Something Special

How well do you follow instructions? Do you listen for all the instructions to be given? Or do you assume you know what is going to be said and head off on a task before receiving all the instructions? Do you recognize the moment? Or does it take someone to point it out to you?

Following instructions can be a tricky at times. This is especially true if we do not wait to hear the full set of instructions. Sometimes we hear the first bit of the instruction and think we know what the full instruction will be. We may be correct sometimes, and yet there will inevitably be times when we are not.

The disciples listened to Jesus’ entire set of instructions. I’m sure they wondered how Jesus could give them such a strange command. In their case, they had been with Him long enough, seen enough of His miracles, and heard enough of His lessons to know to listen to Him. So, despite the strangeness of it, they followed His instruction just as He said. They brought the donkey and the colt to Him. They put their cloaks on them and Jesus got on board.

If we are lucky, we may have someone in our life whom we can trust implicitly. If we do, we follow their instruction, even if they sometimes seem weird, out of place, or incorrect. If the person we trust is worth our trust, the instruction will turn out perfect for the situation. However, it may take some time to see just how perfect the guidance was.

Recognizing the moment, the disciples not only put their cloaks on the donkey, but they also started putting them down on the ground. Other disciples put theirs down, and those that didn’t have a cloak put tree branches down. They recognized the moment was divine.

We, too, can recognize those divine moments. We can recognize the moments when something unique and special is happening. When we do, we may feel compelled to do something we would not otherwise do, just as the disciples did. If we find ourselves in a situation like that, go with it. God is at work.

I pray we all have someone we can fully trust. I pray we listen carefully and follow their instructions. I pray each one of us recognize those special moments as they come into our lives. Find someone you can trust. Trust in God. Trust in Jesus. Recognize the special moments.

Matthew 21:6-7 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them.

Be Willing

What are you willing to give to others? Are you willing to give something expensive to help someone else? Would you give up a prize possession if someone was in need of it? Does the situation make a difference in your decision? What are you willing to give God?

Giving to others may be easy if we are giving from our abundance. We take clothes, home furnishings, books, tools, and more to charitable organizations for those in need, but only those things we no longer plan to use. We will not typically give something that is of value to us.

God does not always present us a situation in which we are asked to give up something we treasure. However, we may be put in that situation. If we are, how will we act? We might like to think that we would give up anything for God, but we do not know that we will until we are faced with that decision.

A woman gives up something very expensive. The word translated as ointment in today’s passage can also be translated as perfume or myrrh. It has been estimated that the filled jar was worth a year’s wages. That is a costly gift. Besides the monetary value, there were other uses for the ointment.

In Mark’s account, Jesus was sitting around the table, meaning the group was likely about to eat. Yet, this woman pours this fragrant ointment over Jesus. Considering the amount of ointment, the entire house would have smelled of it. The smell may have been nearly overpowering in the room in which He sat.

We may also be put in a situation in which something very costly is asked of us. We need to remember this woman at that time. We also should remember that nothing of this world will remain when Jesus comes again. All that we currently possess will disappear. None of it will have a place in eternity. What will have a place is our willingness to serve God.

I pray we all evaluate how much we hold on to the things of this world. I pray we are willing to give to those in need. I pray each one of us are willing to serve God, especially when it means giving up possessions. Be willing. Evaluate your attitude. Give as God desires. Serve God.

Matthew 26:6-7 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.

Thankful for Love

What does it mean to you to be loved? Is being loved something you are thankful for? Have you felt loved at one time and unloved at another? Do you want to know that you are loved at all times? What if I told you, you are? Will you be thankful for that love?

Being loved is something all human beings long for. We not only want to be loved but need to be loved. The need is so strong that, if we do not find love where we think it should be, we will look for it from other sources. Looking for love can lead to some very bad places.

Sometimes, we misinterpret being accepted as being love. This happens when we do not find real love where we should. It is a contributing reason why some young people ending up in gangs. They are accepted as long as they go along with what the gang expects. They interpret the acceptance as love.

Our drive to find love is strong enough that we may accept a bad relationship in the false belief the other person loves us. They may not love us but are really using us. We see this happen far too often. Once again, it emphasizes our need for love. But there is a place and a person who loves us at all times and forever.

God’s love does not depend on our behavior, how we look, nor our status in life. After all, he is our Creator. That does not mean God does not have some expectations, but he will never stop loving us. To know that love more intimately and feel his love for us, we need to be in a relationship with him. It is no different than knowing another person loves us. Without the relationship there is no tangible way of feeling the love God has for us. Once we feel that love, we are moved to thank God for his love.

I pray we all seek to be in relationship with God. I pray we desire to feel his love for us. I pray each one of us know that God’s love for us is forever and we give thanks to him for it. Be in relationship with God. Feel God’s love for you. Know that God’s love is forever. Give God thanks for his love.

Psalm 118:29 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Rejoice with Abraham

What causes you to rejoice? Is it a promotion in your job? Is finding someone special to be your companion for life? Is it watching your child accomplish something they have been working hard for? What causes you to rejoice? Do you rejoice in Jesus Christ?

Many things in this world can provide us with momentary happiness. We rejoice in those moments but find sorrow waiting for us in the next. We celebrate accomplishments one day and mourn our losses the next. We seem to be riding a rollercoaster of emotions.

Yet, there is one thing we can rejoice every day. We can rejoice that our Savior came into this world to give Himself up for us. We can rejoice that we have been saved from ourselves and our human nature. We can rejoice that one day the sorrow of this world will never touch us again. We can rejoice alongside Abraham.

Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever noticed that Abraham rejoiced at seeing Jesus come into this world? Jesus is disputing the false accusations made against Him by the Jews in John 8 when He tells them that Abraham saw His coming and was glad. Abraham had been promised by God that his offspring would bless all the nations of the world. Now Abraham is seeing that promised blessing come to fruition.

What does this tell us about God and Abraham? It tells us a whole lot. First of all, God keeps his promises. Second, Abraham is alive and well with God. Third, Abraham can see what is happening on this earth. So, we can rejoice with Abraham when we rejoice at Jesus’ coming. A little rejoicing would do all of us good.

I pray we all choose to rejoice in Jesus. I pray we follow Abraham’s example and are glad that Jesus came into this world. I pray each one of us will rejoice each day we live, knowing Abraham and the angels are rejoicing with us. Rejoice in Jesus Christ. Be glad that He came into this world. Rejoice with Abraham. Rejoice with the angels. Above all, rejoice!

John 8:56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Be Like a Child

Do you sometimes feel like a child? Do you act like a child? Do you experience exhilaration, surprise, and pure joy like a child? Or are you an old fuddy duddy who frowns and prefers not to be excited or surprised? What if you needed to be like a child? Would that change your attitude?

As we grow older, being surprised and jumping for joy often takes a backseat to work and keeping a level head. The world of adults can be very serious and can weigh us down. Our attitudes can be one of focus, determination, and we can experience depression.

Jesus tells us we need the attitude of little children. That attitude has many facets to it. One facet is that of pure joy and excitement. We are to be overjoyed that we have a Savior. We are to be excited to know that we have been saved from the worst possible place we can imagine and given an inheritance beyond our wildest dreams.

Second, we are to have the faith of a little child. Think of a small child who is afraid of water, but Dad is in the water and promises to catch her. She trusts Dad with all her heart, so she jumps. He catches her and she has a big smile on her face. Not only that, but she asks Dad to put her on the side of pool so she can do it again.

Third, because of the trust the child has, he will follow Mom anywhere. Mom tells him they need to go to the doctor. He is afraid of doctors and the smells of a doctors’ office. But Mom reassures him it will be alright. He follows her into the doctor’s office and discovers the doctor is there to help him. By following his Mom, he finds his faith is confirmed.

I pray we all accept Jesus like a little child. I pray we are excited to see what He will do in our lives. I pray each one of us put our faith in Him and follow wherever He leads us. Be excited. Be surprised. Experience pure joy. Have the faith of a child. Put your faith in Jesus. Follow Him.

Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Seek Renewal

Have you ever felt like you just needed to get away for a little while? Have felt like you needed a break from the hustle and bustle of life? Has your job been very busy, causing you to feel frazzled and worn out? Were you able to find solace somewhere or were you bothered via your electronic leash?

There are times when we really need a break. We have been going at breakneck speed for a lengthy period of time and need some downtime. We may plan a week away in a quiet place. Yet, through our cell phones, people continue to reach out to us asking for guidance.

Today’s world is fast paced. We are continually connected. It wasn’t that long ago that companies would issue a cell phone to someone if they were required to be available. Today, we all use our personal cell phones. It has even become rare for a company to pay a stipend to offset the cost of our personal phone for using it to conduct business. It has become expected that we use our personal cell phones and depending on our profession, we are available virtually all the time.

Once Jesus had performed a few miracles, especially healing those who were sick or battling a disease, He was sought after nearly all the time. He, too, needed to get away from the constant demands of people. Sometimes, He would go up on a mountain to spend time with the Father. In today’s passage, He traveled to a place several miles from Galilee. Tyre was northwest of Galilee along the Mediterranean Sea. Jesus did not go into the city but went near it. However, people discovered He was there and ran out to see Him.

Most of us can sympathize with Jesus’ predicament. On the one hand, He cared deeply for people and wanted to help them. On the other hand, He needed some time of renewal and rejuvenation. Our own renewal is key to our own mental and spiritual health. We, too, need to seek a place of solace to renew ourselves and our commitment to God.

I pray we all set aside time to be renewed. I pray we find a quiet place to allow God to rejuvenate us. I pray each one of us will follow Jesus’ example of renewing our commitment to God. Seek renewal. Spend time with God. Be rejuvenated. Turn off you phone. We all need time away from the busyness of life.

Mark 7:24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.

Do You Believe?

Have you wrestled with knowing Jesus? Do you continue to learn something new about Him? Do you wonder about some of the stories you have heard about Him? Do you believe He is the Son of God? Do you believe He is who He says He is?

Belief can be a challenging thing. We may believe someone can soar above the clouds, but only when they are in an airplane. We may believe a person can heal another, but only once they have been educated or trained. We believe many things we are told without proof.

Believing the stories about Jesus can challenge our understanding of the natural world. We don’t know anyone who has opened the eyes of someone who was born blind. We have not witnessed someone being raised from the dead. We are told in Scripture that Jesus did them both.

It takes a leap of faith to believe these stories, even if we have been told them since we were children. That is what it is all about, isn’t it? It’s all about faith. Mere belief won’t allow us to believe the stories. It takes faith, faith in Jesus, to believe He did the things we are told about Him.

Jesus tells Martha, and us, that He is the resurrection and the life. As long as we live in Him, we will never die. Sounds absurd, doesn’t it? Yet, Jesus makes this promise and keeps it. We do not die, if we are in Him. We continue living, even when our mortal bodies die.

I pray we all believe in Jesus. I pray we put our faith into Him so that we believe the stories about Him. I pray each one of us trust Him and believe we never die. Believe in Jesus. Believe the stories about Him. Believe He is who He says He is. Believe Jesus is the Son of God.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Think About It

Do you plan what you are going to do? Do you think through the options and decide on the best or correct action? Have you suffered consequences when you have not? Have you experienced things working out when you do? Have you considered Jesus did everything on purpose?

Sometimes, we make spur-of-the-moment decisions. We randomly decide we will stop for ice cream. We decide to buy the puppy in the window. We choose to run out the door when bad news is received, rushing to be of help. But often those decisions don’t work out well.

Jesus purposely went about His work. He made thoughtful decisions. He knew what His mission was and made every decision to accomplish that mission. In today’s passage, Jesus purposely decided to wait a couple more days. He didn’t rush to be with Martha and Mary. Perhaps He knew it was already too late to get to Lazarus before he died. I suspect Jesus intended for Lazarus to be in the tomb for four days to prove a point. From a Jewish perspective, once a person had been dead three days, they were no longer able to be resuscitated.

Regardless of the “why,” Jesus purposely waited. He arrived just when He intended to. He did exactly what He had already decided to do. He raised Lazarus from the dead against the objections of Martha, his sister. Jesus was not concerned about the Jewish understanding nor the fact there was a crowd watching Him as He stood outside the tomb.

We can learn a very valuable lesson from Jesus—take time to think about and plan our actions. I was once told by a Chief Warrant Officer when I was a young Corporal that no decision, short of life and death, is so important that we cannot take time to think about it. Jesus teaches us the same lesson. I submit that our lives would be much better if we abided by that advice.

I pray we all understand that Jesus did everything on purpose. I pray we learn a lesson from Jesus’ decisions. I pray we all decide to think and plan our actions rather than fly by the seat of our pants. Know Jesus made purposeful decisions. Learn from Him. Choose to think. Choose to plan. Choose to take a moment. Choose to make better decisions.

John 11:4-6 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Living Free

What does it mean to be alive to you? Do you distinguish between merely existing and really living? Is that distinction based on what you do or the possessions you have? Is it based on the relationships you have? Is one of those relationships your relationship with God?

We hear about quality of life. We may think of it from several different perspectives. Perhaps as part of end-of-life care. Perhaps as a work-life balance. It may include the location and size of the house we live in. It may include the job we have and the salary we receive.

Living the lives we are given includes many facets of life. For most of us, it does not include living in fear for our lives because of our faith in Christ. However, as Paul was writing to the Christians in Rome, persecution was a real concern. The early church was often misunderstood by those who were not part of it. They were accused of incest, being cannibals, and being atheists to name a few.

When Paul writes to the church in Rome the Spirit gives them life, he was trying to allay their fears. He was encouraging them to hold on to their faith. It is also an encouragement for us. To know the Holy Spirit gives us life is a comforting thought. The promise Paul repeats in today’s passage is a promise of resurrection. The same promise Jesus gave in John 11:25-26. It is a promise of eternal life spent with God. It was a reminder that the life we currently live is temporary, regardless of its length of time.

One other facet of the reminder Paul gave the church in Rome is that Christ has set us free. He not only set us free from our sins, but He set us from the oppression of this world. As we listen for the Holy Spirit and follow his guidance, we are set free from the desires to follow along with cultural norms. We can live a life that is truly free.

I pray we all take comfort in knowing the Holy Spirit gives us life. I pray we allow the Spirit to guide our lives. I pray each one of us realize we have been set free and live in our freedom. Be comforted. Listen for the Spirit’s guidance. Know you are free. Live in the freedom Christ has given you.

Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

New Life Given

What do you know of the Holy Spirit? Do you know that God has sent his Spirit to live within us? Do you know that God promised his Spirit would live in us long ago? Does it help you to know that God has delivered on his promise? Do you communicate with the Holy Spirit?

For many Christians, the Holy Spirit is often a mystery. We don’t often discuss the Spirit. There aren’t many sermons, classes, or Bible studies on the Spirit. We are told of the Spirit coming at Pentecost and that he comes to inhabit us when we accept Jesus as our Savior, but not much more.

God promised the prophet Ezekiel that he would send his Spirit some 500-600 years before Jesus was born. The story Ezekiel records in chapter 37 is an incredulous one. He is shown a valley full of dried-up bones in a vision. They were lying in disarray throughout the valley. God tells Ezekiel to prophecy to the bones commanding them to come together and be brought back to life. Ezekiel does as God commands and the bones come together, flesh is put on them, and the breath of life is breathed into them.

God tells Ezekiel this is the nation of Israel, and he will give them new life. The new life God promised came through Jesus. Not only did Jesus give new life to Israel, but He gives new life to anyone who will accept Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus also promised the Holy Spirit would be given, and he was. It is through the Holy Spirit that God teaches us, guides us, and changes us into the person he created us to be.

I pray each of us accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. I pray we accept the Holy Spirit into our lives. I pray each one of us will listen for the Holy Spirit to teach us, guide us, and change us. Accept Jesus as Savior. Accept Jesus as Lord. Listen for the Holy Spirit. Learn from the Holy Spirit. Follow his guidance. Be transformed by God.

Ezekiel 37:13-14 “And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” says the Lord.