Category: God’s Will

What does God want you to do with your life? Is it possible to answer that question? I believe it is. I’m looking into scripture for the answer and posting my thoughts in this blog. I hope what I write will be of help to you as well.

Those Red Sea Moments.

Imagine you’re an Israelite at the time of the Exodus. Your people have been slaves for the last 400 years. Out of nowhere this guy Moses shows up, claiming God has sent him to set you free, and boy does Moses shake things up! You watch as God performs miracle after miracle, afflicting your oppressors with plague after plague.

Before you know it, a final plague hits, and the firstborn of all the Egyptians are killed. The Egyptians are so anxious to be rid of you and your people that they hand over their treasures and practically beg you to leave! You are now part of a massive group of people following Moses out of Egypt to an unknown destination.

It all happened so fast, so unexpectedly! You’re excited because you’ve witnessed God do all these impossible things with your own eyes, but also frightened and unsure about what’s to come.

No (human) way out!

Moses leads you to the edge of the Red Sea, and tells you to make camp along the shore. It seems like an odd spot. There’s nowhere to go except back the way you came.

The next day, you’re wondering, “What are we doing here?” And then, you see something in the distance that makes your heart sink. Egyptian chariots, hundreds of them, are kicking up dust as they charge toward your position. At the rate they’re moving, they’ll be on you by nightfall. You’re trapped! There’s no way out. Game Over.

You have some choice words for this Moses fellow!

As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord,

and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?

Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

~Exodus 14: 10-12

From your vantage point, things look truly hopeless. You’re about to abandon all hope, but you listen to what Moses says in response:

But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

~Exodus 14: 13-14

So, what do you do now?

One option is to give in to despair. You could accept that the Egyptians are coming, and you and your family will either be slaughtered or enslaved. This seems inevitable.

~Or~

You can think back on the miracles that God did to bring you to this place, and trust that He will somehow get you through this impossible situation.

That night, you witness one of the greatest miracles ever recorded. God parts the Red Sea, and you and your people walk across on dry land between walls of water.

At dawn, when the Egyptians realize something’s up, you are on the other side of the Red Sea. When they try to give chase, they get stuck in the middle of the sea, and the walls of water come crashing down on top of them. God has done the impossible. He has delivered you, just as He promised He would.

Why that way?

As I was thinking about this story (It’s found in Exodus 14, and I encourage you to read it for yourself), it occurred to me that God could have done things differently. He could have killed the Egyptians in a million different ways before they ever got close to the Israelites, or He could have prevented them from chasing after the Israelites at all. But He intentionally set up the scenario in this particular way. Why? So that He could teach Israel (and us) that He is able to do things that are impossible. That He is able to deliver us from any enemy. That He can make a way when there is no way.

Sometimes we face challenges that are terrifying and seem impossible to overcome. We wonder, Why, God? Why is this happening to me?

We don’t always know why, but God often uses these trials to teach us. He puts us in a position where there is no human solution so that He can step in and provide a solution so incredible that we can only stand in awe and say, That was God!

These experiences deepen our faith and help us to trust in God more. They give us confidence that God is good, that He is in control, and that He keeps His Word.

What about today?

We all face “Red Sea moments” in life. Times when we are trapped with no way out. What should we do in those times? Moses gave the Israelites the best possible advice:

Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today (Exodus 14: 13).

At some point, you will find yourself in a Red Sea moment. Maybe you’re in one right now. Don’t lose heart! Think back to the times when God brought you through difficulties, and trust that He will get you through this one too.

Four Commands And A Promise.

Some verses in the Bible are so rich that they warrant special attention. II Corinthians 13:11 is one of those verses. Here Paul is closing out his second letter to the Corinthian church:

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

~II Corinthians 13:11

In just a few, short sentences, Paul lays out four commands for us. He also tells us what the reward will be for our obedience. Let’s dig a bit deeper into this amazing verse.

Be joyful.

The first command in this verse is to be joyful. People often confuse joy and happiness. Happiness is a feeling that comes and goes with circumstances. Happiness is largely out of our control. Joy, on the other hand, is a choice, and it is always available to us.

Joy is deeper than happiness. It comes when we recognize that God is good, that He is in control, and that His love for us knows no bounds.

Joy comes from having a proper perspective: realizing that our time on this earth, and all that we experience here, is just a blip on the scale of eternity.

Joy comes when we believe the promises of God: that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord (Romans 8:28), and that one day we will enjoy eternal life with Him in a restored creation.

We lose our joy when we focus on the wrong things. When we doubt the promises of God. When we lean on our own understanding.

The Bible tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). If you feel weak and find your joy waning, check your focus! Put it back on God, and your joy and strength will be restored.

Grow to maturity.

Many Christians live in a state of spiritual infancy. They ask God for forgiveness, they go to church once in a while, but otherwise they go about their lives in much the same way the unsaved do.

Paul talks about this in I Corinthians:

Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.

I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?

~I Corinthians 3:1-3

So how does one progress from spiritual infancy to maturity? Paul uses the analogy of a baby transitioning from milk to solid food, clueing us in that maturity is a process. This process involves studying the Bible, grasping everything that you can, and continually coming back to what you don’t understand. Over time, with the help of the Holy Spirit, things become clearer. With diligence and perseverance, you begin to grow.

To grow spiritually, do three things every day: read, pray, obey.

Read the Bible and ask God to help you understand what you’re reading.

Pray for wisdom, trusting that God will give it to you.

Obey immediately and completely when God reveals a command from His Word that you’re not currently obeying.

If you do these three things every day, you will grow in Christ.

Encourage each other.

The late Robin Williams once said, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Boy is that true! Everyone struggles privately, every day, wrestling with demons that no one else sees. This is why encouragement is so powerful and so necessary.

There are many ways to be an encouragement to others. One simple way is just to offer a kind word.

Kind words are like honey- sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

~Proverbs 16:24

You can also encourage others by helping them in tangible ways, like bringing them a meal when they are sick, or offering to watch their kids when they need a break.

You can encourage others by telling them how much you appreciate them, by pointing out the qualities in them that you admire.

Your encouragement may be exactly what that person needs. It might be the thing God uses to spur that person on to great things.

And when we start encouraging others, something unexpected happens: we get a shot of encouragement ourselves! There is a blessing for both the giver and the receiver.

So if you need encouragement, don’t wait around for someone to give it to you. Instead, go out and encourage others. You’ll find that you get the encouragement you need in return.

Live in harmony and peace.

The fourth and final command in II Corinthians 13:11 is to live in harmony and peace. There are at least two major obstacles to living out this command: quarreling and grudges.

Here’s the dictionary definition of a quarrel: a heated argument or disagreement, typically about a trivial issue and between people who are usually on good terms.

Nothing damages harmony and peace like quarreling. Are you someone who has to be right about everything? Do you argue over petty details? Do you insist that others agree with your opinions? If so, you might have a problem in this area.

If you want peace, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Learn to listen more and talk less. II Timothy 2:24 puts it this way:

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

~II Timothy 2:24

The second thing that wrecks peace and harmony is grudges. When people wrong us, our sin nature wells up with anger. It wants to see the other person pay for what they did. It wants them to feel the hurt we feel.

When we’re in that state of mind, we don’t even want to look at that person, let alone talk to them or fellowship with them. And the longer we hold onto that grudge, the worse it gets. Nothing good ever comes of it. The grudge is toxic, both to the relationship and to the individual who holds onto it.

Because we live in a fallen world filled with broken people, it’s inevitable that others will hurt us at times, and that we will hurt others. But rather than hold grudges, Christians are called to forgive.

Even when someone harms us intentionally, we are called to forgive. In those instances, Christ tells us to “turn the other cheek” (Mathew 5:39).

We must remember how much God has forgiven us, and extend forgiveness to others, whether they ask for it or not, and whether we think they deserve it or not.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

~Ephesians 4:31-32

So don’t quarrel. Let go of those grudges. This is the way to live in peace and harmony.

The payoff.

We’ve looked at the four commands in II Corinthians 13:11 (Be joyful, grow to maturity, encourage each other, and live in harmony and peace). Now we turn our attention to the final sentence of the verse, which begins with the word “then.” In other words, after you have obeyed these commands, then you will receive the promise. And that promise is:

Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Here we have to let scripture interpret scripture. It is clear from many other passages of scripture that God is always with us (see Psalm 139, Psalm 16:8, Hebrews 13:5, Mathew 28:20, Isaiah 41:10, and many other passages). So this can’t mean that God is only with us after we obey these four commands.

What it is saying is that when we don’t obey these commands, we miss out on the love and peace that God has for us.

And of course that makes sense. How can we possibly feel God’s love and peace when we are not joyful, when we are not growing, when we are not encouraging others, and when we are not living in peace and harmony with each other? We can’t! On the flip side, God’s peace and love flows to us as a natural consequence of obedience to these commands.

I hope you enjoyed diving into this verse as much as I did. I’m personally challenged to do better in these four areas so that I can experience more of the love and peace of God. How about you?

Fragile, Clay Jars.

The older I get, the more I experience human frailty. My aches and pains, my worsening eyesight, my bald head. All remind me that my body is slowly deteriorating. I won’t lie and say that I like it. I’d rather be strong and healthy. But God has His reasons for allowing us to go through this process of slow decay, and we learn what those reasons are by reading His Word.

It helps us stay humble.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

~II Corinthians 4:6-7

When we fool ourselves into thinking that we are strong and capable, we are tempted to take credit for the good we do.

But when we are keenly aware of our weakness, we are under no illusion that we can accomplish anything good in our own strength.

We must never forget that our very existence depends on God’s sustaining power, for it is in Him that “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

Apart from Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Everything we have, everything we are is a gift from God.

It ensures that God gets the glory.

God often uses the weakest, most unlikely people to accomplish great things so that there can be no doubt that He alone deserves the credit.

When God chose Gideon to rescue Israel from the Midianites, Gideon said:

…“how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

~Judges 6:15

When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to anoint one of Jesse’s sons king, Jesse thought so little of his youngest boy, David, that he didn’t even bring him before Samuel initially. But God rejected the older sons who were big and strong and confident in their own strength, and instead chose the shepherd boy who understood that true strength comes from the Lord.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.

Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 

As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

I Corinthians 1:26-29

God uses the weak and frail so there can be no doubt that the power does not come from the person, but from God.

It allows us to experience God’s grace.

The Apostle Paul knew what it was to suffer weakness. He didn’t much like it either, and he asked God to intervene. But God had other plans:

even though I [Paul] have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

~II Corinthians 12:7-10

We are naught but fragile, clay jars, but that is by God’s design. Rather than despair, rejoice that though you are weak, He is strong. If you remain humble, and give glory to God, He will make His light shine in your heart, and He will do mighty things through you, in spite of your weakness.

Contrast.

Throughout the book of Proverbs you will find many “pairs” that are contrasted. For example, there are lots of verses that contrast the wise man with the fool. Other examples include:

  • rich vs. poor
  • hardworking vs. lazy
  • humble vs. proud
  • generous vs. greedy
  • patient vs. hot-tempered

One pair that comes up again and again is godly vs. wicked. The many verses that compare and contrast this pair do two things. First, they define the terms “godly” and “wicked”. Second, they explain why choosing to be godly is the better option.

Defining the terms.

The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

~Proverbs 10:11

The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

~Proverbs 10:32

The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives.

~Proverbs 12:6

The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.

~Proverbs 15:28

If you want to know if someone is godly or wicked, listen to their words. What comes out of a person’s mouth is a reflection of what’s in their heart (Mathew 15:18-19). Proverbs 15:28 tells us that, “…the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.”

Are you careful with what comes out of your mouth? Are your words godly or wicked?

The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel.

~Proverbs 12:10

Never be cruel to creatures you deem beneath you. Compassion for animals is a sign of godliness, cruelty to animals is wicked.

The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

~Proverbs 28:1

The godly have courage, the wicked are cowards.

Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

~Proverbs 28:5

The godly love justice, the wicked pervert it.


In these verses (and many more throughout the book of Proverbs) the difference between the godly and the wicked is made clear. Godliness or wickedness manifests in what we say and do.


Why be godly rather than wicked?

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter until the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.

~Proverbs 4:18-19

The wicked are spiritually blind, marching toward their own destruction, while the godly can see the correct path to take.

The Lord will not let the godly go hungry, but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

~Proverbs 10:3

This verse is about more than food. The godly find satisfaction in life, while the wicked are never satisfied.

We have happy memories of the godly, but the name of a wicked person rots away.

~Proverbs 10:7

The godly leave a legacy, while the memory of the wicked grows rotten and foul.

The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted.

~Proverbs 10:24

We don’t always see this. Sometimes the godly suffer while the wicked prosper. But in the end, God will judge the wicked and redeem those who came to Him for forgiveness and redemption. In the end, God will fulfill this promise.

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.

~Proverbs 10:25

Life is hard, but the godly have a secure foundation on which they can depend.


Take some time now to read through Proverbs 10. Pay attention to all the contrasting pairs you see. When you finish, pray and ask God to help you be godly in word and deed.

Rescued!

The Bible is full of stories of God rescuing His people. He rescued Israel from Egypt, Daniel from the lions, Elijah from Jezebel… and on and on it goes. Psalm 107, tells us that God continues to rescue people from all sorts of circumstances.

The lost.

Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless.

Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.

~Psalm 107:4-5

These represent people in dire straits. They are aimless and filled with despair. The drug-addict. The alcoholic. The destitute and broken. The people we are tempted to deem beyond all help.

But these are not beyond redemption. God loves them, and if they sincerely turn to God for help, He will answer.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress.

~Psalm 107:6

The rebel.

In Psalm 107:10-22 we read about those who have rebelled against God. These refuse to acknowledge their Creator. They mock, and curse, and blaspheme. They defy God to His face.

God knows this path ends in their destruction. Through hardship, He causes them to see the foolishness of their ways. For some, this takes the form of “iron chains of misery” (vs. 10) and “hard labor” (vs. 12). For others, severe illness (vs. 18).

The ultimate purpose of these hardships is not to punish, but to bring the rebel to repentance. And when the rebel turns to God for help, God is there to rescue them.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

~Psalm 107:13 & 107:19

The self-sufficient.

Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world.

~Psalm 107:23

These are rebels of a different sort. They might even pay lip service to God, acknowledging His authority, but their hearts are far from Him. As long as life is good, they are content to go about their business and leave God out of it.

But when trouble comes…

Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror.

~Psalm 107:26

You can probably guess their response:

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves.

~Psalm 107:28-29

Thank God for difficulty.

We have a tendency (as a result of our sin-nature I believe) to misprioritize God. That is, we place Him somewhere other than first in our lives. God often uses trouble and pain to get our attention. Oh that He could get our attention as quickly with blessings, but we often take those for granted.

Trials and tribulations are an opportunity to refocus on God and His plan for your life. God doesn’t want to break you, He wants to mold you. In times of difficulty, you have two choices: harden your heart and resist God every step of the way, or surrender to Him and cry out, “Lord, help!”

If you haven’t already, read all of Psalm 107. How does it speak to you? Do you need rescuing? God is willing and able!

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.

~Psalm 118:5

Which Wolf Are You Feeding?

Have you heard the story, The Two Wolves? There are many variations of it, and I couldn’t find a definitive answer on where it originated, but here’s a version that I like:

AN ELDERLY CHEROKEE BRAVE TOLD HIS GRANDSON ABOUT A BATTLE THAT GOES ON INSIDE PEOPLE.

“MY SON,” HE SAID, “THE BATTLE IS BETWEEN TWO ‘WOLVES’ INSIDE US ALL. ONE IS EVIL. IT IS ANGER, ENVY, JEALOUSY, GREED, ARROGANCE, SELF-PITY, RESENTMENT, LIES, PRIDE, AND EGO.

THE OTHER IS GOOD. IT IS JOY, PEACE, LOVE, HOPE, HUMILITY, KINDNESS, BENEVOLENCE, EMPATHY, GENEROSITY, TRUTH, COMPASSION AND FAITH.”

THE GRANDSON THOUGHT FOR A MINUTE, AND THEN ASKED HIS GRANDFATHER:

“WHICH WOLF WINS?…”

THE OLD CHEROKEE REPLIED, “THE ONE YOU FEED.”

This story came to mind as I was reading Romans 8.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

~Romans 8:5-6

The flesh and the Spirit are the two wolves. When we fulfill the desires of the flesh, we feed the evil wolf. When we fulfill the desires of The Spirit, we feed the good wolf.

Which wolf we feed is no trivial matter. The stakes are literally life and death! I don’t know about you, but I want to choose the path that leads to life and peace over the path that leads to death. Let’s look at some ways that we can feed the Spirit and starve the flesh.

What we look at.

Every day we make important choices about what we allow into our minds via our eyes. Which T.V. shows and movies are you watching? What internet sites are you visiting? What books are you reading? These choices have a massive impact on your life.

I enjoy movies and T.V. as much as anyone, but it’s important to be selective in our entertainment choices. Much of what Hollywood produces is designed to cater to the desires of our flesh. Choose wisely.

What about benign entertainment, like watching sports? Nothing wrong with that, but its like consuming empty calories. We should be careful not to “fill up” on things that have no spiritual value. When it comes to neutral entertainment, moderation is key.

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

~Mathew 6:22-23

What we listen to.

The music you listen to has a powerful influence on you, for good or bad. Talk radio and podcasts can be uplifting or discouraging. The messages you listen to every day feed one wolf or the other.

If you want to feed the Spirit, choose carefully who and what you listen to. Test what your favorite podcaster says against scripture and see if it holds up. Pay attention to the lyrics in the songs you listen to, and ask if they are in line with biblical teaching.

Then [Jesus] added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. 

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

~Mark 4:24-25

The company we keep.

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” ~Dan Peña

Who do you spend most of your time with? We become like the people we hang around. Do your friends move you closer to God or farther from Him?

We humans are social creatures. We need each other. But it’s vital to surround yourself with people who lift you up, encourage you, and who care about your spiritual growth.

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

~Proverbs 12:26

Take stock.

The choices you make every day matter. Take some time this week to assess how you spend your time and who you spend it with. Is there room for improvement? Are there changes you need to make regarding what you watch and listen to? Do you need to make adjustments in your social life? Ask God to help you make changes that will draw you closer to Him. Choose carefully which wolf you feed every day!

Love And Loss.

Yesterday, my wife, my daughter and I took our beloved dog to the vet to be euthanized. She was 15 years old. Her name was Hobo. We said goodbye with tears in our eyes, and held her as she took her last breath.

I’d like to share her story, and an important lesson I learned over these last few years with her.

“Hobo” isn’t a common name for a dog, but when you hear how she came to be our pet, the name will make sense. One morning, about 15 years ago, I was at work, and standing on the walkway in front of the store where I worked was a transient with a three-month-old puppy. I didn’t think much about it at first, but suddenly I heard the puppy yelp. I was horrified when I saw the transient physically abusing this little dog.

Standing idly by was not an option. I walked out of the store and told the man that if he didn’t stop hurting the dog, I would take it from him. He told me to F*&^ off. I went back into the store, but less than five minutes later, he was at it again, and the puppy was crying out in pain.

I kept my word. There was an altercation. I secured the dog, and my coworkers called the police. In the end, the transient went to jail, and the puppy went to the dog pound. I told my wife about what happened, and we decided that we wanted to adopt the puppy if we could. The dog pound released little Hobo into our care a week later.

The abuse she suffered as a pup impacted her for life. For the first year, if you tried to touch her tail, she would try take off your hand. She was fearful of people. But in time she came to understand how much we loved her, and she made amazing progress.

I don’t know what breed of dog Hobo was, but she was beautiful. She had a brindle coat, and was built like a greyhound. She could run like the wind in her youth, and one of her favorite things to do was to chase seagulls at the beach.

The later years.

As she got older, Hobo developed myriad health problems that got progressively worse. She endured two cancer surgeries. She went almost completely deaf. About three years ago, she started to stumble when she walked. She developed a tumor on her stomach that eventually grew to the size of a grapefruit.

Things got worse. Her back legs got weaker and weaker, to the point where she often could not stand without assistance. She lost all control of her bladder and bowels. Her stomach wouldn’t tolerate kibble any more. She got bladder infections, and developed a constant runny nose.

In spite of all this, she was full of life and love to the end. She was a fighter, and she just adapted as her health declined.

Love in action.

We knew that Hobo wasn’t ready to quit on life, and we were determined not to quit on her. And so, we got her pain medication and antibiotics when she needed them. We helped her up when she fell. We cleaned up her messes. Each night, we made her special dog food (chicken and rice mostly). We did this for nearly three years. We would still be doing it, but we finally hit a hurdle that no amount of money or effort could overcome. She developed a growth under her tongue that made it difficult for her to eat, and nearly impossible for her to drink.

Over the last three years, there were times when our home smelled like a sewer. There were trips we didn’t take and things we didn’t buy so that we could care for Hobo. We sacrificed time, money, and energy. And both my wife and I would do it all over again without hesitation. Why? Because we truly loved her. And we learned from this experience that the following is absolutely true: love is not a feeling; love is what you do.

Gratitude.

I am so grateful to God for bringing Hobo into our lives. She lived much longer than we ever thought she would, and I thank God for every second we had with her.

When it came time to make the call to have Hobo put down, God gave me peace that it was the right thing to do and the right time to do it. He is comforting me in this difficult time with His presence and His Word, and I am so grateful for both.

I also look forward to a time when grief and sorrow are no more. Praise God for the blessed hope He gives us through His son, Jesus Christ!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

~Revelation 21:4

But I Say…

We all have opinions about everything. But Jesus never uttered opinions, only truth. The question is, how closely do your opinions match up with the teachings of Jesus? You might be surprised. What Jesus taught was often contrary to conventional wisdom and popular opinion.

Read Mathew 5: 21-45. Pay close attention when Jesus says, “But I say…”

On murder and adultery.

The sixth and seventh of The Ten Commandments are: do not kill, and do not commit adultery. Most likely you’ve never killed anyone, and hopefully you have never cheated on your spouse. But don’t be too quick to pat yourself on the back.

Jesus explained that these commandments go deeper than we realize. It’s not just about the physical acts; it’s a matter of the heart.

“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment!”

~Mathew 5: 21-22

“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’

But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

~Mathew 5: 27-28

God knows our hearts. We may not commit the physical acts of murder or adultery but sometimes the desire is there, and if we knew we could get away with it…

The bottom line is, Jesus taught that if you have ever looked at woman with lust, or burned with hatred against another person, you are guilty of breaking God’s law the same as if you had committed adultery or murder!

On divorce.

In our modern times, divorce is not seen as a big deal. If you’re unhappy, unfulfilled, or unsatisfied with your marriage in any way, just call it quits.

But Jesus taught that marriage is a sacred commitment, and that the only valid reason for divorce is an unfaithful partner.

But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

~Mathew 5: 32

Some Pharisees came to [Jesus] to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?”

“Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’

and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

~Mathew 19: 3-6

On making vows.

How many times have you heard someone say, “I swear on my mother” or, “I swear on my kid’s lives”? It’s a fairly common thing, and it’s meant to show that the person is serious about the claim they are making.

But Jesus said not to use such oaths. We are to live with such integrity that people know our word is good at all times.

But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.

And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.

Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.

Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

~Mathew 5: 34 -37

On revenge.

The desire for revenge when we are wronged is a natural impulse. We want those who hurt us to pay a price.

But Jesus taught that we should resist the urge for revenge and instead “turn the other cheek.” It’s hard to overstate how radical (and difficult) this teaching is. It goes against our every instinct.

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.

~Mathew 5: 39

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

~Proverbs 20:22

On enemies.

An enemy, by definition, is someone hostile toward you. They don’t like you, and they want to see you come to harm. The natural tendency is to reciprocate.

But once again, Jesus tells us to take a radically different approach.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 

But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

~Mathew 5: 43-44

So how do your opinions about these topics line up with what Jesus taught? Do you find some of the teachings hard to accept? If so, ask God to help you adjust your thinking, then ask Him for the strength to put these teachings into practice in your day-to-day life.

On Sheep.

If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose? Something majestic and strong, like a lion, perhaps? Maybe something cunning and fierce, like a wolf? How cool would it be to soar through the clouds as an eagle?

Odds are, you wouldn’t choose a sheep. Most people don’t think very highly of them. When someone is labeled a sheep, it’s meant as a knock on their intelligence and their ability to think for themselves.

At first it may seem insulting that God’s people are compared to sheep in the Bible. We like to think we’re better than that, but that’s just our pride talking. In fact, there are valuable lessons to be learned when we properly understand the analogy of God as our shepherd and we as His sheep.

Going astray.

The prophet Isaiah said:

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own…” (Isaiah 53:6a).

I did a Google search and found out some interesting reasons why sheep go astray. The following is adapted from the Google AI Overview:

Frightened:

Sheep are prey animals and have a natural instinct to flee when they feel threatened. Loud noises, quick movements, and dogs can all scare sheep and make them run.

Distracted:

Sheep can also wander off, even in ideal environments with food and water, because they can get distracted or busy. For example, they might get so focused on grazing that they don’t notice their flock has moved.

Separated from the flock:

Sheep are social animals that feel safe in groups, so separating one sheep from the rest can be frightening and disturbing.

Let’s look at how the factors that cause literal sheep to go astray also impact us as metaphorical sheep.

Fear.

It’s not surprising that fear is one of the things that causes us to wander from God. Fear is a powerful negative emotion.

Fear undermines our trust in God’s sovereignty. It fills us with doubt and uncertainty. Fear of failure keeps us from stepping out in faith. Fear of rejection keeps us silent when we should speak.

But God is more powerful than your fears. The message “don’t be afraid” appears hundreds of time in scripture. Ask God for the courage to overcome your fears, and don’t let fear take you off the path He has for you.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

-II Timothy 1:7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

-Proverbs 3: 5-6

Distractions.

Even when life is going great and we’re not living in fear, busyness and distractions can lead us away from God.

We spend our days in the rat race, trying to make enough money to pay our bills and get a little bit ahead. The various roles we play (i.e. parent, friend, spouse, employee, etc.) consume a lot of time and energy. With all this busyness, who has time for reading the Bible, praying, and going to church?

And how easy is it to spend all day on frivolous things? I’m guilty. I can’t tell you how many days I’ve wasted scrolling through Facebook, watching T.V., playing video games, etc. It’s easy to get sucked into trivialities, and to lose sight of what really matters.

We must examine our lives frequently to make sure we have our priorities straight. We must continually reevaluate and refocus to ensure our Shepherd is in sight, and that we’re following in His footsteps.

I like this quote from C.S. Lewis:

“I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same.” [emphasis mine]

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

-Colossians 3:2

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

-Psalm 119:37

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

-Hebrews 3:1

Isolation.

Like sheep, we are social creatures. We need each other. Surround yourself with strong Christians dedicated to following the Lord, and you will be more likely to stay on the right path.

We are not meant to go through life’s trials alone. Find a good church where God’s Word is faithfully preached, and get in the habit of attending weekly. Seek out Christian fellowship. Lean on your brothers and sisters when you are weak, and be ready to support them when they need you.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

-Proverbs 27:17

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

-Hebrews 10:25

The Good Shepherd.

We’ve looked at one side of the shepherd/sheep analogy, and hopefully you found it insightful how some of the same things that cause sheep to lose their way cause us to stray from God. Now we’ll look at the other side of the analogy: God’s role as our Shepherd.

Let’s return to Isaiah 53:6, and look at the last part of it:

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on Him the sins of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6).

In spite of our waywardness, our shepherd loves us. So much so, that He took our sins upon Himself and died in our place.

I’ll close with the words of Jesus found in John 10. May they encourage and inspire you to stay close to The Good Shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. He will abandon the sheep because they don’t belong to him and he isn’t their shepherd. And so the wolf attacks them and scatters the flock.

The hired hand runs away because he’s working only for the money and doesn’t really care about the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 

just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. 

I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.“

-John 10: 11-16

Memorizing Scripture.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been memorizing one new verse of scripture a day. When I was trying to decide what to write about for this post, my daughter said, “Daddy, why don’t you write about the verses you’ve been memorizing?” That sounded like a great idea to me, so here goes!

Why memorize?

Memorizing scripture is not easy. It takes time and effort, but the process has many benefits.

  1. As you work to retain a verse in memory, you start to think deeply about the meaning of it and how it applies to your life.

  2. While you’re focused on scripture, your mind isn’t wandering aimlessly, or worse, thinking thoughts that are harmful / sinful.

  3. Once a verse is stored in memory, you can bring it to mind when you need it, and it can be a source of comfort, encouragement, or inspiration.

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psalm 119:11

Five verses:

I’m going to go through five of the verses I’ve memorized recently, and talk about what they mean to me:

1

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Proverbs 4:23

The “heart” in this verse is your innermost self. It’s the true, unfiltered, genuine you. It’s the seat of your emotions and desires. What’s in your heart is who you really are.

This verse is a warning to be careful what you allow to influence and shape you. Choose carefully what you watch, what you listen to, and who you associate with, because what you let into your heart becomes a part of you, and will determine how your life plays out.

2

I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

Psalm 146:2

This is a pledge to be loyal and faithful to God to the end. By making this pledge daily, you’ll be able to say at the end of your life: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7).

3

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 145:8

This verse encapsulates the nature of God. It is because of His mercy, compassion, and unfailing love that He sent His Son to die on a cross for our sins (John 3:16). It is His loving nature that motivates us to love Him. (“We love him, because he first loved us” I John 4:19).

4

He counts the stars and calls them all by name.

Psalm 147:4

This verse speaks of the unfathomable mind of God. Imagine a mind capable of knowing, not only the exact number of stars, but also their individual names! It reminds us how great God is, and how truly limited we are by comparison. (see also Isaiah 55:8-9).

5

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp.

Psalm 131:1

This verse is a great reminder that we should always approach God with humility. We may not know why God allows certain things to happen in our lives, but we can trust that He is in control. We should let go of the things that are beyond our understanding.

You can do it!

I challenge you to commit more scripture to memory. Even memorizing one new verse a month is better than nothing. Find a verse that speaks to you, write it out on a 3 x 5 card, and go over it at least once a day. Meditate on it and see how it impacts your life. You’ll be glad you did!

Side note: If you have a hard time memorizing things, I hear ya. If you want to improve your ability to memorize scripture (or anything else), I recommend a book by Kevin Horsley called, Unlimited Memory. It’s not magic; you’ll have to work to learn the methods that he teaches, but I’ve found them to be quite effective.

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