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Parenting in the 21^st century has its share of hurdles. It has changed dramatically since my wife and I raised our daughter. Raising children in my parents’ generation equates to living on another planet compared to today. I walked to school (and everywhere else) and my parents released me into the wild (neighborhood) daily without a thought for my danger. Today’s children live with technology as their friend, often can’t leave their own yard without a parent, and almost never walk to school. But parenting is no easier or harder than it was for my wife and I, or my parents. There have always been challenges in protecting, providing and building the lives of our children … even with the first couple of the New Testament!

You’ve probably heard of the first couple.  We can only imagine what life-altering changes Jesus’ virgin birth had already caused Joseph and Mary, but now they have to go to Egypt for protection from Herod. That’s right! God directed Joseph to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt. It was 75 miles to the border, and then possibly another 100 miles of travel for safety. Can you imagine what that trip was like with a young child?! After a period of time they are led by God to return to Israel because Herod was dead. Tough trip, but Matthew states prophecy was fulfilled — “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

Then, there was more trouble. Upon returning to Israel, Joseph realized that Herod’s son Archelaus was ruling in Judea. Bad news! God then leads Joseph to take his family to a not-so-nice city called Nazareth for protection. Admittedly, this is a lot of travel for a young family with no great form of transportation. Mary and Joseph were originally from there, but there was a greater reason for this move. Matthew 2:23 gives us insight. So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

God’s divine providence is all over Jesus on the run, but as I read about Egypt and Nazareth (in the light of parenting today), my thoughts are directed toward Mary and Joseph. Although directed by God, Joseph wasn’t a robot. His life (and Mary’s) was altered significantly by the unusual requests of the Father. Their obedience to His plan meant personal sacrifice. God’s journey for Christ was placed in the hands of an obedient young couple … and they followed His directions!

If you are a parent, you are also nurturing someone’s journey. Listening to God is important. There will be times when you think God’s plan makes no sense (I wonder if Mary and Joseph had questions). But it always does! Someone’s future and spiritual journey is attached to our response to the will of God. It does not have the significance of raising and protecting the Son of God, but our obedience still matters. Are you in a place today of listening well and responding to God’s leadership in your life? Your children may be young or already adults, but theirs lives are affected by your personal obedience to the Father.

Our children (young or old), need to see that faith works. There will always be a new challenge to navigate, and our obedience to His will is vital.   Joseph’s obedience to directions from God was significant in the epic journey of Christ. Sure, Christ was perfect, but his parents had the responsibility to protect and raise Him.  Just like Joseph, Mary and parents of every generation, you and I have an important role in someone’s journey. Who benefits when you and I listen to the Father well? Someone else … that we love! Are your children (young or old) benefiting from a parent who is listening well?

SPECIAL NOTE:  Today starts a journey of learning a little more about the story of the men and women of the New Testament. We trust that their stories will be meaningful and helpful for your personal story.

Well, I am on the schedule to write Monday’s article for Journey onWord.  I have known this for many weeks and yet I don’t know where to start.  We have had, quite possibly, the most unusual and stressful four weeks ever.  I am physically tired and emotionally dry.  As Mike and I talked through this, we remembered a similar situation that I wrote about some years back.  In reading it again, I am reminded once again, Who is in charge of this crazy world we live in.  I hope you find comfort in this flashback article…

My husband asked me to write this blog post three weeks ago.  For three weeks I have been fretting, thinking, and searching for enlightenment so that my attempt at this blog entry would at least be half of the encouragement which Mike and Mark’s are to read.  I am here to tell you…”I got nothin’!”  It’s been a tough three weeks.  I am tired, I am not sleeping well, and my diet, well we are not even going to go there!  So in an act of desperation I called my husband and basically said, “I got nothin’.”  In his wisdom he simply said, “Then write about the nothin’.”

So here goes … an 18-month old who needed a liver transplant, a friend of a friend who heard those dreaded words, “there’s nothing else we can do,” an upset client,  a huge disappointment for a family member … Surely you can relate to that feeling of being on empty which I am currently experiencing.  I am reading Scripture and I am praying (more than normal), yet I am uninspired, fatigued, and defeated.  So where do I go to get better?  The doctor?  The psychiatrist (watch it!)?  I know what I know, and I know to go back to the Word.  I go to one of my all time favorite passages:

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

There is so much here, but allow me to focus on two things.  Look at the end of verse 5 … The Lord is near.  I am pretty sure I have forgotten that fact over the last three weeks.  He is near, always.  And then look at verses 8 through 9 … think on the good things.  The 18-month old child who received a liver transplant and is doing remarkably well.  The man with “no hope” here on earth, but the promise of being with Christ, soon.  A mended relationship with that client.  And a family member who is now more determined than ever!  Excellent, praiseworthy things!  And then the kicker in verse 9 … put it into practice.  Practice a change in my thinking, my outlook, (my diet) … and I will find peace in my daily walk.

A familiar passage … a simple application … for every one of us.

I guess I did have somethin’ after all!

As a child, you were probably taught the great lesson of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (don’t you miss the youthful excitement of hearing stories like the fiery furnace). For not serving the gods of Nebuchadnezzar and worshiping the image of gold he had erected, they were thrown into the fiery furnace. Nebuchadnezzar got so mad, he ordered the furnace seven times hotter than usual. Imagine the life and death faith these men were tested with leading up to the epic moment of being thrown into the furnace. Was their faith about the assurance of rescue or about an undying trust in God? In answering that question, it becomes obvious that there are parallels between the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and our own (albeit, likely in cooler circumstances).

Daniel 3:16-18 (MSG)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”

Certain death would be their fate if “God does not,” but “He did” miraculously protect them from the flames.  A great story for sure, but greater yet was the way that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego approached their epic moment of truth with allegiance to God. No matter what man would do, they would not bow down. Today or tomorrow, in my story (and yours), we will be confronted with an issue of faith. Like our friends from the Old Testament, we won’t know what the Father will choose to do. How will we navigate our epic moment(s)?  Obedient faith when facing uncertain moments is the choice we too can make … will we?

We each have our own fiery furnace moments and they test us to the core. We can face the heat with obedient hearts even when uncertainty overwhelms us. Whether a new Christ-follower or a seasoned servant, preparation is important in navigating the inevitable furnaces of life. My experience has taught me that all the love, care, and encouragement others can give will never take the place of letting God prepare us. One of His key methods of preparation happens as we integrate His Word into the core of our lives. Make no mistake, preparing for our furnace battles without growing and knowing His Word will leave us less than confident. I perceive that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were very confident … are you?

As your story continues, and the heat begins to rise against you, let the confidence of our three friends and the words below encourage you. But please do not neglect the essential choice to integrate His Word into your life daily.  It will give you confidence that you could never create on your own.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NLT)
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

            Your story will have fiery furnaces, and your God can protect you!

Fascinating are the words by Soren Kierkegaard, “Now, with God’s help, I shall become myself.” Another insightful and thoughtful comment can be found in John Ortberg’s wonderful book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted. He states that, “I am called to be the person God had in mind when he originally designed me.” Although the statements above are thought-provoking, are they true? Do you believe that Creator God is really that concerned about your unique design and ultimate purpose? I woke up yesterday (Father’s Day) focused on my inadequacy in matching my life with many of the disciplines of life I believe the Father wants for me. So I asked myself (and now I ask you) the question, “How shall I become myself?”

Far from robotic followers, our Father has created us to be unique and diverse. If you are a Christ-follower, I believe there is a you that God wants you to be. I am not sure how much he cares about bearded or clean-shaven, short or tall, green or blue-eyed, Caucasian or Asian, but He definitely cares about the role He wants us to play for His kingdom. And therefore, we are challenged to surrender our wills to His, and learn to live in His freedom. I can say with confidence that He wants you to be Spirit-filled, others-centered and willing to move from your comfort zone for His purpose. But how do we begin to approach what He has in mind for us? Let’s take two verses as a starting point.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 

It is important to understand that the verses above are speaking about individuals who have accepted the gift of salvation through faith. You have turned from darkness to light and are now secure in Christ. Note that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”. The evidence of your relationship with Christ is the good works that follow. Becoming the you of God’s design will certainly include fruit from the relationship. Imperfect but forgiven, we have a role to play as ambassadors for Christ. God’s design for you was settled long before there was a you. He knows each of us intimately, and has a specific and unique plan for each of us to fulfill. Can you believe with me that the plan is His, and our submitted lives and resulting good works honor Him?

As I “become myself,” I will sense that God is working in me for His good purpose. And the energy to accomplish this purpose will come only from Him. So many Christ-followers get caught up in trying to “act according to his good purpose,” without growing in their faith. Seek and submit to Him daily, and rest in the assurance that He will work in you. When our Father is working in our lives, there is energy … and His results.

In Christ, you are unique, gifted, and created for His mission. If you really believe that you are called to be the person God had in mind when He originally designed you, then you must believe that God is on your side in directing you to good works, and His good purpose. Even though I woke up yesterday fretting about the disciplines I am not accomplishing, I want to become myself … the unique design that God has only for me.

Only you and God can genuinely determine if you are moving toward the person of God’s unique design. Remember that eternity is effected when you and I become the man or woman He designed us to be.  I strongly encourage you bow and pray right now, “God I am willing to become myself.”

My family and I are preparing to take, what will likely be, the most deeply emotional vacation of our lives.  It was only nine months ago that my wife’s best friend since college went to be with Jesus, and it was only one year ago that we vacationed with Lisa and her beautiful family in a spot that had become a tradition for our two families.  I cannot begin to tell the story of how intensely beautiful and unlikely that week was.  As we navigated its days and the weeks which followed, we took inventory of an overwhelming number of God’s fingerprints on our week together.  We were so tempted to say it was too good to be true, but how could that be said of something which was so obviously God, so lavishly good, and undeniably true.

In mourning the loss of Lisa’s presence with us here, I deeply identify with the wisdom of Ecclesiastes.  As grueling as it can be to read all twelve chapters, I feel as though I have lived its truth.  It seems so obvious that Solomon wrote the words near the end of his long journey with God.  This was a man who was blessed with unparalleled wealth and wisdom, and in the end judged everything he experienced of this life as meaningless.  Solomon left no stone unturned as he explored the people, places and purposes of this life.  Work, wisdom, wealth … they are all an exercise in chasing the wind.  Play, power, possession … they are grains of sand that slip through your dry fingers.  “Death Comes to All,” reads the heading at the beginning of chapter nine.  Through the lives of many I love deeply, I have come to know that all too well.

Yet in the midst of a season of suffering and the pages of Ecclesiastes, my heart sees clear evidence of hope.  I will not know the wealth or wisdom of Solomon, but my life speaks the very same truth.  It is true that this life, and the things of it, are meaningless.  It is true that every ounce of effort I give to maintaining my home, providing for my family, and pursuing happiness here are grains of sand that slip through my dry fingers.  Anything I accomplish here, not for the purposes of the kingdom, is currency which is only recognized here and is of no value once I return to the dust of the earth.

But then, there it is! – for the purposes of the kingdom.  “Hidden” within the lines of each chapter and verse in Ecclesiastes is a truth which only those who have ears to hear will recognize.  This life – this physical existence consisting of achievement, position, power, pleasure and possession – is nothing, absent God.

If our vacation last year was pressed only through the filter of this life, nothing of substance would have remained.  Its joys would have been rationalized as coincidence and their memory would have likely already faded.  Every detail of our week together would have slipped through our fingers like the sand at the beach we walked to every day.  But God was very present, the memories remain vivid, and the impact on each of our lives is lasting.  We loved, laughed and lived every minute of every day, and we discovered more of Him in the fingerprints He left.  I expect we’ll find many more this year.

Through a season of suffering and the powerful pages of God’s Word, I am beginning to look at this life differently.  I can’t say that I’ve figured much out yet, but I’m hopeful, and I’m seeing things I never saw before.  I won’t assume or assert God’s purpose in the writing of Ecclesiastes, but reading it this week has had purpose in my life.  God’s wisdom through Solomon has spoken directly into my right now.  I wonder if it has for you too.  The things of this life may be meaningless, but a life which is lived with and for Him is anything but.

It is a wisdom book, and he is the wisest man to ever live.  You would be right to think King Solomon, but the book we are reading this week would likely not be the one which came to mind.  That book would be Proverbs — a single chapter of which we have encouraged you to compliment your daily Bible reading with this year.  Such incredible wisdom granted and gifted by God himself to a single man; a man who was asked a defining question.

As the book of 1 Chronicles comes to a close and 2 Chronicles begins, we read the story of a kingly transition.  King Solomon is taking the throne from his father, David, and visits the tabernacle to offer burnt offerings to God.  That same night God appears to Solomon and asks him a bold and definitive question.

“Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
2 Chronicles 1:7b (NIV)

I wonder if you have ever played a “genie-in-a-bottle, grant you three wishes” type game before  Have you ever considered what you would do if you won the lottery?  Have you ever framed these questions in a God-context?  What if God appeared to you and gave you the exact same offer He gave to Solomon?  What would your answer be?

Scripture records Solomon’s answer in 2 Chronicles 2:10…

Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? (NIV)

The circumstances which brought King David and his son Solomon to this moment were less than ideal or godly.  The story of succession reads a bit like the script of a “reality” TV show.  But in ascending to the throne and taking the mantle of leadership, Solomon shows incredible humility and godly character.  This is God’s response…

God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people, I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”
2 Chronicles 1:11-12 (NLT)

God honors Solomon’s heart.  He not only graciously and abundantly grants Solomon’s request, but also blesses him with wealth and fame as the world had never seen before (or since).  God saw through to Solomon’s heart and genuine desire to be equal to the task of leading His chosen people.  He responded by throwing open the doors to the full measure of His infinite storeroom and gifted Solomon a lavish fraction.

All this year we have been considering biblical characters from the premise that their story is our story.  While there can be only one King Solomon, I believe God asks us all that defining question…

“What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” (NLT)

There can only ever be one you as well.  Do you believe God created you for the magnitude of purpose which he created King Solomon?  If not, why not?  If not, then what do you do with the words of Jesus from John 14:12-14?

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (NIV)

King Solomon answered humbly and truly when God came asking.  He desired wisdom above all else, and God gave that and much more in a supply, the likes of which, the world has never seen.  Is God that big in your life?  Do you believe He comes asking, and do you have the faith to answer in a way that also believes He’ll do it?  If not, why not?

It is longer than 30 other books of the Bible, totaling 176 verses! When we sit down to read a few of our favorite Psalms, this one is probably not on the list! It consists of 22 stanzas, each with 8 verses beginning with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet until the entire alphabet is used.  Psalm 119 is distinctive in its writing style, length and its author is a mystery.

As we study “Their Stories,” I can’t help but wonder who the writer of this amazing Psalm was.  There are many theories, from David to Moses, but I like the theory of Warren Wiersbe best in his book Be Exultant.  He believes it was Jeremiah!

Wiersbe surmises that Jeremiah wrote it to his young disciples after the destruction of the temple.  Starting with the theme of the Psalm — growing in holiness even through persecution — he presents a strong case for Jeremiah’s authorship.  Let’s look at a couple of these points.

First, the writer speaks of the opposition of princes and of speaking to kings.

Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. (v.23)

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, (v.46)

In the book of Jeremiah we learn that the prophet spoke with 5 kings on occasion. They opposed him, persecuted him and wanted him gone.

Second, the writer of Psalm 119 speaks of those who wanted to destroy him.  He calls them “the proud,” “the arrogant,” or “the insolent.”

You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed, those who stray from your commands. (v.21 NIV)

The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. (v.51 ESV)

During his life Jeremiah was assaulted by critics and those who had no regard for God’s word.

Lastly, the anonymous writer of Psalm 119 was obviously surrounded by those who openly disrespected and disobeyed God’s laws, yet he delighted in God’s word.

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. (v.66)

Jeremiah loved God’s word with a love that sometimes makes me feel ashamed.  He delighted in the Scriptures.  The more severe the persecutions, the more he clung to the Word.  And that is the heart of this unique Psalm – there will always be pressures, hardships, and persecutions as we walk through this life, but in God’s word we find our strength.  We should be calling out to God to teach us through the Word, because we believe and delight in it.

Yes, Psalm 119 is long, but it was written by an anonymous writer who longed for the safety, comfort and strength only found in the Word.  He clung to it and delighted in it.  I hope you look at this Psalm with fresh eyes … I have.

Asaph who?  It was a fitting description for my last article. Most of us know little about him and, quite frankly, one cursory reading of his life may not solidify the lessons his words and life can teach us. So consider this “round two” on Asaph as a teaching moment and challenge for living life in a focused way.

Asaph presented himself in an honest way and I believe his words reflect feelings you and I have experienced. You may still be wondering who in the world Asaph was. You may also be wondering how his words could ever resonate with your life. I promise you, they do. Asaph was a Levite who served as a musician and worship leader at the sanctuary during the reign of David. If you were to take a quick trip through the Psalms, you would find his name attributed to twelve of them (Psalms 50, 73-83). But how did he give an honest presentation of himself? At the beginning of Psalm 73, his candor leaves no doubt about a personal struggle and by the end of the story (chapter), he regained his spiritual equilibrium and challenges every serious reader.

Please read a few words of his struggle from the Message and see if you have ever had similar feelings. I know I have!

No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted.  But I nearly missed it, missed seeing his goodness. I was looking the other way, looking up to the people at the top, envying the wicked who have it made, who have nothing to worry about, not a care in the whole wide world.
Psalm 73:1-6

Have you ever looked at godless people and wondered, “Why don’t they suffer? Everything seems to go right for them.”

He continues his honest struggle for several verses, and I was especially struck by the following words:

What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch? Nobody’s tending the store. The wicked get by with everything; they have it made, piling up riches. I’ve been stupid to play by the rules; what has it gotten me? A long run of bad luck, that’s what — a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.
Psalm 73:11-14

Whether you would be honest enough to verbalize those words or not, you, like me, have no doubt had the same pity party. We’ve tried so hard, and can’t figure out why life is so difficult. Before falling too far into the black hole of pity, Asaph considered how younger believers would respond if he turned his back on Jehovah. He went to the sanctuary and regained perspective and his spiritual equilibrium.

His closing words take me from relating to his self-pity to being challenged by his absolute desire for God. He says, You’re all I want in heaven! You’re all I want on earth! (v.25) What a far cry from pity! It is my opinion that most Christ-followers get excited about God and heaven, but most can’t honestly say, You’re all I want on earth. Truth be told, what we want is for God to bless our plans, give us a good life (not too hard), protect our kids, and we’ll try to serve Him. Asaph, however really got it … a singular, all-consuming focus on God. You may call it radical, but I call it the place of greatest blessing.

Asaph ended this marvelous chapter conveying his nearness to God. I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do! (v.28) I have mulled over the last line for a few days now. Why? Because I believe Christ-followers have stopped telling the world about the wonderful things God has done. There is so much time spent on personal agendas and self-pity that we have lost perspective on the marvelous things our Lord has done. I also believe that when He becomes all I want on earth, my focus on self changes to telling the world what my Lord has done.  And just as my last Asaph article ended … Go. Tell!

In every company, on every team, and in every church, there are people who seem nondescript. Often they are the solid behind-the-scenes people. They add great value, but since they aren’t the most vocal, most recognizable or the strongest leader, sometimes their value gets overlooked.  There is someone in Scripture who reminds me of that unknown, nearly nondescript person.  He was a worship leader, but honestly there’s little else I knew about him until I began looking a little deeper.  He might initially seem like an interesting choice to write about, but I believe there is resonance between his story and ours.

Ask most Christ-followers to name the author of the book of Psalms and the response would be overwhelming, “David.”  From my own study, there seems to be a consensus that David wrote seventy-five Psalms personally. Seventy-three are attributed to him in the superscription, and another two are ascribed to him in the New Testament. But there are one hundred and fifty chapters in the book, which means there’s half not specifically attributed to David.  Solomon wrote two Psalms and Moses one. There were other authors, and some scholars feel that fifty of the Psalms were anonymous in authorship.  There’s one name I haven’t mentioned yet … Asaph.  Asaph is in the superscription of Psalm chapter 50, and chapters 73-83. This man may be widely unknown and we can make a case for him being nondescript, but the divine author God chose to use him as a human composer.

This little-known man was a Levite and led one of the temple choirs. One of my commentaries stated that as a leader of worship, he either wrote the twelve psalms or one of his descendants did.  There may be debates on this, but many scholars have ascribed them to him.  Hasn’t his story just become quite a but more compelling, and isn’t there value in comparing a bit of his story to mine (and yours).

I believe we find a struggling Asaph at the beginning of Psalm seventy-three.  The chapter begins with a bit of self-pity, as he looked at the prosperity of the wicked.  Psalm 73:1-3 set the stage…

Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. 

I can easily see myself in those words. What about you? There was a point in Asaph’s worship where he realized the wicked weren’t so well off. Verse 17 says, Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.  At the end of this chapter, the words of Asaph are dramatically different from the beginning.  Starting in verse 21, note the difference in his response.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you?  I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,  but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

What a difference from the beginning of the chapter!

You and I may not share the exact same self-pity issues that Asaph addressed, but we can relate with self-pity … can’t we?  A change took place for Asaph, and he began to worship enthusiastically.  His words are a model for all Christ-followers.  There will always be questions that confront our minds, but we need to live by the truth we know, not the doubts that can invade our minds. Asaph is an encouragement to me and I am glad I too can say, “God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.” From the outside, Asaph may look nondescript, but the more I think about him … his story is my story.

Psalm 73 closes with these strong words,  But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do

His words are a model.  Go.  Tell.

Stories of the characters from Scripture give us all pause to think about our lives in relationship to theirs. We are less apt to want to look at the lives of those hurting around us because we think that could be us. Furthermore, we often default to a logic that says some people will never change. I trust you will take the comments of an earlier archived article and think about God’s power to change a life.

Last week was spent traveling with a great friend and business associate. Our commonality in business and especially faith made the week more bearable for me. During one of the rare times during the week that we weren’t together, I passed through an intersection that had disadvantaged people wanting help. One of those requesting help with her sign was a young pregnant woman. To my shame, I characterized her life with less than loving judgement and kept going. I guess I had forgotten that I was raised in a home ravaged with alcohol, and saw my father (though very loving) have his career and life cut very short. I have thought about that young pregnant woman since last Tuesday, and I realize that my quick judgment was callous to her pain, and blind to her spiritual potential. When you look at those on the curb, or those in your life, do you look with eyes of judgment or spiritual potential?

Ten years ago another great friend and former work associate was anything but a Christian.   It would have been easy to doubt that he would ever see the Light. But in a great way, God changed his life.  And I often tell him, one thing you can’t deny is “the testimony of a changed life.” He has been transformed from a worldly and self-centered man to one who possesses a passionate faith and who is a selfless giver. Was he ever too far gone?! … not for God! I knew him as a casual friend at that point, but had no thoughts that one day his joyful faith would consistently challenge mine.

Every person reading this post has sung the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace” countless times. But if we had known the author early in his life, there is no doubt that we would have doubted he would become a man of faith. We would have definitely passed by this dude on the curb. John Newton was a ruthless slave trader, and captained his own ship. It was during a violent storm at sea that he had “a great deliverance.” His life was remarkably changed and generations have benefited from that change. Note the first verse of Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

John Newton knew grace and knew that God had “sav’d a wretch like me.” Even though we don’t doubt God’s ability, would we have been calloused to Newton’s pain and blind to his spiritual potential? With judgmental eyes it would have been easy to look at a vile, ruthless slave trader and never envision what God could do. For me (and maybe you), it is too easy to pass by the hurting and forget that except for the grace of God, that could be us.  I am thankful that God stretched out his arms of grace, and changed that wretch called Newton into a redeemed servant of God. God has used him to touch the world through his great hymn. And just think, you and I may have just passed him by!

Now, my purpose is not to challenge you to stop traffic when you see a pregnant woman holding a sign looking for help. But I would challenge you (and me) to be less callous to the hurting and blind to their spiritual potential. And if that includes stopping traffic, then do it! Also, think about those in your life that need the Lord. Have you ever doubted if they would trust the Savior? The personal story of my friend and the historical tale of John Newton are evidence of God’s incredible life-changing love. He gave His best, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for all of us, and all our sins. The truth is we are all sinners, wretches if you would, and are only changed by faith in Christ.

So today, if you know Him, give thanks that “you were blind, but now you see.” And don’t doubt that those on the curb and those you love can have their eyes opened too. Pray with faith for them, and never doubt. I trust and pray that one day you will smile when that person that once was lost, is now found.