Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Draw close to Jesus”

One of the most frightening aspects of the COVID 19 virus is that it is invisible. You can’t see it and you don’t even know it’s there until it’s too late. The similarity to demonic activity is amazing. You can’t see demons either, and likewise you usually don’t realize the severity of their attack on you until it’s too late and you are already experiencing the results of it in your life.

When dealing with demons, even though we can’t see them, we take it on faith that they are there and we do the things the Bible tells us we must do in order to protect ourselves from them (Ephesians 6:10-18). The situation is similar for the coronavirus. We can’t see it either but it is there and we do have the instructions we need in order to be prepared to protect ourselves and our loved ones. We need to simply have faith and do our part.

The experts in infectious disease control, along with our government leaders who are all tracking the progress of this pandemic and who are paying close attention to the forecast models, tell us that the worst is yet to come. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re likely to see a dramatic spike in the number of infections and in the death rate. Therefore, a lot of people are living in fear.

In 1 Peter 5:6-7 the apostle Peter told us what to do about that. We’re battling a deadly invisible foe and we need the Lord’s help. We can’t see demons, but God can. Likewise, we can’t see the coronavirus, but God can. More than ever, this is a time for all of us to be on our knees in humble submission before the Lord, asking for His protection and trusting in His goodness and His grace. Peter assures us that if we will do that, we will find that we can cast those cares upon Him and then trust in His care and protection.

You don’t need to live in fear – fear of demons or fear of the coronavirus. I encourage you to humble yourself before the Lord. Draw near to Jesus and trust in His love for you and your loved ones. Ask Him to protect you and then trust in His goodness and grace. We’ll think more about this tomorrow.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “But Naaman got angry and left, saying, ‘I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.” 2 Kings 5:11 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God normally works in low-key, subtle ways.”

There’s an Old Testament story which helps to illustrate the New Testament principle we were considering yesterday about the Christian life being “a long obedience in the same direction”. We find it in 2 Kings chapter 5 and it involved an army commander by the name of Naaman. Naaman was the commander of all the armies for the king of Aram, and he had leprosy. He was told there was a Jewish prophet in the land of Israel by the name of Elisha who performed amazing miracles. So Naaman received permission from the king to travel to Israel and to seek a miraculous healing from Elisha.

As 2 Kings 5:11 reveals, Naaman was expecting to experience a big dramatic miracle. Instead, Elisha didn’t even come out to meet the great General. He simply sent word via a messenger that Naaman was to go to the river, dip himself seven times, and he would be healed. But Naaman was thinking, “That’s it? He’s telling me to go take a bath? What kind of miracle is that?” He felt disrespected and disappointed and so he stomped away mad. Fortunately for him a servant convinced him to just do what the prophet said, and sure enough when he did, he was healed!

Oftentimes we expect to experience God in spectacular ways and if we don’t, we believe we haven’t experienced Him at all. But nothing could be further from the truth! Although God does sometimes work in sensational ways, more often He is subtle. I once knew a man who had advanced prostate cancer. It was confirmed three times. But after a time of intense group prayer over the cancer, suddenly it simply wasn’t there anymore. The doctors were stunned and couldn’t explain it. That was more than twenty years ago and the cancer never came back! It was a healing miracle and it was spectacular. But more often in such cases God uses medical science, applied slowly and progressively over time, to bring about healings like that. It’s a still from the hand of God, and it’s still a miracle, but it’s much more subtle and less dramatic than the cancer simply disappearing before any chemotherapy could even be applied.

Likewise, sometimes in a worship service we sense an overwhelming movement of the Spirit of God in our heart and the next thing we know, we’re kneeling at the altar with tears flowing down our cheeks. That’s powerful and it happens sometimes. But most worship experiences are not like that. More often our experience of God is a subtle sense of peace and joy as we encounter Him in the act of worship. It’s still an encounter with God, and it’s still nurturing and renewing and it’s pleasing to both Him and to us, but it’s not like those other more dramatic experiences.

God’s normal interaction with us is usually low-key. Part of our spiritual growth involves learning to recognize and appreciate God’s work in our lives even when it is quiet and subtle.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The Christian life is a long obedience in the same direction.”

I believe it was pastor and author Eugene Peterson who originally coined the phrase “a long obedience in the same direction” to describe the Christian life. What he meant was that for the most part, the Christian life consists of simply doing the right things over and over and over again. Those things are usually not spectacular or even noteworthy in any special way. Instead they are mostly small things (but the right things), incorporated into our daily lives and then accomplished faithfully as a matter of routine.

In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul was describing an example of a long obedience in the same direction. In that case he was referring to the process of sanctification in the life of the Christian. Sanctification is the process whereby, over the course of a lifetime, the Holy Spirit slowly and progressively molds you and shapes you into the man or woman God wants you to be. For your part, you must cooperate in that process by incorporating into your daily life the basic disciplines of the Christian life. Those disciplines would include things like prayer, Bible study, scripture memorization, worship, fellowship, acts of service, etc. The more those practices are a regular part of your daily life, the more you are placing yourself in a position before God whereby the Holy Spirit can transform you. That’s a long obedience in the same direction and it’s what Paul was describing in that passage.

In a similar but slightly different way, that same principle applies to all of us right now as we work our way through this COVID 19 pandemic. There are some basic things we all need to be doing, some rules and guidelines we all need to be faithfully following, to get us through this time. We need to stay home as much as possible; we need to cough and sneeze into our sleeves so the germs don’t spread to others; we need to wash our hands frequently; if we feel sick we need to immediately seek medical treatment; and in the middle of it all, we need to remember to bless and encourage others as we seek to help them through this time as well. And also, we need to honor God by the way we conduct ourselves in the middle of this trial.

It’s a long obedience in the same direction that’s required of us right now. We have to patiently exercise basic disciplines, over a period of weeks or perhaps even a couple of months, and if we do, this will pass and we will be through it.

So please, be disciplined, be patient, and do your part.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.” 2 Peter 1:12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Repetition is the key to learning”

“Repetition is the key to learning” is a basic educational principle that every teacher is aware of, and it’s what Peter was referring to in 2 Peter 1:12. The more often and the more ways an important truth is taught, the better the learner will learn it and retain it.

As we turn the corner into April, and as we continue our theme of “Life on this side of the cross”, I want to pause and review some of the most important truths we have learned thus far. My approach has been to present the fundamental truths about life on this side of the cross in a sequential and progressive way, beginning with the incarnation of Christ and what that meant for the human race. Here are some of the key verses and topics we have considered so far:

• Jesus ushered the world into a new and final age of human history. This age is different from any other there has ever been. There is now an entirely new way of being in relationship with God that was never possible before. (Matthew 13:16)

• On the cross there was a great substitution that took place with Jesus getting all of our sins, and us getting all of His righteousness. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• We need Jesus to be our Savior, but we also must follow Him as Lord. (Luke 6:46)

• We spent multiple days considering the tremendous impact the presence of the Holy Spirit makes in our lives. (Acts 2:1-4)

• We learned about why God has left us here on planet earth instead of taking us straight to heaven once we were saved; and we learned about our role in His kingdom-building work here on earth (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)

• We spent multiple days considering the impact the followers of Christ are having around the world as we minister to lost and hurting people in His name. (Matthew 5:13-14; Galatians 5:22-23)

• We learned that despite the opposition we face from Satan and his demonic hordes, even the devil’s best efforts cannot stop us. (Matthew 16:16-18)

• We spent multiple days considering how we, the followers of Jesus, can and should be making a powerful difference for the cause of Christ in the middle of this worldwide COVID 19 pandemic. (Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:4; James 4:17)

• We also considered the amazing truth that in Jesus’ own estimation, the combined efforts of His followers working in the world on His behalf would ultimately add-up to doing even greater works than He did when He was here on earth. (John 14:12)

• And finally, we spent several days considering whether or not God Himself created and sent the COVID 19 virus upon the earth as some form of punishment, and how the pandemic relates to End Times prophecy. (Galatians 6:7; Matthew 24:36-39)

We actually covered much more than that, but there’s a summary just to remind us of the highlights of what we’ve learned so far. If you missed any of those lessons, or if would like to study them again, let me know and I will be happy to send them to you.

There’s much more to learn about life on this side of the cross and so tomorrow we will get back to it.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Trouble is normal.”

In John 16:33, on the night before He was to be crucified, Jesus assured us that in this world we will have trouble. Well boy did He nail that one! This is a world filled with trouble. And it always has been. Jesus spoke those words almost 2000 years ago. They were true then and they have continued to be true every day since then.

And yet, on this side of the cross we are empowered by the Spirit of God to have peace in the middle of it all. Jesus conquered the world, and by means of our faith in Him, so can we. We don’t have to live in fear, nor should we be discouraged and defeated by the challenges we face. I have often said that life with Jesus is always better than without Him, and that’s true regardless of the circumstances of your life. Whether your life is lived in a mansion in Beverly Hills, or in a hut in a remote part of Africa; whether the circumstances of your life include good health and prosperity, or sickness and poverty; whether the nation is enjoying peace and a strong economy, or if worldwide pandemic has plunged us all into isolation and a recession. Whatever the circumstances, life is always better with Jesus than without Him.

And also, the stronger your relationship with Him is the better equipped you will be to deal with whatever those circumstances are. That’s why we place so much emphasis on good discipleship practices as an integral part of the practice of the Christian faith. And it’s why, during tough times, we all need to lean into our relationship with Christ and rely on Him even more.

I began this series “Life on this side of the cross” with the intention of preparing us for our celebration of Easter. I wanted to help us better appreciate what a monumental shift in human history the death and resurrection of Jesus was. At that time, I had no idea we were about to be engulfed in a worldwide pandemic that would dramatically alter our lives as it has. Therefore, understanding the difference Jesus makes in our lives, and how it is that we are to live on this side of the cross as His faithful followers, is even more important now than it was just four short weeks ago. That being the case, I have decided to continue this theme into April. There’s much more we can learn about “Life on this side of the cross”, and I think we need those lessons now more than ever.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, ‘Get up and eat.’ Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.” 1 Kings 19:4-6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Accept the downtime as a gift.”

Elijah was a great man of God, a powerful prophet, and he was busy, busy, busy with lots of important things to do. In 1 Kings chapter 18 we find him involved in a major confrontation with the evil king Ahab and 450 priests of the pagan God Baal. It was a titanic spiritual battle that lasted all day and which Elijah finally won. All 450 priests of Baal were defeated and executed, and the crowd of people observing the contest acknowledged that Jehovah is the One True God.

By the time that was all over Elijah was spent. He was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually drained. In 1 Kings 19:4-6 (above) we then find that he ran away from life and was hiding in a cave in the desert. He was depressed and dejected and ready to throw-in-the-towel. So, God sent an angel to minister to him there in the quietness of his seclusion. Elijah ate and slept and prayed. Then he ate some more and he slept some more and then he was revived (proving once again that sometimes the most spiritual thing a person can do is to take a nap!)

In 2015 the Korean-German philosopher Byung-Chul Han wrote a book entitled “The Burnout Society”. Based upon an exhaustive study of western society, Han concluded that our hectic and pressured-filled lifestyles have brought us to the point that we are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted “all the time”. Yes, pretty much all the time. That has become our state of being. Han wrote, “They are too alive to die, and too dead to live.” Ow! Anyone feeling that?

As we all continue to contend with the social distancing, isolation, and even mandatory “stay at home” orders that have been implemented in many places as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, it would be easy to view it all in a negative light. Yes, it is inconvenient. True, the kids are missing school and adults are missing work. Many people are suffering serious loss of income. Many others have no idea what to do with themselves now that they have all this time on their hands.

But I want to encourage you to redeem the time. Embrace the change of pace. In some respects, this downtime might be good for you. Get a full night’s sleep for a change. Relax. Exercise more. Read some good books. Pray. Read your Bible more. Maybe, as a society, in some way, we actually needed this downtime. Maybe in the long run it will bring about some good changes in the way we all live. Granted, that still doesn’t mitigate the bad impacts of the pandemic, but it does help us to see that there can be some good that comes out of the bad. This is happening to you whether you like it or not. So, look for the good and embrace it. Redeem the time. Accept it as a gift.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen, and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family.” Hebrews 11:7 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Be ready; help others to be ready; and then live your life.”

In yesterday’s devotional I noted that there are many people today claiming that the COVID 19 pandemic is a clear sign that we are living in the End Times. In that message I cited Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24:36-39 which drew upon the example of Noah. In that passage Jesus said first, that no one can know when the end will come. And second, even in the days of Noah people were going about their daily lives, completely unaware that the end was upon them.

I believe there are two important lessons for us in that passage. First, Jesus paints a sad picture of people who had ignored more than 100 years of preaching and warnings from Noah that God was preparing to bring judgment upon the world. Therefore, when the end did come, they weren’t ready for it. Instead, they were so wrapped up in their daily lives that they were oblivious to the peril of the times and they weren’t ready when the judgment came.

However, the other lesson is that nobody knows when the end will come. That’s true today and it was true in Noah’s day (including for Noah himself). If we do the math in Genesis chapters six and seven, we realize that from the time God told Noah to begin his preparations, until the time the flood actually came, more than 100 years passed. During those years Noah simply lived his life. He got up each day and went to work; he raised his kids; he interacted with his neighbors; and he faithfully followed the Lord’s instructions (Hebrew 11:7). Noah didn’t know if the end would come in a year, or ten years, or a hundred years, or five hundred years. All he knew was that he was to live his life as a faithful man of God, and do his part to prepare himself and others so they would be ready whenever the end did come.

That’s also what we are to be doing. God has intentionally left us in the dark with respect to when the End Times will be. He has told us to be ready at all times and to help others to be ready too, but then we are to simply live our lives and trust in His timing.

This is important. In our day there are people who are convinced that the end is upon us and therefore there is no reason to make long-term plans or to prepare for any future here on earth. I know a family where the parents were so convinced of this (for more than twenty years now and counting), that they made no plans to send their children to college, or to get them vocational training, or to prepare them in any other way for a future – because their belief was that there wasn’t going to be a future because Jesus would come back first. Unfortunately, Jesus has not come back and that thinking has left those children unprepared for the future that is now upon them.

On this side of the cross God has created an intentional tension within which we are to live. On the one hand we are to live as if Jesus could come back today, but then we are to plan and prepare as if He isn’t coming back for another 100 years. We are to be at peace with God ourselves, and we are to help others be in a right relationship with Him too; but then we are to live our lives and plan for our futures. We are to help build hospitals and schools; we are to plan for our children’s college educations; and we are to save for our own retirement. We are to live as if Jesus could come back today, but we are to plan and work as if He isn’t coming back for another 100 years.

In all probability this COVID 19 pandemic is just another in a long, long history of plagues, famines, and natural disasters that are simply part of life in a broken and bleeding world. There have been many disasters like this over the last 2000 years, and there will probably be many more in the years, decades, and perhaps centuries ahead. Rather than concluding that this must be the end of time, and then acting like it, we are to simply get on with life as faithful followers of Jesus.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Our theme for this month: “Life on this side of the cross”

Our Bible verse for today: “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows – neither the angels of heaven nor the Son – except the Father alone. As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark. They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be.” Matthew 24:36-39 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Does the COVID 19 pandemic prove we’re living in the End Times?”

I was once at a gathering of Pastors and some of us were discussing whether or not we were living in the End Times. There were events taking place in the world at that time which seemed to provide proof that Biblical End Times prophecy was unfolding before our eyes (this was twenty-five years ago). In the middle of the conversation I offered the brilliant insight that “Well, we’re certainly closer to the end now than we ever were before!”. And … there was silence. After a moment, as we all stood quietly in the awkwardness, one of them said, “Well, I suppose that is true. Today we are one day closer to the end than we were yesterday, and tomorrow we will be one day closer than we are today. Someday Jesus will in fact return and every day between now and then brings us one day closer.”

Well, duh! Look at me being “Captain Obvious”. Yes, each day that passes brings us one day closer to the Second Coming of Jesus and to the end of time. But does that mean it’s right around the corner?  Does the COVID 19 pandemic prove that Biblical prophecy is unfolding before our eyes? Maybe, but probably not. Twenty-five years ago many of us thought the events of that day were signs of the end. And we were wrong. Twenty-five years later we’re still here.

Every generation since the time of Jesus has believed there were events taking place in their world that seemed to line up with End Times prophecy. And they have all been wrong. Over the course of 2000 years, generation after generation, through wars and natural disasters and plagues, group after group has claimed that the events of their day were lock-step in-synch with Biblical prophecy and therefore the end was upon them. And they have all been wrong.

Therefore, historically, statistically, and Biblically, there’s a strong probability that those claiming today’s events point to the end of time are probably wrong too. As Jesus explained in Matthew 24:36-39 quoted above, we cannot know the time. It could be today, or tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, or a thousand. (Even Noah didn’t know the time. All he knew was that he needed to be ready whenever it came).

We don’t know when the End Times will commence. We’re not supposed to know. And that’s where we need to take this discussion in tomorrow’s devotional. Why does God not allow us to know such things? And since He has chosen for us to not know, how are we supposed to live in the middle of not knowing? There’s actually a very helpful lesson to be found in Jesus’ example of “the days of Noah” about End Times theology and about how we’re supposed to live between now and then. We’ll look at that tomorrow.

God Bless,
Pastor Jim