Beyond Ourselves

Things aren’t always what they seem.  And, simply because things appear one way in a moment of time, it doesn’t mean they’ll stay that way.  Case in point: Jesus. If we’d been in Jerusalem when Jesus was hanging on the cross, we might have concluded: “Jesus failed.”  However, what appeared to be Jesus’s lowest moment was in fact God’s highest plan being accomplished. Three days after Jesus’s death on the cross, God raised Him. So the moment was really: “God’s plan succeeded. Jesus won.”  Isaiah 52:13 prophesied, “Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be HIGH and LIFTED UP and greatly exalted.” Jesus is seated at the right hand of God – HIGH AND LIFTED UP – greatly exalted. The next time you feel like a failure and that God’s plan isn’t working, remember Christ. A moment doesn’t define you or your destiny. Look up and pray in faith and trust to your Heavenly Father who can move mountains and bring success out of defeat and positive changes in your circumstances.

We praise You, Lord Jesus, HIGH, and LIFTED UP; greatly exalted. 

Can you imagine the conversations that took place after God raised Jesus from the dead? Some didn’t believe it at first. Others couldn’t help but acknowledge His resurrection when they saw Jesus, touched Him, and observed Him eating fish. He wasn’t a ghost. He wasn’t a figment of their imagination. Five hundred people witnessed seeing the resurrected PRINCE OF LIFE. In other words, Jesus IS LIFE and He walked right back into their life. Is the PRINCE OF LIFE walking in our life? Are we aware of His presence? Are we experiencing His peace within ourselves? Are we mindful that just as He is alive and not in the grave our loved ones who have died are not dead, but alive, and that we won’t be dead even after our body is in the grave? The Prince of Life is with us when we walk the corridor of death. We and our loved ones will never be alone. We need not fear.

Lord Jesus, we praise You, the ever present PRINCE of LIFE. 

“…you put to death the PRINCE OF LIFE, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.” Acts 3:15

Are you familiar with the Rolling Stones’ 1965 song “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”?  Keith Richards and Mick Jagger’s lyrics, “can’t get no satisfaction” resonated with people in the 1960’s and also today. But do you know who has found satisfaction? God. First John 2:2 says, “He (Jesus) Himself is the PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”  The word propitiation means satisfaction. This verse tells us that Jesus satisfied God’s righteous requirement that sin be dealt with rather than ignored. How did Jesus do that? He substituted His life for ours. How incredible! If we haven’t thanked Jesus lately for satisfying God’s righteous requirements of the law, now would be a good time to do that. 

Jesus, thank You for sacrificing Your life and being the propitiation for our sins. We love you so! 

Have you ever promised something and then didn’t fulfill your promise? If you have, you know what a horrible feeling it is. Maybe we promised, “I’ll never say that again.” Then we did. Or, maybe we said to God, “I promise if you get me out of this mess, I’ll do better next time.” Then we failed to do as we said. Or, maybe we don’t trust people because they’ve made promises to us they didn’t keep. When it comes to God, however, Romans 4:21 assures us “that what God PROMISED, He was able also to perform.” In other words, other people, or we, may be well-intentioned, but fail. Not God, though. What He promises, He will do. What a blessing to know that God keeps His promises.  In the midst of failed promises and lies, it’s a great time for us to read God’s promises in the Bible.  We can smile as we read them because we know they are true. Which of God’s promises are your favorites? Please let me know in the “Comment” section below. I’d love to hear from you.

Heavenly Father, in a world that is filled with lies, failed promises, we praise You for being a faithful promise keeper.  

Have you ever thought of God as being a Life Preserver? Psalm 116:6 describes Him that way. “The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.”  The word preserve means to save a life.  No doubt, Jesus fits the description. He rescues the person who is drowning in sin and calls to Jesus for salvation.  We understand the need for someone to save us from drowning in raging waters.  Do we understand the need for Jesus to save us from drowning in raging sin? We understand the need to be saved from physical death. Do we understand the need to be saved from spiritual death?

Jesus, You are the only One who can rescue us from sin and preserve our soul for eternity. We call to You. 

Are you familiar with the legal term “double jeopardy”? It means that a person can’t be tried for the same crime two times. In God’s system, it means the same which is an incredible blessing. Jesus was tried for all the sins we’ve ever committed and will commit. God has promised to not try us for our sins that Jesus has already been convicted of and paid the debt. As if that’s not enough of a huge eternal blessing, there’s more! Hebrews 2:17 explains that after Jesus died for our sins, He entered into God’s presence and became our High Priest. The resurrected Christ is seated at God’s right hand praying for us. Go to Him in gratitude. Live for Him in joy.

Lord Jesus, we praise You, our Lord and high PRIEST!  Thank You for taking our place at the judgment seat and dying for our sins.  How can we serve You?

“Therefore, He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high PRIEST in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”  Hebrews 2:17

It’s messy. It’s hands-on. It’s a commitment. It’s time-consuming. It’s up close and personal. What is messy, hands-on, time consuming, and up close and personal? Being a potter, which is how God is described in Isaiah 64:8. “O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You are our POTTER, And all of us are the work of Your hand.” If you feel like your life is spinning out of control, remember that you’re in the divine Potter’s hands. He’s not going to let you fly off His Potter’s wheel. Rather, just the opposite. He’s molding and shaping you into a vessel of honor and glory. Rest in the divine glory of His hands. 

Heavenly Father, we praise You that You are our Potter. Thank You for intimately shaping us into a divine vessel.

Ha! If you know me, you know I’m not giving advice about how to be perfect because I’m anything but that. If you’ve ever hung your head in shame because of sin, I can relate. If you ever feel horrible about something you did or said, I’m with you.  It’s easy to get discouraged when we know the right thing to do and don’t do it. In those times it helps to remember God’s words to us in 1 Peter 5:10. “…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen, and establish YOU.”  Whew! God will PERFECT us. We can’t become perfect through our human effort.  Are we responsible for cooperating with God? Yes.  We’re to renew our minds according to the Bible.  We’re to learn how to prayerfully walk by Christ’s Spirit. The next time we sin, rather than simply walk around with our head hanging low, let’s take hold of the Bible and put our minds to it. Let’s ask God to perfect our walk with Him and others.

Lord, thank You for not only calling us to Your eternal glory but for also taking it upon Yourself to PERFECT us. We love You and give You praise!  

“…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”  1 Peter 5:10

Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you “Chin up! Everything will get better.”  I get it. People may be well-intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs for the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16  tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace. Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I experienced it when my parents were dying. In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace. Changing the position of our chin doesn’t change anything. Opening our hearts to the Prince of Peace changes everything. 

Thank You, Prince of PEACE, that You supersede circumstances. Fill us with Your peace that is not of this world.

“Now may the LORD of PEACE Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”                    2 Thessalonians 3:16