faith

The Good Fight

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith.  2 Timothy 4:7

In 1964 Muhammad Ali became the youngest challenger to ever win the heavyweight boxing title when he beat Sonny Liston. Every time Ali stepped into the ring he brashly proclaimed his superiority over his foe. Ali never imagined losing because it was not in his DNA to process losing. The only good fight Ali planned was a knockout!

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The Apostle Paul was in many ways just like Muhammad Ali. Every time Paul entered into spiritual combat he had only one goal in mind: complete victory through His Lord Jesus Christ! Throughout Paul’s ministry he was often persecuted, tossed in prison and finally executed and yet He boldly stated that he ended his life a victor. When Paul wrote to his young friend Timothy; he was in effect tag teaming his successor in the ongoing battle. Timothy later passed that fight onto the churches under his care. If we listen we will hear the bell is ringing for the first round of our own match to begin. Centuries have passed and the world is a different place, but God’s challenge remains the same. It is our turn to fight our own good fight with that same boldness and faith. When we trust in Christ in our fight we will win, because we are tag teaming with the greatest heavyweight champion of all time: our Lord Jesus Christ!

Answered Prayer

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But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”   Matthew 14:30-31  

When Peter began to sink beneath the waves; he didn’t consider even for a moment trying to swim back to the boat. Instead he just cried out; “Lord save me!” and it was done. God is delighted to answer prayer but He is waiting for us to give him our biggest problems; ones beyond simply blessing our food and giving us a good night’s sleep. Sadly when I think of this story I realize how little I have really lived it. Maybe it is because I am afraid of a God who is too real and too big for me to handle. But oh how I am missing out on the immense value of answered prayer.

Are you like me, sinking in your struggle with an ocean too big for you to handle? Then instead of just saying words and then trying to swim why not cry out; “God I’m in trouble – I need your help right now!” God is listening and waiting to hear our voice. He knows the path ahead and His amazing plan is to walk it with us!

God’s Invisible Things

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As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18

When Jesus sat down for dinner with a well-dressed and wealthy Pharisee their pleasant meal  was harshly interrupted by a weeping woman who burst into the room and began kissing the feet of Jesus and wiping them with her hair. Simon was shocked! It was well known in his community what flagrant sins this woman had committed. How dare she enter his house, and furthermore how could Jesus allow himself to be touched by someone like her?

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Yet Jesus saw the circumstances quite differently than Simon or you or I. He didn’t focus on the fine tableware or savor the gourmet cuisine. He hadn’t been impressed by the beautiful columns or the handcrafted door at the entrance of Simon’s home. What Jesus saw was the coldness of Simon’s heart. Jesus had noticed that Simon had not given him the customary kiss on his cheek, or offered water for his feet to be washed. But Jesus saw quite clearly the repentance and gratitude of this woman and He treasured that.

God does not see things as we see them and as we enter this 3rd month of societal shutdown. He does not focus on our abilities, resources of political party.  Instead He sees the worthlessness of the things that I cling to and the value of the people that I avoid. Two years ago during an eye exam I learned that my eyesight was deteriorating because of  pterygiums which were blurring my vision. For those who are unfamiliar with the term those are things that happen to people like myself who spend most of their time outdoors. We have literally just seen too much! But after surgeries to both eyes I am thankful that I can see clearly. Maybe we need to ask God for a spiritual eye exam because the challenges that we face demand 20/20 vision. Even if it means spiritual surgery and a painful recovery it will be worth it when we come out seeing clearly and treasuring the invisible things that Jesus values most of all!