Give Jesus the Credit

Do you like to have others recognize your good deeds? Do you tell others about the good things you do so they will praise you? Have you considered others may grow tired of hearing you brag about yourself? Do you have a “holier than thou” attitude? Should you rid yourself of it?

Most of us like to get a pat on the back for doing something well from time-to-time. Yet, we should not brag about everything we do. We likely know someone who brags a lot and grow weary of hearing them do so. We tire of their attitude of thinking they are above others.

Jesus tells us not to have a “holier than thou” attitude. He tells us not to look down our noses at others. He tells us not to think higher of ourselves than others. He tells us not judge others. All of this is wrapped in His statement in today’s passage. He doesn’t tell us not to be righteous or strive for righteousness. We simply are not to believe it is our doing, rather be humble and know that our righteousness comes from Him.

In no way is Jesus saying we should not speak to others about Him nor what He has done in our lives. We simply are not to do so by bragging about ourselves. We are to tell our story of redemption and change while giving all the credit to Jesus. We can be excited and should be. We can be joyous, celebratory, and grateful, all while being humble. It is an attitude of the heart that comes by recognizing our hope and salvation comes from Jesus, rather than anything we have done. So, praise Jesus and give Him the credit, thanking Him for His wondrous grace and mercy.

I pray we all give up our “holier than thou” attitudes. I pray we praise Jesus for His amazing grace and mercy. I pray each one of us joyously and humbly give Jesus the credit for our hope and salvation. Have a humble attitude. Praise Jesus for His grace and mercy. Celebrate your hope and salvation that comes from Jesus.

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before others in order to be seen by them, for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Repent Like David

Have you ever done something so bad you thought you could never be forgiven? Do you wonder if forgiveness is real? Is it hard for you to believe that God can and will forgive you? Have you asked God to forgive you? Have you poured out your broken heart to him?

Forgiveness can be hard to believe. After all, we see grudges being held in our culture and vengeance being meted out. If we have done something wrong in our jobs, it can be held against us for a long time and may keep us from receiving a promotion.

Psalm 51 was written by King David after the prophet Nathan had revealed his sin to him. He had wrongly slept with Bathsheba, gotten her pregnant, plotted to cover it up by having her husband come back from battle to sleep with her, and had him killed when we refused. Nathan came to David and revealed his sin to him at God’s behest.

David’s world came crashing down around him. Because of his selfishness and deceitfulness, God punished him by taking his youngest son from him. David broke. He pleaded with God not to take his son. He mourned over his sin. He wrote Psalm 51 to express his brokenness and need for God to forgive him. We know God forgave him for David is called a man after God’s own heart. Not because of his sin, but because he turned his heart to God.

We, too, can turn our heart to God. In our brokenness, we can turn away from our sin and ask God to forgive us. If we are giving our heart to God, we can trust that he will forgive us, just as he did David. It is unfortunate that we often must hit rock bottom to turn to God. We would be much better off if we would learn lessons from others who have had experiences we would rather avoid. So, learn the lesson of David and turn your heart to God.

I pray we all turn from our sin and ask God for forgiveness. I pray we learn the lesson of David. I pray each one of us will trust in God’s grace and mercy, trusting him to forgive us of our sin. Turn your heart to God. Confess your sin. Ask God to forgive you. Trust in God’s mercy. Know he will forgive you.

Psalm 51:1-2

Have mercy on me, O God, 

according to your steadfast love; 

according to your abundant mercy, 

blot out my transgressions. 

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, 

and cleanse me from my sin.

Turn It Over to God

Are there things you know you need to turn away from? Are there things you are doing that you need to stop? Do you need to turn your brokenness over to God? Do you know how you can do that? Have you found it difficult to do? Are you willing to give it another try?

At some point during our lives, we do things we know we shouldn’t. Perhaps there is something you are wrestling with right now. Maybe there is some form of addition that has a hold on you. Or it may be a specific behavior that you know is not pleasing to God.

God is always calling out to us to repent of anything that is displeasing to him. We can demonstrate our commitment by fasting and mourning over our addiction or behavior. We can turn to God and ask him to remove from us. But it is not easy to do. It may require us to go to him multiple times. Our heart may need to break over it to cause us to truly turn it over to God.

When we return to God, he is gracious. He sheds his grace on us. He blesses us with what we need. He also shows us mercy. He grants us forgiveness. And through his mercy, he blesses us by cleaning our hearts. He shows us his amazing love by caring for us. He wraps his arms around us and pulls us in. He will withdraw any punishment we may deserve when we turn our hearts back to him.

I pray we all turn our hearts over to God. I pray we give him the heavy load we are carrying. I pray each one of us will accept God’s grace, mercy, and love and allow him to wrap us in his arms. Turn your heart over to God. Give your cares to God. Accept God’s grace. Accept God’s mercy. Accept God’s love.

Joel 2:12-13

Yet even now, says the Lord, 

return to me with all your heart, 

with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 

rend your hearts and not your clothing. 

Return to the Lord your God, 

for he is gracious and merciful, 

slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, 

and relenting from punishment.

Pray In the Spirit

How often do you pray? How do you pray? Are you praying in the Spirit? Do you wonder what that means? Are you praying in accordance with God’s will? Do you wonder what his will is? Are you alert? Are you persevering?

We all pray some. Some of us pray a lot. Often our prayers are for people we know or ourselves. We ask for healing. We ask for guidance. We ask for relief. We ask for strength. We ask for courage. We ask for wisdom. We ask for discernment. But are those God’s will?

A lesson that’s taken me many years to learn is that sometimes I need to say, “God, I don’t know what to ask for, do what furthers your plan.” Then I am quiet. I listen. I wait for God. Sometimes God provides a thought right away. Other times, he doesn’t provide it for quite some time—days or weeks.

I believe telling God we don’t know what to pray for, ask for his will, and be quiet is one way to pray in the Spirit. But there will be times when we can feel the Holy Spirit moving us and guiding our prayer, which is praying in the Spirit as well. We much prefer the latter rather than the former.

Our culture doesn’t like quiet. We are always busy. If we are not busy in conversation with someone, we are busy doing something. Our phones seem to be an extension of our hands. Our minds are constantly occupied. It makes it near impossible to be still and that God is with us.

I pray we all seek to pray in the Spirit. I pray we cherish quiet time. I pray each one of us will set aside our busyness, stop, and be still, waiting for God. Pran in the Spirit. Listen for God to speak. Ask for God’s will to be revealed. Sit quietly with God. Be still and know that he is God.

Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

Confirmed By God

Have you been in the presence of greatness? Have you been with someone who is always positive? Do you know anyone who has an aura about them, as though nothing could stand in their way? Are there times it is scary or at least uncomfortable to be with them?

Being around greatness can be both amazing and uncomfortable. It can be fun and scary. It doesn’t matter if the person’s greatness is in athletics, academia, leadership, or anything else. Often there is an aura about the person, a confidence that borders on cockiness.

Being around a person with those qualities can be exhilarating and intimidating. Jesus was such a person. His disciples who travelled with Him witnessed amazing things—miracles of healing, raising the dead, feeding thousands with very little, casting out demons, and amazing teaching. Perhaps one of the most amazing things they saw was Moses and Elijah meeting with Jesus as He was transfigured, becoming as bright as the sun.

The apostles Peter, John, and James went with Jesus up the mountain. They witnessed the meeting and the transfiguration. Then they heard the voice of God speak. They were told in plain words that Jesus was the Son of God and God’s Chosen. They were told to listen to Him. They were so shook by the experience, likely trying to process what had just happened, that they didn’t speak of it until after Jesus had died and been risen.

Today, we don’t often speak of it. We like to speak of Jesus being our brother or how He has changed our lives. But we rarely speak of God confirming Jesus as his Son. When was the last time you told someone about Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah? We should learn about and tell others of Jesus’ amazing feats, including God’s confirmation of who He is.

I pray we all learn more about Jesus’ amazing feats. I pray we remember that God confirmed Jesus’ identity. I pray each one of us tell others about God’s confirmation of Him and His amazing feats. Know Jesus’ amazing feats. Imagine His aura. Know God confirmed Jesus. Tell others about Jesus’ feats and identity.

Luke 9:35-36 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

Goodness of Prayer

How often do you pray? What is the environment or setting in which you pray? Are most of your prayers in the midst of strife or in a rush? Are you more likely to be asking God for something you desire? Have you ever spent time in prayer in a secluded and quiet place?

Other than when praying publicly, such as in church, our praying is private. Sometimes our prayers are rushed or lifted up to God in the heat of the moment. There is nothing wrong with that. When we need his help, we should be both comfortable and willing to ask.

But Jesus often went to a secluded place to pray. Why? There are no distractions when we are away from people, away from a television, and away from our cell phones. It is when we are away from everything that distracts us that we can fully focus on God. We can converse with him about what is going on in our lives and honestly ask him what he wants us to do for him. When we set aside the time to go somewhere secluded and allow ourselves plenty of time, we can wait for God to answer us.

Sitting quietly in prayer with God away from all the distractions is relaxing, enlightening, and provides us mental relief. Oh, we may need to sit there for a while for that to happen, but it will. It takes a little time for our brains to stop thinking about all the things we need to do or stop worrying about tomorrow. Yet, when we take the time, it will. Jesus made time to get away from the mob who just wanted Him to perform a miracle. We need to make time to get away from all the demands being made of us.

I pray we all recognize our need to pray. I pray we make the time to get away from the distractions. I pray each one of us will experience relaxation, enlightenment, and mental relief through prayer. You need to pray. You need quiet. You need to escape distractions. Experience the goodness of prayer.

Luke 9:28-29 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

Be Transformed In Christ

What does freedom mean to you? Is your understanding of freedom wrapped up in your ability to do what you want? Do you view freedom as being free to pursue happiness? Have you considered your freedom to pursue God? Will you use your freedom to do so?

Living in a country that values freedom, we often think of it as being free to pursue the job we want and the material things we want. We think of it as the ability to go where we want to go when we want to go. We may even view our freedom as an entitlement.

But the freedom the Apostle Paul speaks of to the church in Corinth is not about any of those things. It is about the unveiling of God’s truth and our ability to see and hear it. It is about us ingesting the truth of God and it changing us from the inside out. The freedom we have in Christ includes being transformed to be like Him.

Will we accept this freedom? Unfortunately, far too many continue to hold onto the chains of the world. They continue to be locked in the prison cell of culture. They continue to pursue what our culture tells us we should pursue, rather than pursuing the glory of Christ. God has given us free will, allowing us to make the choice to accept his freedom or reject it.

If we choose to accept the freedom of Christ, our lives are changed. The worries of the world are no longer our worries. As we are transformed to be like Christ, we learn to trust God in all things. We learn that he is working in this world, even when we don’t see it. When we accept the freedom offered, we are set free in ways we cannot imagine while trapped in the prison of our culture.

I pray we all choose to accept the freedom God offers. I pray we break free from the prison of our culture. I pray each one of us will be changed from the inside out to be more like Jesus. Accept the freedom of Christ. Break away from cultural norms. Be changed. Be more like Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.

Speak Frankly

What does being frank with someone mean to you? Does it mean that you speak your mind? Does it mean you don’t care what others think when you speak your mind? Are you willing to speak frankly when it matters most? Will you speak frankly about Jesus?

There are some people who will speak whatever is on their mind without regard to who they speak to and the consequences of speaking. They will claim they can’t help it or that they are just being themselves. Then they wonder why people don’t want to be around them.

Am I saying we shouldn’t be frank? No. However, using a little tact and wisdom can go a long way. We can speak truth without being offensive. Being frank does not mean we need to be offensive. We can speak frankly and with wisdom by first listening, truly listening, and understanding what truth the person needs to hear.

It is important that we speak frankly about Jesus. He is not some watered down, impotent idol who is being worshiped as a god. He is the all-powerful King of kings. He is the ever-present Lord of lords. He is the Savior of the world. He is the ultimate judge. He is the living example of what love is meant to be. To speak about Him frankly is needed.

Yet, the person we are speaking with may not need to hear He is King of kings. They may need to hear He is our Comforter. They may need to hear He is our Protector. They may need to hear He is our Provider. But we can only know what aspect of Jesus they need to hear by listening closely to what they are saying and hearing what is left unsaid. This is where wisdom and discernment come in. Ask God for them so as to speak frankly about Jesus.

I pray we all seek to speak frankly about Jesus. I pray we listen with attentiveness. I pray each one of us will tell others what they need to know in the moment about Jesus. Speak frankly about Jesus. Use wisdom and discernment. Listen closely to others. Speech frankly with tact.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with complete frankness,

Perspective of God

How do you see God? What is your perspective of him? How do you see Jesus? Do you view Him as a brother and friend, or as the King? How does your perspective change how you act? Have you given it any thought? Do you think you should?

Our perspective of who God is, who Jesus is, has a significant impact on how well we obey God’s commands. If we view God as an overpowering tyrant, we will obey out of fear. If we view God as a loving Father who only wants the best for us, we will obey out of love.

Unfortunately, some will cling primarily to the viewpoint of Jesus as brother and only obey when it suits them. It is not that viewing Jesus as a brother is incorrect, but we cannot always see Him in that role. We must remember that He is the King who sits on a throne. He is the ultimate Judge. He has all the power of God.

So, how should be view Jesus? He is our brother who is the King, the Judge, and the Lord. He is to be obeyed with love and a little fear. We are to lean on Him for strength and courage. We are to trust in His promises. We are to seek understanding from His teachings. We should go to Him to ask for all that we need and trust that He will provide.

The Father and the Son are more than we can fathom. The gift of the Holy Spirit is to be our guide in all that we do. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God is revealed to us, if we will listen. So, open your hearts, minds, eyes, and ears to see and hear God as the Holy Spirit reveals him to you. Love God with all your heart and be in awe of who he is.

I pray we all check our perspective of who God is. I pray we understand that Jesus sits on a throne as King. I pray each one of us opens ourselves to the Holy Spirt and asks God to reveal himself to us. View God as God. Know that Jesus is King. See Jesus as Lord. Listen for the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 99:1

The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! 

He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!

Radioactive

Have you even had a skin disease? Did it affect your face? Did you have chicken pox? Did you have the measles? Were people afraid to come near you? Were you kept inside away from everyone? How did you feel about that? Were you hoping the disease would go away quickly?

Have diseases that have a negative effect on our faces are not fun to deal with. Whether it is chicken pox or the measles or some other disease, all we can think about is ridding ourselves of the disease. We do not like to be isolated. After all, we are community people.

Moses did not have a disease, but the people were afraid to come near him. Once he explained the reason for his face shining, they were willing to come within a reasonable distance. They needed to hear what God was saying to Moses, how God was instructing them to travel along the path he had laid out for them. Even if they were not always obedient.

We do not see people whose face shines in the same way Moses’ face shined. Yet, we do see people who are radiant. When they are filled with the love of God, their face shines. When they continually seek to follow Jesus, their face shines. We can see the joy on their face. Opposed to Moses, we are attracted to people like that.

We, too, can be people with faces that shine. How? Be filled with the love of God and seek to follow Jesus. The closer we get to God, the closer we follow the Jesus, the more joy Jesus pours into our hearts making our faces shine. We become a person everyone else wants to be around. We become Jesus’ shining light in a dark world.

I pray we all are filled with the love of God. I pray we seek to follow Jesus as close as we can. I pray each one of us will allow the love of God to shine through us making us a light for Jesus. Be filled with the love of God. Follow Jesus closely. Allow God’s love to shine through. Be a light for Jesus.

Exodus 34:29-30 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.