“He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate – bringing forth food from the earth: wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart.”
Psalm 104:13-15
On a road trip through prime cattle country, a friend and I commented on how happy and contented the cattle were. So content, that they were just lying down in the tall grass that surrounded them in their pastures.
There is something to be learned from happy cows. You see cows don’t really need alfalfa hay or big fancy barns to be happy. They just need the basics – a field of grass and a place to get a drink of water. The Lord is happy to provide that for them and He is happy to provide all we really need to be happy and content, if we let him. We humans struggle with being happy and content – I know I do anyway. The world tells us we need this car, that toothpaste, this designer’s clothes – the list can go on and on. For many it is a never ending search to find the thing that will make us both happy and content - the thing that will make us so content that we can actually rest. Paul in his first letter to Timothy says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
Where are you this week? Are you happy and content like cattle in a grassy field or are you chasing after something the world says you need? Are you worried or relaxed? Maybe it’s time for a road trip to cattle country or the mountains or the ocean – places where you can see the amazing things God is happy to provide the other creatures of the world with everything they need to be content and happy.
This week I think I am just going to lie down – or at least slow down and enjoy all the He has provided for me. I think I will be like those happy cows.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for allowing the rest of your creation to teach us about your amazing ability to provide for us. Thank you for really being all we need for happiness and contentment. In those times when we think it’s better to chase after the things of the world – fancier cars, bigger houses, designer clothes – help to slow down, take us on a road trip to remind us that food, clothes and shelter are the basics for happy and content life. Remind us that a pair of jeans and a t-shirt are good enough, that a burger and fries make a satisfying meal and that any kind of roof is better than no roof. Once we are content, help us to show others what it means to live a happy cows kind of life. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Dear God,
“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish. Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins. See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me! Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.”
Psalm 25:16-21
As I sat writing this devotion an awesome song is racing up the Australian music charts. The song from Australian singer/songwriter Delta Goodrem is called Dear Life. The song is awesome for lots of reasons, soaring music, Delta’s amazing voice – but it’s the message that tugs at my heart most of all. The lyrics acknowledge the complexity, the high and lows of life and how it can be so hard to understand all that life holds for us. The soaring chorus with the phrase “I’m a survivor” is no wipe your brow, just barely got pass that rough patch sentiment, rather it is a YES! I have overcome, I have been victorious – hope filled anthem. It reminds of some of King David’s Psalms.
This week’s passage is one of those Psalms. Can you imagine David in one of the many life storms he faced saying “Dear God, turn to me, can you see me? Be with me, help me understand. I am a survivor because I can take refuge in you, because my hope is in you!” Others in Scripture have similar heart cries. Habakkuk who asks dear God questions, who understands well that God’s replies means he will face difficult times, yet he still sings a song of victory and hope. Paul also in the midst of life’s many storms is filled with hope and overcoming power because of his relationship with the maker and giver of life.
For some reading this, perhaps you have just come through a storm into calm seas – you fought and won a battle with the cancer or major surgery will allow you to live without pain. Perhaps finally that job you have needed has become a reality. Whatever the battle has been your cry of I’m a survivor can be victorious and hope filled. For others of you, the sky ahead is just now darkening, a storm is brewing – victory and hope seem far off and understanding the why of it all is just plain hard. Be like King David, like the prophet Habakkuk and the Apostle Paul – let your heart’s cry be - Dear God.
He does see you, He will help you do what needs to be done, He holds amazing things for you in His hands and by His love and grace you will overcome and be a victorious, hope filled survivor.
A Prayer
Dear God – Thank you for seeing us in our everyday lives and in the storms we face. Help us each day to do what is right. We know that because Your ways are so much higher than ours, we cannot fully understand the amazing things your hold in your hands for us – but give us an occasional glimpse of your heart for us and the purpose you have in mind for us to fulfill. Thank you that we, by your love and grace, will overcome and be victorious, hope filled survivors on our way to eternity. May we share that hope, love and grace with those around us. In the name of Jesus, who is the ultimate survivor, we pray – Amen.
Psalm 25:16-21
As I sat writing this devotion an awesome song is racing up the Australian music charts. The song from Australian singer/songwriter Delta Goodrem is called Dear Life. The song is awesome for lots of reasons, soaring music, Delta’s amazing voice – but it’s the message that tugs at my heart most of all. The lyrics acknowledge the complexity, the high and lows of life and how it can be so hard to understand all that life holds for us. The soaring chorus with the phrase “I’m a survivor” is no wipe your brow, just barely got pass that rough patch sentiment, rather it is a YES! I have overcome, I have been victorious – hope filled anthem. It reminds of some of King David’s Psalms.
This week’s passage is one of those Psalms. Can you imagine David in one of the many life storms he faced saying “Dear God, turn to me, can you see me? Be with me, help me understand. I am a survivor because I can take refuge in you, because my hope is in you!” Others in Scripture have similar heart cries. Habakkuk who asks dear God questions, who understands well that God’s replies means he will face difficult times, yet he still sings a song of victory and hope. Paul also in the midst of life’s many storms is filled with hope and overcoming power because of his relationship with the maker and giver of life.
For some reading this, perhaps you have just come through a storm into calm seas – you fought and won a battle with the cancer or major surgery will allow you to live without pain. Perhaps finally that job you have needed has become a reality. Whatever the battle has been your cry of I’m a survivor can be victorious and hope filled. For others of you, the sky ahead is just now darkening, a storm is brewing – victory and hope seem far off and understanding the why of it all is just plain hard. Be like King David, like the prophet Habakkuk and the Apostle Paul – let your heart’s cry be - Dear God.
He does see you, He will help you do what needs to be done, He holds amazing things for you in His hands and by His love and grace you will overcome and be a victorious, hope filled survivor.
A Prayer
Dear God – Thank you for seeing us in our everyday lives and in the storms we face. Help us each day to do what is right. We know that because Your ways are so much higher than ours, we cannot fully understand the amazing things your hold in your hands for us – but give us an occasional glimpse of your heart for us and the purpose you have in mind for us to fulfill. Thank you that we, by your love and grace, will overcome and be victorious, hope filled survivors on our way to eternity. May we share that hope, love and grace with those around us. In the name of Jesus, who is the ultimate survivor, we pray – Amen.
Monday, May 9, 2016
Laugh Until...
“Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with Joy.”
Psalm 126:2-3
Laugh until… you cry, snort, wet your pants, your face hurts, your stomach aches, soda or milk comes out of your nose. There is nothing like a good fall out of your chair, roll on the floor until you are out of breath laugh. Somehow that makes us feel better even when things aren’t going so good. As I read about laughing in scripture I realized there are lots of different kinds of laughs. Some laughs are the result of a “Are you kidding me?” experience. Some laughs are preventative in nature keeping us from completely blowing our cool or bursting into tears. There are good laughs and not so good laughs.
This week’s passage is definitely a good laugh. Psalm 126 is a song of rejoicing that celebrates the captives – those who had survived the Babylonian exile - returning and all the people looking forward to the Lord’s renewed blessings on his people. In other places in Scripture we can read about God laughing and it’s not necessarily a good laugh (see Psalm 37:13 niv). Usually when we read about God laughing it’s a “wait for it, you won’t be laughing when I’m done with you laugh.” I don’t know about you but I hope I never find myself on the other side one of those laughs.
I can’t help but think He has those hearty good for the soul laughs over us – sometime perhaps laughing at us, but most times laughing with us as the joy that He gives us in every season overflows from our hearts.
I don’t know what you are facing right now in your life. My life is a mixed bag – kind of comes with the territory of what I do and that’s ok. What I do know is that laughing makes me feel better no matter what. I pray that you have people around that crack you up.
This week worship the giver of joy and laughter. Laugh until… - you fill in the blank.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for laughter. Thank you for the people in our lives who make us laugh until we cry, snort, or wet our pants. Thank you for situations that allow us to laugh so hard our faces hurt, our stomachs ache and whatever we are drinking comes out of our noses. Thank you for laughing at us as we try to walk in the steps of your leading. But most of all thank you for laughing with us when the joy you fill our lives with overflows. Help us to bring laughter to the lives of those around us, especially those who think they have no reason to laugh. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Psalm 126:2-3
Laugh until… you cry, snort, wet your pants, your face hurts, your stomach aches, soda or milk comes out of your nose. There is nothing like a good fall out of your chair, roll on the floor until you are out of breath laugh. Somehow that makes us feel better even when things aren’t going so good. As I read about laughing in scripture I realized there are lots of different kinds of laughs. Some laughs are the result of a “Are you kidding me?” experience. Some laughs are preventative in nature keeping us from completely blowing our cool or bursting into tears. There are good laughs and not so good laughs.
This week’s passage is definitely a good laugh. Psalm 126 is a song of rejoicing that celebrates the captives – those who had survived the Babylonian exile - returning and all the people looking forward to the Lord’s renewed blessings on his people. In other places in Scripture we can read about God laughing and it’s not necessarily a good laugh (see Psalm 37:13 niv). Usually when we read about God laughing it’s a “wait for it, you won’t be laughing when I’m done with you laugh.” I don’t know about you but I hope I never find myself on the other side one of those laughs.
I can’t help but think He has those hearty good for the soul laughs over us – sometime perhaps laughing at us, but most times laughing with us as the joy that He gives us in every season overflows from our hearts.
I don’t know what you are facing right now in your life. My life is a mixed bag – kind of comes with the territory of what I do and that’s ok. What I do know is that laughing makes me feel better no matter what. I pray that you have people around that crack you up.
This week worship the giver of joy and laughter. Laugh until… - you fill in the blank.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for laughter. Thank you for the people in our lives who make us laugh until we cry, snort, or wet our pants. Thank you for situations that allow us to laugh so hard our faces hurt, our stomachs ache and whatever we are drinking comes out of our noses. Thank you for laughing at us as we try to walk in the steps of your leading. But most of all thank you for laughing with us when the joy you fill our lives with overflows. Help us to bring laughter to the lives of those around us, especially those who think they have no reason to laugh. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Creatures
“And God said, ‘Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind.’ And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.”
Genesis 1:24-25
Two things had me thinking about God and animals. The first was the loss of our beloved dog – Moses. Moe as we called him was a great dog, the kind that tilted his head when you talked to him. His loss has left his brother Rufus more than a little sad. The second was an internet article that claimed that dogs don’t really like to be hugged and cuddled. That researcher never met our dogs and hasn’t seen how Rufus leans into my husband’s chest as he holds him close to comfort him. I’ll assume most of you have had a special pet sometime in your life or perhaps have an affinity for a certain kind of animal.
Those two things got me thinking about God and His non-human creatures, creatures that have been affected by the fall, just like the planet we live on. In Genesis, the creatures of the sea, air and land were created for before man as seen by this week’s passage – verse twenty-six is where it talks about making man. Later after the fall, Noah could have built a reasonably sized yacht for eight people to ride out the flood, but the animals and birds were important enough to save, so Noah built an ark. Animals provided raw material for making cloth and clothes, they worked to aid in farming, they provided food and income, some paid the cost for the people’s sin in the Old Testament. There were horses, cattle, sheep, oxen, camels, fish, birds and creepy crawlies. God uses all of His creation to teach us about himself. In Isaiah chapter 11 we read that one day animals and mankind will live in peace with one another – perhaps as it had been in the beginning. The Book of Revelation tells us of a new heaven and a new earth (see Chapter 21) – I can’t help but think there will be creatures on the new earth that have been long missing from this one.
What do we do while we wait for Christ’s return and the new earth. We allow nature to show us God’s creative passion. We treasure the creatures that have become members of our families. We appreciate the amazing, creative creatures that still roam our planet – creatures, like koalas quokkas, platypus, orcas, horses, lions, butterflies, sparrows and the whole menagerie He has made for us. We who are followers of Christ strive to be obedient to Jesus’ call to love God and love others. We heed the words of the prophet Micah to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God so that others will see Jesus in us.
Give all praise and honor to the Creator of all, stand in awe of His creation and His creatures.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for your creative passion. Thank you for this amazing world you made for us to live and move and breathe in. Thank you for the incredible creatures you made to share this planet with us. May we treasure the animals that become part of our families, may treat well the animals that serve us in many ways and may we stand in awe of the amazing creatures that show us Your creative nature. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Genesis 1:24-25
Two things had me thinking about God and animals. The first was the loss of our beloved dog – Moses. Moe as we called him was a great dog, the kind that tilted his head when you talked to him. His loss has left his brother Rufus more than a little sad. The second was an internet article that claimed that dogs don’t really like to be hugged and cuddled. That researcher never met our dogs and hasn’t seen how Rufus leans into my husband’s chest as he holds him close to comfort him. I’ll assume most of you have had a special pet sometime in your life or perhaps have an affinity for a certain kind of animal.
Those two things got me thinking about God and His non-human creatures, creatures that have been affected by the fall, just like the planet we live on. In Genesis, the creatures of the sea, air and land were created for before man as seen by this week’s passage – verse twenty-six is where it talks about making man. Later after the fall, Noah could have built a reasonably sized yacht for eight people to ride out the flood, but the animals and birds were important enough to save, so Noah built an ark. Animals provided raw material for making cloth and clothes, they worked to aid in farming, they provided food and income, some paid the cost for the people’s sin in the Old Testament. There were horses, cattle, sheep, oxen, camels, fish, birds and creepy crawlies. God uses all of His creation to teach us about himself. In Isaiah chapter 11 we read that one day animals and mankind will live in peace with one another – perhaps as it had been in the beginning. The Book of Revelation tells us of a new heaven and a new earth (see Chapter 21) – I can’t help but think there will be creatures on the new earth that have been long missing from this one.
What do we do while we wait for Christ’s return and the new earth. We allow nature to show us God’s creative passion. We treasure the creatures that have become members of our families. We appreciate the amazing, creative creatures that still roam our planet – creatures, like koalas quokkas, platypus, orcas, horses, lions, butterflies, sparrows and the whole menagerie He has made for us. We who are followers of Christ strive to be obedient to Jesus’ call to love God and love others. We heed the words of the prophet Micah to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with God so that others will see Jesus in us.
Give all praise and honor to the Creator of all, stand in awe of His creation and His creatures.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for your creative passion. Thank you for this amazing world you made for us to live and move and breathe in. Thank you for the incredible creatures you made to share this planet with us. May we treasure the animals that become part of our families, may treat well the animals that serve us in many ways and may we stand in awe of the amazing creatures that show us Your creative nature. In the name of Jesus, we pray – Amen.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Make A Change
“Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. …learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.”
Isaiah 1:13a & 17
Change is hard, especially change that calls for us to stop doing something the way we’ve always done something. I had been talking to a friend about a new high school being built in our community. My friend was impressed by the facilities and the technology that would be used to facilitate activities and learning. That conversation led to a discussion about how much school had changed from our parent’s experience with school to now. My friend made a very telling and truthful comment to the effect “imagine if the schools hadn’t changed with the times – students would still be going to the one-room schools our parents went too.” Yep. I wonder if there was a lot of stress when someone decided that school needed to change.
In this week’s passage God through Isaiah is imploring the people to let go of what had become meaningless ritual and to live how He meant for them to live – loving Him and others. You see their hearts had hardened and they brought their sacrifices for all the wrong reasons. The prophet Micah would echo Isaiah when he told the people “…what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus turned the “religion” of his time on its head making it clear that not only had their rituals become cold business transactions, but that their rules were getting in the way of their relationships with God and others. From then on every step that the Apostles made meant change was going to happen and it was hard. What we call “The Church” now looks quite different from what it did in the first century. Through the centuries the church has changed, those religious communities that didn’t change with the times or that lost sight of what it means to love God and love others died. It’s still happening today and will continue to happen until the Lord comes back.
Change is hard. Whether we like it or not sometimes we must change. Jesus loved us so much that is paid an unfathomable price so that we could be radically changed forever. Whatever change you are being called too – personal, business, relational, or church. He’ll be with you, guiding each step and providing everything you need. Go ahead… Make a change – He has something amazing waiting for you on the other side – something better than you can imagine.
A Prayer
Father – you know how quickly our hearts can harden, how quickly we let rules and how we’ve always done things get in the way of our relationship with you and the work you have for us to do. We don’t like change, but sometimes we need to have our hearts broken by the same things that break your heart. Help us daily to follow you into the change you have not only for our lives, but also into the change you have for your whole family. In the name of Jesus, who leads us into change we pray – Amen.
Isaiah 1:13a & 17
Change is hard, especially change that calls for us to stop doing something the way we’ve always done something. I had been talking to a friend about a new high school being built in our community. My friend was impressed by the facilities and the technology that would be used to facilitate activities and learning. That conversation led to a discussion about how much school had changed from our parent’s experience with school to now. My friend made a very telling and truthful comment to the effect “imagine if the schools hadn’t changed with the times – students would still be going to the one-room schools our parents went too.” Yep. I wonder if there was a lot of stress when someone decided that school needed to change.
In this week’s passage God through Isaiah is imploring the people to let go of what had become meaningless ritual and to live how He meant for them to live – loving Him and others. You see their hearts had hardened and they brought their sacrifices for all the wrong reasons. The prophet Micah would echo Isaiah when he told the people “…what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Jesus turned the “religion” of his time on its head making it clear that not only had their rituals become cold business transactions, but that their rules were getting in the way of their relationships with God and others. From then on every step that the Apostles made meant change was going to happen and it was hard. What we call “The Church” now looks quite different from what it did in the first century. Through the centuries the church has changed, those religious communities that didn’t change with the times or that lost sight of what it means to love God and love others died. It’s still happening today and will continue to happen until the Lord comes back.
Change is hard. Whether we like it or not sometimes we must change. Jesus loved us so much that is paid an unfathomable price so that we could be radically changed forever. Whatever change you are being called too – personal, business, relational, or church. He’ll be with you, guiding each step and providing everything you need. Go ahead… Make a change – He has something amazing waiting for you on the other side – something better than you can imagine.
A Prayer
Father – you know how quickly our hearts can harden, how quickly we let rules and how we’ve always done things get in the way of our relationship with you and the work you have for us to do. We don’t like change, but sometimes we need to have our hearts broken by the same things that break your heart. Help us daily to follow you into the change you have not only for our lives, but also into the change you have for your whole family. In the name of Jesus, who leads us into change we pray – Amen.
Friday, April 8, 2016
Boxes & Boxes
“He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”
Psalm 147:4-5
We humans seem to have a love affair with putting stuff in boxes. We put ourselves in boxes, we put others in boxes, we let others put us in boxes and we put God in boxes. Boxes like fences, doors, chains are a way of limiting something. Sometimes putting a limit on something is a good thing – it is better to put hundreds of ping-pong balls in a box rather than have them all over the floor, which could be dangerous. Fences are good for keeping livestock safe and to manage grazing – you get the idea, sometimes things need to be limited. Have you ever noticed that when we put ourselves and others in some sort of box it is a negative thing – we somehow don’t measure up and those limitations whether self-imposed or imposed on us by someone else – limit who we are, what we can accomplish and sometimes it keeps us from the embrace of a loving God – who thinks we are amazing and who has plans for us that we cannot even fathom.
The problem is we also like to put God in a box. Now, it’s not that I think we can actually limit God by putting Him in whatever box we think He belongs in – because we can’t. I mean, really; He calls how many billions of stars by name? He can hold every drop of water on this planet in His hand. He who is love, power, spirit, and creator of everything is well and truly limitless. When we put God in a box – we don’t limit Him; we limit ourselves and who we can be in Him and with Him.
One time God put himself in a box – the box of humanity so He could show us that in His limitless understanding – that he understands us. He limited himself so that He could show us how to get out of the boxes that hold us back.
Never again will He place that limit on Himself and He is waiting for us to get out of our boxes to live the limitless lives He has for us, lives that will take us all the way to eternity with Him.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for that one time that you put yourself in a box for the sake of our souls. Every day help us to get out of the boxes that we put ourselves in or that others put us in. Show us Your limitlessness even as we try to put you in our own boxes. When by your power we get out of our boxes, give us the grace to help others to get out of their boxes and to not to force anyone into a box. In the name of Jesus, who is too big to fit in any box, we pray – Amen.
Psalm 147:4-5
We humans seem to have a love affair with putting stuff in boxes. We put ourselves in boxes, we put others in boxes, we let others put us in boxes and we put God in boxes. Boxes like fences, doors, chains are a way of limiting something. Sometimes putting a limit on something is a good thing – it is better to put hundreds of ping-pong balls in a box rather than have them all over the floor, which could be dangerous. Fences are good for keeping livestock safe and to manage grazing – you get the idea, sometimes things need to be limited. Have you ever noticed that when we put ourselves and others in some sort of box it is a negative thing – we somehow don’t measure up and those limitations whether self-imposed or imposed on us by someone else – limit who we are, what we can accomplish and sometimes it keeps us from the embrace of a loving God – who thinks we are amazing and who has plans for us that we cannot even fathom.
The problem is we also like to put God in a box. Now, it’s not that I think we can actually limit God by putting Him in whatever box we think He belongs in – because we can’t. I mean, really; He calls how many billions of stars by name? He can hold every drop of water on this planet in His hand. He who is love, power, spirit, and creator of everything is well and truly limitless. When we put God in a box – we don’t limit Him; we limit ourselves and who we can be in Him and with Him.
One time God put himself in a box – the box of humanity so He could show us that in His limitless understanding – that he understands us. He limited himself so that He could show us how to get out of the boxes that hold us back.
Never again will He place that limit on Himself and He is waiting for us to get out of our boxes to live the limitless lives He has for us, lives that will take us all the way to eternity with Him.
A Prayer
Father – Thank you for that one time that you put yourself in a box for the sake of our souls. Every day help us to get out of the boxes that we put ourselves in or that others put us in. Show us Your limitlessness even as we try to put you in our own boxes. When by your power we get out of our boxes, give us the grace to help others to get out of their boxes and to not to force anyone into a box. In the name of Jesus, who is too big to fit in any box, we pray – Amen.
Friday, April 1, 2016
The Difference? A Living God
“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.’ Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!’”
1 Kings 18:36-39
We’ve just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus; so you may be wondering why I’ve picked an Old Testament passage about Elijah’s battle with the prophets of Baal to sort of wrap things up. I was preparing to write this and the thought going through my mind was that while Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the debt owed by mankind and bridged the gap between us and God permanently putting eternity within our reach – it is an encounter with the living God that really transforms out lives. This week’s passage clearly illustrates the powerful difference between an idol and the living God. Elijah had only to humbly call on the name of the Lord one time to defeat the prophets of Baal.
As powerful as Jesus’ death and resurrection is for breaking the bonds of sin and making eternal life available to all who will believe – it is an encounter with the living God that transforms our lives. The list of lives transformed by their encounters with Jesus before the crucifixion is pretty amazing – all of the disciples, Nicodemus, the demon possessed man in the Gerasenes, the centurion, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus and the Canaanite woman – the list could go on and on. The disciples especially Peter and Thomas were blessed to have encounters with Jesus both before and after His death and resurrection. We must not forget the transformation Saul experienced when he encountered the living Jesus on the road to Damascus.
On our side of the resurrection, those of us who follow Jesus each had our own life transforming encounters with Jesus. We may not need to battle in the way the Elijah did, but we have a responsibility to make it possible for others to encounter Jesus too.
The difference? The difference that allows lives to be transformed and allows us to become who we are meant to be – is an encounter with the living God.
A Prayer
Father – You have used so many people to point others to an encounter with the One God, the living God. You left heaven and became one of us – so that we could have up close and personal encounters. Through the work of your spirit we can still encounter a living and loving God who can transform our lives. Help us to show others the way to their own encounter You. In the name of Jesus who is the difference because HE lives, we pray – Amen.
1 Kings 18:36-39
We’ve just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus; so you may be wondering why I’ve picked an Old Testament passage about Elijah’s battle with the prophets of Baal to sort of wrap things up. I was preparing to write this and the thought going through my mind was that while Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the debt owed by mankind and bridged the gap between us and God permanently putting eternity within our reach – it is an encounter with the living God that really transforms out lives. This week’s passage clearly illustrates the powerful difference between an idol and the living God. Elijah had only to humbly call on the name of the Lord one time to defeat the prophets of Baal.
As powerful as Jesus’ death and resurrection is for breaking the bonds of sin and making eternal life available to all who will believe – it is an encounter with the living God that transforms our lives. The list of lives transformed by their encounters with Jesus before the crucifixion is pretty amazing – all of the disciples, Nicodemus, the demon possessed man in the Gerasenes, the centurion, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus and the Canaanite woman – the list could go on and on. The disciples especially Peter and Thomas were blessed to have encounters with Jesus both before and after His death and resurrection. We must not forget the transformation Saul experienced when he encountered the living Jesus on the road to Damascus.
On our side of the resurrection, those of us who follow Jesus each had our own life transforming encounters with Jesus. We may not need to battle in the way the Elijah did, but we have a responsibility to make it possible for others to encounter Jesus too.
The difference? The difference that allows lives to be transformed and allows us to become who we are meant to be – is an encounter with the living God.
A Prayer
Father – You have used so many people to point others to an encounter with the One God, the living God. You left heaven and became one of us – so that we could have up close and personal encounters. Through the work of your spirit we can still encounter a living and loving God who can transform our lives. Help us to show others the way to their own encounter You. In the name of Jesus who is the difference because HE lives, we pray – Amen.
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