accepted both of these titles that his disciples called him. However, he chose this night before his betrayal and trial to give them one last lesson to remember. A Master or Lord will also serve in humility those he loves. A good Master cares about his servants. A Lord cares about those under his rule or teaching. Being Lord and Master isn’t just about being in control. It is about being concerned for those they have control over and the responsibility of their welfare. Jesus said, “I have set you an example…do as I have done for you.” This was showing us the depth of his relationship with us. He is our Lord and our Master…yes…but that means he cares for us enough to take the responsibility of our salvation on his shoulders. He chose to die to save us. The Master serves as well as teaches. The Lord protects and preserves as well as rules. We follow a Lord and Master who loves us, who died for us, who reigns in heaven with our welfare his constant concern. We are to follow this example. We must show love and service to everyone we meet just as our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, demonstrated. “Washing feet” isn’t an option…it’s our life calling, just as it was for Jesus. Bending down, getting dirty, showing humility to others is our calling. Jesus is now in us. This is what he would do, so we must allow him to do it through us. We can’t hold him back. We can’t just put him on a pedestal to worship. We can’t refuse his service to us (like Peter tried to do) or deny it to others. We can’t dictate what he should do or interpret it our own way (again, like Peter)…we can only observe and follow. Jesus gave himself willingly. That is important. We can’t serve out of only a sense of duty…we must serve out of a sense of love and obedience to our Heavenly Father’s will for us. The Lord and Master bends down in love for his children, his brothers ands sisters. Follow him! Thank you, Lord! Amen.

Christ's humanity.....

Philippians 2:7-8 “He was known to be of humble estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently, accepting even death, death on a cross.” (NAB) “…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man: being found in the fashion of man, he humbled himself and became obedient…”(KJV) “…made himself nothing…taking the very nature of a servant…being made in human likeness…found in appearance as a man…” (NIV) “…stripped himself of every advantage…consenting to be a slave…being born a man….humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, to the point of death…” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, We are human…we are born, we live, we die. We have no choice. Jesus Christ is God…God doesn’t die. Jesus did not have to experience what we experience. He didn’t have to take human form. He didn’t have to be crucified. This passage tries to bring home to us just what Jesus Christ sacrificed. His humility was so complete he gave up his equality as God and took on a human form and lived “a life of utter obedience, to the point of death.” Jesus Christ died by choice. He “gave up”….he “took on”….he “humbled himself”….he “consented”….he “stripped himself of every advantage”. We tend to dwell on our knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully part of and equal to his Father. We can’t wrap our minds around the concept of giving that all up and living as a man…totally human, just as we are. We somehow think that because he did miracles and was affirmed by You as you Son, that it somehow over-rode his humanity and made him immune to human things. Not true. We know Jesus ate, slept, grew weary, wept, agonized in prayer, worshiped, all just as we do. We know he was arrested, beaten, spit on, slapped, nailed, pierced and that he died. Humans die. His humble life as a human was one of utter obedience and it was not a pretty, perfect life. He suffered for us. He died for us. He became human…a servant, a slave, a man…for us. He knows all that we live through, all that we feel. This passage begins in verse 5 with the words: “your attitude should be the same as Jesus Christ.” We are already human, but we can live in humble obedience to your will because Jesus Christ first did the same. He now lives in us and can empower us to live the same life he did. No magic, no tricks, just the power of Jesus Christ living in us. Help me understand this! Amen.

Father of all lights....

James 1:17 “Every worthwhile gift, every genuine benefit comes from above, descending from the Father of the heavenly luminaries, who cannot change and who is never shadowed over.” (NAB) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (NIV) “But every good endowment and every complete gift must come from above, from the Father of all Lights, with whom there is never the slightest variation or shadow on inconsistency.” (Phillips) “Every desirable and beneficial gift….rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Lights….nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle”. (MSG)

Heavenly Father, Gifts from God…these are described as “worthwhile, genuine, good, perfect, complete, desirable, beneficial.” Perfect gifts from a perfect and holy God! All of these words give a sense of “rightness”, of being the exact thing needed for any situation. There would be no reason to refuse these gifts because they would be precisely what is needed! We desire many worthless things….money, material objects, toys, things that satisfy our worldly lusts. These are not your gifts. They aren’t all bad things in moderation, but we tend to rely too heavily on their temporary satisfaction and become very distracted by their enjoyment. We need to seek and desire your greater gifts…gifts of the Holy Spirit, gifts of Jesus Christ, gifts to serve you with. Where do we get these better gifts?…..they must “come from above, from the Father of all lights.” An interesting title…why Father of lights? Lights illuminate. We cannot safely move or do anything in darkness. Illumination is also a symbol of knowledge, wisdom. We get a “bright idea” or a “light bulb goes on”. Light is Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, as opposed to darkness….sin and death. Your gifts are connected to your role as Light. Your gifts oppose sin and death. Their worth, their perfection, their completeness is found in your Light. Jesus brought us that Light, and the Holy Spirit continues to illuminate us from the inside out. Lastly, you are consistent, never changing, not fickle, not varying. We can count on your Light and your gifts. You won’t change and they won’t change. The Phillips says: “never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency.” We can stand firmly on these gifts, these promises, and our faith and trust in You, as their source. Your gifts will support us in all things through your constant love and grace. “You are our God, and we are your people.”….forever. Thank you for your gifts of light! Amen.

Following God's plan for our lives....

Luke 1:38 “Mary said; ‘I am the servant of the LORD, let it be done to me as you say’” (NAB) “I am the LORD’s servant”, Mary answered, “May it be to me as you have said.” (NIV) “I belong to the LORD, body and soul”. replied Mary, “Let it happen as you say.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, So be it….this could sum up Mary’s answer to the angel, but I think it is necessary to note that she says, “let it be done to me”. She doesn’t just resign herself to “fate” and what is going to happen in general, but embraces the idea of it happening to her, personally. She accepts being chosen to play the part in the future of the world that God has created her for. “As you say”….God’s choice not hers. God’s plan, not hers. “I am the LORD’s servant”. She considers herself to be yours and yours only. She is a faithful, trusting believer. You are her God, and she is ready to serve you. This had to be a message of great confusion for her….a very young unmarried virgin. I doubt she had been visited by angels before, but do not doubt that she often sought your presence and worshiped you whole-heartedly. You chose her and prepared her for the role of mother to your Son. You gave her a spirit of acquiescence, a heart of obedience, a willingness to serve, a deep love for you. Most women today find it hard to “submit” to anyone. We are raised to be very independent-minded with no thought of anyone else doing our planning for us. Mary had the simple child-like faith that you want us all to have. She is blessed because she is “meek” in your sight. The meek, the lowly “inherit the earth”. Mary became the mother of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ who would save the world from sin! Mary’s acceptance and obedience, helped put your plan of salvation in motion. We all must be ready and willing to say, “I am the LORD’s servant”, whenever you call us to obedience to your will. We must “let it be done to me” as you have planned for us. Thank you, amen.

Respect Christ, respect others....

Ephesians 5:21 “Defer to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (NAB) “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (NIV) “Fir in with each other, because of your common reverence for Christ.” (Phillips) “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.” (MSG) “ Honor Christ, and put others first.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father, In this verse and the previous verse: “..always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20 NIV), Paul basically restates the two commandments that Jesus gave us…”Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.” Each of these commands is stated here in Ephesians with the added reference of doing this “in Christ’s name” or “in reverence for Christ.” Our love for you, the Father, and for each other now has a common reference point in the love of Jesus Christ. What we see, learn, and feel about love from Jesus Christ as our Savior, allows us to have the same love for You and for each other. I like each of the translations here as it defines this love for each other. We “defer to one another”…we don’t put our needs first but look to what others feel and think and need. We “submit to one another”…we don’t have to be in control as long as Christ’s love is present in our relationship. We “fit in with one another”…we get along, we accommodate each other through love of Christ. We are “courteously reverent to one another”….our love for Christ makes us polite and kind in our dealings with others. We “put others first”. I’ve seen the word joy explained as follows: J-Jesus first, O-others next, Y-you(ourselves) last. This is the order of godly love and fits this description to a tee. All of this starts with a relationship with You, through Jesus Christ. If we do not have your Son in us, do not know his forgiving sacrificing love, we cannot read this verse and follow it. Many people get hung up on the word “submit” because it takes “self” out of control. For Christians, “self” should always be submitted to Jesus Christ and then to others in love. Here it is a command or a “do this” statement to be followed. Teach me to submit all things to your will and the love of Jesus Christ in my relationships with others. Amen.

Loving others.....

1 Corinthians 10:24 “No man should seek his own interest but rather that of his neighbor.” (NAB) “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.” (NIV) “Let no man, than, set his own advantage as his object, but rather the good of his neighbor.” (Phillips) “We want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well.” (MSG)

Heavenly Father, Outward focused love. We have Christ’s salvation. Now we look beyond our own blessing in order to bless others with the same message. We do that by living consistently with the message we preach. We show God’s love to others. Not self-seeking living, but selfless sacrifice. Not satisfying our own needs, but looking at the needs of others. We are saved….no one can take God’s grace away form us. We must now go into the world that doesn’t yet know grace and show them what they are missing by the joyful way your grace blesses all we do. “Love your neighbor as yourself”. We must want for our neighbor all the blessing that you have experienced. Everything we do is for God’s glory because we have committed ourselves to Him and accepted his love and his gift of life in Jesus Christ. But we are clearly told not to cause any non-believers to “stumble” by our actions. If we don’t act in love, they will not see the loving God that we serve. If we sin and live in the world’s values, we will not show righteousness and kingdom values. There may be things that we can freely do and not be sinning, but if it appears as sin to a non-believer or confuses him about our commitment and faith, than we should not do it. The life we show to others in Christ’s name is more important than satisfying our own desires. We have to be able to see our faith actions through the eyes of others and not cause them any doubts. We can’t appear to be doing things contrary to what we “preach”. Our comfort, our desires, our wishes are not the most important thing. It’s more important to lead others to our Father that they might find his grace through Jesus Christ. We must strive for unity of thought, mind, and action among all believers so that you, O LORD, might be glorified to non-believers. Thank you! Amen

He went down with them....

Luke 2:51 “He went down with them then and came to Nazareth.” “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.” (NIV) “Then he went home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them.” (Phillips) John 1:46 “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Heavenly Father, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) You commanded us to honor our parents. Family harmony built on love for you and for each other, respecting the authority of those who are our parents. A family unit is only strong when the child listens and learns from the parents and respects their right to rule. This is a picture of our relationship with you. We come as children to your kingdom and You, our loving Father, provide for and protect us and we are nurtured and grow in the presence of your authority. Jesus was your son, but he was also the human son of Mary and Joseph, so he returned to Nazareth with them and “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” As a human, Jesus had to go through the same learning and growing process that all of us do. You placed him in a family of godly people who would raise him to know and respect you and your laws, and also other people. Jesus often quoted scripture and consistently attended synagogues and took part in the religious festivals that were commanded. He lived a childlike life of humble obedience to you and also his earthly parents. We are to do the same. Most of the translations say, “he went down with them.” This seems to me to be a metaphor of his humility and obedience. He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords!….yet he “lowered” himself to be a humble child, an obedient earthly son, a suffering servant, a sacrificial lamb. Jesus went “down” to Nazareth in obedience. Later Nathaniel asks: “can anything good come from Nazareth?” Yes…Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, our Light, our hope, our Salvation came from humble Nazareth, because he is a humble servant and embodies all the goodness and love of his Father in heaven. Thank you, amen.

Your king comes to you....

Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice heartily….shout for joy….see your King shall come to you; …..meek and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass.” (NAB) “Rejoice greatly….shout…see your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NIV) “Shout and cheer….raise the roof….your King is coming! A good king who makes all things right, a humble king riding a donkey….” (MSG)

Heavenly Father, “Rejoice! Your King comes to you!” The NIV adds: “righteous and having salvation”. This was not just an ordinary king. This King was righteous…in right relationship with both God and man. He came to teach righteousness and to bring us into righteous relationship with you, once more. Salvation….this king came to “save us”. Our relationship of righteousness can’t be restored without a blood sacrifice for our sins. Our forgiveness comes through this king. We have no other King. “Your king comes to you.” We bow down to the King of Kings, the Lamb of Salvation. In all of this glory, all of this regal kingly declaration, he is also described as “meek”….”gentle”….”humble”. This king does not come to condemn, but to save. This king doesn’t come to sit on a throne, but to die on a cross. This king doesn’t come to wear fancy robes and a crown of gold and jewels, but to wear a crown of thorns and be stripped and beaten. Jesus never “put on airs” or elevated himself to a distance that declared him as “royalty”. This king walked among the people, ate with sinners, touched the untouchable, taught the crowds of common people, went about his Father’s business everywhere, with “no place to lay his head.” This king…our king…had a destiny to fulfill. I read that the donkey is a symbol of peace, while a horse is a symbol of war. Our King is the Prince of Peace. Peace occurs when there is harmony among people under One God. Peace goes hand in hand with love. God is love! Jesus preached love! Jesus acted out godly love on the cross, when he died for us. The salvation Jesus brings and the righteousness he clothes us in result in peace…eternal peace. Rejoice! Shout for joy! Our King has come and will come again! Riding on the clouds in majesty! Jesus saves! Thank you! Amen.

What is humility?....

Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.” (NAB) “For everyone who makes himself important will become insignificant, while the man who makes himself insignificant will find himself important.” (Phillips) “If you put yourself above others you will be put down, but if you humble yourself you will be honored.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father, How many of us try to be humble? We think by taking certain actions of “false modesty”….sitting in the lowest place knowing we will be asked up….will honor us and make us humble at the same time. Is this what the Pharisees heard when Jesus spoke these words? Instructions for hypocrisy and “role playing?” It takes the right condition of our heart to hear beyond the “false modesty” approach. Taking the lowest seat isn’t a strategy move, but an unselfconscious choice by the truly humble. The truly humble wouldn’t even think about the choice of seats and automatically sit “below” the places of honor. The humble don’t recognize their greatness. It comes as a surprise to them if they are honored for doing what they assumed they were supposed to do and that they through everyone else also did. Humility can’t recognize itself or it ceases to exist. A paradox! Jesus is trying to point out to the Pharisees their self-serving, self-appreciating attitude. They see themselves as better than someone else. We are told to “love your neighbor as yourself”. That removes “position” from higher and lower to sideways. Truly loving others in this manner will create humility in our heart and our actions. “Laying down our lives’ for another will deepen our humility even more! Seeing and understanding our position as your children and Jesus’ position as our Savior, and recognizing the roles of sin and grace in our lives will increase our humility still more. We deserve nothing! Yet, you made us your sons and daughters. We are honored to occupy even the lowest of seats in your presence! Humility isn’t hating ourselves, but merely recognizing our lack that can only be filled by your love and your presence. We become exalted only through Jesus Christ whose love has saved us! Thank you, amen.

No home in this world....

“The foxes have lairs; the birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (NAB) “……the Son of Man has nowhere that he can call his own.” (Phillips)

Heavenly Father, Foxes and birds are creatures of this world. They have a home, a purpose to live out here….they live, they eat, they breed, they die. The Son of Man also had a purpose here, but not a home. The Son of Man came to die as a sacrifice. No reason to build a home, establish a family, or even get comfortable in any one place. His entire life was a “mission trip”….a brief visit with a spiritual purpose….to save all of us in accord with his Father’s will. Following Jesus…our over-all theme for this study….involves becoming unattached to the things of this world and securely attached to Jesus and his life and purpose. The Son of Man lived in human flesh just as we do. But his “home” was with his Father in heaven always. His heart was so attuned to his Father’s will, to obeying his Father’s commands that he had no reason or desire for a “home” here. We are so securely entrenched in our lives here that we have trouble understanding this. We don’t know how to live “in the world” but not be “of the world”. We hold our possessions tightly and try to drag them along with us as we follow Jesus. This is what he tried to tell these men who claimed they wanted to follow him. You can’t do it while holding onto your “home” ….your worldly life…and all of its concerns. Even worthy things of this world…”burying your father”….caring for family and friends…can hold back part of our devotion from Jesus Christ. Our life here has to be abandoned on a spiritual level, and “life” in Jesus Christ has to replace it. I freely admit I don’t know how to do this! I’ve not let go of all of my worldly home….my “nest” of security as a creature of this earth. My heart is divided and torn. Jesus Christ lived as Son of Man and understands us. He loves me even when I look backward toward earth instead of forward toward my “real home”. Teach me to desire less “nest” and to bravely follow where you lead me. Amen.

Action speaks louder than words.....

Isaiah 53:7 “Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth.” (NAB) “He was oppresses and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” (NIV) “He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. “ (MSG) Heavenly Father, Humility….is defined as accepting your will and submitting to it knowing you have our good at heart. Jesus demonstrated this. Jesus took our punishment, our death and never once uttered a word in protest. He didn’t explain what he was doing. He didn’t justify what he was doing. He didn’t brag about his “martyr” status and why he was accepting this unfair treatment. He didn’t comment at all….he “opened not his mouth”….he “took it all in silence”. We under-rate the value of silence. We think everything deserves comment and explanation. We wrap all we do in words, words, and more words! Jesus simply submitted to your will. Obeying your will came naturally to him and needed no explanation. Submitting in silence was acquiescing to all that was happening. No mistake could be made about what he was doing. Any explanation, any excuses were the burden of those judging him and leading him to the slaughter. Pilate tried to find excuses for letting Jesus go, and basically tried to give up making a choice. Jesus’ silence gave him no opportunity. Herod tried to taunt Jesus into a response and into showing off his power. Jesus silently refused. Peter denied him…Jesus was silent. Judas betrayed him….Jesus didn’t fight or argue or condemn with words. He was the picture of your will in silent action unfolding events you planned. Jesus is “the Word”….yet he spoke none here. Your Word was speaking through action…the Lamb going to the slaughter. What we don’t “hear”, we “see” happen in an unforgettable manner. Jesus’ willingness to submit shines through his actions and shouts louder than any words he could speak. His silence speaks of humble obedience….no arguments, no clash of wills, no reason to speak about it. May I learn to obey you in silence and speak only in humble obedient action. Thank you! Amen.

Yoke yourself to Jesus....

Matthew 11:29-30 “Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. Your souls will find rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NAB) “Put on my yoke and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Phillips) (vs. 28) “Come…weary and over-burdened”

Heavenly Father, Your Son longs to teach us, if we only learn to listen! He calls all of us to “come”….the weary, the over-burdened. That includes everyone I know. He wants us to yoke our life with his. We aren’t going to make it trying to plow through life on our own…shouldering all the burden, choosing the path, working unaided. When we share the yoke with him….his yoke…we find the weight lifted. Jesus describe himself here as “gentle and humble of heart”. We have his own words, not someone else’s. He says that sharing his yoke…the yoke of gentleness and a humble heart…will teach us something. “Learn from me”. Carrying his yoke is a learning experience. We will experience what he experiences. He absorbs our burdens and we absorb his strength. He lifted our sins from our shoulders. We trade them for his yoke….being joined to him to learn. “Your souls will find rest.” The removal of sin gives our soul rest. Staying connected to Jesus gives our soul rest. Jesus’ yoke is “easy”….he bore the weight, he sacrificed, he died, he suffered…and now we need only accept this yoke of his and learn from it. We learn humility. We too become gentle and humble of heart because Jesus bore our pain and punishment. We bear the risen Christ in place of our sin! The risen Christ is light and easy to carry. Our soul rests in assurance of forgiveness, salvation, peace, hope, and your presence always. We often make the work of the Church hard, forgetting that we are yoked with Christ. We’re never back in the world alone, battling without help. We carry the risen Christ within us! We have the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit that was promised us! Teach me to carry your yoke of gentle humility based on Christ’s blood. Lift the yoke of the world from my shoulders and replace it with your yoke! Thank you! Amen.

Humble under God's hand.......

1 Peter 5:6 “Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time he may lift you high.” (NAB) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (NIV) “So, humble yourselves, under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up.” (Phillips) 1 Peter 5:5 and Proverbs 3:34 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:4 “Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father, Humility…what mankind lost in sin. Humility is bowing “under God’s mighty hand”. It is knowing that you, O LORD, are all-wise, all-powerful, all-present and that we are low and under your hand. Humility doesn’t come about by being beaten into it. Humility comes about by recognizing your superiority and supremacy. You are God Almighty! We are not! We humbly bow to the God who created us and chooses to love us and wants us as sons and daughters. That doesn’t mean that you love us enough to put up with our sin. On the contrary it means you love us enough to correct our sinful notions and draw us lovingly back into righteous relationship with you. We are “lifted up” when we humbly come to you and repent our sinful ways. We were “lifted up” with Christ when he arose from death victorious. We are “lifted up” through your gift of grace (Proverbs 3:34) that came through the giving of your Son in sacrifice for our sins. But the gift requires humility to receive it. We can’t continue to shut our eyes to our disobedience and our debauchery. We are sinners. There is no point in lying about it. We owe you worship and honor and praise because you are God and we are not. We must accept your gift of grace if we wish to be saved and have our relationship restored. When I bow to your “mighty hand”, I see a Father’s loving hands reach out, not in anger, but in love to stroke my head, wipe away my tears, and pick me up in his arms. I’m a child of God, the Father who loves me! You lift me up every day and hold me in arms of love and grace and forgiveness! Humility is resting in your love, where I belong….under your mighty hand of protection and peace, safe in your presence. Thank you! Amen.

Become like children....

Matthew 18:3 “I assure you, unless you change and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of God.” (NAB) “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (NIV)

Heavenly Father, We are no longer children. The world and sin have “aged” us. We look at things from an un-childlike perspective….one of being in control of our own lives and full of our own ideas and notions on everything. We choose to be independent, proud, aggressive decision makers, controlling our own destiny. Jesus says, “no” to this attitude. As long as we try to be the “adults” who are leading and controlling, we will never find your kingdom. We must “change and become like little children”. This is being “born again”. This is starting over as a child of God. This is throwing out pride for humility, self-control for obedience, independence for trust and dependence on You, aggressiveness for repentance. Children may have some ideas of their own, but they know that they are not in control…their parents and teachers and other adults control their world. They accept this and they expect it. They trust the adults who rule their lives. They respond to loving guidance and discipline. They are willing to learn…eager and enthusiastic. They don’t expect proof or reasons for everything, but just have faith in the ones who have faithfully cared for them. Your kingdom is based on faith and love. Children understand these things. Children haven’t built walls of resistance and protection. I think that eager enthusiasm is one of the best evidences of having a childlike attitude. Children don’t take themselves seriously or put on airs, they just leap into everything put before them with curiosity and childlike confidence, ready to see and experience. How do we recapture our childlike attitude? How do we “change and become like little children?” It starts with relinquishing our will to you and accepting your forgiveness and guidance. We have faith in you, our Father and look towards you in expectation and wonder for all good things that you choose to give us. We desire your kingdom and your presence above all else! Thank you, Father for loving me…now show me your kingdom and give me a child-like heart to desire it. Amen.

Blessed are the meek....

Matthew 5:5 “Blest are the lowly; they shall inherit the land.” (NAB) “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (NIV, KJV) “Happy are those who claim nothing, for the whole earth will belong to them.” (Phillips) “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are, no more, no less, that’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” (MSG) “God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them.” (CEV)

Heavenly Father, “Blessed are the meek.” I just read this definition by Sinclair Ferguson: “Meekness is the humble strength that belongs to the man who has learned to submit to difficulties (difficult experiences and difficult people), knowing that in everything God is working for his good.” Meekness is recognizing that our strength is in You! And knowing that is all we need! The meek “inherit the earth”. This confuses me. Isn’t heaven our goal? Why do we want to inherit the earth? The earth is “here and now”. We live in it daily. If we are blessed with meekness based on your strength, and knowing you love and support us and want what is best for us, and if we have become poor in spirit and mourned our sins, than we can handle this world as you intended us to. Whatever we do, we will do it in your will. Whatever happens will be part of your plan. Our whole attitude towards this world and the people in it (difficult experiences and difficult people) will fall into place as seen through our focus on you, our relationship with you. We will “own” the earth, because you are walking through it with us. Jesus described himself in Matthew 11:29 as “meek and lowly of heart (humble)”. If Jesus was meek we must desire this character trait also! He said: “learn from me!” If we look at Jesus’ life and see how meekness was exhibited in his life, his death, we will learn to be meek in the same manner. Jesus now abides in us through the Holy Spirit. We think of “power” when we think of the Holy Spirit, but that power comes from our meek and gentle Savior, Jesus Christ! It all rests in our abiding relationship with you, our Father. The earth is ours when we are meek enough to handle it in the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, submitting all things to your will. Thank you, O Father, teach me to be meek in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and the abiding presence of you Holy Spirit. Amen.