Spring Is Coming

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

As I write this, the snow is melting in northern Michigan. The weekend promises days in the 50’s. The hope of Spring is in the air.

And yet by the time you read this, it is supposed to be cold again. Back in the 30’s. Chances of snow. Winter isn’t over quite yet.

Jesus has come, and with Him the hope of a new world. He healed the sick, cast out demons, and raised the dead. He died for our sins and gave us a new life in Him.

And yet sickness and evil and death remain. We still sin and fail to live as God has recreated us to live. This fallen world isn’t over quite yet.

But just as we know winter will eventually give way to Spring, so we know that this fallen world will one day give way to a new world. Jesus is coming. Sickness and death will end. Evil will be defeated forever. One day we will no longer sin.

In the final days of winter, as you look forward to Spring, set your gaze a little further to the promise of a new world.

Saturday Strands

On By BrianIn Saturday StrandsLeave a comment

Here are some loose strands to ponder:

What Makes Christian Prayer Christian? – Joel Beeke and Paul M. Smalley (Crossway)
We must confess our prayerless praying to God and plead for the renewal of our souls. Prayer is the thermometer of our souls. Let us then take practical steps toward prayerful praying.

Missiles and Moments of Clarity – Ryan Currie (TGC)
It’s strange how moments of crisis bring clarity. Each defensive burst clarifies realities I was already aware of but had hidden under the hum and drum of everyday life. These missiles provide moments of clarity into what’s most important.

Those Already Present and Those Who Have Not Yet Arrived – Tim Challies
As I heard the announcement, it occurred to me that when it comes to delays, there is a world of difference between those who are already seated on the plane and those who are still rushing to it.

No Life in God’s Service Is Wasted: Three Lessons from a Brief Ministry – Matt Rhodes (DG)
How will we invest our years, our wealth, our energy, our reputations, and our relationships? The choices we make in this short life show how fully we trust Jesus to give us everlasting life.

Flashback: Stand Firm In His Love
God offers us great compassion. Not just a little. Not just some. Not just the leftovers. God offers us great compassion.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping God with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 11:11-12

On By BrianIn Hebrews HymnsLeave a comment

Life’s tri-als can seem impossible
Look to God’s promises and believe
Our God is faithful, He is able
Wait on His promise, you will receive

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

For God’s Sake and Their Sake

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

Be kind for God’s sake. If you mistreat my son or daughter – who bears my image – you mistreat me. In the same way, if you mistreat a person – bearing God’s image – you mistreat God.

To hate someone is to hate God. To insult a person is to insult God. To ridicule a human being is to ridicule God. To mistreat an image-bearer of God is to mistreat God. How dare we treat people that way! How dare we treat God that way! Be kind for God’s sake.

Be kind for their sake. In Romans 2:4, Paul tells us that it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. Yes, we had to be convicted of our sins, but it was His kindness in Jesus that drew us to Him.

If what we dish out is judgment and hatred and anger, we will only turn people off from Jesus. A spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down. You attract bees with honey not vinegar. We attract people to Christ not with our condemnation but with our kindness.

World has spades of hatred and anger and insults and ridicule, but we are called to be different. Let us be known as a kind people, so people want to know why we are so kind to them. And then we have opportunity to tell them about Jesus, who was and is so kind to us. Be kind for their sake.

How To Treat Others

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God created us in His own image; therefore, we must not murder another person (Genesis 9:5-6). We can kill animals for food, but we must not kill a human being, because each one is made in God’s image.

John equates murder and hate – to hate your brother is to murder him in your heart (I John 3:15). Jesus connects murder to anger – anger towards another that lashes out or simmers into bitterness. Jesus also ties insults to murder. And Jesus ties ridicule – you fool! – to murder (Matthew 5:21-22). By John’s and Jesus’ definition most of our politicians are murderers. And so are we – murderers in our hearts and with our words.

And this is not how we are to treat each other made in God’s image. Rather:

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)

Instead of insults and ridicule, we are to speak with kindness. Instead of anger and hate, we are to show tenderheartedness and forgiveness. Instead of hate, anger, insults, and ridicule, we are to treat image-bearers of God with dignity and kindness. Imagine how living like this could heal our families, heal our nation, and heal our world – if we just treat each other with the dignity and kindness that each person deserves as an image-bearer of God.

Regardless. No exceptions. There is no situation that justifies not treating each other with kindness and dignity. There is no situation that justifies treating someone like an animal, like garbage – with hate, anger, insults, or ridicule. No matter how others treat us, God calls us to treat them with dignity and kindness. Regardless.

False Desires

On By BrianIn PASSION ReflectionsLeave a comment

In Christ, we become new creations, called and able to reject false desires. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(II Corinthians 5:17)

In Christ, God has made you new.  Your old sinful way of life is gone.  You have a new life in Christ, so you don’t have to follow false and deceptive desires.  His Holy Spirit enables you to reject fleshly desires (Galatians 5:16).  His grace trains you to reject worldly passions and live a self-controlled, upright, and godly life (Titus 2:11-12).  In Christ, you can overcome.

Indeed, He calls and enables all of us to reject deceptive desires like lust, coveting, greed, gluttony, and selfishness.  He calls and enables all of us to reject false feelings of hopelessness, despair, and worry.  He calls and enables all of us to reject wrong self-perceptions of superiority, self-righteousness, and worthlessness. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(Romans 12:2)

Instead of conforming to the false desires of our world, we are to renew our minds with God’s truth that we might discern what is good and follow that. 

Rejecting false desires isn’t easy.  God never said it would be.  Indeed He tells us that it is a war:

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
(I Peter 2:11)

These false desires are at war with you to destroy you.  We must fight.  But God not only calls us, but also enables us, to reject false desires.  May we live in His strength!

Sermon Songs: Hebrews 11:7-10

On By BrianIn Hebrews Hymns

God’s judgment for our sins is coming
Believe God’s warning, your sins confess
Look to the cross now for your saving
Become a true heir of righteousness

Chorus
Fast, Fast, Hold fast
Hold fast to Jesus the Better One
Near, Near, Draw Near
Draw near to God through His only Son

Believe God’s promise of a city
Live by that faith and His Word obey
Go where He leads though you cannot see
Look to your hope as you live each day
(Repeat Chorus)

© 2023 Brian J. Mikul

(Sing to tune of “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”)

Declaring the Glory

On By BrianIn Declaring the Glory

Eben Ice Caves in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
– Psalm 19:1

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature,
have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,
in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
– Romans 1:20