My dad, plus his five siblings, were saved from possible starvation during the Great Depression because Grandpa Moore gained the goodwill of his doctor. Because of that goodwill, Grandpa’s doctor extended his disability payments, thus saving the family.

My dad’s direction in life changed from blue-collar worker to university professor because Dad, the son of a dirt farmer, gained the goodwill of a local philanthropist who told him that he needed to be a teacher.

Early in life, I gained the goodwill of a salty department head at the local community college, who hired me as a full-time instructor, which opened many doors for me.

God enables, but we must act.

God still enables His children to gain the goodwill of life-changing people. We just need to align with God’s will, then ask and act. Remember, God bought you with the blood of Jesus. He loves you.

Who doesn’t love babies? They are so precious and overflowing with spontaneity. As a dad, I sang the following song countless times to my kids.

Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
Oh, be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So be careful little eyes what you see

As children of God, when we look at our lives, big events seldom define who we truly are. Our lives consist of small things, fleeting moments, and activities that barely qualify as actions or events. Yet it is in the tapestry woven by all of these that our character and our commitment to Jesus are established and seen.

Within our worlds, people know us as teachers, bank tellers, homemakers, auto mechanics, and so forth. And perhaps within our worlds, we have achieved something exceptional, or have suffered something horrible. Nevertheless, we still live our lives moment by moment, day by day. It is not that big thing, but the small things, that express who we are and speak into the lives of others.

Have you ever heard an insincere comment? Somehow, in a split-second, we can all detect this! For the small things in our lives to be genuine and express God’s nature, we must spend time with Him… a lot of time!

Something that fascinates me about the small things of life is that they are mostly unplanned. They are conceived by the Spirit, who lives in us, and manifested by our new nature - we can’t fake it. Therefore, remember, the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful, little child, how you live.

Photo by Brandless on Unsplash

As some of you know, I have an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) cat named Max. Science has proven that cats recognize their names. Although for poor Max, he is affectionately called by many permutations of Max. The most common name is Maxy, but sometimes he’s Maximillion, sometimes Maximus; you get the idea. These names are meant to be affectionate, but for Max, they are likely confusing.

Here’s where Maxishness comes into play. Names are very important to the one true God. The LORD renamed Abram, Sarai, and Jacob. He named the children of Hosea. Jesus gave new names to Peter, James, John, and probably Saul/Paul. Also, we get new names when we get to heaven - There’s a new name written down in glory, And it’s mine, O yes, it’s mine! (hymn by C. Austin Miles) Names are important, both now and in heaven.

Like Max, sometimes I am confused by my Master. I see myself as a worn-out man of little worth. However, at times, God calls me by a name like the one who breaks down walls. That’s confusing to me, but Jesus sees me in Him; yes, I said that correctly. He is in me, but also I am in Him. And, the person I am in Jesus has different names, kind of like Max.

If you are in Jesus, you, too, may have different names. Perhaps your name is builder of churches, or giver of compassion, or teacher of children, or prayer warrior. I don’t know how God sees you or the names He calls you by, but don’t be like Max and be confused when our Master calls you by a name you don’t think of yourself as.

So, pray and listen. God often calls us by new names. They are like a nom de guerre - French, which literally means war name. Don’t be afraid to walk in the name God gives you.

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For believers, the time we are living in is a kind of delayed gratification zone.

If, throughout the course of our careers, we drive older cars, forgo new car payments, and sock the money away in secure savings that earn compound interest, we will end up with a nice nest egg. If we forgo marriage right out of high school and wait until we have a trade or college degree, we will be better able to provide for a family. If we learn to play guitar before we busk on a street corner, we will draw a larger crowd. That’s called practicing delayed gratification, one of the most valuable traits any of us can develop. But that’s not what the world tells us we should do.

Workmates may tell us, “Not spending more each month than you can pay off is unrealistic.” Relatives may say, “People don’t pay a 10th of their income to churches. They just want you to think that.” The media will say, “Waiting for sex until after marriage is both foolish and impossible.”

Everyone in the world is telling us to eat, drink, and be merry, but Jesus has called us to lay up our treasures in heaven, not here on earth. (Matthew 6:19-21) The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” Paul's understanding of Christianity was quite different from what we so often hear today.

My point is this. From the moment we received Jesus as our Lord, we entered a delayed-gratification zone. As Paul wrote:

As you yield to Jesus’ love and walk with Him, you will find that accumulating things in this life is just clutter, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 ESV)

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Have you ever muttered to yourself, “Why me!?” I’ve chided myself with a few stronger words. And, I’ve been know to use “gallows” humor, such as in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, where Mercutio, after being stabbed by Tybalt, downplays the severity of his injury, saying, “No, ’tis not so deep as a well, nor so wide as a church-door; but ’tis enough, ’twill serve: ask for me to-morrow, and you shall find me a grave man.”

Since humanity was rightly expelled from the Garden, we’ve had a rough row to hoe 😉. (Genesis 3:17-19) The history books don’t tell us when the first person caught a cold. The Bible doesn’t tell us about the first person to break his or her leg. There is no record of the first person who went bankrupt. We know there were firsts, but what we really care about are the conditions we find ourselves in right now.

We want our loved ones to flourish, our careers to grow, and our dreams to be fulfilled. These desires are not necessarily contrary to God’s will. (3 John 1:2) But these are not God’s top priorities on life’s timeline. We are promised joy and love, but not an easy life. (John 16:33)

For some of us, we may feel like the light we seek at the end of the tunnel is a freight train headed right at us. But that’s okay. We know that as believers in Jesus, He has promised us peace (John 16:33). And we have God’s promise in Romans 8:28

There will be a time when we have no more burdens, when we shed no more tears, when there will be no more wars. But that time isn’t now, and it isn’t what to expect before Christ’s return. So let’s not grow weary. (Galatians 6:9) We have work to do and precious little time to do it. (Matthew 24:42) You may ask, “Why me!?” The answer is that you were called for a time such as this. (Esther 4:14)

Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.

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A while back, I spoke to a men’s group and asked them what their life verses were. A few were immediately ready to share, but most gave me a blank stare. They had never heard that term before. This changed the direction of my message - yes, I did give time for the men who had life verses to quote them. 🙂

Perhaps, you know this by a different term, or you are unaware that you have one. So, a life verse is a verse or passage in the Bible that is the North Star for how you live out your walk with Jesus. It is a verse that often comes to your mind and, in hindsight, has led you throughout your life.

My life verse came to me when I received a Bible from my church after graduating high school. Someone wrote the well-known passage from Proverbs 3:5-6 on the Presented To page of my Bible. Here is the passage in the New Living Translation:

The person who wrote in my Bible probably didn’t know that it was prophetic, but it was. This passage has, at times, been like a dog tugging me away from danger, and at other times, like a mother who comforts her child’s broken heart. Of course, it is the Holy Spirit who has always made this passage alive in me.

I do have a backup verse 😉. It is 2 Peter 3:9. Here it is in the English Standard Version:

Though this verse is primarily about salvation (praise God), it affirms God’s commitment to fulfill all His promises. I have quoted this verse back to God in countless prayers, and I can testify that God has never failed me.

God’s Word is alive. After all, Jesus is the Word incarnate - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

So, do you have a life verse? If so, please share it in the comments. If not, I encourage you to pray and ask God to guide you to one. It will become alive in you.

Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.

God’s Word doesn’t say a whole lot about happiness. In the world, everything tells us to be happy. Indeed, every advertisement, in some way, tells us that we can be happier if we use their product. The problem with happiness is that it depends on what happens.

Imagine that you have a car that only works when the sun is shining. So, on sunny days, you get to drive your car, but on cloudy days, rainy days, and snowy days, you have to leave your car in the garage. I don’t think you would want to pay $30,000 for a car like that! You need something better. You need a car you can rely on, regardless of weather conditions.

Happiness is like a sunshine-only car. It’s not reliable, but true joy comes from Jesus. God’s Word is full of promises of joy for those who have put their faith in Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him. Joy is more than a promise; it’s one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit lives in every believer, and He imparts to us an impenetrable joy. The apostle Peter wrote:

God’s joy that He gives to His children is quite remarkable. Our joy is not of this world. As we’ve seen, joy comes from the Holy Spirit, God Himself. And when we look into God’s Word, we find joy in heaven. For example, Jesus said:

Yes, we can find Scriptures about happiness (Genesis 30:13), but it’s God’s joy that is dependable in every kind of weather! And remember, live for Jesus. That’s what matters!

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Yes, the title is from “The Princes Bride,” one of the all-time best movies.

I admit that I am afflicted with bad jokes. Sometimes they spill over into my conversations with close Christian friends. Someone will say, “Quote your favorite verse!” I immediately respond with Job 1:9, “His wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’” Because they know me (I wouldn’t say it, otherwise), they laugh. They know I’m making a point. Bible verses require context.

Everyone has misunderstood a Bible verse at times. And I’m sure we all want to know the real meaning, and we welcome anyone who gently shows us the truth. But there are some misquoted verses that seem to have taken on a life of their own!

Two Examples

Matthew 7:1 may be the winner for having the most sermons preached out of context. In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” What it does not mean is that Christians must not judge right from wrong, good from evil, sin from righteousness, or good ideas from bad ideas.

Apostle Paul judged “Hymenaeus and Alexander” in 1 Timothy 1:18-20, and in Acts 13:11, Paul tells a false prophet, "Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time." Paul had no problem with judging a situation and dealing with it.

In Matthew 7:1, Jesus is not telling us not to be discerning - sorry for the double negative. The context here is that we should refrain from making critical or condemning judgments about people, even politicians! Jesus is addressing the tendency people have to harshly or hypocritically judge others. Back when I held business meetings, I used to remind everyone to judge ideas, but never denigrate anyone.

Another misquoted verse is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This does not mean we will succeed in business, become heart surgeons, or turn into champion golfers because we can do all things! God may have these things in store for you, but it won’t be based on this verse.

The context of “I can do all things…” is found in the whole paragraph.

The message is that we can be useful to God, regardless of our circumstances. We should rest in God, trust His providence, and avoid trying to fix things by our own strength.

Wrapping Up

I’m sure you know many misquoted verses, and we’ve not considered all of the homemade scriptures. I just want to remind us to be reverent when handling Scripture. There are many misquoted verses that harm young Christians. All the messages in the Bible have great value. They are worth learning their true meaning, and there is no need for us to embellish them.

My wife and I were recently watching one of those British murder mysteries. The “team” was at the shipyard and needed to talk to the Port Authority. That got me thinking about authority, which led to Jesus being given all authority, including the port 😉.

If I just think I believe something and try to act on it, well, I’m just guessing. That’s not what God wants, and it rarely turns out well; trust me, I’ve had a few spectacular failures! Faith is a funny thing. For faith to be true, it must only be built upon Christ’s authority.

This is why Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Our faith in the absolute authority of Jesus is the raw material for making hope. And faith is only real when we trust God for things we don’t know. Human knowledge is fallible, but Spirit-revealed knowledge is unshakable.

I may “know” a bridge is safe, but when I walk on it, it may collapse! But I know that Jesus is alive and seated at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19), and nothing can change my mind.

God’s response to our stepping out in faith may never be observed, but the only KPI (Key Performance Indicator) by which we will be judged by Jesus is our faithfulness. And true faith is anchored in the authority of Jesus.

I can testify that Jesus has never failed me when I have given my problems to Him and trusted in His authority. He may not do what I expect, when I expect, or how I expect, but in His way, Jesus has always brought me through every problem. How could I ask for more? I pray the same for you.

By the way, how can you trust what I have written? You can because all I’ve done is expound on Matthew 28:18 (NIV): “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” And Jesus was confirming the completion of the vision God gave Daniel.

Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.

Photo by Nathan Shively on Unsplash

King Josiah initiated a major religious reform in Judah - at this time, Israel had split into two kingdoms. Israel and Judah. This revival culminated in the cleansing and restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem.

The temple had been ignored because the people had turned to paganism. This effort was part of a broader campaign to purify the land and the temple from idolatry, following years of pagan worship under previous kings such as Manasseh and Amon.

While overseeing the repairs, the high priest Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law (likely Deuteronomy) in the Temple. Upon hearing its contents, King Josiah tore his robes in repentance, recognizing Judah’s covenant violations (2 Kings 22:11). He then convened a national covenant renewal, committing himself and the people to follow God’s law (2 Kings 23:1–3). This led to the systematic removal of idols, Asherah poles, altars to Baal and the host of heaven, and the destruction of pagan priests and shrines throughout Judah and Israel (2 Kings 23:4–20).

The cleansing of the Temple was both a physical and spiritual restoration, echoing earlier reforms by King Hezekiah and foreshadowing Jesus’ later cleansing of the Temple (Matthew 21:12–13).

Josiah’s actions marked one of the most significant religious revivals in Judah’s history, emphasizing Scripture and covenant faithfulness.

Notice that the temple’s condition was the result of Israel’s spiritual condition. You and I may try, but we can’t hide it if we drift away from Jesus. We lose the shine of God’s light in us, and we become picky, legalistic, and harsh instead of seeing the world through our Father’s eyes.

Don’t get me wrong, God loves justice and has commanded us to be holy. But God does not want us to perish. That is why He continually calls us to repent, so we can be reconciled to Him and revel in His great love.

When King Josiah heard God’s Word, he was overcome with remorse. He repented and changed the direction of his kingdom. If we have fallen into spiritual disrepair, we can do as King Josiah did. We can repent and turn back to Jesus. If you feel a tug on your heart, you’re not too far gone. That tug is the Holy Spirit. Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.

My wife’s family has a tradition that when the Uncle, Sisters, Cousins, Nieces, Nephews, Grandkids, and in-laws gather at Momma and Dad’s home for a family meal, we all hold hands and pray before we eat. Among this tribe are wildly different religious, political, and social perspectives, but we come together out of love. Along this line of thought is this favorite poem of mine:

No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; 
It tolls for thee. 
- by John Donne (1572-1631)

What an amazing statement, “If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less.” That line never fails to stir me.

During John Donne’s time, bells were rung to let people know that someone in their community had died. It was important for the community to know they’d lost one of their own. We need that kind of thinking in our world today. The constant barrage of headlines about death, harm, and betrayal has made us numb, desensitizing us to human suffering.

Dr. Jonathon Haidt, in his book “The Righteous Mind” (an academic book, not a Christian book), states that we have six moral foundations: Care vs. Harm, Fairness vs. Cheating, Loyalty vs. Betrayal, Authority vs. Subversion, Sanctity vs. Degradation, and Liberty vs. Oppression. From these, we should see that we have a moral imperative to care about people; to love people.

Whatever befalls any one of us affects us all. Life is precious. As sons and daughters of Adam, we are created in God’s image. Unjustly bringing harm to anyone is an attack upon Jesus through whom “all things were created.” (Colossians 1:15-20)

Now, you may say, “‘I love my family, but I hate people, especially slow drivers in the passing lane!” I care relate! But the fact is, there are at least eight times in the Bible where God tells us to “Love your neighbor as yourself.1”

So, take a deep breath and pray with me, “Oh God, my Father, help me to love (fill in a person’s name). In the Name of Your precious Son Jesus, I pray. Amen!”

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Coffee doesn’t ask silly questions. Coffee understands me. I take it black and bitter, like my mornings. I live in a walk-up, one-room apartment with a shared bathroom at the end of a dingy hall that hasn’t felt a wet mop since the Mets won the World Series.

The bathroom is at the north end of the hall. Any daylight that creeps in comes through a small, cracked window at the other end. The window has the kind of glass that looks like it has chicken wire inside. I think it gives us tenants a feeling of living in prison, something many of us have experienced. I hate walking that hall.

I hate walking the hall and finding the door locked, which it almost always is. As I shuffle to the door, I rattle the handle and slide down the wall to wait. I can tell a junkie is in there. For junkies, I let nature overcome nurture and piss under the door. The other tenants will think the junkie pissed himself. Sure, it stinks, but the hall already does; I don’t care.

After relieving myself, I walk past my apartment. There’s no reason to go in. I slept in the clothes I have on, and the junkie at the end of the hall made sure I’m indistinguishable from every unhoused person I’ll pass as I make my way along the sidewalk that leads to the homeless shelter where I’ll squeeze in and get my bitter coffee and a hard breadroll.

I like the roll’s toughness. It makes me feel like I have more to eat. I hope some do-gooder didn’t decide to donate donuts “for the poor.” Donuts are two bites worth of puff-and-air. We all leave hungry when a do-gooder wants to feel good about themselves. I’m hungry. I want a hard breadroll.

A kind, grey-haired woman at the shelter gives me two donuts, a small paper cup of coffee, and a smile. There’s sadness in her eyes. She knows. Reaching for them, I look at my hands and try to remember when I last washed them. Yesterday? No. Longer. If it’s not too late, I can make it to the Salvation Army’s Corps Community Center before they stop serving breakfast. It’s a long walk. They serve “healthy” meals. I’d rather have a hard breadroll.

As I begin to walk, I pass an alley and see a young woman flirting with an older man in his business suit and polished wing-tips. Nothing to worry about. Just a transaction; a brief moment, then both will feel sorrow, included for free.

Devotional

What I wrote is a snapshot of too many people’s lives. For most of us, their lives are hard to imagine and possibly a bit scary. Through myriad difficulties, they are hardened, but they are not soulless. They are in survival mode. They are loved by God, so we must love them, too, and be ready to talk with them and share the Gospel. How can we be followers of Jesus if we do not follow what Jesus taught?

[Speaking to the leading priests and elders] Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins. - Matthew 21:31-32

Live for Jesus. That’s what matters.

#Christianity

Brothers and Sisters,

There are so many needful things, all demanding our attention. We ask ourselves, “Does God not hear them?” We know He does. Still, if we’re going to cast ourselves into the fray, it helps to know whether we’re in the right “fray.”

You or I may pray, “Bless Your work.” But if we are in the wrong place or at the wrong time, or doing the wrong thing, then we will find ourselves frustrated, waiting on God’s blessing that won’t come. It’s not a matter of doing “good things” or even “great things,” rather it is a matter of doing the “right things.” How else can Jesus say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

From my walk with Jesus, the only works that will hold up under God’s inspection are those assignments He gave me and those I completed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said, “…A person can receive only what is given them from heaven...’” (John 3:27)

Receive What is Given

Take a moment, put on your “quality inspector’s hat” and inspect the work you’ve done. Will it withstand our Lord’s scrutiny? I know that many of the works for which I’ve been commended are just chaff that will burn up. Many of my accomplishments, which I hold dear, will not survive the fire of God. Thankfully, there were times when I didn’t hinder Jesus.

There have been times when a garden of peace sprang up from the work Christ gave me to do. And I’ve received a phone call from a long-forgotten workmate, telling me they've finally accepted Jesus as their Savior. These will withstand God’s inspection. (1 Corinthians 3:12-14)

“A person can receive only what is given to them.” It’s fruitless to frenetically try to create a ministry. Rather, we must walk in the Spirit, and then we will receive the assignments which Jesus calls us to. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13)

Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian survivor of the Holocaust, Hitler’s “final solution,” had this to say about working for Jesus:

“Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.” - Corrie Ten Boom

No assignment is too small. A smile to the person working the drive-up window, a pleasant comment about a bamboo plant sitting on a person’s desk, a positive comment during a tense conversation. These come from the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and are as vital as organizing a church banquet.

It is never about big or small, but only about obedience.

Blessings,

Gary

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Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

I happened to read a story written by a senior citizen who reminisced about her childhood. She was quite adept at painting a picture of her youth with words. It was fun to read her accounts of playing hide-and-seek with her siblings and cousins and the joy she experienced playing on her front porch. She wrote about a church across the street from her home. Then, suddenly, I read something she intended to be joyful, but it made me sad.

So Many Questions

This author had included a picture of her mom, dad, herself, and siblings, all dressed up and standing outside in “their Sunday best.” She wrote that her parents had a photographer come to their home around the same time each year to take a picture of them.

There was a church right across the street from them, but they never attended. It seems that the only impact the church had on the family was to dress like the parishioners once a year and immortalize the annual event with a picture.

I wondered, did the parents die unsaved? Did none of the siblings receive Jesus as Lord and Savior? Was the author ready to face eternity without the blood of Jesus covering her guilt? Did anyone from the church ever invite them to church? Did people in the congregation ever pray for the families around their church? I have so many questions, but no answers, just a deep sense of sadness.

How it was for Me

From her picture, it was exactly how my parents had us “dress up” on Easter Sunday - that’s what we called it back then. Resurrection Sunday is better. Each year, Mom would tell my sister and me that Jesus gave His very best for us, so we should meet Him in our very best. This made sense, but I hated wearing a tie, being a boy full of energy.

Anyway, when Mom corralled Dad, Sister, and me, we’d pile into our red and white 1956 Chevy Bel Air and drive into town to our church to celebrate the Good News of Christ’s resurrection with our congregation. At some point during our pastor’s Easter sermon, he would quote the verse that would become my joy and strength:

Hope

I understand now, but as a boy, I didn’t fully grasp the Good News preached on Easter Sunday; I could tell it held a power that knit our small congregation together. Mom and Dad clung to the words of the sermon. At the time, I didn’t understand how deeply Mom and Dad had been hurt as children, having both lost their mothers during the Great Depression. But it wasn’t just my parents who fed on the Good News; each (saved) “grown-up” in the congregation was filled by the Holy Spirit with strength and renewal of commitment to Christ Jesus, their Savior. However, this wasn’t true for the author of the story I read. For her, it seems that there was no Resurrection Day.

No Purpose

Paraphrasing her account, “We’d get dressed up in our Sunday best. The photographer would take our picture, and then we’d get back in our play clothes and enjoy the spring day.” Her family did not go to church, not even on Easter Sunday. Across her street were people who knew the power of “He is risen,” but she and her family were just dressed up with nowhere to go. I don’t think I’ve ever read a sadder story.

How many people do we know who are like the five virgins who had dressed in their finest but found themselves unprepared, dressed up with nowhere to go? (Matthew 25:1-13)

Good News

Whether your local church performs a cantata or your pastor preaches his Easter sermon, if we have placed our faith in Jesus, we are brothers and sisters with hope and a future because Christ Jesus has risen, just as He said.

When my wife and I were first dating, we went to a concert by “The 2nd Chapter of Acts,” and heard them sing the “Easter Song.” Enjoy!

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Writing Bloopers 🥹

Writing is an adventure, occasionally punctuated by “thought” train wrecks. This time I mistakenly wrote: “At the time, I didn’t understand the depth of the pain Mom and Dad had experienced as children, both losing their mothers and lives as children during the Great Depression.” Yikes!

God is incomprehensible

God is big and complex, with story arcs that span millennia. He has created things so tiny we’ve yet to find the smallest. He made a universe so immense that humanity’s best minds are continually astonished by every device they send to study it. And still, God knows the number of hairs on my head, which, for me, decreases each day!

The beauty of oceans, rivers, and mountains is indisputable. The joy of Mom and Dad at bringing home their baby is indescribable. The treasure of the stories told by Grandma and Grandpa is inspirational. Yet none of these even approaches the wonder of God Almighty. He is more. He is the Great I Am. He is beyond our wonder.

I am reminded of the song “God of Wonders”:

Verse 1:
Lord of all creation
Of water, earth and sky
The heavens are Your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on High

Chorus
God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are holy, holy
The universe declares Your majesty
You are holy, holy
- by Chris Tomlin

God is marvelous

In Job the oldest book in the Bible, God told Job that “He stretches out the north earth on nothing.“ (Job 26:7) And in Isaiah 40:22, we learn “It is he [God] who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in.”

God told us these things some 3,000 years before there was a picture of Earth from space. I’ll let you in on a weird question a couple of nerdy Christians asked each other. This relates to the wonder of God. Jon: “Can God make a pizza so big that He can’t eat it?” Amy: “Yes, and then He’d eat it!” I’m serious; that was a real conversation. God is amazing, and His love for us exceeds our understanding.

God is wondrous

God is not a big cuddly teddy bear. He is fearsome (Jeremiah 20:11). He is furious with humanity (John 3:36). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). Still, the Scriptures tell us that God is love (1 John 4:8), that, in God, we can find the refuge we so desperately seek (Psalm 62:8), and that He will cover our sins (Psalm 32:1). How wondrous, how powerful, how compassionate is our God.

God is complex

If God weren’t complex, He wouldn’t be God. The greatest scientific minds alive or ever were have been unable to manufacture a single living cell, yet God made the human body, which contains 30 trillion living cells! We discover encouraging truths in the names of God that are used in the Bible. A few of His names are:

• Abba – Daddy – Mark 14:36

• Adonai – A Divine name, translated “Lord,” and from its derivation, “sovereignty.” – 1 Kings 2:26

• El Elyon – Most High God – Daniel 7:18

• El Elohe Yisrael – The mighty God of Israel – Isaiah 60:16

• El Roi – The God who sees me – Genesis 16:13

• El Shaddai – God Almighty, the Overpowerer – Job 40:1–2, Matthew 19:26

• Yahweh – “I am” or “He is” or “His name” – Exodus 20:7

God is beyond our wonder

Truly, we serve an incomprehensible, marvelous, wondrous, complex God who loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son to provide a way of escape from His wrath and judgment. He is the true source of joy. What a mighty God we serve!

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Many Christians dismiss Adam and Eve, believing them to be fictitious characters made up by Moses. We need to understand that the narratives, historical accounts, prophecies, and commands in the Bible are all built on Jesus, and that Jesus affirmed their truth. He is in all of God’s Word, for He is the Word (John 1:1), which is health to our bodies (Proverbs 3:8) and renewal for our minds (Romans 12:2)

Eve’s Faith

For the first time in history, a woman, Eve, became pregnant. How challenging it must have been for her to go through this unknown process of pregnancy and childbirth. She didn’t have any friends with children. I wonder what Adam and Eve did for a nursery without an Ikea store !?

Even though Eve had sinned against God, we find that she had faith in God and acknowledged Him to be the author of the precious gift she had received. How many times have you heard people “write off” Eve as worthless? It takes a lot for God to do that. He is the God of second chances.

Eve’s Hope

The name Cain (Hebrew: קַיִן, Qayin) means to “acquire” or “possess.” So, we see that Eve understands God is at work in her. Cain is the firstborn son, a type of Adam. As the firstborn son, Cain occupied a special place within the family.

Here in chapter four of Genesis, we find Jesus! Eve is looking toward the fulfillment of God’s promise for her offspring to bruise Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15). She may have hoped Cain would fulfill God’s prophecy, but that was the job for Jesus. She doesn’t know when God will fulfill the promise God made to her, but she’s looking for God and, unbeknownst to her, to the man Christ Jesus.

It is likely that Eve hoped Cain would regain what was lost. Some of us have had hopes for our children that were unfulfilled. It’s painful. I’m sure Eve felt that pain with Cain.

Learning from Eve

We can learn a lot from Eve. She was used by Satan to commit the first sin (1 Timothy 2:14), bringing sin into everyone. Perhaps, no one has committed a greater sin. Yet, God did not give up on her. He gave her a promise of hope, and she believed in Him. She testified that God had helped her in childbirth. Her baby was named Acquire (or Possess), perhaps pointing to God’s promise to her.

If God didn’t give up on Eve, then He hasn’t given up on us. We, too, have hope, even a greater hope than Eve, for Jesus has now paid the price for our sins. God’s love still pursues us. We are never too far away from God for Him to restore us. Trust in Jesus, for He is our mediator to our Father (1 Timothy 2:5).

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In the account of the “rich young ruler,” the Scripture reads, “And as he (Jesus) was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’” (Mark 10:17)

Running to Jesus

The young man ran to Jesus. This man had intent. He had determination. He had identified the source of what he had been seeking. We know this because he didn’t just run to Jesus, but caused Jesus to stop His journey. His action is significant. Abraham did a similar thing. We find this in Genesis 18:2: “Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.” Many theologians consider this encounter a Christophany, a visible manifestation of the Son of God before He became flesh (John 1:14).

How similar these two accounts are! Both men spotted Jesus walking. Both men hurried to meet Him. Both men stopped Jesus and implored Him for His attention. Both men bowed or knelt before the Son of God. Both men made a request of Christ. But here, the similarity stops.

Letting Go

God called Abram (Abraham) while he was still an idolator, living in the city of Ur. God called him to leave his family, friends, and the familiar behind and to go into the wilderness to a land God would show him. Abram took God up on His offer, but the rich young ruler did not.

Jesus, in whom the Godhead dwells bodily (Colossians 2:9), asked the young man to get rid of the things that tied him to his family, his world, his life, and to come and join Jesus as a disciple. What a privilege Jesus extended to the rich young ruler, but the young man declined.

It’s not enough to run to Jesus, to get Christ’s attention, to fall on our knees before the King of kings and the Lord of lords, to seek His favor. For the first thing Jesus requires of us is to surrender all, to let go of the corpse of the world which we drag around with us. There can be no life as long as we remain in death.

Choose Wisely

Christ calls us out, but the decision rests solely upon us. Just as Abram was renamed Abraham, Simon was renamed Peter, Saul was renamed Paul, and James and John were renamed the sons of thunder, someday, when we arrive in heaven, God will give us a new name, but not the rich young ruler; not on that day, for he cared too much for this world to let go. Like a monkey whose hand is trapped in a jar, this young man grasped his riches so tightly that he could not escape.

Abraham and the rich young ruler: Two men whom our Lord offered unimaginable joy and a place in the foundation of God’s kingdom. One man chose correctly, and one did not. What will we do when Jesus asks us to let go of our most precious thing in the world? Will we, by God’s grace, place our faith in Jesus? Will we let go of death, or will we try to hold on to a trinket of death and bargain with Jesus so that we may possess both death and life, a bargain that cannot be made?

Everytime. Choose life. Choose love. Choose Jesus.

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Living in the Midwest, I am eager for Spring to come. I don’t enjoy getting in my car and it feeling like a meat freezer in a butcher shop. I’m just not a Winter person. Perhaps that is why, when I woke up today, I was thinking about swimming. Swimming pools are fun; they just are. Swimming alone provides great exercise, but people bring the fun; many, but not too many!

The ruckus of people talking, toddlers in their water wings, kids competing to see how long they can hold their breath underwater, guys cannonballing to splash water on girls sunbathing. It’s packaged happiness. One consequence is that a lot of water splashes out of the pool, leaving the concrete wet near the pool and damp further out. This euphoria makes a good metaphor for our lives in Christ Jesus.

We can properly use a swimming pool as a type for us, because Jesus said that He will give us living water (John 4:14) and rivers of living water will flow out of us (John 7:38). So, if we now truly live in Jesus and He in us (John 14:20), then we should be as full of living water as a swimming pool is of tap water.

How horrible it would be to arrive at a pool and find it half-empty and covered in algae! Yuck! But that’s what happens when a swimming pool is not maintained. The stagnant water begins to evaporate, and the remaining water becomes unhealthy and even dangerous. A pool’s water must be circulated, filtered, and treated to remove toxins. The same is true for us to be healthy followers of Christ.

Our filtration system is alive. The Holy Spirit lives in us, and He helps us to be healthy. Among many other things, He shows us toxins that have crept in, He guides us on the path of righteousness, and reveals to us the life that is in God’s Word. Our responsibility is to exercise self-control and continually grow in holiness, separating ourselves from worldliness.

Just as explaining a swimming pool is nothing like an actual swimming pool, so telling people we are Christian is nothing like being a Christian. To experience a swimming pool, people must jump in. As believers, we are both set-apart from death, and draw people to leave their death and “jump into” the life within us, Christ Jesus, our Lord.

A refreshing swimming pool naturally draws people of all ages. We are walking souls overflowing with Living Water, so people are drawn to the Life in us. Some will hate us because they hate the Water, but others will be drawn to come in.

Some will feel a deep need to jump in, to experience Living Water. Our purpose, the reason why we don’t just zip up to heaven when we receive salvation (John 17:15-16), is to carry the streams of Living Water. The reason we exist is so people do not just step on damp concrete or walk on wet concrete, but dive in and are immersed in the Living Water of God.

This brings us back to the packaged happiness of a swimming pool. Around it will always be people who like to be near the water, but never want to get wet. Others will dangle their feet in the water, but never jump in. But there will be some who will jump in and experience the refreshment only found by being in the water. Jesus is the Water, and we are those swimming pools.

So, stay healthy, stay refreshing, stay attractive (spiritually 😉). The God of all Creation lives in those of us who believe in Jesus, and we live so that others will join us as children of God.

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Growth seems to be a natural progression of all God creates. Whether we look at kittens, calves, kids, or children, they all start small, but with the right care, feeding, and environment, they grow to be healthy and to fulfill God’s purpose for them.

Growth is a Lesson That God Teaches

All of God’s creation testifies to His existence, and growth is a lesson that teaches us about God’s intended process and purpose for His children. I am reminded of a problem my dad had when I was a teenager.

We lived on a small farm with either a tiny lake or a huge pond stocked with fish. About two years after we moved there, the fish I caught looked like aliens from outer space. Every fish had a full-size head, but its body was small and underdeveloped. The fish seemed very strange.

Dad contacted our county’s Conservation agent. We learned that the fish were starving for oxygen and nutrients. Fertilizers were running off our fields and into our lake, messing up the lake’s whole ecosystem.

Baby Christians

As Christians, we can experience a similar problem. When we are first saved, we’re babies who require extra attention, proper feeding, and protection from damaging food. We also need exercise to grow up strong and healthy. If we lack any of those, then we will not grow up as God intended. Instead, we will be stunted, just as my dad’s fish were. I pray you've grown to be healthy.

We can read an account of this in 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 (ESV):

When we meet a new convert to Jesus, we should make sure God’s new baby receives careful instruction (feeding), gentle guidance (protection from dangerous food), and opportunities to find and use their gifting (exercise), so they grow properly. By doing so, the new addition to God’s kingdom will avoid being like my dad’s fish and instead become a mighty tool in God’s hand.

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Follow Me

The people where Jesus grew up had a very deep understanding of Scripture, and most lived according to God’s teachings. The Mishnah describes the educational process for a young Jewish boy in Jesus’ time.

“At five years old [one is fit] for the Scripture, at ten years the Mishnah (oral Torah, interpretations) at thirteen for the fulfilling of the commandments, at fifteen the Talmud (making Rabbinic interpretations), at eighteen the bride-chamber, at twenty pursuing a vocation, at thirty for authority (able to teach others)” - That the World May Know. (n.d.). Rabbi and Talmidim1

In the New Testament, a Rabbi would call a new disciple by saying, “Follow me.2” It meant from that time forward their life would change drastically as they would be dead to their old life and alive to their new life3. This is why Jesus used the phrase, “Come, follow me4,” when he called the apostles, and His apostles understood what He was doing. We all see that the timing for the start of Christ’s ministry, at 30 years old, was another testimony that Jesus was truly a rabbi5.

Dry as Dust

We

know that Israel, like much of the Middle East, has very arid places. These places that receive little water are hot, dry, and dusty. So, a common admonition to the disciples of rabbis, during Jesus’ earthly ministry, was, “Cover yourself in the dust of his feet and drink in his words thirstily.” This meant to follow your teacher so closely that the dust from his feet covers you, and to drink in his words as you would water in a dry and dusty land6.

In reading Matthew 10:42, the Jews would have understood “these little ones” as referring to scholars of a rabbi, and the rabbi was Jesus. So, in the context in which Jesus is speaking, He is telling the listeners that His “little ones” would appreciate a cup of cold water, meaning any help someone would give them, since disciples follow in the dust of the feet of their rabbi. A disciple’s focus is not on providing for themselves, but on learning from their master.

Elevated Believers

Later, we gain a deeper understanding in Matthew, when Jesus states:

From Matthew 25:40, we learn that Christ sees acts of kindness done to even the weakest believer and rewards them as if they had done the kindness to Jesus Himself. For believers, our love and compassion must not be limited to fellow believers, yet it must first be shown to those of the household of faith.

God does not dismiss acts of love, no matter how seemingly insignificant, especially towards His children. God loves all, but elevates His children.

Two Thoughts

There are two thoughts I hope we all take away from this lesson. The first is that we who have received Jesus should follow Him so closely that we taste the dust from His feet. The second is that Jesus knows our sacrifices and has made provision for us, so much so that He established a binding law. That law is whoever gives even the smallest help to one of His “little ones” is counted as a person who directly did it for Jesus. I thank God for that.

Photo credit: Chris Yarzab on Visualhunt.com / CC BY

Footnotes