31

Jump Start # 1422

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1422

Psalms 16:6 “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”

  Today’s verse is nice. It brings good thoughts to our minds. This is a reminder that not all of the Bible deals with storms, sins and suffering. Not everything nor is everyone in a constant state of trouble. Not everything is black. Gloom and doom is not the only song that is sung.

 

Our passage is a reflection of a heart that recognizes that God has been there and God has been helpful. Later in this passage, David says, “my heart is glad and my glory rejoices.” He understood that his life was held securely by the Lord.

 

The NIV translates our verse, “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places…” The boundary lines. We understand boundary lines. In sports, whether it’s a baseball game, tennis match, soccer game, or football, there are boundary lines. In bounds and out of bounds. Boundary markers, often a large stone or a group of stones piled on top of each other, marked the edge of property lines. There was stern warning in the O.T. about moving those stones. A dishonest person, with a devious mind, could in the middle of the night, move stones and steal land from his neighbor. God condemned such actions.

 

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. David is not talking about sports. He isn’t thinking about property lines. The boundary lines he has in mind are simply what we call life. David looks at his life and understands that God has been good to him. The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. This spirit and attitude makes one thankful. It shows that David was content and happy. What a refreshing thought that is. So many do not feel that way. They feel cheated. They feel that life has not been fair to them. They feel that they were owed certain things in life and it didn’t turn out that way. So they march through life with a chip on their shoulders. They are not content. They are miserable, complaining and angry. Some go so far as being angry with God.

 

What is interesting about all of this is remembering what we know about David’s life. It wasn’t easy. He wasn’t born in a palace. He did not have a silver spoon. The last of many brothers, and considered the runt of the boys, his childhood was simple and plain. He steps up to face a giant, when his own family ridicules him. A national hero, he must run from King Saul for decades. Multiple times, Saul tries to kill David. How easy it would be to think that the boundaries for David were tough. Even the famous shepherd Psalm, Psalms 23, has David going through dark valleys of death. Yet, he doesn’t fear. God is with him. The staff and the rod comfort and assure him. David’s focus was upon the Lord. The Lord had not let him down. The Lord was good to him. The Lord was always there for him.

 

My, wouldn’t our outlook take on a different perspective if we understood that our boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. Consider some of our pleasant places:

 

  • This country is blessed with opportunities and enjoyments. Have you been overseas? I don’t mean Europe, but a third world country? Have you walked down a street and seen folks peeing on a building in plain sight of everyone? Have you seen folks washing their dishes in a river, just a few feet away from a water buffalo that is standing in the same water? No one from the government has chosen our lot in life. No one has said that you must do this. With a flip of a switch, we have lights, fresh water, and cool air. Most don’t have to pray for our daily bread because our pantries and frigs are stocked with enough food to get us by for many days. We have cars. We have cell phones. We have internet. We have a zillion channels on cable. Life is good.

 

It wasn’t too long ago, that church buildings were heated with a pot belly stove. Those sitting near burned and those far away froze. It’s not that way today. Copy machines, powerpoint, email, live streaming, CD’s, my, we have things nice. Our boundaries have fallen in pleasant places.

 

  • Imagine being in ancient Israel and having to bring a cute young lamb to the priest to kill. That cute lamb had to be without blemish, which for many meant, keeping it around the house. Out in the fields it could be injured or killed and there went your sacrifice. So, you kept it nearby. The kids would play with it. They would put ribbons around it. They would name it. Then comes that dreadful day when you had to take that lamb to the priest. How would you explain that to the children? What would they think? We don’t do that today. The boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

 

  • Many of us worship in large congregations where there are amazing elderships who are walking as real shepherds. The opportunities to learn and grow are everywhere. What a wonderful church family that loves you and supports you. My, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

 

  • Many of us have great families. We have many quality friends. The people in our lives are incredible. They are the ones who care about us. They pray about us. They enjoy our company. My, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

 

Do you follow the tone of David’s words? We can focus upon the many problems in the world or our lives or we can see the Lord. We can complain about how life hasn’t been fair to us, or we can see that the Lord has placed our boundary lines in pleasant places. To know the Lord, to taste forgiveness and to realize that your name is recorded in His book, my, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places. Let us complain less and praise more. Let us stop pointing fingers and fold our hands in prayer. Let us see that God could have abandoned all of us. He could have walked away from us. We have trashed His laws, broken His heart and greatly disappointed Him. The wrath of Heaven could have fallen upon us, but it hasn’t. The name of Jesus has been sent to save us.

 

My, the boundary lines have fallen in pleasant places.

 

And for that, dear Lord, I thank You!

 

Roger

 

28

Jump Start # 1421

Posted on August 28, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1421

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

  Our verse today is a simple reminder about how God feels towards us and a reminder that we do not have to carry our burdens alone. This passage is found right before Peter’s direct warning about Satan, the roaring lion, who is seeking someone to devour. Be alert, the brethren are told. But here, it is cast all your anxiety on Him. Burden God with your burdens.

 

Several thoughts come from this simple verse:

 

First, for some, they wonder and even question whether God cares for them. The choices in life and the misfortunes of life have made their journey hard. Some have the difficulties that comes with a handicapped child. They love their child with all their heart, but it wasn’t a choice that they would have made. If God cares, why? Others just can’t seem to get out of a hole that they are in. It might be one financial disaster after another. It might be one crisis that follows another crisis. They’d love to have a break. They’d love to have some good news once in a while. Others, they notice, seem to sail through life so smoothly, but for them, the winds are always contrary and the journey is difficult. They question, “Does God love us? Or, maybe we’ve done something wrong that He is punishing us for?” Common thoughts. Easy to think this way.  The absence of difficulty in your life is not an indication of how much God loves you. Peter states it, and it is true, God cares for you. John would say repeatedly, “God loves.” Those that struggle more, have more to cast upon God. Their lives may be closer to the Lord than those who journey with ease.

 

Second, it is easy to think that I am the only one with anxiety, problems or at least, my woes are greater than your woes. You hear that sometimes. A group of friends start talking about the troubles that they have had, and like the old fishing stories, someone has to top the last story with even greater woes. The burdens that you face may seem like nothing to me, but they are huge to you. We shouldn’t make one feel bad because they are anxious about things. Encourage them to take it to the Lord. “Have you prayed about that,” is something my wife says often. She’s right.

 

Third, it is amazing that God can do this. I know a family who has a prodigal. Their heart is crushed by his wayward choices. I know several families who have loved ones in the hospital or are going through serious health issues. I know many who are very discouraged about where they worship. I know some that are praying for their college kids who are away from home. There are soon-to-be parents that are praying for a healthy delivery. There are those who are grieving. There are those who are traveling and they pray for safe journeys. There are those who are learning about Jesus for the first time and they are praying to learn and find Him. There are those who are teaching God’s word and they are praying for an audience with an open heart. So many prayers. So many concerns. Many of them are so great that it would crush us. God wants not just some of our concerns, but all of them. Cast ALL your anxiety upon Him. Great is our God. Our God is big. He can handle all of them. He is able to do things for all of us. Sometimes we only see our little spot in the world and we tend to forget about those elsewhere, especially on the other side of the globe. Prayers going up from Africa. European prayers. Collective prayers from congregations. Prayers said with tears streaming down the cheek. Prayers made in desperation. Prayers with broken hearts. Prayers begging for a second chance. Sometimes you and I have to take a break from dealing with issues and problems. God doesn’t. Prayers begging God to save a marriage. Prayers wanting God to open a closed heart. I have a book with a collection of children’s prayers. One of my favorites says, “Dear God, please take care of Yourself. If anything happens to You, we’re all sunk!” How true.

 

Fourth, just saying a prayer doesn’t end our responsibility nor our obligations. We pray for the church to grow. Great. Now, we need to go spread the word. Just saying a prayer isn’t enough. God works with us, through us and along side of us. Praying for our children’s souls is great, but now we need to lead them and show them the Lord. Pray for the sick, now go do what you can. It’s easy to simply say, “Well, I prayed for you.” That’s powerful. That’s nice. But, is that it? After the Amen, our part just begins.

 

Fifth, understanding what God truly wants helps us with those anxious moments. God wants you to be saved. God wants you to walk with the Lord. God wants you to glorify His name with your life. God wants you in Heaven. Now to wake us up, to get us to see that, there may be some paths through those dark valleys of death. There may be some hard times to open our eyes. We want the soft pillow. We want the easy cross. We want convenience. We want no hassles. Those choices may not put us close to God. We like the trophies in life. We like successes. We like victories. We like winning. It doesn’t take much of those things to make us forget about God and to start believing that it was all us that accomplished those things. Humble times has a way of humbling our hearts. We pray for God to remove those anxious moments. God may want you to journey through them and to learn some things and to be better because of them. On the other side of those anxious moments, we ought to have developed a greater character and a greater dependence upon the Lord.

 

Sixth, we cast those anxious moments upon the Lord because He sees the big picture. He can do things that no one else can. He can open doors that have been closed. God is able. God can do all things.

 

Anxious moments. Anxious times. All your anxieties. Don’t hold them. Don’t just show them to God. Cast them to Him. Be done with them. Toss them out of your heart. Give them to the Lord and then trust that He will know what’s best. Anxious hearts become heavy, discouraged, and lonely. Anxious hearts take us away from the Lord. We see our problems more than we see Him.

 

I went to the Cincinnati Reds baseball game recently. They have a relief pitcher nicknamed “The Cuban Missile.” He was throwing 100 MPH. I’ve been to a game where he threw a pitch 102 MPH. Blazing fast. That’s the idea I get from Peter’s words. Cast those anxious moments to the Lord. Don’t toss them. Don’t hand them. Don’t look at them. Fire a fast ball to Heaven. Let the Lord take control. Follow His lead. Trust in His ways. Do what He says.

 

All of them…

 

Roger

 

27

Jump Start # 1420

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1420

James 4:14 “Yet you do not know what you life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

  Word came yesterday of another shocking murder in our country. This time, a young newscaster and her cameraman shot while live on location in Virginia. The killings are becoming numerous and everywhere. The very day that these two newscasters were killed, a man in a Colorado courtroom was receiving a life sentence for killing people in a movie theatre. Our times are dangerous.

 

There will be some who move strongly to eliminate all guns from the land. That’s not the solution. Cain killed Abel and he didn’t have a gun. Laws do not change behavior. Lawless people are not governed by laws. They are the law into themselves and will do whatever they want, legal or illegal.

 

It is interesting that most of the shootings are done by young men. It’s not the old men that are shooting. It’s not grandmas pointing guns, but young men. Many, as in the killings yesterday, involve angry young men. They are mad at the way they have been treated, or mistreated. They are angry at society. They have fed their anger until it reaches a boiling point and they explode.

 

If fingers must be pointed, it shouldn’t be at the guns, but what leads someone to want to pick up the gun and point it at someone else. What did the parents do when these people were angry kids? That’s a thought. What life lessons did the learn about not always getting your way and life is not fair? Or, were those lessons ever taught? Where was Jesus in their lives? Most likely, no where. The absence of Christ, authority, direction and discipline will allow a young person to drift on his own until, influenced by music, friends, drugs and fringe movements, they are unable to cope with life.

 

Will these shootings stop? Not until homes become the way God wants them to be and until Christ becomes a real part of their lives. Many have gone to church but the churches they went to didn’t know if they were a church, a club, a gym or a place to eat. God has been reshaped in so many places today that what people are given isn’t helpful, right nor practical. It’s time to see who God really is.

 

Our verse must be one that we take to heart. There are two central thoughts to this passage.

 

First, you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. We think we do. We make plans, but they can change in an instant. A sudden accident, an immediate health crisis, a crazed gunman and all of our plans are changed and come to an immediate stop. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. We put our hope and trust in the Lord. We realize that each day is a gift. It’s not guaranteed.

 

Second, you are just a vapor that appears for a little while. We need not put all of our eggs in tomorrow, because there may not be a tomorrow for us. We must make each day the best we can. We must be ready to leave this place. Live as if this is the only day you have. Love your family. Be a light into the world. Obey Christ. Walk by faith. Be generous. Be kind. Leave footprints for others to follow.

 

Two “you” expressions. You do not know…You are just a vapor. Those two statements will help us. They will shape the decisions that we make each day. They will remind us of what is really important. There is a statement from David in the O.T. when King Saul was chasing him about the country, trying to kill him. David said, “there is but a step between me and death.” That is true not just for David, but for all of us. Just a step. Not a mile. Not a huge leap. Just a step.

 

My heart breaks for the families of those two young people who were innocently killed while simply doing their work. I have kids about the same age. These feelings makes me want to build a strong fortress that allows us to hide deep inside. But that’s not the answer. Our early brethren walked the market streets where Roman soldiers marched, often looking for them. They continued to worship, live and grow the kingdom. So must we.

 

Three people in Virginia yesterday were cast into eternity. Were they ready? Did they know the Lord? On this day, that is a greater question than the why’s of their death.

 

Do you know my Jesus? Do you know He cares? If this day were to be your last day, are you ready?

 

Roger

 

26

Jump Start # 1419

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1419

Matthew 9:20-21 “And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.”

  I am teaching a series of classes on Incredible Faith. It looks at the lives of men and women who truly believed. There are two occasions in the New Testament when Jesus marveled. To “marvel” is a “WOW” moment. Many things make us WOW. I stood in Buckingham Palace, in a long room lined with some of the world’s finest art. That was a WOW moment. I’ve stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon. That was a WOW moment. I held each of my children moments after they were born and looked into those little eyes. WOW. I’ve sat in the audience as one of my sons led singing and other son preached. WOW. Sunrises, sunsets, they WOW us. I’ve seen England’s Crown Jewels, held in a glass case, deep in a vault in the tower of London, WOW. I was in a store and held a pair of alligator shoes that cost more than three thousand dollars. WOW. There are many, many things that make us marvel.

 

We never read of Jesus saying, “Wow, I love those sandals, Peter. Where did you get those?” Nope, never happened. We never read of Jesus marveling at how strong, how tall, how rich someone was. He marveled two times and both times it was about faith. Incredible faith impressed Jesus. Incredible faith caught His attention. The other things do not really matter. We get impressed by brands, style and bling, bling. Not Jesus. It is the heart issues that matter the most to Him.

 

Our passage today takes us to a weak, sickly, tired and broke woman who has been on a long, one way journey that has not been pleasant. Mark tells us that she has spent all the money she had on doctors and had only gotten worse, not better. He also tells us that she has endured many physicians. When a person is sick, really sick, there is much enduring. There are tests and probing and remedies and medicines that can be very painful and disgusting. Some  of the early medical theories would make most of us run the other way. There was a medicine that was made from the dung of a white donkey. I’m serious. They did things with the eggs of an ostrich that was supposed to make one better. It didn’t. This woman, broke, sick, not feeling well, getting worse, endured much. I don’t blame the docs. In their times, they did what they could. Even today, there are limits at what they can do. In her condition, this woman would not be allowed in the Temple. She was considered unclean. Add to that, many speculated that long term diseases were punishment for sins and the area where you are affected was directly tied to your sin. Rumors would have floated around about her. Her problem was a personal and private thing. It was not something that you shared with anyone.

 

Jesus is in town. He is passing through the streets. He is being led to the home of a synagogue official. Things are not well at home. The official’s twelve year old daughter is gravely ill. She is dying. The dad, the synagogue official, drops all prejudices about Jesus, all concerns about image and rushes towards Jesus, bows before Him in public and begs Him to come save his little girl. There is a massive crowd. They are hurrying through the village streets when our verse takes place. An unnamed woman, coming behind Jesus, reaches out and touches His garment. Two immediatelys take place. First, the woman is immediately cured. Just like that. No words spoken. No potions. Nothing. Just a touch. Second, Jesus immediately knew what happened. He stops. He asks who touched Him. He knew. He did this on purpose.

 

The apostles are amazed at that question by the Lord. The crowd is thick and tight. Everyone was bumping into everyone. It’s like being squeezed in tightly on a subway. Hold your breath and hang on! But Jesus realized that there was one touch that was different. There was a touch of faith. Someone touched Jesus on purpose. Someone touched to be healed. We wonder how many other folks bumped into Jesus that had health issues, but they remained sick. Their touch wasn’t by faith.

 

Jesus turns and talks to this woman. Face to face. Now everyone knows. She was trying to be secretive. She wanted to touch, be healed and blend back into the crowd unnoticed. She didn’t ask Jesus, she took. Would He shame her? Would He make her illness return? Would He rebuke her? No, not Jesus. He was impressed. Her faith was remarkable. He assured her that it was her faith that made her well. It wasn’t the garments. Jesus wasn’t wearing magical clothes. Her faith in Christ made her well. She believed.

 

I like this story. I think many of us are like this woman. She had an issue of blood. We have issues of sin. We have issues of family problems. We have issues of turmoil.  We are a bit afraid. We don’t know what the Lord’s reaction will be. We would like to slip up behind Him, and just reach out and touch Him. He doesn’t want us to be afraid. He wants us to come to Him. In their conversation, this woman, now face to face with Jesus, bows, just like the synagogue official did. She believed. She was healed.

 

I wonder if we doubt that the Lord can forgive us. We have made wrong choices. We continue to repeat the same sin, over and over. We are weak, sickly and have tried everything but nothing seems to work. For some, we’ve only gotten worse. Fear and doubt can lead us to believe that there is no hope. We are never getting better. For some, they quit. They throw in the towel, quit fighting temptation and surrender to Satan. They are gone.

 

There is nothing in the text that tells us why this woman believed just a touch was all that was necessary. No one else seems to do this in the Gospels. She knew who Jesus was. She didn’t touch Peter. She didn’t think John had the power. She knew it was Jesus. She knew others had been cured. No one else in the Gospels seems to have what she had. Lepers were cured. Demons were cast out. The blind received their sight. The deaf could hear. But an issue of blood? This was a first. She believed. Her faith led her to the streets. She made her way through that massive crowd. She followed. She got the nerve and then reached out her hand. She touched. The touch of faith.

 

Yes, as the children sing, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me. When we reach out in faith, Jesus can change things like no one else can. Jesus can forgive. Jesus can give you a new life. Jesus can help you conquer the temptations in your life. Jesus can bring life to a dead marriage. Jesus can heal a broken relationship in the family. But mostly, Jesus can save your soul.

 

It take faith on our part. Not just saying, “I think Jesus can help me.” It’s getting out of the house. It’s fighting the crowds. It’s making your way to Jesus. It’s reaching out and touching the Lord. The touch of faith.

 

Incredible faith. This woman, as far as we know, did not fight battles. She slew no giants. She hid no spies. She didn’t raise a preacher. She didn’t do many great things that we often expect from faith. She believed in the Lord. She wanted to be well. Simple. Incredible. Amazing.

 

Would you have done that? Could you do that? Are you willing to turn your life over to the Lord? Are you willing to believe that He is the Lord and that He can make a difference in your life?

 

The touch of faith…so simple and yet so incredible.

 

Roger

 

25

Jump Start # 1418

Posted on August 25, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1418

Psalms 133:3 “It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountain of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing– life forever.”

  Our verse today wraps up Psalms 133. It is a short chapter. Three verses. There is one central theme to this short chapter, brethren dwelling together in unity. That relationship is declared to be good and pleasant. The goodness of unity and the pleasant benefit of unity is illustrated in two ways.

 

First, verse two, describes this pleasant benefit of brethren dwelling together as oil being poured upon Aaron’s beard and running down his face to the edges of his robe. Now, for most of us today, that doesn’t sound very good. Given the opportunity to do this, most would pass. Aaron was anointed with oil. It was part of the dedication before he would serve as Israel’s first high priest. This was a religious ceremony that contained personal benefits. Many have seen the long, shaggy Duck Dynasty breads. One can only wonder what food or what critters lurk within those hairs. They are hot in the summer. They can become scratchy. The benefits of oil would be like lotion. It would sooth, feel good and be comforting. That’s the concept of folks who dwell in unity.  Worshipping together has personal benefits.

 

Second, our verse today, verse three, is the other illustration of the benefits of unity. It is like dew coming down from Mt. Hermon The morning dew, sent from God, nourishes the plants and the grass. The dew helps water things. This morning it is cool here in Indiana. It feels more like fall than the end of August. The grass is drenched with dew. It is very wet. I have golfed early in the mornings before. Everything gets wet. The golf shoes are very wet. The golf ball is wet. The golf club is wet from hitting the grass. One doesn’t go out on a morning like today and roll in the yard. He would be soaked because of the dew.

 

Unity is like this. It nourishes. It feels good. There are benefits. It is something special to know that people think about you, pray for you and are there for you. It is something special to know that a church family has your back and will be there for you. It is special to know that if you say something wrong, you are not tossed out to the curb, nor thrown under the bus. You are loved because you are family. It is something special to know that one is always welcomed and wanted.

 

Unity isn’t something that is easy to maintain. We are different. We have our own notions about how things ought to be. Some get their feathers ruffled very easily. Something innocent can turn into a major blowup if attitudes, love and unity are not always kept before us.

 

Together we are strong. One voice. One mind. One heart. One spirit. It’s like a husband and wife. Two individuals, who think, look and act very differently, but are one. A man and a woman respond to trouble differently. A man and a woman often have different tastes in movies, food and entertainment. They may have different backgrounds, different education levels, different thoughts about finances and places to vacation, but the two become one. They are one in name, one in aim and one in a destiny together. It is a marvel how two can get along. That concept is how unity works. Different people, with different backgrounds, different histories, different needs can come together and be one in mind and heart. They can be in unity. Great things happen when folks are seeing the big picture. When the goal is Heaven and we all want to do what is right, nothing but good will be done. It’s like oil on Aaron’s beard. It’s like the morning dew.

 

Satan recognizes that a unified church is a church that will be moving toward Heaven. A unified church is thinking and doing what the Lord wants. Satan knows that. So he will try to disrupt the unity. Just a little hurt feelings here and a little pouting there. A little feeling like you are not getting any attention. A bit of selfishness, a bit of opinions and before long, folks can take sides and be suspicious of one another. Feelings get bruised and hurt. Some begins thinking the worst of one another. Whispering and gossiping only fuel the feelings of discontentment. Someone notices that their name is not on this month’s schedule to participate in worship and something is made of that. Someone is not invited to a wedding and something is made of that.  The preacher’s sermon is a little close to home and something is made of that. People start looking for things. They start questioning motives. They begin accusing without knowing all the facts. And with a little pushing, Satan has turned the atmosphere into a real civil war. Folks spend their time thinking about the mess. Worship becomes tense and testy. Most of the work comes to a haut because the attention turns to whose side you are on. Visitors sense the turmoil and do not return. Some are brave enough to publically launch a few barbs about the problem. That is received with much resistance and counter accusations. Some  families get fed up with the mess and drop out. Some look for another place. Some begin talking about “getting their side” to start a new congregation. Worry about which side gets the money and the building dominates the discussions. Plans are mapped out. No talk of ending the differences. No talk of unity. Now, it’s the talk of division. And when it happens, fingers are pointed both directions. The two groups will have nothing to do with each other. Instead of being a strong, united congregation, there exists two small, struggling churches who feel that the other is wrong. And so time passes. Both churches sit in the same town, frowning at each other. A few funerals take place and still no merger, no getting back together, no unity comes forth. A new generation comes along and they do not understand why things are the way they are, but they have been taught to have nothing to do with the other church. And through all of this, Satan smiles.

 

Our readers may say, “How do you know this?” I see it. I’ve been  in congregations like this. The ground is parched because there is no nourishing dew from Mt. Hermon. But I have seen the other side as well. I’ve seen where brethren forgave each other after mean things were said. I’ve seen brethren hug and get along. I’ve seen folks put aside personal feelings for the kingdom. I’ve seen folks not lose sight of the great eternal work that God wants us to do. I’ve seen the benefits and the goodness of unity. I’ve seen Satan snarl because brethren refused to get ugly with one another.

 

Unity, what a wonderful thing it is. It is based upon Christ. It is founded upon the principles of the Lord. It’s not looking the other way. It’s not ignoring differences, it’s coming together and being one because we are one. It’s thinking like the Lord. It’s having the mind of Christ. It thrives when grace, love and forgiveness become the foundation upon which our relationships are built.

 

How good and how pleasant it is! Are you doing your part to be a peace maker and keeping the unity going? Or are you one who picks the scabs and keeps wounds bleeding? Are you working with the Lord or for Satan? Are you more interested in your feelings, than the Lord’s? Each of us have a role in unity. A church that is unified has members that are unified. Folks that are at odds with one another will weaken the church and only make Satan smile.

 

I’m tired of Satan smiling. Let’s make the Lord smile. Maybe it’s time for some folks to cross the bridge and begin conversations. Maybe it’s time to put down the past and start thinking about the future. Maybe it’s time we’ve seen how much damage has been done and it’s time to start rebuilding the walls together.

 

Maybe it’s time…

 

Roger