Be On Guard

How well can you spot a liar? How well can you spot a pretender? Can you identify a person who has pulled the wool over someone’s eyes? Can you identify a person is attempting to fool you into believing they are someone they are not? Are you on your guard for these types of people?

We all know there are people who lie about many things. Some people seem to lie nearly every word they speak. We also know people who pretend to be someone they are not. They are attempting to fool people, and maybe us, into believing they are who they think we want them to be.

We have seen people in our workplaces who act one way when the boss is around and another when the boss is away. We may have experienced our immediate supervisor take credit for something we have done so as to gain a promotion.

How do we feel when we discover we are lied to or someone else is taking credit for our work? Generally, we are upset, angry, feel betrayed, frustrated, and may even feel helpless. What do we do when we discover the falseness? We may distance ourselves from that person or start looking for a new job.

Jesus warns His disciples to be on guard for false messiahs. They will attempt to lead us astray. They may even perform acts that appear to be miraculous. Their sole purpose is to lead us away from our faith in Jesus. They desire fame, fortune, and power. They desire to have a large following and control over those people.

How do we be on our guard? We need to know the Scriptures. We need to evaluate people critically, especially those who appear to be “to-good-to-be-true”. We need to seek counsel from someone close to us whom we trust. None of us know everything, but working together we can identify the pretenders and liars.

I pray we all are on our guard for pretenders. I pray we especially guard ourselves against those who will lead us away from Jesus. I pray each one of us seek to be knowledgeable about God’s Word. Be on guard. Identify falseness. Remove yourself from pretenders. Seek counsel from someone you trust. Know God’s Word. Hold on to your faith in Jesus.

Mark 13:21-23 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.”

Compiling Data Into Knowledge

What is the most important bit of knowledge you have learned? Is it discovering a scientific fact no one else knew? Is it something you learned about another person? Does it change as you live and learn more? Have you considered you may know the most important fact there is to know?

We learn something new every day, whether we think we do or not. Much of what we learn has little impact on us. For instance, we learn each day what the weather is for the day. It may have little or no impact on us, at least on the surface. But there are other things we learn that are significant.

As adults, much of our learning comes from life experiences. Those experiences come through relationships, on the job training, or continuing education. Our experiences can teach us many things. However, we do not always pay attention to what we are learning and do not always put the pieces together to fully understand what we have learned. Sometimes, what we learn are merely data points to us and we do not compile them into true knowledge. Without putting them together as knowledge, we cannot adequately act upon them.

In today’s passage, the Apostle Paul lays out a handful of data points. We must put them together, understand what they mean individually, then understand what they mean when compiled into a whole. Jesus died for our sins. He was buried. He rose from the dead. He appeared to several people after rising from the dead.

Each data point can stand on its own. On their own, they have one meaning. But when we compile them into a single piece of knowledge, they take on a more profound meaning. It is the fulfillment of God’s promises. It is the fulfillment of Jesus’ statements to His disciples. It can be the genesis of our believing His other teachings. It provides us with not just forgiveness but hope and salvation. It becomes the most important bit of knowledge we can learn in our lives.

I pray we all know that Jesus’ story is true. I pray we understand what it means for us. I pray each one of us will compile the data points of Jesus’ life and teaching into knowledge we can use. Compile the data into knowledge. Understand Jesus’ story. Be in awe and amazed at what He has done. Trust He will fulfill His promises.

1 Corinthians 15:3-5 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

Empty Grave

Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Yes, Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. He left the grave empty, with the exception of the grave clothes. The linen wrappings and the face cloth were left behind. But Jesus was no longer there.

Mary, Peter, and John were all amazed. Peter and John returned to where the other disciples were staying. I’m sure they were excited and ready to pass the news along that Jesus had risen from the grave. There was likely a very lively conversation.

Mary hung around. She was thinking someone had moved His body. She was about to receive an even bigger surprise. Jesus was about to make a personal appearance to her. He was about to comfort her and show her that her belief in Him was not in vain.

How do we encounter the risen Savior? Do we receive Him with excitement? Does that excitement continue? The risen Christ is the most wonderful reason for excitement. Believing in Him with joy, hope, and faith is an awesome experience.

Because He has risen, we have the hope of eternity spent with Him. We have been promised that we will live because He lives. Jesus has paved the way for us. Our belief that He is risen is the first step we take in our faith and following Him.

I pray we all believe in the risen Christ. I pray we accept the hope Jesus provides when we put our faith in Him. I pray each one of us will choose to follow the risen Savior. Believe Jesus has risen. Be joyous about it. Experience Him. Put your faith in Jesus. Trust that you will live with Him.

John 20:6-7 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Waiting in Grief

Do you like waiting? What if you are waiting in grief? What if all your hopes had just been dashed? What if you feel as though your dreams were just crushed? Do you look for something to put your hope in? Is the waiting excruciating in one of these situations?

Our culture has conditioned us to absolutely abhor waiting. We live in an instant gratification society. Waiting is not something we like to do. Waiting is made worse when we are grieving the loss of a loved one. The waiting between a death and the funeral can be draining.

The disciples—the Apostles and Jesus’ other close followers—were distraught. Their dreams of a new king who would rejuvenate, revitalize, renew Israel had died. They were huddled in a room, hoping they would not be the next ones to be dragged through the streets and crucified for being a follower of Jesus.

The disciples had witnessed the gruesome crucifixion. They had witnessed Jesus’ body being brought down from the cross. They had witnessed His body being put into a tomb. They may have been alongside Nicodemus, who wrapped the body and put spices on it. The shock of what had happened was overwhelming.

We may experience similar feelings and shock when a loved unexpectedly dies. When it happens, we do not know how to feel, but also feel a wide range of emotions. It is confusing. It is disconcerting. It is disorienting. We feel lost. We may be angry. Our demeanor can switch from sadness to anger to fear to crushing defeat in a manner of minutes.

I pray we all take time to think about the disciples’ emotions. I pray we ponder how we might feel or have felt when we lose a loved one. I pray each one of us realize there is a purpose to waiting. Recognize your emotions. Understand what it means to lose. Know that waiting has a purpose. Learn to trust God in your waiting.

John 19:41-42 Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Crucified for Us

How does the crucifixion of Jesus affect you? Does it only remind you that you have been forgiven? Does it only remind you that salvation is available to you? Does it only remind you that there is hope? Or does it have a much deeper meaning to you?

Jesus’ crucifixion should affect us deep in our soul, deep in our inner being, right down to our very last cell. We need to pause for a few moments and reflect deeply on what He did for us. Let’s just make a quick comparison.

Let’s suppose we were in mortal danger. Perhaps someone was threatening our very life while standing directly in front of us. We are frightened and thinking we are about to die. Suddenly, someone overpowers the would-be attacker and removes the threat. How do we feel about the person who just saved us?

Now, let’s take that one step further. Let’s assume the person who saved us was a close relative. Let’s assume that person was mortally wounded while saving us. I believe I can reasonably assume each one of us will remember that person for the rest of our lives. Not only that, but we will celebrate their birthdays, weep tears over their grave on the anniversary of their death, and we may even dedicate our lives to honoring them by how we live.

If we are willing to do all this for someone who saved our mortal life, shouldn’t we do the same for the One who has granted us eternal life? Perhaps we need to reflect deeply on what Jesus has done for us.

I pray we all reflect deeply on Jesus. I pray we recall His ministry and saving grace. I pray each one of us will seek to honor Him by the way we live our lives. Take time to reflect on Jesus. Ponder Jesus’ death. Understand what He did for you. Dedicate your life in remembrance of Him.

John 19:16b-18 So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

The Known Future

Do you want to know the future? Do you wish you knew how your life would turn out? Do you simply want to know what’s ahead of you for the next week, month, or year? Would you like to know when your last day on this earth is? How do you think Jesus felt as He knew His time drew near?

We may often wish we knew what is ahead of us. We say that if we knew then what we know now we would have made different decisions. When we boil it all down, it is about being able to control our lives. We want to control not only our lives but others’ lives in respect to how they affect ours.

We might reconsider knowing the future. Jesus knew His future and it had a tremendous effect on Him. Remember, in the garden as He was praying, He sweat drops as thick as blood. Knowing the future, especially a future we consider bad, can have a huge impact on us.

Even though Jesus knew His appointed time to go to the cross was near, He continued to give instruction to His disciples. He continued to encourage them. He even told them what they would do—that they would leave Him alone. He told them they would face persecution.

Jesus also told His disciples to take courage. Regardless of what happens during our lives, if we follow Him, we will be with Him for eternity. Jesus has overcome this world and will take His followers to be with Him. We need to put more stock into this reality and less into the worries of this world. We can accept the peace of Jesus. To do so, we must first put our trust, our faith in Him. We must believe that He is in control, not us.

I pray we all trust Jesus at His Word. I pray we put our faith in Him. I pray each one of us will accept the peace of Jesus into our lives. Trust that Jesus has conquered this world. Look to the future of eternity with Him. Accept Jesus’ peace. Put your faith in Him.

John 16:32-33 “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

Do Not Be Troubled

Is your heart troubled? Are you yearning for peace? Do you long for relief and rest? Are you looking for someone or something to put your trust in? Do you need your confidence boosted? Have you put your faith in God and in Jesus Christ? Will you trust the One who will return?

We may experience many unsettling situations during our lives. They can range from minor scrapes and bruises to serious diseases or illnesses. We may experience broken relationships or the death of a family member. We may feel as though the world is crumbling around us.

It is during times of trouble we need a solid foundation to stand on. We need something or someone we can count on to be there regardless of what we are going through. Jesus knows that. He knew it when He told the disciples to put their trust in Him. He knew He was to go to the cross soon and the disciples would be troubled.

Just like the disciples Jesus addressed, we can put our trust in Him. We can take comfort in knowing that He is preparing a place for us. It is not just any place, but a place for all eternity that will never decay but be a perfect place for us forever.

Not only is Jesus preparing a place for us, but He has promised to return. At His return, evil will be wiped out forever, there will be a bodily resurrection, and an eternity of bliss will begin. This is the foundation we can stand on. A foundation that will not crumble but will hold us steady when we are faced with troubling situations.

I pray we all believe in God and Jesus Christ. I pray we put our faith in Jesus. I pray each one of us will trust Jesus at His word and know that He will return to take us to a perfect place for eternity. Do not be troubled. Stand on the firm foundation. Put your faith in Jesus. Know that He will return. Trust that He is preparing a place for you.

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”

Love Is…

What is love? Is love an emotional feeling? Is it unconditional? Is it committed? Do you describe it as brotherly or sisterly? Does it include your friends and neighbors? Does love include your enemy? Is it only for close relationships? Do you love as Jesus commanded you to love?

Our culture too often only refers to love as a feeling. We typically use it to describe a couple who are in love with one another or the love we have for our family. We may, on occasion, mention brotherly or sisterly love in a specific situation. But rarely will it be mentioned for others.

Jesus has just shared the Last Supper with His disciples. Judas has just left them to go lead the Jewish leadership and Roman soldiers to capture Him. Jesus knows what is about to happen. Yet, He commands His disciples to love one another. The Greek word He uses for love can be and was used to address the love Jesus commanded in all the facets mentioned above.

Because Jesus loves and cares for every person, I believe His heart was broken when Judas got up to leave the room. I believe He was implying multiple forms of love with His command. He was implying the disciples should still love Judas, despite what he was about to do. He was implying they should love and care for one another, knowing He was about to leave them. He was implying they were to be committed to one another, knowing the trials they were going to face. He was implying they were to love and care for their families.

Jesus did not randomly command His disciples to love one another. He does not randomly command us to love one another. Jesus knows what we are facing, what trials lie ahead of us, and how much we will need to rely on both Him and one another. He also knows that through the love we demonstrate for one another that others will know we are His disciples. It is by demonstrating this love that we attract others to Jesus and carry out His mission of bringing them into the kingdom of God.

I pray we all understand the many facets of love. I pray we love as Jesus loved. I pray each one of us commit to loving one another, or at least commit to learning to love one another. Love is a feeling. Love is unconditional. Love is committed. Love includes all people. Love as Jesus loved. Love one another.

John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Listening for God

Have you had a feeling that you knew what was going to happen before it happened? Have you experienced the feeling of deja vu? Does it make it feel more at ease knowing what is coming? Have you heard the voice of God speaking to you? Has the Holy Spirit led you on your path?

We occasionally talk about a mother’s intuition. It often occurs in the relationship with her children. There is a connection there like no other, with the possible exception of twins. However, we can have a similar connection with God.

How do we obtain this connection? It must be built. It is not that God cannot speak to us whenever he wants. We must learn to listen for him to speak. Often, God speaks to us when we are quiet. When we hear that we need to be quiet, we often interpret that to mean turning off the television, sitting quietly, and waiting for God to speak. Though that is part of the equation, it is not the entire equation.

To truly hear God speak, we must quiet our minds. My own experience is that I cannot hear God when my mind is racing and I am thinking about all the things going on in my life or my long list of things to get done. It is only when I push those things out of my mind and focus on God. I may have to spend a little time getting some things off my chest before I can truly quiet my mind. But God is a good listener. He will patiently wait for us to be quiet.

Jesus had the perfect connection with God. He knew what was ahead of Him. Jesus knew a false trial, a scourging, and a crucifixion was in His immediate future. But He also knew He was about to go back to the Father. He knew His mission was coming to completion. He had one more lesson to teach His disciples. He needed them to understand what it meant to serve one another, to show Godly love for one another.

I pray we all seek to have a close connection with God. I pray we learn to quiet our minds and spend time with God. I pray each one of us learn the lesson of serving one another in love. Build your connection with God. Quiet your mind. Spend quiet time with God. Learn to serve one another. Love one another as Jesus loves.

John 13:3-4 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Praise the King

Do you seek out praise? Is it a motivator for you? Do you prefer to give praise to others? Is praise something you struggle with, whether for you or for others? How do you praise the King—Jesus?

Accepting praise from others can be challenging and we can feel embarrassed by it. Praising others can also be difficult for us because we simply don’t know how to do it without it feeling awkward.

Personally, I know both of the above feelings all too well. I have never felt comfortable receiving praise, especially publicly. I have often done whatever I could to avoid it. Perhaps that is why it is also challenging for me to praise others. My simplified viewpoint is that we are all doing our jobs or what we are called to do. No praise required.

Yet, I know intellectually that praise has its place. I know that we are to praise one another, especially when we have done something worthy in the service of our Lord. I also know we are to praise Him. Jesus is worthy of our praise. In fact, I believe He is far more worthy than any of us can imagine.

Jesus is not merely a person who taught good lessons, performed amazing miracles, and died for us. No…He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the conqueror of all evil. He is the ultimate judge. He is our Savior and our Lord. He deserves our praise.

I pray we all give Jesus our highest praise. I pray we honor Him with all our being. I pray each one of us will praise one another when we see one another working for the King. See Jesus as the King. Praise Jesus. Praise the King. Praise Jesus as Lord. Sing praises to Him.

John 9:35-38 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, 

“Hosanna to the Son of David! 

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

Hosanna in the highest heaven!”