Mike Fisk & Built with Grace

Showing Someone You Love Them

December 26, 2011 in Uncategorized | Tags: enduring love, God, God's love, great love story, Jesus Christ, Romans 5:8, sacrificial love, selfless love | Leave a comment

But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NCV

Christmas and Valentine’s Day seem to be the two holidays when stories of love seem to proliferate. Like the age-old story of a young woman who sells her long locks of hair so she can buy her husband a watch chain, only to find, as they open their gifts that he has sold his watch to buy her beautiful combs for her hair.

The story and others like it capture our attention because they show one of the main ways we can show others that we love them. In a word, the story speaks of sacrifice.

Giving up something of value to you for the sake of others is love.

Putting aside your own needs so someone else can have something they want, is love.

Doing what you know is right even when it hurts is love.

Looking at the needs (short and long term) of others instead of your own needs, is love.

Being willing to live in someone else’s world when it is so much different than yours is love.

Joseph showed this kind of love when Mary came to him and told him she was pregnant. He knew he hadn’t had sex with her. He loved her so much that, even though he’d be well within his rights to have her stoned, he chose to marry her. Rather than consummate the marriage in the usual time frame, he waited until the baby was born.

But the greatest love story continues to be the story of Almighty God. He chose to live among his creation in the midst of sin that he couldn’t tolerate. He chose to be born a pauper when he owned the cattle on a 1,000 hills. He chose to be born a helpless, powerless infant when, in reality he held the stars he created in place.

He didn’t come to love a people who would return his love. He knew many would reject him. He didn’t come to love a people who would stand in awe of his power and miracles. He knew they would always just ask for more and then walk away unbelieving. He didn’t come expecting people to love accept him. He knew they would not only reject him, but they would murder him as well! Such amazing love!

But the biggest proof of His love is this, he didn’t come to love me after I changed my ways. His love didn’t come based on my ability or even my desire to change. He came to love me while I’m still sinning. That’s true love.

True love says that no matter how much you hurt me; how much you rob me of my needs being met; how much you ignore my pleas for support and love, I’ll love you enough to die for you.

Jesus died for me knowing I’d fail him and others miserably. He died for you in the midst of your illness, rebellion, disbelief, anger or frustration. Others will fail you. Jesus never will. That’s how he showed you his love.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, during this season of love I’ve been reminded of how much you love me. Still, it’s hard to love others when they hurt me, reject me or fail to meet my needs. It’s so hard to keep giving and get nothing in return, but I guess you know that. Thank you for your unconditional love! Amen.

Have a Grace-full Christmas!

December 25, 2011 in Uncategorized | Tags: adam, babe in the manger, Christmas, David, grace, Jesus Christ, love, Moses, Philippians 2:7 | Leave a comment

But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. Philippians 2:7 (NCV)

Christmas has long been touted as a holiday when we think of love. We give gifts. We travel across the country (or sometimes the world) to spend time with those we love, all in the name of Christmas. Churches hold extra services, relationships are restored, new relationships are built, all in the name of Christmas!

The ultimate example of love comes in the form of grace. Grace is, and always has been, God reaching out to man. When Adam and Eve sinned, who was it that sought to restore the broken relationship? God, God reaching out to man.

When Moses killed the Egyptian and ran for his life, wandering for forty years when God had chosen him to lead his people out ofEgypt. Who came to restore the broken relationship and restore hope? God did. God reaching out to man.

When David had an affair and spent months in agony and cover up. Who reached out to restore the relationship and offer forgiveness? God did. God reaching out to man.

On a small, dark hillside inPalestine. When religion had a stranglehold on worship. Who came to restore the path to God and eternal life? God did. God reaching out to man in the form of a little baby.

Grace has always been about relationship, not rules. What better example of a relationship than that of a young couple gathered around the bedside of their first-born child. The wonder. The awe. The realization that this little life would change their lives forever and produce a legacy, a heritage that would go on for years.

That’s grace. God reaching down to man in a way that would build a relationship with the people he desires to reach most of all.

That’s grace. God offering forgiveness to you and I when we don’t deserve it. When we’ve rebelled, gone our own way, refused to forgive others, abused others with our fists or our words.

This Christmas, amidst the glitter and brightly colored packages. While you sit at your meals or play your new games. Spend some time with the babe in the manger. The one who gave up the glories of heaven to endure the pain of the cross on your behalf. You can do nothing to deserve this gift. It’s freely given because God loves you and wants to forgive you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, on this Christmas day, I thank you for coming to earth. So often we get so caught up in celebrating the holiday we forget to worship the reason. All praise and honor and worship is due you. Alleluia. Amen.

The Most Wonderful Christmas Gift of All

December 24, 2011 in Uncategorized | Tags: 2 Corinthians 9:15, born in a manger, Christmas Gift, forgiveness, God's love, grace, Jesus, Jesus Christ | Leave a comment

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NLT)

It’s amazing to me that as bad as the economy is, spending this Christmas Season has been very, very good for many retailers. Maybe you’ve seen the news reports on TV. Perhaps you’ve noticed, as I have, that the carts people are pushing to the check-out counters are full of high-ticket items such as TV’s, Computers, Video games, and other fancy techno-toys.

I love Christmas. I love to watch the wonder and excitement in the eyes of the kids as they open the boxes and giggle or shout with glee over the gift they’ve been given. I’ve chuckled at the times when the actual toy was set aside and the box it came in became the favorite ‘toy’!

In a few short hours we’ll be attacking the pile of gifts under the tree. There are a few gifts that I’m sure will cause quite a stir. I can’t wait to see the faces of the girls when they open that one particular box. Times are tough, but God has blessed. This Christmas will be a good one.

But with all the tinsel and all the glitter. In the midst of the food and the gifts and the hugs and the thank-you’s. Nothing compares to the first Christmas gift ever given to us, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Every gift opened this year across the world will someday break, become worn out, grow out of style or for some other reason become unusable. Not Jesus! This gift was given to last for eternity. It was given to a person (me) who was the last person on earth to deserve such a gift. It was given to me long before I knew I needed it and in spite of my unworthiness.

A little babe born in a manger, a King come down to show us the way to forgiveness and eternal life. The perfect one who lay down his life so I could live. Ah, Jesus. My Savior. My Lord. My Friend. You have been, you are and you will be the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received. There are not enough words in all the languages of the world to express my gratitude for your grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience and love you have given me.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you and praise you for this gift most marvelous gift you have given me. I am so unworthy. I am without words. Alleluia. Amen.

Finding God’s Favor

December 23, 2011 in Uncategorized | Tags: agnostic, atheist, God, God's favor, grace, Jesus Christ, legalism, man's wisdom, Proverbs 8:35, religion | 1 comment

“For he who finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD.” Proverbs 8:35 (NASB)

How does one find favor with God?

To the Atheist or Agnostic the answer is simple. We are on our own. By sheer human effort we will make the world a better place because there is nothing other than what we see here. Mankind’s determination, education and provision (of money) will eventually see the eradication of violence, illness and death. Not a very promising future. Over the centuries we can see that man’s efforts to make life better have been fruitless, and, frankly, if this life is all we have to look forward to we are hopeless indeed. I love life. I love the beauty of this world, but my passion is for a better place.

Religion tells you that your best bet is to live morally. Morality, of course, is what you make it at the time. “I can live with my boyfriend/girlfriend as long as I’m faithful. God will understand. My parents went through divorce and I don’t want that to happen to me so I won’t marry.”

Statistics show, however, that rationalization like this about relationships doesn’t work. And morality that is dependent on our own standards leads to anarchy. Mankind has proven that he can not govern himself without standards that are ‘divinely ordained’.

Religion of another flavor will tell you that you have to jump through certain hoops to gain God’s favor and eternal life. Things like baptism or church attendance or community action or a whole list of other things are laid out for you. Follow the guidelines and you’ll have a chance. No thank you. I can play the lottery and have a chance at winning millions too. I’ll waste an occasional dollar on a lottery, but my eternal life is a little too important to play Russian roulette with, thank you.

Even ‘christianity’ (small c intentional) will tell you that accepting Jesus isn’t enough. To be a good Christian you need to follow a particular dogma, worship in a certain tradition, sing approved songs, read a certain version of the Bible… (The list is endless).

Bottom line is this. Man’s wisdom will lead you to frustration, confusion and anger. God’s wisdom leads to favor with God. So what’s the secret to finding favor with God? Jesus Christ. That’s it. Nothing more.

Let that sink in a moment. Having the Creator God look upon you with favor? Can there be anything more amazing than that? All your struggling, all your striving, all your activity to try to make you better, the world better or your neighbor better won’t bring you any closer to finding God’s favor. It’s not about activity, it’s about grace. Godly wisdom teaches us that relationship trumps activity every time. Don’t sell out to those who say you have to do something in addition to Jesus. He’s all you need.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I get so tired of trying to please others, please myself and please you. Help me to live with the wisdom that teaches me that all I need for your favor is Jesus. Thank you for that awesome truth. Amen.

More than the Angels Sang

December 22, 2011 in Uncategorized | Tags: angel choirs, babe in the manger, creation sings, God's love, Jesus Christ, joy to the world, Luke 2:11, true meaning of Christmas | Leave a comment

Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord. Luke 2:11 (NCV)

Jesus is born! The Messiah! The Savior! The Lord! He’s here! Right now! The promised one!

Can we even really imagine the excitement of that night on a lonely hill outside the small town ofBethlehem? We are told the angels sang, that they announced the birth of the savior. But who else was singing?

Years later when Jesus rode intoJerusalemamong the cheering crowds he was rebuked by the Pharisees and told to keep the crowd from praising him. His response? “If these people keep quiet the rocks themselves will shout out praise!”

Later, Paul would write, in Romans 8:22, that ‘creation groans’ awaiting the salvation that Christ would bring on his return.

So, were just the angels singing that night? Angels, remember, aren’t omniscient. They watched this spectacle unfold like the rest of us. This was their king. This was the one who they tended to in Heaven, now he was gone for a few years to walk among the humans! To mingle with this creation that the Bible tells us was made for him and by him. He was THE Lord!

Did the rocks struggle to contain themselves when the angels sang? Did the sheep in the pasture feel an unexplained joy when they heard the news? Were trees of the field stretching just a little closer to heaven that night as they rejoiced?

In the manger scene we see symbolized around the world, were the animals struggling for position to see this one whom they knew as Lord? Did even they feel something we humans didn’t understand?

This was something new! This was something unheard of! The creator of the world would now walk in his creation. The Lord of the universe left his throne to mingle with the very ones he formed from the dust. The master had returned to his home.

Today as I contemplate this verse I think it was much more than an announcement by an angelic choir. That one night all of creation stood in amazement and awe. The master designer was back to walk physically where he hadn’t walked since the day he created the world. To walk once again, side by side with the sons of Adam and Eve.

This Christmas season let us not lose sight of the awesome miracle that took place that night. The earth rejoiced in his coming. We would never be the same.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus. Amongst the glitter and lights, nestled in with the brightly colored packages and the joyful music, as I enjoy the company of those I love. Let me not forget that this night, long ago, would change all of us forever. Thank you that as my creator you also came to be my Lord and Savior. May I never lose sight of your extreme love for me. Amen.