In step

[RiverOL]

You're Built for Opposition

The one who conquers, I will grant him
to sit with me on my throne—Revelation 3:21

Ever been in the middle of something tough, prayed for rescue, and heard . . . nothing? Ever questioned God, in frustration, “Why won’t you answer?”

Could it be that God doesn’t always answer because, sometimes, he wants us to stay right where we are and learn, there, how to fight? Could it be that God sometimes allows trouble and pain to train us, to build our maturity, to make us more reliable conduits of his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control? We often consider trouble and pain as unnecessary, to be avoided, hindrances to ease and happiness. Might it make more sense to consider trouble and pain as opposition, as a mountaineer views the pitch and the altitude, or as a linebacker views the block and the fake?

We aren’t meant to be men who avoid opposition, numb it or deny it. We aren’t meant to run from battles, to hide and to let others fight. We’re built for opposition. Truthfully, we’d probably wither without it. We must see it, though, for what it is: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Our struggle is against being lured into selfishness, indifference, impatience, rage, resignation, or sin in the face of problems at work, or in our finances or relationships or families. These are epic struggles—battles worthy of any man.



God doesn’t always take opposition away, brother, because he’s built you to conquer, not to cower. And he’s given you everything you’ll need. Spend time this week reading and meditating upon Ephesians 6:10-17. Write out what the words mean to you, personally, practically.

 

[RiverOL]

Colossians 3
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator and you will understand him better. It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
(Colossians 3.10-11)

Reflect:
The key to shedding the old life and embracing the new life is to know that we are becoming more like Jesus. This happens as we use our minds and grow in knowledge of who Christ is and who we are (back to Colossians 3.1-2). Paul may well have had baptism in mind. An early church baptism required you to take off your old clothes. After entering the water, you would be given a new set of white clothes to wear – to signify the new life of purity they were now entering. Paul is also writing here to a community and insists that old divisions (social, cultural, racial) must be removed for Christ is supreme and he embraces us all.

Respond:
Are you involved today with divisions or struggling with a particular relationship? Is there something you can do today towards healing and unity? What might God be inviting you to?

Midday Meditation:
'The most important thing about you is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.'

(Dallas Willard)
Evening Reflection:
O Christ, Son of the living God,
may Your holy angels guard our sleep,
may they watch over us as we rest
and hover around our beds.

Let them reveal to us in our dreams
visions of Your glorious truth,
O High Prince of the universe,
O High Priest of the mysteries.

May no dreams disturb our rest
and no nightmares darken our dreams.
May no fears or worries delay
our willing, prompt repose.

May the virtue of our daily work
hallow our nightly prayers.
May our sleep be deep and soft
so our work be fresh and hard.

 

[RiverOL]

Don't Waste Your Pain—Invest It

"Dear Brothers [and sisters], is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete."1

In almost every trial we face God is seeking to "tell" us something. Sometimes the only time he can get our attention is when we're hurting sufficiently to slow us down so we will stop and listen.

That has certainly been true in my life. On one occasion, God used an accident and a time in the hospital to get my attention and to speak to me. The decision I made as a result ended up radically changing the total course of my life. Another time God used a major crisis and loss to expand my work. He used another setback to get me started in writing. That was more than four decades ago and I'm still writing!

When you are hurting, you can be sure that God has something to say to you too—something for your good. Ask him to help you hear what it is and to give you the courage to do what he is telling/leading you to do. Whatever it is, you can be certain it will enrich your life in one way or another.

Furthermore, whatever you do, don't waste your pain. Invest it in your own growth and then in helping another fellow struggler along the way.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to see how you want to use all the trials that come my way to help me grow and change my life for the better. And please help me never to waste my pain but to invest it wisely in my own growth and in making me a more effective helper to other fellow strugglers. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. James 1:2-4 (TLB)(NLT).

 

[RiverOL]

Colossians 3
Morning Encounter:
Read:
God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.
(Colossians 3.12-14)

Reflect:
Being part of God’s new community requires us to dress in new clothes – we are to be clothed with the virtues of compassion, kindness and patience. Perhaps there is also a reference here to the new robes given in Jesus’ story about the Prodigal Son when his relationship with his Father is restored. The final garment is love, which like a belt holds it all together. When love for God and for each other come first, then compassion, kindness, patience and the other virtues listed will naturally follow.

Respond:
Ask the Lord to reveal his love for you today. May that love form strength in you to do good to other people and to help you grow in gentleness, kindness, humbleness, meekness and patience.

Midday Meditation:
‘The fruit of the Spirit is the outward evidence of the inward reality of a heart ‘abiding’ in Christ. Jesus uses this metaphor to show that fruit is born as a result of relationship to the vine.’
(Life with God Bible)

Evening Reflection:
Through the dark hours of this night
protect and surround us
Father, Son and Spirit, Three
Forgive the ill that we have done

Forgive the pride that we have shown
Forgive the words that have caused harm
that we might sleep peaceably
and rise refreshed to do your will

Through the dark hours of this night
protect and surround us
Father, Son and Spirit, Three

 

[RiverOL]

In the Beginning God

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."1

I appreciate the way the Bible opens. No fanfare. No fancy words. Just the simple statement: "In the beginning God." It is a totally non-defensive statement. God isn't trying to prove himself or defend his existence. He doesn't have to. We can take his statement or leave it. It's up to us. It's our choice.

In his booklet, The Reason Why, Robert Laidlaw shared how a former president of the New York Scientific Society once gave eight reasons why he believed in God.

"The first one is this. Take ten identical coins and mark them one to ten, place them in your pocket, then take one out. There is one chance in ten that you will get number one. Now replace it, and chances that number two will follow number one are not one in ten, but one in one hundred. With each new coin taken out the chances that it too will follow in the right order are multiplied by ten, so that the chance of all ten following in sequence is one chance in ten billion."

George Gallup, the famed American statistician, is reported to have said, "Take the human body alone—the chance that all the functions of the individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity."

The bottom line is that belief in God is a choice. For some it's a faith choice. For others it's a moral choice. I say a moral choice because if we choose to believe in God, we know that we are morally responsible. If we choose not to believe in God, we deceive ourselves into thinking that we are not morally responsible for how we live and, thus, can live any way we like. Whatever choice we choose, the choice we make will make us. It will also determine our eternal destiny. Forever.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me the wisdom to know and the desire and courage to always make the right choices—faith wise and moral. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Genesis 1:1 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Colossians 3
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful. Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
(Colossians 3.15-16)

Reflect:
Being one community and living together in peace is connected to our thought life. Our minds are so important to transformation; they are to be filled with gratitude, with thankfulness. They should be deeply rooted and immersed in Scripture and our churches stocked up with good teaching. When these things come together, then thankful hearts will rejoice in songs of worship – both publicly and privately.

Respond:
What are you grateful for today? As you keep company with Jesus today, as often as you can, remind him of things you are grateful for – big and small.

Midday Meditation:
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light
(From the hymn: Be Thou My Vision)

Evening Reflection:
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

 

[RiverOL]

what will it profit a man
if he gains the whole world?—Matthew 16:26

“Life’s not all about success.” Those are fairly heretical words for most of us men—men trying to ascend—men for whom success in careers, success in raising kids, or success in just looking successful have become so important. Planning for success, working for it, worrying about it—they dominate our everyday lives. And, I mean, look around. How could life notbe all about success? Well, brother, it’s not. Our King, Jesus Christ, teaches us that it’s not.

“Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot” (Luke 12:15 MSG).

Now, make no mistake, life is partially about success—we’ve got to spend our lives for something, and we should do that something as well as we can. So, we mustn’t forget success entirely. We just can’t make it an ultimate thing. “If you are too obsessed with success, you will forget to live,” wrote Thomas Merton. When we focus all, or even most, of our lives on achieving success, we fall short of the full life Jesus promises in John 10:10. We miss those parts of life we’re meant to devote to the success of others.

How many of us sacrifice huge portions of the lives we’re meant to live—loving wives; spending time with kids; eating meals with families; hanging out with friends; helping people in need—spending too much time on our own success? How many of us are unavailable to those who need us most, whose lives are enriched by us—and who’ll enrich ours, right back?



If you struggle with this, start talking about it. Confess it to friends, to brothers in community. Confess it to God. Repent it too. Tell God you don’t want to be that man anymore. He’ll help you change, if you want to.

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 1
Morning Encounter:
Introduction
This week we are going to focus on seven gospel accounts. These are stories of Jesus encountering some broken, unhealthy, disordered and fallen people with great love and grace. Live with these stories each day, immerse yourself and imagine you are right there, encountering Jesus in the same way. Throughout the day you might wish to return to the stories, read them slowly over and over and see how the Holy Spirit leads you. Have the courage to allow God to speak to you directly through each passage.

Read:
Jesus and his disciples sailed across Lake Galilee and came to shore near the town of Gerasa. As Jesus was getting out of the boat, he was met by a man from that town. The man had demons in him. He had gone naked for a long time and no longer lived in a house, but in the graveyard. The man saw Jesus and screamed. He knelt down in front of him and shouted, “Jesus, Son of God in heaven, what do you want with me? I beg you not to torture me!” He said this because Jesus had already told the evil spirit to go out of him. The man had often been attacked by the demon. And even though he had been bound with chains and leg irons and kept under guard, he smashed whatever bound him. Then the demon would force him out into lonely places.

Jesus asked the man, “What is your name?” He answered, “My name is Lots.” He said this because there were ‘lots' of demons in him. They begged Jesus not to send them to the deep pit, where they would be punished. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. So the demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and Jesus let them go. Then the demons left the man and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the men taking care of the pigs saw this, they ran to spread the news in the town and on the farms. The people went out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they also found the man.

The demons had gone out of him, and he was sitting there at the feet of Jesus. He had clothes on and was in his right mind. But the people were terrified. Then all who had seen the man healed told about it. Everyone from around Gerasa] begged Jesus to leave, because they were so frightened. When Jesus got into the boat to start back, the man who had been healed begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him off and said, “Go back home and tell everyone how much God has done for you.” The man then went all over town, telling everything that Jesus had done for him.
(Luke 8.26-39)

Reflect:
This story is recalled in three of the gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke). As Jesus moves into Gentile territory, he breaks down barriers. He also allows himself to be drawn to things considered ‘unclean’ in Jewish tradition – a man possessed by evil spirits, living near tombs and near a herd of pigs. The man was violent, strong and estranged from his community. Jesus considered this man's healing and return to the community to be worth more than a herd of pigs. Restored, healed and clothed, Jesus asks this man to stay and evangelise the community.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?

Midday Meditation:
‘When we truly understand and experience God’s delight in us, his extraordinary love for us, we find Scripture becomes a text that captivates us. From beginning to end it speaks to us of the deep yearning of God. We find it to be a book of love. It inspires in us a longing for to be in the presence of God.’
(Chris Webb Fire of the Word)

Evening Reflection:
Holy Spirit, living breath of God, breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord, come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me; give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity; Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

 

[RiverOL]

Being Connected
"If we claim to have fellowship with him [God] yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."1

For a number of years Ken was a capable professional man, a dedicated church worker, and a leader in his community. Outwardly he functioned very well. However, people had difficulty getting close to Ken because he seemed aloof. His family relationships were not good and he had ulcers. Vaguely sensing an inner emptiness, Ken joined a recovery group where he discovered that he was repressing many of his emotions.

Ken is still in the process of rediscovering his repressed self. Fortunately, however, since learning to recognize and express many of his true feelings (many of which were repressed and denied) in healthy ways, his ulcers have cleared up, and his family relationships have improved dramatically.

Unfortunately, many people are taught to ignore their negative emotions. As John T. Raffa wrote in Psychology for Living magazine: "They believe you should hide such feelings—deny, deny, deny—and become nothing but a robot instead of what God made us, beings with feelings."

Obviously, the early Christians didn't act this way otherwise they never would have been known for their love one for another. Peter, James, John and Paul all emphasized the need to be honest, to be open-faced, to walk in the light, to openly confess sins and faults, and to love one another. Repressed people are closed people and are unable to fully love and fully live. Neither can they have any kind of emotional intimacy in marriage and close relationships.

Only as we walk in the light, that is, in honesty and openness, are we able to have true fellowship and connection with both God and others. Furthermore, only then are we able to be open channels through which God's love can flow to others, and in so doing will we be able to fully live and fully love.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please reveal to me any and every barrier in my life that blocks my feeling close to you and to others so that I can know true intimacy with you and the ones I love the most—and be a vibrant channel through which your love to others can flow. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. 1 John 1:7 (NIV).

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 1
Morning Encounter:
Introduction
This week we are going to focus on seven gospel accounts. These are stories of Jesus encountering some broken, unhealthy, disordered and fallen people with great love and grace. Live with these stories each day, immerse yourself and imagine you are right there, encountering Jesus in the same way. Throughout the day you might wish to return to the stories, read them slowly over and over and see how the Holy Spirit leads you. Have the courage to allow God to speak to you directly through each passage.

Read:
Jesus and his disciples sailed across Lake Galilee and came to shore near the town of Gerasa. As Jesus was getting out of the boat, he was met by a man from that town. The man had demons in him. He had gone naked for a long time and no longer lived in a house, but in the graveyard. The man saw Jesus and screamed. He knelt down in front of him and shouted, “Jesus, Son of God in heaven, what do you want with me? I beg you not to torture me!” He said this because Jesus had already told the evil spirit to go out of him. The man had often been attacked by the demon. And even though he had been bound with chains and leg irons and kept under guard, he smashed whatever bound him. Then the demon would force him out into lonely places.

Jesus asked the man, “What is your name?” He answered, “My name is Lots.” He said this because there were ‘lots' of demons in him. They begged Jesus not to send them to the deep pit, where they would be punished. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. So the demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and Jesus let them go. Then the demons left the man and went into the pigs. The whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. When the men taking care of the pigs saw this, they ran to spread the news in the town and on the farms.

The people went out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they also found the man. The demons had gone out of him, and he was sitting there at the feet of Jesus. He had clothes on and was in his right mind. But the people were terrified. Then all who had seen the man healed told about it. Everyone from around Gerasa] begged Jesus to leave, because they were so frightened. When Jesus got into the boat to start back, the man who had been healed begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him off and said, “Go back home and tell everyone how much God has done for you.” The man then went all over town, telling everything that Jesus had done for him.

(Luke 8.26-39)

Reflect:
This story is recalled in three of the gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke). As Jesus moves into Gentile territory, he breaks down barriers. He also allows himself to be drawn to things considered ‘unclean’ in Jewish tradition – a man possessed by evil spirits, living near tombs and near a herd of pigs. The man was violent, strong and estranged from his community. Jesus considered this man's healing and return to the community to be worth more than a herd of pigs. Restored, healed and clothed, Jesus asks this man to stay and evangelise the community.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?

Midday Meditation:
‘When we truly understand and experience God’s delight in us, his extraordinary love for us, we find Scripture becomes a text that captivates us. From beginning to end it speaks to us of the deep yearning of God. We find it to be a book of love. It inspires in us a longing for to be in the presence of God.’
(Chris Webb Fire of the Word)

Evening Reflection:
Holy Spirit, living breath of God, breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord, come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me; give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity; Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 2
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Jesus walked out to the Mount of Olives. Then early the next morning he went to the temple. The people came to him, and he sat down and started teaching them. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses brought in a woman who had been caught in bed with a man who wasn’t her husband. They made her stand in the middle of the crowd. Then they said, “Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn’t her husband. The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?” They asked Jesus this question, because they wanted to test him and bring some charge against him. But Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger.

They kept on asking Jesus about the woman. Finally, he stood up and said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” Once again he bent over and began writing on the ground. The people left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. Jesus stood up and asked her, “Where is everyone? Isn’t there anyone left to accuse you?” “No sir,” the woman answered. Then Jesus told her, “I am not going to accuse you either. You may go now, but don’t sin anymore.”
(John 8.1-11)

Reflect:
As Jesus is addressed as ‘Teacher’, this story suggests an encounter with rival teachers of the law. Eyewitnesses had caught this woman in adultery with another man (who under the law was also guilty and punishable by death) and were therefore required to cast the first stone at her. Jesus is both compassionate towards the woman (though not condoning her sins), and superbly wise in his response to the Pharisees, who silently departed in acknowledgement of their own unworthiness to accuse her.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?

Midday Meditation:
‘I'm unfinished. I'm unfixed. And the reality is that's where God meets me is in the mess of my life, in the unfixedness, in the brokenness. I thought he did the opposite; he got rid of all that stuff. But if you read the Bible, if you look at it at all, constantly he was showing up in people's lives at the worst possible time of their life.’
(Mike Yaconelli)

Evening Reflection:
I lay my head to rest
and in doing so lay at your feet
the faces I have seen
the voices I have heard

the words I have spoken
the hands I have shaken
the service I have given
the joys I have shared

the sorrows revealed
I lay them at your feet
and in doing so
lay my head to rest

 

[RiverOL]

Faith Without Action
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."1

Napoleon Hill said, "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe can be achieved." While this statement sounds rather grandiose, there is certainly a measure of truth in it. It's somewhat similar to what Jesus said two thousand years earlier: "According to your faith be it unto you."2 But as James, the brother of Jesus, explained, without action faith is useless.

As the old saying goes, you can't steer a ship or a bicycle to go anywhere until they're moving. Zig Ziglar in his book, See You at the Top, put it this way: "The largest locomotive in the world can be held in its tracks while standing still simply by placing a single one-inch block of wood in front of each of the eight drive wheels. The same locomotive moving at 100 miles per hour can crash through a wall of steel reinforced concrete five feet thick."

The important thing is that we get moving! As James said, "Faith without works is dead."

Some people are sitting around waiting for some kind of special call or revelation from God before they get involved in his work. It's not likely to happen because God has already given us lots of instructions in his Word regarding what to do. All we need to do is read these instructions … and start moving into action!

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be a doer of your Word and not just a hearer. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. James 2:17 (NIV).
2. Matthew 9:29.

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 3
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Later, Jesus went to Jerusalem for another Jewish festival. In the city near the sheep gate was a pool with five porches, and its name in Hebrew was Bethzatha. Many sick, blind, lame, and crippled people were lying close to the pool. Beside the pool was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw the man and realized that he had been crippled for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be healed?” The man answered, “Lord, I don’t have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first.” Jesus told him, “Pick up your mat and walk!” Right then the man was healed. He picked up his mat and started walking around. The day on which this happened was a Sabbath.

(John 5.1-9)
Reflect:
For thirty-eight years this man had been sick. His infirmity prevented him from getting into the stirred waters ahead of anyone else. Perhaps he thought Jesus might help him into the pool? He doesn't seem to have any faith in Jesus healing him directly. Jesus commands him to do the very thing he was unable to do – to get up and walk.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?

Midday Meditation:
‘There is nothing terribly difficult in the Bible - at least in a technical way. The Bible is written in street language, common language. Most of it was oral and spoken to illiterate people. They were the first ones to receive it. So when we make everything academic, we lose something.’
(Eugene Peterson)

Evening Reflection:
This evening, why not be still and silent for a period of time. If it helps with focus, you might like to light a candle or watch a log fire burn as you reflect on your day.
Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him.
God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe, and he is the fortress where I feel secure.
God saves me and honours me.
He is that mighty rock where I find safety.
(From Psalm 62)

 

[RiverOL]

No, Actually, We Must Choose

And he said to them, “Follow me”—Matthew 4:19

We confront two mutually exclusive, diametrically opposed if-then statements, each claiming to be true. The first is from the enemy and goes like this: if we chase created things—wealth, status, sex—then our lives will be more full, then we’ll have more peace, joy, security, freedom, fulfillment, significance. The second is from God: if we chase him, our Creator—if we listen to him, if we surrender, if we love, if we serve—our lives will be more full then, we’ll have more peace, joy, security, freedom, fulfillment, significance then.

The simple question before us, therefore, is which statement we’ll believe and adopt and follow in faith. But, before we can answer, we’ve got to get serious. We’ve got to stop playing around, trying to convince ourselves the statements are not actually mutually exclusive and not actually diametrically opposed. We’ve got to stop trying to convince ourselves we can believe both statements at once, that we can prioritize both created things and the Creator—and that it’ll be okay if we try. We can’t and it’s not.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).

We must choose. And, it’s a real choice between good and evil. For, while God uses his if-then statement to invite us into “more and better life” than we could “ever dreamed of,” the enemy uses his to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:6-10 MSG).



Spend some time searching for, and meditating upon, those places in the Bible where God offers if-then statements. There are so many. Do any come to mind, right now? Focus most on his promises that, for you, stand out from the rest.

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 4
Morning Encounter:
Read:
In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse. The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.” As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was well. At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him.

He turned to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples said to him, “Look at all these people crowding around you! How can you ask who touched you?” But Jesus turned to see who had touched him. The woman knew what had happened to her. She came shaking with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story. Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain.”
(Mark 5.25-34)

Reflect:
Jesus is on his way to Jairus’ house to visit his dying daughter when a woman who had heard about Jesus touched his clothes. Doctors had failed to help her, but she receives healing power from Jesus – not from his robe, but through faith in him. No wonder she was shaking with fear - for a woman to speak so personally in front of a crowd of people was costly and humbling. Jesus assures her of the healing she has now received.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?

Midday Meditation:
The Bible is shallow enough for a child not to drown, yet deep enough for an elephant to swim.
(St. Augustine)


Evening Reflection:
Christ be in my waking, as the sun is rising,
In my day of working, with me every hour.
Christ be in my resting, as the day is ending,
Calming and refreshing, watching through the night.

Jesus, this is my devotion:
All my life to know You,
Every day to walk with You.
Saviour, You’re my deepest longing, You’re the One I live for,
Teach me, Lord, to walk with You.

(Stuart Townend Christ Be In My Waking)

 

[RiverOL]

Do Your Best
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."1

"When Leonardo da Vinci was still a pupil, his elderly, well-known teacher asked him to finish a painting that he, the teacher, had begun.

"Young da Vinci stood in such awe of his master's skill that at first he respectfully declined. But his teacher would accept no excuse. He simply said, 'Do your best.' Trembling, da Vinci took his brush and began. With each stroke, his hand grew steadier as the genius within him awoke. Soon he was so caught up in his work that he forgot his timidity. When the painting was finished, the frail and weak master was carried into the studio to see it. Embracing his student, he exclaimed, 'My son, I paint no more!'"2

Not everyone has the kind of talent and genius that Leonardo da Vinci had, but every one of us has God-given talents that he wants us to develop and use for his glory. He never expects from us what he hasn't gifted us to do. And he has already equipped us to do what he wants us to do. So use what talents you possess. Do your best and leave the rest to God. As Henry van Dyke said, "The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for the talents you have given to me. Please help me to see what they are, develop them fully, and use them to the best of my ability for your glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 5
Morning Encounter:
Read:
Two criminals were led out to be put to death with Jesus. When the soldiers came to the place called “The Skull,” they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus. Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.” While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!” The soldiers made fun of Jesus and brought him some wine.

They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” Above him was a sign that said, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!” But the other criminal told the first one off, “Don’t you fear God? Aren’t you getting the same punishment as this man? We got what was coming to us, but he didn’t do anything wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into power!” Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23.32-43)

Reflect:
Luke tells us that Jesus was crucified between two criminals. In Mark & Matthew we are told they are thieves. The thief (who seems to have a change of heart) makes the point that they are being punished justly, they have broken the law and their suffering is in response to that. Jesus however is innocent. Jesus offers him far more than he asks for – he would have a place in the kingdom. But even more, that day itself, he would enter Paradise – a Persian word for ‘garden’ a place of bliss, a place associated with Jesus himself.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?
Midday Meditation:
‘The more you read the Bible; and the more you meditate on it, the more you will be astonished with it.’
(Charles Spurgeon)

Evening Reflection:
It is wonderful to be grateful and to sing your praises, Lord Most High!
It is wonderful each morning to tell about your love
and at night to announce how faithful you are.
I enjoy praising your name to the music of harps, because everything you do makes me happy, and I sing joyful songs.
(From Psalm 92)

 

[RiverOL]

Fully Living—Fully Loving Part I
"So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don't just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty … deception, envy, and fraud. Long to grow up into the fullness of your salvation,"1

As I've often said, by the time I was five I had learned that "big men" don't cry so I learned early in life to stuff and deny my emotions, and by the time I was thirty-five, I suffered from miserable hay fever, and had bursitis in both shoulders so that I couldn't lift my arms above my shoulders without pain. Worse still, while I had plenty of friends, close relationships were non-existent. My marriage of 25 years turned out to be a disaster. Two repressed people living together do not make for a healthy relationship; in fact, they don't have any kind of meaningful relationship. You live together alone apart; emotionally, that is.

Even though professionally I was doing okay, relationally I was at a loss. Furthermore, emotionally I constantly felt empty and had no idea what my problem was. I just knew I needed help. I had grown up with the belief that feelings weren't important and couldn't be trusted. In spite of this, I was so frustrated I got down on my knees and asked God to give me some feelings back anyhow. Whew, that prayer turned my world upside down and made praying for patience look like a Sunday school picnic. It took considerable pain to break through my cast-like defenses.

My recovery and emotional healing didn't happen overnight, but the good news is that when I learned to break through my defenses and get in touch with my true emotions, and how to express them creatively, over time my life changed dramatically. Plus my physical wellbeing also improved dramatically.

Many of our physical ills can be symbolic. For instance, when I stuff my tears where do they go? For me they apparently expressed themselves in miserable hay fever which I suffered from for many years. I say this because when I was able to sob out years of painful hurt, I was healed of hay fever and have never suffered from it since. And when I learned to resolve years of buried hurt and anger, I was healed of the painful bursitis in my shoulders and have never had this pain recur. And when I was able to resolve lots of buried fear caused by painful hurts in the past, my interpersonal relationships improved out of sight.

In fact, I am physically healthier today than I was at half my age, and I am now in a very happy and fulfilling marriage. I feel that I am now well on the way to fully living and fully loving. My professional life happens to be very fulfilling also.

It may not sound refined, but the fact is that the feelings we stuff, stuff up our lives! Literally.

So you ask, how did you resolve all your personal issues? I wish I had a simple three-step program, but I don't. I believe in miracles but not magic—miracles take a lot longer. There is no such thing as a quick fix. We take years to become what we are and don't undo that overnight. However, the following are a few principles to help.

To be continued . . . .

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, as your Word instructs, please help me to: 'get rid of my feelings of hatred [and all forms of unresolved anger]; stop pretending to be good outwardly, and be done with dishonesty, deception, envy, and fraud . . . and grow up into the fullness of my salvation.' So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen."

1. 1 Peter 2:1-2 (TLB)(NLT).

 

[RiverOL]

Encounters with Jesus - Day 6
Morning Encounter:
Read:
As Jesus was walking down a road, a man ran up to him. He knelt down, and asked, “Good teacher, what can I do to have eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good. You know the commandments. ‘Do not murder. Be faithful in marriage. Do not steal. Do not tell lies about others. Do not cheat. Respect your father and mother.’” The man answered, “Teacher, I have obeyed all these commandments since I was a young man.” Jesus looked closely at the man. He liked him and said, “There’s one thing you still need to do. Go sell everything you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come with me.” When the man heard Jesus say this, he went away gloomy and sad because he was very rich.

(Mark 10.17-22)
Reflect:
Most people came to Jesus in great need and distress and left joyful. This is the only person recorded in the New Testament to have left Jesus with sadness. Although Jesus ‘liked him’ he would not lower the demands of discipleship to make exception for him. His wealth was the thing that held him back from being a disciple. The other disciples had left everything to follow Jesus.

Respond:
Read this story slowly and as often as you are able. How might God wish to speak to you today?

Midday Meditation:
‘Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.’
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

Evening Reflection:
Praise the Lord and pray in his name!
Tell everyone what he has done.
Sing praises to the Lord!
Tell about his miracles.

Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart.
Trust the Lord and his mighty power.
Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions.
You belong to the family of Abraham, his servant; you are his chosen ones, the descendants of Jacob
(From Psalm 105)

 

[RiverOL]

Fully Living—Fully Loving Part II
"Jesus wept."1

In this, the second part in this series on "Fully Living—Fully Loving," we ask the question, how do we remove the barriers in our life that hinder or block our learning how to fully live and fully love?

First, we need to recognize that we have a problem—and admit it. As long as we deny the truth about ourselves, there is no healing or recovery. So I need to admit, "I have a problem. I need help."

Second, read good books, listen to CDs and tapes, attend classes, seminars and retreats that deal with personal growth and recovery. Learn all you can but, remember, intellectual knowledge doesn't produce healing or recovery, it just helps to understand our problem and know how and where to look for help.

Third, realize that we get damaged in damaged relationships and get healed in healing relationships. Every one of us—single or married—needs a soul-brother for men or a soul-sister for women. That is, we need someone who won't judge us, put us down, try to fix us or give us unsolicited advice—someone with whom we feel totally safe so we can be totally open and honest, and feel free to share our deepest emotions (negative as well as positive), as well as our joys, sorrows, successes, sins and failures and thus be known for who we truly are—warts and all.

We all need someone who knows us fully and loves and accepts us exactly as we are. This is what frees us to change and begin to experience healing in the deepest parts of our personality. Furthermore, only to the degree that we are known can we ever feel loved. Nobody can love a mask and nobody can ever feel loved who hides behind a mask. As long as we stay in hiding, we can never experience healing and grow to become a whole and loving person.

Fourth, if we have deeply repressed emotions we may need, as I did, intense skilled therapy. We each need to find the type of therapy that works for us, and a therapist with whom we can work. What works for me may not work for you and vice-versa. Group therapy can also be very helpful.

Fifth, many of us will need help to learn not only how to get in touch with our feelings, but also how to express them in healthy and creative ways. Learn from the life of Jesus. When he was sad, he wept.1 When he was angry, he expressed his feelings. At times he did this verbally and when he found the money changers ripping people off in the temple, he got a whip and drove them out.2 What we need to remember, however, is to always speak and act the truth in love.

Last and most important of all, learn to put God first in your life and seek his guidance and help for every area of your life. Learn how to pray effectively by praying the right prayers.3 Ask God to confront you with the truth about yourself. If you are serious about this, God will show you; but be prepared because it usually takes pain to break through our defenses. For me personally, only when my pain is greater than my fears am I able to get in touch with my inner pain. Remember as God's Word says, "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."4 God's Word also says, "Behold, You [God] desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom."5

If you consistently follow these six principles, you too, will be well on the road to fully living and fully loving.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, please help me to be totally honest with you, with myself, and with at least one trusted friend and/or counselor, with all that is in my inner self. And please help me to get in touch with any and all unresolved guilt and/or repressed negative emotions, and learn how to express ('get rid of') these in creative ways so that every barrier in my life that blocks my fully living and fully loving will be removed. So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus name, amen."