Find Your Refuge

Lord, be our Refuge and spread your protection over us today as we battle the world in faith with love and hope. 

Friday's Strength

Lord, for those of us who feel a bit beat up by the world, strengthen our hearts. For those us who feel good and things are going well, protect our hearts from letting up and forgetting that the battle still rages on. Grant us the strength to stand in Christ Jesus our Lord and to love as he has loved us. Open our eyes to see the battle around us and that greater is he that is within us than he that is in the world. Praise be to you in us today!

How to Know God Loves You

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 

To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Revelation 3:19-22 NIV

In case you haven't figured it out, my purpose is to highlight a simple truth found in a given section of scripture and try to make it applicable to us today. I am not attempting to give a full on exegetical exploration and teaching. I am not against that at all. It's just that my desire for these posts is that someone can sit down and in a short amount of time focus on their relationship with God and be encouraged and or exhorted to walk by faith. 

I know the verses just preceding 19-22 are very important and often (for good reason) quoted and taught. I just want to focus on the truth that discipline is a proof that God loves us. In the duplicity of our hyper politically correct culture to disagree is often commingled with hate and opposition. Especially here in the United States. Opposing political arguments are embedded with hate. That's just not how God works. When he rebukes us and disciplines us it is not because he is opposed to us, it's because he loves us and desires that we live in righteousness. 

Think of Christ when he rebuked Peter in Matthew 16:23. Right after Peter's great confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, Peter tries to tell the Lord he couldn't suffer and be killed. We know how the Lord responded saying, "Get behind me. Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Then Jesus taught them about denying themselves, picking up their crosses and truly following him. Later, after the resurrection, Christ re-affirms Peter as a shepherd of His sheep. I know many like to call it reinstating Peter, but I don't really see Christ un-instating Peter. He called Peter out, but, he didn't toss him out. He loved Peter, so he rebuked him and disciplined him. 

I think most Christians, if they are honest, at some time or another, wonder if God loves them. We often struggle because we equate love with thoughtful gifts, romantic longings and warm fuzzies. I know my parents loved me because they disciplined me even when I was seemingly unresponsive. They told me the truth, even when I didn't want to hear it. They said no, even when I begged, threatened or pleaded. I didn't enjoy it, but, I am thankful they did. Now we know that God's love is unfailing and his wisdom is omniscient. He knows the end from the beginning and and he works all things for the good of those who love him. 

So, have you been or are you being rebuked or disciplined  by the Lord? Then he loves you.

Are Your Ears Ready?

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Revelation 2:7 NIV

A friend of mine once told me that sometimes we're not ready to listen until we're ready to listen. But, you know, a lot of times our willingness to listen is more important than our comfort level. If you have ever tried to help someone who needed help but didn't think they needed help (or to change), you know what I mean. If you are like me, you've probably been that person. 

Being willing to hear what the Spirit is saying to you and respond in faith is the crux of our lives as Christians. I think it was Francis Schaeffer who said that at one point all Christianity is existential, meaning that it's what we do that makes our faith real. 

I know it's Friday. I realize it's the end of the week. Remember to take a moment and listen. What has the Lord been moving in your conscience to deal with, trust him with, obey him about? If the Spirit has something in your life, it's time, ready or not, to deal with it. The good news is that he that called you is faithful to work his will in you. 

What's on your heart?

Because Love Covers

The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:7-8 NIV

When I first started teaching the rule was to just keep your mouth shut until you became permanent because until then you could get a non-satisfactory notice from your principal and that it was it, game over. I remember waiting to get that notice, even though all my evaluations had been good, because I just didn't want my future riding on the mood of some administrator. Even after I got my "PERM" classification, I tried to pay attention and watch what I said. 

I became a Christian near the end of the Jesus movement in the late 70's and the end times was a central topic. Hal Lindsey, Chuck Smith, and others were proclaiming the soon return of Christ. It brought a certain seriousness and hope to following Christ. Now, I still think Christ is coming soon and I frankly believe he could come at any time and sort of wonder what we are missing in our eschatology (besides 'no man knows the day or hour'). 

So, when Peter tells us that the end of all things is near I think that our attitudes and actions should reflect the idea that Christ could come back at any moment. That's the idea of being clear minded and self-controlled. The bottom line is that we should love each other deeply. Some translations use the word fervent or severe. Remember we're not talking about some warm fuzzy- flower peddles floating down - music playing- emotion, we are talking about sacrificial, die to yourself, Christ-like love. There will be sin and love will be needed to cover it. What better thing could you or I be doing when Christ returns than trying to love someone with the love of Christ?