I Love You This Much!

John 10:16-18
New International Version (NIV)
16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 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.”

"I love you this much." There is nothing like having your little one look at you, hold their arms open, and say those words to you. To that small child, holding their arms out symbolizes the biggest thing in the world, because to a child the world is only as big as what they can see, what they can touch, where they can reach. To hold their arms out as wide as they can and to say I love you this much, well that means they love you with all that they are, with all of their world.

As we grow older we realize that the world is so much bigger than what we can wrap our arms, and our minds, around. The world becomes this big, and sometimes scary, place that demands too much from us and pulls us in a million different directions. No one knew this better than Jesus. He had people coming to him for healing, for advice, for blessings. He had the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians all trying to trip him up at every turn. He had his own disciples constantly misunderstanding what he was saying, bickering among themselves about who was the greatest, and struggling to wrap their minds around who it really was that they were calling rabbi. Add to all of this that throughout his entire ministry Jesus knew that the end awaiting him was a painful, torturous death.... I think that we can confidently say that Jesus knew what it was like have his plate full, to see the world as a giant, ominous place.

As Easter quickly approaches we are reminded to reflect on the Passion week, the events leading up to the crucifixion and the resurrection. We are asked to remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem celebrated in the manner of kings with cries of Hosanna and the laying of palm leaves at his feet. We are reminded of how he cleared the temple and taught bravely in the face of those who were already plotting his death. We remember how much he wished that you and I could be saved without the need for his suffering, "If it is possible, let this cup pass from me." We can see anguish as he prayed so hard that he bled, but above all we see that when the Father said, "there is only one way, one atonement for the sins of man." that Jesus walked that lonely path, spread his arms wide and told both you and I, "I love you this much" as they nailed him to the cross!

Thank you Jesus that you chose the nails, that you took the punishment that I deserve, that you loved me that much then, and that you still love me that much today! I ask your forgiveness of my short comings and your guidance on my life. Please take me and use me to your glory, to further your kingdom. Hosanna in the heighest, my Lord and my King, I love you this much!

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Mark 8:37-38 (NIV)

³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ³⁸ If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

I feel convicted.  As a matter of fact, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.  Most of the posts and lessons that I have on this site are results of God dealing with me or prompting me to study more in a new area.  You see I am a teacher by trade.  I make a living by taking information and translating it into understandable and digestible bits of information.  Over the years, I have found that in preparation for lessons I often end up learning more myself than I am ever able to pass along to my pupils.  In short, God knows that my best learning style is teaching others.


So why do I feel convicted?  I have to admit to you, and to God, that I fall short when I read Matthew 28.  Yes I have this website, which I also must admit has been neglected for far too long.  Yes I study God's word and try to create devotionals that my readers will find meaningful and worthwhile.  It is, admittedly,  much easier to be bold and outspoken for Christ on the other side of the screen than it is in real life.  


Why?  Why is it so hard to step out and be a bold disciple of Christ?  In a word Consequences.  We live in a world that does not love us, that does not love God.  Oh, the world tries to tell us that it loves us.  It will even tell us that it loves god (notice the little g) but the world loves the god that they have created;  the god that tolerates all things, the god that not only loves the sinner but embraces the sin.  Turn on the television, the radio, your computer and we are flooded with "everything is okay, everything is permissible, don't be so close minded, what is right for you is not right for everyone, god would never tell me no....."


Taking a stand for Christ means to split from the world, to be different, to be set apart.  Anyone over the age of 6 knows that being different is like painting a bulls eye on your back.  Being different and vocal about how we are different is like passing out arrows and shouting, "you can't hit me at the world."  So why do we do it?  Because Jesus told us to.  We don't serve a God who tells us that being different is good enough.  We serve a God who tells us to be different and to help others find their way into the light, into His love.  


I don't think anyone who has lived in the last 2,000 years has done this perfectly.  We all mess up, we all find that sometimes we look a little too much like the world.   We make concession after concession until we no longer stand out like a target, but are camouflaged and indistinguishable from those we have been sent out to reach.  I feel today like I have blended in.  


Perhaps you too are reading this and, if you stop and are honest with yourself, you find that you look more like the world than a candle on a hill.  Work, money, stress, worry I have let them all close in and place a basket over my joy, over my light, over my testimony.  It's time to go to God and admit my short comings, to ask for forgiveness, to ask him to recharge my batteries and to make me bold.  I need to remember that if people reject the word I bring, they are not rejecting me, they are rejecting God.  


Yes, it is easier said than done.  But I am taking the first step, going to the altar of God, kneeling before his glory, repenting and asking for the only thing that can ever truly fulfill me, more of Him.  I invite you to join me, we serve a great big God, his altar is large enough for all of us!


Prayer:  Father God, I love you.  You are an amazing God, a God who has the power to create our world, the universe, heaven and earth.  You stir the cosmos while listening to the cries of each person, coming close to us and holding us in your embrace.  We praise you, we love you, and we thank you for hearing us. 

We know, Father, that we are an imperfect people.  We humble ourselves before you now admitting that only through the blood of Christ are we clean and able to come into your presence.  We ask your forgiveness for our short comings and for your guidance and strength in not repeating our mistakes.  


Lord, we pray that you would be with us, with us this moment, with us in the time to come.  We pray that when we are faced with choices, choices that look like the world or to shine the light of your love, that we would choose to look like you.  That we would act in such a way that even without words, the world would know that there is a difference in who we are, a difference that would point them to you.  Father you can accomplish your will in anyway you choose, if it is pleasing to you to use me, I pray that I would be a willing vessel, pleasing in your sight.  For all you are, and all you do, we thank you God.  We love you!  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Joy Versus Happiness Romans Chapter 12: 10-21

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 It is Sunday, and by all accounts it has been a very nice day. I have spent time with my family, been able to lounge around a bit and unwind, and the weather has been nice. Yes I can say without any reservations that right now I am happy. Does that mean that I have joy?

 Many of you may read this and find that a funny question, after all in our everyday speech there is little difference in the usage between these two words. Some might even say that they are synonymous. However, happiness and joy are not the same. What's the difference? Happiness is a momentary feeling, an emotion that is dependent on the circumstances of your life. If it is your birthday and your friend takes you out for a nice dinner and buys you a fine gift, then you are happy. But, if that same day on the calendar rolls by and all of your friends forget you, will you still have a smile on your face? Probably not.

 The fact is happiness is not something that we have any control over. We like to think that we do, but if you stop and think about it I think you'll see we don't. We can put ourselves in a position to be happy more often by making good decisions: Hanging out with the type of people we enjoy being around, having a job that allows us to feel fulfilled and lets us use our talents, and making time for hobbies and leisure activities we enjoy can all help us to be happy. But what happens when that job that you really enjoy experiences cut backs, or your best friend has to relocate half way across the country, or a routine visit to the doctor reveals that you can no longer enjoy your favorite past time.

We live in a society that is hung up on being happy. The commercials flashing across our TV screens say that if we have enough money, buy enough stuff, look the right way, or have enough sex that we will be perpetually happy. In reality there's never enough money, you can only have so much stuff, plastic surgery can only go so far and if you rely on physical gratification, you'll never fully quench that thirst. So if you will concede to me that happiness is fleeting, then you might logically ask what is joy and how is it different.

 Joy is not dependent on the circumstances in your life. Joy is an attitude, a gift given to us by God. That does not mean that if you accept Jesus as Lord that you will never know hardship, pain, or trials. It also does not mean that life will be easy or that you will always feel wonderful. Joy is not floating on cloud nine 24/7. What Joy is, is the ability to look past the circumstance. When bad things happen, we keep perspective. We look at the world and know that this is temporary. Being a Christian is not a fix all for your life. Saying the sinner's prayer, and meaning it, won't instantly make all of your past mistakes disappear. Although God forgives and forgets when we sincerely repent, we still may have to deal with the consequences of our past actions.

 Being Christian does allow us to look at our problems and know that no matter how we have messed up in the past, no matter how many people we have isolated ourselves from that we are loved. Not only are we loved, but we are loved by the one who created us. Being saved is knowing that when we speak to God, he is there, he listens, and he cares. That is the essence of Joy, understanding that we matter and will spend eternity with the one who called us out of the dust. So when we lose our job, we're not alone. When our spouse walks out the door and tells us to drop dead, we're not alone. When the doctor says we have only a few months to live, we're not alone.

God offers us Joy, the ability to stop and look at things through his eyes for a moment and realize that we already have the greatest gift anyone could give us, His love. When we understand that, really grasp it, we might be unhappy sometimes, but we still have our joy. Now doesn't that make you happy?