Beyond Ourselves Podcast
If We’re Smart…
Sheep. It’s been said they’re not the smartest animals in the world. That’s why they benefit from having a shepherd to watch over them and care for them.
In relation to God, we’re not always the smartest, either. That’s why we benefit from having a Shepherd to watch over us and lead us in the right direction.
Matthew 9:36 records that Jesus, “Seeing the people, felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
Mark 6:34 says that Jesus, “began to teach them many things.”
What is Jesus, the Chief Shepherd’s (1 Peter 5:4), response to seeing us distressed and dispirited?
He teaches us what to do and how to live. Of all the voices vying for our attention, Jesus’ voice is the One to follow. The Bible is His voice in print. If we’re smart “sheep,” we’ll read and follow His teachings.
Thank You, JESUS, CHIEF SHEPHERD of our souls, for looking at us with compassion and for teaching and leading us.
How Steady is Your Future?
If someone were to ask you what makes your life, marriage, family, career, and friendships work, what would you say?
Would you say it’s because you’re a hard worker? You’re conscientious? You’re a good listener? It’s an important question.
A more important question, however, is what makes your life, marriage, family, career, and friendships work in a way that brings God glory? Why is that important? Christians are to live in a way that brings glory to God according to 1 Corinthians 10:31. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Does that mean we will be perfect? No. It means we will be purposeful about building our lives on Christ, who Acts 4:11 describes as a chief cornerstone. When we stray, we turn back to Christ, repent, and build on what we know is His will instead of continuing to build in the wrong direction.
At the base of the believer’s life is the belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. He is the foundation on which we want our lives to be built.
If it is your heart’s desire to build your life on Christ, study His Word. Join others for prayer and fellowship. Take steps to draw closer to Jesus.
Lord Jesus, thank You that we can build our lives on You, the CHIEF CORNERSTONE.
Champion
Have you read the book of Isaiah or perhaps some of the following of Isaiah’s prophecies of the coming Messiah and how he describes Jesus? With which of the following are you familiar?
Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
What about Isaiah 19:20? Have you read this verse which describes Jesus as a Champion? “It will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.” The word “Champion” in this verse is from the Hebrew word “raḇ” and means “Mighty One.”
Yes, Isaiah describes the Lord as not only Immanuel, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Savior, but also as Champion, the Mighty One. Are you in a battle and need a win? Are you aware of someone else who is struggling and needs victory in their life? Will you call on the Lord, the Champion for those needs?
LORD, You are Savior and CHAMPION, the only One who can save and deliver us. We look to You in praise and awe.
How Not to Go Crazy with Anxiety
A few years ago, during the height of Covid, my morning started off peacefully. However, after my quiet time and while scanning the news, I became increasingly anxious as I read an article that listed 98 symptoms of Covid.
An increasing number of concerns are causing anxiety to rise. Disease, war, political turmoil, gender identity, hate crimes, poverty as well as new threats such as AI (artificial intelligence).
What is important for us to remember is that Jesus is with us, He cares for us, and doesn’t want us to carry our anxiety. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
Did we get that? Jesus cares for us. He tells us to cast our anxiety on Him. He can handle it. Just like a fisherman casts his net on the water, we are to cast our anxieties on Jesus.
What are you anxious about today? Knowing that Jesus cares for you, will you cast your anxiety on Him?
Jesus, thank You for CARING for me. Thank You that I can cast my anxiety on You; that You will take it and help me.
Whopper of a Problem?
Do you have a whopper of a problem? Perhaps you’re even where the Lord led you, but the situation is more than you can handle. When Joshua found himself in a tough place, the Lord appeared to him as Captain of the Lord’s Host. What did Joshua do? “Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, ‘What has my lord to say to his servant?’
The Captain of the Lord’s Host said to Joshua, ‘Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so,” Joshua 5:14-15.
Did we get Joshua’s response? Joshua bowed down and said, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” The Lord told Joshua that the place he was standing was holy ground. Then He told Joshua what to do.
Is that the position you take when the Lord speaks to you through His Word, a preacher, Christian friend, family member, or Holy Spirit?
God, the captain of the host of angels speaks to us not only when we have problems, but to give us direction in daily life.
Bow before the Lord. Say as Joshua did, “What do You have to say to me?” Listen to the captain of the hosts with the intention to obey. Why? He is Lord. He comes to us and speaks to us because He sees us in our need. He alone can help us when we face obstacles of God size proportions.
CAPTAIN of the HOSTS, I bow before You. Tell me what to do. I will obey You.
Where is Our Faith?
We talk about it. We sing about it. But, how much of it do we have? What am I talking about? Faith.
We place our faith in the person of Jesus Christ and that He substituted His body on the cross in place of ours. We stand at a distance and say, “Whew! That’s great. I didn’t have to go through the scourging and crucifixion. Thank You, Jesus. I believe.”
But when God says to exercise our faith in regard to cutting off our sin we say, “No way. Can’t do.” He says to exercise our faith and forgive as He forgives us and we say, “Not gonna do it.”
He says to lay aside our old self and put on the new self which was made in the image of Christ Jesus, and we march through our day as if we didn’t hear Him.
He says to take up our cross and follow Him by laying down our life and we go on with our day as if He wasn’t talking to us.
If we really had faith that God “calls into being that which doesn’t exist,” as Romans 4:17 states, then wouldn’t we obey Jesus’ commands and trust Him to lead us?
The question is, where is our faith…in ourself or in Jesus?
Here’s another question – how might you exercise your faith today by doing something He has told you to do that doesn’t come naturally to you?
Jesus, You CALL INTO BEING THAT WHICH DOESN’T EXIST. Call into being my obedience to all You tell me to do and say.
Needing A Remodel?
Have you ever looked at yourself and thought, “I need a makeover”? Have you wondered how you could build a better life? If so, the answer is found in Hebrews 3:4 which tells us God is “the builder of all things.”
Yes, Jesus was more than a small-town carpenter. He built the heavens and earth. Jesus built a global church from a small number of men and women. If He can build the heavens and all creation and if He can recreate us at our spiritual birth, He can remodel us and in fact, wants to.
If we have attempted to improve ourself but failed, perhaps it’s because we have been attempting a DIY (Do It Yourself) makeover and we need a professional.
Ask the Lord, the builder of all things, to reconstruct your thoughts, to remodel your desires, and to enlarge the sunroom of your heart so it is a place where He and you meet. Ask Jesus to remodel you to think and look like Him.
Jesus, BUILDER OF ALL THINGS, You are my Savior Carpenter. You took nails that were meant for me on Your holy body. Reconstruct my mind and heart so I am a holy place in whom You dwell; where others can draw near and see You.
Which Star Are You Following?
Curious and apprehensive about who was scheduled to perform for a halftime show since some past stars had been inappropriate, I did a quick search. Watching a few minutes of one of his music videos, I was relieved that his performance appeared to be family friendly.
Today, there are many influential stars. They have fans who follow their every move, who believe what they say or write, and imitate how they dress and what they do. When they perform their producers shine bright lights on them.
Thank goodness, there is another star, more famous than anyone. His influence is positive and remains long after other stars have come and burned out. His name is Jesus Christ and in Revelation 22:16, He announces, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
Jesus is the bright morning star who outshines all others. He is the star on whom we are to set our gaze. He is the star we are to follow. His voice is the one we should listen to so often that we know His verses by heart and we hum them through the day.
So when you watch earthly stars rise and fall, be assured that Jesus, the Bright Morning Star, will shine brightly forever.
Jesus, BRIGHT MORNING STAR, there is no one more glorious than You.
When Did You Become Christ’s Bride?
Are you married? If so, do you remember where and when? I was married in an outdoor tabernacle on a wooden pew when I was 12. Oh, I’m not talking about when I married my husband, Keith. I’m talking about when I said yes to Jesus – to be His bride. I was at a youth camp and the Holy Spirit convicted me during the evening service that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. I acknowledged my sin and confessed Jesus as Lord and Savior. He drew me close. He took my hand in His nail-scarred hand. Jesus forgave my sins and betrothed me to Himself before the Heavenly Father and angels. One day, I will see Him face to face. He is coming for me and for all who have responded to His invitation; just as Matthew 25:6 says,
“Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”
What can we expect if we have said yes to Jesus’ invitation to be united to Him? We can expect His continual presence, love, and the grandest of celebrations at what Jesus describes in Matthew 22:2 as a wedding feast and Revelation 19:9 describes as a marriage supper. “Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Jesus, BRIDEGROOM of all who accept Your proposal to be saved, thank You for coming to earth and for loving us and taking us as Your own. We rejoice and love You so much.
Bite, Chew, Graze
Are you hungry? Is there a gnawing in you? Do you feel that something is missing? Do you feel that no matter what you do, purchase, or where you go, you still want more? Do you fill the emptiness but it quickly returns?
If so, maybe it’s your spirit that is hungry. If that is the case, the solution isn’t more food, clothes, or earthly success. The solution is Jesus who describes Himself in John 6:51 as the bread of life who came from heaven. “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”
Jesus is to our spirit what food is to our body. Our body can’t live without food. Our spirit can’t live without Jesus.
Receive Christ as Savior if you haven’t already. Then, begin each day with bite-size Bible verses. Chew on them throughout the day. At night, graze on the promises of God. Go to sleep with your soul filled and satisfied in Christ. Wake hungry for more of Jesus. Grow as a Christian and feed others.
Lord Jesus, we praise You, BREAD OF LIFE. Thank You for coming from heaven and being to our spirit what food is to our body. Help us recognize our hunger is only filled by You. Increase our appetite for Scripture so by it we grow in respect to our salvation.