Category Archives: Know God and Make Him Known

The Fear of the Lord – Reflections on Proverbs 1

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Success… we all desire to have it.

King Solomon was the most successful King of the Bible. He amassed wealth and had great wisdom. God gave these to him because he had a heart that desired wisdom above all. Proverbs is a book full of wisdom that Solomon wrote about. The principles within are principles of success.

Solomon begins his book of Proverbs with the key ingredient to a successful life, “the fear of the Lord.”

The fear of the Lord is defined as a reverential awe of God that springs from a just view and genuine love for Him. The fear of the Lord leads us to hate/ shun evil. It leads us to aim for perfect obedience of God. Solomon writes:

”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.“

Proverbs 1:7 NIV

When we see God rightly, (He is all powerful, all knowing, always present. He is Holy. He is just…) we want to love Him and obey Him. When we see God rightly, we want to run from sin.

Proverbs 1 says “fools despise” this wisdom. They “hate knowledge” and they do not “choose to fear the Lord.” (Verse 1:29)

We have started a New Year. Newness always brings about hope for success. The recipe for success is spelled out clearly in Proverbs 1:

CHOOSE TO FEAR THE LORD. See God for who He is. Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And Hate Sin —have nothing to do with it. Run from it! Repent of it! Ask God to set you free from it!

Success in the New Year will only come as you choose to Fear the Lord!

Jesus — God’s Invitation to Experience — Reflections on Luke 24

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There is something about a newborn baby being held upon your chest: the sweet smell, the warm cuddles, the tiny cries. The experience of holding your own is like none other.

At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of Jesus the newly born King and the experience of Him as He walked upon the earth 2000 years ago: Jesus’ birth in a stable, His miraculous touch upon those He healed, the sound of His voice speaking the truth on a hillside, His laughter, His compassionate tears… Yes, Jesus was God’s invitation to experience Him!

Even in Jesus’s death we were invited to experience God — a voice crying it is finished, darkness, the earth shook, the temple veil torn…

Then Jesus defeats death by His resurrection and once again the disciples were invited to experience Him.

”While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”“

Luke 24:36-39 NIV

Look at me, touch me, and see! Experience Me as the Risen King!

Jesus is still inviting us to experience God! He still speaks, touches, and invites us to see!

This is the very essence of the story of Jesus we read in the Bible. It is what we celebrate each Christmas. Jesus our Emmanuel — God with us! The God we can experience and know.

His invitation has been sent to us — Come, see, experience my touch, and know Me!

This Man Has Done Nothing Wrong — Reflections on Luke 23

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We are familiar with the account of Jesus’ birth. We are also familiar with the accounts of Jesus’ death. The familiarity sometimes produces a carelessness in our approach to God. It is very true that Jesus loves us. This is why He came. Sin had separated us from God, who loves us so very much.

Jesus takes sin very seriously. He knows that our sin is what keeps us from experiencing Him and His love. It keeps us from being close and connected to Him. Jesus took sin so seriously that He was willing to suffer and die a horrendous death on the cross. He took upon Himself the punishment we all deserve for the sin in our lives. As the thief on the cross pointed out.

”We (himself and the other thief) are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man (Jesus) has done nothing wrong.”“

Luke 23:41 NIV

Jesus had done nothing wrong… He knew the only way we could be free of sin and it’s destruction was His sacrifice.

Jesus took sin seriously, but do we? We come to Him desiring for our lives to be bettered by Him, but freedom from sin comes through the cross. When we receive Jesus’ forgiveness and cleansing we then need to follow Him further to the cross. At the cross we die to ourselves, we die to sin so we can be alive in Him. Sin destroys! I ask you as Paul did, “How can we who are dead to sin live any longer there in?” Romans 6:2.

The Baby we celebrate this time of year came with a mission to destroy the power of sin. He lived His life on earth to fulfill the mission of the cross. As we receive the gift of Christmas— Jesus’ salvation, may we continue to follow Him from the manger to the cross where sin must die.

Hanging on Every Word He Says — Reflections on Luke 19

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“All the people hung on his words.”

Luke 19:48

Can you imagine what it would have been like to sit and listen to the very words of Jesus coming from His mouth? Can you picture His eyes as they would meet your own eyes as you sat in the crowd?

It must have been amazing to be there during the days He ministered in Jerusalem. Crowds followed Him everywhere He went. Perhaps they desired to just to hear His voice, or it could have been to experience His healing touch. Whatever the reason was Luke wrote that the people “hung on His words.” They simply could not get enough.

Jesus is the same today as He was then.

He longs to be the desire of our hearts and for us to “hang on every word” He says. He still speaks and He still invites us to come.

We can still experience Him!

Like a Little Child – Reflections on Luke 18.

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I’ve been an adult long enough that I forget at times what it was like to be a little child. I believe that’s why God gave me Grandkids. When they come to visit, their mom unbuckles then from their seat belt and helps them into the house. They may be hungry so I fix them Granny’s special, waffles. They know they need to listen and obey what we tell them. They ask for what they need and enjoy spending time being held and loved on. They don’t worry about who will be the next president or how much money their parents have in the bank. They know they will be taken care of.

In today’s chapter Jesus talks about little children. He said the Kingdom of God belongs to “such as these.” He goes on to say:

”Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”“ Luke 18:17 NIV

It is important that we are like a little child in relating to God. It is the only way we can receive the Kingdom of God. As a little child totally depends on his parents, we must totally depend on God. As a little child totally obeys his parents, we must totally obey God. As a little child totally submits himself to his parents, we must totally submit ourselves to God. When we do, we will live in security, free of the cares of this world. Because we know our Heavenly Father loves us!

May we come to God as a child!

Jesus Welcomes Sinners- Luke 15

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”Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus loves the lost and broken. He rejoices over the rebel who returns home. He “welcomes sinners.”

What comfort to know this is true! Because I have easily fit into each of those categories. I have been the lost sheep who intentionally wandered. I have been the lost coin that the angels of God rejoiced over when I finally repented and was found. I have been the prodigal who demanded my way and ended up eating “pig slop” instead of the spiritual food that God generously provides to those who dwell in Him as His child.

Indeed, Jesus “welcomes sinners!” And I am grateful. He welcomed me!

The Influence- Reflections on Luke 13

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Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and taught about wherever He went.

He compared it to a mustard seed. A tiny seed that when planted grows to tree that birds can perch in. He also compared it to yeast that works its way into the dough and takes effect on it. The Kingdom of God grows and it influences everything it comes in contact with.

This should be the reality of it in our lives. Jesus and His kingship should grow and influence every aspect of our lives. This growth and influence will overflow onto all those around us. As it does, we will experience what the people of Jesus time did when they encountered Him. They “were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.” (Verse 20)

We will be delighted too!

The Influence- Reflections on Luke 13

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Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God and taught about it wherever He went.

He compared it to a mustard seed. A tiny seed that when planted grows to tree that birds can perch in. He also compared it to yeast that works its way into the dough and takes effect on it. The Kingdom of God grows and it influences everything it comes in contact with.

This should be the reality of it in our lives. Jesus and His kingship should grow and influence every aspect of our lives. This growth and influence will overflow onto all those around us. As it does, we will experience what the people of Jesus time did when they encountered Him. They “were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.” (Verse 20)

We will be delighted too!

What is My Treasure? – Reflections on Luke 12

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Treasure- something very much valued. (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)

What do we value most? Jesus speaks of this often in this chapter. He talks about being “rich towards God” (verse 21), seeking His Kingdom first (verse 31), and having our treasure— what we value most— in heaven, God’s dwelling.
What we value most, treasure, shows us where are hearts are.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34).

Our hearts are the most important thing about us. It is where we experience the love, relationship, and intimacy of God.

We cannot experience this if our treasure, what we value most, isn’t God. We cannot experience the life of God if our hearts are far from Him.
It is important to ask God, “What do I value most? What is my treasure? God and His ways? Myself and my own ways?”

What we treasure is very important if we want to be close to God and to know Him.

All We Need- Reflections on Luke 13.

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Jesus came so we could know God in an intimate relationship with Him.  He has given us all we need to have that relationship. 

He taught us to pray.

”He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. ’ ”“

Luke 11:2-4 NIV

He encourages us to ask our Father in heaven to give us the Holy Spirit to live within us and fill us to overflowing. 

”If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”“

Luke 11:13 NIV

He tells us we are “blessed” – happy- when we hear the word of God and obey it. Verse 28. Because He knows our obedience to His Word will keep us free from the sin that separates us from Him.

God wants us to be close to Him. We can choose to be close to God in an intimate relationship that gives us freedom, joy, and peace.  Jesus provided a way for us to experience this through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Or we can choose to live apart from Him — Never seeking Him in prayer or in His Word, no relationship with the Holy Spirit, following our own desires. 

He loves us so and offers us His life for our own good! We get the choice to go His way or ours.

We choose.