Above the Sun: Taking Time for God is worth every minute

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 10, 2019 (original version, November 30, 2006)

          What a blessing it is to be in Christ. Why? Because being in Christ allows us access to God, and time alone with God. A lot of people, including me, like the idea of listening for God’s will in our lives, but too often the busy-ness of life just seems to get in the way. Isaiah’s words in 40:31 are as relevant today as they were in 760 B.C.

          "Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary."

          Are you struggling with sins of the mouth? Take time for God. Are you struggling in a relationship? Take time for God. Are you struggling with an addiction? Take time for God. Are you struggling in your faith? Take time for God. Are you struggling with trying to find yourself? Take time for God. Are you struggling with your self-esteem? Take time for God. Are you struggling with your priorities? Take time for God.

          The devil is the master deceiver. We would all do well to take his skill level seriously when it comes to the traps he sets for us. Even in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve had a very close relationship with God, the serpent offered them a deal that seemed too good to pass up, to be like God, and to have knowledge like God. There was just enough nobility in the temptation that Adam and Eve felt justified in disobeying God.

          Now fast forward 6000 years. The devil has continued to sharpen his deception skills, and his target is you and me. But one advantage we have is that of being able to study the devil’s techniques written about in the Bible. We know much better than Adam and Eve the ways Satan has been able to deceive God’s followers for generations.

          One thing we know for sure is that when we take time FOR God, we are taking time AWAY from world and its effects on us. Isaiah’s words teach us that when we focus on getting our answers from God, our spiritual muscles become stronger. The MORE time we spend with God, the LESS time we will even want to spend catering to our own selfish ambition.

          Writing from prison, Paul assured the first century church that God would make a way to spread the good news of Jesus Christ no matter what circumstances in which we find ourselves.

          "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).

          Taking time for God is an investment that results in a more joyful life now, and for eternity. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: God’s Greatness in our weakness

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 3, 2019 (original version, November 2, 2006)

          "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." When God said those words to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, that is probably not the response Paul was hoping for when he asked God to take away his thorn in the flesh. Nevertheless, the very next verse says that Paul learned to delight in life’s difficulties for the sake of Christ.

          None of us likes to feel as though we are weak or lowly, but God assures us that He can use any willing vessel. This was a very important message that Paul was bringing to the church at Corinth beginning in 1 Corinthians 1:26. In the 1st century when social classes were emphasized to the extreme, Paul’s message was one of hope and comfort. You see, our God is mightier than any political leader, any warrior, any person of wealth, and any social class.    

          The job of being God or of having ultimate power is already taken by our Lord. There are no job openings in the Blessed Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, God does want to work in our lives, and He desires a relationship with us as we faithfully serve Him in our worship, and as we serve others to His glory. The fact that we have things wrong with us physically, emotionally, or any other way just makes it more obvious that great things are being accomplished because of God. He has always worked through imperfect people and imperfect circumstances:

Exodus 4:10 Moses had “faltering lips” but God used his brother Aaron to speak Moses’ words (from God) in the presence of Pharaoh. This resulted in the release of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

Judges 6:14-17 God used Gideon and only 300 soldiers to defeat 120-thousand Midianites, even though Gideon’s clan of Manasseh was the weakest, and he was the least in the family.

Mark 14:66-72 Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. But later, God used a repentant Peter to preach the first gospel sermon at Pentecost.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Paul did not speak with eloquence or even with wise or persuasive words, yet God used him to write half of the New Testament, and to bring unbelievers to Christ in spite of his previous life as a persecutor of Christians (Acts 9).

          In living our faith journey, it is important to remember that each of us has been given special talents to use for God (Ephesians 4:11).

          God wants us to be confident that He can use us to accomplish exactly what is needed, even when we feel we have nothing to offer. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Pirate Christians just have it all wrong

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 24, 2019 (original version, September 21, 2006)

          “We are the pirates, we don’t do anything. We just stay at home, and lie around.

And if you ask us, to do anything, we’ll just tell you, we don’t do anything.”

          You may have heard those silly, non-sensical lyrics in a VeggieTales movie or from the Christian band Relient K. The song is about the attitude of pirate want-to-be’s who are so lazy, they’ve never actually sailed anywhere. They just lie around talking about all the things they’ve never done.

          In 2 Thessalonians 3:6, the apostle Paul says, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.”

          Why does Paul say this? It’s because Christians are not supposed to lie around and do nothing. “We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies” (2 Thes. 3:11). Idleness leads nowhere, and is more likely than not to drag down those with good character (1 Cor. 15:33).

          Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

          Our time will be filled with something. The devil wins if we willingly sin, or even if we do nothing at all to serve Christ. In Colossians 4, Paul tells Christians to devote themselves to prayer so that doors may be opened for the gospel to be proclaimed clearly. Prayer helps us stay in the right frame of mind to become more servant hearted. It helps us to practice pure speech, and it helps us to read and apply God’s word in our daily lives.

          In some of Jesus’ final words on earth, He asked us to "Go" and make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to obey Christ’s commands. Then He makes this promise: "And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age."

          The example Jesus set for us while he was here was one of action, not idleness. His followers in the first century were even willing to die for him when told to stop obeying Jesus, or die. Commitment and action should be seen in all Christians as we continue to work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13). Today, let’s all pray for opportunities to let God work through us as we honor Him with our lives.

Above the Sun: Jesus Blessed Jesus

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 17, 2019 (original version, August 24, 2006)

          If you are a music lover like me, you occasionally run across a song that strikes a feel good chord in your inner being, and maybe helps your day start off on the right note so to speak.

          I have a lot of favorites from various genres, but for me, one of the most encouraging songs is an old hymn called “The Great Physician.” It has four inspiring verses, each ending with the words: “Sweetest carol ever sung. Jesus, blessed Jesus.”  These great words were penned by William Hunter in 1859.

          There are many reasons to call Jesus blessed. He has ultimate power, but yet He can relate to each one of us no matter our circumstances. Jesus understands. No matter what our illness, aches, or pains. He truly is the Great Physician. He celebrates with us and cries with us, because He lived for us, died for us, and was raised for us! (Eph.1:18-20) He can also heal, console, guide, and offer heaven to those who trust and obey.

          Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed” (Luke 4:18).

          In this passage, there is a link between God’s Spirit living in us, and our willingness as Christians to have a servant-heart like that of Jesus Christ. It is that servant-heart that looks out for the well-being of those in difficult circumstances.

          Think about where Jesus was before He came to earth. Difficult to imagine, isn’t it? (John 1:1) But for Christ, the Son of God, to leave His home in heaven to come and live with the likes of us for 33-years, knowing we would eventually crucify Him (Isaiah 53), it is hard to comprehend the love He must have felt for us, and the never-ending selflessness He must have possessed in order to follow through with His decision to save us?  

          His power fed, healed, and saved people by the thousands in the first century even though his actions and results ran counter to worldly logic. In that regard, not a lot has changed in 2000 years, including Jesus. We can depend on Him as a constant to guide us safely home during our darkest moments, and even when our culture attempts to sell us temporary happiness. He is truly the Great Physician, and will always be Jesus, Blessed Jesus. Love Him today, serve Him today, obey Him today, and live with Him forever.

          Have a great week!