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}

 

Oaks of Righteousness

 

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.”

—Isaiah 61:1

All throughout literature we can read descriptions of the mighty oak trees. They represent power with deep roots in the soil that allow them to resist perilous winds. They provide shade and through their dropping of acorns provide self-perpetuation that can produce a dense, dark forest.

The Prophet Isaiah declares the purpose God has given the coming Messiah in the opening verses found in Isaiah 61:1-3:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

This is the very passage of Scripture that Dr. Luke records Jesus reading to those gathered in the synagogue in His home town of Nazareth (see Luke 4:14-30). It is a powerful statement of purpose. But, it also ends with a hopeful declaration for all who come to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord.

As we begin a new day, we can draw hope from this declaration. As we submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we, too, can become “oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” May this be so for us this day and every day, as we obediently serve our Great King.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Really Good News

 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”

—Romans 8:1a

We can categorize some news we receive as “good news.” Still other news, unfortunately, we must categorize as “bad news.” But then, there comes to us news that sets our hearts on fire with great joy. That news we can gladly categorize as “really good news.”

These words of the Apostle Paul, found in Romans 8:1, certainly meet the criterion of “really good news”:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Christ has set us free from sin, death, and Satan’s power over us. That truly is “really good news”! As we begin another new day, we can celebrate, with overwhelming joy, the reality that our condemnation has been covered by the blood of our Savior. And, that fact should motivate us to lovingly, kindly, and gently share this “really good news” with everyone whom God prompts us to share it.

Just as the rising sun marks the beginning of a new day, so the newness of life we experience each day should prompt us to greet the day with praise to God for who He is and also for what He has done for us.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Keep Me From Shame

 

“In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.”

—Psalm 31:1

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines the word “shame” as:

“…a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety; a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute; something that brings censure or reproach.”

Shame is not something that we want much of in our lives.

Yes, we’ve all done things over the course of our lives that have made us feel shame—unless, of course, we’re sociopaths, in which case we would never feel shame in any case. But, most of the time in our shame, since we recognize the fact that because Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and God has forgiven us, we eventually learn to forgive ourselves, as well.

King David recognized the role that shame can play in our lives. David knew that shame can become a barrier to wholeheartedly serving God. Shame can cause us to shrink from our responsibility to reach out to others in God’s behalf. Shame can isolate us from others. Shame can make us feel that we are unworthy.

David penned these vital words, found in Psalm 31:1:

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.

As we begin another new day, let’s make certain that we acknowledge our sins. But, let’s also make certain that we do not wallow in shame. Instead, let’s seek refuge in the God who loves us with His unfailing, undying love. And, let’s make certain that we never seek to shame someone else because of what they may have done.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Do Not Judge

 

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

—Matthew 7:1

Many people use the phrase “Do Not Judge” as a way of controlling serious discussion about problems in our society. But, most of the time, that usage places the words of Jesus in a wrong context.

Here’s what Jesus actually said, as recorded in Matthew 7:1-5:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

The context makes several things clear. First of all, Jesus is talking about those who are joined together in the family of God—in other words, our brothers and sisters in Christ. The words of Jesus “Do not judge” applies to the familial relationship we have, not to society in general. Secondly, the purpose of not judging is so that we will invest our energy in removing the plank in our own eyes—that is, remove the sin in our own life first before we attempt to help our brothers and sisters remove the sin in their lives.

While we must always approach everyone with humility, kindness, and God-breathed love, we are not supposed to turn a blind eye to the evil influences in our world. Just as some strong-minded individuals cling to “science”—right up to the point where “science” no longer supports their position regarding social engineering—so we must not cling to our own ideas. Rather, we must rely on the whole counsel of God as expressed in His written Word.

As another new day opens up before us, let’s make certain that we deal with the sin in our own lives in a very forthright manner. This will then allow us to lovingly and carefully help our brothers and sisters in Christ deal with the issues they face in their own lives. Together, as a family, we can move forward and bring glory to God.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

His Favor Lasts a Lifetime

 

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

—Psalm 30:5

Have you ever had a friend, or a boss, whose favor waxed and waned depending on some almost imperceivable change in circumstances?

I once had a boss that I never knew whether today I would find in him a friendly response or a cold, almost angry response to virtually anything I might say. It was more than an expression of moodiness. It was almost as if he was two different people. One day he would receive me with a warmth and friendliness. The next day he might receive me with a tinge of cold anger.

Since I am, by nature, an introvert, his changes in behavior toward me was more than a little disconcerting. I kept trying to figure out what I had done to either earn his favor or trigger his anger. I finally just accepted the fact that he was nuts.

We generally respond much better to people that act toward us with stability. We can handle people who are warm toward us. We can also handle people who are always angry toward us. It’s the ones who we never know how we will be received that produce anxiety in us.

God is above all things the same yesterday, today, and forever. Notice what King David writes about God in Psalm 30:5:

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

God’s favor lasts for a lifetime. That is really good news for us. Does He have a right to be angry when we sin? Yes, of course He does. But, His love still always rises to the surface. In fact, His love for us is so great that He made a way for our sins to be forgiven through His precious only Son, Jesus.

As we begin another new day, let’s rest comfortably in the knowledge that God loves us and grants His favor to us all the days of our lives. We, in turn, should extend His love to others in the same way. Even when people disappoint us, or act toward us as if they hated us, we can respond with a gentle, caring love that comes through us from God. The mark of His stability on our lives is truly one of the blessings we have from Him.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A High and Holy Place

 

“I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit…”

—Isaiah 57:15

In our current Christian culture, the emphasis is largely on God’s love for those humans He has created. And certainly, the Bible talks much about God’s love for His people. The Apostle Paul even made this startling, yet so very perfect, summary statement found in Galatians 5:6:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

In other words, it doesn’t matter whether a person is a Jew or a Gentile. The only thing that really matters is if a person expresses his or her faith through love. So, love takes on an enormous importance in the Christian worldview.

But, we must not forget that a major attribute of God is His holiness. He is a holy God. And, because He is holy, He cannot tolerate sin. Thus, in order to communicate His unfailing love toward humans, God sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to become a man, live like a man—yet without sin—and die in our place to cover our sins with His precious blood.

The Prophet Isaiah reports these words of God found in Isaiah 57:15:

For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

As we begin a new day, we can be thankful that while God is, indeed, a God of love, He is also a God of holiness who loves us enough to come and dwell with us through His Son Jesus and also through the indwelling Presence of His Holy Spirit. It is true that we do belong to God through Christ. And that, dear ones, is a wonderful reality in which to live.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

I See Your Sins!

 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

—Matthew 7:3

We seem to have a quick trigger when it comes to recognizing other people’s sins. Why we jump right up onto our soapbox and begin to decry all manner of evil in others. But, we seem all too slow to recognize our own sins.

Notice the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in Matthew 7:3-5:

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

In this statement, Jesus is not minimizing the sins of others. In fact, His whole point is that we have enough sin in our own lives that we should focus first on dealing with our own sins before we start attacking the sins of others.

Yes, we do have a responsibility to the world to offer commentary based on the righteousness of God. We know what He has required by reading His written Word. We also know that Jesus most often approached sinners with patience, kindness, and love. We would do well to follow His example.

As this new day begins, let’s start our day by examining our own lives and confessing our sins. We need to pay particular attention to those sins that we repeat over and over again. If we have difficulty trusting God for this new day, let’s confess our lack of faith and ask for His help in believing He will guide and protect us. If we have some other sins that trip us up continuously, let’s confess those sins and ask the Holy Spirit to help us steer clear of them.

By focusing on cleaning up our own lives first, we will do much better at following in the footsteps of Jesus than if we spent all of our time calling out the sins of others. And, after all, we need clean minds and hearts if we are to properly represent our Lord in this troubled and needy world.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Our Security Blanket: God's Protective Hand

 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…”

—Isaiah 43:2

Most of us like to know that somewhere, somehow, we have a “security blanket” we can grab onto when things get rough.

Two years ago, over a period of seven days, my brand new wheel-chair-accessible van failed to start, twice! It only had a little more than 400 miles on it. It cost an enormous amount of money. I bought it specifically because I felt my eight-year old van was no longer reliable. Surely a new van would be a good investment.

Everything on this van depended on a computer. You can’t even manually shift the transmission. It’s all done by computer. So, when the tow truck came to tow my van to the dealership, the driver couldn’t shift the transmission into neutral because the problem was related to the computer. Did I mention that the computer runs everything on this van?

Both times I became stranded, I reached out to my very own “security blanket” in the form of lifelong friends who were eager to help me. On the first occasion, they came and helped us get the van to the dealership. On the second occasion, I had put my friends on stand-by pending the arrival of the tow truck. And, before the tow truck arrived, another lovely couple from our church showed up, stayed with us until the tow truck came, drove us to the dealership so we could fill out paperwork, and then very graciously took us home. They became our “security blanket.” As you might imagine, our gratitude towards these two couples knows no bounds.

As Christians, our real “security blanket” is God Himself. I have no doubt that He placed these dear folks in a place to give us aid when we needed it. I also know that in countless ways each day, God looks out for those He loves.

Notice the words of God that the Prophet Isaiah wrote down, as recorded in Isaiah 43:2-3:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

No matter what trials may come into our lives, God waits for the opportunity to show His love for us by His abiding Presence. He rallies to our aid whenever we need His help. He brings people into our lives to extend His love and care to us when we have times of need.

Let’s go out into this new day with a spirit of willingness to be used by God in people’s lives. Perhaps we can become someone’s “security blanket” in their time of need this day.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Entertaining Angels

 

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

—Hebrews 13:2

Hospitality, that is to say Christian hospitality, is both a spiritual gift that God bestows on certain individuals and also a duty that all Christians are called to provide. Followers of Christ should be the most welcoming individuals, always ready to lend a helping hand to make others feel valued and appreciated.

That’s why the writer of the Book of Hebrews writes this statement, found in Hebrews 13:2:

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

We practice hospitality, not only by opening our homes to others for a meal or a time of refreshment, but we practice hospitality in the attitude with which we greet others along the pathway of life. A ready smile, a kind word of encouragement, a helping hand, a generous heart are all ways we extend the hospitality of Jesus to others.

This new day should be one wherein we extend Christ-like hospitality wherever we may go along the road of life. Let’s make certain we take every opportunity to live in this world the way Jesus would live. After all, we are, indeed, his representatives.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Essence of Faith

 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

—Hebrews 11:1

The word “faith” gets tossed around quite a bit in our current culture.

“I have faith that every time I turn the key in my vehicle it will start—particularly because I always take good care of it.”

“I have faith in taking this test because I have studied very diligently.”

“I have faith that when I reach into my wallet I will have enough money to pay for lunch.”

“I have faith that next time my political party will win the election.”

“Or, I have faith that in the next election my political party will retain control of the government.”

But, for followers of Jesus, the word “faith” has a very special significance. The writer of the Book of Hebrews well understood the importance of this key word. Notice what he writes in Hebrews 11:1:

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

As we begin a new day, let’s remember that our faith is based on the reality of Christ’s presence within us by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit gives testimony that we are the children of God, just as the Apostle Paul stated in Romans 8:16. God has chosen us to belong to Him. Our faith has that solid foundation.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Much More Than Simply Listening

 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

—James 1:22

I once worked with a man who would often ask for help in completing a task. He seemed to have particular difficulty when the task involved the use of a personal computer. Many of you may relate to his dilemma.

He was a relatively smart man. He had served as a career sailor in the U. S. Navy. In fact, he worked on submarines. He had good mechanical ability, was articulate, and contributed significantly to the success of his department. But, when it came to using a personal computer, he seemed lost.

Whenever he would come to me with a question, I would suggest that he take some notes while I carefully explained what he should do. As his supervisor, I felt it was important that I take the time to help him develop the skills he needed in order to progress in his job responsibilities. Dutifully, he would take notes, thank me, and proceed to return to his workstation. Sadly, quite often he would return fairly soon and still not be able to complete the task.

One day, I asked to see his notes, hoping that I could tweak them a little and set him on the right pathway. To my amazement, I found that his notes were nearly incomprehensible. He was writing words down on paper. But, those words appeared to have no relationship to what I had tried to explain. You see, he was listening to me without really doing what I said.

The Apostle James expresses this same advice to his fellow Christians, as recorded in James 1:22:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

As we begin another new day, it’s important that we not only listen to what God’s written Word says to us as we read it, we must do what it says. God has given us a great gift by inspiring authors to write down exactly what He wants us to know and do. If we merely read God’s written Word without putting what it says into practice, what good does it do for us and others?

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

True Faithfulness

 

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness”

—Matthew 25:21

When I was a teenager and was working at Radio Station WESB in my hometown, I had the great privilege of engineering an early Sunday morning radio broadcast created by a local pastor, Rev. John F. Olexa. He billed himself on his program as “a prophet of doom with a message of hope.” He was one of the finest men in ministry that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

His tag line may sound a bit corny. But, John Olexa was anything but corny. He was a loving, caring, devoted servant of God who overcame a debilitating illness, polio, that had left him with a very awkward gait. He was quite short in stature. However, God had given him a booming voice and a very articulate way of opening God’s written Word and unpacking the truth of Scripture.

I greatly enjoyed working with “Pastor Johnny,” as many people called him. He taught me a great deal about preaching effective sermons. And, he taught me even more about humility in service to Christ and His Kingdom.

In addition to pastoring two of the local Evangelical United Brethren Churches, John served as the head of the Bradford District Youth Fellowship, as well as overseeing the Youth Fellowship for the entire Erie Conference of the EUB Church. He asked me to serve as treasurer of the District Youth Fellowship—partly, I’m fairly certain, because he knew that my dad served as treasurer of our local church, which was the largest EUB Church in the District. No doubt Pastor Johnny felt that my dad would help me keep the books straight, and he was right.

“Use the talent God has given you to the best of your ability,” Pastor Johnny would often say. “Then, rely on the Holy Spirit to multiply the effectiveness of your God-given talent.” I have felt those words set a definite course for my life. I owe a great debt of gratitude to the Rev. John F. Olexa. And, I look forward to seeing him again in heaven.

Jesus would certainly agree with Pastor Johnny’s statement regarding the use of one’s talents and abilities. Notice these words of Jesus, as He tells His followers the “Parable of the Talents (or Bags of Gold),” as found in Matthew 25:20-21:

“The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

In the “sweet by and by,” we all long to hear Jesus say those precious words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Our devotion to serving our Great King begins today, at the start of this new day. We can, and should, determine to use whatever gifts God has given us to the best of our ability and then rely on the Holy Spirit to multiply the effectiveness of those God-given talents.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

You Are Mine

 

But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

—Isaiah 43:1

God’s dealing with His chosen people, the children of Israel, is a foretaste of His dealings with those of us Gentiles who have been grafted in to the line of David. As the Apostle Paul explains in Romans 11:17:

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root…

So, we can learn great lessons from observing God’s relationship with and His actions towards His chosen people. For just as God chose Abraham’s offspring to belong to Himself, so He has chosen us, as well.

That makes the words of God recorded by the Prophet Isaiah particularly important to us. Notice these words of God, as found in Isaiah 43:1:

But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

God says to those of us He has called to Himself that we belong to Him. “You are mine,” He says. And, based on this declaration, we have confidence to use this day, and every day, to honor and serve Him.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

No Paybacks

 

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

—Proverbs 20:22

An old adage insists: “Don’t get mad, get even!” It’s actually a horrible piece of advice. In dealing with others, we should neither get mad, nor get even. That’s the way of the cross, that is, the pathway in the footsteps of Jesus.

It’s interesting that the word “mad” can mean both angry and mentally ill. In some sense, when we lose control of our emotions and become angry we do, at least momentarily, act as if mental illness had overcome us. That fact alone should help us steer clear from allowing ourselves to become angry with another person.

King Solomon offered these words of advice, found in Proverbs 20:22:

Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

In every situation that we face, especially when we are mistreated by someone else, we should allow God room to deal with the situation in our behalf. God’s protection is worth more than any momentary satisfaction we may receive by getting angry about something. And certainly, getting even with someone who has harmed us is a sin that we should definitely avoid committing.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Lord Upholds the Righteous

 

“Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.”

—Psalm 37:16-17

“By what measure do you determine your worth?” A social studies teacher in my ninth grade school year, way back in 1961, asked my class that question. Amazingly, or perhaps not so amazingly, no one wanted to volunteer an answer. Even so, I overheard several students talking about the question during the time between classes.

No one wanted to talk about himself or herself. But, everyone seemed to have an opinion about how other students might measure their worth.

“Cheryl measures her worth by her good looks,” offered one student.

“Bill thinks he’s important because he’s the star of the football team.”

“Linda always dates older guys, so she thinks she’s better than the other girls.”

“John’s family is so rich. That’s what makes him valuable.”

As usual, I was lurking on the very edges of the outside the group. I found it most interesting what my fellow students thought measured the worth of their peers. I knew that I secretly harbored a sense that I was smarter than most other people. (What a foolish notion!) But, I also knew that virtually no one liked me because I was too quick to voice my opinions and, generally speaking, lacked the social skills that seemed so natural to others.

The truth is that such measures of our value and worth are truly meaningless in terms of the biggest picture—the picture that includes not only our current time, but eternity. For our true value and worth comes from our relationship with God.

King David understood this fact from his own experience. Notice these words David wrote, as recorded in Psalm 37:16-17:

Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.

Temporal means of judging value and worth pale when faced with eternal measures. No matter what the circumstances in which we may find ourselves this new day, it is our relationship with God that truly gives us meaning and worth.

Our value comes from God, not from what we look like, or how much money we have, or how smart we think we are, or any other quality that we may have previously relied upon. That’s something we need to keep in mind all through this day and every day.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God's Love in Us

 

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

—John 17:24

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.

Today, concludes my series of blog posts that have focused on this prayer of Jesus. 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 concludes this magnificent prayer with these words, found in John 17:24-26:

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Considering the words of Jesus, as He prayed for His disciples and for us as well, should give us courage and strength to face another new day. Let’s determine to make this day count for Him.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

"I In Them And You In Me"

 

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.”

—John 17:22-23a

Several blog posts ago, I stated that, 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.

Today, and for the next few blog posts, I intend to focus on this prayer of Jesus. 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 17:20-23:

“My prayer is not for them [my current disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

As we begin a new day, the very fact that Jesus prayed for us in the moments before He would be led off to the cross of Calvary should give us a strong sense of how very much He loves us and cares for us. The fact that since His ascension into heaven Jesus continues to make intercession in our behalf should bring us such a sense of peace that we can go forth in His name and do all that He longs for us to do. Let’s allow these wonderful truths to permeate to the very core of our beings.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Sent By God

 

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”

—John 17:18

As I stated at the beginning of each one of the last few 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, I intend to focus on this prayer of Jesus. 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 17:13-19:

“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.”

When we apprehend the fact that we are, indeed, Christ’s ambassadors to a needy and troubled world, we must also understand that Jesus has sent us into the world even as God the Father sent Him into the world. As we begin a new day, we should be able to take comfort in that fact.

 

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

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}