There have been, are, or will come difficulties and hardships in our lives; this is sure.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For those that choose to face their problems alone—whether that choice is motivated by fear, shame, or pride—they will fail to move past them once they’re over.

If we do not walk with God through the course of a trial, and allow Him to share our heartache and pain—with prayers, tears (and sometimes some yelling)—our hearts will grow some callouses with the pride of having conquered that problem on our own.

If we’re not careful, we can allow such things to define us, and instead of moving through it, we may ultimately bring it with us, into the present; and into the future. If we don’t let that thing go and allow it to become a part of God’s bigger story—in which we have important roles, we will ultimately hold onto it as an anthem to be replayed again and again.

I approached God this morning on my knees. As my king, I approach the throne as his servant. Humbly requesting attendance with him. And I asked him to hold his blessings and his instructions for me until I confessed my sins to him.

I had to explain that I had sinned against him and his kingdom, and as a result he may need to reconsider his position. These very sins prevent me from being an effective servant in his kingdom, and before I continue to serve he must know of my transgressions so that he may judge me and determine my usefulness.

My greatest sin is pride. I so often see myself as more important than I am, and in a position of authority greater than I have been given.

By nature, I am a sluggard. I do not want to do anything, especially those things that are difficult. I have been given a responsibility to care for my body, and even have a gym membership that would allow me opportunity to better myself for his glory. But because I am lazy and selfish, I find it very difficult to adhere to any regular program.

I often wrestle with accepting my identity in Christ.  While many characteristics have been given to me, and have transformed me into a new creation, I often find myself “held back” by seeing me as I have always been:  broken and defective.

And while I have often considered the need to purposefully look at others through the eyes of God—so that I can more fully apply my Christ-like qualities toward them—I have discovered that I’ve never really thought of applying that logic to me directly.

Until recently, it never occurred to me to see myself as God sees me.  But indeed, this is the key.

During my current study of the Gospel of John, attention has been brought to the situation at the Last Supper where Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.

Being mindful that the author was retelling these stories some 40-50 years after the fact, and that he provides the special privilege of seeing and explaining to us both the practical and the spiritual implications of this and other events to which he testifies.

We’ve undoubtedly heard this event woven into at least one pastoral message at some point. But I’d like to share a couple of details that may have gone a little below the radar.

How many times has Jesus called out to me and asked me to climb out of the boat? And how many of those times he asked, did I? But in the times I did, I was amazed at how easily I could do things I didn’t think I could do; things I could only do with Jesus leading. He makes me bold, and gives me the power to do such great things.

But too often, when I stop moving towards Jesus, I am given the opportunity to look around and see the reality of the world around me, and the waves seem so much higher than they did before. One moment I am in awe of His love and power, and I feel invincible and unstoppable because He is there, walking by my side or walking ahead and showing me the way. But just for a moment, I take my eyes off Jesus, and the waves consume me. I sink into what I see as reality, and turn off his power like a switch.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:22-25

I love God. I tell him this regularly. I find myself often overcome with thanksgiving and praise, and talk a great deal about what I’m willing to do for him. But lately, I find myself growing concerned with how I love him.

How does he know? What evidence is there in my life of my love and commitment to his ways and his words? I’ve heard the discussionary question asked, “If you were arrested and sent to court for being a disciple of Jesus, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”

There is a tendency for many Christians to refer to those outside the kingdom of God as “lost,” but the context of this label is lost (no pun intended) on them, and sounds much more like an insult than a reference of love.

Jesus referenced lost sheep several times throughout his ministry Matthew 10:6, Matthew 15:24, yet did not imply that people had “lost their way”, and were wandering, aimless. Rather, he was specifically expressing that they had been lost, and were very valuable to him and he was (is) desperate to recover them.

Then Jesus told [his disciples] this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'” Luke 15:3-6

Now, not everyone in his audience was a parent yet, so he used the shepherds’ reference so that everyone could relate to his point.  Now I don’t know about you, but as both a parent and a child, I have been in the position of both “being lost” and “having lost,” in the sense of being separated.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Broad is the road to destruction, narrow that which leads to life. But unlike the memorable poem “The Road Not Taken,” by Robert Frost, these two roads do not run in different directions. They seem, in fact, to be parallel, one over the other, akin to the path of a miniature golf course: all players start at the same “tee”, but the ball must be struck into the center target—a little to the left or to the right and the ball finds itself in a more difficult area.

And so, we find ourselves walking, running—most of us stumbling—along the same path.  But in the center of this broad path is a narrow, paved lane. This is the slow lane, of course, but it is lined with the things of Heaven, and it is within this narrow part that Jesus walks with us. It is a very bright lane, and most seem to avoid it, putting on their sunglasses (or blindfolds) and falling to the outer edges of the road where it is darker.

A sacrifice, as a noun, is defined as:

the offering of an animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession [usually of great personal value]; or the person, animal, or thing so offered.

In both cases, however, the sacrifice is an offering that is hopefully pleasing to whom it is being offered. Throughout Old Testament history, we see various examples of sacrifices, offered for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways.

One of the earliest recorded examples of an offering is seen in Genesis 4:3-5. Abel’s offering was recognized by God as a sacrifice, since he brought to God his “first fruits”, the most valuable parts of his possessions. He was surrendering these prized possessions because he believed God was worth more, and he felt that only his “best” was suitable. As a result, his offering was found favorable to God, while Cain’s offering was not. Cain did not offer God his best, and it was, therefore, no sacrifice to give it up.

The Latin sacrificium is equivalent to sacri- (a combining form of sacer [holy]) + -fic-, (a combining form of facere [to make]). To “make holy”, where holy means “to be dedicated or devoted to the service of God.” Set apart, to be used for God’s purpose.

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. Genesis 2:3

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

So, God can either choose to declare something as holy, or accept something that we’ve declared to be holy, set apart for Him, by freely offering that something to Him. But, as in the case of Cain, what good does it do us if we offer God the things that are of no great consequence to us?

What’s it mean to be tuned in? A popular online dictionary defines tune (noun) as “an agreement in pitch; unison; harmony.” As a verb, its defined as “to bring (someone or something) into harmony” or, in the context of radio, “to adjust so as to receive the signals of a particular transmitting station.”

So often I find myself missing the larger blocks of time with God. While I don’t want to get trapped in any fixed procedure in my time with Him, I am careful not to be too rigid in when I read my Bible or pray, while being as regular in these moments as I can. But I tell you, because I “pray continually” and “give thanks in all circumstances” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, reading God’s Word is where I really falter.

Reading more in my next sitting to make up for it doesn’t mean anything, because it’s that daily immersion—not just reading—that tunes me in to God’s way of thinking. If the Father is speaking to me through His Word, but I’m not tuned in, how can I hear Him?  How can I be aligned with His will if I’m not aligned with His broadcast?