Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 41:17-43:13 ESV, Ephesians 2:1-22 ESV, Psalm 67:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 23:29-35 ESV

Daily Verse: “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14 ESV)

PHRAGMOS (5418): “Denotes any sore of fence, hedge, palings, or wall.  Metaphorically, of the “partition” which separated Gentile from Jew, which was broken down by Christ through the efficacy of His expiatory sacrifice, Eph. 2:14.”[1]

Broken down.

Hostility separated the Gentiles and Jews in the early church.  Jesus broke down the partition between them with His love.  Tearing down the walls with grace and mercy unites people in ways nothing else can.

One of the most fantastic things about Jesus, He solves relationship problems like no one else.  Christ draws people to Him individually.  My relationship with Jesus varies from every person who reads today’s devotional, yet we worship the same God.

Peace and Peacemaker

When Jesus died on the cross, He reconciled the Jews and Gentiles by making them one in Him.  In other words, people follow Jesus from all walks of life; Christ unites those who believe and trust in Him, no matter their background.

Before Jesus, the Jewish law separated the Gentiles from the Jews.  But Christ fulfilled the law, tearing down the barrier between the two groups.  United in Jesus, they find peace from the Peacemaker.

Christ tears down the walls in our lives separating us from people.  Our view changes when we ask God to help us see others as He does.  The rude person in line, viewed through God’s lens, becomes a hurting individual who needs patience and mercy, not judgment.

Let Jesus tear down the walls in your relationships.  As you focus your eyes on Christ, view others through His lens.  When Jesus died on the cross, He did so for everyone.  Whether or not they choose Him, Christ chose them.  And He calls us to love all people, not just the ones like us.

Spread Jesus’ love to the world today, one act of kindness at a time.  Let the Peacemaker bring peace into your life.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 266) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 39:1-41:16 ESV, Ephesians 1:1-23 ESV, Psalm 66:1-20 ESV, Proverbs 23:25-28 ESV

Daily Verse: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

APOLUTROSIS (629): “Summary: This word means to be purchased from the slave market of sin, totally set free, never to be sold again.  Apolutrosis, as a noun, is a strengthened form of lutrosis (3085) and means lit., “a releasing, for (i.e., on payment of) a ransom.”[1]

Totally set free.

Jesus redeemed us on the Cross, purchasing us from the slave market of sin.  When our misdeeds hold us captive, we need someone to provide a way out.  Christ took on our burdens, opening the door for a new life in Him.

Sadly, many in our world don’t trust Jesus because they don’t trust us.  All humans will fail at some point in time.  The people you love most will let you down for one simple reason, human nature.  We can’t help but falter; only with Christ can we find the redemption we need.

Fully redeemed.

Jesus knows everything about you.  The big secret you think no one knows, Jesus does.  Christ loves you despite your imperfections. God understands you better than you know you.

Therapy helps me love the good, bad, and ugly parts of me.  Through Christ-centered counseling, I learn to see myself through Jesus’s eyes.  When God reveals the sin in our lives, we repent and try not to do it again.  But if we do, Jesus forgives us:

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

(Matthew 18:21-22 ESV)

When Christ redeemed us, He set us free from our transgressions.  Repeatedly, Jesus forgives us; as Christ forgives, so should we.  Setting others free from their offenses against us takes work and Jesus.  We can’t do what Jesus did for us unless we align ourselves with Him.

Acknowledge the ugly in your life, and ask Jesus for forgiveness.  As you receive redemption through Christ, help others do the same.  The more we become like Jesus, the more love, mercy, and grace we will share with the world.

Leave the slave market of sin behind as you pursue Jesus with all your heart, mind, body, and soul.  In Him, you will find redemption and new life.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.37) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 37:1-38:22 ESV, Galatians 6:1-18 ESV, Psalm 65:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 23:24 ESV

Daily Verse: “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1 ESV)

PRAIOTES (4326): “Gentleness, by implication humility: meekness.”[1]

Implied humility.

Gentleness physically shows humility.  When people falter, they don’t need another beating.  No one condemns us more than we blame ourselves.  Granted, some people don’t think they do anything wrong, justifying their actions in any way they can, for them, pray.  But most people genuinely judge themselves harsher than anyone else ever will.

Instead of compounding the condemnation, help them find restoration as gently as possible.  Since I didn’t have children, I struggled in this area; coming from a strict home with high standards, I didn’t experience much grace.  Bluntly communicating the truth hurts the receiver.  But when we speak with gentleness, we bring restoration.

Gentle rebuke.

As a tennis coach, God’s taught me about self-condemnation.  Students surprise me when I ask them to tell me their thoughts on a particular shot or drill.  Rarely do I hear, “I hit that shot well.”  Almost always, the student points out everything they think they’ve done wrong.

Gently responding means helping them see the good in the situation.  Maybe things didn’t go as planned, but good and evil exist every moment.  Instead of focusing on the sin, celebrate the victory, then identify what they can work on to improve.

Getting my students to refocus their thoughts and think positively takes work.  I help them identify where they think negatively and replace it with something positive.  Whenever I hear someone speak badly to themselves, I try to correct it immediately, so the lie doesn’t take root.

God gave us scripture to help guide our thoughts.  Memorizing verses helps remind us of our identity in Christ.  Using God’s word to lift and encourage others does the same for them.  Jesus doesn’t condemn us; we shouldn’t condemn ourselves.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.209) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 33:10-36:22 ESV, Galatians 5:13-26 ESV, Psalm 64:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 23:23 ESV

Daily Verse: “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14 ESV)

PLEROO (4137): “To make replete, i.e., to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction),  Signifies “to fill.”[1]

Level up.

Love fulfills the law, four letters that will change your life and the world.  When God sent Jesus, the act demonstrated unconditional love to a fallen world.  In need of redemption, God provided the way.  The Lord’s love levels up our life and equips us to care for others.

Try loving unconditionally today and see how it changes your life.  When you get cut off in traffic, remind yourself, God loves them too.  The person you disagree with completely, the one who doesn’t value the things God does, Jesus still died for them.  God doesn’t exclude anyone from His love, no exceptions.

Love tank.

When I think of my Aunt Margie, love comes to mind.  Voluptuous, when she folded you into her arms, her love overflowed into me and filled my love tank.  I now know, the love she gave me came from the Lord.  So filled with His love, Aunt Margie’s overflow of affection impacted everyone she met. Indeed, she loved her neighbor as herself.

Selfishness comes with human nature; we all share it.  God, understanding we always think of ourselves first, wants us to love others as we would love ourselves.  Mothers love others best because they have children.  Wanting the best for their child, they deny themselves to give their kids more. 

God loves us as His children, co-heirs with Christ.  He wants us to love others for Him, God in the flesh.  Succeeding in the mission means living by a simple rule: God first, others second, myself last. 

Let God fill your love tank by spending time with Him. A straightforward way to connect with God in prayer takes only a few minutes.  Sit quietly, palms down, holding your hands out in front of you.  Let go of everything weighing you down; imagine them flowing from your downturned palms.

Now, turn your palms upward towards heaven.  Ask God to fill you with His grace and mercy.  Imagine your love tank overflowing as God pours into you.

Now, go share your gift with others.  Fill their love tanks as you see people through Jesus’s eyes.  Everyone has pain; everyone needs mercy.  Lead with grace, love your neighbor as yourself, and change the world one act of kindness at a time.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.204) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 30:12-33:9 ESV, Galatians 5:1-12 ESV, Psalm 63:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 23:22 ESV

Daily Verse: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 ESV)

ELEUTHERIA (1657): “As a noun, means “liberty” and is so rendered in Gal 5:1, “in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.”  The combination of the noun with the verb stresses the completeness of the act.  Not to bring us into another form of bondage did Christ liberate us from that in which we were born, but in order to make us free from bondage.”[1]

Liberty.

Christ didn’t liberate us to bring us into another form of bondage but to set us completely free from all traps.  Following Jesus takes us on a unique journey, revealing our hidden chains.

A popular Instagram meme of a horse tied to a plastic chair has a caption that reads, “Sometimes the thing that is holding you back is all in your head.”  When we believe the lies, we become tethered to the plastic chair.  Jesus unties us.

Revealed truth.

Applying Jesus’ teaching to our lives unties the invisible chains holding us captive.  When we strive to become more like Christ, we realize quickly that distorted thinking binds us to plastic chairs.

When my parents moved us as a child, they didn’t include me in the decision.  I internalized my exclusion in six words, “No one cares what I think.”  Twelve when we moved, I formed my life around one distorted thought, applying it to all my relationships.  As a result, I had unhealthy relationships.

But then Jesus revealed the truth to me through a series of unexpected events.  In moments, Christ untethered me from the plastic chair by revealing the lie and helping me find freedom from the distorted thought. 

Find freedom in Christ.  Spend time seeking God through scripture and prayer, asking Him to show you the ties that bind you.  Then, one by one, as you follow Jesus, let Him untie you from the plastic chair in your life.  Complete freedom comes through Christ; in Him, you will find life to the fullest.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.84) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 28:14-30:11 ESV, Galatians 3:23-4:31 ESV, Psalm 62:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 23:19-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.” (Galatians 3:23 ESV)

MARUWD (4788): “In the sense of maltreatment; an outcast; destitution: cast out, misery.”[1]

Destitute outcast.

Without Jesus in our lives, we live imprisoned by sin.  Destitute and outcast, we can’t save ourselves, but God opens the door to our personal prisons with grace.

When stuck in the muck and mire of sin, life sucks.  In past days, people dug holes and put prisoners in them, unable to climb the steep walls, left to rot unless someone saved them.

One of my deepest holes happened in my 20s when I incurred significant debt.  Paying the minimum payments did nothing to ease the burden.  The endless cycle of juggling bills seemed like it would never end.

            Faithful light.

My despair drew me back to Jesus; from the bottom of the pit, I had no choice but to look up.  When I lifted my eyes to heaven, Christ’s faithful light shone bright, guiding me on a new path.

Returning to Jesus meant submitting my life to Him in faith.  Trusting God’s promises, I started applying them to all aspects of my life, which I still do today.  Over time, the debt became less and less as I followed Biblical principles with my money.  The prison walls fell away as I placed my faith in Jesus.

Journeying with Jesus happens one day at a time.  We become freer each time we trust God’s promises, following His ways, not ours.  In Christ, we find freedom no one else can offer. Turn to God today, and ask Jesus to lead you out of sin’s pit.  Apply Christ’s teaching to your life, and watch in amazement as His faithful light leads you on the path of everlasting life.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.171) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 25:1-28:13 ESV, Galatians 3:10-22 ESV, Psalm 61:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 23:17-18 ESV

Daily Verse: “For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.” (Galatians 3:18 ESV)

KLERONOMIA (2817): “A lot, properly “an inherited property, an inheritance,” It is always rendered inheritance in NT, but only in a few cases in the Gospels has it the meaning ordinarily attached to that word in English, i.e., that into possession of which the heir enters only on the death of an ancestor.  In Gal 3:18, “if the inheritance is of the Law,” the word “inheritance stands for “the title to the inheritance.”[1]

Inherited property.

As Christ-followers, we receive salvation as our inheritance, not given by law but by faith.  Our reward “imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (1 Pet. 1:14).  As a deposit for what will come, God gives us the Holy Spirit.

When my mother died, she had a property that her children inherited.  In Old Testament, leaving property to your heirs had specific laws and guidelines.  Tangible inheritance in this world won’t last, as with all material things.  But the salvation we receive from Jesus lasts for eternity.

Eternal inheritance.

Experiencing God’s salvation gives us an eternal inheritance no one can take away.  The peace that surpasses all understanding only comes through Jesus.  Baring our souls to the Creator, acknowledging our sinful ways, and accepting His unending grace refreshes your life like none other.

Applying Christ’s grace to my life helps me share it with others.  If I speak harshly to my husband because I’ve had a bad day, God helps me make things right.  First, I will feel convicted by my actions and tone.  Internally acknowledging my bad behavior helps me take the next step, apologizing to Ron. 

Moving forward from the moment means trying not to repeat the same mistake. Learning more and more about Jesus helps me change how I react and respond. However, if I do, I know God’s grace will correct my course once again. 

Our eternal inheritance from God not only impacts our life after death but the here and now.  Your place in history happens in an ongoing eternity, one God controls.  Let Him lead the way as you passionately pursue Jesus.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.140) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 22:1-24:23 ESV, Galatians 2:17-3:9 ESV, Psalm 60:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 23:15-16 ESV

Daily Verse: “But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!’ (Galatians 2:17 ESV)

DIAKAIOO (1344): “As a verb, means primarily “to deem to be right,” and signifies, in the NT, “justification” being the legal and formal acquittal from guilt by God as Judge, the pronouncement of the sinner as righteous, who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.”[1]

Formal acquittal.

Paul addresses the issue of continued sin.  As Christ-followers, we gain justification from our sin, which means God forgives us.  But to place faith in Jesus, we must first admit we do and have sinned, and yes, we will sin again.

“So, I can get drunk on Saturday night and show up in church on Sunday?” Another way of describing the topic Paul’s discussing.  If Jesus forgives us our sins, what’s to stop us from continuing in our sinful ways?

New Creation.

When we confess our sins to Jesus, He gives us a new heart.  With a clean slate, we get to start again.  Instead of handling the situation as we did in the past, Christ gives us a fresh direction that leads to a life-giving path.

While teaching in the Temple, the Pharisees brought a naked woman before Jesus, dragged from her adulterous bed.  Knowing the penalty for her sin meant death by stoning, the religious leaders wanted to see how Jesus would handle the situation.

Bending, Jesus began to write in the dirt before rising and challenging the leaders, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her!”  One by one, the crowd dispersed until Jesus, and the woman stood alone.

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?

“No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:1-11 ESV)

Jesus cleans our slate and gives us a second chance.  When He does, Christ asks one thing of us, “Go and sin no more.” 

Like the adulterous woman, once you’ve acknowledged your sin, stop doing it.  Before judging someone else, take the plank out of your eye.  Jesus forgave you so you could have life to the fullest, not so you could sin more.  Sin leads to death,  Jesus leads to life.

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[1] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.69) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 19:1-21:17 ESV, Galatians 2:1-16 ESV, Psalm 59:1-17 ESV, Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV

Daily Verse: “And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.” (Galatians 2:6 ESV)

DOKEO (1380): “This refers to a person’s subjective mental estimate or opinion about something.  A person’s doxa (1391) may be right or wrong since it always involves the possibility of error (except when used of Jesus).  It always signifies a subjective estimate of a thing, not the objective appearance and qualities the thing actually possesses.”[i]

Mental estimate.

Paul faces constant conflict but remains steadfast in his stance for Jesus.  Referring to a private meeting with James, Peter, and John, men considered influential, Paul defends himself to the Galatians about the Jerusalem council.

Paul and the Big Three kept their eyes squarely on the Gospel, not allowing false teachers to sway them from the truth they knew.

The Jerusalem council met to decide the issue of circumcision.  Paul went because he received a revelation from God directing him to attend.  James, Peter, and John showed mutual respect for Paul. Their mission fields differed, yet the Big Three recognized Paul’s gift for working with the uncircumcised Gentiles.

Same Jesus.

As Christ followers, the mission remains the same, spread the good news about Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Following the law doesn’t gain access to heaven but believing in Jesus does.

Legalistic views on the Bible draw people away from Christ.  Pointing fingers at others because they break religious law does no good.  No one can keep the 613 laws held by the Jews.  Only Jesus lived a perfect life. We shouldn’t force others to do what we can’t do ourselves.

But we can stand firm in the face of conflict with Jesus.  Anyone can place their faith in Christ, admitting they can’t do life alone.  We all fall short, but Jesus picks up and carries us the rest of the way.

Influence people for Jesus.  Live a humble life, acknowledge your imperfections, and glorify Jesus for helping you overcome them.  Share how submitting your life to Christ gave you a new beginning.  Let God’s light shine brightly through you.  Stand firm in Jesus, His message doesn’t change.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.71) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Isaiah 15:1-18:7 ESV, Galatians 1:1-24 ESV, Psalm 58:1-11 ESV, Proverbs 23:12 ESV

Daily Verse:  “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—” (Galatians 1:6 ESV)

METATITHEMI (3346): “To place among, put in another place” (meta, implying “change,” and tithemi, “to put”).  “To change oneself,” signifies, in the middle voice, and is so used in Gal. 1:6 (I marvel that) ye are…removed”; the present tense suggests that the defection of the Galatians from the truth was not yet complete and would continue unless they changed their views.  The middle voice indicates that they themselves were responsible for their decision, rather than the Judaizers who had influenced them.”[i]

Put in another place.

Paul’s heartache comes from the Galatian’s desertion of their faith.  Turning from the Gospel, the Galatians place their faith in the law, embracing legalism over God, putting their trust in a different gospel. 

Becoming legalistic caused the Galatians to turn their back on God, rejecting His grace for merit.  Recently having accepted the Gospel of Jesus, the Galatians quickly make a U-turn by embracing the law.  Paul knows he still has a chance to steer them back to the straight and narrow.

Embrace grace.

Before you judge the Galatians, realize that we do the same thing.  In the blink of an eye, we turn our backs on God, placing our faith in humans.  When we look to a different gospel, we will find disappointment.

One of the things you will notice when you read through the stories in the Bible, God used fallible people.  Abraham lied, Noah drank too much, Moses murdered an Egyptian, David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and Paul killed Christians.  If salvation came from the law, none of us would qualify.

Accepting God’s gift of grace doesn’t require a perfect record.  Instead, we acknowledge that we have things in our past that need forgiveness.  God grants us do-overs when we submit our lives to Him and then try to go and sin no more.

No one gains entrance into heaven because they lived a perfect life.  Our golden ticket comes through Jesus.  Trusting what Christ did for us means acknowledging we needed saving.

Place your faith in Jesus.  Accept that you need a Savior who offers His love and mercy at no cost.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p.163) Thomas Nelson