Do you ever wonder why some people are open to the message of Jesus Christ, but others are completely closed to it?

I think the answer has something to do with self-centered pride. The people in the Bible who opened themselves up to Jesus were those that had some personal problem like an illness, or a loved one that was ill. Some others recognized their bad moral background and recognized they needed forgiveness. Some others came to Jesus, and listened to him because they felt something missing in their lives that they could not fill on their own. Is it any different today?

Those that rejected Jesus were those that put their confidence in themselves and didn’t believe they needed him, like the rich man in Mark 10:17-22 who put his faith in his possessions, or the Pharisees who put their confidence in their expert knowledge of the scriptures or their good works.

It seems that the differentiator in determining whether someone is open to the Good News is their level of belief that they need something beyond their own control.

In Matthew 9:12, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Dear Lord, we all need you, whether we believe it or not. We need you for our lives here on earth, and most importantly for our lives beyond the Earth. Help us find the opportunities to provide your Good News at the right time for those who are really looking for you, whether they know it or not. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Many people we encounter daily are rather negative. It is so easy to think the negative things are the things to discuss; bad weather, traffic, our physical ailments, car trouble, etc. Not to minimize people’s problems, but even with our problems, we all have much to be happy and grateful for. We should try to be the person that turns the conversation to the positive things.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul writes to the believers there, “Always be joyful, Always keep praying, No matter what happens, be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” TLB I am sure the folks Paul was writing to had problems like we do. Arguably, their problems were more dire than we can imagine in the developed world of 2018.

Dear Lord, Help us remember Paul’s words, and be Joyful and Thankful. Joyful because we are saved and we know you will support us through our problems, and Thankful in for this amazing gift. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Happy New Year!

This time of year many people are preparing resolutions for their lives in the new year.

Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:5-7 about the characteristics we could include in our resolutions. He writes: “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” NLT

So in the new year wouldn’t it be great if we could all set our foundation for resolutions on:
Faith – That we are saved, and that God is there to support and encourage us.
Moral Excellence – the RSV Bible uses the word Virtue, some other versions use Goodness. In my words, “striving to do the right thing.”
Knowledge – Proverbs says, the “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge” so put our trust in God’s word before man’s words.
Self Control – All personal achievement begins with self control. When we feel we cannot keep ourselves on the right track, let us remember to ask God for help.
Patient Endurance – Also known as Persistence, which is essential for accomplishing our objectives.
Godliness – A demeanor that keeps us focused on God.
Brotherly Affection – The close caring for our Christian family.
Love for Everyone – I like the expression of looking at others with the “eyes of love.” Rather than seeing everyone’s faults. Seeing them as God’s children in need of our support to be what God wants them to be, as well.

Dear Lord, as we begin a New Calendar Year, thank you for your guidance, promises, and support. Help us establish our foundation on You so that we may set and achieve goals that glorify You. Give us your peace this year. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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You may have heard it said, that “We are God’s hands here on earth.”

1 John 4:12 says it like this. “But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”

When we love God, and love others, we become a path God can use to show his love to others, through us.

Verse 15 goes on to say, “All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God.”

Dear Lord, As believers we know that you live in us, Help us let your love work through us and touch all those we encounter. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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We recently visited a, well known, secular University to which my son is applying. The school was founded over one hundred years ago by a very wealthy couple who had lost their son as a teenager. On the campus there is an incredibly beautiful chapel that was built at the direction of the wife after her husband died, and my attention was caught by the inscription on the dedication plaque in the chapel wall. It says “To the glory of God and in loving memory of her husband.” I suppose this is not a surprising statement on a chapel dedication, but the simplicity of dedicating the amazing facility that was painstakingly constructed at a tremendous cost, “to the glory of God,” made me think about the things we all work on in our lives.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10::31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

We should all take a moment when we are starting or finishing a project, goal, or objective, and dedicate these things “to the glory of God,” which is why we are here.

Dear Lord, as you tell us in Isaiah 43:7, we were made for your glory. Help us remember to bring glory to you in all that we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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