How do we (mortal humanity) obtain Intimacy with an all-powerful God? I surely do not have the definitive answer. But for me, it helps to see Christ as my father. I know how a father loves his children. Especially since I am a dad. I know how much I love my children. How I would do anything for them. And how it hurts when they rebel.
God is not a force. He is a person. Jesus the Son of God in John 14:8-10 when asked by Phillip to show them the Father replied, Philip if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Do you not know that I am in the Father and He is in me. Jesus also said in John 5:19, I can only do what the Father is doing. In a true sense, what Jesus was saying is that me and my Father are a mirror image. In John chapter 7, when Jesus saw Mary and the Jews weeping over the death of Mary’s brother Lazarus, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And then in verse 35, it says “Jesus Wept”. How can mortal man cause an Almighty God to weep? To be grieved in the spirit, and to be troubled. Because He cares. He desires the best for us, and he wants to be with us.
Then in 1 John 4:29, we learn that God loved us before we ever loved him. It’s as if he walked into the orphanage and picked me out as the best kid. I know he picked us all. But it’s personal, God picked me, and he picked you. He is your father and my father.
God is not seeking religiosity. What he is seeking is a relationship. The entire reason God created man was to be with him. To commune with him. God came looking for Adam. And he is looking for you as well. As unfathomable it is to me, God loves us and wants to be with us. He picked us to be on his team when others did not want us. It makes no earthly sense. We are full of flaws and wrinkles. Yet God loved us when we were unlovable. Will you join me today and thank God for selecting you to be a part of His family. I pray you will. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood, Church of Christ.
In his book called “The Jesus Style”, Gayle D. Erwin has a chapter titled “I’d Rather See a Sermon.” Gayle mentions a time when his family was lost and needed someone to guide them to their destination. I remember a time in my life when I found myself in the very same situation. I had just been transferred to a new Navy base in New Orleans, Louisiana. And during my first visit I found myself lost at night in the New Orleans downtown district. Most of the stores were closed, and the few gas stations I found had bars on the windows. The attendants tried to give me directions through the glass windows, but I could not find my way out of the city. Finally, several hours later, I met a man who was delivering newspapers to local hotels. Do they even do that anymore? But he told me to follow him, and he led me to my destination. He was like a bright and shinning start to me that day, for I was lost, and he helped me find my way.
A good leader is someone who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. They are willing to roll up their sleeves and lead by example. The same is true for good Christian leaders. As you work with your church family, do you ask them to do something you have never done or are unwilling to do yourself? Will you sweep the floor or is that below you? Do you need a title, a parking space or special clothing to show your place of honor?
In Matthew 23 Jesus told his disciples and the crowd to obey their religious leaders, but don’t do like they do. For they do not practice what they preach. They make it hard on others and never offer to help them with their heavy load. Jesus’ approach was totally opposite. He said, “come follow me” and I’ll make you fishers of men. I’ll not only teach you, but I’ll demonstrate it to you.
While we can all point fingers at poor church leadership. We must also recognize our role. One thing to remember from Matthew 23 is that Jesus doesn’t say you don’t have to obey just because you have bad leaders. Excuses will not lessen our responsibility to become what God designed us to be.
Another thought to remember is that Christians are to be the light of the world, and the salt of the earth. How can a light be of any good if it is hidden under a basket. Or how can salt be of any use if it has lost its saltiness? If your light falls under the pew and never gets outside the building what good is it? Isn’t that like the leaders who refuse to lift a finger to help the lost?
Do you know what the best way is to teach your children to follow in the footsteps of Jesus is? It’s to let them see you on your knees in prayer to God as you hold their hand. To carry them with you, when possible, to see the sick. To work beside you in a homeless shelter. You can tell them all you want about it but letting them “see” the sermon is so much more powerful.
As I close, let me ask, could this be the problem with the church today? Could it be that we preach some very good sermons, and teach some awesome bible classes, but all along make it harder for those to come to know God because we refuse to lift a finger to help them. Have our assemblies become more important than our involvement? And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
How well do you make plans? I’m not very good at it. I like to think I’m spontaneous. Which means, I’m not good at making a schedule and sticking to it. That’s something I need to work on.
But I know someone who is great at making plans. Do you know who that is? If you said God, you’re correct. Did you know the bible says that God planned to save the world through his son Jesus Christ before he whispered a world into creation. In Ephesians 1:4-5 it says, “4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”
This plan was carried out in Galatians 4:4 where we read that when the time had arrived God sent his Son to be born of a woman and to redeem his fallen creation. Make no mistake about it, it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t just a good guess. It was a well thought out, well-executed plan that was in the works before the beginning of time.
Why did God send his Son? In one word “love”. God before the beginning of time, choose to provide all who believe in Him a way back to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. This love was on full display on the cross when the Lamb of God carried away the sins of the world. God redeemed us (bought us back). There was no partial payment made. No loan taken out. He paid the bill in full. And he paid it with the blood of his Son, and 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “God paid a great price for you and me.”
By sending Jesus, He showed, that there is no Caucasian, no gender, no race, or ethnicity, no rich or poor, no educated or uneducated, no protestant, no country greater than the next. Neither Jew or Gentile, neither slave or free, neither male nor female, we are all one in Christ Jesus. He speaks to the shady lady at the well, he works with the stinky fishermen, with the lowly IRS agents (tax collectors), and he healed the lame and the blind.
Lord you are holy. We will praise your name forever. Help us to remember your steadfast love never ceases, your mercies never end, help us to see how they are renewed every morning. For you are faithful. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
Many years ago, Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment. To which he replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30.
The Greek word for love that Jesus used is well known in the verb form of AGAPE. It is a love that is based upon choice. The child of God is to freely choose to love God and to love others. They are to delight in God’s holiness. And that love is to spread outward to others. Christians are to seek the best for others. Which means, we must be able to see the best in them.
We are living in times that can make this incredibly challenging. With the growth of social media and the usage of smart phones. Did you know in a study done in 2021, that 46% of American’s reported that they spend 5-6 hours a day on their phones. And for most it’s not just playing Candy Crush. Do you realize, for many that’s more time than they spend with their significant other. They hold their phone more than they hold their spouse. They talk to their phone more than they do their mate. Can you see where that is a problem?
As more and more Christians spend long hours online, they are easily caught up in today’s political wars. It would do Christians good to remember what the 9th Commandment says in Exodus 20:16: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” When you log online, and say something about others, are you spreading gossip? Can you be sure when you click the “like” button that it’s a true statement? When you share it, are you sharing the truth? Or is it partial truth? Is it just a little white lie? Is that okay with you? I urge you to be incredibly careful. Ask yourself honestly, how much of the news do you know to be true. I mean you heard it yourself, you seen it yourself. Were you present when what your posting, re-posting, sharing, commenting on, was said or done? Here’s an eye opener for you, (not really) you probably already know this, or should know this, all news agencies/outlets are formed to make money. Here’s a fact you should know too, controversial news makes more money. Controversial news posted online gets more clicks. Sells more adds. You get the picture. You’re not going to stand before God and say, but Fox news said, ABC news said. Jesus is going to say, I said do not commit slander. Next time you go to send out that email, to retweet that comment, you might want to listen to the word of God. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
But Lord when did I commit slander. When was I a false witness. When you reposted that article without researching thoroughly the facts. When you posted that nasty tweet about some politician you disagree with. When you sent out that email trail to all your friends making fun of someone’s disability. The rest of the story in Deuteronomy 19, is let it be done unto you about what you were hoping was done to the other person. In other words, may others tell stories about you. May they try and tear down your reputation. May they make fun of you. May you be stalked and sought out because of what your tongue so loosely spoke, or fingers so easily typed. Ouch!
What do you think God will do to those who are spreading misinformation? Is he going to wink at our failures? Is he going to give us a pass because we were so compassionate about our side of the story? Be careful, the Apostle Paul was full of conviction when he was having Christians killed. His conscience was clean. But he was dead wrong. And if he hadn’t met God, and repented of his sins, he would be rotting in hell.
But Jesus, what is the greatest commandment. “Love”. You mean it hasn’t changed in 2023. Come on Jesus, surely you know our times are different. These are drastic times that call for drastic actions. Yes, my child, you are correct. You should love even more. You should care even deeper. And remember, the greatest of these is love.
If you haven’t heard it yet today, may I be the first, I love you as a child of God is to love. I care about you. I want the best for you. Why? Because I love God, and he has told me to love my neighbor. How can I say no to that? Reminds me of Joseph in Genesis 39:9, “My master (meaning her husband) has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” The next time you’re tempted to spread that loosely typed article or make that ugly comment, ask yourself, is this done out of love? If not, how can you do such a thing and sin against God. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
The Christian church began under severe persecution. In Acts 8:1 Saul approved of the killing of Steven, and a great persecution broke out against the church and Christians were scattered. In context, the language reveals that Saul not only approved of it, but that he was glad about it. Now in Saul’s defense we should note that he went on later to become one of the greatest Apostle’s ever, if not the greatest. And he suffered severely for Christianity.
But back to persecution. Persecution of the Church lasted for hundreds of years. It wasn’t until the Roman Emperor Constantine I declared that Christianity was a legal religion in 313 A.D. in the Edict of Milan. While this didn’t stop all persecutions, it certainly paved the way to legalize Christianity and to change how Christians were treated in the Western world.
However, with this freedom came new questions. Now that Christianity was seen as a legal religion, what would the Church look like? Now that they were no longer considered criminals, and were free to live more openly, how would they manage that freedom? Would they remain firm in their faith? Or would this freedom lead them astray? Could it be that those who had stood before tortures and before beasts would now give way to the temptations of an easy life and of social prestige?
I wonder as I sit in my house, with the heat running this cool Arkansas morning, If I’ve given way to the easier life. No, I don’t want to go back to the days of persecution. No, I don’t want to live without electricity. But I can’t help but wonder how the freedoms I have today have maybe gotten in my way of being what God has called me to be.
Do you find yourself giving in to the easy life? Have you become too busy to worship God? Do you get sidetracked easily? Jesus said remember, if the world hated me it will hate you as well, for a servant is not greater than his master. Can I challenge you this morning, to ask yourself, has the easy life affected your walk with God? This is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
Tommy was a high school jock. He broke all his high school records. He scored more points than anyone else had ever done. Tommy was on top of the world until one night he was arrested for selling drugs. Tommy had become addicted to prescription drugs, due to his sports injuries. He lost his scholarship and found himself all alone. His dreams of playing professional sports faded away. He became suicidal, depression ruled the day. He had been in and out of rehabilitation centers.
One day Tommy reached out for help. In doing so he found God. He was able to confess his sins. And with this confession came release. He was no longer held prisoner by his past. Like Tommy, many of us have done things in our past that hold us captive. We can’t find a way to forgive ourselves. Maybe we walked out on a marriage. Maybe we’ve abandoned our children. Maybe we’ve committed a serious crime.
But does this have to mean that we are without hope for the rest of our lives? In Isiah 59:1 we read, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” In other words, God shouts an emphatic “NO”. My grace and mercy can cover your sins. But that’s not all there is. God’s grace not only covers our sins, but it also provides us the strength to continue with life.
It doesn’t matter if your sin is coveting, lying, stealing or murder. God’s promise makes no distinction when He says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18b). The truth is, no matter how horrible your sin is, how low we sink, God’s grace will always be greater. If God has said he has forgotten your sin, then believe Him and move on. Listen to the Apostle Paul when he said, “Forget what is behind you and press on toward what lies ahead.” That’s why the front window shield is larger than the rearview mirror.
Now that you know the liberating freedom that comes from confessing your sins and trusting in God. Can I ask you to help others who are struggling with their past sins. Will you pay it forward? This is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
What do you think about when you hear the word jealousy? In our culture this normally indicates bad behavior. Behavior we’ve all seen when someone flies off the handle. Have you ever gotten jealous over your friends who live in a bigger house or drive a nicer car?
But did you know that jealousy doesn’t always have to be bad. If it motivates us to do better. For example, to study harder so we can get a better job. Or to work harder so we can get promoted, that isn’t always bad.
Did you know that God is a jealous God? In fact, in Exodus 20:3-5, God tells his people they shall have no other God’s before him because he is a jealous God. Again, in Deuteronomy 24:4 it says, For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. How can God be a loving God and a jealous God? The simplest answer is, God does not get jealous like man does. His jealousy is not driven by emotions. He doesn’t change because of how he feels that day. God is the same today, tomorrow, and forever. God is a jealous God because of his commitment to love you and me. God will not allow you or me to cheapen our relationship with him. In 2 Cor 11:2 the apostle Paul wrote, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him.” God expects his people to be committed to him like a husband and wife are to be committed to each other. You might say for richer or poorer, through sickness and health, through good or bad.
God’s jealousy is a divine jealousy. A commitment to his people. And it’s this commitment that led him to offer his greatest gift himself. Yes, God is a jealous God because he paid a great price for you and me. But God’s jealousy doesn’t end there, his commitment to you and me, never ends. It is God who gives us every good and perfect gift. His jealousy for us is why he gives us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. God is committed to no one else, like he is committed to his bride the church. And one day his Son, Jesus is coming back for his bride. Will you join me today in praising God for loving us like no other one else has ever done. I pray you will.
In our society today it is common for one to not want to get involved in other people’s problems, perhaps prompted by the misguided idea that we have no responsibility unto others in their time of need. The story of the good Samaritan, whether a parable or an account of actual events, illustrates otherwise (Luke 10:25-37).
Probably, most Christians today will not ask, “Who is my neighbor?,” in an effort to justify indifference to the needs of others. Yet, if we are inattentive to those needs when we have the opportunity and ability to address them (ref. Mt. 25:14-30), then we place ourselves in a similar context as that of the lawyer who sought to justify himself.
As illustrated in the story, everyone does not exercise a spirit of unselfish love and compassion for strangers. The very ones that would be expected to do so, in view of their religious standing, may deliberately avoid the responsibility. Such is a tragedy for the Lord’s church and an embarrassment and sin for those who exercise an uncaring heart.
The Samaritan’s context is compelling. He was of pagan stock who was cursed publicly in the synagogue. The Jews prayed that Samaritans would have no part in the resurrection of life and rejected them as proselytes. To eat their food was regarded by the Jew as eating the flesh of swine. The Jews thought it better to suffer than to accept the help of a Samaritan. They avoided them if at all possible. Yet, when the stranger was in need, the Samaritan assisted beyond measure. He extended a caring heart to the very ones who seemed to despise him greatly. He truly is our example of being a neighbor to those about us. May we direct our lives in a way that gives us the courage and aptitude to love the unlovely and to make a lasting impact in our community.
As the apostle Paul penned his second epistle to the evangelist Timothy, he faced an uncertain future. Even as the epistle began, the issues of life and death occupied the mind of this preeminent servant (2 Tim. 1:1) who probably gave his life for the cause of Christ soon after writing to Timothy (2 Tim. 4:6). In what was, seemingly, Paul’s last inspired communication to his beloved Timothy (2 Tim. 1:2), Paul emphasized truths not only dear unto himself but as well placed an emphasis upon those things which must be done after his departure in order to secure the church in succeeding generations. Paul, as a spiritual father to Timothy, looked longingly to the immediate and distant future with a protective eye. He would not leave Timothy without direction as Timothy faced the challenges of the day without the wisdom and guidance of the great apostle. In this most intriguing context, the beloved apostle admonishes the young evangelist concerning several things, including his teaching responsibility. Paul did not leave this world before he laid foundational stones which support the church very well to this very day.
In a review of 2 Timothy, we note the consistency flowing from the pen of Paul as he continually entreated Timothy to focus on his primary objective, the teaching of the Word of God. A quick reading of the text evidences this observation: Paul admonished Timothy to:
(a)Stir up the gift of God in him. 1:6
(b)Not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. 1:8
(c)Hold fast the form of sound words. 1:13
(d)Put them in remembrance. 2:14
(e)Rightly divide the Word. 2:15
(f)Be apt to teach. 2:24
(g)Instruct those who oppose themselves. 2:25
(h)Preach the Word. 4:2a
(i)Do the work of an evangelist. 4:5
Additionally, Paul presented himself as both a preacher and a teacher (1:11) in whom the Word would not be bound (2:9). In the spirit of 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul leaves himself as an example after which Timothy may pattern himself after Paul’s departure.
Perhaps one of the most compelling admonitions of the entire epistle was gracefully presented in 2 Tim. 2:2. With a protective eye on the future of the church and a genuine interest in the souls of men, the apostle Paul looked beyond the immediate and personal labors of Timothy and focused on the potentially broad impact that he may have in his own generation and in generations yet to come. The apostle vividly saw the value of preparing others to spread the Word along side men such as Timothy as well as after such passes the scene. Here the apostle Paul said, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2:2; NASB).
Our congregation faces the same challenges today that were faced so courageously by first century Christians. Our present need of teachers is as important for our congregation as it was for the area where Timothy labored so long ago. If the membership of a congregation fails to meet the challenge of teaching those under its care and guidance, they will surely answer to the Lord. May we as members conscientiously review and tap into our genuine potential and seriously consider making a firm commitment to be a part of the teaching of God’s Word to those that will come after us.
This past week, I spoke on the good shepherd from John 10 and discussed the sheep in that parable. I came across this article and thought it may be a fitting exercise to partake in. Hopefully, everyone will look at this and go through the questions with an honest and open heart. If the results show you to be a sheep, then keep pressing on. If they show otherwise, please don’t be disheartened or hardened by the news, but take it as an opportunity to start making changes for the better.
Scripture uses goats and wolves as analogies for what we are not to be, and sheep to describe what we are supposed to be. Ideally, we are to be sheep, not goats. Sheep follow the shepherd, goats do not. Wolves are out to fill their own egos often at the expense of sheep. With that in mind, reflect personally on these questions:
Are you a Goat, or do you have goatish attributes?
Do you agitate others in the flock?
Do others agitate you easily?
Do you always have to get to the root of every problem in the church?
Do you fight feelings of disagreement or resentment toward your shepherds (or those above you?)
Do you have trouble making it to every assembly?
Do you have problems listening to the word preached?
Do you find yourself constantly butting the system, trying to find your way out of the flock or just exempting yourself?
Do you have trouble when you are admonished or corrected by the shepherds (or other leaders)?
Are you a Wolf, or do you have wolfish attributes?
Do you have an inward drive to have a chief seat of high position in the church?
Do you find yourself bothered if you have to do what others in the flock are doing?
Are you drawn into strife and carnal things easily?
Have you been in trouble with church leadership and haven’t seemed to be able to work it out?
Do you have problems submitting to shepherds (or those above you)?
Are you trying to defame your shepherds or other leaders and draw others to follow your way of doing things?
Do you talk negatively about your shepherds or other leaders?
Have you become sly, sneaky, and deceitful in your attitudes and actions?
Do you gather security from other people who support your views?
Are you a Sheep, or do you have sheepish attributes?
Do you hate strife, malice, dissension, arguing and doctrinal debates?
Do you enjoy still waters – submitting to your shepherds (or those above you)?
Do you attend assemblies or gatherings at every opportunity?
Do you love to hear God’s word preached?
Do you hunger after truth from the Word?
Do you receive admonishing and correction from your shepherds (or leaders) easily?
