Thankfulness for The People We Denounce

 “What if a white man could give God thanks for a black man, and likewise, a black man for a white man?”

Our eyes light up when we see our holiday table filled with multitudes of Thanksgiving favorites. Moist and flavorful turkey. The best homemade mash potatoes. Warm and buttery dinner rolls, tasty desserts, and much more. Then before we start passing the food and filling up our plates, we offer a prayer of thanks to God. And our prayer, like the food on our table, is often filled with things we like and are grateful for. Obviously, it would seem odd to pray about things we do not care for, and to sit down at a dinner table overflowing with food we do not like. (Photo by Pro Church Media on Unsplash)

However -- what if we could learn to be thankful for those things we look down on? Let me explain.

Peter was a close disciple of Jesus. One day he fell into a trans-like state and saw a great sheet coming down from heaven. On it were all sorts of animals. Then a voice was heard that said, “‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.’ And the voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’” (Acts 10:13-15) This vision with the sheet repeated itself three times, then Peter woke up and wondered what it all meant.

About the same time some men came to the house where Peter was staying, looking for him. After visiting with them, the next day Peter travelled with the men to the home of Cornelius, the Roman centurion who inquired of him.

Shortly after arriving Peter addressed the group gathered in Cornelius’ home, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28)

Peter realized how God used the sheet of animals to teach him something. He learned how the people he rejected, because they were a different race and religion than him, were created by God just like the Jewish people were. He learned how God wanted him to go to the non-Jews, and befriend them so they could hear the good news of Jesus.

It is written, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving…” (1 Timothy 4:4) Peter came to realize that God made both the Jews and non-Jews, and both are good and to be given thanks for.

When it comes to being thankful, we tend to be thankful for only those things we view as good, and are ungrateful for those things we reject and look down upon, like Peter did. Through the power of the Lord God though, Peter was able to change and give thanks for that which he once despised.

Racial differences are a point of division in our modern world. But imagine with me if hearts were changed like Peter’s? What if a Jew could give God thanks for the Arab, and the Arab for the Jew? What if a white man could give God thanks for a black man, and likewise, a black man for a white man? Imagine if a person of one race, saw a person of another race, not as someone to be rejected and looked down upon, but as a person created by God and someone to be given thanks for?

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection all served to enable this. When a person enters into a covenant relationship with Him, they are instantly filled with the love of God. This causes them to be thankful for that which they used to be ungrateful, and compels them to lovingly serve those people whom they once rejected.

A prayer for you – Lord God, this Thanksgiving help us to be thankful for the things in life and the people in life, whom we have previously rejected. For you have made all things, and called them good. Fill our hearts with your Spirit, so we can love others as you do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When We Make Men Into Gods

 

“No human, no matter how gifted they are can give us what we ultimately seek.”

When I was a teenager, I loved playing basketball. Dr. J and Michael Jordan were my favorite NBA players. While living in Colorado, I was fortunate to have my dad take me to see each of them play at McNichols Arena in Denver. Those are incredible memories. (Image from gq.com)

Like one of many sports fans, we often stand in awe of the talent these athletes have. Let me ask this question. Do you think we ever exalt these amazing athletes beyond what is reasonable? Let me ask another. Do we do this in other areas too? Where a person has a special talent or is in a great position of influence and power, do we at times hold them up too high?

When the burdens of life weigh on us, by instinct we look around for a type of savior to give us the help, relief or answers we seek.

• We look to the athlete, musician or movie actor to give us hope and moments of joy.
• We look to the doctor to take away our pain and cure our sickness or disease.
• We look to a political leader to give us national peace and prosperity.
• We look to the business person to give us a job and income.
• We look to the preacher to give us answers and provide our life meaning and direction.

What are we doing? We are exalting mankind above God. We trust in the person and their abilities and knowledge to help us, rather than God. We thank and celebrate the person for what they have done, rather than God. Do we somehow think God does not see this and will not take it to account?

People in these roles have worked hard, been blessed by God with special talents, but in the end, are just people. They are not infallible machines or products, but human beings like the rest of us. When we place our trust in them, we will find that eventually our team will lose, the movie will end, the doctor will not find a cure, the politician will fail us, the business will lay us off and the preacher will disappoint us. No human, no matter how gifted they are can give us what we ultimately seek.

It is good to learn from others, and to enjoy and celebrate their abilities, but when we begin looking to mere mortals for the things we ought to look toward our Creator God for, we cross a dangerous line. It is written in the Scriptures, “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). Furthermore, “…let no one boast in men” (3:21).

The Scriptures teach us that God is the only source of true hope for all humanity. He is our ultimate Healer. He is our Defender. He is our Provider. He is the Giver of Life. No man, woman, team, program, weapon, set of ideals, principles, systems can be an adequate savior for the burdens we bear and the wrongs we have done. It is foolish to think otherwise.

There is only one Savior. He created each of us with our unique talents, and one day all humankind will kneel before the great Savior and Judge, who is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Who are you trusting in for the things in this life and the next? Are you trusting in yourself or in others? I urge you to trust in the one above all – Jesus.

A prayer for you - Lord God, examine our hearts to see if we have lifted anyone in our lives above you. Show us if we are trusting in another, for what we ought to be trusting in you for. Jesus, come and be our one and only Savior and Lord. Help us to turn from our ways and to you with all our heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

The Love Generation

“Obedience is doing what God

commanded us to, because of love.”

Occasionally, my wife and I like to get away and take short road trips to explore. When we go, I enjoy learning about the churches and the religious state of the community. On one trip I noticed online many references to a particular church. When I looked at their website I read about an essential value of the congregation, “A place where love comes first.” Their site featured rainbow colors different places and other words like equality and justice. (Image from fccstjo.org)

The church’s use of the word “love” caused me to stop and think, “What do they mean by love?” And as I viewed other things on their site, I saw additional values like kindness and respect. But as I took it all in, there was something glaringly absent. Where was the value of obedience to God’s Word?

In the end, it led me to wonder if the church believes that people who do good works, stand up for what they believe is right, and are sincere, that God’s grace will cover them and they will have an eternal home in heaven – even if they do not obey.

Is this true?

Days before Jesus’ death, He was spending time with His disciples, preparing them for what was to come, and for the time when He would no longer be with them. He stressed the importance of obedience saying, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments…,” as well as, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me,” and “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word…,” and finally “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” (John 14:15,21,23-24) Jesus, the Master Teacher, was emphasizing an essential truth to His disciples – obedience does matter.

But observe the kind of obedience Jesus talked about. It was not mere rule keeping. It was an obedience that springs from a heart of love. Not a romantic love that is just a feeling, but a love that is rational, deliberate and sacrificial, willing to lay down its life, just like Jesus did through the cross.

Many of today’s top musical artists feature songs centered on love between boyfriends and girlfriends. In Christian music circles, artists also sing about love, but it is about God’s love. And on Sunday mornings in America, some pastors will speak to their congregations about love through God’s promises and principles, highlighting that if they are followed, it can lead to a prosperous life. Additionally, there is a movement across the country emphasizing the phrase, “love wins.”

Today, we have a generation of people that have elevated words and feelings, above truth. The true Christian life is rooted in a sacrificial love that is shown in daily obedience to the Word of God, by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. It is a love that is demonstrated through a life of holiness and faithfulness to God.

This is so important. Eternal souls are at stake. Every one of us is heading toward an appointment with God our Creator on Judgment Day. This should instill a healthy fear of God and sense of accountability within each of us. When the Lord Jesus will examine us, are we just going to offer Him words and feelings in defense of ourselves? Jesus predicts this will happen. He once said people will come to Him on that day and cry out, “Lord, Lord’’ and He will reply, ‘Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)

Obedience is doing what God commanded us to, because of love. And where does this obedience start? It begins by obeying Jesus’ call to repentance, which is turning from what we know is wrong and to God with all our heart. It is there, we enter into a covenant love with our Creator.

A prayer for you - Lord God, help us to go beyond thinking that love for you is merely about words and feelings. Give us understanding that love for our Savior is shown through faithful obedience; always doing what you say no matter the cost. In Jesus’ name. Amen.