I've been thinking about some verses that I believe God put in me for this year. I want to share them with you:
Psalms 147:3- He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
I've always been a little weary of the "God's gonna do this in this year" predictions... I feel like they rarely relate to me. But let me just say, there seems to be seasons where God does focus more on certain areas than others... or maybe humanity is just more open for His love in certain areas than others for a certain time... In any event, I can tell you that all around me I see God already healing the broken hearted. He's making things new in peoples hearts. Hope is springing up from dry and dead ground... In the places where brokenness and pain once ruled, there's healing and joy.
This is definitely true in my life and I would like to confirm that this is what God wants to do in yours in the upcoming year. Be open to it. Let down the defenses and begin to trust that God is a God that heals the wounded and weary heart.
Psalms 147:10-11-10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Proverbs 10:22-
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
So in my mind, these two verses are tied. The favor of God, the blessing of God, rests on those who have put their faith in Christ. The curse -the necessary repercussions of our sin- was placed on Jesus and the blessing - the necessary repercussions of God's righteousness- has been placed on us. This is the eternal exchange that was made for those who believe.
Those who trust in the steadfast love of God, demonstrated perfectly through Christ Jesus, are those who will receive the blessing of God that makes rich. And those riches will never have sorrow added to them. Those who trust in their strength, though they may find riches, will have riches that leave them in poverty still...There's something wholly unsatisfactory about riches gained without God's grace.
So let me encourage you, in every area of your life, begin trusting in the steadfast love of God. It's been demonstrated fully in Jesus. Trust that love for you. This is a major focus God has put in me for the upcoming year... to fully lay myself on His love for me, and believe that, that's enough to make me rich in every area of my life. This year won't be about my ability. It'll be about His... and that's a good thing.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
Useless... Yet Valuable
Romans 5:6-8
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We live in a world that places value on people and things based on their usefulness. In sports, the Most Valuable Player award goes to the player who helps their team win the most. A valuable player is one who is useful/helpful to their team.
We purchase items based on their usefulness. An expensive car is one that is useful in many ways: speed, safety, comfort, aesthetic appeal, status, etc... If a car is not useful in those ways, it will be seen as less valuable.
But God did this crazy thing: He saw us all, completely helpless... useless to His kingdom and harmful to ourselves and others... He saw us there, the least valuable players by earthly value systems, and that's when He died for us.
Take a moment to look at your price tag. It reads "the blood of God's only Son". Now realize somebody paid that price for you. You are literally worth the most valuable thing that will ever exist! and you were that valuable, not when you were helpful to God, but actually when you were completely useless to Him. Breath that in.
He didn't die for you when you were a good person or when you helped Him with something. In fact, Jesus never died for a good person, ever. He only died for sinners. So why would we ever determine our worth by what we do or don't do? good or bad? No your value is not attached to your usefulness to God, in any way. You are valuable simply because He chose to love you. Plain and simple.
And as we approach the dreams and goals God has put in our hearts for us to do... many of which will seem more useful to Him... let us never forget that our true value will have nothing to do with fulfilling those things. Let us always remember that our value (the blood of Christ) was bestowed on us in the middle of our shame... In the middle of our darkest, most lost, most useless hour. Let us always remember, like the Apostle Paul, that Christ died for sinners, of whom I am chief.
When we do that, we open our lungs up to breathe the goodness of God. We open up our hearts to live by faith again... Faith that His righteousness is enough for us. Faith that Jesus was the Most Valuable Person that has ever lived, and now because He died for us, so are we. I encourage you, follow this rule:
Colossians 1:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
You received Him as a pauper in righteousness. You received Him as one, useless for any good thing in yourself. As you received Him, so walk in Him. Walk as though you are the pinnacle of value, while in yourself, completely useless for any good thing. That is a place of faith. And in that place and that place alone, the goodness of God (not you) can shine through bright as day. God's helpfulness and God's usefulness will be a bright light to everyone in your life, including yourself. This is the place of freedom in Christ. And I encourage you to walk in it.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We live in a world that places value on people and things based on their usefulness. In sports, the Most Valuable Player award goes to the player who helps their team win the most. A valuable player is one who is useful/helpful to their team.
We purchase items based on their usefulness. An expensive car is one that is useful in many ways: speed, safety, comfort, aesthetic appeal, status, etc... If a car is not useful in those ways, it will be seen as less valuable.
But God did this crazy thing: He saw us all, completely helpless... useless to His kingdom and harmful to ourselves and others... He saw us there, the least valuable players by earthly value systems, and that's when He died for us.
Take a moment to look at your price tag. It reads "the blood of God's only Son". Now realize somebody paid that price for you. You are literally worth the most valuable thing that will ever exist! and you were that valuable, not when you were helpful to God, but actually when you were completely useless to Him. Breath that in.
He didn't die for you when you were a good person or when you helped Him with something. In fact, Jesus never died for a good person, ever. He only died for sinners. So why would we ever determine our worth by what we do or don't do? good or bad? No your value is not attached to your usefulness to God, in any way. You are valuable simply because He chose to love you. Plain and simple.
And as we approach the dreams and goals God has put in our hearts for us to do... many of which will seem more useful to Him... let us never forget that our true value will have nothing to do with fulfilling those things. Let us always remember that our value (the blood of Christ) was bestowed on us in the middle of our shame... In the middle of our darkest, most lost, most useless hour. Let us always remember, like the Apostle Paul, that Christ died for sinners, of whom I am chief.
When we do that, we open our lungs up to breathe the goodness of God. We open up our hearts to live by faith again... Faith that His righteousness is enough for us. Faith that Jesus was the Most Valuable Person that has ever lived, and now because He died for us, so are we. I encourage you, follow this rule:
Colossians 1:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
You received Him as a pauper in righteousness. You received Him as one, useless for any good thing in yourself. As you received Him, so walk in Him. Walk as though you are the pinnacle of value, while in yourself, completely useless for any good thing. That is a place of faith. And in that place and that place alone, the goodness of God (not you) can shine through bright as day. God's helpfulness and God's usefulness will be a bright light to everyone in your life, including yourself. This is the place of freedom in Christ. And I encourage you to walk in it.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
What Peace Looks Like
I was at work doing some work. (A novel idea, I know)
And in the middle of my work I realized that I didn't know what I should do next. I took a moment to ask God what I should do next. And He said, "Trust Me."
"No, no God. I'm asking what task you want me to do next. We have things that need to get done here." His response, "Trust Me. That's what I want you to do."
So I pressed Him further: "God, are you sure that's all you want me to do?"
And then, with the most sincere compassion, I heard Him say, "Jack, you are worried and troubled by a great many things..."
And immediately my mind went to this story:
Luke 10
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
I was being Martha and I didn't even know it. I was working hard. I was doing all I could to serve the people I was supposed to... but deep down there was a slight bitterness growing... The kind that comes when you're the one in charge. When it's your love, not Jesus' love that's driving you.
That's when God decided to cut me off and remind me of the kind of life I really wanted. I wanted the life that only He can bring. There are plenty of people who do life without Jesus. There are plenty of people who work at their job without trusting God. And those people will always be worried and troubled about a great many things. And they'll always know the bitterness I'm talking about.
But that's not who I am or who I was made to be. God made me to be free from heavy burdens and all worry and all anxiety. God made me to sit at His feet and simply trust Him. That's the only thing that's needful. That's the only thing that's important.
Because Jesus didn't come to be served. He came to serve. Maybe He was just waiting for Martha to sit down at His feet and let Him serve her for a change... And maybe that's what Jesus waits for us to do as well.
I was being Martha and I didn't even know it. I was working hard. I was doing all I could to serve the people I was supposed to... but deep down there was a slight bitterness growing... The kind that comes when you're the one in charge. When it's your love, not Jesus' love that's driving you.
That's when God decided to cut me off and remind me of the kind of life I really wanted. I wanted the life that only He can bring. There are plenty of people who do life without Jesus. There are plenty of people who work at their job without trusting God. And those people will always be worried and troubled about a great many things. And they'll always know the bitterness I'm talking about.
But that's not who I am or who I was made to be. God made me to be free from heavy burdens and all worry and all anxiety. God made me to sit at His feet and simply trust Him. That's the only thing that's needful. That's the only thing that's important.
Because Jesus didn't come to be served. He came to serve. Maybe He was just waiting for Martha to sit down at His feet and let Him serve her for a change... And maybe that's what Jesus waits for us to do as well.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
The Lowly Heart of Christ
Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
He knows our weaknesses inside and out. He knows what makes us run away. He knows our insecure spots. He knows our fear buttons. And He wants us to understand that He's going to be gentle and lowly with us there.
To the weak and tired, His heart will be lowly to you.
To the person without answers, His heart will be lowly to you.
To the hurt and the angry, His heart will be lowly to you.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Every time I read this verse, I'm stunned by who Jesus is. He's gentle and lowly in heart.
It's amazing. No one who comes to Him will ever be treated harshly. He's gentle and lowly in heart. He cradles us, even inside our walls, and reminds us that He's not here to hurt us or scare us.
He knows our weaknesses inside and out. He knows what makes us run away. He knows our insecure spots. He knows our fear buttons. And He wants us to understand that He's going to be gentle and lowly with us there.
To the weak and tired, His heart will be lowly to you.
To the person without answers, His heart will be lowly to you.
To the hurt and the angry, His heart will be lowly to you.
He's not here to Lord it over you. That's never been His way. He's just looking for people who are willing to let Him carry their heavy stuff.
So don't be afraid. Talk to Him about the stuff that scares you. Talk to Him about the people who've hurt you. Ask for help. He's lowly and gentle and He's not going to hurt you.
So don't be afraid. Talk to Him about the stuff that scares you. Talk to Him about the people who've hurt you. Ask for help. He's lowly and gentle and He's not going to hurt you.
He's really not at all like people. And He's willing to gently and patiently get down to the bottom layers of whatever's causing us problems. He's only there to help, and He knows the depth of our hearts.
So my prayer for you tonight, is that you would know the depth of God's love for you. His love is deep and it reaches down to right where we are inside. Go ahead and let Him in tonight. He's with you even now.
So my prayer for you tonight, is that you would know the depth of God's love for you. His love is deep and it reaches down to right where we are inside. Go ahead and let Him in tonight. He's with you even now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)