If you’re listening to this short video, you have a mother. I pray she’s as great as mine. My mom is a quiet and gentle spirit. Many of you can say the same thing about your mother. My mother never complains. Unless it’s when her computer fails. Don’t tell her I said that. I never recall my mother being mad because she couldn’t buy herself a new dress, or fancy shoes. She was content being a mom. In Ephesians 6:1-4 it says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” – which is the first commandment with a promise – “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
When God wanted to show his children how much he cares for them he chooses a mother’s compassion. For in Isaiah 66:13 it says, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” Out of all of the objects, all of the imagery God could summon up, he chose a mother’s compassion to show how He himself is compassionate. Let that sink in a minute. Your mother’s compassion is like that of God’s.
In Luke 2:19, Mary treasured all these things in her heart. Mary quietly stood back, and watch Jesus grow from an infant to a young man. She didn’t need to have the spotlight on her. She was meek and gentle. She wanted the best for Jesus. Mary, like most moms, stood off in the background, quietly influencing her son to be all he could be. Watching to make sure he wasn’t hurt. And if he was, running to his defense.
Mothers, thank you for all the endless hours you’ve sacrificed ensuring your children have what they need. Thank you for waking up in the middle of the night to calm them down when their scared from a scary movie, or a bad dream. Thank you for listening when our hearts were broken by puppy love. Lord, please shine forth your glory today on all mothers near and far. I love you mom. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
How well do you make plans? I’m not very good at it. I like to think I’m spontaneous. Which means, I’m not good at making a schedule and sticking to it. That’s something I need to work on.
But I know someone who is great at making plans. Do you know who that is? If you said God, you’re correct. Did you know the bible says that God planned to save the world through his son Jesus Christ before he whispered a world into creation. In Ephesians 1:4-5 it says, “4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”
This plan was carried out in Galatians 4:4 where we read that when the time had arrived God sent his Son to be born of a woman and to redeem his fallen creation. Make no mistake about it, it wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t just a good guess. It was a well thought out, well-executed plan that was in the works before the beginning of time.
Why did God send his Son? In one word “love”. God before the beginning of time, choose to provide all who believe in Him a way back to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. This love was on full display on the cross when the Lamb of God carried away the sins of the world. God redeemed us (bought us back). There was no partial payment made. No loan taken out. He paid the bill in full. And he paid it with the blood of his Son, and 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “God paid a great price for you and me.”
By sending Jesus, He showed, that there is no Caucasian, no gender, no race, or ethnicity, no rich or poor, no educated or uneducated, no protestant, no country greater than the next. Neither Jew or Gentile, neither slave or free, neither male nor female, we are all one in Christ Jesus. He speaks to the shady lady at the well, he works with the stinky fishermen, with the lowly IRS agents (tax collectors), and he healed the lame and the blind.
Lord you are holy. We will praise your name forever. Help us to remember your steadfast love never ceases, your mercies never end, help us to see how they are renewed every morning. For you are faithful. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
Many years ago, Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment. To which he replied, “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 12:30.
The Greek word for love that Jesus used is well known in the verb form of AGAPE. It is a love that is based upon choice. The child of God is to freely choose to love God and to love others. They are to delight in God’s holiness. And that love is to spread outward to others. Christians are to seek the best for others. Which means, we must be able to see the best in them.
We are living in times that can make this incredibly challenging. With the growth of social media and the usage of smart phones. Did you know in a study done in 2021, that 46% of American’s reported that they spend 5-6 hours a day on their phones. And for most it’s not just playing Candy Crush. Do you realize, for many that’s more time than they spend with their significant other. They hold their phone more than they hold their spouse. They talk to their phone more than they do their mate. Can you see where that is a problem?
As more and more Christians spend long hours online, they are easily caught up in today’s political wars. It would do Christians good to remember what the 9th Commandment says in Exodus 20:16: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” When you log online, and say something about others, are you spreading gossip? Can you be sure when you click the “like” button that it’s a true statement? When you share it, are you sharing the truth? Or is it partial truth? Is it just a little white lie? Is that okay with you? I urge you to be incredibly careful. Ask yourself honestly, how much of the news do you know to be true. I mean you heard it yourself, you seen it yourself. Were you present when what your posting, re-posting, sharing, commenting on, was said or done? Here’s an eye opener for you, (not really) you probably already know this, or should know this, all news agencies/outlets are formed to make money. Here’s a fact you should know too, controversial news makes more money. Controversial news posted online gets more clicks. Sells more adds. You get the picture. You’re not going to stand before God and say, but Fox news said, ABC news said. Jesus is going to say, I said do not commit slander. Next time you go to send out that email, to retweet that comment, you might want to listen to the word of God. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
But Lord when did I commit slander. When was I a false witness. When you reposted that article without researching thoroughly the facts. When you posted that nasty tweet about some politician you disagree with. When you sent out that email trail to all your friends making fun of someone’s disability. The rest of the story in Deuteronomy 19, is let it be done unto you about what you were hoping was done to the other person. In other words, may others tell stories about you. May they try and tear down your reputation. May they make fun of you. May you be stalked and sought out because of what your tongue so loosely spoke, or fingers so easily typed. Ouch!
What do you think God will do to those who are spreading misinformation? Is he going to wink at our failures? Is he going to give us a pass because we were so compassionate about our side of the story? Be careful, the Apostle Paul was full of conviction when he was having Christians killed. His conscience was clean. But he was dead wrong. And if he hadn’t met God, and repented of his sins, he would be rotting in hell.
But Jesus, what is the greatest commandment. “Love”. You mean it hasn’t changed in 2023. Come on Jesus, surely you know our times are different. These are drastic times that call for drastic actions. Yes, my child, you are correct. You should love even more. You should care even deeper. And remember, the greatest of these is love.
If you haven’t heard it yet today, may I be the first, I love you as a child of God is to love. I care about you. I want the best for you. Why? Because I love God, and he has told me to love my neighbor. How can I say no to that? Reminds me of Joseph in Genesis 39:9, “My master (meaning her husband) has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” The next time you’re tempted to spread that loosely typed article or make that ugly comment, ask yourself, is this done out of love? If not, how can you do such a thing and sin against God. And this is Jesse Walker with the Glenwood Church of Christ.
In our society today it is common for one to not want to get involved in other people’s problems, perhaps prompted by the misguided idea that we have no responsibility unto others in their time of need. The story of the good Samaritan, whether a parable or an account of actual events, illustrates otherwise (Luke 10:25-37).
Probably, most Christians today will not ask, “Who is my neighbor?,” in an effort to justify indifference to the needs of others. Yet, if we are inattentive to those needs when we have the opportunity and ability to address them (ref. Mt. 25:14-30), then we place ourselves in a similar context as that of the lawyer who sought to justify himself.
As illustrated in the story, everyone does not exercise a spirit of unselfish love and compassion for strangers. The very ones that would be expected to do so, in view of their religious standing, may deliberately avoid the responsibility. Such is a tragedy for the Lord’s church and an embarrassment and sin for those who exercise an uncaring heart.
The Samaritan’s context is compelling. He was of pagan stock who was cursed publicly in the synagogue. The Jews prayed that Samaritans would have no part in the resurrection of life and rejected them as proselytes. To eat their food was regarded by the Jew as eating the flesh of swine. The Jews thought it better to suffer than to accept the help of a Samaritan. They avoided them if at all possible. Yet, when the stranger was in need, the Samaritan assisted beyond measure. He extended a caring heart to the very ones who seemed to despise him greatly. He truly is our example of being a neighbor to those about us. May we direct our lives in a way that gives us the courage and aptitude to love the unlovely and to make a lasting impact in our community.
Words are often powerful (ref. Rom. 1:16). They bring to mind scenes which may lift the soul to wonderful heights or cast one down to depths of despair. “A Broken Spirit,” mere words, does both for me. These words remind me of the spirit joyfully broken as one penitently responds to the grace of our Lord. They also bring to mind the spirit wounded and sorrowful because of the weight of life’s burdens and challenges.
The Psalmist said, “The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Ps. 34:18, NASB). Yes, the Lord establishes and strengthens His fellowship with those allowing the Word of His grace to break, ever so painfully, the bands and bonds holding us apart from Him as sin’s power dictatorially governs us. Similarly, the Psalmist added, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51:17). I trust and pray that our spirits are mutually lifted and encouraged in contemplation of the positive divine response to penitent and fully obedient hearts.
The above cited passages speak of “A Broken Spirit” in a positive manner. They lead us to seek out such a spirit, ultimately producing spiritual healing and security in Christ. They demand that we be broken in order to be whole. Yet, “A Broken Spirit” may describe the spirit shattered by forces and circumstances beyond personal power to control and withstand. They may describe a besieged child of God whose strength of faith has failed him in his hour of crisis. These words may describe you or me as we face personal spiritual challenges.
The Psalmist, speaking of the Lord, said, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Ps. 147:3). The wise man said, “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken” (Pr. 15:13). The Lord is ever aware of our condition of heart and tenderly cares for us as we endure wounds which potentially may break our spirit of faith.
Children of God throughout the Lord’s church face the real possibility and danger of experiencing a broken spirit as one wrestles with personal spiritual challenges. A lifetime of observations suggest such danger is ever present, potentially impacting the strongest personal faith. The spirits of godly elders and the newest babes in Christ may be so impacted. None of us are exempt from the forces bringing about such dire results. A number of brethren no doubt know of specific cases illustrating well the point at hand.
A broken spirit may be the result of external evil forces outside the body of Christ. On other occasions, it may result from internal forces within the fold of God. The latter may be more dangerous, if only because we are ill-prepared to be so impacted by those esteemed so highly as brethren. Yes, we are sometimes hurt more by those we love.
How may this happen? Without assuming a full understanding of such issues, the following scenario may be suggested. Members of the church are not always on the same spiritual page. Sometimes, our doctrinal and judgmental differences are pronounced. We may be growing at variant rates. Our level of tolerance and patience with those of lesser spiritual knowledge may be lacking substance. We may be reactive and fearful. Tradition may hold us in its grip. Our dream and vision for the work of God may vary significantly from that of others. Personality conflicts may be significant. Conflict resolution may not be our forte. Power struggles may surface openly. We may fail to work through our challenges. Instead of speaking softly, we may be carrying a big stick. We fail to consider the delicate spiritual state of other children of God. Things are said and done. And it happens: We inadvertently break another’s spirit. Their dedication and faith is seriously damaged. They will likely, never be the same again. The marks left behind are indelible.
Brethren, each of us, from the least to the greatest, have a godly responsibility to nurture one another (Eph. 4:11-16). There will be times when either positive or negative discipline should be administered through proper channels. May we be blessed with a measure of wisdom which allows each of us to pursue the good and right while protecting rather than breaking the spirit of brethren of like precious faith. Our Lord will surely hold us accountable for the destruction of those left in our charge and care. May we protect their spirits as we protect our own. Surely this will glorify the Lord and His church and influence the world to reevaluate the body of Christ.
“And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,” – Ex. 34:6
As we mature in our faith, we want to become more and more like the God we serve. Exodus 34:6 shows us many of God’s attributes that we should strive for as best we can, such as goodness and truth. Paul also teaches us about goodness and truth in Romans 15:14, noting the people in Rome “also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another.”
It is interesting to note that Paul mentions they are full of goodness before he says they are able to admonish one another. This teaches us a pretty important lesson. We are often quick to notice and point out the flaws or sins in someone else’s life. But if we do this without the right spirit (being full of goodness), we will simply pepper them with harsh words that can offend much more than help. When we approach people with a self-righteous and judgmental attitude, they may choose not to hear what we say because of how we say it. If our attempts to correct others begin with our desire to look smarter or godlier, then we are not helping anyone at all.
However, if we are maturing in our faith and becoming more like God, we will be growing in goodness. And when we are full of goodness, our motives in helping others will be pure. The point won’t be how smart we are; the point will be how God may use us to help another person. And the other person will be more likely to listen to what we have to say, if they can tell it is coming from good intention and love.
Being full of goodness means loving God with all your heart and letting His love and mercy fill your entire life. When you’re full of God’s goodness, it will begin to overflow and have a positive effect on everyone around you. And when others are touched by this godly goodness, they may want to find out where it came from. Then they too can meet the God of goodness who can changer their lives forever. It can all start with you!
This is a question that popped into my head yesterday. With all the cold weather around the country, it should be no surprise that we got our share. The snow was nice to see and it was exciting for our young son to experience it for the first time. However, troubles come with snow most of the time. It is always a possibility that power may go out when the weather gets bad enough. Sure enough, we lost power sometime in the middle of the night. This is not something we haven’t dealt with before though. My wife and I have lost power before but this time seemed very different. It was the first time that we went without power with a baby in the house. It made me realize just how much we needed that electricity. If it was just us, we could have managed the cold. Our son has needs that only the electricity could supply. He doesn’t understand how to keep himself bundled up for warmth when the temperatures are freezing. Luckily, he will drink cold milk but it is definitely not his preference. All that to say, we rely on the ability to flip a switch and have power at our fingertips more than we ever realized.
It made me think though, do I rely on God and Jesus this much? Are they so important to our everyday lives that without them our days grow difficult or even unbearable? The truth is, we must rely on God and Jesus that much. Without them there would be nothing, no life, no you or me. “In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). You can continue reading on from there and see God go on to create all aspects of life including people. If you look at John 1:1 and following you would see that Jesus was there at the beginning with God as the Word that helped to create all things and continues to hold all things together. Unfortunately, after we were created, like bad weather causing problems, sin was brought into the world by going against what God commanded. This continues today whenever we choose to go against God. Because of our sin we are separated from the one who we need the most. Luckily for us, this is not the end of the story.
Insert God’s love here. If we look further into the gospel of John, we get to the famous passage John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” This is not the only passage we should know, but it does give us an idea about why we need to rely on God and Jesus so much. God loves us enough to show us grace and mercy. Mercy because we deserve punishment that He is willing to forego. Grace because He is willing to also bless us with a gift that we don’t deserve and could never earn in spite of our sin. But the only way we could be blessed in either of these ways is because He was willing to allow His Son (Jesus) to die for our sins and it is our belief, trust, and obedience to Him that affords us the blessings of His sacrifice.
So, what do you rely on? Is it the amount of money in the bank? Is it the job that pays the money? Is it the car that gets you to the job? Is it your family that takes care of you? Is it the government that provides what you need? The truth, however sad it may seem to be, is that all of those thing like electricity could be gone. And they may never come back. Nothing on this earth will last forever or ultimately be reliable. God and His Son are the only truly reliable sources that you will ever find. They were here at the beginning and the will continue after the earth is no more. Don’t take them for granted like electricity. A day is coming when the light switch of life will no longer work. When that day comes it will be too late to start believing and relying on them. If you have a desire not to perish and have eternal life, than choose to rely on Jesus today. It is those that believe and follow Him that have blessings from God that are necessary for eternal life.
Throughout the bible, you can see that many nations are often influenced by a single person. This can be good and it can be bad because if that influence is coming from a man of God like Elijah or Elisha the influence is good. However, if it comes from a man like Jeroboam or any of the kings of the Northern kingdom of Israel the influence would only cause damage. If we look at the book of Kings we can see Josiah as a good influence example. Upon finding and reading a lost book teaching him about God, Josiah did away with the idols and brought the people back to God (2 Kings 23). On the opposite side of the coin, a king like Omri of the northern kingdom did evil in the sight of the Lord even to the point of being worse than all those before him (1 Kings 16:25).
Today, just like then, we have kings and presidents that run the nations around the globe. They, just like the leaders of the past, are doing one of two things; they are either leading people to God or away from God. There is nothing else as important as the influence that they have in those regards. We too like leaders of the world have a realm of influence. Some of us might be able to influence more people than others but how are we using that influence. Are we like Paul or Josiah bringing people to God, or are we like Omri or Charles Darwin who led people away from God with their influence? As Christians, our influence can be great. If we are willing to spread the Word of God and the blessings that come with having a relationship with God, then we will influence people towards God. We may never influence a whole nation but we each will have the ability to influence people that others can’t. So let’s be like Josiah and so many others that influenced people to come to God. Jacob Saarloos
