Traditions

Do you like tradition? How many traditions do you keep? How many of them are traditions passed on from generation to generation? Do you know why those traditions started? Are you curious about the reasons for the tradition?

We follow all kinds of traditions. Some are patriotic. Some are sports related. Some are family. Some are religious. Traditions can be very good for us. They can provide a framework for our lives. They can also be foolish.

We have many religious traditions within the various denominations. But do you know how they were started? Are they biblically based? Some are biblically based, and some are not. Knowing the reason behind the tradition and why it is followed is key to observing the tradition properly, meaning with the correct mindset.

Since Ash Wednesday is fast approaching, let’s take a look at the tradition of the imposition of ashes. The Jews of the Old Testament would put on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of repenting their sin or calling out to God to rescue them. Sackcloth is the poorest of cloths and ashes represent the frailness of human life.

As the Christian movement got started, the tradition continued in much the same way until it was formalized into the tradition we have now. Ashes are put on a person’s forehead in the form of a cross. It represents both the frailness of humanity and the saving grace through the cross of Christ.

But notice Jesus’ words of caution in today’s passage. Without truly seeing the miraculous power of Jesus, what He has done for us, and choosing to follow Him, we are as lost as the cities He calls out. Going through the motions does nothing for us. It is the attitude of the heart and mind while observing the traditions that make them meaningful.

I pray we all seek to understand our traditions. I pray we choose wisely which traditions are relevant. I pray each one of us approach traditions with the correct attitude of heart and mind. Know the reasons behind traditions. Choose traditions wisely. Have the correct attitude of heart and mind when observing traditions.

Matthew 11:21-22 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.”

Listen to Jesus

Have you been inside a cloud? Have you been on a mountain and a cloud envelopes it? Have you flown through a cloud on an airplane? Have been a dense fog? Did you notice it is a bit challenging to see? Did you notice sound can be disarming?

Flying through clouds seems like flying through cotton candy, until there is lighting. Then it can be both beautiful and frightening. Standing on a mountain as a cloud passes over it, encompassing the mountain in the cloud, can be surreal.

If you have not ever been in a cloud, dense fog is very similar. The main difference between the fog and a cloud is a cloud often has pockets of clear space. As the cloud surrounds you, you can see for some distance at times and not see anything at others. The cloud continues to move on the wind, changing shapes, opening spaces, and closing them up again. It almost seems as though the cloud is alive.

I can imagine Peter, John, and James being encompassed by the cloud with Jesus. Perhaps they couldn’t see Him. Then they hear this booming voice coming from the cloud. Maybe there was also some lightning lighting up various parts of the cloud as the voice speaks. Imagine that! The cloud now seems to be even more alive than before.

God tells the apostles that Jesus is His Son, that God has chosen Him, and they are to listen to Him. That is quite a message in an amazing setting. The apostles thought they were going to the mountain to pray. They never thought God would speak to them directly while there.

The message God gave the apostles on the mountain is an important one for us today. It is one that gives us confidence that Jesus is who He says He is, and it gives us instruction. We are to listen to Jesus. God sent Him to be his spokesman, ambassador, and teacher. When we listen, we learn and become ambassador’s and teachers of God’s Word.

I pray we all choose to adhere to God’s instruction. I pray we listen to Jesus’ teaching. I pray each one of us choose to be an ambassador of God and a teacher of His Word. Be amazed by God. Hear God’s voice. Listen to His instruction. Listen to Jesus’ words. Be His ambassador.

Luke 9:34-35 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

See Jesus Glory

Have you ever wondered what being in glorious splendor will be like? Would you like to know? How would you like to be in glory with Jesus, speaking with Him? Do you know you will get that opportunity one day?

Sharing in someone else’s glory can be wonderful. Here on this earth, that often means being partnered with someone who achieves or does something amazing. They receive the fame and we share in the limelight as an associate.

Unfortunately, when we are with someone who is basking in the spotlight, we find they have their faults. They may become prideful and cocky. They may leave their friends behind. They may get hooked on alcohol or drugs to deal with the overwhelming attention. Thankfully, there is One who has no faults at all and basks in the brightest glory.

As Jesus selected Peter, John, and James to go up on the mountain with Him to pray, I wonder if He didn’t have a bit of a knowing smile on His face. I’m sure He knew what was going to happen on top of the mountain.

The three apostles, however, had no idea. They did not know they would see Jesus change into His natural glorious being right in front of their eyes. They also had no idea they would come face-to-face with Moses and Elijah. Wow! What an experience that must have been!

It is no wonder Peter just blurted something out, not knowing what he was saying. He was overcome with awe and wonder. He had just met two of the most famous men of Jewish history and seen Jesus transformed in front of him.

I’m guessing our reaction will be much the same when we see Jesus face-to-face. Perhaps we won’t blurt out whatever pops in our minds, but I’m sure we will be in awe. Seeing the glory of God with our own eyes will be no small experience. It will far outdo what we have experienced on this earth.

I pray we all look forward to our face-to-face meeting with Jesus. I pray we desire to share in His glory now. I pray each one of us choose to follow Him so we will share in His glory. Look to Jesus’ glory. Look forward to sharing in His glory. Choose to follow Him. Jesus will share His glory with you.

Luke 9:29-30 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.

The Chosen One

Have you ever been chosen to take on a difficult task? What does it mean to be chosen? Is it an honor to be chosen? Does it mean you are the only one who can accomplish the task? Would you prefer not to be chosen?

We know there are people the boss always turns to when there are tasks that MUST be done. The boss can count on them to do whatever it takes to complete them. They are dependable and resourceful. The boss has confidence in them.

Being the person the boss always chooses to take on the challenging tasks can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, being that reliable person can mean job security, a bonus, and perhaps some leniency. On the other hand, it can include long hours, stress, and negatively affect your family life.

Isaiah points forward to God’s chosen—Jesus. Notice it includes the delight God takes in His Son, and it includes the challenge of bringing justice this world. God is very pleased with His Son. Yet, God has also given Jesus the toughest task of all to accomplish. As we look at Scripture, we know Jesus is the Savior of the world. We know He accomplished this through His death, burial, and resurrection.

But as we look around this world, we may wonder where the justice is. It is coming. The framework is put in place. The final justice will come when God determines the time is right. Those who disobey God will be brought to final punishment. Those who obey Him will be rewarded for their faithfulness.

Jesus is God’s Chosen One. He is God’s beloved Son. He has accomplished the impossible task of saving all in this world who choose to follow Him, while also setting up righteous judgment for those who choose to deny God.

I pray we all choose to follow Jesus. I pray we decide to tell others of God’s perfect plan. I pray each one of us allow God’s justice to reign, rather than taking it into our own hands. Follow Jesus. Obey God’s commands. Allow God to judge. Trust that justice is in motion.

Isaiah 42:1

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will bring justice to the nations.”

Close Encounter

Do you ever falter in your faith? Do you sometimes wonder if the story of Jesus is true? Have you thought it sounds incredulous the Son of God would come to this earth in the form of a human being?

It can be difficult to believe the Son of God came to this earth, especially in our cynical society. We focus on our immediate pleasure rather than long-term joy. To believe in the appearance of the Son of God some two-thousand years ago sounds mystical and absurd.

Yet, we have eyewitness accounts of His life, particularly the three years of His ministry. We also have eyewitness accounts of His resurrection. Even the Jewish historian Josephus recorded some of Jesus’ life, even if he was skeptical himself.

We have heard Jesus is at the right hand of the throne of God. Perhaps we are unsure how that could be. Again, we have an eyewitness account. As Stephen was about to be stoned for testifying about Jesus, he had a vision of Jesus standing at God’s right hand. Once again, we may be skeptical. Yet, being filled with the Holy Spirit can bring about visions. Have you ever spoken with someone who has had an unexplainable experience with God? Some of us have. Some of us have been the person who had the experience.

We attempt to explain away these experiences with our modern science. Science is good and has many applications. However, God doesn’t obey man-made scientific rules. He works outside of those and has the ability to appear to us at any time.

Not all of us will have an in-person experience with God in a tangible way. Yet, we interact with His creation every day. We may not have a vision of Jesus, but it does not mean others haven’t. We may be one of those who have an up-close encounter with God one day.

I pray we all believe the eyewitness accounts of Jesus. I pray we trust God works outside of scientific rules. I pray each one of us believe Jesus is who He says He is. Trust eyewitness accounts. Trust God is at work. Believe in Jesus. Put your faith in Him.

Acts 7:55-56 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Focused Prayer

How do you go about praying? Do you have a routine you follow? Is there a specific location you prefer to go to pray? Is there a certain way you like to pray? Do you have a list you pray over?

I wonder how many of us set aside time to pray. After all, we live in a very busy world, and we fill our time with social media, streaming services, and games. Praying can quickly become a secondary option for us.

We may breathe short prayers in emergencies, and there is nothing wrong with that. We may be in conversation with God while commuting to work, which a good way to spend an otherwise monotonous time. But God also wants us to spend some dedicated time with Him in prayer, focusing on Him, focusing on our needs, even focusing on our desires, and asking for His guidance.

Jesus tells us in today’s passage to set aside time to pray. Not only are we to set aside time, but we are to set aside a place. Depending on the translation you use, it may say to go into your inner room or closet. The point is to be in a private place where you can spend quiet, focused time with God. When I see this passage, I am reminded of the movie War Room. A key character in the movie has set aside a room in her house for prayer. She teaches another lady to do the same, who clears out her walk-in closet and turns it into a prayer room.

Notice Jesus says not to simply babble along. In other words, we are to have a plan for our prayer. Having a list of topics to pray about is the idea here. Personally, I have book of prayer requests that have been given to me by others. I also keep a running list of things to pray over for my family and friends. This keeps us focused rather than babbling and not knowing what to pray about.

We also should allow some time in our prayer for God to answer. I doubt any of us will hear a booming voice, but we will hear the Spirit talking to us in a whisper. He will give us new thoughts we would not have thought of on our own. This requires us to learn to listen well. It also requires us to be in that quiet place, not being distracted by the noise of the world.

I pray we all set aside time to be in conversation with God. I pray we have a quiet place we go to focus on Him. I pray each one of us plan our time of prayer, keep a list of items to pray about. Spend focused time in prayer. Set aside a private place to pray. Listen for God to speak to you. Keep a list to pray over.

Matthew 6:6-7 “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”

Image of Christ

Do you ever spend time thinking about what eternity will be like? Do you wonder what you will look like in eternity? Have you imagined being in the same body? Have you imagined it being in a different body?

Some people think their current body will be resurrected but will be made perfect. Others believe they will be given a new body. Some worry they will be given a new body, meaning they will not be recognized, nor will they recognize anyone from this life.

The Apostle Paul tells us we will bear the image of the heavenly man, meaning Jesus. Does this mean we will be given a different body? Not necessarily. Yet, it is a possibility. Sound a little wishy-washy? It sure does.

Paul goes on to say that we cannot inherit the kingdom of God with flesh and blood. He states the perishable won’t inherit the imperishable. It appears these statements are saying we will be given a different body. Again, not necessarily so.

When Paul says we will bear the image of Jesus, flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and the perishable won’t inherit the imperishable, he is not referring to our physical bodies at all. He is referring to our hearts, minds, and attitudes. He is referring to our being like Jesus by being perfectly like Him in what is most important, which is not the physical.

In the end, we do not know what we will look like for eternity. Perhaps it is intentional. Perhaps we are to not worry about our physical appearance but what is in our hearts and minds, taking on the likeness of Christ in what is important.

I pray we all set aside our obsession with the physical. I pray we desire to be like Christ. I pray each one of us focus on changing our hearts, minds, and attitudes to be more like Christ. Set aside physical obsession. Focus on changing your heart. Focus on having the mind of Christ. Focus on eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:49-50 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Be Conformed

Would you like to have someone working for your good? Do you long to have someone powerful on your side? Have you chosen to have someone powerful on your side? Do you seek glory on your own or wait for it come as promised?

Most of us want to have someone who can help us achieve a goal. We may want to feel as though we achieved it on our own, but we also want assistance when needed. It may come in the form of guidance. It may come in the form of intervention on our behalf.

We may be seeking to be in the spotlight. We may be looking for our ten minutes of fame…or much more. For what reason are we seeking the spotlight? Is it to feed our ego? Seeking to build our own ego can be an uphill challenge and may be a never-ending journey.

On the other hand, when we seek to fulfill the purpose we were designed to fulfill, we are glorified by God. Our journey starts with our love for God. Our love prompts us to seek His purpose for our life. As we seek His purpose, He works on our behalf and alongside us.

God knows us. After all, He created us. He has preplanned work for us to do. He desires us to be a reflection of Jesus. God has planned to have an extremely large family of brothers and sisters, starting with Jesus. Being part of His family includes blessings we cannot dream of. Those blessings include being justified before a Holy God and being glorified by Him.

I pray we all choose to love God. I pray we ask Him to work with us and on our behalf. I pray each one of us accept His justification for our lives and allow Him to glorify us in the name of Jesus. Love God. Seek His purpose for your life. Be conformed to Jesus’ image. Be part of the family. Be justified. Be glorified.

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Heavenly Citizenship

Where is your citizenship? Where do you belong? Does that sound like a silly question? Would you like to be a citizen of somewhere else? Are you a follower of Jesus? Do you know your citizenship is in heaven?

We may think it odd having citizenship in heaven. After all, we don’t physically live there. Living here on earth can make it difficult to think of our citizenship being anywhere other than here. Yet, we do have a citizenship in heaven.

In this world, we think of citizenship as the country where we live. Some of us may hold dual citizenships, meaning we are citizens of two countries. But we cannot live in two countries at the same time, even if we own a residence in each country. Perhaps, knowing it is physically impossible to be in two places at the same time, is why we have a hard time thinking about having a citizenship in heaven.

Much like having a citizenship in two countries, being in one at a time, we can be citizens of both heaven and earth. We can physically live on earth while holding citizenship in heaven. Our heavenly citizenship is a gift of God’s grace through His Son.

Not only do we have citizenship in heaven, but we know that our earthly bodies will be changed into a glorious body. I don’t know about you, but that is very encouraging for me. We all discover our earthly bodies breaking down over time. Parts wear out. Joints are replaced. Sometimes organs are replaced. When we are transformed to be like Jesus, we will no longer suffer the decaying we currently suffer.

I pray we all know we have a citizenship in heaven. I pray we remind ourselves of that citizenship regularly. I pray each one of us look forward to a glorious body like Christ’s. Know you are a citizen of heaven. Know you will have a glorious body. Know you will no longer suffer decay.

Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

No Longer Condemned

Have you been condemned by others? Have you condemned yourself? Do you feel unworthy? Do you feel doomed to failure? Do you feel imprisoned by a plethora of small infractions that have piled up to create walls?

We are often our own harshest critic. We know each and every tiny failure. We hold those failures against ourselves, remembering even the smallest infraction from years ago. We allow them to stack up until we are surrounded by high walls of them.

We may remember borrowing a dime from a fellow fifth grader and never repaying it. We may remember foolishly drinking ourselves into oblivion over a lost relationship. We may remember a violent reaction caused by anger. We may remember being extremely rude to a store clerk because we were in a bad mood.

What can we do about these past sins and memories? First, we can accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Second, we can take comfort that He does not condemn us for those past transgressions. We may not be able to forget them, but they no longer need to be prison walls that keep us from moving forward in our faith.

We must remember that Satan will continue to throw those memories in our face, telling us we are not worthy. We also must remember that Jesus says, “I know all about them, and I have forgiven you.” We no longer stand condemned but freed from our past. We can move forward with obeying Christ and living the life He wants us to live—a life of freedom.

I pray we all know we are no longer condemned. I pray we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. I pray each one of us lives the life Jesus wants us to live, a life in Him, a life of freedom. You are no longer condemned. You are free of past sins. Step out on a positive note. Follow the path Christ has laid out for you. Live a life of freedom.

Romans 8:1-3a Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.