ON OUR BEHALF Hebrews 6:20-7:28

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Many, many years ago, one of the most stressful times in my life occurs when sued by a neighbor over trees and roots.  The circumstances are bazaar.  The entanglements almost choke the life out of me.  Worry, anxiety, fears take an upper hand.  I can think of little else.

Until I decide to let our homeowners insurance attorney carry the load.  Also, I determine not to roll over and play dead.  I seek no revenge, but neither will I kowtow to anyone.   Pray and go about doing what I need and want, as best I can under this loaded gun.

At the same time, I need Jesus as my attorney and advocate.  The One who acts on my behalf.   Hebrews 6:20–‘…where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf’.

I love Hebrews 7:25–‘…He always lives to intercede for them.’  Jesus, our attorney, 24/7, 365.  Leap year and holidays included!  He’s there for us–‘always’.  And ‘always’ still means always, praise the Lord.

Heb. 7:25 proclaims that He ‘lives’.  No dying, requiring a brand-new lawyer.  Hebrews 7:24–‘…because Jesus lives forever…’  We come and go.  Not Him.  He’s our ‘forever’ helper.

Never a time when I need to fret over life’s wrong turns.  Never?  Really?  Get that through my thick German-Irish skull!

I’ve found another reassuring verse.  Hebrews 9:24–‘For Christ…entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence’.  Notice that itsy-bitsy phrase–‘For us’!  He’s in heaven, seated at the Father’s right hand, working salvation for His own, acting on our behalf.  Again, ‘for us’!

Here’s something to do this week.  Get personal with our Lord.  Repeat over and over–Jesus is for me.  Whatever bind we find ourselves in–Jesus is for me.  Loved ones disappoint and hurt–Jesus is for me.  Failures come out of the blue–Jesus is for me.

Maybe this will sink in for more than a week.  Maybe.

 

Thank you, Jesus, for all you do for us.  In your name.  Amen.

GONE Psalm 32

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It hit me when I least expected it.  Let me explain.  At the funeral for a dear friend, her adult children spoke about what a super mom she truly was.  Very moving tributes.  But like a knife through my soul, I start feeling sad that I’ve been far less a parent than I could have been.  Even worse, far less a Christian than I or the Lord had hoped for.

Guilt surfaces.  Wish I could disappear.  But I don’t.  Even though it’s been decades of a growing relationship with Jesus along with fairly (!) faithful service to Him, it’s that time before that eats away at me.

The day after that funeral, I’m reading Psalm 32.  And there it is.  Smack dab in front of me.  God’s Word for a needy soul.  Me.  Whispering that I’m forgiven, which grabs my attention, being exactly what God does for those sorry as sorry can be.

Psalm 32: 1-2–‘Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him…’  The biblical Hebrew uses three different words for sin.  ‘Transgressions’ in verse one refer to open rebellion against God.  ‘Sins’ in that verse mean turning away from God’s path.  In verse two ‘sin’ denotes distortion of the truth coupled with disrespect for God.

Taken together these three Hebrew words sum up our sinfulness rather well.  Cover the bases.  No exceptions or loopholes to squirm our way out of.

But we need none.  We’re forgiven.  Period.  Sins forgiven… and forgotten.  Slate wiped clean for those who are God’s own through faith in Jesus.

So, plug up your ears when Satan shouts recriminations at you.  Blinders on when you visualize bygone failures.  Be blessed and happy trusting God’s Word!

That’s the rub for me.  To concentrate on Jesus.  Putting Him first in my thoughts.  Intently listening to Him.  After all, He’s carried my sins away, even hurling them as far as far can be, where they can never come back to haunt me…or you.

Forgiveness.  Believe it or not.  No, believe Him!

 

Lord Jesus, in spite of everything tough in this life, I want to trust you.  Amen.  

GOOD RIDDANCE! Luke 22

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Jesus and His followers are in Jerusalem for what will be their last Passover celebration together.  He’s performed miracles like no one’s ever seen.  For three years He tells stories that engage people like no rabbi ever has.  Reaches out to the most abject outcasts.  Shows love and forgiveness that turns heads.  Rumors float in the air that Jesus is God’s Son and promised Messiah.

Nevertheless, the religious high-and-mighty gather to plot His overthrow.  To move Him off center stage.  Marginalize His competitive advantages.  As Luke writes–‘…(they) were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus…’ (Luke 22: 2).

What to do with Jesus.  Good riddance!  Adios, amigo!  Sayonara!  Au revoir!  Auf Wiedersehen!  Alright, enough already.

Here’s a question I ask myself.  How many times have I wanted to do much the same?  Hardly asking for God’s input.  Thumbing my nose at His commands.  Turning my back on what’s right so I can get more for me.  In effect, getting rid of Jesus.  Am I alone?

Throughout history people want to deep-six Jesus.  Sin with abandon.  Without restrictions, paying a price for being plain stupid and selfish.  Going my way is a one-way ticket to disappointment and frustration.  And yet how many of us, and how much of our culture, ride that same hellbent bus to the very outskirts of hell.

There’s more.  Satan enters the picture.  Ever since those temptations in the wilderness (Luke 4), Satan lurks in Jesus’ shadow.  Ready to pounce when given the chance.  Judas nods his permission, and a flood of evil enters to his utter ruination.  Getting rid of Jesus ultimately slides the unbeliever to darkness unimaginable and more and worse.

So, let’s be in the company of those eleven remaining disciples.  Did they understand everything about Jesus?  Not by a long shot.  Yet they know whose garment to hold onto.  In whose steps to follow.  Whose voice to listen to.  Whose love to count on.

Take Jesus’ hand.  Hold on tight.  He’ll never let you go!

 

Jesus, we cling to you for dear life now and forever.  Amen.

 

 

 

RENTERS Luke 20: 9-19

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When renting apartments, I always felt that the monthly payment was tossed down the storm drain or worse.  Wasted money.  No equity builds up except for the apartment owner.  As a financial planner, I decide early on to do something about rubbish rent.  Every month I would deposit the same dollar figure into my own investment account.  Why?  To build equity.  When Sue and I marry, I have enough to buy our first home.  No debt.

So what does this have to do with the Jesus’ last recorded parable in Luke’s Gospel?  Good question!  Let’s look at Luke 20: 9–‘…A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.’  The vineyard farmers give back some of their harvest to the landowner as rent payment.  Jesus says–‘At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard (v.10).’

But these ingrates refuse to cough up even a small portion of the rent they owe.  They want it all for themselves.  Violent promise breakers, losers weepers.

After sending a servant or two to collect the rent, neither of which return alive, the owner decides to send his son.  You know what happens.  ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours’ (v.14).

They hanker for the whole schmear, kit and caboodle.  Give back nothing.  Kill if necessary.

As a believer, I know that God has given me much.  Not to hold onto tightly.  More like we’re renting our time here, during which we willingly and joyfully give the Lord His due.  Turning ears to Him.  Listening.  And eyes.  Looking.  Reading His Word daily.  Applying what He says, knowing that forgiveness is but a prayer away.  He’s well aware that we’re made of clay and dust.  Oh, how He knows!

While renting here, also build up equity in heaven.  How?  Turn your eyes upon Jesus.  Look full on His wonderful face.  Love Him. Talk with Him.  Relish His lavish grace and mercy.  Share Him.  Spiritual equity builds and multiplies.

Jesus has a home for us with Him.  No rent.  Equity has been sent ahead, invested in God’s Kingdom.

Renters?  Here, yes.  But there, a paid-for home awaits those who wait upon Jesus!

 

Thank you, Lord, for a mansion over the hilltop.  Because of Jesus.  Amen.

SHADOWS AND SURPRISES Luke 12: 35-40

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Contracting polio at the age of two casts a long shadow over my life.  My parents, seeking a better life in the suburbs after World War II, buy a home about 20 miles away.  Unfortunately, I catch the polio virus a day or two before the move out of Jersey City.  When the worst gets confirmed, I’m transported back to be quarantined in the Sister Kenny Polio Center at Jersey City’s Margaret Hague Hospital.

Shadows make their first appearance in that move from my earliest home.  Then immediately finding myself in a frightening institution.  My parents decide to visit me from behind closed curtains as they don’t want me to see them, crying and reaching out to them, who are utterly helpless to hold and comfort me.  All my family– gone?  Dead?  Abandons me?  Who knows what goes through a 2-year old’s mind?

Isolated yet trapped by hot packs, boiling water, bossy nurses, endless exercises, other screaming children who I don’t know, dark nights accompanied by ceaseless tears and sobs.  When the lights go out, the fears do not.  Shadows rarely dissipate.

Best news happens at age 16, listening to my radio on a Sunday evening, I hear about God’s love through Jesus.  His offer is given.  I gladly accept.

After a university and Bible school education, a seminary advanced degree, ordination, serving four churches, hosting a local evangelistic TV show, authoring two devotional books, I still feel like I have to earn God’s love.  Keep doing more to warrant His acceptance.  But it’s never enough, is it?  ‘Lord, please don’t abandon me.  I’ll be good.’  Shadows again.

Just when I need a booster shot of reassurance, certain Bible stories enter my system.  Like this week, reading Luke 12.  The parable of the master who returns from a wedding feast, with his servants prepared, waiting and ready.  Verse 37–‘It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.  I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.’

Did you get it?  Took me a couple of times, but then it hits home.  The master serves his servants.  Jesus waits on me!  It’s not my good works that matter, but His.  Nothing about my achievements, even those for His glory.  Just get ready and watch… and be waited upon by Jesus!

As He did in washing His disciple’s feet (John 13).  And when God sings precious songs over His own, as found in Zephaniah 3:16-17.  God takes the first step.  He initiates.  ‘We love because He first loved us’ (1 John 4:19).  His love… first and foremost.

He loves me and will never, ever forsake me…or you!  Chew on that for awhile.  I am.  Little by little, that message sinks in.  That’s something.  Shadows recede a bit, surprising even me.  We’re His work in progress!  Mainly we’re His.

 

Lord Jesus, thank you for always being there for us.  Amen.

 

FOR THE BIRDS Genesis 15

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Genesis 15 tells the story of God making a pact, a covenant with Abram.  A mutual promise which God initiates, requiring belief on Abram’s part.  A pledge of countless offspring for Abram and Sarai, a barren old couple.  What good can come from God’s promises without even one heir?  Abram wonders if maybe his foreign servant will be the one to inherit.  Eliezer of Damascus.  Him?  Some promise.

Ever feel like your living with God’s left-overs?  Not quite what you expected?  Second-best?  Passed by and overlooked?

Abram exhibits faith in God (v.6).  However, he begs for reassurance–‘O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?’ (Gen. 15:8).  Abram has tiny, mustard-seed faith.  But it’s enough for now.  So God tells him to gather some animals for a ceremony.  Abram collects them.

Before God puts him into a deep sleep, Abram is ‘bewitched, bothered, and bewildered’ by nasty birds of prey.  Possessing keen eyesight, they grasp and kill their prey for a meal.  My wife and I were walking in a lovely state park, when a bald eagle swoops down quite close to us grabbing a frog, swallowing it whole.  Yuck!  So much for the romance of seeing bald eagles.  Predators!  I hardly overate at dinner that evening!

When Abram has everything in place, then come those pesky birds to steal and kill and destroy (Gen. 15:11).  Does that phrase sound familiar?  Check out John 10:10.  Satan and his rotten forces love to mess up our joy both in life and in the Lord.  Ever notice that?  Of course you have.

Don’t be surprised or caught off guard.  Get ready.  James has the right idea–‘Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7).  As Abram did in his day–‘Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away’ (Gen. 15:11).

Do your best to shoo them far off.  Stop your ears to their doubting whispers.  Walk away from temptations you know are eating away at you.  Resist.  Drive them away.  Odious birds of prey.  Shoo.

And then get closer to Jesus.  Keep a short account of sins needing His forgiveness.  Go to Him as soon as possible.  Give no room for Satan, who can’t wait to barge in as the crook, terminator, blaggard and braggart he truly is.

Cuddle up a little closer…to the Lord your God where you’ll find there’s no room for the enemy.  None.  With Jesus you’re safe, free and peaceful!

 

Thank you, Jesus, for giving us life in its fullness.  Keep Satan far away from us.  In your name.  Amen.

 

 

WHEN JESUS SAYS ‘NO’ Luke 8: 26-39

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Isn’t it the pits when your prayer receives ‘no’ for its answer?  After all, you’re so sincere and needy.  Maybe it’s concern for someone else that brings you to Jesus in prayer.  Would He deny us anything?  Can’t imagine that.  But He does.  Though we know His will is best, yet we bristle and gripe at the seeming insensitivity.

Spending time in Luke 8, we discover a man in distress.  He’s possessed with many evil maladies.  Disturbed being an understatement.  Rips off his clothes, breaks the chains that bind him while he roams around in caves and tombs.  A desperate character.

As Jesus walks by, this troubled man shouts out– ‘…Jesus, Son of the Most High God’ (Luke 8: 28).  You know what happens.  Jesus casts out those legion demons into hillside pigs, who stampede down a steep bank into a lake, drowning all.

People come running to see what’s happened.  Oh, no!  Cash crops float away.  Livelihoods destroyed.  Fear engulfs the populace.  Their world crumbles.  So they tell Jesus and His cohorts to ‘get out of Dodge’ before they ‘tar and feather’ them!

But before they sail away, this newly restored man begs Jesus to allow him to tag along.  Why wouldn’t he?  After all, everyone who knows him probably will still make fun of him and always see him as he used to be.  Plus, blaming him for the economic mess they now find themselves in.  He’s trouble before and no better after.  No wonder he wants to flee.

But Jesus says ‘no’.  Of course, He wants this man to experience fullness of life (John 10:10).  Yet, Jesus also knows that no better work can be done for God’s Kingdom than for this man to go back home, tough it out, stand his ground, sound of mind and body, and tell others about Jesus’ healing him, seeing his own family, friends and neighbors come to know the Healer and Savior for themselves!

When Jesus says ‘no’ to our prayers, know that following Him will not always be easy.  We don’t invariably get our way, even though we accept that His ways are best.  Whether I can see it or not.  Like it or not.  Or if it makes any sense to my ‘pea brain’ or anyone else’s.

Trust Jesus.  Repeat that phrase as often as it takes.  Trust…Jesus.  Make yours a ‘no matter what’, ‘nevertheless’ faith!  I’m not there yet.  Not by a long-stretch.  But He’s not done with me…or you.  Hang on!  Hold on!  Trust…Jesus!

 

Lord, thank you that we can always trust you.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

WHY? 1 Samuel 16

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Poor King Saul fritters away his last chance to rule Israel.  Squanders his royal calling.  Soon the gig will be up.  The last roundup.  Another ruler is on the way.  The Lord God will be selecting one closer to His own heart.

That’s what we read about in 1 Samuel 16 as God gives the prophet Samuel a swift kick in the pants, so to speak.  Tells him to stop moping around, biting his fingernails, kicking the dust, all because the one Samuel  anoints as king bottoms out.  Time to move on.  Stop gawking in life’s rearview mirror.

Sounds like advice you may need today?

Samuel is to visit a man who lives in Bethlehem.  Jesse’s his name.  Has a bunch of promising sons.  Samuel counts seven.  All good-looking, hard-working guys.  Excellent prospects.  But which one is God’s choice for the new king?

You know what happens.  Samuel checks them out, thinking each one must be God’s pick.  But no, one-by-one, the Lord vetoes them all.  Samuel gazes at their outward appearance, but the Lord looks deeper (1 Samuel 16: 7).  At the heart.  God, the ultimate cardiologist!

Finally, Samuel runs out of candidates.  Jesse’s sons fail the test.  Every last one.  Now what?  Wait a minute!  Could there be another?  Samuel counts seven, but in fact there are eight.  There’s the youngest, David, out tending sheep like a good boy.  As he approaches Samuel, the Lord says ‘yes’.  That’s him!  David’s the one!

My question is this.  Maybe you’ve wondered.  Why the runaround?  After all, the Lord knows who His choice is.  Where he lives.  What he does.  Which one of Jesse’s eight sons.  Why have Samuel go through the motions?

Incidentally, this prophet is no spring chicken.  Life tosses bananas in his pathway more than once.  And now there’s this guessing game.  Why?

Here’s a few thoughts.  Often the Lord keeps us in the dark.  We’re not told everything or even why.  Mysteries abound.  Answers not given.

And He seems in no hurry.  That’s my complaint!  Not eager to jump ‘so high’ at my command.  Like He’s God and I’m not.  His plans are discovered as we wait on Him.  Often in hindsight.

So ‘trust and obey for there’s other way’.  Especially when the lights go out and we’re groping in the dark.  Maybe that’s you today.  Unsure and on-edge.  Shelved with uncertainty.  Regardless, He’ll be with you shoulder-to-shoulder.  He will.  Lean in heavily …on Him.  Hold His hand.  Don’t ever let go.

Sometimes it’s best not to ask ‘why’.  Just get going.  Really.  Notice who’s never left your side.  NEVER!

 

Lord, how good of you to be with us.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

 

JUST SITTIN’ AROUND Luke 5: 17-25

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It bugs me, inching along a gridlocked highway, watching well-paid construction workers, leisurely leaning up against earth-moving equipment, eating donuts and drinking coffee.  Doesn’t anyone work anymore?  Think it bothers me?  Good guess!

Jesus performs amazing miracles here in Luke chapter 5.  A net-breaking haul of fish when two seconds ago nary a bite.  A man with leprosy healed, now clean as a whistle.  Another day, in a tiny house, Jesus speaks to people who’ve travelled from all over.

The Pharisees and teachers of the law make their presence felt.  Sitting on their hind quarters, watching and waiting for who-knows-what.  A slip of the tongue?  A rabbinic trap for Jesus to fall into, never to get out of again?  Someone to finally do Him in?

They plunk themselves down, just sittin’ around, biding their time, hoping that Jesus will self-implode.  ‘…Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there’ (Luke 5:17).

That’s when four friends carry a paralyzed man on a primitive stretcher, knowing that if they can get him to Jesus he’ll have a chance to be healed.  But too many hoi-polloi are sitting around blocking their way.  Can’t get close.  No chance with all those housesitters crowding out the scene.

These friends will not be deterred.  They climb a side stairway to the flat roof above.  Can you imagine the dead weight of this paralytic, carried up on rickety steps that today would never pass code?  Dangerous at best.  Watch out!  Could be a few more paralytics if off the side they go!

Doesn’t stop them.  They’re not going to sit around when help is underneath this straw/grass roof.  Some branches removed, and down goes their friend.  No sittin’ around for these four.  And no record of any religious leader lifting one finger to help.

Only criticism from their pearly lips.  Whining and complaining, questioning and grousing.  All while planted on their keisters and cabooses!  They could have done better by this needy man.

Not only them.  Me.  Being more kind.  Making room for others.  Getting up and offering a helpful hand.  Digging deeper into my wallet.  Giving more.  Less griping and more encouraging from my big, fat mouth.

Just me?  Get up.   Give a hand!

 

Thank you, Lord, that we can help others.  For Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

 

 

STOP BUGGING ME! Isaiah 62

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Who relishes being nagged?  Not me.  No way, Jose!  Get off my back!  Unfortunately, when it comes to hounding, I’m as guilty as the next.  Sadly, getting on someone’s case only raises resistance.  Counter-productive, at best.

What about prayer?  Should we say our peace once and leave it at that?  Sometimes.  But many requests I’ve made of the Lord are said over-and-over again.  From my heart to His.  Similar to the Apostle Paul urging believers to ‘…pray continually…’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17)?

Some of my prayers I’ve been making for years.  Obviously, not answered in the way I’d hoped.  Oh well, I keep at it, still believing that God’s answer is on the way.  Just around the bend.  Not far off.

Feeling guilty about bugging God?  Then read something encouraging from Isaiah 62: 6-7–‘I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night.  You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.’  See what I mean?

Like watchmen, who never cease trumpeting warnings when dangers lurk nearby, don’t stop asking.  ‘Give Him no rest’.  Go for it.  Let it all out as often as you want.  Allow your thoughts to wander wherever they take you in prayer.

Need not be formal.  Be yourself.  After all, you’re praying to the Lord who loves to hear from His children.  Give Him no downtime.  Can’t tire Him out!

By the way, Isaiah wrote those words over 2700 years ago.  And still Jerusalem is not the ‘…praise of all the earth’.  Not yet, anyway.  It will.  He promises.  When He gives us His Word, He keeps it.  In His time.

Persist in praying.  ‘Give Him no rest’.  That’s His Word.  Not mine.

 

Thank you, Lord, for always hearing us.  Amen.