faith

January 12 – So What About the Son?

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sunset over poppy field

January 12 – So What About the Son?

 Most conflicts, when it comes to religious beliefs, do not ensue around the existence of God. In my estimation, there are more who agree than disagree.

The issue often has to do with the Son of God who is traditionally presented as both God and man. Quite frankly, the whole idea totally messes with people. This is probably because the concept just doesn’t make logical sense.

I don’t know about you, but in my lifetime, there haven’t been very many immaculate conceptions . . .none, as a matter of fact.

So that leaves little to no data for a comparative analysis. And although there is substantial room for an exhaustive debate over the birth and belonging of the Son of God in history, time has taught me that the long-range benefits of debating arguments are not worth the time.

Basic belief, on the other hand, is worth discussing. Everyone was born with an innocent child-like faith. That is why all of us trusted mom, dad, granny and whoever else to change our dirty diaper!

There is no way we would have made it past day one on planet earth without a trusting belief system. And unless something or somebody damages our “believer,” issues with the Son of God are non-existent.

But the sad, sick reality is that the world is full of “belief bashers” who wreak havoc on the young and innocent. When adulthood arrives, if they can’t see it, feel it, or explain it, then in their minds, it doesn’t exist. That is why we have a world overrun with people who are bitter toward God, all in the name of self-preservation.

Struggling with the authenticity of the Son of God is pretty normal and to those who do struggle, I don’t blame them. But I do challenge them to pursue and answer. Get to the bottom of the matter, don’t get stuck in a rut; life’s too short. Either the Son of God is real or He’s not.

So here are three things I encourage anyone to do if they truly want to settle the issue once and for all:

1) Pray-Ask God to make it clear if the Son is really the only way to Him, if He truly died on a cross for the sins of the world, if He is alive right now with God in heaven, and if He is really coming back to earth again to rule, reign and judge the hearts of men.

2) Read- The Gospel of John in the Bible is a great place to start. If there is any validity to the claims of the Christ, the Son of God, John will bring it to light.

3) Observe- Like you’ve never done before, pay attention to your surroundings. Look for unique handprints. Stop taking breath, branches, and babies for granted. Open your eyes without preconceived intellectual notions. And keep a journal close by because I am certain you’ll want to record what you discover!

 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

John 1:10 NKJV

 Biblical Meditation: Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

 

October 15- Let It Be

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And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just as you say. Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38

Have you ever made a decision you believed was right and then suffered persecution from those you loved? Let’s go a step further. Have you ever prayed to God for guidance and He directed you but your loved ones didn’t believe you? This type of situation seems to be pretty common throughout human history. Mary, the mother of Jesus, embodies an amazing attitude in this scripture. Can you imagine being engaged to the love of your life and then finding out that you have been chosen by an unseen God to carry His Child? How in the world do you explain that to the man you are to marry, let alone, to your family?

This awesome, wonderful, and mysterious blessing could have cost Mary her very life. In finding out about her pregnancy, Joseph would have had every right to bring her before the people as a public disgrace and have her stoned to death. She was fully aware of all the implications. Yet, in the uncertainty of her future, she had enough faith in Yahweh (God) to answer his messenger Gabriel, “Let it be with me just as you say.” She was surrendering her will to the plan God had for her life.

Things in this world haven’t changed all that much when it comes to God’s plan versus man’s plan. And maybe you are struggling this very day with some issues in your life that have no easy answers. This is a good time to embrace the resolve of Mary and say to God, let it be with my life as you say. What you and I need is not a guarantee of understanding, but an unwavering peace that says our lives are going according to His plan. So what if it doesn’t make sense! If we have His Word on it, and there is peace in our heart after we’ve prayed about it, let it be!

Lorenzo

December 23 – Bottle of Insanity

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Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it swirls around smoothly; at the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper. Proverbs 23:31-32 NKJV

Addiction is nothing new, but anymore, more common than not. And of all the forms of addiction, the gateway for most is alcohol. Each week, some of the dearest men and women I know gather together as a unified force against this monster that has stolen so much of their lives.

Today’s proverb is profound and needs to be absorbed with very little “exposition.” Here is a version that I like that puts a bit of modern color on the subject:

Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with- the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!” Proverbs 23:29-35 MSG

Insanity! And so many of us have been there…are there. If you consume alcohol, you must know it cannot be trusted. If you find yourself making excuses for it, chances are there’s a problem. When you look around and your life reflects brokenness and loss in the area of dear loved ones and good relationships, ask this question: Could it be the alcohol? Better yet, call up one of those people and ask them point blank, “Did my drinking have anything to do with what happened with us?”

Life is too short to live a lie. The fruit of the vine can serve a wonderful purpose, but man’s historical temptation toward abuse of its properties warrants extreme caution. Faith, family and friends are not worth the bottle of insanity.