EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU JESUS?

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…”

(Ephesians 5:1-2)

 

A story is told of a group of salesmen who went to a regional convention in Chicago a few years ago.  They had each assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for dinner on Friday night.  As they were rushing through the airport with tickets and briefcases in hand, one of the salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table holding a display of apples.  Apples flew everywhere.  But, without stopping or looking back, they managed to barely reach their plane in time for the last boarding call.

ALL BUT ONE!  He paused, took a deep breath, waved good-bye to his buddies, and told one of them to call his wife and explain that he was catching a later flight.  Then he turned around to help the girl whose apple cart had been overturned.

He was glad he did.  The 16-year old girl was blind!  She was crying softly, with tears running down her cheeks in frustration, as she helplessly searched for her spilled apples with throngs of people swirling around her, and no one stopping to help.  The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display.  As he did so, he noticed that many of them had been battered and bruised.  He set them aside in another basket.  When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, “Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did.  Are you okay?”  She nodded through her tears.  He continued, “I hope we didn’t spoil your day too badly.”

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, “Mister…”  He paused and turned to look back at her.  She continued, “Excuse me, sir, are you Jesus?”

Have you ever been mistaken for Jesus?  Has anyone every asked, “Excuse me, are you Jesus?”  Isn’t that our goal as God’s children?  If we claim to know Him, we should also live and love like Jesus.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I am once again honored to be one of your dearly loved children.

May my life be a reflection of Your Son who loved me and gave Himself for me.

As I rub shoulders with others throughout the day, may they see Jesus in me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

SPIRITUAL BLOWOUTS

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just

and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

(I John 1:9)

 

I had a blow-out yesterday.  While I was driving back to my office after lunch, I ran over something and blew out a tire on my pick-up.  It went completely flat instantly.  I drove on it for a couple blocks to find a better place to change the tire, but apparently that made matters worse.  I couldn’t get the lug nuts off with my wimpy lug-wrench.  And, since I left my cell phone in my office, I couldn’t call for help very quickly.  Fortunately, a “Good Samaritan” came to my rescue with a bigger lug-wrench, but in the process I broke one of the studs and stripped another.  I had to get 2 new studs and a new tire.  When I finally got to the tire shop, they found a 3-inch gash in the tire.  No wonder it went flat so quickly.

King David experienced a spiritual blowout in his life, even though he is referred to as “a man after God’s heart.”  He committed adultery with Bathsheba.  One thing led to another.  Before David knew what hit him, he had broken almost all of the Ten Commandments – he coveted, he committed adultery, he stole, he lied, he murdered, he disgraced the name of God, etc, etc.  He tried to keep driving on his “flat tire” for another year, but that only made matters worse – he was miserable (c.f. Psalm 32:3-4).  But, when David finally confessed his sin to God; God forgave him, purified his heart, and restored his joy (c.f. Psalm 32:5; 51:10-12).

Have you ever had a spiritual blowout?   Blowouts are caused by sin – whether big or small.  If you try to ignore it and drive on it for awhile, your joy will inevitably turn to misery.  Fortunately, there is a cure for spiritual blowouts: confession.  When you confess your sin to God; He forgives you, cleanses your soul, restores your relationship with Him, and renews your joy.  Praise the Lord!

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love…

Create in me a pure heart … and renew a steadfast spirit within me…

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(Psalm 51:1 & 10-12)

THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE

“This is how we know what love is:

Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers…

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue

 but with actions and in truth.”
- I John 3:16-18

This Saturday is Valentine’s Day.  Americans will purchase 110 million roses (mostly red), 1 billion cards, 8 billion conversation hearts, and more than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate.  Add to that, dinner-out, teddy-bears, jewelry, and numerous other gifts; and Americans will spend a total of $17 billion on Valentine’s Day.   The average consumer will spend over $100 on their “valentine” – myself included.  Why?  We want to express our love to that special “valentine” in our life.

Have you considered lately how much God loves you?  You are the apple of His eye.  You are His special valentine.  And, God demonstrated His love for you with more than a card or a flower or a box of chocolates.  Jesus stretched out His hands on the cross and said, “This is how much I love you!”  He gave His life for you.  He gave the ultimate valentine!

May you and I, as God’s children, be a reflection of His love.  May we love others as He loved us!

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your amazing love

which Jesus demonstrated in laying down His life for me.

I pray that I might reflect Your unconditional and sacrificial love

in my everyday relationships.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

YOUR SPIRITUAL GPS

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

(Psalm 119:105)

 

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful

for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training  in righteousness,

so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(II Timothy 3:16-17)

 

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a constellation of 24-32 satellites orbiting the earth that transmits precise microwave signals to receivers on earth to determine their location, direction, speed, and time.  It was first designed for the military; but is now commonly used by commercial pilots, boaters, hikers, drivers, and other everyday users.  If you have GPS in your car, you can program your present location and destination, and GPS will guide you to where you want to go.  Essentially, GPS is a highly sophisticated technological map for worldwide navigation.

Did you know that God has given you a spiritual GPS to use in your everyday life, as well?  Your spiritual GPS is your Bible.  As you read the Bible, it helps position you spiritually and it guides you on your spiritual journey.  According to II Timothy 3:16, God’s Word shows you what direction to travel (teaching), it alerts you when you veer off track (rebuking), it repositions you back on target (correcting), and it keeps you moving forward spiritually (training).  If the Psalmist were writing today, he may have written Psalm 119:105 a little differently – “Your word is my GPS on my spiritual journey.”

I encourage you to check your spiritual GPS daily.  We need God’s direction on our spiritual journey!

 

“Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving us Your Word.

As I read it, You provide guidance and direction for my spiritual journey.

May I be a doer of Your Word, and not a hearer only.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”