Reading these chapters in the Gospel of Matthew, I get upset with Jesus’ disciples. Don’t you? If not, why not? After all, how dense can they be? Okay, what do I mean? Maybe I should get off my high horse and cut them some slack. Think so? Well, let me explain and try to get back into your good graces, if I can.

In Matthew 14, we read of the miracle of the feeding over 5000 people. From almost nothing in hand, Jesus feeds the multitude, leaving leftovers that fill twelve baskets. The point is that whatever is in Jesus’ hands, more will come if He so desires. The sky’s the limit. Really, there’s no limit. Period. Not with Our Lord. Get the point? Let that sink in. Fix it in your craw. I’ll try, too.

Then Jesus walks on water only to call Peter to do much the same, but this disciple finds himself sinking fast, looking everywhere around him in panic. And down goes Peter, but only for a moment. Jesus encourages His chief disciple to grow his faith a bit more–‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ (Matt. 14:31).

Sometime later, another crowd gathers to hear Jesus’ teaching and also receive physical healing. The day gets a bit long in the tooth, and the disciples get fidgety once again. What are they to do? Stomachs are growling all over the place. As recorded in Matthew 15, Jesus tells the disciples to feed these poor folk who are fainting with hunger. Feed them, already. But His followers are perplexed. How could they possibly feed over 4000 people with only 7 small loaves of bread and a couple of fish? Some might have laughed behind Jesus’ back. Others wonder why He keeps putting all these burdens on their backs without lifting a finger (!). I would have been in the griper group.

And once again, Jesus does it all, this time resulting in seven baskets full of life-giving leftovers. The light should go on. About what? In Jesus’ hands, nothing is too small for Him to make the right size to meet our needs. Should be obvious. But to Jesus’ bunch? Is anything getting through? Hello! Anybody home? How dense can they be?

Now read Matthew 16, and you’ll discover how much more dense they can be. Traveling to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, they remember what they forgot…food. No bread in the boat. The midnight buffet kaput. Not a crumb. Maybe one or two, but that’s it. Panic time. We’re going hungry, and what can we do? No help in sight, even with Jesus right there in the midst of them. They moan and groan about having nothing to eat (v.7).

Listen to what Jesus tells them–‘O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How is it that you fail to understand…’ (Matt. 16:8-11).

How dense can they be? Just them, huh? What about me? Or you? All the times the Lord has been there for me. Especially when it seemed I was in a death spiral, down and out, yet He lifted me up. How easily I forget about God’s fulfilled promises. His answered prayers…to my prayers. My cries for help find Him way ahead of me, taking care of messes before I mess them up. How many times must He keep proving Himself? That He’ll take care of me in His way and in His time? How many? Must I be so dense as to thank Him one moment only to come rushing back, reminding Jesus that He needs to get off His duff and help me? As in NOW!

So, who’s the dense one after all? Me? You? The disciples? The ones who saw Him face to face? On this multiple-choice test,the answer is ‘all of the above’. Isn’t it time to show some faith and trust in Jesus when something hits you totally out of the blue? He’ll never leave your side. Do the same with Him. Tell Him all about it. And have a little faith while you’re at it, for a change.

Thank you, Jesus, for being my Lord and Savior always. Amen.

You’ve read those two verses in Proverbs, right? Come on now. Do it. Won’t take but a few seconds. Notice what they say? About laziness (ch. 20) and humility (ch. 22)? Both resonate with me. Lazy, I’ve not been. Well, you could say that I am in certain areas, as with mechanical issues. I’m not like my brother, who is a genius with his hands and mind. I truly admire him. But I’m not lazy. Just realistic. I don’t enjoy making projects worse than they were. Pay the professionals and get it done right! Amen? Amen!

When it came to education, I always wanted to do my best. Study hard. Hit the books early. Go to the top schools when I could afford them, and be admitted. No forgiving of student loans for me. I paid back every last dime. Took years and years, but a debt owed was a debt paid… in full, interest included. I worked a couple of jobs, both in college and graduate school. The amount of debt was minimal by today’s standards, yet it still required 8 years, clipping monthly coupons to reduce what I owed down to zero. My parents helped with undergraduate costs. Sadly, I don’t think I showed them proper gratitude. I know they sacrificed. Wish I could thank them now.

I worked hard in my two professions to be better than the average Joe. To give back more than the required minimum. Adding extra value for parishioners, as well as to financial planning clients, when I worked for a large US investment firm. Do more than expected. Certainly do what you said you would. But even then, one church I served briefly turned out to be a dead end, leaving me out of work for the first and last time in my life. It was brutal. No one won. I was at fault in some ways, but was given the short end of the stick by only a few who demanded their own way or else. And they got it to no one’s benefit, even their own.

It’s ironic how the Lord works in our lives, even in what looks like abject failure. Almost 20 years after crashing out of that church, I find myself the pastor of another congregation, in a different denomination,right down the street and around the corner from the first one. Really? Me? And it’s serving again in that same town that I was voted by the populous the first ‘Best Pastor for Two Counties’ for our local newspaper’s annual ‘Best of…’ section. Really? Me? Am I dreaming?

How did that happen? Only one explanation. The Lord. For I still wanted to serve Him. No particular type of service roamed around in my mind. But wanting what was on His mind for a change. As a young pastor, I was filled with myself. That tempting pastoral career ladder. Always looking for that leg up into an ego-gratifying church. More and more. Upwards and onwards. Big…bigger…biggest..boom and.bust! Crashing in some distant ministerial canyon.

As I look back, trusting more in my Lord and His will, all this pain and suffering turned out to be beneficial. Made me wake up to what’s important. Like serving Jesus. Being faithful to Him. Seeing what He wants of a church family. Doing what’s best for others. For Him. With a living and loving relationship with my Savior, the best of all.

See the difference? Humility has to be shoved down my throat, resulting in much less resisting His way. Not perfectly. Always need improvement. Nevertheless, a lovely piece of humble pie!

You too? Seek God’s will first and foremost. At least, get off the dime. If necessary, get shoved His direction, for a change. Don’t be afraid, as I was. And usually am. I keep reminding myself that Jesus really does have a great plan for my life. And yours. Really? Did I hear an ‘Amen’? Even a faint one?

Thank you, Lord, for new beginnings in you. For Jesus’ sake ,this time forward. Amen.

‘Fiddler On The Roof’ was the first movie musical I ever saw. Such fun, with music to dance to and hum along with all day long, and yet it carried a certain sadness of antisemitism throughout. Of a people hated for no good reason. A group despised and taken advantage of. Some of the authorities didn’t have a clue as to why they had to be so mean and vengeful. Again, why?

Life since the original sin of Adam and Eve has taken a nasty turn. All the potential the Lord created becomes marred and scarred. We need not be surprised when the wheels fall off our life’s vehicle, and we wind up in some ditch, unable to get out on our own. Any hope out there? A tow truck to get us back on track? You know! Think of Tevye. Who? The main character in ‘Fiddler’, who, inspite of it all, still sings ‘To life! To life! L’chaim! L’chaim! L’chaim!’ To life’!

Better yet, turn to the Old Testament in your Bible. To Proverbs 19: 23–‘The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm’. This is a quote, not from Tevye, but from God Almighty.

‘L’chaim…to life…’ means to fear the Lord. Not because He’s some irrascible cosmic meanie, relishing getting back at us. No, not at all, uunless you shun Him continually. Tell Him to take a hike. Want nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with the One and Only. Then watch out, I’d say. Be forewarned.

But for believers, we fear by honoring our God, by respecting Jesus, and worshipping the Lord alone. Not some soupy, syrupy buddy-buddy familiarity, but with love and admiration and reverence. A mature relationship with our Lord brings us ‘L’chaim, To life’!

And don’t forget those blessings. Or imagine that those words about harm not coming our way mean that we’re immune to the virus of sin’s effects. I wish. But no guarantees are given here in Proverbs. Rather, principles to live by. That thumbing your nose at God will lead to no good eventually, and that when we love Him, blessings come our way. What exactly those will be, and when, and how, is for you to discover as I have.

Be surprised by the life God gives you. Open your eyes and get ready to experience all the good our Lord provides. How about the best blessing of all? You know. It’s the gift of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Just to be with our Lord can hardly be imagined. It’s beyond our finite minds capabilities. Way beyond. But will be ours one day. All that heavenly glory. Forever. That’s a promise you can count on even when this life dishes out more disappointments than we’d like or expect. Nevertheless, we can alway sing–

‘To life! To life! L’chaim! L’chaim! L’chaim! To life!’ And mean it.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the good life you give me. Amen.

Next to Christmas Day, the Fourth of July was my favorite holiday growing up. Independence Day! Back in my hometown, we had a full day of activities. Beginning at 7am, we could hear aerial salutes, fireworks going off at specific intervals with loud booms for probably a good hour. Then at 10am, it’s off to our high school field for a circus and a particularly scary high-wire act.

After a BBQ lunch at home, we scurry off to Taylor Park for a variety of rides–ponies, jeeps, twirling carnival ones, all culminating in each of us being allowed one free popsicle that usually dripped all over the place on a usually hot and humid summer day!

Another picnic BBQ at dinner time included lots of family before we packed up our blankets and headed back to the high school field for an amazing array of illuminations, culminating in a thunderous grand finale! From morning to night, all that fun was packed into one day.

Independence Day signals freedom. Here in the United States, it’s our 250th! As Christians, we know who gives us true freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom to live God’s way, choosing what’s right, as the Almighty One defines it. Freedom to be criticized for being a bigot when we’re trying our best to obey a higher power, rather than a bullying, god-defying crowd. Along with freedom to be humble, to listen to others, and keep our mouths shut, at times, for a change. Freedom.

Who gives us all of the above and then some? Jesus, of course! John 8:32–‘…and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ Jesus says that, and He means it. He also says that ‘…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ (John 14:6).

Jesus’ truth is easily found in the pages of God’s Word, the Bible. But isn’t it amazing how quickly knowledge of Scripture has gone out of favor in our time? Considered outdated. Medieval ignorance. Narrow-minded intolerance. Yet it’s here, in the truth of God’s Word, where we discover freedom. The truth that unleashes joy, happiness, and eternal life. So, what’s wrong? How have we gotten so far away from the Lord? You tell me.

What can we do about it? All I know is to take God’s Word seriously. Getting His truths deeper into my stubborn and willful mind and heart. I need more of God’s gospel, His good news. Lots more. Only me? Don’t you wish. Get with it yourself. Stop playing footsies with the Book of Books. No skimming allowed. Forget my ‘Speed Reading Dynamics’ shortcuts. We need to put the brakes on, never being low-minded godless groupies, ignoring what the Lord has to say. Get it? Then, let’s get cracking!

You see, we’re free to follow in the footsteps of the Master. But will we take that step?

Lord Jesus, thank you for the freedom I have only in you. Amen.

My wife has always loved camping. Grab her tent, some dehydrated food, and a sleeping bag, and she’s a happy camper. Me? Coming from the greater New York City area, the one time I went camping was with a church youth group. I carted a suitcase with me and looked the part of a total nerd, rightfully earned!

After we got married, off we went, traipsing to a beautiful place in the only rainforest in the continental United States, Lake Quinault, Washington State. Having been warned what to do if we encounter a cougar, a black bear, or a mountain lion, I can’t wait to be some wild beast’s lunch break.

With some of these varmint terminators, you’re supposed to stand tall, appearing bigger than you are. Make lots of noise. Bang on pots and pans. With others, don’t say a word. Shut your mouth. Get down on the ground. No eye contact with the predator. While with others, you should stare them down, eyeball to eyeball. Do this. Do that. Like I’m going to remember all this life-saving stuff while being mauled to death, having a fatal heart attack for good measure!

Off we go into the forest primeval. Toting all we need for a lovely couple of days of camping. No trouble in sight until I notice a mother bear with her two cute little cubs about twenty feet from us. What were those dos and don’ts? All I can think about is that I’ve reached the end of my earthly road on this backwoods trail. Well, what happens? Obviously, we survive as those three seem blissfully disinterested in those yahoos, traipsing through their forest home. Oh, thank you, Lord!

Proverbs 17: 12 says this–‘Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.’ Such a big warning about rubbing shoulders with a fool. A what? Yes, a fool. Someone who’s mindless and idiotic. In what ways? Check out the book of Proverbs, and you’ll find out. Fools waste time. Are lazy loafers. Get hooked on booze. Want nothing to do with God, refusing to follow Him. They blab on and on, rarely listening. Easily led astray into a variety of sins, especially of a sexual nature. Do whatever they want, regardless of the consequences. No limits. Selfish. Self-centered. Swelled heads. Know-it-all blowhards. Always taking care of numero uno. The whole lot of fools. Stay far away from them.

I hate to say this, but some of that list could have my name somewhat associated with it. Just little old me? Probably not. So, we’d better deal with our own folly. Watch out for mama-bear and her cubs, so to speak, fleeing sin that drags us down into a deathly wrestling match that we can’t win.

This week, let’s ask the Lord to show us areas in our lives from which only He can free us. I know that this is tough stuff. It is for me. But if we truly mean it, God will, in His own time, even with setbacks along the way, help us to get up and stand on our own two feet for Him. The Lord Jesus wants so much to guide us back onto His path. But only if our will is kicking into forward gear, involving much more than a half-hearted effort, idling aimlessly in neutral, almost tempted into reverse.

Ready? I think I am. I want to be. Let’s go!

Father, help me to be honest with you and to seek your help to be more like your Son, Jesus. For His sake. Amen.

It’s always a thrill to meet someone famous. Whether a noted preacher, a politician, an entertainer, or a star writer of weekly devotionals! Well, some of the above. I remember meeting Fred Rogers of children’s television fame. We were at a two day conference in New York City. The first day I went over to him and introduced myself, sharing how much my boys loved his television program. He was so gracious. The next morning, I see Mr. Rogers go out of his way, come right up to me, saying, ‘Good morning, John. How are you today?’ I think I responded, but I was in major shock. So, I’m not sure.

At another time, I met presidential candidate Jimmy Carter on the campaign trail. Then my wife and I attended a rally at Holland, Michigan, hosting President George W. Bush. One of the thousands in attendance, but what a charismatic moment and person.

Shaking hands with the Yankee Clipper, Joe DiMaggio, at Newark International Airport, was a biggie for this lifelong Yankee fan. I was thanking him for visiting me in the hospital when I was two years old and had polio. All the other children and I were in that Sister Kenny infantile paralysis ward that day. Somebody stole the autographed baseball Joe gave each of us. Greedy meanie.

Standing in a long line, headed by a big, burly, tough-looking security guard, I was greeting and talking with Pastor and author Max Lucado at his San Antonio Oak Hills Church. He said that he envied me for all the trips my wife and I had taken. Green-eyed Max Lucado? Jealous of me? Who’d a thunk!

Well, whether you’ve ever met anyone famous or not, if you’re a believer in Jesus, then you’ve come face to face with the very best. Famous beyond measure. Par excellence. The head of the class. Okay, already–you get to the point. Proverbs 14: 22 says this–‘Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness’. Let me introduce you to’steadfast love’ and ‘faithfulness’. Nice to meet you. Quite the thrill.

‘Steadfast love’ is one special word in biblical Hebrew. It doesn’t have an easy translation into the English language. So, we come up with other words and phrases that try to capture its meaning. Nice to know who you’re greeting, isn’t it? Of course. So ‘steadfast love’ is a commitment, a promise made and kept, standing alongside someone no matter what, immovable caring. On and on, we could go, but I imagine you get the gist.

When you welcome Jesus into your life, He gives you His ‘steadfast love’. Nothing flighty, never leaving you for a younger, better-looking, richer convert. His love stands tall when everything and everyone else has fallen down and out of line. He never will. Again, promises made, promises kept. ‘Steadfast love’.

In addition, God is faithful. He may have every reason to get rid of us, to remove us from His family, but that’s not how He is or what He does. He yearns for us to come to Him in repentance for forgiveness and new life. He’ll stay with you through thick and thin. He stands up for us. And by us. Is true blue. ‘Faithfulness’.

When I look back on my life, I’ve given Jesus tons of reasons to up and leave. To wash His hands of me. But He never did. He was, and is, patient, even with the likes of me. And you, too. Good news? The very best.

I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting ‘steadfast love’ and ‘faithfulness’. They’re our BFF’s–best friends forever! Better than any VIP you may run across. Much better.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your lasting love and faithfulness. Amen.

These three words–‘ on our behalf’–floor me. They signify taking action for someone else. Pinch-hitting for one who’s been injured. Sacrificing for somebody else. Putting another ahead of me, I, and myself. Doing what’s right for a mere one more person for a change. And you know who did exactly that for us, don’t you?

Yes, Jesus! His time on earth was all about ‘on our behalf’. Not for personal glory. Or to be a bigshot. Hardly. He came to this earth to do for us what no one else could. As in freeing us from our sin. Forgiving and forgetting our rebellion against God and man. Healing the sick. Restoring relationships. Bringing new life to the dead in more ways than one.

All this was ‘on our behalf’. Can you imagine? Jesus, Lord of all, leaves heaven’s majesty and slums it with human beings who basically want nothing to do with Him. Not a bloomin’ thing. What an ungrateful bunch of yahoos we turn out to be. God wants to clean up what we’ve messed up, and we tell Him, in no uncertain terms, to take a hike. Get out of Dodge. Go back to where you came from. And He does, sad to say, for unrepentant rebels.

But for us who believe, who toss our hats in His ring, who say ‘yes’ to His invitation, He does it all ‘on our behalf’. For us. For you and me. Doing what I can’t, let alone won’t. Picking up the broken pieces that I’ve thrown to the ground and putting them back together again. The monkey wrench I toss into the engine of my life, Jesus reworks and rewires and rejiggers back into reasonable working order. ‘On our behalf’ takes on new meaning when we consider what we can do on our own, without any help from God. As in nothing. A big zero. Goose egg. So why not throw in the towel? Give up, already?

But we don’t have to. For Jesus has it all wrapped up…’on our behalf”. Read those chapters in the New Testament Book of Hebrews, and see how much Jesus achieves for us. Everything, really. Nothing more is needed. He knows what He’s doing… ‘on our behalf.’ Which means that we can relax. Depend upon Him. Show a little faith while you’re at it. Less putting our hand to the grindstone and more enjoying a Sabbath of peace and joy.

By the way, I almost forgot. Here’s two verses from the book of Hebrews I’m going to chew on this week–‘We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain (the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem’s Temple, now heaven), where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever…’ (Heb. 6: 19-20). And–‘For Christ has entered …into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf’ (Heb. 9: 24). Wow!

Our Lord Jesus. Not only for now, but forever…’on our behalf’!

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you do for me. I love you. Amen.

Someone has said that Christians are living in the land of the dying, going to the land of the living. Sounds spot on to me. It does seem like the here and now is in mortal decline, particularly in moral terms. Television and film are crammed with tacky raunchiness. I’m so sick of a certain four-letter word. And that’s but the tip of the melting iceberg.

Certainly not much is getting better. Again, that sinking feeling. Reading Psalm 39, I note a timely insight from God’s Word. That life whizzes by like greased lightning, whatever that is. But we get the point. Here today, gone tomorrow. Approaching my 80s seems impossible. That someone has tricked me into thinking I’m this old…as dirt. Roaming around like an old goat. No comments from those of you in the Peanut Gallery. If you know about that Gallery, you’re no spring chicken either! Howdy Doody to you, too!

Let’s get serious for a change, Fischer. Okay, I hear you. You’re right. So, take a gander at Psalm 39: 5–‘Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!’ And then at verse 11–‘…surely all mankind is a mere breath!’ Like me, an old coot, the psalmist David repeats himself… to reinforce what we already know. That life goes by quickly. Before we know it, it’s over. So what? Nothing new there. Seems obvious, doesn’t it?

What I notice is that the Hebrew word ‘selah’ appears after these two verses. Do you see them? Two of them. Now it’s true that no one knows exactly what ‘selah’ means. Not just here but elsewhere in the Book of Psalms, where you’ll find ‘selah’ scattered hither and yon (I’ve been reading Shakespeare again!).

But the meaning of ‘selah’ has been lost. Theories abound. Musical notations? Possibly. Instructions to worship leaders? Could be. But I’m wondering if ‘selah’ means that readers/listeners should stop, pause, put on the brakes, and reflect on what’s been said?

If so, if stopping is needed after reading these two verses from Psalm 39, what gives? King David urges us to slow down. Think about our lives. The good, the bad, and everything in between. Stop running on all sixteen cylinders. Halt horsing around. Don’t giddy up for a bit. Mosey on over to the campfire. Grab a cup of cowboy coffee. Rest your boots and pray. Think about your Lord. Spend quiet time with God. Open your Bible, hearing what your Lord has to say. Listen, already, for a change. Don’t hurry. Enjoy the moment. Even when the world rushes headlong, you-know-where. Especially then.

Selah!

Lord Jesus, in quietness today, I praise you for your love and patience. Amen.

Come join us in our upstairs television/game room. We’re happy to welcome you. Using your imagination, that is. Against one wall is a wooden quilt stand holding two lovely afghans that my mother knitted for me decades ago. She loved making afghans for her family. I cherish mine. On cold winter nights, you can find me wrapped up in one, cozy as can be, enjoying a British TV show, snug as a bug in a rug in my mother’s afghan, keeping me most comfy.

All this reminds me of what I read in Psalm 27. Here’s its first verse–‘The Lord is my light and salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’ Light brings warmth. Salvation finds a safe harbor from hell’s gale-force winds. Fears? If we would grab hold of our Lord and not let go, then fear has as much a place in my life as a nasty, painful root canal.

However, I’ve wondered about Psalm 27’s last verse–‘Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord’ (v. 14). It’s that word ‘wait’ that puzzles me. I know. I’m an impatient type. If I can make whatever happen right now, I will. To ‘wait for’ sounds like being lazy. Hanging out, waiting for someone else to do whatever. Passive and lagging behind. Lackadaisical. Not willing to lift a finger or two. Well, you get the point, and it’s not on the top of my head!

When I delved deeper into the Old Testament Hebrew language, looking for the meaning of the word ‘wait’, a most helpful insight came my way. To ‘wait’ means to wrap yourself up in God. To bundle and swaddle yourself in all that you know about the Lord. To cloak yourself with what you remember about Jesus and His godly character. Clothed in what’s garnered from God’s Word, the Bible.

Another nuance of the Hebrew word ‘wait’ involves twisting cords to create a strong and supple rope. This process includes tying and weaving fibers together for durability and strength. Can you see where this is leading? For the closer we get to our Lord, folding His words into our hearts and minds, the tougher we’ll be in a tough world. We get stronger and more resilient for Jesus, especially when everything around us calls out to us to reject God and the Bible.

When cold, contrary, and ungodly winds blast and blow their way through the front door of your life, wrap yourself up in the Lord. In His afghan, so to speak. Snuggle up much closer. Weave yourself into His warf and woof. You’ll need Jesus’ brawn and toughness. I know I certainly do. Agreed?

Lord Jesus, for giving me such love and hope, thank you. Amen.

As a financial planner, I encountered only a few people who were seriously in debt. When I say serious, I mean it. One, in particular, had a six-figure credit card balance. As in owing over 100 grand on multiple cards, all at 22+ percent interest. Makes me fidgety just mentioning it. That would have kept me up all night, every night, worrying about all that was hanging over my head. But not that bloke. Not a care in the world, as far as I could tell.

It always amused me when he spoke about some recent extravagant purchase way beyond his means, how he’d relish answering my question about paying for this unnecessary item. He’d say, ‘Put it on the credit card!’ And he did. Over and over again. And then, even more for good measure, with debt oozing out of every pore of his net worth. No good measure there. I’d just shake my head, leaving in amazement at the gall of modern folk.

But honestly, we’re all debtors. Sin makes us such. We pray about it in the Lord’s Prayer, where God the Father forgives our debts in the same way as we forgive others (always makes me cringe with that thought). Every time I snub my nose at God and His ways, I’m adding to my debt balance. Does that weigh heavily on my mind? Or am I more like that unreformed credit card addict?

You know, don’t you, that Jesus paid the balance due on our tab. In full. Zeros out our liabilities. That’s the cross and His death as God’s plan of forgiveness for those who bow down to Him and ask His help. Wouldn’t be my plan. I’d wait for every last dime to be repaid. But I’m not God. His way is much better. Costs more,as in the death of His onlySon, but the end result, salvation, is beyond wonderful!

As I seek insight from the Psalms, I come across a verse in Psalm 22 that resonates deeply. The words, though spoken in derision, say, “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” (v. 8). Because I enjoy exploring the Old Testament’s Hebrew language, I’m particularly interested in the word “trust.” At its root, it signifies the act of rolling something off onto something else—essentially, to rescue or to free oneself from troubles. That the stronger will help the weaker when called upon for support.

The challenge for you and me is to roll our fears and doubts squarely off our shoulders onto Jesus’ strapping and sturdy ones. For ‘I am weak, but He is strong’ says the old hymn. To slip off of your shoulders onto His presumes having a relationship with the Lord. That you’ve asked Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior. That you believe that He can do for you what no one else can or will. That you’re His, knowing that He’ll stand by you through thick and thin.

He wants it all on His shoulders for He deserves all the credit.

For life and love freely given, we thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.