A Harvest of Righteousness

 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving…”

—James 3:17a

Our society today in the United States thrives on conflict. In virtually every sphere of our daily life, conflict rises to the surface. It dominates our conversation. The media, of course, fuels this conflict.

Many years ago, a dear friend of mine hosted a national radio program on the then only major Christian radio network. Not only did my friend possess what radio people call a “thunder throat,” he was highly intelligent, extremely well-educated, and had an innate curiosity that made him an excellent interviewer. As a fellow broadcaster, he always treated me very kindly and on several occasions had me as a guest on his nightly program to talk about various issues regarding fire safety.

One day, he telephoned me to tell me he had lost his job hosting a nationally syndicated evening talk radio program. The reason: he wasn’t controversial enough. He didn’t press his guests hard enough. When they stumbled, he didn’t “go in for the kill.” I was astonished. I couldn’t believe that a Christian radio network would not appreciate my friend’s very gentle, yet intellectually probing approach. But, no, they wanted the host to engage in conflict and spar with the guests.

God does not want us to seek conflict. While there may be times when we have to take a stand against evil, there are many more times when we should promote an environment of peace. Please note these words from the apostle James, as recorded in James 3:17-18:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

God’s wisdom is peace-loving. As we begin a new day, let’s determine to put conflict aside and promote peace. Let’s determine to not let the media stir up foolish anger within us. Instead, let’s become gentle ambassadors of God’s love and grace to a troubled and conflict-filled world. Let’s show the kind of peace that reaps a harvest of righteousness.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, May 23, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Remembers

 

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work…”

—Hebrews 6:10a

Sometimes we wonder if anyone ever notices those times when we reach out to others with acts of kindness, or generosity, or God-breathed love. If we’re truly “giving” perople, we may sometimes wonder if anyone even noticed our many self-sacrificing acts of kindness.

We realize, of course, that we purposely extend our acts of kindness and genorosity without ever expecting anything in return, or even to have anyone notice. On our part, we intend such acts to become expressions of God-breathed love. We merely become vessels through which God touches the lives of others with His divine and powerful love.

Even so, because we are human and continue to possess our fallen nature, we do wonder if anyone notices our acts of kindness and generosity. Let me assure you this day that, whether or not anyone else noticed what we have done, God did!

The writer of the Book of Hebrews put it this way in Hebrews 6:10:

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Every act of kindness, every act of generosity we have done in Christ’s name has been fully observed by God. Not only has God noticed what we have done, He has committed it to His memory. God takes note of our sacrifice of love and He will not forget what we have done.

So, dear ones, let us take heart at the beginning of this new day. Whether or not anyone else realized what we have done in reaching out to meet the genuine needs of others, God knows and He will always remember.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, May 20, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Return to Greatness

 

“Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land…”

—Zephaniah 2:2a

When we very carefully study the way that God has interacted with those He particularly loves, there is no question that God’s lovingkindness and tender mercies have paved the way to American exceptionalism. So very many unusual and critically important events have fallen into place at just the right time throughout our history. We do not believe in coincidences. Rather, we believe that God’s hand rests on those He chooses to serve His purposes. Those who founded the United States of America, and those who have fought and died to preserve our freedoms, are just such individuals.

But sadly, as a nation we are slipping further and further away from the God who has been so very gracious to us. To whom much has been given, much is required. We owe God everything, but today we seldom acknowledge Him as the source of our greatness.

This phenomenon is not new. Time and time again, God’s chosen people, Israel, received a great outpouring of God’s richest blessings. But, all too soon, they would fall into sin and deny God’s faithfulness to them. Please take note of what the Prophet wrote in Zephaniah 2:1-3:

Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord’s wrath comes upon you.

Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands.

Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.

Let us hear God’s call to repentance today. Instead of continuing to turn our back on God, as a nation made exceptional among all the nations of the world by God’s mercy and grace, let us return to the One who made our nation great. As more and more evil consumes us, let us fall to our knees and ask for forgiveness for our unfaithfulness. It is not yet too late to become revived.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, May 19, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Heavenly Love Song

 

“The Lord your God is with you…”

—Zephaniah 3:17a

Has anyone ever sung a love song meant especially for you? I’m talking about those times in your life when the excitement of new love so overwhelmed the one who loved you that he or she began to sing a love song to you? Ever after, whenever you hear that particular song, you immediately remember that first time your lover sang it to you. Hearing that song still makes you smile and reminds you of how much your dear one loves you.

“No. I’m sorry,” you say. “No one’s ever sung a love song to me.”

But, my friend, someone has sung a love song for you! And, that someone is the best Singer you’ve ever heard. Please carefully read these words from the Prophet, as recorded in Zephaniah 3:17:

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

The God of the universe who, before the foundation of the earth, has chosen you to belong to Himself loves you so much that He has burst into song. And, that song is the most glorious and most wonderful love song you can ever imagine.

We “Christ’s-ones” simply struggle to even consider how gloriously wonderful it is to be loved by a God who would send His one and only Son to die in our place. Every action He takes in our behalf is wrapped in the soft, protective blanket of His unfailing, undying love.

No matter what difficulty, trial, or sorrow you may face today, please take heart. If you close your eyes and listen with your spirit, you will hear the most beautiful love song you can possibly imagine. That song, dear ones—that amazingly beautiful love song—comes from the very lips of the God who loves us with His everlasting, unfailing, undying love.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Simply Cannot Understand

 

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

—Ecclesiastes 11:5

As we human beings have gained more and more knowledge, it seems as if we have become more and more arrogant. The more we think we understand how things work, the more we inject ourselves into the equation.

One of my favorite illustrations of this is the much discussed subject of anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change. The very idea that puny humankind could actually do something to alter the complexity of the climate, which God designed and which He alone maintains, is laughable.

This is particularly true when at the heart of this assertion is an attempt to socially engineer the distribution of wealth and affect the geopolitics in such a way that capitalism would be replaced by socialism. If we believers accept the truth that God’s perfect will prevails in every situation, how can we doubt that it is God who alone controls the most fundamental aspects of this planet on which He has placed us?

On a more personal level, how often do people wail against God when some tragedy happens. “How could God allow this earthquake, or this train wreck, or this event, or that one?” Such wailing displays a fundamental misunderstanding of God—at least to the extent that He has revealed Himself to us. Only arrogant humans would presume to understand God.

Even faithful believers in God—through the power of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—need reminding that, while God loves us with His everlasting love, we can never presume to fully understand Him. This verse, found in Ecclesiastes 11:5, puts it well:

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

We humans simply do not possess the mental and spiritual capacities to fully understand God. That’s why we must respond in faith to His calling us to Himself.

This day, let us set aside our arrogance and place our trust in the God whom we cannot fully comprehend. His love and sacrifice for us should be, and must be, enough. The fact that He has revealed Himself to us through His Son must be sufficient for us until we enter heaven. Once we rest for eternity at Jesus’ feet, then, and only then, “we will know even as we are known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). And that, dear ones, must be sufficient enough for now.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Celebrate the Power of the Creator

 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

—Psalm 139:13

We joyfully celebrate the works of everyone who creates something wonderful. We praise those who have taken the talent God has given them and used that talent to create something that benefits others.

If I mention the name Alexander Graham Bell, or Thomas Edison, or Dr. Jonas Salk, you can immediately identify them as the much celebrated creators of the telephone, the electric light bulb, and the polio vaccine.

Is it any wonder that the Psalmist, King David, considered his own being and wrote these words in Psalm 139:13-14:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

David recognized the power of God and celebrated God’s creative genius. He gave appropriate praise to the One who has created everything.

As we begin this new day, we, too, should celebrate the creative power of God. He has given us both first life and new life through His Son, Jesus. That surely is creative power worthy of our highest praise.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, May 16, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Building Each Other Up

 

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful or building others up according to their needs…”

—Ephesians 4:29a

As we move along the pathway that God has opened before us, one of the joys in relating to our brothers and sisters in Christ comes from the opportunities we have to build each other up. In a culture where many people spend an inordinate amount of time tearing other people down, we can set a totally opposite example. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29-32:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Behaving in a God-honoring way toward our fellow believers should really be a “no-brainer.” After all, we’re going to spend eternity with each other. We might as well learn how to encourage each other and generally get along. Shouldn’t we?

Seriously, we really should do our best to build up our brothers and sisters in Christ. Christianity is not a way of life for lone wolves. In order to fulfill our Lord’s commands, it’s clearly a faith that depends on the community of believers.

Let’s remember to encourage each other today. We will all benefit from such behavior.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, May 13, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Handling Conflict Among Believers

 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you.”

—Matthew 18:15

As “Christ’s-ones” we do many things well and, to the extent that we bend our selfish human wills to God’s will, we are ever learning to do things better. As the Holy Spirit opens up a straight path before us, we have the opportunity to obediently follow that pathway.

Sadly, one gigantic area of consistent failure is the way we handle conflict between believers and, especially, within the church. Experiences I have had in the past have made me very zealous about encouraging my fellow believers to properly resolve conflict between believers and within in the church.

It is very important for me to emphasize that, personally I do not hold a grudge against anyone in past churches who may have harmed me. With extraordinary help from God, I have come to peace, within my own heart and mind, regarding the way I was treated. And, as best as I can do by relying on God’s grace, I have determined that I am ready, willing, and able to forgive should anyone who has harmed me asks for forgiveness.

While I have written about certain aspects of this subject several times over the years, when considering the matter of conflict resolution, I believe that from time to time we all need to review Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:15-17:

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

“But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’

“If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

To many, these words at the end seem particularly harsh. But, I know for a certainty that when this process is followed—to the letter—harmony is restored. So, let’s be certain we do our part to follow Jesus’ instructions for resolving conflict with our brothers and sisters in Christ—and especially within the church. It’s indeed what Jesus expects us to do.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, May 12, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Startling Vision

 

“This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.”

—Ezekiel 1:28b

One of the most studied, parsed, dissected, and argued passages of Scripture appears at the beginning of the Book of Ezekiel. God gives the Prophet a glimpse into a future that many Bible scholars believe portrays the end of the age. However, whether that assertion is true is not within the scope of this blog post.

I am interested in the latter part of this vision and particularly the words spoken by God to Ezekiel. Nevertheless, I encourage you to read the entire first and second chapters of the Book of Ezekiel. Here’s the portion of Scripture that I would like us to consider. Ezekiel 1:26 - 2:5:

Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.

I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.

“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Confronted by this incredible vision, Ezekiel responds in the only conceivable way: he falls face down before the glory of the Lord.

I wonder what God might say to a prophet He intended to send to the United States of America. Watching the decline of morality and the abandonment of civility in our society, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if God said of us, “The United States is a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me.”

And, that, dear ones, brings me to us—to you and to me. We “Christ’s-ones” are God’s ambassadors here on the earth. We have a great responsibility to let the Presence of Christ within us flow out and touch those around us. And, therein lies the dilemma. Somehow, in obedience to Christ, we have to show His love at the same time we do not walk away from voicing a call to repent of sin. Left to my own creativity and thoughtful consideration, I have no idea how to do this—how to keep that critical balance.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:16 to be as “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves.” So, we must be clever, but in a gentle and tender way. So, what do we do?

I do know we need to prayerfully support each other as we go out into a needy world each day. We need to ask God to give us a balance in our own lives and in the message of the gospel we share. I will pray for you, dear ones, and I will hope that you will pray for me, as well. Okay?

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, May 11, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Dueling Laws

 

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

—Romans 8:1

Very few people like to have their behavior constrained by rules and regulations. That’s why the children of Israel got into trouble so many times. When we read through the Old Testament, time and again we find God’s chosen people turning their backs on God’s law and rebelling against Him.

We’re just like them. Our natural bent toward sin always urges us to resist any constraints by rules and regulations and to do exactly what we want to do. This is true in the most simplistic of rules. For example, the speed limit is clearly posted. Yet, we travel at whatever speed we choose and get angry if a police officer pulls us over and gives us a ticket. If I created a list of common sins and posted them here, each of us could find one or more sins that we have willfully committed without shame.

Nevertheless, in His mercy, grace, and love, God has given us a powerful alternative to a list of rules and regulations. Whereas the Old Testament Law did not lead people toward righteousness, because of their natural, sinful rebellion, the Holy Spirit, who dwells within everyone who believes, nudges us to stay on the pathway of obedience to God’s will and His written Word. The Apostle Paul clearly explains these dueling laws in Romans 8:1-2:

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

The law of the Spirit of life—that is, the Presence of the all-powerful Holy Spirit who dwells within us—has, indeed, set us free from the law of sin and death. Let us begin this new day by sharpening our listening skills, so that we may ever more clearly sense those holy nudgings of the Spirit. And, let us purpose in our minds and hearts to follow the pathway of life that the Holy Spirit opens up before us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, May 10, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Be Wise

 

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders…”

—Colossians 4:5a

There is a definite difference between being wise and being a “wise guy.” I don’t hear that latter term much any more. Instead, due to the coarsening of our language, most people use a more profane term to describe someone who is acting like a jerk.

Wisdom is clearly a gift from God. Displaying wisdom is definitely a worthy quality that benefits the wise person, as well as the people around him or her. In writing to the “Christ’s-ones” gathered at Colosse, the Apostle Paul offered these potent words of advice, as recorded in Colossians 4:5-6:

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Now Paul is not urging the use of “salty” language in the sense that we use that term today. Rather, he is making an allusion to the use of salt as a preservative. In other words, the Apostle Paul is urging us to choose words that will stand the test of time.

As we welcome people to our fellowships (churches) who are not yet believers, we must extend God’s love to them. At the same time, we must not set aside our convictions, nor pretend that biblical standards don’t matter. But, in showing the love of Christ, we must choose our words carefully, always remembering that we, too, are nothing more than sinners saved by God’s mercy and grace.

When we meet new people, we never know but that God is already at work in their hearts, drawing them irresistibly into His grace. That’s why we must be wise toward them. We must choose our words carefully. We must make the most of every opportunity to model the love of Christ. In so doing, we will act just like Jesus. He welcomed sinners because He knew He would die for them. We welcome sinners because we remember that we are also sinners to whom God has shown His mercy, love, and grace.

Just as God is continually making us into the people He wants us to be, so He will perform a holy makeover on all those He draws into His love and grace. Let us determine this day to be wise in the way we act toward everyone we meet. This surely will please God.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, May 9, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

What is God's Will for Us?

 

“ Rejoice always, pray continually…”

—1 Thessalonians 5:16a

Growing up in a very Fundamentalist church, I was often challenged to seek God’s will for my life. I would study Scripture and listen carefully to the sermons and Bible lessons.

Then one day, I came across these words of the Apostle Paul as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Could it be that simple? Yes! Yes it could.

God desires for us to receive His gift of salvation with great joy. He wants us to keep in touch with Him through prayer. He wants us to read, study, and meditate on His written Word. He wants us to thankfully receive whatever trials may come our way in life.

We act in this way because we know He loves us, wants the best for us, and will stand with us every moment of every day. And that, dear ones, is God’s will for us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, May 6, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Accountability Relationships

 

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other”

—James 5:16

One of those most helpful disciplines in spiritual formation is an accountability relationship with one, two, or three close Christian friends. In this relationship we confidentially share each other’s struggles with besetting sins, confess our failures, celebrate our successes, and pray earnestly and fervently for each other. Such an accountability relationship is based on these words from the Apostle James found in James 5:16:

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.

An accountability relationship truly helps strengthen our walk with Jesus. It heightens our awareness of how clever Satan is in his attempts to thwart our spiritual growth. And, it heightens our awareness of how powerful the Holy Spirit is in enabling us to overcome our naturally inherited bent toward sin.

As we begin this new day, each of us should seriously consider forming an accountability relationship with one, two, or three trusted Christian friends. Doing so will help accelerate our spiritual formation and gives us a wonderful opportunity for blessed fellowship in our lives.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, May 5, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Faithful in Prayer

 

“ Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

—Romans 12:1

Every day it’s important that we start our day by spending time talking with God. We need to come into God’s Presence and sit with Him in quiet. After all, He is our Father and He takes delight whenever His dearly loved children spend time with Him in prayer.

We should begin by thanking Him and praising Him for who He is—not for what He has done for us, but for who He is—the God of the universe, the Creator and Sustainer of life.

Next, we should confess our sins and ask Him to forgive us. We need to keep our slates clean.

Then, we should thank Him for His mercy, grace, and love that has given us our salvation. Next, we should ask Him to make a clear pathway for us through the day ahead. And, lastly, we should present the other needs on our hearts to Him.

The Apostle Paul offered these words in Romans 12:12:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Our daily walk with God is the most precious and most important part of our existence. We need to devote ourselves to spending time each day with God.

In a sentence, what I’ve tried to share in these brief words might go something like this: “Dearly loved children bring delight to their Father by spending time with Him.”

Why not take some time right now to sit with God and fellowship with Him?

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, May 4, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Seeking and Saving

 

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

—Luke 19:10

Over the years that I have written blog posts, I have shared the following story previously. It comes to my mind again, when I consider what it means for those who move through the days of their lives without the blessing of knowing God, through His precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once, many years ago, I wandered outside at night in rural Florida. It was a very warm and humid September evening. Clouds had rolled in from the ocean. There were no street lights or other manmade illumination. Apart from the buzzing sound of the swarms of mosquitoes, it was deathly quiet.

As I walked along a rural dirt road, suddenly my flashlight died. I stopped walking. I have never experienced such complete darkness. I literally could see nothing. There was no light of any kind. I was on a stretch of road where there were no houses. A swamp stretched for many thousands of yards on each side of the road.

For many minutes I stood frozen in place. I was completely lost in the blackness of night. I began to feel panic rising within me.

I tried my flashlight again. It wouldn’t turn on. I was afraid to take a step in any direction. Many minutes passed.

After what seemed like an eternity, but what was more likely only twenty minutes or so, I heard a vehicle coming in the distance. Soon I saw headlights and then the familiar face of my host.

“We were worried about you,” my host explained.

“I’m glad you were,” I replied. “My flashlight died and I was lost in the darkness.”

Everyone of us was once lost in the blackest darkness of sin. Then, the Holy Spirit came to our rescue and revealed God’s loving plan of salvation through the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Luke records Jesus’ own words in Luke 19:10:

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

What wonderfully reassuring words. Jesus came to rescue us from the eternal penalty of our sins. He brought the saving Light of His love into the darkness of our sin-stained world.

An old gospel hymn, “Victory in Jesus,” includes these words: “He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.” The Gaither’s sing this song in the following video clip:

As we begin a new day, let us rejoice that Jesus went looking for us when we were lost in sin and paid the price for our redemption.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, May 3, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Saved to the Uttermost

 

“ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him…”

—Hebrews 7:25a

Let’s say we’re falling off a cliff and someone reaches out to stop our fall and saves us partially. Or, more germane to my previous profession as a fire protection engineer, let’s say we’re in a smoke-filled room and a firefighter in self-contained breathing apparatus just pulls us part of the way out of the room full of toxic gases.

You see, no one wants to be partially saved. When we are in mortal danger, we want to be fully, completely, and totally saved.

The writer to the Hebrew Christians wanted to make certain that they—and we—understood the full scope of our salvation. This prompted him to write these words, speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, found in Hebrews 7:25:

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

The King James Version uses the more colorful phrase: “saved to the uttermost.” I really like that phrase.

In our sin—the sin we inherited from Adam and the sin we have committed throughout our lives—we are utterly, totally, and completely lost. Left to our own devices, we have absolutely no hope of being saved from sin’s penalty of eternal suffering. How wonderful that Jesus completely reverses our condition. Through His own death and resurrection, we are now “saved to the uttermost.”

Whereas we were utterly lost, now we are utterly saved. In this truth resides the source of our greatest joy. As John Newton wrote in his famous hymn:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

As we begin a new day, let’s rejoice that, though mired in the depths of sin, we have now been “saved to the uttermost” through the blessed Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, May 2, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without Faith

 

“And without faith it is impossible to please God…”

—Hebrews 11:6a

The Book of Hebrews in the New Testament contains the most thorough exploration of what “faith” means to a Christian. In this letter from an unidentified author, through numerous examples we learn these three important aspects of faith:

• The qualities of faith
  
  
• The persistence of faith
  
  
• The importance of faith.
  
  

We learn that faith is not a leap in the dark, as many suppose. Rather, true faith is based on thoughtful, logical conclusions drawn from a thorough study of all the available factual evidence.

Probably no passage of Scripture sums up the importance of fact-based belief better than Hebrews 11:6:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

As we continue our walk with God this day—through the life-transforming relationship with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—let us cling tightly to the faith we have apprehended by means of the Holy Spirit. We belong to God because He chose us to belong to Himself.

Let us rejoice when we see God's hand at work in our lives. And, let us remain humbly thankful that we do not have to live our lives without faith.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, April 29, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

God Hears and Answers

 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

—1 John 5:14

Does God hear the prayers of His dearly loved children? Of course He does. Does He always answer our prayers? Yes, He always answers our prayers. But, we sometimes don’t like the answer. Sometimes His answer is to trust Him. We ask for things to return to what they once were. He responds that He has a new plan for us.

• We need a job. He gives us time to get to know Him better. We counter that knowing Him better doesn’t pay our bills. He responds that we must trust Him. Isn’t He meeting our every real need?
  
  
• We want to feel as important as we once did. He says we are important enough to Him and that should be enough. We say that it’s not. He smiles and tells us that’s one of the lessons He wants us to learn.
  
  
• We threaten to abandon our faith or to radically depart from what we once believed. He says to go ahead, but we’ll be even less content than we are when we fully place our trust in Him.
  
  
• We want to reconcile with those who have hurt us so deeply. But, God has hardened their hearts. Their sin has separated them from Him and part of their pain is the bitterness that keeps them from the pathway of confession, repentance, restitution, and reconciliation. We want to reconcile, but they won’t take the first three steps of God’s plan for genuine reconciliation.
  
  

The hardest lesson we will ever learn is to fall back into God’s loving arms and always, always, always trust Him for what lies ahead. We must learn to fully accept our present reality and allow God to show us the answer He has for our earnest prayers.

Believe me, I know whereof I speak. I once moved with great ease. Now, in my home, I must walk with a walker. When I am outside of my home, I must ride in a powered wheel chair. I once was a leader in my profession. Now I am professionally irrelevant because I can’t travel to meetings, speaking engagements, or conventions.

Yet, God has graciously given me a new assignment. It brings me joy to serve in a new way. But, I sorely miss teaching seminars, speaking to large groups, writing codes and standards, defending what I believe is professionally right, and having the respect of my peers. I have not yet fully learned that most important lesson: to fall back into God’s loving arms and accept the new plan He has for me.

On the surface it may appear to others that I’m doing quite well. But, on the inside, I have been too often consumed with a burning frustration and disappointment over the loss of what once was my life. How foolish and ungrateful I am!

The lesson is there for each of us to learn in his or her own way. You see, falling back into His arms of love is the toughest lesson we will ever learn. The Apostle John wrote these critically important and powerfully comforting words in 1 John 5:14-15:

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

This day, out of the depths of my own neediness, I urge us all to let go of what once was and fall back into God’s loving arms. He is this very moment working out His perfect will for our lives. He is, indeed, answering our prayers according to His perfect will. Only one thing remains for us to do: as we fall back into His loving arms, we must say, “Thank You, Lord.”

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, April 28, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

It's Not Only All About Love

 

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head…”

—Ephesians 4:15a

In many so-called “Christian circles” today, it’s all about love. These groups, and particularly their leaders, place an enormous emphasis on “love.” These dear ones claim that Jesus was all about love and that we followers of Jesus must be all about love, as well.

Now, in fact, love is extremely important. And, God-breathed love has an importance at the top of the scale. Yet, so often in the Christian life our very best intentions get waylaid by balance. We lean too far in one direction or the other and end up distorting the message of the gospel. We become out of balance.

Yes, Jesus certainly emphasized and demonstrated love. But, Jesus also demonstrated and emphasized absolute truth, too. Jesus demonstrated and emphasized holiness. He emphasized compassion. He emphasized a strong stand against Satan.

In placing all their emphasis on being loving, these dear ones neglect the emulation of the totality of who Jesus was. He was truthfulness. He was holiness. He was compassionate. He took a strong stand against Satan and all the evil that the evil one perpetrated. In showing God’s love to everyone He met, Jesus never pretended to ignore the truthfulness of their particular situation.

Yes, Jesus reached out in love to sinners and accepted them as they were. But, He never ignored their sin or pretended their lifestyle wasn’t sinful.

In other words, Jesus maintained a perfect balance between love and truth. By emphasizing love over truth—or even worse, pretending that sinful behavior isn’t sinful in order to emphasize love—these dear ones ignore the whole counsel of God. Take note of these words from the Apostle Paul found in Ephesians 4:15-16:

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Love arises out of truth—or as Paul puts it, “speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

Let us not fall out of balance by emphasizing love and ignoring truth. Let us not deny the whole counsel of God. If we intend to follow Christ’s example, let’s truly follow His example in its totality.

This day, let’s be both loving and truthful. In so doing we follow accurately the footsteps of Jesus.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, April 27, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Hey! Whaddaya Know?

 

“ I know that my redeemer lives…”

—Job 19:25a

When I was a teenager, more than 60 years ago, a common greeting was “Hey! Whaddaya Know?” A proper response was either, “Nuthin’! You?” Or, some bit of actual news that you thought the person greeting you might not know: “Mary and Tommy broke up!”

In the midst of dealing with the horrific troubles that had visited him, the patriarch Job made this declaration in Job 19:25:

I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

Wow! If I had experienced all of the trouble and heartache that Job had experienced, I don’t think I could respond so positively in the midst of my own personal ruin. But, I certainly should, and so should we all.

No matter what circumstances we find ourselves in today, let us cling to the reality that Jesus, our Savior, lives. Then, let’s be ready to share that glorious truth whenever the Holy Spirit prompts us to do so.

“This one thing I know for certain,” we may confidently report. “I know my Savior lives and one day He will return to stand on the earth. What a glorious day that will be!”

Indeed it will!

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, April 26, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Having the Mindset of Christ

 

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus”

—Philippians 2:5

Getting along with everyone in a church is not always easy. We all have unique personalities that are informed by our life experiences. This “life baggage” we carry into every situation sometimes makes it difficult to always get along. The Apostle Paul spoke to this very challenge in Philippians 2:5-8:

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Now admittedly, bringing those words of the Apostle Paul into the reality of our personal lives is a tall order: having the same mindset of our Savior and Lord. It’s the mindset of a servant, a mindset of great humility, a mindset willing to surrender privilege for a greater good, and a mindset of total obedience to God.

As we begin this new day in prayer, let’s ask God to give us hearts, minds, and lives that are willing to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Let’s ask God to give us the very mindset of Christ, so that we may relate to each other in self-sacrificing love.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, April 25, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

From Heart to Mouth

 

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified”

—Romans 10:10a

“I’m a spiritual person. I believe, but I like to keep my beliefs to myself.”

Have you ever met people, maybe even fellow believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, who voiced such a position? They claim they do not wish to display their faith openly. Usually, they feel this way because they want to fit into whatever societal group in which they strive to belong.

But, true faith in Christ doesn’t work that way. Earnest believers are marked by the blood of Christ. They can ultimately never really fully fit into a worldly social group. Oh, they can get along. But, they will not really belong. The Apostle Paul explained why in Romans 10:9-10:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

At some point, every true believer will be compelled by the indwelling Holy Spirit to take a stand for Christ. That voicing of one’s faith need not be obnoxious or overly dramatic. In fact, sometimes the clearest word of testimony comes in a subtle statement made with distinct humility. Please let me share an example with you:

More than a six years ago, God brought a new person into my life. The Holy Spirit nudged me, as He often does, that this person might well be a fellow believer. When I viewed this person’s Twitter profile, there it was: a subtle yet powerful testimony of God’s grace at work in his life. At the end of his profile he had written these words: “husband, father, son, brother, sinner, forgiven.”

Yes, indeed! There it was! His subtle, yet humble, testimony of faith: “sinner, forgiven.” I knew immediately that what the Holy Spirit had been whispering to my inner being was true. My new acquaintance was a brother in Christ.

This particular man had many qualities to commend him, many valuable insights and interests, but topping them all, he belonged to the household of faith. Since that time of our first encounter, we have grown in our relationship and I now consider him a very dear friend. Our friendship, based on some very strong common interests, is made even more significant by the fact that we both belong to God through the person and work of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

As we begin a new day, let us remember to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. And, when He nudges us, without any fear or hesitancy, let us humbly acknowledge that we belong to God through Christ. We do very well to acknowledge with our lips that Jesus is our Savior and Lord.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, April 22, 2016

_{Copyright © 2022 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}