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Patient Endurance

The month of January pulls at my heart in painful ways.  It hasn’t been very long since my grandparents passed – Nana just 2 years ago ( https://www.floydmortuary.com/obituaries/thelma-edge ) and Bill just 5 years ago ( https://www.floydmortuary.com/obituaries/billy-edge ).

They are so sweet and special to me that it does me some painful good to see their pictures and read back through their obituaries this time of year. And having a wife and friends who will “sit in the mud with me” during this time is such a blessing.

As my emotions rise and tears surprisingly stream down my cheeks, today’s verse on the YouVersion Bible app reminds me of my own weakness being an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to do His work:

‭Romans‬ ‭8:26‬ ‭NLT‬
[26] And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

https://bible.com/bible/116/rom.8.26.NLT

And I’m also encouraged by my broadcast from a year ago today on patiently enduring:

Whatever you are going through today, my friends — I’m grateful for the opportunity to sit in the mud together. In fact, I’m about to head out on a nature hike in the rain if you want to combine the analogy with the reality. Much love, hugs, tears, encouragement and prayers — for Him seeing us through it. Amen.

Thelma “Nana” Edge

Thelma Edge

January 4, 1934 — January 18, 2022

Thelma Mae Brackins Edge, 88, wife of the late Billy Gene Edge, passed on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at her home in Campobello.  Born in Spartanburg County on January 4, 1934, a daughter of the late Edward Curtis and Alice Sprouse Brackins.

Mrs. Edge was a lifelong resident of Pacolet Mills until moving to Campobello in 2018.  She was a 55 plus year member of Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church.  She was involved in feeding the youth, volunteering in the nursery at church and socializing with Young at Heart.  She enjoyed cooking for her family.

Survivors are a daughter, Jean Ballinger (Jim) of Spartanburg; siblings, Bertha Harrold of Central Pacolet and Betty Hutt of Union; and a grandson, Harold Ballinger (Mandee) and great granddaughter, Mia Ballinger of Campobello.  Numerous nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by sisters, Ethel Morgan, Virginia Crawford, and Nancy Brock; a brother, Jimmy Brackins.

Visitation will be 1:00-3:00 PM, Monday, January 24, 2022, at Floyd’s Pacolet Chapel.  Funeral Services will follow in the chapel at 3:00 PM.  Burial will be in Pacolet Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 396, Pacolet Mills, SC, 29373.

Billy Edge

August 17, 1934 — January 26, 2019

Good Servant, Billy Gene Edge, 84, of Pacolet Mills, SC, went home to be with his Heavenly Father Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Born August 17, 1934 in Cherokee County, SC, he was the son of the late Troy Webster and Bessie Norah Barner Edge. He was the husband of Thelma Brackins Edge for 67 years. Billy started his lifelong career as a carpenter with Fiske-Carter Construction Company for 40 years, then ending it with Roebuck Buildings Co. Inc.

He was a member of Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church where he was a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and worked with the youth. He enjoyed gardening and woodworking. Survivors include his loving wife, Thelma Brackins Edge of the home; a daughter, Jean Ballinger (Jim) of Spartanburg, SC; a grandson, Harold Ballinger (Mandee) of Campobello, SC; a great granddaughter, Mia Ballinger; and sisters, Patra Ford (The Rev. Jerry Ford) of Union, SC and Pamela Easler of Spartanburg, SC; along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by his brothers, Roy Edge, Clyde Edge, and Hugh Edge.

Visitation will be at 6:00 – 8:00 PM Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at Floyd’s Pacolet Chapel, 141 Memorial Drive, Pacolet, SC 29372. Funeral service will be at 2:00 PM Wednesday, January 30, 2019, at Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, 350 Green Street, Pacolet, SC 29373, conducted by The Rev. Ralph Jett and The Rev. Jerry Ford. Burial will follow in Pacolet Memorial Gardens, 141 Memorial Drive, Pacolet, SC 29372.

The family will be at the home of Harold and Mandee Ballinger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, P.O. Box 396, Pacolet Mills, SC 29373.

The family would like to give a thank you for the special care given by Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

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All the Ingredients for a Heartwarming Story

For the past few weeks, we’ve been dealing with the challenge and uncertainty that comes with having a vehicle stolen. Looking around at the many people around us dealing with bigger and more challenging issues like loss/grief, health issues, etc. has really helped us keep things in perspective. There is a lot about the situation that is uncomfortable and challenging — the inconvenience of only having one vehicle, the time required to deal with the situation (police investigation, insurance claim, shopping for a vehicle, coordinating transportation), the added expense of purchasing another vehicle, and the stress to our budget during the month of December (our daughter’s birthday, Christmas, and additional giving commitments).

Yesterday was probably the hardest day of all for me to stay positive and to trust that God is doing good in all of this. Earlier in the week I had taken a day off of work so that dad and I could make a special trip to Columbia, SC to shop for a vehicle at the Carmax wholesale auction lot. And we had found a vehicle that I let myself get excited about purchasing. But late yesterday, we find out that the vehicle had a slipping transmission that would have required significant time and money for repairs. So while I’m very glad that we found this out before buying the vehicle — it also crushed the images I already had already played out in my head about this vehicle. So I was disappointed — both that the expectation I had set in my mind was not going to be met, and the realization that I now had to start shopping all over again.

Hopefully, we will hear back from our insurance company this weekend on what they are offering to cover my stolen truck. Hopefully it will be fair and reasonable — that’s the expectation that I’ve set in my mind. But that imagination could be crushed if whatever they offer isn’t in line with the research we’ve done ourselves. And we may set our eyes on another vehicle that we become interested in and get let down again. Just because we worship Jesus and we try to make reasonable decisions doesn’t mean that life will not throw us some curve balls with regards to “what we want” versus what reality presents us.

I have to remember that I didn’t expect to have any insurance coverage at all, but that the Lord had blessed my wife with a wise advisor in our insurance agent who had convinced her to carry additional coverage that I would have declined. I have to remember that we have multiple friends who have showed us the power of God’s love and faithfulness by offering to help us out while we are down to one vehicle. I have to remember that we’ve received what we’ve needed just in time to keep us afloat this month. I have to remember that much of the inconvenience caused by this situation is humbling us about just how blessed we truly are. I have to remember that a certain vehicle or expectation that I’ve set in my head is not an idol that I can put ahead of my trusting in God.

I’ve had so many people share with me how they have been encouraged by how we are dealing with this situation. And like a fool, I had overlooked that extremely valuable point.

Yesterday, I watched a Chevy Christmas commercial about a grandma with dementia. I wept and hurt deeply for at least 20 or 30 minutes after watching it — but it was so positive and moving that I had to share it. Then I commented to my friends and shared it with them, mentioning how I miss those heartwarming Christmas commercials that more companies used to put out.

Later on, I watched commentary about Ted Talks where the person speaking became emotional because of how personal and real the subject was to them — and how it impacted their audience in a positive way. Maybe this challenge is “my Christmas commercial” — being transparent and honest about how it is hard at times to stay positive, yet we still have a reason to hold out hope. I’m not here to manipulate your emotions so you might buy something, or visit my page, or build my followers. But I’ve found in Jesus someone worth worshipping even in the midst of the storms of my life — ESPECIALLY in those challenging times.

This Christmas, I hope we will get to spend time talking about the awesome wonders of God — like I got to do at our company Christmas party this week, like I get to share with friends through these posts, like we share daily with those we love life alongside. I hope that we’ll remember the hope, the joy and the celebration that this season is really about — and we’ll see past the distractions of any presents under the tree or in the driveway– to see the greatest gift we’ve ever received, a baby Jesus in a manger. Amen.

What is your heartwarming story this Christmas? Please share it!

‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‭-‬17‬ ‭ESV‬
[12] Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

https://bible.com/bible/59/col.3.12.ESV

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I could use more Faith, more Hope, and more Love

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:13‬ ‭ESV‬

This month has been insane. I don’t even have the time to write it all down here. When I saw today’s verse, at first I just went into study mode. But then I realized how much I really and truly need more faith, more hope, and more love right now in my life. I’ve really been trying to stir myself up and to endure gracefully. I’ve tried to encourage so many others that I see hurting during this season — and I’m hurting too. So I think this verse is perfectly timed for me.

I used to think that the proper order should be hope, faith and love — like a set of steps. I thought about hope as “not quite faith”, as a type of “gamble” where I didn’t quite think the odds were in my favor but it “might happen”. In the common English language, this is how many of us might use the word “hope” — whereas “having faith” that something will happen usually describes someone who is mostly confident that it “will happen”.

This difference in our common use of these three spoken terms today — versus their use in our modern day translation describing the three graces of faith, hope and love (that Paul spoke about in his letter to the Corinthian church over 1900 years ago) — makes me appreciate the bracketed guidance that the AMPlified version offers us:

‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:13‬ ‭AMP‬
[13] And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God’s love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.

https://bible.com/bible/1588/1co.13.13.AMP

The extra detail can throw some readers off and doesn’t make it an easy translation to preach from — but it sure is helpful for studying and digging in (to really chew on what is being said).

Anyone can take a verse and twist it to their own preferences — look at how Satan does this to tempt Jesus — look at how religion has been misused to justify war and oppression through the ages — look at how religion is used by some even today to fuel hatred and division — look at how even well meaning students like myself can misunderstand on first glance and want to sort and order things to my own whim if I’m not a good Berean willing to study and learn (rather than manipulate).

But the graces of Faith, Hope and Love do not speak of generic human feelings, emotions, attitudes or perspectives. They speak of gifts from God that are the power of Christ in this body of believers who walk in The Way. The graces aren’t about me sitting myself up to maybe hope a little, and eventually being strong enough to have faith, and to aspire to one day be strong enough to love — as if training myself to eventually run a marathon. All of this would just be the striving of men, not something spectacular and amazing! These three speak of the power of God!

Faith is a gift from God:

‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8‭-‬9‬ ‭ESV‬
[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:8‭-‬11‬ ‭ESV‬
[8] For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, [10] to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

And we receive this gift by hearing the Word of God:

‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭ESV‬
[17] So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith (trusting God’s promises), Hope (confident expectation that He is fulfilling His promises) and Love (that grows out of His love for me) are graces given to us — not demanded of us. They aren’t precepts to just be learned and applied and practiced and sharpened by people who are conscientious and are good citizens. Our God makes the bold claim that people who we see outwardly as faithful and hopeful and loving people can’t even stand proud of this themselves — because if it is true, genuine faith, hope and love it isn’t from them. Imagine how infuriating offensive such a statement would be to those who are proud of the image and reputation they have created outwardly for themselves — if their true intentions are to leverage that for their own benefit rather than it actually being the genuine graces of faith, hope and love.

Would it infuriate me to hear that I can’t expect that person to love me back just because I’ve been doing what I think is loving towards them — that what I’m doing is trying to be controlling and manipulative, and that shows nothing of real love at all? Could I hear that I need to repent and ask God to give me His love — so that I might actually love others well?

Would it infuriate me to hear that my attempts to try harder at stirring up or proving my faith by my actions, service, and consistent practices are actually undermining any real opportunity for faith because I’m still making it about myself rather than being humble, contrite and surrendered? Could I hear that I need to repent and ask God to give me the gift of faith that comes from Him?

Would it infuriate me to hear that my confidence in a sinners prayer, or a baptism, or a church membership, or service to others, or regular attendance, or constant tithing, or building a ministry, or knowing the Bible is not a source of hope that can be relied on and that it all falls short of the hope and confidence that we are given freely through Christ Jesus?

I apologize if my study this morning has been more academic than relatable. But I don’t need us to just read together and like each other, or like the topics we’re discussing, or enjoy writing and reading about good, intellectual, wise things. We need the power of God to lay hold of our thoughts, our minds, our hearts, our words, our actions, and our lives. We need the grace of God that is so much more powerful that anything we could muster up in ourselves. We do not need to play at Christianity — we need to walk by the power of the Holy Spirit of Almighty God in The Way that Jesus Christ had shown us. We make an amazing claim that only God himself can fulfill.

May you know the grace of God and may your lives be blessed by His abiding presence in and over and through your lives, my friends. Lord, help us to be what we could not be on our own — like you. Amen.

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Why do we do it?

I’ve taken some of my unused PTO days this week (since my truck was stolen, and since I have a lot to get done before my daughter’s birthday party). Early yesterday morning after my wife and daughter had finished getting ready to leave for work and school, they let me know that we had no running water in the house. I had no time to look at it because I have a bridge call for my IT team at the beginning of each work day. I make myself available to the team (for as long as they need me) for triage, prioritization and guidance during the busiest and most chaotic part of the IT day. They don’t have to join the bridge if they don’t need me for anything, but I make myself available to them during this time each morning.

Yesterday was a bit more busy than normal with critical issues that needed to be tackled, so I worked with them for a few hours before I was free to tackle the personal things I need to do here at the house. The night before, I left work at the end of the normal shift to spend time with my family (dinner together, family time, errands and personal commitments we had for the evening). But there were several open critical issues that I needed to follow up on before my scheduled time out of the office — so I circled back to the work items that needed tending and put in several hours late into the night/morning to make sure things were in a good place.

Why do I do this?

I’m not advocating that everyone regularly work late nights and still work on their scheduled days off. In fact, I try my best to ensure that the team that I lead doesn’t have to. If I see them working on their days off or late at night, I tell them “Go spend time with their family” and “We’ve got you covered. ” As a leader, I serve them by filling those gaps as best I can on their behalf. I still divide and delegate the workload as needed to the team, but we are not a critical 24×7 operation that needs an on-call IT rotation (like I’ve had in previous banking, healthcare and commercial datacenter jobs).

But I see how reliable and trustworthy and faithful my God is to me in my time of need — and His example leads me to try to be available for my team in their greatest time of need. I see His example of taking care of things silently and behind the scenes (not to get credit or be lauded as a hero, but because He loves me and wants to see the best for me). I see His taking care of me even while I am at rest, and I want to do the same thing for the people that I serve.

After I finished our IT bridge call, I returned to the personal errands and responsibilities. I did what I knew to try on the well and didn’t find a quick resolution, so I called the well installer and left a message. I started tackling other challenges and nothing seemed to be going right. Then I just lifted up my eyes to the Lord and said, “I could really use some help with this stuff, Lord.” Not in a demanding way, but humble by my own inability and surrendered to the truth that I needed help. My wife called back shortly because on of her clients had brought her Christmas gift by the salon and he had a suggestion of something that I didn’t know to try. I cut the power to the well and cleaned the contacts on the pressure switch as he described and boom, it worked again. I’ll have to replace the switch, but that saved me an expensive repair visit and got us up and running immediately. Then everything else took hard work, but I made progress and was able to be grateful to God for His help the rest of the day.

You are reliable, trustworthy and faithful. If we haven’t seized hold off this hope, help us see this more clearly. If we have hope but it has wavered, help us to remember and to cling tightly to you. By the power of Christ in us, help us to be like you for those we get the opportunity to serve today. Amen.

‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23‬ ‭AMP‬
[23] Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word];

https://bible.com/bible/1588/heb.10.23.AMP

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The Gentle, Respectful and Open Invitation

There is a lot to be said about being gentle and respectful — especially when we interact with people who think, believe and behave differently than we do. Being harsh and disrespectful to others who are different than us isn’t a sign of commitment or superiority — it is a sign of weakness, fear, foolishness and a lack of love. Someone who always points fingers at others in a demeaning way shouldn’t hide behind their beliefs as a blanket excuse for their hatred, condescension, pride and self righteousness.

I do not have to shame and scare people out of their tribe and into mine. I do not have to win converts into my way of thinking. You see, I serve a Holy and powerful God who calls me to be loving, gentle, respectful, generous, and forgiving even towards anyone that considers themselves my enemy.

It isn’t my depth of understanding or application of his wise guidance, precepts or laws that I use to convince people “to consider my religion as their best choice” — but it is the visible testimony of my new life walking with Him, my explaining how the truth of the gospel impacts me deeply, personally and powerfully each day, and my heartfelt reliance upon Christ in me (the Holy Spirit, God with us, Emmanuel) to bear fruit that is a blessing to those around me. That all serves as the call for others to “Come as you are” to meet my beloved Jesus.

That statement “Come as you are” can make many a self-righteous, religious man (who trusts in his own actions, not in the grace and mercy and power of God) hate and lash out at “those people who deserve hell” — but this is the ONLY GOSPEL THAT CAN SAVE! That statement “come as you are” is the only perspective that can keep a preacher safely on his knees in front of the cross– instead of lifted up on a pedestal where he will fall like a great weight has been tied around his neck. That statement “Come as you are” is the only exit ramp sign that breaches the gap between the broad and The narrow Way.

I invite you, my friends, to “Come as you are” not so you can try change your ways and be a better or more blessed person — but so that by the power of God you WILL be so much more than just those things. I invite you to “come as you are” because you are wonderful, amazing, unique and loved — regardless of how others see you or how anyone (including you) thinks you “measure up”. I have found a friend in Christ who lives in me, I have believed in Savior Jesus who lived died and was resurrected, and I have realized a Good, Good Father in Almighty God — and my confidence, my hope, and even my faith is a precious gift that I have been given and told to spread out on my table and invite others to “Come as you are” and to “taste and see that the Lord is good”. Amen.

‭1 Peter‬ ‭3:15‬ ‭AMP‬
[15] But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

https://bible.com/bible/1588/1pe.3.15.AMP

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Cadence and Consistency along The Way

I got to go on a 4 mile hike in the mountains with a friend yesterday. Things have been a bit stressful lately and it was so nice to get away outside in nature, get some exercise, and get my mind off of everything else.

When I’m able to start my day with a quiet devotional, get outside for exercise regularly, spend time in praise and prayer, eat healthier, and maintain a grateful attitude, no matter the chaos, challenges (or even loss and grief) — I don’t find myself overwhelmed, depressed or hopeless with a negative or victim mindset.

There is something about having an expectant mindset and a purposeful and intentional approach to each day that shifts not only my perspective, but that helps me rise above the circumstances. And I can be expectant and intentional if there is something that I can hope and put my trust in.

Walking in The Way isn’t about finding a way to change our stinking thinking so that we can be more prosperous — it isn’t a self help trick to manifest our best life now either. We seek the Lord, we want to know Him better, we want to walk with Him and better understand His ways, we put our trust in His promises and His guidance, and we follow Him. And when we are walking close with Him, and have our eyes set upon eternity, the little things of this world just don’t seem as important or scary or tempting.

When I hike, if I can maintain a steady cadence — like a drum beat that gets neither slower or faster — I can hike for much further distances without getting as tired and without my body, muscles and joints aching as much afterwards. I will lengthen or shorten my steps depending on the trail itself, but maintaining a constant cadence in hiking and biking helps me with my endurance and my recovery. And maintaining a steady and consistent cadence of seeking the Lord and putting my hope in Him helps me endure whatever life has to throw at me and rise above it.

If there is something that is wrong you down, if you find something is making you easy, show, tired, or overwhelmed — I encourage you to seek the Lord more consistently, to put your trust in Him more fully, to decide to follow Him, and to experience the power and strength that He will renew you with. Amen.

‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭AMP‬
[31] But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

https://bible.com/bible/1588/isa.40.31.AMP

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Worship in Love

“keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
– Jude 1:21 NKJV

TRUTH

“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Psalms 95:8-11 NKJV

[We were once in the wilderness, a part of the rebellion, an enemy of God – interested in our own ways and desires and not His.]

HOPE

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to  be the propitiation for our sins.

I John 4:7-10 NKJV

[God loves us. In fact, this is our ONLY hope,  that God loves us, because we have proven to ourselves and to others many times in our actions and our words that we are imperfect, flawed sinners. It is only through His love,  His sacrifice that we find salvation, that we learn love.]

FAITH

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

– Psalms 95:1-2,6 NKJV

[Our response to His love, to His mercy towards a people undeserving of His love is grattitude, is thanksgiving, is praise. Praise not just in occassional religious ceremonies, but in our daily lives,  even moment to moment throughout our day.]

LOVE

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

I John 4:11-16, 20-21 NKJV

[Yes, He teaches us love through His life,  through His Word,  and through His Holy Spirit that lives within us believers. And our purpose is to demonstrate this love, to testify to this love,  by accepting it and pouring it out onto those around us. We are called – yes, we are even commanded – to Love God,  and to Love others. And this isn’t a burden, but a blessing.]

PRAYER

Lord God, plunge me into your love so that I can love you with all that I am. I know that I’m asking you for the very thing I’ll give right back to you,  but my heart feels small and shrunken;  I struggle to live you well or even love at all. Immerse me in your love so that my heart, soul, strength, and might find their true home, and I will find the room in my heart to love my neighbor. Amen. (WSC 42)

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Truth, Hope, Faith & Love for a Day, for a Life

TRUTH
————
O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs—
O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
Rise up, O Judge of the earth;
Render punishment to the proud.
Lord , how long will the wicked,
How long will the wicked triumph?
Understand, you senseless among the people;
And you fools, when will you be wise?
He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?
The Lord  knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile.
Psalms 94:1-3, 8-11 NKJV

[Judgement, wrath, and punishment lies ahead for the proud and the wicked. The Lord is not blind to their heart, their thoughts, and their desires.]

HOPE
———
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so,  I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:1-6 NKJV

[When we realize our need to no longer walk proud and wicked, we can rely upon Christ – who died on the cross for us,  who defeated sin and death, who rose from the dead, and who will come live in us and teach us the way,  the truth,  and the life.]

FAITH
———-
Blessed is the man whom You instruct,
O Lord , And teach out of Your law,
That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,
Until the pit is dug for the wicked.
For the Lord will not cast off His people,
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
But judgment will return to righteousness,
And all the upright in heart will follow it.
Who will rise up for me against the evildoers?
Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?
Unless the Lord  had  been my help,
My soul would soon have settled in silence.
If I say, “My foot slips,”
Your mercy, O Lord , will hold me up.
In the multitude of my anxieties within me,
Your comforts delight my soul.
Psalms 94:12-19 NKJV

[In grattitude for our salvation and inheritance of eternal life, a Child of God grows in faith by trusting the Word of God, learning from Christ’s example –  from being convicted by the Holy Spirit against sin – and by choosing to seek righteousness, surrendering our will and desires,  and walking out His will for our lives.]

LOVE
———
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Jude 1:20-23 NKJV

[Godly love looks past our own salvation and seeks fellowship with other believers. It is active in both encouragement and accountability – understanding that all situations call for love. Sometimes that love is demonstrated compassionately with soft words and actions –  while other situations require swift, decisive, and bold words and actions in order to save some from the flames of destruction.]

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Doubt? Hope?

The enemy is selling doubt to us loudly every day, while our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a still, quiet voice offering us a free gift of hope and love.

Distraction. Confusion. Lies. These are the ways of the enemy, who wants us stumbling blindly in the dark.

An upright direction, a dedicated life of purpose, and fearful respect for the truth of the Word of God as we walk in the light along this narrow path – this is what the Father wants for His children.

Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
But as for me, my
feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but  You?
And there  is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:1-3, 21-26 NKJV

In this world, we see what appears to be evil triumphing every day. We see those who are wicked and evil and who oppress others rise to power and prosperity. We see false teachers selling lasciviousness and worldliness prospering and drawing large crowds together to be fleeced do that the wolves can grow rich and fat off of their followers. If we judge only by what our eyes can see in this fallen world, it seems to be a strong case that the accuser has laid out against God, and seems like our advocate, our defender is backed into a corner by the mountain of evidence.

But in a court of justice, the accuser speaks first and the accused speaks last. We can’t just throw in the towel because all we have seen so far is the evidence against us and against God. Hope is trusting in the things we have not yet seen come to pass. Yes, faith is knowing and trusting in what lies ahead.

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:24-29 NKJV

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Look! The Lamb of God!

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jhn.1.29.NKJV

TRUTH
John is preaching and teaching people to repent of their sins, and he is baptizing with water. And he is drawing a crowd around himself – partly because he is a spectacle to be seen, a wild man living in the wilderness, preaching about God to a world of people living quite differently than himself. And his message was quite different than what they were used to hearing:

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Luke 3:7-9 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/luk.3.7-9.NKJV

And Paul is telling them about the Messiah who is to come.

Now as the people were in expectation, and all reasoned in their hearts about John, whether he was the Christ or not, John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Luke 3:15-16 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/luk.3.15-16.NKJV

Paul has been preaching about Christ, telling them about the coming Messiah, but they do not recognize him on their own. Paul still has to urge them – Behold! Look! Today,  I urge you to Look! See Christ who is at the gate,  waiting to come into your life and lead you along the narrow path to your eternal destination in the house of your heavenly Father.

EXAMINATION
How often in the hustle and bustle and distractions of each day do I losevsight of Christ?

How often do I need to be reminded to look to Jesus?

Don’t we have to realize our complete need for Him in order to cling to Him?

Don’t we need to believe in Him and examine our lives to see if we are living fruitful lives – serving, and loving others as the body of Christ?

Don’t we need to believe in Him and examine our lives to see if we are living obedient lives – repenting,  resisting temptation and seeing it flee from us? 

If we believe, and if we “see” Christ and know Him to be real, shouldn’t we encourage them to “Look!”, shouldn’t we warn them of the dangers of they do not?

HOPE
The good news is that John wasn’t just some nut, some kook, talking about fantasy and imagination and ritual and superstition. The Good News is that the Christ that I know and love and preach is real. The Good News is that your eyes are being opened to see Him even more clearly as you hear the watchmen crying out,  “Look!” And as you seek to find Him, recognize Him, get to know Him intimately as that friend who never leaves you or abandons you.

SURRENDER
Heavenly Father,  Almighty God,  maker of heaven and earth. You are the one true God. You are the righteous and just and merciful and forgiving, You are slow to anger, and you love toy children enough to come in the flesh, to be born of a virgin, to live a blameless life, to teach us by your example the way we should live loving God wholeheartedly, to teach us by your example that we should serve and love others as a good neighbor, to teach us by your example to be faithful even unto death, to die on the cross as a blood payment for sin, to overcome sin and death,  and to demonstrate what lies ahead for your followers by being raised from death into eternal glory. Help us to see you,  Lord. Help us to see a Savior that brings grace and mercy and forgiveness,  and help us to see a Lord that brings repentance and holiness and righteousness. Help us to see a Healer who binds up our wounds and casts out of anxiety and guilt and shame from our lives. Help us to see you as our Redeemer who equips us with the whole armor of God to see victory as the enemy is defeated and overcome in our lives. Help us to see you as the annointing of your Holy Spirit poured out into us, so that we can carry the blessings, the light,  the truth,  the way out into the darkness to those who need Hope and Love and Salvation and Life abundant and eternal. Amen.

FAITH
And once we have recognized Jesus, once we have caught a glimpse and realized the truth and power of change that He affects in the lives of those drawn to Him, once we have cried out to Him from our hearts and confessed Him as both Savior and, Lord of our lives,  once we have found belief – this is the start of our journey, not the triumphant fulfillment. The celebration as we come into the body of Christ is that the work is started in our lives. We have found the narrow gate – now we get to walk this narrow path, hand in hand with our love, our Christ, our companion, our friend.

This narrow path comes with its trials,  with its challenges, even with suffering and persecution for those who will set their eyes fully upon Christ and who will carry the light that we have received into the world. If or eyes are opened to behold the light of Christ’s grace, we are also no longer blind to the blindness of those who do not yet have eyes to see. We are no longer without understanding that in order for others to see, there must be someone willing to cry out about this Good News and tell them,  “Look! Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” They must hear so that they might see.

LOVE
And if we hope that they might hear our warning, it must be our love that demonstrates this truth to them. We do not love just in words,  but we love in action and in truth. If we speak,  but we do not have love,  then we are nothing more than an annoying noise that they will refuse to hear. Because they listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd,  and they know Him because they recognize the fruit of His Holy Spirit. There are many that know the Scriptures, that can quote Truth, that can “provide you with an example in their words”, but there are so few that will “be an example with their lives”.

Christ calls us to the latter. Christ calls us to speak louder with our life example than with our carefully practiced and examined words. We must examine our hearts much closer than we examine what others might think of us. There is so much at stake. Serving the Lord is such a joy and blessing,  and there are so many that are trading in the opportunity of a day spent with Christ for a day distracted by the enticements of the world.

I’m not telling you to act more religious – No, quite the contrary,  I’m pleading with you to see Christ who is closer to you than your breath, who is saying, “Walk with me, child. Let’s spend the day together.”

PLEADING
Loving and merciful Father God, help us to walk in your ways, if for no other reason than for people to no longer see us but to catch a glimpse of you, alive and at work in your children. Help us to praise you not just with our lips, but with our lives. Help us to serve you not just with religious traditions and dogma, but with love for one another, with sacrifice, with renewed hearts and minds. Our works are worthless when we walk under our own strength. But your works are undeniable when your love is poured out through us. Teach us to love you with abandon. As we are sanctified by the Blood of the Lamb, and justified by our faith, and proved by the testing of our faith – use us for the work that you have appointed for us. Lead us in the path and purpose that you have designed for us. Establish and maintain our steps upon the narrow path as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We trust that you will see to completion the work that you have begun in us. Amen.