Category: The Church

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Will You Be Made Whole?

February 27, 2022
It happened in Jerusalem. The Scriptures are silent about which feast is celebrated. Yet, it is during this solemn occasion that Jesus encounters a lame man at the pool of Bethesda,

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. John 5:1-9 (KJV)

The Pool of Bethesda was known for its medicinal, bubbling spring with five porches. It was situated north of the Jerusalem Temple near the Sheep Gate mentioned in Nehemiah 3:32, 12:39. In 1888, the remains of twin pools were discovered under the courtyard near the St. Anne’s Church in Jerusalem. The pools were fifty-five and sixty feet long respectively; the former having five arches with corresponding porches.

We do not know how long the man was waiting at the pool. We only know that he had been suffering from his infirmity 38 years. His was not a question of will, but of opportunity.1 For when the Angel troubled the water, he tried to reach the water, but another person arrived first and received the healing.

Jesus asks: “Will You Be Made Whole?” In other words, He was asking the man if he wanted to be made healthy or sound; to get well or to have his health restored.2 After hearing Jesus, the man placed his faith in the Lord’s power to heal, and He was healed immediately.

From this encounter, we learn that the Lord requires our faith to accomplish the impossible,

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NLT)

In addition, we can learn that our faith coupled with our obedience can produce healing and transformation. The man was made whole immediately, and he took up his bed, and walked, just as Jesus commanded.

Much like the man, many today live in bondage to sin and circumstances. We feel we deserve the defeated life we experience daily for retribution for our past mistakes and poor decisions. We try to convince ourselves that we are beyond God’s grace and mercy by lying to ourselves though negative self-talk,

   “God can’t forgive me!”

“You don’t know the things I’ve done!”

“My problem is too big!”

“I’ve tried but I failed …I must be a failure!”

“There’s no hope for me!”

But God brings us hope for deliverance, righteousness, and abundant and fulfilling life,

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14 (NLT)

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:8-9 (NLT)

Give your heart and your troubles to Jesus Christ. He is the Friend who cares as this familiar hymn declares,

What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Joseph M. Scriven3, (1819-1886)

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee—Thou wilt find a solace there.

Won’t you give the Lord your heart today? He can answer your questions, solve your problems, and make you whole—today!

What a Wonderful Savior!

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What A Wonderful Savior!

For February 20, 2022
It is in Chapter Fifteen of First Corinthians where we can find the core of the Gospel by which all Christians find our purpose, identity, liberty, and eternal hope (my emphasis),

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV)

The idea of “equal atonement” is troublesome for the modern mind to capture fully. Not concerning Christ’s saving efficacy as His sacrifice remediates all our sins forever. His commitment to give Himself freely and willingly for the comprehensive salvation of every man, woman, boy, and girl—past, present, and future—is yet impossible to fathom. Such an action is not a normal human response, especially toward someone we feel is “less desirable.”

Sacrificing for a loved one is conceivable when expressing our love for them or protecting them is our motivation. However, choosing to sacrifice our lives for an enemy or someone who dislikes us is extremely hard to envision or practice in real time. History has shown there may be certain situations where we would risk life and limb for someone we might not necessarily care for.

During the Second World War, for example, cultural issues fostered adversarial relationships that fragmented our troops occasionally. Although these valiant men and women may have been divided, they proved themselves more than willing to sacrifice for their adversary’s greater good by fighting and dying to spare the world from the universal tyranny of the Axis powers.

Fast-forward eighty years to our current international pandemic. Some have replaced noble altruism with a cold-hearted malevolence thorough modern day “germ warfare.” Imagine the depths of depravity for one to create a microorganism that indiscriminately targets innocent victims with underlying health issues and/or acute pre-morbidities. Moreover, some who should adhere to the Hippocratic Oath, to “do no harm,” by protecting and improving our overall health and safety, would instead politicize and withhold the vital, life-saving technologies and medical remedies that have been shown to treat illness.

What happened to our compassion for those who are absolutely marginalized and vulnerable among us? Where is our concern for the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40)?

I am saddened by the barbarism plaguing human hearts now. Truly, our Enemy, Satan, is at work in the callous and malicious disregard for human dignity witnessed in the indiscriminate killing and violence directed at the unborn and helpless, the calculated euthanizing of the weak and aged, and the exploitation, abuse, trafficking, oppression, and savagery expressed towards anyone and everyone who falls between those two demographic extremes.

Ultimately, we have reduced our precious, God-given human life to mere dollars and cents.

Our heartlessness is most unfortunate because technology, education, politics, military, and industry do not make our country great. It is our faith in God, and the Judeo-Christian values we embrace and uphold that allows God’s divine favor, as the Scriptures attest, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV)

Ours is not a perfect nation; no nation is, especially with sin and entitlement issues, running amuck as they are today. Nevertheless, there was a time in our not-too-distant past when we understood right from wrong, and we intuitively maintained a line of demarcation between what was morally good and morally bad. Unfortunately, we have blurred that line by our existential relativism. Our existentialism celebrates our human subjectivity while our relativism denies the existence of all absolute truth,

Dress as you will, fornicate with whom you will, infect whom you will, wear clothes, or go naked as you will. The only right is what is right for you, and the only wrong is that which produces pain or inconvenience for you. There is no law, no principle, no proper course of action of any kind, so go with the vibes! Whatever is your thing, do it.1

God’s Word (Bible) and His Helper (Holy Spirit) no longer inform our public discourse. Instead, whatever feels good or gives us pleasure—at this very moment—is what governs our conscience and behavior.

Oh, what sorrow and despair await those of us who insist “evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.” Isaiah 5:20 (NLT) There are far too many people who live for the here and now: “three-score and ten, and the most toys win!” Howbeit, there is a vast eternity beyond the grave, and we must acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior in this life to avoid eternal peril,

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:26 (AKJV)

Proud, self-righteous human endeavors will never invoke God’s favor, as does Calvary’s Cross. It’s never been about us; it’s about Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him vitalizes our being, position, conduct, and eternal destiny. Those who don’t profess Him as such today will face Him as the Eternal Judge tomorrow.

But we who love Him, and whose faith begins and ends with Him, He is our hope, peace, expectation, and glorious reward. Galatians 3:11 reads, “The just shall live by faith,” and 2 Corinthians 5:7 states, “We walk by faith, not by sight.” James 4:6 tells us that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble—does He ever! Like airplanes on a runway before takeoff, we cannot fly without our Eternal Pilot at the controls. With humble, reverent, and sincere faith in Him, we shall reach our glorious final destination safely.

Additionally, a civilized people must exercise vigilance and due diligence to promote and secure the moral and spiritual well-being of our fellow countrymen and women,

The freedom of God is exercised and illustrated in His government of His moral creatures. It has pleased God to create intelligences possessed of moral freedom and to make their ultimate destiny contingent upon the right use of their freedom.2

God has endowed all of us with the sacred trust to preserve civility, decency, and goodwill for people with whom we work, serve, and live. We should foster a congenial atmosphere since we have grown and matured beyond our childish self-interests to pursue things that are in everyone’s collective best interest. We who have so matured understand if we persist in raucous discord, no person will be spared from hostility and violence.

At some point, we must ask this question with the utmost sincerity, What kind of world do we want for our children, and their children?

Therefore, with our non-absolute, selfish, proud, twenty-first-century minds, it is extremely difficult to imagine how Jesus Christ, a person in perfect health, and with all His faculties, would spend His precious time teaching and demonstrating—thorough His death, burial, and resurrection—eternal lessons that would forever shape the character and conduct of His Followers around the world, as He did.

In His shoes, we would be consumed with pleasure, fulfilling our selfish desires, visiting exotic places, or completing unfinished tasks on our “bucket list.” Not so with Jesus Christ. He knew He would die on the cross for the sins of the entire world—even those who hated and/or refused to believe in Him. Yet, He spent His precious time sharing critical lessons with others (and us). Can’t we trust in Jesus, surrender to Him, and follow His example by living beyond the parameters of our own sin and selfishness for the benefit of all (and for His glory)?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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The Greatest of These Is Love

For February 13, 2022
In 1 John 4:7-8 (AKJV) we read,

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

God showed His love toward us, and He empowers us to share it as we forgive, reconcile, and extend ourselves. This is the “most excellent way” we read in 1 Corinthians 13 (Love Chapter).

This unselfish love is patient and kind. It is always at work, seeking opportunities to show kindness on our behalf when we are ready to receive. This love is not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Possessiveness or irritability is never present, because the giver does not care about what the recipient can do “to deserve it.” Then it’s no longer love; it’s a loan.

Love does not demand its own way; it is not irritable and keeps no record of wrongs. It doesn’t keep score, as do so many who’ve offended others and need seek forgiveness themselves. Love is not glad about injustice, but is glad when truth prevails. Love never gives up, it never loses faith, it is ever hopeful, and it endures. Of these three, faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love.

Love is practical, as we extend benevolence and forgiveness toward others,

To forgive someone is to admit our limitations. God’s given us only one piece of life’s jigsaw puzzle. Only God has the cover of the box. To forgive someone is to display reverence. Forgiveness is not saying the one who hurt you was right. Forgiveness is stating that God is fair and he will do what is right. After all, don’t we have enough things to do without trying to do God’s work too?1

It’s easy to love when someone reciprocates it. Relationships fail when we cannot show love that covers a multitude of faults. Death is the ultimate price that one can pay to show love. Christ did that for us, and His divine love extends mercy and forgiveness to us all. We emulate God’s perfect love by forgiving others’ wrongdoings, showing mercy, and extending goodwill. When we express this Christ-like love, we can live right in the eyes of God and humanity.

In God’s eyes, we are His obedient children who express His character. To humanity, we reflect God’s love and show we belong to His Son, Jesus Christ. With love, our Christian faith becomes an attractive alternative to any life outside of Christ.

Our Lord lived it from the beginning, and He will complete this perfect work in us. Faith makes us receptacles of God’s grace and mercy, and His Spirit fills us with virtue. We get knowledge, exercise temperance, patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness. However, love shows the unselfish heart of God as this old familiar hymn attests,

Love Lifted Me2
James Rowe (1865-1933)

I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea, Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me– Now safe am I.

All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I’ll cling, In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true, Merits my soul’s best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves; He will lift you by His love, Out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, Billows His will obey; He your Savior wants to be– Be saved today.

Refrain:
Love lifted me, Love lifted me, When nothing else could help, Love lifted me; Love lifted me, Love lifted me, When nothing else could help, Love lifted me.

Won’t you experience God’s amazing love by faith in Christ today, and share that wonderful, life-changing love with others to make this world a better place to live?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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Whom Will You Choose?

For February 6, 2022
Scholars suggest that it was sometime around 2000 BC, when the Lord appeared to Abram (and later to Sarai) to disclose His redemptive plan for the universe,

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-4 (NLT)

God told Abram to leave all that was familiar to inhabit a land where his descendants would occupy later. Through One Descendant in particular, the entire world would benefit greatly. God would fulfill this promise through His Son, Jesus Christ, who would become our Savior and Redeemer to give us forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal, abundant life as we place our faith in Him.

Abraham’s descendants—as numerous as the sand at the seashore—would occupy this “Promised Land.” But Abram, who was 75 years old and Sarai, who was 65 years old, had no children at the time. Twenty-five years would pass before Isaac, and their names were changed to Abraham and Sarah. Abraham obeyed God and was rewarded handsomely.

About six-hundred years later, God chose one of Abraham’s descendants, Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8), to lead the God’s Chosen People across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Thirty days passed since the death of Moses. Now it was Joshua’s responsibility to lead Abraham’s descendants, who went to down to Egypt as 70 persons, and now swelled to a mass exceeding 2 million people.

Joshua 1:1-9 (NKJV) tells how God called Joshua to greater service,

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 3 tells how Joshua instructed the priests to stand in the Jordan River with the Ark of the Covenant. When their feet touched the waters, it stood in one heap so that the people could cross over (much like Moses and the parting of the Red Sea). That day, the Lord magnified Joshua in the eyes of the entire assembly. Ultimately they would conquer and occupy the Promised Land under the leadership of this submitted and committed leader.

Joshua chose to follow and remain faithful to the Lord, and he received his family allotment within the Promised Land as a result. Before his death, Joshua encouraged the Children of Israel and reaffirmed his commitment to the Lord,

Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NKJV)

We all can choose whom we will serve. Won’t you choose to serve the Lord today?

What a Wonderful Savior!

 

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What Could Happen?

For January 30, 2022
Once, a pastor challenged me to work for the Kingdom, which ultimately begged this question, “If I were to give myself to the Lord completely, living according to the Bible, and trusting Him to fulfill His wonderful promises—what could happen for this poor black kid from the projects? ”

Some would contend that I am a hopeless because of my impoverished past environment, social status, and skin color, I will always be a “victim.” Thus, I must accept a life that is “inferior,” “disadvantaged,” and/or “predisposed to crime and/or failure.”

However, as a youth, I realized two things. First, I saw how my race was not the only one exposed to hatred or prejudice. I also noted how the races expressed hatred toward people within their own race, which I found quite curious. From these experiences, I learned that sin is a universal problem, which causes all people to hate and pre-judge indiscriminately.

Second, I realized that despite how society would classify me, my Everlasting Creator and Redeemer makes no such distinction. He is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34-35), and He loves all His Children—including me—equally. Thus, He gives me the freedom and grace to live a morally responsible life, consistent with His perfect will.

The Lord used my racial, cultural, and societal circumstances to fulfill His excellent work, which far surpassed anything I could have planned for myself. I just needed to trust in Him enough to, as another Christian once told me, “Let go and let God!”

Therefore, I differ with those who trivialize the Christian faith as a “pie-in-the-sky” religion. Mine has been a life of abundance (John 10:10), which began the moment I met the Lord and will continue forever. Only He gives my life its purpose and meaning while supplying me with fulfillment and satisfaction.

My life has not been about keeping the rules and rituals associated with a stereotyped religious practice. Instead, I have an intimate, personal relationship with a loving friend and companion.

Thus, I’ve tried to answer the pastor’s question by not depending on my gifts and ability alone. Jesus Christ needs to occupy the center of everything I desire in life, as He orders and delights in every step I take,

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. Psalm 37:23-25 (KJV)

Although my being a “good” man has been questionable, He remains loving, patient, kind, and faithful in all things. In John 16:33, the Lord tells us to be of good cheer because He overcame the world’s challenges successfully—including an inhumane death on a Roman cross. Therefore, my victory is in Him. Won’t you give your heart to Christ today and experience His victory, fulfillment, and life?

What a Wonderful Savior!

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