Tag Archives: Jesus

Sunlight to Both

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I love the people who love me.  That’s only natural.

I love my family.  I love my children.  I love people who are nice to me and my family.  I love my church.  I love my friends.  I love lots of people.

I love Ole Miss, but I’m not sure why, since they aren’t very nice to me most football seasons.

Anyway, I love these people.

And, that’s nice.  Scripture tells us to love.  But, the command of scripture to love is not just the folks that are nice to me, and the folks that are easy to love.  But, to love everyone.  Listen to what Jesus says in Matthew 5 today:

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.

Jesus says God sends sunlight to both – to the evil and the good.  God sends rain to both – the just and the unjust. God gives love to all. And, He calls us to do that.

Jesus tells us to be like our Father in heaven, and that means we are to love.

Not just the folks we like.  Not just the folks like us. Not just the folks that agree with us. Not just the folks that share our opinion.  Not just the folks that we are friends with.

We are to love everyone. Even the folks that have done things wrong, that have hurt us or others, that really aren’t nice people.

Why?

Because God loves them.

And, because the only way we can change people is not through hate. The only way we can change people, can change the world, is through love.

God changed us through the love of His son. That’s how He expects us to change the world. So, today, love. Love everyone. Show God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s grace.

To both. To all. To everyone.  Because that’s who God is. And that’s who God is calling us to be.

 

 

What’s Stopping You?

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Today’s story out of John 5 is one of my favorite stories in scripture.

We see a man sitting beside a pool where healing is known to take place. It’s a place where the angels come to stir the water the water and healing happens to those that get in the pool first. But, not everyone makes it in.

Some are too late.

Some are delayed.

Some are just not able.

That’s where the text picks up today. Listen to what happens:

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

What I love about this passage is something that we need to be reminded of. We talk a lot about our sin, our weakness, our frailty. We talk a lot about God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s understanding.

Something we don’t always talk enough about is our responsibility. Jesus asked him – would you like to be well? Duh, who wouldn’t? Then get up and walk.

Jesus made it possible for this man to be healed. Jesus didn’t want any excuses this morning, He asked do you want it? Then get up and walk.

The things that had stopped Him in the past stopped him no more. Jesus cleared the deck. Jesus got rid of those things. Jesus made it possible. He stopped what was stopping this man from being healed.

Jesus is greater than whatever is stopping you. Jesus is stronger. Jesus is more powerful. The power of the cross, the grace of Christ, the movement of the Holy Spirit, all these things are greater than whatever is stopping you.

What is stopping you today? From being faithful? From obeying? From living?

Jesus is greater. He is bigger than whatever is stopping you. May we live into the power and life of Jesus.

It All Comes Down to Jesus

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A few weeks ago, someone said something to me about Asbury that really made me proud, and made me reflect on what matters most.

This person told me – Andy, we’ve visited a lot of churches, and we’ve never heard a church talk about Jesus as much as Asbury.

To me, that said we were and are doing what we are supposed to be doing – it tells me that we are focusing on what we are supposed to be focusing on.

Jesus.

We can talk about a lot of things in life. Theology. Denominations. Worship styles. Opinions.  Factions. Viewpoints.  Lots of things. But, in the end.  It all comes down to one thing.

Jesus.

Listen to what Hebrews 1 says:

Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.

It all comes down to Jesus.  He loves you, and He calls you to love Him, and love other people.  Our faith is not a matter of religion.  Yes, there are religious aspects to it. There are rituals and doctrines and institutions. Yes, there are things such as this. But, in the end, what matters is this – Jesus.

People are not desperate for religion.  They are desperate for relationship.  Relationship with God through Jesus.  Relationship with each other through Jesus.

Relationship with Jesus.

I had a professor in seminary that used to always tell us, every problem in our life, in some way, always comes back to our walk with Jesus.

It all comes down to Jesus.

Today, how is your walk with Him? Are you spending time with Him?  Are you following Him?  Are you loving Him? Are you loving others through Him?

It’s all about Jesus. May we know Him better each moment. And may we experience the life transofmaring power He wants to give us.

Unexpected Places

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Where do you expect to see God today?

Since it’s not Sunday, maybe you don’t expect to see Him at all today.  Sometimes we fool ourselves into thinking that we only see Him on Sunday.

That we only see Him in church.

That we only hear Him through the words a preacher says.

That, my friends, is not so. We can see God, we can experience God in many different ways.

In our lives, we can find God in some very unexpected places.

Listen to what Jesus says today in Mark 9:

Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”

Before this scene, the disciples had been arguing over who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus tells them that the one that serves would be the greatest.

And then, He picks up a child and says that to welcome a little child is to welcome God.

Now, in our day, we nod our heads and smile and say, sure, that sounds lovely. But, in Jesus’ day, that was not so. Children were not seen as much worth much until they grew into adulthood. Then, they may have a little value.

But, children, in that day?  No value.

And Jesus says, there, there in that small child, you have the chance to welcome God.

In an unexpected place.

Today, where do you expect to find God?  If you will open your eyes, open your heart, you will find Him in places you do not expect.

He is there.  Waiting.  Waiting for you to encounter Him. Waiting on you to love Him.  Serve Him. Worship Him.

In unexpected places.

Today, in all we do, we may we find God in those places. And may we be drawn closer to Him in all that we do.

What Do You Say?

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We see the critical question in all of life, asked today, in this text.

We see the question that shapes everything in our lives asked today.

Today, in Mark 8, we see Jesus discuss the following with His disciples.

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”

By the way, the picture to the left was taken at Caesarea Philippi, close to where we think this conversation took place.

That question that matters is this, who do you say Jesus is?  Not what do others say, but what do you say?   You’ve probably heard a variety of sermons on this text, bible studies and other such things.

Because its’ a powerful, powerful text.

But, when we hear something so often, we can forget to listen sometimes.

Ah, we’ve heard this. We know what’s going to be said.

Today, listen to this story, like you’ve never heard it.

Who do you say that Jesus is?  Or, put another way, what does Jesus mean to you?

Is He our life?  Our all in all?  Our shelter from the storm?  Our salvation?  Our hope? Our rock?  Our firm foundation?  Our cornerstone?

What has He meant to your life?  Your family?  Your soul?

I wouldn’t be the man, the husband, the father, the pastor I am without Jesus.

He is my life, my strength, my shield.

I am imperfect, He is perfect.  I am weak, He is strong.

Who is He to you this morning?  Who is He in your life?  Your family’s life?

What does Jesus mean to you?

May He be our entire life today.  And in that, we’ll know the power of true life.

Light versus Dark

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As those of you that have heard me preach on the subject know, I’m just fascinated by the concept of light and darkness.  Maybe that comes from my background in chemistry.  Maybe I’m just a geek. Who knows?

But, we do know this. There is no such thing as darkness.  Darkness doesn’t exist. It is simply the absence of light.

So, when light enters in, the darkness vanishes.  It doesn’t have a choice. When there is light, there simply is no darkness. It cannot abide where there is light.

So, when we realize that, listen to the words of John 1:

5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.

He is talking about Jesus.  Jesus is the Light from God. And His light drives out all the darkness.

And I’m not just talking about darkness in a big picture sense. We know He will win the battle over evil one day. I’m talking about darkness on an individual level.

When His light enters in to the darkness, it drive the darkness out of the areas of our lives.

So, in that, where is there darkness in our lives? Where is that area of our lives, of our souls where darkness reigns?

Where is there hate. . . . pride. . . . .lust. . . . .whatever. . . . .

And in these areas, have we let the light of Christ enter in?

When we let that light of Christ into these areas, He drives out the darkness.  Darkness cannot remain where light is.  And He is the Light of the world.

Have we let His light into our lives?  Have we let it shine?  Have we given it to Him?

His light will drive out the darkness.

May He do so in our lives.

How Do We Come to Jesus?

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One of the things we see over and over again in the New Testament is the religious leaders come to Jesus and test Him.

The come to Him, not really seeking wisdom, but they come to Him, asking Him questions, seeking to have Him fall in a trap or answer the question in a way they do not like.

That way they can point and say – aha!  See, He isn’t who you thought He was! Trust us, not Him.

We see this in one of today’s readings from Matthew 16:

1 One day the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.

They didn’t come to Him, seeking His wisdom to change their lives. They came to Him for the wrong reasons. They came to Him seeking their purpose, not His.

As I read this and thought about it, it made me reflect, why do I come to Jesus?

To get Him to bless MY plans?

To get Him to ok what I want to do already?

To get from Him what I want?

Or, do I go to Him, realizing that only He gives true life?

That my plans do not measure up to His plans? That my vision for my life doesn’t measure up to His vision for my life?

That it’s not about what I get from Him?  It’s about the life that He wants to give me.

But, that life He wants to give me comes only from Him.

I must put down my “stuff” and come to Him with humility.  Listening. Seeking. Learning.  Realizing it’s not about me.  It’s about Him.

Our life is not about us. It’s about Him.

As long as we make our lives about us, we’ll never find true life. The moment we make our lives about Him, that’s the moment we find life.

They came testing Jesus today. How do we come to Jesus?

 

The Foundation

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We can lay the foundation for our lives in a lot of places.

The foundation of our life could be our job. . .

Our family. . .

Our finances. . . .

Our hobbies. . . .

Our status and success. . . .

Other’s view of us. . . .

All these things could vanish, even family.  All these things can fail us.  All these things are not eternal.  Only one thing is eternal.  Only one thing will not fail.  Only one thing is unchanging.

Jesus

Paul writes these words today in 1 Corinthians:

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.

Today, a simple thought and reflection as we draw close to Thanksgiving.  Is He your foundation?

Is Jesus Christ the foundation of you life?

Is everything built upon Him?

All else could fail you.  He never will.

Is He your foundation?

You will never know true life, peace, joy, and purpose until He is your foundation.

May He be that foundation for you life today.

Amazing Love

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One of my favorite works by Charles Wesley is “And Can it Be?”  It has that awesome chorus “Amazing love! How can it be, That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”

We know God loves us. We’ve heard that from the time we were children. We’ve song the songs, read the verses.

We know God loves us.

But, I think we can forget, or maybe not really know, the depth of God’s love for us.

Listen to what happens in Luke’s Gospel today:

43 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her…. 47 When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’

She was sick, she had been bleeding for years. This made her unclean, according the Law.

Because of her illness, she couldn’t go to the Temple (church). She couldn’t go to the Market (Wal-Mart). She couldn’t even go to her family. For, simply touching someone that is unclean would make you unclean.

She was separated from all that she loved. She was cut off from everyone and everything.

Desperate, she sees Jesus walking in a crowd and she. . . . . touches him.

Probably the first touch she’d received in many, many years.

And in touching Jesus, she could have made Him unclean.  Not could have, would have.

He could have responded in anger.  The text said she was trembling. Why?

She knew what she had done. She knew the risk she had taken.  It wasn’t even a risk, it was a certainty.  In touching Him, she had risked everything.

She didn’t know what His reaction would be, or the crowd.

How did He respond?  Amazing Love – you are healed.  You are whole.  You are loved.

He responded to in amazing love.  In spite of her condition which had left her cut off for years.  In spite of her doing something, by the Law, she shouldn’t have, in touching Him.  In spite of these.

He healed her.  He loved her.  He made her whole.

Today, no matter who we are.  Jesus loves us.  He wants to make us whole today.

He wants to restore us.  He wants to love us.

Amazing Love, how can it be? That’s the love of Jesus Christ for you.

Today, may we each realize how much we are loved.

The Kingdom is Like. . . .

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One of the things that Jesus does in Scripture is compares things that we don’t understand to things that we do understand.

So, you know, we’ll understand them.

He takes a concept that no of us can really wrap our minds around, the Kingdom of God, and does this – He shows us its complete worth.

He says the Kingdom of God is of so much value, we should be willing to give everything for it. We see Jesus describe it in Matthew’s Gospel this way:

44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45’Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47’Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad.

It should, and must be our main priority.

It must come first.

God must come first.

It is a pearl of great worth, that everything else fails to compare to.

Yesterday in worship at Asbury Church, I asked my people this question – “Does God define you?”  Is God, and your worship of God, does it define every moment of your life?  Is that worship of God, that relationship with God, is it the main component of your life?

Or is it something you do when you have time?

Does God define you?

Is He, for you, that pearl of great price, that you would sale everything for?

Is He your everything?

If not, you will find all else lacking.

Does He define you?  Is He your life?  No where else, no where, will you find life, other than Jesus.

He must be our pearl of great price.  He must be our life.