light clearly seen

But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.

John 3:21

Light and darkness are a recurring theme in the gospel of John. This theme begins with the Word (Jesus) being the light that the darkness (the world) did not comprehend. And yet the light shines in the darkness. And those who believe the gospel, who come to know and trust that Jesus is the Savior of the world, who accept that His death and resurrection are our only hope, who bow to Jesus as Lord of heaven and earth… these are the people who come out of the darkness and into the light.

And those who come into the light of Christ live very differently. Their lives are lights all their own reflecting His light. It is, as John says here, “clearly seen” that God has changed them and is empowering them to do good works that shine out of the darkness pointing to Jesus. And their lives shine as beacons as well, calling those in lost in darkness to come to the life-changing light of Christ!

Lord Jesus,

You are the light of the world. And I see the depth of the world’s darkness by Your light. Your light is the life of all who believe You. And so I pray, shine in me. Be clearly known. May others see genuine good in me that I know is only attributable to Your light shining through.

Amen

by the stream

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

By the stream

I am planted

nourished through

God’s hand

Near the streams of living water

life flows in

refreshed by

my Master’s plan

I can flourish.

I can grow.

I can yield pleasing fruit.

Into His river

I am rooted

His supply

never wavers

Heat may threaten

I am cooled

still green and growing

no fear in my Savior

Anxious drought

for others

yet my roots

are cool and wet

I will keep maturing.

I will know Him…

…the wise God Who cultivates me.

how to spot a life filled with God’s wisdom

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

God gives good gifts and one of the highest of His gifts is His wisdom. The way it is described by James is appealing. He simply lists out all the things God’s wisdom is to us. And really, it is how God changes us. Can we spot them? There are eight benefits that the wisdom that comes from God brings to us:

• Wisdom is pure. It is innocent, modest, and clean. It is free from any fault.
• Wisdom is peaceable. That’s a description in short supply these days! To be peaceable is to be peace-loving. God’s wisdom brings peace. It settles conflict.
• Wisdom in gentle. This is also a term seldom seen. It means to be patient and fair.
• Wisdom is open to reason. Literally this terms means “easily obeying”. It carries the sense of being quick to settle a controversy, to listen well, to seek solutions, and to calm difficulties.
• Wisdom is full of mercy. This is the word used to describe the kindness and good will of God in saving sinners and providing the means for their forgiveness and salvation. It does not wait for sinners to be better, but provides the means for them to find true forgiveness. When we are full of mercy, we seek the same thing in our relationships when sinned against.
• Wisdom is full of good fruits. The wisdom of God WILL be seen in our actions. It will bear positive, visible results. It isn’t hidden. The life rooted in God’s wisdom will be embarrassingly laden with attractive and joyful actions and results.
• Wisdom is impartial. It is not ambiguous or uncertain. It does not play favorites. Wisdom is fair in assessments of actions and relationships.
• Wisdom is sincere. God’s wisdom is not hypocritical. It never hides in a disguise, pretending to be caring, but secretly hating. God’s wisdom speaks to real life in real ways with real transforming grace.

untamed

…but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

James 3:8-9

My untamed tongue gets me in trouble. And in world where “free speech” is considered a human right, we experience the mass effect of millions of untamed tongues spewing flames like so many cigarette lighters in a dry forest. Sinful words wreck havoc. James says the tongue sparks destructive fires (James 3:5-6). Free speech may have a positive impact for social discourse, political dialogue, and personal understanding, but free speech that does this is NOT unrestrained speech. It operates in safe limits. Words still have consequences. For instance: libel, purgery, and inciting insurrections with words are still punishable offenses. We can’t just say what we want. We are held accountable to certain limitations.

Increasingly though, I have found another verbal lack of restraint to be prevalent as a fire-starter. It’s the concept of “saying what I feel”. And some people wrongly dump such verbal diarrhea, making it sound noble by excusing it with: “Hey, I’m just being honest here”. Letting words give full vent to feelings however is a very bad idea. Why? Our feelings rise up from sinful and twisted hearts. Our feelings are often wrong. In fact, the Bible teaches that feelings can be evil. They aren’t just neutral. “Venting” our feelings can wound… can hurt…. can curse people that God wants us to see as created in His image. It is not “honest” to say what I feel. It isn’t noble. It is quite the opposite. It is manipulative, combative, hurtful, and often hateful. Instead, let’s just see that fiery strategy for what it is: unrestrained sinful speech that comes from the poisonous tongue’s reservoir of restless evil.

And today those words that can either heal or hurt are “spoken” most often digitally in a cacophony of public square social media. Our hyper-connected world now lies to us by convincing us 1) that complete strangers we have never met in person are “friends” and “followers”, and 2) that we can say anything in anyway in unrestrained abandon with little to no consequence. The result? We can easily and sloppily let loose words by post or comment that degrade and demean. We tell ourselves we don’t really know the person on the other end of the electronic ether. We might even get laughs and likes when we do so. That reinforces our lack of restraint. And a vicious cycle of this experience is the hallmark of public discourse these days. James is right. A great fire is set ablaze. But know this: that sick little tongue has been what has set the fire.

True God vs idols

But the LORD is the true God;

he is the living God and the everlasting King.

At his wrath the earth quakes,

and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Jeremiah 10:10

Humans always produce mass quantities of false gods. And God will not compete with a host of pitiful little impotent idols! He beats them every time by proving Himself in power and in judgment. Still… cultures keep cranking out their puny idols for the adoration of any who will follow them. And they can make them damn appealing.

Israel was destroyed for the worship of false gods. Jerusalem was leveled and Judah taken captive for seven decades for the very same reason. God would show Himself to be far greater than any carved image or idol worked from gold or silver. In the end people would see the wrath of the living God was greater than the appeal of dead idols. God’s people would fear Him as the everlasting King as their false gods burned to ash in the remnants of a former deception.

O true God,

You are the living God Who will not stand for my heart to worship a dead idol. Oh I am much too sophisticated to bow to a carved image. There are no Baals of gold on my mantelpiece. Instead, my idolatry is often evidenced subtly in my heart. Lord, help me to see when I enshrine any want, any material thing, any experience in this life in a way that I should not! Purge me of idols, shake my world if You must so that the True God, the Living God, You… the everlasting King… are all of my worship.

Amen

Come and you will see.

He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

John 1:39

Looking for a Savior?

Looking for the answers?

Looking for hope?

Looking for peace?

Look to Jesus…

     Come and you will see.

Looking for perspective?

Looking to find sense?

Looking for real rest?

Looking for the right questions?

Look right at Jesus…

     …and…

          Come and you will see.

Jesus is a Savior Who never disappoints.

Jesus is the answer to all the deepest questions.

Jesus gives hope in a hopeless world.

Jesus gives peace to the broken and hurting.

Jesus gives us insight bigger than our finite view.

Jesus puts all the pieces together.

Jesus provides rests for our souls.

Jesus asks the questions that motivate and change us.

Look to Jesus…

     Come and you will see.

sobering awareness of judgment

For from the least to the greatest of them,

everyone is greedy for unjust gain;

and from prophet to priest,

everyone deals falsely.

They have healed the wound of my people lightly,

saying, ‘Peace, peace,’

when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 6:13-14

God was speaking to His people in their total rebellion. They had ceased to worship Him or regard His covenant. Greed and thievery were the characteristics of both rich and poor, small and great, leader and follower. And even religious leaders were perpetuating this selfish culture. False prophets and greedy priests sought to use religion solely for personal gain. They refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing with one another and instead propped up a false optimistic sugary message of peace, even though the sin of God’s people had already begun to bring upheaval to the nation. They really felt like they’d make it just fine. But God had decreed His fine-grinding judgment.

Jeremiah spoke against this sin and also preached a judgment so thorough that no sinner would escape it. Houses would burn to ash. Families would be split up and destroyed. Leaders would be taken captive and killed. False priests and false prophets would be silenced. Vineyards would be ransacked. Crops would be burned and trampled. The life they sinfully lived for themselves… for greed and selfish ends… it would all be brutally ripped away in warfare, fire, and total ruin.

God would put an end to their shameless selfishness by this humiliation. This would be the final outcome of their deeds, dreams, and devices against God. Because they rejected God’s Word and His loving relationship in the covenant, they would reap all the worst curses of the covenant.

This warning from Jeremiah shows us one clear thing: God takes our sin quite seriously. And His people must worship Him in holiness, love His truth, and never take the grace of His provision and love for them for granted. It is quite sobering as Jeremiah preaches it! And it should be.

Contrast: born by the word of truth

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:18

There is a contrast James is making in James 1:12-18 and verse 18 is the final point of this contrast. But it is important to see ALL of the explanation James makes. The author is contrasting the untried, unsaved sinner with the tried and born-again believer. His point is that for a believer, enduring trial will confirm a future glory God is bringing — the crown of life that God has promised those who love him (James 1:12).

This contrasts with what sin does to us. It is the opposite: sin brings death while salvation brings life. Sin brings temptations where we are lured and enticed by our own desires. We act wrongly on those desires and we sin. The final consequence of sin is death — separation from God (James 1:13-15).

We are warned that temptation and sin are deceptive. We are reminded that God instead brings “good and perfect” gifts to His children. He does not change, so we should remind ourselves, even in difficulties, that He does good things as the “Father of lights” (James 1:17) and He does not change. He wanted those trials to have a “full effect” on us so we can be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).

This God has saved us to grow especially in trial to be more like Jesus. Hard times are His gifts if we will accept them. He has brought us forth by His Word. He has made us His own. We are His new creations. He wants, even in difficulties, for us to trust His Word, believe Him, and live new lives. We no longer have to give in to what sins lures us to do. We have new life. We should live that contrast in regular repentance and faith.

Jesus/Creator

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:3

Jesus

Creator

Living Lord

all things

were made

by Your Word

Jesus

Creator

Word with God

speak truth

to me

for my good

Jesus

Creator

light of men

shine now

to me

once again

Jesus

Creator

Father’s Son

plead now

for me

salvation

Jesus

Creator

giving life

live now

through me

all my life

Jesus

Creator

flesh bound Word

be my

Savior

Loving Lord

benediction in Christ

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21

There are two parts of this prayer of benediction worth thinking over. The first part emphasizes What God Did. God made peace through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. God made a new eternal covenant with us by the shed blood of His Son. God provided in Jesus, the Great Shepherd of our souls, our protection. And we should always be filled with praise to our God, grateful for what He has done!

The second part of this prayer of benediction anticipates What God Will Do. The Lord will equip those He has redeemed to do His will. The Lord will help us now, in Christ, through His Holy Spirit to do what pleases Him. Through Jesus we can do and be all that God has always wanted and we find pleasure in bringing joy to our God. Jesus has made our peace with God and has also made our lives pleasing to God.

O God,

I am thankful today for what Jesus has done for me. By His sacrifice and resurrection I am saved. Through Christ my soul has been shepherded safely back to You. And forever now, in His new covenant, I am kept. Thank You for what You have done!

I anticipate Your continuing work in me, my God. Keep equipping me in Jesus by Your Word and Holy Spirit. I am here now to do Your will and capable of pleasing You through Your Son in Whom You are delighted. I seek to find my pleasure in pleasing You, my Lord!

Amen

Jesus in every page

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Luke 24:44

Jesus is the message of the Bible. His life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and glorious reign upon the earth are the true story of all scripture. Jesus Himself clearly taught that all the Old Testament pointed to Him in all its sections. The Law of Moses, the history of Israel, the words of the prophets, and the worship of the poetry all point to Jesus. He is the fulfillment of the Law. He is the true King and the hope of His people Israel. He is the true vision of all the prophets. He is the passion and the beautiful song of His saints. The scriptures all point to Jesus… King of Kings and Savior of sinners. The Old Testament tells all about Jesus… the Redeemer of Israel and the hope of all the nations of the earth.

Lord Jesus.

Help me then to pause everywhere I read in Your Word and look there for You. You are indeed there. And because You accomplished my salvation, my hope and joy, my saving faith, my redemption and You are the Lover of my soul, I know You can be known in every page! Comfort me, strengthen me, enlighten me, and show Yourself in every page I turn until I am forever with You, I pray.

Amen

Fight for peace and holiness.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Peace with all my relationships is an inviting prospect. A peaceful life is a low anxiety life. Having harmonious relationships leads to an enjoyable life. And holiness that pleases God is also an inviting hope. No more struggles with sin would be so nice. No more moral conflicts, sinful consequences, or guilty feelings are the best hope I can imagine. And this command puts both peace and holiness before us… if we are willing to strive for them. That’s right. We are commanded to fight  for peace and to fight for holiness.

Peace must be fought for personally. Yet the problem is I fight in all the wrong ways. I see the other person as ALL the problem to being at peace. I attack the person, not the problem. But there is a problem, and I am almost always a part of it in some way. So I must fight for peace in my own heart first. Will I choose to forgive? Will I take ownership of how my actions have hurt the relationship? Will I see my own sin as worse? Will I deal with my own sin first? Will I prioritize my repentance from sin the most? That is how to strive for peace… I can deal with me. I can believe, repent, and seek reconciliation with God and others.

Holiness also must be fought for. Again, I must let the Word of God and the Holy Spirit of God search my own heart. Will I confess my sin when I am convicted of it? Will I seriously expose my life to the preaching, teaching, and personal study of God’s Word so that I can see my life and my world for what it truly is? Will I let looking into that mirror show me what is wrong? Will I turn from what God reveals as wrong in me, obey His Word, follow Jesus, and let Him sanctify me? Will I put off sin in order to put on the fruit of the Spirit and the character of Christ? Holiness and peace are worth fighting for! Strive for peace and holiness!

for the moment

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

Right now, Lord

this seems painful.

The situation is unpleasant.

The trial is tearful,

although I do not regret

following You, I haven’t

got a lot of happiness.

Right now, Lord

I need Your grace 

to endure this discipline.

I long to see Your face;

I know You have a purpose.

I will see You overcome

my current hurt and uneasiness.

Later, I know

better things will come.

You will indeed bless again.

Even the trial is Your outcome

toward a better understanding

of Who You are and how I can

follow You in joy.

A peaceful fruit

will follow from Your hand.

I believe this from experience.

And I will trust as pain ends

that You will have me in a better land;

A safer place is mine

in which I am further blessed

Your eternal love to enjoy.

higher thoughts and ways

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

We must understand that these statements about the transcendent greatness of God are actually an invitation for us to truly know Him. They are part of a broader invitation to seek Him, call upon Him, and return to Him (Isaiah 55:6-7). The wicked person is invited to forsake his current way. The unrighteous person is called to turn from her thoughts. What do they get instead? God’s holy thoughts are offered in exchange. God’s excellent ways can be our experience. No longer bound to earthly thoughts, we can soar into the holy heavens! No more cursed to live by our sinful ways, we can find a much higher path with a life of seeking and pleasing God!

And in Jesus we can think better thoughts. In Jesus we can live a better way. We don’t have to be stuck in past hurts, mistakes, failures, or broken relationships. We don’t have to be trapped by our inability to truly please God. In Jesus we are forgiven, made new, and made whole again to walk in a way that pleases the Lord. And this surpasses all we could think or do… ever.

Lord, Your thoughts are not my thoughts… they are infinitely better thoughts and I seek You.

Lord, You ways are not my ways… they are eternally better ways and I follow You.

Amen

how to take a stand

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

Proverbs 28:4

God’s Word is either believed or opposed. People either accept it or work against it. They either trust it as truth or align against it in believing a lie. God is either loved or hated. His Law can by kept or forsaken. There is no middle ground or third way.

When wicked people are applauded, you can be sure that God’s Word has been forsaken. There are places where American evangelicalism (which at times is far from biblical Christianity) might site this proverb, mostly to serve its ends in political issues. But the sad truth is that all too many Christian leaders in the subculture have forsaken the Word of God by turning a blind eye to all sorts of sins like sexual abuse, racism, greed, and hatred. Some have the gall to keep praising disgraced fellow leaders who get caught by the world in their own hypocrisy and disobedience to scripture. They have in essence forsaken God’s Law, replacing it with the expedient will to keep an organization or institution afloat.

It is time for those who honor Christ, love God’s Word, and seek to humbly live to exalt Jesus above all to stand up for what is right and against what is wrong. Especially if the wrong is among us. I believe there are many Christians in non-descript churches around the world not interested in celebrity or crowds, or creating massive culture who will strive against those within our ranks who forsake the truth by their actions. They will not praise the wicked. They will call them out. They will exalt Jesus. They will live simply, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God.

Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the LORD understand it completely.

Proverbs 28:5