It Will All Be Okay

 

“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

I greatly enjoy reading mystery novels. From Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to Sue Grafton, I devour mystery novels. I enjoy seeing how the author unfolds the plot, the twists and turns, the ultimate discovery of the perpetrator, and the justice that comes in the end. In fact, certain mystery novels have so intrigued me that I have stayed up nearly all night reading until I reach the end of the book.

I also greatly enjoy the movies produced by the two Hallmark cable television channels. Of course, one of those channels is devoted to mysteries. The other to what some consider to be the most syrupy love stories of all time.

You may wonder what do these two delights of mine—mystery novels and the Hallmark channels—have in common. No matter how discouraging things may seem in the course of both the mystery story and the love story, I know that it will all be okay in the end. I admit it: I like happy endings. I enjoy a nicely convoluted plot with all of its ups and downs. But, when the story or movie ends, I want everything to work out just fine for the protagonist in the storyline.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can live our lives knowing that it will all be okay in the end. Notice what the Apostle Paul writes 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.

God makes certain that, no matter what trials, or difficulties, or discouragements we may face, it will all work out just exactly as He intends and that will be the best possible result. I know that sometimes it may not seem as if that is true.

I have been grieving the death of my dearly loved sister-in-law over the course of the last four and a half years. She was a wonderful wife, mother, and devoted follower of Jesus. If I had been writing the story of her life, she would have lived well up into her nineties, all the while enjoying her children, grandchildren, and perhaps even great-grandchildren. But, that didn’t happen. She died on July 30, 2015, after a difficult and courageous battle with multiple myeloma. She was only 67 years old.

For many months, hundreds of us prayed for God to heal her and restore her to full health. For a time, it seemed as if our prayers were answered. Then, the cancer returned with a vengeance and in a few weeks she was dead. My heart still aches at the thought of the years of life with her family that she did not get to enjoy.

But, I also realize that, as deep as my pain of loss may be, God actually did heal my dear sister-in-law. He welcomed her home to heaven where all pain and sorrow is gone. She now is fully alive in the best possible place she could be. Her new life—her eternal life—has begun. Someday soon, we will join her there.

God had a better plan than we had. And, the truth is, He always does. His plan for each of us is perfect. He will always remain faithful to those He loves. We can go out into this new day knowing that what the Apostle Paul wrote is true: “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Taught by the Anointing

 

“As for you, the anointing you received from him [Christ] remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

—1 John 2:27

One of the benefits of God choosing us to belong to Him comes forth in the anointing He has given us of His Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit comes to live in our bodies, we have direct access to God’s perfect will. Of course, to experience the fullness of this great gift, we must lay aside our own selfish wills and submit fully to God’s will.

In writing about this signal experience, the Apostle John penned these words, found in 1 John 2:27:

As for you, the anointing you received from him [Christ] remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

As we begin a new day, let’s agree to allow the Holy Spirit to continually teach us the things we need to know in order to please God and serve Him. If we do that, we will, indeed, become His choice ambassadors to our troubled and needy world.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Help from the Holy Spirit

 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

—Romans 8:26

Times arise in every person’s life when the circumstances seem so overwhelming that we simply cannot pray. We don’t know what to ask God to do. And, we seem so stricken by what has happened that words fail us.

In those times, it is a great comfort to know that the Holy Spirit will gladly pray in our behalf. The Spirit knows what we need. He knows what to ask the Father for in our behalf. And, He can give us a sense of comfort from the knowledge that He is caring for us.

Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:26:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

As we begin a new day, let’s not hesitate to ask the Holy Spirit to pray in our behalf whenever we just can’t find the right words to say. He will gladly do this for us. And, He will bring supreme comfort to our minds and hearts. We can move forward knowing that the best possible prayers have risen to the Father in our behalf.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Bind Love and Faithfulness Around Your Neck

 

“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

—Proverbs 3:3-4

As I’ve discussed before on this blog, certain qualities exist which greatly enhance the richness of our lives. Among those qualities are God-breathed love and God-induced faithfulness.

God certainly stands as the finest possible representative of both love and faithfulness. He pours His love out upon those He chooses to call to Himself. He marks their lives with His faithful connection. He has promised to never leave us and to never forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5).

Take note of what King Solomon has stated, as recorded in Proverbs 3:3-4:

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Here, Solomon describes the great benefit of allowing the Holy Spirit to imbue us with God-given love and God-given faithfulness. In fact, Solomon suggests that we bind them around our necks and write them on the tablets of our hearts. Why? So they will always be with us and we will never forget these sterling qualities. They represent God’s divine Presence in our lives.

By following the quest of sharing these qualities with others, we show forth God’s love and His faithfulness. In so doing, we allow the Holy Spirit to use us as God’s ambassadors. Our display of these qualities plants a seed of God into the hearts and minds of those who cross the pathway of our lives.

As we begin a new day, let’s not fail to display these God-given qualities of love and faithfulness. As we do, let’s pray that they will take hold of people’s lives in such a way that they will hear God calling to them to receive the gift of eternal life that He has chosen to give them.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Cherish His Teaching

 

A Blessed and Merry Christmas

 

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

—John 8:31-32

Reading, studying, meditating, and holding fast to the written Word of God gives those who believe the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to live their lives in harmony with God’s perfect will. That’s why the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the Holy Spirit-inspired authors of Scripture have such importance in our lives.

Notice these words of Jesus, as recorded in John 8:31-32:

“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The truth that God wants us to hold tightly in our minds and hearts comes to us through His written Word, the Bible. It not only contains truth, it is truth. The Bible presents us with the very essence of God, His holiness, His justice, His mercy, grace, and love—all that He wants us to know about Himself, His precious Son, and His blessed Holy Spirit.

As we begin another new day—even on this very special day when we celebrate the birth of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ—let’s not lay aside the reading and study of God’s written Word. Rather, let’s cherish the time that we spend each day reading and discovering more about the God who loves us with His infinite and eternal love.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Better Spirit, A Better Place

 

“Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.”

—Proverbs 16:19

Have you ever met someone who seemed headed for the top? In the business world, most of us have met such a person. He or she seems destined for greatness, at least insofar as holding a position of importance is concerned. And, far too often, such a person knows that he or she is on the way up and acts accordingly.

Instead of humility, such a person often displays an insufferable arrogance. I suspect that arrogance comes from climbing over the bodies of others on the way upward. I could tell you a number of stories from my business career of such individuals. None of those stories are very pretty.

In contrast, as followers of the Great King Jesus, we “Christ’s-ones” have a much different place in society. Though inheritors of the wealth and power of our King, we are destined to live in humility, extending the mercy, grace, and love of our King to all we meet.

King Solomon offered these words of wisdom for people such as us, found in Proverbs 16:19:

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

When we encounter people less fortunate than we are, we need to remember that we, too, are of low estate, at least as the world judges such matters. Increasingly, in our godless and secular society, we are outcasts, the brunt of jokes, ridiculed because of our faith, looked down upon because of the Christian principles we hold dear, and even hated for our sense of joy and peace. We do far better in the role of ministers to the poor and needy. We don’t need accolades or positions of power and influence. We simply need to become more and more obedient to our King and devote ourselves to doing His will and His work in this world.

As we begin a new day, let’s not allow ourselves to desire wealth, power, or esteem that comes to someone who arrogantly struggles to reach the top. If God wants us to move up, He will move us upward. If God wants us to stay right where we are, then that’s the position we should celebrate. And, through it all, our main role is to give glory to Him by obediently following His will and His way.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Be An Encourager

 

“I am sending him [Tychicus] to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.”

—Ephesians 6:2

One of the best things we can be to other people is an encourager. Everyone needs to hear a cheerful, loving word of encouragement. In fact, I’m not at all certain it’s even possible to encourage someone too much.

One of the greatest accolades that someone can receive comes when someone labels that person an encourager. In the Bible, the friend and companion of the Apostle Paul, a man named Joseph was given a new name, “Barnabas,” because those who fellowshipped with him strongly believed he was “a son of encouragement.” That’s what “Barnabas” means: “a son of encouragement.” What a wonderful title! What a wonderful new name.

And, Barnabas is not the only Bible character to be used by God as an encourager. Notice what the Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:22:

I am sending him [Tychicus] to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

Here Paul is sending a man named Tychicus to the “Christ’s-ones” gathered in Ephesus. The express purpose of this sending is so that Tychicus can give a report on how Paul is doing, but also to provide encouragement to these relatively new Christians.

As we begin this new day, let’s determine, as much as God gives us the ability through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to be an encourager to all we meet along the road of life. We can offer a cheerful, loving, caring word to the ones who cross our pathway this day. In so doing, we fulfill the Law of Love embodied in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And, we act as God’s ambassadors to those who need encouragement in these troubled times.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Preserve Judgment and Discernment

 

“My child, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.”

—Proverbs 3:21-22

There exist certain qualities of life that we do well to preserve, even nurture. A strong sense of fairness expressed in offering justice to all with whom we come into contact represents one such quality. The second has equal importance: the ability to discern good from evil, truth from lies, proper motives from improper ones, and trustworthiness from deceitfulness.

In fact, judgment and discernment often go hand in hand. In order to act justly toward everyone, we must have discernment to separate people’s behavior into categories that inform the justice we need to lovingly and tenderly dispense.

King Solomon understood how important these two qualities are in the lives of God’s children. Notice what he wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 3:21-22:

My child, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

Here Solomon urges his children to not only exercise sound judgment and discernment, but to actually preserve them. He urges them to keep those qualities firmly in view at all times. And, he explains that by so doing, they will find that justice and discernment will offer God’s children life and give them a permanent reminder of His grace.

At the beginning of another new day, let’s follow Solomon’s advice. Let’s keep justice and discernment fully in view at all times. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to enhance our discernment so that we can respond by offering justice to all we meet along the road of life.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Fellow Citizens

 

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

—Ephesians 2:19-20

Do you ever look around and wonder where you belong? I do. In fact, I’ve done this all my life. Whenever I find myself with a group of people in most any conceivable situation, I find myself looking around and thinking, “I’m not at all certain I belong here.”

Of course, my own emotional problems are just that—my problems. The fact is, we who follow Jesus already belong. We belong to God through His Son, Jesus. We belong to our fellow “Christ’s-ones” because we are all part of the family of God. No matter how we may feel at any given moment, the fact remains, we do belong. Yes, we belong.

The Apostle Paul wrote these affirming words, found in Ephesians 2:19-20:

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

As another new day begins, we can move confidently into the day knowing that God has chosen us to belong to Himself. Likewise, we belong to each other in and through Christ. We are no longer foreigners and aliens. We are fellow citizens. Praise God!

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Essence of Love

 

“We love because he first loved us.”

—1 John 4:19

In this day and age, we seem surrounded by hate. Politics, social concerns, families, workplaces, all seem divided by hate, in one form or another. And, hate is one of the most destructive forces in our world.

In contrast to what appears to becoming a hate-filled world, we have God-given love. The very essence of love is that it proceeds from the God of Love. Now, to be sure, our God of Love is also a Holy God, a Just God, and a Purposeful God. He has high standards and He chooses those to belong to Himself who will well represent Him to a very needy world.

The Apostle John, very simply and straightforwardly, states the reality of the power of God’s love to defeat hatred in these few words found in 1 John 4:19:

We love because he first loved us.

The very reason that we “Christ’s-ones” display love in every circumstance is because we have experienced first-hand the love of God in our daily lives. God has chosen to breathe His love into us that His love might flow out of us and touch the lives of those around us.

As we begin this new day, let’s understand the role we play in defeating hatred in all its forms. The defeat comes solely from the love God has breathed into us. His love conquers hatred. We become instruments of His mercy, grace, and unfailing love because He has first love us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Glory Is Coming

 

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

—Romans 8:18

When we walk through the shadow of darkness in our lives due to a variety of situations that overshadow us, one of the best protections we have is the hope that God gives us in the depth of our hearts. This hope lets us realize that, no matter how difficult today may seem, tomorrow will be a better day. In fact, hope allows us to believe that, in the end, God will conquer whatever currently assails us.

Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote, as recorded in Romans 8:18:

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

We don’t know all of the details of the suffering that Paul went through. We know he talks about a “thorn in the flesh.” But, we don’t know what physical problem Paul had to deal with in his life.

We do know that Paul was one who conquered the dark days by relying on the hope that God had placed in his heart. That hope gave Paul the assurance that God was working out all the details of Paul’s life in a way that would bring glory to God and, ultimately, produce the very best result for Paul.

At the beginning of another new day, we can take this same comfort. No matter what we may have to face this day, God has a perfect plan that He is working out in our lives for His glory and for our very best. We can take confidence in knowing that our future is the brightest future that anyone can possibly have because we belong to God who loves us, cares for us, and provides for us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Fruit That Will Last

 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

—John 15:16

As followers of the Great King Jesus, we whom God has called to Himself have a charge to go out into the world and share the truth and great joy that has come to us because of our relationship with God through Christ. As we share what God means to us, the Holy Spirit will use our words to speak to the hearts and minds of other individuals whom God is calling to become a part of His Kingdom.

Jesus spoke these words, as recorded in John 15:16:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Our task is to remain faithful to the calling that God has given us. He will enable us to bear fruit that we could never bear on our own. When we pray for those who cross the pathway of our lives, we can rest assured that some of those individuals will be profoundly moved by what we lovingly, gently, and tenderly share with them.

At the start of another new day, let’s take seriously our task to represent well the God who loves us with His eternal love. And, let’s remember that we are fruit-bearers. We carry with us the best news that humankind has ever heard: the message of forgiveness for our sins and the salvation that assures us an eternal life with God.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Shining Face of Love

 

“Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.”

—Psalm 31:16

Most everyone likes love songs. One of my all-time favorite singers is the late Karen Carpenter. Her voice can best be described as “haunting.” She had rich, dark tones to her voice that, coupled with the extremely talented keyboarding of her brother, Richard, and with their use of multi-track recording produced some of the most memorable love songs of the last half-century.

King David wrote many love songs to God. In some of them, like the one featured today, David pleads for God’s help because he is under attack from his enemies. King Saul is chasing David and trying to kill him. David seeks refuge in God, all the while singing praises to the very One from whom he seeks aid.

Notice the significance of this brief, one line sentence in this Psalm of love, praise, and petition, found in Psalm 31:16:

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

David is saying, “Look at me, God. Please look at me. Let me see the glory of Your face. Let me bask in the wonderfulness of a close relationship with You. And, let Your unfailing love wash over me and save me from my enemies.”

At the beginning of another new day, we can certainly join with David in singing this Psalm of love and praise. God is for us. No one can come against us. His love permeates us to the very core of our beings. Let’s lift our voices in praise to the God who chose us to belong to Himself. And, let’s bask in the love He sends in our direction.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Spirit of Sonship

 

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

—Romans 8:15-16

In our culture that seems hyper about all different kinds of issues relating to gender, it is important to note that the concepts of Scripture apply to both males and females. In many cases, the word used in New Testament Greek encompasses both genders and could easily be rendered “male-men” and “female-men.” So, it is important that women not be at all put off when Scripture uses words that in our society today seem to favor the male gender.

For example, when the Apostle Paul writes the following words to the new Christians gathered in the house churches in Rome, he uses the Jewish concept of the line of inheritance within a family. Thus, Paul uses the word “sonship.” But, in reality, this concept is not limited to male members of the family. In Jewish Law, if there were no male heirs, the inheritance passes to the oldest daughter of the family (see Numbers 27:1-11). Therefore, women of today should clearly understand that when Paul uses the word “sonship,” he includes both males and females.

Here’s what Paul wrote, as found in Romans 8:15-16:

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

We become God’s “children,” as opposed to merely God’s “creation,” when we acknowledge the gift God has given us of His Son, Jesus. Notice how the Apostle John explains this in John 1:12-13:

Yet to all who did receive him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Our right and privilege of becoming the “children”—or “sons”—of God derives from God’s mercy, grace, and abiding love toward us through His precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Along with our sonship comes a spirit, the Holy Spirit, who removes fear from our lives and replaces that fear with all of the privileges that accrue to us as sons and daughters of the most high and holy God.

As we begin another new day, I can’t think of a better reason to rejoice and to praise our God than the fact that He has chosen us to belong to Him and given us the inheritance of eternal life. All of our eternal wealth comes to us because we are children of God and joint heirs with Christ. That, dear ones, is such good news that we should take every opportunity to shout it from the housetops.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Testimony of the Spirit

 

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”

—Romans 8:14

Has anyone ever had to vouch for you? Perhaps you entered a building with tight security to visit a friend. You were stopped at the main entrance by a guard who asked your name and why you were seeking to enter the building. You responded by giving your friend’s name and stating that you had an appointment.

The guard checked with your friend, who verified that she had made an appointment with you and would come down to escort you into the building. In a few minutes, your friend arrived, again verified who you were, and led the way to her desk or the meeting room she had reserved for your visit.

In our spiritual lives, the Holy Spirit stands ready to vouch for our relationship to God through the blessed Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit does this by giving evidence that He is leading us along the pathway that God has opened up before us.

The Apostle Paul captured this beautiful truth when he wrote these words found in Romans 8:14:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

As we begin another new day, we can stand firm in the knowledge that God has chosen us to belong to Himself. We know this because God has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within us. The Spirit leads us, guides us, protects us, and keeps us on the straight path. He does this as a testimony that we are a part of God’s Kingdom. What joy we should feel at knowing that the Holy Spirit has vouched for us and verified that we belong to the God who loves us with His everlasting love.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Amazing Love

 

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

—John 15:13

Has anyone ever asked us if we would be willing to die for him or her? Have we ever asked anyone whether he or she would be willing to die for us?

It’s not at all likely that either of these questions would have ever popped up in our conversations. Yet, Jesus was not only willing to dies for us, He did, in fact, die in our place. Notice what the Apostle John wrote, as recorded in John 15:13:

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

As we begin a new day, we should ask ourselves, “If Jesus was willing to die for us, doesn’t this indicate how seriously He takes His love for us?” No one would be willing to die for us unless He loved us enormously.

Perhaps, we should see what Jesus has done as an indication of how significantly the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior truly exists in and permeates our lives. Is it too much to ask that we dedicate our lives to serving Him? I think not.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

New Life Now

 

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.”

—Romans 8:11

One of the joyful realities of following Jesus comes to us when we recognize that our new life in Him has begun in the here and now. The Apostle Paul affirms this in what he wrote to the Christians gathered at Rome, as recorded in Romans 8:11:

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

The Holy Spirit dwells in each one who has given his or her heart to God through Jesus. The Spirit becomes the life-force within each Christian. He gives us the ability to experience our new life in Christ right here in the present moment.

As this new day opens up before us, let’s rejoice that we have a new life for this new day. That new life comes to us as a precious gift from God through Jesus and by means of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

As the Spirit empowers us, let’s share the magnificence of this new life with the people God brings across our pathway this day. Sharing this good news helps us realize the potential within each of us that this new life brings.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Holding Nothing Back

 

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

—Psalm 84:11

One of the joys of a genuine relationship arises when the people in that relationship begin to live in such a way that they no longer need to hold anything back from the other person. This wholehearted truthfulness builds genuine intimacy that leads to the strongest possible bond. It takes a willingness on the part of both individuals to allow themselves to become open and vulnerable in holding nothing back from each other.

I spoke to a man who had worked as a counselor for many years. I asked him what he had observed as the most prevalent cause of breaches in relationships. He told me that it always stemmed from distrust borne by the fact that one or both of the individuals in the relationship had chosen to hold back information from the other.

In my own opportunities for counseling people in the years since that conversation, I, too, have found that in order to build a genuinely strong relationship, both individuals must become willing to completely let his or her guard down and open himself or herself to an exchange of information that holds nothing back.

“But, he doesn’t need to know that about me?” someone will say. Or, “She would not think the same about me if she knew what I had once done.”

Frankly, an individual cannot build a solid relationship with another individual without a foundation of truthfulness and full disclosure. Genuine intimacy begins with what some psychologists call “mental intimacy.” Mental intimacy occurs when two people open their minds up to each other and do not shrink back from sharing fully what has occurred in their past. As each member of the relationship learns the background of the other, bonds of greater comprehension, appreciation, and empathy begin to form that will help each one understand the other and strengthen the connectivity of their relationship.

From this initial bond of mental, or intellectual, intimacy, all of the other intimacies form and grow: emotional intimacy, spiritual intimacy, and physical intimacy. When the intimacy of all four human modalities—intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and physical—become fully formed, then, and only then, can these individuals experience maximum intimacy in their relationship.

The Sons of Korah understood the importance of a relationship with God that held nothing back. In fact, they wrote a song that celebrates this great truth, as found in Psalm 84:11:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Just as God withholds nothing from us, so we should withhold nothing from Him. And, that pattern of divine relationship should find a reflection in our earthly relationships with one another.

Of course, not every relationship will achieve the same level of intimacy as other relationships. But, God does intend for each person to have at least one perfectly intimate relationship. And, that perfectly intimate relationship is with Him. He also intends that the relationship between a man and a woman in marriage achieve as high a level of perfect intimacy as possible. That perfect intimacy begins with holding nothing back from the other.

As we launch off into another new day, let’s remember that God intends us to have relationships that value complete honesty. Through our willingness to hold nothing back, we build bonds of love and friendship that will last the test of time. We will begin to experience in our human relationships a mirror image of what our relationship becomes when we allow God to become the center of our lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Four Magnificent Qualities

 

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”

—Psalm 103:8

I once had a business leader encourage a group of supervisors, of which I was one, to strive to develop as many positive qualities as possible in one’s life. He insisted that the very best managers have the most positive qualities. He stated that those qualities will resonate with the needs of the individual’s the manager oversees and help motivate them to do their very best.

If that statement is true, and I believe that it is, then just think how motivating God is for those of us who love Him and seek to follow in the footsteps of His Son, Jesus. King David captured this very essence with these words found in Psalm 103:8:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Notice the four sterling qualities that David ascribes to God in this verse: compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Those are four magnificent qualities that would surely cause a resonance within those of us whom God has chosen to belong to Himself.

As we begin a new day, let’s remain grateful that God’s compassion, grace, patience, and love flow into us and fill us up with qualities that are really quite remarkable. And, let’s determine to allow these God-given qualities to flow out of us to touch those with whom we come into contact in the course of our daily lives.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Help Me! I've Fallen! And, I Can't Get Up!

 

“The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.”

—Proverbs 10:8

We seem to live in a “Don’t Tell Me What to Do” society today. No one wants to willingly receive any direction.

I have occasion to rather frequently speak with a wide variety of Help Desk technicians who provide assistance to computer users and other users of technology. These individuals present an equally wide variety of people skills and technical knowledge.

Not long ago, I had occasion to speak with a woman at the Help Desk of the local telephone company. I was calling because a loud hum had developed in my telephone line. I recognized the hum as an “unwanted ground.” For those of you not familiar with telephony, an “unwanted ground” occurs when something inadvertently creates a path from one side of the telephone circuit to earth ground. This can come from a tree branch rubbing against a telephone cable. It can come from a fault in a piece of equipment. But, most often, it comes from water having gotten into a telephone cable or outdoor piece of telephone equipment.

As I reported my problem to the Help Desk operator, I explained that we had experienced a recent heavy rainstorm. I suggested that perhaps the telephone terminal box at the bottom of the hill had become flooded. Instead of receiving my commentary as helpful information, the operator gave me a tongue-lashing about leaving such matters up to the telephone company trained technicians. It later took nearly three weeks to resolve the problem, which the on-site technician described as a—you guessed it—unwanted ground due to a damaged seal on the terminal box cover that allowed water to enter the box.

In contrast, I also recently spoke with a Help Desk technician who works for the local internet service provider. This individual began to work very collaboratively with me once she understood that I had a bit more knowledge about how her company’s system worked than most customers may have. Working together, we solved the problem rather quickly.

Why won’t we just listen? Even in our spiritual lives, God has given us specific instructions that we too often ignore. Notice what King Solomon wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 10:8:

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

As we begin another new day, let’s remain open to every instruction we receive from God through His precious written Word. Let’s receive with joy God’s commands. And, let’s turn away from becoming chattering fools.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Really Do Have Enough

 

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

—1 Timothy 6:7-8

Have you ever wanted to accumulate stuff? When I was about ten years old, I very much wanted a tape recorder. I had seen photos in a book in the public library about radio stations. I thought that if I could buy a tape recorder, I could have the start of creating a radio station of my own.

There was one problem in my plan hatched back in 1957, I lived in a very loving home with two wonderful parents who had adopted me at birth. But, like most people in this period of time, they did not begin to make enough money to buy frivolous things like a tape recorder. In fact, long after my dad died in December of 1981, I discovered some of his tax returns from the mid-1950s and was floored to discover that my dad had a gross income in 1957 of just a bit over $3,000. (My on-line inflation calculator indicates this would be $26,242.61 in today’s dollars.)

The tape recorder I so badly wanted, an Ampex 601, cost $595.00 in 1957. That amount of money represented 20% of my dad’s entire salary. There was no way that my dad would ever, or could ever, spend that amount of money buying his ten-year-old son what amounted to a frivolous “toy”—just no way at all.

The Apostle Paul wrote these wise words to his own “son in the faith” found in 1 Timothy 6:7-8:

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Part of devoting oneself to the Kingdom of God and its King, Jesus, is learning to live a simpler life without a desire for frivolous possessions. As we begin a new day, we should all remember these words of the Apostle Paul.

By the way, it took my dad two years from the day I first shared my desire for a tape recorder. But, in 1959, he had saved enough to spend $150.00 to buy me a Voice of Music™ tape recorder manufactured by the V-M Corporation of Benton Harbor, Michigan. I was astonished and delighted. Just a month later, I met the school teacher who invited me to visit him at the local radio station where he worked part-time. Soon, I was hanging out there. This radio station had two Ampex 601 tape recorders, which they used to play pre-recorded commercial spot announcements.

My dad was a man who would wholeheartedly embrace the above words from the Apostle. He was also was a man who greatly loved his adopted son. I hope I have lived in a way to be worthy of his love.

As to my heavenly Father: I know far too well that, on my own, I can never be worthy of His love. And yet, He loves me anyways. Just as He loves all those He has called to belong to Himself.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Love Rejoices In Truth

 

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

—1 Corinthians 13:6

Genuine love always comes to us as a precious gift from God. Our very ability to love is God-given. It should be no surprise, then, that love takes on qualities of the One who gives it. And, one of those qualities is expressed by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:6:

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Sometimes, we become so emotionally involved in a situation that has differing points of view that we forget to bear with each other in love. If we start to feel smugly joyful when the opposing side experiences a defeat, we need to catch ourselves and remind ourselves that this is not the way of love. Love does not rejoice in evil.

As we begin a new day, we need to temper our emotions so that we do not fall into the trap of becoming like those who do not belong to Jesus. Instead, we need to let His love guide the way we act. When tempted to rejoice in evil, we need to remind ourselves that love only rejoices in the truth.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Man with a Mission

 

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

—Zechariah 4:6

Have you ever heard the name “Zerubbabel”? He is a very important individual in the history of the Jewish people.

Sometime between 538 B.C. and 520 B.C., following the nation of Babylon carrying off the Southern Kingdom of Judah—Judah consisted of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, plus the priestly tribe of Levi—Zerubbabel led a group of Jewish people back to the land from which they had been captured. Among his many accomplishments, Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

An important person in Zerubbabel’s life was the Prophet Zechariah. It should be no surprise then, that Zechariah pens these words found in Zechariah 4:1-6:

Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?”

I answered, “I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.”

I asked the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”

He answered, “Do you not know what these are?”

“No, my lord,” I replied.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

You can imagine the pressure that Zerubbabel felt to bring to fruition the restoration of Jerusalem, the return of the Jewish people from captivity, and the construction of the new Temple. But, a word comes from God, given through the angel to Zechariah and, ultimately, to Zerubbabel.

And, what was that message: “You can’t do this alone. You must rely on God’s power. Only through the powerful intervention of the Holy Spirit can you achieve what God has placed in your heart to do.”

As followers of God through His Son, Jesus, we “Christ’s-ones” need to recognize that Zechariah’s word can easily apply to us today. As we begin a new day, we need to rely on the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Whatever God may have put in our hearts to do, we will be able to accomplish it only by fully relying on the power of the Spirit.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Overcoming the World

 

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

—1 John 5:4

To Christians, the term “the world” represents all that is wrong in life: sin, degradation, distrust, abuse, and evil. In fact, the terms: “the world, the flesh, and the devil” are set in sharp contrast to the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The former ends in eternal death, while the latter leads to eternal life.

Notice these words of instruction that the Apostle John gives to the “Christ’s-ones” to whom he is writing, as recorded in 1 John 5:4:

For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

The new birth in Christ that followers of Jesus experience leads us away from “the world” and into the new world that awaits us because of Jesus’ death on the cross, His resurrection from the grave, and His ascension into heaven. His blood has cleansed us from our sins. He has given us newness of life.

As we begin a new day, we should remember that the world cannot bring us to destruction. Rather, through Christ, we have overcome the world. It no longer has any hold on us. We are free from the bondage that the world would impose on us.

I grew up in the 1950s and 1960s singing a lovely gospel hymn written by John Henry Yates with a truly sprightly tune written by Ira David Sanke. The hymn was titled “Faith is the Victory.” Here are the words:

Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies;
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints before
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n;
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Listen to the Father

 

“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

—Proverbs 3:11-12

No one likes to receive a rebuke for his or her behavior. We all would rather that people just let us behave in whatever way we choose to behave. However, if we all lived like that, life would consist of one scene of chaos after another. We would soon fall into a heap of exhaustion because of the confusion and nastiness around us.

Loving parents learn early that, in order to properly guide their dearly loved children, they must discipline their children to point them in the right direction. Every time I’m in a restaurant where very young children scream out, I think of the family in my church in Connecticut, many years ago, who taught their children to remain calm and not scream whenever they entered a public place. If one of their children started to raise his or her voice, the dad of the family would calmly say, “Remember, no screamies.” It worked! At least it worked for these kids. They would never scream out in a public setting where their piercing screams might disturb others.

God longs to help us learn how to behave in a world tainted by sin and with a natural overriding sin nature. He does so lovingly, but firmly. The degree we will grow in our walk with Him depends on how well we receive His discipline.

Notice what King Solomon writes, as recorded in Proverbs 3:11-12:

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

As we start another new day, let’s cheerfully and gratefully receive the Lord’s discipline whenever He sends it our way. We will become much better followers if we learn to allow Him to shape our behavior through His loving and caring instruction.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}