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I am amazed when God works. He can take the most unlikely situation or person and turn a miracle. I am thinking of the guards around the cross. It had to be tough duty and not a high honor to be on that kind of detail. Yet, in the midst of all the pain and suffering, of all the blood and wailing and depression, something wonderful happens: God opens eyes. The events are so supernatural that the guards are stunned into a new reality.

“Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” ” Matthew 27:54

God at work. Wow, what a thing to behold!

Lives and events are transformed on God’s terms. I cannot fathom how close God was on that dark hill with events so profound that they surrounded the most important event in all of history.

He lives and He loves.

This is about those times, guys. You know, those times when you look back on something and think, “What was I thinking?” Well, it happens to all of us and, without making excuses, you just have to face it with God and whomever you have in the world. Remember Peter?

“But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” ” Matthew 26:33

A very short time later, he folded. He lost his faith in the fear of the world. Yet, God used him in a mighty fashion in his life.

It wasn’t his only failure either. Later, his old nature popped up again and he was weak in the faith to the point that Paul had to remind him that Jesus Christ died for all, not just those who were in the classic Jewish mold. Bad decisions and mistakes come in a variety of colors and flavors. Just remember that Jesus Christ died for those men that fail from time to time, the men who fail most of the time, and even those who fail all of the time!

Keep your faith, face up, and go forward.

“If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.” Luke 6:29

This verse seems like a clear declaration of peace in the face of an antagonist. But, how does this apply to someone you work with or someone you are related to? Are we to be doormats? Should we meekly allow people to insult or abuse us repeatedly? Well, let’s see what Jesus did:

“When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. ‘Is this the way you answer the high priest?’ he demanded.

‘If I said something wrong,’ Jesus replied, ‘testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?’ ” John 18:22-23

Jesus did not meekly roll over and allow Himself to be treated badly. He calmly and clearly challenged the authorities as to why they treated Him that way. The key with turning the other cheek is to read the rest of what Jesus said before the verse I quoted earlier:

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:27-28

This is not about making yourself a punching bag, but about not returning insult for insult or injury for injury. It’s God’s responsibility to balance the books. Your job is to love everyone and do the best you can to live in peace.

“Do not repay evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18

It is your job to do what you can to live at peace with everyone. It is not your job, however, to submit yourself to their abuse or insults. It is not your job to become a pincushion for their daggers.

When confronted with a co-worker or extended family member who disagrees with me or even dislikes me, I will do what I can to make peace, but I will also do what I must to protect myself and my family from unnecessary attacks and discomfort. I will also calmly and clearly defend the truth. So, no, we are not to be doormats. We are to be vigorous defenders of truth who communicate with love and peace.

We’ve all heard the story of the tortoise and the hare as children. The moral is that slow and steady wins the race. It’s amazing how widely that rule applies, but I’ve found a more manly description of this attitude (thanks to a co-worker of mine who runs marathons and ultra-marathons): relentless forward progress.

The key is not in the speed, but in the persistence. In long endeavors, you need to make time work for you. Don’t burn yourself out in a short time. Learn to keep up a regular pace, even if it’s quite slow, and time will multiply it into dramatic progress. This works with compound interest in your retirement account. This work when trying learn good habits. This works in almost any effort that can extend over time.

This is exactly the kind of walk with Christ we need to have. It’s not about how fast you mature as a Christian. It’s not about how rapidly you can read the Bible or memorize a chapter. If those bursts of speed are separated by moments of being at a standstill, it won’t average out.

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Persevering does not mean just holding your ground. Notice that the verse says to “run with perseverance”. I doubt the author meant for you to run in place.

We’re all different and will move at different speeds. But, there’s no excuse for your walk to come to a stop. You should always be making relentless forward progress.

I love how God speaks directly into my situation. I’ve been feeling wistful for a different era with different values lately and then, I come across this Psalm:

“When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears
will reap with songs of joy.
He who goes out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with him.” Psalm 126

The writer remembers happier days when people were happy and euphoric at the prospect of following God and worshipping Him. Then he asks God to restore the fortunes of Israel.

I sometimes feel like I’m part of a slowly shrinking group of people who believe in discovering truth and declaring it clearly. It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder if it’s worth standing your ground. One can start to wonder if the culture wants to hear absolute truth anymore.

Then, this Psalm reminded me how this works. It says that those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. I should not wallow in my frustration or disappointment. I should shake my fist at the culture and withdraw.

I should take my tears and sow. I should sow the truth and the Gospel. I should work hard at planting the seeds. I should continue to make myself useful to Him.

Then, we will reap joy.

I love my country and I pray for all of its leaders to be successful in leading this country to becoming stronger and a protector of life and liberty around the world. I want them to encourage lawful and moral behavior. A passive, lenient leader is no better than no leader at all. And being leader-less is a bad thing for a country. I thought about that as I read this simple verse the other morning:

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.” Judges 17:6

It’s not explicit in these words, but reading this gives a sense of dread and moral anarchy that ensues when there is no leadership (either from a king or from God).

Then you have the case of a leader who tries to lead without God.

“Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the law.” Proverbs 29:18

I pray for our leaders to be used by God. I pray for revelation from our God to our people.

To pray for anything else would be self-destructive.

I seem to get more emotionally involved with Presidential elections with each one I watch. I’ve watched a few with excitement as my choice won. I’ve watched a few with disappointment when my choice didn’t. The next morning, though, things seem to even out. The highs aren’t so high as I consider all the issues my party of choice will have to deal with. The lows aren’t so low as I start to think about some better candidates in the future.

Regardless, I’m reminded that there’s Someone else in control.

“He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

God is placing these men in positions of leadership. God is placing this responsibility on their shoulders. We should pray for them. We should do all we can to help lead the country where God would have us go. We should do His will.

If your guy won, don’t get cocky. God is still in control.

If your guy lost, don’t worry. God is still in control.

I had new Internet service installed yesterday. I spent far too much time downloading large files so I could see just how fast it was. My son and I started giggling at seeing it fly. It was simple entertainment.

Sometimes, fast is fun. Sometimes, fast is good. At other times, fast is scary. Instead of a fun ride, it feels more like being in a car with no brakes. The same speed can exhilarate or terrify depending on the circumstances of the event. Those who excel at high speed sports know how important it is to know your route and constantly adjust to stay on course.

Whether you think your life is moving too fast or not, these are good rules to live by. Do you know the course you are taking?

“Make level paths for your feet
and take only ways that are firm.” Proverbs 4:26

“In his heart a man plans his course
but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

Do you know how to adjust?

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1

By what standard to you make your adjustments?

Life moving fast may be exactly what you were meant to go through right now. If you can’t control the speed, you might want to learn how to steer.

A mystery is a stimulating thing, at times. It can be fun and an exercise to the mind with good feelings resulting when it’s solved. Working through clues to come to a conclusion about an unknown is what drives people to think, deduce, process, and contemplate. What is unknown still controls the vastness of the universe and the mysteries of Creation still top the list. A mystery is a mystery, but some unknowns are dismissed because people just don’t want to go where they lead. They know just enough to realize that whatever the answer is, it will, in all probability, be something they do not want to admit to. So, in effect, they hide behind the mystery.

“to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27

“A mystery among the Gentiles.” In other words, it’s a mystery to the world how we can have the hope of glory. Yet, the world is such that they resist the hope because to solve the mystery they must change their lives. It is a mystery to me why they won’t at least give it a peek. The truth is, of course, that Jesus is no mystery, but the exact how of Jesus is a real mind-bender. There are a lot of folks hiding behind the mystery of the how.

I love God, but do I love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength? The Great Commandment starts with this and ends with “and love your neighbor as yourself.” The repetition in my life of three steps forward and one or two back can only be dissected when I begin to look at this challenge from three sides. My love of God, my love of my neighbor, and my love of myself. This is a trinity because each love is individual and, together, a whole when viewed as the Great Commandment.

This trinity spins on the axis of sincerity. The word “sincerity” comes from the Latin sincerus which means clean and pure. In short, I cannot love God, my neighbor, or myself without being clean and pure. Even shorter, I cannot fulfill the Great Commandment until I am clean and pure. Clean and pure men? Again, we seem to arrive at a point of impossible perfection. That is why Jesus Christ is the only person ever to fulfill the Great Commandment and why we should reach out to emulate and become like Him. He is the only destination if we say, “I love God.”

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5

A very simple statement, but you’ll notice that even Paul says it’s a goal.

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