Nothing About You is Insignificant

Wyoming springtime (RLR 2014)

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Colossians 1:16-17)

Contrary to common thought, Jesus didn’t come into being on a cold December night 2,000 years ago in a Bethlehem stable. The Bible identifies Jesus as the Creator of everything in the heavens and on the earth, both things we see and can’t see. Among these unseen things are a host of spiritual beings Paul listed and were commonly accepted by Jews in Paul’s day.

To have created all things in the heavens and on the earth, Jesus had to exist before everything He created.

He is the eternal Creator and more! He is the eternal Lord of Creation. As sovereign Master over His creation, the Bible says that “in Him all things consist.” Jesus created the universe and everything in it, and Hebrews 1:3 says He keeps it from falling apart or failing in chaos.

Paul also wrote that all things were created for Him, for His glory, honor, and purpose. In other words, all of creation – from flowers and mountains, clouds and stars, people and porcupines – has a divine purpose found in Jesus. Without Him, everything is meaningless.

Acts 17:26 says in Him we live and move and have our being. Jesus is your Creator, the One who sustains your life, and the One in whom you have meaning and purpose. Nothing about you or your life is insignificant to Him.

Do You Remember Me?

(RLR 2015)

I was surprised when a man as tall as myself stopped me near the bus station in Tala. Unusually tall for a Kenyan, his smile was as wide as the Nile as he asked, “Do you remember me?”

For the record, I am terrible at remembering faces and worse at remembering names, even of those as tall as myself. Many days I struggle remembering who I am. I didn’t have a clue who the man was. He suggested that I might not recognize him with his hat on. Removing the hat from his head didn’t change the emptiness in my head.

My friend excitedly explained, “Oh, this is the man who picked you from the airport the first time you came to Kenya.” After more than 39 hours of sleepless air travel, I barely recalled anything of the first days of my first visit, let alone the man I sat behind as he drove from Nairobi to Kangundo.

He was glad to see me and we shared some small talk in the middle of the main road as pictures were taken.

In Luke 23 we read about the innocent Jesus being crucified between two condemned thieves. These men mocked Jesus as the three of them hung exposed to the jeering crowd. But as the hours passed, one of the thieves had a change of heart and mind about this one condemned for being the King of the Jews. The repentant man urged the other to fear God. They were getting the justice they deserved but Jesus had done nothing wrong.

Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). How deeply thrilling it is to be remembered!

And Jesus said to Him something even better than to be remembered at a future date and time. “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

My friend, if you repent of your sins through believing in Jesus and what He finished through His death on the cross, He will do more than remember you “somewhere over the rainbow.” He’ll be with you today, right where you are.

A Bug Hiding in a Child’s Ear

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (John 5:39)

A well-known preacher began his ministry in the denomination of my youth.

In those days the denominational superintendents visited each congregation in their district twice a year to make sure each pastor was preaching rightly.

The district superintendent was pleased with Chuck’s verse-by-verse explanation of the Scripture to his tiny group, but he was also displeased. The young preacher had spoken of Jesus, but not getting saved. Every sermon had to be about salvation.

Pastor Chuck answered that the text of his passage wasn’t about repenting or getting saved, though he was able to show Jesus in the passage. He also believed the handful of people in the congregation to be truly born again and needed grow in their faith, not receive saving faith.

The district superintendent demanded every sermon be focused on salvation. It was the denominational requirement.

Chuck and the denomination parted ways on friendly terms.

Not every verse in the Bible is about getting saved nor does every verse mention Jesus; He’s not secretly hidden away in every jot and tittle for the preacher to extract like a bug from a child’s ear. Every verse and passage, however, should turn hearts and minds to Jesus, for the Scriptures as a whole testify of Him.

In John 5, Jesus spoke with the Jewish leaders who wanted to kill Him for claiming to be God enfleshed. He gave four witnesses proving His deity: the testimony of John the Baptist (John 5:33-35), the testimony His miracles (John 5:36), the testimony of God the Father (John 5:37-38), and the testimony of the Old Testament (John 5:39-47).

Jesus’ point was simply that the Jewish leaders didn’t believe any of the four witnesses which testified of His identity. And the reason they didn’t believe wasn’t from a lack of evidence or Jesus’ preaching skills and methods. You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life (John 5:40). They didn’t believe the Bible because they really didn’t want to, For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? (John 5:46-47).

Because He Lives – Gloria and Bill Gaither (1971)

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus ~
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!

The Surgeon and the Butcher

A butcher in Kangundo, Kenya (RLR 2016)

Both the surgeon and the butcher use a knife, but I’d trust only one if I had cancer.

Not everyone who stands behind a pulpit knows how to rightly divide and teach the Word of truth. They must find other work.

Study to show yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).