PONDERING... (Family) Sources of Anxiety and The Meaning of Life

Disclaimer: This is the last post in our discussion of topics that distract us from what God intends for our lives. This list was never meant to be all-inclusive, but only an overview. This final post reserves the right to be misunderstood. The writer encourages questions, comments, concerns, and pleas for mercy.

1. The Problem?: Family

Okay, so maybe calling family "a problem" goes a bit against the grain. In fact, as someone who considers family to be a God-ordained institution that could really be a "solution" to many of the problems we see facing the world today, it's hard for me to swallow my own words. Yet, for the sake of blog continuity, I used the same headings as in the previous posts.

Nonetheless, there is something to be said for placing even good things above Christ. Family is important to me. I love my parents and my brothers. I have the best wife and the most amazing children in the world! (My apologies to everyone who missed out :D.) I have incredible in-laws and a strong extended family. My family is great! BUT, my family is not God.

When you love your family, you worry about them. In fact, I don't think I was ever really nervous before I had kids. After seeing them struggle with sickness and wiping many tears, I am a lot more on edge about things. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this--in fact, family should be a central focus--when family becomes the central focus, we have once again misplaced our devotion. 

2. The Bible
The following verse is rough. It is hard to understand, and frequently misinterpreted. However, it is God's Word and speaks a powerful truth.

"26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. ... 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:26-27, 33 ESV

WHAT! Hate my family?! I thought I was suppose to honor my father and mother? Where did this come from? This must be a mistake. This can't be in the Bible. 

That is the usual reaction to these verses. They are jarring--and meant to be so. Jesus here is addressing a crowd. These statements were made in the context of letting them "know what they are getting themselves into", as well as admonishing them about the kingdom of God. It follows a parable about a great feast. Many were invited, but did not come because of earthly excuses--they had just made a financial investment, or had family issues to contend with. Therefore, the master of the banquet sent his servant to gather in the blind, the poor, the lame, and any who would come. Then he follows up with the aforementioned verses. 

Scholars agree, the idea here is one of contrast. Your love for God should be such that by comparison your love for even that which you cherish most in this world (i.e. family) should appear as hatred. This becomes even more clear when compared with Matthew's recording of a similar statement (see below).

"37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." - Matthew 10:37-38 ESV

Family is a gift from God, but should never become a hindrance to His service. Our love for Him should supersede all else.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

(This was written a few years ago, but somehow I never clicked "publish"... :D)

PONDERING... (Money) Sources of Anxiety and The Meaning of Life

Disclaimer: This post will continue to address topics that distract us from what really matters. The writer acknowledges that this topic is HUGE, and his post is...small. He also would like to point out that he has no spare money...in case someone stumbled upon this post while searching "solve my money problem." For more information on the topic of money from a Biblical perspective check out these guys!

1. The Problem: Money

This one is fairly straight forward. We need it, and don't have it. Want want more, and cannot. We have it, and abuse it. Much of our capitalist culture (fear not--this is not an anti-capitalism tirade) is enslaved to money. Because of this, we worry. We worry about not having enough. We worry about what to do with what we have. Yet, the Bible is crystal clear on this point, and I will be brief.

2. The Bible

"24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." - Matthew 6:24 ESV

You cannot serve both. Period. You are either loving God and trusting in His provision or you are serving money and despising God. There is no middle ground. Money is not evil. God may bless you with much--use it. However, God may give you practically none--trust Him. At the end of the day, we all must ask: Am I seeking to honor God with my fiances or am I allowing my fiances to become my god. 

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

(This was written a few years ago, but somehow I never clicked "publish"... :D)

PONDERING... Snow Day To Do

Ok, so this is going out to my youth, but all are welcome!

It's Wednesday. The roads are covered in ice... again. Which will result in no youth meeting. To help lessen this blow. Here's a little "semi-productive" snow day distraction! (I'm using precious "my kids are napping" time for this, so ENJOY! :D)

INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS:

TIM HAWKINS ON SNOWFLAKES-

Ok... so not really about snowflakes, but enjoyable nonetheless!

INSPIRATIONAL VIDEO 2- This one made me want to play the cello! And for that reason only, I share it with you!

ENVIRONMENTAL SUGGESTIONS:

For the next segment, I'd like to recommend the following environmental suggestions.

SPOTIFY STATION TO CHECK OUT: Relient K Instrumental and Upbeat Jazz
It's a nice background station. Listen.


BEVERAGE? 
This is a hot tea kind of day. My choice? Today I've been mixing this peach brand with a nice black caffeinated.

 

Now I've weeded out the distractable. If you've made it this far, you win.

SOMETHING WORTH THINKING ABOUT:

The Bible tells us: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (Philippians 4:8). Only God and His work fall into these categories. Take some time today to ponder the below-->

SCRIPTURE FOR TONIGHT-We would have been moving on to look ahead at Sunday evenings lesson. Here's a sneak peak:

" 31Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; 32if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. 33“Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35)


Consider these:
1. What is God's Glory?
2. How is this different from man's glory? (That switch from proper to common was intentional.)
3. How could this be connected to Jesus' commandment in these verses to love?
4. Think about that commandment. In what way is it new? What does the clause "even as I have loved you"mean?

FURTHER PONDERINGS... ARTICLE(S) WORTH READING:<--Click this. It will take you to the first of a series of articles by Joe Carter on memorization. Here's a quote that sums it up pretty well:

"Memorization is an essential aspect of the stewardship of our imagination that has been all but lost. To help you recover this forgotten skill, we’ll cover the following topics in this short series (the dates in parentheses are projected publication dates):

Part #1 – How Memorization Feeds Your Imagination
Part #2 – How to Memorize (Almost) Anything
Part #3 – 4 Tips to Memorize (Almost) Anything
Part #4 – How to Memorize the Biblical Narrative (I)
Part #5 – How to Memorize the Biblical Narrative (II) (Tues., Mar. 3)"- Joe Carter


CLOSING THOUGHT:
Well...if you made it this far, congratulations! You get to watch me play with kids in the snow! 

Have a great day! Make wise decisions. AND remember to give God the Glory in all things---that includes snow days!

PONDERING... Could Not Believe

John 12:37-43  Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,  38  so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?"  39  Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,  40  "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them."  41  Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.  42  Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue;  43  for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

First, let's get a little context here. Isaiah is quoted twice in this passage. First from chapter 53, then from chapter 6. Both instances reference disbelief in the face of hearing and seeing. The quote from chapter 53 directly precedes the prophetic passage about Jesus coming and dying for the sins of the world. It was prophesied that people would see this and still not believe. This clearly is happening in the above passage. The quote from chapter 6 comes right after Isaiah is called as a prophet. He sees the glory of God in the temple and is blown away by His holiness, then he is given this message. People would continue to hear and see, but not believe. They are responsible for these actions, but it is also clear that God has a hand in this hardening. (Again, the paradox of God's sovereignty and human responsibility... It is everywhere in Scripture.) This has been dissected by many, but at the core we see that the people could not because they would not. Which came first and why and how are beyond me, but I do see these 3 points as warnings for us. 

1. They did not believe what they saw

37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 

I'm not saying "seeing is believing". We believe many things without seeing them (Space, Gravity, Wind...etc). But these people clearly saw they evidence of Jesus' divinity and still rejected Him. The first 1/2 of John's gospel is dedicated to signs that Jesus is God. They saw these (water to wine, blind seeing, dead rising), and would not believe. 

We see God at work too. It might not be as direct, but it is no less clear. Do we believe?

2. They did not believe what they heard

38  so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

We'll see more on the severity of this next week when we talk about the words of Jesus judging those who reject Him. But here we see that they heard Him speak truth. He proclaimed man's need for salvation and His plan to save them, but they would not believe. He proclaimed the gospel--the good news: we are sinners destined for Hell, but Jesus (God incarnate) came as the only possible sacrifice, died for our sins, rose again, and saves all who believe and trust in Him. If you're reading these words, you've heard this message. I have heard this message. We cannot reject this and think ourselves "off the hook". 

As I said in the morning lesson, it is easy to say we believe and hard to live it. I know this myself.

3. They loved people more than God

43  for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

Here's the issue. The truth was not less true for them; they just saw it less important. They loved people more. This belief was intellectual only, and not saving faith. I understand the temptation of wanting praise. But Jesus gave up His glory in Heaven for my filthy sinful life. Can't I give up my vain glory for Him? He gave everything. I lose nothing worth gaining. 

PONDERING... Palm Branches, Hosannas, and a Donkey?

John 12:9-19  When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  10  So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,  11  because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.  12  The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.  13  So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!"  14  And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,  15  "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!"  16  His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.  17  The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.  18  The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.  19  So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."

Is Jesus Coming?

Remember a couple weeks ago when we read this?

John 11:55-57 ESV - "55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him."

Well, this same group of people are about to get their answer in a very real and powerful way. This passage might be familiar to some of us, but let's not overlook it's significance.

Context:

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.  10  So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,  11  because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus...  17  The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness.  18  The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.  19  So the Pharisees said to one another, "You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him."

This passage is book-ended with reminders of danger. The Pharisees are determined to kill both Jesus and any evidence that supports His claims. Why was Jesus walking openly then? His time had come. All throughout the gospel we are reminded that He would lay down His life when it was time (and only then). Now is that time. He comes triumphantly to give us His life.

Palm Branches, Hosannas, and a Donkey?

1. The Symbols

-Palm Branches?

Though palm branches had symbolic meaning connected to the Feast of Tabernacles (see previous lessons), at this time they had become a symbol of national pride and military victory. From what I've read and heard, it seems that this stems back to when Judas Maccabaeus led a conquest to reclaim Jerusalem and the temple. The people met him in the street waving palm branches.

-Hosanna?

This, too, was connected to set of songs that were sung at the Feast of the Tabernacles. It comes from Psalm 118 and means "help us" or "save us". Check out it's context.

Psalm 118:25-26 ESV- "25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD."

They were clearly looking for a military victory.

-Donkey?

There are a few things wrong here. First, this is the wrong animal. Kings, warriors, champions...they road "mighty-steeds" not tiny Hebrew donkeys. (Apparently, this breed is smaller than the donkey's and mules we've grown up seeing at like Grant's Farm. AND, this one is a colt--baby donkey.) Second, he should have been walking. Jewish custom required all men to at least finish there pilgrimage to Jerusalem on foot. Jesus, who was in danger of his life, rode in. This wasn't a powerful ride, but it would draw attention nonetheless.

[Side Note: John is quick to point out that they had missed the Old Testament reference this was fulfilling (Zechariah 9:9).]

2. The Significance

1. Jesus is the King.

-He doesn't stop this blatant worship.

2. He's not the King you're looking for.

-He's not on a horse. He comes humbly.

-He has no political agenda. He comes for His purposes.

-His kingdom is not of this world. It is so much more--present, future--eternal!

3. He is the only King--the King you need.

-He came to die. No other king could do this. No other would try.

-He came to die for you. He alone is your salvation.

Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

PONDERING... Faith in...? (John 11 part 7)

John 11:44-57  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."  45  Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,  46  but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.  47  So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  48  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."  49  But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all.  50  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."  51  He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  52  and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.  53  So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.  54  Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.  55  Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.  56  They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?"  57  Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Put Their Faith in...

Faith- The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another; belief, or probable evidence of any kind. (Webster 1828...for the longer, and awesome, version see the bottom of this post).

1. Him

44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."  45  Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

First, we see proper faith, and the right response. Seeing Jesus perform this resurrection miracle, they put their faith in Him--the sole object worthy of Faith.

2. Position, Prestige, Self... Fill in the Blank

46  but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done

BUT some didn't. They witnessed this, but their faith was in something else entirely. 

-The Counsel: 47  So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council...

The Sanhedrin, the great counsel of the nation, the Jewish religious rulers

-Their Purpose: 47  So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.  48  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 

1.To figure out what to do with Jesus. They did not deny His miracles, but rejected, despite the evidence, His claims because they did not want them to be true.

2. Protect their position. They were afraid that if the people believed in Jesus and started following Him, the Romans would not like it and would come and take away their positions. 

Their faith was in themselves, and their positions/authority.

-The Prophecy: 49  But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all.  50  Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."  51  He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,  52  and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.  53  So from that day on they made plans to put him to death

Here we have two points: 1. What Caiaphas actually said, and 2. What God used this to mean. Caiaphas' intentions were strictly selfish. He had political intentions. God however used these words, as Caiaphas was the high priest that year and his words were meant to be taken from God, to point to the fact that Jesus would indeed die for the entire world.

-The Problem:

Tim Keller once said, "Every person, religious or not, is worshiping something to get their worth" (@timkellernyc). The problem is that only faith in Jesus saves. Only faith in Jesus works. Who/what else can be fully trusted? (This point just keeps coming up... :D)

Closing Thought:

"Many who saw what Jesus did put their faith in him. Faith, in order to be meaningful, must be placed in the right object. Faith in faith is meaningless. Belief without something or someone to believe in makes no sense. Faith is nothing unless it is placed in Jesus Christ."- A Youth Worker's Commentary on John Volume 2

 Longer Excerpt From Webster's 1828 Dictionary of American English's Definition of Faith (#TheyDon'tMakeThemLikeTheyUseTo)

FAITH, n. ...

1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment that what another states or testifies is the truth. I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a witness, or in what a historian narrates.

2. The assent of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by another; belief, or probable evidence of any kind.

3. In theology, the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred writers, is called historical or speculative faith; a faith little distinguished from the belief of the existence and achievements of Alexander or of Cesar.

4. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.

Being justified by faith. Rom 5.

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb 11.

For we walk by faith, and not by sight. 2 Cor 5.

With the heart man believeth to righteousness. Rom 10.

The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.

Faith is an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God.

Faith is an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God.

Faith is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the declarations of his word; or a full and affectionate confidence in the certainty of those things which God has declared, and because he has declared them.

5. The object of belief; a doctrine or system of doctrines believed; a system of revealed truths received by christians.

They heard only, that he who persecuted us in times past, now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Gal 1.

6. The promises of God, or his truth and faithfulness.

shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Rom 3.

7. An open profession of gospel truth.

Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. Rom 1.

8. A persuasion or belief of the lawfulness of things indifferent.

Hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Rom 14.

PONDERING... Spiritual Resurrection (The Resurrection of Lazarus Part 5: vs 36-44)

John 11:36-44  So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"  37  But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"  38  Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.  39  Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."  40  Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"  41  So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  42  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."  43  When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."  44  The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Remember, this is one of the signs of Jesus that John records. All of these signs teach us something about Christ. Here, we see that the resurrection of Lazarus mirrors our own.

1. We're All Spiritually Dead

Colossians 2:13-14  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,  14  by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

2. The Dead Can't Do Anything About Their... Deadness ;)

They don't raise themselves (even in zombie movies).

3. Jesus Calls Us To Life

The same thing that Jesus did for Lazarus, physically, He does for us, spiritually. This is salvation. Too often this is misunderstood in and outside the Church. It's not about bad people becoming good, or good people becoming better. Salvation is about dead people being brought to life!

Two Spurgeon sermons on this:

http://spurgeongems.org/vols43-45/chs2554.pdf

http://spurgeongems.org/vols28-30/chs1776.pdf

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions!

Up

PONDERING... Truth in the Midst Trials (The Resurrection of Lazarus Part 3:vs 17-27)

Disclaimer: This is a very famous passage of scripture, and will be addressed in several parts. However, I do not want to take for granted that everyone is familiar with how this passage ends. This is the account of Jesus raising Lazarus, His friend, from the dead. In the account, we learn that Jesus allowed this all to happen for a purpose. Lazarus died, and Jesus brought Him back...teaching us, and those who witnessed the event, much about Himself.

John 11:17-27  Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.  18  Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,  19  and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.  20  So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.  21  Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  22  But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."  23  Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  24  Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."  25  Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  27  She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

When we encounter trials, reason often flees. This is true for any circumstance where emotions are high. Now, emotions are not bad. We'll get to that next week; Jesus responds with both here. However, emotions can be dominating. Thus, undirected, they can be dangerous. The first thing we see Jesus doing here, as He did with the disciples in the previous verses, is point Martha to truth.

1. The Circumstance

Martha has just suffered the loss of her brother. She approaches Jesus, who she knows could have prevented this, and is hurting. I don't think she is trying to be accusatory because she follows her "if you would have been here" statement with an affirmation of His power. Nonetheless, she is heartbroken.

2. The Truth

Jesus tells her that her brother will rise again, and she acknowledges the truth that he will rise again in the last days. Jesus further says that He IS the resurrection and the life. Meaning, all life is dependent upon Him and given by Him. As the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges points out: "In what follows, the first part shews how He is the Resurrection, the second how He is the Life. ‘He that believeth in Me, even if he shall have died (physically), shall live (eternally). And every one that liveth (physically) and believeth in Me, shall never die (eternally)’" (E-Sword Edition). He gives her the the gospel! 

3. The Conclusion

Within and without of churches there is much debate and confusion about how to handle pain and suffering. The first step is grounding your mind on truth. When I had my freak hammock accident (http://youtu.be/az4sBSNI3e4), once I realized the severity of the situation, I was feeling a lot of things. However, I did not panic because I had recently gone through first aid training. I knew I needed to stay calm. I knew that controlling blood flow was important. I knew I could pass out if I wasn't able to get Melissa's attention quickly. And, I knew I needed to get to the ER. Regardless of what emotions may have been surfacing, my mind made sense of my circumstances and informed my emotions. 

Christians and non-Christians alike will suffer. Yet, if we know the truth, our suffering isn't purposeless. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. All life is through Him and to Him. He's got this. He'll always have this.

Colossians 1:16  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

PONDERING... The Love that Waited and the Illness that Leads to Life. (The Resurrection of Lazarus Part 1:vs 1-6)

Disclaimer: This is a very famous passage of scripture, and will be addressed in several parts. However, I do not want to take for granted that everyone is familiar with how this passage ends. This is the account of Jesus raising Lazarus, His friend, from the dead. In the account, we learn that Jesus allowed this all to happen for a purpose. Lazarus died, and Jesus brought Him back...teaching us, and those who witnessed the event, much about Himself.

John 11:1-6  Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  2  It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.  3  So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."  4  But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  6  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Opening Thought:

 How do you know if someone loves you? Do they tell you? Are they just always there when you need them? Do they seem to know you better then anybody else? Or, is there just something about them that gives you a sense of security....a warm fuzzy :D? 

We could probably all make a bunch of lists with variants of..."I know someone loves me because they make me feel loved." Processes are different, but this will always be the end result.

What would likely not be on any of our lists would be: "I knew he/she loved me when they deliberately chose not to show up when I needed them most." 

On that note...

1. We know Jesus loved these people.

First, let's just get this out: Jesus loves everyone. That love, so powerful and undeserved, is in no way diminished by its universal quality. However, the love with which He loved this family was a special experience of His incarnation. They were His intimate friends while here on the earth. He cared for them; He enjoyed being with them. Now, it is easy to say Jesus loved these people, but unless there is a basis for the claim, it's just an empty claim. It's not. Here's a few things that point to the love He had (has) for them.

a- This is not the only mention of them in the Bible. Only John records this miracle. Likely, this is because (as we'll see later) the Jews were seeking to kill Lazarus and he was likely still living when the other gospels were penned (This has also been mentioned as the why Mary and Martha are not explicitly mentioned in all the gospels. They lived near Jerusalem--a dangerous place for followers of Christ). Nonetheless, the family is mentioned, in some way, by each writer--especially in regards to Mary's anointing of Jesus. Now, the name Mary is problematic in the Bible because there are several ladies that bear that name. Nonetheless, we see the following accounts of this family, at least: Mary Anoints Jesus: Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8, Jesus at Mary and Martha's House: Luke 10:38-42, The Resurrection of Lazarus: John 11

b- Mary's anointing of Jesus was known. As Jesus prophesied (see Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9), people told the story of Mary's care for Jesus. This account was so well known, that John refers to Mary as the one "who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair" (vs 2) before he even recorded the account (John 12). This is remembered as a sign of deep love for Christ.

c-They don't give Lazarus' name. When they send for Christ, they call Lazarus the one whom you love.

d-Jesus is moved to tears. Though He knew that Lazarus' life was about to be restored (more on this later) He wept.

e-The Bible tells us. See vs 5 as one example.

2. Because of this love, He did not come.

That being established, we see something very strange in verse 6...the word SO. Now, as an English guy (and it's in the Greek too), I can't jump over a word like that. The word "so" can mean different things, but in this context it implies consequence. It is like saying: I am allergic to oxygen SO breathing is tough...or... A 6X6 post fell on my head, SO I have a concussion. 

So... (:D)  look at the passage.   5  Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  6  So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

It is because of the love He has for them that He does not go immediately to help. This does not fit into our human perspective.

3. Why?

There are a few things we can see.

1. Waiting ensured that Lazarus would be veritably dead. If he'd only been dead a short time, it could have been have been argued that he'd never really died. Even if He had not delayed 2 days, Lazarus would have been dead 2 days when He arrived. However, from what I understand, there was a superstition that said a soul stayed around the body for up to the first 3 days. Jesus did not want this lie to make people miss His truth.

2. He used this to teach much about Himself (See next week's lesson).

3. It wasn't about them... it was for God's Glory. This is the key. Look at verse 4. 4  But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." The same is true for us today.

Two points of application:

1. God's Time is Best! We want things now! Patience, though a virtue, is not something many of us possess....especially in our "on demand" culture. Yet, God doesn't work that way. He knows everything. He sees everything. Because He loves us, sometimes He will seemed to delay or deny what we think we need. This is always done in His plan and for His Glory.

2. This Illness does not Lead to Death! Though we won't necessarily experience an earthly resurrection like Lazarus, we will be resurrected to eternal life! 

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  18  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.-2 Corinthians 4:17-18

The Westminster confession says (paraphrase to follow) that the highest goal for man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. There is much truth in that statement. We are to love and serve God. Our life circumstances are to do no less. He has a purpose fueled by love (for He is love). Even when we encounter hardships that just don't make sense to us, we must never forget this!

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions!

PONDERING... 1 John Challenge

Since my condition :/ prevented youth group from happening tonight, I'm issuing the challenge here.

So many people struggle with assurance of their salvation. 1 John was written "that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13 ESV). Look over these 5 short chapters and note anything that is being said about the Christian life. This may seem daunting, but it can be spread across a few days and will really only take a short amount of time. I did it myself this week and it was a great experience!

Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments section below..or wherever.

Glory to God!

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions!

PONDERING... John 10:17-18

Brief Outline from Youth Lesson:

John 10:17-18  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  18  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

For this reason- Not the only reason, but we see here that the Father loves the Son because of His sacrifice for us!

Because I lay down my life/That I may take it up again- These two are inseparable. He laid down His life so that He could take it up again. These was not a purposeless sacrifice. He always intended that our salvation would be completed in Him.

No one takes it- This was never a "have to"; Jesus was under no obligation to save us. Missing this is missing His love. Obligatory duty can be done in a loving manner, but true love goes beyond obligation and often involves sacrifice. Jesus demonstrated this perfectly. He is love. 

I have authority/Charge from the Father- soveriegnty and submission

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

PONDERING...(Pride) Sources of Anxiety and The Meaning of Life

Disclaimer: This brief series of posts is addressing issues that commonly remove our focus from the meaning of life, and, as previously mentioned, reserves the right to more meaningfully impact the writer than the reader. All comments are welcome. However, irrelevant comments may be ignored. (I hope you are amused by my assumption that there will actually be readers of this post...and I am not just typing to myself).

1. The Problem: Pride

A lot of our worry comes from an unhealthy interest in self. Sure, we do worry about others. Yet, even our compassion can be tilted in a return direction. Consider frequent sources of concern: MY schoolwork, MY job, MY friends, MY family, MY health, MY popularity, MY acceptance, MY happiness, MY doubts, MY fears... feel free to continue. 

Ayn Rand, in her novella Anthem, made a statement that--rather we like to admit it or not--really embodies the Western ideal: 

"And now I see the face of god, and I raise this god over the earth, this god whom men have sought since men came into being, this god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. This god, this one word: "I.""(Rand)

The Bible, however, is pretty clear on this issue. In fact, pride (the worship of self) is the root of sin.

2. The Bible

Though we could look at a multitude of verses on this subject, I will only consider a few. Each touch on a similar truth--pride not only taints all human action, but it also leads only to despair and destruction. 

"2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom." - Proverbs 11:2 ESV

This verse points out that pride leads to disgrace. Arrogance can only be maintain so far. There will always be someone faster, stronger, smarter, pretty, etc... Likewise, we are never perfectly fast, strong, smart, pretty, etc... Therefore, if we live self-confidently--devoted to our own infallibility--we will experience shame. This facade cannot be maintained; it will crumble. 

Likewise, the verse sets pride directly against Godly wisdom. To be proud is to reject wisdom.

"18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18 ESV

This verse is one of the best known in all of scripture. Unfortunately, it is more frequently ignored than quoted. Don't, however, let familiarity cause apathy. Destruction is a strong word.  Pride will destroy. Pride is the root of sin. Sin embraced is salvation rejected. Salvation rejected is Hell endured. Pride leads to Hell...period. It is grievous that we do not take this more seriously.

"3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." - Matthew 5:3-12 ESV

I love the Sermon on the Mount. Here Jesus famously begins with what have come to be known as the beatitudes--a fancy word that I did not understand even into my adult life that means "conditions of blessing or blessedness". These are descriptions of the Christian life. A Christian should reflect all, not some, of these statements. Now, consider these descriptions: poor in spirit (acknowledging spiritual need), mourning (displaying sorrow), meekness (gentle in nature), hungering and thirsting for righteous (desiring God), merciful (showing...mercy...forgiveness), pure in heart (untainted by the embracing of sin), peacemaking (spreading the heart of God), persecuted for another (living wholeheartedly for Christ). Here is a clear picture of humility. 

Pride has no place in His design--lest we, like Satan, exchange the worship of God for the worship of self. 

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

Work Cited

Rand, Ayn. "Part Eleven." Anthem. Page by Page Books, n.d. Web. 13 June 2014.

PONDERING... John 10:11-16

Disclaimer: This is an outline of our Youth Group lesson not the entire content.

The Good Shepherd...

1. Is more than just the nursery wall paper

Dick Lucas was quick to point this out in his teaching series on the Good Shepherd. Shepherds lead. Not only do we have the imagery of care and compassion, but to the Jews this was rich with kingly images...power, strength, provision.

2. Loves His sheep to death (vs 11-13)

This is the central point. It's the kind I'd typically close with, but this is where Jesus starts (and finishes...and clarifies all throughout). I'm following His lead. He is talking about His death. He, unlike the false leaders (Pharisees) truly cares for His sheep. Oh, the wonder of knowing 1-we are loved so completely and undeservedly, and 2- we are His.

3. Knows His sheep intimately (vs 14-15)

The Father and the Son are one. They know each other with an intimacy outside human experience. This is God's desire for us. We are known and are to know Jesus on this level. This side of Heaven, this will not be fully realized. Nonetheless, obviously it is understood that the sheep will have intimate relations with Christ on earth because it this knowledge (relationship) that keeps them from following wolves.

4. Calls His sheep effectively (and they follow Him) (vs 16)

Jesus calls. His sheep follow. Praise The Lord! This is the reason we are saved. We are sheep that were not of the Jewish flock. This is why we evangelize. He has sheep; we go to them and tell them the good news; He saves them.

Also note the implication here of the sheep following Him. This is not just the sheep coming into the sheep gate. This is the sheep living behind the Good Shepherd. We go where He goes. We do what He does. He is our life.

PONDERING...(Fear) Sources of Anxiety and The Meaning of Life

Disclaimer: This series of posts reserves the right to impact the writer more than the reader.

In a previous post, I touched on the meaning of life as explained in the Bible (God's Holy Word). In the posts to follow, I want to consider what the Bible says about a few things that distract us from this center, and draw us into anxiety. 

1. The Problem: Fear

In general, fear can be defined as anticipation of known or possible harm. There are many things that cause us to be afraid. From startling noises to job security, fear comes in various forms, and, if allowed, can consume our lives.

2. The Bible

"7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

This was said in the context of Timothy encountering spiritual trials. He is admonished not to cower or be afraid, but to live according to his calling and use his spiritual gifts. All Christians face fear. Living out your faith (this precious gift of God) will result in persecution (John 15:16-27 and 16:33). Nonetheless, we are to stand strong--not because we have power, love and self-control, but because the Holy Spirit, who abides within us, is power, love, and self-control!

"25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:25-33 ESV

I mentioned in a previous post that I think about this passages a lot. I do not bring them up again to be redundant, but because I need reminded of them daily. So much fear & anxiety comes just from not knowing what to do next. However, God clearly teaches us to seek His face and let Him take care of the details. Letting go is not as easy and immediately liberating as Princess Elsa would like us to believe. It can be terrifying. Yet, who is more capable of handling your life--limited you or sovereign God?

"26 "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." - Matthew 10:26-31 ESV

This passage is addressing spiritual persecution that leads to fear for one's life. This would seem to be a circumstance worthy of fear. Truly, this is terrifying. The passage does not make light of that. Nevertheless, Jesus puts even this situation into perspective. Even losing your life is nothing compared to Hell. Death, to a Christian, is to be with God. It is not to be feared. In context, this passage also alludes to the sacrifice Christ made on our behalf.


Fear causes much anxiety. Nonetheless, consider the words of Christ to His disciples: "33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."" - John 16:33 NIV

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

PONDERING... Clouds and Fire

In Numbers 9:15-23, the Israelites followed God's movements directly. Now, the Israelites were not always perfect subjects of obedience. Here, however, we see a good example. Day and night... when He moved, they moved. When He stayed, they stayed. There wasn't room for the question, "Where will I go today?" It was all about, "Where will God lead us today?" We could learn a lot from this attitude.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch

"15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. 16 So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. 17 And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. 18 At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses." - Numbers 9:15-23 ESV

PONDERING... The Meaning of Life and the Bible

Disclaimer: These blogs are not intended to be taken as complete dissertations upon the given subjects. They are designed to be brief and digestible (metaphorically speaking...please do not lick your computer screen). The writer is, however, willing to engage in further conversation upon request. 

What is the meaning of life? Deep, complex, universal. Regardless of circumstances, everyone considers this question at some point or another. Consequently, there have been a vast array of proposed answers. Things like:

1. To obtain as much knowledge as possible
2. To demonstrate virtue
3. To become one with nature and/or society
4. To suffer for the greater good
5. To live life to the fullest (though the definition of fullest is in constant debate)
6. To overcome emotion
7. To embrace emotion
8. To gain wealth, glory, or recognition
9. To make the world a better place
10. To have children
11. To serve your fellow man
12. To experience the greatest happiness
13. Nothing
14. 42

The Bible, however, offers a far different view. Why does that matter? Well...if life has meaning, then it has to be absolute. Any relative, personal meanings we attribute to life are subject to our desires. Our desires are varied and fickle. Therefore, those meanings are ever changing fabrications to meet a wide variety of ever changing needs. Since those desires have no standardizing source, what gives them value? Nothing. This train of thought leads to the conclusion that life is whatever we make it to be...which is a nice way of saying life has no real (objective) meaning. 

However, few of us would be willing to swallow that there is no real purpose to this existence. If there is purpose, then, from where does it come? If there is an absolute purpose to life, the source of this design, by necessity, must also be absolute. To give conscious meaning, this something must also be capable of absolute intelligent thought. We could continue, but ultimately, absolute meaning points to an absolute being. By definition, that being is God. Through further reasoning, we can arrive at the fact that this God, one and only, has revealed Himself through the Bible, His Word. Therefore, it is vital to consider what He, the giver of life, has to say about our purpose here on earth.

I just want to look at a few verses and a couple points of application.

Point 1: The Meaning of Life Is...Not You

Ecclesiastes is a book written by King Solomon at the end of his life. In it, he explores the meaning life has apart from God. He had experienced great wealth, love, wisdom, and personal success. He had also lived according to his desires. He concluded that all things in life were vanities. None of these were worthy of his full devotion. Riches fade; love disappoints, wisdom is fleeting and often ignored; and accomplishments come and go. Therefore, he ended his exposition with the following statement: 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV

Similarly, God inspired the Psalmist to write:...Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. - Psalms 127:1-2 ESV

God's design for man, the purpose of our existence, is to love and serve Him. This life is "through Him and for Him" (Colossians 3:16). Our selfish hearts, as I've mentioned before, don't like this. We want this world to be about us. We want some kind of control, some semblance of autonomy. Before you stop reading this post, think about what drives you. What is your purpose? In what or who have you place all your hope? Can it/they hold this weight? How solid is your foundation? If it is built upon anything subject to change or temperament, it will not stand.

"24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."" - Matthew 7:24-27 ESV

The difference between these two houses wasn't the circumstances they endured. Both went through storms. The difference was in their design--what they were built upon.

 "17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:17-18 ESV

Solid. Unchanging. Good. This is who our lives are to be built upon.

Point 2: Therefore, Recognize That You Are Not Living in Light of the Meaning of Life

"23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" - Psalms 139:23-24 ESV

We have to recognize that we all fall short here. None of us live like Jesus is our purpose 100% of the time. If we think we have somehow "arrived" at the pinnacle of Christianity--a place beyond the need of further growth, we are wrong. We will never love God enough, or know Him to the fullest extent. Paul--who told the Philippians that he, too, had not attained perfection (Philippians 3:8-12)-- exclaimed in his letter to the Romans,"33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" 35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." - Romans 11:33-36 ESV 

Because we fall short and will forever be in great need of Him, we need to ask God for conviction. Though we don't like this word, unless we are redirected, we'll always be going astray. This is not punishment. It's grace.

Point 3: And Seek God
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ... 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:19-21, 31-33 ESV

I love the passages above and ponder them all the time. Anything that we devote ourselves to apart from God opens our hearts up to destruction. Teaching at a high school and working with teens, I see this illustrated all the time. At the end of each school year, I have my students write a world-view essay. They are tasked with breaking down their core-values. Frequently, friends and family top their lists. Unfortunately, I watch heart-break after heart-break when a friendship crumbles over something trivial, or a family is destroyed by divorce, death, or disappointment. When these things are their world, they truly feel like their lives no longer have meaning. Adults do the exact same thing. Misplaced devotion leads to destruction. Seeking God, loving and living His Word, leads to life.

Ponder, pray, and propagate your perceptions.

Upchurch