Pure and Blameless

Our behaviors and attitudes do not occur in a void. These things affect our lives and those around us. When we choose to be kind and love another person, it will positively impact their lives and our lives as well. When we choose to become angry and take it out on another person, it will negatively impact their lives and our lives as well. When we choose to follow Jesus and receive His love and grace, it will forever lovingly impact our lives and those around us.

Philippians 1:9-11 says, “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” We find a progression in these verses. Increasing love, together with knowledge of God, leads to a discernment that chooses the excellent over even the good. These excellent choices lead to a pure and blameless walk with Jesus Christ that then bears the fruit of righteousness in our lives. All this comes together to bring glory and praise to God.

Father With Compassion

My favorite part of the Prodigal Son story told by Jesus is when the son returns home but is still a ways from home. The father has been looking for the son to come back home and then this happens:

Luke 15:20 says, “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

The prodigal son in this story had left his home abruptly, squandered his inheritance, and disgraced the father. Yet, when the son returned home, the father ran to his son and embraced him as his son with compassion. Our Heavenly Father does much the same for us. From time to time, we abruptly leave Him, squander His blessings, and disgrace Him. But when we choose to return home to Him, He runs to us, embraces us with compassion, and welcomes us home.

We Are Better Together

The saying, “We are better together”, is popular among social activists and churches today. It reflects the truth that we can accomplish more when we work together. We can more productive people when we work together, because our talents may be complementary providing synergism to the tasks. Another benefit to working together is the availability of encouragement by having others near us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” We need each other. Work more fruitful when it is shared. Life is more beautiful with loved ones. Encouragement is only available when we have someone alongside us.

Building Fortresses

When we were young, we enjoyed making forts out of blankets, sheets and furniture. We would also make towers and forts out of legos, lincoln logs, and blocks of woods. We would imagine that these fortresses protected us from our imaginary enemies and gave us power in some way. Unfortunately, they did not and eventually had to come down when mom had had enough of the mess. We still build imaginary fortresses of wealth, fame, friends, and our good reputation. Unfortunately, these towers cannot maintain the power and security that we desire.

Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Fame, wealth, friends, and a good reputation cannot provide the safety we desire. Only the powerful name of the Lord can give us the security we want. Seek the Lord with your whole heart and He will reward you with love, peace, and strength.

The Trees Speak

For the last two days, I have been hiking through some forests that are new to me. I don’t know about you, but the forest and the trees seem to speak to me. Just by looking at them, I know the season we are in. New green leaves tell me it is spring moving into summer. No leaves let me know that it is late fall and moving into winter. The trees also speak to me about the grandeur and majesty of my God and His hand in creation.

In Luke 21:29-31 Jesus said, “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the summer is already near.” We need to learn to discern the signs of the times. To do that, we should search the Scriptures to see what Jesus said about our world today and what will certainly happen in the future.