Vol. 21 No. 08 | February 25, 2019

The following is based on a true story.[1]

There was a woman who had lived a very difficult life. She had made so many mistakes and poor choices that most people, including herself, had written her off as a failure, casting her aside like a broken piece of pottery.

She mainly kept to herself, only going out when she had to and doing her best to get lost in the crowd to avoid being seen.

This is how she existed, living in the shadows, ashamed, disappointed, and alone.

One day a man interrupted her routine by engaging her in conversation and making a request. She was shocked, almost offended, that someone was actually talking to her. Who was this man and why was He making an effort to talk to her?

Annoyed, she answered his question,  hoping He would leave her alone. He didn’t. He began inquiring about her life, but He already knew all about her- all her mistakes and poor choices. Yet he did not judge her. They continued to talk. He asked questions. She answered. And He talked some more.

She got lost in the conversation. He answered many of her questions before she even asked them. She felt safe with Him, comforted, and started to feel the burden of her guilt and shame lift off her shoulders. The more they talked, the more alive she felt. By the end of their conversation, she felt revived and filled with hope…feelings she had never felt before.

When she turned to go, she didn’t return to the shadows. This time, she went to where the people were. She spoke freely about a man she had just met who knew everything about her and still loved her. She told the crowd how He pulled her from her tortured past and gave her a future, one filled with hope and peace. The crowd acknowledged her, listened to her, and wanted to know more…

Does this story sound familiar? Is this perhaps your story?

Is your life a mess? When you think about your past- the one that haunts your present and taints your future- do you wish you could go back and change it? Do you wish someone could see you and appreciate you for who you are, instead of judging you for what you’ve done or not done. Do you wish you could come out of the shadows and into the light?

You can. There is such a person. His name is Jesus.

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[1] John 4

Vol. 21 No. 07 | February 18, 2019

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17, NIV)

I’ve only taught or written about this passage a handful of times. One reason is that so many people already have, and I’ve rarely felt I have anything to add. But the main reason is that the profound message of this verse flows through the entirety of Scripture. So in essence, almost everything I’ve ever written or spoken about God has this sentiment at its core:

God loves us. 

This is why He created the world, why He paints the sunrises and sunsets with beautiful colors, and why He fills the forests with vegetation that change with the seasons. This is why He sends people to enter and exit our lives at just the right time to teach us and enrich our lives (sometimes because of their exit). And this is why He sent His only son into the world to live and die, and then rise again.

Because He loves us.

All of us, even those we see as unlovable. He loves us when we are at our best and our worst. He loves us, not because of who we are or what we do.

He loves us because He is love.

…a profound message, indeed.

____________

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Vol. 21 No. 06 | February 11, 2019

There is a story in the gospel of John that describes a time when Jesus attended a wedding. During the celebration, Jesus’s mother comes to inform Him that the host is almost out of wine. Mary knows this will embarrass the hosts, so she nudges Jesus to do something about it.

Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.” (John 2:1-5, The Message)

A couple of observations from this short exchange:

First, Jesus’ mother was a classic mother. By this I mean, she had expectations of her son. But she also had confidence in Him. She saw a problem and knew He had the ability to solve it.

An aside. This also brings to light an age-old question. Did Mary know her son had special powers? I suspect she did, and perhaps had witnessed Jesus experiment a time or two…Hey, Mom, watch this!

But to the point, when Mary realized the host was on the verge of humiliation, she turned to Jesus, knowing he would do what needed to be done.

Second, Jesus respected His mother. The reasons why he seemed to dismiss her request aren’t clear. Was he resisting revealing His identity, or was He just teasing her?

Regardless, despite Jesus saying “Not now”, Mary knew He would grant her request.

The story reminds me of a very practical lesson:

Sometimes we just do what needs to be done.

You’re exhausted and looking forward to sleeping in. But your wife and kids what to you to fix pancakes. So you get up and fix pancakes.

You had planned on retiring at fifty-five, but illnesses and college tuitions changed your plans. So you keep showing up and punching the clock.

Your kids can be demanding, lazy, and selfish. You’d like to go on strike to teach them a lesson. But you keep showing up and trying to be the best parent you can.

It seems that most of our lives involve just getting up every day and doing what needs to be done. We cook meals. We work long hours. We do more than our share when others don’t do their part…

Why? Because we care. We care about doing things the right way and not cutting corners. We care about people, about doing what we can to help others in need.

Mom: “Son, they’re running of wine.”

Son: “That’s none of my business, Mom.”  

Mom: “Listen to him. He’ll do what needs to be done.”

Maybe you are facing a situation that you wish you didn’t have to. Take a step back and look at your options. Ask for guidance, make changes if you can, and have faith that everything will work out exactly as it should.  

And then, go do what needs to be done.

____________

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Vol. 21 No. 05 | February 4, 2019

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.” (John 1:10, NIV)

That’s how John describes what happened when Jesus came into the world.

My first reaction is disbelief. Prophecies about Him had been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Believers were anticipating His arrival. Yet when he finally arrived, they didn’t recognize Him. How could that be?

Many historians indicate that there was nothing distinct about Jesus’s physical appearance to set Him apart from the crowd. But I still don’t understand how they couldn’t recognize Him.

However, before I can launch into a judgmental tirade (Jesus actually deals with that later on), I ask myself, would I have recognized Him? And more importantly, do I recognize Him today?

Do I recognize His love when I see a nurse being gentle and kind with a frightened patient?

Do I recognize His spirit when I overhear a telephone conversation of a friend offering words of comfort to someone going through a difficult time?

Do I recognize His calm and comforting voice in the tech support representative who is saving my whacked-out computer when I’m in the middle of a big project?

Do I recognize Him in the face of a friend among a crowd of strangers when I feel uncomfortable and lonely?

Do I recognize His guidance when I open a blank page on my computer, ask Him for words, and within seconds, they begin to flow?

Do I recognize His beauty when I see the brilliant array of colors when the sun sets in the western sky?

The answer to all those questions is, yes. I recognize Him in all these scenarios when I’m not blinded by my preconceived ideas of how He should act, look, and sound.

But would I have recognized Him when He was here in the flesh? Would I have been any different than those who had been waiting for His arrival?

Probably not. However, as I continue to learn that He shows up in all kinds of situations, expected and unexpected, I am beginning to see Him more clearly.

I encourage you to join me and look for Him throughout your day. I promise you’ll find, even in the unlikeliest of places.

____________

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