Praising God for His Grace .................. in the Little Things

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

I mowed my lawn today. “Wow”, one may say  in a sarcastic tone;. or another question, “What’s the big deal?” Allow me to explain: it was  a big deal for me because I enjoy mowing my lawn. I enjoy the work, the quiet time, the joy of a job accomplished and a the blessing of a cared for lawn. Yet, the biggest reason it is a big deal to me is that over the past four months mowing my lawn has only been a thought and a desire to be longed for as I have been recuperating from a severe shoulder injury.  During this trial I have also vividly realized how big a deal it is to bathe myself, or to put on my socks by myself, or to be able to reach over and touch my wife at night.  

Until you are not able to do even the simple things you will never really understand how big of a deal they are and that each are a blessing of God.  Each blessing we enjoy, whether it big or small, is a provision of God’s grace.  My very salvation is by His grace as well as the ability to take another breath.  Our lives consist of God’s grace upon grace upon grace.  Sadly, we become so accustomed to the daily graces of God we fail to even consider them as such and therefore fail to give God the proper praise for the simple blessings of life.

David understood the reality of the blessing of God’s grace in even the little things as he proclaimed, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).  This proclamation was made at one of the darkest times of David’s life, but in these dark times he was able to see the beauty of life’s simple blessings and the reality of God’s unending grace.  In times of Paul’s greatest need Jesus reminded him, “My grace is sufficient for you”  and Paul would later say, “Therefore, I most gladly I would rather boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ would rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).  Paul realized even his infirmities were measures of God’s grace, because through them he would experience the power of Christ.  Now, that’s heaven sent perspective.

We are taught of the generous blessings of being of child of God when John writes, “Of His fulness we have all received and grace upon grace” (John 1:16).  When we are saved we receive all of Christ and become the recipients of His unending grace.  Let us never fail to praise Him, even for the simple blessings of life.   Just a thought: if you can read this blog, then stop, and praise God for His grace.

I took a walk today.  Thank you Jesus for your grace.

Overcoming the Darkness

Psalm 77:9-12

Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?

And I said, “this is my anguish/infirmity; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”  I will remember the works of the LORD, surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of all Your deeds.

The pains and struggles of today are real and can wear on the mind and emotions of even the strongest believer. At times they can so overwhelm us that we can no longer see God’s presence or hear His voice. We look for Him but cannot find Him in the darkness. We cry out to Him but the noise of our troubles seems louder than His response. In our loneliness and despair our minds and soul begin to doubt the very love of God and even question His faithfulness. These times of struggle provide fertile ground for the adversary to sow seeds of doubts and imaginations into a weary soul.

At these times we must, as the apostle Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “take every thought captive” to protect ourselves from the deception of the devil. We then must discipline ourselves to think on those things which are true, which are noble, which are just and those things which are lovely and of good report as Paul also teaches us in Philippians 4:8. Paul is reminding us that the struggles of this life can clutter and confuse our thinking and must be addressed by remembering and meditating on the truth.

The psalmist practiced this discipline of thinking on truth as he began to remember and meditate on the wonderful works of God. Not only did he meditate on the truth of God’s goodness but he also began to talk to others about God’s faithfulness . Soon his doubts were vanquished and his faith restored. Although his circumstances may not had changed but his view of God and His faithfulness was restored. As he meditated on and proclaimed the truth of God’s goodness the darkness began fade and he began to see once again the beauty of his Lord and hear His precious voice. His peace returned with the assurance that God’s love is everlasting and He is bigger than any circumstance.

Our Lord has never promised that we would not go through tough times. Instead, His word teaches they are part of our Christian growth, our sanctification. Yet, He did promise He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is always there, even when we cannot see Him. In the darkest of days, let us set our minds on Jesus. He is the Light. He has overcome the darkness.

Shining Bright in the Darkest Hour

Luke 23:39-43 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

There hung Jesus Christ, beaten and bruised, ridiculed and rejected, crucified between two thieves on Calvary's hillside. Yet, in the darkest moment in the history of humanity a light shown so bright that it penetrated the darkest of hearts, the heart of one of the thieves beside the Lord Jesus. Something occurred during these few hours on a horrific cross which caused a belligerent malefactor's heart to be humbled and to desire the things of God. In the beginning of the terrible ordeal this thief was reviling Jesus in the same manner as the angry crowd and the other hurting thief, but now he is defending the crucified Christ against their unjust railings. The dying thief admitted and confessed his own failings while recognizing the justness of the man in the middle.

The question must be asked, “What made the difference?” None of the gospel writers recorded a sermon preached by Jesus from the cross or a plea to the thieves for their souls. The only clue we can find is the very witness of Jesus Christ in the time of his deepest sufferings. Christ's sermon was preached by actions in His darkest moments. 

There was the witness of Jesus' conduct while hanging on Calvary's cruel cross. Although ridiculed and mocked by angry men and women on the ground and even by those crucified beside Him, Jesus never once lashed back at them. If anyone had the right to respond in anger for His unjust treatment it should have been Jesus. Yet, He opened not His mouth with words of bitterness, but instead with words of compassion as He prayed for His accusers and executioners, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Even in His agony His light was brightly shining with a spirit of forgiveness and mercy. 

There also had to be also a marked difference in His very countenance even in the midst of terrible circumstances: a countenance of peace and assurance rather than a countenance of scowl and vindictiveness as seen on the faces of his religious accusers. There was a marked difference in the actions and the countenance of the accused and His accusers. Obviously, this spoke loudly to the heart of one of the thieves. There, hanging on a cross beside him he saw love personified through the person of Jesus Christ. It there in the midst of death, he saw true Life, abundant life; and in the midst of confusion he saw peace in the face of the One that had accused of being a King. The light of Jesus Christ shown so bright it penetrated the dark heart of the one right beside him which created a humility and a hunger to join Christ in His kingdom.

There were probably others on that day who saw the light shining bright in the midst of Jesus' sufferings as Matthew records the statement of the centurion upon the death of Christ. Jesus never quit ministering even in the midst of His sufferings. We each should learn this powerful lesson from our Lord, “Our light can shine the brightest in our darkest moments.” The great Teacher never quit teaching and the great Lover of our souls never quit loving.

Let us also use the times of darkness for His glory and let us remember that someone is always watching us.

O, what a Savior!

Jesus Knows

John 2:23-25  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.  24  But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,  25  and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

The apostle John teaches us an important lesson about Jesus Christ, “He knows the heart of man.”  Many believed in His name upon witnessing His many miracles, but that did not necessarily equate into saving faith. Clearly, these believed that Jesus was from God and maybe even the Messiah, but did that belief transfer to a heart changing, life altering commitment as Jesus being Lord of their lives?  Intellectual belief, although important, is not the same as heart-surrendering belief.  James reminds us that even the demons believed (James 2:9).  

The key to this passage is that “Jesus did not commit Himself, because He knew all men.”  Jesus looks past the surface and deep within the heart.  It is not a simple testimony of belief that transforms a man into a child of God, but a heart-surrendering, heart-regenerating trust that reveals itself in a new birth resulting in a new creation.  John continued to explain this reality in the example of Nicodemus, a great student of the Word and one who recognized Jesus as one whom had come from God. Yet, Jesus explained pointedly to Nicodemus,   “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Therefore, each of us should humbly and fearfully examine our own faith even as Paul challenges us in 2 Corinthians 13:5  “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”   We can fool others and we can even fool ourselves, but not Jesus Christ.  Jesus knows what is in us.  He knows what is in our hearts and He alone is the Righteous Judge.  Only those who have saving faith will He commit Himself and His glorious salvation.

Again, meditate on the truth, “He knows what is in man.”  This includes you and me.

Leaving Judgment in the Hands of God

1 Samuel 26:9 And David said to Abishai, Destroy him (King Saul) not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD's anointed, and be guiltless?

David valued the Lord's honor more than he valued his own well-being or life. For months David lived in exile while escaping attempt after attempt on his life by the jealous King Saul. Now, King Saul had unknowingly fallen into David’s hands and in the eyes of the world and even his own men, David had every right to kill this mad adversary. 

Yet, David did not live by the world’s standard; instead, he lived by God’s. He knew that God was in control and that God is also faithful in His justice. He knew that God would bless his obedience for not taking vengeance in his own hands. Saul was the Lord's anointed and the Lord would surely judge him for his unjust acts. David was tested twice in this, and yet he remained faithful.

David honored the position of the anointed king and the Lord blessed his faithfulness by later anointing him as king. How many times have we robbed ourselves of future blessings by failing to wait upon God and taking matters, His judgments, into our own hands today?

Only Believe

Mark 5:36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

Jairus’ life came quickly to a crashing halt. News arrived that his little daughter had died. She was his precious darling and the apple of his eye. This man who had devoted his life to serving God was certainly devastated. Death had come uninvited into his home and claimed his most prized treasure. Being a ruler of the local synagogue he had access to the finest doctors but none had the necessary answers nor help for his daughter’s illness. 

His only hope, however thin, was from the controversial carpenter from Galilee who was gaining quite a reputation of being a healer and a miracle worker. Yet, now his little hope had vanished. He fervently tried to reach Jesus in time to bring this healer to his ailing princess, but his time ran out. Now she was dead. There would be no healing and there would be no rejoicing, only mourning. Jairus had faith that Jesus could heal but his faith ended there. His situation was now impossible. 

If only he could have realized that with God all things are possible, and that as he stood at the feet of Jesus he stood in the presence of God Himself. Jairus’ problem was not that his daughter had died, but that he had placed a limit on his faith and with this limited faith fears soon overwhelmed him. Therefore, the merciful Christ encouraged him to not be afraid, but only believe. Jairus did believe and his faith was rewarded with the resurrection of his daughter by the Resurrection and the Life personified. Never place a limit on the limitless Christ.