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The Lord is a mighty rock, and he never does wrong. God can always be trusted to bring justice. Deuteronomy 32:4
My family and I were playing on the beach near San Diego, CA on vacation. It was a beautiful Southern California day and exciting for us ‘northerners’ to be able to enjoy the surf. My daughters enjoyed racing waves into shore and then, as the wave receded, looking to see what had been washed onto the beach.
It amazed me how each wave changed the topography. Shells would appear for a moment until the next wave washed it away or buried it out of sight. The footprints of my daughters were only momentary dents in the sand erased forever by the next wave. Sand has no chance over the mighty power of the waves.
In so many ways, life is like that. People come into our lives and leave again. In some cases all too soon. Relationships bring excitement for a time, but time also tends to threaten the security the relationship offered. People, places and things we once thought secure can be washed away in a moment.
Whether we admit it or not, the one thing each of us seeks is security. That’s why we look for a good job; why we pressure out kids to get a good education; why we work so hard to get a retirement account that will take care of us when we get older.
The security the world has to offer is like the shifting sand on the beach that day. It is in a constant state of flux and offers no guarantees. Jesus once said that trusting the world was our own strength was like building a house on the sand. When trouble comes, our security gets washed away in a moment.
Near the beach we played on that day was a large cliff. It stood there for years holding back the sea from escaping it’s boundaries. The water’s power was no match for the rock. It stood strong and tall, seemingly oblivious to the water’s puny, relentless attacks.
God is described as a rock in scripture. Regardless of what you throw at a rock, it stands tall and strong. In the same way, when we trust God with our lives, nothing the world throws at us will have any effect.
What waves are crashing against you today? Are you focusing your attention on standing strong on the shifting sand of your own strength or are you standing on the rock that won’t fail and won’t change regardless of the size of the waves?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for the fact that you know that battles I’m fighting now and those that will come in my future. When I get discouraged please help me to stand firm on you. Thank you for never letting me down. In your name, Amen.
He was a rookie, not just any rookie but one who immediately made an impact on the NBA in general and his upstart team in particular. The other guy was a seasoned veteran with a couple rings on his finger. He was tough, well-known and confident.
Maybe that’s why he fouled the rookie late in a game in which the upstart team was within seconds of an upset. After a brief time-out for strategy the veteran approached the rookie as he took his place on the lane. The TV cameras caught the exchange. The most novice lip-reader could see the ‘advice’ the veteran gave the rookie: “Don’t be short.”
All eyes were on the rookie who had made several of these shots earlier in the game. This was for the win. This would make the highlight reels. It would have that is unless the ball bounced off the front of the rim. The opposition grabbed the ball, moved it down the floor and shot the winning shot. The problem wasn’t that the rookie missed the shot, the real problem was that he lost his focus. Rather than thinking about the ball going through the hoop, he thought about the ball being short, which of course, it was.
Our focus determines how we respond to life’s circumstances. If our focus is on the negative, or on the problem itself we live defeated. If our focus is on the positive, on working towards or seeking solutions our chances of making it through the crisis are multiplied.
Jesus knew about focus. When he first appeared on the scene that night in Bethlehem his focus was on growing up in faith and maturity. Our only glimpse of him as a child was in the temple where his focus was obviously on learning. Luke tells us he returned home to grow physically, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually.
Life changed dramatically when he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and his focus changed from being Jesus, son of Mary to being Jesus, Son of God and he began a ministry of spiritual and physical healing in the Judean countryside.
However, perhaps the biggest change comes as Luke records it in Luke 9:51 when Jesus turned his face towards Jerusalem. Then his focus changed from Jesus Son of God to Jesus, Savior of the world!
While Jesus remained focused on the task at hand, the same can’t be said for his disciples. While he was healing and teaching their focus seemed to be on their position on the ‘discipleship ladder’ and how they could improve it. Countless times it seems Jesus would take his band of brothers aside to remind them that this wasn’t about their position it was about service.
Not only does focus determine how we respond to life circumstances, focus determines the direction of our motivation. If our motivation is on self-preservation our motivation is on defending what we have (or think we have). If our motivation is based on service then our focus is inevitably on others.
Jesus death wasn’t the result of an angry mob. His death didn’t happen by accident. His death wasn’t unplanned. When Jesus set his heart and mind towards Jerusalem and the cross he did it for one reason and one reason alone – his love for you and me. As someone once said, it wasn’t the nails that held Jesus to the cross; it wasn’t my sin that held him to the cross. It was his love for me that held him to the cross.
John 10:18 says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
What an amazing statement! Jesus loves me so much that he willingly suffered on the cross for my sin and for yours as well. There is nothing we can do to earn this love. There is nothing more to give, no sacrifice asked for. All that’s required is acceptance of his grace and mercy behalf. What a savior. What a Lord.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus. I’m in awe as I remember the motivation for your trip to Jerusalem. You knew what lay ahead of you, yet you bore the pain of the cross for me because of your great love for me. Empower me with your Spirit so that I can focus my life on serving you by loving others. In your name I pray, Amen.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
The Isaiah passage mentioned above is a common passage quoted during this Christmas Season. What a marvelous promise it brings to us that that little baby born in a manger would someday bring bright hope into a world of darkness. When Isaiah wrote these words the world was much like it is today, without hope, struggling with the empty darkness of the soul. Then, as now, the promised coming of the Christ-child would change all that. The Christ child brings us hope when hope seems absent
Hope often eludes us because we are, in essence, damaged goods. Our hearts are wounded from years of abuse from others and ourselves. Our minds are limited by the inability to see beyond today and that view is tainted by our past. The external pressures of worry, doubt and anger keep us from feeling the power we need to continue.
What gives us hope? When we are sick physically we go to a doctor who knows our physical condition based on tests, education and experience. When we struggle emotionally or relationally we may go to a counselor who tries to help us mend in much the same way. The problem is, our hearts don’t respond the way our bodies to because each of us is wired differently. That’s why we need a ‘WONDERFUL COUNSELOR’. Someone who sees into the deepest recesses of our souls.
Jesus Christ is our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR. As God, he created you in his image so he knows exactly how you are wired. As man, he understands our struggles because the Bible tells us he experienced the same temptations, the same struggles, the same rejections we have (Hebrews 4:15).
Jesus Christ is our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR because he cares for you. He cares enough to listen to your pain so you can turn all your fears and frustrations over to him. He cares enough to tell you the truth in love. Truth without love is abuse; love without truth is neglect. Truth bathed in love and forgiveness is refreshing.
Jesus is our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR because he is committed to you. Each of us knows what it feels like to be betrayed. Each of us knows what it’s like to rely on people only to find they are unreliable. Jesus Christ promises to be with us through the struggles of life. Jesus Christ promises to be our refuge and strength. Jesus Christ promises that no matter how bad things get, he will be with us. Always. He shows that commitment through his Word, the Bible. He shows that commitment through his Holy Spirit that promises to guide you. He shows that commitment through the body of Christ, like minded believers who will love you regardless of your bruises.
This Christmas season, don’t forget the most important gift, a gift of allegiance to the one who understands you, cares for you and is committed to you. Visit a house of worship where you can feel his presence. He will give you everything you need to endure life. He will give you hope.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus. Thank you for loving us so much. During this season in which we remember your birth allow us the strength to remember that during those times of loneliness and frustration you are there to comfort and lead us. Amen.
Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NIV)
So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:66)
Just after Jesus was murdered, a couple of his disciples put him in a borrowed tomb. The Religious Elite of the day were concerned about some claims Jesus made of rising from the dead. They asked permission of the Roman governor to place a guard at the tomb to insure that the radical disciples of Jesus would not steal the body. The governor went one step further. Not only did he allow the Jews to post a guard at the tomb, he sealed it with the seal of the mighty Roman Empire.
The Seal was nothing more than a cord secured around the stone with clay holding it in place at both ends. There was nothing magical about the seal. It offered no strength of its own. Its strength and validity rested solely on the power of the Roman Government to make good on its promise. To break the seal meant death. Period.
This was no doubt the word picture that the Apostle Paul conjured up in the minds of his readers as he wrote to the church located in the Grecian city of Corinth. They were well aware of the strength of the Roman Empire. They knew, intimately, of the power of the government to keep its promises.
Eventually, of course, we know that the strength of the Roman Empire dwindled. It was no longer able to keep its promises. It was no longer the most powerful force in the world. As a result, the security of the ‘Roman Seal’ became worthless and meaningless.
The ‘seal’ Paul talks about is a different sort of seal. It’s a seal that is not based on human power. It’s a seal that transcends time. It’s a seal that no one in the physical or the spiritual world can sever. Its guarantee will never become obsolete.
For those of us who have accepted the free gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ we can know we are sealed in God. He gave us his promise, his guarantee, that he would never leave us, forsake us, or hold us under condemnation for our sin.
Our eternal destiny doesn’t rest on our ability to keep a set of rules or memorizing some mantra. Our eternal destiny rests in one who is eternal. Our acceptance is as secure as the universe. Whatever struggle you are bearing. Whoever, or whatever, is threatening you or accusing you today. Remember, because of Jesus, you are sealed with an eternal promise, an eternal hope. The Roman Seal didn’t hold him in the grave, the seal of God’s grace should never hold us back.
PRAYER: Father God. I thank you for Jesus. I praise you for the assurance that there is nothing, including my own rebellious stupidity, that will wrestle me from your arms. Amen.
So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. Colossians 2:10 (NLT)
Have you ever had a huge project to do and lamented over getting it done? A home I used to own had a yard built into a hill. I hired an excavator to level part of the yard and then spend hours hauling rocks from farmer’s fields to built a rock wall complete with waterfall and pool. I added a few lights and had my own little backyard paradise. It took many hours and I had many sore muscles from the project. But when it was done the feeling of accomplishment was tremendous.
Paul says we are complete in Jesus; a finished project. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
I like that! I have to admit it’s hard for me to think of myself as a masterpiece. At best I’m a bruised apple. Okay on the outside for awhile, but my true character may come bursting through at any minute.
Do you feel that way too sometimes? Are you constantly reminded of your shortcomings by other people or the voices of your heart?
We’re wrong you know. Our view of ourselves isn’t anything like the view Jesus has of us. I’m a masterpiece, flaws and all…and so are you. I know, I know. I’ve seen the buttons and the T-shirts that say ‘Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me.’ I understand the implication. We are growing and as children we stumble and fall, just like when we were toddlers. But the finished product was completed on the cross and that’s really all that matters.
Scripture seems to teach that God IS finished with me. Sure, I have some maturing to do, but I am his masterpiece and I feel pretty good about that. So should you. So, when you sin, when you stumble for the umpteenth time, remember this. God IS finished with you and YOU are his masterpiece. There is nothing you need to add. There is no religious activity you need to complete, no schooling you need to take. Jesus Christ knows you inside and out. He knows your struggles, your fears, and your rebellious actions. He knows the secret you’ve been trying to hide for years. He knows all this, and you know what he says about you?
“Look, there, right there in your mirror. THAT is my masterpiece!”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I get tired of the struggle. I get fatigued trying to measure up. Help me to remember that it isn’t about my striving. It’s not about what others may think of me. It’s not about me at all. I AM your masterpiece and by the power of your Holy Spirit I resolve to live worthy of your love. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 