In Pursuit

What are you pursuing? Are you pursuing a better career? Are you pursuing a lifelong companion? Are you pursuing higher education? Are you pursuing retirement? Or are you merely getting by? Are you just hanging for one more day? Have you contemplated your situation?

We pursue a wide variety of things throughout our lifetimes. We pursue all those things listed above and many more. Some of them are extremely challenging to achieve. Others seem to fall into our laps with little effort. We all end up somewhere but may not end up where we want.

Jesus tells us to ask, search, and knock. He says that when we do, we will find what we are looking for. Too often this passage is applied incorrectly. Some view it the same as getting three wishes from a genie in a bottle. That is not the case nor the intent of Jesus’ message. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that we need to be seeking what God wants.

When we are seeking what God wants, we can ask and receive. We can search and find. We knock and the door will be opened. For when we are seeking what God wants, our will and his will are in sync. Therefore, what we are asking for, searching for, and knocking for is in accordance with God’s will. He will always grant what we ask for when we ask in his will.

Too many people will respond by saying they do not know God’s will. The simple answer is this: love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. When we love as Jesus loved, we are in God’s will. When we ask out of love for God and neighbor, we are in God’s will. We don’t need to make it any harder than that.

I pray we all ask in God’s will that we may receive. I pray we search in God’s will that we may find. I pray each one of us will knock in God’s will that the door may be opened. Love God. Love your neighbor. Ask in love. Search in love. Knock in love. Trust that God grant what you seek.

Luke 11:9-11 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Righteous King

Most of us have no understanding of what it is like to live in a monarchy. We have not lived in a country where a king or queen is the dominating ruler. Even England is not the monarchy it once was. They have a parliament that passes laws.

We especially do not know what it is like to live under a dictator. There are a handful of countries today who have dictators. So, we may be able to get a glimpse of living under a dictator, but in no way can we fully understand it.

Yet, we will live under a monarchy one day. When Jesus returns and institutes His kingdom forever with a new heaven and new earth, we will know what it is like to live, not only under a monarchy, but a good King—a King of kings. It is in His kingdom that we will see the fullness of God’s justice.

Not only will He bring justice to its fullness, but He will also be our protector and provider. We will live without fear, worry, frustration, anxiety, anger, hatred, and any other form of evil. His kingdom will be full of love, joy, wholeness, peace, honor, glory, praise, and everything Godly. In the prophecy Isaiah speaks, he points to the Messianic kingdom to come. We must keep the kingdom of God at the forefront of our minds.

I pray we all know that Jesus will return to institute His kingdom. I pray we understand that He will be the good King, the King of kings. I pray each one of us remember each day that God has a plan, and the final implementation of his kingdom will come with Jesus reigning as the Righteous King. Jesus will return. Jesus is the good King. Jesus is the King of kings. Jesus is the Righteous King.

Isaiah 32:1

See, a king will reign in righteousness, 

and princes will rule with justice.

Model Prayer

Have you asked to be taught something you saw someone else being taught? Did you think that specific skill was worthy of learning? What were you willing to give up to learn it? Were you willing to give up your time? Were you willing to pay for it? Were you taught?

Learning new skills can be very good. They may create an opportunity for us to increase our wages. They may be the skill we need to start a new career. They may simply be a skill we want to learn for personal use. Whatever the reason, it can be good for us to learn new skills.

The disciples wanted Jesus to teach them to pray, just as John had taught his disciples to pray. Perhaps they thought there was a better way. Perhaps they thought there was a correct liturgical way to pray. Maybe they wanted to have a closer relationship with God, one similar to what they saw in Jesus and His relationship with the Father.

Jesus did teach them. We often recite what is recorded in Matthew 6 rather than in Luke 11. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. We often forget it is a model. The model includes three main pieces. First, praise God and his will. Second, request that your needs are fulfilled. Third, ask for protection from evil.

As we follow this model, we insert our real and perceived needs in the middle of it. Yet, if we are following this model, we always begin by praising God and seeking his will, while ending it with requesting that God shield us from evil attacks. Jesus presented the disciples and us with this model so that we pray in a way that is pleasing to God.

I pray we all spend time with God in prayer. I pray we seek to follow the model of prayer that Jesus taught. I pray each one of us puts the model in practice and witness God at work in our lives. Spend time in prayer. Follow Jesus’ model for prayer. Experience God at work in your life.

Luke 11:1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”

Not Disqualified

Do you want to feel like you belong? Have you had others tell you that you are not good enough? Have you been disqualified from joining a group? Have you been kicked out of a group? Was it because you could not do or refused to not do something?

There are many organizations that have restrictions of one kind or another to join them. Some have codes or rules to follow. If someone fails to follow them, they are kicked out of the group. If you have been in one of the groups and been kicked out, you may not like that organization.

There are groups who claim to be part of Christianity who do much the same. It has been going on for a couple thousand years. It was going on in the first century. The Apostle Paul warns the Colossians against such groups. He clearly states that we are not to allow these groups to disqualify us. His message can be taken two ways.

First, it can be viewed as not allowing them to make us think we are less because we do not belong to that group. They may state that we are lesser than them because we cannot perform some type of miracle or are unwilling to punish ourselves for our failures. They may tell us we are not fully following Jesus unless we follow specific rituals.

Second, they may lure us in to their group. We may become like them and think less of others who are not part of the group. We may fake our way through it, simply because we want to feel as though we belong to something special.

Paul tells us not to allow either case to happen. We are to know that we are part of the body of Christ. We are to be satisfied knowing that Jesus loves us. We are to understand that we are nourished by Jesus, we grow in Him, and that is enough. We don’t need to be part of a group that follows human rules that oppose Jesus.

I pray we all refuse to be part of elitist Christian groups. I pray we trust that being part of the body of Christ is enough. I pray each one of us will seek to be nourished and grow in Jesus. Do not be elitist. Do not let anyone disqualify you. You are part of the body. Be nourished by Jesus. Grow in Jesus.

Colossians 2:18-19 Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, initiatory visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with a growth that is from God.

From Death To Life

Have you considered what it means to be dead? I know, it sounds morbid, doesn’t it? But are you dead now? Were you previously dead? Do you know others who are dead, even as they walk through life on this earth? Do you know what it is to be truly alive?

We don’t think of being dead. Many do not even want to speak of the time their life on this earth will come to an end. Nor do they want to speak of their parents’ lives coming to an end. Yet, we all will experience at some point. But are we dead in the hear and now?

Anyone who is separated from God is dead, even if they are walking, talking, and breathing. This is what the Apostle Paul is talking about in today’s passage. Being dead in our trespasses, or sins, means we are separated from God. Without reconciliation, we remain dead and are doomed to eternal punishment. Yet, we cannot be reconciled on our own. We need help.

God has reconciled us to him through the cross of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus dying for us on the cross, our sins have been forgiven. In that act, Jesus made us alive in Him. We are truly alive and will live forever with Him. The life He has given us is far beyond anything we can imagine. Unfortunately, too many of us live in the everyday muck and mire without realizing we have been made alive. Because of Jesus, we can live above the fray. We can live the abundant life He promised us.

I pray we all know we are dead without Jesus. I pray we know that Jesus makes us truly alive. I pray each one of us know we have been reconciled to God and will live with him forever. You are dead without Jesus. Jesus makes you truly alive. You are reconciled with God. You will live with God forever.

Colossians 2:13-14 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.

Captivated

Do you like philosophy? Do you like tradition? Do you like to study science? Do you like to review history? Do you get caught up in any of these so that they dominate your way of thinking? Have you recognized this about yourself? Are you seeking to change it?

There are many topics we can choose to study. Some of them are required for our jobs. Some are required subjects in school. To be familiar with any of them is not a bad thing. In fact, it can be very good for us to be familiar with them. It is when they control us that they become bad for us.

The Apostle Paul warns the church in Colossae not to allow these things to captivate them or overwhelm them. We might even compare it to hypnotizing them. When those things become the focus, we can no longer focus on Jesus. Yet, we need to focus on Jesus so that we follow Him as best we can, and please God in doing so.

Just like the people in the church in Colossae, we can get caught up in the beliefs of this world. We can fall prey to the cunning lure of adhering to worldly principles vice adhering to God’s principles. Our human traditions can trap and strangle us. Those traditions can restrict our growth in faith, if we let them, by becoming our priority.

Paul warns us still today to not allow anything of this world to be made a priority above Jesus. It is very easy to allow that to happen. We can be lured by something that sounds good. Therefore, we need to be watchful, discerning, and seek God’s wisdom to determine our pathway. Only by following the path that God has planned for us will we be truly successful.

I pray we all strive to keep worldly principles from luring us away from Jesus. I pray we remain watchful. I pray each one of us will seek God’s wisdom in discerning the path he has planned for us. Be watchful. Seek God’s wisdom. Be discerning. Strive to follow God’s plan.

Colossians 2:8 Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

Walk in Jesus

Do you hold on to what you are taught? Do make every effort to listen, digest the teaching, and discern its meaning? Do you attempt to apply the good things you have learned to your life? Are you thankful you have learned the lessons you have been taught?

Learning and applying what we have been taught can be very beneficial to us. It can help us perform our jobs better. It can help us pass tests for certifications. Applying lessons we have learned through experience can improve our lives and change them dramatically.

The Apostle Paul tells the church in Colossae to continue to follow the teaching they received. They were to continue to walk in Jesus. They were to be rooted in Him. Paul uses the analogy of a tree or crop whose roots grow into fertile soil to obtain the nutrients needed for it grow. As they grew, their faith would not only be established but would grow as well.

As the Colossian followers grew in their faith, they were to be thankful. Paul tells them not to merely give God thanks on occasion but to abound in thanksgiving. They were to be thankful every day. They were to realize that it is God who blesses them with everything they have, not the least of which is the very breath they breathe.

We, too, should follow this advice from Paul. We should learn the lessons we have been taught about Jesus. We should dig into those lessons, discern how they apply to our lives, and grow in our faith. And in all of that, we should thank God for every blessing, from the smallest to the largest. For God blesses in ways we often do not recognize.

I pray we all learn more about Jesus. I pray we apply what we learn about Him to our lives. I pray each one of us is thankful for God’s many blessings and grow in our faith. Learn more about Jesus. Apply lessons to your life. Grow in your faith. Be thankful for God’s blessings.

Colossians 2:6-7 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

A New Foundation

What is your foundation? What is the solid ground you can stand on to be unmovable when the storms of life hit? How do you remain calm amidst the chaos around you? Do you have a foundation? Do you have solid ground you can stand on?

Storms come into our lives. They come in various forms. They may come in health issues, relationships, on the job, and even within the church. Having a strong foundation and solid ground to stand on so we can withstand those storms is critical.

Jesus told the parable of the foolish man who built his house on the sand contrasted by the wise man who built his house on the rock. We have heard it a hundred times. We understand its meaning. Yet do we put it into practice by choosing to make Jesus our cornerstone, our strong foundation?

Unfortunately, there are many people in this world who do not, even some Christians. Even those who say they believe buckle under the weight of life’s troubles. Why? They are not standing on Jesus. We can argue it all we want. However, the proof is in our actions or lack thereof. For when we stand on Jesus, the storms of life will not cause us to crumble, even if we may get blown about a bit.

I pray we all choose to stand on the cornerstone, the strong foundation of Jesus Christ. I pray we not only understand it but put it into practice. I pray each one of us will withstand the storms of life because we are leaning on Jesus. Make Jesus be your cornerstone. Let Him be your strong foundation. Withstand the storms of life with Jesus.

Isaiah 28:16

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 

“See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, 

a tested stone, 

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: 

‘One who trusts will not panic.’”

Sitting At Jesus’ Feet

How easily are you distracted? Do you bounce from one shiny object to another? Do you jump from one topic to another in your conversations? Do you get wound up when preparing for a party or family dinner? Do you get stressed when you have more to do than you can get done?

Distraction seems to be the name of the game these days. We are distracted by entertainment. We are distracted by social media. We bounce around like Mexican jumping beans going from one thing to the next and our conversations follow suit. And all of this stresses us out.

Martha was stressed out. She felt overwhelmed trying to get dinner ready for Jesus. It’s possible some of His disciples were with Him. Martha, ever attempting to be the good hostess, was putting together dinner for all of them. She was making a sauce for the bread to be dipped in. She was cooking vegetables. She may have been cooking a lamb.

Regardless of what Martha was cooking, she wanted help and thought Mary should be helping her. She got angry enough to go to Jesus and confronted Him. She wanted to know if He cared that she was making all this effort and Mary wasn’t helping. She wanted Him to tell Mary to get up and help out.

Jesus had something else in mind. He used the situation for an object lesson. The lesson? Nothing is important as spending time with Him, not even fixing dinner. Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to Him. She chose to learn what He was teaching. We, too, should prioritize learning from Jesus, sitting at His feet and turning our worries over to Him.

I pray we all take time to spend with Jesus. I pray we understand nothing is as important as Jesus. I pray each one of us learn from Jesus and apply those lessons in our daily lives. Spend time with Jesus. Nothing is more important than Jesus. Learn from Jesus. Apply Jesus’ lessons in your daily life.

Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Irreproachable

The Apostle Paul had just talked about Jesus being the image of God and the creator of all things in heaven an earth. He had stated that it was through the cross of Jesus that God reconciled everything to himself and the fullness of God dwelled in Jesus.

Paul now states that everyone who had been separated from God due to their evil deeds have now been reconciled. Make no mistake about it, we all commit evil deeds. For anytime we are disobedient to God, it is evil, though we don’t like to say quite like that.

But the good news is we are reconciled because Jesus died on a cross for us. He paid the price we could never pay. And Paul goes beyond reconciliation and states that we are presented as holy and blameless and irreproachable. What?! Imagine that! Because of what Jesus has done for us, we are now beyond reproach. Does that give us license to do whatever we want? No.

Paul qualifies our status before God by stating we much continue to be steadfast in our faith. Remember, faith is far more than belief. James states in 2:19 that even the demons believe and shudder. Yet, they have no faith. They are opposed to God. Our faith must be more than mere belief that God exists or belief that Jesus died for us. Faith includes belief, trust, and a commitment to God. Therefore, grow your faith so that you may continue to be beyond reproach when standing before God.

I pray we all know we are separated from God without faith. I pray we know that Jesus reconciled us on the cross. I pray each one of us will continue to grow our faith in Jesus. Jesus reconciled you to God. You are holy. You are blameless. You are irreproachable. Grow in your faith.

Colossians 1:21-23 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him, provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a minister of this gospel.