Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” – 1 Peter 1:4

If you’ve been born again through faith in Jesus Christ, the resurrected Son of God, then this inheritance is yours! Yours! You may or may not inherit much here on earth, but in Christ, there is a perfect, glorious, eternal inheritance waiting for you in God’s presence. It’s not only waiting, it’s being kept particularly for you. Unlike an earthly inheritance that can be squandered, lost, stolen, corrupted, wasted, disputed, or fought over this inheritance will be perfect forever and ever.

Your inheritance in Christ is imperishable. It won’t ever end, lose its value, break down, be taken away, or get lost. Your future possession of this inheritance is guaranteed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life. Your inheritance is also undefiled. There’s no sin or corruption in it. It is holy just as God’s presence is holy. It doesn’t just look good, it IS good! Your inheritance is unfading. It won’t lose value over time. It won’t become less desirable once you get a closer look. Indeed, it will be more glorious than you can possibly imagine and it’s already prepared for you!

Regardless of your earthly situation or circumstances, always remember that you’re a wealthy landowner in heaven and the renewed earth! Your place is assured in Christ and it will be waiting for you until you arrive. Live and serve with faithfulness and obedience to Christ all the days of your life, knowing that your reward is certain and secure. Rejoice in what you already have and will someday see and enjoy forever. #FollowJesus

“And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” – Mark 16:15

This is a message that Jesus said many times, many ways. It’s REALLY, REALLY important!!! The gospel is good news and the fundamental work of Christ’s followers is to tell that good news to the entire world (every nook and cranny, every nation, tribe, and language). We have been commanded by our Lord to go into all the world (our neighborhood, workplace, school, grocery store, city, county, state, country, continent, and planet) and let everyone know that God loves them, because He is love.

We are to proclaim that God is holy and they are not. We are to joyfully explain that despite their sin, God has made a way for their sins to be forgiven, for their relationship with Him to be reconciled, and for them to be adopted into His family forever. We are to proclaim that that way is by God’s grace (a gift, nothing that can be earned) given through life-altering faith in the sacrificial death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who paid the penalty for their sins at the cross.

This is the mission Jesus gave His followers over and over again. We must take it seriously as individual Christians and as members of churches. Is this your mission? Is this what moves you? Are you driven by the desire for others to know the joy of union with Christ and eternal life through faith in Him? Are you desperate for others to know the pleasure of obeying what Christ commanded for His glory and for our benefit? Are you praying, proclaiming, mobilizing, giving, cooperating, going, sending, singing, and speaking good news with others to accomplish the work Jesus gave you to do? #FollowJesus

“But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.”
– Psalm 78:36-37

Psalm 78 is a beautiful review of Israel’s history. However, the problems described throughout the psalm usually weren’t one-time issues. The truth is that God’s people still struggle with what’s described in these verses! We flatter God with our mouths. We sing and say beautiful words of praise in church and perhaps even in social situations. Yet our hearts easily wander away from the Lord and obedience can be lacking from day to day.

Few Christians would say that anything or anyone is more important to them than God. We definitely say the right words. But do our lives reflect hearts that are fixed steadfastly on God as #1? Often our hearts are very much more concerned with earthly matters of work, family, money, power, reputation, fame, comfort, pleasure, security, or control. These things can be good and important but not if they are the dominant concern of our mind and heart.

Are your emotions driven more by God or by people or things around you? What gets you most excited? What gets your mind racing and heart pumping on any given day? What gets you most scared? Most anxious? Most exhilarated? Is it God? A person? A thing?

What fills your daily schedule and monthly calendar? Are they full of the things of God or of people, places, and things?

What would your bank and credit card statements say is the dominant theme of you life? God’s Kingdom or your own?

Don’t let God merely be one good thing among many in your life! It’s the natural tendency for Christians and the opposite of what Jesus taught. If you do, you will miss out on so very many blessings. Make the Lord #1 at all times and in all ways. #FollowJesus

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, ‘Because I bore him in pain.’” – 1 Chronicles 4:9

For God’s people, the past doesn’t define us! Many people believe it inevitably does but that’s a lie! We live in a world that tries to define us, manage us, label us, or limit us based on our past. Our experiences, our locations, our families, our failures…. These certainly have influence and impact but they shouldn’t define us. Unfortunately, we can easily fall into the trap of letting them define us, believing that because something painful or shameful has happened to us that we’re forever stuck, defined, or controlled by that thing.

That isn’t how it works in God’s eyes! Amidst a long list of unusual names, we encounter Jabez whose name was “pain”. Apparently his birth was so traumatic and painful that his mother gave him a name that forever reminded her of pain. That would be tough to deal with! Imagine being named and labeled pain your whole life! Your own mother calls you pain as an ongoing reminder that you caused her great pain. It would be awful!

However, Jabez rose above that, becoming a godly, prayerful man whose character in the Lord was so much greater than normal that he is forever remembered in the Bible. Jabez is a wonderful reminder of the truth that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) When you trust in Jesus, you’re made new! Completely, fully new…

Your past may still carry pain. It may still feel like it should limit you. But in Christ, the past doesn’t need to have any power over you. All your guilt has been forgiven. All your shame has been washed away by the blood of Jesus. You aren’t defined by failure, by disappointment, by suffering, or by the names and labels others call you. You are a child of God! You are loved and adopted! You are made new and united with Jesus Christ!

Don’t let the pain of your past hold you back. Embrace Jesus and accept His loving two-word invitation, “Follow me”. Follow Jesus into a better, brighter future. Follow Jesus into a future defined by His ongoing love and presence in your life. #FollowJesus

“For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.”
– Psalm 49:17

Consider this helpful reminder from God’s Word – you can’t take it with you! We’ll all die one day, unless Jesus returns first. When we do, any money we’ve saved, invested, earned, swindled, or otherwise accumulated will be left behind. It will no longer do us any good and won’t be under our control.

Jesus talks a great deal about money. Our money-obsessed culture would be wise to listen. We should all listen. Jesus is very clear that money won’t save us and that accumulating money tends to be hazardous to our spiritual health. We start thinking more about money than we do about God. We start getting more emotionally invested in money than we are in Jesus. While money itself isn’t evil, fixating on money leads to all sorts of evil.

Jesus teaches that it’s far better and wiser to recognize that all money is a gift from God, given by Him for us to manage on His behalf. Though we can’t take money with us when we die, when we manage it well, we send it on ahead of us as treasure in heaven. That treasure will last forever and be of benefit to us forever. How can we send money ahead of us to heaven? By managing our money for Christ’s Kingdom!

We turn earthly money into eternal treasure when we invest it in churches and ministries that share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who need to hear it. We manage our money for Christ’s Kingdom when we invest it in churches and ministries that demonstrate the love of Jesus for the most vulnerable in their community and the world – the poor, the oppressed, the sick, the uneducated, widows and orphans.

Rather than living to pile up money in ever increasing amounts (which will never feel like enough), earn money to provide for your family and then give generously and joyfully to bless dozens, hundreds, and thousands in your community and to the end of the earth. Sow into eternity. Find ways to change the physical and spiritual lives of people for generations. It isn’t difficult to do, it just requires the intention and discipline to do it. We live in an amazing age where we’re able to turn the excesses of our situation into blessings for people both near and far. Live simply. Bless abundantly. #FollowJesus