I was very stressed before my last teaching. And I’m sure I know why. I was preparing a message from some challenging verses in Hebrews 10:26-39. Not surprisingly, we all know there are some Bible verses that (at first glance) can rattle our faith. Because of this, they may even challenge our understanding of salvation. I was meditating on verses like that.
However, the Lord gave me clarity. Once again, I came to the settled peace that our salvation through Jesus is eternally secure. Even as I considered other options, it was obvious that the atonement of Jesus covers ALL my sins. For that, I am beyond grateful!
The Bible is amazing. It’s all one story that points to the New Covenant ushered in by Jesus Christ. From its first pages (with the brokenness and mess of human sin) God had His eyes on His ultimate promise to His people — Jesus. We can look throughout the Bible and see how God fulfilled His promises and covenants through Jesus. Undeniably, Jesus is a Promise Keeper!
The other day, I received some great encouragement from a dear friend of mine. It wasn’t much more than a simple text message. However, with just a few sentences, it was enough to totally change the mood I was in that morning. It reminded me about the sermon I recently preached from Hebrews. We read this verse, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” — Hebrews 10:24-25
As a husband and father, as a pastor and friend, I need encouragement! Giving and getting encouragement is important for all of us. When it is absent in the lives of the brothers and sisters we do life with, it’s not long before we can absolutely feel unloved, unnoticed and forgotten. I was feeling quite discouraged that morning; but, at just the right time, my faithful friend sent that text message unannounced. It radically changed my outlook on the day. It didn’t take much, but it changed much.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all of his ways.” — James 1:5-8
How often we have opposition or trials in our lives and try to handle them on our own. It’s easy to do because we love to fix our own problems and help others fix theirs. But, we need to remember not to rely on our own wisdom in doing this; we need the wisdom of God. When we’re faced with troubles, He will help us generously, without hesitation.
My family and I recently visited a church in Ohio while on vacation. As I bought some books from the church book store, the woman behind the counter asked where I was from. When I told her Utah, she introduced us to her co-worker, Sarah. She and her family had recently moved there from Utah. We chatted briefly and discovered that we had a few mutual friends.
I met Sarah’s husband that evening at their communion service. It didn’t take long to learn that Jonathan was good friends with two of my Christian co-workers and one of my Christian clients. It also turned out that he was very close with one of my friends who pastors a church in Hawaii!
In the pursuit of “real love” in my life, I’ve come across only one, truly reliable source. That source is Jesus, the lover of my soul. Many things fight for the attention of my mind and the affections of my heart; only Jesus fills me with what I so desperately need. He is honest, trustworthy, dependable, fulfilling, sustaining, intimate and complete love. I like this verse:
“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters” — 1 John 3:16
As I write this, I am waiting to surprise my kids. They don’t know it yet, but we have decided to cancel school today and take them to Lagoon. We can’t wait to see the look on their faces when we say, “Instead of school, we thought it would be fun to go on roller coasters.” The entire week (for my wife and me) has largely revolved around this fun surprise.
There is no special reason for “Lagoon day”. The only reward is to hear their voices laugh with excitement, see their smiling faces and delight their hearts.
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:8
Have you ever read a verse that stopped you? Made you really think about something in a way you hadn’t before? As our Youth Group read through the New Testament this year, it was good to study the Gospels, Epistles and Revelation. A few months ago, I read the above verse and like I said, it stopped me. The chapter talked about the end times (eschatology); it described the Antichrist and the return of Jesus. But the phrase, “the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth” stopped me.
I recently read the story of the blind man’s conversation with Jesus (Mark —Chapter 10). Basically, the blind man called out to Jesus, and Jesus asked him a great question: “What do you want me to do for you?”
I bet Jesus was smiling at the man who couldn’t see. The Lord knew what he wanted — it was obvious. He just wanted the blind man to verbalize it. “Rabbi, I want to see!” blurted the blind man without hesitation. Probably laughing with joy, Jesus replied, “Go, your faith has healed you.”
Immediately, the man (named Bartimaeus), received his sight and began following Jesus.
Isn’t that great?! Do you think Bartimaeus was shy about telling his story? Do you think his life was ever the same?
I was challenged as I meditated on that amazing scene. The compassionate Jesus joyfully took the opportunity to help a desperate man with an obvious need. I wondered, “What would I say if Jesus asked me, ‘Bill, what do you want me to do for you?’ What is on my heart? Would I hesitate? Do I even know what I want?
Some of Jesus’ Amazing Promises
“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” — Matthew 21:22 (NIV)
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” — Mark 11:24 (NIV)
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” — John 15:7 (NIV)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” — Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
Isn’t it incredibly good to know that every day Jesus asks us, “What do you want me to do for you?” He already knows exactly what we need … what we want. And He smiles. He loves answering the prayers of desperate and needy people.
What would you say to Jesus? He’s willing and able to answer. When He does, will you follow Him?
I recently read Philippians 4:6-7 in a devotional. The NLT said it this way, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
As I read this familiar verse, a few key phrases jumped out at me.
