THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Lord, I cringe a little when reading the book of Philippians. Many consider this an instruction manual how to love one another. History records the Philippian believers were terribly persecuted. Losing one’s job, their home, or denied personal freedoms came with publicly identifying as a Christ follower. Lord, in my human reasoning, I question whether I could keep the faith under those circumstances. If Paul reacted according to his flesh, he may have felt the same way.

However, Paul began his letter identifying with his Philippian friends. He too was far from what God wanted him to be.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6).

Lord, I’m so much like these Philippians. Their human nature resisted, but your Spirit worked with the inner man of these Philippians, teaching them how to love when love is not returned. You Spirit enabled them to love their enemies as you taught in your sermon on the Galilean hillside (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:35). And love they did. Their enemies were baffled.

“What’s wrong with these people?”

In the face of hostilities, they responded in Christlike love.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9–11).

Lord, that my love may be grounded totally in you. Teaching me how I may exhibit that Philippian love.
Amen, Jesus.

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Chatting with Jesus

Monday, August 5, 2024

Lord, where did people get the idea you are an angry God, ready to pour your wrath upon anyone who dares break one of the religious rules? As a child, you knew I feared you as someone with a big hammer ready to smack me over the head because I was such a stinker of a kid. One bad move or one bad choice opened the trap door to the fires below. I could have been the poster child for the kids misbehaving in church and taken out of church for a spanking.

Yes, you have wrath, but your wrath has already been poured out on Jesus when he went to the cross. Lord God, you have already punished sin when you laid it all on Jesus. Don’t you desire everyone to know this truth? You are not mad at people. You’re not mad at me or others every time we fail you. Although many believe through self-discipline, it is possible to live without flaws in this broken world, that is nonsense. It’s delusional.

Lord, as Christ followers, you’ve given us the joy of telling others the good news of your forgiveness and grace. Hopefully, how we conduct ourselves with others should tell we are your followers. Some may not understand how, but our redemption should create in us a new life that is noticeable to those in our world. How we would love to hear repeatedly, “What happened to you? You’re not the same.”

Today, may your Spirit of gentleness, love and kindness in all who follow you show folks that you are not mad at them.

So be it, Jesus. Amen.

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Chatting with Jesus
Friday, August 2, 2024

Lord, in his times of quiet reflection, the psalmist strengthened his soul and lifted his spirit by meditating on your Promise (Psalm 119:49–52). Your Promise has not changed since the beginning of time. Your Promise is straightforward: All who call upon you will find you. No one is turned away. You are who you say you are, and you will do what you say you will do. You are the Great I AM.

The psalmist, perhaps lying under a tree, strumming a harp, writing praise songs, recalled when troubles and trials tried to smother his hopes, he found comfort in the power of your Promise. Your Promise gave him the needed strength to persevere when his world fell apart. He need not fear, knowing you never change.

“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles” (Psalm 119:50).

Lord, we’re reminded you are the Lord of the mountain top and Lord of the valley. Like the psalmist, Christ followers know the joys of each high and heaviness of each low. And like the psalmist, Christ followers know how the power of your Promise revives our spirits. We’re confident you will come through for us as you have promised.

We want the joys on the mountain tops to last forever, but we must temporarily experience the darkness of the valley. Sadness becomes an unwanted companion. While the psalmist experienced this emotional seesaw, did he pen this truth of your Promise?

“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13).

No matter our situation, your promise still revives our spirits. Jesus, you are our only hope. Amen.

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Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Lord, try as we might, our finite human words cannot adequately describe the beauty and majesty of your glory. Your greatness is beyond our human ability to understand. Yet, you, the God of the universe, call us to come into a Father/child relationship with you.  “Seek first the Kingdom of God,” you say, “and I will supply your needs” (Matthew 6:33). This promise overwhelms our limited humanity.

Irrespective of our stations in life, rich or poor, free or enslaved, we all have needs. We all face mountains we cannot climb, a wall we cannot scale, a roaring sea blocks our way of escape from bondage. Everyone will face these obstacles at some time. However, for those who have placed their faith in you, Lord, we have this hope: Nothing is greater than you. I may have a degree of confidence in my abilities, and I may possess a limited amount of knowledge, but my total confidence rests in you, Jesus. The psalmist described his condition:

“I look to the mountains [earthly problems]. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and Earth” (Psalm 121:1).

Lord, I recall the encouragement you sent to me by a wise man:

What I see in my humanity as a mountain, you see as a pebble easily stepped over. What I see as a fierce storm with overwhelming waves, you see only a kiddie pool. What I see as an insurmountable wall higher than anything I’ve encountered you see only a fence of Legos you can topple with the flick of your finger.

Nothing is greater than you, Lord. Amen.

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