Demonstrated Love

How do you show your love? Or do you only voice your love? Is your love demonstrated through your actions? Or do your words ring hollow? Do you think love is shown by giving gifts? Or do you make an effort to show your love by serving others?

Love can be challenging for some people to show. Some believe telling someone they love them is enough. Others may rarely say they love someone yet will demonstrate their love through action. We all like to hear someone loves us and also want to see it in their actions.

Tabitha, or Dorcas as she was also known, was a woman who demonstrated her love for people through her actions. She was a follower of Jesus. Her love for God shown through in what she did for others. In her good works and giving to others, she demonstrated her love for others and for God. She was a seamstress who made both inner and outer garments. We can reasonably assume that she gave some of the clothing she made to those in need. She likely also used the money she made from her business to help in other ways.

Though Scripture does not state she was a widow, she may have been since we are told those who took care of her when she died were widows. There may have been a group of widows who had banded together to take care of one another. Their care for her and weeping over her indicates how much they loved her.

We are called to love others as Jesus loves us. Jesus tells us He loves us but also demonstrated His love for us through His actions. We may only think of His love demonstrated on the cross. Yet we need to look at how He treated people when He walked this earth. He showed His love by forgiving them, feeding them, healing them, and even raising some from the dead. As a follower of Jesus, we are to demonstrate our love for Him by serving others. Just as Jesus served in many ways, we can serve in many ways.

I pray we all take a deeper look at how Jesus served. I pray we understand all the ways Jesus showed His love for us. I pray each one of us chooses to show our love by serving others. See how Jesus served. Understand how Jesus shows His love. Demonstrate your love by your actions.

Acts 9:36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity.

I Shall Not Want

Psalm 23 is one of the best-known passages in the Bible. We often hear it read at funerals or memorial services. Many people will read it or recite it when facing difficult situations. It is used to provide strength, comfort, and peace when we feel weak and troubled.

Yet, we can read, recite, and remember Psalm 23 at any time in any situation. It is a Psalm we can wake up with every morning to start our day on the right foot. Starting our day with reassurance that God is with us can make each day a better day than it otherwise would be.

The first line of the Psalm says it all. It speaks volumes. It states God is our shepherd, which implies many things. A shepherd cares for his flock. He ensures they are properly fed and watered. He protects them from attackers who seek to kill and destroy them. He protects them from being stolen by thieves. The flock knows that as long as they follow the shepherd’s voice, they will be safe and cared for.

The second half of the first sentence speaks to trust. In stating that we will not want, we are putting our trust in God to provide all that we need. Our trust in God puts us at ease. We trust God to guide us on the path he would have us take. We trust him to provide us with a mate, a job, food, clothing, and shelter. It also means that because of our trust in God’s plan we do not frivolously desire the trappings of this world.

Yes, the first line of Psalm 23 says it all. Even if we do not memorize the entire Psalm, we should memorize the first line, recite it every morning, and live our life believing it to be true. Doing so will eliminate fear, stress, anxiety, frustration, and unhealthy desire. Living by this one sentence will free us to become the people God wants us to be.

I pray we all know that God is our shepherd. I pray we put our trust in him and his plan for our lives. I pray each one of us live our lives free of the trappings of this world, becoming who God wants us to be. God cares for you. God will provide. Follow God’s path. Become the person God intended.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

A Great Testing

Have you been through testing? Have you had to pass testing to be included into a specific group? Was the test you endured an especially difficult test? Do you feel like you are being tested every day? Do you know there will be a great testing that will come in the future?

We all face tests. Some are relatively simple as we progress through school. Others are more difficult, specifically professional tests required for certain jobs. Some of those professional tests can be very challenging, requiring a deep knowledge of the specialty we are pursuing.

The testing referenced in today’s passage refers to a trifold test—physical, mental, and spiritual. Many translations interpret the “great ordeal” as the “great tribulation.” Regardless of the translation, the original Greek refers to a significant test. This testing likely includes persecution and may include martyrdom. This testing is believed to come during the end-times. Jesus referenced this great testing in Matthew 24:21.

Though I have not experienced a trifold testing of physical, mental, and spiritual, I have experienced significant testing including physical and mental. Having went through Marine Corps bootcamp and later through Drill Instructor School, there are times during those training schools when you are tested physically and mentally. You can begin to feel as though the testing will never end and wonder if you will survive it.

In the case of the great ordeal or great tribulation, we are told it will last for seven years. Throughout those seven years, many will die, either from a natural death or martyrdom. Those are taken to heaven and given a white robe will be those who hold onto their faith regardless of the ordeal they must endure. It will require a deep faith rather than a superficial one. It will require enduring ridicule, physical pain, and mental torture. The only way to survive it will be to be spiritually strong in our belief that Jesus is the Son of God and believe in His promises.

I pray we all seek to increase our faith in Jesus. I pray we grow in both knowledge and belief that Jesus is the Son of God. I pray each one of us prepare ourselves for a great testing and hold onto Jesus’ promises. Increase your faith. Increase your knowledge. Believe in Jesus. Prepare yourself for testing. Hold onto Jesus’ promises.

Revelation 7:13-14 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Diversity In Heaven

Who do you think you will see in heaven? Have you thought about it? Have you wondered about the amazing diversity there will be? Do you look forward to seeing people you have never seen before? Are you looking forward to standing before the throne of God?

We hear a lot about golden streets, crystal palaces, and pearly gates. We don’t hear as much about who will be in heaven with us. But it is not only heaven, it is also for eternity in the new Jerusalem on the new earth. Heaven and eternity is amazing to look forward to.

There are some people who do not like diversity in people. What I have found to be true is those people have not been exposed to diversity in any real way. Oh, they may have seen someone different from a distance or only for a few moments, but they have not really been exposed to them. When we get to know people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and races, we find out they are all human and we become more impressed with God’s creation.

John tells us that he saw people from every nation, all tribes and peoples and languages in heaven. That means we will see people from places we have only heard of. There will people from cultures much different than ours. How can this happen? There are people in nations all around the world who are worshiping God, who believe in Jesus.

Too often we get wrapped up in our own little world, our own bubble. We don’t look beyond our neighborhood. We don’t think about people half-way around the world putting their faith in Jesus the same as we do. We forget that Jesus came to save everyone in the world. That means people we don’t know and cultures we have never visited. Yet, we will meet them one day and spend eternity with them, victorious in Jesus.

I pray we all take time to think about heaven and eternity. I pray we look forward to a diverse group of people being with us for eternity. I pray we know Jesus came to save everyone all around the world. Think about heaven. Think about eternity. Look forward to diversity. Know Jesus came to save everyone.

Revelation 7:9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.

Be Made Whole

Have you ever denied that you follow Jesus? Have you been afraid to let others know you are a Christian? Have you realized you need to be redeemed? Have you asked Jesus for forgiveness? Do you know that He will reconcile you to Himself?

We all deny Jesus at some point in our lives. Whether it is out of fear of reprisal or because we are ashamed. Perhaps many of us are beyond those days, but it is a very real challenge for our young folks and those who are new Christians.

Peter had denied Jesus on the night He was betrayed. Though Peter had been with Him for three years, he feared being captured and facing the same fate Jesus would face. It is one thing to talk boldly when things are going along well and quite another when suddenly faced with persecution or bodily harm.

Jesus knew He needed to redeem Peter. Not only did He need to redeem him, but He needed to do it in a way that Peter would both know without a doubt he was redeemed, and he would feel contrition. Jesus knew exactly what to do and how to do it. He has the same knowledge about each one of us.

Perhaps the question we need to wrestle with is, are we willing to allow Jesus to redeem us? The only other option is to continue to wallow in our brokenness. Therefore, we should confess our denials and sins to Him and ask Him to redeem us with His grace.

I pray we all realize we deny Jesus at some point in our lives. I pray we ask Jesus to redeem us. I pray each one of us trusts that Jesus will redeem us, welcome us back into the fold, and make us whole. Ask Jesus to redeem you. Trust that He will. Be made whole by Jesus.

John 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Preparing for Old Age

Have you ever stopped to imagine what your life will be like when you retire and grow older? Have you thought about it as you have seen your parents or grandparents grow older? What do you foresee? How are you planning for that time in your life? Are you preparing for it?

When we are young, we don’t think about growing old. It’s not until we get into our mid or late forties, maybe not until we get into our fifties that we finally take notice, if then. Growing old is not on our minds as we go about our busy lives of work, family, and entertainment.

Jesus spoke a truth to Peter after He had reconciled Peter to Him. It is a hard truth that all of us will have to wrestle with. We may not be crucified as Peter was, according to tradition. However, we will get to a point that we can no longer clothe ourselves and will be taken to places we prefer not to go.

How do I know this? I visit at least one nursing home every week. I talk to the residents there. I know they do not want to be there, but they can no longer care for themselves. There are many reasons they cannot. The reason may be weakness, failing eyesight, or some form of dementia. Regardless of the reason, they are where they don’t want to be and often need assistance dressing themselves.

The ones I speak with most often are Christians, members of the churches I serve. They do well in those facilities primarily because of their faith in Jesus. They know He will never leave them. They cling to His promise of eternal life spent with Him. Some even pray that He will come get them, though not from a fatalistic perspective. They simply want to be relieved of the pain and be with Him. We all would do well to think about how we will handle a time when we need others to assist us in getting dressed in places we would rather not be.

I pray we all contemplate what getting older will look like for us. I pray we learn lessons from our parents and grandparents. I pray each one of us knows that Jesus will never leave us. Contemplate getting older. Learn valuable lessons. Jesus will never leave you. Trust in His promises.

John 21:18 “Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”

Credit to God

We like to take credit for what we accomplish. In fact, you might say we take pride in it. We get upset, perhaps very upset, when our boss takes credit for something we did. Or worse, someone else on the team we are working with takes credit. We believe credit should be given where it is due, especially when we believe we deserve the credit.

If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we do not follow this axiom very well. Rather than giving the credit to God, we take it all for ourselves. Rarely do we give God thanks for allowing us to do what we do, to accomplish what we accomplish. When was the last time you thanked God for him allowing you to accomplish what you accomplished on any given day?

If you think this is something new, perhaps it is to you, but not to God. After the resurrection, Jesus went to meet His disciples along the shore of the Sea of Tiberias. Peter had decided to go fishing and six others went with him. They fished all night and caught nothing. As morning was dawning, Jesus appeared on the shore and asked if they had any fish to eat. Of course, the answer was no.

Then the miracle happened. Jesus told them to cast the net on the right side of the boat and they would catch some. The disciples might have wondered how a man a hundred yards away standing on the shore would know where the fish were. However, they cast the net and caught one-hundred-fifty-three large fish. There were so many they could not haul the net into the boat but had to drag it alongside as they rowed to shore.

When they recognized it was Jesus, Peter jumped in the lake and swam to shore. He was so joyous that he could not wait. Once the other disciples finally get the boat ashore while dragging the net full of fish, Jesus tells them to bring some of the fish they caught.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t take credit for the catch, even though He provided it. He makes His disciples feel as though it was their effort, and it was to some small degree. Yet, it was Jesus who miraculously provided the fish. Also, notice the disciples did not give credit to Jesus for providing the fish. Sound familiar? Don’t we do that?

God provides us with so many blessings, including our ability to walk, pick things up, think, understand, see, and remember. Those are just a few of the things we do every day around our home. If we start thinking about all we do at our jobs or leisure activities, the list quickly grows out of control. All of it is because God has provided.

One significant lesson I have learned is, the more I thank God for what he allowed me to accomplish that day, the more I accomplish in future days. Therefore, allow me to suggest to you, give God the credit for what you have accomplished today. Thank him every day. Take note. See what God will have you accomplishing in future days.

John 21:9-10 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

Epiphany, Encounter

Have you ever had an epiphany? Did the light bulb suddenly come on? Did you feel enlightened at that moment? Did it stick with you for several days or even longer? How did the epiphany come about? Was there someone responsible for it? Was it God who gave you the insight?

Epiphanies can be very enjoyable. They can point us in the right direction. They can be the solution to a problem we have been wrestling with. They may simply suddenly come to us out of the blue. They may come to us when someone says something that triggers it.

Saul received a message from Jesus that turned into an epiphany. The light of Jesus literally came on and flashed around him. Saul was struck blind and was completely dumbfounded. He was confounded by the voice. He was told it was Jesus who was speaking to him. Imagine his further confusion, wondering how a dead man could be speaking to him. He had to be thinking that maybe what the people of the Way were saying was true.

Saul would soon discover Jesus was very much alive and working in this world. He would even spend time with Jesus, learning about His ministry and fulfillment of prophecy. This encounter with Jesus was just the beginning of him becoming the apostle to the Gentiles. He would be known largely as the apostle Paul once he started his mission to the Gentiles.

Though we may never encounter Jesus in the same way Saul did, we may encounter Him in epiphany moments. He can provide us with thoughts we would not normally have had. He can point us in the right direction when we need it most. Jesus is still very much active in the world today. We simply need to keep our eyes, ears, and minds open to recognize Him.

I pray we all know that Jesus is alive and active in our world. I pray we stay open to hearing Jesus speak to us. I pray each one of us will listen and follow Jesus as he leads us where He wants us to go. Jesus is alive. Jesus is active. Be open to hearing Jesus. Follow His lead.

Acts 9:3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

Despair To Celebration

Have you experienced a dramatic turn of events? Have you been lifted from the depths of despair to be raised to the heights of celebration? Have you gone from barely being able to pay your bills to being able to save for the future? Have you thanked God for the change?

We experience ups and downs, positives and negatives throughout our lives. There are small changes that occur each day. Those we often take no notice of. However, it is often the small changes each day that lead to a much larger change over time.

It is only when we stop to look back over time that we see the large change that has taken place. Often, when we are young, just starting life as an adult, we struggle financially. We barely earn enough to pay our bills. We long to have what our parents have, but we don’t want to wait thirty years to get it. Yet, for most, it takes many years to accumulate financial stability.

Some experience deep sorrows through the loss of a loved one or a heartbreaking loss of a relationship. In the days, weeks, and months that follow, we may not think we will ever get over it. The truth of the matter is, we won’t. However, we will grow from it and experience times of celebration again. We overcome the sorrow and joy returns.

How does this happen? We can attribute it all to God. He works in our lives when we don’t realize it. He puts new people into our lives. He arranges for a promotion in our job or new job for us. God lifts us out of the depths of despair and sets our feet to dancing with joy. Therefore, we should praise him and give him the thanks he deserves.

I pray we all know that sorrow and despair will not last. I pray we look forward to the joy of God coming into our lives. I pray each one of us praises God and give him thanks for working in our lives. Celebration will come. Joy will come. Praise God. Thank God for lifting you up.

Psalm 30:11-12

You have turned my mourning into dancing; 

you have taken off my sackcloth 

and clothed me with joy, 

so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. 

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

Rest In God’s Favor

Have you thought God was angry with you at times? Have you had nights of sadness, shedding many tears? Have you considered that God is on your side for your lifetime? Have you noticed that joy comes after sadness? Do you still praise God? Do you give God thanks?

When things go badly, we may think God is angry with us, and he may be. Yet, God does not stay angry with us for long. He forgives us. He knows we are human and fallible. And because God walked this earth in Jesus, he is on our side and sheds his blessings on us.

Sadness comes in many forms, but it won’t stay. We shed tears as we weep over the loss of a loved one, a job, a relationship, or any other loss. Yet, joy will follow the sadness. When we are in Christ, joy will come because He cares for us. He will bring us joy in unexpected ways. We just need to look for it and recognize it when we see it.

Because God is on our side and he brings us joy, we should always praise him and give him thanks. Praise him for his many blessings. Praise him for his awesome plan for your life. Give God thanks for your health. Thank him for your job. Thank him for your family. Thank him for the joy you have. Thank him for caring about you.

I pray we all know that we rest in God’s favor for a lifetime. I pray we trust that joy will come following sadness. I pray each one of us with praise God and give thanks to him for all he has done for us. You have God’s favor. Your joy comes from God. Praise God. Give thanks to God.

Psalm 30:4-5

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, 

and give thanks to his holy name. 

For his anger is but for a moment; 

his favor is for a lifetime. 

Weeping may linger for the night, 

but joy comes with the morning.