The Potter

How do you think of your parents? What images come to mind? Were your parents stern disciplinarians? Were they kind and loving? Are your parents the reason for who you are today? Did they see your potential and mold you into the person you could be?

We all have different experiences with our parents. Unfortunately, some parents are abusive. However, many parents do the best they can. It is especially trying for parents with their first child. After all, they have no experience raising children.

What do you believe a parents’ job is? We might all agree a parent is to show love for their children. We might also agree they are to provide for them as they grow and mature. One thing parents often forget is they are to prepare their children to be out in the world.

Preparing children to go into the world is a daunting task. Parents must see their childs’ potential and help them reach it. They need to evaluate their skills and guide them down a path to success. A parent must mold their child using encouragement and occasionally a little pushing.

God does all of this with us. He knows our potential. He molds us into the person he knows we can be. He guides us down the path he desires for us so that we may succeed in serving him well. We need to acknowledge God as the Potter and we are the clay. We need to allow him to mold us.

I pray we all heed God’s guidance. I pray we seek to be molded by God. I pray each one of us pursues the path that God is guiding us down so that we may serve him well. See God as the Potter. Be the clay. Allow God to mold you. Become the person God wants you to be.

Isaiah 64:8

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; 

we are the clay, and you are our potter; 

we are all the work of your hand.

Pass It On

What has been passed down to you from you family? Are there traditions you follow? Have you been told of your family history? Is there a family member who was famous for a major achievement years ago? Has your family passed down to you the importance of worshiping God?

Some families have many traditions while others have few. Some traditions last from one generation to another while others cease when a key family member dies. A family may have a key matriarch or patriarch whom everyone looks up to and who holds the family together.

We often retell the stories of family members who did something remarkable. Some of those stories are amazing accomplishments. Some of them are wildly funny and possibly embarrassing stories. The retelling of those stories can be cherished memories that we love to hear over and over. They help us hold on to the family history. They may even turn into folklore as generations pass.

There are more important stories we should pass along to our families. Those are the stories of God. It is by telling the amazing stories of God that we build into our family the fabric of God. It is through those stories that God’s presence is woven into our family history. That is how God has been made important throughout history. It is how God has worked throughout history.

To know there has only been one God who has created all things, worked in this world, worked through people, cared for all people, and sent his Son to save all people is of utmost importance. We need to remember and retell the stories of God to our children and grandchildren. We need to pass on generation to generation the importance of God working in our families. It is through these family stories that God is woven into our family history and ingrained into our children’s and grandchildren’s minds.

I pray we all know there is only one God who works in this world. I pray we hear the stories of God in our families. I pray we retell the stories of God and how he has worked in our families. Know there is one God. Know that God cares for all of us. Pass along God’s stories. Pass along how God has worked in your family.

Isaiah 64:4

From ages past no one has heard, 

no ear has perceived, 

no eye has seen any God besides you, 

who works for those who wait for him.

Constancy vs Permanency

What does permanent meant to you? Does it mean something that will last for five or ten or twenty years? Do you believe permanent means it will never go away, that it will always be? Are you looking for something that will be permanent in your life?

We look for constancy, but often think of it as permanency. Something being constant, meaning it is the same day after day is not quite the same as permanent. You see, something can be constant for a period of time, but it can become inconsistent at some point in the future.

I can remember when I was a kid and my mom going to the hairdresser to get a permanent. Yet, it was permanent. She would have to go back again a few weeks later and get another one. The truth of the matter is there is nothing permanent in this world. It will all pass away at some point. We may not know when it will fall, crumble, or be destroyed. We simply know it will not last forever.

Jesus tells us in today’s passage this earth and the heavens will pass away. There will come a day when they are all destroyed. That day will be the final day of history. It will be the final judgement. It will be the day when He returns to destroy evil forever and institute His eternal kingdom. It is a day we, as followers of Christ, look forward to.

He also states that His words will not pass away. That means even into eternity His words will remain. Many in this world do not want to listen to Him. It is unfortunate for them. For when that final day comes, it will be too late for them to change their mind. For those of us who accept His words, they lead us into an eternal life with Him.

There have been several people who have attempted to prove Jesus is not real. Some of them have become authors, writing of their research and how they became believers as they discovered the truth. We can read their stories, but it is more important that we read Jesus’ words. We need to know what He states about living a life that pleases Him. We need to hear His advice for living an abundant life.

I pray we all realize there is nothing permanent on this earth. I pray we understand that Jesus’ words are permanent. I pray each one of us will spend time reading Jesus’ words and applying them in our lives. No thing is permanent. Jesus’ words are forever. Read His words. Apply them in your life.

Mark 13:31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Fellowship of Jesus

Do you have a few good friends with whom you are very close to? Have you been on a team that was very tight knit? Do you still have that relationship, or has it slipped into the past? Would you like to experience that closeness again? Do you know you can?

As we walk the pathways of life, we experience a range of friendships. We may have just one or two we are close with during one period and a larger group at another. The larger group of friends typically comes through an activity, whether a sports team or band or club.

Having close friends we can count on is critical, especially if we have moved away from our family. Some of my most trustworthy friends came during my time in the Marine Corps. But every few years those friendships changed. One of our group would receive orders to move on to a different unit. The key factor of those friendships was shared experience. It is common to create a tight bond with someone you go through trials with.

We are called into the best fellowship we could be in, the fellowship of Jesus Christ. Just like our human relationships, we discover we can count on Him when we go through trials. But it doesn’t start there. It starts by making a commitment to Him. It grows through our daily walk with Him. Our bonds strengthen through communication, what we call prayer.

As we walk with Him, we find that He is faithful. We also discover there are others in fellowship with Him whom we come into fellowship with. Those other travelers are our brothers and sisters. We learn to count on them as we share our experiences, and they share theirs. The more we share, the more we learn of God’s faithfulness in our lives.

I pray we all choose to be in fellowship with Jesus. I pray we know that God is faithful. I pray each one of us will share our experiences with others and grow our relationship with Jesus. Be in fellowship with Jesus. Be in fellowship with brothers and sisters. Know that God is faithful. 

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Be Strengthened by God

Do you feel as though you are in an uphill battle? Are you struggling with it? Does it feel as though you are losing? Are you going it alone? Or have you asked for help? Do you desire help but do not know where to turn? Have you considered turning to God?

We go through seasons during our lives. Some are joyous and full of energy. Others are like slogging through knee deep mud. Still others are like life and death battles, wearisome and worrisome. We may feel as though we are in an endless winter, devoid of life.

These various seasons of life will put us in situations in which we need help. Yet, we may not want help. We may simply desire to be left alone to wallow in our misery all by ourselves. It is in this frame of mind we need to reach out to God. We need to recognize how we are feeling and ask God to pull us up out of the ditch.

Feeling distraught, abandoned, overwhelmed, and depressed is no place to be alone. We must recognize these feelings and reach out to God. He will strengthen us. Not just with physical strength to move but spiritual strength that will calm our emotional feelings. He will bring light into our darkness. He will enlighten our thoughts. He will show us there is a better place ahead.

Make no mistake about it, it isn’t easy during those down times. Seeking God may not be our first thought. But knowing those times will come and building our relationship with God beforehand will make it easier to reach out to him in those troubling times. When we lean on God, all things are possible for nothing is impossible for God. He gives us hope, which is powerful.

I pray we all build our relationship with God every day. I pray we recognize our down times. I pray each one of us will reach out to God for spiritual strength and be lifted out of the muck and mire. Know you will go through seasons in life. Ask for strength from God. Build your relationship with him. Trust he will pull you out of the ditch.

1 Corinthians 1:8 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fully Equipped

uiWhat gifts do you have? What are your talents and skills? What can you do that is special? Can you sing well? Are you gifted with the ability to translate languages? Can you adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in? Have you given thought to where your gifts come from?

Each of us are gifted with talents and skills. We may have a knack for playing musical instruments. We may be able to learn languages easily. We may be able to quickly adapt quickly to vastly different situations. We may be great a negotiating or mediating.

There are more talents and skills than we can count. Many of them go unnoticed or taken for granted. For instance, the ability to hear and speak, verbal communication, is a skill that not everyone has, but most of us take for granted. We talk all day long. We exchange ideas, tell stories, relate our day at work to our spouse, and hear the dialog of a movie. We don’t give any of those a second thought.

Each of us is also gifted with spiritual gifts. Not one of us has been gifted all of them. Yet, when we come together as a body of Christ—the church—we have all the gifts we need to carry out God’s mission. None of us can do it all on our own. It requires us to come together, work together, share our ideas and experiences to accomplish the mission God has given us.

When the Apostle Paul wrote today’s passage to the church in Corinth, he was not writing to an individual. He was writing to the body of Christ in Corinth. When he said they were not lacking, he was talking about the group. As a group, we are not lacking. When we come together, we have all we need.

I pray we all come together to accomplish the mission God has given us. I pray we share our gifts with the body of Christ. I pray each one of us will put our gifts to good us in God’s service. Recognize your spiritual gifts. Use your gifts for God. Work with the church. Accomplish the mission God has given the church.

1 Corinthians 1:4-7 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you—so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be a Peacemaker

Have you noticed the disgruntlement and division in our society? What have you done about it? Have you contributed to it? Or have you tried to close the divide? Do you wonder what you can do to help heal the wounds? Have you asked God to step in to save us?

We have seen a significant increase in division throughout our society over the past several years. We can point a finger at any number of people, but that doesn’t bring about healing. We can be part of the problem, or we can be part of the solution. If we do nothing, it is the same as being part of the problem.

The people of God are not about being divisive. If we think we should be, we are very much mistaken. After all, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). We cannot be divisive in nature and call ourselves children of God any more than a rose can be called an oak tree.

But what can we do to heal the divisiveness we see all around us? The first step is, do not contribute to the divisiveness. The second step is, ask God to come into the situation and bring about healing. Third, be willing to be used by God to be a mediator who helps reduce the divide.

It is only when the people of God ask him into the situation, and they are willing to be used by God that we see positive change. As fallen people, we cannot heal ourselves. We need to Great Physician to bring about healing. We need the Ruler of the Universe who can cause national and global change. We need to submit to him and be willing peacemakers. We need to ask God into our lives and the divisive situation.

I pray we all recognize the divisiveness in our society. I pray we ask God into the situation. I pray each one of us will be a willing peacemaker, working alongside God to bring about a positive change. See the divisiveness. Ask God into the situation. Be willing to work with God. Be a peacemaker.

Psalm 80:3

Restore us, O God; 

let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Serve the Least

Who are the least in your life? Are they the homeless? Are they people you do not like? Are they people you know? Are they people you don’t know, but see on the streets? How do you look at them? Are you serving them? If so, how? If not, why not?

We often gravitate toward people we like. We strive to be with people we are attracted to. Many times, we do not even see the least among us. If we do, we may look at them with scorn or pity, but do little for them. We do not see them as Jesus sees them.

To follow Jesus’ commands, we must see the least among us from His point of view. We must look upon them with compassion. We must take mercy upon them and share our blessings with them. It may not be easy to do, but Jesus has shown us how to go about it.

Let’s not mistake this command to mean donating to charities. Though that is a means for providing for those in need, it does not fully satisfy Jesus’ command. No, we must see them with the same heart Jesus sees them. Our compassion cannot be defined with a dollar. It takes far more than that.

We are to treat them kindly. It is not turning our head away when we pass them. It is seeing them, and perhaps speaking to them. It is letting them know they are loved by God, and consequently, loved by us. We may not be able to provide for all their needs, but we can show them the compassion of Jesus.

I pray we all show the least among us Jesus’ compassion. I pray we see them as Jesus sees them. I pray each one of us will take the time to show the least that they are loved by Jesus and by us. Have the compassion of Jesus. Obey His command to love the least. Do what you can. Be Jesus to the least among us.

Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

Glory and Angels

What is your vision of the last day of history? Do you view it as a day of destruction? Or do you view it as a day of glorious victory? Have you heard the truth of what that day will be? Are you looking forward to that day? Does it impact how you live your life today?

We have either seen apocalyptic movies or seen the trailers for them. They paint a bleak picture of humanity after nuclear destruction or the collapse of our atmosphere or some other worldwide catastrophe. The human race struggles to eke out a meager existence.

We might think those moves may come true as we continue to use up the natural resources of the earth. Or we may look to the science fiction movies of space travel and settling on other planets, perhaps planets in another galaxy. The truth of the matter is we don’t know how long this earth will remain nor when it will be destroyed. We do know what the final outcome will be.

Jesus tells us in His own words what the last day of history will look like. He will come in glory. He will bring all the angels with Him. He will sit on the throne of glory. Read that again. Jesus will be on full display to all and His glory will shine over the entire earth. He will bring every angel in heaven with Him. There will be thousands upon thousands of angels accompanying Him in His glory.

He will sit on the throne. Not just any throne, but the throne of glory and of judgment. He will separate the people into two groups. The group who has chosen to follow Him will be put on His right and those who didn’t will be put on His left. The ones on the left will be banished for eternity. The ones on His right will be granted eternal life with Him on a new earth under a new heaven.

Jesus did not mince His words. He has given us no option to waffle or attempt to stand in a gray area. We are either following Him or we are not. We will either spend eternity with Him or be banished to the lake of fire. But the opportunity to make that choice is only given while we live on this earth. It is crucial to make the choice to follow Him each and every day.

I pray we all choose to follow Jesus. I pray we make a conscious choice to follow Him every day. I pray each one of us will be counted among those on His right hand, spending eternity with Him. Know the outcome at the end of time. Trust the truth Jesus’ words. Make the choice to follow Him. Be confident you will spend eternity with God.

Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.”

Fullness of Christ

How do you like to do things? Do you like to ensure you fully complete tasks? Is your preference to participate in successful ventures? Do you want to live life to its fullest? How does this apply to your spiritual life? Are you part of the fullness of Christ?

Most of us like to finish what we started. We enjoy seeing the finished product. Being able to finish a task brings satisfaction and gratification. Living out our lives to its fullest is a goal we seek to achieve. Chasing that fullness can take us down many different paths.

If we want to experience the fullness of spiritual life, there is only one place we can do so—the church. The church is the fullest expression of Christ. He is the head of the church and through His guidance the church fulfills His mission. Without the church, we cannot experience the fullness of Christ.

I know, some will point to flaws in the church. But let’s get this clear. Those mistakes are made by humans, not by the leadership of Christ. We, as humans, have the freewill to make bad choices, whether in the church or out. Therefore, do not let bad experiences in the past keep us away from the church. For it is in the church that we experience Christ in His fullness.

Our culture has become individualistic and many in the church have become that way as well. But it is not in the individual that Christ is full. It is in His body, the church, that He becomes full. Why? Each one of us has been blessed with different gifts. It is only when we come together to share those gifts that we can present the fullness of Christ.

So, be part of a local church body. It not only helps you, but it helps the larger body of Christ and local communities. In the ministry of the church, we show our communities Jesus. The church builds the individual and the collective group. It reaches those who might otherwise go unreached. The church is the only place to experience the fullness of Christ.

I pray we all become part of a local church. I pray we choose a church that helps build our faith. I pray each one of us will contribute to the body of Christ through our work in a local church. Be part of the church. Be part of the body of Christ. Experience the fullness of Christ. Contribute to the mission of Jesus.

Ephesians 1:22-23 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.