Category: Good Life Journal

Journal Ps 69 and 118 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

 

Scripture: “O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.”

Ps 69:5

 

Observation: God is omniscient, God is omnipresent: Do I ever think I can hide anything from God?

 

Analysis:  A part of growing in maturity is growing in knowledge and wisdom.

 

It isn’t just getting smarter (like memorizing the whole book of Romans—which, by the way, would be very cool, a worthy and valuable task), but it is how accumulating that knowledge funnels into my life as something that becomes growing to be like Him.

 

Learning the Attributes of God, including (and especially) the Incommunicable Attributes, is important, because they shape my vision of God and how I view the World.

 

For instance, omnipresence means that God is everywhere and all at the same time.  He doesn’t spare a minute for me, and then runs over to see Dan for a few, and then Raoul over in Spain, and etc.  He is always there.  (by the way, did you know that the enemy isn’t omnipresent?  He doesn’t have that godly attribute—none of the angels do.  Why?  Because they are not God…”)

 

And then there is omniscience: He knows everything; not just knowledge but knows my heart and the inclination of my heart.

 

Lastly, there is the OMNI- prefix—this broadly means “every place AND every-when.”  God doesn’t experience Time (or duration if you like).  He OWNS time, time is subject to Him—not the other way around.  God sees before time began, and the End of Time all at the same time.

 

Why is this important?  I think that this must induce me to be transparent; to be thorough in my confession; to not try to hide or sugar coat my transgressions—He knows me, through and through—my present, my past, AND my future.

 

Prayer:  You are faithful, O God, I am faithless.  Even the parade of sin that is going through my thoughts right now, you are faithful to forgive.  This is why salvation isn’t a one-time event, I need saving every day.

 

AMEN.

Journal Ps 49 and 110 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Truly no man can ransom another or give to God the price of his life…for the ransom of their life is costly and never suffice, that he should live forever and never see the pit.

 

For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.  Their graves are their homes forever, their dwelling places to all generations.

 

But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol…” Ps 49:7-11; v15.

 

Observation: What is the cost of ransom?  What does it take to either ransom someone or to sacrifice for their ransom?

 

Analysis:  Ransom: a sum of money or other payment demanded or paid for the release of a prisoner.  Redeem or redemption can be considered the act of ransoming.

This can be a tough thought for me and a lot of folks because I can think that I have value—my life is worth something intrinsically.  “God loves me because I have value…” is what my thought goes to.  What I don’t think of is “God loves me because he values me…”

The chasm between these two thoughts (“I have value” and, “He values me”) is enormous.

The Psalmist exposes the difference: “No man can ransom another…because his life will never suffice.”  I cannot even sacrifice myself for my life; I cannot live a life of service; I cannot throw myself on a bomb—noble acts both but neither will gain redemption for myself or another.

As I think about the Gospel, this is one of the basic tenets for me to consider—

“Why would You the pure give your life for the vile,

the Innocent seeking the Guilty to be reconciled?”

(This Fathomless Love; Vickie and Steve Cook)

 

It is hard to think of myself as vile, but when I consider myself in the light of God’s holiness, what else can I think without lying to myself?  The lie is “I have value” (which is all about me and what I think about my worth) rather than the glorious truth “He values me, when I have no value to offer.”

 

The great mystery of all the ages and the question each will bring before the Throne:

 

“Why?”

 

Prayer: Father, I forget this question most days.  I take my redemption for granted so many hours of the day, I can be surprised with your patience.  I appreciate that this morning, I can be awestruck once again.

AMEN.

Psalms 34

 

Scripture

 

Vs 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

 

Vs 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.

vs 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.

Vs 8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

vs 9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!

Vs 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.

vs 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.

 

Observation

 

Here I observe yet another beautiful paradox of the Faith …

Perhaps the best one …

“Fear the Lord … and He will deliver me from all my fears!”

 

How can this be? … I have a “Fear” that delivers me from “all my fears”?

 

Well, when David “fears the Lord”,

He “magnifies the Lord” and “exalts His name”.

And when David does this and sees the majesty and enormity of who God is …

Anything and everything else he may fear becomes so insignificant as to become nothing by comparison …

 

The result of “fearing the Lord” is …

“salvation from all troubles” …

“having no lack” …

“salvation from a crushed spirit”!

 

Application

 

I will fear something …

Will it be “the Lord” … or “my circumstances”?

 

Will I fear “troubles”, or not having “enough”, or just being “crushed” and “brokenhearted”?

Fear of anything but the Lord will do awful things to me.

 

First, I will focus only on me.

If I am fearing my situation and circumstances, it will be impossible for me to love my neighbor!

 

Fear for myself will put me in a position to “protect” and “keep” and “guard” myself and “mine”.

How can I pour myself out if I am barricading myself in?!

 

I must understand I cannot protect myself!

So what must I do? … “Take refuge in Him” …”seek the Lord” … “cry to the Lord”.

I will see that He is “near the brokenhearted”.

I will “taste and see that He is good!”

 

Then I cannot help but to “magnify the Lord” and “exalt His name”!

 

Prayer

 

God, thank You …

Help me Spirit to Fear You more than my circumstances

Help me see how small my troubles are

Compared to how magnificent you are!

When my troubles seem overwhelming.

Help me to taste your goodness!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Psalm 22:30-31 – Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Observation –

Future generations shall serve the Lord and they will be told of the Lord and His rule over the nations.  The righteousness of Jesus will be proclaimed to those not even born by his finished work on the cross.  Jesus carried out God’s plan in his sacrificial redemptive death and resurrection to take on the sins of mankind and make those who believe in the name of Jesus right with God.

Application –

Jesus completed work on the cross gives us faith to serve him.  The word here tells us it shall be told to coming generations and my role is to play a part in letting others know the Good News about Jesus.  The Word of God will go out and not be stopped, but as a believer I have an opportunity and calling to tell others about Jesus about what he has done to save us.  Not everyone may listen or believe, that is the job of the Spirit to convict people.  Proclaim is an action verb meaning to declare publicly, insistently and proudly of the righteousness of Jesus Christ in his salvation of sinners.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for your love, grace and mercy in sending Jesus to save an underserving world form death.  Let the power of the Holy Spirit give me strength, boldness to serve you and proclaim your gospel to make disciples and glorify you.

Journal Ps 16 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

 

Therefore, my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.”

 

Observation: There are many statements describing steadfastness in the Scriptures.  This one is very clear…

 

Analysis: A bug-a-boo of mine is to keep reminding myself of one of the key tenets of the Faith—the one of Persevering to the End.

Pressing into the Faith (as a concept) is difficult to wrap my mind around, because I know that the task of perseverance fails in me constantly.  Yet, I am called, commanded to just that: persevere.

What does perseverance look like in my mind?  It is determined by just what the Psalmist says: “I have set the Lord ALWAYS before me…”

What I have to wrap my mind around is that God is not calling me to live a “holier than thou”, pharisaical sort of life, He expects me to live in this community, doing the things I need to do, with the vision and FIRM INTENT of pleasing Him always with a SURRENDERED life.

It starts with talking to the face in the mirror about what He says in His Word: what are His instructions to change my life into something that resembles what God wants my life to look like?  Then, after recognizing those things, align with the Holy Spirit to put effort into the task of Sanctification.

There are two instruments in everybody’s life that inhibit this kind of change: Indwelling Sin (that part of my residual Sin that hasn’t been rooted out and put to death) and the enemy.  Of the two, Indwelling Sin is the most important to address first.

Note: I don’t pay much attention to the enemy.  Reason: At the End of Days, I will not be able to lay any excuse involving the mention of the enemy at the foot of the Throne and have it taken seriously as a mitigating factor in the review of my life.  Indwelling Sin is more damaging to my daily pursuit of God.

The pursuit of God isn’t a Conference away from attaining, it is understanding that this is a lifetime effort.  Example: As a younger man, I was tempted to the flesh, and many times I gave into that temptation.  A lot of folks would say that was understandable because I was young.  Now I am old, and I have those same temptations—what gives?  Aren’t I supposed to “grow out of those things?”

No, none of us ever “grow out” of the temptation of Sin.  It will always be a fight until my last breath.

How did I start down this path?  Maybe the only thing I did right in the beginning was to say, “I this (Christianity) is real, then I am going to throw myself into it with everything I have”… and then subsequently failed within an hour of that statement.  What I did learn first is the function and value of confession and repentance.

I learned that confession and repentance, done over and over again, is faithfulness in action.  I am UNABLE to keep my word in my own power—indwelling sin is too powerful.  However, the power of the Holy Spirit sustains and empowers me to keep going down the path of righteousness no matter how often I stumble.

Another thing I must remember is gratefulness to God for EVERYTHING that happens, that I run across.  “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus for you…” (1 Thes 5:18)  That means being cut off in line or in the road, my desires crushed, losing my work on the computer, etc.  If MY WILL is being thwarted, then it is GOD’S WILL for me that is being accomplished and I should exhibit thankfulness for that.  Check out Job 1-3 for confirmation of that.

At perseverance most basic, it is waking every morning and while putting my feet on the floor, praying out loud, “Today, I see You and I want to serve you, follow you, please you every moment of this day, O Lord.  Holy Spirit, help me to do just that.”

Prayer:  So many scriptures come to mind on this subject, Father, and at the same time not enough.  Following you takes effort, moment by moment effort.  Allow me to imitate your character O Lord Jesus—all the things I read in your Word.

I am grateful for this forum.  Please use it to assist someone on the Path.

Bring revival,

AMEN

Psa 8

Scripture: vs 1, 3-4

[1] Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
[3] When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
[4] what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Observation:

Our Lord God is majestic.

He is the creator of the entire universe and yet he is is mindful of us and cares for us.

Application:

The creator of the universe, you know.. the One who created our entire universe with space bigger than we can even imagine, so finely tuned for our life on this planet that the smallest portion of an atom out of place would make it uninhabitable for human life, the One who breathed life into us, the One who knew us even our mother’s womb.. yeah, that’s who we’re talking about. That same God cares about us! He loves us so much he sent his only Son die for our sins! Without open eyes and an open heart, it’s impossible to understand.

When we think, even for a moment, about how majestic our Lord is, and that he loves us that much, how can we not live our lives serving him, worshiping him, and glorifying him? That’s what I’m thinking about today.

Prayer:

Lord I love you. Thank you for caring about us. Thank you for caring about me. Thank you Lord for sending your Son to die for our sins and give us a fresh start, building our lives on Jesus Christ as our cornerstone. Lead me with the Holy Spirit within me to glorify you in all I do. In Jesus Christ’s holy and magnificent name I pray. Amen.

Journal Jn 21 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Now Jesus did many other things in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 

After this (see the end of the previous chapter) Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and revealed himself in this way: “Simon Peter, Thomas (called the twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples were together.

 

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We will go with you.”  They went out and got into the boat…” John 20:30-31 and John 21:1-3

 

Observation: Let me get the scene correctly set up: The Cross happened. The Resurrection happened; on a personal level all the disciples saw, talked, had opportunity to touch and feel him; a ton of other people saw Jesus.

 

And shortly thereafter, maybe in an unknown frame of mind…they all went fishing.  Am I missing something?

 

Analysis: I don’t get these guys, at least I am having a difficult time imagining what is going on.  Maybe I don’t have an adequate sense of time.

In Chapter 20, the Record describes the meeting with Thomas.  Jesus appears, walks up to Thomas and, “Hey, dude.  Understand you are having a wee bit of problem aligning in belief with your compadres.  Tell you what: put your hand in here; and your finger in the hole in my hand…”, and the rest of the story follows.

After a bit of time, we find 7 of the 11 disciples (including Peter) sitting around.  If I read the story with some embellishment, it seems that Peter (who may have been moping around or at least acting bored), takes a deep breath and says, “I am going fishing.”  The other guys say, “Me, too!!”

So, they go fishing, and don’t catch a lick.  There’s this guy standing on the beach: “Throw your net over there,” They did, and fish galore in the net.  This guy is recognized as Jesus and it is all “Happy, happy, joy, joy”, so much so Peter jumps off and swims for shore in excitement (leaving his mates to do all the work, but that is another story…)

What stands out for me is the see-saw of emotions recounted here.  After all what has gone before for their recent history, there is a recountable let-down.  Other pastors have told me about what they encounter on Sunday/Mondays after preaching at church.  I have been like that after a conference, etc.  The Seven recounted here appears to be having that “after-ministry” lull—“I gotta get out of this funk; let’s go fishing…”

And then, something else spiritually cool happens; I am all spiked up again.

Over the decades that I have been attempting to follow Christ, this pattern repeats itself over and over.  Fair, if I want to settle for sizzle and then nothing.  But I don’t.  Man does not live by sizzle alone and can’t.  Living on sizzle, the “gotta have” adrenal rush, makes for a shallow follower.

I have to learn to live in the plenty of the Holy Spirit and also learn to live in the desert—and stay steadfast to the vision of the Gospel in all of its beauty.  It cannot be done by being alone.

Congregation, living together, encouraging one another day by day, calling, sharing hospitality (different from evangelistic hospitality, it is shared discipleship hospitality— “all things in common, caring for one another”).

Prayer: Father, deliver me from the concern of the Covid-19 mess.  Give me, I pray, grace and mercy for those who are gripped, knowing that just a little while ago I was in the same grip and can still be suspicious.

Increase my desire for others in the local church.  Bring those across my way who need to hear the Gospel and provide courage in us both to hear and to speak.

I pray for Oskar. Help him in his upside-down world.  Praying for his health.

Revive our lands,

AMEN

Journal Jn 20 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “Then Simon Peter came, following him (John), and went into the tomb.

 

He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

 

Then the other disciple (who had reached the tomb first) also went in and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead…” John 20:6-9

 

Observation:  An extraordinary statement: “…and he saw and believed…”  What was it that the Disciple experience in the three years before that?

 

Analysis:  I have always wondered about the word “believe” as it applies to people and Christianity.

For many, I have observed over the years, the word “Believe” means “Mental Assent”—I agree, but it has no more meaning than that.  It is the same application as “the sky is blue” or “water is wet” – I “believe” becomes the same as “I recognize…” or acknowledge or even concede.

Somehow, when the Bible word is translated, “Believe”, it is not the same as when I think of believe.

Here’s John: hanging out with Jesus for 3 years; inner circle of the Disciples; saw miracles, performed miracles; preached the kingdom alongside Jesus; saw everything up through the Cross—and now, at the tomb, saw everything Jesus left including the empty tomb—and now John “believed?”  What kicked in to “believe” that the other 36 months didn’t provide?

I can be in the same boat.

It is like I was in one level of “belief” and then something happened so that another octave, higher level of ‘BELIEF” occurred.  Is there a significance to what the Scriptures say about John?

There have been times in my life where Faith seemingly dripped in a physical way off me.  There have been other times where there was no visual evidence of Faith other than what came out of my mouth—and it felt hypocritical and empty.

The difference between “believing” as recognition of something that exists, or “believing” as in fully engaged in Faith of a consuming fact is commitment to “faithful plodding.” Keep chasing after the Kingdom, try not to relax, have a vision: “Without vision, the people perish…” (Prov 29:18 paraphrased)

It is imperative that I persevere to the End—not just stubbornness in making my mouth say the right words (“I believe”) but making my life evidence of the right words.  “…but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.  Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of the Scriptures, to exhortation, to teaching….practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all my see your progress…” (1 Tim 4:12b-15)

I don’t know what happened to John to go from “believe” to “BELIEVE”—maybe I need to do a Greek word study – but I have this conclusion: I don’t want to walk in some kind of holy obstinacy, just affirming by stubborn rote “I am saved”, I want to walk worthy of the calling I have been called to, the Gospel all my days.

Prayer:  Father, make it so, in me and all that read this, and I touch every day.

Thank you for the confirming word given to my wife this morning.

AMEN.

Journal Jn 19 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “This was to fulfill the Scripture which says…” John 19:24b

 

Observation: I see the works of Jesus.  I see the ways of Jesus.  What I don’t often remember is that Jesus’s works, ways, and experiences were prophesied thousands of years earlier—even as early as Eden.

 

Analysis: There are some that intimate that the Gospel, Jesus dying for the redemption from Sin and the penalty of Sin was somehow “Plan B”; that is, if Adam and Eve didn’t listen to the serpent and disobey God, that all of Mankind thereafter would be sitting up nice and pretty.

Far from it.  The Cross was the Trinity’s Plan A from before time began:

“…all things were created through him and for him.  And he (Jesus) is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the first born of from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”  Col 1:16b-20

But God was pleased to give us the prophetic word to provide us hope in the coming of Jesus.  He also told us what to look for (even if we had to remember things after the fact).

The point is that the prophetic word of the Prophets was written for our Hope and our Edification (support and education).

These last paragraphs up to the Cross and to the Ascension is to remind us of the Supremacy of His Word—that the Cross was planned, and that from before time.  It is why I can stand in Awe of what happened; it is why I can praise his Majesty in what Jesus experienced, and it is why, at the End of Days all knees will bow and every tongue confess He is Lord of All.

Prayer:  Father God: 4 times in this Chapter you remind me of fulfilling the prophetic Scripture.  Throughout the New Testament You remind me of how you fulfill Your intents from the past.  You remind me, that my hope is not found in my daily experiences, but in your Word.

My daily experiences can lead me astray; they can fool me into stinking thinking and move me away from the unchangeable testimony of yourself and your Will, Works, and Ways.  My daily experiences can make me forget your Goodness and Promises.

I am struggling with forgiveness in my feelings and experiences—even though I KNOW WHAT TO DO.  Help me to overcome my sin, O God, even as you have set me free.

AMEN.

John 18

 

Scripture

 

4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, said to them, “Whom do you seek?”

5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.”

7 So Jesus asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he.”

 

11 So Jesus said to Peter, “… shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

 

17 The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

 

21 (Jesus said), “Why do you ask me? …”

22 … one of the officers struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?”

23 Jesus answered him, “… if what I said is right, why do you strike me?”

 

25 So they said to Peter, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”

26 One of the servants of the high priest … asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Peter again denied it.

 

29 Pilate … said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

 

33 So Pilate …called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”

35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? … What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “… Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

38 Pilate said to Jesus, “What is truth?”

 

39 (Pilate asked the crowd), “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”

 

 

Observation

 

I’m immediately struck by the sheer number of questions back and forth between a variety of people.

17 Questions!

Jesus to the soldiers.

Jesus to His disciples.

The people to His disciples.

Jesus to the high priest.

Pilate to the high priest.

Pilate to Jesus … Jesus to Pilate.

Pilate to Jesus and Jesus to Pilate again.

Pilate, ultimately, to the crowd.

 

Everyone is seeking someone to give them the answer they already want to hear.

 

Ultimately, however, only one question and answer matters …

It’s the question Jesus, Himself, poses and answered Himself …

“Whom do you seek?” … “I am He.”

 

Application

 

I often consider myself on a “truth” quest.

I clamor for it … or at least I think I do.

But how often do I seek out an answer that I am already looking for?

In other words … am I seeking “truth” or “affirmation”?

 

Everything I hear must be measured against the truth of God …

Not my own thoughts or even understanding.

 

Jesus came to bear witness to the truth.

“… Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

 

Jesus is not caught off guard or shocked by any of my questions …

He is first described as “knowing all that would happen …”

 

Jesus can handle my questions.

Can I handle His answers?

 

Prayer

 

Thank you, God, for Your Word

Help me know it as Truth

Help me know You as Truth, Holy Spirit

Help me seek you

In Jesus name

Amen

John 17:20-21 –“ I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Observation –

Jesus is praying for the disciples to be kept from the evil one and be sanctified in the truth of the word.  Jesus asks this prayer not only for the disciples, but for all who will believe in Jesus through their testimony.   There will be people who believe through the witness of the disciples.  The prayer is also for unity in the Church when we praise God for his grace in sending Jesus as our only way of salvation and reconciliation with the Father when we live a life on mission to know Jesus and make him known the world will take notice and believe.

Application –

God’s word will go out and He will accomplish The Great Commission as Jesus tells us in verse 20.  It is humbling to think that Jesus prayed that prayer for all believers then and now that we have the opportunity to be a part of God’s plan to share the greatest news the world will ever know here in Bradenton with neighbors, family members and throughout the world.  As a Christian, one who truly believes in the resurrection of Jesus to overcome death, I need to live a life so others may see Jesus through me and believe also.  I must act in unity of the Church as an ambassador for Christ by sharing the gospel message of salvation through Jesus.

Prayer –

Father,

Thank you for the truth in your word and the prayer of Jesus for all believers that we are united through Christ to you.  Keep me steadfast in your word and protect me from the lies of Satan.   Let the power of the Holy Spirit lead me to live life on mission to follow you and fulfill the Great Commission.

Journal Jn 16 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.

 

In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

Observation: I used to read this verse so much differently than what it plainly says…

 

Analysis: I think that one of the issues that I have with the Scriptures is just reading what it says and comprehending the sentences.

Take John 16:33: Instead of separating the sentences Jesus spoke as 3 separate thoughts, with 3 separate meanings He wants us to have, I conflate them, I run them together to make them mean something else entirely.

I took “In Me you will have peace; in the World I will have Tribulation; but, because Jesus has overcome the World, if I have peace in Him, I won’t have tribulation anymore.”

That is so much a stretch it is ridiculous.   Yet it was so for me.  I pursued peace to avoid tribulation (which is the short version)—which certainly doesn’t seem the meaning behind John 16:33.

Romans 12:2—“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by TESTING you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect…” says the Holy Spirit through Paul.

I went to the emergency room this past week; ambulance and everything.  I guess that may fall under the category of “tribulation” of a sort.  Thing was, I was “peaceful.”  In Him.  I think the reason why is because before this episode happened, I had been stirring up the empty space between my ears with pursuing Him through His Word, meeting with another brother in book study and hospitality—specifically talking about our walk in Christ.

This “get together” we are practicing was not an “if/then” project to avoid tribulation—because Jesus plainly says, “You will have tribulation, guaranteed…”—but because we are doing these things, when tribulation comes, as a by-product we are equipped to handle tribulation better.

Candidly, I handled and endured the emergency room better than I handled the week after (I am a poor patient) with not tending to my character before my wife.  I was (am) short tempered, short-fused, and all the other sinful outputs of a “non-Christlike” character anybody could imagine—poster boy of what I need to be saved from.

Hebrews 3:13 says, “…exhort (or encourage) one another every day (as long as it is called today), that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”  This scripture is so very important for the members of a local church because it implies direct care for one another’s walk in Christ and to avoid the lies of sin.

This kind of encouragement is more that, “I love and (emotionally) care for you; it also has that implication of exhorting the hearing to follow Christ, to remember and obey certain Scriptures, to not fall away, to be “in Him” and enjoy His peace.

This kind of care, in my experience, isn’t found much.  I think it is because, like in my case, I look to receive and not give.  This kind of care takes time and is a commitment.  However, it is an imperative tool that Jesus gives to care for each other and to grow a healthy church.

I was transparent earlier in this post, not to polish my halo—far from that.  It was to hopefully present an example; not only for my remembrance and reinforcement of practicing transparency, but to give to readers what it looks like.

Prayer: Father, this past week, even today, I fail you miserably.  Thank you for letting me put aside the Justification side of things and speak from the Sanctification POV.  Following You?  I am so bad.  I want to get back on the horse and ride.

Reveal, make known the path of righteousness for me again.  Help me not harbor ill thoughts about my wife and to embrace again what you want me to be as a husband, as a man of God.

AMEN.

John 15
[18] “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. [19] If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Observation:

Much of this world hates the Truth and the Light.  If it feels good, it IS good. There is no Truth in that.

As true Christians, we don’t belong to this world in that way.  Though we’re sinners, we know objectively from the creator of the universe, right from wrong, and we hate wrong.  We were chosen by God and are hated by many of this world for sticking to biblically objective truth.

Application:

Those who belong to this world belong to the ruler of this world, Satan. Those who belong to this world like some good but not too much good. Their perspective of what is good is based totally on subjective truth and changes day to day, secular social movement by secular social movement. This unbiblical worldview is more focused on how one feels, or even a demented view some think is biblical like.. God wants me to be happy so if it feels good to me then this is what God wants for me.

This is totally selfish and where the secular beliefs creep into biblical truth, creating a form of what is coined Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. A concocted religion not from God’s living word. God wants me to be happy. Good people go to heaven. Beliefs totally out of line with biblical truth.

So, the world hates those of us who are well grounded in biblical truth and believe in Jesus as our redeemer who died for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Be on guard because, since the world hates us for these reasons, we are in the way of their subjective happiness and therefore must be removed.

We insist on our religious freedom as specified as a right in our constitution. We insist on being able to teach and preach the Gospel not only in a church but in public. We insist on raising our children using biblical truth as our guide. These are not privileges offered up by a government that can be removed at the whim of an administration, they are rights. The secular movement who hates us so bad, will have none of that, and have concentrated efforts at all levels trying to force us to live by their fabricated ideals and religious beliefs.

Prayer:

Lord thank you for sending your Son to die for our sins. Thank you for your living word as truth to guide us in this world. Lord help us as individuals stay strong as we are coerced and pressured to sway from your biblical truth to the subjective truth of this world. Help us as a Church to stay strong against the unrelenting pressure to change our orthodox biblical views. Holy Spirit guide us day by day, minute by minute as we navigate through this messed up world. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.

Journal Jn 14 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.  If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

 

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever (even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  You know him, for he dwells with and will be in you… (John 14:14-17)

 

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all that I have said to you… (John 14:26)

 

Observation: Is there any subject more controversial than the doctrine of the Holy Spirit?

 

Analysis: The key word in this passage is simple but gets passed over a ton in lieu of analyzing and arguing.  The key word is: Ask.

In order to bring the subject to a close, most folks try to interpret the passage to take the mystery out.  “This bothers me; I don’t understand.”  “That’s ok,” says some so-called leader in the church, “this means this and that means that, and see?  Mystery solved!”

But the mystery isn’t solved.  In fact, in a lot of cases the so-called “answer” skews the text here and further on just to make it worse.

I look at the first two references (v14): “If you ask anything in my name I will do.” And then, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  To me, this sounds like two sides of the same coin and I cannot separate them from each other.  If I ask anything, then it is under the condition of keeping his commandments.  Before asking, I have an obligation to pursue.  Ok, not quite but it is directional.

However, this directional implication has a hiccup in it: I am weak and tend toward disobedience more than obedience.  I am writing right here and am having a hard time focusing without having my mind go off into sinful paths.  It happens and it probably happens to everyone (according to the Scriptures—1^st Peter 5:9b).

Therefore, I ask for help to Jesus (who is glad to answer that prayer) and I continue to push into obeying Him.

But where does my Help come from?  It comes from the Father giving the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the implication being that the Holy Spirit comes from, what?  Me asking.

So, the inference is:

• Ask Jesus anything, He will give.
• Ask for things that correspond to obeying His Commands, because that’s what we do when we love Jesus,
• Disobedience comes way easier than obedience, therefore we need Help.
• Help comes from the Holy Spirit, which must be asked for.

There are some bible teachers that say (using computer language), “The Holy Spirit is an autoload function when saved; when Jesus is asked into my heart, the Holy Spirit is right there, along for the ride.”

I can’t address that, don’t know if it is right or wrong.  I do know that in this section of Scripture the key word remains, ASK.

If I don’t ask, am I presuming on God?  I think so.  I think it is very evident I am certainly not dependent on God; my exercised presumption is independence in full bloom action.

Prayer:  Father, may I take Your Word as it says, no embellishment, but not taking anything out of Whole Bible context.  There are too many claiming Your Name that cherry pick “power passages” and don’t consider them against the full Gospel.

May what I wrote today cause thinking and prayer; a prayer that is a sweet aroma to You.

Bring revival,

AMEN

Journal Jn 13 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)

Scripture: “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?

 

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet—for I have given you an example, that you should do just as I have done to you…

 

Truly, truly, I say to you: A servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

 

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” John 13:12-17

 

Observation:  A foundational principle is found right here…and is a principle easily ignored in American Christendom and is especially ignored where the rubber hits the road at the point where “turning the other cheek” is called for…

 

Analysis: Serving one another—does the above fall into that category of being a disciple?

Yes….and no.  This one is deeper…

Washing feet was probably the duty of the house servant—a bond slave, perhaps—certainly a person that didn’t have a choice, was not a hired hand, nor an employee of any kind.  These guys didn’t have choices; they couldn’t say “No way!” and quit.  It was wash feet and shut up or suffer consequences.

This was forced service.  It was not a decision to be humble, it was unprivileged and disgraceful humiliation.

Foot washing is disgraceful.  Yet, Jesus uses it as the example that the Disciples should follow; use the example of “foot washing” to underscore this: “A servant is NOT greater than his Master.”

Not greater than his Master; yet that is done every day.  I am prideful; I reject the idea that I am actually and specifically a servant to a Master.  Oh, I call myself a servant but when I have to snap choose to serve rather than be served, what do I do?  Do I give myself up or do I defend my pride, my choice to be more important than the person in front of me?

What if that person was my spouse?  Is my attitude to defend that, as a husband, I should be respected?  What if I am a wife? Is my attitude to not be taken advantage of by this man, my husband?

Am I determined to do what Jesus says, no matter what the cost?  It is easier to take a bullet for another than to lay down my life in the little thing’s day after day after day…until the End.

Paul wrote: “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…but to think with sober judgment.” (Ro 12:3), and this in Phil 2-3-7:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, BUT in humility count others more significant than yourselves….Have this mind among yourselves…who, though (Jesus) was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…”

How do I think of myself?  Is “Servant” a title taken with arrogant jealousy?  Or is Servant a description found in secret and awarded by the Host of Heaven at the End of Days?

It is like saying, “See?  Look at me, I am a Humble Servant” because I have just proved I am neither humble nor a servant….

Prayer:  Lord, this is one of the hardest attitudes to overcome.  With all the emphasis on esteem in this world, you have changed what most folks think the definition is about.

You are worthy of all praise; I am worthy of none compared to you.

You showed yourself a servant; you say, “follow my example.”  I want to be famous and lauded by all.

My crown, if at all, is given by you at the Throne of Grace.  My reaction, realized in full at the End of Times, is to give it back because I don’t deserve it.

Work your mind in me, O Lord.  Help me humble myself so, candidly, you don’t have to humble me.

Help me embrace the Cross fully, thank you for rising from the dead and defeating sin and death.

Bring revival,

AMEN