Monthly Archives: May 2013

Burdens

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Burdens and troubles are part of life. I will have them. You will have them. Each of us, today, as we are reading this, has some type of burden that we are dealing with. There is something in our life that is wearying for each of us.

Paul today in Galatians gives us some advice for handling our burdens. Listen to what he says in 6:2-5:

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

burdenHe basically gives us two pieces of advice that seem to be the opposite of each other. First, he says in verse 2, to bear each other’s burdens. We are supposed to help and take care of each other. That’s what our command is as Christians, to care for and to love one another.

But, look what he says later on in verse 5, each of us must bear our own load.

Wait, what? How does that work? On one help each other, and on the other, take care of yourself. What is the deal here?

This is what Paul means and what we should do as Christians. First, we should our very best to take care of our loads and our struggles. We should do all that we can do to take care of our burdens and struggles.

Why?

Because there is a time when our friend won’t be able to take care of theirs. And we have to be there to help them. It’s sort of like why we should save money, to be able to help someone out in their time of need. If we don’t have any money saved, we can’t help.

But, if we do, we can help them out.

So, if we take care of our burdens, we are free to help each other out.

And, there will be a time when we need that help as well. We are going to need help with our burdens and struggles and worries. We will need help. We will need support.

We will need each other.

So, today, we bear our burdens. So that we can bear one another’s burdens.

Today, may we be there for each other in our hours of need.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Temptation – Two Reminders

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Today in our reading, Paul gives us two very helpful reminders about how to deal with temptation in our lives. Temptation is something that every Christian (and everyone, period!) must deal with.

Paul offers two really helpful encouragements today in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. Listen to what God says today:

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Temptation_-_Cat_and_Goldfish_BowlFirst, we see this reminder – be careful. Don’t get arrogant. Don’t get prideful. Paul says that if we think we stand, be careful or you will fall.

What does he mean by that? Shouldn’t we stand?

Yes, we should. But we should remember how we stand. And remember whose strength we stand upon. If we think we stand on our strength or might or power, we will fall. We don’t stand based upon us. We stand based upon Him.

So, in your fight against temptation, be careful in your stand. Remember we stand only in Him. Don’t rely upon your power, or you will fall.

Rely upon His, and you will stand.

Second, Paul reminds us these words, that in every temptation, God will give us an escape. And out. A help.

What is that? Perhaps a Bible verse that you can call to mind in the midst of temptation. Or an accountability partner that will be there for you. Perhaps a song on your heart. Perhaps the ability to get up and walk out.

But, God has promised, He will give us an out. He will give us a way.

Don’t give up. Don’t lose heart. You can do this. You can. Through Him and His power and strength, you can.

Don’t give up. He’s with you. And will be with you. Today and every day, in your struggle and temptation.

And through Him, we will overcome.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Marvel

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glory1Are you ever amazed by God? Just taken aback at what He has done? Sometimes we can lose that, can’t we? Sometimes, we can just take so much granted.

Forget how good He is.

Forget what we have to be thankful for.

Forget what He has done for us.

We don’t do it on purpose. It isn’t like we plan on forgetting. It isn’t like we think it’s a good idea. We just get busy. We lose focus. We take for granted. And we forget.

Listen to what Jesus says today in John 5:19-20:

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

He says, greater works will happen, so that we will marvel. Greater things will happen so that we will marvel. Everything great, all of this is done for God’s glory.
And so that we can marvel.

We can marvel at God’s grace in our lives. Marvel at forgiveness. And mercy. And love. And peace.

Marvel at what God is doing in us.

Marvel at what God is doing through us.

Marvel at His goodness.

Today, don’t take Him for granted. Don’t take that grace and mercy for granted.

Stop. Think. Look. Listen. Praise.

And marvel. Marvel at the goodness of God.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Exercise?

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US_exercise_1All of us know that we should exercise. Or I guess, we all know that it’s good for us. It’s good and healthy for us to be active and find some sort of exercise routine.

It’s good for our health, our life, our stress, well, in short everything.

And it’s so hard to start, huh? I took a few weeks off from the Y when I was sick and I’m still not back to my routine. It’s really difficult to do this sometimes, even when we know how good it is for us.

Listen to what Paul says today in 1 Timothy 4:7-8:

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

He says that bodily training, or exercise, is good in some ways, Godliness is of value in every way. So, train yourself in that.

We worry about our bodies, our look, our appearance, everything. We focus so much on our physical bodies in this life.

Do we focus as much on our soul? Do we exercise and train ourselves for Godliness? Do we feed our souls through worship, through reading, through prayer?

Do we exercise our faith by helping others? By giving witness to God’s glory and salvation? By serving each other?

And just like physical exercise it’s hard. We know we should. We know it’s good for us. We know that we should do it. But, we wait. We put it off. We say later.

Don’t wait today. Exercise your faith. Feed your soul. Live in what is good and true. Train for Godliness. And you will find benefits in every way.

So, just start. Today, read. Today, pray. Today, serve. Today, do these things. And you know what you’ll find? You may be a little scared at first. You may feel a little sore afterwards.

But you know what? You’ll feel alive. Your faith will feel alive. You’ll wonder what you’ve been missing.

Today, train for the race that God has in front of us. And exercise your faith. You will see the life there, immediately!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

When You Don’t Feel It

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Sometimes we can feel like God is not there. We can feel like we are all alone in the dark. We can feel like our prayers are bouncing off the walls, that God is not is listening, that God does not care, and that He isn’t even there.

We all have felt that way at some point.

Some of us may feel that way even know.

One of the reasons why I love the book of Psalms so much is that they speak to nearly every human emotion we have – joy, pain, fear, worry, trust, everything. Today, listen to what is says in Psalm 13:

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

imagesThe Psalmist says, Lord, will you forget me forever? Will you hide your face from me? Will you answer me? Will I be defeated?

The Psalmist things that God has abandoned him. He feels like he is all alone. He is in the darkness. He feels lost and alone.

What does he do?

He said even though I don’t feel it, I trust in your steadfast love. My heart will rejoice because of that salvation. I will sing to the Lord.

Even when He didn’t feel it.

Because here’s the thing. The Lord is there, even when you don’t feel it. He hears your prayers, even when you don’t feel it.

We KNOW this to be true, His word says He will never leave nor forsake us. He will never abandon us. He will always be present.

We KNOW this to be true, even when we don’t feel it. He is.

Trust. Trust not in what you may feel today, trust in what you KNOW today. God is there. Even if you can’t see. Even if you don’t understand. Even if you don’t feel it.

He is with you today. You know it to be true. Trust in it, even when you don’t feel it.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

All

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Who does God want to save? All people.

Who does God love? All people.

All people. Me, you, that guy down the street, your co-worker, cousin, aunt, and mail man. Everyone. All people. The world. Whosever.

Listen to what Paul writes to Timothy today in 1 Timothy 2:3-6:

This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

271402392_640God desires that all be saved. Jesus Christ gave himself as a ransom for all. God wants there to be restoration and hope for all people. That’s His heart and His desire. And He wants to used us to accomplish that.

We are His representative today. We go out in our work. In our family. In our community. Everywhere we go. And take that Good News with us.

To all.

To everyone.

No one is unimportant. Everyone matters. Everyone is made in His image. All of us. Me, you, all of us.

God loves them all. May we do what we can do today, to show His love to all that we meet today.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The Goal

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Yesterday at Asbury, we spent some time teaching what it is that Christians believe? What is that we hold to? What is the foundation of our beliefs? We didn’t dig into specific “doctrine” but looked at the basics of what Christians believe and hold to.

And we talked about how we are not “saved” by doctrine, but saved by grace through faith, lest no man can boast. So, if you have to believe just the right thing to be a Christian, guess what just happened. You had to “do” something to be a Christian and thus you earned your salvation. You salvation is dependent on you doing something right, not through faith. So, as important as doctrine is, it doesn’t save us.

So then, what is the point? Listen to what Paul writes to Timothy today in 1 Timothy 1:3-5:

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

GOAL-BLOCKPaul tells him to make sure that people aren’t teaching false doctrine of things that don’t matter. Why is this? The goal or aim of the command is this – that love arises from a pure heart and good conscience and sincere faith.

The goal of belief, the goal of theology, the goal of doctrine is to make you a better disciple. Is to make you love God and love your neighbor better. Is to help you to be faithful in knowing His grace and sharing His grace.

That’s the point of it all. That’s why we do it. That’s what we are here for. To know grace and show grace. To share God’s love. To point folks to the freedom and power in Jesus Christ.

Today, don’t let differences in small things separate us a Christians. Let’s hold to Jesus. Let’s hold to things that truly matter. And let’s point others to Him.

Today, the goal of our beliefs is to love God. And love neighbor. That’s why we hold them. That’s why we believe them. That’s what they are about and for.

Today, may we be faithful. May we show that love to all that we meet.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Thoughts on Sin, Brokenness and Restoration. From NOLA

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I’m here in New Orleans today for a wedding. Being away from home, I don’t sleep well. Already looking forward to being in my bed tonight. Anyway, I went for a walk down to Jackson Square this morning and went inside St. Louis Cathedral. I always have thought it was a beautiful church, and when I can, I like to go to a place and sit and think/pray.

There’s been some stuff in my own soul I’ve been dealing with, issues brokenness of and unfaithfulness in my life, places where I have felt the hand of The Lord convicting me. I like to sit and think at these times.

So, I as I sat and prayed, I picked up the reading for the day (for those of you that aren’t familiar, in the Roman Catholic Church, and other churches, there are suggested biblical readings for day and Sunday). And I as I read the readings, the Genesis reading was on the Tower of Babel. For those of you unfamiliar with that story, humanity becomes full of it’s self and decided to build a tower to heaven. God, knowing the potential of humanity, comes down confuses the people and causes them to speak different languages.

And that struck me, because you know what tomorrow is? Pentecost Sunday. On Pentecost, we are told that all the folks in Jerusalem heard Peter preach (as recorded in Acts 2) and heard in their own langauge.

At Babel, sin caused confusion, caused people to be separated and divided. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit brough unity and allowed all that were there to hear the word of The Lord in their own language.

Pentecost reversed what happened at Babel. The one people were divided into many languages and groups. At Pentecost, the many languages become one.

God restored what sin had corrupted and destroyed.

God undid the effect of the sin.

God longs to restore what sin and the devil long to destroy. God longs to rebuild, restore, and reverse.

God longs to bring life, where sin has brought death.

He will restore us, our lives, our souls, our faith.

What man intended for evil, God intended for good. Genesis 50:20. May that be true in our lives today. And each day.

How to Live

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Jesus is asked what is the way to life. What must one do to inherit eternal life?

That’s a big question, huh? That’s probably one that you want to get right. So, Jesus returns the question and says, what is written.

Listen to how this plays out in Luke 10:25-28:

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

8562bf13209e799f6798813cdcb87bf4I love Jesus’ response. He says do this – love God, love neighbor, love yourself, and you shall live.

And I think that He is teaching us something bigger than just “living” for eternity. I think that Jesus is teaching us how to live today. You don’t have to wait until heaven to have to live. You can live today.

See, when we live for something bigger than us, when we live to love God, to love our neighbor, and yes, to properly love ourselves, then we are really living.

But, if we are living to chase stuff, or status, or fame, or our reputation, or whatever, than we really aren’t living. Now, we may be breathing, eating, and doing the stuff of life, but we won’t be living. We will be existing.

But when we live for that, to love God, others, and self, then we are living. We have a purpose. We have a plan. We have something really worth having.

Then, we are truly living.

Today, Jesus shows us to live. How? To love. God. Others. And yes, even love ourselves. Today, let’s truly live for something worth living for. Let’s love God with all that we are. Let’s do our very best to love our neighbor. And let’s forgive ourselves and see ourselves as the child of God that we are.

Let’s not just wait to heaven to live. Let’s live today.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Simple and Beautiful Faith

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Knowing God, through faith, is a beautiful thing. Seriously, think about it.

How many folks in life struggle with meaning? With purpose? With forgiveness? With peace?

How many folks seek to know through knowledge? Or reason? Or understanding?

Yes, faith can be simplistic. Yes, it can even seem foolish to world and to the culture to believe what can seem unbelievable. To have hope in a hopeless situation. To cling to good in a world seemingly racked with evil.

Yes, it can seem simple. And that’s what makes it beautiful.

Listen to what Jesus says in today in Luke 10:21-24:

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

fc_faithThese truths of faith, this joy and peace and hope and beauty of faith is hidden from the wise and understanding and revealed to little children. The kings and prophets longed to know what we see and understand.

How can this be? How can an uneducated grandmother or a 5-year-old boy have a deeper knowledge than someone so wise, so educated, so understanding?

Because it’s about simple faith. It’s about knowing, through faith, that God loves us. That God cares for us. That God will not leave us.

Through faith. Through belief. Through hope. Simple faith.

Faith that says, even through I don’t understand, I believe. That faith changes lives. That faith changes churches. That faith changes the world.

St. Augustine said – “Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.” It is faith that makes understanding possible. Simple, childlike faith.

Without it, none of this makes sense. With it, everything makes sense.

Today, may we not seek to “understand” let us seek to believe and have faith. And then, only then, will we understand.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.