Choose to grow

By what authority are you doing these things? (Mark 11:28)

How do you react when someone lets you know that you did something wrong? For most of us, our reactions vary depending on the circumstance, the people involved, and even our mood at the time. Sometimes it’s anger, sometimes denial; sometimes we completely miss what the other person is trying to say to us. But the best response is also the most difficult: acceptance. To acknowledge that we were wrong, to acknowledge that we need to change, to apologize—this isn’t always easy.

We see one version of this played out in today’s Gospel reading. Just before this passage, Jesus had overturned the tables of the money changers in the Temple. Now some leaders come to Jesus and challenge his authority. “Who do you think you are?” they essentially ask. When Jesus questions their actions and motivations, they respond with defensiveness and hostility, and not much self-examination.

People around us bring up our errors for a variety of reasons. Some want the best for us, and they come to us in love. Others may be motivated by jealousy, insecurity, or anger. For many, there is a mixture of motives. But when Jesus “opposes” us, he has only one motivation: love. He has our best interests at heart. He engages us, he asks questions, he tries to deepen his relationship with us and purify our relationships with each other. He gives us a chance to grow. 

The religious leaders in today’s Gospel missed an opportunity. They were caught up in a conflict, and they didn’t let Jesus’ words touch them personally. Because they rejected him, Jesus didn’t press the issue—just as he doesn’t with us. He doesn’t just unilaterally change us; he always looks for our cooperation.

So what can we do to make sure we don’t miss opportunities to grow? First, be attentive. Listen for his voice throughout your day—in prayer, in the voice of a friend, in your conscience, or even out of the blue. Second, be receptive to what you hear, even when it’s hard. Choose to grow, and ask for his help.

Pay attention today to how you pay attention. See if you can hear the Lord as he deepens his work in you.

“Lord, help me recognize your gentle, encouraging words of correction today.”

from wau.org

Your true worth

Give glory to your son. (John 17:1)

Have you ever seen someone grandstand? You know, trying to grab all the attention for themselves? Some athletes do it after a big game. Some political leaders do it by staging photo ops and giving lengthy speeches to highlight how connected they are with various interest groups. It’s funny, though: the more people seek the spotlight, the less credible—and interesting—they become!

What Jesus does in today’s Gospel reading is the complete opposite of grandstanding. When he prays, “Give glory to your son,” he is not asking for his own glory. In the very next line, he says, “So that your son may glorify you” (John 17:1). In everything he did, Jesus sought to be the perfect reflection of his Father’s glory. He wasn’t interested in celebrity. He wouldn’t have submitted to the cross if he were. And yet he is the most famous person who ever lived. All that humility, love, mercy, and selfless giving did not go unnoticed! 

There is a lesson for us here. We can be so achievement oriented that we miss the grace that is present for us by simply welcoming the Lord into our everyday lives. If we accomplish something that is recognized as important, that’s when we feel important. If we don’t, we can end up feeling unappreciated or worth less than someone else. But our true glory is in God, just as it was for Jesus. It isn’t in what we accomplish or how much recognition we receive for our faithfulness. It’s in nothing less than the great privilege of knowing the Lord, being loved by him, and having him make his home in our hearts.

What will that look like for you today? You probably have some very routine tasks to perform—things that you’ve done countless times and have received little recognition for. Maybe it’s making breakfast for the kids or making sure the bills get paid on time. As you do these mundane, thankless jobs, ask Jesus to be with you. Let them become acts of love for your family and worship for him. Even if you seem invisible to the people around you, know that Jesus sees you. Know that you are glorifying him by your love and faithfulness.

“Lord, help me find your peace, your joy, and your love in all that I do. Let me bring glory to your name!”

from wau.org

Deeper relationship

Do you believe now? (John 16:31)

Toddlers and teenagers seem to “know” everything, don’t they? “I know how to swim,” declares the three-year-old. “Be careful.” “I know, Mom,” spouts the new teen driver as she rolls her eyes in exasperation. Almost any explanation offered is cut short with “I know.” And so often, you know they don’t really know.

That’s how Jesus must have felt when the disciples told him, “We believe that you came from God” (John 16:30). He knew they didn’t really know—he even warned that they would scatter and abandon him. 

There Jesus was, on the eve of his death, exhorting his disciples to take courage. He was the One about to face gruesome trials, and yet he was peaceful enough to offer comfort to his friends. All because he knew—he really knew—that the Father was with him. The disciples assented to the truth and value of what Jesus had told them, but Jesus’ “knowing” went beyond logical assent. It was rooted in a deep, personal, ongoing connection with the Father. Because of that connection, he was able to hold fast when the others couldn’t.

That same “knowing” that Jesus had is for you, too. You are created for it! You are fearfully, wonderfully, and exactly made so that you can know, as Jesus did on earth, God’s presence in you. Not in theory alone, but in actual practice. You can know it because Jesus died and rose, ascended to the Father, and sent his Holy Spirit to live in your heart. He did all this so that you could live in peace and live courageously every day, knowing that he has overcome death for you.

Take a few minutes right now to tell Jesus that you want these truths to take root inside you. Ask him to make it even more personal to you. And then hold on to that connection as you go about your day. When situations arise that shake your confidence or threaten your peace, turn to the Lord, and ask, “What are you thinking right now? What do you want to tell me here?” Listen for his answer. He may surprise you, but he will always reassure you and comfort you.

“Jesus, take me into a deeper relationship with you. I want to know you better today than yesterday.”

from wau.org

The next best thing

It is better for you that I go. (John 16:7)

Let’s face it. The inclination to think “if only” arises more often than we like to admit. If only I could get the next best thing! A newer or more powerful or more economical car. The latest model phone. A hot or free or gourmet meal.

It’s tempting to think “if only” about our faith, too. If only I could have had three years of daily contact with Jesus as the disciples did! If only he were here right now, I would be a better Christian, evangelist, father, mother, student, co-worker …

But that’s not what Jesus said. Even though it grieved his disciples, he insisted, “It is better for you that I go” (John 16:7). They couldn’t imagine anything better than Jesus walking with them, teaching them, healing them, and declaring the good news of the kingdom. But Jesus knew that his departure was better than his presence. Why? Because having returned to the Father, he would send the Spirit: the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, to dwell in their hearts.

It’s hard to imagine that Jesus’ absence is better than his presence, isn’t it? But now, the Holy Spirit is present—and in the deepest part of your being. Yes, it would be exciting to watch Jesus perform awesome miracles or to hear him put the Pharisees in their place. But there’s a difference between being excited and being changed. Only by speaking deeply to our consciences can the Spirit move us to repentance. Only by taking Jesus’ words and writing them on our hearts can the Spirit fill us with consolation, peace, and joy. Only by pouring God’s love into us can the Spirit soften our hearts and move us to treat each other with mercy and compassion.

So the next time you find yourself thinking “if only,” remind yourself that you already have the “next best thing.” In fact, you have the best thing ever! You have almighty God living in you. He is there to guide you, to offer his wisdom, and, best of all, to fill you with his life and love!

“Jesus, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit. Help me to sense the Spirit’s presence today. Open my ears to hear his voice and my heart to follow his leading.”

from wau.org

The path to peace

Some … have upset you … and disturbed your peace of mind. (Acts 15:24)

It’s a common frustration. You buy something on eBay or from an online retailer or at the local hardware store. But when you begin to use the item, you discover that it’s defective—nicked, outdated, or missing a crucial bolt. The product can’t do the job you thought it could do.

In a way, this is why the new Christians of Antioch were upset. However, their disappointment centered not on a product but on the gospel! These Gentiles had joyfully believed the good news announced by Paul, but after him came other preachers who claimed that he had given them a deficient message. It wasn’t enough to believe in Jesus, they said: “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved”

(Acts 13:48; 15:1). The Church’s leaders in Jerusalem ruled otherwise, and today’s reading quotes the letter in which they communicated their decision. Essentially, it was: No, you don’t need to observe the Mosaic law. Faith in Christ is what’s essential. 

Christians no longer feel that they need to follow the Mosaic law. We believe that we are saved by the grace of a loving Father who wants to give us good gifts. At least, that’s what we believe. But when our daily crosses get a bit too heavy, when we’re tempted, drained, confused, or at a loss, we can begin to think that the gospel is deficient or defective in some way. 

Jesus didn’t come to guarantee us health, wealth, and prosperity. He came to promise us one thing: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). He is with us to guide us, to comfort us, and to encourage us. He has given us his Spirit so that we can stand tall, even when all around us seems to be falling apart. He gives us the same promise he gave to St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness”(2 Corinthians 12:9). 

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed today, step back, consider the big picture, and put your faith in Jesus. For you, as for those early Christians, it’s the path to peace of mind.

“Jesus, I see so many needs—mine, my family’s, those of the Church and the world. Help me to look up, trust you to provide, and receive the peace and assurance you want to give me.”

from wau.org

lessons from pointilism

My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. (John 14:27)

In the late nineteenth century, French artists experimented with a new technique in painting called pointillism. They used small dots of color to create pictures. Up close, dots are all you can see. But step back, and the picture becomes clear! Sometimes, our lives can be like that. Daily joys and problems, ups and downs, can loom large before our eyes. We get distracted by the chaotic or colorful or tragic moments. We lose our peace or get swept up into an unwarranted sense of excitement. We forget to step back and see the big picture.

The peace that Jesus promises us in today’s Gospel reading is not something we conjure up on our own. It doesn’t come from manipulating our circumstances so that nothing ruffles our feathers. It’s far more solid and reliable than that.

Look at Paul and Barnabas: they certainly had ups and downs! They were threatened with being stoned while in Iconium, so they moved to Lystra, where the people hailed them as gods. But these same people were easily swayed and attacked Paul, leaving him for dead. Then, escaping Lystra, Paul and Barnabas ended up making a “considerable number” of disciples elsewhere.

According to the world, these men should have felt anxious, not peaceful. But they didn’t. Writing years later, Paul said, “I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance… . I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (Philippians 4:12, 13).

Will we face ups and downs? Fickle responses from people? Happiness interspersed with hardship? Yes. But we can still find peace in Christ. 

How? By stepping back and looking at the big picture. Lean into the arms of the divine Artist who is painting the masterpiece of your life. The chaos and beauty will become clearer, and God’s vision will make more sense as you look beyond your changing circumstances and remember his love and provision. So today and every day, take a deep breath, and ask the Lord for his gift of peace.

“Jesus, you are my Prince of Peace!”

 from wau.org

Spiritual prunning

Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit. (John 15:5)

A good gardener can seem like a surgeon sometimes: meticulously careful in his goal of removing anything that is a threat to his plantings. He is completely dedicated to making his roses even more beautiful or his grapes more delicious. 

Imagine the kind of pruning Jesus, the master Gardener, had to do with Paul. In the days immediately following his conversion, Paul proved needed a lot of work! On fire with his new-found faith, he debated so forcefully with the Jews in Damascus that they tried to kill him. Even the disciples were afraid of him (Acts 9:26-29)! The situation became so drastic that the apostles decided to send Paul back home to Tarsus for a while. They could tell that some time away from all the action would do him good. 

This story shows us two ways that God likes to prune us. First, there is quiet time spent with the Lord. Paul spent a number of years in Tarsus praying, studying the Scriptures, and examining his heart. During this time of retreat, he gave the Holy Spirit the opportunity to soften his rough edges, reveal the gospel to him more clearly, and prepare him for his future ministry. The same holds true for us. By sitting quietly before the Lord in prayer, we give the Spirit the opportunity to prune us and form us.

Another way God prunes us is through the steps we take in our walk with him, whether we are sharing our faith or trying to serve our family. As Saul preached, he came to see how argumentative he was. He learned from his mistakes, and over time he learned the art of being both passionate and compassionate in his preaching. 

So keep stepping out in faith, but be sure also to keep listening to the Lord in the quiet of your prayer. Let him prune you, and you’ll find yourself bearing more and more fruit for his kingdom!

“Come, Holy Spirit, and make me more like Jesus!”

from wau.org