Rooted in Christ

Lori fancies herself as somewhat of a green thumb. She has some plants in the backyard and throughout the house that she cares for to add some life to our home and property. She also plants tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers each spring. No matter the plant, she does not just get them and go on, she nurtures them with good soil, and food, and water and makes sure they have what they need to take root, and grow, and thrive. The LORD does the same with us once we have received Him.

“6Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV)

You see the LORD provided us with the place to put our roots, in Jesus. We have received Him into our lives, and all too often, we stop there. We look great now in Christ and are beautiful. We are have life and bring joy to others with our appearance. Yet, over time we will find ourselves withering a bit. We are in need of more, or are we.

It is not that we are in need of more, we just need to reach back into the good soil, and food, and water, and nutrients that the LORD has given to us, Jesus. We need to root ourselves in Jesus and His word. This is where we will grow and thrive. We will want for nothing else when we are fully dependent on Jesus. We are like the Christmas cactus, or the tomatoes, or the cucumbers, or the peppers, or the Texas Sage, we will show out with the fruit of the LORD at just the right moment when we are rooted in Jesus.

Lori painstakingly re-pots and nurtures the plants around our home to ensure they have what they need to thrive. The LORD does the same for us. He provided Jesus for us to root in and allow Him to feed us what we need to thrive. We are to be rooted in Christ and we will thrive for all to see.

Where are you rooting yourself? Are you one that has received and just expect all to work out? What if you rooted in Jesus knowing that He has all you need to thrive for all to see?

Receive Instruction from the LORD

Where is it that you get/receive your instructions in life? As a child, we receive our instruction from our parents. In work, we receive our instruction from those who came before us or who are above us. In other areas, we receive our instruction from our mentors or coaches. In all things, we receive our instruction from another.

“23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,” – 1 Corinthians 11:23 (ESV)

Paul received from the LORD that which he passed on. If you remember, Saul (Paul’s former name) was a staunch persecutor of Christ followers. He followed the law of man, to the letter to the point of approving of death to disciples of Jesus. He got his instruction from the law of the old covenant and through his learning. And then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and his life was changed forever.

Jesus revealed Himself to Paul (Saul at the time) and everything changed. Paul found a new place to receive his instruction. That new place was from the LORD Jesus Himself. Paul turned to Jesus and His teachings to lead him through his life. Paul found himself on the other side of the same law that he once used against those who followed Jesus. Paul began to follow the instruction of his heavenly father and there he found peace.

We each receive our instruction from someone or somewhere. That someone or somewhere have a great life changing influence in our lives. There is no greater someone to receive instruction than from the LORD. Paul made a 180 degree turn once he learned of Jesus (granted his learning of Jesus was very dramatic and would likely turn most people). His instruction was now coming from the best.

I have found that the instruction from the LORD is purer than any other instruction I could receive. Yes, we still need instruction to do work in the world like how to ride a bike or filter a spreadsheet or repair the washing machine. But the instruction related to what gives us life should come from the LORD and no other. For that we look to the instruction manual that He has given us, His Word. From the Bible, we receive our instruction from the LORD.

Where are you getting your instruction? Are you looking to the world to direct you in life? What if you were to look for the best place to get you instruction, God and His Word?

Receive the Spirit, Put to Death Sinful Deeds

We receive the Spirit though our faith in Jesus. The Spirit is with us to guide us in this world. To guides us through all that we will encounter. Through all those times of joy and the times of sorrow. The times of success and the times of failure. Acts for God and acts against Him. Obedience and sin. The Spirit will bring us through it all.

“15For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’” – Romans 8:15 (ESV)

I have to remember that I am now a child of God and He has sent the Spirit to dwell within me to get me through it. I have to know that regardless of the circumstance, with the Spirit as my guide, I have what is needed to experience the joy of the Father.

Now, without the Spirit I will continue to walk this world as a slave to the world. I will find no peace in the world. I will be consumed by my sinful deeds. I will face the wrath of God and not the love of the Father.

“13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” – Romans 8:13 (ESV)

When I am consumed by sin, I will die with those sins. Yet as I have received the Spirit and live by the Spirit, my sin does not consume me. I shed the sin. I put to death the sinful deeds in exchange for the deeds in line with the love and glory of God. I received the Spirit and the sin does not stick to me it is put to death as opposed to me being put to death.

We are not able to move forward in security without the Spirit filling us. Oh, yes we might find moments of reprieve from the sin, but our lives are still filled to brim with it and there is no escape. But when we receive the Spirit, we put our sinful deeds to death and are now filled in its place with the glory of the LORD and will join Him in heaven, the house He built for His family.

What is your answer to the sin in your life? Are you hopeful that you will overcome the sin and somehow make it? What if you were to accept Christ as your savior, allow the Spirit to dwell within you and put to death the sinful deeds in your life to be replaced with the glory of the LORD?

Jesus, Put Forward

Jesus took away our sins by dying on the cross. He willfully came forward to atone for our sin, all of us. He accepted the punishment for our sin so that we would be spared the wrath of God. Our only part in the process is to have faith in Him and the actions that he took on our behalf.

“23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.” – Romans 3:23-25 (ESV)

“6For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

But wait, there is more to the scene. I tend to forget this part, even with likely the most quoted verse from Jesus, John 3:16. I tend to forget that Jesus was sent. God purposefully made the decision for Jesus to come to this world and die for me. Jesus was put forward to pacify the wrath of God on us. God intentionally sent His son for me and you. God gave the way out through Jesus.

We are filled with sin and deserve to die, yet God made a way for us to avoid that death, Jesus. All we have to do is believe, trust and have faith in Him and what He did for us, and we avoid the consequence of our sin, death. But we cannot forget that Jesus was sent by the Father, His Father, to pay the price for our sin. Yes, Jesus willingly came and obeyed, but we must also remember that He was put forward on our behalf.

There is so much for me to be thankful for in this world. I have a wonderful mother, a beautiful wife, and two great sons. Yet even with all of those things, the most important and valuable is my faith in Jesus and the thanks to Him and my Father in Heaven. Jesus came willingly after being put forward to atone for my sin. Thank you Jesus, LORD!

What do your remember of Jesus coming to save you? Do you only remember Jesus dying for our sins? What do you remember about how Jesus came, that He was put forward intentionally to pay for your sins?

Believe and Receive

It is no coincidence that things of today are mimicking things of old. We are using metal reusable containers and have taken a step back from disposable. There is a push to renovate old homes as opposed to building new ones. We are being encouraged to have more children as was the case in the 40s and 50s. And ways to go about things in life are recycled as new when they really come from days of old. This is where I find myself this morning.

Napoleon Hill wrote a book that was published in 1937, “Think and Grow Rich”. The idea behind the book is that before you take any action, you should think things through fully and believe them to come true and ultimately they will. This may seem like a novel concept from 1937 that can and should be brought into the now as we continue to evolve in this world. But 1937 is not the old becoming new again. This is something that comes from much further back than 1937.

“24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24 (ESV)

You see, Jesus gave us this when He walked on this earth. We are to believe in something and it will be made true. We are to trust in the LORD fully, knowing that He will provide for us, and He will do so.

Here is where things get muddy for us as humans. We ask for things and expect them to be provided for just as we ask them. We ask for transportation and miss that God provided a bus route near our home as opposed to providing a car. We ask for a meal for the family and yet we threw out that food bank advertisement that came in the mail. We expect God to provide for us just as we want Him to provide. He does not work that way, at least most of the time.

I have been struggling with a few things and have asked God to provide for my struggles. My idea of God providing is to have the other involved be convicted to the point of change. Well, in His ultimate wisdom, that may or may not be the case. God has provided me with more guidance to help me to change to help remedy the struggle. Now the other may still change as well, but that is not for me to pine over. I have to let God do the work that He is going to do. I have to believe that He will guide me through this and I know that it starts with His work in me.

The idea of receiving when we believe it is not a new concept in life. Napoleon Hill published the idea in 1937. But, it was even before then, Jesus gave it to us about 2000 years before that. We will be rich with what God provides when we believe He can and will. What we receive may not be in the exact manner or timing we were looking for, but He will provide. Our role in the process is to believe and know that we will receive.

What are you looking for in life? Are you out there expecting to work for it and get it? What if you believed you were going to receive and know that the LORD will provide?

Give without Receiving

How is it that we are to go about in this world? Well, we are to give to the betterment of others and for the glory of God. We are to go out into the day and think solely in how can I make the life of others better and bring glory to the LORD in the process.

“8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food.” – Matthew 10:8-10 (ESV)

In the above verses Jesus is giving instruction to the 12 apostles as He has sent them out to deliver the gospel just as they had received it, for free. He points out to them that they are not to expect or require anything for the journey. The 12 are to go and focus on giving the word of God to the people just as it was given to them.

You see, the apostles received without paying anything. Yes, Jesus came to them and asked them to give up their lives and follow Him, so you might think that they paid with their lives. But here’s the thing, they did not have to go with Jesus and what did they really get in this world. The received ridicule, hardship, hunger, thirst, and a whole host of other calamities in their choice. They may have been better off staying with where they were, at least in this world. What they received was not of this world. Remember that we/they are just passing through this world on way to heaven. We receive our reward there and maybe not in this world.

Jesus did not give to the apostles because they paid a sum to gain access. He gave to the apostles out of love and sacrifice. We are to do the same. We are to give to others without expectation of anything in return. We are to give freely and see the joy on the faces of others and know that we have done a thing that the LORD is proud. We are to provide for the needs of the people and not be concerned with our own reward, for we have already received it in our salvation.

I know what you are thinking, as I think it myself, and am really struggling with it. What keeps us from being taken advantage of by others realizing that we just keep giving without asking for anything in return? Well, Jesus addresses that as well in the below verses.

“11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” – Matthew 10:11-14 (ESV)

We are to leave it behind and not think of it any longer as we move on to the next. If there is no appreciation or receipt, then it is not in our interest to keep giving and waste our time and energy. It is a challenging thing to give and then end up leaving, but we are not here to pour good into perpetual bad. Once we realize that continuing to give does not change the outcome, then we move on. This saying rings true in this situation, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result”. We have to move on to the next when we realize there is no change.

Now, I want to be cautious here and say that walking away from those who do not do things your way is the order of business. With those we love and who are part of us personally there is deeper understanding and tolerance. I give freely to my family without expectation of receiving in return. I don’t expect them to pay me for being dad or husband. I will not leave them for not giving back, but I will let them know when I am hurt. I will let them know when my tank is empty. I will let them know when I will not be able to give because I feel taken advantage. I will let them know that I have wants and needs as well and they do go beyond just seeing them joyful.

I have to give without receiving to get my reward. What I receive may not be in this world as my forever home is not here, but that should not stop me from giving to and for the betterment of others and the glory of God. I have been tasked with giving by God. I received the gospel and grace and mercy without paying for it and I should be giving the gospel and grace and mercy without seeking payment.

What is your view of giving without receiving? Are you reluctant to do things for others without getting paid, whether monetarily or socially? What if you were to give as Jesus gave and instructed the apostles, without receiving, but just to give?

Reward Received

When is it that we receive reward for our work? I am sure that you would agree that receiving reward is shortly after the work. Whether that is in payment or benefit or even in award, as man we take action to see return of some kind. We are quite proud of the work we do, in fact, we like to call attention to ourselves as we work to ensure that everyone can recognize us for it. And we should be. Although who is the work for, us or for those who are in need.

When it comes to helping out with the needs of others, we should be a bit more quiet. I am not saying that we should hide our work and ensure that we are always in the shadows. That really does not work either, as we will miss opportunities to do good in the interest of anonymity. We should feel good about doing work and bringing some assistance to others. Yet we have to be careful of our motives in the process of giving to the needy.

“1Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” – Matthew 6:1-2 (ESV)

Here we see that Jesus is warning against the open display of and attention bringing to our work in the helping of others. He shows us that those who actively make it a point to draw attention to themselves are receiving their reward at that time. People seeing them doing the work is the reward. They have made it a point for everyone to know the work they have done and in so doing have been rewarded. They may receive some acknowledgment or award in the public square in the moment. They have received their reward.

“3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” – Matthew 6:3-4 (ESV)

Now look to what Jesus says about how we should do our work for the needy. We should just do the work and not make a spectacle. We should be those who just do the work. When volunteering at the food bank, just go and do. When the neighbor needs some assistance with the yard work, just bring your mower and trimmer and help out. When someone is struggling with replacing the battery in their vehicle, offer up your tools for them to use and bring your hands to assist. There is no need to call things out on social media. There is no reason to call the papers. We don’t point out the work done in the company of others. We are to just do the work to help those in need.

I look at my giving and see that I just do the work without fanfare. Our church is a plant and we currently meet on Sundays in a school. This means that we have to set up and tear down the space each Sunday. We have been doing so for six years and in that time, I have been a part of the group that tears down for all six years. In fact, beyond our pastor, I believe that I may be the only one who has given to the church this way for the entire time. I don’t ask for anything or draw attention to myself at all, I just do the work that I am asked to take on as part of my duty. I know that God sees the work I am doing and He will reward me in due time.

Jesus points that out our reward in verse four above. God will reward us for the work, as He has seen us. We may not get a public announcement. We may not receive a plaque from the community. Others may not even see us, but God does. He knows how we are bringing relief to others. He knows the work we take on. He knows our value and He will reward that in due time. Our reward is from the LORD and not from man. Our reward is received in the work performed and from the LORD.

Again, as a man I have this innate desire to be recognized for what I have done. I don’t think that there is anything wrong with that, otherwise why do the work. The thing is, who am I seeking recognition from. I have to remember that I am only passing through this world on my way to heaven when the LORD calls me home. I am to look to Him for my reward and not be concerned with the recognition from man. My reward is received from the LORD.

Where are you receiving your reward? Are you seeking recognition in the now for the work you do from the public space? What if you were to just do the work the LORD has for you knowing that your reward is received from Him?

He is Worthy and Receives Worship

Ever wonder why we worship God. Well, it is because He is worthy of it.

“11Worthy are you, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created.”

— Revelation 4:11 (ESV)

In the above verse we see that the elders surrounding the LORD worshiped Him. These elders surrounded the Throne of God as seen by John. They were there specifically to worship Him. They revered the LORD and took every opportunity to lift Him up.

When you look at the rest of chapter four in Revelation, we see the glory of the throne of God. We see Him at the center in the brightest of color and splendor. We see Him surrounded by these elders and creatures. All that surround Him were there to worship Him. All knew the grandeur of the LORD and all that He had done and all that He would do.

Look to the above verse and see it all. The LORD created all things. Look back to Genesis and read it all. And then look to the life and death and resurrection of Jesus and all that means for you and me. Look to the great commission and that He teaches us all we need and He sent one to be with us and guide us, the Holy Spirit. The LORD is definitely worthy of our worship.

And then there is our actions. We give glory to the LORD. We do all things for His glory. We ask for things to bring glory to Him. We receive salvation given by Jesus who died for our sins. We praise Him as He is on the throne of glory. The LORD receives our worship and He smiles at every utterance to Him in glory.

I am not worthy of the grace the LORD gives. I am not worthy to receive mercy. I am not worthy of any praise. I am not worthy of any worship as is no man. But God is. But Jesus is. But the Holy Spirit is. The LORD is worthy and receives our worship.

Who are you giving your worship? Are you worshiping man here in this world as they are the authority? What about the LORD and all that He did and does to be worthy of and to receive our worship?

Ask Rightly to Receive

“7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)

Jesus said the above and I know that it gets misquoted a lot. Or at least misunderstood and applied in our lives. When reading the above, it can be presumed that if you want something, you need only ask. And when it is not given, we wonder in frustration and tend to attempt things on our own to get that which we want.

“3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” – James 4:3 (ESV)

And here we have James addressing one of the reasons that we do not receive what we ask. We are asking wrongly or for the wrong reasons. We are not asking as someone needing provision, we are asking for blessings, or fleeting things. We are not asking for things to be used in bringing glory to God or to get by in this world. We are asking for things that will bring glory to ourselves.

To receive that which we ask for, we should be asking for those things of provision and to bring glory to God. Asking for riches may not be right, but asking for means to provide for others may be right. Asking for arm candy as a date is likely wrong, but asking for a husband or wife who loves me is more in line with what God has in store for us. Asking for a huge house in a nice neighborhood is not the same ask asking for a place to call home for your family. It is the context of the ask where we will receive, not in the what we ask.

God will ensure that we have what we “need”. And, He will provide blessings for us as well. I know that Lori and I have all that we need to make it today, a home, transportation, clothing, food, and all those things. And God has blessed us with things that are much more than we need, our 3000 square foot home, our 2024 Ford Bronco, new clothing, and occasionally a steak for dinner.

We will receive that which we ask for when we ask rightly from the LORD. He will provide for our needs and once we have those, He will give blessings on top, at His discretion. Regardless of those needs or blessings, God gives to us when we ask and are using those things to ultimately bring glory to Him.

What is your view of asking and receiving? Do you get frustrated when you don’t get what you ask? What if you were to ask rightly, in concert with the LORD and bringing glory to Him as opposed to your own personal wants?

Receive From The One Who Knows

Jesus is divine. He is not like me. Yet, as our LORD, He knows what we go through daily. He understands our struggles and how we can and do give in to our temptations. Jesus walked as we walk in this world. He was here walking this world and subject to all, if not more struggles than I, and yet, He did not give into those temptations, and even suffered more than I as He was killed.

“15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)

Ever notice in the world those who speak for us in the world have rarely gone through that which we go through daily. Oh, sure, they may have had some challenging times, but their challenges pale in comparison to trying to figure out how to just survive. Heads of State, heads of companies, heads of a lot of things, have not walked in our shoes, yet we look to them for guidance in how to make things work. With Jesus, we find comfort in knowing that He did. He walked this world. He never had a true dwelling to make His way back to for comfort. He wandered deliberately giving to others. He lived in tents outside the city. He relied on friends and acquaintances for food and shelter. He found comfort in the company of friends. He was like me.

As Jesus was like me He was also not like me. He died for me. He took my sin and the consequences of that sin to the point of death. He received no such grace or mercy. He was flogged. He was cursed. He was beaten. He was humiliated. All in front of the people in public view of everyone. And no one came to His defense. No one eased His pain. No one provided for His discomfort. But He offers it to us. He gives what He Himself did not receive. Jesus knows what was missing and is sure to provide that to us.

“16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

I choose to follow and be led and receive from the one who knows. Not the one who talks a good game. Not the one in the position of authority who does not know the struggles I find every day. I choose the one who walked in my shoes. More importantly, I choose the one who walked as I do and yet did not find Himself giving in to the ways and sin that would come at Him. I choose the one who worked through the challenges (and more) than I. I choose the one who did not sin and received no grace or mercy and yet offers and give it to me. I choose to receive from the One who knows.

Who are you getting your guidance? Are you relying on those who are in positions of authority, yet did not struggle as you do? What if you relied on the one who walked as you do and received not as you and yet did not give in as you do, and has grace and mercy for you as one who knows your need?