It’s the day after Easter. We have just wrapped up a profound season of consecration and sacrifice. Throughout the six weeks of Lent, we dedicated ourselves to fasting, abstinence, prayer, and generosity. Our goal was to prepare our hearts for Holy Week. We experienced an emotional roller coaster during Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, and the brutal beating and crucifixion of Jesus. It all culminated in the miraculous and powerful resurrection of Christ. Hallelujah! He is risen!
Easter was a time of fun, rejoicing, and special worship. Much planning goes into the worship service, a remarkable feat aimed at glorifying our risen King.
Now, the Easter season is done. We’ve put away the church displays and decor. My adrenaline has dropped. I am tired, but it’s a good tired. Everything is back to normal. Now what do we do?
The best news is Easter isn’t over! Jesus is still alive. The devil is still defeated. The power of sin and death is still broken. The kingdom of heaven is still a place of victory. Hallelujah! He is risen! Still!
The holy season has passed, and Jesus is still alive.
Hopefully, because of this season, we have changed.
Our faith has deepened as we have spent time with Jesus.
We are kind and compassionate as we have followed the way of Jesus.
Love flows from our hearts as we have sought to become more like Jesus.
We may observe Easter for a set period of time. But we can be ever-growing and ever-transformed.
We are blessed to walk with Jesus each day through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now is not the time to pack up your faith. It’s time to turn up the heat. Learn to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:29-31).
Easter may be over for this year, but our journey with Jesus has just begun.
There have been times that my relationship with Jesus has felt dry. I can fulfill my “duties” as a follower of Jesus and a pastor, but if I’m not watchful, I slip into going-through-the-motions mode. I know better. God in His great mercy calls me back to my deep desire for Jesus.
Over a decade ago, I joined a cohort that changed my life. Everyone in the group was involved in church ministry, either as a pastor or a pastor’s wife. We were living for Jesus, serving Jesus, and yet feeling spiritually empty. It was there I learned that the way of Jesus doesn’t begin with doing. Doing emphasizes the external, not necessarily the condition of the heart. Following Jesus starts with being—longing to be in God’s presence and filled with His presence.
Being a disciple of Jesus begins with desire.
Desire is the deep yearning for knowing Jesus more and finding true life in Him.
Ruth Haley Barton, spiritual director and spiritual formation expert, says that Jesus “often brought focus and clarity to his interactions with those who were spiritually hungry by asking them, ‘What do you want? ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ Such questions had the power to elicit deeply honest reflection in the person to whom they were addressed and opened the way for Christ to lead them into deeper levels of spiritual truth and healing.”
Mark 10:46-52 NIV Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Bartimaeus shows us what desiring Jesus looks like.
Cry out from the place of need. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
It wouldn’t be unusual to encounter a beggar on the side of the road. This road in Jericho was busy, even perilous. There sat Bartimaeus.
Suddenly, a crowd approached. Bartimaeus had highly developed senses that alerted him something significant was happening. He noticed the noise down the street, the pounding of feet on the ground, and the smell of dust in the air. He heard that Jesus was at the center of it all.
We don’t know exactly how much Bartimaeus knew about Jesus. Perhaps he had heard the prophecy that the Messiah would give sight to the blind. At the very least, he had heard the buzz about Jesus, the one who performed amazing miracles, including healing the deaf and restoring sight to the blind. Bartimaeus recognized that Jesus was someone special. He understood that Jesus could give him something far better than money. Jesus could restore his sight.
Bartimaeus was not timid. He didn’t care about being polite or offending anyone. He was in a state of desperation. He shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
It can feel intimidating to acknowledge our needs, let alone express them openly. Most of us want to appear in control and have our lives in order. We can be completely honest with Jesus. There’s no shame in struggling or admitting we aren’t where we want to be in our relationship with Him. We can allow ourselves to be vulnerable. By recognizing our deep dependence on Jesus, we are free to pursue Him.
Here’s another remarkable aspect about Bartimaeus. He was one of the first disciples, apart from the inner circle of apostles, to declare Jesus as the Messiah. The title Son of David was specifically reserved for the Messiah. Jesus never corrected him or told him to stop proclaiming His Messiahship.
Let’s remember who we cry out to in our times of great need: Jesus, the Messiah, God the Son, the Lover of our Souls, who loves to make Himself more deeply known to us.
Leave behind your cloak.
When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus had called him, he immediately threw aside his cloak, jumped up, and went to Jesus. This action is astounding.
If you lived in Palestine during the first century, your cloak would probably be your most valued possession. You likely could afford only one. Cloaks were costly, thick, and heavy garments designed for multiple purposes. You would wear it as a coat in cold weather and use it as a blanket at night. Bartimaeus would spread his cloak in front of him during the day to collect any coins that passersby might toss his way. For Bartimaeus, his cloak was all he had. It served as protection from harsh weather, a blanket at night, and a tool of his trade.
It would have been understandable for Bartimaeus to cling to his cloak as a precaution. Just in case Jesus couldn’t or wouldn’t heal him. Just in case his sight wasn’t restored. Just in case he had to keep begging for the rest of his life.
But Bartimaeus had no backup plan. He trusted in Jesus completely, and he knew that his encounter with Jesus would change his life forever.
Do you have a cloak? Do you find yourself hiding or isolating? Do you rely on predictable comfort, self-protection, or self-sufficiency? How do you feel about casting aside your cloak and running to Jesus with trust? Do you want to be well? Do you believe that Jesus is more than enough? You might need time to wrestle with these questions. When you are ready, know that Jesus is waiting. You can cast aside your cloak and run to Jesus. Let your desire lead you to Him.
Name your desire in Jesus’ presence. Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” He is blind. Jesus can see clearly that he is blind. Naturally, he wants to regain his sight. However, there is power in naming your desire to Jesus. Jesus wants him to express it because doing so makes Bartimaeus’s need clearer and enhances his faith.
Bartimaeus didn’t hesitate. “Rabbi, I want to see.” He named his desire. Jesus didn’t need dramatic gestures. In a moment, without any fuss, Bartimaeus received what he had asked for. Suddenly, Bartimaeus could see. His darkness had ended, and the sunshine replaced it.
Jesus’ words affirmed Bartimaeus: “Go, your faith has healed you.” There was a prevalent belief that disabled individuals were more sinful than others or that sin played a role somehow. But, Jesus emphasized Bartimaeus’ faith. Sin had not caused his blindness; his faith led to his healing. He stepped forward despite the crowd’s opposition and trusted Jesus wholeheartedly.
Sometimes we hesitate to express our desires to Jesus. In these moments, silence is not golden. Pride can stand in the way. Fear can stand in the way. Feeling unworthy can stand in the way. None of these feelings come from God. The devil can wreak havoc in our minds when we remain silent and hesitant to speak out. When we declare our needs to Jesus, the darkness of secrecy is stripped away.
Similar to Bartimaeus, Jesus invites you to voice your needs. When you do, your needs become clearer, and your faith is reinforced. Jesus is lovingly attentive; He longs to meet you at your point of desire. He wants to transform your life.
Follow Jesus in a new way. “Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.”
Jesus said, “Go.” Bartimaeus now had the freedom to go wherever he wished. He chose to follow Jesus and set off with the crowd. They made their way to Jerusalem in time for Passover. Bartimaeus had another special reason for going. He intended to make a sacrifice at the Temple to thank God for restoring his sight. Bartimaeus was no longer a helpless beggar; he had been given a new life.
God gives sight to the blind. God opens our eyes to see Jesus too. When we are healed from spiritual blindness, we understand who Jesus is and surrender to His way. We come to Jesus with desire to pursue Him and to know Him more deeply. A desire so intense and profound fills our hearts, ready for expression.
Following Jesus is more wonderful, amazing, freeing, powerful, and life-giving than we can ever wrap our minds around.
Ephesians 3:17-21 NIV And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The Way of Jesus is about being with Jesus before doing for Him. It’s discipleship. It’s following Jesus closely because of our desire for Him. First things first.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:1 NIV).
The first verse in Genesis describes the state of our Earth before God began creation. We only know what it’s like to have light and dark, sky and seas, land and vegetation, sun, moon, and stars, and animals. We haven’t experienced anything else. Farther back than any human can remember, the Earth was formless, empty, and dark. This describes chaos.
The next phrase tells us that the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Chaos existed, but the Spirit of God was present as well. He brought order from chaos, making everything perfect and beautiful. Humanity was created in God’s image. Until the fall. Then, God’s image and His grand design were marred. God’s original design was shattered, returning to chaos.
Last year was challenging. January and February were hard as well. Health problems, mental health struggles, family challenges, job issues, relationship troubles—everything started to fall apart. At times, I could barely catch my breath from one situation before another followed closely behind.
I don’t want to speak too soon. Right now things are better.
The truth is, occasionally, we all find ourselves groaning amidst the chaos that is a part of life.
On a larger scale, injustice affects our world. The poor, individuals experiencing homelessness, and other marginalized groups bear the burden of oppression. Their cries resonate with our heavenly Father, who cares deeply and is outraged by how His children are treated. Our world groans under the chaos of suffering. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to love everyone and to speak out against injustice. At times, we need to step into the chaos alongside others, bringing the light and hope of Jesus. We need to do what we can to address tangible needs.
You may be experiencing chaos, or you may have found relief on the other side. My heart goes out to you as a fellow sojourner. To slightly modify a popular saying, “Life is hard, AND God is good” (I replaced ‘but’ with ‘and’). The goodness of God does not necessarily diminish or eliminate the pain of chaos. Rather, in the midst of chaos, we can discover God and His goodness there.
“Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping” (Matt. 28:23-24 NLT).
A fierce storm arose, but Jesus remained undisturbed. As the waves crashed into the boat, He rested peacefully, knowing He had authority over the wind and the waves. Jesus was calm amidst the chaos.
The disciples would be safe with Him in the boat.
The disciples, however, were terrified. They woke Jesus up. “Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm” (Matt. 28:26b).
Jesus remained calm amidst the chaos, and He brought peace to the turmoil.
We often lack control over chaos, but Jesus does.
He is in the chaos WITH us.
He has power OVER the chaos.
We are never by ourselves.
We can always trust Jesus and find Him IN the chaos, no matter how intense it might be.
When life unravels and chaos intensifies, reach out to Jesus. He’s just one prayer away.
When I was a young married woman before children, I loved to spend time with the Lord in prayer. My church at the time taught us to pray using the Lord’s Prayer as a template. The goal was to pray for one hour each day. In fact, one hour was the minimum if anyone wanted to be “spiritual.”
And then the babies started coming…four in four and a half years, plus a straggler. I couldn’t go to the bathroom without getting interrupted. Forget about prayer! I struggled with prayer for years, wanting to spend time with Jesus and never getting enough. It was a tough season.
And then the Lord taught me something through a cartoon of all things. It showed a woman in deep prayer and reverence. Chaos broke out in the background, and the kids started shouting. The mom raised her head and shrieked, “Shut up! I’m trying to pray!” The Holy Spirit convicted me.
I was pursuing a prayer life instead of a praying life.
A prayer life is about the act of praying, the outward expressions, the checking off the box on your spiritual checklist. It might even be for show to demonstrate what a mature Christian you are because your prayers sound so poetic and religious.
A praying life keeps things simple. It’s a way of holistic way of living in communion with Jesus in which your heart, soul, mind, and body are engaged. Your life is saturated with prayer as you seek to do everything that you do with the Lord (Dallas Willard).
We tend to make prayer complicated.
Matthew 6:5-8 (NIV) describes the simplicity and humble posture of prayer. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Continue reading verses 9 to 13 for Jesus’ beautiful prayer model.
How do we pursue the simplicity of a praying life?
1. We cannot wait for the noise to stop before we pray.
Rarely will life quiet down long enough so we can pray. We all have active monkeys vying for our attention.
The outer monkeys. Have you heard, “Five little monkey jumping on the bed”? Twenty-five years ago, I had those every day. There other outer monkeys: work, school, extra activities. All good things. But there is never enough time in the day, and we may feel that we are too busy to pray. We can prioritize prayer and actually put it on our calendar. This can create space for a prayer life, but then we still need to work toward a praying life. We can pray as we go.
The inner monkeys. Henri Nouwen talks about inner monkeys. When we sit down and become quiet, we think, “’Oh, I forgot this. I should call my friend. Later on I’m going to see him.’ Your inner life is like a banana tree filled with monkeys jumping up and down.”
Instead of fighting off the monkeys, invite them into your prayers. As a thought enters your mind, turn it into a prayer. I think about my mom and her health; I can pray for her and ask God to heal her. I think about a situation at work; I can thank God that He has given me wisdom and that He is answering. I think about what I should make for dinner; I can thank God that He provides for my family, or I can ask Him to bless all the people who played a part in getting food to the table.
2. Our prayers don’t require many words.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 tells us, “God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.”
There is an ancient practice called “Breath Prayer.” You breathe in. As you breathe out, you say a prayer. A classic breath prayer is “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”
Other breath prayers are: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” “Here I am, Lord.” “When I am afraid, I will trust you.”
The simplest prayers can link earth to eternity. The Lord isn’t impressed by our words or poetic delivery. Years ago, I was part of a Moms in Prayer group. We met once a week to pray for our kids. A new woman, Jenny, joined our group. She was a newer believer and very nervous about praying out loud. We encouraged her for weeks that God wasn’t concerned about her words. He saw her heart. One day I felt really burden about my children. A few women prayed for my request, and I didn’t really feel anything. Then, Jenny took a step of faith and prayed. “Lord, please help Joddi-Jay.” I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit and started to cry. God responded to simple words from a sincere heart.
3. Prayer is about communion, not just communication.
I learned a lot about communion in high school. I lived in a farming community 40 miles from my high school. During the summer, I had no way into town to see my friends. So I walked around my stepdad’s 40 acres of property. I took walks with God along the dirt roads. Sometimes I talked; other times I listened. The walks were glorious because I knew God was with me. I experienced that prayer didn’t only happen during sacred times or in sacred places like a church building. Prayer happened outside on dusty roads with a teenage girl and Jesus. I cherished those days.
Communion with God can be found anywhere. Brother Lawrence discovered this truth long before I did. A 17th century monk, Brother Lawrence dedicated his life to acquiring the presence of God. His early ambitions for spiritual status were not realized. He was assigned to the kitchen and soon Brother Lawrence committed himself to worshiping the Lord there. He prayed and communed with God during every task. Peeling potatoes and scrubbing pots and pans were opportunities to commune with the Lord. His story is written in the book called, The Practice of the Presence of God.
Brother Lawrence showed us that outer activity and inner communion occur at the same time. We miss out on all that God has for us when we divide the two. We live on both levels simultaneously, and the most meaningless activity can be a means of prayerful worship.
How is your praying life? God has so much of His presence for us to experience. As we practice His presence during mundane tasks, we will be able to follow the Apostle Paul’s instructions in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Respond to God’s invitation to pursue a praying life with simplicity.
*What if Jesus Was Serious About Prayer? by Skye Jethani provided some content for this post.
A young woman called her local pregnancy clinic and care center in desperation. As a client, she was receiving support services from the agency and was hysterical—rightly so. “There’s something wrong with my baby. He isn’t expected to live after birth.”
She received referrals to places that could provide the help she needed. Ultimately, she decided to continue with her pregnancy, determined to cherish each day with her unborn baby. Her little son was born, and she treasured every one of the seven days he was alive. Today, she reflects on that time in her life with no regrets and sweet memories.
Six years ago, my dad’s heart stopped. He was in the ICU on life support for two months. Family and friends interceded in prayer on his behalf, and the Lord healed him through a day-by-day process. He faced a long recovery, relearning to swallow, talk, and walk. Throughout my dad’s healing journey, he shared about his out-of-body experience. He encountered an angel at the gates of heaven who told him it wasn’t his time to die. My dad had to return to earth.
He was devastated. Since he trusted Jesus at the age of 44, his greatest passion has been to be with Jesus forever.
He returned. Back to earth. Back to the hospital bed and medical tubes. For a time, my dad struggled with why he wasn’t allowed into heaven. What could possibly be left for him to do? Eventually, the need to understand faded. He found peace from God, knowing that each day is a gift, another chance to live for Him and share His love with others.
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV).
This was one of my dad’s favorite verses before his near-death experience, and he still refers to it today. May we not take for granted the days that God has given us. May our lives embody His wisdom.
In 2017, in the early hours of the morning, I stood face-to-face with two assailants. They had forced their way into my house, brandishing guns. One of the young men (they were both teenagers) commanded me to the living room. I knelt on the floor with his gun pressed against the back of my head. I repeatedly called out the name of Jesus. As I cried out to the Lord, I was enveloped by the presence of the Holy Spirit like a protective bubble. I sensed Jesus reaching down to me, while my soul reached up to Him. Perfect love filled the bubble. I knew that the moment the young man fired the gun, I would instantly be with Jesus. I was ready. Like my dad, my greatest desire in life was to be with the Lover of my Soul.
My husband heroically saved my life. Instead of being in the arms of Jesus, I was still kneeling. The Holy Spirit bubble had popped. I heard my husband, as if from a distance, tell me to call 911. I felt confused and panicked. Once the crisis abated, I called my mom and learned that the Lord had awakened her to pray for me fifteen minutes before the crime. She travailed in prayer until five minutes after the police left. God had seen me and used my mom’s faithful prayers to protect me.
At first, I had questions about why I was spared. Eventually, I understood that I had been saved for a reason. It was not random. God had a purpose for me that I must fulfill.
Psalm 139 describes the intimate, intricate care God has for us.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you (vv. 13-18).
I love that all the days ordained for me were written in God’s book before any of them came to be! I have absolutely nothing to fear. I am called to embrace each day as a gift from God. I feel compelled to share the love of Jesus every day I am alive.
What about you? Tomorrow, when you wake up, will you take a deep breath and thank the Lord for giving you another gift? What will you do with it?
Don’t waste it. Don’t spend it selfishly on your own pleasures or comforts. Don’t let the thoughtlessness of others ruin it with irritations.
Instead, make someone else’s life better by sharing Jesus’ love. Smile, encourage, actively listen, meet somebody’s need, and tell your Jesus story.
Each day is a gift from God. You can touch your world with Jesus’ love, one person at a time.
Note: This is not one of my sermons (yet); it is a reflection about a very significant day for me.
God is unchangingly full of glory. We don’t usually ascribe the attribute “glory” to something or someone today. The word isn’t used often anymore. We might say a sunset is glorious but it’s hard to think of anything else. Because of this, we don’t completely relate to God being full of glory. The power of the word is lost on us.
Glory is a significant word used 100s of times in the Bible.
The Hebrew word for glory is kavod, meaning “weight” or “heaviness.” It signifies “important, intense, significant, gravitas.”
The Greek word for glory is doxa, meaning “honor, radiance, and splendor.”
In the Bible, the word “glory” can refer to different subjects, including the splendor of God, the worth of a person, and the honor given to someone.
When referring to God’s glory, it means ~the brightness of God’s person and presence. ~the magnificence of God’s presence, which is so dazzling that humans cannot see God directly. ~the moral attributes of God, which are considered the highest degree of importance, greatness, and honor.
God’s glory is multi-faceted, like a flawless diamond. God is in a class by Himself.
Let’s look at Scriptures in both the Old Testament and New Testament to develop a picture of God’s glory.
Picture compliments of Duygu (Pexels.com).
The glory of God in the OT
Exodus 40:33-38 NIV 33 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
How many of you have watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark? In the Old Testament, The Ark of Covenant is where God’s glory resided, and it was kept in the tent of meeting. The tent of meeting was portable and was moved from place to place. In the movie, Indiana Jones found it, and his enemy stole it. In the enemy’s greed, he opened it up to see the magnificent treasure despite Jones’ warning. There was no gold as the enemy had anticipated. Instead, the glory of God was released and decimated every person in the area, except for Indiana Jones and his girlfriend, Mirian. They managed to keep their eyes closed and not gaze at the irresistible glory of God.
Of course, this version is completely wrong, and the glory of God gives a creepy, evil vibe. But it does display God’s unlimited power.
This next account occurs during the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Israelites constructed a majestic place of worship to replace the portable Tent of Meeting.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 NIV 1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.”
Look at how the Israelites worshipped. After seeing a visible sign of God’s glory, they declared “He is good; his love endures forever.”
It’s God’s goodness and love that brought His glory to dwell among us.
The glory of God in the New Testament
Remember the Christmas story. Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a feeding trough. An angel appeared to the shepherds who were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. What did the angel and heavenly hosts proclaim?
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14 NIV).
People can’t exist near the glory of God. He created humans in His image, but their disobedience marred His image. From the beginning, God planned to restore us. God shared His glory as He came to earth in human flesh as God the Son, the God-Man named Jesus Christ.
John 1:1-5 tells us: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
God the Son, in His glory, was clothed in human flesh. He walked among us. He shared life with His disciples. He taught and ministered to the crowds. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and performed miracles. Jesus looked like a regular human being. Scripture tells us that he wasn’t attractive or physically remarkable in any way. There is one account, though, where God’s glory broke through.
Matthew 17:1-8 1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
Jesus revealed the glory of God in His life, death, and resurrection. When we trust Jesus as our Savior and Lord, our sins are forgiven, and we are made new. The Holy Spirit makes His home in us, and we become more like Jesus. The Lord God Almighty touches us with His glory.
The earth is still broken. One day Jesus will return and make all things new. We get a glimpse of this in the Book of Revelation. Read Revelation 21:18-27 for a description of the New Jerusalem, God’s Holy City. Until that glorious day, we live in the tension of the now and not yet. Meanwhile, we don’t despair, because as followers of Jesus, our God has shared a bit of His glory with US!
The glory of God shines through us.
Psalm 8:3-9NIV
3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
God made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor. God is in a class by Himself, but He shares a little glory with us. If God’s Word hadn’t said this, it would seem ridiculous, even blasphemous.
Romans 8:10-11NIV 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Do you love Jesus? Do you follow Jesus? Then His Spirit lives in you. The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. That’s glory!
You have good news to share! You have the power of God to share it! You have the message of hope that others desperately need. You aren’t left by yourself to reach people who don’t yet follow Jesus. Don’t keep it to yourself. The Holy Spirit lives in you and is with you.
Jesus has called us to be His disciples, and He has called us to make disciples. They go hand in hand. We can’t have one without the other. We’re in this together with Jesus and His Spirit. The days are gone when we keep our beliefs to ourselves, when we hold to a private faith, and be a good, law abiding person. People need Jesus!
It’s normal to be fearful or timid. It’s normal to worry about offending someone. If that’s you, join the club. And…know that the Spirit will give you the courage you need when you ask Him. Now is the time for you to be led by your passion for Jesus. You can be a disciple of Jesus. You can make disciples of Jesus, because you are filled with the Holy Spirit. God has shared a bit of His glory with you. Just imagine what the two of you can do together!
God is good/ All the time. And all the time/ God is good.
This is a timeless truth, and a fun saying to drum up excitement in a church service. It’s easy to talk about God’s goodness. God is unchangingly good. But this attribute of God is surprisingly hard to define. We think we know what it means until we try to explain it.
We usually list other attributes that are related but not quite the same. Loving, gracious, kind. Or we say things that He does. God helps us. God protects us. God provides for us. We really need to think about what we mean – or should mean – when we confess that God is good.
One helpful thing is to figure out what it doesn’t mean. By goodness we don’t mean that God is relatively good to something or someone else. When we say, “That pizza is good,” we mean, “Of all the pizzas out there, this is one of the better ones.” God isn’t good because he’s better than the other gods in the world.
What is the divine goodness of God? It is the bounty of God, liberally given and spilling over. God communicates blessings to all of his creations, especially humans whom He created in His image and likeness. God’s goodness is the opposite of cruelty and heartlessness. God’s goodness is the sweetness, friendliness, benevolence and generosity overflowing on us for our enjoyment. It is the sum of all God’s attributes.
When we think of God’s goodness, there are common goodness and eternal goodness. Common goodness is extended to everyone. Eternal goodness is extended to the ones who put their faith in God.
A Scripture about common goodness…
Matthew 5:43-45 NIV 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
A Scripture about eternal goodness… Lamentations 3:22-26 NIV
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
How many times do we go through life without noticing the goodness of God? We can see His goodness in at least three ways.
In Creation God was good, is good, and ever more will be good. God poured out His goodness on all of creation, and said it was good. Genesis 1:27 (NIV) tells us that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” This time God said it was very good. Unfortunately Adam and Eve disobeyed God and barely had time to enjoy His goodness. All creation was marred when sin entered the world. Still God continues to bless us with His goodness. Psalm 33:5 tells us, “The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD” (NASB).
My husband loves the ocean. It’s his happy place where he is in touch with God and His goodness. I love watching the sunset on a clear evening. My heart dances with the beautiful colors. When I look up at the multitudes of stars, I am in awe of God and marvel at His loving goodness for little ole’ me. What do you enjoy of God’s creation? It’s His good gift to you.
In His Care God created the world, and He sustains all that He has made. Colossians 1:15-17 says this about God the Son: 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (NIV).
God in His goodness did not set the world in motion and then remove Himself. He is actively involved in caring for it and for us.
If we think about it, everything we have comes from God. The air that we breathe, our hearts that keep beating, the strength we have to do our jobs, His healing touch when we are sick, the joy we experience in retirement. You can add to your own list.
We can rest in God’s goodness and in how much He loves us.
In Redemption The Latin word “redemptio” literally means “to buy back.” Humanity fell and sin entered the world. There is a horrific penalty for sin, and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The penalty we incur is spiritual death, separation from God’s presence forever. The end of our life would be utterly hopeless except for God’s goodness. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross and rose again, buying us back from the penalty of sin. Through our trust in Jesus, we are redeemed. He bought us back and has given us new life.
God had no need of creating the world, and He had even less need of redeeming it. People can do nothing to deserve God’s goodness, but He made a way for us to enjoy an eternal relationship with Him through the suffering and humiliation of Christ. God runs to us faster than we run to Him. That’s the goodness of God.
It’s one thing to mentally assent to God’s truth. It’s another to practice what we know to be true.
How Do We Respond to God’s Unchanging Goodness?
Meditate on God’s many blessings to us. Meditation goes beyond mental reflection or thinking about God’s goodness. It is a deep contemplation. Let the goodness of God shape who you are and how you see the world. Don’t take it for granted. A deliberate rumination on the goodness of God should make us humble, patient, and trusting. It should also make us grateful.
Don’t grumble, “Why me, Lord?” when bad things happen to you. Instead when good things happen to you, exclaim, “Why me, Lord? Thank you, Jesus, for your goodness!”
God shares His infinite goodness with us. This should prompt us to worship Him with a thankful heart.
Share God’s blessings with others. Freely we have received; let’s freely give. Let our hearts be generous toward all, just as God is generous toward us. We follow the example of Jesus and love our enemies – those who misunderstand us, mistreat us, post mean things on social media about us, and those who hate us. We treat with respect people who believe differently than us and live differently than us. We care for those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, in prison, and oppressed. God has opened His heart of goodness to us. Let ours not be shut to anyone.
Call to Action How does knowing that God is unchangingly good make a difference in your life? How will you pay more attention to God’s goodness? How will you show God’s goodness to someone this week?
The J Word 