But meanwhile, life is challenging. Walt Disney tells us that in two hours all of life’s difficult challenges are neatly resolved. The Bible gives a different story.1 Samuel 23-24 tells of David running around in the wilderness, being chased by King Saul, who wanted to kill him. As I previously observed, David was very close to God and yet God let David go through that very tough period.

In the midst of being chased, David knew where to look – God. (He wrote Psalm 63 in the midst of that flight. He must have been carrying a few pens and some paper with him in the wilderness.) In verse 1: “I earnestly search for you.” And then that leads to verse 4: “Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!” Wow. His longer-term view of reality is amazing in light of his circumstances.

I find it freeing to know that it’s all right that things aren’t always all right. We need God. He wants us to need Him. If you’re in the wilderness today, cry to God and ask Him to show you His presence. He will. Maybe not immediately or in the way you expect, but He will.

Jesus reminds us, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (John 14:1-3.)

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

But on Good Friday we celebrate His death. “Celebrate” sounds like the wrong word to use. Why should anyone be happy about such a cruel event? The reason we can celebrate is why Jesus died. Because of his death, our sins are forgiven. We don’t have to live under the troubling guilt of the wrongs we have done to others, to ourselves and to God. The consequences of our actions may well remain, but our internal guilt can be totally wiped away. God says in Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”

However, we need to turn away from actions that are keeping us from accepting God’s forgiveness. Acts 3:19 says, “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

The movie, The Passion of the Christ will stay with me a long time. The scenes of the pain Jesus went through to die perhaps the worst possible death are very haunting. Seeing Jesus suffer truly did bring tears to my eyes. I would recommend that you watch the film, if you haven’t seen it yet. It’s good to ponder the cost that Jesus paid for our gain. Just going through Good Friday like any other day is all too easy to do, with the busyness of our lives. Take at least a few moments to reflect on what Jesus did for you and thank Him for it. Pause your routine and go to a different room or outside and express your feelings to God. Bask in His forgiveness.

Today is a Good Friday.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

We are all made differently. Even though we know that, deep down we expect people to think and act the same as us. But we need to give each other lots of room to breathe – and exercise the gifts that were designed into who we are.

I met with a pastor friend last weekend, and he said another pastor did not understand why people liked to communicate with phone text messages. That pastor’s view on the subject went far enough that he was in the zone of judging people who texted. (That was dangerous territory – since communicating via text message is a significant avenue for the majority of people under the age of 40.)

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes: “In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.”

Sensitivity. That’s the best way to treat others. We can’t go wrong if we honor others more than ourselves.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

—

For 7×7, see 3.2.12

David was relaxing when he should have been leading his nation. During a hazy warm afternoon after a nap, he saw a beautiful woman and had to have her. He killed her husband Uriah so that nothing would stand in the way of their relationship. (That wasn’t an easy task. Uriah was a very dedicated soldier and wanted to return immediately to the battlefield. David called in the commander of his army, Joab, to help him pull off the murder. I doubt if Joab was happy about that.)

The child resulting from David’s rendezvous with the beautiful woman died.

And yet, God said David was a man after His own heart.

God’s acceptance of David did not mean He gave him everything he wanted. In the 2 Samuel passage, you can see that David had to go through lots of horrible stuff before he reached a point of peaceful favor. And even then, the consequences of his destructive actions would remain with him for the rest of his life. God sometimes makes the consequences of our bad actions disappear, but that’s more the exception than the rule.

God’s complete acceptance of David meant letting him experience some really tough stuff. God then sent Nathan to tell David how wrong he was. David finally admitted his wrongs.

Luke 15:7 says “…there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” God loves it when we confess our wrongs to Him. What a beautiful thing!

So when we make mistakes, let’s bring them to God and say we are sorry. Things will get better from there.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

Rebecca Manley Pippert wrote a book titled “Out of the Saltshaker” in 1979. I saw her speak about this topic not long after that. Her line of thinking stuck with me since then. That shows you how powerful it is!

Simply: if we stay inside the saltshaker, we will have no effect. We must rub shoulders with people who have no salt in their lives – those who do not know the presence of God. Jesus goes on to say that we need to speak with our deeds. That’s sometimes the best way we can be heard.

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. If you’re in a Bible study with other Jesus followers, quit – and start one with friends who don’t know Jesus. The Bible is a strange book to those who aren’t familiar with it. “Let’s look at the Bible to see how relevant its message is to today’s world.”
2. You don’t know anyone who doesn’t know Jesus? Time to get out of the saltshaker…
3. Join a club. Find out groups which meet in your town that fit your natural interests.
4. Start a club. Who doesn’t like to eat out? And what about joining with others in your favorite weekend activities?
5. Make friends with international students at your local college or university. Many have never met anyone outside of their classes or dorm. International Students Inc. can help you meet students from another country.

Have fun!

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

It didn’t take long for her to figure this out. She heard His probing description of her personal life and quickly bounced the conversation in a different direction. That’s in verse 20 of John 4 – the story of the Samaritan woman.

More than knowing about her life circumstances, Jesus knew what she needed… she needed water that would satisfy more than water from the ancient well she came to get water from. She needed living water – His life being poured into hers.

I’m not much different than the Samaritan woman. I look for satisfaction from sources that won’t fill the hole. I often think, “If I could just have this happen, I’d be satisfied.” Or, “If I could just get an iPhone, I wouldn’t be ashamed when I go to business meetings.”

You and I both know that things and circumstances won’t fill our deepest desires. Even relationships won’t. Things, circumstances, great food, excellent coffee or significant relationships will meet some of our desires. And oftentimes those are OK or even good. But when I look to anything other than Jesus for filling my deep need for fulfillment, I will ultimately come away empty. That realization may take an hour – or months – but eventually it will hit.

Jesus always wants me back. He didn’t tell the Samaritan woman how wrong she was. He just invited her to drink the living water. Once she realized what he was talking about, she dropped everything to tell her friends and family. They came and believed too.

If it’s real, we will want to share it. If it’s not real for you today, ask Jesus to make His living water more real. He will.

Wait. Ask again. And rest while you wait.

(Paul Merrill normally writes here every First Friday. Because of the advent series starting tomorrow, he’s writing on the last Wednesday of the month.)

Sometimes I am a tired parent. That youthful enthusiasm rises to the surface fewer times than it did in my earlier years. So it’s nice to be surrounded by that!

Jesus was not “up” all the time. In Mark 6, he just had to get away. He took his band of closest buddies with him. He just knew that he had to get some space.

I don’t know if Jesus was an introvert or an extrovert – but he was definitely a rock star. That level of celebrity would be hard for anyone to cope with. Jesus coped and rose above the pressing crowd sometimes in a human and a divine way. He did know when he needed space and rest. He also knew when he needed to fight a battle alone.

As Jon has reminded us several times, it’s OK to get away sometimes. You need a break. God created seven days with six for working and the seventh for rest. This principle is from the beginning of the Bible to the very end.

We sometimes feel like there is so much important stuff going on that it would be foolish to say no to any of it.

Wrong.

Stop at least once a week. Take more than an hour. Step away from your computer and turn your cell phone off. Go for a walk with your best friend, if they’re near. Call them, if they’re far. Remember that when Jesus got away in Mark 6, he went with his friends. Sometimes we just need to be with people who love us – even if they don’t completely understand us. Or just pray. God always understands.

But it’s a great word.

In John 15:5-7, Jesus speaks about abiding in Him. I don’t want to summarize what he said, so here’s the passage (from the New Living Translation):

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”

Jesus loved using analogies that spoke to the people of his day. Many people back then had their own vineyard. Or they worked for someone who did. Grapevines are hearty long-living plants. And with care, they can produce some of the world’s most amazing fruit. But obviously, if you cut a branch off and let it fall to the ground, it will die.

Last week, there were a few days when I did not abide. I was miserable while I was away from the vine. Thankfully, God rescued me from my own selfishness, and I came back.

Our lives are so fragile. Let’s stay close to Jesus. The momentary satisfaction of having our own way is a very short-lived pleasure.

I’ve enjoyed reading the book, More Than Ordinary: Enjoying Life with God, by Doug Sherman. One of Doug’s main points is that we should live each hour and each moment with Jesus sitting next to us. Just invite Him to be part of every day.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday.)

The beginning of Genesis describes the Garden of Eden, the perfect place God created for Adam and Eve to enjoy life. In chapter 3 is this great little sentence: “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.” God was sharing that garden with them. He wanted to hang out a little, but it was too late. (They had just chosen to eat the forbidden fruit, which tragically messed everything up.)

Jesus made it possible for us to return to that place. While we can’t get the full experience till heaven, here and now we can experience more of those quiet walks with him in our gardens. All we have to do is invite Him along. And we need to remove the boulders in the path between us and Him – those things we know that don’t make Him happy. You know it when you cross the line. Your conscience kicks in and says you’re stepping too far. Tell Him about those things and ask Him to help you deal with them. He will!

Then…

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (Psalm 16:11.)

Finally, note that this journey is a process. “You will show me…” It’s a lifetime thing (and beyond). Our trek through this garden is best when God walks with us along each new path and juncture – through every rocky patch and across each grassy meadow.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday)

The most vibrant church Heather and I were part of did just that. They wiped all their ministries off the plate. Small groups, worship teams, drama, Sunday school programs. Everything. And they let God rebuild the church slowly.

They lost a lot of members. But the result was a fresh new thing. They (and we) found that the new church was open to what God wanted to do through them, rather than being stuck with, “We’ve always done it that way.” Silos of power were broken down. Those married to old systems left. New people joined who were more open to God’s movement.

In Leviticus 25, God announced a plan for the Israelites called the “Year of Jubilee.” After every 49 years, all property would revert to its original owners. Slaves were also set free. The chapter includes ways that the system would work.

We easily become slaves to the systems we set up. We often end up going through the motions rather than doing things for the purposes we (or others) originally intended.

So I’d urge you (and me) to examine what things we can cut out this summer – allowing God to have a fresh start with us. Be radical. It will hurt. But after the wounds heal, we may find more health than we’ve experienced in a long while.

Unlike Leviticus 25, I am not going to give you a road map for how to do this. You’ll have to work that out with God and others involved. I would suggest starting with prayer. Ask God how He wants you to start over. Be still. Listen to Him.

Have you done this already at some point in your life? Please tell your story in the comments.

(Paul Merrill writes here every First Friday)