November 10 - To Me

When I set out to write a daily year long blog called "A Year With Jesus" I spent a lot of time reading the four gospels. In fact, I have spent over twenty months studying them constantly. Here we are, just forty days away from the end—and every entry so far has had an accompanying scripture, until this one. I wanted to write "A Year With Jesus" because Jesus is everything to me. Every part of my life revolves around doing what I believe he has called me to do. My family is in this with me. Right there in bold letters in our Family Vision Statement (you should think about writing one) it says "To love and serve Jesus."

To me, Jesus is my savior. To me, Jesus is my Lord. To me, Jesus is my friend. To me, Jesus is my King.

August 21 - These Will Go

Matthew 25:31-46

"And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46 ESV)

Jesus stated very plainly that in the life to come there would only be two possible destinations for the soul. Heaven or hell. Eternal life or eternal death.

The thought of hell can be pretty crazy. Most literal interpretations or beliefs are rooted in the idea of a place of fiery torment that burns but does not consume. I don't know what hell will be, but I do know what my capacity for understanding the Scriptures leads me to believe. I believe that hell will indeed be a place of unending torment. It will be so horrible that it will be as if the most anguishing kinds of physical, emotional, and spiritual pain were all rolled into one.

Those who live under the grace and Lordship of Jesus will be spared that agony. They will find eternal life, joy, and peace. Everyone will wind up in one location or the other. There will be no in-between. There will be no other options. All will go somewhere in the life to come.

August 20 - Enter Joy

Matthew 25:14-30

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ (Matthew 25:23 ESV)

We know joy as a feeling. But what if it was more than that? What if joy was a place too? What if the feeling we have come to know as joy is in fact only a small reflection of a place that we all have the chance to one day live in. I believe joy might be the single greatest word in the English language we could use to describe Heaven.

Jesus' teaching of the parable of ten talents points out several practical life lessons. It also sheds some light on what Christians can expect in the next life. Those who follow Jesus will indeed be one day escorted into the Joy of the Master.

I remember what it was like as a small boy to please my father. It was wonderful. Eternal life with the Master must be something like that. I think it will be like the inexhaustible notion of a job-well-done wrapped in the blissful affection of a loving parent doting on a favored child. It will be joy. One day all who have faithfully followed and served will enter joy.

August 19 - Ready for Jesus

Mark 13:32-35,37

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake." (Mark 13:32-35, 37 ESV)

Have you ever fell asleep at work? Maybe that's not even a possibility in your line of work. Maybe it is. Regardless of your particular employment situation, most jobs require some amount of attentiveness to maintain an expected level of proficiency. In a similar way Christ prompts us to maintain a level of attentiveness so that we may be prepared for what is to come. Many authors have sought to exhaust the topic of end times events with their well written and heartfelt works. Many of them may even be working from a God-gifted revelation into the truth of events to come.

I believe that Jesus desires for His church to be ready for any eventuality. Not because He wants us to ride out the End of Days in a comfortable fallout shelter, but because He desires for us to fix our hearts in a mutual direction, namely, in His direction. He wants us to want Him more than we want to leave this place or our circumstance.

What if the Church, as one voice, declared a readiness to embrace the return of the Master? Not as escapism. Not out of negligent disdain for the here and now. What if we were authentically ready, and willing, to see Jesus face to face?

August 18 - I Don't Know You

Matthew 25:1-13

But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (Matthew 25:12 ESV)

I don't always answer my phone when it rings. To be honest I just don't really like talking on the phone that much. But most of the time when I don't answer the phone, its because I don't know who is calling.

Jesus' parable of the ten virgins illuminates a similar point. God will turn away those He does not know. That might sound contradictory if you think of it in terms of factual knowledge. I mean, God is supposed to be all-knowing right? But that kind of knowledge isn't what Jesus was talking about.

Centuries ago, especially in the Jewish culture, to know meant more than retaining information. It meant to experience something first hand. Thus, knowing God would mean that you had experienced Him. Experiencing God only happens through His Son, Jesus Christ.

August 17 - Stay Awake

Matthew 24: 36-51

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. (Matthew 24:42 ESV)

We don't know the exact year, day, or hour that Jesus will return. I do believe that authentic believers will have an innate sense about his approach, but the details are beyond us. It is something we do not know, and cannot know until the moment in which we experience it.

Jesus compared it to being watchful over a house in danger of robbery. If you knew your house was going to be robbed you would take all kinds of extra precautions. And if you knew the exact moment in the night when the robber was going to approach you would be ready.

Christ will return, and when he does he wants to embrace a ready church. He is looking for a people that are awake, alert, and watching. So, stay awake.

August 16 - When You See

Matthew 24: 29-35

So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. (Matthew 24:33 ESV)

I love to travel. We used to drove across the country every summer to visit my brother in North Carolina. They were usually really fun trips to make, but I always like coming home. I love driving in on the interstate and keeping track of the signs that tell me how close I am to home.

During Jesus' teaching on the Last Days he told his followers that they would be able to determine the Last Days by looking at the signs. Will our generation be the ones to experience the Second Coming of Christ? What do the signs show us?

Some people get a little weird when it comes to this stuff. They start to make crazy predictions. I don't think that's what Jesus was shooting for. Jesus wasn't trying to teach his people how to calculate the moment of his return. He was stressing to them the importance of their continued watch. He wanted his followers to remain a perpetually ready people.

When I am driving home from a long trip I take note of the signs that point me to home. The reason why is because I am looking for them. I am seeking reassurance and direction. I believe that Christ demonstrates that for his people. When his return is imminent all of his followers will know it. They will be looking for him.

August 15 - Gathering Vultures

Matthew 24: 15-28

Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:28 ESV)

Have you ever stopped to watch the prime time news for five minutes? If you have ever engaged with mass media during a peak news cycle you have no doubt noted the overwhelming gloom that permeates all of the terrible news. The reason is that bad news draws the attention of people.

Jesus, delivered a stern word to his followers. He was warning them about the signs of the end times. And he cautioned them to remain optimistic. He didn't want his followers to proclaim a message that was inundated by the dark stigma of weighty world issues.

People today really are drawn to bad news. In school when I was learning to be a journalist, I remember hearing the phrase "if it bleeds it leads," regularly. Death, disaster, and decay draw people's attention.

The sad truth is that this kind of thinking makes its way into the church far too often. One bad little thing can happen, and we can focus so hard on it that we completely neglect the other thirty-five awesome things going on. We are not people who celebrate death and negativity. Jesus came to bring the dead to life.

August 14 - Astray

Matthew 24: 3-14

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray." (Matthew 24:4 ESV)

When I travel I try to stay really focused. I like to know my destination, try to plan all major stops, and I attempt to avoid distractions. Unfortunately, that kind of focus is not always easy to maintain.

Jesus and his followers were certainly no strangers to traveling. They walked all over the countryside, and rode in ships fairly often as well. They knew what it meant to venture forth with purpose. And that is what Jesus had in mind when he warned his people not be lead astray.

It was a timely warning for the soon-to-be Church leaders. Soon they would be the ones guiding the movement, and Jesus wanted them to keep their heads. It is a timely warning for us as well.

The apostles and disciples had to worry about a lot of people seeking to exploit the burgeoning Christian movement. Today, we must be wary of those who continually attempt to hijack the world's largest religion. There are a myriad of reasons and devices used to misdirect people in pursuit of Spiritual truth. We need to be extra vigilant in discerning who we follow, and how we lead.

Jesus warned that we should be careful not to be lead astray. We want our generation to be good stewards of the Gospel. We do not want to be lead astray, but neither should we want to lead others astray. Lets keep Jesus at the center and love as our motive.

August 13 - All She Had

Luke 21:1-4

For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:4 ESV)

Worship done in the form of giving is not always easy. I love to give. My wife and I make it a regular part of our life, but it can be a stretch sometimes. It is especially difficult during a tough financial season. That kind of giving takes a level of faith that really stretches me.

Jesus, observing the widow's offering, pointed out the enormity of her small gift. Financially speaking, it would not set any records, and it wouldn't bankroll the ministry for the foreseeable future. But in terms of faith, she gave an incredible sum. She gave her livelihood.

I wonder what passed through her mind as she released the small coins. Was she fearful? Was she confident? I don't know. Perhaps she was merely caught up in the sweet reality of her act of worship.

I want to be able to give God my best. I want to offer all I have, and all I am, to Him, to be used for His purpose. I really want to. But the truth is that sometimes I hold back. Sometimes I am reserved. All too often I simply miss the point. There are a lot of reasons this happens. None that I am proud of.

The widow's standard of giving is an incredibly faithful goal to shoot for. She offered all that she had. My prayer is that I would have the faithful courage to do the same.

August 12 - Until You Say

Matthew 23:37-39

"For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39 ESV)

Jesus was saddened and upset with the rampant immorality and corruption of Jerusalem. He condemned the city for its history of killing the Old Testament prophets. He prophetically lamented their rejection of him. He also promised that he would not return again until the appointed time, a time when they would welcome him.

Words are powerful things. Many scriptures talk about their power and influence. Their carry confession, conviction, and compassion. They offer forgiveness, hope, and encouragement. Their carry truth, impart life, and unlock faith.

What if Jesus is waiting for you to say something in your life? What if something he has been wanting to do for you is hinging on your declaration? God is good, and loving, and all-knowing. He will not answer a prayer we are not ready for. What if our words were sometimes the act of faith that demonstrated our readiness for His blessings?

I'm not saying we stand up and declare our faithful words in a grab for material things. I don't think our faith equates to our control. However, I believe scripture is clear, as Jesus repeatedly pointed out, faith makes a difference. Sometimes you might think you believe something, but you won't really know how strongly you believe until you say it.

August 11 - Escaping Sentence

Matthew 23:29-36

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? (Matthew 23:33 ESV)

When a criminal is found guilty they are sentenced for their crime. The sentence comes as a punitive price to pay for the wrong done. It follows judgement.

One day each of us will face judgement. And while that may seem terrifying, it doesn't have to. Judgement comes when we stand before Jesus and he declares our eternal destination. Those who follow Jesus have nothing to fear from judgement—they need only anticipate the joy of eternity with Christ. However, anyone not found to be a faithful follower of Jesus will have much to regret at the judgement. For those people judgment will be immediately followed by sentencing. There is only one sentence for those not in Christ, hell.

Hell is a literal place. A lot of people assume they know all about it. I won't be quick to declare any detailed knowledge of it other than what I am sure the Bible s consistent about. Hell is miserable. Hell is final. Hell is real.

The religious scribes and Pharisees were in a lot of trouble from Jesus. He forewarned them concerning their impending unfavorable judgment. He told them what would happen. He called them serpents and vipers, directly tying them to Satan by using Old Testament language. How would they escape the sentence to come as a result of their evil acts?

Our answer is the same one that faced the scribes and Pharisees. How will we escape the reality of hell that we deserve? It is only by Jesus. His life. His blood. His sacrifice. He is the way to escape our eternal death sentence. What's more is that life with him is so much more than merely escaping punishment, it is life, it is full abundant life.

August 10 - Watermelons & Hypocrites

Matthew 23:23-28

So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (Matthew 23:28 ESV)

Watermelons are really good when they are ripe. They are slightly crisp and super sweet. But if a watermelon sits for too long some really bad things start to happen inside. All of that crispy sweetness turns into a mushy muck. In spite of the seemingly normal outward appearance the inside is just all wrong.

People are like that too. Unfortunately, people claiming to follow Christ can be some of the worst. We often appear to have it all together on the outside while dying inside. Whether it is secret sin, unrepentant desires, or habitually inconsistent actions—our internal and external lives are so often mismatched, and that is a problem.

Jesus preached a very strong message targeted at this kind of living. Why? Because God wants a better existence for His people than the negligently oblivious life hypocrisy can lead to. We matter to Him, and so does everyone else, but sometimes our hypocrisy becomes a distraction to the unbeliever struggling to find faith.

Evaluation, honesty, and good friends can go a long way in disarming or overcoming hypocrisy. Take a good look at your life, ask an honest friend, and pray about the results. We will never achieve perfection in this life, but that doesn't mean we have to embrace a continual pattern of unrepentant sin. And we certainly need to stop pretending like we are perfect when we are so far from it.

August 9 - Blind Guides

Matthew 23:13-22

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? (Matthew 23:16, 17 ESV)

Jesus let the scribes have it. He was tired of those guys. They had completely missed the point of their calling. In a lengthy speech he warned them using strongly condemning language. Pointing out their various grievous flaws he moved from area to area of their arrogant and corrupt practices. Their priorities were so out of balance and Jesus held nothing back.

Jesus had come to heal the blind and set the captive free, but many of the Pharisees had rejected Christ. They didn't realize that not all sight refers to eyes, not all vision is produced by eyes, and not all blindness is a physical ailment. The Pharisees and scribes were blind, their hearts were blind.

I can't really imagine trying to make it through this life without the ability to see. All I can imagine is darkness and uncertainty when I stop to consider blindness. And yet the Pharisees were willfully leading people into corruption. They were, as Jesus said, producing "sons of hell."

I am so glad that the love of Christ at work in my life brings with it a heathy perspective. But even so, I still find myself reeling from blind spots. That is why it is really important to surround yourself with really honest and aware people that will let you know when you stray off target.

August 8 - Serve

Matthew 23:1-12

The greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11 ESV)

Jesus was not a fan of the scribes, a sect of religious teachers that had become lost in corruption. They were overly harsh with the general population and used their position as a means to extort people for monetary gain. They were crooks and thieves mascara ding as clergy. They loved the honor of their position, but squandered their influence rather than leverage to help their people who were suffering under Roman rule.

Jesus teaching was very contrary to the scribes' example. He taught that position was not something to seek after or brandish as a badge, but rather it is the natural acquisition of someone in unselfish service to God. In God's kingdom you must serve to be great. The measure of human greatness is determined by the amount of love and service demonstrated in one's life. We like to be honored. Sometimes it can be completely natural to want recognition, but Jesus taught that true love, service, and greatness bypass those things.

It can be a simple thing. Serving doesn't have to be sacrificial or lengthy. Often the most monumental acts of service are done from a place of sacrifice, but we must not overlook the simplicity of demonstrating loving service daily. Opening the door for someone or helping them with a simple chore are two really easy ways to serve.

How will you serve someone today?

August 7 - Calls Him Lord

Mark 12:35-37

"David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly. (Mark 12:37 ESV)

Jesus was teaching about the Messiah to a group of Jews. While teaching he pointed out that David himself recorded a prayer to the Messiah, calling him Lord. This was all done as part of a teaching about the diving lineage and human royal heritage of the promised Messiah. But Jesus' recalling of David's words make an incredibly powerful point.

King David stands out in history as one of the most influential leaders the world has ever known. The leadership he characterized among his people changed the course of their nation so profoundly that even today the Jewish national emblem is called the "Star of David." Jesus' point in bringing up David, however, was that the Messiah would be even more important. While David was a very kingly kind of king, Jesus Christ is the King of kings.

Lordship is an interesting thing. Often it is a foreign concept in our modern western culture. We are far removed from the feudal days of lordly landowners and fealty. But e Lordship of Christ is larger than that anyways. Jesus, as Lord, is one who we can and should serve. And the real kicker is that he considered our service to himself important enough that he died for us. His death paved the way for our service. He served humanity so that humanity could serve him.

King David wrote about Messiah, calling him Lord. The disciples came to know Jesus as Lord and went on to change their whole world. One day every person that has ever lived will acknowledge him as Lord. He is Lord.

That all sounds very theologically astute, but what does it mean for us today? It means that there is value in service to God. It means that a life lived in pursuit of God is not a wasted life. Living the God-life, calling Jesus Lord, there is great fulfillment in that.