Love - The Narrow Path

With thanks to King Solomon and a nod to The Byrds (we all know where this is going), there is a season for all things in our lives. God, in His omniscience, has plans for each. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He has seen the peaks and valleys of all our lives. Many times, He will cause us to pause in our plans to allow us to rest or to take care of another, more timely need in our daily lives.

I don’t believe that this marks a failure on our part. We are still in the presence of God, and His love for us never pauses. I believe God has seen it from the beginning of Creation. For Him, there are no surprises.

3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, ESV

As, I hope, some of my readers will have noticed, my own life has had its seasons as well. I have been through many such changes in my life and most of them are overwhelmingly positive. After all, God does everything for our good, right? The season I have been going through since last I shared with you has been all-consuming.

So that I might allow you a little in-sight, I will give you a bit of a peak behind my curtain. About two years ago, after a long, improperly-diagnosed sickness, my wife was, we believe, correctly diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a life shattering, incurable disease, which affects nearly every system in one’s body at seemingly random times.

I am certainly no doctor. In the simplest terms that I can convey–envision a circuit box in one’s electrical system (central nervous system) where the insulating coating has been stripped from some of the wiring. If one of those wires contacts something, anything, a short of sorts will occur, causing potentially disastrous results. A fall, memory loss, discomfort in crowds, and so much more. The disease itself will not kill one, but the symptoms sometimes feel like a death sentence.

I have become my dear wife’s sole caregiver. She no longer drives, for fear of becoming confused and lost, as often happens in our home. I do 99% of the cooking and most of the household tasks that many people take for granted. That is why our house looks like it does (the chores will still be waiting on us tomorrow or the next day). We have become very reclusive. Most have no clue of our daily lives. It is good that we like our solitude…

9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. 12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; 13 also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. 15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away. Ecclesiastes 3:9-15, ESV

I have revealed this to you, my Christian family, to encourage others who are going through their own change of season. Please pray to Almighty God that you will get the relief that you need. He is ready and very willing to listen. Reach out to family and friends, not for pity, but for the comfort and emotional support that the Body of Christ is meant to offer automatically to each other. Paul, in a letter to the church at Ephesus, tells us Jesus instructed us to build up each other. One cannot give if they do not know there is a need. And if someone offers to support you, for Christ’s sake, receive that which is offered.

I think that my attention to my wife and the service I could give her was to be my new concentration. The guilt that I have felt over not writing this blog was wasted energy. The new season should not have caused me any dis-ease. My discipleship has not diminished. If anything, my faith has increased as I truly learned about service to another. There was no failure to perform. God provided me the opportunity for my spiritual growth. As Christians, we sojourn on earth primarily to prepare us for our eternal life. We should listen for God’s voice in all things. He is always there to guide us.

Lastly, a pastor friend of mine recently offered something profound, a very simple concept, really. The Holy Spirit put these words in his mouth. To paraphrase, there is no blessing in giving if there is not first the blessing of receiving. The gift may be something as simple as the pure, heart-felt silence of sitting quietly with someone who is heavy-hearted. If you are offered, even the smallest gift of love, accept it so that you may both be blessed.

If I may offer a Prayer:

Almighty God, thank you for giving us the gift of unconditional Love. Help us to offer love and peace to all who are in need, not just as we celebrate the birth of Christ, but everyday throughout the year. In Jesus’ name and for his sake, Amen.

The Beatitudes: Jesus’ Roadmap to Blessedness

As followers of Christ, we are called to walk in the footsteps of our Savior, to embody the transformative teachings He imparted during His time on earth. Perhaps no passage captures the essence of Jesus’ message more profoundly than the Beatitudes, found in the Sermon on the Mount. These eight profound statements not only reveal the heart of our Lord but provide a roadmap to true and lasting blessedness.

To elaborate further, each beatitude serves as a powerful proclamation that encompasses essential virtues and values to be embraced by those seeking spiritual fulfillment. The blessings pronounced by Jesus shed light on humility, compassion, righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking efforts, and endurance through persecution for righteousness’ sake – all qualities that are dear to God’s heart. We are encouraged to take upon ourselves these virtues in our daily lives and strive towards living with an unwavering commitment to love God wholeheartedly while loving our neighbors as ourselves.

In Matthew 5, we hear the words of Jesus ring out, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This first Beatitude strikes at the core of the human condition, reminding us that true spiritual wealth is found not in the accumulation of earthly possessions or status, but in the humble acknowledgment of our need for God. When we approach the throne of grace with open hands and contrite hearts, we find the riches of His kingdom freely bestowed upon us.

Jesus then declares, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” In a world that so often seeks to numb or distract from the pain of life, this Beatitude calls us to embrace the transformative power of godly sorrow. As we grieve over the brokenness of sin, both in our own lives and the world around us, we find the gentle comfort of the Holy Spirit, who binds up our wounds and restores our souls.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” This is a tough one. In a culture that prizes power, prestige, and self-assertion, this Beatitude challenges us to cultivate a spirit of humility and gentleness. It is not the boastful or the forceful who will inherit the kingdom, but those who have learned to submit their will to the sovereign plan of God, trusting in His perfect timing and provision.

The fourth Beatitude proclaims, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” I write often that Discipleship is not a spectator sport. As believers, we are called to a relentless pursuit of holiness, a deep longing to align our lives with the perfect standard of God’s character. When we approach the throne of grace with this holy hunger, we find our souls nourished and our spirits quenched by the living waters of His grace.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” In a world that so often demands an eye for an eye, this Beatitude challenges us to embody the radical compassion of our Savior. As we extend forgiveness and grace to those who have wronged us, we open our hearts to experience the transformative power of God’s own mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This Beatitude speaks to the importance of maintaining a single-minded heart in its devotion to the Lord. As we seek to purify our motives and align our desires with His, we are granted the profound privilege of experiencing the very presence of the Almighty.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” In a world torn apart by conflict and division, this Beatitude calls us to be agents of reconciliation, ambassadors of the gospel of peace. As we seek to bridge the gaps that separate us and bring healing to broken relationships, we reflect the very heart of our heavenly Father.

Finally, Jesus declares, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This Beatitude reminds us that the path of discipleship is not always an easy one, but that the rewards of faithfulness far outweigh the cost. As we stand firm in our faith, even in the face of opposition or hardship, we can take comfort in knowing that our eternal inheritance is secure.

My friends, as we meditate on the profound truths of the Beatitudes, let us be inspired to live out these Kingdom principles in our daily lives. May we be a people who are poor in spirit, mourning over sin, and meek before our God. May we hunger and thirst for righteousness, extend mercy to others, and maintain a pure devotion to the Lord. And may we be peacemakers, willing to endure persecution for the sake of the gospel, knowing that our true and lasting reward is found in the kingdom of heaven.

Let Us Pray

Most precious Father, we thank you for all the days of our lives. The highs and lows are blessings alike. We could not travel this road without your guidance and care. Help us to continually be mindful of your desires for us. Help us remember all your instructions, even when doing so makes us have to work harder to follow you. Protect us along our way and lend us the gift of The Holy Spirit to give us your counsel when times are rough. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen

Category: Love

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