Perfect Timing

Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Have you been in the right place at the right time? Do you believe timing is very important? Can you think of times when your timing was off? Do you know that God always does everything at exactly the right time?

We all have like experienced being in the wrong place at the wrong time. We have also likely experienced being in the right place at the right time. Timing can be critical for some situations and not very important for others. We all likely live by a schedule in one form or another.

God’s timing is perfect. He knows the exact time to act to produce the result he desires. He sent Christ into this world to teach, perform miracles, to die on a cross, and to be resurrected exactly when he intended and to have the impact he desired. This is one of many instances of God acting in the right place at the right time. We can list the exodus from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, David striking Goliath, Mary arriving at the empty tomb, and more.

God continues to act in the right place at the right time. We may not always think so, just like the Israelites thought God had led them to the edge of the Red Sea to destroy them. However, when God leads us, he leads us to success, not destruction. Christ came so that we might have eternal life. He came to rescue us, since we cannot rescue ourselves. We all fall short and only through Christ’s sacrifice are we lifted out of our deprivation.

I pray we all trust that God’s timing is perfect. I pray we know that Christ came at the right time. I pray each one of us know that we cannot rescue ourselves and that Christ came to rescue us. God’s timing is perfect. Christ came at the right time. Christ came to rescue us. Christ came so we might have eternal life.

Romans 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Boast in Hope

What do you boast about? Do you boast about your many accomplishments? Do you boast about a significant accomplishment? Do you reminisce about your “glory days” of your youth? What do you think we should boast about? Do you think we should boast at all?

Boasting, bragging, or telling others about how good you are is something many of us do. We may even do it without realizing it. Sometimes, we simply want to let others know we have experience with a specific situation and end up talking more about ourselves than solving the issue.

The Apostle Paul tells us we are to boast. However, our boasting is to be in our hope that we will share in God’s glory. Not because of anything we have done, but because of what God has done. Our faith grants us peace and access to God’s grace. It is our faith in Jesus and through Him that we receive grace. We can never earn it. God is never in our debt. We are continually in God’s debt and by his grace we are relieve of the debt.

By God’s grace, we are given our talents, physical health, and an assurance of eternal life with him. By God’s grace we are blessed with joy, peace, and hope. By God’s grace we are showered with blessings day after day. We have access to God’s grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our faith.

I pray we all know we can never earn God’s grace. I pray we put our faith in Jesus Christ. I pray each one of us will accept the joy, peace, and hope in faith and the gift of eternal life. You cannot earn God’s grace. Put your faith in Jesus. Accept God’s amazing grace. Boast in your hope of eternal life.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

All Things are Possible

Have you been told something so outrageous would happen to you that you could not believe it? Was it so incredulous that you laughed? Did dismiss it and believe it could never happen? Did it come to mind from time-to-time later? Has it come true in your life?

Sometimes, incredible things happen to us or someone we know. It may be something we thought could never happen. But God can and does amazing things. He has not stopped working in this world. It may seem as though he only works in other people’s lives.

I know because it happened to me. It’s been about a dozen years ago now that I heard a voice in my head that said, “I want you to be a preacher.” First, I was shocked. Then I chuckled to myself and thought, “That will never happen.” I have now been a pastor for six years. When God decides to do something, it will happen. It may not happen the way we think, but it will happen. In my case, I moved half-way across the country and changed denominations.

God told Abraham that Sarah would have a child in a year. Sarah laughed, thinking it impossible. After all, she was beyond the age for childbearing. Her body had changed. From a hum perspective, it was impossible. Jesus tells us that it may be impossible for humans, but all things are possible for God (Matthew 19:26). God has proven that statement true on many occasions.

It is for this reason that we are not to discredit God working in our lives, in our churches, and in our culture. We may not see all that he is doing, but we must trust that he is working just as he has promised. This is why we must continue to tell people about Jesus, tell them God loves them, tell them they are forgiven, and invite them to worship. God works in the small things to grow them into big things.

I pray we all know that God can do anything. I pray we trust that God is working in our world today. I pray each one of us continue to tell others about Jesus and believe God will use it for his good. All things are possible with God. God is working. Tell others about Jesus. Trust God to use the small things.

Genesis 18:11-12 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I be fruitful?”

Sent by God

Have you ever seen someone approach your home and wonder who they were? Have you seen someone and realized they were important without being introduced to them? Do you believe you have interacted with someone you were sure God had sent specifically to you?

We have a variety of people who approach our homes. There are salesmen, service providers, delivery drivers, family, and friends. It is rare that someone of importance would come to our home without us knowing them beforehand. If they did, we would be shocked.

Abraham had encountered God before. He recognized when God moved and God’s presence. So, when he saw three men suddenly appear, it was not simply because they had snuck up on him. It knew it was God’s work. He knew there was something important about to happen. He had Sarah prepare a meal for them and immediately began attending to them.

God sometimes puts people in our lives for a specific reason. They may only be in our lives for a few minutes, a few days, or a few months. Yet, they leave an impression on us, one that God fully intended. We may not realize what the purpose is immediately, even if we realize they have left an impression. It may be years later before we fully recognize the full purpose for them having been brought into our lives. It is important that we continue to remember and seek to understand.

I pray we all recognize when God has sent someone to us. I pray we realize there is something important going on. I pray each one of us will remember and continue to seek to understand. Recognize God at work. Realize when God has sent someone to you. Seek to understand the purpose.

Genesis 18:1-2 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them and bowed down to the ground.

Diligently Guard

How often do you spread rumors? Do you spread them without realizing it? Do you divulge personal information about others without their permission? Do you say things that offend others…on purpose? Do you misrepresent the truth by taking a statement out of context?

The rumor mill is alive and well. Half-truths and lies are spoken daily. People’s personal information is being shared at a record pace. And it happens in our families, friendships, and workplaces. We don’t have to wait for the news to show us what some politician is saying. We hear it from people we know.

Solomon tells us to guard our mouths. He states that if we do, we preserve our life, also could be interpreted as soul. On the contrary, if we allow ourselves to be part of the rumor mill, gossip mill, speak half-truths, speak lies, share information that is not ours to share, we bring ourselves to ruin. This is a difficult principle for us to live by. We, far too often, love to talk about others.

Here’s a quick example. Your child and their spouse give birth to a new baby. Should you be the one to announce it on social media? If you said yes, you are disobeying the principle. Even though you are a grandparent, it is not your news to disclose. That prerogative belongs to your child.

Another quick example. You overhear someone say Jim has cancer. Should you tell others about it? If you said yes, you are disobeying the principle. The news is Jim’s to share. He may have given permission to share it with one other person, not for general consumption, regardless of motives. We are to be wise concerning what we say and when we say it.

I pray we all choose to closely monitor and control what we say. I pray we do not participate in the rumor mill. I pray each one of us will choose to guard our mouth and save our soul. Monitor what you say. Control what you say. Guard your mouth. Save your soul. Follow God’s guidance.

Proverbs 13:3: 

Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; 

those who open wide their lips come to ruin.

Practice to Improve

Do you ever scoff at authority? Do you sometimes laugh at their direction? Have you ever given thought that the leaders have more information than you and are looking toward something coming in the future? Have you considered you may not have the final answer?

For whatever reason, our culture has devolved to each of us believing we know better than leaders. It begins with children questioning their teachers and teachers being chastised, even when they are correct. It continues in the workplace and even in our churches.

The people scoffed and laughed at Jesus as well. He was begged by a synagogue leader to raise his daughter from the dead. She had just died. Jesus told him to take heart. When Jesus arrived at his home, the wailers were there and the musicians were playing mournful music. Notice that the crowd laughs at Jesus when he says she is not dead but sleeping. We might very well have laughed along with them.

In fact, we might laugh at Him now. He has called each one of us to tell others about Him. Yet, we often don’t. Why? We laugh at Him and say we are not good at telling others about Him. Perhaps we are not good at it at this moment. However, if we were to follow Him and start telling others about Him, we would get better at it over time. The worst we can do is laugh at Jesus and fail to believe He is right there with us as we tell others about Him.

I pray we all choose to believe Jesus is with us. I pray we do not laugh at Him. I pray each one of us will tell others about Jesus and continue doing so, improving how we tell the story each time. Jesus is with you. Do not laugh at Him. Tell others about Jesus. Keep telling others about Jesus.

Matthew 9:23-24 When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.

The Outcast

What types of people do you hang out with? Do you complain about the bad types of people? How do you define a bad type? Is it anyone different than you? Is it only those who commit crimes? Does it include people who are offensive? What is your definition?

We typically like to hang out with people who are like us. They have the same likes. They have the same values. They enjoy the same things. For many, it may include people who look like them. We all choose who we hang out with by some type of criteria.

The religious leaders scoffed at Jesus for hanging out with who they thought of as the wrong king of people. Some were tax collectors, working for their oppressors. Some were called sinners, people who disobeyed God’s law or didn’t attend worship services. We like to point out the incorrect attitudes of those religious leaders. But what do we do beyond that?

Just as Jesus went to those who were on the margins or cast out of society, we must go to them. We like to complain about how our world has gone crazy, that things are out of whack. The only way to change it is to bring more people to Jesus. It is a slow process. It will take years for a turnaround to happen. But we must make the effort if we want the world to be better for our children and grandchildren.

I pray we all take our mission seriously. I pray we seek to bring people of all types to Jesus. I pray each one of us will go to those on the margins or who have been cast out of our society. Take your mission seriously. Bring people to Jesus. Go to the outcast and those on the margins. Be like Jesus.

Matthew 9:12-13 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

Faith by Grace

How did you come to faith? Was there a specific moment or experience that brought you to faith? Have you ever thought about how and when you came to faith? Do you consider your faith is the same as others? Do you believe your faith is shared with others?

Faith can be tricky to talk about. Some of us can point to a specific moment in time that we came to faith. Others have grown up with it and may not remember a specific moment. We often think our faith is ours alone. However, that is not quite true.

The Apostle Paul tells us that we share our faith with Abraham. If we share our faith with him, we also share our faith with every other Christian around the world, including those we worship with and those who worship down the street. Knowing that we share faith with many others is a comforting thought. We know we are not alone when it comes to faith in God.

Our faith grows as we understand God’s promises and see how he has fulfilled them. This is one aspect of God’s grace. He shows himself, his holiness, by revealing the fulfillment of his promises. By his grace, our faith is deepened. By his grace, our faith grows stronger. By our faith, we believe that God gives us life. We believe that God raises the dead. We believe that God created all things. Our faith is both a gift from God and God strengthens it.

I pray we all know we share our faith with others. I pray we know our faith is an example of God’s grace. I pray each one of us continues to be strengthened in our faith as we experience God fulfilling his promises. Your faith is shared. Your faith comes by God’s grace. God strengthens your faith.

Romans 4:16-17 For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Faith Over Law

Are you a legalist? Do you believe in following the law to the T? Do you follow the rules? Do you desire rules in your workplace and watch diligently to see if others are following them? Do you complain when others do not follow the rules? Are you the same way when it comes to following Jesus?

Let’s get this out of the way first, there is nothing wrong with following rules so long as the rules are for safety. On the other hand, some rules are simply made to please some people and take no account of others. Also, you cannot legislate morality. It simply doesn’t work.

In fact, the Apostle Paul is states morality cannot be legislated in the verse that follows today’s passage. So, what is he saying in today’s passage. He is saying that Abraham’s faith is what made him righteous. It wasn’t his ability to follow the law. It wasn’t his ability to follow rules. It wasn’t because he never lied (Abraham lied more than once to a king). No, it was Abraham’s faith in God that made him righteous.

It we were required to follow God’s law to be righteous, we all would fail. God would end up without any human being able to earn his way into heaven. It is believing in God’s promises, just as Abraham did, that qualifies us to be with God. Unfortunately, we spend too much time complaining about people to break the rules and not near enough time on building our faith and their faith. As our faith grows, we grow closer to God and do a better job of following his commands, even though we still fall short of perfection. Faith is what matters.

I pray we all give up being a legalist. I pray we stop complaining about the failure of others. I pray each one of us seek to build our faith and the faith of others. Stop being a legalist. Stop complaining about others. Put your faith in God’s promises. Build your faith. Build up others faith.

Romans 4:13-14 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

Take the Next Step

Have you been told something would be yours even though someone else owned it at the time? Did you wonder how it would come to pass? Did you trust that it would happen? Or did you blow it off as someone blustering when they said it to you?

Some things can appear to be impossible. If someone told you that a castle would be yours one day, you would probably laugh it off as being absurd. Yet, if the person was someone of power and someone you trusted, you might have a wee bit of wishful thinking that it might happen.

Abram entered a foreign land that was already populated with people. He may have thought of himself as the stranger, the outsider, and that he could never overcome them. Yet, God appeared to him and told him his offspring would occupy the land. Abram must have thought it impossible, even if he believed God could do anything. After all, he had no children at this time and was seventy-five years old. He was embarking on God’s call with his wife and nephew. Things may have not looked bleak, but they sure didn’t look like he would be conquering nations.

When God calls us, we may not think things look promising. However, we must remember that God can do anything. If he calls us to it and promises it will be successful, we can believe God will fulfill his promise. Our task is to take the next step, to follow God’s call, and to continue to believe he will deliver. We don’t have to know every step along the way. We simply need to take the next step.

I pray we all choose to answer God’s call. I pray we trust God will deliver on his promises. I pray each one of us choose to take the next step as we follow the path God has prepared for us. Answer God’s call. Trust God to deliver. Trust God’s promises. Take the next step.

Genesis 12:6-7 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.