Have a Heart

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21 “Then Jesus told His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whosoever will save their life will lose it, and whosoever loses their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25. “I come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b

Not every winning lottery ticket gets cashed-in. Some are lost, some go through the laundry, some get thrown out with the trash! And, believe-it-or-not, at times, people forget to claim their prizes. Similarly, not every tax refund gets claimed. Not every inheritance is claimed, either. That’s why newspapers regularly carry public notices about refunds.

I played on our high school basketball team. The final game of our senior year we made it to the championships. It was a back-and-forth game the entire evening. The final seconds arrived…the other team made a basket! They were ahead by 1 point! They stole the ball from us and were racing at to their end of the court. I managed to steal the ball back! I sprinted toward our end of the court which looked at least a mile away! As I ran I glanced at the clock. There were 2 seconds left! I was at mid-court. I had no other choice. I jumped…I shot…jump shots were my specialty, so at least I had the hope that I was playing my strength in this final moment. The ball hit the rim. It rolled around. And around. And around. And…fell off. We lost the championship.

All of these are examples of being “so near, but so far.”

Jesus offers us abundant life…here and hereafter.

We may take the time to read these (Bread) daily devotions every day. We may even go to Church every Sunday. And, possibly even go regularly in-between Sundays. Beyond that, we may also faithfully have private daily devotions, too. Even more, we may also regularly attend Bible study. And, we may sincerely participate in a ministry program (teaching, missions, community work, etc.). Plus, in addition to doing all these things, we may have a very dedicated prayer life. What a shame if this were true…but our heart wasn’t given over to Christ and we weren’t in spiritual harmony with the Holy Spirit? After all, isn’t that what all those other things are all about? We could be so near, but so far away.

If we’re doing any…some…or all of these things, but life just isn’t what it’s cracked up to be; we may want to revisit our focus. None of this will bring life’s abundance, here or hereafter, if our heart isn’t fused with Jesus Christ.

Blessings Always in All Ways,

Steve <><

All That Glitters is Not Gold…but Some Is!

“Then they came to Capernaum and on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. And the people were astonished with His teaching. For He taught as one with authority and not as the scribes. In the synagogue was a man of an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? …I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him saying, ‘Be silent, and come out him!’ And the unclean spirit cried with a loud voice and came out of him.” Mark 1:21-22

How would you vote today if you had to choose between these three political candidates:

Candidate “A”: associates with crooked politicians and consults with astrologists. He’s had two mistresses. He chain smokes and drinks ten martinis a day.

Candidate “B”: was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college, and drinks a quart of whiskey every evening.

Candidate “C”: is a decorated war hero, a vegetarian, doesn’t smoke and never cheated on his wife.

The candidates….
“A”: Franklin D. Roosevelt
“B”: Winston Churchill
“C”: Adolph Hitler

In today’s Gospel, when Jesus taught, and, when He expelled the evil spirit…people began to realize He was much more than he appeared to be. If we only observe Jesus form a distance we can easily get only a superficial, even inaccurate, impression. But when we open up to Him by learning everything we can about Him, and developing a sincere harmony with Him through the Holy Spirit…we discover His true identity. Praise be to God!

Blessings Always in All Ways,
Steve <><

Improving Your Hearing

“Rise up in splendor, O Jerusalem! Your Light has come! The glory of the Lord shines upon you!” Isaiah 60:1 “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me….that the mystery was made known to me by revelation.” Ephesians 3:2-3a

“Tell me your ‘Call story’ “ a fellow Christian will sometimes ask. Often, church-goers think only religious professionals are “called” by God.

I grew up going to tent revivals, crusades, Wednesday night prayer meeting, weekly Bible study, etc. where we would share our “call stories.” I felt embarrassed because I had nothing dramatic to share. Often my friends would tell of explosive emotional moments when they had a sudden “spiritual rush” that knocked them off their feet, sometimes literally! I recall many, many times being at revival meetings when people would answer the “altar call” by coming to the front of the church (or tent), kneeling in prayer, and demonstrate a great outburst of tears and cries praising God for revealing His Spirit to them. Why not me? Didn’t God want me? I often answered those altar calls. I went to the front of the church or tent and knelt in sincere repentance and commitment. Why didn’t I ever erupt in emotional outbursts?

As I continued on my spiritual quest and “matured in the Lord”, I began to understand that our “call” is the moment we realize that God came to earth in Jesus Christ. Christ died for my sins. He rose from death. And the power of that same Holy Spirit is available to indwell within me to cleanse me from myself and free me to a level of living I am not capable of producing on my own: here and hereafter. It’s when we really understand that following the example of Jesus and opening oneself to the Holy Spirit is the best way to live out our time on earth…and money, power, prestige don’t hold a candle to the joy, the peace, and the reward that come with a relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. That turning point can come at any moment in our journey. It can come in a series of moments in our journey. And once we do hear the “Call”…He can call again. For, you see, as sincere as we may be, we continue to be human. We’re prone to moments of intolerance with our brothers and sisters. We’re susceptible to selfishness. We fail to stand up against injustice. We focus on the things that divide us rather than the things that unite us. We zero-in on each other’s faults instead of each other’s strengths. We see a fellow human in need, and keep going. We’re still capable of sin. And when it dawns on us…we feel awful. That is another moment of our being “Called.” Haven’t heard the call lately? Listen carefully. He’s calling. Every moment, of every day…you have the chance to answer. And what a difference it makes when we do answer!

Blessings Always in All Ways,

Steve <><

Divided By One

“As He passed by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea….Jesus said to them, ‘Come, follow me….’ They abandoned their nets and followed Him. He walked a little farther and James and his brother John. Then He called to them. So they left their father, Zebedee…and followed Him.” Mark 1:14-20 (parts)

“The Lord our God is one Lord.” Deuteronomy. 6:4 “What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I belong to Paul” or ‘I belong to Apollo’ or ‘I belong to Peter’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Is Christ divided?” I Corinthians 1:12-13 “There is one body, one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope …one Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of us all, …” Ephesians 4:4-5

Jesus announces that God’s Kingdom has arrived on earth. He calls fishermen to follow Him, and they do. 2,000 years later we are still trying to follow Him. How are we doing? All we have to do is look at the division that exists in the Body of Christ today: The Church. We have one God, one faith, one Lord…and we are divided. After more than 2,000 years look where we are. Another example of what happens when we take charge. Will people ever unite? Will Christians, of all people, ever be one? Definitely! If not one on earth, one in heaven: for God’s Kingdom is not divided.

“Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Amen.

Blessings Always in All Ways,

Steve <><

Flood of Salvation

“Then God said to Noah, ‘I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood.’ …Genesis 9:8 ,10 “When God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons, were saved through water.” I Peter 3:20

In these passages we discover yet another example of apparent contradiction in the Bible. Waters of the Great Flood destroyed the surface of the earth and all forms of life left on it. Yet, Peter reminds us that those in the ark were “saved by water.” Do destruction and salvation lie so intertwined? The very same circumstances in our life that can destroy us, can be used by God to raise us above this life and empower us. Afterall, isn’t it when we’re truly desperate that we wake up and realize our only hope is in the Resurrected Christ?

We stand today sandwiched between beasts and angels, between hate and love, between frustration and peace, between mortal and immortal. The difference isn’t in our circumstances, it’s in whether we choose to tackle those circumstances ourselves or let God be a part of the struggle. What’s your choice?

Blessings Always in
All Ways,
Steve <><