Daniel's Prayer & Your Prayer

I trust you are having a great Christmas season.  Let me add to all of your family and friends to say, “Merry Christmas!”  I was reading through the book of Daniel today and came across a prayer that Daniel prays after he starts thinking through the promises of God, Israel’s current situation as slaves in Babylon, and all that had happened during his lifetime.  I always like reading the prayers that people pray in the Bible.  I think they can be very instructive for us as we go to the Lord in prayer.  So, let’s take a quick look at Daniel’s prayer and see if we can’t find some practical take-aways. 

Daniel 9:16-19

¹⁶ “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us. ¹⁷ Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate. ¹⁸ O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. ¹⁹ O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

Things to think about:

·         How does Daniel describe God?  What words does he use to describe who God is and what God does? 

·         How does Daniel describe people?  Do you speak about God and yourself in the same kind of words?  How often when we pray do we switch things around?  Have you ever prayed a prayer that made it sound like God would be evil or unjust and unloving if he didn’t answer your prayer and give  you what you thought you deserved? 

·         I think it would do us well to remember our sinfulness and come humbly before the throne of Grace, never accusing God, but rather pleading with Him from a position of weakness. 

·         What does Daniel appeal to in in his prayer?  Why should God answer the prayer of Daniel?  Look at verse 17 again.  For the sake of God and his name receiving the glory that is due Daniel pleads for Him to act and do an amazing work so that He (God) would get all the glory!  May more of our prayers reflect this desire to see the Lord receive glory and honor!

·         In verse 18 what do you think Daniel means by the phrase, “open your eyes and see our desolations…”  It isn’t as if God went blind.  What would you want God to open his eyes to in your life? 

Have a great week and may Daniel’s prayer encourage you to spend a few extra minutes praying this week.  Pray big.  Pray bold.  Pray with confidence because though you are a sinner the blood of Christ can make you holy and present you before the throne of God righteous and redeemed.  Our Father desires to hear our prayers – let’s give him a few extra this week.

A True and Faithful King

      With so much talk of politics, presidents, and powers let’s take a minute to adjust our gaze to the one who has true authority and strength. There is a short passage at the end of one of Paul’s letters to Timothy that can be very instructive for all of us.  Paul spends some time warning Timothy about false teachers and those “snares” that bring destruction.  He concludes by reminding Timothy that no matter what the situation, no matter who you are surrounded by, no matter who you are answering to, and no matter what accusation is being leveled against you there is a Truth, there is a Rock, there is a King worth fighting for.  Let’s read what Paul said;

1 Timothy 6:11-16

But you, man of God, run from these things,
and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith,
love, endurance, and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight for the faith;
take hold of eternal life
that you were called to
and have made a good confession about
in the presence of many witnesses.

¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all, and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you ¹⁴ to keep the command without fault or failure until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ God will bring this about in His own time. He is

the blessed and only Sovereign,
the King of kings,
and the Lord of lords, ¹⁶ the only One who has immortality,
dwelling in unapproachable light;
no one has seen or can see Him,
to Him be honor and eternal might.
Amen.

Things to think about:

·         Based on this passage what are we supposed to do?

·         Jesus knew what it was like to answer to an evil authority.  Regardless of what you may think of current or future political leaders I doubt they are condemning you to death on a cross any time soon.  Yet, how did Jesus respond?  How should that help us as we consider our response to the situations we find ourselves in today?

·         Paul reminds Timothy that no matter who you are talking to and no matter what authority they may think they have there is a greater authority and greater ruler; the “king of kings, and Lord of Lords…”  No one and nothing can change that!  Let us hold on to that hope and that truth in the face of uncertainty and turmoil. 

·         May we be people that fight the good fight and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.  If we do that it doesn’t matter what happens around us we will be honoring our true and faithful King.

Have a great week and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ who truly dwells in unapproachable light and yet has made himself known so that, by faith, we can see the “image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15)  To Him be honor and glory and eternal might!  Amen!

Keeping Me From Stumbling

For the past two weeks my Care group here at church studied the small book of Jude in the Bible.  There is some fun stuff in that little book.  There is also a very encouraging ending, which is what I want to share with you today.  Many of you out there are in the midst of a trial or crisis of some kind.  May this passage of scripture be an encouragement to you!  Some of you are riddled with doubt and full of questions, may this passage give you a hope that is unwavering.  Some of you are stuck in the monotony of life, may this passage spur you on to pray, to go, to do, to serve, to live!  May this passage change us all to reflect more of Christ and bring glory to our God in Heaven.

Jude 17-25

¹⁷ But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” ¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Things to think about:

·         Read through the passage again and list the things we are commanded to do – then list the things that are given/provided to us.

·         How do we “keep ourselves in the love of God” from verse 21?  Can I take myself out of the love of God?  Can I live in such a way or believe something that might cause me to think of myself outside of God’s love?  If I listen to the scoffers and the ungodly or even to my own heart on occasion I may be tempted to think that God has truly stopped loving me.  Let me agree with Jude here and say “No!  Continue to wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.  You have a hope that goes beyond all such lies.

·         Once you are busy waiting have eyes of mercy for others.  Be patient with those who doubt and share the love of Jesus with those that need to hear about his saving message.  You need not listen to the false teachers and lying spirits for you know that God is able to keep you from stumbling.  He is able to present you blameless.  Don’t have faith in yourself – have faith in Christ! 

·         Don’t lose sight of the “great joy” in verse 24.  Who has great joy?  Christ?  Or You?  Can I say BOTH!  Think about that for a minute.  The joy of Christ and your joy meeting in perfect conclusion ready to live forever in a state of praise and satisfaction.  No wonder Jude ends his short letter with such a list – May God truly receive glory, majesty, dominion, authority, and so much more for all time.  He deserves it!  He always has, always will. 

·         For those that are suffering today, may this simple reminder that God is keeping you, holding you, and with you through it all be an encouragement to your soul.  Continue in prayer, ignore the lies of the evil one, and bask in the love of God holding on to His eternal mercy.

Weak Hands Strong God

Have you ever built a sandcastle on a beach?  You work real hard digging the moat, building the walls, using some washed up trash to add character to your castle…only to have it washed away by the waves.  All that work, for nothing.  Do you ever feel that way in life?  You put in all this work, and for what?  It feels like you are bailing water out of the back of the boat only to throw it to the front of the boat.  An exercise in futility.  Today, I want to look at a passage of scripture from the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles.  There is a new king of the southern nation of Judah named Asa.  For the most part Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and there was peace in the land.  God sends a prophet to speak to the people to tell them why they have peace.  That is where we pick up the story today.  Let’s see if we can learn anything.

2 Chronicles 15:1-7

The Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded, ² and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. ³ For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, ⁴ but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. ⁵ In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. ⁶ They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. ⁷ But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

Things to think about:

·         Look at verse 2 again.  When/why is the Lord with the people?  Is this same kind of language repeated in the New Testament where God is with us if we are with him, or against us if we are against him?  How does that sit with you?  What about the gospel?  (See 2 Timothy 2:12, Matthew 10:33)

·         If the distress in verse 4 served to draw the people back to God after they had wandered so far would you call the distress a curse or a blessing?  Why?

·         Do you feel like your life is verse 5 sometimes?  No “peace” “great disturbances”, “afflicted”?  Then hear verse 7…Take courage!  Do not let your hands be weak, your work shall be rewarded.  Listen to a few of these promises by God to those of us who belong to him through faith in Jesus Christ:

o   “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6

o   “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

·         When we are far from God there is no peace, there never will be peace, and all of our work is a striving after the wind building sandcastles at the beach only to watch them get washed away.  Seek the Lord and serve Him and build upon a foundation that will last forever! 

Too Scared To Pray

      Are you afraid to pray?  I am not talking about facing persecution from others because you are praying to God; that may be a real fear for some, but probably not many of us.  I am talking about fearing God in your prayers?  I had a great conversation with someone this morning about prayer and how we approach the Almighty God.  So, let me change my opening question.  Should we be afraid to pray?  Can we come to God in confidence free to share our hurts, feelings, pain, and maybe even anger? Should our respect and awe of God keep us from telling him how we really feel?  Can we hide things from God anyway?  If we are angry with him or feel hurt by him or want to complain to him, doesn’t he know that already?  Should we pretend that our feelings don’t exist?  Lots of questions, huh?  Let’s look at a passage from the book of Hebrews that may help us find some answers.

Hebrews 4:11-16

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Things to think about:

·         This section starts with a “therefore” so it would be valuable to go back and read the beginning of chapter four to get a context on what the author is talking about.  To summarize though he is talking about a “rest” that we can have with God.  A type of rest that goes beyond a break from work, or a temporary relief from struggle.  He wants us to have an eternal rest that is lasting and can only be supplied by Jesus Christ.

·         Verse 12 is a pretty common memory verse, but look at it again.  God’s Word divides your heart and your intentions.  There is no hiding from God, no secrets, no places in your mind in which God does not go.  So, why not talk about those places in prayer?  Why not deal with them in plain sight before a loving and merciful God?  What good does it do to pretend you don’t have those thoughts and feelings?  I’ll answer that question for you…No good at all. 

·         If God knows everything about me, even my sinful thoughts, won’t that go poorly for me?  Should I not cry out like Isaiah “I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips?”  Read verses 14-16 again.  Jesus Christ is our high priest who goes before us perfectly.  He gave his life as a ransom and payment for mine.  He makes me clean.  He removes my sin.  He changes my heart.  He makes me new.  He makes me holy.  He gives me life.  And the list goes on!  With all that Christ does we can now “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace.” 

·         I am not saying we should approach God flippantly or without reverence or fear.  He is God after all!  I am saying that we should not be afraid to approach him and tell him how we are feeling, we should not be afraid to be honest out of fear that God will condemn us.  Christ has already paid the price and he brings you into the presence of the Father.  While we are there why not share how you feel?  Don’t worry, God can handle it, He is pretty amazing after all. 

The Final Idol of Our Soul

        Many of you know my historical man-crush for George Whitefield, but if you didn’t, you do now.  He was a great preacher and evangelist in the 1700’s.  I am reading through a collection of some of his sermons and have been incredibly encouraged.  One part of a particular sermon made me think about a parable that Jesus told many years ago.  I would like to share with you the section of Whitefield’s sermon and then the parable of Jesus, and I pray you will be challenged and encouraged as well.

“After we are renewed, yet we are renewed but in part, indwelling sin continues in us, there is a mixture of corruption in every one of our duties; so that after we are converted, were Jesus Christ only to accept us according to our works, our works would damn us, for we cannot put up a prayer but it is far from that perfection which the moral law requireth.  I do not know what you may think, but I can say that I cannot pray but I sin- I cannot preach to you or any others but I sin – I can do nothing without sin; and, as one expresseth it, my repentance wants to be repented of, and my tears to be washed in the precious blood of my dear Redeemer.  Our best duties are as so many splendid sins.  Before you can speak peace in your heart, you must not only be made sick of your original and actual sin, but you must be made sick of your righteousness, of all your duties and performances.  There must be a deep conviction before you can be brought out of your self-righteousness, it is the last idol taken out of our heart.  The pride of our heart will not let us submit to the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  But if you never felt that you had no righteousness of your own, if you never felt the deficiency of your own righteousness, you cannot come to Jesus Christ…”                                                                                 (Whitefield, The Method of Grace Sermon)

Here is what Jesus says about self-righteousness and pride:

Luke 18:9-14

⁹ He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ¹⁰ “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ ¹³ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Things to think about:

·         We often fail to think we are ever self-righteous.  It is always easier to see other people and say to them…”oh, you think you are so good…” but let me stop you there.  If you were thinking of someone else while reading these passages are you not doing exactly what Jesus said the Pharisee was doing.  Take a moment and stop to look at your own soul.  How are you self-righteous?

·         This parable of Jesus highlights the truth that it isn’t only about what you do outwardly, but God cares about your heart.  Is God the center of your heart’s desire?  Is Jesus Christ the king of your heart?  What does your heart tell you about yourself?  Does it cry out like Whitefield’s heart, “my repentance want to be repented of…”  I am so wicked I don’t even ask for forgiveness correctly! 

·         But, oh the grace of God to forgive the sinner!  His precious blood certainly washes away our sins, but only when we see them rightly and admit that they need to be washed away!  If you don’t think you need Jesus you aren’t going to ask for his help.  May God remind us every day that the Lord Jesus is the only remedy for our sin, the only Redeemer that we have, the only solution to our sin problem.  Let us turn to him today and rid ourselves of our self-righteousness.  Admit our sin, and in humility ask for forgiveness.  Praise God!  For, He promises to give it!

Must I Forgive?

My Care Group is currently working our way through a great Small Group Study called “I Am N.”  It takes a look at the persecuted church in Iraq and the Middle East.  We have been learning a lot from our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ.  The lesson last night was particularly challenging as it focused on forgiveness.  Forgiveness is hard enough under normal circumstances, but how do you forgive people that murder your family?  Abuse your children?  Kill your friends?   Here is one quote from a Christian living in Iraq today when he was asked if he forgave those who persecuted him and his family.  “I cannot say they (ISIS) is my enemy.  If they are my enemy then I would have to hate them, and I can’t hate them.  I must love them.  I must forgive them, for that is what Christ did for me and what He commands for me to do…so, I will never say they are my enemy!”  Wow!  What a heart for the lost, what an example to follow, what a challenge to us as we struggle to forgive those who speak against us, take advantage of us, or harm us…let alone try and kill us!  Let’s look at a few of the passages that the Christians facing persecution quoted as they reflected on forgiveness.

Colossians 3:12-17

¹² Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Luke 6:27-36

²⁷ “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹ To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. ³¹ And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

³² “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. ³⁵ But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶ Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

Matthew 6:9-14

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. ¹⁰ Your kingdom come,
your will be done^]
    on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread, ¹² and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from evil.

¹⁴ For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, ¹⁵ but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Things to think about:

·         After reading these passages the question I ask myself and now share with you is this: “Is forgiveness optional for a Disciple of Christ?”  What else does the “must forgive” in Colossians 3:12 mean if it doesn’t mean we “must forgive?”

·         Why is it such an important issue for Christians to forgive?  Why does it matter to the world?  To the church?  To God? 

·         Forgiving those that harm you is not a natural response and is seen as strange to the world.  Why? 

·         How often do you pray for those that persecute you?  Harm you?  Abuse you?  Etc.  I think a first step in forgiving them would be to pray for them.  Start there and see where God leads you. 

·         Since your praying…when was the last time you prayed for God to help you forgive?  Nobody says this is easy.  Nobody said forgiving those that hurt you will be quick.  Trust God has the power to change hearts, including your own! 

·         May we be people that forgive and shine the light of Jesus putting his forgiveness on display for the world to see! 

Struggle and a Strain

      As we go through life there are times when things seem to be humming along at a pretty good pace and life is generally working out.  Then, there are times when things come to a screeching halt and everything is turned upside down.  We start to define each day with words like, “struggle, toil, hard, strain, etc.”  Each day is a new day, but the new day may seem bleaker than the last.  Sometimes we are suffering or the people around us are suffering.  Other times it isn’t necessarily suffering, but more a lack of purpose or drive to get things done.  An overarching fatigue sets in and we just feel tired.  I want to share a passage of scripture with you from the book of Colossians that may be encouraging to you if you find yourself in one of those times.  The author, Paul, is talking about how amazing Jesus is in the beginning of chapter 1 (totally worth your time reading) and then he shifts gears and talks about his own suffering.  Read this passage carefully and see how Paul thinks about his suffering; perhaps you and I can be encouraged by rethinking about our suffering. 

Colossians 1:24-2:5

 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹ For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

2 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ⁴ I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. ⁵ For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Things to think about:

·         Why does Paul rejoice in his sufferings? 

·         Paul saw that his sufferings, his toil, his struggle, his straining forward accomplished something in the lives of the people around him.  To the people that he was serving Paul’s suffering offered them a glimpse at the love and suffering life of Jesus.  In a sense they saw Jesus through Paul.  The question for us is this; “Do people see Jesus through our sufferings?”  How could we suffer in such a way to make Jesus shine more brightly?

·         Read verse 29 again…Whose energy does Paul struggle with?  Who is at work?  God is at work with God’s energy through Paul.  Is God at work with His energy through you?  Pray that he will be! 

·         When Paul prays for these people, what does he pray about?  Are those anything like your prayers?  Why or why not?

May God give  you all a piece of that “treasure of wisdom and knowledge” today.  May you be encouraged that your suffering is not in vain.  May you be strengthened with the power of God in you to work and strain and struggle for what is to come.  May today be the day when the cycle of sadness, frustration, and melancholy, be broken and may we push on in endurance for the mission that God has called us to participate in until the end.  God bless.

What You Talkin Bout?

Have you ever walked into the middle of a conversation and been totally confused?  Have you ever been in a conversation with someone that had a special expertise and they started using words or describing processes that you had no idea what they were talking about?  Often our response in those situations is to ask something like this; “what are you talking about?  I am confused.”  Then we ask for more information and hopefully figure out what the person was trying to explain.  The disciples of Jesus were surprisingly confused a lot of the time.  These guys walked with Jesus, saw him do miracles, heard him preach, and talked with him just about every day.  Yet, they were often in the dark asking the question, “what are you talking about?”  Today, I want to look at one of those situations and maybe learn something from how Jesus responds to the disciples query. 

John 16:16-24

¹⁶ “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷ So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” ¹⁹ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. ²¹ When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. ²³ In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Things to think about:

·         I love verse 18 because I have been there often in life.  “What is Jesus talking about?”  “What does he mean?”  Maybe our first thought from this passage should be an encouragement that in the times we get confused we are not alone!  Even the disciples were confused and they were right there with Jesus every day. 

·         Jesus knew, without them saying anything, that they were confused.  Jesus also knows when we are confused.  He knows when we don’t understand our circumstances, don’t know right from wrong, don’t know what would be wise, don’t know…anything.  He knows.  In those times instead of being like the disciples and just asking the question – take your request to the Lord.  Pray about it.  Ask for wisdom.  Ask for answers.  But, be ready for an answer that you may not expect.

·         Read verses 20-24 again.  Did Jesus answer their question?  “What do you mean by a little while?”  Jesus responds…”let me tell you about giving birth…uh…ok.  Why does Jesus talk about birthing pains?

·         In verse 20 how does our sorrow turn into joy?  When?  How can I encourage a person in the midst of their sorrow?  Should I tell them, “it will be okay for one day this will turn to joy?”  How should we do that?

·         Verse 22 is a promise from Jesus.  When you see him again your heart will rejoice and NO ONE will take your joy from you.  May that day be today!

·         What kinds of things do you think Jesus is referring to in verse 24?  Can we ask for anything and receive joy?  A new car?  A private jet?  Long life?  What is Jesus referring to in this context that we should ask for and receive joy?

May God give you joy today even in the midst of sorrows and for those of us that are still confused, that’s okay, have hope for Jesus knows exactly what to do.  Trust Him, even when it seems like everything is out of control, it never is…ever!

Fire and Soul Snatching

Crazy story from today…A transformer (the electrical kind, not the robots in disguise kind) across the street from the church blew from a vicious squirrel attack.   We felt the explosion inside the church and heard a loud boom, while simultaneously losing power to the building.  Our senior pastor, Jon, saw a big fireball go up in the sky.  We went to investigate across the street and sure enough there was a charred squirrel at the bottom of the power pole.  Thinking all the fun was over we started to head back inside when I happened to see some smoke coming from the other side of a house that is just across the street.  I ran to the back of the house only to find flames coming out of the siding and climbing the wall of the house.  I ran back to the church yelling for one of our teachers to get a fire extinguisher.  Not one, but five teachers run out carrying five extinguishers!  I grabbed one and ran back to the fire coming from the house.  Quickly dousing it with fire retardant I put the flames out and patiently waited for the fire department to show up (about 4 minutes later).  They roll up with four or five big fire engines, a couple of police cars, and who knows what else…it was a busy street.  Long story short the dogs inside the house were fine, the house only has minor damage, and everyone walked away…except the squirrel.  About an hour or more after the event I was informed that the fireman told the homeowner that she was fortunate.  The fire was caused by the electrical surge from the transformer, but the fire started right next to the gas line going to their home and the fireman estimates that the whole house was only minutes from “exploding.”  Yikes!  So that experience got me thinking…read this short passage from the book of Jude and think through it with me.

Jude 17-25

¹⁷ But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” ¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. ²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²² And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. ²⁴ Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵ to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Things to think about:

·         In these last days there will be those that speak against us as believers, they will speak against God, the church, the Bible, and our faith.  Why do people, when they “follow their own ungodly passions” end up opposed to Christ? 

·         How are we to live in spite of this opposition?

·         Read verse 22 again…how can we have mercy on those that doubt? 

·         Verse 23 is what I thought of after my whole fireman experience…save others by snatching them out of the fire.  I didn’t snatch anything out of the fire, but I will tell you when you see flames burning out of control in front of you there is an urgency and a singularity of focus and mission.

·         My prayer for us today is that we would have that same urgency and focused mission to snatch souls from an eternal fire that no extinguisher will ever put out.  May we be people that bring glory to Christ our savior, who snatched us from the fire, by sharing his message of salvation to those around us who need to hear how fortunate they are for one day soon their life will explode and it will be too late. 

God bless you in your ministry of saving souls!