God is Still with Us

Have you thought things have gotten out of hand? Have you wondered if our world is going downhill so fast it can never recover? Does it seem as though the “good times” are so far behind us you can’t remember them? Have you begun to lose heart?

There is no doubt we are living in times of struggle. Yet, as the author of Ecclesiastes says, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We may think our situation is unique or there has never been anything like this before. If so, we would be wrong.

It is true that we have more mechanical and technological things now than ever before. Yet, the ways of people are the same. The strong take advantage of the weak. The rich extort the poor. Those in power lord it over those who are not. It is nothing new. It has been going on for thousands of years.

Through the prophet Haggai, God asks if any of the Israelites remember his promise. He states that he is still with them. Though they may not have seen the glory of Israel under King David, God is still with them, and they are to work. He tells them they are not to fear.

We can take this same promise and admonishment. God is still with us. We are to work. What are we to work at? The things of God. We are to use the skills he has given us. We are to seek justice, love one another, show grace and mercy to others, care for the widows and orphans, and welcome those who are marginalized. These are the good works God has put before us.

I pray we all know that God is still with us. I pray we work at the good works he has set before us. I pray each one of us will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and trust God will provide. God is still with us. Do the good works of God. Seek God’s guidance. Trust God will provide.

Haggai 2:3-5 “Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? Yet now take courage, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; take courage, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; take courage, all you people of the land, says the Lord; work, for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit abides among you; do not fear.”

Desire to See

Have you ever had a desire to see someone famous? Has there been a specific famous person you would do almost anything to see? What did you do? Were you able to see them? Did it make you happy? Did you feel fulfilled? Do you desire to see Jesus in the same way?

We see people who are fanatic about seeing famous people. Some are willing to pay any price to see them. Some may even use violence to see them. Perhaps some of you have paid an exorbitant price or done something foolish to see someone famous.

There was madness when the Beatles first came to the U.S. Famous soccer players must have security details in some places in the world. There have been people who have been infatuated with movie stars and done outlandish things to be near them.

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus badly. So much so that he ran ahead to climb a sycamore tree. It was not only his curiosity but being drawn to Jesus. Jesus had an aura about Him that drew people of all types to Him—the poor, the widows, the diseased, the broken, the curious, and those who wanted to learn from Him.

We should be drawn to Jesus like Zacchaeus. But since Jesus is not physically with us, many of us are only cursorily drawn to Him. To be drawn more to Him we must learn more about Him. As we learn more and spend more time with Him, we are drawn more to Him.

I pray we all seek to know more about Jesus. I pray we spend time with Him to grow closer to Him. I pray each one of us will be drawn to Jesus like Zacchaeus was. Seek to know more about Jesus. Spend time with Jesus. Be drawn to Jesus. Desire to see Jesus.

Luke 19:2-4 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.

Notice Jesus

How often do we miss the little things? How often is our focus on something else when a small detail alludes our attention? What are we missing when we miss the minor detail? Are we missing something significant? What if we were to pay close attention? Would our lives become richer?

Missing the little can make all the difference in how we perceive something. Our perspective can be out of whack. We think we know something when we don’t really understand. It is often the little things missed that cause us to misunderstand someone’s reaction or how they feel.

Read today’s passage. It sounds insignificant. It seems to be a side note to Jesus’s travels. We may think, “So what?” Pay close attention. Jesus enters Jericho. First, remember Jericho is the city around which Joshua led the Israelites and the walls came down miraculously. It is not an insignificant city in Jewish lore.

Second, it says Jesus was passing through it. He is likely walking through on the main road. There would have been many travelers on this road. Yet, Jesus was recognized among the throngs of people on the road. He might have passed unnoticed. But someone saw Him and knew who He was. Word spread quickly.

Without noticing the small things, we often miss significant things. I know I have missed the underlying feelings of people. I have not noticed the gracious actions of others. The beauty of wildflowers growing along the highway have been unseen by me. I believe we miss many of the small things. Why? We are too focused on ourselves and our experiences to see what is going on all around us.

Zacchaeus didn’t miss Jesus passing through Jericho. He heard and had to see. Are we hearing and need to see Jesus in our lives? We might be missing Him by not fully seeing others. He may pass right by us without our noticing. Perhaps we should pay closer attention to the small things, notice what is going on around us, and not just the negative things, but the positive things.

I pray we all choose to open our eyes to see the small things. I pray we notice the good things all around us. I pray each one of us seeks to hear and see Jesus in our everyday lives. Open your eyes. Open your ears. Notice the small things. Hear Jesus. See Jesus. He is active every day.

Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it.

Works of Faith

What do you pray for? Do you pray to be worthy? Do you pray that God will grant his power to you? Do you pray for your works of faith? Do you pray that Jesus will be glorified through your works? Do you ask God to shed his grace on you? Do you know prayer is very important?

We pray for many things, often things we want. We don’t always pray that God will grant us his power or his grace. We don’t always pray that we do the works God has set before and that he will bless us in doing so. We don’t always pray that God guide us we can glorify him.

Not only do we not often pray for those things for ourselves, we also don’t pray for them for others. The Apostle Paul prayed for those things for the church in Thessalonica. He wanted them to be blessed with God’s power and grace. He wanted them to be blessed in the works God had set before them, not for their sake, but so God would be glorified.

When we pray that God’s will be done and that he provides all that is needed for it, God will do as we ask. God desires us to carry out his will, which includes the good works he has set before us to do. His power and grace will be granted to us as we go about doing his work. That work is the works of faith Paul is praying for. All of this is done to glorify God and to show God to others. So, pray for these things.

I pray we all pray that God’s will be done. I pray we ask for God’s power and grace. I pray each one of us will ask God to show us the works he has set before us and that we may glorify him. Pray God’s will be done. Ask for God’s power. Ask for God’s grace. Ask God to show you the works he has for you. Glorify God in your works of faith.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith, Love, and Thankfulness

How often do you give thanks for the people in your life? Are you thankful you have family, friends, co-workers, and disciples you attend church with? Is your faith growing in Jesus Christ? Is your love for the people in your life increasing? Are you seeing them as Jesus sees them?

We often take people for granted. We interact with them, visit with them, work side-by-side, and become accustomed to them being there. Even though we shouldn’t, we assume they will always be there, or at least for as far into the future as we can see.

Though many of us will say we are not guaranteed tomorrow, we don’t typically live that way. We plan for tomorrow, next week, months ahead, and sometimes years ahead. It is wise for us to plan ahead. Yet, we also must live in the moment. We must realize there are no guarantees. We should appreciate the people who are with us. And we should let them know.

We also should be growing our faith. We do that by reading and studying God’s Word and recognizing God working in our lives. We experience God every day, though we often do not identify it. God works through every situation, evening using what we call bad situations for our good.

As we recognize God working in our lives, we should also recognize God working in the lives of others. Seeing people as Jesus sees them will change our perspective. When we see each person as being made in the image of God, our love for them will increase. It is a challenge, at times, but it is very rewarding when we do so.

I pray we all are thankful for the people in our lives. I pray we continue to grow in our faith. I pray each one of us will see others as Jesus sees them and increase our love for them. Be thankful for the people in your life. Grow in your faith. See others as Jesus sees them. Increase your love for others.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

Trouble and Anguish

In times of trouble, we often desire help, even if we don’t ask for it directly. When we are in anguish, filled with sorrow, grief, depression, or frustration, we silently wish that someone would take it away. We may cry out in anger when in trouble or in anguish.

Experiencing troubles, regardless of the type, are frustrating. They can lead to depression or anger. Our troubles are sometimes of our own making and other times are a result of other’s actions. It doesn’t matter. They have a negative effect on us either way.

When we experience anguish, including sorrow and grief, it can seem as though it will never end. Minutes seem like hours. Hours seem like days. And days seem like weeks. It can run so deep within us that we think we will never overcome it. When a loved one is lost, a hole is left behind that nothing else can fill.

The Psalmist experiences both trouble and anguish but doesn’t allow himself to be consumed by them. Instead, he seeks out God. He acknowledges that God’s commands are his delight. He knows that they are righteous commands. He understands that those commands help him to better understand God and that understanding allows him to live.

It is not easy to do, but following the example of the Psalmist can help us get through those times of trouble and anguish. We can point to not only God’s commands but his promises. Knowing each of them, holding on to them, and trusting in God will get us through the toughest of times.

I pray we all turn to God during times of trouble. I pray we trust in God’s plan when we are in anguish. I pray each one of us know God’s commands and his promises, allowing them to guide us. Turn to God. Trust in God. Know God’s commands. Know God’s promises. God is always with you.

Psalm 119:143-144

Trouble and anguish have come upon me, 

but your commandments are my delight. 

Your decrees are righteous forever; 

give me understanding that I may live.

Lighten Your Load

We like for things to be right. We like for there to be fairness. We want to believe that God will make everything alright. But we often want it in our time and according to what we think is right. We don’t want to wait and we don’t always think God is paying attention to our need.

Why are we so impatient? Why do we think we are the only ones who know what is right? Might I suggest it is our fallen nature and, in some cases, our own selfishness. We have gotten used to the instant gratification of getting answers from Google or some other internet search engine.

We forget that God works his plan on his timeline. We would do well to both realize and to adhere to his plan. We must trust that he will judge this world. He will set everything right. He is righteous and will fulfill his promises. But instead of trusting and being patient, we are like the child who is promised a pony and asks their dad every day when the pony will arrive.

God has promised an eternity with him in which we will live perfectly. He is always faithful even when we are not. Rather than continuing to be like children, just as the Apostle Paul writes in to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 3, who fail to trust in God’s plan and take things into our own hands. Let’s make the mistake that we are to do nothing. We are to trust God with our entire being and listen for his guidance so that we can follow his plan.

Unfortunately, we too often make our own plans and ask God to bless them rather than seeking his guidance and following his plan. It is when we give up our preferences and our plans that we will see God work in amazing ways. When we fully trust God’s judgment, we are set free from the judgments of this world. That freedom releases us from the worry, anxiety, and frustration we feel, effectively taking a heavy pack off our back. Trusting God allows us to walk much lighter.

I pray we all work toward trusting God’s plan. I pray we trust that God will fulfill his promises. I pray each one of us trust God will set everything right and lessen the load we carry every day. Trust God. Trust God’s plan. Trust God will fulfill his promises. Trust God will set everything right. Lighten your load. Be set free.

Psalm 119:137-138

You are righteous, O Lord,

and your judgments are right. 

You have appointed your decrees in righteousness 

and in all faithfulness.

Petition God

Have you cried out against injustice? Have you screamed that things are not fair? Have you been fed up with people getting away with things that you know they shouldn’t. Did you receive an answer? Did you see justice served? Did you blame God? Or did you cry out to God?

We have our own idea of what fair is. Though most of us generally have the same view of fairness, it still often leans slightly in our favor, if we are honest with ourselves. But injustice is something different. It is often based on law, even if some laws support injustice.

Habakkuk was a prophet who lived during the reigns of King Saul, Kind David, and likely died sometime during King Solomon’s reign. We cannot pinpoint when he wrote each piece of his book, but the injustice he speaks of in chapter one lines up with much of what was happening in Israel during the reign of King Saul.

The cry for help due to the violence against the people could reference unfair treatment. On the other hand, it may reference the various wars Saul took the Israelites into. Regardless of the reason, Habakkuk was crying out to God for help. He even implies (or perhaps blames) God is not listening. He is crying out for God to open his eyes and see the injustice, the violence, and to rescue them from it.

We, too, can cry out to God when we see injustice. We can ask that God do something about it. What we should not do is assume God does not see it. For God is omnipresent, meaning he sees everything and is everywhere. God knows. God has a plan. He may just be waiting for someone to cry out to him on behalf of those suffering. So, cry out, but don’t blame God.

I pray we all know we can cry out to God when we see injustice. I pray we know that God already knows what is going on. I pray each one of us will petition God on behalf of ourselves and others. Cry out to God. Cry out against injustice. Know that God is omnipresent. Petition God for yourself and others.

Habakkuk1:2

O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, 

and you will not listen? 

Or cry to you “Violence!” 

and you will not save?

Sent by God

What does it mean to be sent by God? Have you ever felt sent by God? Have you wanted to be sent by God? If God called you to lead a mission for him, would you? Do you believe God would provide what you needed to complete the mission he gave you?

Being called by God to lead a mission can be intimidating or scary. But when it is no more intimidating than leading a mission given to us by someone else. In fact, it should be less intimidating. We can trust God to provide what we need to complete the mission.

Moses was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt where they were slaves. It wasn’t that he had to convince individual slave owners to release them; he had to convince Pharoah, the national leader, to release them. Moses was going against one of the most powerful men in the world at that time. No small task.

God rarely calls anyone to lead a mission with the size and complexity of leading 600,000 men (Exodus 12:37) plus women and children out of Egypt, such as he did Moses. Yet, he calls many of his servants to lead a wide variety of missions. Not only does he call us to lead missions but he calls us to lead others to Jesus.

Leading others to Jesus can sound intimidating. However, we do not lead them to Jesus on our own. We have the Holy Spirit with us at all times. As we learn to listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to us and guide us, we discover God leading us to lead others to Jesus. It isn’t simple until we become comfortable listening for and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I pray we all know that God is calling us to lead. I pray we take up the call from God to lead others to Jesus. I pray each one of us learn to listen for and follow the guidance from the Holy Spirit. God is calling you to lead. Lead others to Jesus. Listen to God’s guidance. Follow God’s guidance.

Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Humble and Exalted

What comes to mind when you hear someone is humble? Do you think of someone in humble circumstances, meaning poor? Do you think of someone who allows everyone to walk all over them? Or do you think of someone strong enough they don’t have to flaunt their strength?

Being humble or striving to be humble is often misunderstood. Far too often we think of someone who is poor or someone who has no self-esteem or someone who allows everyone to walk on them. We forget that Jesus was the perfect example of being humble.

Have you thought of a horse being humble? No? Think about it. A horse is a powerful animal. It could easily crush a person. It can run at breakneck speed. It can jump over fences. It can pull a wagon loaded down with supplies or people. Yet, a horse that has been broken is a humble animal. Why? It has submitted to a master. It is willing to do as the master commands.

When Jesus speaks of being humble, think of a horse. It is powerful yet submits to its master. We are powerful, but when we submit to God, we become humble. Rather than beating our own drum or blowing our own horn, we are to submit to God. Jesus states that those who exalt themselves (think bragging about themselves) will be humbled, they will be broken even if it isn’t until Jesus returns. But those of us who are willing to humble ourselves before a Holy God will be exalted by God.

I pray we all humble ourselves before a Holy God. I pray we submit ourselves to his commands. I pray each one of us trust that God will humble everyone in his time but will exalt those who humble themselves. Humble yourself before God. Submit to his commands. Trust God to exalt you.

Luke 18:14 “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”