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Good Monday to you my ‘Walking with Jesus’ friends,
Today I invite you to join me on a special journey in God’s Word. Our world has been through a tremendous trauma in the past 5 months or so. All of us have longed for a return to some normalcy, but we can’t go back, can we? Time moves us forward, so we cry out for RESTORATION of our lives, our school, marketplace and neighborhoods and even our churches. Opinions vary widely on the best road to take forward to RESTORE a lifestyle which will be cautious, safe, and will bring us to a ‘new normal’ that resembles the past but is better than the past. Let’s look closely to see what path God invites us to as we ‘walk with Jesus’ out of the global storms that have engulfed us, into a future that only God can see.
God’s Word, of course, is our road-map. . .“The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are ANY who understand, ANY who seek God.“ (Psalm 14:2 & 53:2) Have you ever noticed these two Psalms, Psalm 14 & 53, mirror each other, word for word? What does that mean…when God repeats Himself, as He speaks to humanity? I’d say, it’s important… so I want to pay attention when God leads those who assembled the Bible to make sure this message is twice repeated.
Some say God is far away, uninterested, or maybe has even given up on the human race, and they claim the recent global mess proves it. But here, God says He is alert, watching very carefully, in fact, God is evaluating all that is happening here on earth, to discern something very important: Does God find among 7.5 Billion of us, SOME, even a FEW people, who understand GOD and HIS design of how human life is to be lived, for maximum enjoyment and effectiveness? (John 10:10) What does God see as He looks closely into the minds and hearts, the words and actions of the people in your town, my friends, where-ever you live in our world?
Notice please that God is looking at the ‘sons of men’. Why would God say it that way? Do you suppose He’s looking at the effectiveness of parenting all around the world? How well have parents taught their children how to live and love, in a way that builds God honoring, happy families, safe and honorable communities, schools, businesses and nations? What score would you give the parenting in your city my friends? Have you ever considered how each of the first 7 chapters of Proverbs begin? Take a moment and take a look! It’s powerful parenting advice, isn’t it? Have we done what Solomon advises in those first few verses of each of those chapters?
And as God looks closely to see what you and I and every person is passionately pursuing in life, how many people does God find are really ‘seeking God’? Seeking to know God, understand God, follow God obediently, and honor God with their lives?
Of course all around the world there are voices who mock followers of Jesus and scream… ‘you are wasting your time if you are looking for God or even thinking about God.‘ And God’s response is simple: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.” (Psalm 14:1 & 53:1) Instead God calls humanity to consider this profound truth: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow God’s precepts will have good understanding. To them will belong eternal praise. Blessed is the person who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in His commands. Their children will be the generation of the upright and be blessed.” (Psalm 111:10, 112:1,2) How does that fit with your family heritage my friends? Ponder that!
It’s time… would you agree, it’s time to move forward. Time to find our way out of the gloom, the despair, the pandemic of fear, the craziness of what we’ve been experiencing, and into the light of a new future. The wisest man of all wrote: “There is a TIME for everything, and a SEASON for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
We’ve been in a long dark, difficult season…it’s time, for a new season, a season of RESTORATION to a new future. But among all the voices shouting at us, which voice will you follow out of this season of global upheaval, pandemic, tragedy and recent violence? For me…I’m following Jesus!
Do you remember how often Jesus said “Follow Me” to His friends (Mark 1:17 / Luke 5:27 / John 21:19) and those who needed direction in life? Do you remember Jesus, in the upper room, with His friends on the night before His crucifixion, as He shared the bread and wine with them, in what we call Communion,Jesus said “Do this in remembrance of Me…“. (Luke 22:19) There is a great power in Remembering isn’t there? I believe God’s path out of the season of trauma and turmoil, and into a new season of His hope, begins right there, looking back and seeing what God wants us to see, and then living life in remembrance of Jesus…why?
Because: Remembering gives me Perspective: I see today more clearly as I look through the lenses of my yesterday. But I also see my yesterday more clearly when looking at it from the vantage point of today!
And because: Remembering helps me understand the process of my Becoming! Just like when I was a tiny baby in my mothers’ womb, each day I am developing more and more into who I am, and the big question is, how similar or different am I from who God had in HIS mind, when He designed and conceived me? Have I cooperated with God as He is working to develop me, or have I fought God’s developing work in my life?
And I think God wants me to start moving forward out of the confusion of this season with Remembering because: Remembering can teach me very important lessons, which I will need as I live life moving forward, beyond the past. To ignore my past, or bury my past, or reject the lessons I can learn from my past journey, would be profoundly foolish and place me in very vulnerable situations going forward.
And finally, Remembering is a very important bridge which helps me move through time wisely. Today is tomorrow’s yesterday. . .every day. So what I do or say today, will be what I look back and remember when I reach tomorrow. So, how do I want to remember today? With regret or thanksgiving, shame or joy? That choice informs how I live today…everyday.
So what if you and I lived life today, and every day, as Jesus has invited us to live… “In Remembrance of Him”? It means, living remembering how Jesus lived, what Jesus taught, and why Jesus came here to live among us. It means living my life every day, as I believe Jesus would live it, if Jesus was in my skin!
My friends, would you join me in reflecting on these powerful truths today as we look back on our lives and worship our great God, as we join Tommy Walker with this song which simply says “We Will Remember”:
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Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Click to read today’s chapter: Psalm 14; Psalm 53. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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