Author: pastorjonathan

Christian,Husband, Dad, Pastor, Mentor, Volunteer.

“Will He Find Faith on the Earth?” (Lk. 18:8)

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Why don’t we ask God for more?  Why do we give up on our prayers?  Is it because we doubt Him?

You see as much as we try and make faith an action that we take, it has it’s root in the confidence that God has already or will act on our behalf.  Faith at it’s core is believing God.  Faith is taking God at His Word.  Faith is trusting God.

We can try and make faith about us, but it really isn’t.  Faith is not something you conger up.  You don’t psych yourself out about faith.  You see if you have faith or not, God is still God.  If you have faith or not, God is still good.  If you have faith or not, God has acted on our behalf in Jesus Christ.  If you have faith or not, God will bring all things to a conclusion in Jesus Christ.

So our faith, or should I say lack there of, doesn’t really have a bearing on the matter.  What does matter is that God has acted.  God has moved.  God is good.  God is just.  Our right response to who God is and what he has done is called faith.

So when we pray, we should have faith that God will do whatever He said He will do.  (And we should also be careful not to put words in His mouth.)  So if we know about injustice in the world and we know that God hates all injustice, then we should pray that He will bring justice to the world and we should pray knowing that God will bring justice to the world.  We should also note that when His justice comes it may look different than what I might have pictured in my head.  You see God is God and by definition He doesn’t seek my approval on anything.

Father,

I ask that today I would simply trust you.  Where I am weak I ask that you would increase my faith.  Renew my mind and transform the way I think.  I want all my confidence in you and not in my own flesh.

A Review of “Game Plan for Life” by Coach Joe Gibbs

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Game Plan for Life by Joe Gibbs is a fantastic book!  Joe Gibbs is a 3-time Super Bowl Champion, 3-time NASCAR Champion, and a man’s man in the sports world.  I was greatly encouraged and motivated reading this book.  (To be honest I thought it was going to be another corny sports book, but was greatly impressed at how Joe and his team use sports to illustrate God’s game plan for life.)

Joe writes a few chapters of autobiography and then introduces a team of all-stars in their fields of expertise who take on the tough questions that men are facing.  Joe writes a brief intro to each chapter explaining his own struggles and triumphs in a given area and then turns the chapter over to the expert.  The chapters cover topics such as: Finances, Health, Relationships, Vocation, The Bible, Creation, God, Sin and Addiction, Salvation, Purpose, and Heaven.

I found the book to be very genuine and very encouraging.  I think it would be especially helpful to men who have questions in these areas of life or for a believer to share with those who have questions about Christianity or how the Christian life works out practically.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it for men who are looking for practical answers to some of life’s questions. The retail price of Game Plan for Life is $14.99 (Paperback), and is available around the web in places like Amazon.com for $10.19. I gave it five stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Tyndale House Publishers as part of their Tyndale Blog Network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

“We Have Only Done What Was Our Duty (Lk. 17:10)

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Sometimes we are all about the recognition. Sometimes we just want people to say our name.  To see that we have been holy.  To see that we have spoken truth.  To see that we have studied and put in a great many hours of preparation so that they could feast at the table of God’s Word.  Sometimes we want to be recognized.

Sometimes we just want people to feel inferior. Sometimes we hold grudges.  Sometimes we believe we have a right not to offer forgiveness.  Sometimes we think we deserve a reward when we do forgive. Sometimes we think its an option.  Sometimes we forget that the master told us to forgive.  You see it’s his forgiveness that we offer our brother.  When we find our selves able to forgive, we shouldn’t think that it was anything extrodinary. Forgiveness is a way of life for those who follow Jesus.

Do you forget who you are sometimes?  Do you forget that you were bought with a price?  That you were transformed out of the kingdom of darkness and into the light? That you have been called out, set apart, chosen?  Do you forget that you are to be holy even as He is holy?  Do you forget who you belong to now? Do you forget how He has seen past your sin and forgiven you in Christ?  Do you forget?

Don’t be proud today. Be humble.  When given the praise for what God has done in your life be sure to point to Him and say, “I have only done what was my duty.” You see, in Heaven there will be no shrine set apart for you.  It’s not about you.  It’s all about Him.

Father,

I want to do only what you have called me to today.  I ask that I would walk with you with a joyful heart and a cheerful spirit.  I realize now that I can do whatever you have called me to do.  I am your servant.  Bid me as you will.

“One Who is Faithful in Very Little is Also Faithful in Much (Lk. 16:10)

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Sometimes it is the small things that matter.  It’s the habit of returning small change that makes you credible to handle large amounts of money.  It’s the habit of trying to cheat the vending machine that makes you untrustworthy over larger matters.  Sometimes it is a matter of small things.

To follow Jesus and be in charge of big things is to be trustworthy in the small matters.  Do you read your Bible?  Do you pray?  Do you look for opportunities to tell others about Him?  These are small things.

Maybe it’s not the size of the task that’s the issue, but the character of the one carrying out the task?

Father,

Thank you for the simple, but profound truth that faithfulness doesn’t wait for big things to happen before it kicks in.  Those who are faithful even in the little things can be trusted with greater things.  I ask God that you would make me aware of any “small” area’s of my life that have gone unchecked.  I want to be faithful even in the small things.

 

Review: In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson

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In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson was a huge disappointment.  He took 150 pages to say what he could have said in 15.  Though I appreciate his heartwarming and endearing writing style it seemed a bit misplaced in this particular book in this particular series.

At the end of the day, In Constant Prayer was more of a memoir about Benson’s own personal journey in praying the “offices.”  Benson’s journey aside, very little helpful information is actually shared about this ancient practice.    The most helpful part of the book was the first appendix where he includes some samples for praying the morning office.

Readers interested in learning more about praying the offices will find more information on Wikipedia than in reading this book.  I think this book was completely mis-packaged.  It should have Robert Benson’s picture on the front.  It really is more about him than actual prayer.

I believe Mr. Benson to be a very talented and gifted writer.  However, if you are looking for information, this book doesn’t have much.  And the information it does contain comes hidden in the lengthy memoir of Mr. Benson’s prayer life.

The retail price is $17.99 (paperback), and is available around the web in places like Amazon.com for $11.48.  I gave it two stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson as part of the BookSneeze program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“It Was Fitting to Celebrate and Be Glad” (Lk 15:32)

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What do you know about God?  Do you know that He is a forgiving God?  Do you know that He delights in running to lost sinners who turn to Him in repentance?  Do you know that He is right and good to celebrate the repentance and return of those who have wandered away?  If you didn’t know this, you don’t know much about God.

The older brother was bitter that his brother had returned.  He was angry that his father threw a party for the “lost”son.  The other brother was comparing conduct.  He counted out his righteousness deeds to the Father, rather self-righteousness deeds.  He missed it.  Somehow there wasn’t any room for love.  No love for his own brother.

This older brother represented the Pharisees.  They were self-righteous.  They thought God had to love and bless them for their deeds.  But they missed the heart of God.  You see there is an unstated message to this parable.  Where was Jesus in this message?  He was right in the middle.

Jesus is the true and better brother who was not content to leave his rebellious younger brother in the far country.  He himself went after the prodigal, leaving the pleasure and comforts not of a farm, but of heaven.  You see, that is God’s heart.  The one thing the story does not contain that is should contain to fit with the other two in this chapter is someone who is searching.  The widow was searching for her coin and the shepherd was searching for the sheep… but who went searching for the son?  Who went to him and said, “come home!”

It was Jesus in that very moment.  He was calling.  He was saying, “Come home!”  Where are you today?  He is saying, “Come Home!”

Father,

So many times I try and take your Word and try to figure out what I need to do to please you.  The truth is that you have satisfied my sin debt and pleased God for me.  All I need to do is trust you and walk in the grace that you have given me.  It really is that simple.  You delight in repentance.  Their are no fancy deeds that I can do to impress you.  I ask for rest in you today.  Let me rest in the gospel, my hope of ressurection.

Another Great Book by Author Timothy Keller!

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King’s Cross by Timothy Keller is an amazing book.  Keller leads the reader through the gospel of Mark sharing background and key insights all along the way.  One of the especially encouraging things I appreciate about this book is the way that Keller illustrates the gospel at every turn through the lens of scripture. Every verse, every reference centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It provoked me to greater admiration and worship of God. I gave it 5+ stars.

I pre-ordered my copy from Amazon.com.  I was really impressed with the way they handled my order.  The price dropped between the time that I ordered and the time the book shipped and they passed the savings along to me!  The retail price for Kings Cross is $25.95, but it’s still on sale at Amazon.com for less than $16.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

“Any One of You Who Does Not Renounce All that He Has (Lk. 14:33)

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I think there is more at stake here than meets the eye.  I think there is more at stake than our relationships and our possessions.  I think the renunciation of all that we have is the means by which we find our identity in Christ. We must abandon everything in our lives that would seek to define us apart from Jesus Christ.

Do not let your money define you.  Do not let your possessions define you.  Do not let your relationships with other people define you.  Christ is your identity.  Your identity should be found in following Jesus, not in your favorite sports team, the clothes you buy, the car you drive, or the way you present your family.

To be found in Christ is more than being a dad.  To be in Christ is more than impressing others in a worldly system.  To be found in Christ is to be following Him, worshiping Him, and trusting Him. Christ is our true and better riches, those found in him are wealthy beyond all compare (He is our treasure).  He i s our true and better family who has gone to great links to  to adopt us into his family.

Father,

I am yours today.  I renounce all other claims on my life.  I am what you define me to be.  I am trusting in your plan’s and purpose.  Lead me, I’m following… whatever the cost

“Teaching and Journeying toward Jerusalem” (Lk. 13:22)

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He was on a mission.  He was headed to Jerusalem. Yet all along the way he healed, he taught, he told about His kingdom.  Eventually he had to reveal the meaning. Eventually even the healing had to make sense in a larger picture, a larger portrait.

He was headed to the cross.  The one place where it would all come together.  The one place where it would all finally make sense.  He said he was going there, but they thought He spoke in a metaphor and they did not understand.  They thought He would ride in like a king and take over, the did not know how deep their problem was and they did not know how far He would go to deliver them.

Like a disease or a disfigurement mars the body of an otherwise healthy person, sin has disfigured the entire human race.  Like a blind man who has eyes but he cannot see, we are made in the image of God, yet we have profaned Him. So he came healing and proclaiming that His kingdom was at hand.  In Heaven there will be no more disease.  In Heaven their will be no more sin.  Christ has born it all on his own body on the cross! He stood in our place so we could stand in His!

You see, that was the mission.  The mission was not to heal a few thousand people (if that many) in Palestine a few thousand years ago.  His mission was not to come and make our lives comfortable again.  His mission was to reconcile us to God by taking on our sin debt! His mission was to save and he couldn’t do that without going to Jerusalem first.  Jerusalem was the appointed place and his appointed hour was quickly approaching

Father,

So often I am eager to glean a principle for practical living as if this whole Christian walk has to do with the exercise of my will.  While I know that my will is important, I also know that you have already completed everything I need to be reconciled to you.  Today I rest in that.  Today I rest in the fact that you are God and you know what you are doing.   Thank you for all you have done to bring me to faith in you.

“One’s Life Does Not Consist in the Abundance of His Possessions” (LK. 12:15)

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What do we work for?  Is it to gain possessions?  Maybe not to collect lots of possessions, but perhaps to gain nicer possessions?  But is this life?  Isn’t our life more than the house we live in, the car we drive and the clothes we wear?

Jesus is warning us against covetousness.  He is challenging these two who have a debate about an inheritance to check their hearts.  Why are they pursuing possessions so badly?  What is the void in their life that they believe will be filled if they can gain the lion’s share of dad’s estate?  Can money or possessions really fill that void?

Better to be content in Christ than to always be wanting more stuff.  Stuff never delivers on happiness or real security.  Why waste life chasing after possessions?  Especially the possessions of others.  Life was intended for more than that.

Father,

I am thankful that your word reminded me today to be on guard against coveting.  Coveting promises me satisfaction in possessions, but what could be better than to be forgiven, called out and set apart for service by You.  I ask today that Coveting would be far from my heart and that my life would be centered on you.