the Heart

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THE MYSTERY REVEALED

(1 Corinthians 2:9&10) However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul refers to the great mystery that had been hidden from the beginning of time and now revealed by his Spirit.  The advent of Jesus the Christ is the beginning of this great reveal.  God in his wisdom, that is far beyond what we can conceive, has always had a plan for our redemption. A baby, born to a common family, lying in a manger made for feeding animals, is the beginning of this astonishing miracle.  Jesus came that we might have new life, eternal life.

The great love of our Creator did not allow him to abandon us.  He would give his one and only son unto a torturous death, allowing him to take on the sins of the whole world.  But Jesus did not Just come and go; he grew up like a regular human child, and he spent his adult years teaching us a new way to live. For those of us who have received him, we have been given new life guided by the infilling of his Holy Spirit.

Christmas is a celebration of the reveal. A mystery that was long hidden until the time was ready for its release.  We are all given invitations to what God’s love accomplished for us in his redemption plan.  Don’t miss out! Receive this great gift that our creator has offered us and join in on the everlasting celebration!

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GOD REALLY LOVES US

(Psalm 139:13-17) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  How precious to me are your thoughts, God!  How vast is the sum of them!

From the very beginning of creation, God took great interest in bringing forth mankind. He bent down and formed man with his own hands, and then he formed woman.  Each one was formed from the earth he had created.  King David recognized that God involves himself in the creation of each one of us as he knits us together in our mother’s womb. And isn’t it interesting that he has knowledge of each day of our lives from the beginning of our existence.

There is an intimacy between us and God that transcends our understanding, but his great love for us was revealed when he sent his Son to redeem us.  When we consider these things, it becomes apparent that God is continually working on his desire to have a relationship with us.  Remember, God did not create us and then walk away.  We walked away!

In my own life, I stayed away from God in those early years.  I wanted to do life on my own terms.  I had an awareness that he was there, but I kept my distance.  When the realization of how badly I had messed up my live came crashing in, God, who was waiting patiently, received me with open arms.  I deserved punishment, but through the work of Jesus, I was granted grace.  From that moment on, I began to live a life of blessing in the arms of my God.

I now know that the greatest foolishness in this life is to try to live it without the one who created us and loves us.  The greatest fulfillment in this life is to seek God and his will for us.  Nothing is better than a relationship with the one who calls himself Our Father.

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THE BEAUTY OF WORKING TOGETHER

(1 Corinthians 12:27) Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

I woke up this morning to begin my seventh day at Clovis Community Hospital.  It has been a long stay, but I’ve found that the time I’ve been here has afforded me a grand opportunity to observe the daily routine of those who work here.  From the men and women who clean and sanitize to the doctors who bear life altering decisions, there is a beauty to behold.

I’m not sure what the governing mission statement of Clovis Community Hospital might be, but what I see is an intense desire to bring healing, comfort and hope to their patients. Each member of the staff, no matter what their job might be, makes a vital contribution to the outcome.  Like a puzzle, every piece is necessary for a completed picture.  As I’ve observed the ebb and flow of each day, the sights and sounds of the hallway traffic seem to resolve into a rhythm of teamwork and cooperation.

These hospital workers, working together toward a common goal, provide a beautiful example of what the Apostle Paul is describing as he talks of the body of Christ.  We have a common goal of leading the unsaved to Jesus, along with mutual encouragement, prayer support, and loving each other as Jesus loves us.  We each have gifts, a call from the Lord, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  We also have an enemy who works very hard to keep us distracted from our common goal.  We work best when we stay close to the body and do our part.  The body provides a haven from the enemy.

Well, in light of this hospital experience, I’m encouraged to stay focused on our common goal, and to work on staying in flow with the body of Christ.  Of course, each of us can only do that by staying connected to the head, Jesus Christ.

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

When I was a newly committed Christian, I was often perplexed about how I should act.  As time went on, how to act as a Christian seemed to fall into place.  Here in this scripture the Apostle Paul gives clear instructions of how a Christian should conduct life each day.  Don’t worry, most of us fall painfully short of these challenges.  However, these challenges do guide us to a more Kingdom of God consciousness and away from the cares of the world.

It’s easy to get lost in the cares of our everyday life, but let’s begin to break down what Paul is calling us to do. “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  My take on this is to begin each day by having a special time with the Lord.  Prayer after all is talking to the Lord.  Then, throughout the day, pray for those we know are in need of prayer and pray as we encounter situation that call for prayer.

As an example, This morning I was sitting on the patio at Starbucks, enjoying my coffee, when I noticed a young couple having what appeared to be a very stressful conversation.  I was drawn to pray for them.  When I left, I stopped by their table.  I said to them, “Pardon the interruption, but I noticed that there was some distress here at your table, so I prayed for you.”   Not knowing what response to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at their reaction.  They both lit up with big smiles and thanked me.  I smiled back and said, “God bless you.”  I continued on to my truck and headed home.

On the way home I was reliving the scene, and it occurred to me, this encounter is what Paul meant by being watchful.  I thanked God for the opportunity and prayed some more for that couple.

I think that devoting yourself to prayer is something we all do as Christians.  Are we perfect at it?  Well, since we are not perfect, let’s stay ever increasingly alert for opportunities.  In our everyday life as Christians, God will guide us into situations that need our prayers.  We need to be watchful and thankful.

I have posted the complete section of this scripture with the idea to continue focusing on what the Apostle Paul reveals to us in this passage. I’m looking forward to digging into his words for the treasures they hold.

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GOD DOES NOT ABANDON US

(Hebrews 13:5) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

When we go through a time of struggle, does God abandon us?  For example, a struggle can be with our faith, our situation, or our emotions.  There are many things we can struggle with in our walk with God.  I recently struggled through an emotional stretch.  At times, I couldn’t even feel the presence of God.  I eventually discovered, God was there all the time.  He was just waiting for the right time to help me.

As an object lesson on what I went through, I have a kitten story to share.  It helped me understand God’s timing, and why he sometimes delays his intervention.

I have three kittens growing up in my garage.  They are very cute, and their antics are quite entertaining.  They have now reached the time of introduction to the backyard.  While exploring the backyard, they have discovered trees. They’ve discovered that climbing trees is easy; getting down is much more problematic.  Two of them have worked that out, but the third one got scared and needed to be rescued.  Her first three climbs ended in a rescue mission.  However, on the fourth climb, I just pulled up a chair and watched her struggle.

She made at least a half dozen attempts, moved forward then backed up.  Finally, she made it.  Since then, I’ve seen her do another tree and come down all on her own.  The lesson has been learned.

 I think in my case, God pulled up a chair and watched.  He was right there to save me, but he wanted me to learn how to handle the situation.  I gained a great deal from the experience.  The best part was that I recognized God did not abandon me; he just gave me time to learn.

God never leaves us or forsakes us. He is always there.  However, he might just wait in the background giving us time to learn.

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FORGIVENESS

(Matthew 6:14&15) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus made it quite clear that we need to forgive others of their sins.  Forgiving is difficult for us.  Even simple things like being cut off in traffic challenge our forgivability, but we must overcome our self-righteous need for revenge.  Forgiving is not optional.

 Beyond the simple things, there are many worse things to challenge our ability to forgive.  I can think of some very horrible sins that seem impossible to forgive. I’ll leave the magnitude of that to your imagination.  Yet, since God forgives “all” of our sins, there seems to be no limitation on which sins we can forgive.

So, let’s talk about family relations and the forgiveness that must take place in these close relationships.  I’m reminded of an old song that stated, “You always hurt the one you love; the one you shouldn’t hurt at all.”  Isn’t it true that those closest to us often take the blunt of our ill moods and self-protective responses.  I know my wife has lots of opportunities to forgive me, and, dare I say, I have a share of opportunities to forgive her.   If we chose not to forgive each other, these sins would build a wall of unforgiveness between us.  This would put our relationship on a downward slide, eventually this could lead to divorce.

From the family outward, the need to forgive becomes obvious.  If we hold unforgiveness in our heart, then it will fester, rob us of relationships, and make us bitter and alone. Our lack of forgiving others hurts us. Understanding this, I can begin to comprehend why Jesus was so adamant about us forgiving one another.

 God loves us and forgives us.  He sent his Son to pay for our sins, so he could forgive us and restore relationship with us.  Forgiveness is God’s way of dealing with sin.  The only alternative is eternal punishment.  God doesn’t want that for any of us.

God is love.  Forgiveness makes room for Love.

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THE CORD OF THREE STRANDS

(Genesis 2:18) The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Throughout our 44 years of marriage, there have been times when my wife and I have spent time away from each other.  We are currently in one of those seasons. My wife is away tending to a sick brother. I find it emotionally painful to be apart, but it is somewhat beneficial in that our desire for each other is heightened.  From the beginning God acknowledged that man has need for a companion.  Though not clearly stated, our companionship was never meant to exclude God.

Forty-four years ago, two sinners came together to form an intimate relationship.  Would this relationship last?  Ah, they had a distinct advantage.  They both had recently formed a strong relationship with their creator. From the start, God was at the center of their union. What that meant is that in hard, difficult times, they had God to turn to.  When times went well, they knew who to thank. 

So here I am sitting alone at my desk, and what is on my mind?  Gratefulness to God for this beautiful, wonderful woman he brought to me those many years ago.  God has been so good to us.  I am thoroughly convinced that God has been at the center of our successful marriage.

(Proverbs 18:22) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God’s presence in any relationship is vital, because with him you can form a strong bond. Thus, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” In marriage his presence makes all the difference. 

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CHOOSE THE GOOD

(Psalm 64:1-6) Here me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.  Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.  They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.  They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.  They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”  They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!”  Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

Since mankind rebelled against God, we have known the difference between good and evil.  God encourages us to do good; who encourages us to do evil?  Ah, we remember the snake.  He, the devil, and all his cohorts work very hard to lead us away from God and his goodness.

Because we have all inherited the rebellious nature of Adam and Eve, we must continuously battle between good and evil.  If evil wins, we see the fruit of it in our choices and actions.  In Psalm 64 David describes what evil looks like in those who choose to perpetrate it.  The people who David calls his enemies show no consideration to the consequences of their actions.  In fact, they delight in the devastation they inflict on others.

In Psalm 65 David talks about those who choose God’s goodness. (Psalm 65:1-4) Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.  You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.  When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.  Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!  We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.  In these people, we see God honored and praised; thankfulness is in their hearts and on their lips, and they are filled with the good things of God.

What a contrast between those who choose evil and those who choose good.  Yet, even If you have immersed yourself in evil, God has made a way to repent and turn to him. All his children have come to the moment of repentance, and they have been renewed by God’s perfect solution to overcome sins hold. He gave his only Son.  Now is the time to repent, humble yourself, and turn to God.  He will welcome you with open arms.  If you choose not to receive God’s salvation, you will be punished for all your sins.

Choose the good and live in the goodness of God.  Choosing evil always leads to destruction.  Living life the way God intended will lead us to loving others and ultimately eternal life.  Following the ways of evil leads to exploiting others and finally punishment.

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SEEKING GOD

(Jeremiah 29:13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Mankind has always thought there was more to life than just his time on earth.  Our history shows that we have always searched for eternity.  In Ecclesiastes 3:11 Solomon tells us why, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  We search for eternity because God has placed it in our hearts.  We also know that there is a God because of the beauty of the creation in which we exist.  God is a mystery to be found, yet he does not hide himself from us.  We can find him if we seek him with all our heart.

There has always been, deep inside my consciousness, an awareness that God exists.  Through the years, I have developed a loving relationship with him.  How did this come about?  It came about when I came to a desperate place in my life, and I called out to him.  He answered me!  Since then, I have sought to know him. 

In those early years, during times of worship, I’d sing a song whose words were “I love you, Lord.”  I remember thinking, do I really love the Lord.  Today I can emphatically say “yes, I love you, Lord”, because I have spent time seeking him.  I have found him and developed a deep love for him.  Most of all, in those years of seeking him, I discovered his great love for me.

Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”1 The writer of Hebrews said, “…anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”2 All of us, who are followers of Jesus, know that these words are true.  Because we have sought after him, we have found him, and he has rewarded us with eternal life and an everlasting relationship with himself.

1Matthew 7:7

2Hebrews 11:6

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THE SEVENTH DAY

(Exodus 34:21) Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.

(Galatians 5:1) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

I chose these two scriptures for contrast.  From Exodus God says you shall rest on the seventh day.  In Galatians, the Apostle Paul tells us that we have been set free in Christ.  So, do we have to rest on the seventh day?

My answer to this question is: It’s no longer a “have to”; It’s a “get to”.  What I mean by that is the Law was a way to identify disobedience; we now live by faith.  In faith, I trust that God loves me.  His ways are now my desire.  I trust that when he says take a rest, it is advantageous for me.

The benefit of a seventh day rest is the opportunity to get closer to God and closer to our brothers and sisters.  There are many ways to get closer to God and our fellow believers.  Church is an obvious choice, but how about a walk in the park or down a country road with Jesus.  Maybe a cookout with friends and neighbors for fellowship.  The important goal of a seventh day rest is to first honor our creator.  He alone deserves our worship, and he alone loves us enough to die for us.  The other important purpose is to clear away the stresses and exhaustion of the other six days.

Observing the seventh day is not always possible, but it is always helpful.  I’m remembering that Jesus said the sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.  God established six days of work and a seventh day for rest because he designed us and knew exactly what we would need. Mainly, he knew that we needed him.  He set aside a day of rest for us, so we could have the time to be nearer to him.