Not Alone

Waiting for an answer to prayer that never seems to arrive can be frustrating. It leads to feelings of isolation and even beginning to question where God is in our struggles. We might think no one understands exactly what we are dealing with and that we are left to our own strength to make it through. When we falsely believe no one is there for us, it becomes increasingly harder to stand strong in adversity.

I think we might be able to persevere if we could be confident that we are not alone. Knowing we don't have to bear the burden of life's consequences by ourselves can be the small ray of light we need to keep moving forward. This can be found in genuine human relationships, but most importantly in the promises of Christ to always be present for us in good and tough times. There is tremendous power and comfort in believing three simple words, "I Am Here."

Dark Day

The day after a tragic event presents unique challenges. I can think of several times in my life when I have faced these circumstances and how difficult the next day can be. When waking up that morning, it may even take a minute or two to remember how drastically things have changed. Of course reality sets in quickly as we remember that things are now very different. The day after a sentinel event isn't easy to reconcile because there is now a brand new reality for us to live with. We have experienced death, loss, and disruption of our normal life pattern and still haven't had the time we need to process what comes next.

I think about the followers of Jesus and how the day after the crucifixion must have been for them. All they had committed their lives to for three years was apparently gone. Their tight-knit community was scattered and no one knew what to do next. I'm sure they were in fear for their own lives as their seemingly invincible leader had been executed. Their entire perception of reality had been radically altered and no one knew what the future held for them. I would imagine this is the day depression, anger, frustration, and hopelessness settled in and began to take root.

The space between tragedy and hope can feel overwhelming. The realization that nothing will be the same as we once knew it isn't easy to grasp. If we can empathize with the followers of Christ through our situations however, we might be able to see the potential for hope on the horizon. Sometimes the smallest sliver of light is enough to convince us the darkness won't last forever.

Afraid to Change

When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, "Do you want to get well?" John 5:6

The man Jesus is talking with has been an invalid for 38 years and asking a question about his desire to get well might seem a little ridiculous. After all, who wouldn't want to be healed from a lifelong illness? You would think the man would be (figuratively) jumping at the opportunity so that he could (literally) jump into a different way of life. Apparently, Jesus felt the need to check this man's motives before doing anything.

How would we answer this question if Jesus asked us? Maybe we think it would be easier to just keep complaining about the state of our life or to make excuses for our current circumstances. Believing this won't change anything in a positive way. 

If we want to make things better we actually have to do something about it. This man didn't heal himself, but he had to be willing to let Jesus heal him. Are we willing to let God into our lives enough to bring the healing we keep saying we need?  Or do we just want to have something to complain about without making any effort towards lasting change?

More Than a Song

Some songs have a more powerful personal impact than others because they stir up memories of special occasions and important events in our lives. It may be a song from our wedding, a melody that takes us back to the carefree days of our youth, or lyrics that helped us through a tough season of life. These songs tend to stick with us through the years and evoke pleasant emotions whenever we hear them. There is a special significance to them which may not matter as much to others, but certainly carries great power for us.

There is a woman in history who had an interaction with Jesus which is recorded in the book of John. We don't know much about her except for this brief engagement. She met Jesus at a well in Samaria while looking for water and ended up finding the Savior she had been searching for all her life. Despite all her choices and the social and spiritual isolation that resulted from it, she found forgiveness, comfort, and value in the eyes of the Messiah.

She may not have had the songs of today to sing, but I would imagine that she could identify with the powerful lyrics of the song below as a result of her encounter. This redeemed woman could speak with authority on the rescuing power of Christ and how her world would change. If we could listen to this song with that story in mind it might make it as powerful to us as well.

It's Good

It can be difficult to reconcile the idea of calling something "good" when it seems things are actually  the complete opposite. That is the unexpected twist of Good Friday. We use this to describe a day that was devastatingly awful in history and not because the events of Friday were necessarily pleasant. It's because the death that took place that day was the only way we can experience what is truly good and right. The darkness that overwhelmed Jesus and the doubt that entrapped His followers on that fateful day set the stage for the goodness that was to come. Sometimes we only see the good part of things once we understand how they prepare us for what comes next.

Focusing Thought

Christ be with me.

Christ be before me,

Christ be behind me,

Christ be inside me,

Christ be beneath me, 

Christ be above me,

Christ on my right hand,

Christ on my left hand,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ when I rise up,

Christ all around me.

Christ in the heart of everyone who beholds me, 

Christ in every eye that sees me,

And Christ in every ear that hears me.

Everything Changes

People can point to monumental events in history and identify many moments that have drastically changed the future. I personally believe that no moment in history changed things like Christ coming back to life after being crucified. I could probably enjoy some healthy dialogue about this with people who don't believe in Christ, but I doubt that I would get much argument from Christ followers.

Here's the big question for the Church if that is true:  If the resurrection of Christ has changed everything, why do we keep living like it has all remained the same?

• Instead of being free in forgiveness, we live as prisoners of our past.
• We refuse to change our thoughts & attitudes even if they are in opposition to God's commands.
• We ignore the truth by believing lies just because they've been told to us for our entire lives.
• Stubbornly, we refuse to take steps of faith and only do what makes us comfortable.
• We seek contentment and value in everything except Christ.

Our belief in Christ's victory over death should translate into us being changed people. That doesn't mean we'll always get it right, but it should be our aim. We certainly can't remain complacent if we believe He's alive.

What's Changed?

Here's a simple yet powerful truth: If Jesus Christ is alive then everything changes.

A man who can accurately predict his death and resurrection demands our attention. While it's driven by our faith in its veracity, it is so much more. The physical evidence of Jesus coming back to life is overwhelming if you take the time to examine it. There are eye-witness accounts that corroborate His demise and hundreds more (not just His inner circle of friends either) that will confirm His presence after death. If these are all true, then we are left with the choice of investigating what that means for us or rejecting the idea entirely. If we accept the truth of the resurrection then we need to recognize that other things change as a result of this catalytic event.

We are exploring that very idea this week at CIY Move in Tennessee. It's a simple premise that causes us to ask a personal question. If this is true, what changes in us? Are we willing to answer that? Are we willing to seek out personal change or can we convince ourselves that everything is fine the way it is?

I can imagine what path I would be on if I could not stand on this truth. I can attest to my life being entirely different because Jesus is alive. There is no other way to explain the gift of this life I have been honored to receive.

Subversive

Calling someone subversive doesn't sound like a positive description--certainly not one that should identify a pastor or a Christ follower. It instantly makes you think of someone who abandons teamwork and discards unity. It brings to mind someone that can't be trusted because they aren't working towards the same goal as everyone else. How does our viewpoint change if we realize how subversive the message of Christ really is? What if our understanding of the word is skewed?

Understanding that we are called to be subversive as a Christ follower requires an incredible shift in our thinking. We have to recognize that we are not called to blindly follow and agree to a worldly system that is in opposition to God's direction. Jesus himself came to work against an established system of religion and government. At the same time He brought about a new covenant that changed everything we thought we knew about a relationship with God. He was subversive in a peaceful way that is still changing a world of hate through deep actions of love. 

Don't rebel against the authority God has placed over you, but instead work to see God's system of love & compassion overtake what the world offers. Refuse to accept methods and a mindset that works in opposition to God's plan for influencing the world. Be zealous in your efforts to create change but work to do so through in actions of peace and confidence in our ability to overcome through Christ. 

Yearly Reminder

There's something about this time of year that reminds us of what is most important. The obvious answer is that Jesus is what we are searching for, but it's also about what Jesus represents. Celebrating the birth of the Christ child reinforces our desperate need for hope. He represents freedom from oppression, a light that overwhelms the darkest shadows, and renewal of weary hearts. His simple birth was the first earthly step in our rescue from hopelessness. The Christmas season is so uniquely special and gives us the annual reminders we are desperate for.

Come, Emmanuel, deliverer of hope and provider of peace.

Remembering

In John 15:13, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." With our benefit of hindsight, it is obvious that He was talking about the sacrifice He was about to make for all mankind. I'm also not naive enough to believe that Christ's statement only applied to Himself. He was

referring to His followers who would also lose their lives (some in horrifically painful ways) for the sake of the Kingdom cause. These people were to be honored as models of genuine love for their willingness to die for the benefit of others.

I believe Christ's statement is true of all generations and the magnanimous sacrifice of our fallen military heroes that we pause to remember today. We may not have a personal perspective on the cost others have paid for our freedom, but the fact that we live in freedom should give us enough reason to pay our respects. I share my appreciation for all of our military brothers & sisters and their willingness to risk their lives for the sake of others. All gave some and some gave all.

Nothing But the Truth

We live in a world that is fascinated with lies. Covering up physical blemishes, inflating personal accomplishments, dishonesty in relationships, shifting blame to other people & circumstances, and false advertising are only some of the lies that we allow to infiltrate and rule our lives.

Is it that we don't want truth or that we are afraid of what the truth might be? In relationships it can be messy to work with the truth, so many people ignore it for the sake of "comfort" not realizing that it leads to destruction. We believe the lies of "it's not that bad" and "at least I'm not doing what he/she is doing" instead of realizing that any sin obstructs our view of God. We have managed to look in the mirror at our broken lives and yet convince ourselves that everything will be fine-as if it will just magically get better one day without changing anything.

The truth can be painful, but it is the only option for real life. It is exclusive and leaves no room for any falsehood-no matter how big or small.

Jesus is The Truth. He shines a light so bright that the darkness of deceit doesn't stand a chance. He is ready to speak a reality into us that will set us free from the traps of our past and those that satan has set for our future. It is time for our circumstances, addictions, and sin to be exposed for the flimsy substitutes of grace that they truly are. It is the only way that a full life here in God's Kingdom can be lived.

Delivered

Our God has a history of delivering His people:

He delivered Adam & Eve from immediate death
He delivered Noah and his family from the flood
He delivered Rahab from destruction
He delivered David from King Saul
He delivered Samson from his foolish pride
He delivered Esther from poverty and brought her to royalty
He delivered Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego from the fire
He delivered Daniel from the mouth of the lions
He delivered Luke from life as a mere doctor
He delivered Paul from a life of misguided murder
He delivered Peter from a career that wouldn't save anyone

He has delivered you and me from bondage, depression, addiction, the choices of our pasts, our sin and a future without hope. He is our Deliverer!

It started here on earth in a stable, but led to a cross that provided the ultimate deliverance for us-will you accept it? Will you throw off the chains of captivity and let the King of Kings set you free to follow Him?