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They will be so kind and merciful and good, that they will be a light in the dark for others who do the right thing. Psalm 112:4 (CEV)
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! Ephesians 5:8 (NLT)
Light. It’s comforting to the young mom after a night comforting a sick child; it’s calming to the sleepless heart after a night of storms; it warms the fingers and toes and brings a smile to those in the cold; it brings relief to the ship captain as he guides his cargo and crew safely into harbor; it provides needed nutrients for plants to produce their fruit. Life can not exist without light.
It’s no wonder Jesus and others use this analogy in reference to the church, his body. He knew the importance of providing light to those in darkness. Light has nothing to do with darkness because light by its very presence dispels darkness once and for all.
The world is full of darkness. We see it in the politics of the nations, the lies of its people, the deceptive tactics of the enemy. Darkness can creep into the church itself with words of condemnation, criticism and legalism. Religion based on rules and dogmas is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, ready to distract us from our real purpose of giving those around us hope, sharing the message of forgiveness, showing mercy to those who are lost.
We are called to be the light of the world. When we use the tactics of the world to respond to the issues of life, we become part of the darkness, not the light. People are looking for light, not more darkness.
Spread the grace of Jesus to those who need some light today. Our purpose is not to pass judgment; not to condemn; not to burden down with guilt. That is the work of darkness. Rather, spread light today to those around you who disagree with you. Rather than defending your cause to their face, talk over the issues with your father on your knees. Only he can change hearts.
PRAYER: Father God, it’s so easy in our culture to become messengers of darkness rather than beacons of light. Empower me today with your Spirit so that I can spread the light of your grace, forgiveness and hope to those seeking the light. Amen.
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10 (NIV)
In the years of my ‘spiritual recovery’ these verses (along with others) exemplified the battle I endured and the awakening I had to what God’s grace really meant for me. Not only did I gain a new appreciation and understanding of grace, I realized the value grace gives me.
It’s so easy to let my mind wander; so easy to see a woman and admire her beauty and then, if I’m not careful have those thoughts linger.
It’s so easy to let the doubt of my ability creep in unaware and to lose sight of the fact that success doesn’t come from my ability to perform but from my openness to letting God use me through his Holy Spirit.
In my younger years we used to love playing ‘capture the flag’. We’d spend hours designating the prize, (the flag) and use whatever means possible to protect it from being ‘captured’ by the enemy.
In real life what is at stake is far more valuable. In real life the prize isn’t a flag or some other earthly item that has little real value. In real life the prize we protect is our peace of mind; our relationship with God; our relationship with others; those things we hold dear. But it can all be taken away with a fleeting thought; a lapse in judgment; a giving in to the desires of a ‘desperately wicked heart whom no one can trust.’
My failure at times to take captive my thoughts has taught me two things which I hold dear to my life. One is my desperate need for a Savior and my reliance on Jesus to empower me when attacks come through his Holy Spirit.
Secondly, I find myself far more patient and understanding when I hear the stories of those who, in a fleeting moment have let their thoughts be taken captive by the enemy. When I remember my own weakness and failure it is far easier to bear yours.
If you are in the midst of bearing the consequences of thoughts turned into actions let me assure you there is forgiveness at the foot of the cross through Jesus Christ.
If you are under that internal attack in which every thought seems to attempt to distract you from the goal; if the enemy is throwing everything at you to pull you away, let me remind you there is power in that blood of Jesus. He understands your weakness. He understands how easy it is to let rebellion, worry, doubt and sin enter in. He is near you, ready to forgive, strengthen and encourage.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I don’t know what battles of the mind will come my way. What I do know is that I’m weak in and of myself. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to take every thought captive so I can enjoy the passionate love relationship you desire to have with me. Amen.
You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Colossians 2:6(CEV)
About the only thing I remember from my high school psychology class is an experiment run with a fish in a large aquarium. I don’t remember why it was run, but the results have stuck with me for a lifetime.
Sociologists put a large fish in a glass aquarium. The fish was allowed to swim freely about this large tank, but its food was always put in the same spot on one end of the tank. The instincts of the fish taught it that it could get food at a certain time, in a certain spot every day.
The next step in the experiment was to put a clear glass pane at the halfway point of the tank with the fish on one end and the food on the other. The fish would try to get to the food, but the glass pane prevented it from doing so. Food was placed in its normal spot but the fish couldn’t get to it. It became violent. It slammed its head against the glass in effort to get to the food but to no avail. Finally, it gave up. It simply stayed on its end of the tank. When the glass pane was removed and its freedom was returned the fish simply stayed on its end.
There are many lessons that can be taken from that experiment, but one that I think of often is how it pertains to those of us who have chosen to follow Christ. At the very beginning of our journey, we enjoy the euphoria of knowing our sins are forgiven; of realizing that someday we will spend eternity with Christ; of being reunited with loved ones on the other side.
Then adversity slips in. It can slip in under the guise of old habits. It sneaks into relationships that either intentionally or otherwise tries to pull us from our walk. It creeps in unaware through apathy. It saps our energy through expectations we put on ourselves or others put on us.
Adversity leads to failure and with failure comes a desire to try again but the glass pain of adversity thwarts us until we quit trying out of fatigue, frustration or fear. We find our little corner is comforting and we grow complacent. We know that someday we’ll be delivered. Until then we are content to stay where we are, unaware that we are growing weaker and less able to withstand the rigors of life.
It’s time to remember that when Jesus died on the cross for you, he didn’t do so in order that you can remain stagnant. Having Christ in your life isn’t a ‘get out of hell free card’. Adversity will come. Hard times will attack. There will be times in your life when you just want to quit trying. Don’t do it. True spiritual growth and strength comes when we determine within ourselves to keep up the good fight. Stumbling and falling is inevitable, but failure isn’t an option for the true Christ-follower. And the best part of all? When you fall (not if, when) Jesus is there to pick you up.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, there are so many times when I’ve let the glass pane of adversity and struggle keep me from the fresh food of your word. Empower me with your Spirit to overcome the adversity that keeps me from fulfillment in you. Amen.
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. Hebrews 9:11 (NIV)
Suppose you made a purchase only to bring the item home and find it was defective. You bring it back to the place you purchased it at, dreading the process of a return or exchange. Once back at the store, you are amazed at what happens.
You explain your situation to the person behind the counter. She in turn apologizes profusely and tells you it will be taken care of immediately. Moments later a person comes through the back entrance being followed by several others carrying a replacement to your purchase and several other boxes.
You are introduced to the man leading the procession. He’s the owner of the company that made your purchase. The new, improved item is yours, as are some very nice gifts offered because of your inconvenience.
Pretty cool, huh? Wouldn’t any of us like to be able to go directly to the owner of a company when things don’t go as they should? After all, dealing with go-betweens is adequate at best, but face to face contact is always best!
When God established his system of laws and sacrifice, your only option when we sinned was to go to a high priest, a high priest who was just as susceptible to sin and failure as you were. But when Jesus died, rose again and entered into the throne room of heaven he took a position that allows us direct access to God. Like the simple example above, we no longer need to deal with go-betweens, like the Israelites had to do before Christ.
Now we are no longer dependent on someone else to act as a go between when we need access to the Father. We can approach the throne directly and, better yet, sitting next to the Father, in our defense, is Jesus Christ, our savior and Lord. He knows what it’s like to be human. He knows what it’s like to be tempted. He knows the pain of rejection. He is there to plead our case.
When we fail or are afraid or struggle with any aspect of life, we don’t need to rely on a pastor or some other religious figure or activity to access God. We have direct access through Jesus Christ.
Don’t let this amazing promise escape you. We are no longer bound by a god-in-a-box mentality. We have direct access to the only one who can help us get through whatever it is we are struggling with.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you that because of you I have direct access to the Father. Thank you for being my advocate and for understanding my struggles and failures. Amen.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
Can you imagine the excitement David must have felt when he was called down from the mountain to meet with the great prophet Samuel? Add to that the stunning announcement that someday, he, David, a mere shepherd boy would be King of Israel? Amazing!
He couldn’t have been more than 16 or 17 at the time. Life was ahead of him and even though he must have loved the shepherding and farming life his father instilled in him, the intrigue of the city and fame and fortune had to have had the same allure then as it does now. I imagine David walked just a little taller among the sheep when he returned to his post in the fields.
Then add in the whole incident with that giant, Goliath. There are lots of reasons stated out there for why David slew Goliath; the precision of his shot, the trust in God, Goliath not taking him (or his God) seriously. But I think there was probably a good measure of adrenaline behind that stone that day. After all, he was David, the future King!
But then life came crashing down for David. Psalm 34 was written when he ‘escaped’ from his own homeland to enemy territory. The very Philistines that produced Goliath; the very nation he hated so much; the one place in the world he would never want to find himself, became his sanctuary.
The once proud, confident David became an actor, pretending to be a lunatic in enemy territory so he’d be protected from Saul, and pitied by the Philistines. I can’t help but imagine the despondency, the fear, the disappointment in his heart.
Have you been there? Have you found yourself in a place you never thought you’d be in? Dealing with guilt for an affair you never thought you’d put yourself in? Struggling with credit card debt and other financial woes that you vowed you’d never get your family into…again? Struggling with the pain of broken relationships or failing health?
David likens it to a crushed spirit. The original languages give the word picture of being smashed by a hammer. Obliterated. Destroyed. Nothing left that resembles your heart. No use picking up the pieces. They are to shattered, to broken, to be of any value.
But listen to David’s words. God comes close to those who are broken. As an omnipresent God, he is always near of course. But during those times of grief; during those times when life is beyond disappointing, it’s dreadfully painful, your Heavenly Father, the God of the universe, bends low to hear your cry; to feel your pain; to comfort you.
Life doesn’t always take us where we thought we’d be, but it never takes us away from a God who is passionately in love with you.
PRAYER: Father God, I pray today for those who are hurting; for those who’s hearts have been smashed by the hammer of life. May they sense your presence and feel your comforting love. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 