Tag Archives: Love Demonstrated

In the World, Not of It – Learning to Live in the Light

10 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by in Devotional, GENERAL, Personal Experience

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In the World, Not of It

Learning to Live in the Light

Sunshine meadow

In the World, Not of It

Learning to Live in the Light

There is a scene in the movie The Matrix when the character Morphius asks Neo a question, red pill or blue pill?  Neo chooses to experience reality, and he reaches for the red pill. The next thing Neo knows his life is turned up down, and he wakes up on an operating table. As he opens his eyes Neo asks, why do my eyes hurt? Morphius replies, because you have never used them before. This scene helps illustrate what coming to Christ felt like for me. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 2 says, “you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” I was dead, and then suddenly I was alive. It was radical, and even somewhat violent in it’s suddenness. 

Yet, my coming alive was far more pleasant than Neo’s. I didn’t find a giant plug in the back of my neck and I wasn’t forced to eat slimy oatmeal everyday. No, my experience was more like I was living in a dark prison cell and I didn’t even realize it. Then one day someone opened the door and I was let out into sunshiny meadow. I don’t know about everyone else, but I love the sunshine. Dark places depress me. In fact, my wife says I am like a cat because I’ll find the sunniest place in the house and hang out right there. So, when I ran out into the meadow I never wanted to go back to that dark, drab cell. I was free. I ran from anything and everything that represented the darkness, anything that reminded me of the darkness, anything that had a connection to the darkness. I had found the light, and I wanted as much as possible. I still do.

Today, I am still walking in that light, and lately I have been listening to Dominic Balli. Dominic Balli is a Christian Reggae Artist. Why do I bring this up? When I lived in the prison cell I listened to reggae music often, so when I came into the light reggae music was left behind in the cell. I associated reggae music with the darkness. I had practiced many things I am now ashamed while listening to reggae music. Yet, Dominic Balli has been a revelation for me. Reggae music was not the problem, my sin was the problem. All reggae music did not have to go, just the music that promotes darkness and the activities that accompanied my reggae music. Today, Jesus has redeemed reggae music in my life, and I am experiencing more of the glorious freedom found in life in the light.

Once I heard a pastor say that some people get so radically saved that they forget how to relate and communicate to the world. In many ways that was me. I was so radically changed and so loved the life of the light, that I completely dropped everything that had anything to do with the darkness. The vast majority was exactly the correct choice, but I forgot one thing. There are people I love back in those cells. I have friends and family that live in the darkness, and they need the cell door opened as much as I did. And, whether they ever decide to step out of the cell, open their eyes for the first time, and experience the light; I still love them. They are still my friends and family, and while I will never walk in the dark again, I also do not want to cut the cord of our friendship and love. This is what I am learning at this point of my walk with Christ in the light.

I am reminded how Jesus astonished his followers when they saw sitting by a well in enemy territory, Samaria. Normally, Jews would make a 1-day journey into 3 just to avoid setting foot in Samaria, but Jesus told his close-minded disciples, I need to go through Samaria. When he did, he found the village floozy drawing water from the village well. Jews, and especially teachers as Jesus was considered, never spoke with women in public. Jesus asked this Samaritan women for a drink, and threw a bridge over what had previously been an uncrossable chasm. He begged from her, and put Himself below her. When his disciples saw him doing this, they were speechless. Yet, while Jesus is the light of the world, he had no problem befriending and relating to even the most colorful people. He demonstrated this again when he called Matthew, the cheating tax-collector; and when he set free the women caught in adultery. Now, I am not saying my friends family are the lowest class of society, in fact they are regular (mostly) people. The point is Jesus had the perfect balance in his life: Living completely in the life while reaching into the darkness; He was in the world, but not of it.

So, I have been exploring this beautiful, sunshiny meadow for over 5 years now, and I have no desire to go back to the old prison cell. But, I also am learning what is truly darkness, and what can be redeemed. Today, I love my old friends and family and am hopeful that I can be a better friend in the future, a friend like Jesus. I am also enjoying my reggae music as I stroll through this sunshiny meadow, and I think that is how God intended it to be.

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His Salvation

17 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by in Devotional, New Testament, Romans, THE WORD

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“Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”
-Romans 4:7-8

This is the center of Christianity. Not that I am good or moral, but that I am forgiven and righteous because of what Jesus did at the cross. I love God’s salvation, and I am so thankful for it. It’s perfect.

My relationship with God is based on love. His love. He loved me so much He came and did what I could never do: pay the price for my sins and make me righteous before God. I know people don’t like the word sin, but it simply means to miss God’s standard. The standard our conscious speaks of when we lie, or do something we inherently know to be wrong. We have all sinned and fall short of the standard of God, and King David knew that no man could be blessed by his own efforts. Those efforts are always stained by gross sin. No, David knew the only way to blessing was receiving God’s mercy and grace, which God is so ready and willing to give to any who come to Him in humility and faith. We are to humble ourselves before God, admit the obvious, and receive His grace, kindness, mercy, and love. God wants to give, but we accept reality, and trust in God.

I also love God’s salvation because it is sure and secure. Because my relationship with God is not based on my works, but on God’s love and work. My salvation never moves. I don’t have to wonder day-by-day if I have done enough, or if I am good enough. I just accept that I have sinned, and receive God’s gift of forgiveness and life through faith. I can trust His salvation, lean my entire self on it, and build my entire life on it. There is nothing else like it in this crazy, ever-changing world we live in. I can know the truly safe place to invest my entire being, and not have to worry what will come of me. That is peace and joy. I used to look around this world and think what option will work out for me best? What is the meaning of life? I don’t have to worry about that anymore because I have found the meaning of life, the only truth, and I can trust in it.

Christianity is also so different than other religions in that respect. Whether it be Islam, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, Buddhism, Hinduism etc. all of those religions are based on what man can do, how good can he be. Then after life is over, people are left wondering if they have done enough. The confidence of these religions is then subject to change day-by-day. One day you were relatively moral and kind, and feel confident that you will make it to heaven, or whatever goal that has been set in that religion. Then next day you yell at you wife, tear down a friend, get road rage, or simply get depressed because of your inadequacies and are now sure you won’t make it. There is no peace there.

That is where Christianity is different. God says, I know who you are, and I now you can’t attain to a truly “good” standing, but I love you and I have come to redeem you. God says I will do the work you cannot, and if you will only accept me and trust my salvation, then I will forgive you and you will become my son or daughter.

There is nothing better than the Father/Child love relationship with God through Jesus. There is nothing this world can offer that even compares to Jesus Christ, and His salvation. For that, I am truly thankful.

Giving It All

31 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in Acts, Devotional, GENERAL, New Testament, THE WORD

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“Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” -Acts 14:19-20
I read Acts 14 this morning, and I am just amazed by Paul’s actions here. He was drug out of Lystra, and had rocks thrown at him until he was presumed dead. We’re talking about his body being battered and broken until he was a bloody heap. So what did Paul do when he supernaturally rose up after the disciples came? He marched right back into the city where the people had just stoned him were at, and spent the night before continuing on about His Father’s business. He was undeterred.
Can you imagine looking into Paul’s eyes when he later exhorted the Ephesian elders and said, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24) His actions proved these words so true, and made them so impactful. He was on his way to Jerusalem where he knew certain persecution was waiting, but He was going to finish His work, and do it with joy.
That is what being a Christian is all about, and with the new year approaching I want my life to be a little more like Paul’s. All about Jesus regardless of the hardships this world throws at me.

What Do We Seek After?

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by in Devotional, Luke

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“And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” -Luke 16:15

Even for the Christian, the pull to go after wealth and the things that our world and culture count as important is very strong. I can find myself looking around at the world, and wanting the successful American life that so many I know are enjoying. But, what God says here is a very strong statement: What men consider the best, God considers the worst.

I think it is interesting that later in this chapter two men are shown (the rich man and Lazarus) from a temporal and then an eternal standpoint. Lazarus was a disease-riddled beggar for his time on earth, while the rich man enjoyed wealth and the best things this world had to offer. Yet, after they both died (as everyone does) Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom preparing for heaven for all eternity, while the rich man was to be tormented in flames for all-time.

The physical eye-test of these two men while they were on earth would tell us we would much rather be the rich man and enjoy the ease and comfort of wealth, but without a doubt the truly blessed man was the one who will spend eternity with God in heaven.

Don’t let the pull of our culture, our greed, and our eyes cause us to strive to be the rich man, but let us seek after Jesus and enjoy best life on this earth (one of peace, joy, and true fulfillment) and the best life to come.

“whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” -James 4:14

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6:19-21

Love And The Lost

21 Monday Oct 2013

Posted by in GENERAL, John, New Testament, Reaching the Lost, THE WORD

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“All my forefathers have passed away into darkness without knowing anything of what was to befall them; how is it that your forefathers knowing all these things, did not send word to my forefathers sooner?” ~ African chief to missionary David Livingstone

I love reading the quotes of past missionaries and people who gave their lives to be about the Lord’s business. I was deeply touched when I studied through church history, and especially inspired by those from the missionary era such as William Carey, Adoniram Judson, and Hudson Taylor. I think that all Christians should be a bit (maybe alot) more radical ( in modern terms that means crazy) just like those who spread the Gospel in the book of Acts. The apostle Paul said he desired to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and that to live is Christ, and to die is gain. These were’nt just words from Paul, but the reality of a crazy person committed to Jesus.

When I read this quote from an African Chief the early missionary David Livingstone came into contact with, it stopped me in my tracks. Usually, the quotes and stories I read are from the perspective of those bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who have not heard, but this was a different perspective. This was a man who come to the truth, realized that Jesus was the only way to be saved, knew that in order to believe someone had to hear the gospel, and he wanted to know why no one came sooner. He wanted to know why when Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15) it took the body of Christ close to 2,000 years to come to his village. I think that is very good question. I think it is a question that we as the body of Christ have a responsibility to answer, and hopefully it causes us to hear the words of Jesus and amend our ways.

Here are a few quotations from Jesus:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” -John 3:16

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” -John 4:34-35

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” -John 3:17

(To His disciples) “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” -John 20:21

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word” -John 17:20

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:37-40

These are just a few of the words of Christ regarding what He came to do ( The name Jesus means God is salvation, and His name implied His mission), and the work He left for His followers, not to mention anything of what Paul and the rest of the epistles say regarding our responsibility (See Romans 10:14-17)

The section of scripture I want to direct us to is the last one I listed from Matthew 22. I think two good questions for those who belong to Christ, and have received His love, forgiveness, grace, and salvation are how do we love God with everything we have and how do we love our neighbor as our self?

First, how do we love God with everything we have? As I am writing this my wife is snuggled up with her little sister. They aren’t doing much, they’re eating popcorn, watching a movie, talking with each other. They are spending time together. They love each other, and it is a blessing to see it. The same thing is done with those who love God. We spend time with Him. We get to know Him. We first know He has saved us, and then because of that knowledge we want to get to know this heavenly Father who will love us forever absolutely perfectly. In short, we abide with Him (John 15).

When we abide in Him, and spend time with Him something funny happens. We become more like Him. We take on His character and His nature, the things that are important to Him become important to us, and things He loves and hates we begin to love and hate as well.

Have you ever noticed a couple that has been happily married for 50 years? They have grown from being two individuals into being one beautiful married couple. They eat dinner at the same time, they go to bed at the same time, they enjoy the same vacations, and they watch the same movies. They have rubbed off on each other. Jesus prayed that believers would be one with Him as He was one with the Father (John 17). Becoming one with Jesus and the Father is loving God.

Another way we love God, is obeying what He said to do (John 14:15) Let me ask you this (and parents may understand this better than others) would you be happy with your child when he brings you a daisy after he had just ignored every chore you had given them to do, thrown paint all over the living room, wrecked the project in the garage you had been working on for 6 months, and to top it off misrepresented your most precious family values to everyone they came into contact with? We don’t need to go into the type of reaction that would create, but needless to say the daisy wouldn’t be received too well. The same principle can be applied to our relatioship with God. He is not looking for the big sacrificial gift, but a life that adheres to His nature and commands(1 Samuel 15:22). In short, if we are to love God we need to hear what He says, and then do what He instructs.

Secondly, How do we love our neighbors? Well, first we need to define neighbor in order to get the right eye-level to carry out this command. The word neighbor here means Biblically A) A freind B) any other person, and where two are concerned, the other (thy fellow man, thy neighbour), according to the Jews, any member of the Hebrew nation and commonwealth C) according to Christ, any other man irrespective of nation or religion (See John 3:16, He so loved the World) with whom we live or whom we chance to meet (BLB.org, Strong’s concordance, Outline for Biblical Usage)

So, now that we have neighbor defined, how do we love them as ourself? Let me ask you this Christian, what is the best thing that has ever happened to you or been given to you? It must be the salvation of God, forgiveness of sin, and a relationship with Jesus Christ our creator. To be born-again and know God is the single most importnant and wonderful thing that can happen in a human life. If everything else in my life is a failure, and I am homeless and starving without a penny to my name, but I belong to Christ than I am eternally rich beyond every sense of the word. So, there are many ways we can love one another as we walk in the spirit, but there can be no better demonstration of love than for us to lay down our selfish desires in order to bring someone else to their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Why do bring all this up? As we string together what it means to love God and love people I think it should motivate us to spread the gospel of Christ to those immediately around us, and also to those all over the world. Jesus loved people. He loved them so much He humbled himself by coming out of heaven and subjecting Himself to all the weakness of His creation, and relegated Himself to being killed by that creation all so he could end world hunger… wait that’s not it. He came to this earth to pay the price man’s sin deserved, so that any who would come to Him and believe in Him would be saved from the punishment due those sins. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Go back to the African Chief who said why didn’t you come sooner. The Bible says God loved his forefathers deeply, and the Bible says Jesus sent us to finish His work of salvation just as the Father sent Jesus. I can’t go back and redo Christian History. In fact I can’t do anything of myself period. I can’t even keep myself from catching a cold, but what I can do is hear the words of Jesus and lift up eyes and see that the fields are ripe for harvest NOW. I can begin to lift my eyes up and take them off myself, my wants, my career, my entertainment, my things, and my comfort; and begin to love others enough to bring them the only thing that can change a life and save a soul. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wasn’t ashamed of it because he understood these things and so much more. Because he understood the weight of the gospel and the world’s need for it, he spent His life getting this message and this Savior out to the world. When Paul was done he received a crown and a hearty well done good and faithful servant from God his Father. What about us?

Getting Honest

12 Saturday Oct 2013

Posted by in 1 Kings, Devotional, Old Testament

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“And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.” -1 Chronicles 3:3

Thought: I have often read through the records of the kings and thought, “what’s a matter with these guys?”

But, today I had a different thought. I recognized myself when I read, He loved the Lord, but burned incense at the high places. I have a deep love for the Lord, but I find myself worshipping entertainment and pleasure far too often, and that was the sin of Solomon and many others like him.

Instead of thinking I’m better than Solomon, I realized I am a Solomon. I want to get honest in my self-assessment, confess my failures, and allow the Lord to do a work in my heart; and help me put away all the high places that I have hidden there, and know Him more intimately than ever.

Morning Communion

10 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by in Devotional, Mark, New Testament, THE WORD

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“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” -Mark 1:35

Thought: Something said at the CC workers conference I went to recently was, our fellowship with God will determine the quality of our life/work. There are a lot of things I want to do for God… I want to spread the Gospel in South America, I want to reach the world for Christ, and I want to obey the command of Jesus when He said, “Go”.

 

Yet, I am finding what I really need to do is know God better. We get to know Him the same way we get to know anyone else: Spending time with Him, and investing in our relationship with God. Even Jesus, (God in the form of a man) with the most important work in the history of the world, spent His mornings quietly communing with the Father.  He would get alone and pray, and receive direction for the day ahead before the busyness of that day started.

 

This is the Christian life: a living, breathing, day-to-day relationship with God that allows us to be transformed into His image, and allows His life to be manifested in us. I want to be less self-willed and self-directed, and more in tune and in touch with my Lord Jesus. That starts with investing in my relationship with the Him each morning, and continuing that communication and communion throughout each day.

The Cure For Bitterness

09 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by in Devotional, Ephesians, New Testament, THE WORD

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“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32

 
Thought: Have you ever struggled with anger, bitterness, or a critical spirit? Maybe I’m being too open, but those are things I must guard against, and things I struggle with in my Christian walk. Today, the Lord used a KP Yohannon Bible study to shine a light on a root of bitterness growing in my heart. As I realized the reality and the seriousness of the problem, I was desperate for a solution, a cure to the disease.

The answer: forgive… everyone and everything. Forgiveness is freeing, and allows us to be at peace with those around us, and become more like God who has forgiven us so much. With forgiveness comes grace, love, and joy… the abundant life in Christ. It frees us from the self-imposed prison of bitterness and unforgiveness. I’m so glad the Holy Spirit is alive and working in the hearts of His people, and that God is so patient and gracious in His teaching us to walk. PRAISE THE LORD.

Be A Man

08 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by in 1 Kings, Devotional, Old Testament

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(King David to his son, Solomon, when he was anointed king) “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord you God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord  may fulfill His Word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your son takes heed to their way, to walk before me in truth, with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Isreal.'” (1 Kings 2:2-4)

Thought: David charged Solomon to be strong and prove He was a man. How would he prove it? By walking with God according to God’s Word with a pure heart. That’s the best way to prove I am a man because it is the best thing I can do for myself, my wife, my family, and everyone around me. If I make this choice to take God at His word, and walk with Him faithfully, sincerely, and will all that I have; God will keep HIs promises to me regarding the type of fruit my life will produce.