Love Your Neighbor

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Colossians 3:12

It was close to midnight and raining hard when they passed the transient as he walked along the side of the road. He blended in to his surroundings, due to being soaked. They had seen him before and knew he was headed for the bridge just ahead. He would spend the night there, tucked in under the bridge, above the river. Hurrying on to the little town just across the bridge, he dropped off his wife and quickly gathered a few items. Back across the bridge, he found the man just reaching the point where he usually dropped off, into the underworld he preferred. Pulling up and rolling down the window, the driver asked if there was anything he could do? The man shyly declined and began to step over the guardrail. The urgency in the drivers voice stopped him, and the rain-soaked man turned, saying, “I could use a little bit to eat if you’ve got something.” Asking him to get in, they headed for the driver’s home, where he and his wife shared conversation and a meal with the man. Finished eating he declined lodging. He was given dry clothes and the offer of a shower. Eagerly accepting the backpack and umbrella and excusing himself, he left the house, opening the umbrella, and walked down the hill toward the bridge.

Neither the driver nor his wife would ever forget the broken-toothed grin that was shyly given in response to the love they had shared with this child of God as he walked out of their lives.

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Blessings beyond our wildest imagination are both given and received when we step outside our comfort zone in an effort to treat others with respect. We are given opportunities to minister in difficult circumstances. It is God’s desire that we take the time to let our hearts express the kindness and compassion He inherently gave us. We don’t know what their act of kindness did for that man on that rainy night, but we rest in the knowledge that God never leaves seeds unwatered.

Prayer

“Father, please make me an instrument of Your love. Teach me to give of my time as well as my finances. Help me recognize the opportunities for what they really are, Your test of my love for You. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Granddad’s Treasure Chest

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:19

As Tom brushed dirt from the miniature treasure chest, he was transported fifteen years back through time to the day he and his Granddad had buried it in the backyard of the family farm. Granddad had said, “Tom, there are only a few things really important in life: the love of family, the feel of a good book in your hands, and most of all, the love and faithfulness of God. Without the latter, the others don’t have any significance.” Throwing dirt over the chest, he had said, “Let’s dig it up on your twentieth birthday and weigh the importance of the things we’re burying today.”

As Tom opened the chest, he couldn’t suppress a sob; he wished Granddad were here to do this with him. The first item he uncov­ered was the medal Granddad had received for service to his country. Next was an old pair of Granddad’s eyeglasses; Tom had always liked them and thought he might need them in the future. There was an old report card, a few old coins, and a pack of baseball cards. The last item Tom pulled from the chest was a pocket-sized Bible. It had been the first item Granddad had placed in the chest.

Tom remembered what his Granddad had said when he’d placed that little Bible in the chest. “Son, everything we have placed in here will have a price placed on it when you dig it up, all except this one; this little Bible is priceless. The words of this book will sustain you when all these other things are gone. Never place a higher value on the things of this world than you do the Word of God. If you trust in God, you’ll never be alone, never be poor, and never be lost.” Tom smiled. He had adhered to his Granddad’s faith.

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We pay a lot of attention and devote much, if not most, of our time to the things we cherish, placing great value on them. But where do our priorities rank in light of eternity? Are they ‘cherishables’ or ‘perishables’? Are they things of God…or things of the world? If they are perishables we need to reconsider our priorities. Our heart and eternal future hangs in the balance.  

Prayer

“Lord Jesus, I want my heart to be in heaven. Help me live for You here so that I can live with You there. Amen.”

The Spotlight

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

Psalm 77:14

The officer listened as the radio dispatch reported a westbound motorist in the eastbound lanes of the interstate he was patrolling. The driver was traveling in the wrong direction at a high rate of speed, heading toward his position. Enter­ing the westbound lanes, he turned on his spotlight, hoping to alert eastbound drivers to the danger while systematically looking for the wrong-way vehicle. Radio reports told him that he was ahead of the vehicle, so he slowed down.

Scanning back in the direction the vehicle was coming from, he spotted the car’s headlights, a stark contrast among the taillights in that lane. He could see motorists taking evasive action to avoid the oncoming car.

As the vehicle approached, he matched its speed, shining his spotlight on the driver-side window in hopes of getting the driver’s attention. Finally, the driver responded and pulled over. As two other cruisers pulled up, he turned off the spotlight.

Just as the light winked out, he remembered the repair order he’d issued on this car two weeks before for a broken spotlight. Trying the spotlight once again, it failed to work. Exiting the cruiser, he used his flashlight to illuminate the spotlight. He noticed the same broken bulb from two weeks ago lying at the bottom of the lens. The repairs had not been completed!

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There are those who question whether God still performs miracles. Some feel the need to explain how things happen.

Whether you believe this story or not will be determined by Who you per­ceive God to be. By explaining how things happen, we maintain a false sense of control over them. If we are unable to explain the how of events, we are then required to believe by faith.

God continually displayed His power among the nation of Israel during the exodus, yet they continued to rebel because miracles themselves do not ensure belief.

The story above is true. Events are related exactly as they happened. God is big enough to make a broken spotlight work. He leaves the belief part up to us.

Prayer

“Teach us to have faith, Lord. And forgive us for our doubt. It’s not always so easy to believe without seeing. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Splendor of the Son

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28–30

The rain sounded so relaxing with a cadence that lulled you into restful slum­ber. It fell all through the night. In the early morning hours, when the tem­perature was at its most frigid point, layer upon layer of ice formed, causing tree branches to bow down, almost touching the ground. As the sun rose over the horizon, the boughs glistened with dazzling beauty. And although the rays of sunshine continued to dance on the frozen limbs, the temperature remained at the freezing point.

Some branches that had been shielded from the full cascade of rain began to gently ease upward as droplets of water fell from their grasp. Some remained bent and looked as though they longed for relief.

Unfortunately, the early morning sun hadn’t reached many of the heavier, ice-laden branches, and they snapped, broken and lifeless—branches that had glistened in the splendor of the sun, branches that wished to grow, but could no longer bear the strain of the weight.

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What a tremendous waste that so many trees would be destroyed because they weren’t strong enough to bear the additional load. And so it is with us as the wounds and disappointments accumulate, causing unbearable strain because, due to embarrassment and pride, we cut ourselves off from the critical help we need. We pridefully believe that no one else could ever understand. And so the wounds continue to build, weighing heavily on us, our emotional and spiritual stability ready to break at any moment. If we refuse to share our pain, it will eventually consume us.

Jesus never meant for us to carry such burdens alone, and we should never allow them to cling to us until they gradually overwhelm us. Unlike the tree, we need not be broken. We can be wonderfully wholehearted, overcoming the seemingly insurmountable pressures of life if we turn to Jesus. Jesus wants to carry our burdens so that through His efforts we will reflect the splendor of the Son.

Prayer

“Jesus, thank you for giving me rest. Help me learn how to give you all my burdens, both great and small, so the things of this world don’t overtake me. Amen.”

Stewards of Our Wounds

So that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:4

Wayne shared with the group about the heartache of losing his wife, Janice, to cancer four years ago. He spoke about her unfailing love for Jesus Christ and how that had translated into their marriage. He spoke of how God had held them both while they walked out that long, difficult journey and how God had comforted him since her death.

Janice never missed an opportunity in her many hospital stays to reveal the love of God to anyone who would listen. She spoke of His faithfulness and promises. Nurses and doctors alike came to know the Source of this little woman’s strength and how she leaned on that Source alone for her answers. She trusted God to do what was best for her and her family as they worked out the details of life with a faith that would not be shaken.

As Wayne closed, he could sense healing taking place in the room. God was using his wounds to minister to others. They were experiencing what he and Janice had gone through. He could feel the Holy Spirit’s approval.

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Each of us has a story to tell. Each of us has something to offer because we have all been wounded to the point of great grief. Some are in the midst of the pain; others have weathered the storm and are beginning to rise above the heartache; still others have determined to be good stewards of their wound for kingdom purposes. They have learned that by sharing their experience, others receive peace and healing.

The Holy Spirit compels us to comfort our brothers and sisters, not only believers but also anyone in need. In that moment, we have a choice: to reach out and share the healing of our wound in order to bring understanding and healing to those in pain or to hoard the gift so freely given. Today’s text says that God comforted us for a reason. 

Prayer

“God of peace and healing, help me help others who are going through what You have given me victory over. Give me opportunities and courage to let the Spirit move in my life. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Living the Memories

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day.

1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

It was as if he had found a great treasure. As he lifted the lid on the trunk, he was taken by a boyish excitement. He had no idea what he would find. Pulling away the sheet covering the items in the trunk, he gently began lifting each one reverently from its resting place. Greg felt his pulse quicken, and he couldn’t wait to learn what secrets would emerge. A waffle iron Gramma had used still shined as though it were brand-new.

Memories of visiting Gramma’s apartment down the block came flooding back; he’d been but a child. Gramma would fix him waffles and tea for breakfast. Tea was a staple of every meal, especially at 4:00 p.m. since Gramma had been born in Great Britain.

As Greg lifted each item from the trunk, a new and special memory came with it. After several hours of reminiscing, he replaced each item to its resting place and closed the lid. How precious are the memories of living. Though the items would perish, the memories would last forever.

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Memories are passed in many ways, all of which are meant to impart something of value. As Greg spent those hours in fond remembrance of his grandmother, he could vividly recall the events as they had unfolded because he was actually there for many of them. As it stirs our heart to read about Greg’s joy in reliving the events that shaped his life, we get a better understanding that we have the privilege of reliving much of Jesus’ life and death through Scripture. We have been given eyewitness testimony from those who were there! These are not bedtime stories—although it is a good time to read them to our children—but true-life events in our Savior’s life. He invites us to read ourselves into the storyline.

Prayer

“We thank you for the written record of Your life, Lord. Enlighten our hearts as we open the Word so that we may feel some of what the disciples felt so we may feel alive in the memories. Amen.”

Wounded in Battle

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Kim knew Toby was furious, so she kept silent for the moment.

“That really ticks me off!” he proclaimed as he climbed in the car. “I’ve half a mind to go back there and … ” He let his words trail off.

Toby was responding like most of us have when we’ve been wounded by a brother or sister in Christ; he’d smiled on the outside, saying it’s no big deal while a fire smoldered inside, kindling resentment and threatening to choke out all reason.

His countenance was anything but spiritual. But the farther he got from the moment, the clearer he heard God’s voice. “Do you think I missed what happened? I know how much what Tim did hurt you.” Then he felt God ask, “Who would benefit from you responding in anger? Your battle is not against Tim.” He knew this was true, but the wound was so fresh that he didn’t want to accept it. “You can refuse to follow Satan’s plan,” God said. “Have you never been guilty of doing what was done to you?” God asked. Ouch, that hurts, Toby thought silently.

Toby looked at Kim and said, “It’s so much easier to be forgiven than it is to extend forgiveness.”

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All of us, without exception, will be wounded in or by the church. It’s impossible to put that many people together and not have casualties.

In the moments immediately following the wounding, we are faced with choices: to strike out in pain and anger, to simmer in bitterness until it interrupts communication between us and God. We can spread vicious rumors, slandering the one who hurt us or act self-righteous as though nothing happened, allowing ourselves to carry the wound into the future where it will affect everything we do.

Or we can take it to God, asking Him to help us do what we cannot do on our own: forgive them as God, through Jesus, forgave us.

Prayer

“God of mercy and grace, You have forgiven us so much. Show us how to forgive when it’s so hard. Be close right now because we can’t do this alone. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”