One Won One - Blog

Faith that Forgives, Heals, and gets to Work

6/30/2022

“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.” (Luke 17:4-5)

Forgiveness takes faith, or so that seems to be what the apostles believed, considering their response. “You want us to forgive freely? How do we get enough faith to do that?”

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you!” (Luke 17:6)

The disciples ask Jesus how they can increase their faith and He seems to say, “It’s not increased faith you need - you just need some faith!” Per Jesus’ own words here, even the very tiniest smidgeon of faith can do wonders. Of course, after the Cross and Resurrection the apostles faith did do wonders, but at this point in Jesus’ ministry it appears they were sadly lacking (as are so many of us).

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’” (Luke 17:7-10)

Jesus goes on to say if we had faith we wouldn’t be questioning everything - we would do what our Master tells us without hesitation or expectation. If our faith in Jesus is real, we will put our hands to the plow and push, knowing that He is our worthy and righteous Master.

"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. (Luke 8:25)

#LoveMatters

Answers from the Ancient Times

6/27/2022

Scholars (i.e. people smarter than me) consider Job to be the oldest book in the Bible. And in this very earliest of books, God answers the question of both racism and abortion that still are being debated.

“What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?” (Job 31:14-15)

Yes, the same God makes every human life in the womb from Cain to the last person born before the end of time states this clearly. We mistreat others (big, small, born, unborn, red, yellow, black, brown, white) at our own peril.

In fact, the Word of God never changes in this. Throughout the Old and New Testaments it is made clear that we are all born of a woman, who conceived with a man, each of whom are made in the image of God our Creator.

Not only are we to treat other people the way we ourselves would want them to treat us:

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 7:12)

We are to go even further when they don’t treat us as we think they should; even when they treat us shamefully:

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:44)

In the end, we are all the same. We are made by God, for God, to praise God.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

#LoveMatters

For a Time

6/23/2022

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Wife, children, extended family, home, job, material blessings… Thank you Lord, for giving me these things - for a time. And I recognize they are all only for a time. Material things deteriorate over time; jobs may come and go; family and loved ones will pass sooner or later.

I have been given each of these things for a time, but I have You for eternity! Your love never fails, your mercy never stops, your grace always abounds. While the things of this life are destined to come to a certain end, the things of God are eternal.

But for a time…for this moment in time. For the things you have blessed me with at this time, I am thankful. I am thankful for this day and all it brings, and I look forward with expectation to that day when time is no more and I am in Your Blessed and Holy Presence.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

#LoveMatters

Shadow Job

6/20/2022

“My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:8)

Job was commanded to pray for his friends. Jesus also prayed for His friends (all of us). What was Jesus’ prayer for ‘His friends’ (us)?

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Both Job and Jesus prayed for their friends. And because both Job and Jesus were faithful to the very end of their trials, their ‘kingdoms’ were restored and enhanced (Job’s earthly and Jesus’ Heavenly).

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! (Job 42:10)

Jesus returned home to sit at God’s right hand as the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

In this and many other ways, Job serves as a shadow of the coming Christ. These Old Testament shadows provide even more proof that we have a single Author – the Word of God - driving the narrative throughout.

#LoveMatters

Self-Evaluation

6/16/2022

I know a guy that’s incredibly bright, truly brilliant – his level of genius is a gift from God. I know a lady who is very beautiful, stunning really – that kind of beauty is a gift from above. I know a guy that is musically talented; nearly any musical instrument you hand him he can play – this kind of talent is also a gift from God.

These gifts are things many of us would love to have. We feel instead perhaps that we’ve been shortchanged by not being physically beautiful, having deep intelligence, or what we consider a desired talent. But did you know that each of these can become a cross to bear?

Intelligence may keep us from seeking God’s higher wisdom.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” (1 Corinthians 3:19-20)

Beauty of the flesh may become a crutch that will prevent us from capturing God's beauty within us.

For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. (1 Timothy 2:10)

Exceptional talents may tempt us to rely on our own abilities instead of accepting our weakness and trusting God.

That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

When we trust in the Lord we realize that being meek, poor, and broken are better than living in our own strength, riches, beauty, and talents. We are to become the Bride of Christ, and there is none more beautiful on this earth or in eternity!

#LoveMatters

Breadcrumbs to an Effective Life

6/13/2022

He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:4)

God’s promises are many and will not go unfulfilled. But how do we make sure we are prepared to respond correctly to these promises when they come?

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Notice the progression here; it’s not by accident. You have faith, great! True goodness cannot come without it. And trusting in God’s goodness will lead us to grow in knowledge; and so on. We tend to come to faith and immediately expect some built-in self-control to come along with it, but we must grow in the knowledge of Christ to effectively be able to give His Spirit the reigns of life so we can attain self-control. And without that control, we cannot persevere.

Living a godly life cannot happen until we’ve conquered ‘self’, truly accepting that our old self was nailed to the Cross of Christ. Through that revelation we find affection of our brothers and sisters in the faith, and that affection will lead us into a life of knowing true and open love of our fellow man.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Want to be effective for the Kingdom? Follow the breadcrumbs!

#LoveMatters

Not Today, Not Ever

6/9/2022

Did you know that Satan is the prince of this world?

“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” (John 12:31)

But if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you died to this world when Christ nailed your old self to His Cross.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

Now we are not of this world, therefore it’s prince has no claim on us!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1)

Read that again – if you have accepted and follow Jesus, there is NO CONDEMNATION. Look to Jesus; focus on Him; ask the Spirit to lead you.

#LoveMatters

Be Shameless

6/6/2022

“But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.” (Luke 11:8)

Am I ever shamelessly persistent? I believe that if I was at the ER with a loved one in trouble and they were not receiving attention, I would be shamelessly persistent until the one I loved received the attention and treatment needed.

Jesus is telling us that persistence is a good thing with God. Before we have a relationship with the King of everything, getting down on our hands and knees and begging for intervention would be something we might have considered a shameful act. But there is no shame in recognizing He is in control, because we also know that He is good.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10)

When you seek something out, it doesn’t mean that the result will be immediate. There must be a show of determination and faith – the value of what we seek determines how long and hard we will continue. We may sometimes receive an answer immediately, when other times it takes a struggle.

And what Jesus offers is of the very highest value:

“How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

#LoveMatters