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For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way so he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could die in their place to take away their sins. Hebrews 2:17 NCV
People put a lot of stock in heritage. It seems like the smaller the town you live in, the more that is true.
“It’s really no surprise. You know what his father is like.”
“I went to school with her mother. She was the same way. Never finished school as I recall.”
“Don’t hang around with those kids. They come from bad families.”
It’s easy to fall into the trap of a critical spirit when we look at other people and their families. On one hand we look at them and make decisions on their motives based on their past. On the other hand we can go the opposite direction and compare our family to theirs (I wish my spouse would do that for me; I wish our kids could be as responsible as theirs.)
Families matter and today they matter more than ever because the very concept of family has fallen into disrepute, attack and confusion. Jesus knew about families. He grew up in one. He learned the struggle of dealing with younger brothers and sisters. He endured the mistakes of young, first time parents. But more importantly, he had a strong heritage before him.
Jesus had a direct line to David on both his mother’s side and his earthly step-father’s side. That’s impressive. But don’t forget about the others that lined the path to the manger inBethlehem. Some were swindlers that thought nothing of cheating their brother. Some were murderers. Even David, his namesake, was a poor parent, slept with a friends wife murdered to cover up his crime and quite often protected himself at the expense of his countrymen.
Jesus had a dysfunctional family heritage. That’s good news for us because most of us come from families at some level of being dysfunctional. The paths of our lives are lined with lust, affairs, failure, financial struggles, divorce, abuse and a wide range of other issues that keep us defeated. Since Jesus’ ancestors struggled with the same things he knows what your family is like.
You may say to those who judge your family, “But you don’t understand”, and from a human perspective you may be right. No one knows the pain you have gone through as the result of your family. But Jesus does!
Talk to him about your family. Tell him your struggles and fears. Remind him of the hurt others have caused you. He understands because his family, like yours, was imperfect.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the fact that you understand the pain and frustration of my family. Empower me to overlook the accusations others throw my way regarding my past and my heritage. Give me the grace I need to accept my family, just as you have given me grace. Amen.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14 (NIV)
Repeat after me:
- God said, “Let there be light and God saw there was light and that the light was good.
- God said, “Let the land and water be separate and he saw that the land and sea was good.
- God said, “Let the heavens be full of stars and galaxies and planets and it was so and God saw that it was good.
- God said, “Let there be birds and fish of many colors and sizes and varieties and God saw that they were good.
- God said, “Let there be every kind of animal that lives on the ground. Magnificent animals of many types, and God saw the animals and that they were good.
- God said, “Let there be plant life. Trees and flowers, moss and grasses to cover the earth and God saw that the plant life was good.
- Then God spoke into existence his most precious, marvelous creation when he said, “Let there be [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE].
Didn’t balk at the last one did you? Didn’t let your past hold you back from stating it? Wouldn’t allow your present weakness to keep you from stating an eternal truth? It is you know. After every step of creation God looked upon his created work and said “It is good.” It was no different when he spoke you into existence at conception.
The word ‘good’ in our English language doesn’t do the true meaning justice. God’s ‘good’ is way beyond man’s ‘excellence’ and when God made you, he saw you were good.
Don’t let your weaknesses keep you from seeing God’s handiwork in your life. Refuse to allow the poor choices you’ve made relationally, educationally, financially or spiritually detract from the reality that you are God’s special creation.
The Psalmist looked around himself at all that God had provided in the way of nature and creation. But what moved him the most? “I praise you O God because ‘I’ am wonderfully made.
When the Father spoke you into existence he knew you would fail miserably. He knew you would never amount to anything on your own. He knew you would never be able to find peace or live the life he required for salvation. That’s why he sent Jesus. That’s what Grace is all about.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Don’t ever let the enemy tell you different. Don’t let religion spoil your freedom in Christ. Remember, because of Jesus, when God looks at you he sees you are good.
PRAYER: Lord God in Heaven. Mighty King. Master Creator of the Universe. Daddy. I praise you for loving me in spite of my weakness and for making me your masterpiece. Thank you for a love that no one and nothing can sever. Amen.
You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. Exodus 20:9-10 (NLT)
During the ‘Good Ole’ Days’ Sundays were different! Shopping wasn’t an option because no stores were open. Even the best little boys and girls kept Sunday clothes on all day because that was proper. At least 50% of the people weren’t home for a good part of the afternoon because after church they were at someone else’s house for dinner and fellowship.
Stringent and legalistic as the rules were in those days, they had nothing on the original ‘Sabbath Day’ rules handed down to the Israelites. Work of any sort was forbidden. If you were caught working you were stoned first, then the action was investigated. Sabbath worship wasn’t an option, it was a requirement.
Then Jesus came along and taught us a valuable lesson regarding the Sabbath. He taught us that the Sabbath was made for men; men were not made for the Sabbath. Quite often Jesus got himself in trouble for what he did on the Sabbath. He did terrible things like healing people and taking away their pain. It’s interesting to note that most of these healings took place around the temple or synagogue. Why? Because Jesus was on his way to Church when an opportunity arose and he met it. Never let yourself forget, Jesus honored the Sabbath in his heart by doing Kingdom work with his hands.
Jesus changed the focus of the ‘Sabbath’ from duty to permission. There are many different views of when the Sabbath is for the Christ-follower, or if it should be followed or how it should be followed. But many of those arguments and viewpoints miss the intent of what God told us way back on the mountain.
Mankind was made for work. Some of us work with our hands, some with our heads. Some work to build things, some work to build lives. Some work to heal, some work to teach. Some work to serve, some work to provide. Work is a privilege for each of us and God has gifted us to work for his Kingdom and all work is Kingdom work for the believer.
But God’s original command was two fold. Not only are we given the privilege and giftedness to work, we are given permission to rest and reflect on all God has given us. Jesus came to teach us that the ‘rules’ of the Sabbath had been replaced with permission to worship God whenever and however we can.
The human body was made for work. The human soul was made for worship. Six days (days or your choosing) are to be set aside to work, but you have permission to set aside one day (at the least) for your soul to be refreshed and to reflect on what God is doing and calling you to do.
Do all to the Glory of God. Worship him in your work. Worship him in your play. Worship him in your rest. But take one day to let your soul catch up and focus on what God is doing in your life. He’s given you permission to do that.
PRAYER: Lord God I thank you for all you have done for me. I praise you for my giftedness and my ability to do Kingdom work for you. When my work becomes stress-filled help me remember it’s all for your glory. Thank you for the permission you gave us to take time for our souls to rest and reflect on your goodness. Amen.
Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots? Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil. Jeremiah 13:23 (NLT)
It really shouldn’t surprise us, but it does. News reports come across every day of parents brutally abusing children; of domestic violence; of people we put in political office because of their integrity only to find out they lied to us.
Professional athletes fail as role models for our children while those who are out in left field attract them. Marriage is made a mockery and faith has become a ‘personal thing’ based on personal feelings and ideologies.
We ask, the question, ‘When will this all stop?’
The answer is, sadly, never. Sorry to burst your bubble, but we as humans are doomed when it comes to making the world a better place by our own initiatives. All the protest rallies and government intervention and foreign aid won’t solve the problem.
Scientific research may be able to pinpoint certain things to alleviate the symptoms of our disease. But the sad reality is, science has never been able to cure the wound of the human soul.
A brave preacher may on occasion stand before his people and preach a moving sermon against homosexuality, or divorce or pornography and be applauded for his call to repentance.
On the other hand, a preacher that stands before the congregation and speaks out against gluttony or critical spirits or intolerance will be roasted along with the beef at the dinner table.
We who are believers in Jesus Christ like to point fingers at those who don’t believe as we do. We shake our heads at those who follow after a life of sin. We create entire denominations to take a stand against this sin or that sin. But we fail to remember that we are all the same; all humans; all victims of the same disease.
When Jeremiah speaks to God’s people he reminds them that there is nothing good about them and there is nothing they can do to change. Nothing. They were evil from birth; they will be evil until the day they die.
Hopeless situation you may think? Not so. That’s why Jesus came into the world. Galatians 3:13 reminds us that Jesus didn’t take our sin away. He became our sin for us. There is nothing you can do to change your DNA. There is nothing you can do to change your past. There is nothing in your own power you can do to change your desires. Only Jesus Christ can do that when you accept his forgiveness.
Don’t be surprised at the evil around you. Don’t be surprised by the evil you fall into yourself. You are simply doing what humans do. But fear not. In Jesus Christ there is freedom in spite of yourself!
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I’m appalled at the evil that surrounds me. I’m equally appalled at the evil I do in word, thought or deed. I praise you for the fact that even though I can’t change, you have changed me and taken my sin upon you. Praise you Lord, Amen.
An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. Proverbs 29:22
Way up in northernMinnesotaa small stream barely 40 feet wide and ankle deep begins its slow meandering south. By the time the mighty Mississippi River reaches the Gulf of Mexico, some 2,500 miles and 90 days later it is 200 feet deep and several miles wide!
The mighty Miss has been the subject of many stories throughout history. Some whimsical and romantic, some terrifying and dangerous.
The river is deceptive. Although the surface can look calm and inviting, just below the glass-like appearance is a churning monster that has taken many lives, destroyed homes and farmland and wreaked havoc in its path.
The Mississippi has a lot of similarities to anger. Anger, like theMississippi, can start relatively small. Little things like waking up late can grow as the kids are slow getting ready for school and miss the bus, the car won’t start, you get cut off on the interstate, stuck in traffic and late to work.
Like tributaries add to the Mighty Miss, life circumstances add to the anger. Co-workers fail to pull their weight, the food delivered at lunch isn’t right, and the trip home from work is every bit as frustrating.
By the time you open the front door you are just like the Mighty Miss. On the outside you may look calm and serene. But just below the surface you are ready to lash out at the smallest infraction.
Anger can be most destructive because it lurks below the surface, ready to strike. Like a raging river it destroys everything in its path, completely unconcerned about whether its destruction is of innocent or guilty parties. Anger, when unchecked can cripple us internally by leading to frustration, vindictiveness, bitterness and a critical spirit.
Physically anger can affect us too by leading to ulcers, heart problems and a variety of other maladies. Anger is a relationship buster as well.
So what can we do with anger? First of all, don’t let it grow. Take it to the Lord as soon as you sense anger beginning to grow. Jesus understands what frustration is like, He knows what it is like to be mistreated, misunderstood and wrongfully accused. He sees your attempts to do the right thing, and your failure to accomplish your goals.
Many times anger happens when we lose sight of who we are in Christ. Focusing on his love for us and his understanding of our frustrations is the first step to dealing with the anger issues. Realizing that we are not responsible for the behavior of others releases us to let God be God in the lives of those who disappoint us. Trust in God to do the right thing in his time can go a long ways to defeating anger and it’s destructive results before they happen.
PRAYER: Father God. I confess to you that I’m angry. I’m disappointed with the way life is treating me. I’m frustrated because I can’t seem to accomplish the things I set out to do. I’m tired of being falsely accused and misunderstood. Empower me with your Spirit to squelch feelings of anger before they start. Protect me from allowing my circumstances to affect my attitude. In Jesus name, Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 