Giving Thanks Paves the Way

Todays blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23)

We say thanks for a lot of things in our life before we receive them, often times without even being consciously aware of it.

Let me give you a few recent personal examples.

A few days ago, I thanked by son in-law for ordering a couple of movie tickets for me that I could pick up at the movie theater before the showing.  I didn’t watch him place the order or have the tickets in my possession ahead of time, but I still thanked him because I was fully expectant the tickets would be there when I walked into the theatre.

The other day at work, while on the phone with my wife, she told me she was cooking my favorite dinner.  Before we hung up, I thanked her, even though I hadn’t tasted a bite yet.  Why?  Because I trusted my wife’s word and knew the dinner she promised would be waiting for me.

How much more does God deserve my thanks before I see His promises come to pass?

Has God revealed a promise to you in His word?  Maybe the promise of provision in a time of need?  Maybe a promise of peace in the midst of a very difficult situation.  Maybe the promise of comfort for a broken heart?

Whatever it may be, one of the greatest demonstrations of faith is to express gratitude to God before you receive what you’re expecting.

Jesus practiced this truth.  Before He even called Lazarus out from the tomb, Jesus said “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” (John 11:41)

What if we sincerely thanked God after every prayer request before we saw anything come to pass?  Our thanks-filled expectation will align our heart with God’s desires and position us to receive all that He has for us.

As the above verse declares, God wants to show you His salvation, and giving thanks prepares the way.

Is God Your Co-Pilot?

I hope not!

There is statement made popular over the years that also was seen on bumper stickers.

It read: “God is my Co-Pilot.”

It sounds like a wonderful concept except it falls 100% short in effectiveness.

What do I mean?

A life half surrendered to God is a life we are still in control of.

Listen to Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Did you notice whose plans they are?

God’s plans for you and I are good plans.

I confess, when I am left in control of my own plans they are not always good, prosperous and hopeful.

A life fully surrendered to God, where we give Him total control to pilot our destiny, is a life that honors Him and fulfills His plans and purposes.

A fair question might be – “Don’t I have a role to play?”

Yes, you do. It’s called complete and total surrender.

God will not usurp my will.

Instead I must choose to surrender my will to His.

When I have done this, it is not me piloting my life, not even co-piloting it.

God pilots my life.

Do you pilot your life?

Do you and God co-pilot? (I hope you understand the irrelevance of this question)

- or -

Does God pilot your life?

Am I ‘Exhibit A’ for Faithfulness?

“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws.”

Psalm 119:30 

How does faithfulness ‘play out’ in our lives?

In other words…

What are some evidences of faithfulness in the life of a believer?

Let me give you some examples –

1.The faithful man or woman of God supports the vision of their church with their time, talent and treasures.

2.They worship God on the mountain and in the valley – through the highs and lows of life because they understand that worship is not so much an ‘act’ as it is a lifestyle.

3.They are not ‘moody’ but are reliable even in the expressions of their personality.

4.At it’s core – a ‘faithful’ person is a ‘faith-filled’ person who responds with faith toward God and others and does not respond out of fear or unbelief.

5.They can be trusted with a task to see it through to completion – they are dependable.

Alright, I have given you only five evidences of faithfulness on a list that can be very much longer.

What would you add to it?

What is God speaking to you about concerning your faithfulness?

“Faithfulness or Fruitfulness?”

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

What ought to be the greater goal in the life of a believer, faithfulness or fruitfulness?

No, no, I hear your objections but it is not an irrelevant question.

It is of the utmost importance to you.

You see the apple tree does not fret about producing apples.

It is in its’ DNA to produce apples and not sunflowers.

Fruitfulness as a disciple of Jesus Christ is expected but my fruitfulness has more to do with relationship than with labor. If I remain attached to the vine I will bear fruit. The Father prunes and I bear more fruit. Faithfulness is often defined as “steadfast adherence”. To adhere means: to stick fast; to become attached. My faithfulness can be measured by my “stick-to-itiveness” to Christ.

Do I abide in Him?

Do I remain in Him?

Am I a branch attached to the vine?

If I abide in Him, if I remain in Him, if I am attached to Him then I will be fruitful because His DNA courses through my veins. As a matter of fact His word says apart from Him (we might say – a branch severed from the vine) we can do nothing but through the strength that Jesus Christ gives me I can do all things.

That includes living a fruitful life.

Don’t fret about being fruitful –

Faithfully abide in the vine and you will be fruitful.

“Extreme Seasons”

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,

whose rider is called Faithful and True...”

Revelation 19:11a

We happen to live in a part of the world where there are four distinct seasons throughout the year. If I had to describe them (and if you allow me a little liberty) I would say that Winter and Summer are the ‘extreme’ seasons typically marked by the most cold and most hot days of the year respectively. Spring and Fall can certainly have surprises as well but the weather complaints are most often heard relative to the cold and the heat.

That got me to thinking about faithfulness and how the greatest tests of faithfulness often come at the ‘extreme’ times of our lives. Those times when the days are shortest, the wind blows coldest and the voice of God seems silent are times when we may be tempted to be unfaithful because the circumstances seem to be getting the best of us.

Conversely, there are also seasons of sunny days and warm breezes blowing when we are enjoying the blessing of God on our lives. Sadly though, when we fail to recognize Him in the blessings and we are tempted to credit our skill and perseverance, we can also slip away from that faithful commitment to God.

Faithfulness, then, is most obvious in our lives during those ‘extreme’ seasons. It is made most evident, to ourselves and others, not only “…through the Valley of the Shadow of death…” but also on the mountaintop experiences.

Faithfulness is tested – and evidenced – in the time of lack and

the time of abundance in our lives.

If you or your family are in an ‘extreme’ season in your life right now hold fast to God. Remain faithful to Him as He walks with you through this season. Even if you don’t ‘feel’ His presence understand He has not left you.

We may be called to faithfulness but He is Faithful and True

through all the extremes of life!

The Greatest of These

Today’s blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13)

Why did Paul say, “but the greatest of these is love?”  Simple.  Because, on God’s scale of importance, it’s at the top all by itself.

And God didn’t just give lip service to it.  He put His money where His mouth is.  He walked the talk.

The bible makes it point to say “God is love” (I John 4:8).  God’s character is to love.  It’s woven into His DNA.  Why do you think Jesus left the glory of heaven to come to earth?  Yep, all because of love.

Love is what moves God to act.  Love is what paved a way for us to receive God’s grace and forgiveness.  Love is why while hanging on the cross Jesus said, “Lord forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Faith and hope are critical to the life of a Christ follower here on earth, but love trumps them both.  When we love, we put the character of God on display. Love causes us to be more like the Father.

Love also prepares us for heaven.  It’s the language of heaven.

When we get to heaven, we won’t need faith, hope, or the gifts of the spirit, but we will still need love.  The other things will cease, but love will never fail (fade or end).

So if the greatest is love, shouldn’t our focus be on growing in love?  But yet so often, we talk about wanting more faith or a greater measure of hope.  Let me say again, faith and hope are important, but we should be desiring love more than anything else.  If we aren’t, our spiritual life may be out of balance.

Let’s not forget the strong admonishment a few verses earlier I Corinthians (chapter 13, v2) where God said if we don’t have love, we are nothing.

Without love, we are good for nothing. Without love, God can’t use us to further His kingdom.  Without love, we are equivalent to one of those kitchen gadgets we bought years ago that sit in the back of our cupboard never to be used.

As a matter of fact, without love, we can actually do damage to God’s kingdom and unknowingly advance the kingdom of darkness.

With love being the greatest of importance to God, isn’t it something we should desire and strive for more than anything else?

“Abiding and Walking”

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”

John 15:4

An abiding life is a fruit-bearing life.

The fruit we bear is evidence of what we worship.

After all true worship is not simply a result of an energized song service at church but the result of living a life pleasing to God.

We are told that if we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

Why does this matter?

Because in that same chapter – Galatians 5 – the works of the flesh are also listed and contrasted with the Spirit’s fruit. If I want the fruit of the Spirit in my life I will walk in the Spirit.

What does it mean to ‘walk in the Spirit’?

It means I am being led by the Spirit of God and not by the urgings of my old nature – the lusts of my flesh. That continued obedience to being led by the Spirit is indicative of one who remains or abides in the vine and that is a person who will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Our challenge for today then is twofold:

Are you abiding in the vine?

Are you walking in the Spirit?

“…After A Long Time…”

“After a long time the master of those servants

returned and settled accounts with them.”

Matthew 25:17

We’ve all seen the ads placed in the ‘Help Wanted’ section of the classifieds that requests a “self-starter” who is motivated and requires little or no supervision.

Essentially the employer is looking for an employee who can be trusted to not need someone constantly watching over them. The faithful employee is entrusted with the resources of his employer and is left alone to produce or provide with those same resources to the benefit of the employer.

I encourage you to take the time to read the parable of the bags of gold from Matthew 25. Our last blog talked about some of those things which are far more valuable than gold and with a much better return on investment.

Faithfulness is one of those traits.

Jesus told the parable to highlight the great importance placed on faithfulness.

You see to some it is easier to be faithful when the boss goes away and says: “I will be back to check on things in a couple of hours.” But what if the boss or the master or the Lord doesn’t return until ‘after a long time’? Is your devotion and faithfulness predicated only on how long your attention span is? Do you remain faithful even when the boss or the master or the Lord is delayed in their return? Sometimes faithfulness is tested over time. Do you remain true as weeks, months and years pass by?

Are you faithful to God through the passage of time?

God rewards faithfulness but faithfulness is tested over the long haul!

Stay true.

Stay faithful - even after a long time!

Better Returns Then Gold!

“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”

Proverbs 3:13-14 

It is hardly possible to turn on the television or listen to the radio for any length of time without hearing a commercial inviting you to invest in gold. The price of gold is through the roof when compared to the dollar or other commodities or even itself from just a few years ago.

But look at the ‘secret’ investment strategy that Proverbs chapter 3, verses 13 and 14 reveals to us. There is an investment we can make with

much better returns than gold or silver.

What is it that can be more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold?

If I were a businessman wouldn’t I want that kind of an investment?

Well, we know the answer because it is not hidden.

We are told very plainly that it is wisdom and understanding.

While the answer is evident the ‘finding’ and the ‘gaining’ is where it becomes a bit more difficult. It is not worldly wisdom or man’s understanding that brings great returns.

It is the wisdom that comes from God.

That can make us stumble sometimes because we don’t think like God – His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts – so the finding of wisdom and the gaining of understanding first require the humbling of our egos

and a desire to know Him who is wisdom.

Invest in knowing Him.

I encourage you to invest in His wisdom and His understanding and

they will provide far greater benefits – eternal versus temporal – than

silver and gold ever can.

Occupy!

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Matthew 5:7

There was a rallying cry being heard in cities around the globe a few years ago that started in New York with the “Occupy Wall Street” protests.

However, I would challenge believers reading this blog to an occupation of a different sort. When it comes to your neighbors, your family, your co-workers and, yes, even your enemies; instead of sitting down in protest somewhere occupy the mercy seat of God. In other words – as we have been learning – extend the mercy of God to others. Your simple act of obedience to be like Christ may not garner media attention but I guarantee you it will impact the one who is in need of that mercy.

Occupy can be defined as: “…to dwell in…”

What a wonderful picture that affords us. Let the God of All Mercy dwell in you and you ‘dwell’ in the Mercy seat of God so to speak.

In Matthew 10:8 Jesus said:

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:

freely ye have received, freely give.”

As you have received mercy, give it.

You may not make the papers but you will catch the eye of your Father in heaven!

Knock, Knock

Today’s blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. (Revelation 3:20 TLB)

As I was reading the above verse recently, the words “have been” and “constantly” stood out to me.  He didn’t just arrive at the door of your heart.  He’s been there knocking all along.  If it was a physical knock, His knuckles would probably be raw and bloodied from the constant hitting against the door.

The word constantly means “Relentless, continuing without pause or letup, unceasing.”

He never stops knocking.  He is relentless and unceasing in His pursuit for fellowship with us.

Another truth I love about the above verse is that Jesus makes a point to call out two-way fellowship - He with us and us with Him.  And, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that He specified initiating fellowshipping with us first, because I believe His pursuit of us (after we’ve responded to His knocking) will cause us to hunger for greater fellowship with Him.

His constant pursuit of us also means it’s not dependent on us at all.

No matter how many times I mess up today, He keeps knocking.  No matter how many times I push Him away today, He continues knocking.

He keeps knocking, because He keeps loving.

God is soliciting our hearts today.  His knock is gentle, but persistent.  Kind, but deliberate.

Isn’t it time we answer the door?

What Does Your Storehouse Reveal?

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him,

and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

Matthew 12:35 

One of the evident signs of our culture’s over-indulgence in material things is the proliferation of those storage facilities that allow you to rent space for the excess items you own but do not have room for where you live.

We seem to acquire (and convince ourselves we need) much more than what we are able to store in our homes.

Jesus had something to say about our own personal storehouse in the verse quoted above. Simply stated; a good man will store up good things

and then guess what comes out of him – good.

An evil man will store up evil things

and surprise, surprise – evil comes out of him.

The obvious question might seem to be – What are you storing up?

The reality, though, is that “There is no one righteous, not even one.”(Romans 3:10) and so if there is any goodness in me it is the goodness imputed through Christ in me. Looking at verse 27 of that same chapter in Romans, the Apostle asks this question: “Where, then is boasting? It is excluded.”

Please understand that good works should follow after Christ comes to make his home in you. But it would be a tragic misunderstanding of grace to think that Christ makes His home in you because of your goodness. I become that storehouse of good things after Christ comes in and not before. It is a work and evidence of His Holy Spirit in me.

That makes me to realize that He is the one who makes all the difference and it is not me. What comes out of my ‘storehouse’ then should be evidence to the world of His presence in me.

Does my storehouse include mercy, love, and worship for Him alone?

What does your storehouse reveal about you?

Mercy isn’t Just for Friends

“When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”

1 Kings 21:27-29

The Bible is filled with stories of people who loved God but still

had some serious issues in their lives to deal with.

Kind of like you and me some times.

But our passage today is about a man who was not one of those who God called a friend (like Moses) or a man after His own heart (like King David). Ahab was a King of Israel. Unlike David, who heeded the Prophet Nathan’s words from God, Ahab despised the words brought through the Prophet Elijah. Some would say he was the most evil king in Israel’s history. His wife Jezebel pulled the strings in Ahab’s life and she constantly brought him into idol worship. Yet with all that could be written about Ahab’s character we have recorded in our verses today evidence of the mercy of God extended not only to those who walked with Him but particularly to one who went out of his way to challenge God. You and I should be grateful for this picture given in scripture as it reinforces for us verse 10 from Romans chapter 5:

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Gods mercy came to rescue me not when I was His friend but His enemy.

It is sometimes tough to show mercy to those we love when they have hurt us.

God demonstrates His love and His mercy to His enemies.

That is the mercy that should be working in us.

Imagine how many will take note of a man or woman who

demonstrates mercy to those who deserve none.

God’s mercy, working through you, will serve to glorify Him.

Won’t you ask Him today to use you in that way?

Show or Tell?

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

Micah 6:8

 The scripture text for today is a verse which is probably familiar to many of us. The Lord, through the prophet Micah, speaks of three things He requires of us. They are:

1. To do justly

2. To love mercy

3. To walk humbly with God

I want us to zero in on point number two today and to recognize the command is not given for us to just tolerate mercy or to put up with mercy or even to show a little mercy every now and then. It says we are to love mercy. I have mentioned in this blog before that God is a God who demonstrates His love for us.

He also demonstrates His mercy.

If we claim to be His followers and filled with His Spirit then we are to also demonstrate that we love mercy.

How do we do that?

We do that by recognizing that we cannot simply give lip service to the mercy of God but must be a people not only aware of His mercy to us but ones who also extend His mercy to others. Loving mercy means I look for ways to be merciful. I go out of my way to be merciful and I, especially, graciously extend mercy when it would be far, far easier to judge another person as being unworthy of receiving mercy.

My life demanded judgment but God gave me mercy instead.

God loves mercy and shows us (not only through today’s verse but particularly through His actions) that loving mercy is a good thing.

Did you happen to catch the start of Micah 6:8?

Isn’t it interesting that the scripture is written as it is?

It does not say: “He has told you…” but instead it is written: “He has shown you…”

As Jesus would say to us: “Now, go and do likewise…”

Can ‘They’ Be Saved?

“And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:9-10

“…every tribe and language and people and nation…”

While recording what he saw and heard, John penned those words which reveal God’s mercy extended to all. Scriptures declare that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. That His grace and His mercy is extended to all is very clear. Jesus’ earthly ministry was primarily to the lost sheep of Israel but even in the midst of fulfilling that mission he recognized great faith in some and extended His grace and mercy to those who were not part of the “lost sheep” family.

Does your ‘old man’ nature resist extending grace and mercy to some people because they are just not worthy? We are quick to answer that question with a loud NO! but I think sometimes we are all guilty of believing some groups of people just deserve hell! We make those judgments based on their behavior instead of on the redemptive power of God to change lives.

Maybe something in your past has prejudiced you against a whole race of people. Maybe today’s news stories make you rule out terrorists as receivers of God’s mercy. What about your politics? Can a Socialist or a Capitalist be saved? What about a Labor Union member or a Free and Accepted Mason? Well, you say, these all represent ideologies and not where, or under what circumstances, a person was born. Don’t they have more to do with behaviors and attitudes? Yes they do. But scripture clearly tells me in Romans 3:23 that “…all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God…” All Republicans, all Democrats, all conservatives, all Republicans, all abortionists and all ‘Right to Life’ advocates, all Muslims and all Catholics, all Protestants and all atheists (don’t read into any absences from this list as obviously it cannot be exhaustive).

ALL, ALL, ALL.

All have sinned and all need His mercy.

Will you extend His mercy to your own personal version of the ‘untouchables’?

Let God then do the work of changing their attitudes and behaviors. Don’t be offended though when He changes them to reflect His attitudes and not necessarily yours and mine because we are a work in progress too!

Noise is the enemy of our soul

Today’s blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jeremiah 33:3)

I recently went for a hearing test.  I was put in a sound proof room where I could literally hear a pin drop.  The technician put a headset on me and instructed me to raise a finger every time I heard a beep.  She then left the room closing the airtight door behind her.  It was so quiet, I could hear myself breathing.

The technician then proceeded to release slight beeps into my headset.  Each set of beeps grew fainter and fainter as she tested the strength of my hearing.

There is no way she could have conducted the test without first putting me in an environment void of all noise.

The same is true when communicating with God.  We need to cultivate a quiet heart before we can hear the Lord’s still small voice.  And the only way to do that is to withdraw to a place of solitude, away from the many distractions of this world.  It is almost impossible to hear God in the frantic world we live in.

As you go through your day, begin to look for quiet places you can retreat to.  At work, I will sometimes retreat to a vacant conference room to get some alone time with God.  At home, find a corner of your house that is quiet.  When in your car, turn off the radio so it’s just you and God.

Once you are in that quiet place, settle your heart and listen intently for God’s still small voice.  He loves to speak to His children.

As AW Tozer put it, “noise is the enemy of our souls,” so make it a practice to steal away to those quiet places where you can commune with God.

Seeing the Need for Mercy

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’

For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 9:10-13

They say that a person struggling with an addiction is not going to make any progress toward victory until they first recognize and admit there is a problem.

Isn’t that also the case with salvation?

Unless we recognize our need for a savior we will not receive the grace God has provided. Those who see no need will never respond to address the need no matter how obvious it may be to everyone else.

So it is with the passage today.

Jesus was speaking with people who saw no need.

It wasn’t only that they were ‘sick’ (sinners) and in need of a ‘physician’ (savior) but rather that they were also blind to their own condition. If you and I could have been at Matthew’s house that night I am guessing we probably would have heard some tax collectors and sinners recognizing their need for mercy.

In many ways the Pharisees represented the elite class of their day.

They were the ones, or so they appeared to others, that had it all together.

There was no need for mercy because after all, they thought to themselves, their lives were exemplary. In their logic if Jesus were really from God, they reasoned, wouldn’t he hang out with them instead of with the no-account people he was having dinner with?

In a way we might say that the Pharisees were addicted.

They were addicted to their own self-righteousness and this

blinded them to their need of mercy.

Don’t ever come to a place where you are secure in your own right living and are not in need of the mercy of God. Ask God to keep your eyes open to your own need for mercy and in so doing you will more readily ‘see’ your way to extend mercy to others.

Rubbing Shoulders with Jesus

“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Luke 7: 36-39

Do you follow Jesus up to a point?

Is there an imaginary line in the sand of your heart that says: “This far and no farther!”

Is there a part of you that holds back because you have a pre-ordained ‘measured response’ to requests for anything more?

The Pharisee in our text today was named Simon and I see his response in that way.

After all, he invited Jesus into his home and broke bread with him didn’t he?

Doesn’t that show his willingness to rub shoulders with the teacher?

One problem though, and its’ a big one; Simon and you and I, for that matter, are not called to just rub shoulders with Jesus. We are asked to surrender all to Him. Part of that surrender pushes that imaginary line in our heart well past our comfort zone to extend His love and His mercy to the ‘type of people’ Simon was repulsed by.

Here’s the kicker though: you and I are those ‘type of people’.

That’s right – you are a sinner saved by grace.

Take away the ‘saved by grace’ part and what are you?

Please – I know all about sanctification and the work of the Holy Spirit – but without that work – I and you and Simon and everyone else is no better than the woman in our story today. We all needed His mercy and we all have received His mercy. Now we need to go and extend His mercy. The imaginary line in Simon’s heart seemed to have stopped at the point of extending mercy to someone in need. Jesus taught a lesson and we don’t know if Simon heard and applied that lesson. How about you?

Have you heard it?

Are you willing to extend mercy to others or does a ‘line in your heart’ stop you?

The Route and the Root

“…the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants... a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt… “Then the master called the servant in...Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Matthew 18:23-35 selected

Forgiveness is the route to mercy.

This was an important part of the message we heard on Sunday. If we desire mercy extended to us then we need to be a people extending mercy to others. The route to mercy is through forgiveness. Now if you use Google maps or Mapquest as tools to plan out directions for a trip you are setting out on then you put in the starting location and the destination you want to arrive at and then the route is mapped out for you. The same is true for mercy. If you want to know the mercy of God working in your life then plot out your journey by way of the forgiveness route. Vengeance Boulevard and Payback Avenue will not get you to your destination. You must follow the route laid out in scripture.

If you desire mercy it is routed through forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the root to mercy.

A root is defined as: “the part of the plant, usually below the ground, that holds the plant in position, draws water and nourishment from the soil and stores food.”

Mercy in my life cannot be ‘held in place’ without the root of forgiveness. A believer’s life devoid of forgiveness is a life without the refreshing water and nourishing food of mercy. Forgiveness ‘refreshes’, ‘feeds’ and ‘nourishes’ mercy in me and in turn that mercy I extend to others.

In our parable today the servant found mercy extended when his debt was forgiven. However, when that same servant failed to forgive another person he soon found mercy was no longer available to him.

If you want the mercy of God and others extended to you, then be a person who knows the route and the root of mercy and forgives others as you too have been forgiven.

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

II Peter 3:9 

Our Pastor, in a Sunday message, made a

statement that is worthwhile to consider here today.

In talking about mercy he said: “You have to get past the cross to get to hell.”

In other words, you must totally bypass God’s provision

of love and mercy available because of the cross.

Calvary is the greatest expression of God’s love and mercy.

It is a love and mercy which excludes no one.

Jesus’ work was a complete work and made it possible for all to be brought back into fellowship with God. While the way has been provided, unbelievably, it remains an option some don’t take.

You see the other thing about God’s love is that it will not coerce you.

It will provide and it will draw but it will not force and it will not conscript you against your will.

Many miss out, not because God’s love is not big enough or His redemption not available to all, but because they refuse the offer.

For some, pride keeps them from accepting; for others it may be religious tradition or the ‘foolishness’ of the preaching of the cross. In any event they manage to march past the cross and all that it means straight into hell and then many declare God could not possibly be a loving God to “send” people to hell. The truth is God “sends” no one to hell.

His mercy and love make it harder to go to hell than it is to stay out of it.

His heart is a heart of mercy.

He will always counsel you to choose His life and His provision.

Commit today’s verse to memory so that the next time you are

challenged concerning God’s mercy you can

encourage yourself and others with that verse.

Get Up!

Today’s bog posting is contributed by David Trotta:

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed.  Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.”  She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. (Acts 9:40)

Peter expected Tabatha to get up.  There was no question in His voice.  He didn’t say “Tabatha, please get up” or “Tabatha, I hope you get up.”  He didn’t go into a long dissertation on how nothing is too difficult for God and how God desires to heal.

No, Peter fully expected God to raise up Tabatha, so he declared with bold faith “Tabatha, get up.”

When we pray with boldness, we activate our expectation, which allows God to carry out what He has already purposed in His heart to do.

Jesus emphasized this in Mark 11:24 when He said “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

You can pray with boldness because Jesus said it will be yours.

Now, one important side note.  What we are praying for needs to align with the promises we see in God’s word. It must align with what He desires for our life, not our selfish desires apart from Him.

Peter prayed for Tabatha with confidence because he knew the outcome before he uttered a word.  Let’s pray with the same confidence.  Heaven stands ready to act on our expectation.

The Jesus Diet

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

John 4:34

What sustains you?

Whoa! Don’t answer too fast.

Think before you speak and be honest with yourself.

Don’t ‘spiritualize’ the answer if it isn’t true.

Jesus said, in the verse above, that His food was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work.

I know we probably all think we know what food is but how about an actual definition? Food is: “any substance taken into or assimilated by a plant or animal to keep it alive and enable it to grow.”

Let’s paraphrase John 4:34 this way: Jesus said: “What I take in and gives me life, causing me to grow, is simply to do the will of the Father and to finish His work.” I think it is fair to say that what sustained Jesus was to do the will of the Father.

So, back to my original question – What sustains you?

How many answered honestly that it was to do the will of God your Father?

Jesus was answering honestly when he made that statement – He was not ‘spiritualizing’ His answer to sound like something He was not. It was true of Him.

What does that mean?

It means you and I have a ways to go and a ways to grow!

Job said in chapter 23 and verse 12: “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”

Job and Jesus were sustained by God’s word.

How about you?