Not One Has Been Lost

 

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”

—John 17:11-12

As I stated at the beginning of the last several blog posts, in the moments before Jesus was arrested by the armed emissaries of the high priest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed a magnificent prayer. Bible teachers often refer to this as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.” Certainly, this prayer shows Jesus in the role of priest to His followers. It also expresses the highest of spiritual ideals.

For the next few blog posts, it is my hope that by sharing verses from this prayer with you, you will find, as I have found, great comfort and great blessing from the words of our Savior.

Jesus continues this magnificent prayer with these words, found in John 17:11-12:

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”

As followers of Jesus, we can take great comfort from the fact that He protects us by the power of God’s name. He keeps us safe from attack. And, He lovingly holds us safely in His loving arms. We can move forward in His behalf, knowing that He is always with us and that He enables us to serve Him in the best way we possibly can do so.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Know God

 

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”

—John 17:6-10

As I stated at the beginning of the last blog post, in the moments before Jesus was arrested by the armed emissaries of the high priest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed a magnificent prayer. Bible teachers often refer to this as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.” Certainly, this prayer shows Jesus in the role of priest to His followers. It also expresses the highest of spiritual ideals. For the next few blog posts, it is my hope that by sharing verses from this prayer with you, you will find, as I have found, great comfort and great blessing from the words of our Savior.

Jesus continues this magnificent prayer with these words, found in John 17:6-10:

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.”

How fortunate we are, those of us who follow Jesus. As He said in this portion of His prayer, He has revealed the very essence of God the Father to us. We know so much more about God than we normally would know because we have seen Jesus through God’s written Word and through the testimony of countless saints down through the centuries.

As we begin another new day, let’s grasp onto this knowledge of God and draw strength and comfort from knowing that He loves us with His everlasting love and has our very best interests in the forefront of His mind.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Glorify the Son

 

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

—John 17:1-5

In the moments before Jesus was arrested by the armed emissaries of the high priest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed a magnificent prayer. Bible teachers often refer to this as “Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer.” Certainly, this prayer shows Jesus in the role of priest to His followers. It also expresses the highest of spiritual ideals. For the next few blog posts, it is my hope that by sharing verses from this prayer with you, you will find, as I have found, great comfort and great blessing from the words of our Savior.

Jesus begins this magnificent prayer with these words, found in John 17:1-5:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

As a follower of Jesus, I wonder if we ever think about the fact that as God glorifies His Son, that glory also comes to us, as well. Since we belong to Jesus, His glory becomes our glory—not in some kind of foolish or arrogant way, but in a humbling, even overwhelming, way.

His glory, expressed to us through the Holy Spirit, energizes us in every way that we strive to honor Him. As we begin a new day, let’s allow the glory of Jesus to so fill us that we will have an even greater determination to serve Him with all of our might.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Choose the Correct Pathway

 

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

—Matthew 7:13-14

I’ve said many times in blog posts that life is a series of choices. We move from decision to decision, all the while hoping that we’ve made the right choices.

There is a way we can discern whether the choice we’ve made is the correct one. Jesus offers these words of advice, found in Matthew 7:13-14:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s strive to be one of the individuals who finds the small gate and the narrow road that leads to life. God has already opened up the pathway before us. Let’s not hesitate to start down the road He has given us. The destination will be well worth making this choice.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Always Give a Wise Answer

 

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

—Matthew 4:3-4

When someone asks you a serious question, or tries to persuade you to do something out of character, it’s best if you give a wise and thoughtful answer.

Case in point, found in Matthew 4:3-4:

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

At the beginning of this new day, we do well if we pattern our answers like Jesus did. He answered by quoting Scripture. If we base our answers on God’s written Word, how can we possibly go wrong?

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Heed Instruction

 

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.”

—Proverbs 16:20

Do you follow instructions? Or, do you launch off on your own and do what seems to make sense without even opening the instructions, let alone reading and following them?

Once I began my career as a fire protection engineer inspecting large industrial facilities, I learned that God had given me a somewhat unusual gift. I can look at a piece of machinery and instantly know how it works. Now, I could not design that machine, nor build it, nor repair it. But, I can tell you exactly how it does what it’s supposed to do.

However, this gift does not translate into putting things together without reading the instructions. I’ve tried to do that and failed miserably. There is something very important about carefully and clearly written instructions. Someone has taken the time to write down the very best way to do something. It’s a good idea to follow those instructions to the letter.

In life, God has given us His instructions in His written Word, the Bible. We would do very well to heed His instructions and recognize that, as Creator and Sustainer of all, He knows the very best way to live our lives.

King Solomon wrote this testimony in Proverbs 16:20:

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Let’s begin this new day with a determination to follow God’s instructions. Let’s take time to read His written Word and follow whatever pathway God opens up before us. He has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. We do very well when we follow God’s instructions—all of them.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Balanced Life

 

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

—Philippians 4:11b

“Walking along the road of a Christian Life is very much like walking across a high span on a tightly stretched wire. The key to a successful crossing is balance.”

That quote exists on one of the originally blank pages at the front of my Bible. Presumably, it came from some sermon that I heard many years ago. Unfortunately, I did not write down the name of the pastor who preached that sermon. But, that thought has remained in the forefront of my mind for lo these many years.

I believe the statement is very true. We cannot successfully walk the pathway God lays out before us, unless we maintain our balance. We dare not lean too far to the left, or too far to the right, or we will fall off the “high wire.”

I have friends on both sides of the political, cultural, societal, and even spiritual spectrum who have more than once in their lives leaned too far in one direction and lost their footing. In fact, I have a very dear friend who has gone from one extreme to the other throughout most of the course of his life.

But, my point is that we dare not fling ourselves from one extreme to another, back and forth across the spectrum of faith. If we do so, we will find that the one quality missing from our lives is balance.

The Apostle Paul summarized this well in Philippians 4:10-13:

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

As we begin a new day, let’s embrace “balance” as a key element in our walk with God. Let’s not be blown this way or that by every new wind of doctrine that might arise (see Ephesians 4:11-16). Instead, let’s hold firmly to the truth of God’s written Word. And, let’s recognize the fact that consistency, represented by balance, can chart the smoothest and most productive pathway for the sake of the Kingdom.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

More Valuable Than Rubies

 

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”

—Proverbs 31:10

What is more valuable than fine jewels? King Solomon offers this suggestion from Proverbs 31:10:

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

You may remember that, in his sin, Solomon had many wives and many concubines. You would think that he would regale the value of multiple wives and lovers. Yet, the construction of the Hebrew makes it clear that he is writing here about a singular woman—one wife, as it were.

A woman of noble character is truly a gift from God to a man. He should cherish her in the same way he might cherish the finest rubies. As a helpmeet and partner in life, such a woman has value beyond description.

Let’s remember, at the beginning of this new day, the value that God gives us in the relationships with have with others, particularly those yoked with us in marriage. Our service to our Great King is heightened when we recognize the partner He has given us for the sake of His Kingdom.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Confess and Pray

 

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

—James 5:16b

The Apostle James offers this advice for believers, as recorded in James 5:16b:

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

That seems like very good advice to me. Of course, the person to whom we choose to confess must be someone trustworthy who will keep our confession in confidence.

Even so, as we begin this new day, let’s decide to follow this advice and do what the Apostle suggests. If we do, we will gain a significant benefit. Okay?

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Will Know

 

“And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

—Ezekiel 38:23

God has a way of making Himself known at the most appropriate times. In fact, it’s a really good idea for those of us who follow His Son, Jesus, to keep our eyes peeled for those times when God reveals Himself in our daily lives.

I’ve written many times before about a little exercise first brought to my attention by my long-time spiritual mentor, Dr. David R. Mains, and his wife, Karen, more than 35 years ago. That exercise is called the “God Hunt.” In fact, David and Karen have written at least two books on this subject—one for adults and one for children. The key elements of this daily conscious awareness of God at work in our lives includes the following:

• Any obvious answer to prayer, or…
  
  
• Any special evidence of God’s care, or…
  
  
• Any help to do God’s work in the world, or…
  
  
• Any unusual linkage or timing

If we keep our eyes, ears, minds, and hearts on alert, we will see God’s hand. After all, God has promised He will make Himself known. Notice what God said through the Prophet Ezekiel, as recorded in Ezekiel 38:23:

“And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

As we start another new day, let’s be aware that God is always at work in our lives. It’s high time we acknowledged His presence by purposefully looking for the way He interacts to bless us all through each day.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Resist! Resist! Resist!

 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

—James 4:7

The term “Resist!” has currently inflamed our culture. One political ideology in our nation has decided that it’s better to resist than to find common ground. This stance frankly disappoints me greatly. A hallmark of our form of government has routinely been built on wise individuals working together to find points where they can agree. When one side determines that they will resist without any hope of compromise, we all suffer in the end.

But, resistance is not always a bad thing. Take note of what the Apostle James wrote, as recorded in James 4:7

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Now, here’s a time when resistance pays great benefit. Resisting the enemy of our soul, Satan, and fleeing from his devious and destructive ways is a very good thing. Submission to God is also an excellent choice to make.

Therefore, at the start of this new day we can take these two marching orders to heart. As we begin to walk into our world this day, we can determine to resist Satan and all his clever wiles. And, we can determine to submit our faulty and selfish human wills to God’s perfect and divine will. What better ways can we possibly choose to act as children of the Great King?

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

That We May Know Him

 

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

—John 17:3

God’s desire is that we will know Him. That’s why He has revealed Himself to us in His written Word, the Bible. That’s why He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to become a human and die on a cruel Roman cross of torture, bearing our sins, and fulfilling God’s justice that was destined for us. That’s why God has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within the hearts of all those who believe in Jesus.

Even in His moments of great agony, as the terror of the cross loomed large before Him, Jesus prayed these words, as recorded in John 17:3:

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

God wants us to know Him. That’s a thought that should give us courage to face another new day. To be known by God, to be loved by Him, and to know Him in return is the greatest, most wonderful gift God could have given to us. Let’s go forth into this new day with strength and with great joy because we belong to the One who both knows us the best and loves us the most.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

True Freedom

 

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

—Galatians 5:1

Freedom is something we take for granted here in the United States. Most of us have been born into a freedom that people in other parts of the world can only dream about. And yet, instead of truly appreciating all the benefits that accrue to us because of our freedom, we take advantage of it and, in some cases, we misuse it.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Christ has paid the price for our freedom from sin. Yet, we so often act as if we are still in bondage to that evil power. We need to take note of these words from the Apostle Paul, found in Galatians 5:1:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Not only has the death and resurrection of Jesus freed us from the penalty for our sins, Christ has freed us from the power of sin over us. We need to start living in a way that reflects the freedom we have in Christ: true freedom. Therefore, as we begin another new day, let’s determine to live as people free from the bondage of sin and alive to the victory that we have through Jesus our Savior and Lord.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Stern, But Gracious, Warning

 

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

—2 Chronicles 7:14

The Scripture verse depicted in the graphic associated with this blog post is often quoted in exactly the way it is shown in the graphic. But, the context of that verse is so important that it sheds an even more serious light on this verse than its normal use would imply.

Here’s the context, taken from 2 Chronicles 7:13-22. The occasion is the dedication of the new temple that King Solomon has built, finishing the work that his father, King David, had hoped to bring about, but because of David’s sin, was prohibited by God from actually completing. God is speaking to King Solomon:

“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

“As for you [Solomon], if you walk before me faithfully as David your father did, and do all I command, and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne, as I covenanted with David your father when I said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to rule over Israel.’

“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from my land, which I have given them, and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. I will make it a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples. This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’”

As you can see, the marvel and wonder of this oft-quoted verse lies within its context. Will God answer the fervent and earnest prayers of His people? Of course He will. Should we pray for our nation, the United States of America? Yes! Definitely! Will God hear from heaven and heal our land? Yes, I believe He will—most likely by sending a great, sweeping revival across the land from the east to the west and from the north to the south.

As we begin this new day, let’s begin by praying such a prayer: “O God, heal our land. Let Your righteousness flow down and over and through our land like a mighty river. Send Your showers of blessing. Like spring rains, let revival cover every inch of our nation—to the glory of Your mighty name. Amen.”

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Learning from Jesus

 

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

—John 6:32-33, 7:1

A wise person once opined, “Life is one long learning experience.” I’ve certainly found that statement accurately describes my life. I suspect it describes your life, as well. So, every single day, you and I are engaged in learning how to live our lives in a way that will be more effective, more productive, and more worthy of the life to which God has called us.

Fortunately, we have a major teacher in the person of God’s own Son, Jesus. Not only is He our Lord, Savior, and soon-coming King, He is the best possible teacher because He “put on our flesh and walked in our bones,” as librettist Helen Kromer wrote in the song, “I’m Nothing, Nobody, No One” from the musical For Heaven’s Sake.

For example, please note these words of Jesus to His disciples, as recorded in John 6:32-33, 7:1:

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

Here Jesus states that His principal purpose is to glorify His Father. Without meaning to state something in a trite way, I might say, “Good enough for Jesus—good enough for us.”

If Jesus intended to do everything in His life to glorify God, then that would be exactly the way we should live our lives as well. Thus, as we begin another day, let’s examine our actions to make certain that everything we do is done in such a way that it brings glory to God.

Do we want to achieve our personal and work goals in life? Do those goals bring glory to God? Then, let’s move forward, making certain that every step we take to achieve our goals is done in a way that glorifies God—no shortcuts, no deceit, no treachery, just diligent hard work.

Do we want our marriage to be a happy, soul-enriching experience for our spouses and for ourselves? The, let’s pursue that goal in a way that honors God and brings glory to Him.

If God has called us to a life of singleness, do we want to live such a life in a way that displays enthusiastic acceptance of this calling and, thus, brings glory to God as we follow every direction that He provides for us? Then, we should walk the pathway of our lives in such a way that we constantly examine each opportunity and choose those that will distinctly and purposefully bring honor to the God who loves us.

In fact, in every area of our lives, this day and every day, let’s live in a way that will glorify the God who loves us with His unfailing, undying love.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

What Do We Seek?

 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

—Matthew 6:33

Many years ago when I was a teenager, I was making quite a racket in the upstairs room I called my “studio.” It was actually a small bedroom where I had set up my “radio station.” In the room’s closet I had stored all manner of equipment and other odds and ends that I had collected over the years.

My dad came upstairs to see what all the racket was about. “What are you doing?” he asked in a puzzled voice.

“I’m just looking,” I replied, perhaps a bit too sharply out of frustration that I couldn’t find what I needed.

“What are you seeking?” my dad asked and then added, “I hope it’s worth all the trouble you’re going to in order to find whatever you’re seeking.”

His statement stopped me cold. I had become so engrossed in trying to find something I felt I needed that I wasn’t considering whether or not all the effort was really worth it. Even as “Christ’s-ones” or Christians, we need to stop and evaluate, from time to time, whether what we are seeking in life is worth the effort.

Having worked hard for many years in my business career, and having achieved a certain level of success, I became ever more frustrated with people around me who seemed to be lazily going about their lives without the same level of dedication that I felt I had. A wise friend, whose opinion I respect and highly value, once pointed out to me that in our careers we go from “Who’s he?” to Who’s who!” to “Who cares?” Hearing his words, I had to stop and ask myself whether all the effort was really worth the hours and hours I had spent, in order to achieve success in my business endeavors.

Some things are definitely worth the effort. Notice Jesus’ own words found in Matthew 6:33:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The Kingdom of God and His righteousness are definitely things worth working for with zeal and determination. As we begin another day, perhaps we need to evaluate where we are spending our greatest effort. And perhaps, as we make such an evaluation, we will discover that we have misplaced some of our efforts. At least it’s worth considering.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Study in Contrasts

 

“For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.”

—Psalm 37:28

Sometimes we come to understand a truth by looking at that truth’s opposite effect. That’s what the Psalmist, King David, had in mind when he wrote these words found in Psalm 37:28:

For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.

Here we see two sides to the balancing scales of God’s righteous justice. On the one hand, we find the faithful follower of God receiving God’s just and loving protection. On the other hand, we find those who despise and reject God receiving the just penalty for their disobedience.

As we begin a new day, we need to look around us and see the people who have not yet bowed their knees in fealty to the Great King as lost and needy. No matter how they may appear to others, we need to see them as those to whom we can offer God’s unfailing love. Working in concert with the Holy Spirit, and bathing our efforts in much prayer, we can gently and tenderly speak words of God’s mercy, grace, and love into their lives.

Oh how wonderful it would be if some of these needy ones around us would find rest in turning their lives over to the God who loves them. How pleased God would be that we have faithfully fulfilled our role as His ambassadors.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Blessings Crown Our Heads

 

“Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.”

—Proverbs 10:6

In an episode of the television program The Big Bang Theory, entitled “The Shiny Trinket Maneuver,” Amy gets a tiara. And, she goes crazy. A tiara is something she has longed for all her life. It makes her feel like a princess. She begins to act just like a princess might act.

In Scripture, we who follow the pathway God has laid out before us, through His precious Son, Jesus, learn that in eternity we will be given a crown. We also learn that receiving this crown will so overwhelm us with our unworthiness, that we will lay our crowns at the feet of Jesus. We do this because we know that He alone is worthy. And, that all we may have accomplished in this life we have done so because of His mercy, grace, and enduring love.

King Solomon makes a specific contrast in Proverbs 10:6 when he writes these words:

Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

God already crowns the heads of His children with righteousness. What more of a crown could we ever hope for or need? Let’s remember that as we begin another new day. Then, let’s follow the pathway God lays out before us, knowing that it leads to His righteousness and to His crown.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Separated By Love

 

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

—Matthew 25:40

Did you ever think about the fact that the way we express our love will ultimately separate us from other people? I know that may seem like a bit of a strange assertion. But, that is exactly what Jesus taught His disciples, as recorded in Matthew 25:31-46:

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

When God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to earth in order to inhabit a human body and, ultimately, die in our place on Calvary’s cruel cross of torture, God did so because of His great love for us. A natural outgrowth of God’s love imbued into us is for us to show His love in the way we treat others.

It’s not that love has more importance than God’s holiness or His justice. Rather, it’s that love—God-breathed love—is the natural outgrowth of His holiness and His justice. We can’t ignore those important qualities from which God’s love springs forth. Nor can we place ourselves as representatives of God’s holiness and justice without also striving to allow His love within us to motivate our behavior toward others.

As we begin a new day, let’s look around us at a world in need and find ways to reach out to those in genuine need with our hearts filled with God-breathed love. If we do so, we will be acting toward these ones in God’s behalf. And, that, dear ones, is a very, very good thing.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Have No Fear

 

“Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.”

—Proverbs 3:25-26

Have you ever felt really afraid? I’m talking about feeling terrified. Most of us have had something happen in our lives that has produced genuine fear.

During a live fire drill back in the spring of 1968, I was ventilating the roof of a two-and-a-half story single family dwelling when the roof gave way due to the fire in the structure. I fell, albeit rather slowly, through the roof, through the second floor, through the first floor, and into the basement of the building. Fortunately, I had full turnout gear on and my helmet and breathing mask stayed in place during the fall. I was not injured at all, just a bit dazed. But, I was frightened out of my wits!

Needless to say, since I’m writing about this more than 50 years later, I made it out of the basement successfully. But, for several moments, I faced imminent death and it truly gave me such a shock of fear that I can still feel the anguish all these years later.

As we followers of Jesus walk the road of life, we can rely on God to care for us in such a marvelous way that we can put all fear aside. King Solomon wrote about this in Proverbs 3:25-26:

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

Far more terrifying than falling through several floors of a burning building is the grip that sin can have on our lives. Even though our sins were forgiven by Jesus’ death and resurrection, we still can fall prey to the entanglements of sin in our lives. But, God promises to keep our feet from being snared by sin.

As we begin another new day, let’s take comfort in the truth of King Solomon’s words. Let’s rejoice that God protects us from being snared. And, let’s make certain we follow closely the pathway He has laid out before us, as we strive to represent Him well to those who connect with us along the road of life.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

In His Care

 

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

—Matthew 6:25-27

We “Christ’s-ones” live our lives in His care. God has promised to care for us in spectacular ways—well beyond our ability to comprehend or imagine.

That is not a promise for an easy life, nor for one free of problems. We are, after all, still trapped in these sin-stained bodies and are subject to all manner of disease and difficulty. But, whenever we face trouble in our lives, we do not do so alone. God is with us. God will take what Satan may intend for evil and turn it into something that will bring glory to God’s matchless name.

Here are Jesus’ own words on this subject, as recorded in Matthew 6:25-27:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

As we begin this new day, let’s do so with full awareness that God is caring for us every moment of our lives. We are free from having to fend for ourselves. He will give us whatever we need to face the trials of each day.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

My Portion Forever

 

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

—Psalm 73:26

Have you ever felt that you were in deep trouble and you called out to God for help? Most people find themselves in such a situation from time to time. Maybe it wasn’t even something directly affecting you. Perhaps it was a situation that had overtaken a beloved member of your family. It might even have been a situation you read about, heard about, or saw on television that prompted you to plead with God to intervene.

If you have ever cried out to God for help, then you can understand the situation Asaph found himself in when he wrote these words found in Psalm 73:23-26:

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. 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.

This pleading prayer is one we should make a part of our lives. God longs for us to call out to Him. He also wants us to realize that He alone is the only One to whom we can ask for help in our time of need.

Just this past week on Facebook and via text messages, I heard from a number of friends who asked for prayer. It was truly an honor and privilege to be able to ask God in prayer to help these dear ones. I’m sure you may have had a similar experience. We need to come to God unashamed of our requests for His help. He actually delights to help us. Why? Because of God’s enormously great love for us.

And that, my dear ones, is something we need to remember all through this new day.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Difference Between Wages and Gifts

 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

—Romans 6:23

It’s your birthday. Your Aunt Sally approaches you with those ruby-red-painted lips of hers that you used to dread when you were four or five years old. Remember those kisses she always planted on your cheek? No matter how hard you seemed to scrub, that lipstick would not come off! Nevertheless, here comes Aunt Sally carrying a medium-size box wrapped in colorful paper with cartoon drawings of balloons all over it.

Aunt Sally smiles as she hands you the box. “Happy Birthday, Sweetie!” she says with a smile.

“Thank you, Aunt Sally,” you dutifully reply.

“That will be $29.95,” Sally intones.

“What?” you reply.

“I said that will be $29.95 for your gift,” Sally repeats.

You stand there immobilized by the shock of it all. Pay for my gift, you think to yourself. That’s absurd! How can it be a “gift” if I have to pay for it?

And, there it is. You can’t pay for a “gift.” You don’t pay for a “gift.” A gift is a gift. Nor are wages that you earn because of something you have done a gift either. Wages are paid for what you’ve done. You’ve earned your wages. No one gives you wages and calls it a gift.

So now, we turn to what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:23:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have earned the wages resulting from our sin. We earned those wages. You earned them and I earned them. Our sin extracted a price and that price was paid to us for our sin.

But, the good news is that the gift of God—the substitutionary death of His Son, Jesus, in our place on the cross and Jesus’ resurrection from the dead—has freed us from eternal death. God gave this to us as His special gift of love. We did nothing, absolutely nothing, to earn this salvation. It’s a gift. In fact, it’s the most precious gift we could ever receive.

As another new day begins, we need to make certain that we make the distinction between wages and gifts. It’s important we understand what we’ve earned—eternal death for our sins—and God’s undeserved gift to us of eternal life through His one and only Son.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}