Category: PASSION Reflections

His Grace Is Enough

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

My Dad made all kinds of wood art with a scroll saw. One of the first shelf sitters I remember is shown here:

He made a lot of these. The truth is found in II Cor 12 as Paul struggles with some thorn in flesh, some trial in his life. Paul begged God to take it away, but Jesus responded:

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

My Dad faced some thorns, some trials in his last years, as I suppose most people do in their final years. And yet my Dad’s testimony through this simple shelf sitter is that the grace of Jesus was sufficient. His grace was enough.

A pretty big thorn pierced our hearts with the passing of my Dad. But as we cry out to God – looking to Him, trusting in Him – we too can find that His grace will be sufficient for us, that His grace is enough.

And what thorns are you facing in your life today? Jesus bids you to look to Him, to rest in His sufficient grace, to find that His grace is enough for you.

Get Me Through

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

My Dad passed away last month.  It is hard to write that.  One evening I was texting him about our big family summer get-together, the next evening he was gone. 

My wife and I headed back to my parents’ home to be with my mom, and grieve, and prepare for a funeral, and all those things. 

On Sunday we headed to church as we do every week, only this time not our home church, but my brother’s church.  We sang “The Solid Rock” – a great old hymn about our hope in Jesus.  I say we sang, but I had trouble singing, coming in and out, as the emotions raged between grief and the very real hope that is ours.  During the pastoral prayer, the pastor prayed for our family in our loss, and there real tears.  Then we sang “There Is One Gospel” – a new hymn that I knew, but had never sung in church before.  It too spoke of our hope in my grief.  Then came “O Lord My Rock and My Redeemer” – a new song too, but one I had never heard before.  No matter – it too spoke of our hope. 

The message was from Mark 4 about the Sower and the four soils.  I confess I don’t remember much about it, except that it was grounded in the Word.  After the message, we sang “I Will Glory in My Redeemer” – one of my favorite newer songs that again talked about my hope.  We celebrated the Lord’s Supper, my wife and I with my brother and his wife and a church full of people I didn’t know.  But we were all brothers and sisters in Christ celebrating the reality of Christ’s death on our behalf that gives us hope for the future.  We closed with “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – another great old hymn reminding us that in all of this, God was still faithful.

And sometime during that service, it hit me – this was what will get me through.  This weekly rhythm of singing songs about our great hope in Jesus that transcends death.  Prayer, the Word, the Lord’s Supper – all reminding us that we have a great God who has redeemed us and promised us a glorious future with Him.  This weekly rhythm rehearsing the glorious truths of our Savior. 

And it didn’t matter if it was an old hymn or a new one, a song I knew or didn’t.  All that mattered were the words speaking the gospel hope into my life. 

Some people say that church is boring, but it is anything but boring when you are wrestling with the realities of life and death, grasping for hope in the midst of tragedy.  And maybe that is our problem.  Not church, but us.  Too often we are pre-occupied with more trivial matters, distracted by things that have no eternal value.  The gospel speaks words of life, but we are too busy chasing the next thrill, the next meme, the next new something that means nothing compared to the old, old story of Jesus.

I don’t remember anything about the message that Sunday.  I don’t remember what I had for lunch that day either.  But in both cases I was fed.  And just like I need that daily rhythm of eating, I need that weekly rhythm of worship together.  To be fed, to refocus on what is important, to be reminded again and again of our hope in the Lord.  This weekly rhythm is what will get me through.

And yet, the weekly rhythm would mean nothing without the truths behind it. The rhythm would be worthless if I didn’t know that our Redeemer lives, and because He does, so shall my Dad.

The rhythm would just be wishful thinking without my Savior risen and reigning.  The rhythm points to Jesus.  And that is why the rhythm is powerful.  Because it is a means that He will use to get me through.

Let Us Ask

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. – I John 5:14-15 (ESV)

We can have confidence toward God, boldness to actively approach God.  We are God’s beloved children and so we approach Him as children approach a loving parent.

When my toddling grandson is hurt, he runs to mommy.  When he is hungry, he runs to mommy.  When he needs help, he runs to mommy.  When he is happy, he runs to mommy. 

In the same way, when we are hurting or hungry or need help or are happy, we should run to God as His children, as instinctively and automatically as my grandson runs to his mommy.

The cosmic conflict is bigger than us.  All the conflicts we see around us are bigger than us.  The conflict you face today is very likely too big for you.  But none of these conflicts are too big for God. God is bigger.  God is stronger.  We can run to Him.

We run to God with confidence – and we ask, and He hears, and we receive.  This is the equation for prayer that John gives us: We ask + He hears = We receive.  Do you believe that?  Do you have that confidence?  Do you grasp that God delights to answer your prayers, delights to give you what is good?

Now we must ask according to His will. He won’t just give us anything we ask for.  Why not?  Because He is a good Father.  If my grandson wants to play in road or play with a stick of dynamite, his daddy is going to say “no” because it is not good for him.  In the same way, we all too often don’t know what is best for us.  But our Father knows what is best for us, and so He screens our requests according to His will.  His will is not against us, but for us.  Do you believe that?  Will you trust Him?

Come to Him and make your request.  He will hear and gives us what is best. 

Enabled to Love

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
– I John 4:7-8 (ESV)

How are we able to love one another?  Do we strive to muster up the willpower on our own.  No, that will never work – at least not for long.  Rather, we must be enabled to love. 

Love is from God.  He enables us to love.  How? 

First, because He is love.  God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a perfect loving relationship for all of eternity.  Love is what characterizes our Triune God.  It is who He is.  And because God is love, He is the source of love.  Love comes from Him.  But how does this love come to us and enable us? 

That brings us to the second point – we have been born of God; that is, born of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, connecting us to God.  The Spirit of love connects us to the God of love so that we might love.

A power outlet has power available to run an appliance, but we must plug the appliance into the outlet for the power to run the appliance.  God has all the love needed to enable us to love, but we must be plugged into God in order to love.  And we are!  And so we are without excuse.

You and I are enabled to love by the Holy Spirit living within us, connecting us to the God of love.  May we make use of His enabling.  Let us love one another.

An Equation of Love

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections1 Comment

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
– I John 3:7-8 (ESV)

John gives us a spiritual equation that teaches us about love. 

Goods + Need + Heart + Action = Love

First, I have the world’s goods; that is, the means to help someone in whatever way.  It might be money, time, a skill, or an ability.  It might also be as simple as a word of encouragement, a prayer, a listening ear, even a hug. It is whatever good is necessary to meet the need.

Which brings us to the second part of the equation – I see my brother or sister in Christ in need.  To see the need means I have contact with them, I am around them, I know them.  And so I am able to see the real need; not just symptoms, but the real need. And that may require observation.  It may require some communication.  My first impression, or what I may want to do, may not be what they need.

Third, having the goods and seeing need, I must then refuse to close my heart.  I must not shut off compassion.  I must not slam the door of empathy.  If I do, that is a failure of love. 

Not having the goods is not a failure to love.  Not seeing the need is not a failure of love (though maybe I need to be more observant).  A failure to love is when I close my heart.

Finally, if I have the goods, see the need, and have a compassionate heart, then I must do something.  My heart must lead me to act.  I must actually apply the goods to the need. 

My heart leads me to act to meet the need with the goods that God has given me.  That is real love. 

Goods + Need + Heart + Action = Love

Three Realities That Spur Us On To Reject Sin

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
– I John 3:4-5 (ESV)

In these verses John gives us three realities that spur us on to reject sin.  As we embrace these realities, they will lead us to live differently, to live for Jesus.

#1 – The Definition of Sin
Sin is lawlessness – not just breaking God’s law, but real opposition to it.  Sin is rebellion against God’s will.  When we sin, we are rebelling against God.  When we fail to love God, love our neighbor, love one another, or even love our enemies – that is rebellion against God.  When we fail to be patient or kind or good or gentle or self-controlled, that is rebellion against God.  When we hate or lust or steal or lie or covet, that is rebellion against God.  It is not a matter of indifference.  It is not just a little sin.  It is not just something that can be excused.  It is a matter of loyalty.  When we grasp what sin is, that it is rebellion against God, it will spur us on to reject sin.

#2 – The Purpose of Christ
Jesus appeared – God became one of us in person of Jesus – for a purpose.  He appeared to take away sins.  In John 1:29, John the Baptist proclaimed: Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!  Jesus came to take away sins.  In I Peter 2:24 we read: He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.  Jesus bore our sins to make payment for them, that we might then stop sinning and live for righteousness.  Instead of practicing rebellion, practice righteousness.  Instead of doing what is wrong, do what is righteous.  Jesus died to take away the penalty and power of sin that we might live for Him.  So when we sin, we oppose His purpose. We oppose the very reason that He died.  When we grasp the purpose of Christ – to take away sin, it will spur us on to reject sin.

#3 – The Victory of Christ
Jesus did what no one else has done.  He overcame sin.  He was victorious over it.  In Him there is no sin – not even a trace, not the slightest infraction, no questionable behavior at all.  He was completely and totally victorious over sin. Just a few verses earlier (v2), John tells us that one day we will be like Him, that we too will be victorious.  When Christ returns, we will never sin again.  And in verse 3 he tells us that everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.  If our hope is one day to be sinless like Jesus is. then we will seek to be as sinless as possible today.  When we grasp the victory of Christ – which we look forward to enjoying with Him one day, it will spur us on to reject sin.

Sin is rebellion.  Jesus came to take it away.  One day we will be free of it.  And the more we grasp these realities, the more they will spur us on to reject sin.  Jesus has made us new.  We don’t want to rebel against God.  We don’t want to oppose His purpose.  We don’t want to do that which we long to be free of.  May we keep these realities and related desires front and center in our minds and hearts, so that we might overcome any other desire that may tempt us to sin.

Out of This World Love

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
– I John 3:1a

See!  Behold!  Open your eyes!  Take notice!  

God has done something amazing! 

What is it?  He has given us an amazing gift!

The Father has given His love to us.  Bestowed His love on us.  Lavished His love upon us.

It is not a skimpy love.  It is not a Scroogey love.

See what kind of love.  “What kind” has idea of “what country?”  If someone does something strange or unexpected we might ask: “What country are you from?”

What in the world?

John says: “Of what country did this love come from?”  It is foreign to what we would think. 

What in the world kind of love is this?

That God would lavish His love upon us by calling us His children?

That we – rebels/sinners – might bear His name?

That He would claim us as His own?

This love is out of this world! 

And yet, He doesn’t just call us His children; we are His children.  That is what we are.  God has made us His children.  We have been adopted by God Himself into His family.

Open your eyes! God has showered an out of this world love upon us that calls and makes us His children.

Love Like Jesus

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
– John 13:34-35

These verses call us to love like Jesus.

Notice it is a command.  It is not a suggestion for when we feel like it.  We must love one another.  Churches must be places of love for each other.

And it is a new command primarily because it has a new pattern.  We are to love like Jesus.  Go through the entire Old Testament, look at saint after saint, and you will not find a perfect example of love.  But in Jesus, we have that perfect example.  Love like Jesus.

How did Jesus love?  In the context, we could say at least three things.

First, Jesus loved by serving.  At the beginning of John 13, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.  Here was a real need, for their feet were dirty and smelly from walking the dusty roads. 

Love like Jesus.  Serve each other by meeting real needs.  That service might be dirty and messy.  It might be hard.  It might be unpleasant.  Love like Jesus.  What opportunities to serve do you see in your church family?  How might God call you to serve?  In what ways are you already serving?  Love like Jesus – by serving.

Second, Jesus loved by speaking.  You look through John 13-17, and in most of these verses Jesus is speaking. He is going away, and Jesus knows the disciples need instruction.  They need encouragement.  They need prayer.  And so Jesus lovingly speaks words of instruction, words of encouragement, and words of prayer. 

Love like Jesus.  Speak words of instruction – to spur on another Christian to follow Jesus.  Speak words of encouragement – to strengthen another Christian when life is tough.  Speak words of prayer on each other’s behalf – for strength in trial, for growth, for healing, for safety, for victory over temptation.  What words of instruction, encouragement, or prayer do you need to speak?  Love like Jesus – by speaking.

Finally, Jesus loved by sacrificing.  Immediately after that Last Supper, Jesus is arrested, falsely accused, flogged, ridiculed, and hung on cross.  Why does he endure all of this?  Jesus had already told the disciples: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).  Love motivated His sacrifice.  Jesus lovingly sacrificed his life for us, to pay punishment for our sins. He sacrificed Himself so that we might be forgiven. 

Love like Jesus.  Be ready to sacrifice for each other.  How might God call you to sacrifice for your church family?  Maybe your time or some money.  Maybe you will have to sacrifice your comfort or convenience, even sleep.  Love like Jesus – by sacrificing.

And this is how the world will know that we are His disciples – as we obey this command and love like Jesus.  When the world looks at the church, they should see a place of love, a people of love.  A people who genuinely care about each other.  A people who lovingly serve and speak and sacrifice.  This is who Jesus calls us to be.  This is what we are to be known for. 

Love like Jesus

Our Prevailing Purpose

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. 
– I John 2:1a (ESV)

John is the patriarch of the church, the last remaining apostle.  He writes to the church with the affection of a father for his little children, and he has a purpose in his writing – that we may not sin.

Is that your purpose?  To not sin? 

Is that your goal?  Your desire?  Your ambition?  To not sin?  To stop sinning?

Our world, of course, has other goals: to be comfortable, to be healthy, to be happy.  And comfort, health, and happiness are wonderful blessings.  I like those things too, but they are not our purpose, our goal.

Our purpose here is that we would not sin.

Is that your purpose? 

When you are uncomfortable, is your prevailing purpose to pursue comfort, or to not sin in your discomfort?

When you are unhealthy, is your prevailing purpose to get healthy, or to not sin in your unhealthiness?

When you are unhappy, is your prevailing purpose to get happy, or to not sin in your unhappiness?

Our trials and struggles are not an excuse for sin, but rather opportunities to overcome temptation and not sin.

Is that your goal in whatever you face today? 

Is that your prevailing purpose? 

Blog Reboot

On By BrianIn PASSION Reflections

For many years this blog has been called Three Passions with the tagline: Because of Christ’s PASSION for us, we will live with a PASSION for God and comPASSION for people. And this remains an important theme for me. But there are other important themes that I have been focusing on too – idolatry, Sabbath, rest, identity, culture, wonder, family worship, small town church ministry, and more. And so this blog is getting a fresh look with a fresh tagline: For the Christian, For the Small Church.

For the Christian
I hope this blog will encourage Christians in their walk with the Lord. Through regular reflections, quotes, songs, studies, recommended resources, and collections of posts from others (Saturday Strands), I hope this blog will spur you to follow Christ.

For the Small Church
I have been a small-town pastor for over 20 years, and so I am also writing this blog to encourage small town pastors and churches in their important ministries. I want to share ministry ideas, songs, studies, resources, and posts from others that have been helpful to me, that I pray might also be helpful to other small-town church ministries too. Larger churches might find much that is helpful too, but I am writing with the small-town church in mind because that is what I know.

For a while I considered writing two blogs – one for Christians and one for small town churches, but the reality is that there would be too much overlap. For example, I hope that my Sermon Songs would both encourage individual Christians and provide a possible closing song for small town churches. The Bible Journey studies could be used by an individual Christian on their own or in a group, as well in a small-town church Sunday School or group.

So welcome to the new blog. I hope that you will be encouraged, and that God would be glorified.