Plot Twists (Acts 26:8)

I recently attended a showing of a movie that I waited an hour, queuing up in the line, to see. The movie did not disappoint, filled with action and mind-blowing special effects. Yet, in the aftermath, I felt a bit letdown. The movie contained few, if any, plot twists. From start to finish, the movie was very predictable.

Plot twists add a great deal of interest to any story. We like to be surprised, to have our expectations challenged and turned upside down and inside out. And this is why the Bible is so compelling to read. It takes us from the beginning of time to a final vision of eternity. But along the way, life’s most unexpected plot twists are unveiled. It is a thrilling story replete with flawed heroes and villains. And it tells the greatest love story of God caring for and reaching out to His Creation.

Sin had separated man from God.  And try as he might, no effort on man’s part would ever be able to heal the rift that tore apart our relationship with God. God had to take the initiative by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. This is greatest plot twist that has ever been told. God actually died for our sins, taking the penalty for our sins for which we should justifiably be punished, and redeeming us, by being raised from the dead. Our expectations and sensibilities have been turned upside down!

Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:8

Paul asked this question during the defense of his faith before King Agrippa. But God asks this same question of all of us. If God is the Creator of the universe, why wouldn’t we accept the fact that He could raise His Son from the dead? It is the greatest plot twist ever told. And it the greatest and most beautiful truth ever revealed!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
 

Once An Arafat Man (John 14:6)

What is the cost of your faith for Jesus Christ?

I have just finished reading the autobiography of Tass Sada, entitled, Once An Arafat Man-The True Story of How a PLO Sniper Found a New Life.

There are few books that have so moved me that I literally could not put it down once I began reading it. This was one of them. From the first page introducing us to his life as a sniper with the PLO to the last chapter outlining the steps it will take to bring reconciliation to the middle east, Tass’ story is of a man dedicated to living life by fatih.

His own immediate conversion was through a vision that occurred on May 14, 1993. A light came into his life and he heard the light speak these words.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

At that time, Tass did not know the words came from the Bible. All he knew was that Jesus the Christ was speaking directly to him. This was the verse that seared his soul and led him to commit his life to Jesus the Christ.

I am humbled and inspired by the story of Tass. Everything he did, every situation he found himself in, he relied upon his faith in God. Returning home to face his family for the first time in over a decade after he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, his brother met him at the airport, already telling him in advance he would kill him as an infidel because Tass had turned his back upon their Muslim faith. He met with his former boss and employer, Yasser Arafat, and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to him. Overcoming situations that the world would have us believe are hopeless and foolhardy, Tass convincingly lives a life that is completely dependent upon his faith in redeeming power of Jesus Christ.

As I read the book, the defining verse from the Bible that summarizes Tass’ life is…

..for we walk by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

For some of us, we find ourselves unwilling to do the unthinkable, to forgive the unforgivable, or dream the impossible. By our own efforts it is futile. But God has taken the step to reconcile our lost souls with Him. If we confess our sins, repent, and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and welcome us as His children. And with God at our side, nothing is impossible, even forgiving a former PLO sniper and bringing him full circle to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Muslim leader of a Palestinian liberation group.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Smile (Proverbs 15:13)

I recently received an email containing a list of clever definitions. One that caught my eye was:

Smile-A curve that can set a lof of things straight.

When circumstances are overwhelming, a smile can often disarm a potentially volatile situation. One particularly painful episode in my past reminded me of this. A major laboratory had just lost its medical director and there was an urgent need to find a replacement. Through a series of negotiations, I was picked to fill this position. It was my first major directorship and I was excited at the prospect. However, when I arrived, I was greeted with a cold and frankly hostile response. The former director was much loved by all the employees and not all the details of his departure were disclosed to the staff. Thus, I was looked upon as the usurper and definitely made to feel unwelcome.

The entire episode was stressful and for the first week, I could not sleep. The workload was oppressive, we were understaffed, and the employees were either passive-aggressive or angry. I wanted to quit. I did not trust God. The turning point came when one of the secretaries came over and did a small favor for me. I looked at her, bleary-eyed, and gave her a warm smile and said, “Thank you. I really appreciate this.” She smiled back, the first time she did. From that moment on, we would smile at each other and the more I smiled, the other employees would also. The ice was beginning to melt. The curve of the smile had set things straight!

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13

During that first week, I had only focused upon my circumstances rather than upon God who was in control of everything that was happening. What a different outcome it may have been if I trusted God. Our face reflects the state of our heart. I did not smile for nearly a week because I was not trusting God. God wants us to rejoice in all circumstances. This is not a false joy but a genuine emotion from gratitude for what He has done for us. Even in hostile situations, we can smile and rejoice if we are trusting in God’s provisions and providence.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

I'll Be Back! (Luke 4:13)

Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
Luke 4:13

The old adage, “There are only two things that are certain in life, death and taxes,” is incomplete. Temptations are a certainty and will never depart from one’s life. The Bible gives us this sobering and chilling reminder that Satan was always lurking around Jesus Christ during His time on earth. In addition to this initial temptation of Jesus, the Bible does record several other instances when He was attacked or tempted by Satan; undoubtedly there were many more.

This passage also reminds us of the inevitability of temptations. We live in a world that is ruled by Satan. He exists to steer us off the path to God and righteousness and careen off to destruction and misery. While we may resist some temptations, Satan is always lurking with even more subtle and insidious schemes to make us fall. In the words of the great theologian, Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back!”

What hope do we have when faced by such a fearsome adversary? Thanks be to God who is faithful to provide us the strength to resist any temptation and provide us the way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). God’s strength is infinitely more powerful than Satan’s. All we need to do is trust God. And we do this by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior.

Yes, Satan will be back placing temptations before us, when we least expect them. But God has your back and will provide you with His armor to protect you and reject Satan’s attacks.

Blessed be our Living God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Don't Micromanage Me! (Matthew 6:30)

The workplace is filled with all types of managers and bosses. Some adopt a hands off approach to leadership, preferring to delegate or just outline broad points of direction. The other extreme is the micro-manager. This person cannot let the smallest detail escape from them. The micromanager cannot discern which issues are critical for success and which issues can be left alone or even ignored. The net result is frustration on both sides of the relationship. Whether said aloud or in silence, the plaintive cry of many an employee is, “Don’t micromanage me!”

Micromanagement is not always wrong. There are some tasks that need continual supervision. Most of us would eagerly welcome a neurosurgeon to micromanage our brain surgery or a rocket scientist to pore over the simulations of a missile launch. It all depends upon the task and who is doing the micromanaging. Would we welcome such micromanagement in our spiritual life? If God is doing the micromanaging, absolutely!

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:30

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Matthew 10:30

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, reminds us that God, the Father, knows every minute detail of your life, even to the exact number of the hairs on your head. That would be far too much information for me to keep in my brain, but God delights in knowing us so well. He wants to micromanage our life but not to control us. He wants us to live the life for which He created us. God will sort out the clamor of our lives and let us know exactly where we should be focusing our energies. It is all to bring glory to Him!

We should triumphantly declare, “God, please micromanage me!”

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Don't Be Preachy! (Psalms 71:8)

“Don’t be preachy!”

This phrase is meant to be a warning or admonition that, when speaking to both Christian believers and seekers, we should be mindful of our choice of words and the inflection of our voice. While there are certainly times when the Word of God must be spoken directly and forcefully, we don’t always need to force-feed the Gospel down the throat of our listening audience. We should always let our lives be a witness to the transforming power of the Gospel. But our words and speech can be used to convey the message of the Gospel without directly quoting the Bible.

Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day.
Psalms 71:8

God’s Word is spoken in many different languages and dialects. And it may also be communicated through ideas. When our speech is focused upon the good, the pure, the lovely, and the praiseworthy, the Gospel is being communicated. When God sends out His Word, it does not return void and always accomplishes His purposes.

Preach with your life and preach with your speech.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

He Is Unclean (1 Samuel 20:26)

When we think ill of someone, it is easy to indiscriminately lump any bad association with that person. And it is worse when something negative is proven to have been done by that person. Then, the floodgates of blame have been opened. The media loves to do this. Once they dig up some dirt on a celebrity, it is open season for all types of allegations. “Yes, he did swindle his business partner. I am sure he cheats on his taxes also. I am sure he cheats on his wife. I am sure he…”

This is nothing but gossip. And gossip says more about your state of heart than any possible travails of the person to whom you directed the accusations. King Saul was insanely jealous of David. It warped his thinking and led him to make rash and improper judgments when David did not show up for dinner at the king’s table.

Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean.”
1 Samuel 20:26

Saul succumbed to his own sorry state, living only to malign and destroy David, at any cost. This truth is magnified by this proverb. When one’s life is controlled by ungodly influences, one actively seeks out evil, spreading its venom to all who can hear.

An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire.
Proverbs 16:27

When the urge comes upon you to gossip, stop! Gossip fuels itself and ignites ungodly thoughts within all who hear it.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

 

Putting God to the Test (Psalms 78:41)

How do we put God to the test?

In the Old Testament, we read how the Hebrews put God to the test during their wilderness wanderings, questioning whether He was able to deliver them.

Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Psalms 78:41

And many years later, the Bible tells us of how Jesus Christ faced a hostile and stubborn group of people within his own hometown of Nazareth.

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
Mark 6:5

God is omnipotent; how, then, could His power by limited by our actions?

God’s power is not limited. We chose to ignore God’s work even when He is in the midst of us. We chose to ignore the wonders of His creation and instead focus upon things we have created. We deny His power to work in believers lives, choosing to attribute the change to the power of positive thinking or even medications. The problem is not with God, the problem is with us.

As James stated, it because we have selfish motives and are seeking to glorify ourselves rather than to glorify God. We do not live by faithful surrender to God.

You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:2-3

God is merciful. But He will allow us to be given over to our own selfish desires if we continue to disobey Him. We put God to the test when we make decisions based upon our solutions to circumstances rather than relying upon God to take control and bring the conflict to resolution.

If your are able to say, “God, take control of my life!”, you will never put God to the test.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Meet Me Halfway (Matthew 18:21-22)

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
Matthew 18:21-22

The Christian life holds countless blessings. But a life dedicated to following Jesus Christ also presents painful challenges. One of the most difficult is forgiveness. We are commanded to forgive those who have hurt us, but while our minds may acknowledge this act needs to be done, our hearts may not be convinced. Sometimes it seems we are waiting for the other person to make the move. We bargain and reason with God, “I will forgive when the other person first acknowledges that they were wrong. They have to meet me halfway.” Other times we may feel, “What they did to me was so terrible, they deserve to be punished.” Yes, God does hold everyone accountable for their actions and they will reap what they have sown. But this still does not excuse us from obeying God and forgiving someone who has hurt us. These rationalizations may make good coffee table psychology, but this is not what God commands.

There is no formula or time schedule and no guarantee that this hurt will not recur. We need to cling to the promises that Jesus Christ has given us. It is ironic that the Apostle Peter asked this question of Jesus. It would not be long after Peter asked this question that he would betray Jesus by denying he knew Him, even after emphatically stating he would never leave Him. Jesus was betrayed by one of His closest companions. But after Jesus was resurrected, He forgave and restored Peter, searing this lesson into his heart.

When Peter was forgiven, it allowed him to love Jesus with an even more fervent love. It allowed him to become a better person, forgiving and loving others with a compassionate insight that he never previously experienced. And it all began when Jesus forgave him.

Pray about any hurt you have experienced. Pray for the person who has hurt you and ask God to enable you to forgive this person. And pray that when forgiveness occurs, the love and fellowship between the two of you will be rekindled.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Did You Want to Change Your Mind? (Romans 8:38-39)

The other evening, I was asked a question by a colleague. “After you became a Christian, was there ever a time after that when you regretted the decision and wanted to change your mind?”

I pondered this question for a few moments. After I made the decision, I did face hostility from some family members. I faced friends who viewed my decision with skepticism, even incredulity. But all this never caused me to want to change my mind. I was completely persuaded by the Holy Spirit of the truth of Jesus Christ.

For I am 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

It took me a long time for me to realize the depth of my need for a Savior. But I first needed to acknowledge that I was a sinner. There was nothing good within me. I needed to repent of my sins and ask Jesus Christ for forgiveness. I needed to ask Him to be my Lord and Savior. And I could only do this if I completely trusted and believed in His ability to save me. I had the assurance of salvation that only a true God could give.

No, I have never wanted to change my mind!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I'm Like An Airline Pilot" (1 Peter 2:1)

When my wife and I were first married, we met with a financial planner. Eager for us to avail of his services, he wanted to reassure us that investing was not complicated, but it was important to get started on the right path with the right advisor.

“I’m like an airline pilot. You only need me for two times during the trip, the takeoff and the landing. Everything in between is on auto-pilot!”

Although this seemed to be an oversimplification, I understood the sentiment. The most critical times in one’s investing life are setting up the initial investments and retirement. If one wisely chooses the proper initial investments, only minimal adjustments are needed along the way.

Could a spiritual relationship with God be that simple? Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, are we on “auto-pilot” for the rest of our spiritual life until the very end? Some people are fortunate to have been mentored by a very strong Christian, early in their spiritual life. But no matter how well-grounded one is, spiritual growth cannot continue without continual fellowship and mentoring. It is more than just minimal adjustments along the way. A growing and healthy spiritual life requires critical monitoring and nurturing. And when the time comes for us to go home to Heaven, if you have remained steadfast in your desire to grow, no guide or advisor will be needed. You will be ready. You will be looking forward to meeting your Savior!

Our growth begins with being nourished by God’s Word.

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
1 Peter 2:1

And we are commanded to continue so that we may....

...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18

Spiritual growth is not on auto-pilot. We need to completely surrender control of our lives and allow Jesus Christ to pilot our lives.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

"I'd Rather Not Say" (Acts 4:20)

When I was in college, I took a course in religious studies examining sacred traditions in India and China. The professor was a pioneer in the field and her expertise was in Hindu and Buddhist doctrines. After I completed her class, I engaged in an exit interview with her. Out of curiosity I asked her, “Professor, what is your religion? What do you believe?”

“I’d rather not say.” She smiled at me. “I feel religion is a very personal issue.”

I politely nodded and ended the conversation.

A few months later, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. From the moment I was saved, I experienced great joy. It was a joy that I wanted to share with others. It was motivated not from arrogance, but from gratitude. The God of the Universe loved me and wanted to reconcile my lost and wayward relationship with Him. How could I not rejoice?

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:20

The Apostles understood this joy. Although they were instructed to not speak anything more about Jesus Christ, they could not and would not. Their joy and enthusiasm for Jesus Christ could not be contained!

As I reflect upon my professor’s statement, it saddens me to think that some people go through their lives keeping their beliefs bottled up inside of them. If we have found a pearl of great price or found something we thought we had lost but then found, we would want to share this news with everyone around us.

If you are believer and have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no greater or joyful news that you can share with another. We love because He first loved us!

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Merely Jesus? (John 6:37)

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

Quoted from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

This is a quote from C.S. Lewis’ famous book, Mere Christianity. I read this in college and am re-reading it again as part of my current Bible study. It is still fresh and resonates with insight and wisdom. This paragraph cites the idea that has been termed the Lewis Trilemma. There are only three options when we consider Jesus Christ. He is either lunatic, a liar, or Lord; He is either mad, bad, or God.

Since Lewis first wrote this statement, it has been used by Christian apologists and other defenders of the Christian faith. It made a deep impact upon me when I first read it and I still quote it. Argument and discussion points like Lewis’ are good but they should motivate a person to critically read the Bible and discover for themselves who Jesus is. One can never argue a person into Heaven. Each person must reach their own conclusions about Jesus. And ultimately, it is the work of the Holy Spirit, drawing the fortunate soul to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. God promises to keep those whom He has chosen.

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
John 6:37

Merely Jesus? He was not a mere man or a mere teacher. He was nothing less than God incarnate. He now reigns in Heaven and someday, He will reign over the entire earth!

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

This Man Is On A Mission! (Ruth 3:18 )

Ever see someone on a mission? Steely eyes are focused upon the task at hand. Nothing can deter them from reaching their goal and seeing it through to the end. Just check out Boaz.

Boaz is in love with Ruth  and he has just been presented with an opportunity to marry her. All is good but first, he must make sure the closest relative is willing to relinquish his right to marry Ruth. Naomi, Ruth’s mother in law and a relative who knows Boaz well, is certain that Boaz will resolve this matter today!

Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”
Ruth 3:18

I always smile when I read this passage and Naomi’s prescient observation. The Bible does not record many details about expressions or body language. However, it is sometimes not difficult to fill in the details. I can imagine the excitement radiating from Boaz as he earnestly searches out the relative of Ruth’s. Months of admiring Ruth’s beauty and integrity and now, an opportunity for her to be his wife!

This beautiful and touching example of Boaz is a reminder of the earnestness that God showed to us when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live as a man, to be crucified and die, and to be resurrected in glory. Jesus was on a mission and He was determined to see it through to its completion. No temptation from Satan, no discouraging comments from His disciples, and no hideous torture and slander from His captors would deter Him from completing His mission.

What a wonderful Lord and Savior we serve!

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Names Can Hurt You (Psalms 41:7-8)

All who hate me whisper together against me; against me they devise my hurt. “An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him. And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.
Psalms 41:7-8

We have all heard the nursery school rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” It is likely that all of us have been on the receiving end of name calling. And it often comes when we are already burdened by another problem or issue, hitting us when we are down. Perhaps there is no physical hurt, but the emotional scars are sometimes far deeper and lasting than a physical one. The writer of this Psalm reminds us of that. But God does not abandon us. We can find comfort in God’s answer given a few verses later.

As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever.
Psalms 41:12

The hurt and pain are real but God’s strength and justice are infinitely greater. He knows the truth and will vindicate us in the end. In His name there is no hurt. In His name, we are more than conquerors by confessing our sins, repenting, and trusting in the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

I've Got a Great Case! (Exodus 32:24)

When I was a resident, we were required to review all of our cases with our attending professor before we rendered a diagnosis. In a busy hospital, this was sometimes challenging as the professors were pulled in many different directions, all with urgent requests from other physicians. Thus, I employed a tactic to encourage my professor to review my case. I would place a note on her door with the inscription, “Dr. Smith, I’ve got a GREAT case to show you!” This would be done even if the case was NOT such a great case. It was an exaggeration, just to encourage her to meet with me.

Inevitably, my professor would review the case with me and issue a final diagnosis which I would then promptly communicate with the other physicians caring for the patient. I continued this pattern throughout my residency training.

Many years later, I was reminiscing with some friends from the hospital when one of them said to me, “You know, Dr. Smith, once confided in us. ‘I like Dr. Shitabata but sometimes the cases he wanted to review with me were not so interesting! But he would always tell me they were great! I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by telling him the cases weren’t that great!’ “

My exaggeration was meant to manipulate. The Bible also records examples of people who exaggerate to manipulate their circumstances to their advantage. Few were as egregious and self-serving as Aaron’s explanation to his brother, Moses.

And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them break it off. ’ So they gave it to me, and I cast it into the fire, and this calf came out.”
Exodus 32:24

The Hebrews were afraid that Moses, their leader, would not return from the mountain top after being away for a prolonged period. Aaron directed the people to contribute their gold and he fashioned it into an idolatrous golden calf to represent their new god. But when confronted  by Moses, Aaron exaggerated and lied, stating that he simply cast the gold into the fire and a golden calf emerged. Just like that!

I meant to manipulate a situation by exaggerating. Sometimes, I did have a great case but with other times, I was definitely not speaking the truth and lying. It may seem like I am beating myself up over a trivial matter. This was certainly not as an egregious incident as Aaron. Yet, God does hold us accountable for every idle word that we speak (Matthew 12:36).

God holds us to a much higher standard than the rest of the world. And by my own efforts, it is impossible for me to live up these standards by my own efforts. But if I confess my sins to Jesus Christ and repent and ask Him to be my Lord and Savior, He is faithful and just to forgive me and accept me as a child of God.

We are held to the highest standards and by God’s grace, through His Son, Jesus Christ, we can begin living that life.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Jealous for My God (2 Corinthians 11:2)

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:2

The Bible commands us to love your wife as Jesus Christ loved the Church. The corollary to this we should love Jesus Christ as a husband would jealously love and protect his own wife.

But do I do this? Am I jealous for my God? Do I protect my relationship with God from outside harmful influences? Am I as committed to God as He is always committed to me? Sadly, the answer to all of the questions are often, no.

I linger upon ungodly thoughts that divert my attention away from praise to God and result in criticism of others. I justify excuses and take time away from prayers and reading the Bible so that I may accomplish matters that I foolishly deem more urgent. I do not lavish praise and honor God, placing Him upon the highest pedestal wherever I go and with whomever I interact.

By my own efforts, it is impossible. But with God, is is possible. God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior. If I confess my sins and repent, He is faithful and just to forgive me and accept me as His child. God will love me with a perfect love that only He can give. And He will sanctify me so that I will be jealous with my love for Him with the same jealous devotion that He has for me, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

An Interior Decorator or Advertising Executive? (Colossians 4:14)

A few years ago, we began a new men’s Bible study. As an ice-breaker we were asked the question, “What did you want to be when you were a child and what do you do now?” Our responses were lively and interesting because none of our choices as a child matched what we did as an adult, or so it seemed.

When I was younger, I wanted to be an interior decorator or an advertising executive. Today, I am a physician specialist, a dermatopathologist. And although there is no superficial resemblance between the occupations, I believe there is a much more subtle synergy on display. As a dermatopathologist, I must review hundreds of microscope slides a day, searching for a specific pattern to render a diagnosis. This is a skill set that would have served me well as an interior decorator. And as a physician in private practice, I must be proactive to advertise my services to other physicians and to the public. It appears that my current occupation is not too dissimilar from what I wanted to be when I was a child!

Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.
Colossians 4:14

Paul reminds us that one of his closest companions during his missionary journeys was Luke, the beloved physician. Although there is no record in the Bible of Luke using his training to specifically help others, his skills were on display in another impressive manner. Luke’s Gospel is the most detailed oriented about the the Virgin birth and of Jesus’ childhood. Luke records fine medical details about the people coming to Jesus to be healed, details that are not found in any other Gospel. Only Luke records the physical agony of the great drops of sweat, like blood, coming from the head of Jesus as he was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Holy Spirit utilized Luke’s medical training to write a Gospel as detailed as any medical history a contemporary physician may take of a patient.

God can use any and all of our talents to serve Him. And sometimes, it may be in completely unexpected occupations or roles. God used my interests and aptitude from childhood to mold me into who I am today. And for the future? God is still writing that chapter of my life. But there will always be parts of my past interests and personality inserted into anything God wants me to do.

What a glorious God we serve!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

Taking Away Our Senses (Genesis 2:16-17)

Recently, I had a problem in my left ear which almost completely blocked out my hearing. Not only was this debilitating for my work, it hindered my guitar playing since I was unable to hear all of the notes nor the rest of the musicians. Whenever I missed a word or phrase in a conversation, I grew increasingly annoyed and frustrated. My temper was short. All this because one of my senses was impaired. I was no longer in control.

I sought God’s direction during this trial, asking Him to show me what He wanted to me to learn from this episode. How could He use this to draw me closer to Him?

One immediate lesson was the stark reality of my flawed and mortal body that is slowly decaying and dying.  As we all witness the slow and inexorable aging of our bodies, it is a vivid reminder that our life is finite and this was not God’s original plan for man.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”
Genesis 2:16-17

God created Adam with a perfect body and mind. But when Adam disobeyed God and sinned, the inevitable path to a physical and spiritual death began. In a sense, man’s senses and control were slowly taken away. When he once had command and dominion over of all the animals, this right was relinquished. The earth would no longer easily yield its fruit. Conflict between husband and wife would now be inevitable.

God is under no obligation to save man from this wretched fate. Indeed, we all deserve death and eternal separation for putting our will before God’s commands. And yet, God, in His incomparable grace and mercy, provided an answer. He sent to man His only Son, Jesus Christ. And whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, someday, you will be resurrected with a new body, an incorruptible body, one that will never die or decay. It will be the body that God had intended man to have from the very beginning. And whatever senses or abilities that have diminished or have been lost to age, will be restored to perfection.

What a wonderful God we serve!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.

The Lord Be With You! (Ruth 2:4)

Every day, the usual exchange of pleasantries occurs when people arrive to their workplace. Depending upon the time of day, it may be an exchange of “Good morning” or “Good afternoon.” Sometimes a qualifying, “How’s it going?” is added. But the vast majority of exchanges are superficial at best and uttered more as a polite knee-jerk reflex than a heart-felt desire to engage in deep conversation. After all, work has begun and responsibilities ensue. How wonderful it would be if we were able to give a more heartfelt greeting!

Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!”
And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”
Ruth 2:4

Christian believers and Christian businesses would do well to emulate Boaz. As he greets his workers, he issues an enthusiastic godly greeting and the workers likewise oblige him. Most certainly Boaz genuinely cared for his employees and they returned his affection and respect. More workplaces should be like this! More Christians should be like this! What a testimony it would be to our faith and what a wonderful way to honor our God and witness to others!

The Holy Spirit placed this passage in the Bible to remind us how sweet even simple greetings can be when they are done to honor God.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.