Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“Listen to me, you who know righteousness,
the people in whose heart is my law;
fear not the reproach of man,
nor be dismayed at their revilings.”
– Isaiah 51:7

If you know the Lord, His love for you, His presence in your life, and His word, rest in that. Ground yourself and your sense of self in the Lord Jesus Christ, His righteousness in you, and His teachings. Trust in these things and let them define you. Then don’t worry about what other people think or say about you!

That can be hard… Too many Christians are still concerned about being liked, respected, and popular. They are uncomfortable in their own skin and afraid of being scorned by others. If that describes you, draw near to God and work to be set free from that. Truly following Jesus in the way of Jesus often isn’t popular. Jesus certainly wasn’t liked or respected by many He came to save. Don’t let your happiness or sense of worth be based on what other people think or say about you. Draw near to God and ground your being in His approval and love.

The more you know the Lord and what the Bible teaches, the easier this becomes. You know that God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you. You know that He will never leave or forsake you. You know that by His grace, through faith in Jesus, your sins have been forgiven and God has welcomed you into His family as His precious, beloved, adopted child. You know that Christ is always with you. You know that you’re sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the eternal inheritance you will receive in God’s presence. When you truly know these things, then the Holy Spirit can make you very bold indeed, unafraid of the reproaches, insults, and scorn of other people. #FollowJesus

“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.” – Galatians 5:14-15

This is a good word for a divisive time! Love your neighbor. Focus less on convincing your neighbor to think exactly like you. Focus less on being offended that your neighbor is trying to get you to think exactly like them. Just love your neighbor in the same extravagant, gracious, and overflowing way you love yourself.

Don’t bite and devour other people. Not with your words, texts, or emails. Not with your posts. Not with your shares. Not with your actions. Not even in your thoughts. Not over earthly things. Not over minor spiritual things. Just love your neighbor the way you love yourself. Don’t take part in attacking, chewing up, or spitting out other people, especially other Christians with whom you disagree. Just don’t. #FollowJesus

“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?”
– Isaiah 45:9

It isn’t fruitful to argue with God about how He’s choosing to run the universe! Ever!!! While it isn’t comfortable to think of ourselves as clay pots, in the scale and scheme of things, we are. We are finite creatures with limited knowledge, limited understanding of the universe and ourselves, and a limited lifespan. God, our Creator, has perfect, infinite knowledge of all things – past, present, and future. His perspective is an eternal one focused on what is best across all of creation and all of time.

In that sense, God is absolutely correct, if blunt, to compare us to clay pots who tend to argue with the potter who made us. We like to complain and critique God and it’s fundamentally ridiculous to contemplate. That doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care about us – He absolutely loves us! He is meticulously concerned for our wellbeing and He sent His eternal Son to die for us, redeeming us from our sin and rebellion. The point of this verse isn’t that we’re unimportant to God. The point is that we’re profoundly ignorant of the grand plan of the universe compared to the God Who knows it all!

For this reason, it’s a farcical waste of our time to spend hours, days, months, or years complaining and criticizing how God is running the universe. Yet, we often do exactly that! We decry the suffering or injustice we experience or see and forcefully offer our suggestions to “The Management”, threatening to stop talking to Him if He doesn’t take our suggestions. This offers no comfort and provides no satisfaction. It just fosters discontent, because God seldom responds to our short-sighted critique.

What is fruitful in times of frustration, sorry, and anger? Drawing near to God! Investing emotion and energy not in complaining about the management but in getting closer to our Lord. Finding wisdom, comfort, and peace in His Word. Spending unhurried time in prayer and meditation. Seeking God Himself, rather than answers from God. God is always ready to welcome those who are sincerely seeking His presence. He will draw near to those who draw near to Him. That is where we find true satisfaction and joy amidst the most difficult circumstances. #FollowJesus

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.” – Galatians 3:29

The moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you were grafted into God’s family, adopted as His beloved child. You were also grafted into Abraham’s family. This is the family through which God brought redemption to a fallen world. That’s your family! You are part of the great promise God made to Abraham thousands of years ago in Genesis 12:1-3, “…And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Faith in Jesus makes you part of that “great nation” as you participate in this promise, not by blood or marriage but by faith. In Christ, you’re blessed in this way, no matter where you or your ancestors came from. In Christ, you’re also part of God’s ongoing blessing of the nations of the earth! As Abraham’s offspring and Christ’s redeemed follower, you are part of God’s missionary work to bless all the families, tribes, and peoples of the earth. You have received God’s blessing, now you should eagerly become part of spreading that blessing to all the people groups of the earth.

There are still thousands of people groups throughout the world that have not received the blessing of hearing the Gospel, believing in Jesus, and becoming offspring of Abraham. How can you be part of the spread of God’s Kingdom and the growth of Abraham’s family? By learning more about the mission work going on in the world. By praying for it. By supporting it financially. By educating others about it. By encouraging those participating in it. By assisting those going out into God’s harvest fields. By going out on mission yourself, whether in your neighborhood or to the uttermost ends of the earth. You are blessed to be a blessing! That’s the promise of Abraham, his legacy to you in Christ Jesus. #FollowJesus and join His work of blessing all families on the earth.

“Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people on it
and spirit to those who walk in it:”
– Isaiah 42:5

This verse is a wonderful template for praising and worshiping God today. Praise God for creating the heavens. He spoke the universe into existence and spread it across its vast expanse. He made the galaxies, stars, and planets. He holds all of the vastness of the universe in His hand. Look to the night sky and praise God for the enormity of His creation and the majesty of His creative vision. Praise Him!

Praise God for creating the Earth, our home. In a hostile, uninhabitable universe, God created a perfect place for life and growth. Not too hot, not too cold, not too far from the sun, not too close. Air to breathe, water to drink, soil in which to grow things. He also created mind-boggling beauty that wasn’t required – mountains, oceans, canyons, forests, jungles. God didn’t have to make our home planet extraordinary beautiful but He did. Why? Because that’s His nature. Praise Him!

Praise God Who formed mankind out of dust and breathed life into our nostrils. He is the source of all life. He gives us the spirit that animates us. He sustains us. Every breath we take is because of God. Our emotions, thoughts, and capacities reflect His image in us. Apart from God, we are nothing. But He loves us, blesses us, and sustains us. Praise Him! #FollowJesus