NOTHING SHALL MOVE US

 Nothing Shall Move Us

 Many Christians are aware that the longest chapter in the Bible is in the book of Psalms.  Arguably, one of its most challenging truths rests in the scripture verse, Psalm 119:165 (KJV).  It simply says, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”  At first reading, this verse appears to represent an awesome and insurmountable spiritual peak.  For who among us can lay claim to the testimony of never having been offended by the attitudes or actions of others?

 In this case, another translation of the Holy Writ is essential for a clear understanding.  Within the New King James Version, this same verse is rendered, “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.”  Bottom line: There are no surreptitious snares or frontal attacks of the enemy of our soul that will result in our spiritual demise, God being our Covenant Helper.

 Here is the secret.  In the words of the Author and Finisher of faith our, Jesus Christ, “IF you abide in Me, and my words abide in you,” you will be the blessed beneficiary of all God’s Kingdom promises.  That is, you will reap a full harvest of the life-changing fruit of the Spirit, that is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness [and] self-control,”  along with Christ’s “righteousness.” (Galatians 5:22 and Romans 14:17)

 That is why you simply cannot allow yourself to ever be moved (in any way) by “the cares, riches and pleasures of life.” (Luke 8:14)  No distractions.  No detours.  Eyes on the prize!

 No matter what is happening externally, you must and shall completely trust The Indwelling Christ.  Never doubt the abiding faithfulness of the One who watches over His word and constantly performs it.  We will focus on His sure promise to the prophet, Jeremiah: “I will hasten my word to perform it.” (Jeremiah 1:12)  Therefore, we shall never “cast away our confidence” for we are “fully persuaded” that our God is unquestionably “able to perform.” (Hebrews 10:35 and Romans 4:21)

 My friends, even during seasons of overwhelming spiritual warfare, we will deploy an expectant faith that withstands adverse circumstances.  Even if “we are troubled on every side,” we are “steadfast and unmovable,” and we are “not distressed.”  We may be “perplexed, but not in despair.”  We may be “persecuted, but not forsaken.”  We may be “cast down, but not destroyed.” (II Corinthians 4:8-9)

 How so?  Because faith in God’s Word persuades us of inevitable victory.  Nothing can take us out!  Nothing can overcome us because “God always causes us to triumph in Christ.” (II Corinthians 2:14)  Therefore, we are absolutely “persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)  Our God has spoken; let the church say “Amen!”

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

LOVE IS THE BEST REMEDY

 LOVE IS THE BEST REMEDY

 I read an intriguing article about a couple who had been happily married for fifteen years.  However, when the challenges of life pressed hard upon their family, they began having more than their usual share of disagreements.  Both really wanted to make their marriage work, so they agreed on an idea that had the potential to improve their communications and provide practical solutions to the small issues that seemed to trouble them.  Every day, for one full month, each one would drop a slip of paper into ‘his and her’ boxes that would be labeled, ‘The Fault Box.’  This would offer a simple and systematic way to make one’s spouse aware of any matrimonial discomforts or irritations.

 The wife was rather diligent in her efforts, quite organized in her approach.  She wrote things like this: “Leaving the top off the jelly jar,” or “Wet towels on the bathroom floor,” or “Dirty clothes not put in the hamper,” – recording each of her concerns diligently until the end of the month.  On the last day of that month, they exchanged each other’s ‘Fault Box’ after evening dinner.  The husband read his first.  He reflected carefully on the many things his wife had noted and genuinely repented of all his ‘sins.’  Then the wife opened her box and slowly began reading aloud every one of her husband’s notes.  The same message was recorded on every slip of paper.  It simply said, “I love you!”

 Those three powerful words changed the emotional configuration of their troubled marriage.

 This true story reminds me of a life-changing passage on love that is recorded in The Holy Writ.  It’s so important that I’ll cite it below in two Bible translations.  Prayerfully ponder both.

 I Corinthians 13:4-7 (New King James Version)

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 I Corinthians 13:4-7 (The Message Bible)

Love never gives up.  Love cares more for others than for self.  Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.  Love doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always “me first,” doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.

 Obviously, a husband and a wife should be open to hear and attend to the heartfelt concerns of their spouse.  Always.  Nevertheless, the absolute best remedy for resolving any misunderstanding, any disagreement, or any relationship issue is the consistent application of love.  Period, end of report.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

SKELETONS IN THE FAMILY CLOSET (Part II)

 SKELETONS IN THE FAMILY CLOSET (Part II)

Although families tend to showcase their best and brightest, all genealogies contain unsavory secrets that are seldom mentioned in public discourse.  Unquestionably, every family has members who somehow epitomize sin and shame.  Such is the case with the family of the greatest man in human history, JESUS CHRIST.  Did you know that our Lord was incarnated in a profoundly unsavory family tree?  The fact that Jesus achieved an undeniably righteous and victorious life (despite his family legacy) is ‘Exhibit A’ in the Courtroom of Grace.  It offers indisputable evidence that it does not matter where you have come from – it only matters where you are headed!

 Jesus certainly had ‘good guys’ in his family tree (like Josiah, Hezekiah and Ruth), but there were numerous villainous relatives who sowed seeds of sin and sorrow within the family DNA.  In the previous devotional, we referenced specific untoward issues that were part of the family legacy of Abraham: his trickster grandson (Jacob), his disobedient great-grandson (Judah), and his combative great-great-grandson (Perez).  We also discovered that Rahab, the great-[many-times-great]-grandmother of Jesus, was both a prostitute and traitor to her own people.  We concluded that Jesus Christ came through an absolute family mess! 

 Not quite convinced yet?  Rahab’s great-great-great-grandson is a man known well to us.  One day, while the Israelite army had been deployed to the battlefield in a war with Syria, that man (King David) was taking an evening stroll in the roof-top palace garden.  Then and there, he developed a serious case of ‘eye trouble.’  From his elevated vantage point, David gazed upon the beautiful Bathsheba, who was taking (no pun intended) a private bath at the time.  Caught up in unrighteous passion, the king sent for Bathsheba and thereafter consummated a romantic affair.  Ultimately, Bathsheba’s husband (Uriah) was sent to the battlefront where he would certainly be killed.  All of this was done to hide Bathsheba’s unlawful pregnancy and to allow the secret lovers to be legally wed.  So, the beloved King David was not only a gifted psalmist; he was also an adulterer, a murderer (and incidentally) a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ.  Oh what bare-bone-skeletons lay in Jesus’ family closet.  He came through a mess!

 As instrumental as David’s son (Solomon) was in building the magnificent Jerusalem Temple, and as wise as he was in leading and resolving the disputes of his people, he still got tied up with the Queen of Sheba and tangled up with approximately 700 wives (believe it or not) and 300 girlfriends (believe it or not).  Jesus Christ came through a mess!

 Another one of David’s sons (Absalom) got killed in an attempt to displace Daddy David on the throne.  His intent was to take the life of his own father.  Jesus Christ came through a mess!

 Solomon’s son (King Rehoboam) was so greedy, mean-spirited and oppressive to his people that civil war broke out and the nation was split into two parts.  Jesus Christ came through a mess!

 However, the most notorious of the wicked kings was Solomon’s great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson (Ahaz).  He rebuilt the pagan altars and actively encouraged idol worship.  Israelite children were sacrificed to idol gods, and King Ahaz even went so far as to replace the temple altar Solomon built with a pagan altar he found in Assyria.  Jesus Christ came through a mess!

 We could go on and on with heinous examples of sin in Jesus’ family  lineage – actions that were selfishly and deliberately enacted against God and His people.  But our purpose for focusing in on the skeletons in Jesus’ family tree is not (by any means) to dishonor our Savior, or his family tree.  It is solely intended to liberate all of us from the debilitating spirit of accusation that Satan continuously unleashes against God’s people, both within our own minds and from the lips of others.  These spiritual warfare accusations are designed to make us seem unworthy of the wondrous gift of God’s grace and to cause us to feel undeserving to be used in God’s kingdom. 

 My friend, you too might have emerged from less-than-ideal conditions.  Your family line might have experienced more than its fair share of poverty, pain, failures, foibles and fiascoes.  However, long before Almighty God called you to His Kingdom, He had already seen, contemplated and factored in every facet of the ‘mess’ in your personal life or in your family tree.  The truth is that God plans to use what others perceive as disgrace – by miraculously transforming it into grace, unmerited favor.  He seeks to make you a living testimony of the love, mercy, compassion, power, grace and glory of God.  You might have come THROUGH a mess…but you have now come TO the cross…so you will no longer be detained, detoured, or dominated by your past.  In the words of Jesus Christ, “NOW you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3)  

 How I love the Apostle Paul’s admonition to Timothy: “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor, and some for dishonor.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (II Timothy 2:20-22, NKJV)

 With spiritual authority, repeat after me:  “I am a victor, not a victim.  I am who ‘I AM’ says I am!” 

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

SKELETONS IN THE FAMILY CLOSET (Part I)

SKELETONS IN THE FAMILY CLOSET (Part I)

 During nearly seven decades of life, I have discovered that all too often we judge one another, not by the “content of our character” (as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suggested), but by the pedigree of our family tree.  To wit, most of the ‘Who’s Who’ publications produced by our society are focused on familial bloodlines and material acquisitions, with their resultant power and prestige.   In America, the very bluest of the ‘blood-bloods’ proudly trace their ancestry to passengers on The Mayflower, the ship that arrived in 1620 at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts.  Ironically, those present on that ship were not necessarily the crème de la crème of European society but actually were religious and social castaways.  Such is life. 

 Most families boast on their best and brightest.  But when we delve beneath the surface of any family tree, we are apt to discover deep dark secrets that only a few dare mention in public discourse.  It does not matter whether our surnames are Rockefeller or Rothschild, DuPont or Vanderbilt, Mellon or Carnegie, Douglas or Tubman, Garvey or King, McClendon or Bass, there are people in our family tree who fester in sin and foster embarrassment.  They are the real-life situations many would love to forget.

 Such is the case with the family of the greatest human being who ever walked the face of this earth.  Did you know that JESUS CHRIST was the product of a demonstrably disgraceful and unsavory family lineage?  When we preach about Him, we typically refer to the great patriarchs and august kings in his bloodline: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon.  But consider this.  After Jesus called Philip to be one of twelve disciples, Philip ran immediately to Nathaniel and testified: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”  Nathaniel’s response was fascinating: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:43-46)  His was a cynical question, but an insightful one as well because our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, entered the earth realm by way of a veritable family mess!

 I will elaborate in greater detail, but the mere fact that Jesus achieved a completely righteous and victorious life in spite of whatever came before is indisputable evidence that it does not matter where you and I have come from…it only matters where we are headed!

 Let’s take a look at Jesus’ family tree, shall we?  He was the Son of God, but he was also the son of man.   In the interest of full disclosure, Jesus did have some ‘good guys’ in his family tree: righteous people like Hezekiah, Boaz, Ruth, and others.   NEVERTHELESS…suffice it say that there were numerous individuals who represented ‘issues’ in His family DNA.  In fact, if Jesus were running for president of the United States in our time, the international press would have a field day!  Paparazzi would stalk him; reporters would push microphones in his face; all would interrogate him about his family background.  Because Jesus Christ came through a mess! 

 Even Abraham, the beloved father of the faith, who lived 42 generations before, in Jesus’ family, even Abraham had some serious issues.  Although he initially demonstrated unreserved faith in God, he later doubted God’s promise of a son and heir, causing him to go into Hagar (his wife Sarah’s handmaiden) to father a child.  Arguably, this poor decision resulted in the ongoing political conflict between the offspring of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael, divisive ripples that continue to this very day.  Jesus Christ came through a mess!

 Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, was so partial that his favoritism toward Joseph (along with his son’s dreams) caused eleven brothers to abandon him to be sold into Egyptian slavery.  And even though God providentially blessed this family through Joseph, who rose to the position of prime minister in Egypt, if the truth be told, it was his father Jacob’s partiality and poor judgment that caused the Israelites to eventually become slaves in Egypt for over 400 years.  Jesus Christ came through a mess!

 Jacob’s son Judah, an ancestor of Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, disobeyed God and married a Canaanite woman outside of the Jewish faith.  Eventually, Judah ended up in hot water because Tamar, his daughter-in-law, dressed up like a prostitute and had a sexual encounter with him.  The end result was twin sons, who had such ‘bad blood’ that they were fighting before they were born.  The Bible recounts that Perez, the twin son who was Jesus’ ancestor, wrestled with his brother inside the womb. As a result of that conflict, Perez was born first and received the inheritance.  Jesus came through a mess!

 Perez had a great-great-great-great granddaughter named Rahab, who was a female prostitute and a citizen of Jericho.  She turned against her own people when the Israelites showed up to fight against Jericho.  But Rahab found grace in the eyes of the Lord for helping God’s chosen ones and thus became a distant ancestor of Jesus.  I repeat: Jesus came through a mess!  It is my hope that these tawdry details enable you to discern the fact that there is extraordinary hope for YOU because even though JESUS’ family was saddled with extremely negative conditions – HE prevailed and won absolute victory over sin and shame.  Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

PROCRASTINATION IS THE THIEF OF LIFE

PROCRASTINATION IS THE THIEF OF LIFE

 Sandile Duma of South Africa penned a fascinating story that highlights profound truths.  It is entitled “Romeo and Juliet: The Delay of the Friar,” and I will share it with you.

 Having read William Shakespeare’s famous book with that terribly tragic ending, I discovered a human loophole that caused (but might have prevented) the demise of two passionate lovers. 

 It’s the DELAY OF THE FRIAR.

 The friar (priest) used a very slow donkey to ride to the tomb for the purpose of informing Romeo that Juliet was not actually dead (as Romeo had thought), although she was residing temporarily in the burial place of the dead.  Although the friar made the error of traveling on a very slow animal, heavy storms delayed him even more.

On the other hand, Romeo traveled on a very fast horse, galloping at top pace, because he was anxious to see and be with his beloved, now ‘dead’ Juliet.

 While the friar was slowly on his way, Romeo was fighting guards by the tomb to gain access to his beloved Juliet.  There he saw the love-of-his-life laying quietly, peacefully, beautiful beyond belief, but devoid of breath.  Romeo cried out in anguish and grief.  Within moments, he committed suicide by ingesting a vial of poison.

When Juliet awakened as planned from her purposefully drug-induced coma, she felt the heaviness of her lover on top of her and tried to revive him, but Romeo was gone forever.  Losing all hope, Juliet reached for a sword and took her own life.

The friar was still on his way.  Finally arriving, he beheld the terrifying revelation of the intense love the two young people had held for one another.

HAD THE FRIAR NOT BEEN DELAYED, their lives could have been saved.

HAD THE FRIAR NOT BEEN DELAYED, Romeo and Juliet would have experienced a fulfilling life, full of love and happiness.

Think of it.  At times, our delays result in untold suffering and unknown consequences for ourselves and others.  Bottom-line: If you need to show love to someone, or if you need to be reconciled to someone, do not delay such a life-giving process.  Terrible tragedies can be averted if you resolve to handle mission critical matters at a more expeditious pace.

DO IT NOW…stop riding that ‘donkey.’  

DO IT NOW…you do not know what ‘weather’ lies ahead.  

DO IT NOW!  Do not postpone!  Get to it! 

 After all, PROCRASTINATION is not only the thief of TIME.  Indeed, it is the thief of LIFE.  So live intentionally, and act in a timely manner to embrace and fulfill your God-given purpose.  Remember: Your assignment has a definite shelf life.  Act now, without delay, and walk into your destiny.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH

HOLD ON TO YOUR FAITH

 The news media bombards us daily with troubling images of local, national and global tragedies.  Because of this, it is relatively easy to embrace a pessimistic or skeptical worldview.  We witness far too many distressing examples of man’s inhumanity to man.  And now, these terrible incidents occur in what have always been deemed ‘safe spaces’: schools, malls, theaters, offices and even places of worship.  Undoubtedly, these are prophetic signs of the end-time season in which we now live. (Matthew 24)

 Nevertheless, my singular goal for today is to encourage you to hold tenaciously to your faith.  Despite what you see or hear, have faith in God.  Our God is sovereign.  Our God is still on the throne. 

 During life’s most puzzling and perplexing moments, it behooves us to reflect on the profound wisdom that Jesus shared with his disciples pertaining to every aspect of this earthly journey: “Jesus…said unto them, HAVE FAITH IN GOD.” (Mark 11:22)

 Regardless of your present circumstance, know that GOD has your back!  So be encouraged.  Be joyful.  Remember this: JOY is the assurance that CHRIST is at the center of all your circumstances.

 HAVE FAITH IN THE ALMIGHTY, THE ALL-WISE AND THE SOVEREIGN GOD, because with His help and His strength, you certainly can and will make it. 

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!

BEAUTIFIED BY GOD

BEAUTIFIED BY GOD

 We were purposefully created in the image and likeness of an awesome and majestic God.  Throughout our lives, we are touched and transformed by His grace and mercy – as we surrender to the restoring power of His redemptive love.  Although there are moments when we appear to be rather ‘ugly’ and radically different from the Creator’s original design, God has a definite plan and process in mind.  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 In many ways, we have profound similarities to the scarab beetle.  While most people deem beetles and bugs to be somewhat creepy, the jewel scarab just might turn you into a beetle lover.  They live in the jungles of Honduras and their colors are so amazing that they have great value, selling for up to $500 each.  Scarabs are magnificently adorned in flaming red, radiant gold and a bright shade of silver that resembles luminous chrome.  Even beetle haters find jewel scarabs to be absolutely dazzling and beautiful!

 But their origins are radically different from their latter lives.  That is, the jewel scarab’s beauty does not come automatically.  They have rather modest, unsightly beginnings – emerging as soft, mushy, grey-white grubs growing inside rotting tree stumps.  They remain in place for a year or so.  During the rainy season, the adult scarabs emerge from their trees, with that soft body and pale appearance.  However, within hours their bodies harden and their splendid colors start to show.  Jewel scarabs only live for another three months or so, but what a glorious and noteworthy existence.  They are among God’s most gorgeous creations!

 We humans are much like scarab beetles.  There are moments when we may not feel (or appear) to be beautiful or attractive.  I’m not referring to our bodies, but our characters, thoughts, emotions, decisions and actions.  Nevertheless, if we willingly embrace the ongoing creative process of God, eventually we will emerge, with purposeful effort and submission, as beautiful, dazzling, illuminating creatures, bearing the spiritual image of our Creator.

 It’s a process.  It’s a process.  It’s a process. 

 In case you didn’t hear me, IT’S A PROCESS.

 So hang in there while the Divine Architect completes His work in you.  The finished product that God strategically formulates in the body/mind/spirit of every believer is reminiscent of my life-verse, Philippians 1:6. “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” 

 Never be afraid to offer this candid and transparent testimony to any person you may encounter along this journey called life: “Please be patient with me…God is not through with me yet.”  Indeed, much like the jewel scarab beetle, your Creator is gradually configuring and conforming you to the image of Christ. 

 You will shine!

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!