My help comes from the Lord, who has made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2
Where do you get help? These days, if we need help getting information, we go to Google. If we need medical help, we go to the doctor. If we need help with our car, well, a mechanic is probably the best place to get help. My mother has a lawn service mow her lawn once a week. She can't do it herself and they are a great help. Any time we go to an expert, we stand a good chance of getting good help.
Psalm 121 reinforces to us that no matter where we get our help, ultimately, we get help from God. He keeps us safe. He looks out for our welfare. Doctors can treat us; but, only God can cure us.
God created us to tend the Garden. He wants us to take responsibility in our lives. We are to make decisions about medical care, mechanical problems and our lawn service. But, never forget who made the physical laws of the universe. It is God who created us and the world we live in. It is He who is our ultimate help when the doctor, the mechanic or even the lawn service don't know what to do.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Last Day
Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. . . . All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from Heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35-40 NIV
We only get hungry if there is nothing to eat or if we choose to not eat what is available. We only get thirsty if there is nothing to drink, or if we choose to not drink what is available. Jesus makes it clear that he is always with us to draw on for nourishment.
And the nourishment Jesus gives us is more than just comfort and inspiration. We can find those in other places. The goal of Jesus is to give us eternal life with God. He says it twice: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." He let us know what the will of God is concerning us. Then he reassured us that he is capable of the task and it is his will as well: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
This is an election year and I'm sure we will all be happy when the Presidential election is over. With Jesus, we don't have a choice between candidates. He is the only one who has died for us. He is the only one who was raised from the dead. Jesus tells us that just as he was raised up, He will raise us up. He will NEVER drive us away. He wants all of us. He paid the price. He has done it.
We only get hungry if there is nothing to eat or if we choose to not eat what is available. We only get thirsty if there is nothing to drink, or if we choose to not drink what is available. Jesus makes it clear that he is always with us to draw on for nourishment.
And the nourishment Jesus gives us is more than just comfort and inspiration. We can find those in other places. The goal of Jesus is to give us eternal life with God. He says it twice: "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day." He let us know what the will of God is concerning us. Then he reassured us that he is capable of the task and it is his will as well: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
This is an election year and I'm sure we will all be happy when the Presidential election is over. With Jesus, we don't have a choice between candidates. He is the only one who has died for us. He is the only one who was raised from the dead. Jesus tells us that just as he was raised up, He will raise us up. He will NEVER drive us away. He wants all of us. He paid the price. He has done it.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
God is our Refuge
The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed. A refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9
Trouble comes in a lot of different ways. What is trouble to some of us may not seem like trouble to others. Trouble often involves a loss. We can lose our home, our job, our marriage or a person we love. Trouble means that a change that we don't want has happened or will happen. To be "in trouble" means that something has gone wrong and there are going to be consequences. Trouble threatens us. It is something that we try to avoid.
David tells us that God is a refuge in times of trouble. A refuge is a place of safety. A refuge is a place where our needs are met. A refuge is a place to rest. We can turn to God when we are faced with trouble.
What trouble are you dealing with right now? What are you frightened of? Marriage problems, health issues, stress from work? We have the privilege of turning to God who is bigger than any problem we bring before him. We cannot always see God at work; but, he is always there. We are never alone when we are in trouble. God is with us and we can find comfort and safety in Him.
Trouble comes in a lot of different ways. What is trouble to some of us may not seem like trouble to others. Trouble often involves a loss. We can lose our home, our job, our marriage or a person we love. Trouble means that a change that we don't want has happened or will happen. To be "in trouble" means that something has gone wrong and there are going to be consequences. Trouble threatens us. It is something that we try to avoid.
David tells us that God is a refuge in times of trouble. A refuge is a place of safety. A refuge is a place where our needs are met. A refuge is a place to rest. We can turn to God when we are faced with trouble.
What trouble are you dealing with right now? What are you frightened of? Marriage problems, health issues, stress from work? We have the privilege of turning to God who is bigger than any problem we bring before him. We cannot always see God at work; but, he is always there. We are never alone when we are in trouble. God is with us and we can find comfort and safety in Him.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
No Rubber Ducks
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1 NIV
Feeling in control of our lives is important to us; but, it is an illusion. We try to make ourselves feel better by looking for fault in others when things go wrong. When someone has an automobile accident, we want to know if they were wearing their seat belt or if they were drinking or speeding. If someone gets lung cancer, we want to know if they smoked.
I remember watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon had to drive Penny to the hospital because she had fallen in the bathtub and dislocated her shoulder. While filling out forms in the ER, he wrote in the blank asking the cause of the accident, "Failure to apply rubber ducks in bathtub."
As Christians, we are in the business of saving drowning people. When you see someone drowning, you don't stand on the pier or in a boat and lecture them on why they should have worn a life jacket. You throw them a life jacket or a rope or whatever will get the job done to pull them out of the water.
God does not want us to make ourselves feel like better people by finding fault with his other children. He created us all and he wants us to help each other.
It is ironic that the things we dislike most about other people are things that remind us of ourselves. Yes, we are all sinners. Jesus died for all of us. Will you help him pull people into his lifeboat? Or do you stand in the boat condemning those who are drowning because they aren't where you think they should be in life? Don't forget Romans 2:1. Jesus died for others as completely as he died for you.
Feeling in control of our lives is important to us; but, it is an illusion. We try to make ourselves feel better by looking for fault in others when things go wrong. When someone has an automobile accident, we want to know if they were wearing their seat belt or if they were drinking or speeding. If someone gets lung cancer, we want to know if they smoked.
I remember watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon had to drive Penny to the hospital because she had fallen in the bathtub and dislocated her shoulder. While filling out forms in the ER, he wrote in the blank asking the cause of the accident, "Failure to apply rubber ducks in bathtub."
As Christians, we are in the business of saving drowning people. When you see someone drowning, you don't stand on the pier or in a boat and lecture them on why they should have worn a life jacket. You throw them a life jacket or a rope or whatever will get the job done to pull them out of the water.
God does not want us to make ourselves feel like better people by finding fault with his other children. He created us all and he wants us to help each other.
It is ironic that the things we dislike most about other people are things that remind us of ourselves. Yes, we are all sinners. Jesus died for all of us. Will you help him pull people into his lifeboat? Or do you stand in the boat condemning those who are drowning because they aren't where you think they should be in life? Don't forget Romans 2:1. Jesus died for others as completely as he died for you.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Honoring God
Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
There are some passages in the Bible that really make us stop and think. Psalm 37:5 is one of those for me. Common sense and life experience tell us that God won't give us everything we want. It wouldn't be good for us.
Doesn't this verse say that God will give me what I want if I am committed to Him? Look again. It is not we who are committed; but, our way that must be committed.
"So, what's the difference?" I hear you cry. The difference is one of good verses evil. Psalm 37 is intended to encourage righteous people to be steadfast in their righteousness. Verse one tells us to "not be envious of those who do wrong." Achieving desires appears to be easier for those who are not honest and do not honor God.
What do you desire? What steps are you taking to achieve that desire? Are you pursuing your goal in a way that honors God?
There are some passages in the Bible that really make us stop and think. Psalm 37:5 is one of those for me. Common sense and life experience tell us that God won't give us everything we want. It wouldn't be good for us.
Doesn't this verse say that God will give me what I want if I am committed to Him? Look again. It is not we who are committed; but, our way that must be committed.
"So, what's the difference?" I hear you cry. The difference is one of good verses evil. Psalm 37 is intended to encourage righteous people to be steadfast in their righteousness. Verse one tells us to "not be envious of those who do wrong." Achieving desires appears to be easier for those who are not honest and do not honor God.
What do you desire? What steps are you taking to achieve that desire? Are you pursuing your goal in a way that honors God?
- Does your job honor God?
- Do your relationships honor God?
- Do your finances honor God?
- Do your hobbies honor God?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Who do you trust?
"He knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I wanted and needed comfort. I knew I would find it in scripture; but, where in the Bible would I find it? I decided to turn to the book of Job. Job lost most of the things in life that we consider valuable. He lost his children. He lost his business. He lost his house, his reputation, and yes, he even lost his health.
Job's faith in God was strong; but, his faith in himself was stronger and that did not please God. Job correctly claimed that he was not being punished by God for any sin he had committed; but, Job was arrogant. He wanted God to justify Himself. He wanted God to tell him the reasons that bad things were happening in his life.
God never responded to Job's demands. Instead, God made Job give an accounting of himself. His point was that Job was not God. Only God is God. His job is to rule the universe. Our job is to trust Him.
Where do you place your trust when life goes spinning out of control? There is only One who controls the universe. Put your trust in Him.
When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I wanted and needed comfort. I knew I would find it in scripture; but, where in the Bible would I find it? I decided to turn to the book of Job. Job lost most of the things in life that we consider valuable. He lost his children. He lost his business. He lost his house, his reputation, and yes, he even lost his health.
Job's faith in God was strong; but, his faith in himself was stronger and that did not please God. Job correctly claimed that he was not being punished by God for any sin he had committed; but, Job was arrogant. He wanted God to justify Himself. He wanted God to tell him the reasons that bad things were happening in his life.
God never responded to Job's demands. Instead, God made Job give an accounting of himself. His point was that Job was not God. Only God is God. His job is to rule the universe. Our job is to trust Him.
Where do you place your trust when life goes spinning out of control? There is only One who controls the universe. Put your trust in Him.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tomorrow
"Heaven and Earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away." Luke 21:13
It has been said that the only thing we can count on in life is change. Good things happen to people: we grow, we form relationships, we have children, we achieve, we can enjoy our own good fortune and that of those we love. At the same time, bad things happen: aging, accidents, sickness, financial problems, foreclosure, eviction, divorce -- the list is long.
Jesus tells us that one thing we can count on are his own words. He never spoke anything but the truth. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. Every day has enough trouble of its own."
When you find that you cannot count on life, focus on what you can count on -- God's Word. Are you worried about tomorrow? Your worry won't change anything. Concern yourself with today. Ask God to take care of tomorrow. He loves you more than you love yourself.
It has been said that the only thing we can count on in life is change. Good things happen to people: we grow, we form relationships, we have children, we achieve, we can enjoy our own good fortune and that of those we love. At the same time, bad things happen: aging, accidents, sickness, financial problems, foreclosure, eviction, divorce -- the list is long.
Jesus tells us that one thing we can count on are his own words. He never spoke anything but the truth. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus said, "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. Every day has enough trouble of its own."
When you find that you cannot count on life, focus on what you can count on -- God's Word. Are you worried about tomorrow? Your worry won't change anything. Concern yourself with today. Ask God to take care of tomorrow. He loves you more than you love yourself.
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