I had lunch with a young man who is actively considering a relationship with God. As we started eating, his friend, and former classmate showed up and sat with us to eat.
During the course of the conversation this young man asked his friend why. Ha hadn’t called him in such a long time. The reply was amazing: “Why should I call you if I have no reason to call?”
On the surface, the question is logical and reasonable, but quite selfish. There is no concern for the other person. No thought about the welfare of his friend. But of course, we would say that if either friend has a need, they can call.
While listening to this conversation I remembered Jesus. The Bible says he died for us while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8). Before we realized our need, he took the initiative to take a costly step on our behalf. Before we asked for help. Now, the uniqueness of Christ’s offer is fabulous when we consider that he plans to do a major follow-up to his original plan.
Once again, Jesus will return to make good on His original plan. “In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him” (Rom 9:28).
What a deal. He gives up his life just because he loves us. Throughout our lives he promised to be with us. Then, he promised to return and finalize the process to take us with Him.
Our brokenness was enough to make Jesus respond. Our sin had made such a significant gap that he had to turn our way. We were the reason.
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God has great plans for us as His children. He invites us to those places of greatness even before we are ready. He has a plan for us, and He will work in us to work out that plan within and through us. God’s plan for us can be seen clearly at the communion table.
At communion, we are doing much more than remembering the death of Jesus Christ. We are being given a lofty invitation. First, it’s an invitation to fellowship with God the creator of the universe. Second, we are invited to positions of authority that only children of the King can enjoy.
Invitations are commonly given to those of equal status, and to those who are deserving. In Luke 22, Jesus invited the disciples to a meal. His disciples were anything but deserving. Even at the table, they were arguing among themselves about who will be greatest among them (Luke 22). Jesus had to warn Peter of his impending betrayal (Luke 22:31). These and numerous other reasons are clear in the Gospels that they were undeserving of the invitation of Jesus.
When we look closely, we realize that the invitation goes much beyond this one meal together. He repeatedly mentioned the future Kingdom of God, where he will one day eat and drink with them (Luke 22:16, 18, 30).
But I am intrigued by the fact that the disciples behavior showed that they were undeserving of such a lofty invitation. In the coming kingdom, they were to eat together and rule together.
Sharing a meal is something that was only done together with equals. Never would someone eat with people of lower status. This is why the Jewish religious leaders were upset at Jesus. He regularly ate meals with those the society regarded as outcasts. Jesus considered this as part of His mission.
Being given the right to rule (Luke 22:29) was reserved only for sons. Kings in those days ensured that their sons were placed in positions of power and authority. After their death, the sons would continue the rule.
What an awesome invitation with a great expectation. Get ready. God is in the process of building you up according to His expectations.
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Are you tired of rules and regulations? There is always someone ready to tell you what you should do. No matter how hard you try to be good, it’s never good enough.
In fact it’s so bad that you feel like you are living for someone else. You just can’t be yourself. You have to be someone you are not.
Maybe it’s not others telling you to conform. You yourself have realized the struggle to live a life pleasing to God. For the longest time, you’ve tried to live the Christian life, but you never seem to conquer yourself.
Your situation could be so bad that you are no longer in control. But it’s your life, and you should be able to live it as you wish. But even if you want to live a life pleasing to God, you just can’t.
Better than you trying, God has a better way. He wants to transform you from the inside out. Here is what the writer of Hebrews says about it:
I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. None of them will have to teach his fellow citizen or tell his fellow countryman, “know the Lord.” For they will all know me, from the least to the greatest (Heb 8:10-11 GNB).
Maybe it’s time to ask God to come and rewrite the “code” in your heart and mind. When this happens, God’s desire becomes your desire and your desire becomes God’s desire. It is a gradual process, but if you will open yourself up to the Holy Spirit, He will begin that work within you. Then, once your desire becomes God’s desire, go ahead and live as you please!
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Suffering produces short term responses and long term effects. The trouble is that during the process, we begin to feel like our fate is sealed.
The most common short term response is doubt expressed through questioning. We question God, people, and ultimately life itself. If we allow ourselves to continue on this track, we can become cynical and closed to input from others and God.
For some, their response is anger. Anger may be expressed outwardly where the person behaves like a short-fuse ready to blow at any moment. Periodically they may “explode” and cause others to pull away from such a person. Others suppress the anger within themselves. No one knows it’s there, but it slowly takes its toll on the person’s mind and body.
Still others respond with deep sorrow and pain. They pull away from others and allow the sorrow to pull them down into a deep pit. This cycle of sorrow, pain, and seclusion continues to repeat itself and finally this person may end up in depression.
Jesus responded to suffering by turning to His Father. His prayers were with loud cries and tears. He was heard because of his reverent submission (Heb 5:7). The next verse reveals that Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered.
While you suffer, turn to the Father and pour your heart out to Him. Put aside everything else and turn to Him again and again. He will hear you. Then in the long run, He will teach you — what you need to learn.
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For years I was confused with comparing our struggles with the sufferings of Jesus. He already knew that he was born to die. He knew that he would resurrect after his sufferings and death. Then his next step would be a guaranteed position at the right hand of the Father in Heaven.
So, ultimately, Jesus’ life was a “setup.” All along, he knew the script. The sufferings, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and his seat at the Father’s right hand was all a complete setup. He knew the outcome all along. Not fair!
But is it any different for us? For those who have given their lives to God by faith in Jesus Christ, life is a “setup.” We will all suffer, and one day we will die. The Bible promises a resurrection followed by an ascension to heaven. It goes on to say that we are seated with Christ in heaven. And since Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, and we are seated with Jesus, it follows that we are also seated at the right hand of the Father.
This realization has given me a new perspective on life as I turn 50 in a few days. My life is truly a “setup” as I have a guaranteed set of events and outcomes in the future.
I look forward to living my life with confidence and not fear. My future is bright. Not because there is clarity about the events that may occur in the next few decades, but because I have complete trust in the Father. He will lead me on in pain, struggles, sorrows, and lots of sweet victories.
What about your struggles and brokenness? Remember the pain that never seems to go away? And the losses? Too deep to talk about?
Remember your destiny, and give your losses a new meaning. It’s not the end.

• Ten years ago, I wrote my thoughts on turning 40. Read Has Life Begun?

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I looked out at the audience as the people waited for the communion to be served. My mind flashed through all the various issues we face: Guilt, pain, rejection, injustice, and other factors that seem to grip the souls of people.

As the communion was served, I realized we were taking part in something greater and more awesome than the sum of all our combined struggles. The creator of the universe has come in human form and humbled himself to the lowest levels.
The genuine humility of Jesus challenged the pride, arrogance, and violence of humanity. Throughout history, pride has been challenged with greater pride, arrogance with more arrogance, and each negative has been countered with more of the same. Only Jesus was able to challenge these with His humility.
But His humility is different. It comes in the context of the greatest levels of power that is imaginable. No other force can surpass His — yet He chose to respond in humility. His ultimate act of humility was to offer up His own body to be sacrificed.
The sinless one was sacrificed for us sinners. The most powerful one laid down His power to die in humility and meekness — for me, the prideful, arrogant, selfish sinner.
My pride, arrogance, and selfishness has brought me guilt, pain, rejection, injustice, and other factors that reveal my true brokenness. But through His humility, Jesus has brought me healing. His healing brings wholeness in place of all my brokenness.
As I served communion that day, my eyes were full as I realized the extent of what this table represents. My brokenness — our brokenness, exchanged for His wholeness.
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:

• Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
• FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read Tips For Effective Ministry

The future of the world is quite uncertain. For many, this is a matter of serious concern. The increasing threat of terrorism puts fear into the hearts of those who live in peaceful situations. Global warming, school shootings, human trafficking, slavery, natural calamities and a host of other factors that are beyond our control cause confusion in our hearts.

For some, they are completely oblivious to all that goes on throughout the world. They simply look away and continue with their daily tasks.
What kind of a world are we leaving behind for the next generation? Many of us may not be around to witness the outcome of all these dangerous situations and others that are brewing throughout the world. This could be a way of “escape” or a way to ignore reality. But we must not ignore this moral responsibility placed on us as part of this current generation. What will we do? How will we take responsible action to benefit the generations that follow?
For generations, people have attempted to bring correction and order in this world. The quest and attempt to change things must continue. That is part of our moral responsibility. But at the same time, we acknowledge the reality that these things are ongoing attempts, but not the ultimate solution.
The Bible says that Jesus sustains the universe with His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus can sustain the universe with His word because He is the one through whom God created the universe (John 1:3). His word spoke everything into existence, and his powerful word will continue to sustain everything.
The world you leave behind is a serious concern for many. And rightly so. We need to be responsible citizens of the planet and be concerned about the world we leave behind for our children.
But ultimately, it is God who created this world, and He will sustain it for future generations.
Your Turn
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
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My Books:

• Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
• FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read  Tips For Effective Ministry

Do you describe your life as a life of losses? You look back and see a trail of losses. The losses may have occurred in relationships, money, honour, and a host of other factors. These losses are a reality of your past, and it seems to grip your present just as much as it had a hold on your past.

More than twenty years ago I worked for a company that put much effort into keeping their losses (shrinkage) down way below 2%. Each year, as the company went through its annual inventory, they meticulously combed through every piece of item in the store. But they knew that through theft, breakage, and paperwork errors, they would surely incur losses.
Throughout the year they worked hard to keep the losses down, but they knew they had to factor in such losses. For them, it was part of doing business.
I’ve realized now that losses in life must be factored in to my life’s “account” too. I’ve got to learn to accept losses as a part of living this life. As long as we don’t’ accept this reality, we will continue to live in the past. We get a new calendar each year, but our lives remain in the former years. We leave our hearts behind somewhere in the past.
Once we accept losses as a part of this life, we can begin to move forward in life. The possibilities become endless. Otherwise our losses weigh us down and we won’t be able to move forward with life.
Calculate the losses, set them aside, and let’s move forward.
Your Turn
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* Book recommendations on various topics I write on are available at my Resources Page.
** For a list of books that I’ve recently read, here is my Reading List.
My Books:

• Considering your goals? Wondering where your life is headed? Read Living Your Potential
• FREE – Facilitating discussions, leading small groups, and more. Read  Tips For Effective Ministry