A Minute In It - What Are You Striving For?

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Read through the Bible text and answer the questions at the bottom of the post.

Psalm 49
1  Listen to this, all you people!
    Pay attention, everyone in the world!
2 High and low,
    rich and poor—listen!
3 For my words are wise,
    and my thoughts are filled with insight.
4 I listen carefully to many proverbs
    and solve riddles with inspiration from a harp.

5 Why should I fear when trouble comes,
    when enemies surround me?
6 They trust in their wealth
    and boast of great riches.
7 Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death
    by paying a ransom to God.
8 Redemption does not come so easily,
    for no one can ever pay enough
9 to live forever
    and never see the grave.

10 Those who are wise must finally die,
    just like the foolish and senseless,
    leaving all their wealth behind.
11 The grave is their eternal home,
    where they will stay forever.
They may name their estates after themselves,
12     but their fame will not last.
    They will die, just like animals.
13 This is the fate of fools,
    though they are remembered as being wise. Interlude

14 Like sheep, they are led to the grave,
    where death will be their shepherd.
In the morning the godly will rule over them.
    Their bodies will rot in the grave,
    far from their grand estates.
15 But as for me, God will redeem my life.
    He will snatch me from the power of the grave. Interlude

16 So don’t be dismayed when the wicked grow rich
    and their homes become ever more splendid.
17 For when they die, they take nothing with them.
    Their wealth will not follow them into the grave.
18 In this life they consider themselves fortunate
    and are applauded for their success.
19 But they will die like all before them
    and never again see the light of day.
20 People who boast of their wealth don’t understand;
    they will die, just like animals.

How are you measuring success? Do you look at those around you, take count of what they have and strive for that? What motivates your calendar and your finances? Where are you placing your priorities? What would God think of that?

He Did It On Purpose

The Father loves Me because I am willing to lay down My life—but I will take it up again. My life cannot be taken away by anybody else; I am giving it of My own free will. My authority allows Me to give My life and to take it again. All this has been commanded by My Father.  John 10:17-18 (VOICE)

Have you ever read the Bible in Job where God is saying "Look at my servant Job. Isn't he amazing!" (paraphrased) and then watch Satan focus on Job to try to break him? Have you ever thought "Lord, I appreciate that you might be proud of me but please don't point it out to Satan." I have. And then, I've read the text that says "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" and think "No, thank you. I don't want God to give me to anything." And I've wondered what Jesus felt like being "given." It almost feels like he didn't have a choice.

And that thought would be wrong. He did have a choice. In today's text Jesus makes it very clear. "I was willing! It was my choice. I chose to die and I chose to take my life back again. No one forced me!"

In other words "I meant it! I meant it! I meant it! I love you and that was the driving force behind my decision." He wasn't forced. He chose the hard thing so we could choose life.

Jesus, oh Jesus, I sit and think about the magnitude of this love. I think about who I have that kind of unconditional love for and honestly, it's a pretty small list. But you, you died for every single person. No matter who they were/are, where they were or are from or what they have  done or will do....there is no distinction.  Oh Jesus, help me to love like you. Amen.

The Underlying Plan

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11

Do you ever read this Bible text and think "Excellent! Lord, since you know the plan will you please lay it out for me so I know what we are doing?" I used to look at this text and think that the plan was a single thing that God had in mind and it was all tied up in a neat bow.

Over the years I have come to realize that the plan was a journey. The ultimate goal is a relationship with Jesus. That doesn't happen in a moment. It happens over a lifetime. A lifetime of ups and downs and ins and outs. A lifetime full of mistakes and successes and laughter and tears.

What does that mean?  It means that as we walk this path, travel on this journey, it was still all part of the plan God had for us. Sometimes the journey is hard. During those times, lean in to Jesus. When you stumble, hold on. And when you are laughing so hard the tears are rolling down your cheeks, give thanks. Every moment of your life is part of the plan. Embrace it.

Because it is ultimately God's plan, when you get to the end of the journey and you are face to face with Jesus, you will know it was worth it.

Knock, Knock! Who's There?

Therefore, be shamelessly committed to Me, and turn back. Now pay attention; I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear My voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with Me.  Revelation 3:19b-20 (VOICE)

When you read today's text you have to ask yourself "Am I listening for the knock?" The Bible is pretty clear that God is the one who initiates the relationship with us. He's talking, knocking, and impressing (among other things). Do you think we get so wrapped up in ourselves we don't hear it?

And what does it look like when we do hear it and open the door? I imagine sometimes we say things like:

"Sure Jesus, please come in. It's Tuesday night and I am watching my shows. Do you want to sit here on the couch with me?" Or how about "Jesus, Nice of you to stop by. I want to invite you in but it's super messy in here. If you would just stand out there while I clean up I'll invite you in when I'm ready." Here's another. "Jesus! Oh, I wasn't expecting you to come now.  I am so busy and gosh, I just don't have time for a conversation. Can you come back in a week or two? I can clear my schedule." One more. "Jesus, I would invite you in but I'm a little anxious about that. I'm pretty sure you would ask me to change things and do some things for you that I am uncomfortable with."

And then we say things like, "I never hear God."

Jesus wants you to "Be shamelessly committed to Him." like it says in verse 19 but he will not force himself on you. Jesus is always knocking. He's always talking and believe it or not, when we offer these excuses he doesn't push open the door and barge in. He says "Let's take this one step at a time. I am here when you are ready." But at some point, if you want to have a relationship with him, you are going to have to stop making excuses and open the door.

Running In The Right Direction

But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. Luke 24:11-12 (NLT)

Peter had blown it. He had denied Christ three times and now, Jesus was dead. There was no fixing what he'd broken. Or so he thought.

When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on Sunday morning, Jesus' body was not there. Instead, an angel reminded them of what Jesus said. They rushed to the eleven disciples to share the good news! In verse eleven it says the men did not believe it. Everyone but Peter.

Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb. Do you think as he was running he was hoping and praying that maybe this was his second chance?  Maybe he could tell Jesus he was sorry and be forgiven? Do you think in his heart of hearts even though he knew it was crazy to believe that someone could rise from the dead, he also understood more about this Jesus since he denied him?

Isn't this the story of the gospel in a nutshell?  No matter what you've done, no matter how horrible you think it is, Jesus died and rose again so you would be forgiven. Peter saw his second chance and he went running toward it.

And when Peter turned to Jesus, God used his experience; his understanding of what the good news truly meant to build a church.

Jesus will do the same for us. No matter how many mistakes we make, he is offering us forgiveness. He's saying come; spend time with me. I have a job for you. Today, which way are you running? Toward Jesus or away from him?

A Minute In It - Remembering The Sacrifice

A minute in Gods' word will change your life.  Today, we remember the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior.

The Crucifixion

32 Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene,[g] and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 33 And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 34 The soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.

35 After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.[h] 36 Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. 37 A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38 Two revolutionaries[i] were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.

The Death of Jesus

45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[j] lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”[k]

47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”[l]

50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54 The Roman officer[m] and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

55 And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

The Burial of Jesus

57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.  Matthew 27:32-61 (NLT)

When Not If

But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 (NLT)

Jesus was on his journey to the cross where he would make a public forever statement about forgiveness. And in this conversation with Peter, Peter was so sure of himself. He stood there and spoke words about facing death for Jesus and being in it all the way. He didn't know his heart would betray him. But Jesus did.

Isn't it the same with us? We betray Jesus every time we choose a path other than the one that he wants for us. Every time we say "No, Lord. That's too hard." or "This is too uncomfortable." or "I want to do it my way." We may not say it exactly like that but, whenever we do what we want instead of what Jesus wants, we are acting like Peter. And like Peter, we may not know ourselves as well as we think we do, but Jesus knows us.

Why did Jesus make this statement to Peter? Wouldn't the cross have been enough of a You are forgiven statement for Peter and for us? Somehow, I don't think so. I think we would look at that and say "But I denied him. That doesn't apply to me." So Jesus made sure that Peter knew that after all was said and done, there was still a plan for him. He said "When you have repented and turned to me again." When not if. Jesus let him know that there was still a plan for his life. And when he said that to Peter, he said that to us.

I don't know about you but I find great comfort in this story. I have denied Jesus with my decisions and I have made some terrible mistakes in my life. But Jesus was praying for me.  He was saying "When you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers." He is saying the same to you. 

No matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, grace is greater than all that. You are forgiven.

““God can’t give us peace and happiness apart from Himself because there is no such thing.”
― C.S. Lewis”