Something Special

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Rom. 3:23

Man has an ongoing search for greater meaning. We seek this through avenues of self-fulfillment and satisfaction. We attempt speedier ways to find convenience and promotion. Our computers and phones change almost by the moment. The way we do business and draw customers to our products is enhanced daily. Transitions to something ‘new’ happen in our world faster than sometimes our brains can take in.

Yet, as innovative and intelligent as we have become, we still haven’t learned to place sin on our priority list as the greatest hindrance to our well-being. Sin remains a problem in the heart of every man and woman. Even on the days we are at our best and following the Lord with all our hearts, even then, the enemy finds a way to lure us away through wandering thoughts, prideful reflections and self-absorption. Mankind would do well to probe the deeper heart stuff that matters far more than having new conveniences and comfort. The valid solution to our greatest struggle isn’t the need for the latest device, strongest abs or silky smooth shampoo; it’s the need to welcome our Savior who renews our hearts from the inside out, and who gives us abundant grace when we don’t quite get it right.

Each of us is something special in God’s eyes, made for His purposes. Yet, we keep losing sight of this because everything outside of Him is noisily attractive.

The constant urge for something ‘better’ but not deeper is the very thing that moves us away from the Lord and into sin. It’s what takes our minds off His will and onto other things.

New devices aren’t, within themselves, sinful. However, the desire for something better calls us from where we are in Christ to believe lies like: boiling over in anger is my only option, eating this one more dessert will calm me down, stealing will give me what I need or committing murder or adultery will make me feel good. We think there is always something out there better than what we have already in plenty and in abundance in the Lord.

It is one thing to talk about other people (the sins of the world) and another to talk about personal sin. There is an arrogance in each of us that even in our most humble moments, our brains still run away from admitting fault. Yet, the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) paves the way for us to understand the beautiful picture of a Father who waits for His children to come home, a home that is full of blessings and life.

Conviction, confession, repentance and transformation through Christ are essential for us to know Him more and live our lives for Him.

Such a life truly is blessed, but let’s go even further. We will never, on this earth, get our lives perfectly right like the Lord Jesus did. We, in our muddy clothes are cleansed and made clean by Jesus’ blood. His perfect life and death on a cross brought us salvation. He covers us with HIS righteousness, if only we would accept this priceless gift in faith.

Yes, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (in the works of our flesh). We must admit our position as we stand before our great Lord and Father. Then we accept His gift of mercy as we fall on our faces at His feet. He is a good Father and loves us deeply.

Lord, we have missed the truth of who you have made us to be by going after other things, and so often failing. Please cover us with Christ’s blood. Make us clean and whole, and with your strength, help us to follow you and your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Useful Hands, Happy Hearts

Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty (Prov. 28:19).

Work is a blessing. Work, if we allow it, can occupy our minds with strong, positive thoughts and great expectations of what the work will produce. Our strenuous efforts keep us out of mischief. The results of our labors bless our families and ourselves. The work also blesses others who see our good example and learn from our good ways. Our work pleases God, especially when we use the income to help those in need.

Col 3:23 says that whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

Eph 4:28 says that anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Fantasies, from today’s verse, are things our minds make up that we wish would happen but never do. Staying in the fantasy world is a form of discontentment about the reality we live in. Chasing fantasies leads us to laziness and dependence on others to fulfill our needs.

Fantasy is different from intentional contentment and godly joy in our circumstances. In facing the truth, just the way it is, there can also be the acknowledging of treasures within the trials. Chasing joy in the Lord (not fantasies) arms us with a mindset of the value of work God puts within us.

What is the work we do?

The answer to this question varies from person to person. For some, the work is an occupation. Others raise children and manage a home. Each of us faces the work of maintaining our possessions. There is also the work it takes to support our chosen activities and even our entertainment and rest. Add to this the fact that we must grow or purchase and prepare our daily food with the expectation of after meal clean ups.

In our daily obligations, we reap the rewards of faithful diligence and integrity. Yet, idle or wicked choices can bring unhelpful, unproductive and even destitute lives.

All of what we do can be blessed work that carries with it the cause and effect of today’s verse. If you work, you will eat. What you put your heart into tends to yield pleasant or unpleasant results depending on the focus.

Work not only upholds our physical existence, the intentional exertion spent on our souls also promotes a spiritual flourishing.

Heb. 12:14 (NLT) Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

It is important to note that prayer is work, as is refraining ourselves from angry words and unkind deeds. To labor in self-control and patience yields great fruit to our spirits.

On the contrary, it also takes work to be angry. One’s mind must intensely and incessantly dwell on the object of one’s anger and the offense committed. One’s mind is in the process of working amidst irritable words and thoughts and the inability to let go and forgive. One’s heart works hard at pride. It takes work to frown, worry, fear and have anxiety. Instead, it is so very wise to intensely and incessantly learn the work of living in peace.

Father, thank you for the work that lies ahead of each of our days. Thank you for strengthening our hands for each task. Give us hearts that work hard at the qualities that move us closer to you. When this day is over, help us to have labored at love and stretched ourselves to be kind. Over all things, teach us to be like your son, Jesus, whose work of giving up His life for us all saved us to live forever with you. In His name I pray, Amen.

Reflecting Beauty for His Glory

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. Proverbs 27:19

If I sought my reflection as I knelt by a stream of water, it would display my precise countenance. I would be greeted with a smile OR a frown depending on what was on my face.

Likewise, my joyful or angry demeanor affects mankind in my small corner of the world, which then boomerangs back to bless or curse my life. I see my own reflection when I meet my fellowman.

We all need something to reflect back to us our physical flaws; hair out of place, button undone, smudges on the forehead from gardening. In some ways, we are harder on ourselves than others. Yet, others see many things we don’t see. Humanity can be a wonderful source (or mirror) to reflect to us what needs to be addressed. Many in our circle have worthy gifts to help us alter our appearance for the better.

Even more, we need them to reflect our heart’s flaws. This happens in relationships that mirror back to us who we are by how we act or what we say. And like our physical appearance, people we’re familiar with will tend to know more about our hearts than we know about ourselves. They know our blind spots.

Sometimes we learn more about who we are as humans by observation. Those with whom we imagine ourselves to have the least in common may be more like us than we think. A man might be judgmental of a person until he goes through what they are going through. He becomes overwhelmed with compassion and unity for all God’s people. We have so much more in common than we know.

Furthermore, we can see our hearts with more clarity when we read God’s word. The Bible gives us the best standard to compare ourselves and be refined.

Water reflections reveal the face. Our lives reveal the heart. Seeing ourselves the way we really are in the reactions of our family and friends or in God’s word can be a deep process of conviction. The process helps us to better thrive and blossom into the children God meant for us to be. We pay more attention. We intentionally notice and become aware of a better way to experience the abundant life Jesus has to offer.

When I look into the mirror I want to see Jesus reflected back to me. When people look into my life, I want them to see Jesus and long to be more like HIM (not me). Certainly, I can make my appearance beautiful. Yet, I can also act in rude arrogance to everyone around me. Or, I may follow actions of love (on the surface) but if it’s not genuine, my heart will eventually show itself for what it truly is.

Jesus was about so much more than complying to outward rules that made a person seem good to his peers (example: the Pharisees in Matt. 23). Jesus was after the heart.

Deep inside, I know when I have simply followed a job description, a chore or a religious rule. I also know when my heart has moved me to be fully and unreservedly committed to do that same service.

Our face reveals a lot to the people who see us. But the face can be trained to deceive. Faces can be painted in perfect colors for the skin and accurate shades that bring out the eyes, but an angry countenance can ruin outward beauty.

In the fantasy world, Snow White’s stepmother looked into the mirror to seek who was the fairest in the land. Yet, her inward face was horribly marred. Using a mirror for competition to win the prize of most beautiful presents a truly sad life. Mirrors aren’t about outward form as much as they are about letting our outside reflect what is inside.

Those who, in the moment, have no time for the care of their outward appearance can still shine brilliantly with the glow of a joyful face that comes from a happy heart.

Any deed can be done with wrong motives of applause, manipulation or attention. But a life well-lived in the most difficult times reveals the truest character, the most beautiful face and attractive ways that draw others to Christ.

Lord, shine on my face so that you will be reflected in my heart. Let the deepest part of me learn from others you put in my life (their reactions to me and their right responses to struggles and pain). Make me beautiful for your glory. Help my life to shine Jesus to a world who needs you so much. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Simple Act of Love

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. I John 4:18

I have often wondered why there’ve been times in life in which my love for others seemed to falter. Maybe it was because of something they did or didn’t do for ME, something they believed contrary to my beliefs, or perhaps, it was their clashing personalities that earned my lack of feeling. So, I held up my head and kept going forward, leaving them in the dust. Now looking at this verse, I wonder if all along I was afraid of something, and my fears were getting the best of me, dwindling my capability of loving these precious souls around me.

What could I possibly have been afraid of? What power does fear have over love? Maybe I needed to pay attention to what was deeper in my heart than the fact that I felt stale and stuck. I needed to hone in, not on the other person’s defects, failings or differences but on my own failings in fear.

A person loves others by displaying acts of kindness and thinking of the other person more than himself. A person who is full of fear displays the opposite: He says in his mind, “I can’t do this.” “I can’t continue loving that person.” “It’s too hard for me.” “I’m too tired. I’m too small for this big task…too irritable, too angry, too sick of doing this, too selfish, too whiny or too busy.“

Maybe a person is afraid of getting too close to another person. He assumes that something bad is bound to happen to the relationship, and he will get hurt.

The Covid virus has set upon us a multitude of fears. Of course there is the frightening “will my loved one or I die?” But more likely, we are afraid the task of living together in isolation or that caring for someone who gets sick will be too much for us. All of it is mind-boggling to our senses. We are being bothered by more than we’ve ever dealt with before.

Yet, stop! What does LOVE do?

Love gives of himself freely from more than his own power. Love can dismiss the fears and believe in a greater God that lives within. Love gives, knowing that he will be overwhelmed at times and even hurt, at times, by that loved one. It is a part of love.

Do I believe this?

Mark 9:21-24 says, “Jesus asked the boy’s father [this boy had a spirit the disciples couldn’t drive out], “How long has he been like this?”

“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’

Love is powerful. More powerful than anger, irritation and fear. It’s like a superhero that shows up at just the right time from some hidden place the ‘lover’ sets free.

Other people’s walls fill us with fear. But when we simply continue to love and let the greatest ‘Lover,’ God, handle the walls, He does a much better job than we can.

Love moves boldly, acting as if the other member is involved and participating. Love includes, has joy, looks out for, stands up for, overlooks offenses and refrains from pouting, gossiping or depression.

Love drives out fear. Love is the best way to live.

Father, help my unbelief in times my fear rises higher than my love. I love you, Father. I know that you love me. Feeling your love shining in my soul, I let it in and let it move me to love those people in my life who are hard to love. I’m not afraid of what man can do to me. I trust you. In doing these things, I believe this world can be changed from this simple act of love. I surrender my life to you. In Jesus name, Amen.