I read about an academic study that was performed to measure in the role of positive versus negative comments on a business team’s performance. The results showed that the highest performing teams had almost 6 times as many positive comments as negative.

God works in a similar way in our lives. Psalm 30:5 says, “His anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime.”

We know God disciplines those that he loves, Paul writes in Hebrews 12:6, “For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

But as the Psalm says, God shows favor on his faithful people for a lifetime.

We all can learn from this in how we approach our families, our colleagues, and congregations. A small amount of criticism and a healthy amount of praise. Try 6 positive comments for every one negative comment and see how things go.

Dear Lord, everything we discover about ourselves is no surprise to you, because you made us this way. Help us learn from the discipline you give us and praise you for the favor you show us. Help us also be the positive influence on our “teams.” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In John chapter 21, Jesus appears to several of the disciples including Peter. It is the third time the Bible records Jesus appearing to them after the resurrection. This appearance was likely a while (several weeks or months?) after the resurrection and unlike the other appearances, was not near Jerusalem.

In verses 15-19, Jesus asks Peter three separate times, “do you love me.” When Peter says that he does, Jesus says first, “Feed my Lambs,” then “tend my sheep”, then “feed my sheep.”

I have read this text many times, and overlooked a message that seems significant and very clear now.

When Jesus appeared to the disciples this time, they were fishing. Essentially, they had spent the last three years following Jesus, listening and learning and coming to believe he was the Messiah. They saw him crucified, and then saw him alive after being resurrected. After all that, what did Peter do?

He went back to work as a fisherman.

What I think Jesus is telling him in this story, is, “You cannot go back to being a fisherman, you have the message of Salvation. Go and share it with everyone.”

The story also describes how after fishing all night long and catching nothing, Jesus tells them to put the net on the other side of the boat, and they immediately catch many fish; showing that he will provide what they need.

Dear Lord, We can all learn from this story that the important thing in our lives is you. We need to share your love and feed your sheep. You will provide for us when we keep your priorities our priorities. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

In modern times, we are much more likely to be subject to emotional burdens than physical burdens. Few people in their work are required to face overwhelming physical burdens. However, many of us can become subject to heavy emotional and psychological burdens. We may face an uncertain medical diagnosis, or a long and uncertain recovery from illness or injury, some have financial burdens with no idea how to overcome them, or emotional challenges dealing with friends or family members with behavior problems.

These types of burdens can weigh so heavily on people that they look for any relief, and without faith, may turn to alcohol, drugs, or running away in attempts to overcome the emotional or psychological pain.

We must remember, for ourselves and for others, Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Jesus is the solution in those times of trial when we think there is no relief.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the assurance of emotional comfort and shelter in our times of trouble. Help us remember to come to you rather than the supposed solutions in drugs, alcohol, and other temptations that only take us further away from you. Help us not only realize this for ourselves, but be there to share this with our loved ones and others who need your rest for their souls. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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Does God give people troubles and tragedies to bring them to him?

In the previous message, I wrote some thoughts about why it seems some people are open to the message of Jesus and others are not. I suggested that people who put their faith and confidence solely in themselves may be more resistant to Jesus’ message than those who recognize their need for help beyond themselves.

We know that God wants all people to accept Christ and be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent,” so what about those who don’t see the need for Christ?

Is it possible that God puts things in their paths in an attempt to point them to their need for Him, like a shepherd with his staff and sheep dog, directing the sheep to the right path? Do people experience tragedies, accidents, medical problems in order to see their need for God’s help?

In 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 Paul writes, “But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”

Acts 17:30 says, “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him.”

Many things in life happen for reasons we do not know, and some people may say they are random events. I believe and regularly pray for God to be active in our world and in our lives. Wouldn’t it make sense then to believe he is doing things in peoples’ lives to bring them to repentance?

Dear Lord, we pray for your involvement in our world, bringing mercy and love. If saving someone for eternity requires them to experience difficulty on earth, to recognize their need for you, help us be there to share your love and Good News when it is needed. And help us remember to keep our priority on you and your will, so we stay on the narrow path that leads to salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray.

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.