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For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:7
I used to work at a local convenience store. One of the things this store prided itself on was hot, fresh coffee. In order to assure customers this was true, a timer would go off every 30 minutes. This was our cue as employees to head back to the coffee area, check the product and turn off the timer.
I no longer work there, but frequent the store often and, on occasion, will be there when the timer goes off. Whenever that timer goes off (at this store or any of the others in the chain) my mind tells me to check the coffee and turn off the timer! Then, I remind myself that I’m no longer answerable to that call. It has no authority over me. I’m free!
This is a simple example of sin in our lives. Before we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior we acted a certain way, used certain words and involved ourselves in certain activities.
Once we accepted Christ, and began growing in His word through personal study, and corporate worship/teaching, we began to realize that some of the words, actions and activities we involved ourselves in didn’t please God and weren’t a good example to the world around us.
Because we love Jesus, and because our love should drive us to following His word, our desire is to change. But, if you haven’t noticed, there’s a problem.
We are still tempted to use language that doesn’t build others up. We gossip, curse, lie and stretch the truth (which is really a lie by the way).
Our minds take us to places and thoughts we know displease our Savior, and often our bodies follow!
We doubt and worry even though we know God’s promised to see us through every adversity.
We still enjoy certain activities even though we realize this isn’t a place we should be hanging out at because we bear the name of Jesus.
It’s like that crazy timer at the convenience store. We hear the call and have a choice to make. Do we respond or remove ourselves from the situation.
The bad news is, as long as we are alive we will be attacked by the cursed timer, calling us to the old life.
The good news is that through the Holy Spirit we have the power to resist the call. It may not come all at once. It may be a struggle that hounds you for a long time. But through Jesus, victory is yours. Keep trying.
Don’t let failure discourage you, even the best of Jesus followers struggle. He’s willing and ready to forgive. He’s more than able to give you the power to change those habits, those words and the desire to take part in those activities.
Through Jesus you are free!
So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them. Mark 5:20
One day, Jesus and his disciples crossed a lake and entered gentile territory. Near the shore was a grave yard. Soon He and his friends were approached by a man so possessed of demons he could not be chained or controlled. He spent his life wandering among the tombs screaming and moaning. I’m guessing that was a pretty scary moment for the disciples. I’m also guessing it didn’t affect Jesus in the least.
It’s interesting, the man screamed at Jesus, but Jesus only addressed the demons inside him. That’s Jesus for you. We’d focus on the man and his behavior. Jesus focused on his heart.
After talking with the demons, Jesus sent them into a herd of nearby pigs who promptly drowned themselves in the lake! When the herders of the pigs saw this they were shocked! They went and told the people in the nearby town what had happened. When the crowd returned they saw the crazy man of the village sitting calmly talking with Jesus. Fully clothed and in his right mind.
This was all too much for the people in the town to process. They could handle the crazy guy full of demons, but apparently Jesus made them uncomfortable. Or perhaps they were upset because all the bacon they hoped for was in the bottom of the lake. (Ok, sorry. Couldn’t resist that one)
Anyway, back to the story. As Jesus and his crew prepared to leave, the man healed of demons asked to accompany Jesus. Jesus, however, told the man to stay back and travel to the surrounding countryside and tell people what Jesus had done for him. You see, the man had a story to tell and although I’m sure Jesus would have loved having him around, the man’s mission to tell others about Jesus was far more important.
He has the same message for you too, you know. The man in our story was most likely a gentile, not a Hebrew as Jesus and his friends were. Jewish boys are taught about God’s law from the very beginning. Not this guy? He most likely didn’t have a clue about Abraham, Moses, Isaiah or all the prophecies about some coming Messiah. He hadn’t gone to church, been baptized or studied the ‘Bible’. He really only knew one thing and that one thing was what Jesus had done for him.
As believers in Jesus we need to have a passion to tell others about what Jesus means to us. Education in God’s word is nice. Going to church can be helpful. But the best tool you have to bring others to Jesus is to tell them simply, “This is what Jesus did for me.”
So, what’s your story? How has Jesus made a difference in your life, in your marriage, in your work ethic, in your attitude? Sharing what Jesus means to you is far more valuable than any sermon any pastor can ever preach. People may be able to argue theology or doctrine. They may be able to ask all sorts of questions you can’t answer. But the one thing they can’t argue about is what Jesus means to you. Make your story real. Make it short. Make it meaningful. Spread it to your world!
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”” Luke 17:17-18
One day, as Jesus was near the border of Samaria, ten men with leprosy called out to him and asked for healing. We read the story in Luke’s gospel, chapter 17. Jesus told them to go show the priests they were healed. Lepers were not allowed into society without this blessing.
From what we can determine, the men were healed as they left for the temple. Only one of them, a hated Samaritan, returned to Jesus to thank him for being healed. Only one practiced Active Appreciation.
Active Appreciation is part of worship. We don’t know if the other men suddenly got leprosy again, but we do know that this hated Samaritan, the one who showed Active Appreciation, not only received his physical health, but his spiritual health as well.
Active Appreciation is powerful. When King Jehoshaphat was going into battle and the nation of Israel was in trouble, he went before God and prayed. God promised deliverance but instructed the king to have singers go ahead of the army singing praises for God’s power and deliverance.
Their Active Appreciation proved powerful! “At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.” 2 Chronicles 20:22
Active Appreciation changes our focus. When we begin with praise to God we are turning our minds towards the Father’s power and promises and away from the enemies of fear, doubt, anger and worry. Like the old adage says, “Big problems, Small God; Big God, Small problems.”
Active Appreciation begins with God. When we learn to appreciate God because of his undeserved, unconditional love and it spreads to others because when we learn to appreciate God we see others differently. Not because of their actions, but because we see them as God’s creation, just as we are. Our appreciation isn’t based on others, it’s based on God.
Who can you practice Active Appreciation on? Begin with your Heavenly Father, then turn your Active Appreciation towards his creation, the people you rub shoulders with every day. It can be as simple as opening a door for someone, or saying thank you. It can be praying with and/or for someone you don’t even know.
Active Appreciation is, well ACTIVE! The more you learn to appreciate the Father, the more you will be able to appreciate others. Live in Active Appreciation.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Psalms 91:5
Remember when we were young how we would be afraid of the dark? You’d hear a noise and be sure a monster was under your bed. As you grew older, you knew there wasn’t a monster under your bed. Your mind told you to go back to sleep, your body sent off all kinds of alarms. You may have even gotten up, turned on the lights and walked through the house just to be sure there wasn’t anything awry.
Darkness is, by nature, scary because darkness hides the unknown. Physically that may be a chair or toy on the floor, or an intruder. Spiritually the terrors of the night could be worry, fear or anxiety over relationships, work issues, or the condition of our society. What we don’t know can scare us the most at times. The Psalmist reminds us that we can rest assured that whatever lurks in the darkness has already been seen by a loving Father who protects us from things we don’t know and walks through the things that affect us.
The Psalmist also assures us that we will be protected by the arrows that fly in the daylight. Today, arrows have been perfected as to accuracy and distance. But when the Psalmist wrote this, the archer was fairly close to his intended victim.
For us, arrows can symbolize attacks that happen in broad daylight. The enemy can’t be seen in darkness, and he can’t shoot an arrow at you. But in the daylight that’s a different story! Arrows come from those you see and, perhaps, even know. These ‘arrows’ can be the criticism and rejection you endure from a close friend. They can be the accusations of those who disagree with you or your opinions. They can be the arrows of misunderstanding.
The Father’s promise is this. Whether the things attacking you are out of the darkness, meaning you didn’t have a clue they were there, or you saw the attacks coming, you can know this. He is aware of your situation. It doesn’t matter how you got where you are, He is there to see you through it. Faith conquers fear. Light conquers darkness. God’s protection covers all.
“and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13:5
He washed their feet. All of them.
The one who would betray him.
The one who doubted him even though he’d seen his miracles,
The ones who were racist.
The ones who were just along for the ride,
The ones who didn’t get it.
One could not be a foot-washer without getting down on their knees on the hare floor. A foot-washer dealt with mud, smelly feet and humiliation. It was physically demanding and emotionally draining. Only the lowest of slaves were given the foot-washer job.
No one EVER volunteered for the job of foot-washer. Not kings. Not nobles. Not even blue collar workers wanted the job.
But Jesus did.
It wasn’t the character of the disciples but the love of the master that drove him to his knees to wash their feet. He served those who could never serve him back at that level.
It’s easy to serve those who like you. It’s beneficial to serve those who have the ability and resources to pay back. But those who have nothing to offer? Those who label and ridicule you? That’s another story.
Who is it you need to serve today? Maybe a text message? A phone call? Paying it forward at the coffee shop drive thru? Praying for a random stranger? Servant-hood isn’t easy. It can get messy. But it’s what Jesus would do.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 