Honest Reflections

One-minute read.

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby; some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:1-2

As believers in Christ, we have a common bond with those who enjoy the benefits of His saving grace and should have nothing but warm feelings toward them. Of course, we do still have our sinful nature, and every church contains imperfect people who do imperfect things. But ultimately, we should strive to love each other, despite our differences, to the best of our ability. Whether people believe in Jesus or not, God commands us to love everyone. Our actions draw people to Christ and help them discover God’s gift.

And sometimes, we entertain angels. On a girl’s hiking weekend at Canaan Valley, my friend and I feel sure we met an angel who saved our lives. Not having researched the area well, novice hikers, we decided to explore Dolly Sods Wilderness on our last day. Driving the windy mountain roads, we realized we might have bit off more than we could chew. Finally, when we found the trail entrance, a kind gentleman greeted us and immediately asked questions. In a few minutes, we realized we had not come prepared for the treacherous path and needed to find something else to do. Patiently, our angel gave us safer options that afforded beautiful views without the possibility of getting stranded on a mountain.

Show love to everyone you meet. Only God knows when He will place an angel in your path to entertain and possibly save your life.

Application:

You never know when you will entertain an angel.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for placing angels amongst us. Please fill our hearts with love and help us show affection to everyone we meet. Let us not become weary of doing good and entertain angels well.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

“Chosen race” and “royal priesthood” emphasize God’s desire to bring the church to Himself. United with Christ, head of the church, we have a corporate role to worship, intercede, and minister to others. “Holy nation” shows how the Lord sets us apart to do His will, belonging to God,  His grace enables us to praise Him.  As believers, we must tell the world of the Lord’s beautiful acts, including overcoming death with Christ’s resurrection.

Jesus died for everyone, but not all will believe in Him.  Only those who believe in God’s Son benefit from adoption into His family. As we follow the Lord, transformation occurs as we leave our sinful nature behind, striving to become the best version of ourselves through Jesus. In Christ, we can find victory over the struggles of this world, living in His peace that surpasses all understanding as we love God and others. We become royalty when we enter the family of God through faith in Jesus.

The Lord desires all to know Him and none to perish. Commanded to share the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. As followers of Christ, we have a responsibility to tell others about the gift we have discovered. God claims us as His and empowers us with the Holy Spirit to fulfill our destinies and become more like Jesus daily. 

Application:

God made us part of His royal priesthood through Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for adopting us into Your family. Please help us fulfill our destiny as we pursue You, learning more about Jesus daily. Let us share the good news with everyone through our words and actions.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Philippians 3:21

When Jesus returns, we will receive a new body, one transformed into His resurrected one. In our weakness, our bodies struggle with persecution, disease, sinful desires, and death. But Christ’s coming will give us glorified bodies, showing our true character as children of the Almighty, sharers of divine life in Jesus. When Christ returns, everything will come under His authority, including our bodies.

Five of my family and friends have lost children for various reasons. Each of them knew Jesus. Walking through their grief, I find comfort in God’s promises for our future transformation. As I think of each of these beloved children, I see them at the foot of the cross, with transformed bodies, no longer suffering from the things they struggled with on Earth. Their time in this world didn’t last long, but their eternal life will never end.

Sharing God’s promises with others introduces them to the unconditional love of Jesus. His actions on the cross, arms spread wide, invite everyone into the eternal glory He offers. With grace and mercy, the Lord sent His Son, forgiving our sins and giving us new life in Him that will never end. Love God and others, giving the glory to Jesus. Let transformation begin today as we become more like Christ and help others do the same.

Application:

God gives us glorious new bodies.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for transforming our lives and bodies as we follow You. Please help us become more like Christ as we seek Him, living daily in His promises, obeying His commands, and drawing others into Your family. Let us boldly share what we have found in You.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18

Paul focuses on the glory we will one day receive in heaven. We can’t imagine what awaits us, but we can lean into the Lord’s promise of our future reward to help us persevere through today’s suffering. The heartaches of this world will seem light compared to the splendor of eternal life with Christ. One day, God will reveal His glory to us; we can’t even begin to imagine its wonder. Our best moment on Earth will seem pale compared to what we will experience in heaven.

God recently called a young friend of mine home. Her beautiful light no longer shines on Earth, but He has revealed to her the glory of heaven. Mourning our loss, thinking of her in Jesus’s arms brings me comfort. The Lord gave her to us for twenty years as a gift, and she touched the lives of everyone she met. But then He called her home, revealing His glory to her. One day, we will meet again. But until then, I know she rests in the glory of heaven.

Loving God and others and introducing them to Christ remain the highest callings. We never know how long we will have people in our lives. Only God knows when He will call us home. But knowing they have Jesus in their heart will bring comfort when that day comes. Because with Christ, we know a future glory awaits, one we can’t imagine. And when the Lord calls us home, Jesus will receive us in His arms, wiping every tear away, revealing His glory.

Application:

Future glory awaits those who place their faith in Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the glory that awaits us and the strength to endure the temporary trials of this life. When doubt sets in our minds, please remind us that You have our reward waiting for us in heaven and that the troubles we face today won’t last long.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

The highway of the upright turns aside from evil whoever guards his way preserves his life.

Proverbs 16:17

Doing the right thing repeatedly safeguards against calamity. Like a well-maintained road, preventive measures avoid potholes and keep the highway well-graded. Sealing cracks, repairing paved edges, and keeping the ditches clean all help prevent minor defects from becoming major ones. In the same way, when we obey God’s commands, live with integrity, and develop a sensitivity to sin, it helps safeguard us from evil intentions.

Whether dirt or paved, proper road maintenance has the same end goal: keep the road as close to its original condition as possible. Following Jesus, we share the same end goal: love God and others, and by doing so, we share the Gospel’s good news. If we don’t spend time with the Lord, maintaining our souls by reading, studying, and meditating on scripture, we won’t know God’s commands, develop integrity, or become sensitive to the sin in our lives.

Bad things happen to good people because sin exists. Sometimes, the decisions we make cause us the most harm. Developing a close relationship with God helps us avoid the potholes of life as we let Him lead us instead of doing things from our limited perspective. When the storms hit, the Lord will help us navigate the turbulent waters, giving us His peace that surpasses all understanding. To reap God’s blessings, we must follow Him closely, doing His will and trusting Him to protect us from evil.

Application:

God’s guidance protects us.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us directions to live by and care for ourselves. Please help us make the right decisions at the correct times to avoid evil and safeguard our lives. Protect us from ourselves, and let us find peace in You.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

Paul addresses restlessness in the Thessalonian community, which can lead to meddlesome behavior and cause problems. Instead, the apostle instructs them to live quiet lives, working with their hands, minding their business, and setting an example of proper conduct. The Greek culture of the time viewed manual labor as degrading, but Christ, a carpenter by trade, made working with your hands an honorable pursuit. Keeping ourselves busy helps us stay out of trouble, sets an excellent example for those who don’t know Jesus, and enables us to avoid the pitfalls of idleness.

Looking for an outlet for my books, I started a crafting business. Not only does my shop allow me to showcase my latest works, but it also keeps me busy and out of trouble. Working to fill my shop with handmade wares gives me a creative outlet that constantly challenges me to learn new things. As I set sales goals and strive to attain them each month, it exhilarates and stretches me. I thank God for my quiet life, which allows me to work with my hands, occupies my mind, and draws me closer to the Lord, all while serving others.

Busy bodies cause problems no one needs. Paul wants us to stay out of other people’s affairs and urges us to keep our business in order. God only gives us an allotted amount of time on Earth. We have a choice in how we spend it. Walk properly, live quietly, and serve the Lord in all you do.

Application:

Living a quiet life helps us walk properly.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for guiding us on how to live our lives. Please help us live quietly, find productive things to do with our hands, stay out of other people’s business, and set an excellent example for those who don’t know You.  Bless our efforts as we strive to obey Your commands.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

1 Corinthians 9:25

Every other year, the people of Corinthian hosted the Isthmian athletic games, which included running and boxing. The winner received a laurel or celery wreath crown that would wither. Paul used the games as an example, explaining that we should discipline and train ourselves in the Gospel to run the race and receive the crown that will never perish: eternal life with Christ. 

Using self-control, Paul does not run the race as an undisciplined runner but as a trained athlete, and so should we. Preaching the Gospel, Paul taught about Jesus and lived by Christ’s teaching. Like all followers of Jesus, the apostle has confidence in God’s sovereign grace but recognizes his sin battle, ever vigilant not to let it hinder his race.

Staying sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings will help us quickly deal with sin. Guiding us like a shepherd with sheep, the Spirit’s staff nudges us back on the straight and narrow path when we begin to stray. Athletes know when they do something that will hinder their training: eating junk food, not getting enough rest, or skipping a workout. All those things will cause them not to perform at their peak. In the same way, when we let sin slither into our lives, it hinders our mission. Until we deal with the issue, we will stumble in the race. Accepting the Lord’s correction through His Spirit helps us finish well and win the crown that will never perish.

Application:

God provides an imperishable crown for His children.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for giving us Paul’s letters to help us live well for Jesus, training and persevering on our mission to love You and others while spreading the Gospel’s good news. Help us run our race well, acquiring eternal life with You as our reward.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 13:4

Fulfilling dreams requires diligence. Instead of sitting around hoping things will happen, diligent people work towards making things happen. When God gives us a vision, we must take steps of faith to see it become reality. Sitting around and doing nothing doesn’t accomplish anything, but developing a plan and then doing it will make dreams come true.

“Effortless is a myth,” Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time, said during his commencement speech at Dartmouth University. When watching the accomplished athlete play matches, he made it look easy, and so he gained a reputation, his game effortless. But in reality, no one saw all the hard work and practice Roger put in outside the public eye, making his game look effortless. Without diligent effort, day in and day out, he wouldn’t have won more than 80% of the 1526 matches he played. Roger’s dream of becoming one of the best tennis players ever happened because of his diligence.

Whatever dream God gives you, work at it. Don’t expect things to happen without effort on your part. Creating a plan, taking one step at a time, and putting in the work will make your dreams come true. But if you do nothing, you will get nothing. You have a choice: become diligent in your efforts or become a sluggard. Whatever you put into it, you will get out of it. Work hard and see your dreams come true.

Application:

Diligence makes dreams come true.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the dreams You give us and the action plan to make them come true. Help us develop diligence in our efforts as we strive to reach our goals. When we become discouraged, give us hope, letting us persevere, no matter what.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Romans 8:31-35

God doesn’t make empty promises.  Christ’s actions on the cross and His resurrection prove His love for us and plans for redemption.  Jesus fulfilled His mission willingly; the Lord gave Him up for all, participating in the plan of salvation and demonstrating His grace.  Yes, we face hardships, but God faces them with us, supplying all we need to persevere through the most difficult days.  When we sin, we do so against the Lord, but instead of charging us with our sins, God forgives us because He is for us, not against us.

In Paul’s series of questions, he asks who shall condemn us and who will separate us from the love of Christ.  We find the answers in Jesus, who didn’t condemn us but died for us because of unconditional love.  No one can separate us from Him; the Savior’s actions on the cross bind us to Him forever.  Jesus intercedes for us at the Father’s right hand, whatever needs we have.

As part of the Lord’s family, He defends us.  The only one with the right to condemn us chose instead to save us from our sins.  Placing our faith in Jesus gives us a royal inheritance no one can take from us.  God gave His Son for us, doesn’t charge us for our sins, and bonds us with unconditional love that no one can break.  The Lord keeps His promises; we can trust Him and find life to the fullest.

Application:

God defends His children.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your unconditional love and grace that adopts us into Your family and gives us divine protection.  Help us persevere through hardship, knowing You will give us everything we need to find victory.  Strengthen our hearts, and let us trust You fully.

IJNIP. Amen

One-minute read.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:9-13

As our heavenly Father, God will answer our petitions in kindness, doing no less for His children than an earthly father would. Because of the Lord’s perfection, He does much more than a sinful person. Our Creator wants us to come to Him with our prayers. When we seek the Lord, He answers, opening up His storehouse of blessings.

My parent’s bedroom didn’t have a door. Whether or not the house designer intended for the small room off the kitchen as a bedroom, I don’t know. But one door led upstairs to two more bedrooms, one to a bathroom and one to the kitchen. We didn’t have a door to knock on to gain entrance. But every time I went to Dad with a problem or request, he responded with kindness, love, and sometimes irritation. Our heavenly Father responds better than any human dad ever could.

The greatest gift the Lord gives us resides in our hearts. Taking up residence inside of us, the Holy Spirit creates an unbreakable bond between God and us. Every need we have, Jesus meets. When we ask, the Lord responds, often not how we expect, but always with an answer. Go to God with all your burdens; find rest in Him.  Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your soul as you seek the Lord for answers.

Application:

God gives us perfect gifts.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit and for answering all our prayers. Please help us trust in You, giving us the faith to persevere when we don’t understand the answers. Strengthen us for the journey, keep our hearts tuned to You, and help us live fully in Christ.

IJNIP. Amen