Jesus Ascends to Heaven (Acts 1:8)

Today’s Readings: Acts 1:1-11

Here’s the knowledge you need: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. And you will be My witnesses, first here in Jerusalem, then beyond to Judea and Samaria, and finally to the farthest places on earth.

I once thought I needed lots of education to Christ with others. After all, not long after Constantine declared Christianity the religion of the realm, the church became the center of education for the kingdom. Churches held the knowledge of the ages. They produced the books used to teach children and set the standards, many of which we still use today in education.

I found most people aren’t really impressed with a lot of education when it comes to introducing them to Christ. People what genuine experience, not fancy words when it comes to knowing God. Theological terms that come from dusty tomes on the top shelves in the back corners of libraries don’t mean much to the average person. They want concrete evidence that God can help them out of the fix where they find themselves.

I hear from a lot of people they can’t share Christ with others because they don’t know how. They need training. They need someone to teach them the right formula to win others to Christ before they put themselves out there as soul winners. Of course, the last time I read my Bible (this morning) we can’t save anyone. Only God can do that. We don’t win anyone to Him. He wins us to Himself. And I really haven’t seen any magic formula for reaching out and sharing Christ with others. I think that’s why I like the way The Voice translates this verse as Jesus addresses His disciples at His ascension.

“Here’s the knowledge you need…” Jesus doesn’t follow with many words after that. He didn’t quote the Law or the Prophets. He didn’t give them any special process or procedure to follow. He didn’t share any mystical mantra with them. He just told them essentially two truths. First, you’ll receive power. And you’ll receive it to do one thing. You’ll receive that power to act as witnesses of what I do in your life.

That’s it! That’s the magic formula. That’s what He tells His disciples and followers to do. Wait prayerfully for the Holy Spirit to come on you, then witness what that’s like. Tell people what happened to you. Start at home, in Jerusalem. Then share with your neighbors, in Judea and Samaria. Then witness to the rest of the world.

So, I don’t have to be a scholar to prayer and diligently seek for God’s Holy spirit. I don’t have to earn degrees and line my wall with certificates to know God fully and let Him lead my life from within. Neither do I need degrees or fancy words to describe what God does in my life. I can just tell someone what He’s doing right now. That’s what a witness does. He tells in his own words what he sees, hears, feels, and knows is true.

I can do that. So can you. Let’s start!

Join me next time, won’t you?

Richard

Death Sentence (John 19:16)

Today’s Readings: John 19:1-16

Pilate handed Him over to his soldiers, knowing that He would be crucified.

In Texas we sometimes get flash floods. Much of the country doesn’t understand what a flash flood can do to you, so when we get a transplant from another state into the heart of Texas, they will sometimes ignore the flash flood warnings and do something really stupid. They go around the barriers and try to cross the road they’ve been using to get home. One big problem though. The road has a few inches of water moving across it.

From other parts of the country, a few inches of water doesn’t sound like much. Those few inches traveling at flash flood speeds can do a lot of damage quickly. Consider that a gallon of water weighs about six pounds. That water moves across the road at hundreds of thousands of gallons per hours in a flash flood. Yes, it does flow around obstacles to some degree, but the force behind that water still transmits a tremendous amount of power.

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Consequently, the newbies to Texas floods who foolishly cross the warning signs find themselves in serious trouble, sometimes swept away by the three inches of water rushing across the road. Suddenly they look around for any escape before their car sinks into the torrential flow of what used to be an empty creek bed. These folks show up on the evening news after rescues by the fire department from the top of their car or clinging to a tree branch. Sometimes it’s worse and we get the report of lost lives because of crossing the barrier.

I use that story to illustrate what can happen when we blindly go with the flow. Pilate knew Jesus committed no crimes deserving death. He pleaded with Jesus to defend Himself so he could set Him free. Pilate went to the crowd several times to get them to  their minds about this innocent man, but finally allowed them to persuade him to turn Jesus over to his soldiers for crucifixion. Like the newbies to our Texas flash floods, Pilate disregarded all the warning signs and went with the flood of voices that said, “Crucify Him!”

Sometimes it takes courage to stand against the crowd and do what’s right, but in the end the rewards are great. Paul tells us the trials and tribulations we face today are nothing compared to the glories we will inherit. We just need to hang on and trust God to see us through the temporary ills of this world. Keep your hand in His and stand.

Flash floods can come on unexpectedly, but usually warning signs are visible if we look for them. The torrent of water moving across the road starts with a little trickle. We then start seeing signs everywhere around here that tell us not to cross water covered roads. It’s a catchy little phrase they use that most folks adhere to – “Don’t drown, go around!” Here most know that means go around the water, not around the barrier! Still there are those few that think they’re smarter than the Texans who have lived here all their lives and try their luck. Don’t get swept away in the flood. Listen to the warnings, both for flash floods and God’s warnings of evil about to erupt around you. He’ll keep you safe from harm.

Join me next time, won’t you?

Richard

What we will justify! (John 12:10-11)

Today’s Readings: John 12:1-11

The chief priests were secretly plotting Lazarus’s murder since, because of him, many Jews were leaving their teachings and believing in Jesus.

I met a drug addict several years ago going through the agonies of detox. The effects of withdrawal from years of daily use of heroin and cocaine caught up with him and the thirty something looked near sixty. As we talked over a cup of coffee, I tried to understand what would drive a person to abuse his body to such an extent. Surely, the temporary high each day couldn’t be worth what he was going through now.

As he shared his story, I tried to keep back the look of shock as he told me about the path his journey had taken him. He started in Sunday School and rebelled against his parents and upbringing as a teen. He tried marijuana in high school, dropped out of school when his grades crashed and took up odd jobs to support his habit when his parents finally kicked him out of the house after catching him stealing from them routinely.

His “friends” helped him graduate to heroin, cocaine, crack, anything he could get his hands on. He stole. Picked up odd jobs he could never keep. In and out of jail. In and out of hospitals and rehab. But he told me one interesting tidbit that just blew me away. In all those years, he never smoked a single cigarette, because “they are bad for my lungs.”

I remember him when I read this verse about the chief priests. How in the world can you serve as a chief priest in God’s temple and plot a murder? In what universe does that sound okay? When would God ever sanction such action? Talk about blind! These guys didn’t have a clue about the love of God they taught in their synagogues and in the temple. They lost all sight of reality and truth. Even if Jesus only claimed He was God’s Son without the proof He showed time and again, to plot His murder?

Then we see the real reason for their action. They plotted Jesus’ murder because He raised His friend Lazarus from the dead and so people began following Jesus’ teachings…instead of theirs! Great reason to kill someone, don’t you think? Especially if you’re the religious leader of the community.

We will justify just about any behavior by twisting around our thought processes to fit. We can make adultery look okay. We can make stealing look okay. We can make cheating on our taxes look okay. We can make lying look okay. We can even, like the chief priests, look okay. In our eyes. But God doesn’t change. Wrong is still wrong. Evil is still evil. God’s laws still stand today. When we try to justify behavior clearly against God’s laws, we are in trouble!

Watch what you justify. If it’s wrong, it’s wrong, no matter what outcome you might try to achieve. Let God help with outcomes instead of trying to fix things yourself. Caiaphas got it right at first, but let the other priests sway him as he allowed Jesus taken to Pilot for crucifixion.

Join me next time, won’t you?

Richard

God’s gift to man (John 3:16)

Today’s Readings: John 3:1-21

For God expressed His love for the world in this way: He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him will not face everlasting destruction, but will have everlasting life.

John 3:16 is probably one of the most recognized verses in the entire Bible. We learn it at an early age and can quote it without even thinking. Which is something of a problem for us when you stop and contemplate it. When it passes through our brain without stopping for contemplation or meditation, it can become so familiar it blows by without the awe it should inspire.

So let’s slow down and think about this famous verse a few minutes today. First, Jesus opens with the affirmation “God expressed His love for the world…”. He loves His creation. He loves the world He made. From the mountains and plants and animals to the men and women of every nation, God loves everything He created. That means He loves you and me specifically.

Second, Jesus ends that first expression with the words “in this way.” God showed us His love in a specific, singular way so we would not mistake the fact of His love for us. We would not get confused about His expression of love when the fulfillment of His prophecies happened. We would recognize God loves us by that expression because of the unique character and nature of what He did for us.

Next, Jesus gives us the description of God’s expression of love. “He gave His only Son…” God gave to us. He didn’t ask something from us, but gave a gift to us. There is nothing we can give Him in return that could compensate for the gift of His Son. Think about it. What would you take in exchange for one of your children? I would hope the answer is, “They’re not for sale!” Unfortunately we have too many children with For Sale signs around their neck in today’s world, but still most parents would never take anything for their children.

Then Jesus gives us two alternative end states. The first implies all of us are headed toward everlasting destruction. But God gives us a way out because of the love He has for us. Adam and Eve took care of our initial direction. We all sin. We all head toward destruction. But God says if we believe in His Son we will have everlasting life instead.

Meditate on that verse for a while. Think about what God has done for you. As we approach Christmas, let this holiday season mean more than parties and decorations and presents. Remember why we celebrate. God gave us an expression of His love for us and we celebrate His gift.

Join me next time, won’t you?

Richard

The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:8)

Today’s Readings: Daniel 3:1-30

Meanwhile, certain Chaldean leaders stepped forward to make accusations against the Jews.

I remember going to my wife’s grandparents’ house the for the first time. Myrtle always laid a great Sunday lunch table. Roast beef or ham, potatoes and southern green beans. You know the ones, with plenty of bacon grease and cooked all day until they just melt in your mouth. Homemade golden brown yeast rolls that you’d die for. And coconut cake that despite having her recipe, we’ve never replicated. She always prepared a feast and I always ate like I would never eat again.

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The whole family gathered at the table. I need to explain something about her family. Charlie was the patriarch by now. He was the only boy among 11 children. His first son died as a toddler and his youngest had severe learning disabilities. When I met her Aunt June, she was in her thirties, but operated at about an 8 to 10 age level. I had been around handicapped before and had no problem relating to her or the family, but as my first time around the table with the whole family, I felt a little nervous as any new “boyfriend” should.

Charlie asked me to prayer for the meal. No problem. It’s easy for me to give a blessing at mealtime. I’d done it all my life. I mentioned the home, the family, the food and those who prepared it. I gave a fairly nice blessing I thought. I made a huge mistake, though. I looked around at the room as I prayed. And Aunt June had a habit of peeking when people pray to see if anyone has their eyes open.

She blurted out, “He had his eyes open!”

I was caught! Red-faced, I confessed I did have my eyes open, but God hears our prayers whether our eyes are open or closed. Keeping them closed does help us concentrate better sometimes, though, and I apologized to her for not closing mine. I didn’t point out that she wouldn’t know unless she also had her eyes open.

So what’s the point of this story? Aunt June acted the same way the Chaldean leaders acted in this situation. How did they know Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? If they had their faces to the ground worshiping the idolatrous statue of Nebuchadnezzar as directed by the king, how would they know these three men did not bow down also? These leaders caught the three Hebrew leaders, but only by disobeying the edict themselves. Just like Aunt June, if they did what they were supposed to do, they could not have seen the three Hebrews break the law!

God still protected the three Hebrew men. He still showed Nebuchadnezzar there was a God in heaven who loved His people and honor their obedience to Him. God allowed these three faithful men to triumph over their accusers. But it is interesting to find their accusers could only accuse by becoming lawbreakers themselves. It’s also interesting to find how frequently this same scenario plays out around us as the world tries to discredit God’s people.

Join me next time, won’t you?

Richard