He Knows You

God knows you.   After all, every single cell in your body was by His design.  You are intentionally made and have a purpose that is as unique as your fingerprint.  Isn’t it comforting to know that God not only made you...

He cares about you.  

Not in a “hope everything works out” kinda way.  God cares specifically...intimately... in a way that only He can.  

But how?  How does an infinite God know how a finite human feels pain?  How can an everywhere-at-one-time God relate to how much we hurt at times?

He became one of us.   He felt our pain.  

He was crucified and sacrificed Himself for all of us.

John 19:28-30  “Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

But Jesus’ time with us was far from over... 

John 20:11-18  “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.”

All-powerful God...coming to Earth as a baby.... spending time with His creation... feeling the pains of the human condition... being nailed to a cross for the sins of the world... and walking triumphantly from a tomb three days later.  

All of that so He could look into our hurting eyes and say...

I know how you feel.  I felt it too.  

I know what it feels like to have your friends walk away.

I know what it feels like to lose someone you love.

I know what it feels like to cry.

I know what it feels like to feel alone.

I know what it feels like to be accused of something you didn’t do.

I know what it feels like to hurt.

  

Without sinning, He did it all.   Just so He could feel what we feel.

While we wonder if anybody in the whole world... all seven billion of them... understand or have ever felt like we do.

Jesus does.  

Christ isn’t sympathetic to what’s hurting you today.  He doesn’t tell you that He hopes you feel better and then goes back to running the universe.  It’s not a passing sentiment... or hollow words of comfort sent your way... or empty rhetoric that everybody gets.  

He’s been there.  He’s been hurt.  

He’s empathetic.  

He feels it WITH you.  He hurts WITH you.  He goes through it WITH you.  He doesn’t abandon you to your challenges and turns a semi-understanding ear in your direction.  He runs to you with scarred arms wide open... ready to embrace you as you suffer.      He not only understands your pain... is not only working ahead of you to relieve your pain... He wants you to know that He himself has suffered your pain.  

He knows it hurts.  He also knows that it may look dark now... but the sun is about to rise on the shadows in your life.  Stay strong and remember...

God restores.

God empathizes.

You are loved more than you’ll ever know.  

The Promise

“She became pregnant, and she gave birth to a son for Abraham in his old age. This happened at just the time God had said it would.  And Abraham named their son Isaac. Eight days after Isaac was born, Abraham circumcised him as God had commanded. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born.”  Genesis 21:2-5

“Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials.  So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.  You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

  Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”  Genesis 41:37-44

“When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before! Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the LORD had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.

  So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning.”  Job 42:10-12a

“At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

  “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
      as you have promised.
 I have seen your salvation,
     which you have prepared for all people.
  He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
      and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

  Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.”  Luke 2:25-35

 “I will never fail you. 

      I will never abandon you.”  Hebrews 13:5b

Five verses.  Different stories and different situations... but there is one consistent theme running through all of them.  Did you find it?

If you need to, go back and re-read them.  See if you can spot what all 5 have in common.  

-------------------------------

Each of these verses reveal that God keeps His promises.  

Sarah gave birth as an elderly woman.

Joseph became leader of Egypt 

Job endured the devil’s trials.

Simeon saw the new-born Savior that would bring salvation.

And then there’s that last one...

That last promise is one of many He made to you.  The same God who came through in each of these verses is going to be there for you.  

God will never fail you.

God will never abandon you.

He promises.... and God always keeps His promises.

Today... live as though you weren’t doing it alone.  Because you aren’t.  God is with you every step of the way.  

He promises.

Why Are We Here?

In a Charlie Brown cartoon strip Lucy asks, "Why do you think we're put on earth, Charlie Brown?" Charlie replies, "To make others happy." Lucy says, "I don't think I'm making anyone very happy . . . Of course, nobody's making me very happy either." Then in the final panel, Lucy screams at the top of her lungs, "Hey, somebody's not doing his job!"

Have you ever wondered why we’re put on earth?  Is it Lucy’s reason?  Are others meant to serve us?  Are we meant to always be happy?

No.  God never promises consistent happiness... in fact, He tells us that we will struggle at times:  John 16:33 “ Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows... “

So why are we here?  To endure life?  To simply get through our days?  

Absolutely not.  Life is much sweeter than that!  Charlie Brown had it right... the reason we exist is for others.  It’s why we breathe and it’s why we’ve been given the gifts that we have.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12:7, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 

He further tells us in Galatians: “For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

Can you imagine a selfless world?  People getting up in the morning just to remind those they do life with that they matter... 

To bring hope to the hopeless...

To mend instead of rip...

To forgive the undeserving...

To provide for someone knowing they could never return the favor...

To make others happy... 

Seem unfair?  Why should we be the ones taking care of others?  What if nobody takes care of us or makes us happy? 

That’s not the mission or the goal.  We aren’t here to always be happy with things... we’re here to be more like Jesus Christ. We’re here to bring Him glory.  We’re here to share His good news.  We’re here to praise Him in the good things and the bad.  We’re here to represent Him to those that don’t know Him.  We’re here to rescue those God puts in our path.  We’re here to love Him without reservation... and we’re here to love those He created even when we don’t agree with them or feel like doing so.  

And when we do these things... God (and He alone) will give us a joy that circumstance can’t take away and people’s opinions can’t tarnish.   The secret to happiness isn’t so secret... 

It all starts with a priority list that has God at the top... others next... and ourselves a distant but blessed third.  

Choose

At Potential Church, we talk to so many people who are suffering.  Maybe they experience a dating breakup, a failed marital relationship, or just an overwhelming sense of failure or loss.  I turn to this scripture...

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

I love this verse.  Simply put, it says that when we hurt... God is there.  But lets look at it a little closer.   More specifically...the word “brokenhearted”.  Ever felt that way?   Have you ever had your heart broken?  Maybe she said I do... but really didn’t.  Maybe you risked it all... and lost it.  Perhaps you were abused, misused, or accused and it hurt.  You’ve cried all you can cry and now look skyward... desperately hoping for a sign from God that everything will be ok.  

Today’s verse is for you... the brokenhearted and crushed.  God is near.. He saves you from the pain.  This scripture doesn’t say that He’ll get to you... or that He’s thinking about you... it says He’s NEAR you.  Next to you.  With you.  His loving arm over your shoulder and His eyes filled with empathy and concern.  

But God is there for a reason... not just to comfort... but to strengthen you.  God wants to remind you that you weren’t created to suffer.   You weren’t knit together to be a victim.  You weren’t designed to be in pain forever.   So what can you do to feel better?  

Choose.

Walter Anderson writes, "I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have -- life itself."

Every day that our lungs take in air is a blessing.  Every new set of 24 hours is a fresh opportunity to begin the journey back.  If your heart hurts today... choose to give it to God.  Decide on joy over sadness.  Focus on counting blessings not burdens.  God will be there.  Always.  When you are wounded... He heals.  Remember, you are far too valuable to this world... don’t let your pain define, restrict, or outright stop you from accomplishing the destiny for which you were created.   

Find yourself in an emotional pit today? Allow God to strengthen and heal you... and then choose to begin the walk out of it.  You can do it.  I’ll be praying for you as you do.   

You Had Help

I don’t know where you are this morning. Corner office... student desk... passenger seat of a delivery truck... or sitting in your home. I do know this:

You didn’t get there alone.

Along your life-journey, hundreds of people and tens of thousands of interactions with those people have led you to this spot on the map of your life. You’ve faced some high walls in your life... and those around you have boosted you over. You’ve fallen down in the face of adversity... and those around you have grabbed your hand and helped you back to your feet.

All of your successes? You’ve had help.

Opportunities? Provided by others.

Gifts? People have given you a place to use them.

As much as we want to think we’ve done it all ourselves... it simply isn’t true.

Now I can hear some of you out there saying... “Pastor, I’ve worked hard to be where I am... and I’ve actually overcome people pulling me down to get there... Everything I have, I’ve done on my own!”

With all due respect... that’s not true. You’ve had help... but not just from people...

Take a look at today’s verses:

“...be content with what you have because He has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will always be by your side.’ Because of this promise, we may boldly say,

‘The Lord is my help-

I won’t be afraid of anything.

How can anyone harm me?’” Hebrews 13:5b-6

“By the God of your father, who will come to your aid, by the All-Powerful One who will bless you with the blessings from heaven above...” Genesis 49:25a

[from David] “Don’t give up on me in anger at Your servant. You have always been there for me. Don’t throw me to the side and forget me, my God and only salvation. My father and mother have deserted me, yet the Eternal will take me in.” Psalm 28:9b-10

“After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God, who has hold of your right hand, Who whispers in your ear, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’” Isaiah 41:13

Everything we are, have, and can do is given to us by God. Your ability to remember names? From God. Your parenting skills? God. That incredible brain you have to store baseball stats and facts to pass the bar exam?

God.

He created you and He’s never left your side. When it’s been dark, He’s the One holding the candle. When you’ve been searching for that last test answer... He’s the One who made it “come to mind.” That person who stepped into your life that was the perfect fit? God sent them.

He is Who many call “luck”

He is the cause of our victories and the first one to hug us if we come in last.

He sees those tears rolling down our face and sends people our way to stand in the gap.

He is the reason you can do what you can do... where you can do it... at the level you’re doing it... and the receiver of the glory from it.

He is helper, provider, sustainer, healer, defender, and source of all that has ever been good in our lives. When we’re challenged, sometimes God steps in directly... and other times He uses people to help guide us through. When we come through the storm we need to be grateful for His umbrella.

Alex Haley, the author of "Roots," had an unusual picture hanging on his office wall. It was a picture of a turtle on top of a fence post. When asked, "Why is that there?" Alex Haley answered, "Every time I write something significant, every time I read my words & think that they are wonderful, and begin to feel proud of myself, I look at the turtle on top of the fence post & remember that he didn’t get there on his own. He had help.”

God put you on that fencepost you find yourself on this morning... regardless of your health or wealth... take a minute and thank Him for the view from up there. Even if we don’t think it’s a lot... He’s given us everything we need and everything we are... let’s spend our Friday remembering and giving thanks.

Focus

On December 17, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. On their 5th attempt, the plane under the control of Orville, embarked on a 12 second flight. 

Wilbur rushed to the local telegraph office and sent the following message – WE HAVE FLOWN FOR 12 SECONDS - WE WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!

Upon receiving the telegram their sister, Katherine went to the newspaper office, told the editor of her brother’s new flying machine, and informed him, they would be home for Christmas, if he would like to set up an interview.  He told her that was nice, and he would be sure to put something in the paper regarding the boys.

On December 19th, the local paper placed the following headline on the 6th page of the paper: “WRIGHT BROTHERS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS”

It was the most important story of the year... and the editor of the paper missed it.  

To him it was just another day... another news item... just another thing to live through.  He was focused on the wrong thing.   

If we’re not careful, and we take our eyes off what is important, the uncommon will become common... 

God will cause hurting marriages to heal...

Weak hearts to beat stronger... 

Stage four cancer to “go away”...  

Unbelieving people to come to Christ...

Waters to be filled with those getting baptized...

And If we lose focus, we will highlight the wrong headline.  

Instead of printing the words:  “GOD CHANGES LIVES”

We’ll push it to page 6 and write ... “Life happens...”

Without realizing it, God-sized things become ordinary.  normal.  standard.  typical.   

And if we’re not careful...

We’ll begin to think we’ve earned salvation.

Or we deserve His mercy.

Or His grace is automatic.

Everything God does for us is because He loves us and chooses to do it.   We don’t control Him by making deals with Him.  We don’t earn more favor because we’re not as bad as our neighbor.  We don’t get special privileges because we are nice to the people who are nice to us.  

No... God is amazing.  His favor for us is unmerited and impossible to understand.  He does miracles... major ones and minor ones because we are His masterpiece.

And He loves us.

Today... thank God for those miracles in your life... The first breath you took this morning.  The health of your children.  The job you have.   The successes of yesterday... or the growth that came through the challenges.  

The enemy will tempt you to overlook the headlines of God’s goodness.  He’ll try to convince you that God gave up doing miracles long ago.  Don’t let him.  Our Heavenly Father is FAR from common... and what He does in our lives should always be on the front page of our hearts.  

Holes in the Fence

     There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  No matter how many times you apologize, the wound has been made.”

Ever been scarred?  

How can we make peace with our scars... those painful reminders of things that happened to us long ago?  We can be at peace with our hurts because Christ was with His own.  Pierced in the side... nailed at the wrists... Jesus’ resurrection message reassured us that He knew pain, humiliation, and death... but they weren’t enough to take Him out.   We can’t let our own scars knock us down for good either.  

But the scar remains.  We run our fingers over that raised place on our skin and feel some of those original emotions all over again.  Why did she do that to me?  What did he have against me?

Being cut deeply hurts.  

But what if the knife... or the nails... or the words... came from us.

What if we were the ones that caused the holes?  Made the scar?  Did the hurting?

Is there someone walking around today that is running their fingers over a scar that you put there?

What then?  The Bible tells us the steps... 

Confess It To God

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  1 John 1:9

Tell God what He already knows... If we really hurt someone, denying it may help us to believe it but it doesn’t change the truth. God knows us... the sin is there... why not give up trying to hide it from the One who gave you your brain and heart.  Feeling ashamed?  Don’t drop your chin.  Look up... face your Heavenly Father... and tell Him who you’ve hurt.  I promise you that the eyes you will see won’t be stern... but compassionate.  Confession begins the eventual healing of our heart. 

Own It With the One You Wronged

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  James 5:16

Oftentimes this is the hardest step.  We are OK telling God who we’ve hurt... but actually going to the person and owning the issue can be crippling.  However, your recovery can’t go any further until you make the call, write the letter, Skype, or have coffee with the one who you’ve scarred.  Be strong... take courage... and realize that God will empower you as you attempt to make things right.  You will have the right words at the right time... That restored relationship matters... both to you and God.  

Seek Forgiveness

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,” Matthew 6:14

This step is more than just saying “I’m sorry”... it’s asking for something you haven’t earned from a person who doesn’t have to grant it.  There’s risk involved.  But any relationship that means something occasionally requires forgiveness.  Remember, you and I have already been forgiven for so much.  God loves us with such an incredible degree of passion that He has paid the ultimate price for us missing the target and sinning.  When we seek forgiveness from those we’ve wronged, we can do so knowing that regardless of the outcome, God has paid for that sin...  Getting the “You are forgiven” from a person is important for closure and healing... but knowing the penalty for that issue has already been paid is priceless.

Commit to Not Repeating It

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”  James 1:23-25

What was it that caused the damage in the first place?  Misplaced anger?  Not thinking things through?  Frustration?  Fatigue?  A disconnect with God?  Whatever the reason, once you have forgiveness, commit to fixing and/or changing that behavior permanently.    Many people don’t take this step and find themselves continually seeking forgiveness, hurting again, and repeating the process.  If we are going to be who Christ created us to be, we have a responsibility to reflect His character.  We need to break that chain of cause and effect in our lives... to seek to love others and extend the grace and mercy we ourselves enjoy unmerited.

Forgive yourself

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners —of whom I am the worst.  But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:15-16

The hardest step of all.  You’ve broken a heart...or a trust...or put holes in a relationship that will never be the same.  You’ve confessed it to God, owned it, sought forgiveness, received it, committed to fixing the issue in your life... 

But why can’t I let it go?  

Read the verse above...  all of us are sinners.  All of us make huge mistakes.  The way to help forgive yourself is to put those errors in context.  

When we mess up... Christ shows us mercy.  When He does that.... He shows the world  sees how patient He is.  When people see that Christ gives grace to the imperfect, they get to know His character.  When they get to know Him... they can begin a relationship with Him.  

Forgive yourself because by doing so, Christ is displayed... we are freed from our past... He gets the credit... others get to see His mercy toward us... and people get saved.

Not easy... but so critically important.

It is my prayer that if the scar came by way of your mistake... you would pray and follow these steps.  You were created for greatness not a life of regret.  Allow today to be your first steps down the road to healing.