VICTORY OVER DEATH

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.”  (1 Peter 3:18 ESV)

So many things in this world are private or restricted. You can be turned away because you don’t have a ticket, a membership, a reservation, an important friend, a recognizable name, the proper clothing, or a couple of C-notes to bribe the doorman. Not long ago, I showed up at a prestigious country club for a round of golf and was told that because I was wearing denim shorts, I’d have to come back some other time.

But when it comes to our Lord’s victory over death, there are no goons standing at the door to keep people out -- only Jesus to welcome us in. Hebrews 7:25 (NLT) says, “Therefore [Jesus] is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”  

--  Adapted from “Free Refill: Coming Back for More of Jesus” by Mark Atteberry

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COMFORT AND COMPASSION

Editor’s Note: Today, January 21, is the anniversary of the birth of our son, Dustin (1982-1998). Today’s author, Nancy Guthrie, offered many of the lessons she learned from the loss of two of her children in her first book, “Holding On to Hope: A Pathway of Suffering to the Heart of God” which was published in 2002. Since then, Nancy has continued to write books that reflect her compassion for hurting people and her passion for applying God's Word to real life.

COMFORT AND COMPASSION

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV)

Ours is not a culture that is comfortable with sadness.  Sadness is awkward.  It is unsettling.  It ebbs and flows and takes its own shape.  It beckons to be shared.  It comes out in tears, and we don't quite know what to do with those.

So many people are afraid to bring up my loss.  They don't want to upset me.  But my tears are the only way I have to release the deep sorrow I feel.  I tell people, "Don't worry about crying in front of me, and don't be afraid that you will make me cry!  Your tears tell me you care, and my tears tell you that you've touched me in a place that is meaningful to me -- and I will never forget your willingness to share my grief." 

-- Nancy Guthrie in “Holding On to Hope”

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A CHARACTER OF KINDNESS

“The most important [commandment],” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”  (Mark 12:39-42 NIV)

Many of us find that there is much more to life than getting and keeping. True fulfillment comes with the responsibilities we assume: to care for our families, and to love a neighbor as we want to be loved ourselves. This is more than a familiar saying; it is the foundation of a meaningful life.

A person shows his or her character in kindness and charity. And what is true in our lives is also true in the life of our nation. You can fairly judge the character of society by how it treats the weak, the vulnerable, the most easily forgotten. Our own country, at its best, strives to be compassionate, and this isn't easy. Compassion is not merely a vague feeling of empathy, it is a demanding virtue. It involves action and effort, and deep conviction - a conviction as old as Scripture and present at the founding of our country. We believe that everyone has a place and a purpose in this world, that every life matters, that no insignificant person was ever born.

 -- President George W. Bush, in the 2004 Commencement Address at Concordia University Wisconsin

JUSTIFIED BY WHAT?

In “Words We Live By” Brian Burrell tells of an armed robber named Dennis Lee Curtis who was arrested in 1992 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Curtis apparently had scruples about his thievery. In his wallet the police found a sheet of paper on which was written the following code:

“I will not kill anyone unless I have to. I will take cash and food stamps-- no checks. I will rob only at night. I will not wear a mask. I will not rob mini-marts or 7-Eleven stores. If I get chased by cops on foot, I will get away. If chased by vehicle, I will not put the lives of innocent civilians on the line. I will rob only seven months out of the year. I will enjoy robbing from the rich to give to the poor.”

This thief had a sense of morality, but it was flawed. When he stood before the court, he was not judged by the standards he had set for himself but by the higher law of the state.

Likewise, when we stand before God, we will not be judged by the code of morality we have written for ourselves, nor even by what the culture justifies, but by God's perfect law. 

Paul writes, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.” (Romans 3:23-24 NLT)

Justification is what happens when Christians abandon all those vain attempts to justify themselves before God -- to be seen as "just" in God's eyes through religious and moral practices. It's a time when God's "justifying grace" is experienced and accepted, a time of pardon and forgiveness, of new peace and joy and love. Indeed, we're justified by God's grace through faith. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources

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HOLDING ON TO HOPE

“Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.’  The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”  (Lamentations 3:21-26 NIV)

Holding on to hope is the challenge of all grief and loss experiences. Finding courage or energy to go on day after day requires hope of healing, hope for future. Holding on to hope is not always easy. Some days it requires all of our energy just to maintain our own lives. On other days, we at least want to believe that "for everything there is a purpose," as we try to find the purpose in our own experience. That requires finding ways to make meaning even out of situations that may seem so meaningless. Those are the days we really struggle to find belief in the unseen.

Many people say those days of struggle are when they lean most heavily on their faith, in order to find the inspiration and comfort they need to be able to go on. After all, Scriptures says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

There are many days, walking through that maze of healing, that require belief in God, hope, and future without seeing any proof of them. Time in prayer, reading His Word, and fellowship with believers can all help in the struggle of holding on.

Holding on to hope requires active participation. It is not a passive process. It requires holding on to faith in the future, at a time when we can barely survive the present. It means clinging to the belief that God is good and will help us when all we can see seems to say that is not true. 

-- From “A Time to Mourn, A Time to Dance: Help for the Losses in Life”   

THE WAY OF LIFE

Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”  (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV)

The concept of "The Way of Life and the Way of Death" is a profound biblical theme that underscores the moral and spiritual dichotomy faced by humanity. This theme is deeply rooted in the Scriptures, where the choices between life and death, blessing and curse, obedience and rebellion, are presented as fundamental to the covenant relationship between God and His people.

Kallistos Ware, in his book “The Orthodox Way,” writes, “Christianity is more than a theory about the universe, more than teachings written down on paper; it is a path along which we must journey – in the deepest and richest sense, the way of life.”

The way of life and the way of death are not merely ethical choices but are deeply theological, reflecting one's relationship with God. The way of life is characterized by faith, obedience, and communion with God, leading to eternal life. In contrast, the way of death is marked by unbelief, disobedience, and separation from God, resulting in spiritual death.

Throughout Scripture, the call to choose life is a call to covenant faithfulness, a call to walk in the ways of the Lord, and a call to embrace the salvation offered through Jesus Christ. This choice is both a present reality and an eternal destiny, underscoring the urgency and significance of the decision each person must make. 

-- Adapted from Bible Hub

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OVERFLOWING GRACE

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth... For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”  (John 1:14,16 ESV)

The church where we worship when we’re in Florida for the winter months – Grace Church in Cape Coral -- is in the midst of a sermon series called “Overflow.” This 5-week series is highlighting what God’s grace is, how it fills our lives with renewal, and how it invites us to live from a deep sense of spiritual fullness rather than lack. The opening video each week shows water flowing into a large container and continuously spilling over to other smaller containers, which are also overflowing.

This series reminded me of a children's sermon a colleague of mine shared many, many years ago at the church I served in Cleveland Heights, Ohio -- Church of the Saviour. I tend to remember children's sermons because of their use of visual imagery. This pastor said to the children that the abundant love that God offers is like receiving a free bag of popcorn when we don't deserve it. She handed each child a half-filled bag. She asked the kids if they thought that was like God’s love. Heads nodded in affirmation. Then she said that God's love doesn't stop there. At that moment her husband walked out carrying a gigantic bag of popcorn. It was about as tall as he was. He began to fill each child's bag. But when each bag was full he didn't stop there, he kept pouring the popcorn from what seemed to be this endless reservoir. Popcorn overflowed everywhere, all over the chancel steps! The kids couldn’t believe it. The congregation couldn’t believe it. And the head custodian wondered who was going to clean up this mess!

The overflowing grace that God gives us is demonstrated in the abundant life Christ brings – “grace upon grace” -- when we invite Him into our lives. There is plenty to share. Need more grace? There’s an endless supply. 

-- Rev. David T. Wilkinson, SOUND BITES Ministry™

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THE UNOPENED GIFT

Several years ago, a woman in our congregation made me the most amazing white chocolate cheesecake. She used the finest ingredients. She put white chocolate shavings all over the outside. It was beautifully and lovingly prepared. It must have taken hours to create. She brought it to the church in a beautiful box, gave it to one of our staff, and said, “This is for Pastor Adam.” I was not in the office that day, so the staff member placed it in the refrigerator in the sacristy of our church. She planned to tell me about it but forgot. Six weeks later, the woman wrote me a note and said, “Did you like the cheesecake? I never heard back from you and just wanted to make sure it was okay.” I had no idea what she was talking about. Later, we found the cheesecake in the sacristy refrigerator, with the bow still wrapped around the unopened box!

Christ offers us the gift of salvation -- a word that is full of life and deep meaning. The gift came at a great cost to Him. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT)  The gift was for you and for everyone you know. I would ask: Have you opened the gift? Have you accepted God’s grace? “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)  And, knowing that Christ has asked you to share the gift with others, have you told them about it? Don’t wait until it’s too late to share the story of God’s amazing grace. 

-- Adapted from “Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It” by Adam Hamilton

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LIVING WISELY

“Be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times.”  (Ephesians 5:15-16 NCV)

Life is filled with opportunities -- and obstacles that can prevent you from grabbing hold of them. The secret to making the most of your life lies in making the most of your time.

The first three words of this verse hold the key: be very careful. In the original language, this admonition is much stronger and fuller than what sounds here like a mother’s passing comment to her kids as they head outside. The words describe a way of living -- or “walking” as the Bible often describes it -- that is precise, accurate, and deliberate. It involves both forethought and a heightened sense of awareness. It’s similar to the way you drive a car. You need to be constantly attentive, responding to the ever-changing situations you find yourself in. You swerve to avoid hazards, brake for pedestrians, and follow the rules. Your skill, knowledge, and vigilance help you make wise decisions at a moment’s notice.

To live wisely you need to do the same thing. You need to face each day spiritually alert. You need to recognize evil, so you can avoid it like a dangerous hazard in the road. At the same time, you need to slow down and be on the lookout for opportunities to show love to others and to God -- and to grab hold of those opportunities. The good news is that God is in the car with you. His Spirit will help guide your daily journey toward a life full of well-utilized opportunities. 

-- Adapted from “100 Favorite Bible Verses”

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WATER-WALKING DISCIPLESHIP – Part 2 of 2

“Peter answered [Jesus], ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’  He said, ‘Come.’  So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.  And those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.’”  (Matthew 14:28-33 ESV)

Put yourself in Peter’s place for a moment. You have a sudden insight into what Jesus is doing -- the Lord is passing by. He’s inviting you to go on the adventure of your life. But at the same time, you’re scared to death. What would you choose -- the water or the boat?

The boat is safe, secure, and comfortable.

On the other hand, the water is rough. The waves are big. The wind is strong. There’s a storm out there. And if you get out of the boat -- whatever your boat may be -- there’s a good chance you might sink.

But if you don’t get out of the boat, there’s a guaranteed certainty that you will never walk on the water. This is an immutable law of nature.

If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat.

I believe there is something -- Someone -- inside us who tells us there is more to life than sitting in the boat.  You were made for something more than merely avoiding failure. There is something inside you that wants to walk on water -- to leave the comfort of routine existence and abandon yourself to the high adventure of following God.

So let me ask you a very important question: What’s your boat? 

-- John Ortberg in “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat”

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WATER-WALKING DISCIPLESHIP – Part 1 of 2

“Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’  And Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’”   (Matthew 14:22-28 ESV)

Peter blurted out to the water-walker, “If it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Why does Matthew include this detail? Why doesn’t Peter just plunge into the water? I think it’s for a very important reason. This is not just a story about risk-taking; it is primarily a story about obedience. That means I will have to discern between an authentic call from God and what might simply be a foolish impulse on my part. Courage alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment.

Matthew is not glorifying risk-taking for its own sake. Jesus is not looking for bungee-jumping, hang-gliding, day-trading, tornado-chasing Pinto drivers. Water-walking is not something Peter does for recreational purposes. This is not a story about extreme sports. It’s about extreme discipleship. This means that before Peter gets out of the boat, he had better make sure Jesus thinks it’s a good idea. So he asks for clarity, “If it is You, command me…”

And in the darkness, I think Jesus smiled. Maybe He laughed. Because one person in the boat got it. Peter had some inkling of what it is that the Master is doing. Not only that, Peter had enough faith to believe that he too could share the adventure. He decided he wanted to be part of history’s original water-walk. Command me. 

-- John Ortberg in “If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat"

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TRUSTING IN THE LORD

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)

There are two things which are more utterly incompatible than even oil and water, and these two are trust and worry. Would you call it trust if you should give something into the hands of a friend to attend to for you, and then spend your nights and days in anxious thoughts and worry as to whether it would be rightly and successfully done? And can you call it trust, when you have given the saving and keeping of your soul into the hands of the Lord, if day after day, and night after night you are spending hours of anxious and questioning about the matter? When a believer really trusts anything, he ceases to worry about that thing which he has trusted. And when he worries, it is plain proof he does not trust…

You find no difficulty in trusting in the Lord with the management of the universe, and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of you? Away with such unworthy doubtings! Take your stand on the power and trustworthiness of your God, and see how quickly all difficulties will vanish before a steadfast determination to believe. Trust in the dark, trust in the light, trust at night and trust in the morning, and you will find that the faith which may begin by mighty effort, will end sooner or later by becoming the easy and natural habit of the soul. 

-- Hannah Whitall Smith in “The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life”

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GRACE POURED OUT

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  (Titus 3:4-7 ESV)

Grace is what sets Christianity apart from every religion in the world. God’s unearnable salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life offered, not as a reward, but as a free gift. Nothing -- absolutely nothing -- required on our part, except to believe. No fine print and no strings attached. When we trust in what Christ has done, when we rely solely on His promises, all the treasures of heaven are ours. It doesn’t matter how miserably you’ve failed in the past. It’s irrelevant how messed up your life is right now. Grace is true and certain no matter what you might do or fail to do in the future. It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? But that, in a nutshell, is the simple gospel. The only question is this: Have you received Christ’s remarkable gift? 

-- Max Lucado in “Life lessons: Book of Galatians” 

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FINDING THE PLACE

"Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray."  (Mark 1:35 NIV)

Researchers once surveyed people about their favorite room in the house. The top answer was the kitchen. People love that one. Most husbands’ top answer was the bedroom. Want to guess what the top answer was for mothers of young children? The bathroom.

Why? You lock the door. You keep those little rug rats out of there for at least a couple of minutes. You keep your husband out of there for at least a couple of minutes. The idea is that you find some place where you know you are alone. You are free of stress. You find sanctuary -- a holy place.

God wants to give us sanctuary. There is another kind of presence when we are gathered together, but there is a unique way in which we experience the presence of God when we are alone.

I have one friend who finds this special solitude with God at a little Italian restaurant. Another friend experiences it most often while driving country roads. One finds it on airplanes. Another likes to go to a retreat center in the hills of Malibu Canyon. Still another finds it is the early hours of the morning in his office. You will recognize the place where you can be yourself before God. 

-- John Ortberg in “The Me I Want to Be”

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SPIRITUAL FITNESS FOR THE NEW YEAR

“Train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.   (1 Timothy 4:7b-8 NIV)

A new year invites us to reset our priorities. Many of us will focus on physical health -- dieting, exercising, or finally using that gym membership. Paul reminds us this has value, but he also points us to something far more lasting: training in godliness.

John Ortberg writes in "The Life You've Always Wanted" that if we want to grow spiritually, we must “stop trying and start training.” Trying depends on momentary effort. Training builds steady habits that shape us over time. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by accident; it grows through intentional practices that open our hearts to God’s transforming work.

This year, consider simple rhythms that strengthen your soul: Prayer as a daily conversation with God. Scripture as nourishment for your soul and guidance for the journey. Worship as a posture of reverence and gratitude. Community as the place where we support one another and grow best.  Devotional reading as the source of encouragement from those who are spiritual trainers. These practices are the gymnasium of the soul. And the promise is clear: godliness brings blessing not only for eternity, but for the life you’re living right now.

If you know of someone like you who would like to be part of a daily spiritual fitness routine this year, encourage them to follow this blog or subscribe to this e-mail through the link at the bottom of the column to the right.

As you step into the new year, may you train -- not try -- and may Christ be formed in you more deeply with every step.   

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™  

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