Critically Important Qualities

 

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—2 Peter 1:5-8

Most people realize that in order to become successful when pursuing any particular occupation, an individual must develop a number of critically important qualities. These qualities channel the efforts of the individual in the proper direction.

As ambassadors of the Great King Jesus, we followers of Christ must also apprehend certain key qualities that will allow us to develop our full potential as servants of God in this needy world. The Apostle Peter outlined those qualities in 2 Peter 1:5-8:

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Obviously, we cannot obtain these qualities by ourselves. We must rely on the assistance of the Holy Spirit. As we open our minds and hearts and wills to the leading of the Spirit, He will guide us into a fullness of each of these critically important qualities.

At the start of this new day, let’s agree to partner with the Holy Spirit that we might obtain the critically important qualities that will make us the best possible ambassadors for Christ that we can possibly be. Surely that will be a most excellent assignment for today.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Trust and Understand

 

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

—Romans 8:28

When our world turns upside down, we have to find something to which we can hold firm. There is not better handhold than the words that the Apostle Paul wrote to the new Christians at Rome, as recorded in Romans 8:28:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

No matter what happens in our lives, we can rest secure in the knowledge that God is at work for our good. He always has our best interest in mind.

Yes, I know that sometimes it is very hard to see the benefit that will accrue to us through some tragedy that may befall us. Nevertheless, over time, it often becomes clear that God is working out His plan for our lives.

One of the things we often lose sight of in the midst of the trials and difficulties of our lives is the fact that we do not live in a vacuum. As our days unfold, our lives touch the lives of countless other people. Sometimes, the things that happen to us have a profound effect on others.

As a fifth grader, I remember the death of a relatively young man in our church who happened to work with a crew of men for the natural gas utility company. His fellow crew members came to the funeral.

One of those men was so deeply touched by that funeral sermon that he began to bring his wife and three children to our church on a regular basis. Eventually, the entire family became believers in the life-transforming power of Christ.

The death of the man was certainly a tragedy to his family and friends. Yet here is an example of God at work for the good of those He loves. Through that death, God used the circumstances to irresistibly draw at least five other people into His mercy, grace, and love.

As this new day begins, let’s cling to the reality that God is at work within us to will and to do of His good pleasure. As I wrote above, He always has our best interest in mind. He is working His will to bring glory to His name and to bring His blessings into our lives—even in the midst of the darkest of days.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Precious Promises

 

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

—2 Peter 1:4

Throughout the Bible, we read many promises that God has so graciously given to His dearly loved children. Our very existence depends on these promises of God.

The Apostle Peter confirmed how important these promises really are when he wrote the words found in 2 Peter 1:4:

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Our participation in God’s divine nature depends on the faithfulness of God’s promises.

As we begin yet another day, let’s bask in the glory of these precious promises and receive them with great joy.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Covenant-keeping God

 

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”

—Deuteronomy 7:9

Do you always keep your promises? Or, do you treat your promises rather cavalierly?

I have acquaintances in my life who are men and women of their word. If they say they will do something, they will do it—even if it turns out to be harder or more inconvenient for them than they had expected.

I have other acquaintances in my life who say they will do something—but, when I hear them speak I know that the chances of them following through and actually doing what they say is about 50-50.

You might think that the latter group is comprised of terrible people. But, that’s simply not true.

Some of the nicest people I know go through life with their pathway paved by good intentions that never bear fruit. They are sincere and when they say they’ll do something, they really intend to do it. It’s just that the way they manage their lives is not driven by doing whatever it takes to keep their word.

Fortunately, for those of us who believe in the life-transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ, God is one who always keeps His promises. We have a special name for God’s promises. We call them “covenants.”

When God makes a covenant, He always keeps that covenant. He never forgets. He never lets anything get in the way. He says what He means and He means what He says—always!

Moses wrote about this when he recorded what he said to the people of Israel in Deuteronomy 7:9:

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

God is a covenant-keeping God. That is really good news for us. We can count on Him keeping His promises to us. We can depend on the truth of His Word. We can rely on His faithfulness.

As we begin another day, let’s determine to rest in the promises of God. And, let’s share, with everyone the Holy Spirit nudges us to engage, how wonderfully dependable God is.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Think Differently 1

 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

—Isaiah 55:8-9

Imagine for just a moment that we would stop to compare how we humans think with how God thinks. In my last blog post, I wrote about how incomprehensible God really is. If we humans think very differently from each other, is it such a surprise that God’s way of thinking is also very different from our own?

In speaking to the people of Judah, the Prophet Isaiah reports this conversation with God, as recorded in Isaiah 55:8-9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

There is great comfort in knowing that things we may find confusing are not at all confusing to God. Things that give us anxiety or fear do not provoke those emotions in God. Why? Because His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.

Throughout this new day, we have every reason to take comfort from the fact that God is high above us in every way, including His thinking and His acting. He thinks very differently than we do. The very fact that this is the God who loves us should give us great peace, as we move through this day.

 

____________________

¹ Here’s some background information about understanding how people think differently.

Almost twenty-five years ago, I made a startling discovery. At the time I was the Director of Loss Prevention Training for a large Highly Protected Risk (HPR) property insurance company. I was responsible for a team of instructors and support personnel, who conducted the training and certification of newly hired fire protection engineers. We were very fortunate to have at our disposal the largest fire protection training laboratory in the world. It was an amazing time in my professional life.

Working as a team, we changed a traditional “learn-the-facts” based training program into a full-fledged certification program that confirmed the competency of the engineers in a long list of necessary skills. We expanded the program to include some courses on how to understand and get along with people. Since the engineers would be dealing with a wide range of different individuals during the course of their daily work, this seemed like a very good idea. And, it proved to be true.

Through my contacts in the Evangelical Christian world, my wife and I had met a truly gifted individual, Kathy Koch, Ph.D. When we first met her at a Christian Educators Association International annual meeting, she was a tenured professor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. But, not long after we met her, she responded to the call of God, left her secure academic career, moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, and founded a ministry to parents, teachers, and children called “Celebrate Kids.” (Those of you who may be Facebook friends will note that from time to time I share videos or other information from Dr. Kathy here on Facebook.)

Knowing of my background in Psychology, one day Dr. Kathy contacted me to share an exciting new instrument she had discovered for understanding “self” and “others.” Called the Gregorc Style Delineator™, and based on the work of Anthony F. Gregorc, Ph.D., this instrument helps determine an individual’s Mind Style™.

Soon, Dr. Kathy and Helen “Chip” Griepsma, the Training Director from BCM International (formerly Bible Club Movement), came to our home in Windsor, Connecticut, so that all three of us could attend one of Dr. Gregorc’s seminars on the understanding and use of his instrument. The seminar was held at a hotel near the Hartford-Springfield International Airport. There, we met Dr. Gregorc and his lovely wife, Diane. It was the beginning of a long and close personal friendship that continues to this day. And, it was a complete game changer for me, and for the others.

I had been familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and had used it in previous training classes. But, Dr. Gregorc’s instrument was so much easier to use and understand. And, it gave such amazingly helpful results that student after student reported having a significant change in perspective.

The principal thing I learned in very understandable terms was how very differently people take in information and then process and order that information out. Since I had always had more than a little difficulty with interpersonal relationships, this new understanding was extremely helpful to me. Much of the time that we have difficulty getting along with someone it’s because we think differently.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Tell Them Why!

 

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

—1 Peter 3:15

“By any chance, are you a Christian?”

The gentleman asking me that question was a student in one of my fire protection systems seminars. It was break time. We always based our classes on the so-called “50-minute Hour” in order to maximize the effectiveness of adult learning. So, we lectured, demonstrated, or had group projects for 50 minutes and then gave the attendees a ten-minute break each hour.

Since this was only the third morning hour of the first day of a five-day seminar, the question surprised me.

“Yes, I am,” I responded. “I’m curious why you asked that particular question.”

“There’s something different about you. I tried to figure out what it was. Then, I remembered who you reminded me of—my sister. You see, she became one of those born-again Christians about six months ago. Her life really changed. Even the way she looked: the smile on her face, the glow about her, a sense of peace. Looking at you reminded me of the way she looked after she became a Christian.”

Now I know that I am, in fact, a horrible, awful, terrible sinner. Yet, I am a sinner saved by God’s grace. Apart from God’s hand on my life, there is absolutely nothing special about me. In fact, many people who know me would be very quick to say what a very unappealing person I am. But, here’s this stranger responding to something that must clearly have come from the Holy Spirit.

Over the course of the next four days, this gentleman kept seeking me out for conversations. He had lots of questions about what it meant to be a Christian. I gave him as many answers as I could. It was obvious to me that his sister had been witnessing to him about what Jesus meant to her. I was simply another Christian with whom God chose to connect him.

It would make a nicer story if I could tell you I led this dear man to Christ. But, when I asked Him if he thought he was ready to take that step, he indicated he needed to think about it some more. He did tell me he was reading through Luke’s gospel, as his sister had suggested. I told him to keep reading and to keep asking his sister questions.

Why do I share this story with you? Because in the daily, common life of one who follows Jesus, this is the kind of thing that will and should happen over and over again.

We don’t need to go out of our way to do anything other than remain open to the fact that from time to time the Holy Spirit will bring someone across our pathway who needs a word of encouragement, or prayer, or just a listening ear.

The Apostle Peter said it best when he wrote these words recorded in 1 Peter 3:15:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

Because we revere Christ as our Savior, Lord, and King, He will use us to give testimony to the changes He has brought about in our lives.

No, were not perfect. In fact, we’re far from perfect. After all, we’re still sinners even though we know our sins are forgiven. The sin nature resides within us.

But, because we are “real” people, God can use us to touch the lives of others. In fact, He will often use us in combination with other believers, as He did in the case I cited above.

Let’s rejoice this day that we have the opportunity to be ones who “…give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” What a truly blessed opportunity God has given us to represent Him in the most gentle and respectful way.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Why Did He Call Us?

 

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…”

—2 Timothy 1:9

Did you ever wonder why God chose us to belong to Himself? Of course, He did this before the foundation of the earth. But, why—why did God choose us?

We will never know this side of eternity. Nevertheless, for some reason beyond our comprehension, God did, indeed, choose us to belong to Himself.

Not only did He choose us, He also called us. He called us to become His ambassadors of mercy, grace, and love to a troubled and needy world. He has empowered us by the indwelling Holy Spirit to do the work of His Kingdom in the here and now.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words about God to Timothy, as recorded in 2 Timothy 1:9:

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time…

God chose us for His purpose and grace. That’s all we need to know for now. We can take God’s faithfulness to the bank.

What a wonderful way to start a new day—filled with the knowledge of God having chosen us and having called us. So, let’s go take on the day!

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Comfort As You’ve Been Comforted

 

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

—2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In our daily walk with Jesus, we often encounter people who need a word of comfort. Most of us feel quite inadequate to know exactly what words to say that might bring the love, peace, and comfort of Jesus into a trying and difficult situation.

But, we only need to reflect on the ways Jesus has comforted us when we have experienced trials and difficulties in our own lives. Most of us have experienced the death of a loved one. Most of us have had circumstances befall us that have tried our faith, at least for a moment or two. Most of us have experienced heartache and sorrow. Most of us have experienced the frustration of being misunderstood by others, or mistreated by someone who does not want to take the time to understand who we really are.

In each of these cases, God has wrapped His loving arms around us by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He has surrounded us with His kindness and compassion. He has sent His choice servants to minister to us in our time of need. He has displayed His comfort to us in a myriad of ways.

It is the comfort that we have experienced in our pasts that we can now extend to others. Notice how the Apostle Paul expressed this thought, as recorded in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

As this new day begins, let’s remember to quickly share God’s comfort with those we meet along the road of life who are currently in need of that comfort. From the wellspring of comfort with which God has comforted us, let us extend every bit of His love and kindness that we can. In so doing, we show the depth and quality of the love of God that He offers to His dearly loved children.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Prayer of the Penitent

 

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

—Psalm 139:23-24

I believe that we who follow Jesus should both begin and end each of our days in prayer. I also believe that the first part of these prayers should follow a pattern established by King David when he wrote the following words, as recorded in Psalm 139:23-24:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

This prayer of King David is clearly a prayer of the penitent. David recognizes that he is a sinner. He recognizes that God is his salvation. He invites God to closely examine the totality of David’s being to bring to light any flaw—any unconfessed sin—that David might confess and repent of that sin. And, David invites God to lead him in the pathway that points to everlasting life.

What a better way for us to begin and conclude each day. A “Prayer of the Penitent” that we should earnestly desire to pray: before we start and as we end each day.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Praised for Faithfulness

 

“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.”

—Isaiah 25:1

One of the hardest jobs that has ever existed is the job of prophet. It takes someone with a strong sense of self, wrapped in a tight cloak of humility, and with no little amount of fearlessness to be a prophet.

Isaiah was just such a man. A close relative of the king, he served God for a significantly long period of time in the southern kingdom of Judah.

As you may remember, the nation of Israel had divided into two parts. The Northern Kingdom of Israel—rebelling against the Davidic succession of kings—consisted of ten tribes of the original nation, including the half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The Southern Kingdom of Judah—remaining loyal to the Davidic succession of kings—consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Each of the 66 chapters of the Book that bears his name contains amazing accounts of the prophetic words of Isaiah. But, none have more impact on him personally than his acknowledgement that he could not effectively serve in his prophetic (forth-telling) role without the faithfulness of God. Notice these words of the Prophet Isaiah recorded in Isaiah 25:1:

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

This is how each of us should feel toward the God who loves us with His everlasting love. As we begin this new day, let’s give praise to God for His faithfulness and for the wonderful things He has planned for us long ago.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Impress Them On Your Children

 

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

—Deuteronomy 6:6-7

God has never blessed me with children. But, I still realize that it’s an awesome responsibility to raise a child.

In laying the foundation with God’s Chosen People, the Jews, God gave some very specific instructions on how to help parents instill the articles of faith within the hearts and minds of each succeeding generation. Note these words of Moses from Deuteronomy 6:6-7:

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

The most important people with whom we share what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus, is our children. We must not neglect our children. Nothing in this life is more important than helping our children learn more and more about Jesus.

I sit on the sidelines and grieve, as I watch Christian parents get all excited about sending their children to one of the Ivy League universities. They talk about how the prestige of a Harvard, or Yale, or Princeton education will set their children up for life.

I grieve because I know from my own personal experience that the very best education available for Christian children is found at an Evangelical Christian college or university. I will put my education at Houghton College up against the education of anyone I know. Every aspect of my college life was infused with Christian love and Christian discipleship.

My professors were committed Christians. They were significant scholars in their various fields of study. We had some of the most renowned speakers from the Christian world in our daily chapel services. We had opportunities for Christian service in a wide variety of settings. We formed friendships with other Christians that have lasted a lifetime. Many of my classmates married someone they met at that Christian college—a spouse who shares their worldview and believes as we believe.

It grieves me when I see Christian parents sending their children to secular universities, especially when unbelievably better Christian colleges and universities are available in the particular field of study. Nevertheless, I will continue to champion the cause of a Christian college or university education.

And, as we begin another day, let’s remember that training our children to become disciples of Jesus is, perhaps, the most important thing we will ever do.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Do Not Be Discouraged

 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

—Joshua 1:9

It is very easy to become discouraged. In fact, it really doesn’t take much happening in our lives that produces stress to put us in a discouraged mood. So, how do we lift our spirits?

One day, thousands of years ago, Joshua stood before God and Joshua was very discouraged. His leader, Moses, had died. God had told Joshua that it was he who would lead the people of Israel across the river and into the Promised Land.

Joshua was much like us. He didn’t think he was up to the task. In a way, he was right. In and of himself, Joshua didn’t have the kind of power and might that such a leadership role would demand.

But, God spoke to Joshua and the words are recorded in Joshua 1:9:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Each day, when we move out into the world to do what God has commanded us to do, we can remember that the God of Joshua is our God, too. Just as He gave these words of encouragement to Joshua, we can take these words as our own.

So, dear ones, let’s cling to these words of God this day: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

When Tested, Stay On The Path

 

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.”

—Job 23:10-11

When your world turns upside down, what do you do? I scream out for help. I’m not ashamed of it either. I scream out for help. I also cling tightly to what I sincerely believe is true.

More than thirty years ago, I heard a report about a man who had walked with God almost all the years of his life. He had proven himself a faithful steward in the past. Then, a great tragedy struck in his life. His wife became gravely ill and, after three years of intensive and excruciating treatment, she died.

During her treatment, this man held tightly to his faith. He believed God was going to heal his wife. After all, the man reasoned, he had served God faithfully all his adult life. He had even sacrificed to do so. And, besides all that, his wife was a lovely lady, faithful to God in her own right. But, things did not turn out as this man expected. So, he turned away from God in a subtle, but deadly way. He pursued a new definition of God—as if God can be defined—and in so doing, he lost nearly everything that mattered.

And, that, you see, is the fundamental problem: expectations. Things do not always turn out the way we expect. When that happens, we are always surprised. I wonder, though, whether we should be surprised at all.

You see God is simply beyond our comprehension. Oh, I realize that we study the Bible in order to know as much about God as He chooses to reveal to us. And, it’s very important that we do that. We also have the person of Jesus, God in human flesh. By studying Jesus, we can learn much about how God-with-us, Immanuel, thinks, acts, and lives.

In addition, hundreds, if not thousands, of books have been written about God to help us understand who He really is. Two of my favorites are Knowing God by J. I. Packer and Your God Is Too Small: A Guide for Believers and Skeptics Alike by J. B. Phillips. Both of these authors have pristine credentials as deeply committed believers.

John Bertram Phillips was an Englishman and a friend of C. S. Lewis. He pastored several churches and is best known for writing a translation of the New Testament that he hoped would help the young adults in his congregation learn to read, study, and understand the Scriptures. James Innell Packer is a British-born Canadian theologian who has contributed much to the scholarship of the Evangelical (Reformed) understanding of Scripture. I heartily commend both of these excellent books.

However, without meaning even a twinkle of disrespect, neither of these great men can possibly begin to comprehend the enormous greatness of God—nor do they claim to do so. For God is so far beyond human comprehension that it boggles the mind.

So, you see, we can never predict the outcome of anything that might befall us here on earth. It was as logical that this man’s wife would die, as it was that she would be healed.

The key to living out our lives in the face of the difficulties of life is to trust that whatever happens, God’s hand will never leave us. He will provide exactly what we need. And, He will do so whenever He knows the time is right for us.

No man in all of history has suffered more for his faith in God than the Patriarch Job. Bible scholars don’t know exactly where Job fits in to the timeline of history. But, most agree that Job falls into the story somewhere after the Fall in the Garden of Eden and the arrival on the scene of Abraham. If you want to know more about Job, I urge you to read the first chapter of the Book that bears his name.

In giving testimony after Job’s great loss, he still spoke these words about God, as recorded in Job 23:10-11:

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside.

Job knew he was being tested. He also knew that he would remain steadfast in his faith. He trusted God in a way that most of us will never have to trust Him.

Job’s testimony of faithfulness proved true. God made a new way for Job. God didn’t reverse what had happened to Job. But, God gave Job a new life that was even better than the life he had once had.

No, we can never even come close to truly comprehending God. But, we can learn about Him by observing what He has done down through the ages with the people He has called to Himself. Job was one of those people. Job remained faithful. God remained faithful—not because Job was faithful—because God is God, and that’s who He is.

As we begin another day, let’s remember that our God is faithful. He will never leave us and never forsake us. He holds all the power and might of the universe in His mighty hand—the same hand that He offers to us whenever we turn to Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Our Only Desire

 

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

—Psalm 73:25-26

Today, we will hear from a professional musician.

“What? A ‘professional musician’? Scandalous! Why in our church we don’t believe in paying musicians. Only those who wish to volunteer are welcome to participate in our services!”

Over my 69 years of life, but more particularly in the last four decades or so, I’ve encountered this somewhat negative idea several times, particularly in Evangelical churches. The idea that a church might pay a double quartet of singers to form the foundation of a choir brings such a strident response that you might think someone had suggested serving hard liquor during Holy Communion.

I realize that some feel the hiring of professional musicians would discourage non-professionals from participating or even make the non-professionals feel somehow inadequate. Instead, in those places where professional musicians bolster choir performance in worship, or perform other music to the glory of God in worship services, a level of excellence arises that surely pleases God. The professionals encourage the non-professionals to become better musicians.

King David, no slouch as a musician himself, employed professional musicians from the tribe of Levi and paid them to write Psalms and perform music during worship. Good enough for King David, good enough for me.

For example, Asaph was one of those professionals whom David hired. Notice the following verses from one of his Psalms, as recorded in Psalm 73:25-26:

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Whenever some health issue or other difficulty comes into our lives, it is reasonable that we might be moved to consider what really counts in our lives. At such times, we might long to be like Asaph and acknowledge that “earth has nothing we desire besides you” O God.

In moments of distress, even relatively minor ones, our hearts can soar when we realize that the love of God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever.

Maybe you’re one who is fighting something far more deadly than a minor issue. Perhaps cancer has you in its insidious grip. Or, maybe heart disease assails you. Or, maybe some other deadly health issue has risen to smack you around.

Please be encouraged this day. God is our portion. He is the strength of our hearts. No matter what we may face, we do not face it alone. He is with us every step of the way. He is now and ever will be our only desire.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

He Always Answers

 

“I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.”

—Psalm 120:1

Have you ever tried to place a telephone call to reach someone and all you heard was a busy signal? In the age of call-waiting that may be a rarity today. Instead of hearing that awful buzz-buzz-buzz of the busy signal, we hear the ring-ring-ring until the voice mail or answering machine picks up.

Many years ago, a few months after I married my beloved sweetheart, we drove from Houghton, NY to near Philadelphia, PA to attend the wedding of my wife’s college suite mate. It was a very lovely wedding. But, on our way back to Houghton, about an hour into the eight-hour drive, our car broke down on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The car was only a few months old, so a breakdown was not anticipated.

This was in 1968, so we did not have cellular telephones. Our breakdown occurred near an exit ramp and we were able to coast part way up the ramp. I walked to the toll booth to place a call to my dad. The phone rang and rang and rang. I was so very frustrated. Where could he be? Didn’t he realize I needed his help?

When we get ourselves in trouble, we can always “place a call” to God and He always answers. He always hears our call for help. He always responds. The Psalmist noted this in Psalm 120:1:

I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.

We can begin this new day knowing that if some difficulty befalls us, God will hear our call for help. He will keep us safely in the hollow of His mighty hand.

I don’t know about you, but I am comforted to know that we will never get voice mail or a busy signal when we call on the God who loves us with His everlasting love.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Spirit Not Timid

 

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

—2 Timothy 1:7

Yesterday, I watched a new commentator join a panel at the end of a television news program. He came with sterling credentials from a major Washington, DC, newspaper. He was reasonably good looking and seemed to exude a professional demeanor.

However, when he began to answer the hosts questions, he stammered and inserted an “ah” between almost every word. It was as if in the stark lights of the television set, he lost his ability to communicate effectively.

I cannot say that he was fearful or timid. But, he was obviously not as comfortable verbalizing his thoughts as he most obviously is when he writes his newspaper column. There’s really nothing wrong with that—other than a bit of awkwardness for the audience.

In sharing God’s love with others, we need not feel uncomfortable or timid. God will give us the words to say, as He prompts us through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

We can rest in the knowledge that He will enable us to speak boldly, yet with kindness and gentleness whenever He prompts us to share what He has done for us.

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was sharing with his “son-in-the-faith” Timothy, when Paul wrote these words recorded in 2 Timothy 1:7:

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

God will empower us, this very day, to meet the people who cross our pathway with hearts full of God-breathed love. He will enable us to say appropriate words that will honor Him when we talk to those we meet.

So, let’s strike out into the needy world today with a sense of humble confidence that comes from the God who loves us and enables us to represent Him well.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Demonstrable Love

 

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

—1 John 3:18

In pursuing someone that we may love, we all learn the lesson early that it’s simply not enough to merely say we love that person. We have to make a genuine effort to show our love—to demonstrate it—in as tangible a way as possible.

Because we who follow in the footsteps of Jesus recognize that, as His ambassadors, we must demonstrate His love, we must face the question: “How can we best show God’s love to others?”

The Apostle John offers some words of advice in 1 John 3:18:

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

We show God’s love by how we act toward others—not in a false way, but in the most truthful way possible. This has become increasingly difficult in a society where we observe behaviors that we may not agree with because we believe such behavior is sinful. Yet, Jesus treated sinners with love and compassion in the hope that He might draw them irresistibly into His mercy, grace, and love.

That’s a good pattern for us, as we begin a new day. No matter what we may think about the particular behavior of others, our charge is to demonstrate the love of God to them with compassion and also with truth.

The lead pastor of Hillsong Church in Australia, Brian Houston, was recently asked how his church would respond to people who had chosen a lifestyle that differed with his church’s beliefs. He answered, “We will welcome them with love and kindness, but we will not affirm their behavior.”

That sounds like a very difficult, even challenging, way to live. But, isn’t that exactly what the Apostle John suggested in the verse above?

No one said living for Jesus would be easy—just that it would be the most blessing-filled way of life.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Proof of Love

 

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

—1 John 4:9

“Do you love me? I mean, do you really love me?”

Have you ever heard those words said to you. Or, even a more profound question, have you ever said those words to someone?

On the one hand, those words offer a uniquely revealing gambit to the conversation that might follow. They could come as a bit of a coy opener. Or, more probably, they could come from a momentary sense of insecurity.

I’m no stranger to insecurity when it comes to interpersonal relationships. So, I can identify with the plaintive, almost whiny, voice that asks, “Do you love me?”

Fortunately, the most important love relationship is the one we have with God. His love is from everlasting to everlasting. It never fails. It always flows from Him to us in an amazingly supportive way.

The Apostle John seemed to anticipate the fact that some of the early Christians might, from time to time, begin to doubt the reality of God’s love for them. In response, he penned these words found in 1 John 4:9:

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Can there ever be a more positive and affirming way of showing His love than for God to have sacrificed His one and only Son in our place? I think not. And, it’s is something we should remember at the beginning of this new day.

God’s love is so great for us, that He sent His Son to die on our behalf. No wonder we sing songs of praise about His enormous love for us. No wonder we can always safely rest in shelter of His loving arms.

We never need ask God, “Do you love me?” He has already answered with a resounding, “Yes!”

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Reaching Out

 

“Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.”

—Psalm 41:1

Have you heard the phrase: “What goes around, comes around”? Of course you have. We usually use this phrase to talk about someone who has done something bad and eventually has something bad done to him or her.

Popular culture often uses the word “karma.” That word is used without fully understand its true meaning in Eastern religions. Nevertheless, we sort of like the idea that when someone does something nasty, eventually he or she will get their due.

But, the phrase “What goes around, comes around” can also have a positive meaning. It’s especially important for people who believe that if they could only be good enough, perhaps God will consider letting them into heaven when they die. But, of course, that’s not how salvation works.

Salvation requires a blood sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. God knew we could never succeed in making that sacrifice for ourselves. So, in ancient Israel, God required the sacrifice of a lamb to take away the sins of His people. This sacrifice was performed once each year on the Day of Atonement. But, God knew that this was a temporary, stop-gap measure. He had an even grander plan in mind.

God wanted to provide a permanent sacrifice for the sins of those people He had chosen to belong to Himself—people that He had singled out before the foundation of the earth. While it remains a great mystery to us why God might have chosen us, He did so, nevertheless.

God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to be born as a human through the immaculate conception of a young Jewish virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit. This Son, fully God, yet fully man, lived on this earth. During the totality of His life, He did not sin.

When God’s time had come, He gave His Son the horrible privilege of dying on a cruel Roman cross of torture, while Jesus bore the sins of all mankind. The shedding of His blood paid the ultimate and perfect sacrificial penalty for our sins.

Therefore, it is only through Jesus, God’s precious Son, that we can recognize that we belong to God and upon our death will spend eternity in heaven with Him.

But, what about the idea that “What goes around, comes around” insofar as our good deeds here on earth?

To begin with, we who believe in God through His Son, Jesus, seek to follow God’s leading in our lives out of reverence to Him. We don’t do good deeds for a reward. We do them because that’s what God’s beloved people do.

But, in spite of our most honorable reasons, God does look on favor with those who do good deeds, especially when we help people who are helpless. Notice what King David writes in Psalm 41:1:

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.

We show regard, or care for, the weak and helpless because we love God and want to serve as His ambassadors here on earth. In fact, that’s what He has called us to do. But, it is also true that when we show regard for the weak, this verse promises that God will deliver us in times of trouble.

That doesn’t mean we will never have problems or difficulties in this life. No, not at all. We live in a sinful world. Because of that, we are subjected to disease and many other kinds of trouble.

We may lose our jobs. Our spouse may divorce us. Our children may turn their backs on us. We may be hurt in an accident. The list of possible trouble goes on and on.

But for a believer, God promises deliverance—not prevention, but deliverance. And that, dear ones, is really good news.

We can launch out into each new day with the confidence in knowing that whatever may come our way, God will ultimately deliver us in times of trouble.

Our confidence comes from God’s loving hand. He breathes His love into us that we may share that love with others. We don’t need to waste one second worrying about the future. God will always—always—deliver us in times of trouble.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

I Have Plans for You

 

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

—Jeremiah 29:11-13

Whether we’re on the front line of a battle about to face a brutal enemy, or sitting in a conference room at the corporate headquarters of a fast food change, or gathered at the base of a radio transmitting tower where we’re about to install a new antenna, we want to know what the plan is for this endeavor.

Unless we’re completely foolhardy, we want to know that someone has carefully studied all aspects of the task that lies ahead. We want that person or persons to have taken all the information available, considered the risks, gathered the necessary tools, and written a careful step-by-step plan that will virtually guarantee success.

You must have heard the old saying: “If you fail to plan, then you’ve planned to fail.” Is that trite, or is it true? I can recount many stories of the best intentions gone wrong because the people involved did not have a proper plan.

The need for a plan applies to our lives as well. In order to stay on the path that God has laid out before us, we need a plan.

But, if we rely on our own resources, we cannot possibly create a proper plan for our pathway in life because we do not know everything we need to know about our own lives. There is only one person who knows everything and can write that plan.

The Prophet Jeremiah recognized how important this was and gave the people in his charge these words of encouragement directly from God, as found in Jeremiah 29:11-13:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Whew! We have a plan! And, that plan comes from the God who loves us with His everlasting love. He has written that plan in His own hand. He has placed that plan in our hands through His written Word, the Bible. He has given us a Guide to help us execute His plan through the person of the Holy Spirit who dwells within everyone who believes.

Let’s boldly take on this day, knowing that God has a perfect plan for us. We can move out into the world with confidence. God has a plan for us. His plan will not harm us. He will prosper us and give us hope and a future. Blessed by the Name of the Lord!

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Planning the Good, Rather Than Evil

 

“Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.”

—Proverbs 14:22

Did your high school class have a “class nerd”? Most every high school class has one. Mine was a painfully shy, extremely skinny, extraordinarily bright young man whose arms were so thin that it looked as if a very stiff wind might break his bones. Naturally, he wore glasses, dressed in slightly out-of-fashion clothing, and, on dress-up days, always wore a bow tie.

Sadly, he was an easy target. Let me explain.

My high school was “segregated.” Not by race, but in a “where are you headed” way. We had college prep kids, business kids, general studies kids, vocational kids—and they rarely had anything to do with each other during the school day. The only class where the four segregated divisions were thrown together was physical education class.

This brilliant young man, let me call him “Ray,” had a horror that far surpassed my own experiences with being bullied, which I have chronicled in other blog posts. Because he was so amazingly physically weak, the vocational boys picked on him mercilessly in phys ed class. They did this mostly to try to get attention from the college prep girls, whom they always seem to target for dates with their “bad boy” image.

Our gymnasium was divided down the middle by a floor-to-ceiling folding wall: boys gym class on one side, girls gym class on the other side. The vocational boys would often drag poor Ray to the doorway built into the folding wall and push him over onto the girl’s side of the gym. Then, they would shut the door and not let him back inside.

This all came to a head one day, when they grabbed Ray, tore off his gym clothes, and pushed him naked through the door into the girl’s side of the gym.

Ray was absent from school for the rest of the week. When he did return, he never uttered a single word for the remaining four months of the school year—not one word. If a teacher called on Ray, he would just put his head down and shake it slowly from side-to-side.

An investigation disclosed that the vocational boys had plotted a whole series of humiliating taunts for Ray. They had detailed these plans in writing. Their plans were discovered and two of the ringleaders were expelled. But, as far as Ray was concerned, the damage was done.

We talk a lot about bullying when it comes to children. We hardly ever talk about bullying when it comes to adults. I wonder, as adults, how many of us make targets of those we perceive weaker than ourselves.

“Wait a minute,’ you may respond. “I’m not a bully!”

I hope that’s true. But, think for a moment. Have you ever plotted revenge because of something someone has done to you? You know what I mean: “I don’t get mad, I just get even!” That’s planning to do evil.

Far more adults, both men and women, are guilty of planning evil. They may not use physical means of bullying. But instead, they may choose to use unkind words, or gossip, or false statements, or a host of non-physical means to get even by bullying, playing on the weaknesses of others.

King Solomon had something to say about this when he wrote these words, recorded in Proverbs 14:22:

Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Let’s search our hearts today. If we have ever made plans to hurt someone, let’s ask God to forgive us and also ask the one we planned to harm to forgive us, as well.

And, if someone hurts us, let’s not respond in kind. Rather, let’s meet such behavior with God-breathed love.

Let’s determine to spend our time planning the good, rather than evil. That’s certainly a much better way to go.

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Fear

 

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

—1 John 4:18

Love has an ability to permeate the entirety or a person’s being. Love can turn someone who is mired in depression into a person with a much brighter outlook on life. Love can foster the development of a joyful spirit. Love can put a perpetual smile on a person’s face.

If love can do these things and more, just imagine what God-breathed love can do. God-breathed love can turn a spirit dark with the stains of many sins into a spirit that is totally clean and whiter than the whitest snow. God-breathed love can heal broken relationships, restore damaged friendship, supercharge marriages, elevate a person in the eyes of an employer, and much more.

A major advantage brought about by God-breathed love is that it can totally overcome fear. It can take someone who is locked in the rigid grip of pervasive fear and set that person free. Notice what the Apostle John wrote in 1 John 4:18:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Is there something that we dread today? Something that is creating fear within the core of our beings? Something that has us tightly bound to a sense of dread and foreboding?

If so, let us begin this new day by asking God to fill us full-to-overflowing with His God-breathed love. The Holy Spirit will use that God-breathed love to cast fear out of our beings. We can strike off into this day with the kind of freedom that can only come from the God who loves us so very much.

Living in this fearful world, yet without fear, is a great blessing. And, it is one that we should ardently seek.

How about it? Will you join me in making this request of the God of Love?

 

_{Copyright © 2017 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}