Whom Do We Serve?

No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and wealth.

Matthew 6:24

In each moment of our lives we are confronted with, “Whom do we serve?” A constant decision of either trying to please the world and its ways or to live the life Jesus desires for us. These two opposing forces are present in every action and thought we have. When we chose the ways of the world, we are serving ourselves and are resigned to fleeting, temporary successes. When we chose the path of Jesus, our roads straighten, and our gains become sustainable. Choosing the path of Jesus requires the recognition of the sovereign and loving nature of God and the importance of loving our neighbor. Our hearts desire Jesus, but we are always tempted by fame, money, and worldly acceptance. In Jesus we receive no temptations but a life that absorbs the inevitable storms that will occur. Turning to Jesus leads us down a path our heart desires. A path that leads to a purposeful life and avoids a conflicted one.

Points of Reflection

·     Whom do you serve and why?

·     What are the things of life that tempt you and draw you away from Jesus?

·     What do you want your life to look like?

To Kneel Or Not to Kneel: A Very Personal Decision

He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

Luke 22:41

I will always stand. The flag represents the opportunities that I inherited by being American. But I also know, others haven’t had the same access to a life of unlimited opportunities. When those who are limited kneel, it makes me want to work harder to fight for their equality of opportunity. 

Jesus kneeled in the garden, out of respect for God and showed his submission. He spoke his famous words in this position; not my will but yours be done. Kneeling is a sacred act when done with an honest and pure heart. And over these many centuries, many have assumed this position to seek the truth and express their desires. And many more will in the future. In each individual case kneeling is a very personal individual decision. 

Like many issues, kneeling isn’t an issue with which to take sides. Rather it is one with which praying will help us understand, perhaps kneeling while we do. 

Winston Churchill; A Flawed Man Who Saved a Nation

 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1st Timothy 1:15

Each of us has had regrettable moments, some of us more than others. However, If we turn to evaluating people exclusively by their weaknesses, the world will not be a better place. For all would be banished. Churchill wouldn’t have saved Europe, nor Paul emerge as one of the great leaders of Christianity.

Humankind is very complicated and judgement that comes to easy will eventually sink us. Jesus died on a cross for a reason. To end judgement of our sin and we became redeemed. Perhaps forgiveness can be a new fashionable way of life. I certainly know that this is what Jesus would want. 

There will always be a clucking Nay-Sayers, who seek to destroy.  Forgetting where the world be without Churchill and Paul. And Jesus wants us to be forgivers and not judges. Jesus knows our frailties, but also knows our capacity to do far more good.  

I pray for the day, when we look for the good in people and not just at the bad.. 

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“I Can’t Speak, But I can Listen”

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.

Luke 10:27

Meet Luke MaCallister, a modern day Good Samaritan. A remarkably generous young man with Autism that has taught an entire community, what it means to love your neighbor.  

We must lift up the many great people from all walks of life that have lifted up our country. Instead of cancelling and living darkly, we need to become followers of the light. Looking for those who do good. We should honor our heroes more widely, those who make us great. We need to gather up the great doers of good and let them lead. Not this angry mob that trolls the internet to seek people to cancel.

We won’t agree with our neighbor on every point of view. Jesus asks us however, to love all our neighbors.

Jesus wants us to walk in light and not the darkness of judging others. Jesus wants us to listen to learn and not prepare our next attack. 

Jesus wants us to love and forgive. As Jesus did when he went to the Cross. 

Jesus Strengthens Us

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

When we fully turn our hearts to Jesus, we become strengthened. In this instant, we leave the ways of the world behind and accept the ways of Jesus. No longer does acquiring material things matter. Our focus becomes one of being a disciple and helping others. With this change in focus we become joyful. The ways of the world, which bring only temporary happiness, are replaced with a life of a hopeful faith. The fear of scarcity is gone, and the desire to possess ebbs. In turn, the joy of contentment and the desire to help emerge. We no longer are bound by the chains of material possessions but take on the lighter yoke of Christ. Through this transformation we are strengthened and find a different purpose to our lives. 

Points of Reflection

·     What are your possessions, and why did you acquire them?

·     If you had to get rid of certain possessions what would they be? 

·     Why is Jesus’s yoke lighter, and how does it strengthen you?

Handling Times of Stress

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.

Psalms 46:1

Where do we turn when we are alone in the wilderness of life? We can panic, which is only a short-term salve. We can be fearful and doubtful, both of which are deceptive emotions. Or in this wilderness, we can find refuge in God. A place that requires patience and hopefulness. Through our faithful and patient prayers, we will see God’s response in an extraordinarily personal way. A way that is both providential and intimate to us. When we faithfully sit and wait in the refuge of God, our thoughts are calm and our being is resolute. The dark skies of life will begin to lighten and become brighter. At the pace of our understanding, God will reveal our path out of life’s wilderness. God will be very present in this journey of recovery. Our trust in a loving God begins the solution.

Points of Reflection

·     What are your troubles today, and how are they affecting you? 

·     Have you gone to God in faithful prayer to seek a path of resolution?

·     Describe an event in the past when God helped. What was unique about this experience?

In this age of cancelling people are we doing more good or bad? Perhaps if we knew the real story behind, Nancy Green, the woman who is portrayed on the Aunt Jemima products, we will change our point of view.

Discover the real story of a great Christian who lived her life to help others.

Jesus’s Promise

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

John 15:9

Jesus promises to us the same love God has shown him. This promise is of eternal love, not one that is momentary or fleeting. It is certain and true and never ending, even in the darkest moments of our lives. As we embrace and accept this love, we will know of no other place to turn. In return for this eternal gift God asks of us one request–a simple statement to trust and to abide in this love. Not to turn away from God when life gets hard but to have hope, which builds faith that in turn builds trust. For this magnificent gift of God’s love, we only have to turn our hopes, faith, and trust towards Jesus. It is a wonderful gift of freedom for the small price of abiding. 

Points of Reflection

·     What has been hardest about accepting the love of God through Jesus?

·     What does abiding in Jesus’s love mean? 

·     Why is God’s love so important, and how is it different from the love we receive from others?

Is humankind totally depraved? I don't think so, based on my life's experiences and especially my mom.  Learn Biblically why this is true and why the Doctrine of Sin agrees.