Release Your Burden

Have you prayed for others? Have you prayed for a group or people? Have you prayed for the church you attend? Have you prayed for your city? Have you prayed for your state? Have you prayed for your nation? Have you prayed for people in our nations?

Praying is important for all of us. Many of us pray for our immediate family, friends, and ourselves. We make requests for health, safety, financial well-being, and relationships. All of those are good reasons to pray that God be in the midst of them and bring about a good result.

But how often do we pray for people we don’t know? We see situations all around us that appear to be out of control or going badly. Do we pray for them? We should pray regularly for our schools, even if we have no children going to them. We should pray for our city and county governments, requesting God to guide them to do what is best for the people and in accordance with his plan.

We hear many people complaining about how our state or federal government is doing some things. We may be doing the same. Rather than complaining, we should pray for those situations. Asking God to guide our government leaders regularly is a good way to have positive changes come about.

The Psalmist cried out to God to save his people. We could make the same appeal to God today. Whether we realize it or not, we are under attack every day. Asking God to protect us, restore us, and for his will to be done is powerful. Not only are we asking God to act, but we are relinquishing control to him, relieving ourselves of the burden or worry we carry.

I pray we all continue to pray. I pray we ask God to guide our government leaders in their decisions. I pray each one of us make our requests to God and relieve ourselves of our burdens. Pray continually. Make your requests to God. Give your concerns to him. Relieve yourself of your burdens.

Psalm 80:1-2

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, 

you who lead Joseph like a flock! 

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 

before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. 

Stir up your might, 

and come to save us!

God’s Vineyard

Have you ever put in a garden? Did you harvest the vegetables from your garden? Have you planted a large flower bed? Did you enjoy seeing the flowers you planted bloom? How would you feel if you had gotten no vegetables from your garden, or the flowers never bloomed?

Planting a garden is hard work. There is the preparing the ground by tilling, hoeing, and fertilizing. Once the ground is prepared, you plant the seeds, water them, and hoe out the weeds. You work for weeks or months to harvest the vegetables. Flower beds are similar.

Now apply planting a garden or flower bed as analog for God working in this world. He planted Israel to be his vineyard. Throughout the centuries they obeyed, turned away, returned to God, disobeyed again, and the cycle went on. During times of obedience, they reaped the blessings of God. During their times of disobedience, they were punished by defeat and exile.

After Jesus came, God planted his church. Much like Israel, the church has gone through cycles of obedience with reward and disobedience with punishment. If the church, the global church, desires to reap the blessings of God, it must turn back to God. This includes preaching God’s Word clear and making God’s point, rather than twisting the message to what we want to hear. It includes being willing to give up our desires, listen for God to speak, and follow his guidance.

Perhaps we should ponder whether God is happy with what he is reaping from today’s church. Maybe we should discern whether he is reaping rotten grapes or good grapes. Are we following Jesus’ example and His guidance? If we are, we should expect God’s blessings to shower down. If they don’t, we should reevaluate ourselves and how well we are following Him.

I pray we all know that God has planted good seed. I pray we seek to produce a good crop. I pray each one of us will evaluate ourselves and the church to discern how well we are fulfilling God’s expectations. God has planted good seed. God expects a good crop. Evaluate yourself. Evaluate the church.

Isaiah 5:1

I will sing for my beloved 

my love song concerning his vineyard: 

My beloved had a vineyard 

on a very fertile hill.

A Voice Cries Out

Have you ever been in a wilderness? Have you walked through a forest? Have you walked in a jungle? Have you been in a desert? Have you been in a densely populated city? Do you view your entire world as a wilderness? Do you think you should? Why or why not?

When we a wilderness, the word can mean different types of environments to different people. In general, when the Bible speaks of a wilderness, it means a harsh environment in which there is very little growth. The wilderness in Israel was mostly a rocky desert.

For Isaiah, there was a desert between Babylon and Jerusalem. The Jews were exiled in Babylon and would cross the desert to return to Jerusalem. Isaiah was prophesying to the Jews that God was going to break them free of their exile. His means of doing so would be different than when they were set free from Egypt, but no less miraculous.

But this passage is referred to in the gospels when speaking of John the Baptist. In his case, he was crying out near the Jordan river, speaking of the coming Messiah. He was telling everyone who would listen that they were going to be set free from their sin. He was telling them to prepare their hearts for something new that God was doing.

So, where is our wilderness? It may be in our workplaces, our families, the city we live in, or anywhere we are. We need to think about the definition as the Bible uses the word and see if there is growth around us. In today’s world, there is very little growth when it comes to following Jesus. Therefore, we need to be a good representative of His and tell others about Him. We need to encourage others to grow in their faith, which does not mean thinking like we think. For we also need to grow in our faith.

I pray we all think about the wilderness we live in. I pray we encourage others to come to Jesus. I pray each one of us encourage others to grow in their faith while growing in our own. See the wilderness. Be the voice crying out. Encourage others. Speak of Jesus. Grow in your faith.

Isaiah 40:3

A voice cries out: 

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; 

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

Warning From Jesus

What does being ready mean to you? Are you ready for an emergency? Are you ready for the storms of life? Are you ready for a job promotion? Have you ever been surprised by something unexpected? How did you react? Are you ready for Jesus to return?

I learned the Boys Scouts motto, be prepared, when I was a boy. Our Scoutmaster taught us that it meant planning ahead, getting things ready, having the right provisions and tools on hand. He taught us that unexpected things can happen at any moment of any day.

It is unfortunate that many who call themselves Christians are not ready. They go about their lives like everyone else in the world. They make the same mistake the person who only cursorily believes there is God, thinking they have time to make a full commitment. They think they can stand with mostly on the side of the world and make that quick jump over to Jesus’ side at the last moment.

Jesus warns us to be ready. He says that He will return when we do not expect it. That means He could return at any moment on any day. For us to be ready, we must be doing what is pleasing to Him at all times. But how many times do we go about doing what we want rather than what He wants? I suspect we do it far more often than we will admit to ourselves.

I often think about Jesus’ warning. Most often after I’ve done something I know I shouldn’t. It doesn’t matter how big or small that something is. I am quickly thankful Jesus did not return in that moment and I quickly ask Him to forgive me. The better way is to resist the temptation and do the right thing. That is hard sometimes. Yet, Jesus tells us to be ready.

I pray we all know Jesus can return at any time. I pray we seek to do what is pleasing to God. I pray each one of us remember Jesus’ warning and take it to heart. Jesus will return. He can return at any time. Do what is pleasing to God. Remember Jesus’ warning. Do what is right.

Luke 12:39-40 “But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Treasure In Heaven

What fears do you struggle with? Do you fear not having enough money? Do you fear losing your possessions? Do you desire to have a bigger house, better furniture, and decorations for all seasons? Is that your treasure? Do you not know you have a far better treasure?

Our culture tells us to get the best money can buy. Therefore, we struggle to make more money to buy more stuff. We fear being out of style. We fear not feeling like we are part of the in crowd. We fear being left out. We fear being embarrassed about what we don’t have.

Jesus tells us not to fear. He says that the Father has given us the kingdom. Can you imagine that?! The kingdom of God is ours! We have been given something far better than anything in this world and anything we can imagine. Hollywood cannot begin to project what it will be like. Yet, we don’t focus on that. We focus on this earth.

If we were to sell everything we have and give it away so as to acquire the kingdom of God, it would be like selling the smallest doll house and purchasing the largest mansion. Perhaps that is not even a good comparison. But Jesus isn’t really asking us to sell everything. He is using hyperbole to drive home the point that we are focus on the treasure of heaven rather than on our possessions here on earth.

I pray we all stop focusing on our earthly possessions. I pray we know we have been given the kingdom of God. I pray each one of us focus our attention on the treasure we have in heaven. Do not focus on earthly possessions. You have the kingdom of God. Focus on your treasure in heaven.

Luke 12:32-34 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Nomads

What are you looking forward to? What are you striving for that may take many years to accomplish? Are you living in temporary mode or permanent mode? Do you know you have an inheritance waiting for you? Are you looking forward to it?

We look forward to many things. We may look forward to a wedding, birth of a child, purchasing a new house, starting a new job, or retirement. We work hard to achieve those things and maintaining them. Not that those things aren’t important, but they are temporary.

We see in today’s passage that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all looked forward to the city of God. They lived in tents, seeking the permanent city God has created for us. Notice that they lived in tents. Our misconception may be that living in tents was how everyone lived. That was not the case. There were cities with homes, palaces, buildings housing businesses, and walls around those cities. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived as nomads who were waiting for God to fulfill his promises.

Today, we live in homes. We spend a ton of money on them. We plant flower beds, remodel them, and decorate them. Why? It is our instinct that is searching for the perfect home that only God can provide. We don’t need to live in tents as Abraham did. We do need to change our mindset of thinking our homes are permanent. Our attitude should be that everything in this world is temporary. There is only one permanent city, and that is the city of God.

I pray we realize everything on this earth is temporary. I pray we seek the city of God. I pray each one of us will put our faith into action and change our attitude to constantly be looking forward to God fulfilling his promise. Know we are living in the temporary. Seek the city of God. Put your faith into action. Change your attitude. Look forward to God fulfilling his promise.

Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Step Out In Faith

How quickly are you likely to head out on a trip, if a friend asks you to go? Will you just pack a bag and go? What if you don’t want to go? Will you tell them? Or will you find a reason that sounds legitimate? Would you go if God told you to go? Or would you argue?

Any time we decide to go on a trip, we take time to plan. Even if we decide on short notice, we plan on what we will pack, the route we will take, and how long we will stay. Taking a trip, whether across the state or out of the country, requires a little planning on our part.

Abraham was told by God to pack his things and move out. Abraham didn’t even know where he was going. All he knew was that God would lead him. He was going to be leaving the only land he had ever known. He and Sarah were leaving his family. He was heading into the unknown with his household possessions and some livestock.

God calls us to go into the unknown as well. He might not call us to go to a foreign land, but he calls us to go to places we don’t know and to do things we haven’t been trained for. Few have been trained to comfort a person who is grieving the loss of a loved one. Few have been trained to tell others about Jesus. Noone has all the answers to the questions they will face.

But take note of the most important thing Abraham had—faith. Just as Abraham took off on faith, we can go places and do things by faith. When we trust that God will provide for the trip or the conversation, we can do what God calls us to do. God may not provide what we need until the very moment we need it, but he will provide.

I pray we all decide to answer God’s call. I pray we step out in faith, trusting God to provide. I pray each one of us know we have inheritance waiting for us that God has already provided. Answer God’s call. Step out in faith. Trust God to provide. Know that he already has.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.

Doubt and Faith

Do you believe in things you cannot see? Do you find it hard to believe in something if you have no proof? Do you trust in someone you have never met? Do you trust they have your best interest at heart? How does your belief and trust affect your hope?

Believing and trusting in someone we have never met can be challenging. Yet, we do. Think not? Despite our many complaints, we believe our government, which includes lawmakers we have never met, will pass appropriate laws, even if we don’t agree with every law or budget.

We also trust people we do not know to stock the shelves of the local grocery store, cook our meals in a restaurant, and even drive the same highways we drive. Take a moment to think about the many situations in which we trust people we don’t know to do the right thing. If we are willing to trust them, fallible people, why are we unwilling to trust God?

The writer of Hebrews writes about faith. Faith is the combination of belief and trust. Notice that faith assures us of our hope. This hope is a belief in the promises of God. This means we trust God will fulfill his promises. We cannot see God and cannot always see how he is fulfilling his promises. Yet, our faith tells us he is doing so, even if we cannot see it.

We are provided several examples of people whose faith was commended by God. Each of them likely had doubts at some point during their lives, but they returned to their faith. We may experience doubts at times as well. It is natural to have doubts. However, just like the examples we see, we are to return to our faith, believing and trusting that God is in control and working for our good.

I pray we all realize we trust people we do not know. I pray we believe in and trust God. I pray each one of us acknowledge our doubts and return to our faith in God. Believe God is at work. Trust that God is in control. Know you will have doubts. Return to your faith in God.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Cleanse Yourselves

Are you tired of hearing people crying out about oppressions? Are you tired of seeking justice for those who have had offenses committed against them? What are you doing about it? Are you sticking your head in the sand? Will you do something more than that?

God has instructed us to rescue those being oppressed. He has told us to seek justice. How are we to start? First, we are to cleanse ourselves. We must rid ourselves of our negative attitude toward those who are oppressed and being wronged. We are to rid ourselves of evil.

Notice that God provides the steps to make ourselves clean. Stop doing evil things. Learn to do good things. Seek justice for not only ourselves but others. Rescue the oppressed, even if not physically but by supporting efforts to remove oppression. Defend the orphan, which may mean supporting organizations who provide homes for them. Help the widows by visiting them and supporting them, ensuring they are being properly cared for.

Think about those instructions a few minutes. If we were to do those things that God instructs us to do, the world would start moving in the right direction. We would see things start to change for the better. If we were to stop doing evil things and stop putting up with others doing evil things by correcting their behavior, the world would be a dramatically different place.

I pray we all stop doing evil. I pray we cleanse ourselves of our evil thoughts and ways. I pray each one of us will do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and care for widows. Stop doing evil. Cleanse yourself. Look for opportunities to do good in many different ways.

Isaiah 1:16-17

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; 

remove your evil deeds 

from before my eyes; 

cease to do evil; 

learn to do good; 

seek justice; 

rescue the oppressed; 

defend the orphan; 

plead for the widow.

Foolish Endeavors

At what point will you stop pursuing the riches of this earth? Will it be when you retire? Will it be when you breathe your last breath? Or will you be making financial decisions right to the end? When will you decide to make God your top priority? When will following him be first?

Let’s not kid ourselves. We all need to work and make money to provide for ourselves and our families. It is the world we live in. God knows that. Yet, it is not the working to provide for our families that is the problem. It is the pursuit of worldly wealth. That draws us away from God.

Let’s also not fool ourselves into thinking that just because we do not have millions of dollars that we aren’t like those who have it. We can allow ourselves to get caught up in the worship of money. It may be striving to put as much as we possibly can into a retirement fund. It may be investing in the stock market. It may be hording stuff. It may be being stingy about giving to others. There are numerous ways for us to worship money or possessions.

Jesus tells the parable about the rich man who had and abundant crop and his desire to store it all up so he could relax and live the good life without working. But this man had evidently did not have a good relationship with God nor was he attempting to follow God’s commands. In the parable, God tells the rich man he is a fool and that his life was expiring that night. The man was in deep trouble, even though he was rich, because he put his faith in the riches of this world.

We can be just like this rich fool. When we put money and possessions ahead of our relationship with God and our desire to follow him, we fall into the same trap. We may say none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, but we don’t live that way when comes to our relationship with God. If we did, we would make prayer a priority. We would make reading his Word a priority. We would seek to know him with our entire heart and mind. We would treat everyone as Jesus did.

I pray we all make God our top priority. I pray we make praying to him and reading his Word a priority. I pray each one of us will seek God with our entire heart and follow his guidance for our lives. Make God your top priority. Spend time praying. Spend time reading God’s Word. Seek God with your whole heart.

Luke 12:20-21 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”