Beyond Ourselves

Jesus came to earth as a baby so He might grow into a man, but not just any man. He came from heaven as our MESSIAH. Andrew heard John the Baptist announce that Jesus was the Lamb of God who had come to take away the sins of the world. Andrew followed Jesus and after spending time with Him, went and told his brother, Simon Peter, “We have found the MESSIAH,” John 1:41.  Andrew was intentional about his search for the Messiah and after finding Him, was intentional about telling others. What ways can we be more intentional about sharing Christ with others? We can begin by praying for the unsaved to turn to Christ. I label the last column in the Week at a Glance section of Prayers of My Heart: “Unsaved.” What can we pray for those who do not know Christ as Messiah? Here are 8 suggestions.

Jesus Christ, MESSIAH, You are love, forgiveness, hope, peace, and joy! Help us be as Andrew – intentional about following You and telling others about You.

Have you ever explored a black cave with only a dim flashlight? Some time ago, I had the opportunity to walk two miles in a black cave. Did I say “opportunity?” It was only because I knew my time in the cave was temporary. Had I thought I couldn’t get out, I would have gone mad. Is that what hell is? Trapped in what Colossians 1:13 describes as a “domain of darkness?” Jesus Christ is light. The beauty of the heavens reflect His nature. Close your eyes and picture an eternity of despairing people screaming for release from Satan’s dark domain. Now open them and praise Jesus, whom Malachi refers to as “the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT,” Malachi 4:1. “’And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,’ says the Lord of hosts.”  Having been in the cave makes me mindful of how important it is to live a celebratory life. Why? There are people who don’t know Jesus, the Messenger of the Covenant, and that He can save them from the black torment of eternal damnation. We have the opportunity to be Christ’s Light in our world. Are we a bright or dim flashlight pointing others to Him?

Lord Jesus Christ, MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, thank You for releasing us from the domain of darkness! Help us be mindfully joyful over our freedom and take every opportunity to shine brightly and point others to You.

In 1953 Baskin Robbins wowed ice cream lovers by offering customers a choice of 31 flavors.  That’s a great offer for ice cream, but unfortunately, our world has adopted a “31” viewpoint concerning salvation. In other words, we’ve decided we can be reconciled to God through the plan of our choice, be it self-improvement, doing good things, or a world religion of our choosing. But not so warns God throughout Scripture such as in 1 Timothy 2:5, “There is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” If we think we can make a Baskin Robbin choice of how we’re reconciled to God, we’re wrong. God has chosen how we can be reconciled to Him, and it is through His Son.  Christ Jesus is the ONE MEDIATOR who can reconcile us to God for eternity. 

Christ Jesus, We praise You, our MEDIATOR, for making peace between Your Father and our Father.

Jesus told a parable in Luke 19:11-22 portraying Himself as a nobleman who went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for Himself and then return. Before He departed, the nobleman gave talents to His servants so they could carry on His business while He was away. Two of the servants took seriously what He entrusted them to do. When the nobleman returned, he honored them and entrusted more to them. But he called the servant who didn’t do anything with the talent he had given him, “worthless.” (Luke 19:11-22) Let’s break this down. Jesus is the nobleman. At salvation, He entrusts a spiritual gift to every believer so we can do His work on earth while He is in heaven. We are either faithfully doing the good works He’s prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10) or we’re unfaithful to His calling. What has He called you to do today?

Jesus Christ, heaven’s nobleman, stir our hearts to serve You well.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the MERCY You show us every day. Fill us with Your Spirit of mercy toward others.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is MERCIFUL,”  Luke 6:36.

We like our freedom, right? We may have heard someone tout, “No one is going to tell me what to do!” Maybe we’ve said that. But, here’s some news that may shock you. God has the right to tell us what to do because He owns us. That’s right. He is our MASTER as Colossians 4:1 explains: “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a MASTER in heaven,”  Yes, we have a MASTER. Does that please you or cause your hair to bristle?  What is the implication of us having a master? The word, “master” in Colossians 4:1 means “owner; one who has control of the person.” Maybe we’ve never thought about God “owning” us, but, it isn’t a one time teaching in the Bible. First Corinthians 6:10 explains we’ve been “bought with a price.” Romans 6:16 says we are slaves to sin or righteousness. Who do you prefer to be your master: satan or Jesus?  I bet you’re waving your hand for Jesus.

Let’s think further. If Jesus is our Master, then what should be our posture before Him? I wonder if sometimes we’re too flippant. I wonder if we’ll “about die” (if it were possible) when we’re in heaven and see Jesus in His glory? I wonder if we’ll wish we had bowed before Him every morning and asked how we might serve Him. We have a MASTER in heaven. He’s a glorious, giving, gracious Master. Let’s serve Him well today with a smile on our faces.

Heavenly Master, we worship and adore You and cannot wait to continue our worship of You in heaven. Remind us throughout our days to serve You well.

                                                             

“Why?” That was the question millennials asked me at a conference where I was speaking. Why this… Why that… “I guess that’s why we’re called the Y Generation,” a 29-year-old explained. “We want to know why.”

Millennials, the “Y Generation,” are those born during the 1980s and early 1990s. They’re the children of baby boomers. Those in Generation Y aren’t prone to accept pat answers. In other words, just because a preacher, teacher, or parent says something, that doesn’t necessarily make it true.  So how do we answer their question, “Why believe in and follow Jesus?”  For this reason: Jesus demonstrated that He was more than man. People witnessed His resurrection from the dead three days after He had been crucified by skilled executioners. Jesus was who He proclaimed to be – the way, truth, and life. Peter, a witness of His life, death, burial, and ascension into heaven spells it out, “there is no other name under heaven that has been given by which we must be saved,” Acts 4:12. That’s why. There is no other name by which we are saved. Confidently, boldly, gladly speak the truth out loud to the Y Generation and everyone else.

Jesus, name above all names, we praise You, Lord and Savior. You are the answer, and we love You. 

Jesus told His disciples He was going to die and ascend to His Father in heaven; but that He would not leave them as orphans. (John 14:16-18) Jesus explained that He would send a Helper to them and the Helper would not only be with them, but He would also be IN them. You can’t get more NEAR to someone than to be IN them. And, that is God’s gift to believers.  Christ’s Holy Spirit is IN you. NEAR. Not far away. NEAR. Not inaccessible. Still not convinced? Listen to what Psalm 145:18 says, “The LORD is NEAR to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” Call on God in sincerity and truth. He’s NEAR.

LORD, You are NEAR, not far removed. Thank You that we can call on You in sincerity and truth.