Christ rose first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will become alive again. —1Corinthians 15:23 ( TLB)
God has made [a] promise to us. “I will come back … ,” he assures us. Yes, the rocks will tumble. Yes, the ground will shake. But the child of God needn’t fear—for the Father has promised to take us to be with him.
But dare we believe the promise? Dare we trust his loyalty? Isn’t there a cautious part of us that wonders how reliable these words may be? …
How can we know he will do what he said? How can we believe he will move the rocks and set us free?
Because he’s already done it once.
When Christ Comes
The teaching I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light. —Matthew 11:30
Paul had an interesting observation about the way we treat people. He said it about marriage, but the principle applies in any relationship. “The man who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28 ). There is a correlation between the way you feel about yourself and the way you feel about others. If you are at peace with yourself—if you like yourself—you will get along with others.
The converse is also true. If you don’t like yourself, if you are ashamed, embarrassed, or angry, other people are going to know it…
Which takes us to the question, “How does a person get relief?” …
“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 )… Jesus says he is the solution for weariness of soul.
When God Whispers Your Name
I am the LORD your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.” —Isaiah_41:13
Could you use some courage? Are you backing down more than you are standing up? Jesus scattered the butterflies out of the stomachs of his nervous disciples…
We need to remember that the disciples were common men given a compelling task. Before they were the stained-glassed saints in the windows of cathedrals, they were somebody’s next-door-neighbors trying to make a living and raise a family. They weren’t cut from theological cloth or raised on supernatural milk. But they were an ounce more devoted than they were afraid and, as a result, did some extraordinary things.
Earthly fears are no fears at all. Answer the big question of eternity, and the little questions of life fall into perspective.
The Applause of Heaven
The person who trusts the LORD will be blessed. —Jeremiah 17:7
Just prior to his crucifixion, [Jesus] told his disciples that he would be leaving them. “Where I am going you cannot follow now, but you will follow later” (John 13:36 ).
Such a statement was bound to stir some questions. Peter spoke for the others and asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now?” (v. John 13:37 ).
See if Jesus’ reply doesn’t reflect the tenderness of a parent to a child: “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this it if were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am going” (John 14:1-3 ).
Reduce the paragraph to a sentence and it might read: “You do the trusting and I’ll do the taking.”
When Christ Comes
He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people. —Mark 10:45
One of the incredible abilities of Jesus was to stay on target. His life never got off track… He kept his life on course.
As Jesus looked across the horizon of his future, he could see many targets. Many flags were flapping in the wind, each of which he could have pursued. He could have been a political revolutionary… He could have been content to be a teacher and educate minds… But in the end he chose to be a Savior and save souls.
Anyone near Christ for any length of time heard it from Jesus himself. “The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them” (Luke 19:10 )… The heart of Christ was relentlessly focused on one task. The day he left the carpentry shop of Nazareth he had one ultimate aim—the cross of Calvary.
Just Like Jesus
Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. —Colossians_3:13
Unity doesn’t begin in examining others but in examining self. Unity begins not in demanding that others change, but in admitting that we aren’t so perfect ourselves…
The answer to arguments? Acceptance. The first step to unity? Acceptance. Not agreement, acceptance. Not unanimity, acceptance. Not negotiation, arbitration, or elaboration. Those might come later but only after the first step, acceptance.
In the Grip of Grace
God can do all things. —Matthew_19:26
Nature is God’s workshop. The sky is his resume. The universe is his calling card. You want to know who God is? See what he has done. You want to know his power? Take a look at his creation. Curious about his strength? Pay a visit to his home address: 1 Billion Starry Sky Avenue.
He is untainted by the atmosphere of sin, unbridled by the time line of history, unhindered by the weariness of the body.
What controls you doesn’t control him. What troubles you doesn’t trouble him. What fatigues you doesn’t fatigue him. Is an eagle disturbed by traffic? No, he rises above it. Is the whale perturbed by a hurricane? Of course not, he plunges beneath it. Is the lion flustered by the mouse standing directly in his way? No, he steps over it.
How much more is God able to soar above, plunge beneath, and step over the troubles of the earth!
The Great House of God
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”—Matthew 25:40.
IS IT not wonderful that our Lord should identify Himself thus with the hungry and thirsty, the weary and homeless, the outcast and suffering? If any who read these words should be in one of these conditions, be greatly comforted, for Jesus suffered thus in His earthly career, and remembers what it is like. His sympathy and understanding are warm and inexhaustible, and He accepts any kindness as though it were done directly to Himself.
We must be on the outlook for those whom we can help, remembering that the outstretched hand or petition is His. But we must beware, on the other hand, and endeavour to help people wisely. In giving to every beggar that asks alms we may inflict injury on the moral nature by encouraging them to be lazy and careless. We are not to distribute money, food, and clothing alone, but to give personal ministry which may cost us more!
Christ speaks of those who give hand-help to others as righteous, because it is only as we are really right with God that we are merciful to men. Righteousness and mercifulness are one.
The sin of omission! Notice that those who were banished and exiled from the presence of the King were judged because of what they did not do. We may be condemned not simply for actual sins committed, but for what we neglect to do. Not to bind up and care for the wounded or ill-treated, but to pass by on the other side; not to have the oil ready for the lamp; not to make use of the talent or gift entrusted, this involves condemnation, and degrades the soul to the level of the devil and his angels.
Let us ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus, who went about doing good, and healing all who were sick and in need. He has made over the great debt we owe to Him to the poor and needy, and says that whatever we do to others for His sake, He will accept as payment to Himself.
PRAYER
O God, we have been too self-centred. We have forgotten that our best and happiest life must be lived in fellowship with the needs, and sorrows, and trials of others. Help us to cheer them with our love, to hearten them with our courage, and to bear their burdens so far as we may. AMEN.
If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. —1John 1:8
We do ourselves no favors in justifying our deeds or glossing over our sins. Some time ago my daughter Andrea got splinter in her finger. I took her to the restroom and set out some tweezers, ointment, and a Band-Aid.
She didn’t like what she saw. “I just want the Band-Aid, Daddy.”
Sometimes we are just like Andrea. We come to Christ with our sin, but all we want is a covering. We want to skip the treatment. We want to hide our sin. And one wonders if God, even in his great mercy, will heal what we conceal.
How can God heal what we deny? How can God touch what we cover up?
A Gentle Thunder
“But let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord”
Jeremiah 9:23.
Among the many things that dominate our deepest dreams, there are three that stand out above the rest. They are Knowledge, Strength, and Wealth.
Think about how much of who you are in the eyes of others (and perhaps even yourself) is defined by your level of intelligence, your physical appearance and abilities, and your bank account. Indeed, the American Dream is about having as much education, physical prowess, and financial clout as we can possibly acquire.
The pursuit of these things often determines the life we end up living….or losing.
The Lord used Jeremiah the prophet to deliver a timeless truth for men of all ages. “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,” Jeremiah wrote, “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight” (Jeremiah 9:23,24).
You may be smart, and possess many degrees, and have keen insight into many different fields of knowledge—but, do you know the Lord?
You may be a physical specimen, strong and resilient, looking as though you’ve just come down from Olympus—but, do you know the Lord?
You may be loaded with money, with no end in sight of all the riches you are yet to acquire—but, do you know the Lord?
Ultimately your knowledge will prove limited, your body will wear down, and your money will belong to somebody else; so it would be the height of folly to place your trust in these things. But the people who know the Lord, we are told, “will be strong and do exploits!” (Daniel 11:32). So, do you know the Lord?
There are people who do not know the Lord, and refuse to acknowledge Him because of their pride and ignorance. There are some who imagine that they know Him, but live in fear of Him, created by lies that they have believed about Him. And then there are those who do know the Lord truly, and love Him dearly.
Which one are you?