Sacred or Not

Some of us grew up in a time when almost everything was closed on Sunday. There was no shopping. There was no going out to eat at a restaurant. It was even rare to find a gas station open to get gas for your vehicle. There might be a small convenience store open.

It was a different time. It was long before the 24/7 on the go culture we experience today. There was no internet. There was no cable television. We had four television stations, if we were lucky, and the radio. Even some radio programs were prerecorded to play on Sunday.

I can remember the outcry when stores started to stay open on Sunday. Many considered it sacrilege. “Sunday is the Lord’s Day,” was their cry. Needless to say, the battle for the almighty dollar won out. When Jesus was walking the earth, it wasn’t Sunday that was sacred but the Sabbath (Saturday).

The Jews held the Sabbath sacred and restricted what a person could do. A person could work. If you walked more than a certain number of steps, it was considered work. So, people could not travel away from their homes very far. With that in mind, imagine the gasps and outcry made by many in the synagogue and especially the leaders when Jesus healed a woman on the Sabbath.

We still consider some things sacred. For those of us who attend Sunday worship, we consider it sacred. Some of us consider the church building sacred. Some may consider certain adornments in the sanctuary as being sacred. Each of them should be treated with respect. But we also must remember that Jesus worked on the Sabbath.

I pray we all show proper respect for Sunday worship. I pray we understand what is truly sacred. I pray each one of us know that Jesus is always at work, regardless of the day. Respect Sunday worship. Know what is sacred. Know that Jesus is at work. Trust He is working with you.

Luke 13:10-12 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.”

Consuming Fire

How are things going? Are you doing well? Does it feel like you are holding on by a thread? Are you searching for solid ground to stand on? Do you wonder when your struggles will end? What is your perception of God? Do you view him as a genie in a bottle? Are you in awe of him?

Life can be tough. We can face numerous struggles during our lives. Loved ones will pass from this world. Relationships get broken. Jobs are lost. There are tough financial decisions to be made. All of it can cause us to think things will never get better. We seek something solid to hold on to.

It is when things are at their worst that we often turn to God. We cry out for help. It is important that we already have a relationship with God. It is important that we understand who he is. It is important to know his promises and trust in them. Jesus tells us that we will face troubles in this world, but He has overcome it (John 16:33). He promises we will be with Him.

The kingdom we will inherit is unshakable. We must understand that God is unshakable. As we seek out God, we must do so with gratitude and humbleness. We think of God as being love…and he is. Yet, God has awesome power and is a consuming fire. Revering God with awe, amazement, and wonder is not only appropriate but expected. In doing so, we can be more thankful and appreciative of all that God has done for us.

I pray we all seek to build our relationship with God. I pray we go to God with reverence and awe. I pray each one of us know that God is love, all powerful, and unshakable. Build your relationship with God. Revere God. Be in awe of God. Understand God. Trust God.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Obtain Peace

What is your definition of peace? Is it the absence of war? Is it merely not fighting with someone else? Have you considered your definition of peace does not align with God’s? What if you have pursuing incomplete peace? Would you like to have the peace of God?

We see negotiations for peace when nations are at war with one another. We may make our children stop their fighting, thinking that is peace. Yet, there is an underlying turmoil continuing in the hearts of those who are at odds with one another. The peace is temporary.

The peace of God is different. It is built on the trust that God is in control of all things. It is not merely the absence of war or strife but the indwelling and control of the Holy Spirit. Yet, we can be robbed of God’s peace with worldly worries, bitterness, hatred, anger, frustration, and failure to forgive. Holding onto grudges robs us of the peace God is willing to grant us.

When bitterness grabs hold of us, God’s grace does not reach us. Why? We reject it. The same is true anytime we fail to trust God is in control. We like to think that God’s grace is shed across us no matter what…and it is true, except we often reject it due to our worry, bitterness, hatred, anger, frustration, and failure to forgive.

If we will give up our negativeness and accept God’s grace, we will have peace that is beyond understanding. Not only will we have peace, but we will obtain the holiness we need to see Jesus for who He really is. Our picture of Him will become clearer. It compounds itself. The more negativeness we are willing to give up, the more peace and holiness we have, and the more we see Jesus.

I pray we all seek to trust God is in control. I pray we decide to give up our negativeness. I pray each one of us will accept God’s grace and see Jesus for who He is, gaining a clearer picture of Him. Trust God. Give up negativeness. Accept God’s grace. See Jesus. Obtain peace that is beyond understanding.

Hebrews 12:14-15 Pursue peace with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and through it many become defiled.

Flee from the Wicked

Are you in need of rescue? Do you find yourself in a dangerous situation? Are you involved with the wrong kind of people? Have you gotten mixed up with people who are mean, cruel, hateful, or vengeful? Do you feel like there is no escape? Will you turn to the one who can rescue you?

There are more of us in bad situations than we like to admit. We may not associate with hardened criminals, but we do hang out with people who hold prejudices and can be hateful. Our friends may not appear dangerous on the surface but may subtly be a bad influence on us.

Though we do not have a choice in where we grow up, we do have a choice once we are adults. We may stay in the same town or county. Yet, we have the choice of continuing to maintain the same friendships or making new ones. In our disconnected society in which we spend far too much time on computers, tablets, or smart phones, that can be a challenge.

So, how do we go about reorienting ourselves and seeking new friendships? Our first step is to recognize our current situation. We can do so by asking God to open our eyes and reveal to us the true nature of our current friendships. We then ask God to guide us away from people who are cruel and unjust while guiding us to healthier relationships.

Some of us will desire to change the attitudes of our friends. Though that is a great goal, we must properly assess ourselves. If we are not equipped to influence them, it is better we step away until we are properly equipped. God can help us with that as well. Go to him with your plea to open your eyes, reveal the truth of your situation, and to remove you from a bad situation.

I pray we all ask God to open our eyes to see as he sees. I pray we ask God to remove us from bad situations. I pray each one of us will seek out healthy relationships by following God’s guidance. Open your eyes. See your situation. Ask for God’s help. Seek healthy relationships.

Psalm 71:4-5

Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, 

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel. 

For you, O Lord, are my hope, 

my trust, O Lord, from my youth.

God’s Purpose

Do you consider yourself successful? Do you believe you are doing what you were meant to do? If not, what are you doing to determine what you were meant to do? Do you know you were designed for a specific purpose? Do you know that God formed you in the womb?

Many people in this world have no idea what they are meant to do. They wander through life randomly bouncing from on job to another, from one place to another, all the while feeling lost or unfulfilled. Yet, they have not sought the Creator to ask for their purpose to be revealed.

God very plainly tells Jeremiah what his purpose was. Though Jeremiah, much like Moses, attempted to argue with God, God quickly told him he was to do what he was told. Some of us would love to have our purpose so plainly laid before us. However, when the purpose God has for us is a major role, we may balk at it, too.

The best thing about doing what God designed us to do is that we please him. The next best thing is that we are pleased and feel as though we are not working at all. When we do what we are designed to do, it flows from us naturally with no struggle. It may still be challenging, but the challenge is so rewarding that we thrive in it.

Just as God tells Jeremiah, he knew us even before he formed us in the womb. He has set us apart for a purpose in his will, doing his work, in a way that is pleasing to him. We may not have the role of a prophet, but we have a role to fulfill. So, we should seek to fulfill the role God has for us and receive the blessings that come with it.

I pray we all know that God has always known us. I pray we know that God formed us in the womb. I pray each one of us seek to know God’s purpose for our lives and fulfill it. God knows you. God has always known you. God formed you. Seek God’s purpose for you. Fulfill God’s purpose for you.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, 

and before you were born I consecrated you; 

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”    

The Servant

What does being a servant mean to you? Do you think of someone who is a household servant? Do you think of a waiter or waitress? Do you think of a butler? Do you think of a chauffeur? Do you think of Jesus as a servant?

We, often, do not want to be a servant. We would much rather be the boss or commander or owner. We want to be in charge rather than being told what to do. Yet, we are called to be servants, just as Jesus was a servant.

Being a servant does not mean we must allow ourselves to be walked on by others. After all, Jesus was stern when needed. We are to be servants of God, following Jesus’ example. This means that we need to know what God wants us to do and do it. To know that we must know God.

Getting to know God requires us to read his Word, spend time in prayer, and listen for God to speak to us. Whoa! Listen for God to speak?! Yes. He may speak to us through others. He may speak to us through a sermon. He may speak to us by giving us thoughts we would never come up with on our own. As we learn to listen and hear God, we will learn what it is God desires us to do.

I pray we all seek to be a servant of God. I pray we follow the example Jesus demonstrated for us during his time on earth. I pray each one of us will listen for God to speak to us through various means, including others, sermons, and an inner voice. Be a servant of God. Follow Jesus’ example. Listen for God to speak. Walk the path God has for you.

Isaiah 42:1

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, 

my chosen, in whom my soul delights; 

I have put my spirit upon him; 

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Fire of Jesus

Sometimes, Jesus says something so outlandish we don’t know how to take it. Is He using hyperbole? Is He speaking plainly? Are we to take Him literally? Or is He speaking in a parable? It is a challenge. The good news is, there are scholars who know the original language to help us out.

In today’s passage, Jesus is speaking both literally and parabolically. Let’s take the parabolical statement first. When He says He has a baptism to undertake, we all can likely understand that He was talking about His crucifixion. He had a horrible path ahead of Him while walking in the flesh.

The second part of the baptism sentence states Jesus is constrained until it is completed. It could be translated to say He is pressed until it is completed. The meaning is He is singularly focused on it. We might say today, He is laser focused. The point being, Jesus knew what His mission was and there was nothing that would stop Him from accomplishing it.

Now, let’s go back and visit that first sentence. Jesus says He came to cast fire upon the earth. In one respect, He did while He walked the earth. He started the fire of Christianity that would spread around the world. He also sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a fire. John Wesley’s heart was strangely warmed by the Holy Spirit and our can be, too.

Yet, there is a fire to come that will destroy this earth. 1 Peter 3:10 tells us the earth will be destroyed by fire and the heavens will pass away. Three verses later, Peter says we wait for the new heavens and new earth. Revelation 21:1 tells us there is a new heaven and a new earth because the first ones had passed away. Jesus is the one who will bring all this to pass when the Father says it is time.

I pray we all know this earth and everything in it will pass away. I pray we know that Jesus has already started the fire. I pray each one of us looks forward to the new heavens and new earth. This earth will pass away. Jesus started the fire. Jesus will return. Look forward to the new heavens and new earth.

Luke 12:49-50 “I have come to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish it were already ablaze! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!”

Being Watched

Have you performed before an audience? Did you play sports in school, playing your games in front a crowd? Did you play in the school band, performing in parades? Were you in school plays, performing on a stage? Have you considered you are being watched by many right now?

When we play sports, we don’t focus on the crowd. We are far more focused on what is happening in the game. Yet, we may notice the crowd during a break in the game. When in a marching band, we may notice the crowd a little more. While performing on stage, we may not be able to see the crowd.

We cannot see the cloud of witnesses who watch us now. In fact, we may not think about them at all, or we may not believe they are watching. Yet, the writer of Hebrews tells us we are surrounded by them. His reference to the witnesses follows his description of several faithful people in chapter 11, making them the witnesses he is speaking about.

However, if we think about it, we are also surrounded by witnesses walking this earth today. Every day we interact with others. Whether we realize it or not, they are watching us. They accumulate evidence from our actions and speech. They compile this information, assess it, and form their perception of the kind of person we are.

Though we are being watched, it does not mean we are to put on an act. If we do, we are a hypocrite. We are to be who we are yet cast away the sin that entangles us to be better. We are to focus on Jesus and what He has done for us. By focusing on Jesus and asking Him to remove our sin from our lives, we can become the person God intends for us to be.

I pray we all realize we are being watched. I pray we focus our attention on Jesus. I pray each one of us seeks to be the person God intends us to be and asks him to remove our sin from our lives. Know you are being watched. Focus on Jesus. Be who God intends you to be. Ask God to remove your sin.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Build Your Faith

How easily do you trust? Is your starting point to trust people until they prove they are untrustworthy? Or is your starting point to be skeptical until someone proves they are trustworthy? Have you done something that sounded crazy because your trusted the person who told you to do it?

Trust can be tricky. We even have a saying, “Trust must be earned.” Yet, most of us grow up trusting our parents. As small children, we have an inherit trust of our parents. As we grow and experience being around others, we discover there are some we can trust and others we cannot.

Where does this leave us when it comes to trusting God? It can be challenging to trust someone you cannot see and interact with in the flesh. Yet, we can experience God and learn to trust him just as we learn to trust people. We are not to test God. However, we are to make requests of him. And just like our parents, sometimes God’s answer is no or not now. But as we experience him granting our requests, our trust in him grows.

The Israelites had to put their trust in God to rescue them. He honored their trust by leading them out of Egypt, parting the Red Sea so they could cross before the Egyptian soldiers caught up to them. They trusted the walls of Jericho would fall as they marched around them for seven days. Though there may have been some who weren’t convinced God would come through, the majority followed God’s direction, perhaps dragging the others along with them.

Trusting God is one of two pieces to our faith. We must first believe in God. Once we believe he exists and he is who he says he is, we add our trust in him to make up our faith. As our trust in him grows, our faith grows. We build our trust by experiencing his love, grace, mercy, and blessings. God has taken the first step. We must take the next step.

I pray we all believe in God. I pray we learn to trust God through our experiences with him. I pray each one of us build our faith in God by making requests and seeing him answer them. Believe in God. Trust God. Build your faith. Experience God’s love, grace, mercy, and blessings.

Hebrews 11:29-30 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.

Restoration

Have you seen someone’s face shine? Have you seen the glow a pregnant woman has? Have you seen the eyes of someone light up when they see you? Have you noticed the look of a proud parent? Have you had one of looks from someone restore you?

Seeing someone’s face light up is a joy. It is especially joyful when we know their face lit up because they saw us. When our parent’s face shines with pride in us, it makes us feel good. That good feeling can be restorative and rise our spirits for quite a while.

The Psalmist is pleading with God to restore the Israelites. We, too, can ask God to restore us. He has promised to restore us. All we must do is turn away from our disobedience and ask. It sounds simple, but it is a real challenge. Too often, we like the things we do in disobedience.

When God’s face shines on us, it is more than that of a proud parent. His face shines with love and pride when we turn back to him. Not only that, but he saves us from the punishment we deserve for our disobedience. God does so out of his amazing grace and desire to reconcile us to him.

Think about it for just a moment. The God of all creation, the God who created the entire universe, the God who created us loves us so much that he is willing to forgive our shortcomings so we can be reconciled to him. He wants us to be with him forever. Are we willing to ask him to shine his face on us and restore us?

I pray we all know that God loves us. I pray we turn from our disobedience, turning back to God. I pray each one of us will ask God to shine his face on us and restore us to himself. God loves you. Turn from your disobedience. Turn to God. Ask God to shine on you. Ask him to restore you.

Psalm 80:19

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; 

let your face shine, that we may be saved.