It all begins with a relationship

Hebrews 13:7-8 (MSG)

7-8 Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.

Have you always had a strong faith; always known a personal relationship with Jesus, or did someone help you develop this faith?  Many of us were guided on the right path by our parents or grandparents, but many of us did not have that blessing in our lives as children. It all starts with a healthy relationship; first with God and then with another.

I was blessed when God placed a Believer in my life who shared the truth with me. I remember the first person I listened to.  There may have been others who tried to share, but I did not hear them. One day though, I was ready.

We are taught that we must make the effort and extend the invitation. We are to come alongside our neighbor and hold out our hand. The rest is up to God. It is God who prepares their hearts, it is God who does the heavy lifting, we only need to allow Him to use us.

I believed those words, but they didn't always register. Remembering the woman who made the invite which I responded to, I now thank God for her boldness.  God worked behind the scene for years, preparing me, years working on my heart. Many forces stalled my response, but God patiently worked on me.  The truth is, He allowed me to get to the point where I felt lost and hopeless.  I saw no reason to continue on as I was; lost and alone.

Looking back, I can see how life's trials and challenges had meaning.  The situations that seemed to drag me under were the very things Jesus used to prepare my heart for His invitation. And it all began with a relationship.


Hebrews 13:7-16

Famous Last Words

2 Timothy 2:22-26

Sometimes people are recognizable by their last words as much as they are by their physical appearance. It may not even be the last thing they ever say, only in a sense it is. See if you can recognize any of these famous “last words”. The correct answers are at the bottom of the page. (Don’t cheat now.)

• I am not a crook.
• What we've got here is a failure to communicate.
• Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.

At the time that he wrote 2 Timothy, Paul was nearing the end of his life. Like a common criminal, he was chained, in a cold, dark dungeon waiting for his execution.

Knowing that his days were numbered, he wanted to make the most of his time. He wanted to impart his most important wisdom to those who were most important to him.

Therefore, he wrote this letter to his “son”, Timothy. He wrote with passion, conviction and purpose. Pay close attention to these final words.

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope

that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.     NIV

Gently instruct, in the hope that God will lead them to the truth; not hammering it down their throat; not making your point so that you are right and they are wrong; but being invitational and unconditional in your friendship while expecting nothing from them, but everything from God.

 Keep in mind the most famous of last words spoken by our Savior Jesus, “It is finished”.

What he did on the cross for all who will accept him makes it possible for us to know him and spend eternity with him. But it also makes it possible for us to share with others his love and message.

Here are the correct answers:

• Richard Milhous Nixon denies involvement in the 1972 Watergate scandal.
• Paul Newman who starred in the role of a prisoner in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke. Upon speaking this line he was immediately shot.
• Red Saunders the UCLA football coach in 1950. Sorry Packer fans Vince Lombardi didn’t originate this quote.

No Respect

The NCAA Football Playoffs are here and the semi-final games are two weeks away!

 

In prior years there was a one game playoff with two teams chosen based on their record, poll results and strength of their opposition. Many fans thought the system was skewed towards teams that historically were strong football programs. It was virtually impossible for a very good team from a “no-name” school to play for the championship.

 

Many fans complained that their teams got “no respect” from the voters.

 

Today’s reading is Micah 5:1-5. Micah tells the Israelites that they are about to be attacked (by Assyria) and subjected to other nations (Assyria, Persia, Alexander the Great and Rome). Hard times are coming. Micah also tells them that the Lord will save them through someone born of Bethlehem.

 

“Bethlehem?!” the people must have thought. “Shouldn’t he come from Jerusalem?”

 

Bethlehem was a virtual “no-name” village in Judah, not even in mentioned in Joshua’s map (Josh 15:20-62). Yes, several hundred years ago it was the birthplace of King David, but Bethlehem never capitalized on King David’s fame.  It remained a small, backwater village that got “no respect”.

 

The Israelites were looking for an earthly King for their salvation. Whoever was going to rescue Israel would have to have a large army. They were going to have a strong ground game (infantry) and a solid passing game (spear throwing). Residents of Bethlehem were farmers, not military personnel. They simply couldn’t do those things.

 

Bethlehem got “no respect” from Micah’s audience.

 

Jesus, born in Bethlehem, provided salvation from eternal damnation our sins merit. His was and is a spiritual kingdom.  

 

Jesus, Israel’s savior, came from a “no-name“  village that got “no respect”. In fact, Jesus himself often got “no respect” in life.  

 

We know that ultimately Jesus wins the championship, and he shares his victory crown with us!

 

Then he will get respect!