Would you work for an employer who would not tell you what you would be paid?
 
Jesus told a story about a man who hired workers for his vineyard. They made an agreement that if they would work a full twelve-hour day, they would be paid a denarius, which is the standard pay for a full day of work. This was a very reasonable agreement.
 
The man found more workers as the day progressed, telling them he would give them what was “right” or “just” at the end of the day. Some worked nine hours, some six, some three, and some only one hour. None of these men knew what they would be paid. I, myself would not work for someone that would not tell me the amount I’m being paid, UNLESS…
 
UNLESS I believe that the landowner is good and generous. If I believe that I can trust the owner, I will do what he asks. This is faith, and this is trusting in his grace.

I have had a hard time growing grass in my front yard. For many years, we had an oak tree right in the middle of it, and I tried so many things to get grass to grow under it to no avail.
 
Finally, we cut the tree down. I killed all of the weeds, turned the soil over, added topsoil, and planted grass seed.

After a week, I could spot a few of the slightest green blades among the abundance of dirt. I was happy! My yard was on its way! Life was happening!
 
Every day, I would carefully examine the dirt for more signs of life. I would discover a few more tiny blades. I celebrated in my heart!

It’s very obvious with everything Jesus said and did that He made everyone of equal value. That’s why we see him elevating women, outcasts, and even sinners. He demonstrated the Kingdom of Heaven’s system rather than the world’s system which divides, separates, and creates classes of humans that are less than. 

When we look at the miracles of Jesus, we see instances where He actually went out of his way to those who were considered unclean, like the Samaritan woman at the well, the demon-possessed man of Gadara. He honored the “unclean” woman with the issue of blood who broke their law by being in public and touching Jesus. In a culture where the sick and poor were considered less than equal, Jesus healed, restored value and honored them all. 

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” – Psalm 27:4
 
When David wrote this, he was expressing a desire to see something that he had maybe caught a glimpse of. He seemed to grasp that the Lord was beautiful, yet he wanted to be able to behold it in a fuller way.
 
Personally, I feel that I am aware of God’s beauty much more than I ever have. I also am aware that it is something that is a revelation to us. The Spirit somehow shows us the goodness and beauty of the Lord, and it becomes a reality of our existence.

“Turn the other cheek.”  “If they want your tunic, give them your cloak also.”  “Go the extra mile.”  “Give to whoever asks of you.”  “Love your enemies.”  “Bless those who curse you.”  “Do good to those who hate you.”  “Pray for those who persecute you.”  “Forgive everyone.”
 
Jesus said that this is what children of God look like (Matthew 5:45). No wonder the Bible says that the whole creation is looking for the manifestation of the children of God! What a world this will be!

One of the most wonderful things that Jesus shows us, is that we are all highly valued. He does this in His parables, saying we are the “pearl of great price” and the “hidden treasure in the field”. He told us that His heart is tightly connected to those in prison, the poor, the sick, the orphans and the widows.
 
He showed that a woman caught in adultery was more valuable than the rule against such adultery. A thieving tax-collector was precious in His sight, and Jesus still wanted his company. The prodigal son still belongs, and the sheep that has wandered away is not damned for its wayward life, but rather it is carried home by the Shepherd who is willing to give His life for it.

And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” (Mark 2:4-5 NKJV, emphasis ours)

What has been on our minds about this particular piece of scripture is that the paralytic in the story had no part in the faith story. It was the faith of his friends that Jesus took notice of. They brought him to Jesus and when they couldn’t get near Him, they did not give up. In fact, they created a hole in the roof and lowered their friend to Jesus so their friend could not be missed. Ultimately, the paralytic man was healed and was able to get up and walk home.

Have you ever gotten quiet and asked yourself, “What do I really believe?”

In my heart of hearts, down into the core of my spirit, beyond all the religious debates, beyond what outside sources tell me, “What does [insert your name here] truly believe?” 

If there was no peer pressure, just you sitting with your heavenly Father in that perfect peace of communion, what is really true about God, about Life, about me?

These are good questions to consider, because as the Bible says, with the heart the man believes. So often our heads have been influenced from external voices while the inner man responds to the internal voice of Christ in you. 

When they asked, “When will your kingdom come, Jesus?” He answered them by saying, “My kingdom doesn’t come with ocular observation (it’s not seen with your eyes). My kingdom is found on the inside.” [see Luke 17:20-21]. 

In fact, the Kingdom of God is described as “Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Spirit”[Romans 14:17]. This is an inner state, not a country or a ruling body. 

His Kingdom is within us. It’s not something we have to work towards or yearn for. It’s not on the outside. 

It is something He has given us as a gift to enjoy. 

And He awakens us to see it. 

Did you know that your weaknesses and “flaws” make sense to God? You are not a mistake. He understands you and why you are the way you are, why you do the things you do, why you think the things you think.

That doesn’t mean they are necessarily good or profitable. They may not align with His best for you. Still, You are not a disappointment to God. He’s been with you from the beginning and He sees the details that have shaped your life. This truth doesn’t excuse all of our actions, but it does explain them. And isn’t it good to be understood? The One who understands us can love us unconditionally. This kind of love is the medicine we need to address the things that are not good for us. 

Here we go, into another year on the calendar, and today I want to declare that…

IT’S A NEW DAY!

How new is it? Well, maybe newer than you think. Jesus brought in a new day, and a new and living way.

Jesus is not just a mere footnote in the ongoing story of Adam, as if Adam never ended at all, as if the old man, Adam, somehow survived the cross.

No. We have no connection to Adam, the one whose wages of sin was death, and thank God, that death did come! It came on the cross when the old man was crucified with Christ, the last Adam. The old man is dead. Long live the new creation!

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped from the Eagle onto the Moon’s dusty surface with the words, “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” 

When Jesus came into this world, it was a giant leap forward for mankind. People were walking in darkness. Darkness in this sense means blindness or ignorance, or the inability to see eternal reality. The best they had done was figure out a plan to do enough good to sway God in their favor. It wasn’t really working but they tried as best they could to please God with their rules and actions. God always met them where they were at.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14
 
When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a special person. This human was conceived, not by the will of a man, but by the will and power of God Himself. Born of a virgin, different from any man known before, Jesus is the good news about our place with God. He is the good news about our Father’s heart toward us all. Jesus is the good news about everything concerning our existence.
 
He is the good news that gives us closure on the story of Adam. Jesus is our awakening. He is the beginning of a new day of realization for humanity.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

What is really important in the Christian life? 

Is it that we live up to a set of rules to inspire others to live that way? Or to show that we are different and therefore better? Is our Christian life all about having the correct interpretation of the scriptures? Is it about imposing a Christian morality on society so that people will be good? 

Or is it really about love?

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10, NKJV)

What is the best thing that Christianity has to offer to the world? Some might think it’s morality, that we offer a standard of morality for the world to follow. Morality is a good thing, but we haven’t handled it perfectly and historically we haven’t imposed morality in a way that has been edifying for the world. In fact, it seems we have often done more damage in doing so. 

I propose that the best we have to offer is the fruit of the Spirit. I think it’s time that we prioritize them. When I think of Jesus coming to give us abundant life, what is that abundant life for me? In my case, it was love, joy and peace, as well as the other fruit of the Spirit. Those have given me the closest to a heavenly experience that there could be. It has allowed me to bring that heaven to other people who have consequently also received from the heavenly gift. 

Human beings like to know things. Knowledge puffs us up. I can remember feeling like I had so much Bible knowledge that I thought I was smarter than anyone with a differing perspective. 

Knowledge is like a box of information that we carry, giving us a sense of security, thinking that we understand God. We’ve put together a dogma where we know what God likes and dislikes, what He does and won’t do, fitting it all into a nice, tidy belief system. It makes us feel safe. It can even make us feel superior.

The beautiful problem that came for me was when God showed me that He was much bigger than my little box.

We are being drawn to Love, drawn to the knowledge of He who is holy. It is the intent, the delight, and the very plan of God.

We are experiencing a progressive revelation of God, personally. We continue to understand more than we did before. Our vision becomes clearer and we see increase in the fruit of the Spirit as we come into more love, joy and peace.

This month is a special month for us. It is Rick’s birthday month and our wedding anniversary. We love to celebrate all month. As many of you know, Rick has coined the month as “Ricktober”. It’s silly and fun but celebration is also something very important to us. It’s a priority, a core value. We always want to take time to celebrate the good: the good of our Father in giving us life, healing our souls, bringing us to each other, and revealing His extraordinary love. We keep getting astounded by His loving goodness. Celebrating is a great way to remember these things. 

These are my thoughts today:

I know that I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, yet I’ve also become aware that God is infinitely better than I have imagined. It’s the old adage, “The more I know, the more I realize I don’t know.”

The apostle, Paul, said it this way, “I pray that you would know the height and depth and width and breadth of the love of Christ (though you cannot completely comprehend it).”

We are talking about the mystery of God, but it’s not a closed secret. It’s an open mystery. That means that God is not holding back from us. His doors are not closed. The open mystery is a wide-open vastness of grace and Love so copious that you cannot quantify it. It’s an open mystery that says, “Come and learn of me, and you will find rest for your soul!” It’s the Creator, our source of Life, inviting us to come and see, to come and dine, to come and behold the beauty of the One who is the author and completion of our existence.

I was thinking today about my motivation in ministry. What motivates me to do what I do? 

I think most of us who are in the ministry do it because we feel we are “called” to do so, and we’ve resolved to follow that path in life, but that alone does not make it joyful and fulfilling.