Choose Healing

Do you have illnesses you would like healed? Do you suffer with ailments you would like to be relieved of? Are those physical illnesses or ailments? How is your emotional health? How is your spiritual health?

We all face physical illnesses and ailments throughout life. It seems as we get older those ailments become more frequent. We may get to the point that every day is lived with pain in our joints, our back, our neck, or an internal disorder.

Put yourself in the gentleman’s place in today’s passage. He is lying next to the pool called Bethesda. He has been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Jesus walks up to him and asks if he wants to get well. How do you answer that question?

It is easy for us to quickly answer with a resounding, “Yes!” But this gentleman did not. First, he didn’t know who Jesus was. So, he didn’t know His miraculous powers. Second, based on his answer, I believe he got some satisfaction from others feeling sorry for him and providing for him. You see, his answer was that he had no one to put him in the water when it stirred, which would cause him to be cured miraculously. He was making an excuse for not being healed, rather than answering Jesus’ question.

Do we do the same thing? Jesus is always asking us the same question. Do we want to be healed? But Jesus’ question is not so much about physical healing—it’s about spiritual healing. Jesus is willing to heal our souls, make us whole. He is willing to grant us His Spirit to guide us along life’s highway. Are we willing to allow Him to take us by the hand?

As I walk through this world, I see a ton of ailing people. I see them beaten down and broken. I see people who need healing in a bad way. I see people hurting. I see people dealing with anxiety, anger, frustration, and hate. I see people who need compassion, understanding, peace, joy, and love.

Jesus can heal us. He can heal our souls. He can give us the spiritual health we need and long for. What do we need to do to receive healing? We need to submit to Him. We need to answer, “Yes!” He accepts as we are. Yet, He won’t leave us in that state. He will change our lives.

I pray we all accept Jesus’ offer for healing. I pray we decide we want to be healed. I pray each one of us submits to His healing power, allowing Him to heal our souls. Say yes. Accept Jesus’ offer. Find the love you long for. Be made whole. Live the abundant life.

John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

Do Not Judge

How do you like being judged by others? Do you wish the judgmental eyes would not glare at you? Do you judge others in the same way you wish you were not being judged? Why not leave the judging to God?

At some point in our lives, we all have judged someone else, and we have all been judged by someone else. We are a very judgmental culture. We condemn someone for bad behavior, lower intellect, or simply making choices different than we would prefer.

We judge drug abusers and alcoholics. We judge people based on the way they dress. We judge a person based on how many body piercings or tattoos they have. We judge people on where they live. And, yes, we still judge people based on their racial or ethnic background.

Why do we judge people so harshly? The simple answer is pride. We want to feel as though we are better than others. We want to put ourselves on a pedestal. Our own self-importance and self-righteousness entices us to put others down, making them lower than ourselves.

We know it’s wrong. But we justify it by saying, “I just can’t help myself.” Oh, that we knew how true that statement was. We can’t help ourselves. We need to ask God to change our hearts. We need to submit to His Spirit, allowing Him to make the change in us. We need to continually ask Him to make the change.

Why? By judging and condemning others, we condemn ourselves. You see, when we judge someone based on their choices, we condemn ourselves for our choices. When we condemn someone for being an alcoholic, we condemn ourselves when we have one too many drinks. When we judge someone for their racial or ethnic background, we condemn ourselves for judging a child of God.

And make no mistake about it, judging others because others are judging you is not acceptable. We are called to be like Jesus. We are called to show the world who He is. We are called to be His hands and feet and have His attitude toward others. We are called to be different.

I pray we all give judging others. I pray we stop condemning ourselves before God. I pray each one of us determines to be a representative of Jesus, showing Him to everyone we meet. Stop judging. Stop condemning. See others as a child of God. Stop making excuses. Choose to be like Jesus.

Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

The Perfect Mediator

Have you ever used a mediator? Do you understand the purpose of a mediator? Have you had to participate in negotiations? Have you had a need for someone to bargain on your behalf? Do you know you have one now?

When we think of a mediator, we often think of high-profile negotiations. A mediator is used when a baseball player is eligible for arbitration and he and the team do not agree on a new salary. Mediators are often used during negotiations between two nations.

Negotiations typically mean two or more parties are attempting to come to an agreement. They typically imply there will be a compromise. Each party must determine what they are willing to give up, where they can bend a little, and what is non-negotiable. Often each party is trying to hold onto as many of their desires as possible, gaining as much as they can.

Jesus is our mediator. He continually stands before God the Father on our behalf. Unlike mediators who negotiate contracts for baseball players or agreements between nations, Jesus has already completed the negotiation. He gave His life for each one of us.

As Satan accuses us of each failure, Jesus points out it has been covered by Him. As Satan desires to steal us away from God through accusation, Jesus says the price, or fine, has already been paid. As Satan tries to take our life, Jesus states He was given us eternal life and it cannot be taken away.

Jesus is the perfect mediator. He paid the ultimate price to claim us as His own. Make no mistake, He does not desire us to continue to fail, but He has paid the price for our failure. He is unlike any mediator in this world. The negotiation has been completed. All that remains is Satan’s continual accusations and Jesus’ continual defense.

I pray we all see Jesus as our perfect Mediator. I pray we realize He has paid our ransom in full. I pray each one of us celebrate our freedom and tell others about Jesus. Jesus paid the price for you. He has ransomed you from condemnation. See Jesus as your perfect Mediator. Be a witness of Jesus’ perfect sacrifice.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

Lighten Your Burden

Have you grown weary? Are you carrying a heavy burden? Would you like to lighten your load? Is your heart heavy? Are you carrying around guilt and shame? Would you like to escape? Is your heart and soul looking for rest?

We all carry around some type of burden. We might be carrying around a burden we no longer need to carry. We continually add rocks to our pack throughout our lives. The pack gets heavier. Eventually, the pack becomes too heavy to carry.

There is a way to relieve ourselves of the burdens we carry. The way is Jesus. Opposed to what some may preach; it doesn’t happen at the snap of the fingers. Yet, it does happen. As we come to Jesus, yearning to sit at His feet and learn from Him, He shows us when and how to release those burdens.

Jesus provides us with hope for the future. He confirms there is a future for us. He reaffirms His promise that He is preparing a place for us. Jesus affirms our forgiveness and shows us how to forgive ourselves, thereby removing our guilt and shame.

We are taught to lean on God for our strength. We come to realize what is truly important versus what the world tries to tell us is important. As we prioritize important items and realize we don’t need many of the less important items, our stress is lowered.

Once we have prioritized, understand the future is promised, and lean on God’s strength, our hope becomes real. We begin living the abundant life Jesus promised. All of this coming from the decision to go to Jesus with all our burdens and with our worn-out life. He shows us a better way.

I pray we all take our weariness to Jesus. I pray we learn what is important and prioritize our lives. I pray each one of us put our hope in Jesus and live the abundant life He promised. Be released from your weariness. Lighten your load. Go to Jesus. Lay your burdens at His feet. Shed your guilt and shame. Put your hope in Jesus. Live the abundant life.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Strength When Weary

Are you tired? Are you tired of being tired? Are your nerves frayed to the point they can’t be frayed anymore? Do you feel as though you are being tossed back and forth on endless violent waves? Are you looking for just enough strength to get through one more day?

There is no doubt we are growing tired of the COVID pandemic. We have been riding a rollercoaster for nineteen months now (from when we first heard of it). We have been in and out of lockdowns on multiple occasions, depending on where we live.

The arguments back and forth have been politicized and polarized. No one is willing to listen to someone else’s point of view. Everyone believes everyone else must have the same point of view as theirs. It has gotten so ugly; people are just throwing up their hands and doing whatever they want. Honest debate is no longer possible. Or is it?

In recent weeks, I’ve seen the people of God have honest discussions concerning their points of view. I’ve seen respect for one another. Perhaps it took us getting to the point of exhaustion to listen to one another. Perhaps this is God driving us to our knees to seek Him and His ways.

We have been promised many times throughout the Bible that God will strengthen us. He has promised to be the power working through us when we are weak. When we reach the end of our strength and have nowhere else to turn, God takes over. It is not that it must be this way. It is simply our unwillingness to allow God to take over before we no longer can do it on our own.

God works in ways we don’t understand. No, I don’t believe God purposely sent this pandemic to cause us to rely on Him. However, I do believe He knew it was coming and is working in the midst of it. He is showing us what He can do, how He can and will work in our lives.

When we are willing to lean on God, trust Him to guide us, He works in ways that amaze us. When we grow weary, God provides the strength we need. When we are weakened, He provides the power we need to carry out His plan.

I pray we all lean on God when we grow weary. I pray we seek God’s power when we are weak. I pray each one of us learn through this difficult time to lean on God at all times. Trust God to provide. Lean on His strength. Know that God will lift you up. Put your hope in Him.

Isaiah 40:28

He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

The Good Path

Are you standing at a crossroads? Are you looking at the paths available to you? Are you wondering which path to take? Will you choose the right path for you? Are you willing to take advice?

We all reach a crossroads in our lives. We can continue down the path we are on. We can turn to the right. We can turn to the left. Often, we are looking for road signs to tell us what lies ahead. We may be looking for guidance or direction.

Here is the truth of the matter—none of us knows what each path will bring. Oh, we think things will remain the same if we stay on the path we are on. Yet, that is a lie. Things change every day. Here’s a quick example from my personal life.

I was a director leading multiple teams to upgrade the IT for a large client. I told my wife I could stay on that contract until I retired. There was enough work to do to keep all of us busy and by the time we got done with the upgrade, it would be time to upgrade again. Then one day, a phone call changed all of that. I was released from my position with the company. Everything changed. I ended up in ministry. Make no mistake, I have no regrets. In hindsight, I see how God was preparing me for what I’m doing now.

Back to you, each one of you reading this. Look at your past to see what God has been preparing you for. Look at the options laid before you. Ask God to point out the path He wants you to take. Then take it. Don’t be like the people of Jeremiah’s time whom God chastised for not taking the path He set before them. Don’t be like far too many who choose to go their own way without even considering where God wants them to go. Walk the good path. Trust that God knows what He is doing.

I pray we all choose the path God wants us to take. I pray we ask for His guidance in choosing our path. I pray each one of us finds the rest for our souls we all long for. Seek God’s guidance. Don’t go it alone. Listen to the Lord. Walk the good path. You won’t regret it.

Jeremiah 6:16

This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.

But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

Achieve Victory

Has the world gotten you down? Do you feel overburdened? Are you seeking relief? Are you looking for victory, even just a small victory? Have you asked for help? Have you asked the right person?

There are times we all grow weary. It seems the entire world is against us. Nothing goes right. Everywhere we turn there is a speed bump, a wall, or one more thing to do. It can grow tiresome. We can get to the point we just want to sit down and cry.

There are some who will tell us we must push through. Others may tell us we have had a run of bad luck. Still others may sit and commiserate with us. Unfortunately, none of these options brings about the true rest we need.

How do we find rest? Where will peace come from? In one word—Jesus. Sounds simple, and it is. Sounds easy, but it is not. The issue at hand is our pride and desire to be in control. On the one hand, we don’t want to admit we need help. Our desire is to take care of things on our own. We like the idea of being a self-made man or woman. We fail to realize no one is self-made. We fall prey to the lie.

We want to control our environment. We choose our friends based on who we meet and similar interests. We choose our career paths based on what we like to do. We choose where we live, for the most part, based on familiarity with the area. What is wrong with these choices?

As we make our choices, we often don’t include God in them. We fail to go to Him and ask where He wants us, what He wants us to do, and who He wants us to develop friendships with. This doesn’t mean we must stop what we are doing to spend several minutes in prayer over every decision, though some decisions require multiple days of praying. No, we are to change our entire mindset so that we are constantly listening for the Holy Spirit and adhering to His guidance. Why is this important?

There is only One who has overcome the world—Jesus. As we believe in Him and lean more on Him, we, too, can overcome the world. His victory becomes our victory. We start by obeying His commands—love God and love our neighbor. It is through our love, a deep abiding love, for God that we are victorious, finding peace and rest.

I pray we all turn to Jesus to find rest. I pray we look to God to provide the peace we desire. I pray each one of us believes in Jesus and have the same mindset. Achieve victory. Find peace. Find rest. Allow God to remove your weariness. Believe in Jesus. Listen for the Holy Spirit.

1 John 5:3-5 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Relief From Weariness

Are you looking for protection? Do you need a little compassion? Would you like to have someone who will look out for your best interest? Do you simply need a little rest? Have you turned to God to fulfill your needs?

We all fall at some point in our lives. We find ourselves in a bad situation. Perhaps, even a dangerous situation. We may be in danger and not know it. The protection we need may come without our knowing it until much later, if at all.

There are times when we need compassion. Our need may be born from weariness. We have been doing all we can for as long as we can, and we need someone to step into the gap. We may need someone to provide assistance, whether physical or financial. We need someone who will feel compassion for us and show us they are willing to help.

Other times, we are so worn out, we just need a break. We need to rest. We need emotional, physical, and spiritual rest. We have been burning the candle at both ends and simply need a little respite from the weariness.

God can provide what we need. He specializes in rest for the soul. How do we attain that rest? We ask God for it. We return to Him, trusting Him to take care of us. Trusting He will provide for our needs. Trusting He will protect us. This doesn’t mean we do nothing. We must continue to work toward accomplishing the tasks set before us.

If we must continue to work, what is the point? The point is simply this: stop worrying and start trusting. I know, easier said than done. Yet, as we begin by releasing one small worry, trusting God will take care of it, we have taken the first step. As we see God take care of the worry, it increases our trust, and we now trust God to take care of the bigger worries.

When we recognize how good God has been to us, our soul finds rest, knowing God will continue to be good to us. No, we won’t get everything we want. We will have all our needs satisfied. As we reflect over our lives, we see where God stepped in to provide. We can rest easy knowing God is in charge.

I pray we all see how God has provided in the past. I pray we lay our worries at His feet. I pray each one of us recognizes the good God has provided for us and increase our trust. Let go and let God. Find rest in God. Trust God. Know that God is full of compassion. Increase your trust.

Psalm 116:5-7

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the unwary;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return to your rest, my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

Favoritism

Do you obey the law? Or are you a lawbreaker? Do you show favoritism? Or do you treat everyone equally? Do you love your neighbor? Are you wondering what these questions have in common?

I venture to say most of us obey the law, generally speaking. After all, who doesn’t speed on occasion? But we don’t steal, and we don’t murder. We abide by the laws of the land rather than risk being convicted criminals.

Jesus tells us loving God and loving our neighbor are the basis for the law (Matthew 22:37-40). In today’s passage, James narrows it down to just loving our neighbor. I believe James was writing to fellow followers of Christ and assumed they loved God. I’m sure that is still true today to a large degree, but not in all cases. I’ve seen too many people simply going through the motions in church.

But what does this have to do with showing favoritism? Notice James states showing favoritism is a sin and we are convicted as lawbreakers. Wow! That seems a bit harsh, doesn’t it? Or does it? Think about it for just a few moments. What happens when we show favoritism? We allow someone to get by with something we wouldn’t let someone else get by with. A secondary effect of that could cause us to lie for them. It could lead us to cover up a wrong done by them.

Another effect of favoritism is division among the group. You see, others will see the favoritism and they will resent it. Who wants to see the division? Satan. So, by showing favoritism, we are playing right into Satan’s hands.

Favoritism corrupts the person being shown favoritism. If they receive once, they expect it the next time. They may begin to feel they are entitled to it. When it isn’t shown, they grow upset and cause more division.

Finally, favoritism is not showing love. As you look at the division and disruption, you cannot call anything about it love. Oh, there are people who will attempt to justify it, but it is not true love. At best it is a false love and used as a means of manipulation.

I pray we all love our neighbor. I pray we determine not to show favoritism. I pray we show true love for one another through grace and mercy rather than being convicted by the law. Love your neighbor. Love your brother and sister in Christ. Refrain from showing favoritism.

James 2:8-9 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Living Water

Have you ever been so thirsty it seemed you had cotton in your mouth? Have you been so thirsty you could hardly speak? Did your throat feel like the Sahara Desert? Is your soul thirsty today?

We all get thirsty from time-to-time. There may even be times when we have nothing to drink for a couple hours or more, making us very thirsty. For the most part, we all drink often throughout the day, alleviating thirst.

If you are a runner, you know the need to drink. This is especially true if you have run a marathon. You know you need to drink while running. Replenishing the water in our bodies is very important. Perhaps that is why there are watering stations every two miles along a marathon course.

If you are a construction worker, working out in the heat all day, you know you need to stay hydrated. This is especially true on those ninety-degree days with the sun beating down on you. But it is also true on those thirty-degree days in the dead of winter.

Much as our bodies need water to rehydrate ourselves, our spirit’s need the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit. Without the constant flow of the Holy Spirit in our spirit’s, our spirit will become dry and crusty, ready to crumble under any pressure from evil.

Jesus stated we would have rivers of the Holy Spirit flowing through us. How does this happen? It happens when we believe in Jesus. It happens as we open the gates of our spirit to allow the Holy Spirit to flood us.

The river is not merely water but living water. It is more precious than the blood that flows through our veins. The gift of the Holy Spirit is part of the promise Jesus made stating He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10).

It is by the Holy Spirit that we are guided through the maze of life with all its twists and turns. The Holy Spirit is our encourager when the going gets tough. He is the One who tells us to hold on when we are pushed to our limits.  He celebrates along with us during those moments of achievement.

I pray we all believe in Jesus. I pray we open the gates to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us. I pray each one of us listens to the guidance provided by the Holy Spirit. Believe in Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you. Listen for His guidance. Live the abundant life.

John 7:38-38 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”