Diversity Given

Do you like variety? Do you like diversity? Or do you prefer the same things over and over? Do you like doing different things on different days? Or do you prefer doing the same thing every day? Have you thought about where your desire for something different comes from?

All of us like to eat something different from meal-to-meal. We do not want to eat the same meal three times a day, seven days a week. We like variety in our meals. We also like to take vacations in different places and have different experiences.

Yet, we like our routines. We likely get up at the same time every morning. We may drive the same route to work and leave our home at the same time. Even if our work is a little different, we want it to be planned and predictable. We become comfortable in our routines and may even depend on them.

When we observe other people, which can be extremely entertaining, we discover every person is different. Even identical twins will be different in some way. Why? God created us that way. Not only is every person different in physical attributes, but also different in their abilities. God gave each of us different gifts…and he did so on purpose.

Diversity in us is how we accomplish so many different tasks. It is why we see multitudes of inventions. Varieties of gifts is required for our churches to function well. We need musicians, preachers, administrators, missionaries, and workers. All these gifts are given by God in order to equip his church to carry out the work he has given it. Therefore, see the other person as valuable in God’s church. See them as being gifted by God for a purpose.

I pray we all learn to enjoy the diversity God has created. I pray we enjoy the varieties of gifts God has given. I pray each one of us will see one another has been purposely gifted by God. Enjoy diversity. Celebrate God’s gifts. See one another as gifted by God. Go about the purpose for which God created you.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.

Meditation

Do you meditate regularly? Do you meditate at all? What does meditation mean to you? Do you think of meditation as something foreign or something only monks do? Do you know that meditation can be just a few minutes? Do you know it can be a frame of mind?

I once thought of meditation as someone sitting cross-legged with their palms facing upward and perhaps fingertips touching. The eyes would be closed, and you might even hum. However, that is not the only way to meditate. Meditation can take many forms.

The Psalmist links meditation to singing. We may find this odd, but should we? Music and singing are important methods for praising God. They can help us focus our minds on him. They can take on an attitude of prayer. Focused prayer is a form of meditation.

Another form of meditation is focusing on Scripture. As we read Scripture, when we do not merely pass over the words but take time to focus on them and seek to understand what God is telling us through it is meditation. Contemplating on a subject is meditation. The Psalmist is seeking to contemplate on the things of God.

We can meditate on the things of God throughout our day. It can be five minutes shortly after we wake up. We can take another five minutes during our lunch break. We can focus on him shortly before going to bed. Whenever we can pause for a few minutes, we can meditate on God. We do not need to sit in any specific position. We need our minds to stop thinking about the world around us and focus on God.

I pray we all set aside time to meditate on God every day. I pray we take a few minutes to seek out the things of God. I pray each one of us will use different methods of meditation to please God. Spend time meditating on God. Spend time in prayer. Spend time contemplating. Seek the things of God.

Psalm 104:33-34

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 

May my meditation be pleasing to him, 

for I rejoice in the Lord.

God’s Creativity

Have you ever thought about the number of species there are on this earth? If you had to guess, how many do you think there are? Have you thought that God created them all? What does that tell you about God? Does it indicate to you just how awesome he is?

There are far more species than I ever thought. In fact, there are even more that have yet to be discovered. It is amazing to think that after several thousand years we are still discovering new species on this earth. God has created enough different species to keep us busy for many years to come discovering them.

Depending on which estimate you look at, there are between 3 million and 100 million species on this earth. One estimate believes we have only discovered 22% of them. Another estimate states that 86% of land species and a staggering 91% of water species have yet to be discovered. It is far more than the everyday squirrels, rabbits, dogs, cats, deer, and fish that we normally think of. And God created them all!

Though the Psalmist did not have the advantage of the numerous scientists we have today, he still understood the magnitude of God’s creation. I suggest we take just a moment to think about it ourselves. It may be overwhelming. It may be challenging to do. It will certainly drive home the point that God is far more awesome and creative than we often give him credit for.

Knowing that God has created more species than we have catalogued, far more, provides a glimpse into how awesome God is. It can help put in perspective our place in his creation. To know that he has created millions of species but chooses to be in a personal relationship with us, humans. How can we refuse him reaching out to us?

I pray we all take time to think about God’s creation. I pray we see the awesomeness of God’s creativity. I pray each one of us choose to have a personal relationship with God. See God’s creation. See God’s creativity. Declare God’s awesomeness. Choose a relationship with God.

Psalm 104:24

O Lord, how manifold are your works! 

In wisdom you have made them all; 

the earth is full of your creatures.

Give Your Anxiety to God

Have you humbled yourself before God? Do you submit to him? Do you cast your cares on him? Have you asked God to remove your anxiety? Have you asked him to take your worries? Do you trust that God cares for you?

Humbling ourselves can be hard. After all, we live in a country and a society in which we are repeatedly told to be proud. But humbling ourselves before God brings us to the point of casting our cares on him. We come to the realization that we cannot do it on our own.

When we ask God to remove our fears, worries, and anxiety, he does just that. However, it cannot be mere lip service. It includes us humbling ourselves before him, submitting to him. Doing so places exactly where we need to be.

God cares for us deeply. He wants to remove our fears, worries, and anxiety. He wants us to ask him to do so. He wants us to come to him with a contrite heart. God desires a close, personal relationship with us.

Though humbling ourselves can be difficult, we receive many blessings when we do. When we trust God with our whole heart, we lay all our fears, worries, and anxiety at his feet. God takes care of all of it.

I pray we all humble ourselves before God. I pray we cast our cares on him. I pray each one of us will ask God to take our burdens from us and lift us up on wings like eagles. Humble yourself. Turn your fear over to God. Give God your worries. Give your anxiety to God. Trust God to take care of it.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.

Humbling Advice

Are you a proud person? Are you proud of your accomplishments? Do you take pride in your knowledge?  Do you take pride in your physical abilities? Do you believe yourself to be better than others? What would it take for you to humble yourself?

Each of us are given certain abilities. We may learn things quickly and gain a lot of knowledge. We may have physical skills that allow us to be very good at specific physical events. Far too often we think of ourselves as being better than others because of our abilities.

I have personally been there. In fact, there are times I still find myself in that situation and thinking that way. I must remind myself that I’m just one of billions on this earth and God loves each one of them. It can be hard to be humble. Especially if we have achieved at a high level. It is even harder when others are touting our abilities or telling us how good we are at something.

The Apostle Peter tells us we are to humble ourselves under God. He says that God will exalt us at the right time. But he isn’t the only one who gives this advice. James gives the same advice (James 4:10). And we can go back the Psalmist who also gives us this advice (Psalm 149:4).

What I have discovered over the years is this…they are right. When I have humbled myself before God, asking him to work through me and submitting to his will, he has exalted me in due time. No, it won’t happen the next moment, overnight, or even the next week. But it does happen. Might I suggest all of us could do a little more humbling of ourselves before God and choose to follow his plan for us.

I pray we all humble ourselves before God. I pray we submit to his will and his plan for our lives. I pray each one of us will choose to follow the advice we find in God’s written word. Humble yourself before God. Know that he will exalt you. Follow the advice of Peter. Follow the advice of James. Follow the advice of the Psalmist.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.

God Provides

Do you know people in need? Have you ever encountered and orphan? How many widows do you know? Have you known someone who was left desolate? Do you know someone who has lost everything they own? Have you known someone who was wrongly imprisoned?

I’m sure most of us either currently know of or has known someone who has been in need. We may have been in need ourselves. Having been visited an orphanage several years ago, it breaks your heart to see the young children. It is especially heartbreaking to hear the cries of an infant.

Widows have a different set of needs than orphans, though both have been abandoned in one form or another. A widow may have a retirement and savings to live on. What they lack is companionship.

Those who have lost everything, left desolate have yet another set of needs. They typically need furniture, clothing, food, and a place to stay. But they also need emotional support. The feeling of having lost everything can be crushing.

We have heard stories of someone having been wrongfully imprisoned. But the Psalmist is talking about those who are imprisoned for doing good, those who are following God. It is persecution. Though we may not know of anyone specifically, there are thousands in this situation around the world today.

The Psalmist states that God provides for all these people. However, that provision may not come in this life, rather it is a promise of eternity with God where these situations will no longer exist. We all have eternity to look forward to. In fact, eternity is the only sure thing we can count on.

I pray we all look about us to help those in need. I pray we remember God provides. I pray each one of us continually look forward to an eternity spent with God. Help the needy. Provide companionship. Seek God in all situations. Look forward to eternity. Trust in God.

Psalm 68:5-6

Father of orphans and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation. 

God gives the desolate a home to live in;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, 

but the rebellious live in a parched land.

You Cannot Know

Do you want to know the future? Do you wish you could control the future? Are you trying to control it? Do you listen to predictions others are making? Do you make your own predictions? What are you basing them on? How often are you correct?

It is in our nature to want to know the future. We want to know when we will find a mate. We want to know when we will find the perfect job. We want to know when we will have children. We may even want to know when our days on this earth will come to an end.

The future is not ours to know. Sure, we may be able to make a few small predictions based on past experiences, but we cannot know exactly what the future will bring. Things change. Processes change. People change. Accidents happen. Miracles happen. For some of us, the lack of knowing the future is the genesis of our anxiety. Yet, every single one of us live in the unknown, whether we want to admit it or not.

The Apostles asked Jesus about the future just before He ascended into heaven. He told them it was not for them to know. If Jesus would not reveal the future to those who were the closest to Him, why should we think we should know?

I’ve seen on social media and heard with my own ears people stating the end times are here—Jesus will return before our lives have ended. A few days ago, I even heard another pastor make that statement. Folks, we cannot know when that will happen. Only God the Father knows when that time will come.

I pray we all stop fretting over the future. I pray we put our lives in Jesus’ hands. I pray each one of us trust Jesus to be with us and cast our cares on Him. You cannot know the future. Put your trust in Jesus. Cast your cares on Him. Be relieved of your anxiety. Know that Jesus will never leave you alone.

Acts 1:6-7 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”

God Prayed for You

Do you ask for prayers on your behalf? Are there times of sickness or disease for which you ask others to pray for you? Do you request prayers for a specific situation? Have you prayed for others and their situation? What if you could have God pray for you?

As a pastor, I receive numerous prayer requests. They range from everyday sicknesses to severe disease to personal situations to job hunting to just about anything you can think of. I pray over those requests and pass them on to our prayer warriors who pray over them as well.

Most of us, if not all, have asked others to pray for us or family members or friends at one time or another. Prayer is an effective way to receive help or guidance, even if it does not come by the means we are thinking or wish. Prayer is direct communication with God. God hears our prayers. He remembers our prayers. God addresses our prayers.

But do you know that God has prayed for you? In today’s passage, Jesus prays for all of us. It is part of an entire chapter of Jesus praying, asking the Father to be with not only the disciples who were with Him at that moment, but every disciple of His that will ever be. This is just one example of Jesus’ love for each one of us.

So, when you feel as though you are all alone, remember that Jesus knew you and prayed for you before you were born. When you are struggling, remember that Jesus is with you and there to help you. When you don’t know where to turn, remember that Jesus can and will provide guidance. Remember God has already prayed for your well-being because you belong to him.

I pray we all ask for prayer when needed. I pray we pray for one another in all situations. I pray each one of us remember that Jesus has already prayed for us out of His love for us. Request prayer for your situation. Pray for others. Know Jesus prayed for you. Know Jesus loves you. Know that Jesus is always there for you.

John 17:9 “I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.”

Eternal Glory

Do you seek rewards? Are you seeking recognition? Do you desire to be honored for your accomplishments? Are you looking for your ten-minutes of fame? Do you know you can receive glory that will last forever? Do you know you can do something that will never be forgotten?

We often seek to be recognized for our achievements. Even those of us who do not seek formal recognition appreciate it when others show their appreciation for what we do. We all want to feel as though we are doing something important, something worthwhile.

There are some who seek fame and fortune. They may even be seeking more than ten-minutes of fame. They desire to be on every news broadcast. They may desire to be in an important position. Some want to be in the spotlight and thrive in the attention given them.

We receive eternal glory when we do as Jesus did. When we glorify God on earth, he glorifies us for eternity. Let’s not misunderstand, glorifying God on earth does not mean we must constantly be talking about how wonderful God is. It does mean living our lives as he would have us live them. It means showing people who God is through our actions, behavior, and attitude. As one saying goes, “Tell others about God, and when necessary, use words.”

If we have lived our life as God desires and our time on earth has come to its end, we can say the same words Jesus said. We can say that we have glorified God and ask him to glorify us. God, who keeps his promises, will glorify us for eternity.

I pray we all glorify God during our lives. I pray we glorify God by living our lives as he desires us to do. I pray each one of us will glorify God through our actions, behavior, and attitude. Seek eternal glory. Glorify God in your actions. Glorify God in your behavior. Glorify God with your attitude. Know that God keeps his promises.

John 17:1-3 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Blessed by the Spirit

What does reviling mean to you? Would you like to be reviled? How often do you speak of Christ? Do you speak of Him blessing you? Do you speak of His mighty works? Do you speak of Him standing at the right hand of God the Father? Is His Spirit resting on you?

I dare say that we do not want to be reviled. No, we would much rather fit in, be accepted. We will rarely give credit to Christ working in our lives. We will rarely state it is due to His blessings that we accomplish many tasks. We receive the blessings and take credit for them ourselves.

If we give credit to Christ for our abilities and are reviled, we are blessed. If we give credit to Christ for our accomplishments and are reviled, we are blessed. If we give credit to Christ for our joy, peace, courage, strength, and love, and are reviled, we are blessed.

Giving credit to Christ comes through the Holy Spirit. It is when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us that we will continually give credit to Christ. We are blessed richly by the Spirit of God who is within us. It is the Spirit who confesses the works of Christ in our lives.

Our part in all the works is to be willing; willing to allow the Spirit to work; willing to submit to the power of Christ; willing to follow the Spirit’s leading; willing to confess Christ. Though it is a simple thing to do, it is very challenging for us. We must continually remind ourselves to submit to the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, God the Father. His will is far more important for our lives than we give credit.

I pray we all are willing to submit to the will of God. I pray we give credit to Christ for all that we accomplish. I pray each one of us allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and Christ to work through us. Submit to God’s will. Give Christ the credit. Follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Know that you are blessed.

1 Peter 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.