Serving Biblical refreshment and strength for your soul, in Jesus' name. "As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." – Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)
Astonishing! This business of Jesus being born of a virgin. Angels coming and going. Three magi arriving at His birthplace by following a star.
And what about His birthplace? Shouldn’t this child the Son of God be in a five-star presidential suite at the swankiest hotel in Bethlehem? Solid gold rattle? Crystal milk bottle? Satin sheets in his carved ivory crib?
No.
Not for this King.
This king came to walk among the people, to light the way, to be our salvation. And He could not truly walk among us if He wasn’t one of us. In other words, Jesus needed to be humble.
And, indeed, humble He was. He proved his humility during his 40 days of temptation, never once falling for any of Satan’s attempts to attract / trap Him with the stuff of this world. What good is anything on earth when you rule over ALL creation?
Jesus was humble throughout His life. Never one selfish act or thought. But don’t make the mistake of equating humility or meekness with weakness. Indeed, just the opposite. Jesus didn’t take the prideful bait of the devil, or the Pharisees or Sadducees, or the Romans, or even His own disciples.
He walked by the law of grace. He loved everybody, including His enemies. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and left this world beaten and bloodied on a cross – not as a martyr, but a willing sacrifice for all who would follow Him.
And, as promised, He rose on the third day after His death. He came back.
He came back.
And He will come back again.
Astonishing! Read the gospels for the whole story. Jesus Christ – God incarnate, fully man and fully God. God Who created a perfect garden and, when we defiled His perfection, still made a way for our salvation. He could have just destroyed humanity at that point.
He could have destroyed us without sparing a remnant through Noah and his family when humanity became so evil and debased that the only way through was for God to destroy all people and the earth beneath our feet.
Instead the LORD made a way. That way led all the way to the Cross.
But the final leg of that journey started not at a hôtel haut de gamme or palatial residence. His nativity was a humble manger. A livestock stable. Far from the big city.
Our God – Creator and Sustainer of all, Who is Love itself, Who is Truth, Who is sovereign over all – humbled Himself, came to earth to live with us sinful, undeserving people, and provided us with the way to salvation.
He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Life everlasting.
Had there never been a Christmas, we would not have had an Easter.
Thank you Lord for all the astonishing work you have done for me. For being humble to love such an underserving sinner as me.
Merry Christmas!
PS: Bonus fun fact: the word “nativity” (which means “birthplace”) does not appear anywhere in the New Testament.
31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. – Matthew 6:31-33 [ESV]
When you feel stressed…
When you experience anxiety…
When you are worried…
When the cares of life are dragging you down…
Whatever troubles or cares you are facing, remember: no merimnaō. In other words, do not be anxious. Take no thought. Do not worry. Don’t be filled with care.
The most comprehensive yet simple passage on the subject of worry and anxiety is Philippians 4:4-7. Let’s break it down:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Rejoice! Not just when life is going well. But always – regardless of circumstances. Despite troubles. No matter what we’re facing. Not because of our troubles.
Rejoice always – ALWAYS – in God, our Heavenly Father. James instructs us to “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” [James 1:2-4, ESV]). For believers in God through Jesus Christ, the LORD works out the bad things in life to our good. Therefore, we have joy. We rejoice not in the pain but the blessings our Father brings through the circumstances of life.
5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Be peaceful and joyful, and set the example of walking through life guided by the LORD, filled with His Spirit and peace. We are called to be salt and light, the example of Jesus to the world. Abd remember the LORD is with us always. He is sovereign over all. He is faithful even when we are not. He is love.
He is love.
Trust in the LORD.
6 do not be anxious about anything,
Do not be anxious about anything.
Do not be anxious about anything.
Fear nothing. Whatever issues or troubles or trials we face, God is sovereign. God is in control. He is greater than our cares or worries. He has our lives in His hands.
He is our Father.
Trust in the LORD.
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Prayer. Connect with the LORD. Worship Him. Open your heart with joy and awe to our Father Who is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
Supplication. Let God know your needs. Ask Him in faith. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 [ESV]). But don’t think Paul considers God to be some heavenly sugar daddy. God already knows what each of us needs before we ever ask. But He doesn’t dispense our every earthly desire. If He did, He would do us more harm than good. The LORD wants us to grow and learn. He is far more interested in our eternal lives, not just this short fraction of time we spend here on earth.
Thanksgiving. In God, we have everything we need. He has everything in our lives in His hands. Be thankful! We can do nothing on our own. We certainly can’t save ourselves. Only through the shed blood of Jesus can we attain salvation – an establishment of eternal relationship with God. Be grateful to our Father. If you feel He hasn’t answered your prayers, remember He is sovereign. We are not. He knows what’s best for His children. All things happen in His time, according to His will. Be thankful!
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Lay down your worries. Cast off your cares. Go to the Lord with your needs in faith. Thank Him for all He is, all He does. Stop trying to figure out how it’s all going to work out and trust God. Trust Him with your circumstances. Trust Him with your life. Trust and recognize His sovereignty, His faithfulness and His mercy.
So remember: no merim. Be anxious for absolutely nothing. Don’t be afraid. Lay down your burdens and rest in Jesus. Let go of the control we try to cling to over our lives. Realize God is in control over everything. Fill your heart and mind with God’s Word. Seek the LORD first, focusing on our Father instead of our fears. In doing so, we will find the peace of Jesus Christ standing guard over our thoughts and emotions.
Vincent Van Gogh, Tree Roots, July 1890. Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
Our little tree never stood a chance. The other trees in our neighborhood flourished, grew, thrived. The crab apples flowered in spring, beautiful and vibrant. These trees were well rooted in good soil with plenty of water.
Our tree was planted in the same soil. It got the same water. I believe – the plot our neighborhood was built on having once been an auto salvage yard – our tree’s root system tapped into the transmission of a 1962 Ford F100 pickup truck buried deep beneath our front lawn.
I’m pretty sure 62-year-old transmission fluid would have an adverse (poisonous) effect on the nourishment and health of a tree. Trees weren’t created to get nourishment from refined petroleum products. They need to take root in good soil with the right amount of good water.
In the same way, we need to be rooted in Christ. It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit we receive strength through Jesus and His love to live our lives as God wants.
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. – Colossians 2:6-10 (ESV)
In Jesus – and Him alone – we find our strength. But we have to walk in Him to truly experience His peace, grace, mercy, love…
How do we walk in Jesus? Here are some thoughts:
Fix your faith in God through Jesus Christ. Trust in the Lord fully. Completely. 100%. Even when it makes no sense. Trust in God. Rest in Him. Let Christ be your solid foundation.
Fix your priorities on Him. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33, ESV). “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11, ESV). Pray. Constantly and consistently. Read – study – the Bible. Let God speak to you through His Word and prayer. Be open to the Lord. Listen and follow His leading.
Fix your eyes on Christ. Remember Peter walking on the stormy waters to reach Jesus. As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was fine. But when he turned his attention to the storm raging around him, he started to sink. He called out to the Lord Who saved him. Immediately. Even when the circumstances look dire, don’t look away from Jesus. God is Truth. Our perceptions are not always, for we are limited by our humanity. Better to leave it all with our Father God Who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent.
Fix your mind on the Lord. Develop the mind of Christ. Paul instructs us what and how we should think: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9. ESV).
Fix your heart on Jesus. Love the Lord above all. Realize – well, as much as we faulty humans can – the height, length, width and depth of His love for you. He died for you. You. He’s with you always. You. God’s gifts are wonderful. He’s our Creator, Sustainer, Savior, Provider, Healer, Guide… The best gift of all is that the Lord gave us is Himself.
Find your strength by walking with Christ. In doing so, you will find your soul rooted deep in God. And, frankly, there is no better place to put down roots than in the good soil of God and His Word.
Fat Man, the atomic can that destroyed Nagasaki, Japan, and led to end of World War II. U.S. Department of Defense, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
August 6, 1945, dawned clear over southern Japan. It had been 1338 days since the Japanese had attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. And a war-weary world was about to change.
Profoundly.
Instantly.
Three US B-29 bombers had taken off from Tinian Island at 2:45 that morning. At 8:15 am, one of those planes – named Enola Gay – flew over the center of Hiroshima. At an altitude of 31,000 feet, the bomb bay doors swung open and out dropped “Little Boy”, a missile-shaped can filled with 140 lbs. of uranium-235.
The nuclear-enriched can fell through the blue skies for 44.4 seconds. And then, 1900 feet above the Shija Surgical Clinic (some 800 feet off from hitting a bridge that was the intended target), everything changed.
Profoundly.
Instantly.
With a blinding flash and deafening boom.
In an instant, the temperature below the can’s detonation soared to 7000 degrees Fahrenheit. Not that anyone directly under the can could attest to it: estimates put the number killed instantly at 66,000 to 140,000 people, with tens of thousands more injured.
Black rain fell from the blue skies.
Little Boy had ushered in the Atomic Age. All that from one atomic can.
Three days later, a repeat performance over Nagasaki. The intended target – the city of Kokora – was overcast. The crew of the Bockscar – carrying “Fat Man”, another atomic can containing a mere 11 lbs. of plutonium – turned toward Nagasaki, which was also overcast. But, just as the bomber flew over the intended bomb sight, the clouds parted. The skies cleared.
Blinding flash.
Deafening boom.
Another 40,000 dead.
Instantly.
Another six days later – August 15, 1945 – the Japanese government announced its intention to surrender. The capitulation of the Empire of Japan was made official on September 2, 1945, on board the USS Missouri, as the articles of surrender were signed by the warring parties.
The war that had engulfed so much of the planet was finally over. And the world was changed.
Profoundly.
Instantly.
How did the world come to this point? The tangled web of pacts and alliances and festering nationalist bruised egos reaches back to well before the first World War. I believe you could argue it all started when Cain’s jealousy and anger led him to pick up that rock and approach his brother.
The problem is simple: sin. I know, that’s an awfully simplistic answer to such a complicated question. But, when you get down to it, the only difference between all wars in history – from Old Testament battles to the current situations in Ukraine and the Middle East – is improved weaponry. The root of it all is hatred – one group hating another. We break the Tenth Commandment on a global scale.
My point here is not to spark some debate over “just wars” or whether God is (or is not) a pacifist, etc. The point is that as long as sin exists – as long as all humanity is infected with the curse of the knowledge of good and evil – there will people who hate people.
Governments who hate other countries.
Idealogues who hate any who oppose their views.
Someone who covets someone else’s land.
Or oil fields.
Or piece of ocean.
Or riches.
Solomon was right. There is nothing new under the sun. As long as sin exists, there we be oppressors. There will be dictators. There will be out-of-control insanity (and, frankly, nonsensical stupidity) raging amongst nations.
By and large, the circumstances of this world are outside the control of average human beings. Our lives get turned and twisted and torn by the decisions of others.
Again, it’s OK.
How can I say that? How can I look around and say, “it’s ok”?
The world is as it has always been. There have always been people groups who hate, attack and subjugate other people groups.
We can’t control it. We can’t stop it. We can’t even fully understand it.
The good news in all this: we don’t have to.
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. – Matthew 24:6-14 (ESV)
As followers of Christ, we have nothing to fear. God is love, and there is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear. We are all infected with the same sin – rooted as always in selfish covetousness. Thankfully, through the price Jesus paid on the cross, we have salvation – a means of escape from this sinful place.
God is sovereign. He’s in control of this crazy world, despite its out-of-control appearance. At the end of the day (or, should I say, “end of days”?), those who think they are in charge will learn how much control they truly wield. The will of God – the Creator and Sustainer of all – will not be thwarted.
Despite appearances.
The day is coming when Jesus will return. That’s a fact. And, when He does, this world be more profoundly changed than ever before.
Profoundly.
Instantly.
Blinding flash of light.
Deafening boom.
Greater than any atomic can ever dropped.
Done.
So don’t get caught up in the distress and dire straits we find our world in. Focus on Truth.
Focus on Jesus.
Stay in God’s Word.
Do not fear and don’t try to figure it all out. Trust God. Trust His timing. Trust His Word.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (ESV)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
God owes us nothing. He created us. We are His.
Thankfully, our God is a gracious, merciful Father. He doesn’t just love us. He is love. And perfect love – which can only come from God – casts out fear (read 1 John 4).
When we begin to grasp the immensity of the love of our Abba, Father, and His never-changing steadfast love, the fears and worries of life begin to shrink. When we choose to trust God, we realize He is far and above our circumstances. When we see the Lord for Who He is and worship Him wholeheartedly, seeking Him first and foremost, we begin to understand that our lives are indeed in His hands, and there is no situation where we should fear.
God owes us nothing. We owe Him everything. Yet He loves us. Trust in the Lord’s love. Trust in Jesus. And praise Him with thanksgiving and joy – ALWAYS!!
It’s one thing to know it. As a Christian, I realize sanctification – the lifelong process of God working in us to grow us closer to Him and in His holiness – is just that: a process.
It’s another thing altogether to feel God telling you: you have a long way to go.
I find myself trying to fix my problems. I’m fine, I can do this. Right?
yeah… no.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels like I do. I struggle with a lot of fears.
Failure.
Rejection.
Humiliation.
Loss.
Friends marathons on TV.
I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights lately. I’ve been so focused on my stressful situations that I forgot the true Peter Principle. Not the Laurence J. Peters management book, but the Simon Peter Principle.
You’re most likely familiar with the account of Peter walking to Jesus on the stormy sea (Matthew 14:22-33). Peter wants so bad to please Jesus. He loves Him. And everything is going fine, until..
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:30-31 (ESV).
I’m embarrassed to admit it because, over the years, I’ve taught this Scripture more times than I can count. And I still face these fears.
I need to remember to keep my eyes on Jesus, not on the storm. I have to trust God in all things, at all times.
Even when the storm still rages, He has ahold of me.
Even when the stress grows, God is still in control.
Even when the fear compounds, I am safely in His hands.
Today – Easter Sunday – the Lord reminded me of what He did for us.
He reminded me of the Simon Peter Principle: keep my eyes on Jesus, knowing He has me in His grasp, and will never let me go. He’s in control of the storm, and the boat, and the entirety of our circumstances. I may feel like I’m going to drown, but I’m not.
He reminded me He is the only source of good.
He reminded me I don’t need to understand what’s going on in my life. I just need to trust Him.
He reminded me of His miracles – water to wine, providing the coin in the fish’s mouth to pay the tax, knowing the woman at the well having never met her, healing after healing, sight to the blind, strength to the lame, feeding tens of thousands with one child’s lunch, raising Lazarus from the dead, raising Himself from the dead, ascending into Heaven… He reminded me He can handle my little problems.
He reminded me to let go of my pride.
He reminded me that, even if I can’t feel His presence, He is still with me.
He reminded me my struggles are His way of growing me.
He reminded me to walk by faith, not by sight.
He reminded me His Word is Truth, not the world.
He reminded me He loves me.
And, by the way, the same goes for you. For those of us who love God, He is with us. He is greater than our troubles, our fears, our weaknesses, our pain, our sorrow, our cares…
I try to imagine it, but I can’t. Any one of the events Jesus faced in the 24 hours before His death would have been too much for me. Betrayed. Abandoned. Humiliated. Arrested. Unfairly tried and convicted.
The torture Jesus endured at the hands of the Romans… I won’t recount it here. The fact that Jesus even made it to Golgotha alive is astounding. The brutality of it all is too much to even imagine. The pain Jesus – perfectly Holy Jesus Christ, untouched by sin – went through to take on my sin…
But the worst had to be the feeling of being abandoned by His Father.
Put it all together and you have the reward of sin. Unimaginable pain. Loneliness beyond belief. Humiliation. Sorrow. Death.
But when you look at Jesus taking all of that sin for us.
For me.
For you.
That is the reward of love. We don’t deserve it. But it is a gift. We can’t earn love. But Jesus gave us the gift of love on that cross. It is free, yet far more precious than anything on earth. It is a gift beyond price.
I cannot imagine how Jesus felt on that first Good Friday. But I have to try, so I can understand the great price of His gift. Jesus Christ – God incarnate – gave us Himself. Willingly. Without a second thought. He took on the unimaginable, so we don’t have to. He made a way for us that would be otherwise utterly impossible.
The first Good Friday felt anything but good. But just wait until the third day.
Pietro Lorenzetti (1280–1348), Untitled, known as Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. From the collection of La Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi, Assissi, Italy.
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5 And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7 And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. 8 And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9 And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. – Mark 11:1-11 [ESV]
Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” – Matthew 21:1-11 [ESV]
28 And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’” 32 So those who were sent went away and found it just as he had told them. 33 And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 And they said, “The Lord has need of it.” 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out. – Luke 19:28-40 [ESV]
12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” – John 12:12-19 [ESV]
The Jews were expecting a military overthrow of their oppressors. They didn’t realize Jesus had come to overthrow our real oppressor: sin.
He came to bring freedom, but not like the people expected.
He came to make a way back to our Father. He came to save us.
By the end of the week, there would be violence. But not from a coup.
Today was a day of misunderstood celebration. They missed that Jesus was riding on a humble donkey, not a noble steed. The palm fronds beneath the colt’s feet – a sign of victory – were being trod on by humility.
Jesus is indeed King. But what He gives His people is so much more, so much grander, som much more valuable, that anything we can imagine.
We misunderstand sometimes, too. That’s why we to seek Him first and foremost, in all things, and trust in His will and direction, not our own.
By National Cancer Institute – This image was released by the National Cancer Institute, an agency part of the National Institutes of Health, with the ID 2716 (image) (next)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24036618
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV)
A dear friend of mine once shared with me something his great-grandmother used to say: “Family should live far enough away that they need to dress up to see each other.” While I can’t tell you I exactly agree with her sentiment, it still makes me chuckle.
Family politics can be tough waters to navigate. Nothing stings like familial strife, disagreement, disappointment, insults or ill-treatment. As family, we should always have each other’s backs. It’s hard to do that when one feels that’s where a loved one has stuck the knife.
Squabbles and quibbles are commonplace in many families. Just because people share DNA doesn’t necessarily mean they always share values, worldviews, ideas, ideals… If anyone believes the Cleavers, Bradys or Waltons exemplify real family life, they are sorely misled and naive.
Here’s the thing, friends: we are called to forgive. We are called to love. Which means we need to remember what love is:
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (ESV)
We cannot control how other people (re)act. We can’t control their feelings. We can’t manage their beliefs. We cannot undo what’s been done or said.
But we can control our (re)actions. We can choose to love despite feeling hurt or disappointed. We can opt to forgive instead of bearing a grudge. We can try to empathize and understand instead of responding with our own hurtful or spiteful words and deeds. We can reject the notion that we are right to not forgive. We can walk through life refusing to feel slighted, or cheated, or unappreciated, or ignored, or jealous, or vengeful, or __________________ (fill in the blank with any negative emotion you feel).
We can choose to love even if we’re not feeling the love. Even if forgiveness is never asked for or offered. Even if we feel so wronged that those who hurt us are undeserving of forgiveness.
Don’t take the enemy’s bait. He loves seeing families divided and destroyed by bitterness and hurt. Choose the better path: walk in love and forgiveness, as Jesus did. If you can mend the hurts, do so. If you can’t, you can still love and forgive and refuse to be led by unforgiving emotions. Unforgiveness only hurts the one refusing to let go of the grudge, not the offender.
Some hurts are too big to heal quickly. Some relationships may never be the same again. But remember… we – you – are loved by God to a degree no human – relative or not – could ever love anyone. It is impossible to earn love. And, thank the Lord for that because, if anyone ever had a right to not forgive, it’s Jesus. And yet He loves, forgives and restores us fully, despite our sins and failures.
Today, if you are holding on to bitterness or hurt or unforgiveness, please let it go. Make the choice to follow Christ and forgive. Love.
After all, as H.I. McDonnough (from the movie Raising Arizona) quipped in response to his wife’s complaint about their dysfunctional home life: “Well… it ain’t Ozzie and Harriet!”
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Joy is central to the Christian experience. A close cousin to peace, joy is that sense of calm happiness that bears witness to the world of the wonders of faith in Christ. Regardless of the circumstances we face in life, we can still exude joy. Through pain, through sorrow, through hardship, through disappointment, through illness, through troubles of any and all kinds, we have hope in God – The One Who is sovereign over all.
Our joy is not rooted in our difficulties, but in God our Father Who leads us through life’s situations. In the LORD, we have hope over all circumstances. We have His wonderful promises to grasp onto tightly.
God is sovereign over everything. He is sovereign over our enemies. He is sovereign over our infirmities, He is sovereign over our families. He is sovereign over our work. He is sovereign our needs. He is the Only One we can trust entirely and completely in all things.
And God our Father loves us. He cares for us. He is with us through every storm. He never abandons us. He is always with us.
“The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:20b, ESV). Whatever’s going on, we can embrace God’s joy and find our strength in Him. When we’re filled with fear or grief or a troubled mind, we’re weakened by our troubles. When we choose to embrace God’s joy in faith, we are strengthened, finding our lives are actually filled with hope because of our Father’s love, grace, mercy, peace, strength, sovereignty, holiness, faithfulness, joy…
Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV), “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We rejoice in the LORD Our Father. Nothing is beyond His ability. And, when others see us waiting patiently and joyfully on God, we are an effective witness for Jesus. When we choose joy over anxiety, our faith grows. And we are able to inspire and help others to find strength in God as well – finding joy for their lives and helping others do the same.
Rest in Jesus. Trust in God. Walk in His joy. You are loved far more than you can imagine!
The Bouville Diarist and Sharpening Service 