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Jesus’ Lenten Legacy of Seemingly “Little Things” with Large Significance: They Fell to the Ground

Jesus’ Lenten Legacy of Seemingly “Little Things” with Large Significance: They Fell to the Ground

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Any Christian with even a passing knowledge of Jesus’ suffering and death is well aware of the “big things” that our Savior endured as our holy Substitute.  And make no mistake about it, the big things are indeed big! 

However, there are many “little things” that occurred along the way – lesser known and lesser noted things – that carry great significance as well.  For these weeks of the Lenten season, we’ll take note of some of those lesser things that carry large significance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It’s only mentioned by one of the Gospel writers … and it’s essentially contained in just one verse.  It would be an easy thing to overlook. 

But we dare not!  The Holy Spirit moved John to record this event because it is significant!

Jesus had been begging his Heavenly Father in prayer to find another way to atone for the sins of the world, but there was no other way.  So Jesus resolutely set his heart, mind and body to the bloody and brutal task before him.

Meanwhile, Judas the betrayer had led an armed mob of soldiers, spiritual militants, and curiosity seekers to the Garden of Gethsemane where he knew Jesus would be found.  Matthew tells us this was “a large crowd armed with swords and clubs.” (Mt. 26:47).  John adds that the crowd included a “detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials.” (Jn. 18:12)

Were the soldiers present “simply” temple guards, or had Roman soldiers also been recruited?  (This is entirely possible if the Jewish leaders had argued to Roman leaders that legionnaires were needed to “keep the peace.”)  The Bible doesn’t provide us with the total number in the mob, but if Roman soldiers were involved, it could easily have been in the hundreds.

Here is where John’s Gospel picks up the account:

(John 18:4-6) Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”  “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.  “I am he,” Jesus said.  (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)  When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

There’s the seemingly little thing with great significance.  When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

A person working through John’s account could read those words and think, “Huh.  That’s interesting,” and continue right on reading without giving it much thought.   But this isn’t just some strange occurrence.  It’s a telling event.  A significant synopsis.  A brief summary with great importance. 

“A large crowd” that included soldiers and Jewish leaders – potentially numbering hundreds – were knocked off their feet by just a few words from Jesus!

Why do we dare not overlook this seemingly little event?  Because Jesus is demonstrating his extreme power … AND subsequently his willingness to go through with the suffering.

The Scriptures make it perfectly clear that Jesus was arrested … not because of the betrayal.  Not because of the “unexpected” and sudden appearance of the mob in the darkness.  Not because of the sheer numbers of his opponents.  Not because of the soldiers, swords and clubs.  Not because his disciples abandoned him.

Jesus was seized … because he refrained from using the power at his disposal.  Jesus ended up in his enemies’ hands … because he allowed himself to be seized.  While the crowd dared to believe that they controlled the situation and Jesus … it was actually Jesus who was in complete control.

This is a crucial truth that every Christian needs to comprehend.

The Son of God carried the full power of God.  He turned water to wine and fed thousands with a few fish and loaves.  He healed the sick (even those with incurable diseases!), and he raised the dead.  He walked on the water and calmed the storms.  In fact, just moments after knocking the mob to the ground, Jesus reattached an ear that Peter had sliced off.

Jesus was brimming with power.

When the mob arrived, he didn’t experience a sudden power outage.  His power wasn’t tapped out.  It wasn’t depleted, misplaced or unavailable.  Nor was Jesus temporarily unable to access his boundless capabilities.  He didn’t forget how to harness it or mysteriously neglect it.

Jesus deliberately chose to leave his boundless power unharnessed.  But he incapacitated an armed “army” with a few words to show what he could do … if he so desired! 

 But he didn’t desire it.

It was necessary for him to endure the rejection and ridicule, the torture and torment, the very horrors of hell.  It was necessary for him to be arrested by the mob, because that’s how the saga began.  Therefore, he capped his power and turned himself over to his enemies – willingly, and seemingly (but not really!) helplessly.

And note this truth well: that boundless power was able to be unleashed at any moment during all of his suffering.  During the mockings, beatings, scourging, nailing and dying.  Jesus could have easily revealed his absolute power at any moment and terrified and devastated his tormentors.

In addition, after Peter swung his sword, Jesus told him that as the Son of God he could call on his Father, “and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels!” (Mt. 26:53).

But Jesus never did either.  He never unleased his power, and he never called on the heavenly host of angels.  Because then his assignment to redeem the lost sinners of the ages would have been lost. 

Jesus had to refrain and endure the pain.  It was the only chance for the transgressors; it was the only chance for you and me.

Praise the Lord Jesus that he was overflowing with power … and that he deliberately didn’t use it.  That means that you and I are truly forgiven … and truly headed to heaven!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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Jesus’ Lenten Legacy of Seemingly “Little Things” with Large Significance: Jesus Knew

Jesus’ Lenten Legacy of Seemingly “Little Things” with Large Significance: Jesus Knew

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Any Christian with even a passing knowledge of Jesus’ suffering and death is well aware of the “big things” that our Savior endured as our holy Substitute.  And make no mistake about it, the big things are indeed big! 

However, there are many “little things” that occurred along the way – lesser known and lesser noted things – that carry great significance as well.  For these weeks of the Lenten season, we’ll take note of some of those lesser things that carry large significance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This little sidenote isn’t even a full sentence.  It’s more of a parenthetical statement – a descriptive aside – inserted into a sentence.  They are just a few words, but they’re packed with significance.

The mob had arrived in the Garden to arrest Jesus, presumably by sheer numbers and brute force, if necessary.  Jesus calmly approached them to ask who they are looking for.  And that’s where the Holy Spirit inspires John to add the brief explanation: “Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him …” (John 18:4).

Of course, Jesus already knew the crowd’s sinister purpose, so the aside seems perfectly natural ahead of Jesus’ question-for-which-he-already-knew-the-answer.  But it’s not just that Jesus knew who their target was; the Holy Spirit is emphasizing a much larger and more significant truth. 

Jesus knew ALL that was going to happen to him!

By this point, the Scriptures already make it clear that Jesus is fully aware of the ugly circumstances swirling around him.  Jesus knew exactly who had betrayed him (Jn. 13:11) and he provided Peter with the very specific warning that he would deny Jesus three times before the rooster crows (Lk. 22:34).  Furthermore, Jesus knew he was about to be condemned with transgressors – that is, crucified (Lk. 22:37). 

But those words – “knowing all that was going to happen to him” – carry so much more weight than Jesus simply being aware of the course, facts and timeline of events that were about to unfold.  They bear the knowledge of the intimate and personal details of every second of suffering heading his way!

Not just the ridicule that would be rained upon him and the spittle that would settle on his face.  Not just the hatred and humiliation he would endure.  Not just the exhaustion of being dragged unsympathetically to multiple overnight “hearings.”  Not just the sorrow of seeing so many who loved him devastated by what he was experiencing.

But Jesus knew exactly what horrific physical agony was about to be unleashed on his body.

Every bit of beard yanked from his face.

Every slap and every punch.

Every thorn that would pierce his head, and every strike from the staff that beat the thorns deeper into his flesh and skull.

Every lash from the scourge that tore open the flesh on his back.

Every ounce of agony as the nails were driven through his body to secure him to the cross.

Every excruciating instance he would have to push his flayed back up on the wooden cross to gain another breath.

Every moment of separation from his Heavenly Father.  (That is, every moment of hell he would have to experience as the proper punishment for the sins of the world.)

Jesus knew it all.  He knew it all before any of it happened. 

He even knew exactly who would wound him, exactly when and exactly where.  And yet he never flinched and he never shifted to lessen his suffering; he knew exactly what was coming and he willingly endured every bit of the agony. 

He endured it all because it was necessary to win redemption for you and me.

This is incomprehensible to us.  Only God himself could accomplish this!  And only a thoroughly loving God, driven by mercy for doomed sinners, would actually go through with it!

But let us never assume that Jesus was unaffected by all that he knew awaited him in his atoning work.  Luke disabuses anyone tempted to make such an assumption as he shares insights into Jesus’ passionate prayer in the Garden.

[Jesus prayed,] ‘“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”  (Luke 22:42-44).

Point number one: Jesus pleaded with his Father to find another way to save sinners and spare him the upcoming agony that he knew awaited him.

Point number two: Jesus as true Man was overwhelmed by what Jesus as true God knew was about to happen to him.  His emotional state was such that the Father actually sent an angel to strengthen and encourage him.

Point number three: Jesus’ anguish and dread affected him not only emotionally, but physically as well; he began to perspire profusely and blood actually seeped into his sweat.  (This is a rare phenomenon called hematidrosis … hemorrhaging of the sweat glands …  that may occur in highly emotional states.)

Jesus knew.  He knew it all.  Every horrific detail he would have to endure.  Every bit of agony his body was about to experience. 

But he also knew that there was no other way for sinners to be saved.  He knew that only he, the Lamb of God, could offer the holy sacrifice on the altar of the cross to make full atonement.  He knew he had to go through with it. 

So he resolutely set his mind, lifted his face, straightened his back, and marched into the mayhem and murder that awaited him.  He knew the horrors ahead, but he also knew that in the end the victory would be won.  Consequently, “for the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame” (Hebrews 12:2). 

Jesus knew the excruciating pain before him.  Yet he persevered, because he also knew he loved us and he knew he wanted us to be with him forever in heaven. 

We know he knew.  God grant that we never forget it, and that we never stop treasuring it!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Jesus’ Lenten Legacy of Seemingly “Little Things” with Large Significance: “Keep Watch with Me”

Jesus’ Lenten Legacy of Seemingly “Little Things” with Large Significance: “Keep Watch with Me”

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Any Christian with even a passing knowledge of Jesus’ suffering and death is well aware of the “big things” that our Savior endured as our holy Substitute.  And make no mistake about it, the big things are indeed big! 

However, there are many “little things” that occurred along the way – lesser known and lesser noted things – that carry great significance as well.  During these weeks of the Lenten season, we’ll take note of some of those lesser things that carry large significance.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Four simple words; a very simple message: “Keep watch with me.”

What significance do Jesus’ words bear?  The context in Matthew’s account certainly provides some insight. 

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.”  (Matthew 26:36-38)

As true God, Jesus had no questions or reservations about what he needed to do to redeem the sinners of the world.  But as true Man, the concept was so daunting that it was almost more than he could bear.

He shared his innermost feelings with Peter, James and John: “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”  And then he begged them: “Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

As God, Jesus needed no one beside his Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit; as Man, Jesus longed for human connection with his disciples who loved him.  He longed to have those men closest to him provide some emotional support.

The depth of Jesus’ sorrow and troubledness was demonstrated by some of the very next words in the Gospel which described the posture he fell into as he prayed.  Jesus’ body was prostrate on the ground; his face was buried in the dirt.  His angst dropped him as low as he could physically go, and also drove him to the lowest level of humility and the basest level of supplication. 

The Man part of him begged the Heavenly Father to find another way to rescue sinners.  Some other way!  Any other way!

But there was no other way.  As Jesus himself had stated to his disciples not long before this, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).  It had to be Jesus; it had to be this horrific way.

Jesus acknowledged the fact with his repeated words to his Father this evening, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

But Jesus words of pleading with his disciples, “Keep watch with me,” were much more than simply the Man, Jesus, begging his disciples to emotionally support him. They were also the words of the Son of God, Jesus, begging his disciples of that evening (and of all time) to stay tuned in … stay connected … stay attentive to what he was doing for them.  (For us!)

Unfortunately, Peter, James and John failed both Jesus, the Man and Jesus, the Son of God.  The busyness and length of the day, the Passover Meal and the wine, and the high emotion of the previous hours sapped them of their ability to stay awake.  They weren’t present, and they weren’t observant.  In their weariness, they lost their focus.

As we begin our Lenten journey, Jesus words still speak to us: “Keep watch with me.” 

Keep watch and see the frailty of Jesus, true Man … wrapped in flesh so he could suffer, bleed and die.  See also the determination of Jesus, true God … completely committed to accomplishing what must be accomplished.

Keep watch and see the love.

Keep watch and see the faithfulness.

Keep watch and see the Scriptures perfectly fulfilled.

Keep watch and see the almost unbelievable agony – fully necessary to fully redeem sinners.

Keep watch and see the atoning sacrifice fully completed.

Like the disciples, our physical and spiritual eyes may be heavy and our minds and hearts inclined toward slumber.  Perhaps even apathy.  But Jesus begs us, “Keep watch with me.”

Because there is much for us to see.  It’s actually eye-opening and exhilarating stuff!  Even some of the seemingly “little things.”

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Matthew 26:36-46
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter.  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.  So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.   Rise!  Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

We’re Being “Auto-Corrected”

We’re Being “Auto-Corrected”

Usually it’s a fairly nice feature.  You happen to misspell a word in a text and your phone takes it upon itself to right (write!) your wrong.  This can save you from embarrassing yourself.

Then again, your phone can auto-correct your words and embarrass you even more!

Here’s one example I found online: 

Texter one (the father):  “Your mom and I are going to divorce next month.”

Texter two (a grown child):  “What???  Why?  Call me, please!”

Texter one (the father):  “I wrote Disney and this phone changed it.  We are going to Disney.”

That was a tame example.  There were many more where auto-correct provided an outlandish, preposterous, inappropriate and/or even offensive reply.  Highly embarrassing indeed!

I’m fairly confident that, unless you are extremely careful and take the time to painstakingly reread your texts before sending, you have sent messages with messages you didn’t mean to send! 

And the mess-ups weren’t mess-up of your own doing; they were inserted into your texts by “auto-correct.”  Which was actually an “auto-INcorrect.”

It’s nothing personal.  It’s simply Artificial Intelligence demonstrating a remarkable LACK of intelligence.  It thinks it knows best … but it doesn’t always.

Have you ever considered that we are surrounded by a culture that is constantly attempting to “auto-correct” our beliefs, morals and actions?  Sometimes the pressure is subtle; often it is blatant.  Always it is present.

Yes, it is perhaps especially impactful to our teenagers and college students.  And especially those on secular campuses. 

But make no mistake about it – it impacts all of us!  We clash with “auto-correct” through our coworkers, our neighbors, our friends … even our family members sometimes.

Furthermore, it impacts virtually every aspect of our lives!  If you doubt this, you are either blissfully naïve or ensconced in denial.

Society’s “auto-correct” list is literally endless.  Sexual propriety and acceptable speech are just two obvious examples of moral issues that society’s “auto-correct” attempts to define.  There are many more.

“Auto-correct” is extremely influential in promoting what our peers deem to be “significant values” and “proper priorities.”  These are often radically different than what our Lord tells us.

Then there is the matter of absolute truth and where (and whether!) it can truly be found.  The common consensus is that truth is subjective (up to each individual) – not objective (non-negotiable).  Scripture presents a totally different perspective.

Think about it just a little and it’s clear; we are bombarded by “auto-correct” in our lives.  Even more so than in our documents and texts!  Sadly, the world’s “auto-correct” is actually usually “auto-INcorrect.”

The Apostle Paul’s words are as every bit as significant today as they were 2,000 years ago.  They are words we would do well to take to heart.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2).

When the Holy Spirit is transforming us through God’s Word, and renewing our hearts and minds through God’s truth … well, that is the perfect “auto-correct!”  It’s a correction that we can be confident is actually and absolutely correct!

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Matthew 5:13-16 (the words of Jesus)
“You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

“You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Is He the Same God?

Is He the Same God?

The God of the Bible is a God of mighty miracles.

The six days of creation filled with God’s creative wonders stand as exhibit number one.  But there is a running tally of miracles throughout Scripture’s pages. 

For example, the rescuing of Noah, his family and the animal kinds from the worldwide flood, or a bit later in history, the forced introduction of new languages at the Tower of Babel.

Then there was the impressive ten plagues poured onto Egypt, the pillar of fire and cloud that led the Israelites out of captivity, the dry path through the Red Sea and the collapsing waters that wiped out Pharaoh’s army, the daily manna from heaven and water springing from a rock that nourished God’s people while traveling en masse in the barren wilderness.

The tumbling walls of Jericho might also come to mind.  Or the miracles God performed through (and for!) Elijah and Elisha or the other prophets.  Dead people raised back to life; poisonous water made drinkable; an Aramean army struck blind on a sneak attack; fire pouring down from heaven to burn up a sacrifice and the altar it was on. 

Shutting the mouths … and the ravenous hunger … of lions in a lions’ pit for Daniel is also memorable, as is the sparing of the three men in the fiery furnace.  The hand appearing and writing on the Babylonian King Balshazzar’s wall is also noteworthy.  (See what I did there?)

Then comes the cavalcade of Jesus’ miracles!  Turning water to wine, walking on the waves and silencing storms.  Healing a host of sickness (some seemingly incurable!), bringing sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute and bringing corpses back to life.  Revealing the hidden thoughts of peoples’ hearts. 

Tremendous miracles, all!  The miracles pop off the pages.  And perhaps we wonder if the Lord has changed his approach in more modern times.  Does God still do mighty miracles in our world and in our lives?

Recognize first that the spectacular miracles the Holy Spirit shares with us in the Scriptures typically (but not always) affected only a few in the entire realm of believers.  (In other words, isolated incidents.)  Recognize secondly that there was often … even usually … a considerable amount of time between the accounts.  (Though there may only be a few paragraphs or Bible pages separating them.)

God did fantastic things when fantastic things were called for to accomplish his purposes – whether on a personal or a larger scale. And that remains the Lord’s approach still today.

That is NOT to say that the miracles recorded were the only spectacular miracles God did in Bible times, OR that God only does miracles now and then in our times.  The fact of the matter is that all of creation is an ongoing, self-perpetuating miracle.  In addition, every living person is a miracle.

God’s miracle of creation occurs every time a new life is formed.  Not to mention the miracles of the body – such as functioning organs and self-healing built into every person.  We tend to take these blessings totally for granted, but we are experiencing incredible wonders in our bodies every second of every single day … even if we don’t recognize them or acknowledge them.

Furthermore, every Christian is actually also the embodiment of multiple miracles!

Conversion to faith in the Lord is a profound miracle.  The spiritually dead are brought to life by God.  (Ephesians 2:1-10).

Becoming a new person in Christ is yet another one.  (2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

Being endowed with the “fruit of the Spirit” – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – can be added to the miracle list.  (Galatians 5:22-23).

Then there is God’s gift of at least one special spiritual gift to every believer for the advancement of the God’s Kingdom.  (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

And don’t forget the fact that the almighty Lord also hears and answers our prayers … all of them!  (Matthew 7:7-8).  Miraculous!

Though primarily spiritual, these are all profound miracles worked lovingly by God in his children.  And the ramifications of each spill into the physical realm!

Then sometimes our God does something truly exceptional and unexpected.  I’m confident every reader can point to at least one astounding miracle experienced in his or her life that could have only been brought by God.  Undoubtedly you can probably recall multiple such miracles!

All of which demonstrates that our God is the same God of the Bible, and he still does incredible things for his people.

As the Apostle Paul assures us, “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Which is why the Lord encourages us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

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Psalm 46:selected verses
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. …  7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Psalm 91:selected verses
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Power Outages Not Possible

Power Outages Not Possible

Here’s a post I shared several years ago … modified and updated.  It seems pertinent to many of the folks in our central-Michigan congregations and community who recently lost power through several storms which brought freezing rain and high winds.  But hopefully it is a good reminder and encouragement to all!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My wife and I have experienced power outages before moving back to Michigan, but seldom and they were brief.  A few hours at most. 

Since we moved to Clare, we have had a number of power losses now.  Recently it happened again.  Twice!  Once for 17 hours (with company and a baby grandson staying with us), and then a few days later for 14 hours.  And we recognize that we didn’t lose power for nearly as long as many others. (Whom we felt for and prayed for!). 

As far as danger, the house got rather chilly overnight, but we would have been fine for quite a while.  We have warm clothes, plenty of blankets, winter gear, and even a camping cooking stove, if needed.  But that doesn’t mean it was pleasant or even easy … especially in the heart of the Midwest winter.

If you happen to have had the misfortune of losing your electrical power for an extended time … whether over these past few weeks, or at some other point in your life … then you know firsthand the inconveniences that come along with that.  We take for granted that we are plugged in and powered up – until suddenly we aren’t.

If you have never been without power, you’ve probably never considered how many of your daily activities rely upon electricity.  You don’t realize how often you automatically flip on light switches when entering a room, or how accustomed you are to having instant light at the flip of your fingertips.  You don’t recognize the luxury of clicking on your television set, of working and playing on your computer, or of doing so with the warmth and comfort the furnace provides!

If you have never been without power at night, you’ve never realized how many little lights there are scattered around your house.  The modem.  The digital clocks on the stove and microwave.  The power indicators on various appliances or miscellaneous conveniences.  And you’ve never experienced how very dark your house (and your neighborhood) becomes at night without power.  Everything looks different by battery powered, hand-held light.

Thankfully, we have our phones to provide information, communication and distraction.  But wait!  Eventually they have to be recharged  – a difficult task if charge (power) is not available!

And I haven’t even mentioned the key role power plays in regard to food storage.

As the length of the first outage continued, it seemed clear it would stretch past the amount of time it was safe to eat food stored in the refrigerator.  (The time frame is 4 hours, if you’re curious.)  As we approached the safety limit, there was a mad scramble to move what we could to alternate cool storage options.  Still, there was much we were forced to discard.  36 hours later, we were scrambling again.  

We were also prepared to transition the food from our freezers to suitably cold storage.  Thankfully, the power was restored both times before needing to take that step.

How significant (and typically overlooked) is the blessing of electricity!  What a powerful impact losing power makes in our lives!

Which caused me to reflect upon how wonderful it is that God’s power in our lives is never interrupted.

And not only is God’s power never interrupted, it’s never-ending!  Boundless!  The Lord describes himself to Abraham in this way: “I am God Almighty” (Genesis 17:1).  King Jehoshaphat praised God by stating that “power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you,” and Daniel rejoiced that “[all] wisdom and [all] power are his” (Daniel 2:19). 

The Apostle Paul was inspired to describe that power as “eternal” (Romans 1:20).  In other words, there are no power outages in our God.

But God’s almighty and unending power is not just some abstract or esoteric attribute demonstrated only in wide-ranging ways (such as creation) and unapplicable to you and me.  It’s a power shown to each of us personally and continually through his loving provision and protection. (Matthew 6:25-34).

It’s also and more importantly a power that impacts us spiritually.  Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, “as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3-4).  Or to say it another way, Jesus’ authenticity and substitutionary victory over the penalty of our sin were proven when he, in power, rose from the dead.

Furthermore, our powerful God gave us his powerful gospel which has changed our hearts, our lives, and our destiny “because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

The electric company can’t and won’t keep us constantly in power.  Thankfully, we have a Power Source in whom power outages are not possible.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).

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Simply Unbelievable … But Absolutely True!

Simply Unbelievable … But Absolutely True!

What can a person believe anymore?

Different news outlets present “facts” in the framework of their own pre-conceptions and according to their particular agenda.  For that matter, political parties do too!  This is even the case in the history, science, biology, and social studies literature utilized in our public school systems.

Artificial intelligence (AI) makes it possible (and common!) to generate false images and fascinating accounts of “factual” events, places, people and creatures.  Social media is chock full of AI-spawned features which grab people’s attention.  In fact, the common approach and ultimate goal for many seems to be to post articles that generate excitement … not share facts.

Consequently, the running joke has become, “It must be true.  I saw it online!”  And everyone understands the implication: the fact is that the factuality of internet information is dubious at best.

All of which fosters even more skepticism in already skeptical people.

Now consider that three of the most implausible events in the history of the world involved a single individual, AND that the makeup of this individual was beyond believable.

Who in his or her right mind is going to believe that a fully human person would also be fully God?  Sure, in books and movies we root for superheroes who have abilities beyond human parameters.  But in real life?

Yet, that is how the Bible describes Jesus.  Truly God and truly Man – miraculously intermingled in a single human body!  “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity (God!) lives in bodily form …” (Colossians 2:9).  Seems pretty preposterous to many.

Which leads us to the first of the most remarkable and almost unbelievable events in history.  After a miraculous conception inside a young virgin named Mary, (Lk. 1:34-35, Mt. 1:20-22), “Immanuel, which means “God with Us,’” was born in a barn in Bethlehem. 

Now honestly, if God was truly going to come to earth, this would seem to be the least likely way he would arrive!  Just the concept of a god entering our realm through childbirth seems inconceivable. (Pun intended.)  Yet the Bible tells us this is exactly how Jesus, the Son of God, arrived. (Lk. 2:11).

Which makes Jesus’ birth one of the three most remarkable events in history.

But the second remarkable event raises the implausibility level even higher.  This God-Made-Man named Jesus was not only born … but born specifically to grow up and die an excruciating death.  For God to be born so that he could die is already a ridiculous reach of logic (at least to a human way of thinking!).  For God to be born to die a brutal, bloody and agonizing death seems beyond preposterous.

And doubly so when one considers that the Bible tells us that Jesus died this death deliberately so that he could be the sinless Substitute for sinful human beings.  Human rationale concludes that no real god would do this!  But the Bible tells us that the real God did exactly this!  (Isaiah 53:5).

Which makes Jesus’ death the second most remarkable event in history.

The second led directly to the third most remarkable event – a human body which was thoroughly dead for days came back to life. 

Once again, it was Jesus who accomplished this.  His resurrection sent spiritual reverberations through the world and throughout eternity.  It meant (and still means!) that every single sin of every single sinner … which Jesus was born and died to address … has been fully atoned for! 

Now all who believe in this almost unbelievable Jesus – his birth, death and resurrection – have “a living hope” and a “never perishing inheritance” in heaven.  (1 Peter 1:3-4).  It’s something that no sinful human has a right to expect from the sinless God.  Yet, our God Jesus provides it for us through absolutely astonishing historical events.

Yes, it all seems simply unbelievable.  But it’s all absolutely true!  And thank the Lord that it is!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

1 Corinthians 1
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person?  Where is the teacher of the law?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 

… 23 we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block … and foolishness to [many], 24 but to those whom God has called, … Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

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Who Is Christmas For?

Who Is Christmas For?

I’ve heard it said that Christmas is for kids.  Maybe you have too? 

I certainly understand the sentiment.  Who is least burdened with pre-Christmas responsibilities?  Children.  Who is most excited for the “magic” and wonder of Christmas?  Who is most eager to discover the contents of stockings and wrapped presents under the tree?  Kids, of course!

The older we get, the more jaded we can become about the holidays; the more hassles and the less luster Christmas seems to hold.  So the perception that Christmas is primarily for little ones seems to make sense. 

But it’s simply not accurate.

Christmas … at least the real reason for Christmas … is for everyone!  God’s first and greatest Christmas Gift happens to be a Gift for all people.  Every single person desperately needs a Savior … the One who earned forgiveness for the countless wrongs they commit against the holy God and their fellow humans.

Transgressions don’t miraculously get transferred into the ether.   They can’t be secretly stashed away and hidden in a remote corner of the earth.  They can’t be disposed of in drastic or creative fashion.  Every indiscretion demands the proper penalty be paid.  That payment was beyond every flawed human.  But it wasn’t beyond the Son of God.

Which is why Jesus entered our world.  Why he was born, why he lived, why he died, and why he rose back to life.  Yes, it was for children.  It was also for teenagers and adults!  It was for you and me and everyone, regardless of age, gender, skin color, nationality, education, abilities, or financial or social standing.

We all need redemption; we all need to be ransomed; we all need to be wrested from the wages of sin, the doom of spiritual and eternal death, and the dire control of the devil.  And only God himself could provide the sufficient cost to secure our freedom. 

Therefore Christmas – Christ’s birth as a prelude to his atoning death – is definitely for everyone!

Christmas is for the guilt-ridden who despair of God’s pardon – because Christ secures it.

Christmas is for the physically, emotionally and mentally hurting (and even broken!) – because Christ is the path to perfect healing, if not in this world then the next. 

Christmas is for the disconsolate and depressed who long and look for help and hope – because Christ provides it.

Christmas is for the sorrowful – because Christ produces a joy that surpasses any circumstances.

Christmas is for the anxious and stressed – because Christ is the Peace-bringer … the One who fosters spiritual calm even in the midst of chaos.

Christmas is for the ones who mourn a loved believer who is no longer with them – because Christ prepared a special room just for them in heaven.

Christmas is for the weary, burdened and dying – because Christ brings rest, relief and life.

Christmas is for the poor and disenfranchised – because Christ makes all who love him spiritually wealthy and heirs of salvation.

Christmas is for the proud and privileged – because Christ, the almighty God-made-man, demonstrates a humility that speaks to all.

Christmas is for the young, strong and beautiful – because they will learn soon enough that everything is fleeting except for Christ’s faithfulness.

Christmas is for the elderly who remember the way it used to be – because Christ will make everything forever new for them one day soon.

Christmas is for the lonely and unloved – because Christ proves his love by his advent and promises his eternal presence to those who know him.

Christmas is for the imprisoned and persecuted – because Christ brings freedom and relief, sometimes now but ultimately forever.

Christmas is for the educated and uneducated – because Christ provides a Truth that can be learned and treasured by anyone.

Christmas is for people of all nations and all languages – because Christ’s eternal Kingdom includes some from every continent and country regardless of skin color or speech, bringing them to the place where all present speak the same heavenly, holy language.

And yes, Christmas is for kids – because Christ is the single best Gift they will ever receive.

The list could go on and on.  But you perceive the point.  The Christ of Christmas really is a Gift for everyone!

That’s exactly what the Holy Spirit stated through the prophet Isaiah; Jesus offers something to all.  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given … And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

It’s also what the band of angels shared with the shepherds the night Jesus was born:  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).

There is no one Christmas is not for – because we all need the peace that Christ brings in some aspect of our lives.  Usually in many aspects!  So no matter your age, be a kid at heart again this Christmas!  Because Christmas is most definitely for you!

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To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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Reminders from the Animals

Reminders from the Animals

I have always been a lover of nature … a lover of God’s creation.  Consequently, I’ve always loved God’s creatures.  I find them fascinating, wonderful, and beautiful in their own right.

I also find God’s animals instructive.  There is much they can teach us!  As I considered sharing a Thanksgiving blog built around God’s animals and the lessons they can impart, it was not surprising to find that the Lord himself used animals to illustrate many things in the Scriptures.

As we prepare to celebrate another Thanksgiving, we can learn a few lessons from God’s creatures.  They offer some great reminders to us humans of the blessings we enjoy.

Mountain Goats Move Us to Appreciate Our Birth

“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?  Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?  Do you count the months till they bear?  Do you know the time they give birth?  They crouch down and bring forth their young; their labor pains are ended.  Their young thrive and grow strong in the wilds.” (Job 39:1-4)

All the animals in the world today trace their lineage back to Creation.  Through all those thousands of years God has preserved their species since he created them.  Year after year the animals have bred and given birth, and they are still here today.  What an amazing gift from God!

And when we consider where mountain goats live – along steep cliffs and on treacherous terrain – it’s all the more amazing that they should still be here.  And that they are able to deliver their young in such precarious places.

When was last time we gave thanks that we were born?  It’s not an automatic, you know.  A lot could have happened to keep us from entering this world.

Of course, we have our parents to thank for that.  But also the Lord, for he made it happen.  He gave us life and preserved us already in our mother’s wombs.  He brought us safely into the world … and that’s no small thing!

But more than that.  Our gracious God sustains our lives every single day.  There was no guarantee we would wake up this morning, or that we would make it this far through the day.  Yet here we are.

Our entrance into this world, our very existence, our general health – we tend to take these all for granted.  Yet they are all wonderful gifts from God.

The mountain goats remind us to be thankful for our births … and our lives!

Birds Remind Us That God Provides Food

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  … Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?”  (Matthew 6:25-26)

Not too many of us would do well as a bird. 

Besides the fact that we aren’t very proficient at flying, there’s also this: How would we like waking up in our nest each morning, and not knowing where our food for ourself and our young was going to come from that day?  And yet, this is a daily occurrence for the birds.

As humans, we want our pantries, refrigerators, and freezers full.  And for most of us they are!  If we are lacking something, we probably have the luxury of going to one of multiple stores within a few miles of our house to quickly and easily pick up what we want or need.

Think about our Thanksgiving meal.  There is undoubtedly no question whether we will have food that day, or even what specific foods we will have.  We’ve known for weeks.  For months even!  And that food was probably safely stored away well in advance.

Why can we be so confident about our Thanksgiving meal?  Why are our pantries, refrigerators, and freezers stocked? Why do we have such an abundance of food?  Is it because we are such good planners and providers?  Or because we live in a land of bounty?

No.  It’s because our gracious God provides for us so richly!  He provides so much food that we can’t begin to relate to the birds who gather their food day-by-day … and yet are provided for by the Lord just as richly.

We are so blessed!  God gives us our daily bread … and all the additional edibles we could ever want or need!

The birds remind us to be thankful for the rich abundance of food God gives us.

Foxes Remind Us We Have Homes

Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests … ”  (Matthew 8:20)

God gives all of his creatures a home, and the fox is no exception.

A fox den is typically 30 or more feet in length … and can be as long as even 90 feet.  It has multiple entrances and multiple rooms inside.  It’s a pretty simple, yet very functional, place for a fox to live.

We all have homes too.  They might be large or small, newer or older.  They might be houses, apartments, or condos.  They might not be all that attractive, or they might be quite appealing.  They might have long lists of things that need to be done, or they might not.

It doesn’t matter; we all have a home, and our home is a wonderful gift from God.

How cozy it is for the foxes when they crawl in their den.  And how cozy for us when we walk into our own home. 

We have embedded our personal touches everywhere throughout our homes.  There are the pictures of our loved ones and our many mementos.  In the closets and dressers are our clothes; around the house our possessions.  There is our favorite chair and, in our bedroom, our own bed.

And God gave it all to us, just as he gives the foxes their dens. 

The foxes remind us to be thankful for our homes here on earth.  But even more importantly, for our homes in heaven … which Jesus secured for us by leaving his home in heaven and coming to earth to redeem us so we could one day transition from earth to heaven to be with him in our “forever home.”

Deer/Ibex Demonstrate the Guidance God Gives Us

For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is the Rock except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.  (Psalm 18:31-33)

If you have ever watched a deer in the woods, then you know how nimble they are.  They weave through brushy tangles, step over fallen logs and broken branches, and leap larger obstacles with ease. 

In these verses, David is almost certainly speaking about the Nubian ibex, which are native to Israel.  (The picture at the top of this post is an ibex.)  They scramble up and down mountainsides, and jump from boulder to boulder.  God has made them amazingly sure-footed on the most precarious of perches. 

In the same way as deer and ibex, we have all kinds of obstacles in our paths.  Spiritual challenges.  Health issues.  Monetary concerns.  Relationship struggles.

And yet God promises to guide us through.  That doesn’t mean that he always fixes everything or does things exactly the way we want him to do things.  But he takes us step by step through the low times, around the obstacles, and ultimately into the heights of blessing.

Sometimes we are convinced the path is too long or too steep.  Sometimes we just want to give up.  Yet the Lord stays with us, gives us endurance, guides our steps, and leads us forward and upward.

And then suddenly we realize that God has brought us to the heights.  With his help we’ve overcome; we’ve conquered our challenges.  (We’ll see the ultimate fulfillment of this truth when God guides us into heaven!)

The deer and ibex remind us to be thankful for God’s guidance of our steps through life … and into Life.

Eagles Encourage Us That We Are Secure

Does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high?  He dwells on a cliff and stays there at night; a rocky crag is his stronghold.  (Job 39:27-28)

Eagles, of course, build their nests in the highest heights.  In the rocky crags of cliffs or in the tops of the tallest trees.

They build their nests in places that are completely exposed to all the elements.  Imagine being on a cliff-side while the snow and sleet are coming down, or in the top of a tree amidst a howling wind and pouring rain.

Yet the eagles feel absolutely secure there.  There in the heights they are closer to God, and further away from predators. 

Unfortunately for us, this world these days feels anything but secure. There are problems upon problems all around us.  Personal problems, as well as societal, national, global, spiritual and moral ones. 

It feels like we are extremely exposed to the elements of the world and the enemies of God.  Storms are raging about and upon our “nest.”

Yet, like the eagles, we are secure because God is in our foundation, our stronghold.  The almighty, all-knowing, loving and gracious God has us wrapped in his protective care.  The ever-present, eternal Lord is always taking care of us.

How wonderful to know that no problem, no predator, no difficulty, and no enemy will ever reach us unless God allows it.  And if God allows it, he is bringing us blessing through the difficulty!  How wonderful to know that the undefeatable, indefatigable God is holding us up … and holding us together. 

The eagles remind us to be thankful for our security in the Lord

Wild Donkeys and Oxen Remind Us of Our Freedom

“Who let the wild donkey go free?  Who untied his ropes?  I gave him the wasteland as his home, the salt flats as his habitat.  He laughs at the commotion in the town; he does not hear a driver’s shout.  He ranges the hills for his pasture and searches for any green thing.”

“Will the wild ox consent to serve you?  Will he stay by your manger at night?  Can you hold him to the furrow with a harness?  Will he till the valleys behind you?  Will you rely on him for his great strength?  Will you leave your heavy work to him?  Can you trust him to bring in your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?”  (Job 39:5-12)

When Job speaks about the “wild” donkeys and oxen, he is talking about the ones who are “free.”  They aren’t tied and trained; they aren’t harnessed or put to work by humans.  They are free.

Free to go where they want to eat.  Free to drink from whatever water they choose, and whenever they choose it.  Free to sleep when they want and wake when they want.  Free to do as they choose.  

This is no small thing!

When was the last time we thanked God for our freedom?  For freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom to vote, freedom from unfair punishments, freedom from oppression, and freedom to bear arms.  For freedom in so many ways and of so many things!

Besides forgiveness and salvation in Jesus – (which, by the way, is spiritual freedom!) – national freedom is one of the greatest blessings God could give to us.  And he HAS given it to us!

The wild (the free!) animals remind us to be thankful to God for our freedoms here in this great country.

Sparrows and Swallows Show Us a Love for God’s House

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young — a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and my God.  Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.  (Psalm 84:1-4)

The Sons of Korah who wrote this psalm noticed birds nesting in the eaves of the temple. They were literally living near the altar of God.

And the birds rejoiced in going there!  They rejoiced in staying there.  They felt safe there.  They were comfortable and secure there.  Their needs were supplied there.  They were in the presence of God there.

And so it should be for us.  How blessed we are to be able to gather regularly in God’s House around God’s Word and Sacraments!

We rejoice in going there and staying there.  We feel safe there, and are comfortable and secure there.  Our needs are supplied there, because we are in the presence of God there.

In God’s House God heals our hurts.  There he comforts the sad, strengthens the weak, energizes the weary, guides the unsure, inspires the despairing, and gives hope to the hopeless.  There he soothes our souls.

Of course, God does all these things wherever his Word is present.  But God’s Word is always present in God’s House.  Therefore, we are so blessed to be able to gather there

The sparrows and swallows remind us to be thankful for the opportunity to worship God regularly in God’s house

Eagles Teach Us to Trust

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Eagles are amazing, majestic birds. 

Have you ever seen an eagle soar high in the air on the air currents?  They can do so at up to 15,000 feet or higher! 

Instead of fighting against the winds high in the air, the eagles simply glide upon them.  They rarely flap their wings when soaring high above the earth.  They simply glide, soar, and float on the winds.  They don’t need to flap their wings; the air currents keep them aloft.

In the same way, God holds us aloft.  Consequently, we probably want to follow the example of the eagles.

Instead of frantically beating our “wings” against the wind to try to get to where we want to go, we would be wise to simply glide on the currents and let the troubles of this life lift us higher by relying upon the Lord.  The prudent thing is to simply trust him to keep us aloft and trust him to blow us where he wants us to go

Obviously, this is easier said than done.  Yet the more we fly through life, God-willing the more we learn to simply let God lift us and carry us.  Trusting in God is far less work, far more relaxing, and a far more productive way to live than relying upon ourselves.

And not only does God lift us above the temporary difficulties we face, but one day he will lift us all the way to heaven.  There we will truly be above and beyond all the troubles of this world.

The eagles remind us to be thankful for God’s loving care, for both today and always.

Calves Urge Us to Be Joyful

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.  And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.   (Malachi 4:2)

When calves who have been cooped up for a long time in a barn finally get out, they leap and run and frolic. 

And so it should be for us.  We have been freed from unbelief, sin’s penalty, Satan’s power, and spiritual and eternal death. 

Besides these spiritual blessings, we have also been freed from so many things that the rest of the world is burdened with.  We have life, family, food and a home.  We have God’s guidance, and security through the Lord.  We have freedom and the opportunity to gather regularly in worship.

We have a God who cares for us, who loves us, and who saved us.  Therefore, we have hope, confidence, peace, worth, self-esteem, a purpose and a destiny. 

We have everything we could ever need, and so much more.  We have it all because our gracious God has given it all to us … freely and abundantly … through his love.

Which means we have every reason to be leaping with joy at all of God’s blessings!  And not just at Thanksgiving, but every day!

The calves remind us to be thankful, and to be joyful.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psalm 148:1, 7-14
Praise the Lord.

… Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

The Weather Forecast is … ?

The Weather Forecast is … ?

It’s not all that unusual.  Undoubtedly, you’ve experienced it yourself.  But it’s still rather … weird.

The other day I was driving home on the freeway with my wipers swinging to clear the raindrops from the windshield … while just a few miles ahead beamed bright, blue skies. 

“That’s Michigan for you,” the locals will say.  Nevertheless, it’s disconcerting to be navigating a rain shower while having to reach for one’s sunglasses.

And isn’t that rather like life?

There are almost always dark clouds and rain drops hovering over us.  Meanwhile, there are also always blue skies – blessings! – to be seen if one only takes the time to look.

With our sin-infected lives existing in this sin-permeated world … “bad weather” of some kind is a constant.  Yet, as God’s children richly loved and abundantly blessed by Him … Son-shine is also always present.

The storm clouds may dominate our view at times, but they cannot stifle the brightness of God’s love, goodness and faithfulness.  Both are constants; it’s just a matter of degree.  Sometimes it seems as if the storms dominate; sometimes we rejoice in predominately beautiful blue skies.

Yes, it’s weird.  And both unfortunate and fortunate too.  But it’s the reality of life in a broken world. 

Yet, our God is working – always working – though we may struggle to understand his ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9).  We may sometimes wonder why certain downpours are occurring.  Nevertheless, the Lord has his own holy and perfect reasons.  And he doesn’t owe us an explanation.

God makes it clear.  “I am the Lord, and there is no other.  I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7).

Jesus himself said, “Your Father in heaven … causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44).

This is true, both literally and metaphorically.  Of course, we have no issue with the sunshine in our lives.  But we could do with less storms.  Which may cause us to wonder, “Why doesn’t the Lord cut us, his believers, a break?”

The Bible is packed with insight on this very thing.  Believe it or not, our struggles may be God’s greatest blessings to us! 

Besides the fact that sin negatively impacts everything in this world, here are just a few reasons why our loving Heavenly Father allows “bad weather” to affect his children’s lives:

Our Heavenly Father is disciplining us as children he loves

Hebrews 12:7&11 – Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.  For what children are not disciplined by their father? …  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

God is using our struggles to build our spiritual character …

Romans 5:3-5 – Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

… And refine our faith …

1 Peter 1:6-7 – In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 

… And make us spiritually stronger and more firmly anchored

1 Peter 5:10 – And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

The Heavenly Father knows that hardships move his children to turn to his Word and cling to his promises …

Psalm 119:67, 71 – Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word.  … It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

… And rely upon his holy Son, Jesus

John 16:33 – [Jesus said,] “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”

After God has comforted us in our troubles, we are able to comfort others

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 

The Lord knows that earthly storms make us long for the peace of our heavenly home

Romans 8:18 – I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

The Father allows storms to come to his children so he can deliver them …

Psalm 34:19 – The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

… If not in this life, then ultimately in the life to come

James 1:12 – Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Black storm clouds and blue skies simultaneously?  That’s life in this world for Christians.  But we do not despair, for our God gives us some wonderful, all encompassing promises that give us confidence.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that “… in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” (Romans 8:28).  And our Heavenly Father himself assures us, ‘“I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

So yes, there are always some “storms” in our lives.  But the blue skies of God’s love are also always present, which makes the nasty “weather” much more bearable.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Romans 8:35, 37–39
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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