Jesus Is Eager To Be With You

Returning from a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC, I'm sitting in the hotel breakfast area (somewhere in Eastern Pennsylvania) taking some time to pray, read the Word, and to think about what the Lord might be sharing with me today. 

My eyes skimmed over this passage from Luke 22 in which Jesus is having a final supper with His disciples. What has captured my eye and attention is this verse, "When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, 'I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.'" (Luke 22:14-15). 

As I read this I thought, "wow, Jesus was eager to be with those around Him just before entering into what would be the ultimate outreach event" (suffering, crucifixion and resurrection). Jesus was pausing to be with others and he let's them know he was eager to be with them. I suppose you might also phrase that as "longing to be with them," or "greatly desiring to be with them."  The point is Jesus desires and is eager to be with us.  No matter our schedule - pause to be with Him, He's Eager to be with you.

Being Faithful With What God Gives You

As I travel this morning, I think about Billy Graham's recent message to America and celebrating his 95th birthday. One thing that stands out in my mind is how consistent and faithful Billy Graham has been with the gospel message of Jesus Christ. He has served Christ faithfully for 70 + years and age 95 continues to preach the message that moves hearts and changes minds.  He has been faithful with what God has given him.

I read this morning from Matthew 25. Jesus shares several stories about faithfulness with what God has given us.  Jesus shares three stories. The first of ten bridesmaids who had lamps that needed to be lit. Five of them were wise and brought plenty of oil to light their lamps while the other five were foolish and didn't prepare adequately so their lamps went out. They needed to buy more oil. While they were away, the bridegroom came and thereby the unfaithful or unprepared bridesmaids missed out on the marriage feast. They were not faithful with what they were given.

The second story is about three servants who were given bags of silver by a man who would go away on a long trip. One was given five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another and one bag to another. While he was away, the servant with five bags and the one with two bags were wise, and invested what was given them providing a return on the initial investment. But the servant with one bag did nothing with it; rather, he dug a whole and buried it in the ground. When the man returned, he rewarded the two who were faithful but he took away the bag of the silver from that servant and had that servant thrown out, calling him worthless. Two were faithful with what were given, one was not. 

The last story is the story of the sheep and goats. It's a story of those who were faithful in ministering to people who had great need (these faithful ones were sheep) and those who were not faithful in sharing with others (unfaithful ones were goats). The sheep, faithfully serving the Lord, inherited eternal life while the goats received eternal punishment. 

As I look at this great chapter in the gospel of Matthew, I see the overarching message of God's desire for us to be faithful with what He has given us. Billy Graham has been faithful and continues to be at age 95. 

Am I faithful? Are you faithful?  Do we multiply what God has given us? Do we offer a cup of water to those who are thirsty? Are we faithful? 

My prayer and desire is to be faithful with what God has entrusted me. You? 

Jesus Offers the "Better Life" right now!

I was reading in the gospels this morning. Jesus shared with his disciples in Luke 18 “…and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.” Luke 18:29-30 

Jesus gives the assurance that those who commit themselves completely to Him will enjoy not only eternal life but will also experience a better life right now. This does not suggest that we will have material blessing (though that may too happen) but that we can enjoy our lives as we trust Him.

What does this mean? I think it means that when the finances are limited, we can enjoy God’s provision of exactly what we may have need of. When we are experiencing sickness or some type of physical ailment, we can have the assurance that the Lord will bring us healing or an extra measure of His grace for us to endure that particular trial.

The key is to make sure that we are trusting Jesus with 100% of our life. That He has first place in every area of our life. When we start turning to other things, we are not trusting and in fact we making that thing that we turn to and cling to as sort of an idol. Jesus wants first place and when He has it, we can enjoy this life right now!

Are you trusting Jesus with every area of your life? Does He have first place in your heart, your desire and affections? I pray that you will turn to Jesus Christ and let Him truly lead you, fill you with the Holy Spirit and begin to enjoy the life that He has for you – both in the future but also right now!