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Are You Satisfied? (2 Pet 1:5-11)

2 Peter 1:5-11 (New King James Version)

⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Pe 1:5-11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

What does “diligent” mean?

dil•i•gent \ˈdi-lə-jənt\ adj

: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking 〈a diligent worker〉 syn see busy — dil•i•gent•ly adv

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

busy \ˈbi-zē\ adj

1 a : engaged in action : occupied

b : being in use 〈found the telephone busy〉

2 : full of activity : bustling 〈a busy seaport〉

3 : foolishly or intrusively active : meddling

4 : full of distracting detail 〈a busy design〉 — busi•ly \ˈbi-zə-lē\ adv — busy•ness

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Someone I love very much told me recently (not in these exact words) that he was satisfied with his relationship with the Lord. I was shocked. I’m not quite sure how to respond to such a statement. I personally don’t understand it, now. But then the Lord began to remind me of how there was a time when I too was satisfied with my relationship with him.

I heard a very wise preacher last night, one who has been in the pastorate for over 50 years, talk about this passage. He read the definition of “diligent”. I began to ask myself if I was being diligent in my relationship with Christ. Would Father find me “characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort” in my pursuit of Him? Could I be considered “engaged in action”; “being in use”; “full of activity” in adding to my faith the listed characteristics? (virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love) That’s a lot of “adding to”!

Satisfaction leads to passiveness. Passiveness leads to stagnation. Stagnation leads to sin. James 4:17 says “Anyone then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Why wouldn’t someone do what they know they ought? Because they’re satisfied with where they are.

There was a time a couple of years ago when I was the same way. I was blind to my passivity. I was blind to my pride. I honestly thought that I was a really good guy. I used to marvel when my pastor would say from the pulpit, “I have so many faults and rough areas in my life that God is dealing with me on.” I couldn’t understand it. I couldn’t honestly think of very many faults where I needed to work. Boy was I blind!

About 16 months ago, I went on a Quest. On my Quest, I discovered how blind I really was and how bound I really was in my sin. On my Quest, I learned what it really meant to love and serve my wife. Just ask her. I can honestly say that this past year or so has been the best year of our marriage in 17 years…. by leaps and bounds! Note: we didn’t have a bad marriage before hand, but we have an amazing marriage now.

Even more than the transformation of my marriage, I discovered what a relationship really is with Father God. I never really knew what that meant growing up. He was so big, so invisible and so far away. I didn’t hear Him. I didn’t KNOW Him. On my Quest, I discovered that He was there all the time. I learned how to hear Him. I heard Him speak things over me that I will never forget. I gained my identity as one of God’s beloved sons. For the first time in perhaps forever, the Bible came alive. I cannot wait to dig into God’s word daily.

For the first time in our marriage, I became the spiritual leader that my wife had been praying for.

What I discovered is that my Quest was not an event, but the beginning of a journey…. a lifelong journey of a real relationship with God. A relationship that I pursue daily, hourly. I yearn for time with Father.

I will NEVER be satisfied with my relationship with Father. I want to continue to be diligent to add to my faith to get to the point at the end of verse 10 “…if you do these things you will never stumble…“. Every day I want to close the gap between where I am and where He is. I only pray the same for you.

Running After Papa…

Because He Is Worthy (Ps 135:1-3)

“Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! You who stand in the house of the Lord, In the courts of the house of our God, Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.” (Psalm 135:1-3, NKJV)

Can I share something with you? This past month Father has really shown me something that has changed my whole perspective. He has really rocked my world a little. I believe there are some of you here, tonight, that need to hear what I am going to say.

A month or so ago, I was trying to have an extended, dedicated worship time with the Lord and I kept getting distracted by different things around me, things that annoyed me, at one point I got a migraine headache. I was getting angry and frustrated because I so wanted to enter into uninterrupted worship with God. As I sat in my frustration, Father God began to download this thought into my mind.

“I am God. I am Holy. I am worthy of your praise all the time. I am worth of your praise regardless of your surroundings. I am worthy of your praise just because of who I AM.”

Wow! That blew my mind. I have been chewing on this for the last 4 or 5 weeks and it t has certainly gone beyond that time and moment. It has created a monumental shift in my attitude of praise of my Father. You see, here is the truth He has revealed to me…

My circumstances change, my surroundings change, and my “feelings” change – sometimes moment by moment. But my God, my Heavenly Father, the only God of the entire Universe, The Creator of Everything – MY GOD NEVER CHANGES. If He is worthy of my praise when all is well, then He is ALWAYS worthy of my praise!

I may have a lot on my mind from the day or from work, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may not feel like singing this song, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may not know or like the song the leader chose, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may have a migraine or the flu, but God is still worthy of my praise.
The person next to me may not be able to carry a tune in a bucket, but God is still worthy of my praise.
The person next to me may be talking on the cell phone, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may be carrying the biggest burden of my life, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may not be able to pay my house payment or my bills, but God is still worthy of my praise.
There may be a baby crying in the sanctuary, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may have just lost my job, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may be dying to a terminal disease, but God is still worthy of my praise.
I may be ________(fill in the blank)_______, but God is still worthy of my praise.

You see, when I let other things distract me or prevent me from praising Him – just because of who He is – then I have let something else come before God. The Bible is pretty clear about this. It made one of the top 10 – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” I don’t know about you, but my Bible calls that idolatry. So can I invite you to give praise to the God of the Universe, the creator of all, the one who died for you and me, just because he is worthy? Can I invite you to totally abandon yourself to praise and personal worship of Him today? Can I ask you to examine your heart and make sure there is nothing else before Him in your life as you enter into His presence?

Running After Papa…

It’s All Crap! (Phil 3:8)

Phil 3:8 (NIV) ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

In the previous verses, Paul describes his life up until his point of conversion. He had a life of status, power and position. He was IT when it came to the Law. He was a Jew’s Jew. He had achieved much in the realm of his chosen path. In this verse, he references his loss of all his status, position, power… the very definition of who he was. He even viewed his ministry as a loss – remember that he was a Pharisee – his very life was his ministry.

He considers it ALL rubbish. Interesting translation of the Greek word that was translated to “rubbish”…

From Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon:

4657 σκύβαλον [skubalon /skoo·bal·on/] n n. Neuter of a presumed derivative of 1519 and 2965 and 906; TDNT 7:445; TDNTA 1052; GK 5032; AV translates as “dung” once. 1 any refuse, as the excrement of animals, offscourings, rubbish, dregs. 1a of things worthless and detestable.

He considers everything he spent his whole life pursuing and striving for, everything he had worked so hard to attain, his whole former existence a load a rubbish. He basically considered his whole life a pile of crap IN COMPARISON to knowing Christ! Wow! I’m not sure I’ve ever considered that before. That is a hard line. That is a hard stance. Do I consider everything I’ve ever done (not that I’ve done that much by the world’s standards), everything I’ve ever accomplished, everything I value most, – my marriage, my children, my ministry – everything I’ve spent my life shaping, striving, and pressing toward… do I count them ALL as a pile of crap in comparison to knowing Christ?

I am reminded of the words of Christ in Matthew 10

³⁷“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; ³⁸and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. ³⁹Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For a little more than a year now, by Papa’s direction, I have been intently, purposefully, focused on serving and loving my wife. Ephesians 6:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,” I tell you this not for boasting sake but to tell you how difficult this stance is now to take. I have purposed and focused on cherishing, adoring and serving my wife in order to love her like Christ loved the church. Now I am faced with the question of “Do I consider our marriage a load of rubbish in comparison to knowing Christ?” Wow… If I’m honest, I’m not sure that I can make that kind of comparison because I absolutely adore my wife! I want to be able to make that comparison. I am pursuing that kind of relationship. I am running after Papa with all I have (hence the name for my Blogsite).

Father, This day I praise you for who you are. I choose this day to consider EVERYTHING as a loss compared to knowing you. This day, I purpose to lay aside everything and in comparison, consider all things – this is hard to say –ALL THINGS – including my marriage, my wife, my family, my ministry, all that I cherish on earth – I consider them rubbish, trash, and dung compared to knowing Christ more. I choose this day to love NOTHING more than You. I pray James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you…” into my life and choose to come nearer and nearer to you precious Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Running After Papa…

Callouses (Acts 28:25-27)

²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:

²⁶ “ ‘Go to this people and say,

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.’

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 28:25-27). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

I’ve been there – that place with a calloused heart – and I don’t EVER want to go back!

How many people, who call themselves Christians, do just this? They hear with their ears and see with their eyes but it never gets through to their heart? There is never understanding. It has led to a “consumer” mentality among Christians in our churches. People come to church to be entertained, to see the “show”.

Our church has amazing worship. It is executed with a very high degree of excellence. This is a double-edged sword. To the consumer-minded church-goer it is a VERY good “show”. To the pursurer of God’s heart, it is a wonderful time of entering God’s presence in corporate worship.

The difference between the first half of 27 and the last half of 27 is a calloused heart.

A callus is an area of thick skin. Calluses form at points where there is a lot of repeated pressure for a long period of time – such as the hours spent raking leaves. The skin hardens from the pressure over time and eventually thickens, forming a hard tough grayish or yellowish surface that may feel bumpy.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/skin/blisters.html

I play the guitar and on the ends of the fingers of my left hand are callouses. They are yellowish and hard. They have less feeling in them as the are basically compacted dead skin. There is no nerve endings in them. They are dulled and insensitive to feeling. This is a good thing, in this case, as the bigger the callouses get, the longer I can play the guitar pain free.

When God says the heart has become calloused, how did it get that way? Disobedience. The “rub” on the same place in our heart that becomes calloused is our saying “NO” to Father, whether He is trying to grow us (Transformation) or He is trying to convict us (Repentance).

God wants us to be continually transformed while we are inhabiting this earth. He will prompt us to do things that will stretch and grow us… usually these are out of our comfort zone. James 4:17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” Ouch! This then takes us directly to the next area where callouses form. Repentance. When Father reveals those places in our lives that are in sin, he convicts us. The longer we don’t respond, usually out of fear or pride, the easier it is to “live with” that sin in our life. Father wants us to be free of all the crap in our hearts.

Papa,
While I love my callouses on my finger tips, I don’t ever want to develop callouses on my heart from disobeying you. My prayer is that I would be quick to respond to You, whatever you call me to; be it areas of transformation and growth or be it areas of repentance in my life. I don’t want my heart to be dulled and insensitive as my fingertips are.

Running After Papa…

Where I Am Supposed To Be (Prov 14:12)

Last night I had a dream. A man (not someone I knew – its just a story about a man) was standing, waiting to be picked up on a very wet, stormy, windy, and dark night. The man realized he could run to his destination faster than standing there waiting for his ride – which was en route. On his journey to his destination, he was blindsided by a car and died.

I don’t usually remember dreams, but this was vivid – however, it was not scary – and I remembered it when I woke up. I asked the Lord, “What was that all about?” He replied, “That man was not where he was supposed to be.“

I thought it unusual, and made a mental note and journaled it for later reference.

I wonder how many of us are blindsided by the enemy because we are not where we are supposed to be?

When I shared the dream with my wife, she shared this scripture with me. I totally believe the dream is this verse in pictures:

Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) ” There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”

The man in my dream thought getting out of his “perceived danger” (a stormy, dark, rainy night) in a more immediate timeframe would be prudent, safe, and more comfortable. In the end, it led to his death.

Brief topic change, but hang with me… I’ll tie it together in a minute.

Today, I had a conference call where my boss announced (surprisingly) he is taking a new position within our company. This meant he would not be my boss any longer. This left me very uneasy and nervous. I have half a dozen “understandings” with my boss (who I like very much) that are not documented for a new boss to know or understand when he comes in. These understandings are all significant as they relate to my compensation, territory, and employment. I felt very exposed and anxious.

God is so gracious. Once I realized how I felt inside, Papa gently reminded me that He alone is my provision and He alone is my total joy and my total hope. I realized that I had put some of my joy in my job and now that my job had the potential to change, potentially for the worse, some of my joy was taken. I felt a little bit hopeless.

Father, forgive me! I am in sin in putting an idol before you. I have taken my eyes off You and put them on me. You and You alone are my provision, not Amdocs – my employer, not AT&T – my customer, but You – my Father – and only You. Forgive my arrogance and pride of putting me above you. Forgive my idolatry. Amen.

Romans 5:3b-4 says that as we take joy in our suffering, we develop perseverance (patience) and with perseverance comes character. Character, as I understand it, is Christ-likeness. With Character comes HOPE. My sufferings, lead to my HOPE – when and only when I embrace them along my journey of transformation. When I let some of my hope be taken by the news of my boss leaving and what might happen to me, Father showed me that I was responding to my suffering inappropriately.

I do not want to be blindsided by my enemy because I am not where I am supposed to be. I want to be right in the middle of God’s will… right where he wants me.

Father, I will wait for You. I will not run ahead of you. I will stand in the storm, in the dark, in the rain, in the wind, in my discomfort, to wait for YOU. I want to be where I am supposed to be. I want to be in the middle of your will, wherever that takes me. I don’t ever want to be out of your presence. Consecrate me for your service, Lord, and set me apart for your will. I want all of what You have for me. I am desperate for ALL of You! Amen.

Running After Papa, in submission to Him…

On Guard! (Acts 20:28)

Acts:20:28 (NIV) ²⁸Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. …³¹So be on your guard! …

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 (electronic ed.) (Ac 20:28-31). Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Father has put me exactly where he wants me. It is my responsibility to be faithful over what He has charged me with – be that diligent about the family finances, the nurturing and discipleship of my wife and children, the worship ministry, serving at our church, in the lives of men through FTS and our Men’s bible study, my workplace. All of these places, Father wants me to “… keep watch over…”.

My enemy, however, wants me to be OFF my guard! If he cannot derail me and disqualify me from service entirely, then he wants to distract me in any way possible. That could even be keeping me myopically focused on only ONE of the areas Father has charged me with so the other areas will suffer. Hence Paul’s warning, “So be on your guard!“

Father, I thank you for your daily grace. I thank you for my assignments. I ask now for Your wisdom and attentiveness to each and every task you’ve put before me. I want to always be on guard against the plot of the enemy. Help me prioritize and balance and only do those things that YOU have called me to do. Help me strip away the fluff of my life. Father, examine my heart. Shine your light and expose those areas that I need to let go and get rid of in order to make You the main thing. I pray that I don’t filter my activities on what’s “good” or “not good”, but that I filter my activities on what “my calling” and what’s “not my calling”, so that each and every day, I walk in the midst of your will for my life… moment by moment… decision by decision… action by action… with intentional obedience. Thank you for loving me and trusting me with what you’ve trusted me with. In Jesus’ name I pray… Amen.

Running After Papa…

Jesus {Bleeping} Christ (Acts 19:17b)

Acts 19:17b (NIV)

“… and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”

Wow! Where is the honor for the name of Jesus Christ today? It is no longer a name held in high esteem in our culture, now it is a substitute cuss-word. That makes me sad. What really makes me sad, I am ashamed to say, is that I have used His name in that way before. But probably what makes me even sadder still is that I have not taken a stand FOR His name among the people that I know. I have been a coward for the sake of not causing conflict. I have been a wimp.

James 4:17 says “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” I have sinned. I have not done that which I knew to do.

Papa,

Forgive my sins. I ask you to forgive me for using your name in a way your name should NEVER be used. I also ask your forgiveness for my sins of omission in defending the noble name of Jesus Christ. I ask you to give me courage to face those around me who do not hold the name of Jesus Christ in “high honor.”

In the name if Jesus Christ I pray. Amen

Running After Papa…

American Idol (Acts 17:16)

Acts 17:16 (NIV)

¹⁶While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Two questions come up for me in this passage, one more obvious than the other:

1. What “idols” do I still have in my life that either draw me away from OR limit my relationship with Papa?

2. Am I “greatly distressed” to see my city filled with idols? Am I even a little “distressed” over it? Does it really even bother me?

If I am honest about answering that, I have to lean to the latter of the second question. “Evangelism isn’t my gift,” has always been my excuse and has always soothed my conscience. I believe God has called some, and gifted them accordingly, to a life of intentional evangelism; those such as Billy Graham and numerous other evangelists. But God has called each one of us to a life of evangelism, not only by our lifestyle but by word of mouth. Ephesians 4:5-6 says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” In that verse alone is “act” (living) and “conversation” (speaking) that is to draw people to Christ and tell others about the hope that is within us. In that reasoning alone, I should be at least a little bothered at the idols in my community.

However, as I grow closer to my heavenly Father and fall more in love with Him, what should really break my heart about the idols in my land is the fact that something OTHER than my Papa is getting worship, praise and adoration from the people in my city. This should cause me “great distress” as Paul felt in Athens.

It is a poor analogy, but we (our culture, our society) gets so worked up about who gets how many “votes” on American Idol (interesting name, huh?) when we should be much more worked up about who is getting praised and worshipped. We, as a culture, get distressed when our favorite “idol” gets voted off the show. Do we feel “greatly distressed” when our Father gets “voted off” the hearts of our city and community?

This is really giving me a new perspective and viewpoint on evangelism. What if my evangelism (again, not my spiritual gift – but still my responsibility) was from the perspective of amassing as much worship and praise for my heavenly Father from as many people as I could get to worship Him? What if it was about getting all the people in my community, my sphere of influence, to put aside their idols and worship the ONLY one worthy of worship. All of a sudden, evangelism isn’t about saving people, but about worshipping God just BECAUSE HE IS WORTHY!!

Papa,

I thank you for your Word. I thank you for Your truth. Search my heart, O Lord, and see if I have anything that I’ve set up as an idol that draws me away from you. Show me anything that limits my relationship or hinders my growth an any way from You. Clean out all the rocks, pebbles, grains of sand that slow down the flow of your Spirit in me. Break my heart, O God, for your people. Strengthen me to live a life that draws people to you THAT YOU MAY BE WORSHIPPED! I love you. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Running After Papa…

Nobility (Acts 17:11)

Acts 17:11 (NIV)

¹¹Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

I am drawn to this verse today and keep reading and re-reading it. I have always been drawn to stories and movies of nobility; King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table; the movie “The Patriot”; Gladiator. What does it mean to be noble? Mirriam Webster defines it as:

no•ble \ˈnō-bəl\ adj

no•bler \-b(ə-)lər\; no•blest \-b(ə-)ləst\ [ME, fr. AF, fr. L nobilis well-known, noble, fr. noscere to come to know — more at know]

1 a : possessing outstanding qualities : illustrious

b : famous, notable 〈noble deeds〉

2 : of high birth or exalted rank : aristocratic

3 a : possessing very high or excellent qualities or properties 〈noble wine〉

b : very good or excellent

4 : grand or impressive esp. in appearance 〈noble edifice〉

5 : possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals : lofty 〈a noble ambition〉

6 : chemically inert or inactive esp. toward oxygen 〈a noble metal such as platinum〉 — compare base 6a syn see moral — no•ble•ness \-bəl-nəs\ n — no•bly \-blē also -bə-lē\ adv

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

According to Acts 17:11, I become noble – or more noble – by receiving the message with great eagerness (the New Living version says “more open minded”) and by examining or searching the Scripture every day.

I am a beloved son of God. We are beloved children of God, THE Lord of Lords, THE King of Kings. You and I ARE nobility (see definition #2). You and I are “of high birth or exalted rank!”

What is the message I receive with eagerness?

All too often, I receive the message from my enemy… a message that dissuades me, a message that depresses me, a message of my worthlessness, a message of “never be good enough”, a message that tears me down an draws me away from or hinders my knowing my Father more. The bible says that my enemy is a liar and there is no truth in him. James tells me that every good and perfect thing is from God. Every good thing – even good thoughts – is from God. Daddy doesn’t ever want me to forget who I am in Christ, my family name – so to speak, my heritage. He doesn’t want me to forget my nobilty!

Father,

I ask you to forgive me for those times when I choose to believe the lies of the devil instead of the truth of Your Word about who I am. I repent from it and choose today to receive with eagerness the message You have given me about who I am – that I am The King’s beloved son. Father help me “be more noble” by receiving your message and eagerly examining the Scriptures daily, as the Bereans did in Acts 17. I ask these things in the mighty and noble name of Jesus. Amen

Running After Papa…

Suck It Up! (Acts 16)

Acts 16:25 (NIV)

²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

OK. Let me get this straight. Paul and Silas had been up all day, delivered a slave girl from a demon, got arrested, were severely beaten and flogged (remember “The Passion of the Christ”?), thrown into a dark, dungy jail with no lights (v29) and they were praying and singing hymns to God???? I can’t even seem to stay awake praying at 10pm – even when I get up late!

Can you imagine sitting in the dark, physically exhausted and drained, bruised and bleeding (v33), and not going to sleep but instead having a worship service?

Check this out. They took the beating. At any point, they could have played the “I’m a Roman citizen” card and used their get out of jail card. They could have stopped the beating and even avoided the whole thing! But they didn’t. I’ve been challenged to get into shape and have been working out. You know that feeling when your muscles hurt? I call it a “good pain.” I imagine Jesus had the same attitude about his torture and crucifixion – “It’s a good pain. I am redeeming my children.” Obviously, Paul and Silas had the same attitude to be counted worthy to suffer for Christ and for the gospel.

What if they had stopped the beating? What if they had avoided the pain? What if they had stayed in their comfort zone? One thing for sure, the jailer and his family would all have gone to hell. At the time, Paul and Silas didn’t know that he and all his family would get saved. They merely lived in the moment that God had given them. Hindsight showed them that their suffering was a “good pain”.

Application:

1. Suck it up! How can I possibly say “I’m too tired!” when it comes to ministering to the Lord? Father forgive me for being such a wimp! Stretch me to not only endure, but to glory in the “good pains”, those things that take me out of my comfort zone and enlarge the Kingdom.

2. I am always “ON”. I cannot turn on and turn off my walk, if I am fully submitted to Christ and His purposes in my life. I will never know when God will use my situation – good or bad – to bring Glory to Himself or to bring another soul into the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Father forgive my fickle heart. Jesus turn me to the “on” position and rip the knob OFF! I love you and willing submit to a life committed to your service. Before my brothers – who I know will hold me accountable – I pledge my life to your will. I empty myself of ME and ask you to fill me up…. to put on my flesh and live my life here on earth (Gal 2:20).

Running After Papa…