THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Lord, when the Pharisees tried to trap you with Catch 22 questions, you would have none of it. You corrected these clueless religious elites, revealing their ignorance of the Scripture’s defining you and your mission. They were blinded to the fact they were arguing with God.

Talking with some friends, we wondered what questions we’d ask if we had a sit-down interview with you, Jesus. Our questions varied.

What did you think after leaving the glories of Heaven and waking up in a barn in Bethlehem?

Did you know all along you would be crucified?

Why did you heal some and not heal others?

What about the dinosaurs? What happened to them?

How old is the Earth?

Tell us, how did you walk on water?

There is not enough room to list all the questions we bantered around. Our imaginations speculated answers only you can provide.

If I were to interview you, Jesus, my first question would be why would you choose me to be a part of your kingdom? You know everything about me. You’ve seen how fickle I can be. You are aware, aren’t you, Lord, that I put the “ding” in ding-a-ling.

What did you see in me that I could not see in myself?

Knowing everyone’s track record, is there anything in any of us worth redeeming? Why would you love us enough to die for our sins? For my sins?

Jesus, I heard your tender voice speaking to my inner man. “Let me ask you a question. Knowing my unconditional love for you and what I did for you on the cross, will you believe in me to be your Lord and Savior?

Yes, Jesus, I will. Amen.

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

Lord, the violence continues. Innocents are murdered daily. People who want no part of these aggressions are swept up in the throngs of war. Worldwide, believers are focused on Israel and the events unfolding there. Are we witnessing what the holy men of millennia past prophesized that these events would take place toward the “End Times?” As Christ followers from ancient times have prayed, “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

Lord, from eyewitness reports on the ground, the savagery is like none seen, possibly worse than the Holocaust. The indescribable horror leaves those with any measure of a heart shaken to their core of their soul..

How should we pray for this conflict with Israel and Hamas?

Lord, we pray for your protection for the innocents in great danger and peril. Station your warrior angels around them. Cover them with your grace and shield them with your mighty hand. Many have lost everything. In their indescribable sorrow, as only you can, comfort those who have lost family, loved ones, and friends. Keep the hostages are safe and may they soon be rescued.

Despite the carnage, we pray for your protection of the believers’ faith, that in this crisis, their faith will not waver, but will strengthen, being assured your goodness will prevail.

Lord, we pray for godly wisdom not only for Israel’s leaders but leaders in America as well. Pray they make the right decisions to righteously handle these situations. Bring judgment upon those guilty of sinning against you and guilty of high crimes against humanity. May those whose god is evil be destroyed.

Jesus Lord, use this conflict to cause people to seek you for salvation. Keep this conflict from escalating into a global war. Bring this war to a righteous conclusion. May the world see you are the God of Israel, and you are the God in Heaven.

Even so, Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Chatting with Jesus
Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Lord, the events in the Middle East of recent days bring home the reminder that as long as evil is present in the world, peace is a fragile entity. We pray for peace to come to this troubled region, for the hostilities to cease, for the slaughter of innocents to stop and for the safe return of the hostages. We pray for sane reasoning to return, but sadly, we are also reminded of the futility of trying to reason with evil.

You teach your followers about their real enemy—Satan and his minion—whose Kingdom of Darkness seeks to control the entire world. This enemy of humanity is easily identified by these characteristics. “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy” (John 10:10a).

Jesus, you also teach your followers that your kingdom, the Kingdom of Light, came to give life, and give life abundantly [in its fullness] (John 10:10b). Your Word describes how, in you, people find light [the knowledge of God] and life [a meaningful, purposeful life] (John 1:4). The Kingdom of Light shares the mercy, hope, and love of God across all areas of humanity.

How can we not see your works when there is such a vivid contrast?

The conflict raging in Israel and Gaza is a continuation of the ageless battle between ‘good’ and ‘evil.’ John describes this battle as the darkness trying to extinguish the light (John 1:4–5). The darkness will never extinguish the light. Lord, you may allow your people to go through dark, trying times, but you promise the Light will always prevail.

May this inferno that has erupted in the Middle East become a bright light shining amid the turmoil, chasing away the darkness to reveal your glory, Lord.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, October 9, 2023

Lord, we pray for mercy and peace for our friends in the Middle East.

Lord, the worst of humanity raised its ugly head again, ruthlessly destroying the innocent and terrorizing the peaceful populace, reigning wanton destruction upon a people who only want to be left alone. Normal people don’t understand this aggression. Has Israel made mistakes? Absolutely. Have the Palestinians made mistakes? Absolutely.

Haters of Israel, the antisemites, blamed Israel for the attacks, saying they had it coming. Lord, regardless of what position one takes on the Israeli–Palestinian conflicts, I cannot imagine such hatred against innocent women and children, against parents just wanting to raise their children to be devoted to the God of Abraham and become good citizens of the world. This generational hatred of the Hebrew people has been before the times of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This curse must be broken. Satan continues to desire to destroy your people through whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ, came.

This was the worst single-day massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust ended seventy-eight years ago. Social media exposes the wickedness of today’s society. These callous, cruel comments should tear apart the soul of anyone with any measure of compassion. Those who rejoice and celebrate the slaughter of innocents reveal the extent of evil in their hearts.

We call upon you, Lord, for mercy upon the victims of these barbaric killers. Rise up in your righteous anger, Lord, to destroy this evil. Jesus, didn’t you give your life on the cross to pay for the sins of the terrorists as well as the Jewish people? This evil must break your heart. The choices people make must have consequences.

Protect Israel. Protect the Christian Palestinians, who want no part of this conflict, but only want peace.

Come, Lord Jesus, and be the “Prince of Peace” this world needs so desperately. Shalom and Amen.

Chatting with Jesus

Friday October 06, 2023

Lord, how did they go from hot to cold? The Ephesian believers’ zeal for you could not be contained. People recognized the believers by their deep love for you and one another. The Ephesian believers’ love ignited their rapid growth in number and passion for the lost. But thirty years later, we find you rebuking the Ephesian church for their spiritual apathy. “You have forsaken the love you had at first,” (Revelation 2:4).

What happened? Spiritual apathy is a subtle, slowly evolving enemy of the Christ follower. Jubilant worship becomes mundane and joyless. Praise consists of mindlessly repeating liturgy without passion. Prayers become mechanical, predictively checking off the right clichés to sound religious.

Apathy causes society to identify believers for their strict adherence to religious rules and judgmental spirit instead of our love for you and compassion for others. Over time, apathy causes believers to become indifferent to your mandate to lead to you those who are broken, in need of hope and a renewed life. Bible study and prayer time aren’t a priority anymore.

Lord, forgive our apathy, our coldness to your calling. We repent. Do whatever you need to shake us from our apathy. Help us honestly look inward to confirm if we truly are a Christ follower, not just someone who likes what you do (Romans 8:16). Restore to our spirits the joy of knowing you. May our adoration and praise be a prelude of Heaven’s worship, holy with unrestrained joy.

If we remain mindful of your presence in all our interactions, apathy will never stand a chance of polluting our passion for serving you.

Lord, may we be recognized as Christ followers by our love for you. Increase our compassion for those who do not know you. We never want to hear your rebuke for our leaving you, our first love.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Thursday, October 5, 2023

Lord, our parents didn’t spend time teaching us to be selfish and self-centered. It came naturally. We’re born with the attitude the world revolves around us. Normally, we outgrow this mindset, some sooner than others. Many never outgrow their “gimme, gimme, gimme” years. Their existence involves “taking” and little, if any, “giving.”

“Lead me in the right path, O Lord [or] my enemies will conquer [control] me” (Psalm 5:8)

“Selfishness” and “self-centeredness” are one of the same and desire to control the Christ follower. May these terms never be used in the same sentence with our name.

Lord, you set the example. You are an awesome God, a loving God, a giving God. In John 3:16, you declare your love for the people of this world  to the extent you gave your one and only Son to pay the atonement for our sins. Of course, you’re not telling us to sacrifice our sons and daughters but implying that we are to give more than we receive (Acts 20:35). We’re to learn to give as you give.

Even though this giving character trait goes against our human nature, Lord, we desire your attribute of “giving” implanted deep within our character. Otherwise, our self-centered ego will try to control our actions with the attitude of “Look at me. I’m super special. What’s in it for me?” That’s hardly the image of you, Lord.

Paul set the Corinthian believers straight how legalism has no part in true giving.

“Each one must give as he has decided in this heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Paul wasn’t talking necessarily about money, was he , Lord?  He emphasized giving of our time, encouragement, talents, of pouring our energy into those you send to us to bless. This glorifies you, Lord.

May our giving reflect the joy of you living inside us. Amen!

Chatting with Jesus

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Lord, you witnessed this ugly human trait firsthand when you walked among us. Did this trigger your righteous anger? Were you disgusted, yet not surprised? Judging a person based on their looks and appearance is common when people strive for a higher position in the pecking order in their world. Christ followers are not to be like this. Viewing others as inferior because of economic, educational, or ethnic differences is unacceptable for a believer.

Lord, didn’t you teach us to “love our neighbor as ourselves?” (Matthew 22:39). And doesn’t your Word say we should treat others as we want to be treated? (Matthew 7:12). A judgmental attitude should have no place within the church. Sadly, it does. This sinful attitude—unrighteous judgment, i.e., prejudice, bigotry, racism—whether big or small, is a fierce enemy among believers. Jesus, this is another sin that nailed you to the cross.

Your earthly half- brother James addressed this issue. No longer would distinctions be made according to social standing. No longer would the best seats in the synagogue be reserved for the well-to-do. No longer would the less well-doers be required to stand in the background or sit on the floor (James 2).

Because you created us in your image, Lord God, you value us worthy of respect and dignity. Your Word could not be more plain:

“The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Forgive our unrighteous judging, Lord. Cleanse your people with your Holy Spirit. May we be quick to snuff out this destructive spiritual enemy so we may see others only through your eyes, Jesus. Amen.

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Lord, in many places throughout the world, believers are physically persecuted, much like the early church. In the western world, rarely are Christ followers physically assaulted, however, Ephesians 6:10-18 states believers worldwide fight the same common spiritual enemies. “Pride,” “Arrogance,” “Unforgiveness,” “Unrighteous anger” are a few universal enemies to believers, that if left unchecked, determine how we face life’s issues. This enemies list is far from complete.

Lord, you didn’t give us the Nine Commandments. There is a reason you listed the tenth:

“You shall not covet [envy] ….“—(Exodus 20:17)

Jealousy is our enemy that inevitably leads to its debilitating master: envy. Envy’s mastery is as old as time itself.

Envy motivated Cain to kill his brother Abel because you accepted his sacrifice and rejected Cain’s.

Envy caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery.

Envy drove King Saul on numerous occasions to attempt to kill David.

We find examples throughout Scripture of envy’s destructiveness.

Lord, if I entertain envy, my focus is on what I don’t have, and instead, dwell on the unfairness of what others have. Envy stifles my gratefulness of my blessings. Envy deceives me into thinking others have their lives all together while I remain in inner turmoil, tossed to and fro by every emotion under the sun. Spiritual turmoil leads to physical turmoil. Envy blocks your peace and contentment from setting up shop in my inner man.

The wisdom of Proverbs explains the defeat of this crippling enemy.

“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.”  (Proverbs 14:30)

Lord, thank you for my blessings. How humbling to know others are probably envious of what all you have given me. May my hearts be tuned into you to allow your Spirit impart peace to my mind and soul. I desire to soar with you far above what this world can offer.

Amen, Jesus.

Chatting with Jesus

Monday, October 2, 2023

Some misguided folks claim that anger is sin and has no place in a Christ follower’s life. Just as unchecked pride, arrogance, and unforgiveness can destroy our soul, likewise unrighteous anger is an enemy of the Christ follower. Scripture describes this brand of anger as dangerous, for it seeks to control those who cannot harness their temper. The psalmist gave this warning:

“Lead me in the right path, O Lord, [or] my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow” (Psalm 5:8).

Lord, critics are quick to point fingers, claiming you had an anger issue. Yes, you did. It was a righteous anger issue.

How many years, how many Passovers did you restrain your righteous anger as you witnessed the corruption happening at the Temple? Stench waffled the air. Corrals of cattle and sheep with mated straw full of urine and feces were scattered around the courtyard. Unscrupulous vendors selling blemished animals as acceptable sacrifices. Once the worshipers were out of sight, corrupt priests on the take looked the other way as sacrificial animals were returned to the pens to be sold again. Money changer took advantage of foreigners when transacting foreign money into Temple money. You sacred Temple became a big, unrighteous flea market.

The wedding at Cana, where you turned the water into wine, christened your public ministry. You finally had enough, and were now free to confront the corruption at your Temple. John 2:13–22 tells how you drove out the sheep and cattle, turned over the tables of the money changers. “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” Your righteous anger restored the Temple and grounds to its proper sacredness.

Paul wrote “Be angry and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26). Lord, when faced with injustices, deception, and offenses of various kinds, by your Spirit may we respond with righteous anger and corral our unrighteous anger.

Amen, Jesus.

(continued from 09/28)

Chatting with Jesus

Friday, September 29, 2023

Lord, living in this broken world guarantees we will be hurt by the actions or words of others. Christ followers are not exempt. Perhaps our partner betrayed our intimacy, or a co-worker railroaded our advancement. Maybe a parent’s abuse left emotional scars that remain unresolved. Regardless, we all carry wounds that force us to make a choice.

“Lead me in the right path, O Lord, [or] my enemies will conquer me. Make your way plain for me to follow” (Psalm 5:8).

Lord, will I choose to follow where you lead and embrace your healing virtue of forgiveness? Or … will I choose to embrace my enemy unforgiveness and hang onto my wounds? This enemy is accompanied by family members bitterness and resentment. Can hatred be not far behind? As Christ followers, we never have to live this way.

Lord, after we have experienced your spiritual healing of forgiveness of our sins, the release of anxiety and fear from our spirit is unexpressable. “Those who the Son [Jesus] has set free [from sin] is free indeed” (John 8:36). We cannot explain this freedom. It can only be experienced.

Unforgiveness is a cruel enemy, holding us prisoners to the effects of the offense. Peace is fleeting. The offender lives rent-free inside our head. Focusing on the wrong blinds us to your invitation to freedom through forgiveness. By refusing to forgive, we carry unforgiveness’ harmful baggage which affects and infects other relationships. Our enemy, unforgiveness, is unforgiving.

Lord, if I follow where you lead and live according to your precepts, my enemies pride, arrogance, and unforgiveness will never control me. With you, Jesus, my enemies remain conquered foes.

 Amen.

(Continued)