God’s Word, as found in Scripture, is sacred and holy. As ministry and marketplace leaders, we must follow what is written so that we can, with integrity, lead others to follow all that is found in the Bible.
Every leader must consider the following passage and decide for themselves whether or not this statement is true: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV) If this is true, which I believe it is, then it should impact our leadership in every way, shape, and form. Many ministry and marketplace leaders have shaped their belief system to conform to what they believe to be true, without a deep understanding of what God’s Word has to say. You may rightfully ask how any Christ-follower could do this. Here is how this is possible: We can love the ministry (if we are vocational ministry leaders) or the marketplace (if we are there), more than we love God’s Word, which informs us exactly how to conduct ourselves in that sphere of influence. LOVE FOR THE MINISTRY Sadly, many ministry leaders love the “ministry” more than God’s word. They love the identity as a “minister”, “pastor”, or any other title that communicates a special designation of distinction. They love the acts of preaching, teaching, and leading. They love the relationships that form in fellowship around their ministry. What is missing is a deep love of God’s word, to such a degree that it is followed, first in their own life, and then in the life of the ministry they lead. If this is you, God is calling you to repentance. Seek His forgiveness. You will find it. Dig into God’s word for guidance on how you should run your life, family, and organization. Love God with all your heart. Love God’s word with all your heart as well. They are one and the same, for: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2 NIV) Jesus Christ is the Word. The Word is Jesus Christ. As Christ-followers called to leadership, we must stay true to God’s Word and obey all that is written in Scriptures. Amen? In summary, love your role in vocational ministry less, and love God and His Holy Word more. LOVE FOR THE MARKETPLACE Equally sadly, many marketplace leaders who say they follow Christ think that they are somehow exempt from the same mandates that God’s Scriptures lay out for vocational ministry leaders. They compartmentalize their work and their faith. This is one of the greatest and most successful schemes of Satan and his demons: convince marketplace leaders that they are of less importance than vocational ministry leaders are, to the fulfilling of the Great Commission. Not so at all! We are equal in God’s sight. Ministry and marketplace Christ-followers are under the same guidelines found in 1 Timothy: “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” (1 Timothy 3:1 NIV) The vast majority of Christian theologians have too narrow an interpretation of this Scripture. If God has called you to be a Christ-follower and has gifted you with leadership abilities and opportunities, then you are an overseer of those entrusted to you. As CEO of your company, for example, you are the senior pastor of that church. They are your congregation. You are their shepherd and overseer of the souls placed under your care. I don’t have time here to delve into the theology of work, but all of us have been called into full-time ministry. No one is exempt. As a Christ-following leader, if you are not leading in vocational ministry, you are called to lead in the marketplace, such as in a business, government, or non-profit organization. In summary, love your role in the marketplace less, and love God and His Holy Word more. THE OVERSEER STANDARD Today may be the first time you have ever considered the possibility that you are, in fact, an Overseer. It is a heavy responsibility. I encourage you to read 1 Timothy, Chapter 3, and other passages of Scripture that lay out the qualifications. I believe God wants any leader in any leadership role to live up to the standards found here. If I am wrong, and you live up to these standards as if I am right, the fruit that you will bear is increased holiness and better leadership. So, as I see it, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by surrendering to the “Overseer Standard.” CONCLUSION As a Christ-following leader, you are called to full-time ministry. Some are called to vocational ministry, while most are called to the marketplace or a bi-vocational combination. Wherever you find yourself, your leadership must be predicated on God’s Word, as found in His holy Scriptures. Love God’s Word. Study it. Meditate on it. Above all, follow it, and lead others to do likewise. In the words of this famous and favorite passage of Scripture: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” (2 Timothy 2:2 NIV) May the love of God’s Word fill you, by the power of the Holy Spirit. And, may you multiply yourselves through your leadership position, as you base your life on the love of God’s Word. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 28, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Ministry and marketplace leaders often possess an above-average internal drive to be productive and achieve results. It may be challenging for some of us to spend even ten minutes in total focus with Christ, excluding all else, and simply dwell with God. Yesterday, I did just that, and as I reflect back, I question myself: “What did I produce?” “What a foolish question,” you might say. And I would agree. I sat with our Master and dwelled in His presence. You would probably say, “That is enough,” and of course, you’d be right. So why do I feel the need to do more than that? Why is dwelling with Christ not sufficient? And if it is a major accomplishment, why don’t we do this more often?
For me, I’m wired to produce results. I like to look back on my day and see that my calendar was filled with appointments and that I helped a dozen or more people. Then, I have a sense of accomplishment. I tend to be a human “doing” and forget that God made me a human “being.” Every once in a while, I need a reminder to simply be – to just dwell – in the presence of Christ. As I type these words, I realize that right now I am doing more than just dwelling. So, I will pause here, spend some time in silent dwelling with Christ, and come back in a minute to finish this blog. You might want to try this too. Let’s set a timer for 10 minutes, and then I’ll come back and finish writing this blog post. Dwelling If you just tried that, I imagine we had similar experiences:
CONCLUSION There is great value in dwelling with Christ, not the least of which is the process of surrender that seems to always take place when we shut out the world and only focus on Him, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Master. I always provide scriptures for these blogs. Today is no different. Here are eight that encourage us to dwell often in the presence of Christ:
Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 27, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Friends, we go to great lengths to make ourselves comfortable. From how we arrange our furniture to how we make our bed, we desire comfort. From the clothes we wear and the food we eat, much of our life involves striving for comfort. Whether we are in ministry, the marketplace, or political leaders, we serve our stakeholders by helping them have greater comfort.
This idea of comfort is as old as Adam and Eve. The Garden of Eden was the epitome of comfort on earth. There was no better place to be, where every need was met, nothing was lacking, and no greater comfort could be found. And yet, we wanted more. MORE I don’t know about you, but “more” gets me into the kind of trouble that Eve got into. More leads me to fall like Adam fell. Striving for more comfort, which can be seen as the root cause of the fall, can also be seen as a lack of contentment with where we are and what we have. What I really want more of is Christ’s comfort, found in deep intimacy with Him. All the other forms of worldly comfort are only cheap imitations of God’s comfort that can only be found in Him. GOD’S COMFORT In my quiet time today, I read in 2 Corinthians. As I was thinking about a topic for today’s blog, I kept coming back to this theme of comfort. The Apostle Paul opens his letter with a paragraph replete with this concept. Consider this: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 NIV God’s comfort is the only true and lasting comfort there is. PEOPLE, PLACES, AND THINGS To the degree that we expect our comfort to come from people, places, and things is the degree to which we will be disappointed. To the degree we go against God’s commands in search of greater comfort, is the degree of separation we will feel between us and Christ Jesus. Only God’s comfort will truly comfort us. LESS In conclusion, let’s aspire to want less from people, places, and things, and want more of Christ. The comfort we get from anything other than Christ is fleeting. It may solve our discomfort for the moment, but it will not last. Just like the wonderful bar of chocolate I ate last night, it was comforting as I savored it, delicious bite by delicious bite. But in the end, as I swallowed the last morsel, I was left wanting more. I was not satisfied. It was momentary comfort that only solved my desires but for a few moments. May we seek less comfort from people, places, and things, and may we gain enduring comfort in our relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 26, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.” Romans 14:19 NIV
LET US We who are Christ-followers are often surrounded by non-believing relatives during this time of the year. Let us, who are more mature in Christ, demonstrate that maturity by acting in love and trusting the Holy Spirit to work in those who don’t know Christ. EVERY EFFORT Our effort cannot be half-hearted. We, who are called to spread the good news of Jesus Christ, must behave in a way that doesn't give unbelievers an opportunity to reject the gospel of Christ. WHAT LEADS TO PEACE In the surrounding verses, the Apostle Paul is talking about food, which we can extrapolate to anything that puts a stumbling block in front of those who have not yet embraced Christ Jesus as their Savior. WHAT LEADS TO MUTUAL EDIFICATION We are to build each other up and encourage one another. Let us not look at our differences but see what we have in common. For Christ-followers, we share in our common love of Jesus Christ. For those who do not yet believe, we share in our human weakness and our need for love. So for the Christ-follower, we share the love of Christ. And for those who don’t know Christ yet, we share the love of Christ. In all things and in all ways, we share the love we have received from Christ, to build each other up through mutual edification. HOW DO WE EDIFY EACH OTHER WITH CHRIST’S LOVE Here are the practical ways we can engage in mutual edification: 1. Active Listening: Practice truly hearing what others say without judgment or the intent to reply, but with the purpose of understanding and empathizing with their perspective. 2. Encouraging Words: Offer compliments, affirmations, and positive reinforcement to acknowledge and uplift others, especially during challenging times. 3. Service in Love: Actively look for opportunities to serve others in love, be it through helping with practical needs, offering your time, or sharing resources. 4. Prayer and Spiritual Support: Pray for one another and provide spiritual support. Share scriptures and spiritual insights that offer encouragement and guidance. 5. Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Promote peace by being quick to forgive and seek reconciliation, letting go of grudges, and encouraging others to do the same. 6. Teaching and Mentoring: Share your knowledge and experiences to guide others in their faith journey, offering wisdom and insight in a loving and humble manner. 7. Hospitality and Sharing: Open your home and life to others, sharing meals, celebrations, and everyday life, fostering a sense of community and belonging. 8. Honest and Constructive Feedback: Provide honest yet loving feedback to help each other grow, always speaking the truth in love and with the intention to edify. 9. Celebrating Each Other’s Successes: Be joyful and celebratory about the achievements and milestones of others, acknowledging and praising their growth and success. 10. Being Present in Times of Need: Stand by each other during trials and tribulations, offering a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or whatever support is needed. CONCLUSION As ministry and marketplace leaders, our actions need to embody Christ's love and contribute to a community of mutual edification, where each member feels valued, supported, and encouraged to grow in faith and love, no matter where they are in the journey. We can’t judge others and know when and where Christ is calling them to follow Him. All we can do is love everyone with Christ’s love, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and mutually edify each other. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 25, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. I’ve recently found myself being politically correct and falling into the trap of saying “Happy Holidays.” As I interface with an increasingly polarized world where those who love Jesus Christ are seen as radicals, I hesitate to reveal my allegiance to Christ. The Apostle Peter had a similar problem, so if you also struggle at times, take comfort—you are not alone. It is easy to admit we’re Christ followers when we are in the midst of sisters and brothers in Christ. It may cause some discomfort to talk freely about this when we are around those that are strongly opposed to the Gospel of Christ.
Of course, the slight persecution I feel at times is nothing compared to that of the early church. As I write this blog, I know it for a Christ-following audience. With complete abandon, may I wish you a very Merry Christmas! May we also summon the courage and reckless abandon as we wish those who do not believe in Christ the same. We are blessed to be able to say that openly and freely without getting stoned to death or experiencing threats on our life. We don’t lose our jobs over it, nor have any serious consequences. Let’s embrace being uncomfortable this Christmas and freely wish others a Merry Christmas, even if it costs us somewhat socially or politically. May each of you have a blessed and holy time with your loved ones, and may Christ continue to bless you with His bountiful love, goodness, and grace. May the peace of Christ dwell in your hearts, and that of your family, and may you have a time of refreshment and renewal as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. As ministry and marketplace leaders, you have led through a difficult year. 2023 was not easy. May you have time to relax for a little bit, recharge your batteries, and come into 2024 rested and strong. I pray that Father God will continue to shower His love on us, Christ will continue to reveal to us His will, and the Holy Spirit continue to guide us in carrying it out. May the blessings of Christ be more abundant than ever in our lives. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 22, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. My home was burglarized last year, and the thieves absconded with $7,000. We later found out it was our gardener. In criminal justice circles, this is called an "inside job." Similarly, twenty years ago, I had a bookkeeper embezzle money from my company – another example of an inside job.
Our true spiritual condition can be seen as an inside job. God warns us: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matthew 7:15 NIV). Strong words indeed. How much more so is this true if this scripture is applying to us! As ministry and marketplace leaders, we are adept at putting up a good exterior for those we lead. The people we shepherd see in us what we want them to see. What they don't see is our true spiritual condition. It can be said that our spiritual growth and maturity, or decline and degradation, is an inside job. Many leaders can bear great-looking fruit, but in the end, it is bitter because the roots are sucking up contaminated water, causing the entire tree to produce fruit not fit to eat. I am thinking of preachers who baptize people on Sunday morning and watch pornography Sunday night or business leaders who serve as Elders in their church but treat their employees poorly. “By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit” (Matthew 7:16-17 NIV). Unfortunately, there are many ministry and marketplace leaders who look like they are good trees but are actually rotting from the inside out. In my experience as a speaker and teacher, it is very easy for pride to slip in and poison our roots. If we are not clear that all of our sustenance comes from Christ, we can start believing our own press releases. Pride comes before every fall. We can think, in our own foolishness, that we are the ones causing the ministry or marketplace fruit to appear. However, as we delve into God’s Word, it is clear that the living waters of Christ are essential for any fruit that we bear. Yet, it is easy to forget this truth when the world is giving us accolades. As ministry and marketplace Christ-following leaders, we must walk in humility and deference to Christ and bear only good fruit. “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit, you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:18-20 NIV). CONCLUSION Satan and his demons are the thieves that want to gain a foothold so they can cause our deformation, decline, and deterioration, from the inside out. Christ will protect us from this if we stay rooted in the living waters of the Holy Spirit, filled with Christ’s love and power. May we always be clear that the fruit of our ministry or marketplace success is firmly rooted in Christ. Let’s not take any credit for our righteousness. It is only by the grace of God that we can function in our roles. Let us ensure that we are bearing good fruit at home, with our family, where it counts the most. And of course, let’s make sure we stay fully connected to the vine of Christ, rooted in Him, the Author of all Good Fruit. After all, being a true and faithful Christ-follower is also an inside job. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 21, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Last night, I asked my 24-year-old daughter, "What is the best book you have ever read?" What I wanted to hear was the Bible, of course. Instead, she told me it was The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
The Four Agreements is a humanistic book, published in 1997, and has been a global bestseller and international sensation. Why? I believe it is because it is founded on four very sound principles, even though I totally disagree with its premise. Based on an erroneous Toltec philosophy that is the epitome of humanism, this belief system contends that our perception of reality—and therefore the way we think, feel, and behave—changes based on what we believe. While the underlying premise is wrong, the four agreements which are the subject of this widely-read book are sound. They are:
Following are the Four Agreements. I have provided three scriptures for each Agreement, letting God speak for Himself through His Word. BE IMPECCABLE WITH YOUR WORD “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18 NIV "But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words, you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37 NIV DON’T TAKE ANYTHING PERSONALLY “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” Proverbs 19:11 NIV “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” James 1:19-20 NIV "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2:23 NIV DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13 NIV “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:5 NIV “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2 NIV ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 NIV “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV Philippians 4:13: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." CONCLUSION The world is filled with humanistic thoughts and beliefs that are very popular. Satan and his demons do not mind man believing in himself and his own power. The war occurs when man starts worshiping his Creator. That is what threatens the evil one. 99% truth is still a lie. Let us help others to see where all wisdom comes from Christ, and the only Agreement we need is the New Covenant as laid out in great detail in the New Testament. Now, if we could simply get people to read it for themselves. It is also by a best-selling Author. I will close with one of my all-time favorite passages: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 NIV Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 20, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Friends, bitter roots are dangerous to our relationship with Christ and our accomplishment of His mission for us on earth. Consider this scripture:
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:14-15 NIV BITTER ROOT DEFINED “In Hebrew culture, any poisonous plant was called a 'bitter' plant. Poison destroys, and the result of ingesting a poisonous plant would be bitter, indeed. The author of the book of Hebrews uses a 'bitter root' as a metaphor for that which would bring harm to the church.” - Gotquestions . org SYMPTOMS OF A BITTER ROOT Symptoms of a bitter root would be any actions that harm the church at large, our individual local churches, or ourselves. As ministry and marketplace leaders, our sheep are those God has given us to lead. As we strive to provide leadership, we must check our attitudes and our actions to see that there is no bitter root growing in our midst. This goes for each of us personally, as a whole, corporately, and throughout the global church community of Christ-followers. ACTIONS TO TAKE TO REMOVE A BITTER ROOT As I search my heart to see why God has me writing about this today, two reasons come to mind. First, Christ wants me to avoid growing a bitter root about some things. There are certain people that I know that put a lot of energy into having an appearance of holiness, that are faking it. What you see on Sunday morning is one thing, and what they do behind the scenes when no one is looking is another. I must extend God’s grace to them and avoid letting that color my willingness to co-labor with them for the cause of the Gospel of Christ. Second, Christ wants all His ministry and marketplace leaders to extend a bountiful amount of grace to everyone. We are told in this passage of Hebrews to “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God.” “No one” are the operative words. Let us give a never-ending flood of grace to those people and organizations that seem to have gone astray and are failing to be holy (in our estimation). Let’s strive to live in peace with everyone. And let us avoid a bitter root growing up in our own heart and in the heart of others. CONCLUSION I’m reminded of this scripture: “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Luke 6:42 NIV I think we can substitute the words “bitter root” for “speck” and be accurate. First, may we look to ourselves, see if there are any bitter roots growing inside of us, no matter how slight they may be. Then, let’s apply the healing balm of Christ’s forgiveness so we can see clearly to help remove bitter roots wherever we may find them in the community of Christ-followers. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 19, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Think back to the most delicious meal you can remember. Recall the feelings of intense pleasure as your taste buds were enraptured. Remember the bliss as you smiled in ecstasy and savored that amazing moment. Savor it again now, as this memory helps you relive that culinary pleasure. As we savor moments like these, so too, we ought to savor Christ.
Yesterday, in my quiet time, this idea of “savoring” was impressed upon me by the Holy Spirit, and I asked for permission to make this today’s blog topic. I sensed that Christ was pleased that I was savoring him and equally pleased that I wanted to share this moment with you. Now my job is to somehow find scriptures to back up this idea of savoring Christ. As it turns out, there are some very beautiful passages that also use a similar metaphor. TASTE AND SEE "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8 NLT) This invitation beautifully encapsulates the offer to fully experience Christ’s goodness. To accept, we must surrender fully to the overpowering, all-consuming love of our Savior. Only then can we fully savor the goodness of God and experience the blissful joy as we ingest Jesus Christ, our Lord. Questions to ask: Am I savoring Christ and our relationship? Am I fully taking in the Body and Blood of Christ in a deep way, and is the result joy? BEYOND BREAD What truly nourishes us? When questioned: “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” (Matthew 4:4 MSG) Our Savior also went further. “Jesus replied to them, “I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]." (John 6:35 AMP) Questions to ask: Is the deep, fulfilling sustenance that Christ offers filling you? If so, how can you better help others have that same experience? If not, what can you do to gain that type of relationship? THE RICHEST FOOD The Old Testament is also rich with metaphors that lead us to savor Christ. For example, “You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.” (Psalm 63:5 NLT) Questions to ask: How can we become more deeply satisfied with Christ? How can we savor our relationship to a greater degree? CONCLUSION We can find deep satisfaction and joy in Christ, akin to the pleasure of a delightful meal. Just like we savor the flavors and textures of a delicious meal, so can we savor the spiritual richness and fulfillment found in Christ. May we all savor God more fully and completely every day. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 18, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Dear Lord, thank you for your Holy Word, which breathes new life into us every morning.
One of the things that I love most about being a Christ-follower is the “absolutes” that abound as a secure island amidst a human sea of relativism. ABSOLUTE MERCY "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease." - Lamentations 3:22 (NLT) May the never-ending love of our Father permeate our being and radiate His love to all. ABSOLUTE FAITHFULNESS "Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning." - Lamentations 3:23 (NLT) May the daily mana of Christ’s mercy bathe us in forgiveness and restoration as we faithfully sit with Him in prayer and meditation. ABSOLUTE HOPE "I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!'" - Lamentations 3:24 (NLT) May the Holy Spirit fill us with overflowing hope in our eternal rewards that await us as adoptees into the Kingdom of God. Father God, thank you for today’s message of your enduring love and mercy. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 15, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Dear Friends,
If you have been following this daily devotional over the years, you know it has evolved from the beginning of my postings of two-way prayer to more structured devotionals. Today, I felt led to return to the early days of the blog, where I simply posted my daily “conversations with Christ.” My reason for posting this transcript is to encourage you to have your own conversations with Christ. Albeit a learned skill, any Christ-follower can have this two-way dialogue with God. It is not reserved for those especially equipped to hear God. All it takes is a willingness to practice and faith that God is able to converse with you. Don’t expect to hear an audible voice, but just listen to the impressions Christ places on your heart as you sit with your Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, and the other two persons of the Blessed Trinity: God the Father and the Holy Spirit. If you are curious to read someone's unedited, private conversation with Christ, read on. If you are inspired to have your own two-way prayer time, even better. May your time with God be rich, regular, and reinvigorate you to dive deeper into a relationship with Christ, Lord of All. TRANSCRIPT OF TODAY’S CONVERSATION WITH CHRIST Good morning Father. Good morning Jesus. Good morning Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God. No, I don’t understand this. Can you help me know who I should be praying to? Dear child, you can choose any one of the personhoods of God, but we are one. No, you will not grasp this as a human being. Yes, you will understand this in heaven. Well, Jesus always prayed to the Father, and always showed deference to Him. I shall pray to the Father today. As you wish. I am here listening to you and having communion with you, child. Father God, I have missed these simple two-way prayer dialogues. The pressure of putting out a daily devotional sometimes takes me away from just “being” with you, with no special agenda. Today, I am not worried about producing anything. Just basking in the glow of you and your unconditional love for me. Thank you for that love. Dear child, I do love you, and all those who call out to me to save them. Yes, that is the key point, isn’t it? That we need to cry out to you, God of all that is seen and unseen, to save us. We need saving. We need to be rescued from our sinfulness that all stems from wanting to be equal to you. We want to be able to run our little lives and control our little world. And it does not work. We are not able to survive without you. We fail to realize this and think that we can. Time and again it becomes crystal clear to us that we cannot do anything without you, nor do we want to. You are the very life breath that keeps us here. May we never forget that and yield everything to you. My child, you are talking about surrender, which is something you talk to me about often. Yes, surrender to me and my Holy Spirit is critical for you to experience life on earth to the fullest. Living apart from a Spirit-led life will always leave you empty and wanting to fill the void with something. And the only solution that works is me and my Holy Spirit. Lord God, I truly desire your Holy Spirit to control my life. I do surrender to you. Please forgive me for any time where I have sinned against you. Please cleanse and purify me and make me into the man you want me to be. You are clean before me, child. Go in peace. Be filled with the joy of knowing me. Surrender all to me, and the blessings you will receive by doing so will easily replace what you are giving up. CONCLUSION I regret that my time has run out, and I need to prepare for work now. This prayer and meditation time has been rich and rewarding. I feel much more connected to Christ than when I first sat down to pray. Perhaps you will try this yourself. It all starts with sitting with God and starting a conversation. What to say? Start with “Good morning Lord” and let it go from there. Christ is your best friend if you are a Christ-follower. He is always there for us. He will always hear us. He will always move in our spirit to let us know how much He loves us. We just have to spend the time and effort to develop this skill of conversational prayer. PRAYER May your prayer times be enriched with this method of communicating with Christ. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 14, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Yesterday, my blog was on "The Greatest Covenant"–that being the New Covenant, as detailed in the New Testament. Today happens to be our wedding anniversary, so I was inspired to write about the marriage covenant.
First, I must say I am deeply grateful to my wife, Patty, for the covenant of marriage we share, and I celebrate her as a godly woman who is a credit to the description we find in Proverbs 31. I am most grateful to Christ for blessing me with a "lifetime" wife–she is perfectly suited to span a lifetime with me, and that is saying a lot. Marriage is sacred. God ordained this institution. We who are so blessed to have the tremendous gift of a spouse must respond with devotion, loyalty, and selflessness. Many ministry and marketplace Christ-following leaders have fallen and failed in their marriages. Satan has a target on the back of all spouses. The only way to win at long-term marriage, from what I have learned, is by faithfully walking in obedience to Christ, daily mutual prayer, and constant focused work to grow together as a Christ-following couple. MARRIAGE BY THE BOOK When Patty and I married, we agreed to base our entire marriage on Christ and His Holy Word. Verses like Ephesians 5:25-33 have been very meaningful. This passage speaks about the love and respect that should exist between husbands and wives, comparing it to Christ's love for the church. And of course, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Often referred to in the context of love and marriage, this passage defines love in a patient, kind, and enduring way. Without our mutual submission to Christ and His Word, there would be no hope for us and millions of other ministry and marketplace leaders. PRAYER Lord, please have your way with our marriages. May we glorify you with this sacred covenant we have made to each other as witnessed by you. Please protect us from Satan and his demons who seek to destroy the bond you have created. May we stay under your protection always by walking in obedience to Christ Jesus our Lord and Master. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 13, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent "Conversations with Christ" blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. During quiet time today, I read: “In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites, and our priests are affixing their seals to it.” Nehemiah 10:38 NIV
Agreements are powerful. It got me thinking about the sacred agreement that God made with us – the most compelling and greatest covenant ever. The last covenant (the New Covenant) is the most powerful and greatest sacred agreement of all time. Established by Jesus Christ, it is the fulfillment and completion of the Old Covenant and emphasizes faith in Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This covenant has Jesus Christ as the mediator. It is the best covenant established on the best promises. “But in fact, the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6 NIV) This binding agreement between God and us has tremendous ramifications. Here is a list of the “better promises:”
Let us unite together in love and stand for a culture that promotes a Biblical worldview as espoused in God’s Word and reinforced by the Manhattan Project’s declaration. As we read in Nehemiah 10:38, let’s come into agreement, no matter what denomination you are from. “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (Amos 3:3 NIV) Let us thrive together in The Greatest Covenant, and let us stand firm against the tide of popular culture that would minimize the sanctity of life, dignity of marriage, or the freedom of religion. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 12, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Friends, many ministry or marketplace leaders go through periods of depression from time to time. There are many reasons for this, such as some type of loss or a series of losses. Events like the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, loss of perceived success, loss of reputation, loss of self-image, and more.
If you find yourself in a state of prolonged sadness, suffice it to say you may be situationally depressed. If you find this is a regular, reoccurring state of mind, your situation may be chronic. This blog is not going to deal with the reasons for depression nor methods for diagnosing the problem. What I will attempt to do is to write about the cure from a Biblical perspective. Before I get started, some cautions:
Throughout the Bible, we have examples of people who were suffering from depression. For example: KING DAVID The Book of Psalms is a treasure trove of emotional expression. It contains numerous passages that resonate with the feelings of those battling depression. For instance, Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." These verses provide solace and a reminder that God is near in times of emotional turmoil. Cure: Turn to Christ more than ever. JEREMIAH THE PROPHET In Lamentations 3:22-23, it's written, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Even in a book filled with grief and mourning, there is a strong undercurrent of hope and faith in God's unwavering love and mercy. Cure: Trust in Christ more than ever. PAUL THE APOSTLE In Romans 8:38-39, Paul speaks words of immense encouragement, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." This passage reassures us of God's eternal love, which remains steadfast even in the darkest times. Cure: Love Christ more than ever. YOUR COMMUNITY The New Testament, in particular, emphasizes the role of community in supporting one another. Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." This verse highlights the importance of supporting one another, especially when one is burdened with the weight of depression. I’ve heard it said that “depression is anger turned inward.” If you are angry at yourself, sharing your situation with your intimate circle of trusted family members and advisors will help. If you have a pastoral or leadership coach, share this with them as well. Cure: Lean on your support network more than ever. CONCLUSION In Revelation 21:4, there is a promise of ultimate restoration: "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." This verse points to a future hope where pain and suffering are no more. Cure: Have hope for “this too shall pass.” Christ offers comfort, hope, and a sense of understanding for those experiencing depression. It's crucial to remember that seeking professional help is also important. Depression is a complex issue that often requires a multifaceted approach, including medical intervention, therapy, and Christ-centered support. The biblical perspective provides spiritual and emotional sustenance, offering a reminder that you are not alone, that your feelings are valid, and that there is hope and healing in the midst of the pain of depression. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 11, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Yesterday, I felt led to blog on “selfish ambition.” Dissensions are another on this list of “acts of the flesh” that we seem to gloss over as ministry and marketplace leaders. I think it is our job to root out dissensions and factions wherever we have influence and create unity and peace with fellow Christ-followers who believe or behave differently than we would like.
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19-21 NIV DISSENSIONS Here are some definitions I found:
FACTIONS Here are definitions from the same three sources I used above.
Grasping the definition of this word changed my perspective on the seriousness of the sin of engaging in or promoting factions. I hope it has done the same for you. CONCLUSION Ministry and marketplace leaders must choose words very carefully, for they have a huge impact on followers who study the meaning of their words. The Apostle Paul, through the leadership of the Holy Spirit, gave us Christ-followers some very specific words to inform our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. PRAYER Dear Lord, help me and other ministry and marketplace leaders influence outcomes that generate more unity and peace and reduce or eliminate dissensions and factions. Lord Jesus, we know that this starts at home, with our spouses, family, and friends. Help us to lead by following you and your example. May we be wise as serpents and gentle as doves as we navigate difficult political and social situations. And may we have the character of a person of your peace and love. Amen. CHRIST’S REPLY My spirit senses this might be Christ’s reply: "Child, it grieves me deeply to see so many conflicts among my people. In Heaven, we do not have such problems. My desire is for everyone who follows me to be a person who allows my peace and love to permeate their relationships with all who follow me, and all who don’t." OUR REPLY What do we say to Christ? He wants us to spread peace and love. How can we do that if we are creating dissensions and factions? May we repent of these sins, and may we lead others to do likewise. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 8, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Friends, this morning I read the Book of Galatians to kick off my quiet time of prayer and meditation.
This passage stood out as I asked Christ for direction on what to write about today. "19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." - Galatians 5:19 NIV THE FLESH This list of sins covers the gamut from the most severe to the seemingly most innocuous. Mixed in with this list from the Apostle Paul of blatant evil behaviors are:
DANGERS OF AMBITION For me, and probably many of you, selfish ambition is the act of our flesh that is most difficult to resist. As devoted Christ-followers called to ministry and marketplace leadership roles, we must examine ourselves daily and allow Christ to root out any and all selfish ambition. INTERNAL FRUIT We cannot and should not judge the motives of our fellows. We don’t know what is in the heart of fellow pastors, ministry, and marketplace leaders. We can certainly feel uncomfortable seeing some of their behaviors, and when we hear about one of our fellow’s moral or ethical failures, we can then realize that the fruit that appeared spoiled was indeed rotten. BACKSTAGE MOTIVES My friend Jimmy Dodd is famous for championing this view of “Front Stage/Back Stage” to describe the problem. The public-facing self (front-stage) can look very good, while the private, behind-the-scenes self can be rotten to the core. Only Christ can truly know our heart of hearts. Do we have selfish ambition? Are we doing things under the guise of servant leadership when they are really, in some part, selfish and self-serving? Do we secretly desire the spotlight so the world sees us as a worthy Christ-follower? Is our self-worth wrapped up in our accomplishments, title, or position? Do we want more growth of our ministry or business for selfish reasons, or is what we are doing truly for the glory of God alone? CONCLUSION Idols are everywhere. This quote neatly sums up the message I believe Christ has given me to broadcast today: “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” - 1 John 5:21 NIV PRAYER Father God, help us who are called to leadership to avoid being led by our flesh. May we only be led by your Holy Spirit and fully surrender to you. May our surrender be complete, in all ambitions, and may we only strive to accomplish that which you desire us to pursue, for your glory and honor, and not our own. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 7, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Friends, this morning, as I was praying about the pressure to publish a daily blog and how it sometimes interferes with the quality of my daily time of prayer and meditation, I asked God: “Do I have the freedom to stop posting?” I think I heard Him say “yes,” but that it is up to me. I felt freedom, and that feeling inspired this blog post. I hope it blesses you.
FREEDOM IN CHRIST Some ministry and marketplace leaders think there is only one way to follow Christ— their way. Some think there is only one way to do secular work— their way. This black-and-white thinking flies in the face of Christ and the freedom He gives us. If this is you, you are not free. You are bound by your own limited understanding of Christ, and your blinders are preventing you from seeing the bigger picture. To get free from black-and-white, either/or thinking, several steps are required. Here is my take on seven steps to experience greater “Freedom in Christ.”
These seven steps help to realize the tremendous freedom found in Christ— freedom from legalistic adherence to the law, the power of sin, and the condemnation it brings. It leads us to live a life with Christ of love, service, and faith. Your aspiring (and free) servant, Daniel M. December 6, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. Friends, this theme was inspired by a song I had during my workout this morning. Our roots are in Christ, our reach is to those He puts in our lives, and the realm in which we operate is in the Spirit.
Ministry and marketplace leaders need to be firmly rooted in Christ, so we can role model behavior for others. We must reach those, especially those closest to us, for our ministry starts at home. And we must keep an eternal perspective, living and thinking in the realm of the Spirit. ROOTS • Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV): "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." • Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT): "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit." REACH • Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV): "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." • Hebrews 13:16 (NLT): "And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." REALM • Romans 8:5 (NIV): "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." • Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT): "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are His house, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord." CONCLUSION We are rooted in Christ, reaching out to others in His love, and living in the realm of the Spirit. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 5, 2023 POSTSCRIPT:Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. There is no standing still; we are either growing closer to Christ or slipping away.
Are you growing closer to Christ? Is your intimacy with Christ more vibrant than ever before? How can you tell? Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to better assess where you are at spiritually. FOUR OBJECTIVES FIRST OBJECTIVE: Determine your Eternal Focus Intensity Question to Ask Yourself: Am I increasingly focused on the heavenly, eternal prize in Christ? "I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." - Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT) SECOND OBJECTIVE: Determine the degree that I am progressively fulfilling the Great Commandments. Question to Ask Yourself: Am I living like Jesus did, and loving people with the love of Christ? "But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did." - 1 John 2:5-6 (NIV) THIRD OBJECTIVE: Determine if I am progressively implementing all that Christ has taught me? Question to Ask Yourself: Am I actually doing all I know to do, that the Bible teaches me to do? "But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." - James 1:22-25 (NLT) FOURTH OBJECTIVE: Determine the degree of Great Commission Productivity Question to Ask Yourself: Am I increasingly effective and productive in following Christ in fulfilling the Great Commission? "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) CONCLUSION Asking ourselves these questions can help us see if we are progressing or slipping back in our intimacy with Christ. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 4, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. We, who are called to ministry and marketplace leadership, must purify ourselves on a daily basis.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:1-3 NIV) Yesterday, I missed my morning quiet time for the first time in many months. I could tell that there was a decreased connectedness with Christ. Just as the people of Israel depended on fresh manna on a daily basis, so we too need a fresh connection with Christ every single day. DAILY PURIFICATION “All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:1-3 NIV) No matter how mature we are as Christ-followers, there is no substitute for our daily purification before Christ. We are all His children, and those that have been called to leadership are even more accountable for role modeling the behavior all Christ-followers should be engaged in. One such discipline is purification. Personally, I find this happens best in my daily quiet times. It is here that I can ask Christ to search my heart and reveal anything that I may have on my soul that has displeased Him. It is a daily discipline. FOUR DAILY DISCIPLINES I am reminded of the A.C.T.S. methodology that I often employ in my quiet times:
THE BEAUTIFUL BASICS For many of you, what I am saying may seem remedial. However, I would remind you that even the best sports athletes go back to the basics to stay in top condition. May we all employ these spiritual disciplines for our daily purification. Yesterday’s manna is not the fresh bread of life that is most nourishing for our souls. Also, Christ-followers who are leaders must role model this behavior for others. CONCLUSION Today, in my quiet time before writing this blog post, Christ reminded me that I am His child. At 66 years old, I am still a child? Yes! When I come into the presence of Christ, I feel like a child approaching a totally loving Father. As I crawl into my Father’s arms, He examines me for blemishes. And, as I submit myself for examination, I feel a wave of spiritual peace and love flow over and through me. I am at home. My soul connects with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I am purified. All thanks for this be to God, for it is He who purifies us. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. December 1, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. I believe we are called to be in this world, but not enamored or fooled into thinking this is our home.
As scripture informs us: 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17 NIV) I think our Father is very clear: V15: Do not love ANYTHING in this world. That is heavy. So, it is clear that I am to stay detached from what this world has to offer and to RESERVE my love for eternal things:
This world is passing away. I need to keep my focus on Christ’s love. V17: Loving God is EVERYTHING. “Love is a desire for and a delight in the welfare of the one loved.” R.A. Tory ANYTHING other than Christ will NEVER satisfy me. NOTHING of this world will EVER satisfy me. EVERYTHING Christ offers will FOREVER satisfy me. NEVER, EVER, EVER will this world satisfy me. CONCLUSION AND PRAYER Father God, your love has transformed us, is transforming us, and will transform us. You have loved us, do love us, and will love us for eternity. Your love is all we need. It meets all of our needs and feeds our soul with the only nourishment that will ever truly satisfy. Amen. Your aspiring servant, Daniel M. November 30, 2023 POSTSCRIPT: Dear friends, if this daily, transparent “Conversations with Christ” blesses you, please go to www.SOLIDpastors.org, where you will find these posted, and a repository of all, in English and Spanish. If you ever want to chat, you can reach me at [email protected]. May Christ bless you richly as you have your own intimate, daily conversations with Christ. |
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