In This For Good

They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers. (‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ MSG)

Commitment is crazy scarce in our culture these days. When things get rocky people run for the hills. If that sounds like you then you're in good company.

When Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26) his disciples scattered. They just flat split. Even Peter, his best friend, sold him out, denying him when the going got tough.

If you have ever split, quit, or cut your losses—which narrows it down to just about everyone that breathes oxygen and falls under the description "human being"—then you and the disciples have a lot in common. They were quitters. But they didn't stay quitters.

In the Book of Acts the early church historian Luke paints a vivid picture of a dedicated body of brothers whose undying devotion to the Gospel flipped the world upside down. But it's the same guys that left Jesus high and dry in the Garden. What changed?!

They experienced the resurrected Jesus. They had quit on Jesus, but Jesus wouldn't quit on them. He walked right into the room, declared his identity, deity, and design for their lives, and charged them all with a Holy Mandate, a Great Commission.

Each of them made an about face. They went 180. They flipped the script, settled their heart's compass on true north, and went ALL IN.

They agreed. They were in it for good. Hell or high water. Pain, persecution, and martyrdom would follow all of them. Every last one. But they agreed. They were in it for good. Because Jesus makes quitters into world changers.

If you struggle with commitment, you don't need more guilt. You don't need better reasons to stay in the mix. You need an encounter with the risen Jesus. Ask. He'll help. He hasn't quit. He's in this for good.

Where Your Heart Is: A Christmas Blog

Where is your heart? No, I don't mean nestled beneath your sternum somewhere between your lungs and whatever is over on the other side. Not that heart. You know! Your heart. The metaphysical linchpin of your soul that drives your desires, captains your cares, and pushes your passions.

Where is it? Where does it lay? Where does it stop? Where does it rest? Where does it ache for, hurt for, beat for?

Stop and think about the answer for just a moment. Now check out what Jesus had to say in Matthew chapter six.

It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬ MSG)

So, does where you initially thought that your heart was actually line up with where you are—with where you spend your time. If not then maybe it's time to give that discrepancy some careful examination. Perhaps there is an absolutely legitimate reason (you know, like a time consuming career) why the two would be different. Or, it could be that where you think your heart is, and where it actually is, is not quite in line. But that's an easy fix. Knowing really is half the battle. And if there is a difference there that you're not crazy about ask God to help.

Jesus was the answer to where God's heart is. He treasures us—and so he came to be with us.

Merry Christmas.

August 6 - You Shall Love

Matthew 22:34-40

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37 ESV)

Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment in Scripture and his answer was incredibly simple. The beauty f the simplicity is found in his charge that God's people are to be people who love. In fact, one translation has his answer start with the words, "You shall love."

So, when the Son of God was asked for the greatest directive in all of scripture his answer was that we should love. Christianity is exactly that, a call to love. We are to love God and love people.

The love Jesus compels us toward is not one of hyper emotion and shallow substance either. He said that we were to love with all of our being. We should love with our heart, the seat of our emotions and feelings. We should our soul, the very fabric of our identity in Christ. We are to love with our mind. Our thought life should be uplifting.

It is not always easy to love with everything that we have. But I believe it is sometimes less about achievement and more about intentional persistence. God wants to see us want Him. He wants us to desire a closer relationship and an authentic commitment, and like any good parent offers correctional I understanding when we fail. In fact, in the shadow of such a loving and compassionate Father "you shall love" doesn't seem like such a difficult thing.