The Unchanging Changes Everything

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

The time and space continuum was disrupted and it changed everything. The infinite creator of the universe and everything in it took on the form of one of His creatures and entered into a world limited by time and understanding. His only purpose in doing so was to change everything. That change continues to this very day.

In this week’s passage from the book of Hebrews is nestled among a series of exhortations as the book comes to a close. Jesus’s arrival into the world disrupted how everything had been done up to that point. Shepherds though considered outcasts by society, were lifted up and honored by getting the first birth announcement in a spectacular way. Jesus as the fulfillment of the law changed how the law should be viewed and followed. No longer what it a strict letter of the law kind of thing rather He focused people on the spirit of the law which at its simplest is to love God and love other. He changed what it looked like to go to the temple, he disrupted what everyone expected when they arrived there. Jesus changed the relationship be Creator and Creature. He changed how leaders where picked. He changed how people on the fringe – the tax collectors and a sinners were related to. Jesus changed hearts with love, compassion and grace. He changed the sacrificial system of the old covenant by laying down His own life for a new and everlasting covenant.

The ripples caused by Jesus’ entrance into the world millennia ago continue – His body on this planet – the people who have surrendered their lives to Him and make up what is collectively called the church – is always changing, growing, seeking to be more like Jesus every day.

Like the people of long ago we get set in our ways, we get comfortable in our skins and in our lives – sometimes we fail to continue to change. Jesus shook things up the entire time he was on the planet – that’s part of the reason the religious leaders of His day didn’t like Him – He was messing with the way things have always been done. Personally, I am glad that Jesus messed with the way things were always done, if he hadn’t I might not have had the opportunity to know Him, to call Him Lord – after all I am a gentile and a woman. But Jesus opened the way for all people who believe in Him, who have allowed Him to heal their souls and take away their sins to approach the very throne of God, as a child of the King.

I know change is hard, it means leaving things behind that are comfortable and seem safe. But that comfort and sense of security stunts the growth of our faith. It diminishes our need to rely on God to be with us always, being our strength when we are weak, our rest when we are weary, our comfort when we are overwhelmed with pain, our peace in the midst of life’s raging storms. We need change.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever – His sameness changes everything around Him, especially us and that my friends is a reason to worship God with all our hearts, minds and souls.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for being unchanging in who You are. Thank you for changing everything else through the life of Your Son Jesus. Thank you that we do not have to stay stuck in the muck and mire of life. Thank you that above all else You want us to be constantly changing until we fully reflect Jesus. Help us to walk with others that need the amazing changes that Jesus and the Holy Spirit have for them. When it is time for us to change more be with us and send someone to walk with us. May we worship You every day for changing everything. In the name of Jesus, the unchanging One who changes everything – Amen.

We Belong to God

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 Peter 2:9

Pat Benatar’s old song We Belong has kind of been rolling around in my head lately. I say kind of because it’s really just a bit of it – mostly part of the chorus has been running through my head. Perhaps you are familiar with it “We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder, we belong together.” Doesn’t that sound like the relationship we should have with God?

In this week’s passage Peter reminds us that we have been chosen, that we are a people who belong to God and that our job is to praise the One who called us into His wonderful light. Personally, I love that I belong to God, it gives me peace to know that I belong in His kingdom especially during times when I might feel like I don’t belong anywhere else. Do you ever feel like you don’t belong, that you are alone and maybe wandering in the dark?

Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension makes the way clear for us to belong to God, when we acknowledge the sin sickness of our souls and our need for the saving grace offered to us by Jesus. Once the decision has been made to turn from our worldly ways in favor of Kingdom living – God’s wonderful promises surround us, supporting us even in the midst of some of the terrible storms that life on this planet throws at us. In the opening verses of John’s Gospel, John tells us that Jesus who is God had brought His light into the world and it is a light so bright, so pure and so powerful that the growing darkness of this world will not snuff it out. So when dark situations descend on our lives, as we stand on His promises and rely on Him – His light will prevail bringing us peace, comfort and a profound sense of belonging.

With this sense of belonging comes purpose and responsibility. Peter says we are members of a royal priesthood, that means we are called to care for one another and for those around us who are on the fringe of the community – people who need a place to belong.

All of this leads us to a place where the praise of God, His light, His Kingdom and His saving grace should just flow freely from the very center of who we are and who we are becoming.

I belong to the light, I belong to the thunder, I belong to God. Do you belong to God? Let him choose you so we can belong to God together.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for sending Your Son into the world as the Light of the world. Thank you that His life, death, resurrection and ascension opens the way for us to belong to You. Show us the places in our lives that need to be healed of sin sickness. Healed may we be counted worthy to be part of Your royal priesthood. Help us to love one another and the people around us the same way You have loved us. May our praises for you ever be on our lips. In the name of Jesus, who paid the price so we can belong to God – Amen.

Another Life

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20

I do not hide the fact that I enjoy playing computer games. Generally speaking, I prefer Hidden Object games – because of the art, the story, the music and the exercise they give my brain. But there isn’t always time to play that sort of game so I frequently play Match 3 games on Facebook. I like these because they can be played fairly quickly and usually I have a friend or two playing as well. These games can be played quickly in part because you have a limited amount of “lives” to play with. Once you have used up the standard five lives, you either have to wait for them to recharge or you can ask friends to give you one. As I was playing one of these games it reminded me of a Bible verse – well because it just works that way in my head.

In Genesis God created man and woman and all the other creatures. That first man and woman were meant to live eternally in pure relationship with God. The world that God had created was peaceful and perfect. Then a talking snake convinced the woman that she could be like God – that was all it took for selfishness to enter the world. The one incredible life in the amazing world that God had made was destroyed. The snake said they wouldn’t die – but he didn’t specify what that meant. No they didn’t die physically. They died spiritually and relationally. In making that one selfish choice the whole world was thrown into chaos – it was no longer peaceful and perfect.

A bit later God made His first attempt at restoring His creation – destroy it all except one family and a ship load of animals. It helped but unfortunately that seed of selfishness was even in the hearts of that one saved family. Plan A didn’t work. It would take generations for Plan B to be set in motion and there will be no Plan C.

Between Plan A and Plan B many lives would be lost, some came to violent ends, some lived to be very old. One prophet got a go directly to paradise card and skipped the whole dying part. Plan B presented mankind with an option to get a new life and a restored relationship with the Creator of everything. A life that can have peace in the midst of the chaos, a life that can live eternally in relationship with God. That new life, given as a gift that we can each chose to accept or deny. That is what Paul is talking about in this week’s passage.

Christ died that we might live. When we accept by faith the gift of new life that the crucified and resurrected Christ offers, we grant permission for Him to remove from our hearts and souls those seeds of selfishness that separate us from God. We get another life even as we continue to live in the bodies we have. It’s a new, eternal life where Christ lives in us and we live in Him.

If you are a follower of Jesus and still struggle with selfishness that is keeping you from abundant kingdom living here and now – let His Spirit work in you in new way, surrender those areas of your life you are still holding onto. If you are not a follower of Jesus and weighed down by the choices you have made in your life – call out to Him, ask Him to make Himself known to you in a way that your faith will explode and He’ll give you another life – one that will never run out and will give you the strength you need to be an overcomer.

Computer games are fun but they can’t change your life. Following Jesus is amazing because He’ll give you another life – one that won’t end.

A Prayer
Father – help us to live the words of your servant Paul, to say with assurance We have been crucified with Christ, we no longer live our selfish lives but that Christ lives in us. Thank you for giving us another life, one that takes us back to the beginning, back to the way we were supposed to live – eternally in relationship with You. Give us the strength, courage and wisdom to invite others to let Jesus give them another life. In the name of Jesus, who laid down His life so we could truly live another life – Amen.

Live Every Season

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” 
Ecclesiastes 3:1

It is Spring in my neck of the woods as I write this and Summer will soon be here. While on the other side of the planet friends are enjoying Autumn and preparing for Winter. Nature has its seasons and with each change so changes the landscape. Our lives also have seasons. Some of the seasons of our lives are bleak and cold like winter and some exciting and hot like summer. Personally I would prefer to have life seasons that are calm and mild, like spring or fall. However, just as nature has no choice to run each of its seasons, so must we as we journey on this planet.     

The writer of the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes in contemplating life tells his audience just that in this week’s verse. He continues with a list of times or seasons we may all at some time face – some good, some not. Some inevitable, some not. Jesus talking about the sheep thief and the Shepherd says that, “I have come that they might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10b). How do we go about living abundantly?    

When life is going well and good stuff is happening we all know what abundant living looks like - we share with everyone we know about the amazing stuff happening in our lives and we celebrate those especially exciting seasons – graduations, weddings, milestone anniversaries, the arrival of babies, job promotions, sports victories and more. During these seasons it is also easy to praise the Lord for what He has done, what He has helped us to accomplish.

There are other seasons in life that make us wonder where God and that whole abundant life thing has gone. We forget what having abundant life looks like when the doctor has bad news, that job promotion turns into unemployment, that beautiful baby, becomes a rebellious, runaway teen, someone we love dies, a marriage ends and we can’t seem to win at anything. In our humanness we are inclined to withdraw from life. We don’t want to share what is really happening in our lives so we put on a mask and say we’re fine when really we feel alone and abandoned by everyone including God. But it doesn’t have to be like that. The writer of Ecclesiastes says: “That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil – this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him” (Ecclesiastes 3:13-14). The Prophet Habakkuk after talking about a bunch of bad stuff that could happen writes: “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18).

So here’s the thing - when we find ourselves in an unpleasant season – we still need to live abundantly. We need to share with others what is going on with us, no doubt we’ll discover that we are not alone. We should celebrate, even if that means working through the pain with grace and compassion for others and most importantly we must worship God in the midst of our storm season.    

As I write this, this sky is blue, the sun is shining, temperatures should be mild – that seems to match the life season I am in at this moment. Where are you though? Is life exciting and filled with easy celebrations or does it seem bleak with nothing to celebrate?

I want to encourage you that no matter what kind of season you find yourself in right now live in it. Celebrate the smallest things and worship God with all your heart.

A Prayer
Father – Even though it appears that the writer of Ecclesiastes is pessimistic in his view he does ultimately show us that in You and only You we can find joy and contentment. Help us to live abundantly in every season of our lives. Help us to stand with others who need to see that You sent Your Son to give abundant life to all who will believe. In the name of Jesus, who gives us abundant life in every season – Amen.

Strip Away The Old

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 
Ephesians 4:22-24

Our church was making some changes, simple updates to some areas and major renovations in others. As work began to get underway the thought occurred to me that in order to make these areas of our church new, there was much old that needed to be stripped away. Our pre-school stripped away bulletin boards and hallway decorations so they could give the walls a totally new look. Bathrooms being renovated needed to be completely stripped bare so that new floors, paint, sinks, toilets and accessories could be installed. Even our sanctuary was being stripped of things that no longer functioned so they could be replaced place by new things.     

Sometimes our lives as believers need to be renovated too and that means there will be stuff that needs to be stripped away. In this week’s passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesian believers he is reminding them of the need to strip away their old selves so they can put on their new selves. New selves that reflect the image of God.   

That stripping away process will look different for all of us. Some who happen upon this bit of encouragement may have big things that need to be stripped off – so maybe that will mean seeking the help you need to overcome an addiction of some sort or to get a handle on a mental health battle you’ve been dealing with. Others of us may need to do some deep self-reflection so that we can strip off a negative attitude, pride, perfectionism, being judgmental and the list could go on, you get the idea – you probably know already what you really should strip off so that you can put on the new stuff Jesus has for you.   

If you have been reading me for any length of time you’ll know that I speak plainly and try not to sugar coat stuff. This whole stripping stuff away process will be hard and even painful at times. See we get comfortable with our old selves - not unlike how we might feel about a favorite old sweater or t-shirt or jeans – you know the ones that are all stretched out in the right places. I used to have a chambray shirt that I just loved – it was the perfect shade of blue, the longer I had it the softer it got. When a tear started at one of the shoulder seams, I cut the sleeves off so I could keep wearing it. I guess I need to confess I still miss that shirt, but there came a time when it had to go in the bin. So it goes with the stuff in our lives that keep us from being all God intends for us to be.

Just know that as you decide to strip away the old, you are not alone. I’ll be praying for you – even if I don’t know you. There will be people around you to help and you can probably help them – because we all have stuff that needs to go. Best of all Jesus through His Holy Spirit will be there to give you the strength and power you need to get the job done. He’ll be there bringing comfort when you think it is just too hard or too painful or when you are tempted to slip that bit of comfortable old you back on.

The new you will be so incredible you’ll wonder why it took so long to strip away the old.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for the words of your servant Paul reminding us that we have been called to strip away our old selves so we can put on the new selves You are calling us to be. Be with us as we work to strip way the stuff that is getting in the of us being who You intend for us to be. Be our strength and comfort in those times when life renovation seems more than we can bear and send others to travel with us so we are not alone ever. Help us to travel with other who need our encouragement and help. In the name of Jesus, the renovator of our lives – Amen.

No More Achy Breaky Heart

“The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:17-18

Billy Ray Cyrus’ hit song with the catchy tune Achy Breaky Heart popped in to my head this particular morning. Which got me to thinking about how the Lord stands ready to heal us when we have achy breaky hearts. My thoughts drifted over the names of people who I know are hurting right now – who have hearts that are just a bit broken.    

I really like King David’s authentic relationship with God – David is real about the struggles he faces, the times when he has fallen and has come to the realization that his selfish behavior has broken the heart of his God. David is so authentic in the way he worships when God has seen him through the struggles, has forgiven him when he has fallen. This week’s passage praises God for being so attentive to those who follow Him. When we as followers of Jesus cry out in the midst of the storms this life is filled with – HE hears us and He walks through the storm with us providing shelter if that is what he deems best. Giving us strength to keep going. Sometimes He stills the wind, but usually he sees us through the storm and binds up our achy breaky hearts when we get through to the other side. David assured his men and his subjects that God would be there for them as long as they were authentic in the way they followed Him. 

I have no way of knowing what you may be facing right now. For me there is a bit of rest from the storms of life right now, allowing strength and energy to be restored for the next round – that I know will come. For some I know there are health issues looming and for others the loss of a loved one has your heart aching. Maybe finances are giving you a hard time or perhaps you are needing to make some kind of life changing decision. It doesn’t matter what you are facing if you are a follower of Jesus, if you have said yes to His gift of mercy and amazing grace – then He is right there with you – even if you can’t feel him. Be like David and cry out to Him. He’s right there close to your achy breaky heart.  

If you have stumbled across this devotion and you are tired of being beaten down by the world around you, if you are tired of looking for that one thing that is missing from your life, if you need encouragement and healing for a heart that has been bruised and battered – then cry out to Jesus. There’s a good chance that he has just be waiting for you to turn and look for Him. I want to be real with you – once Jesus is in your life – it’s not going to turn into a perfect and peaceful garden - but you will no longer be alone in the storm. He’ll be there with you and He’ll send others to join you in the journey, to encourage you and to let you know everything will get better.

David experienced the nearness of God in His life and because of that his achy break heart was healed and strengthened. Jesus will do that for us too – He’ll speak into our lives so that no matter what we’ll be able to keep going with hearts that beat strong because of His love and someday there will be no more achy break hearts.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for being near to our broken hearted lives. May we praise you in the midst of the storm and in times of peaceful quiet. Thank you for Your Son who brings healing to our hearts, souls and minds. Help us to see the other achy breaky hearts around us so we can point them to Jesus. For loving us, redeeming us and staying near to us we thank and praise you. In the name of Jesus, the only One who can heal our achy breaky hearts – Amen.

The Big Reveal

“As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.” 
Luke 24:28-31

My family and I used to really enjoy watching the show Extreme Makeover – Home Edition. Perhaps you have seen it? Basically a deserving family is chosen, the show hosts get to know them a bit and then sends them off on a week’s vacation. Then they get down to work – they tear down the old house, build a new one and furnish it will everything the family needs. The best part of the show? When they bring the family home from vacation and have the big reveal. The looks of amazement as they see the exterior and the building excitement as they are given the tour of their new home and any special features of the home are explained and the attitudes of gratefulness for such an amazing gift. Imagine if the big reveal was something even better than a new home, a new car. Imagine if the big reveal meant a new heart, a restored soul and an eternity with the gift giver.    

We enter this week just as a big reveal takes place. But maybe we should back up a bit, let's back up not seven days but seven miles. It is Sunday, the first day of the week – the women had already discovered the empty tomb. Peter and another of the disciples ran to see that it was empty for themselves and a couple of the others set out on the seven mile walk to Emmaus. As they walked they talked about all that had happened over the past few days and the incredible news of the empty tomb. The women had been told by an angel that Jesus had risen has He said He would, but that was a pretty difficult thing to believe. These two - still grieving, perhaps still fearful and now confused by what may have happened to the body of the one they believed was the Messiah. 

As they walked and talked; a stranger joined them along the way, we don’t know how far along the road they had traveled when their conversation is interrupted by a guy wanting to know what they were talking about. In today’s world the response may have been that “It’s none of your business” or perhaps the stranger we be completely ignored. But the two disciples, although surprised by the question, share that they were discussing the events of the past few days – the death and burial of their friend Jesus and now the reports of the empty tomb and that He might actually be alive. Now if you had just finished pouring out your heart to someone, would you be inclined to listen to them if the first thing out of their mouth was to call you a fool and slow of heart when it comes to believing what you had been taught? Yet these two do and as they continue to walk, this stranger tells them all about Moses, all the prophets and everything that had been written about the Christ.   

Finally, we’ve reached this week’s passage – they’ve gone the distance, listening to the stranger most of the way and they want to continue the conversation so they invite him to stay and eat with them. Now on the television show to signal the start of the big reveal they would shout “Move that bus.” In this week’s passage the big reveal is signaled by the stranger - giving thanks and breaking the bread. The eyes of these disciples’ hearts were opened as Jesus prayed and handed them the bread. They saw Him there – living, breathing, breaking bread with them and then He was gone. What did they do? Despite the fact that it was near dark, if not already dark - they took off to travel the seven miles back to their friends and fellow disciples to confirm what the women had said – “HE IS RISEN! We have seen him, we have talked to him, we have eaten with him.

As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews closes the letter, he encourages his audience not to forget to entertain strangers, for sometimes they are angels. I would suggest the we not forget to do the same because it could be Jesus. He also reminded them that that Jesus promised to be with us always – Why? Because He is not dead, He is alive and well and his Spirit lives in the heart, soul and mind of all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Now that is a really big reveal and the truly everlasting Good News.

A Prayer
Father – Thank you for revealing yourself to us in so many ways. Thanks for the times when it is a big, awe inspiring reveal. Thanks for the times when it is a small, quiet and reassuring reveal. May our lives reveal who You are to those around us, in big and small ways. Remind us that you are always close to us, help us to care for strangers because we may actually be caring for you when we do. In the name of Jesus, the best Big Reveal ever – Amen.