A Hope Worth Shouting About

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 

My grandma and grandpa were amazing people. They loved and cared for my sister and me for many years. I know they had a relationship with Jesus just by the way they acted. Their love for each other was evident and their love for others was too. They were in church every Sunday and involved in church community too.

They were raised in the quiet generation sometimes called the silent generation. They lived through WWI and the great depression. They didn't talk about their painful experiences, nor did they talk about their faith. Faith was a very personal thing and one didn't discuss it openly. My grandparents were no different. But still I knew they were Christian by their actions and their love.

When my world as a child was in turmoil, there was peace and hope for a good day at grandma's. When I would spend time with grandpa in his workshop repairing my bicycle or building a chest of drawers for my bedroom, I felt hope in my heart. He was strong and silent and that is what I loved. When all around me was chaos and drama, there was peace in the silence that comes from authentic love.

I recognize now, that peace could only come from a relationship with Jesus. I feel it now too, but my generation isn't silent. We can't afford to be. It is now time to tell the reason for the hope we have. It is time to share the good news and tell everyone who will listen, just how amazing is Jesus and what a life filled with hope can be like. And sometimes our actions speak even louder than our words.
1 Peter 3:13-18

THE Silver Lining

Life on Mission: Serve

Matthew 5:1-12

The 2012 movie, Silver Linings Playbook, is a heartwarming story about two people who find each other in the midst of chaos and pain. Pat, after losing his job and his wife, has been recently released from a mental institution. Tiffany is a young widow who also lost her job. Together, they find their silver lining.

 An argument can be made that each Beatitude has a silver lining of its own. I like how Eugene Peterson interprets them. Here are the first three. See if you can find their silver lining.

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. ⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. ⁵ “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

Even Jesus’ opening ministry statement in Luke 4 has an element of a silver lining. ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 What these verses are saying is that people are more likely to reach out to God when life is painful; when hardships are upon us; when we are dealing with difficulties. Pain, hardships and difficulties can all lead to a silver lining. We’ve all had them in our life.

 Pastor Cam Huxford shared in the DVD about a group of women at his church in Savannah who would take baked goods to the young women who worked at a nearby strip club. He pointed out that most women who work in the adult entertainment industry have been abused as a child.

 Here’s a group of individuals that are extremely needy. Their hearts have been broken; their lives shattered. What an opportunity to serve. What an opportunity to share the love of Christ.

 

 Jesus knew how needy people were. Those are the ones he served. Prostitutes, lepers, demon possessed, tax collectors, the blind and the lame: he touched their lives one at a time.

He was their Silver Lining. He has called us to serve and to share THE Silver Lining with those in need. Will you do it?

Team Jesus

I have been a member of many teams throughout my life. Some were sports teams while others were associated with my occupation.  I always had a reason to be on a team; sometimes it was enjoyment, sometimes it was to develop new skills and other times it was because my boss told me to be on a team. (Continued employment is a strong motivator!)

In my years of studying teams, I have learned that successful teams have members with the right skills and the team has specific goals.

Today’s reading is from Acts 2:36-47. It is just after Pentecost and St. Peter is encouraging people to join Team Jesus.  He reminds them that even though the human race has rejected God, God, because he abounds in love, still wants them to be on the team. Being a benefactor of this great love is but one of the many benefits of being on Team Jesus.

We join Team Jesus when we are baptized. The Holy Spirit enters us and provides us with faith, which in turn makes us “acceptable to God.” The Holy Spirit also gives us spiritual gifts and skills that equip us to do the work of Team Jesus.

We also know that Team Jesus continues to learn God’s Word. Through study, members better understand the gifts of the Holy Spirit which enables them to develop them further.  Reading God’s Word also helps members to understand the goals of the team.

So what are these goals? Today’s reading alludes to three, though there are others. Love and serve the Lord (Matt 22:37), care for each other (Matt 22:39), and share the Good News of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18).

If you are not yet a member of Team Jesus, I encourage you to learn more about the team. If you are already a member of the team, tell someone about the blessings of God through Jesus Christ.

I can think of no better way to spend eternity than with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Have I Got A Story For You! Romans 1:8-17

What’s your story? Have you ever put down in words your faith journey? Some people wouldn’t know where to start, because their story is so full of twists and turns. Others of you though, have never put your faith story into words because you don’t believe you have one. Your story would be too boring. You haven’t gone through huge struggles to have God rescue you.

To that I say praise God! We all have a story, some have more bends then others but they are all God blessed. Some of us have been rescued from a shameful life of sin and poor choices, others have always known God was there and lived their life trying to serve Him.

Our scripture passage today says, “I want to see you and share with you the same blessings that God's Spirit has given me. Then you will grow stronger in your faith. What I am saying is that we can encourage each other by the faith that is ours.”

So I’ll ask you again, what’s your story? If you haven’t thought about it before, spend some time writing it down and then share it with others because, “we can encourage each other by the faith that is ours.”

Read today's passage at Biblegateway Romans 1:8-17

Matthew 9:35-10:23

The Matthew text for today contains three verses many of us will find familiar, chapter 9:37 (The harvest is plentiful...), 10:18b (Freely you have received...), and 10:16 (I am sending you out like sheep among wolves...).  When preparing this devotional I was trying to decide which one to develop.  But, it seems to me they are related and all about reaching out to those who do not know Jesus.

1. Matthew 9:37 reminds us there are so many who are lost and just roaming this world hopeless and empty.  We as believers are being asked or perhaps commanded to go into the field and work to harvest these souls.
2. Matthew 10:8b points out our salvation has been achieved by the mercy of Jesus, it was nothing we did to deserve forgiveness and receive Jesus' love.  We did not earn it but this gift was given for free.  It is up to us to share with everyone who will listen.
3. Matthew 10:16 find Jesus reminding the disciples they are like sheep among wolves when they enter the harvest fields. He tells them to be shrewd like a snake but innocent as a dove. 

When I first learned about having a personal relationship with Jesus, that is just what it was - personal.  I clung to it, kept it to myself and just enjoyed to new feelings of peace and safety.  Before long I wanted to share this with those around me.  Compare it to finding a good book and wanting to tell others so they to can enjoy it and maybe we talk about it together and enjoy it all over again.

I would never keep a good book to myself, why would I keep Jesus a secret?


To read the entire text for today click here.