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"What We Have Is Enough"

4/28/2022

Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

It’s amazing how a change of perspective changes everything! Prior to the pandemic, even in the trendiest stores there was always a bevy of ladies in the fitting rooms, arms laden with must-have ensembles. Now, those cubicles are a virtual ghost town, an echo chamber where if you speak, there’s no there one to hear you.

Where have all the shoppers gone? On line perhaps, but if the truth be told, most women realize that they don’t really need any more clothes. What they have is enough. The same can apply to all the bells and whistles that we got accustomed to during worship. If we have been fortunate, much of that has been peeled away during this time of testing. And what we have left is pure, authentic worship where the heart is exposed, and flashing lights and blaring music dare not interfere.

What we have is enough…to do the work we have been called to do. Enough to offer blessings and love to those who have not yet met our Father. Enough to speak with resurrection confidence, and authority that because Jesus lives, a whole new realm of miracles are opened up to us. It is enough!

We have new marching orders to look at God in all his glory in all the everyday corners. We have the opportunity to seek and discover just how awesome God truly is. We have a new command to love despite past hurts, and fear, and shame.

If we listen closely, God reminds us that he doesn’t need the trappings, the fluff that sometimes lulls us into foolishly thinking that we can continue to worship on autopilot.

“We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness” (2 Peter 1:3, CEV).

Look closely, the hands of time are moving at a frenetic pace as prophecy after prophecy is being fulfilled. Our time is limited to share the gospel, to tell someone that Jesus loves them, and that he cares. It seems like we won’t enough time, but truly it is enough!

PRAYER: God, help us to turn away from those things which are but a façade of true, authentic worship and look to you to fill our hearts with gratitude and our lips with praise. Remind us that what we have is enough, and as we use it, it multiplies exponentially. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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The Courage to Believe

4/20/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

Have you ever watched a television game show in which a contestant is stumped for the answer (which you know), and you found yourself shouting it at the television screen? You are all worked up because you know for sure you have the correct response.

Using that analogy, Jesus’ disciple Thomas gets a bad rap (Read John 20:24-29). The other disciples who have seen the risen Jesus attempt to engage Thomas in their joy. They know the answer to the crucifixion, and they are shouting, hoping that Thomas will get it. But Thomas is not buying their account because he does not know, he was not present when Jesus appeared to the others. So Thomas balks at being happy. He’s fearful of taking another hit, another disappointment. After all, he thought that Jesus, the Messiah, would free Israel from Roman rule, and now the Jesus he loved and trusted, was dead!

Before we hang the traditional sign, “Doubtful Thomas” around his neck, aren’t we, at times, just like Thomas? Not so much doubtful, but rather lacking courage to believe what we know to be God’s truth? Of course, Thomas heard all of Jesus’ claims of rising from death in three days (Matthew 20:17-19). Of course, Thomas heard Jesus say that he was telling the disciples what would happen so they would not be fearful.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.” … ” I am telling you this before I leave, so when it does happen, you will have faith in me” (John 14:1;29, CEV).

And…?

Thomas faltered, just like Peter faltered after he started to walk on water toward Jesus. Both lacked the courage to believe what Jesus promised or said, would happen.

Thomas’ hesitancy started with, “Unless….” (John 20:25) How does ours start? Thomas needed a physical sign. Jesus, who understands our every weakness, does not condemn his disciple, but rather invites Thomas to overcome his fear, his lack of courage, his doubts, by touching him.

Sometimes, we also need to touch Jesus, again. Our courage will get a re-boot when we have a fresh encounter with the Risen Lord. Such an encounter may manifest through reading the Scriptures, praying, fasting, or by inviting the Holy Spirit to minister to us in his own way.

And while we may experience a momentary lapse of courage to believe, let’s remember Jesus’ words that those who believe without seeing in the natural, are those who are truly blessed (John 20:29).

So then, friends, “let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (Hebrews 10:23, KJV).

PRAYER: Our Lord and our God, we thank you for dying for us, and being raised to life so we, too, one day will be raised to life, eternal life. Catch us, Lord, when we fail to have the courage to believe all that you have told us in your Word. Your Word is truth, and we believe! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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Surveying the Cross

4/14/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

It seems that “survey” is not a word that we would use in conjunction with the cross of Christ. Typically, we use the word in association with polls to gauge people’s opinions and behaviors. We also use it to valuate real property before purchase and investment. Yet, the title of Isaac Watts’ hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” is packed with more meaning than meets the eye.

As we sing of Jesus’ sacrifice, it may be easy to gloss over the word “survey” in the hymn. But, the Scriptures ask us to take time to survey our Lord’s cross. To do so requires that we ask several questions: “Why did Jesus have to die?” “Why would Jesus die for me?” “What is the significance of the cross?”

Anticipating our questions, God in his infinite wisdom, provided answers:

He was wounded and crushed
    because of our sins;
by taking our punishment,
    he made us completely well.
All of us were like sheep
    that had wandered off.
We had each gone our own way,
but the Lord gave him
    the punishment we deserved.
                           (Isaiah 53:5,6, CEV)

And again:

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins” (Romans 3:23,24, CEV).

Still, the Scriptures show that it was Christ’s great love for us that made him lay his divinity aside:

Christ was truly God.
But he did not try to remain
    equal with God.
Instead he gave up everything
    and became a slave,
when he became
    like one of us.
Christ was humble.
He obeyed God and even died
    on a cross.
            (Philippians 2:6-8, CEV)

Perhaps those Scriptures give us a glimpse of what was on the mind of God when he sent his only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Perhaps, it gives us a glimpse of what was on Jesus’ mind when he agreed.

Yet, as we survey the cross, we should fix our gaze on it and think deeply about its importance to our lives. If we do that, we cannot help but see the huge investment that Jesus places in us. We cannot ignore the fact that despite what others thought about him, Jesus went to the cross, suffered a horrendous death for each of us—to reconcile us back to the Father and to give us eternal life.

But our survey goes even further. We discover that the Christ of the cross has resurrection power which enables us to proclaim “…Christ lives in me. And I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me” (Galatians 2:20, CEV).

PRAYER: Life-giving Lord Jesus, we look to you and survey your cross, made all the more precious because it is we who deserved death and not you. Help us to embrace such undeserved love and to share its powerful witness with those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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Mixing Lies with Truth

4/6/2022

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Wednesday’s Word
by Dorette Saunders

It seems that at every turn there is a hidden agenda, deception in the most unlikely places, and it is beginning to become the social norm. If we are wise, we know that the devil never usually catches us with outright lies. No, indeed! Remember the temptation of Eve by the serpent in the garden (Genesis 3:1-6). Remember the temptation of Jesus by the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11).

In both scenarios, the devil mixed lies with truth in an attempt to undermine the faith of both Eve and Jesus. Eve succumbed to temptation, but Jesus overcame by his knowledge of who he was, and his use of Scripture. This is why it is important to know the Word of God so we can recognize lies even when they are disguised with a smidgen of truth. If we keep God’s Word in our hearts, we will not be deceived.

Lean in to the elders of the synagogue crying out for Jesus’ death. They are a rabid, murderous group who are appealing to Pilate to kill Jesus because they are jealous of him, the word that he teaches, and the influence he has on his audiences.

“They started accusing him and said, ‘We caught this man trying to get our people to riot and to stop paying taxes to the Emperor. He also claims that he is the Messiah, our king’” (Luke 23:2, CEV).

Does this sound like the Jesus we know? Of course not! Suddenly, the rabbi that they once marveled at as he taught in the temple becomes “this man.” Talk about playing to Pilate and Pilate’s base.

The elders of the Law knew that Rome would punish anyone who attempted to subvert the people under its rule. They also knew that refusing to pay tax to Rome was a serious offense, and considered treason. They knew too, that the introduction of another king, besides the Roman Emperor, would draw not just rebuke, but possibly death. So these folks who should be upholding God’s laws in the Torah were conspiring to kill the Son of God, the Messiah, by packing lies with a dab of truth.

Did they not recall how Jesus spoke truth to them when they confronted him asking if it were lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor? The Scriptures say:
Jesus knew what they were up to, and he said, “Why are you trying to test me? Show me a coin!”
They brought him a silver coin, and he asked, “Whose picture and name are on it?”
“The Emperor's,” they answered.
Then Jesus told them, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God” (Mark 12:15-17, CEV).

Look around in our society. It is rife with people spreading lies with a dab of truth. It pops up everywhere—in politics, in religion, in schools, and in families. And, if we are not careful, if we are not attuned to God’s Word, we could easily get sucked in.

Jesus cautions us that these things will happen, especially when the end of the age is approaching:

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet” (Matthew 24:4-6, CEV).

It’s time to calm our hearts as we look around us. Truly God is in control and nothing that happens takes God by surprise. In the meantime, let us wait with joyful anticipation because we know the coming of our God is near.

PRAYER: Gracious God, help us to filter out the noise that would make our hearts quake and our souls grow faint. Remind us of who we are in you, and that you are with us—everywhere we go. Rebuke the lies that threaten to sink us, and help us to stand firm in your truth. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
©Medytations 2022

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"What We Have Is Enough"

The Courage to Believe

Surveying the Cross

Mixing Lies with Truth

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