Day of Praise

Fri, 12/20/19, "Day of Praise"

Jesus said, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." - Luke 14:33

Some time ago, I was standing next to the copy machine with my friend, Neal. I stick some papers into the feeder to make copies and push "print". The machine kicks into action, but my papers don't move into the feeder. However, a copy does pop out, but, of course, it's blank. 

I looked at Neal and matter-of-factly said, "Well, there's tomorrow's Day of Praise." Neal looked at me and started laughing. I said, "Hey, that's a great parable for how much of Christ we image to the world when we're not engaged. Nothing."

And it's true. The papers were laying there on the copier feeder but were not touching the "grabber" that the papers needed to touch. And because the papers were not engaged, therefore the image that came out was a blank, so too when our lives are full of religious activity but aren't touching the "grabber" (the Holy Spirit) that our lives need to touch, then the image the world sees is a blank.

That's why, in today's verse, Jesus says, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples" (Luke 14:33). When we're not engaged to Jesus and his work of pouring God's word into others and breathing the Holy Spirit into others, it's impossible for us to produce an image of him and his life-giving work.

The reason we care about our lives producing an image of Christ and his life-giving work is that God made us for that very purpose, as God attests in the very first chapter of the Bible, Genesis 1, and in countless places in the Bible after Genesis 1. And since God made us for it, our hearts are starving to live lives that produce an image of Christ and his life-giving work.

So what are we to do?

Start by acknowledging that you know you're not engaged with Christ as you ought to be (because who of us sinners is?). But then, thank God for showing us (by Jesus pouring out every drop of blood on the cross and then by pouring out every ounce of the Holy Spirit after the resurrection) that God is fully engaged with us. And then ask God to do what it's impossible for us (or a copy machine) to do, namely, ask God to produce his image and reflect his glory in and through our lives by pouring us out and filling us with himself. (And repeat, over and over, until Jesus comes again.)

Jesus said, "In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." - Luke 14:33

Praise God!

Pastor Chris 
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/19/19, "Day of Praise"

"But what about you?" [Jesus] asked. "Who do you say I am?" - Matthew 16:15

Curly hair. Sweet little smile. Who doesn't love a little kid?

Have you ever heard a little one sing "Jesus Loves Me"? It is absolutely one of the top treasures in life.

Because it's all about Jesus.

It comforts a child to tell others, to sing to others, who Jesus is to them. 1) Jesus loves me. 2) Jesus makes sure that I know that Jesus loves me. 3) The book about Jesus tells me that Jesus loves me. 4) Jesus has claimed me as his own. 5) Jesus is strong for me because I'm weak.

If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song.

Because it's all about Jesus.

So what happened? Why is it that when we leave childhood behind, we also leave our child-likeness behind? If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song that's all about Jesus. If Jesus asked an adult, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the adult would not sing, but they'd tell you, "Well, for one, I believe in Jesus. And I pray to Jesus. And I worship Jesus. And I read books about Jesus. And I give money to help Jesus."

See the difference? The kid's talkin' about Jesus. The adult's talkin' about, well, the adult.

Maybe that's why Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14). Maybe, as much as kids need to be around Jesus, the adults need even more to be around kids who know the good song.

And why might that be true? Because no matter how much I might do in my adult way of doing in order to show that I love Jesus, Jesus loves me even more.

I mean, any kid knows that!

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/18/19, "Day of Praise"

I heard an awesome group of little ones preparing to share the Christmas story at our church's Child Development Center Sunday afternoon, which reminded me of the following devotional I wrote years ago. 

[Jesus said,] "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." - John 8:47

I hear things.

Based on what I hear, many people hear many of the things that I hear. Especially at night, after my kids have gone to bed, I hear the train that's miles away, the ceiling fan that's whirring on another floor, the refrigerator that's doing whatever refrigerators do to stay cool, and, best of all, my kids adjusting in their beds and breathing. A lot of people hear those things. 

But I hear things that are probably a little strange to hear. Do you? At my church, I can walk in the education building and tell you if a bathroom light and fan is on. I can walk in the preschool building and tell you if a toilet is running on and wasting water because the bowl flap didn't close. I can walk in either worship space and tell you if the sound system wasn't turned off. I know it's a little quirky. But hey, we all, well, we all have our quirks. 

I hear things.

But, quite frankly, it doesn't bother me that I hear things or to tell you that I hear things. It doesn't bother me, as long as I hear the best thing. In today's verse, Jesus said, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." (John 8:47)

God wants all of us to hear what God says, but it can be a challenge since God often speaks in a whisper (1 Kings 19:12) and since the devil is often roaring like a lion (1 Peter 5:8) and since we hear things like refrigerators, trains, and ceiling fans, not to mention music, televisions, and screaming sports fans.

But we want to hear God because God's word works life and faith in us (1 Thessalonians 2:13) and brings us hope and good news (Colossians 1:23) and gives us God's Spirit and miracles (Galatians 3:5) and bears fruit and grace through us (Colossians 1:6) and warns us of the anti-christ (1 John 4:3).

So how, in a noisy world, can we hear God's word that we sorely need so we can have abundant life? Well, I bumped into an old friend today, and I asked if he could sit down for a few because he looked like he had the weight of the world on him. I asked how he was doing, and he calmly and quietly told me all the noises that were claiming his attention. I really had to listen because he spoke so softly. Then I asked how he was being fed. And a soft voice turned to silence. But his eyes and therefore his heart were crying out. We made a deal that included quiet time with God, putting time into having and being a spiritual friend, finding a spiritual mentor, and going to church for worship, fellowship, study, and service. 

Only tomorrow will tell if the beggar will show up for his bread. But he looked much stronger at the mere sound of it.

Because his ears were now tuned to the best thing...God's word. 

May your ears be tuned there, too. 

[Jesus said,] "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says." - John 8:47

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/17/19, "Day of Praise"

"Whoever believes in [Jesus] will not be disappointed." - Romans 10:9-11

I love football. It doesn't matter when or where it is. It can be our now 20-year old son, for all those years, with his friends playing in our neighborhood cul de sac. It can be little kids playing flag football. Or it can be High School, Pro, or the best, College football. 

I'm rarely disappointed when I watch or play football. It's not because my team always wins. Instead, I'm rarely disappointed because of what I'm hoping for. When I watch football, what I hope for is that I'll see a bunch of kids or adults who want to win. I hope to see people who try to win. And even after a win is not possible, they keep playing to the end as if a win were still in reach. In other words, the players believe that if there's time on the clock, then there's still time to try. If there's still time on the clock, then there's still time to give your best and have fun doing it. 

That's the way it is with those who really, deep in their hearts, believe in Jesus. Any time to play is a great time to play. Until the very last second runs off the clock, life is worth living, not on cruise control, but trying hard and giving your best and encouraging others to believe the same, that any time to play is a great time to play, that any time left on the clock of life is a great time to live life, trying your hardest and giving your best until the very last second runs off the clock.

That's exactly what I saw recently: a bunch of, let's be honest, old people, whose average age was like the numbers of football linemen, 70's, 80's, 90's. They meet weekly to pray and try to figure out how to get others into the game and how to get others to come together as a team and how to care and give your best until the very last second runs off the clock of life. But remember, they're not meeting about football. They're meeting about people, and life, and the living of life. Right to the end.

And the constant solution is Jesus. Getting people to know more and trust more in Jesus is how to get others into the game and how to get others to come together as a team and how to care and give your best until the very last second runs off the clock of life.

So these people, in their 70's and 80's and 90's keep playing to the end as if a win is still in reach, namely the win that is winning a soul for Jesus Christ. In other words, these guys believe that if there's time on the clock, then there's still time to try. If there's still time on the clock, then there's still time to give your best and have fun doing it.

And they pray for you and try to reach out to you, hoping that you will grow in believing the same!

And maybe even join their team.

After all, "Whoever believes in [Jesus] will not be disappointed." - Romans 10:9-11

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/16/19, "Day of Praise"

"The apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith!' [Jesus] replied, 'If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea," and it will obey you.'" - Luke 17:5-6

So a new week is starting, and everyone is looking for an extra boost to start the week off right. In today's Bible verses, the apostles believe that such an extra boost will be found in a faith boost. 

They're right.

But notice what that means. 

Notice what it means for God to give and for us to receive a faith boost to start the week off right. Jesus is basically saying that God is eager to answer the request to boost our faith so we can start the week off right. The question is are we ready to receive it. 

Jesus says that receiving the faith that God is eager to give is directly tied to speaking with faith in the power and authority that comes with being a Christ-one, i.e. a Christian. Speaking with faith is tied to receiving the faith because speaking in Christ's power is a faith proposition. I mean, who in the world would talk to a mulberry tree, saying, "Be uprooted and planted in the sea"? Only a fool in the eyes of the world. 

Or a Christian.

Who would be crazy enough to speak God's word when you know it's going to get you flogged (prophet Jeremiah), ridiculed (prophet Ezekiel), burned at the stake (John Hus in 1415), excommunicated and outlawed (Martin Luther in 1521), imprisoned (St. Paul), stoned to death (Stephen in Acts 7:59), or crucified (Jesus Christ)?

Only a fool in the eyes of the world.

Or a person who wants to live out of more than their own strength. A person who wants to live out of the strength of the Living and Almighty God.

No unbeliever is ever going to speak God's word. Why? Because speaking God's word is a faith proposition.

Every believer, though, must speak God's word. Why? (Same reason that an unbeliever won't!) Because speaking God's word is a faith proposition.

Come on, trust Jesus, and you can do this. In fact, it's still a faith proposition if we all do this together. Let's all do together what our son, Caden, and my brother, Ben DeGreen, Jr., and my friend, Bob Kasper do almost every day. Each day they send a combo of things in a text to selected folks with something like a simple greeting, a simple Bible verse, and a prayer. Here's an example:

"I thought you'd enjoy this verse: Exodus 14:14 - The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Let's all ask God for whom we should cut and paste that greeting and verse into a text or email, and send it to them. Sure, they might do what some people have done with me with this daily devotion, namely, reply to you, telling you that they'd kindly like to be off the list. That's what makes it a faith proposition in that somebody might reject not only your text with a Bible verse, but they might also reject you!

But the vast majority of humanity is looking for an extra boost to start the week off right. When you send them a simple text like the suggestion above, then they will get the extra boost they need.

And so will you!

Put your faith in Jesus, send the text, and see!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/13/19, "Day of Praise"

"But what about you?" [Jesus] asked. "Who do you say I am?" - Matthew 16:15

Curly hair. Sweet little smile. Who doesn't love a little kid?

Have you ever heard a little one sing "Jesus Loves Me"? It is absolutely one of the top treasures in life.

Because it's all about Jesus.

It comforts a child to tell others, to sing to others, who Jesus is to them. 1) Jesus loves me. 2) Jesus makes sure that I know that Jesus loves me. 3) The book about Jesus tells me that Jesus loves me. 4) Jesus has claimed me as his own. 5) Jesus is strong for me because I'm weak.

If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song.

Because it's all about Jesus.

So what happened? Why is it that when we leave childhood behind, we also leave our child-likeness behind? If Jesus asked a kid, who knows the good song, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the child would just sing the good song that's all about Jesus. If Jesus asked an adult, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), then the adult would not sing, but they'd tell you, "Well, for one, I believe in Jesus. And I pray to Jesus. And I worship Jesus. And I read books about Jesus. And I give money to help Jesus."

See the difference? The kid's talkin' about Jesus. The adult's talkin' about, well, the adult.

Maybe that's why Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14). Maybe, as much as kids need to be around Jesus, the adults need even more to be around kids who know the good song.

And why might that be true? Because no matter how much I might do in my adult way of doing in order to show that I love Jesus, Jesus loves me even more.

I mean, any kid knows that!

Praise God!

Pastor Chris
"The gospel is the story of Jesus [what God's only Son has done for us that we can't do for ourselves], spoken as a promise." - Robert Jenson

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/12/19, "Day of Praise" 

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 

What a funny and interesting world God loves! 

I personally witnessed all but one of the following: 

Exhibit A - A person is talking to me on their cell phone when their land-line rings. They pick up the television remote control and talk into it for 20 seconds or so, thinking that it's a phone. 

Exhibit B - Hymn title seen in a church bulletin: "Gladly, the Cross-Eyed Bear". (Get it? It's supposed to be "Gladly, the cross I'd bear.") 

Exhibit C - Rural Alabama. We pass "Jerry's Processing". The big city person says, "I wonder what companies they do papers for." (Uh no, that would be Venison (deer-meat) processing.) 

Exhibit D - Seen in a church bulletin one summer: "As the Hart Pants for Cooling Systems". (Uh, the hart pants for cooling streams, not air conditioning.) 

Exhibit E - The dear, regally-dressed, senior ladies near Alex City, Alabama clearly had it all under control as they're driving west-bound on 70-mph Hwy 280 East. As casually as taking tickets at the gate of a football game, the little bouffant-haired ladies were driving smack down the middle at fifteen mph, pointing at each of the more than twenty oncoming cars, and directing oncoming traffic as to how to drive around them. (P.S. - I didn't hear one horn honk in frustration.) 

Have a great day! 

And have a sense of humor! 

God sure does! 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/11/19, "Day of Praise"

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty's hand." - Daniel 3:17

I love the radio advertisement for foster parents that has the message that you don't need to be perfect parents in order to be great parents.

In the same way, you don't need to have a perfect day in order to have a great day.

Consider the three teenage boys in today's Bible verse. It was hardly a perfect day. The king was about to throw them into the blazing furnace. But in what could have been the origin of the oft-quoted saying, "Don't tell God how big your problems are, but instead tell your problems how big your God is," the boys tell their problem (the king) how big their God is. With utmost confidence, the boys say, "The God we serve is able to deliver us from [the blazing furnace]."

Something is going to go wrong with our day today. Our day will not be perfect. But "the God we serve is able to deliver us from" whatever problem stirs up the heat and turmoil in our day.

So if we'll all follow the lead of those boys long ago and tell our problems how big our God is, (he's the God who, in Jesus Christ, overcame death, sin, and the grave), then our day will be as great as our great big God!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/10/19, "Day of Praise"

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:2

Life is funny. Just when you think something is a sure thing, then you come to see that maybe you shouldn't have been so sure. 

As a general example, sometimes things that look bad become reasons for someone to step up and do something. And sometimes things that look good become the ruin of the one who got the good thing. Life can be funny. Things aren't always as they seem. 

As a specific example, I remember one time I used a football and dirt example in this devotional. I thought for sure that I'd hear from the mass of guys who receive Day of Praise because guys stereotypically like dirt and football. But life's funny, and every single reply that initially came back about dirt and football was a beautifully-worded response from a woman. Only a little later did a few guys chime in. Life's funny. Things don't always turn out as you initially think. 

Even as I began today to write about life being funny, someone dear to me was just talking about life being funny: "I love seeing God's sense of humor in all the places: life, relationships, scripture, weather, and so on."

In the end, for all the things that we think we know, there is one absolute thing for certain and for sure. And that one thing is this: God loves us. Almighty, sovereign, everlasting God loves us. And we know this with utmost certainty through his Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Specifically, we see God's love for us completely poured out from his heart when Jesus is rejected, suffers, and dies on the cross. 

That's why St. Paul wrote: "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). In essence, St. Paul was saying that life is funny because just when you think something is a sure thing, then you come to see that maybe you shouldn't have been so sure. Therefore, Paul was saying, "I'm going to stick to the one thing that truly is for sure: Jesus Christ and him crucified." For in Jesus and his cross, we have assurance of the one thing we need for sure, namely, that we're loved with the everlasting love. 

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/09/19, "Day of Praise"

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

Years ago, a friend introduced me to the American adventure writings of Louis L'Amour. My friend told me to note two things in each story. First, he said that L'Amour always has a good guy, a bad guy, and a girl. Second, he said that L'Amour always has the good guy sit with his back to the wall in saloons and taverns because the good guy doesn't want anyone sneaking up on him. 

It's the second concept of "back-to-the-wall" that's connected to today's Bible verse. Basically, God is telling us that he wants to "guard our hearts" both by giving us peace and also by keeping us from anxiety when we tell him in prayer what we see in front of us. 

The reason God wants us to tell him in prayer what we see in front of us is because God is covering everything that's behind us. God has our back! God's literally covering our rear, just as God tells us in Isaiah 52:12, "For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."
No "haste" and no "flight" equals no anxiety because God is leading us forward and guarding our "rear."

So practically speaking, what does this all look like? 

First, trust God's promise that God has both your back and your past covered. Stop looking over your shoulder, and let go! 

Second, trust and obey God's command, "with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." In other words, thank God for dealing with your stuff even before you ask, and then tell God about everybody and everything that you can see in front of you. 

Finally, experience God's peace, and listen for God to speak to your heart. Doesn't it make sense? If God has your back, and if you've told God about everything in front, then everything is in God's hands! And if it's all in God's hands, then what is there to worry about?!?! Nothing. 

There's only peace, coupled with the voice of God speaking to your heart with words of life. 

Enjoy!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Fri, 12/06/19, "Day of Praise"

[Jesus said,] "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30

It's like an Easter Egg that's staring you in the face in the annual Easter Egg Hunt because it's easily overlooked by so many. But it's clearly right there. Jesus says, "Learn from me" almost at the very start of today's verse.

Learning from Jesus and finding rest in Jesus clearly go hand in hand.

My friend, Tim, is a great example of this. He's done all sorts of projects for us, helping us to finish basements, rooms, and other projects. As Tim works, he not only takes on the yoke and does the heavy lifting, but he also imparts some lofty wisdom. Tim has tasted all sorts of twists and turns in life and always manages to come through with a positive and gracious outlook. So whenever you get to work alongside of him, whenever we're yoked together, he not only leads the way in the project, because he knows what he's doing, but he also imparts wisdom that's priceless for all of life.

This is the way it is with Jesus. To be yoked to Jesus not only takes the load off of us and gives us relief through a hard season that Jesus knows how to guide us through, but while Jesus is guiding us through the specific difficulty, he also imparts wisdom that's priceless for all of life.

Bottom line, whatever pops up today, or any day for that matter, call on the Lord, Jesus. Trust him, and listen for him. He will yoke himself to you, helping you to carry the load, and also speaking words of hope and wisdom that will bless you down the road!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Thur, 12/05/19, "Day of Praise"

"No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except in the Holy Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 12:3

One of my favorite movies is the Disney flick, "Holes." And in the movie, "Holes," one of my favorite lines is from Sam the Onion Man when, multiple times, he says to Kissin' Kate, "I can fix that." 

Whether it's your auto mechanic or roofer or Geek Squad guy, "I can fix that" is a great thing to hear. But there's, of course, no greater fixer than The Great Fixer himself. Though many of you have recently shared some painful, broken realities in the relationships and finances in your lives, take heart. All sorts of things can get fixed and are possible in Christ by the power of God's Holy Spirit. After all, in Mark 9:23, Jesus said, "All things are possible for one who believes."

Here are some examples: Jesus can make us clean, washing away skin diseases (Luke 5:12), as we witnessed at our church with a woman who came to our monthly healing service. 

Jesus can heal despair, cure loneliness, and untangle confusion, doing things that remind us that God is with us. (John 3:2)

Jesus alone can take an old, tired, broken-down life, (which sadly can often belong to a very young person), and deliver us, like new-born babies, into a new life in the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)

Jesus alone can make it possible for us to be in accord (which is to be in one mind in truth, peace, and harmony) with God the Father. (John 5:19)

Jesus alone can make it possible for us to seek and hear the life-giving will of God the Father. (John 5:30)

By actually being our strength to endure and our courage to press on, in spite of overwhelming physical or financial or mental or emotional obstacles, Jesus alone makes it possible for us to follow a path to new life. (John 13:36)

Jesus alone can lay a sure foundation for our lives so that our lives don't fall apart at the first sign of trouble. (1 Corinthians 3:11)

Jesus alone can pour out the Holy Spirit so we can have insight into complications and mysteries that are otherwise overwhelming and incomprehensible. (Ephesians 3:4)

What's messed up in your life? What needs fixing?

Believe! Jesus, even better than Sam the Onion Man, can fix that!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Wed, 12/04/19, "Day of Praise"

"And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." - Luke 18:1

Even as football season is coming around the home stretch, basketball is getting cranked up. One of the most colorful basketball people in my lifetime was Coach Jim Valvano. Coach V, as he was fondly called, died of cancer. However, before he died, one of Valvano's most memorable motivational speeches was delivered February 21, 1993 at Reynolds Coliseum on the basketball court of North Carolina State University during the ten year commemoration of the University's miraculous, 1983 NCAA men's basketball championship. It was during this speech, celebrating the team he coached, that Valvano stressed the importance of hope, love, and persistence, which included his famous quotation "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

Jimmy V's oft-seen-and-quoted speech is universally celebrated as one of the greatest-ever encouragements, even challenges, that people ought to never, never, never give up.

His speech was less about his overachieving, underdog, championship basketball team and more about battling overwhelming illness, as was his cancer. And his speech was a call to live life with joy and hope, even when circumstances are insurmountably difficult. 

But let's be honest.

There is only one way to have the spirit and strength that Valvano referred to, and that's through faith in Jesus Christ. When Jesus told the disciples "a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1), Jesus was calling them not to dig deeper into the extremely shallow and helpless human soul. Instead, Jesus was calling the disciples to believe in the infinitely deep love and grace of God, which is perfectly revealed in the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

Friends, what is overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable in your life? To be sure, like Coach V said, "Don't give up; don't ever give up." But you will find the strength and spirit to do that, not by looking in yourself, but by looking to God and God's Son, Jesus Christ, who will give you God's own strength to hope and endure because God himself will not give up. God will never give up on you!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Tues, 12/03/19, "Day of Praise"

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." - 1 Corinthians 2:14

We laughed!

And laughed!

And laughed!

One person said, "Is it true that if a jellyfish bites you that you should put tea on it?"

The other person said, "Why would you put tea on the jellyfish?"

The first person said, "On the bite, Silly! On the bite!"

We laughed and laughed and laughed. 

Let's face it. Sometimes we get our wires crossed. And understanding comes not so easily. And you just have to laugh. 

But there is something that's not so good to laugh at. And that would be "the things of the Spirit of God." In today's Bible verse, God says "the natural person" sees the things of God's Spirit as "folly," which is Biblical wording for "foolishness" and "something to be laughed at or mocked." 

God neither wants us laughing in an unbelieving mockery, nor does God want us laughing in a "believing" resignation. A "believing resignation" is when someone says, "Aaaah, I'm not that smart. I just can't understand." 

God wants us all to understand "the things of the Spirit of God." God plainly tells us this in today's Bible verse as God says the issue of understanding the things of God's Spirit is not about the size of your I.Q. or your score on a standard college test like the ACT. 

The key factor in understanding the things of God's Spirit is whether you're a "natural person" or a "spiritual person." And let's get clear on "spiritual person" real quick because we have a country full of people who say they're "spiritual people" who don't worship God and don't read their Bible and don't tell anyone about Jesus and don't have the first twinge of longing for people who don't know Jesus and who, therefore, are in a heap of trouble when Jesus comes again. 

A truly spiritual person cares about other people who don't know Jesus, and a truly spiritual person cares about others who are spiritually dead. The truly spiritual person cares because God cares about people who don't know Jesus and who are spiritually dead, which is why God sent His Son, Jesus, and poured out His Holy Spirit! 

I'd dare say that the books of the Bible are the books of the Bible because all sixty-six of them record God saying what Jesus says to Nicodemus in John, chapter three, which is that we all must be born again to understand the things of God's spirit. What's born of flesh is flesh. What's born of the spirit is spirit. 

The flesh and the natural person says, "I'm so smart that I'm a spiritual person without ever spending time either with God's spiritual things or the Spirit of God."

The person born of the spirit, the truly spiritual person is smart enough to recognize and confess, "I don't stand a chance of understanding anything that matters forever if I never spend time with the God of forever. Teach me, Lord, teach me." 

And God teaches us through His Word through which God gives us His Spirit (Ephesians 6) through which we are able to understand and "spiritually discern" (1 Corinthians 2:14). 

Dear God, please help us so that today and everyday we might be born anew by your Spirit! Make us hungry for your word both to know you more personally and also so we can feed others who are hungry for your Spirit, too! Amen!

Praise God!

Day of Praise

Mon, 12/02/19, "Day of Praise"

"[Jesus] put another parable before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.'" - Matthew 13:24-26

I was driving down a local road when I saw some litter fly out the window of a truck that was just a short bit ahead of me. Being a litter-picker-upper, I moaned in my heart and shook my head. 

As I caught up to the slow-moving, litter-dropping truck, I started to laugh as it became clear that not only did the truck say "City of Hoover" on the side, but it also said "LITTER CONTROL" in huge letters on a sign on the back of the truck.

Can you imagine? A Litter Control truck where the employees are throwing litter out the window?

Yes, I can imagine. I can imagine something and somebody that are supposed to be addressing a problem, and they're actually contributing to the problem. 

I do it all the time. 

As a Christian, I'm supposed to be addressing the sin problem in the world. Sin is like spiritual litter, if you will. But even as I'm supposed to be on the job and addressing the spiritual litter problem, the spiritual litter of sin comes flying out of the window of my life. 

Why do I do this? I do it because I'm a sinner. And as I hard as I try, I myself can never stop sinning. (In the language of today's Bible verse, we all have wheat and weeds mixed together in the field that is each of our lives.) I'm sure God moans in his heart and shakes his head. But, as hard as I try, I can never stop throwing spiritual litter out of my life. 

But Jesus can. 

I need Jesus to come to me everyday and hop in the "truck" that is my life so he can live in me by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus alone, working in me, can put a stop to the spiritual litter problem in my life, as he and he alone is the solution, being my righteousness, making me new from the inside out, cleaning up the litter of my soul so that it can't fly out the window of my life. 

So the next time, I see litter fly out of a LITTER CONTROL truck, before I'm so quick to shake my head and moan, I pray that I'll remember that that's what my life looks like to God. 

May God have mercy. 

And, through Jesus Christ, God already has!

Praise God!