For Someone Like Me

For Someone Like Me

Sometimes it’s hard to believe how fortunate we are that God loves us.  In a society that tries to convince us of guilt-free living and self-esteem theology, we can downplay the depths that Jesus went to save us from our sins and assume that we really deserve it after all.  But the truth is, God took an active step in giving us mercy (what we don’t get that we do deserve) and grace (what we do get that we don’t deserve) so that we might be called His children.

I am reminded of a story that conveys a modern parable.   During the war in Vietnam, a young West Point graduate was sent over to lead a group of new recruits into battle.  He did his job well, trying his best to keep his unit from ambush and death.  But one night when they had been under attack, he was unable to get one of his men to safety.  The soldier left behind had been severely wounded.  From their trenches, the young lieutenant and his men could hear him in pain.  They all knew any attempt to save him- even if it was successful- would almost certainly mean death for the would-be rescuer.

Eventually the young lieutenant crawled out of hiding toward the dying man.  He got to him safely but was killed before he could save himself.  After the rescued man returned to the United States, the lieutenant’s parents heard that he was in their vicinity.  Wanting to know this young man whose life was spared at such a great loss to them, they invited him to dinner.

When their honored guest arrived, he was obviously drunk.  He was rowdy and obnoxious.  He told off-color jokes and showed no gratitude for the sacrifice of the man who died to save him.  The grieving parents did the best they could do to make the man’s visit worthwhile, but their efforts went unrewarded.

Their guest finally left.  As the dad closed the door behind him, the mother collapsed in tears and cried, “To think that our precious son had to die for somebody like that.”  That’s what Jesus did.  We can’t mistake the point of the story.  Whether the issues are drunkenness, rebellion, pride, choices, unforgiveness, selfishness, or attitude, they all fall into the category of sin…and we must never forget God loves us anyway.

During Jesus’ final days leading to the cross, He was making His way toward Jerusalem when the Bible tells us that He stopped and cried over the city.  More specifically, He cried over individual people who could not see what was about to be done in order to bring hope and life.  Rather than gratitude, they had disgust, and instead of love, they offered hatred.

There are a couple of things we might remember to do:

1)    Thank Him for His unconditional love.

Romans 5:8 says, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” While we had nothing to offer but brokenness, He gave us His love.

2)    Thank Him for His healing power.

Isaiah 53 says, “By His stripes, we are healed.”  He has offered an answer. 

There is no better time than right now to respond to His unconditional gift that was given…for someone like you and someone like me.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   What sin(s) in your life astounds you that Christ was willing to forgive?

2)   Express your praise to Him with sincerity for all He has done for you.

Consider reading the word today:

Copyright 2015 - Terry Risser

Muddy Mansions and Clean Hearts

Muddy Mansions and Clean Hearts

If you were to describe your dream home, I doubt that it would be anything like David Owen’s. This man doesn’t dream of an extra home near the beach, in the mountains, or at the end of a country road.  It wouldn’t be in a different state, or even a different town.  It would be right up the street from his first home, maybe a couple doors away.

In one of those Home magazines, he described his dream of a second home.  It would be the kind of place where, when you go inside, you would not have to wipe your feet.  It would not have coasters, doormats, fancy guest towels, or any surface on which you couldn’t rest your feet.  Upstairs, each wall would have a hundred hooks, posters with tape, and thumbtacks or drywall screws without having to ask for them.  They could bathe the dog in the kitchen sink, rollerblade in the living room, and wipe their hands on the seats of the dining-room chairs.  If he and his wife decided to have company over for dinner one night, they wouldn’t have to spend a frantic afternoon picking glitter and Play-Doh out of the dining-room rug.  All that stuff would be up the street, at their second home.  In their first home, they would entertain guests.  That home would be perpetually clean, color co-ordinated, and surrounded by a meticulously manicured lawn.

The Lord said His Father’s house is filled with many mansions.  He is preparing a place for us-a place without messes to pick up, weeds to pull, or sin to cause sorrow or pain.  It’s not just a dream, it’s a very real place.  And, thankfully, its not out of anyone’s reach.

uEntrance into Heaven in available to anyone

When Jesus went to prepare a place for us in Heaven, He went to the cross. That’s where He paid our entrance fee, our ransom.  Anyone who would forsake sin and, by faith in His cleansing blood, follow Him forever; would find, in Him, perfect rest and reconciliation. (John 3:16; 14:1-6)

uExclusion from Heaven is voluntary, not compulsory

The Lord’s passion is for all people to be saved.   The problem is, in so many ways, we’ve chosen sin instead of Him.  No wonder that after surrendering to Him we’re eager to tell everyone about Jesus’ cleansing, redeeming, forgiving and healing blood. (Revelation 22:10-17)

uHeaven will satisfy-even satiate-our deepest longing

Yet in our fullness, we’ll always have room for more fun.  (Revelation 21:1-7) I even believe that I’ll be perfectly clean and organized, yet still put my muddy feet on the sofa.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   What excites you most about Heaven?

2)   Who can you pray for this week to be there with you?

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser

Consider reading the word today:

Copyright 2015 - Terry Risser

Post-Game Praise

Post-Game Praise

“Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will lift you up.”  James

In Living Above The Level of Mediocrity, Chuck Swindoll says, “Our most vulnerable moment, as you may have heard before, is immediately after a great victory…Those who appreciate your stand will say, “Wow! What a great person you are! Wait a minute. Watch yourself at that vulnerable moment. Continually think of yourself as a mirror, reflecting the light of Jesus Christ to them, or as a servant, honoring the Master. Don’t let the crowd get their eyes on you and make an idol out of you. Keep giving God the glory.”

God desires that we give Him the glory.   In last night Super Bowl conclusion, we heard the polar perspectives. While boasting repels others, humility endears us.

The classic story of the Animal Super Bowl between the large animals and the small animals recounts the incredible clash.  The large animals, as you might imagine, were just cleaning up on the smaller animals (There was just no contest). They would kickoff to the rhino and he would receive the ball in the end zone and rumble down the field and an elephant receives the ball at the end zone.   Squirrels were hanging on to his legs.  Butterflies were pecking at his tusk and all kinds of stuff.  It was just miserable.

 At the end of the half, it was large animals 40…small animals 0.  To make matters worse, the smaller animals had lost the coin toss at the beginning of the game…so they had to kick off again to the large Animals. 

Will they kick off and an elephant receives the ball at the end zone.  He started to rumble downfield for a certain score (when “Bam”) he’s dropped dead in his tracks on the five-yard line. 

The first play from scrimmage, they hand off to the hippopotamus…and bam! He’s dropped dead in his tracks. 

The next play, they hand off to the lion (probably from Detroit) and bam! He’s nailed him. 

The third play, they hand off to the cheetah and boom! He’s dropped for a loss.   They figure they can go for it and the gorilla quarterback takes the snap and rolls into the end zone and is ready to throw, but he’s hit and the ball comes loose. 

There is a mad scramble for the fumble and they are all over the place.  The ref starts pulling animals off-large animals, small animals. On top of the ball was this little tiny centipede (touchdown…small animals).  They pick him off the ball.     They say, “Man was that you who hit the elephant on the kickoff?”  He goes, “Yeah, that was me.” They say, “Was that you who hit the hippopotamus and                                    Detriot Lion in the backfield?” He says, “Yeah, that was me too.” They said, “And the cheetah and the gorilla?” Yes, that was me too.” They said, “Man, where were you in the first half?”  He said, “Aw, shucks! I was getting my ankle’s taped.”  Humble indeed! 

Story after Biblical story recounts the “Great” ones who were quick to give God glory after a victory. Moses, Joshua, Gideon, and who can forget…David?  The Psalms were full of Post-Game Praise to the All-Time Undefeated God.  As you move though this week, take time to thank Him.   If done enough, it causes us and others to say, “Wow! What a great God!”

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   Name a provision, an answer, or an area where God deserves praise.

2)   Tell someone what He has done in your life.

Consider reading the word today:

Copyright 2015 - Terry Risser

Making Adjustments

 Making Adjustments

“If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9,10

I can never imagine what it would be like to stand in the pocket of an NFL game and grasp all the complicated defensive schemes coming at you.  It’s simply a different planet down there.  Having spent my 5^th through 9^th grade years playing quarterback in my elementary and junior high years, I got a taste of the wild world of a QB, eventually moving to wide receiver in high school.   The scouting report on me was predictable, “Reminds us of Rice…hands like Jerry, speed like Condoleezza.” 

But a “professional” quarterback’s viewpoint is organized chaos with 325 pounders (who love Quarter Pounders), hoping to break your leg into a set of 6-piece Chicken McNuggets.  Along that path, few have reached the level of Peyton Manning.  While yesterday we talked about Russell Wilson’s spiritual journey, today we find the Bronco’s ole’ number 18 has had his own.  With many NFL marks amassed since 1998, this year alone, he set the record for touchdown passes in a season (55), and most passing yards (5,477), along with many team records. From play action to corner routes, nothing happens until the ball is placed in their hands. Perhaps the QB’s greatest tool is audibilizing (or changing the play) or adjusting at the line of scrimmage. It’s those little changes that are the difference between winning and losing.  

Several news sources have cited the man behind the scenes. In his book Manning, co-authored with his father, Peyton tells the story of a spiritual audible.  His own conversion: "My faith has been number one since I was thirteen years old and heard from the pulpit on a Sunday morning in New Orleans a simple question: 'If you died today, are you one hundred percent sure you'd go to heaven?'”
"It was a big church, and I felt very small, but my heart was pounding.  The minister invited those who would like that assurance through Jesus Christ to raise their hands, and I did.  Then he invited us to come forward, to take a stand, and my heart really started pounding and from where we sat, it looked like a mile to the front.  But I got up and did it, and I committed my life to Christ, and that faith has been most important to me ever since."

Peyton says his four priorities, in order, are: faith, family, friends, and football.  He testifies, "My faith doesn't make me perfect, it makes me forgiven."  He describes his spiritual life: "I pray every night, sometimes long prayers about a lot of things and a lot of people, but I don't talk about it or brag about it because that's between God and me, and I'm no better than anyone else in God's sight."
Little did Peyton, as a 13- year old, realize the stage on which he stands this weekend. He knows the experience of an eternal change or audible ones. Dwight Moody noted, “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do the little things.” As in football, it’s the little things that make the difference whether running into the end zone or into a relationship with Jesus Christ.   

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   When did you first hear about Jesus Christ?  Have you made that commitment?

2)   What was the biggest difference He brought to you?

Consider Reading the word today:

Copyright 2015 - Terry Risser