Category: Uncategorized

In my experience, when talking with others about the Sermon on the Mount, certain questions always seem to come up, such as, “Do you think Jesus  really expects us to live that way? We’re only human, you know. All that ‘turning the other cheek’ and ‘love your enemies’ stuff sounds good, but I live in the real world.” It’s true, we live in a real world, but there’s a world that is just as real as this terra firma that we walk on. It is called the kingdom of heaven. It is the place Jesus speaks from and he has invited us into it with him right now.

The question then, is not “how can I make Jesus’ message fit into my world?” But rather, “how can I begin to see from his perspective?” I’d like to share with you three things that have helped me to begin to see from the kingdom perspective:

1. Repentance. It is more than just being sorry for your sin. It involves the process of changing the way you think. When Jesus came on the scene and said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:23), in essence he was saying, “your old way of thinking and doing things must be replaced with God’s ways.”

About two-and-a-half years ago, I reached a point where I knew I needed to make a drastic change in the way I was thinking. Some ways of thinking that had entrenched in my brain were actually toxic thoughts that were contrary to the kingdom of heaven. I learned a process by which I could begin eliminating those thoughts and replacing them with good ones. If you would like to learn more about how this process works, you can read my blog post “It’s All in Your Head” from February 11, 2016, where I explain it in more detail. True transformation only comes when our minds are truly renewed. (Rom.12:2)

2. Study the life of Jesus. Not just his birth and death, which is what we tend to place most of our emphasis. We must look at everything, his teaching, his miracles, his compassion, and his way of doing things that was so contrary to the religious establishment of the day. Realizing that so much of my thinking was in opposition to the Jesus way, I began to immerse myself in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. So much of what I had read most of my life came alive to me in a new way. All the time I’m reading it, I’m hearing his call to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven of heaven is at hand.”
3. Re-learn prayer. This may well be one of the most neglected practices of the modern church. It was for me. It’s not that I never prayed. I prayed, but I was very undisciplined in prayer. I’ve had what you would call a regular morning “devotion” time for well over 30 years, but it was relegated mainly to a little reading from Psalms or Proverbs and sometimes a devotional book. There’s nothing wrong with these things. They’re all good, have their place, and can be life-giving. I was looking for something more robust, prayer that had more substance than my puny prayers. I have a prayer liturgy that I go through every morning now. It consists of some prayers from the Psalms, the New Testament, and some prayers that were composed by some of the early church. It has brought a richness into my prayer life that words fail to describe. The most important thing I’ve learned is this: Prayer is ultimately not about us getting all we ask form God, but more about us becoming conformed to the image of his Son. Prayer forms us.

Jesus was a man of prayer. There are multiple references to the Son of God going somewhere by himself to pray. If it’s good for Jesus, it’s good for me.

 

 I challenge you to take these things to heart if your desire is to be like Jesus. All of creation is eagerly waiting for the true sons of God to come forth and live like sons.

It’s the Jesus way.

 

Kevin

As time goes by, I have grown less and less fond of formulaic Christianity. There have been more books published in Christendom than I can count that give us some kind of formula on how to live a better life, or books that have “figured God out” as if He is some kind of mathematical equation to be solved. Don’t misunderstand me, some of them are good and offer helpful advice, and in fact I would be contradicting my own works, because I’ve offered some of that advice myself. However, when It’s all said and done, I’ve pretty much narrowed my belief down to this:

Jesus is the way.

The way I see it, the best way that I can live a life that is pleasing to God and fulfilling the deepest desire of my heart is to look at Jesus and imitate him. The more I look at him, the more I want to be like him.

Before Christians were ever called Christians, they were referred to as “the Way.” In fact, you can find it seven times in the book of Acts, but only once were they called Christians, and never once was their religion referred to as Christianity. There must have been good reason for them to be known that way. Pastor and author Brian Zahnd says this:

“The common life of following Jesus together was called the Way, not because it was the way to heaven (the afterlife was never the emphasis), but because they had come to believe that in his death and resurrection Jesus had inaugurated a new way of life. Because the lifestyle of the Way was such a radical departure from the way of the Roman Empire, it is no surprise that people viewed the Way with great suspicion and often maligned it as a dangerous cult.”

The world is suffering from a distorted image of God and so is much of the church. It is our responsibility to show them what he is really like. God did exactly that when he took on the form of a man and came to earth. If you want to know what that looks like in a practical sense, the Sermon on the Mount is a great place to start. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of heaven and was kind enough to show us what it looks like. Being Christ-like is completely countercultural to the world.

When we realize that Jesus didn’t come primarily to show us the way to heaven, but the way of heaven, our focus shifts from looking to a “someday in the sweet by and by, I’m going there” to “I’m going to partner with Jesus to bring the reality of heaven wherever I go right now.” Freedom and joy beyond comparison comes when we begin to walk this out.

In my blog next week, I’ll share with you some practical ways that I have have begun doing this in my own life.

With heaven,

Kevin

Everybody likes a guy who fights back, right? I grew up watching the likes of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Marshall Matt Dillon. These were men who played characters that never backed down from the bad guys. I always knew that before the movie ended, the villains would get what was coming to them – a good whoopin’ or a bullet to the head.

I remember vividly the first time I watched Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” In the scene where Jesus is being scourged by the Roman soldiers, tears welled up in my eyes, as well as in those of my family members who sat by me in that theatre, as the cat o’ nine tails ripped the flesh from Jesus. I sat amazed at such love on display by our God. Yet, there was a part of me that felt such incredible anger that men could be so cruel to one so innocent. I wanted God to strike those men down with a lightning bolt right there. But I knew that wasn’t in the script. This script had been written long before it was played out in Jerusalem that day.

It goes without saying that nobody illustrated the Sermon on the Mount better than the Teacher himself.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Have you ever heard the phrase “meek as a mouse?” When that phrase is used the assumption is made that “meek” would mean “small and weak.” However, that is not the meaning of meekness. The literal meaning of the word is gentleness of spirit. Another way to describe it would be “power under control.” The hours leading up to Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion saw the greatest display of meekness the world has ever seen. When Jesus was being arrested, Peter cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. I would have applauded that move. What does the Son of God do? He heals the servant’s ear!

Jesus’ desire to follow through with the will of his Father was greater than any idea of fighting back. He had all the power of heaven at his disposal, yet chose not to use it. One word and a multitude of angels would have been on the scene. I’m sure you get the picture. This is meekness.

How does this apply to you and me? It seems like a tall order when we see Jesus giving us the ultimate example. It’s really very simple. Not easy by any means, but it is simple.

Paul said this in Galatians 2:20 –

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

One morning as I was in prayer, I had a vision of Jesus hanging on the cross. I was standing on the ground below. Suddenly, I found myself being literally sucked up into Christ as he hung there suffering. Then, with his arms outstretched, he uttered the famous words, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  Then I heard the Holy Spirit say to me, “This is the posture you will assume when you realize that you died with me.”

Let this sink in – Jesus, God in flesh, all powerful, able to destroy all of his accusers with merely a word, his arms spread wide open as he embraces the fallen world, forgiving them all. All of them. Everyone.

That is meekness.

Let’s not forget his promise to the meek – they inherit the earth.

The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s;

But the earth He has given to the children of men. (Psalm 115:16)

We won’t claim our inheritance by any other way than the Jesus way. It sounds so backwards in a world where the meek seem to get run over in the rat race, but it’s not backward. It’s forward. In a world where men conquer one another by force, Jesus conquers by love, and we get to do it with him, through meekness.

The inheritance is waiting for us.

Kevin

           

“You better stop that crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!” I remember hearing that when I was a child as I awaited the next blow from the belt. I wanted to blurt out, “I will, if you’ll stop hitting me!” I knew better than to utter those words for fear of prolonging it, so I would do my best to suck those sobs back in and hold it the best I knew how. Out of ignorance, I may have done the same thing to my boys when they were young, although I can’t remember. At least I hope I didn’t.

When I think about it, it is so absurd to tell someone not to cry while you inflict more pain. By the way, this is not a blog on how to raise your children. I would, however, like us to consider something: Crying is a natural response to pain, sorrow, loss, and mourning.

In Biblical times it was a common practice, for folks who could afford it, to hire professional mourners to show up at a funeral to cry and wail. Most funerals I have been to needed no extra mourners to show up. In the second beatitude, Jesus says something that sounds like an oxymoron:

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

I have mourned and I’ve been with others who were mourning, but there was nothing in the moment that seemed to indicate that we were happy about it. In fact, sometimes the grieving process can take weeks, months, and years. Hopefully not years!

In looking at this beatitude, I have read some commentaries that suggest Jesus is talking about taking comfort in the fact that one day we’ll be in heaven where there will be no more sorrow and He’ll wipe away all our tears. That will be a great day and we can take solace in that hope, but there is also a genuine comfort to be experienced right now.

When Jesus was telling his disciples that he was going to have to leave them, he said this:

“I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

He wasn’t talking about his personal return to earth. He was talking about the One who would come after he left – Holy Spirit.

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 15:25-26)

This “Helper” is also called, the “Comforter.”

This doesn’t make suffering loss any easier, but it does give us hope in the midst of mourning.

When we are mourning loss, whether it be the death of someone dear to us, or the loss of something else, we can be so buried underneath it all that we can’t even sense the presence of God anymore. That is when Holy Spirit comes to us in the form of a person. A human person. Not someone with good advice or a clever Christian cliche’ such as, “Everything happens for a reason.”

On the morning of April 21, 1969, when my father died, a relative sat down beside me and said to me, “You know, Kevin, now that your daddy is gone, you’re going to have to be the man of the house.”

I was only ten years old. Words that I had heard as a boy ran through my mind – big boys don’t cry. What a lie!

Although I’m sure he meant well, his words were not what I needed in that moment. Instead of crying, which I probably needed to do, I tensed up in anger and held it all in until the funeral where I finally was able to cry and let it out.

What I needed most was just a hug and a kiss on the forehead, which I did get from aunts and grandmothers. Thank God for women!

I know this, we will all experience loss at times in our lives. When it happens, the Comforter will be there in a hug, a kind word, a prayer, and possibly a few meals.

And when it’s your time to mourn, go ahead and cry.

And then be comforted.

 

Kevin

I am becoming more convinced than ever of this: Jesus Christ, and his radical Sermon on the Mount would not be received in most western evangelical churches today. Don’t misunderstand me, there are many sermons and teachings today that are based on and steeped in truths taken from this wonderful message, but they are easily mishandled if we overlook the first powerful truth stated here:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

The word “blessed” means simply to “be happy.” Jesus is making an announcement. He’s saying, “I’ve got some good news for you! If you’re poor in spirit, you can be happy, because the kingdom of heaven is yours! Let’s face it, in most of our minds we would never equate being poor in spirit with being happy. Those two words just don’t seem to go together.

It would have made much more sense to me if he had said, “Blessed are those who are having a good day and have everything going their way.” Instead, he’s saying “Blessed are those who seem to be helpless, powerless, and utterly unable to figure it all out.”

In a culture where powerful people are given a place of prominence and even worshiped in some cases, the poor in spirit are rarely celebrated. But only the poor enter the kingdom. Only those who fully recognize their need for God get the kingdom. The misfits, the destitute, the orphans, and those who haven’t figured out how to box God up in a nice little neat and presentable package. The Apostle Paul understood this also:

“You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did – Jesus crucified.

I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate – I was scared to death, if you want to know the truth of it – and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the message came through anyway. God’s spirit and God’s power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God’s power, not some mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.” (1 Cor. 2:1-5 The Message)

 

I remember being in Belize a couple of months ago, praying for people with hopeless physical ailments night after night, and realizing that all my biblical knowledge and understanding was inadequate and reduced to the simplest of prayers – “Jesus heal him.” I could give a demonstration of my power, or I could stand aside and let him demonstrate his. He did, and many people were healed and set free.

I don’t know exactly how all that works and I like it that way. I don’t have it all figured out and that leaves room for me to learn. That gives me unlimited access to the kingdom of heaven. Being poor in spirit is not something we lose when we enter the kingdom. It’s a state of being that we stay in so that we continue to experience that kingdom, thus causing others to be drawn into this kingdom.

We only come into the kingdom one way – poor. Do you want to be Christ-like? To be Christ-like is to be filled with Christ. To be filled with Christ is to be emptied of all self-sufficiency. I love the way the Message puts it:

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

 Perhaps the best policy would be to just not have your own rope. Have the Vine instead. Stay connected to the Vine instead. There is life in the Vine. There is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. That, my friend, is the kingdom of God.

I’ve tried living in the kingdom of “me.” Every now and then I take a trip back to that place and I’m reminded just how dull and boring that life can be. I like his kingdom better. If we overlook this first beatitude, then we’ll be left standing at the door, looking in at this vast kingdom, and missing the fullness of life he so longs for us to have.

Poor and happy,

Kevin

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most beautiful works of literature ever written. At least that’s the way I looked at it for most of my life. Now don’t get me wrong, I still believe it’s beautiful. Some of the concepts put forth, however, seemed like something that could only be attained by Christ himself, or at the very least, we believers after we had passed from this life into heaven.

In the past few years, I have felt the Holy Spirit draw me into these three chapters of Matthew’s gospel as if he were dragging me in and saying, “I’m going to hold you here until this becomes you!”

Some of us refer to the Sermon on the Mount as the constitution of the kingdom and I believe that is an appropriate term, but we cannot allow ourselves to merely give mental assent to it, stand back and look at with admiration as we would a masterpiece painting in an art museum. We must let the Artist Himself draw us in and allow this work of art to capture us.

The kingdom life described here once seemed so foreign to me because it’s just not accepted behavior in our culture, especially here in the west. It’s not like Jesus didn’t prepare us for this sermon when he said in chapter 4, “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repent – change the way you think, which results in a life change.

My view of the Sermon on the Mount changed when I began to understand that the kingdom of heaven is not some far-away place, but a present reality. Does the Lord’s Prayer ring a bell? New Testament theologian and scholar N.T. Wright so eloquently puts it this way:

“So when do these promises come true? There is a great temptation to answer: in heaven, after death. At first sight, verses 3, 10 and 11 seem to say this: ‘the kingdom of heaven’ belongs to the poor in spirit and the persecuted, and there’s a great reward ‘heaven’ for those who suffer persecution for Jesus’ sake. This, though, is a misunderstanding of the meaning of ‘heaven’. Heaven is God’s space, where full reality exists, close by our ordinary (‘earthly’) reality and interlocking with it. One day heaven and earth will be joined together forever, and the true state of affairs, at present out of sight, will be unveiled. After all, verse 5 says that the meek will inherit the earth, and that can hardly happen in a disembodied heaven after death.

No: the clue comes in the next chapter, in the prayer Jesus taught his followers. We are to pray that God’s kingdom will come, and God’s will be done, ‘on earth as it is in heaven’. The life of heaven – the life of the realm where God is already king – is to become the life of the world, transforming the present ‘earth into the place of beauty and delight that God always intended. And those who follow Jesus are to begin to live by this rule here and now. That’s the point of the Sermon on the Mount, and these ‘beatitudes’ in particular. They are a summons to live in the present in the way that will make sense in God’s promised future; because that future has arrived in the present in Jesus of Nazareth. It may seem upside down, but we are called to believe, with great daring, that it is in fact the right way up. Try it and see.”

 

If the Sermon on the Mount seems too far out of reach to you as it once did me, then maybe you’ve chosen to live outside of the realm where God is king. When Jesus announced that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, it was more than just an announcement, it was an invitation to join him now.

I will be exploring the Sermon on the Mount in more detail in my next several blogs. I hope you’ll join me!

 

In him whose kingdom is everlasting,

 

Kevin

Recently, I was thinking about this phrase that I’ve heard for many years and even said it myself numerous times: “Make Jesus the Lord of your life.” When I consider that he is the Lord of all creation, it seems rather absurd that I could make him anything when he actually made me!

What does it look like in reality when I do acknowledge the fact that he is the Lord of my life?

What if we considered that he (Jesus) is the center of all creation? I love the way the Apostle John begins his gospel –

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.  (John 1:1-5)

 

Think about this. Before anything else existed, Jesus was. He was before anything else!

 

And then the Apostle Paul says this –

 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence.  (Colossians 1:15-18)

 

If he is before all things, then if I consider him to be the Lord of my life, wouldn’t he be before me?

In one of my recent times of morning prayer, I wrote these words in my journal –

 

“In the beginning was the Word.

He is before all things, and in him all things consist.

Before I speak, I must consider him.

Before I form an opinion, I must consider him.

Before I act, I must consider him who is before all things.

 

How many words have I spoken and never considered whether it sounded like Jesus? How many opinions have I formed and never considered whether they reflected Christ as presented in the gospels? How many of my actions have demonstrated what Jesus looks like to the world around me?

If we are going to see a spiritual awakening in our day, these are the things we must consider. In light of all the political divisiveness on display recently, I’m convinced that Jesus wouldn’t identify with any political party, despite claims by each to the contrary. You might want to read about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 to find out with whom he really identifies.

I have read John 1 and Colossians 1 many times, but had never seen them in this light before. Knowing Jesus, who is The Light, I shouldn’t be surprised. I’ll probably see something new again the next time.

 

Don’t you just love it?

 

In Him who is before,

 

Kevin

There is a revolution underway. It’s not a political one, even though there has been a shift in power which is nothing really new. It’s not the kind of revolution that happens by physical force. I’m talking about another kind of revolution. This revolution is in the way we see and understand the very nature of God. This revolution is not by physical force as I just said, but it is occasionally very violent.

Just write a book called “The Shack” like William P. Young did, turn it into a major motion picture, and you’ll see some conflict break out. Just do like I did and make a post on Facebook saying that you saw the movie and loved it. Swords will be drawn by a few religious folks, most of whom have never read the book or seen the movie, but have already been told that it’s heresy by some who feel it is their duty to point these things out and save us from deception.

So, what is it about this book that has so many people on a “witch hunt”, so to speak? I’m not going to tell you what the book is about, because I want you to read it for yourself.

I would like to tell you about my experience with it, though. When I read the book I experienced a degree of inner healing from some pain that I had from my earthly father. This was not what I was expecting when I picked it up. I just wanted to read a good novel. I saw myself in much of the story. I can’t even begin to tell you how many layers there are to this story.

There were also several layers around my heart that began to get peeled back as I faced my own anger, disappointment, bitterness, and unforgiveness.

Something else I saw that I had never considered before was the relationship that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have with each other. This relationship is hi-lighted in the book and movie. It is a real eye opener if you’ve never considered it before.

I used to have the idea that it was God the Father alone who created the heavens and the earth, and somewhere later the Son and the Holy Spirit showed up and thus we have the Trinity. However, they were there together in creation. (Genesis 1:2, 26)

They have forever been in perfect relationship with one another, and the most beautiful thing about it is this: They invite us into it with them!

Yes, there is a revolution beginning and it is violent because it requires a radical shift in our way of thinking. These ideas however, are not new. They are as ancient as God Himself. I will leave you with this quote from C. Baxter Kruger:

“The life that God lives as Father, Son and Spirit is not boring and sad and lonely. There is no emptiness in this circle, no depression or fear or angst. The Trinitarian life is a life of unchained fellowship and intimacy, fired by passionate, self-giving love and mutual delight. Such love, giving rise to such togetherness and fellowship, overflows in unbounded joy, in infinite creativity and unimaginable goodness. The gospel begins here with this God and with this divine life, for there is no other. Before time dawned and space was called to be, before the heavens were stretched out and filled with a sea of stars, before the earth was summoned and filled with people and life and endless beauty, before there was anything, there was the Father, Son, and Spirit and the great dance of Trinitarian life. The amazing truth is that this triune God, in staggering and lavish love, determined to open the circle and share the Trinitarian life with others. This is the one, eternal and abiding reason for the existence of the universe and human life within it. There is no other God, no other will of God, no second plan, no hidden agenda for human beings. From the beginning, God is Father, Son and Spirit, and from the beginning, this God has determined not to exist without us.”

Beautiful.

Come join the dance.

 

Kevin

I just recently experienced the most extraordinary ten days of my life. I have tried to find words to describe it, such as incredible, wonderful, amazing, but none of them seem adequate. I’ve been on a mission trip to Belize. Perhaps certain images are conjured up in your mind’s eye when I say the words “mission trip” – building an orphanage, assisting in a feeding program for starving children, doing a vacation bible school, constructing a church building, etc.

None of the above.

We laid hands on people and prayed. Most of them were in need of physical healing. Many of them were healed. We conducted healing crusades in four places – Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Dangriga, and in the Toledo Disrtict near Punta Gorda. We travelled over 900 miles in two passenger vans, one of which I was called upon to drive the entire time. Let me just say that I may never complain about road conditions in my own country again.

Having covered the nation of Belize from top to bottom (literally), I can say that there is no lack of presentation of the gospel. The gospel of salvation, that is. There are billboards, signs, and bumper stickers galore proclaiming man’s need to turn from his sin and accept Christ. There are also a great number of missionaries in Belize. As we were travelling out of the city of Belmopan toward San Ignacio, my friend Danny, who lives in Belize, pointed out that this stretch of road is called “Missionary Row” because so many missionaries and ministries are stationed on it. There is no shortage of the gospel in Belize.

When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples and later seventy, he specifically told them to heal the sick among other things, such as raising the dead and casting out demons. He told them to preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They were to preach the gospel of the kingdom.

Jesus spoke a lot about the kingdom of God. Most of us are familiar with these words Jesus taught us to pray – “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  I’ve never been to heaven, but I’m confident there is no sickness there.

Jesus didn’t come just so that we could go to heaven when we die. He brought heaven with him. Now he commissions us to bring heaven wherever we go.

Why did Jesus tell his disciples to heal the sick? Physical healing is a tangible sign of the kingdom. It is an undeniable sign that the kingdom of God is present. Healing seemed to be so easy those ten days in Belize. Was it because we were travelling with a man who operates regularly in a powerful gift of healing? Was it because we were in a country where most of the citizens have fewer options than we do when it comes to physical needs being met? Maybe.

Recently I asked the Lord about this, and for me personally the answer was simply, compassion. A few weeks before the trip, I began asking God to give me a love for the people of Belize. As I laid my hands on and prayed for each person, I could literally feel the love of God go out from me. It is indescribable.

One night in San Ignacio a young man, probably 18-19 years old, came to me for prayer. I asked him what was wrong and he said he had injured his right knee playing football (soccer). I put my hand on his knee and prayed. Then I asked him how he felt. He said “better”, but still had some pain. I thanked God and prayed again. This time his pain was completely gone. There were many people I prayed for who were healed, but this one was a little unusual. I’ll tell you why.

A few hours earlier, some of us had visited the Xunantunich Mayan ruins and while climbing up the steep steps, I tweaked my right knee. What started out as slight discomfort had become severe pain by the time the young man came to me for prayer. He was healed, but my pain was getting worse by the minute. As the ministry time was coming to a close I asked three different team members to pray for my knee. Each time my pain got worse until I could not take a step without wincing in pain. By the time we arrived back at the place we were staying, I could barely make it up the flight of stairs to my room. To my surprise, I resisted the natural inclination to be upset with God for not healing my knee. His grace is so good! Instead, I was remembering the smile on that young man’s face when the pain left his knee. When I woke up the next morning my pain was gone completely and never returned.

But what about the ones who weren’t healed? I don’t have an answer except to say this – they went away knowing someone loved them enough to come all the way from Texas to pray for them.

I really don’t understand why everybody is not healed when I pray for them, but I do understand this – it’s not about healing. It is about releasing the love of God to someone who needs to know they’re loved.

I’ve never been to heaven, but I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of love there.

 

On earth, as it is in heaven.

Kevin

 

Recently, as I was in a prayerful time of contemplation, I heard these words, “Wholeness begins with gratitude.” I immediately thought of this story:

 

Then as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

So when he saw them, He said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.

 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

And he said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole.”

(Luke 17:12-19)

 

How astonishing! Ten lepers were healed, but only one was made whole.

What does it mean to be made whole? It is the Greek word sozo, which means to save, deliver or protect, to heal, preserve, save, do well, be whole. Think of it this way, ten men got an outside job, but one got an inside job too.

Why weren’t they all just instantly made whole when their leprosy was healed? My body is separate from my soul. The soul is made up of the mind, the will, and the emotions.

One man returned to Jesus and thanked him. This man acknowledged the source of his healing. This man’s wholeness began with gratitude. Something changes inside of us when we choose to be grateful. Our focus shifts from something bad to something good. Rather I should say it shifts to someone good.

Try it. When you find yourself feeling down because it seems like Murphy’s Law has been put into effect in your day, find something good to be thankful for. There is good all around you just waiting to be acknowledged. When we do this, our soul is acknowledging our Creator who happens to be really good.

 

David, the psalmist, understood this so well when he wrote these words:

 

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Psalm 103:1-5)

 

Sometimes you just have to say to your soul, “Hey you! Look at all this goodness that comes from God!” We live in a culture that seems bent toward cynicism and negativity. Have you looked at Facebook lately?

A couple of weeks ago, a friend ours started a social media campaign called #findingthegoodin2017. Through this, everyone is encouraged to find the good things in life and post them on social media. I think it’s a fantastic idea! This can be more than just a campaign. We can start a movement. We may not eliminate all the negativity, but we can flood it so heavily with goodness that we drown out it’s voice.

So let’s do this – personally and publicly. You and I were placed here to not only make a difference, but to change the culture. I’ve often said, “you don’t have to look very far to find something bad. Well, you don’t have to look very far to find good. In fact, good is living inside you. His name is Jesus!

 

#findingthegoodin2017

 

Are you with us?

 

Finding good,

Kevin