Keepers of the Light

 

    

    

    

    

    

Isa 9:2

 

2 The people who walked in darkness

Have seen a great light;

Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,

Upon them a light has shined.

NKJV

 

Darkness.  It is the pervasive theme in our society.  It is found in movies, literature, toys and TV shows.  Our culture is obsessed with darkness.  Dark forces; dark, twisted serial killers; garbled voices and shadowy spirits, it is the bread and butter of our entertainment industry. 

 

This passage of Scripture refers to a people walking in darkness.  Is there a generation that this is more true of than our own? But thank the Lord, the story does not end in foreboding darkness, but  rather we see the darkness as a backdrop to showcase the brilliant Light that has come.

 

When Jesus was born, the Father chose to herald His birth with a star, a new light source, hanging in the heavens for all to see. Jesus  was the light that was so desperately needed in His day, and He continues to be the origin of all light today.  Without Him, our life is cloaked in  darkness.

 

This time of year, I so enjoy watching the Christmas lights twinkling on the trees, on the houses, and businesses in town.  People drive quite a distance to look at a beautiful display of lights.  We are intrigued by the luminosity and we gain hope from it.

 

No matter how dark your life has been, Jesus is  shining His light into your darkness.  Drugs?  Alcohol? Promiscuity?  Witchcraft?  None is so dark that He cannot penetrate it and shed His glorious light into the situation.  Even if you are "dwelling in the land of the shadow of death" the light shines brightly above you, beckoning you to draw near and allow Him to push back your darkness.

 

Jesus, indeed, is the Light of the World.  But we, as believers, are the body of Christ.  We are still on Earth and there is still a lot of shining to do.  The pervasive darkness is stifling, but we cannot allow it to snuff out our light.  We have to abstain from darkness in all that we do in order to preserve the pure light of His presence.  A Christian cannot engage in role playing games of darkness; evil videos games; demonic movies and pornography of any sort.  What fellowship does light have with darkness?  We  cannot compromise our heart, our testimony, our spirit or our world.  He is light, and we must be keepers of the light.

 
Dear Lord, you see the darkness that has fallen on the Earth. Help me to shield my heart from any dark influence.  Saturate me, Lord, with the light of your presence.  Reflect Your brilliance in me.  In Name.  Amen.

 

 

 

Kind Savior

 

    

Titus 3:4

 

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

KJV

 

The kindness and love of God appeared to us in human form.   He put on flesh, he clothed himself with humanity and He walked among us.  He obeyed his parents, and He learned about the Bible.  He was baptized by John and befriended 12 ruffians, who later became His disciples.  He walked with them, He shared His heart, His thoughts and His mind with them.  He performed miracles and taught them with great care. Then He submitted to a cruel cross.

Kindness as a "He" and not an "it" is a deep truth to ponder.  But it is important that we understand Jesus' character and motivation.  He is constantly getting a "bad rap" from the world.  As Christians, we must understand and proclaim the truth about His love and kindness.

 

Works of service is my love language.  I feel most loved when someone in my family or group of friends does something that helps me.  I feel more cherished by someone washing pots than I do by receiving flowers.  Service takes personal sacrifice of desires and attention.  Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.  He left the glory of heaven, perfect communion with the Father, and He came to die for us.  All because of love.  And kindness.

Kindness is a fruit of the spirit that should be demonstrated in the life of every believer.  A hateful Christian should not exist.  As our Great Example Jesus showed how kindness of thought translates into kindness of action, we must live likewise.  Are your actions showing kindness to those you come into contact with?  Would people describe you as a kind person?  If not, ask Kindness to come in and manifest Himself in your life.

 

Dear Lord, help me to walk in kindness toward others.  Help me to believe the best of other people and show your loving kindness to all you bring into my path.

In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

What Do You Do with Jesus?

 

 

"Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God:  Every  spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God."  I John 4:1-2

There are many religions out there.  There are cults, denominations, fellowships, non-denominational and home church groups here in America.  There is even Satanic  worship, New Age, and witchcraft even in the smallest of towns.  How do you know what is of God and what is not?

The truth of the matter is that there are many different theologies and denominations that are going to heaven.  We may vary on what to wear, how to conduct church, what the gifts of the spirit entail, the way we baptize or have communion, but at the end of the day, we all believe in Jesus.  The belief that only one denomination is going to heaven is arrogant and narrow-minded.

But there are those that are deluded, confused and steeped in false doctrine.  Some even claim to be Christians, but do not really embrace Jesus as today's verse outlines.  The deal-breaking question is what does a given group or church believe about Jesus?  The Bible is clear that he is the way, the truth and the life.  He is God  in the flesh, born of a virgin, crucified for our sins, and raised for our salvation and eternal destination!  Jesus is just too crucial to cut corners on!  He is everything that the Bible says he is, and nothing that the Bible does not say.  We cannot minimize him to just a good man, a teacher or a prophet.  He is the Son of God and the Son of Man.  He was fully human and altogether divine.  There is some mystery in that, but we are talking about a deity!  There are some things we cannot fully grasp with our intellect, but rather, we choose to lay hold of it by faith.

As you consider what reading materials to consume, what church to affiliate with, what kind of church is OK for your kids to visit, ponder on today's verse.  Let Jesus be the plumb-line of your decision.

Dear Lord, thank you for choosing to leave the opulence in heaven, to come in the flesh to be my Savior.  Help me point others to you.  Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steps to a Successful Life

 

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning.  The old command is the message you have heard.” I John 2:1-7

Jesus came into the world not to abolish the law, but rather to fulfill it.  Every principle in the 10 Commandments was righteously fulfilled in Christ.  But not only those, but all commands in the Old Testament and New Testament were fulfilled in Jesus.  Additionally, all prophecies about the coming Messiah were wholly fulfilled in Him.  Jesus is the beginning and ending of all things.

Thus, the command to walk as Jesus did in verse six is not a new command.  If we walk as he walked, then we will not sin against any other command given in the Word of God.  If we walk as he did, we won’t have to add anything extra to our way of living.  We will be wholly pleasing in the eyes of God.

I love the beauty and totality of the Bible.  Anything foreshadowed in the Old Testament is fulfilled (in Christ) in the New Testament.  It is a breath-taking tapestry beautifully and intricately interwoven throughout time.  The theme of his love, his holiness, his purpose for us and his desire to see us reconciled unto him, all of it is shown in Jesus’ life and in the Word.

I challenge you to begin to purpose in your heart to do it the way Jesus did.  No excuses, no rationalizations.  Just living in his steps. Recently, my husband and I were walking through dense woods with hidden holes, vines and thorns hanging everywhere.  My six-foot-four husband walked in front of me, navigating the landscape, holding the briars and pulling the vines off the path.  As long as I walked right in his footsteps, I was not likely to be harmed.  If we just put our steps trustingly into the larger footprints that he left, we will finish this life knowing we will one day here the much-coveted words “Well done my good and faithful servant.  Enter into the joys of the Lord.

Jesus, help me to pattern my life after you.  Help me to be a true follower of yours, and not in name only.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

How do You Relate?

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense- Jesus Christ, the righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but for the sins of the whole world.  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. ” I John 2:1-6

One of the great mysteries in the Word of God to me is our position in Christ.  When we come to salvation, Jesus comes to live in our hearts.  As a Christian we become a part of the body of Christ.  (All Christians make up that body, with Christ as the head.)  When we receive Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live on the inside of us.  When we ask Jesus us to, he baptizes us in the Holy Spirit.  So to recap, we are in Jesus and he is in us.  We are in the Spirit and he is in us.

So having said all of that, today’s verse talks about how we can know we are in him.  If we do what Jesus did, we are living in him.  When one of our sons was little, I got so tickled watching him.  My husband was outside talking to another man.  Our little guy was standing right by him.  If Daddy leaned one elbow on the truck, he leaned one elbow on the truck.  When my husband gestured with his hand, my son gestured with his pudgy little hand.  He was a mini replica of Daddy.  If we are following Jesus, we will look like it. 

Another analogy of this verse can be seen in our relationships with our friends.  I have noticed that my relationships with my friends are very individual.  We have inside jokes and terms that we use with each other that would not make sense to someone else.  Why?  Because we pick up things from each other.  They change me and I change them.  We become like those that we are around most.  You cannot hang out in the world, but act like Jesus.  You have to hang out with him.  Listen to him, talk with him and have shared experiences with him before he begins to shape your life.  If no one knows you are a Christian, you need to invest in more time spent with Jesus.

The final question is how did Jesus walk? He walked to where hurting people were, and he befriended them.  He saw people’s need and was moved to compassion.  He taught them, provided for them, delivered them, healed them and established relationships with them.  If we are to be like Jesus in this world we have to care about those who are in need.  We have to be the hands of compassion outstretched.  A Christian who is not giving of themselves, their time, their resources, is honestly no Christian at all. Because to be Christ-like means to be like Christ.  To feel like him; to act like him; and to love like him!

Lord, show me where I am failing in my life to emulate you.  Thank you for coming to live in me and to allow me to be in the Family of God.  Help me to resemble the Father. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

 

To Tell You the Truth

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”  I John 1:1-2

 

Jesus.  He has always been.  When the very foundations of the earth were laid, Jesus was there.  He existed before time as we know it existed.  Prior to coming to dwell on earth, he lived in the resplendence of heaven with the Heavenly Father and with the Holy Spirit.  Jesus did not just come to be when Mary gave birth to him in a stable.

For those of you who have been in church all your life, this may be a “no duh” moment.  These are things you hold to be true.  But for an ever increasing number of Americans, even some who call themselves Christians, these truths are subject to being discounted.  As Christians we can easily fail to see the danger in all of this and not sweat the small stuff.  But the small stuff unravels bigger stuff.  An entire blanket can be unmade by pulling on one piece of thread at a time. 

Jesus was there in the beginning.  He appeared to hundreds of people on this earth with convincing proof that he is Messiah.  The disciples continued to proclaim the truth of all of this even after Jesus had died, been entombed, rose again, dwelled among them and ascended up into heaven.  These truths prove his deity and cannot be dismissed.  In the truth of Jesus lies eternal life.

A day is coming when the church will have to give up on being politically correct and choose to be Biblically correct.  We are tolerating and loving people right into hell.  Yes, we hate sin and love the sinner.  Yes, we respect other people’s right to have a different opinion.  But the church has to decompress the mute button and once again be a proclaimer of the truth about the Bible and Jesus.  He is eternal life.  If people do not know that, they cannot have eternal life.  Join with me in praying that the purity of the gospel would return to the church and to America.  Other countries appear to receive the truth more readily than we do here.  As Christians we must pray and proclaim!

Dear Lord, help me as a Christian to get back to the basics of the gospel.  Help me to get back to my “first love” and the passion that I felt when I first came to know you.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Standing by Your Word

“In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  John 1:1

 

The Word of God has always been.  The Word of God will always be.  Before any human existed there was the Word.  Before the doubters and critics were ever born, the Word was.  I know this may seem simplistic, but think about it for a minute.  Whether or not the Word is banned from school, banned from government and banned from community life, the Word will continue to be.  The enemy will never destroy or obliterate the Word of God.  One day when life is over, The Word, will stand in judgment against anyone who chose to not heed its contents.

Jesus is the embodiment of the Word of God.  If we are to know Him, we must study His Word, which is contained within the Bible.  As the world despises the Word, the world despises the Word in us.  But we cannot be moved from its truths.  The Bible is our solid foundation in which we can stand and not be moved.  To do away with the sacredness of the Word of God is to completely do away with absolute truth.  Without acknowledging the absolute truth of the Word we open ourselves up to making everything a relative judgment call based on our wants, preferences, opinions or feelings at any given time.  This type of thinking leads to apostasy (a defection or falling away from God).

The Word cannot be separated from God.  The enemy of our soul seeks to keep us from time in the Word because he knows the benefits and strength a Christian gains from the Word.  In other places in the world, the Word is still a costly gospel.  Bibles are still banned from some countries and must be smuggled in at the risk of imprisonment and death. My question is, what are we doing with the four we own which are collecting dust?

Dear Lord, restore to me a deep and fervent love for your Word.  Help me to have a hunger for Your truth and help me to allow the Word to take root in my life and bring forth fruit.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Overcoming

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:21

Dealing with people can, at times, be a bit tricky.  We all go through times when someone hurts us or says things that cause us problems.  And if we are honest, there are times that we are the ones inflicting the pain.

This passage of Scripture is a continuation of verses that began in verse 17.  We are instructed not “to repay evil for evil”. This is a simple and straight forward commandment, but in truth, hard to carry out.  Our natural tendency is to respond in kind to people.  It does not take any effort to smile and be gracious to the waitress that is friendly and helpful.  It takes a lot more character to be kind to the waitress who is slamming your drinks on the table and seems disturbed that you came to dine.

Anyone, saved or unsaved, can respond in a reciprocal manner when we are hurt, angry or offended.  But we must decide in advance that we will not allow ourselves to act ugly to others just because they were ugly to us.

I think about Jesus- our great example. He was mocked, scorned, laughed at, spat upon, beaten… and His response?  “Father forgive them for they know what they do.”  He was able to look beyond the present and have pity on them for the judgment that they were heaping on their own heads.

Often, the rude cashier is having family problems, financial problems or health problems which make them short and hard to deal with.  Maybe life has given them little to smile about.  As we go about, being God’s hands, feet, and mouths in this world, we must call to mind Jesus’ example.  We must be the overcomer in every situation.  We have to be “high road” people.  Often acting in kindness on our part, has a way of diffusing or breaking the negative pattern that others begin.

God is the only righteous judge who gets it all right.  Who are we to decide who deserves punishment and who deserves mercy?

Dear Lord, help me to respond in love on all occasions.  Let my life, speech and actions be good and not evil.  Help me to overcome every evil tendency within myself.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

How is Jesus Feeling?

“Jesus wept.”  John 11:35

The shortest verse in the Bible, and yet so telling.  A little background to this verse may be helpful.  Jesus was close friends with a family- Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Mary was the one who had poured perfume on Jesus’ feet.

When Jesus received the word that Lazarus was sick, He did not respond as you would except, given their relationship.  Instead he lingered on where He was, proclaiming the Word of God.

When Jesus arrived and was told he was dead, he asked to be taken to the tomb where Lazarus lay.  This is when the Bible records today’s verse.  “Jesus wept.”  This is such a tender description of Jesus.  The Bible indicates that Jesus knew all along that Lazarus would die and that He would raise him back to life.  That is why this verse is so striking.  Even though Jesus knew that he had the solution to Mary and Martha’s problem, He identified with their pain in the meantime.

Regardless of where you are today, what you are going through or what lies ahead… Jesus sees your situation, He has great plans to help you, but until then… He is moved with compassion with where you are now.  He knows you are hurting.  He knows that you are scared.  And His heart is tender toward you.  He is moved with the feelings of our infirmity.

The God we serve is not a far off God who does not care.  No, instead He is a God who walks beside us each step of the way, caring for us, loving us, and crying with us.

Dear Lord, thank you that you are real.  Thank you that you care about me, your creation.  I pray especially today for those who are hurting, those who feel abandoned, those who think that everything is falling apart and they do not understand your timing or seeming delays.  Please comfort them and help them feel your presence even now.  Help them to rise up in their faith, knowing that you see and you will answer.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Learning to Walk

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”  I John 2:6

 Wow!  What a tall order!  Walking as Jesus did.  He walked every step in faith.  He walked every step in love.  He walked to the hurting, the rejected, the sick, and the down and out.  He brought healing, acceptance and restoration.

Jesus walked in wisdom.  He walked with an eye to pleasing the Father.  He walked the path to Calvary.  And Bless God, he walked the path to pay the price for our sin, to purchase our redemption and to build for us a home in heaven.

Jesus walked where he was hated, rejected, taunted, set up and crucified.  He walked where no man would want to go.  He walked where no man had the power to go.

Jesus is our great example in all things.  Let us endeavor to walk as he did, showing love, goodness and compassion to a hurting world.  Let our feet be the ones that bring good news.

Dear Lord, I am speechless at the thought of all you have done.  Help me to walk as you did, in all sincerity and with Kingdom purpose. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri

Tired of Trying?

 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9

Have you ever had a verse grate on your nerves?  This is that verse for me. Perhaps you are lifting your eyebrows in astonishment, saying how on earth could she feel that way about such an encouraging word?  But many of you are nodding with understanding.

The truth is, that the Lord never seems to put this verse in my path until I am so weary in doing good and ready to give up and never think of something again.  It is the human condition to tire, become bored and disgusted.  I think about the night that Jesus was in Gethsemane praying to be delivered from his upcoming betrayal, crucifixion and death.  Even when his burden was at his heaviest, his 11 closest friends on earth became weary and went to sleep, unable to keep watch with him.

It is true that we often become weary in our well-doing and feel like giving up the dream, or letting the project go undone.  But bear in mind that usually when you most feel like you cannot go , that is when you are closest to your harvest.  The old saying that “quitters never win” is true in the spiritual sphere as well.  We have to have tenacity and perseverance if we want to enjoy the good things in life that God has for us.

Let me encourage you today- do not throw in the towel, do not walk away.  You WILL reap a harvest if you keep on.  God has spoken.  And that settles it.

Dear Lord, help me to be a faithful believer.  Give me the strength to stand, and the hope and joy to keep believing.  Give me the grace to see this to the end. In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

The Anchor of Hope

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:19-20

Lately it seems like there is an epidemic of people taking their own lives. People are overwhelmed, confused, desperate and hopeless.  Times are very trying with our economy floundering, people losing jobs and sky-rocketing costs.  Consequently, people’s relationship and health are under increasing stress.  All of these things mushroom and make people feel hopeless about their life situation.

Our hope is to be an anchor for our soul.  It is what is supposed to help us keep grounded and established where we need to be.  Hope is supposed to cause us to not be moved by the waves and tides of life.  This passage states that this hope is “firm and secure.”  What a glorious picture!  When we have our hope in Christ, who He is, is big enough to keep us firm, secure, safe and protected.

We recently took our boat out on a trip.  We found the perfect spot and anchored off to do some fishing, swimming and snorkeling.  The waves were especially choppy that day and before long my husband found the boat to have drifted over on top of him.  The anchor was not strong enough for the pull of the waves and wind that day.  No matter what we tried, we could not keep our boat stationary.  That day it seemed we needed two anchors and needed both of them to be bigger!

Life can be like that boat at times.  We can have adverse circumstances come our way that can easily move us from where we need to be.  The vacuum of life can draw us off of our hope and faith in Christ.  But it is encouraging for us to know that just like the rope that is tied to the anchor on a boat, our hope is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ, and that rope is a lifeline between us and him.

He has entered the inner sanctuary on our behalf.  Just like the priests of old would enter the “holy of holies” to make sacrifices and intercede on behalf of the people, Jesus has entered the inner sanctuary for us.  The major difference being, he is preeminently qualified to do so.  He is utterly without sin. He is pure; therefore, he can always remain in the innermost place with God.  And there He remains day after day, interceding on your behalf.

No matter what you face in life today, please know that it is not beyond the seeing eye of God. He loves us and has a loving and watchful eye upon us at all times.  If we put our hope in Him, we will not be put to shame.  We can trust in Him.  He is our source and will never fail.  When we know that no matter what life throws our way, we have hope in Christ,  that allows us to rest securely, come what may.

Dear Lord, increase my faith and hope today.  Help me to perceive all that you are and how immeasurably capable you are of taking care of everything that concerns me.  Help me to be firm and secure in my hope that is in you.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.

Sherri