Meet Jesus : Life’s Flavoring Matthew 5:13

May 5, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 5: 13: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14: Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15: Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Be Salty: Jesus is a challenge to my life. Meeting Him in the early morning hours means letting Him prod into parts of my life that sometimes I would rather hide. But I know His salt is good and will flavor my life. I know His light is kind and will dispel darkness in my life. Then I become the salt. Then I become the light of Jesus.a

Calling someone salty is not always a compliment. It is a term used to describe a somewhat irritating person with a lean toward sarcasm. That is not the saltiness for us. We need savory salt. The kind that makes a person want more not less.

Shiny Shoes: As I shined my shoes for tomorrow, it reminded me of an encounter on the streets of Chicago. A street vendor came up and buffed my shoes with some concoction. None of that mattered. It just mattered to me to look into his eyes and challenge him to a life more fully lived in Christ. He talked about his upbringing and challenges of living on the streets with a yearning for more. It was a simple conversation and his decisions are his to make. Another vendor had attempted the same in New Orleans some time back, but I had no thought of challenging him at the time. Sometimes, I wonder, “What is the difference?” Why do I speak at one time and hold at another? I’d like to think it is sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, but most times when I don’t speak it is sensitivity to the people around me. My candle gets a bushel plopped on top.

ACT! Spread a little salt today. Talk about Jesus. First, think about Him. What is it that challenges your life that exists in His life?

PRAY! Holy Father of love and light. Flavor my life with Jesus today so that I might flavor the lives of others with Jesus. He is so precious, so kind, so alive. So many times, I fail to acknowledge You to others. So many times I put the bushel over the light. Pierce through me so that salt can’t be masked. Flow through me so that the light comes out through the cracks in my fearful bushel. Teach me, Lord. Let the salt of Your word embed in my makeup.

Meet Jesus: The Walk of Persecution Matthew 5:10

April 24, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, … 10: Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The Walk: To walk with Jesus links us with persecution and suffering. His walk on earth was full of many sorrows. Some of those were the normal sorrows all of us endure such as loss of family members, friends being sick and just normal stuff. Some of those sorrows were persecutions from friends and trusted people and strangers. One of His greatest persecutors was the religious leaders of the day. These were men dedicated to God. These were men, whom the Father worked with daily to grow understanding. These should have been friends of Jesus and the message He brought. His message was a fulfillment of thousands of years of promises. These very people turned on the God they worshipped and persecuted Him. We are joined to that persecution when we are joined to Him.

Brian’s Exchange: The exchange was painful. Brian had worked for this company for four years. He had put in countless weekends and nights. Calls came at all hours of the day. Last year, his direct reporting structure had changed. This new vice president was different. During his annual review, Brian had gotten two messages. 1. Prayer has no place at work. 2. You need to be less involved outside of work. The company doesn’t like it.

Why a Problem Now? This had never been a problem before. For years he had been active in the faith community as a volunteer. Now, his personal life was being attacked by his work management. There was nothing active at the work place other than visiting with folks over break and lunch. The attack was devastating. He really had no experience to compare with this. The hardest part was that the organization purported to the public to be linked to a large Southern denomination. To the employees behind the scenes it was something different.

ACT! How do you return blessing for cursing when you are persecuted? Scripture tells us to bless those that persecute us. Have you ever been in the situation of real persecution for your faith? Think of a way to bless those that persecute you for your faith.

PRAY! Father, persecution from anyone is hard. Persecution from those from whom we expect blessing is super hard. How do we survive? How do we handle it? How do we continue in good works even in the middle of the mess? Teach us, Father. Show us the path of Christ. Show us how to reach out and continue to spread the gospel when the environment is hard. Teach us to pray and bless over those that persecute that they might get connected with Christ themselves. Help those that persecute us to have the eyes of their understanding enlightened. Help them to see. Help them to engage love in all they do. Bless them abundantly.

Meet Jesus: Hungry and Thirsty Matthew 5:6

April 12, 2013 by Phil Larson

“So, as soon as you get filled, you find you really only saw a little piece of the whole of your life that He wants.”

Matthew 5: 1: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ….. 6: Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Being filled is a place of comfort in Christ. We all want to be “fat and happy”. When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, He causes that to happen. Not only does He fill us with the righteousness for which we are hungry and thirsty, but He fills us with all other areas. Connected with Christ, we find fulfillment in every area of life. Seeking Him and His righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit, will bring us to fulfillment. Our family, relationships, work, community, and mental contentment will be satisfied. That is not just some promise. It is truth.

Now, of course, He wants you to stay hungry. “Fat and happy” usually leads to “quick to judge others”. So, as soon as you get filled, you find you really only saw a little piece of the whole of your life that He wants. Then you get hungry again and go looking and find bigger answers and that process never stops.

Jesus changed the community to desire righteousness. People just were not satisfied with living according to the world’s mandates after meeting Him. They immediately showed a dissatisfaction with life as it was when connected to Christ. We still do. But He satisfies. He brings us to answers.

As I work on this I am 12 years older than when I first wrote it. Today I am sitting in Starbucks reviewing notes on fathering in preparation to talk to families tonight. I feel so inadequate. I feel really hungry. Old answers just seem hollow. And, then again, some of the old answers are still good and have proven over time to help me grow. Looking into the mirror of time, it is obvious He has changed me to love people more and listen more instead of being so quick with precooked solutions. There is a tolerance and acceptance that people are on a journey and we will get there when we get there.

So I deleted the old story that was put in here in 2006, because I am not the same man and it needs to be retold. Hunger still grips me. Thirst to see people and families content and compassionate and connected burns in my soul. Back then, I just thought about me and my 36 square feet of space. Yes, I am content but not satisfied. I am comfortable but not sitting. I am confident but still seeking.

ACT! Filled? Hungry? Thirsty? Check out that which hungers you. When do you look for more? Is it in relation to Christ’s fulfillment in your life? Is it in relation to something else? Get hungry for His righteousness, His right living, and being positioned totally in Him. That hunger will lead you to satisfaction beyond measure. Write down two items for which you are hungry in Him right now. Just like the “Snickers” commercial. You are only satisfied if you eat it. Search the scriptures on those areas. Memorize the words that apply.

PRAY! Father, I hunger for my family to be complete in You. That is my hunger. I wish to see all my friends connected to Christ. There will never be a total satisfaction in me, Father, until I see my community committed to living fully in You and by charactered and moral principles revealed in Your word. Satisfy my soul, Lord. Show me a way to advance the righteousness of the kingdom in my family and friends and community this week. Don’t let me sit on the sidelines. Launch me into action.

If we can pray for you regarding anything in your life, please let me know. It is an honor when trusted to bless others in prayer. . www.communitytransformationinitiative.org Phil@shepherdok.com

Meet Jesus: Influencer Matthew 4:25

April 8, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 4: 25: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan

Today’s writers, students, and speakers on influence will tell you to work on your immediate circle of people. From that, your circle will begin to grow. Jesus’ circle moved with lightning speed. In short time people were coming from miles away in every direction. North, East, South, and West they came. From outside Israel they came. From inside Israel they came. They came by foot mostly. They crossed rivers. They came.

Babs really did not know what to think of this day. She started out at the coffee shop and met a pastor, who wanted to know what she thought about the recent changes in city government. Then she bumped into a woman from a sister congregation that asked her to tell her friends about an upcoming seminar. Later, some business associates asked her to join them for a round of golf. The same day, the waitress at the restaurant just opened up and began to tell her about her needs at home and her stress in her marriage. All of this seemed too much like a God day. How interesting that He could give acceptance and influence among so many types of people.

ACT! What boundary of thought will you cross today to meet Jesus? Do it!

PRAY! Father, people are willing to cross any boundary to get to Jesus. His influence moves quickly when we expose Him and His love and His power. Help me to show Jesus to my circle of friends today so that others will come. Help me to just stretch out to those around me so that others will cross boundaries to get to the Jesus I have to offer them.

Meet Jesus : Cure All Matthew 4:24

April 7, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 4: 24: And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Years ago, the traveling salesman would present a “cure all.” Take this and whatever ailed you would go away. The problem with it was that it didn’t work. Cod liver oil can just do so much. Epsom salts will melt the ice and cleanse your system, but it won’t heal your heart. Aspirin will thin your blood, and alleviate a fever, and back off headaches, but it won’t cast out demons.

Jesus does it all. Meet Jesus, and you meet the answer. He is a cure all.

Turning 30 with 20 years of experience was fun for Phil. This was great. At 50, he felt physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally at the top of his life. How many people could say that? He had watched so many friends reach 50 depleted and at the end of their game. Here he was at the end of a year of great stress at the top of his game. This Jesus stuff works. He contemplated the day all day. Everyone should have this opportunity. After all, Moses had felt this way at 120, why not feel this way at 30 with 20 years experience.

ACT! What is bothering you that just seems to defy resolution? Give it to Jesus and let Him begin His healing process.

PRAY! Father of Love and Laughter, open me up and do surgery on my expectations. Jesus cures it all. Give me dancing for my mourning. Give me praise for my heaviness. Give me beauty for my ashes. Fill me my cup with Jesus, and I will overflow.

Meet Jesus: Preacher Matthew 4:23

April 7, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 4: 23: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Preaching the gospel of the kingdom was a continual activity for Jesus. Throughout the gospels we meet Jesus, the Preacher. He preached good news. He preached with conviction. When I think of preaching, I think of someone passionate about whom they are, what they say, and their mission and message. Passionately speaking good news is a great description of Jesus.

Preaching is so much fun for me. Yes, it is pensive. Yes, it is work and takes great preparation. Yes, it is sometimes a frustration when the message does not seem to get across. But, preaching is great fun for me. It is the fulfillment of call and passion expressed all at once. Seeing people come alive with the gospel through an illustration or comparison is wonderful fun.

We ought to have fun doing what we are made to do. God made me to be a preacher. This devotion is a preaching of sorts. When it hits home with people, I come alive and thank my Father for His faithfulness. Seeing someone do what they were born to do is so much fun. Do what you were made to do.

ACT! Think on something about which you have passion and conviction. Does it make your blood stir up? Jesus gets stirred up about you being in His family.

PRAY! Father, thanks so much that Jesus gets stirred up about the good news that I can be a member of Your family. I am so excited about being in the kingdom, in the family of God. Stir in me that same passion and conviction that others might be able to meet the same Jesus, the Preacher, whom I know. In me, light the fire to fulfill my call. That for which You have made me make alive in me. I commit myself to it. I joy myself to do it.

Meet Jesus: Healer Matthew 4:23

April 6, 2013 by Phil Larson

If anything, Jesus is a healer. When you connect with Him, you connect with solutions for sickness, peace for pain, and elimination of disease. All of that stuff is decidedly a curse on us due to our sin condition. Jesus came to remove the curse. All descriptions, forms, and expressions of destruction flee in His presence.

Last year was another learning experience for me. After six months of sickness, the Healer appeared. Really, I was looking for Him not healing, when He came.

For six months, I had suffered acid reflux. For six months, I had not slept a full night. For six months, I had altered eating, resting, and other habits. For six months, I had followed the doctor’s orders and taken my pills. Nothing worked.

While going through scripture in my personal study, I noticed the condition was gone. For four days, I had slept with no problems. While looking for Him in the scripture instead of looking for healing, I had found both. He removed my curse while looking to Him the author and finisher of my faith.

ACT! What dis-ease has attached itself to you? Name it. Don’t be afraid. He is present to heal. Give it to Him for solution.

PRAY! Father, all descriptions, forms, and expressions of destruction must flee in the presence of Your Incredible Son, Jesus. Jesus, You are here. You are my master, my Lord, my Savior, my soon coming King. I submit myself and my dis-eases to the healing of Your presence. Jesus, meet me in the chamber of healing. Friend and brother, release me from my pain.

Meet Jesus: Worth Following

April 6, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 4: 21: And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22: And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

The daily drudge can easily cause us to miss opportunity presented. Jesus is such an opportunity. It takes guts to break the daily drudge and follow Him.

He is worth following. He is worth more than our business and busyness. He is worth more than our blood family. He is worth more than any occupying of our time and life. Jesus is just worth following.

In a business meeting recently, it struck me how many originally did not want to be a part of this team. In the beginning, they had resisted and fumed and made noise in private and openly. We persisted together. Now, they were all enjoying prosperity and the team.

One colleague new to the company especially persisted. She continued to present the positive and the pressing needs. She continued to follow up with each team member. What did we need to communicate? How could she help? She had been following. Others followed her following our department’s direction following the executives following the business needs of our customers. What could happen if we fell in line following Jesus like that?

ACT! Follow Him today. Stop the daily drudge for 2 minutes and see if you can hear Him call.

PRAY! Father, I’m listening. I’ve put down my daily drudge, and am listening. Call me. Call me to follow Jesus.

Meet Jesus : Rapid Revision Matthew 4:20

April 4, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 4:20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

This man Jesus can make you jump in a moment. He can make you leave all and follow Him.

That has become a foreign idea in the minds of present Christians. Sacrifice means not watching a movie. Sacrifice means giving one night a week to choir practice so we can be in front of others. Sacrifice means reading our bible five minutes a day.

How weak have we become? Our definition of temptation is a bag of chips sitting on the counter. Lives have been anesthetized to real challenge and real sacrifice.

A friend constantly was working with prostitutes. One day he showed me the bullet holes in his car. A pimp was upset at him for taking a woman off the street so he could talk to her. It was cutting into profits. The bullets

never exited the inside of the door. The bullets were never found. Somewhere between the point blank shot coming at him and the realization that God had protected, I bet he thought about sacrifice. His life was on the line every evening he went to reach those beaten women. His time was robbed from family and friend to give to someone who might never listen.

ACT! What really is sacrifice? How rapid does God want us to respond? How willing are we to do it? What is left undone that He has asked you to do?

PRAY! Father, I believe. Help my unbelief. There is a part of me that loves big screen television and stereo sound. There is a part of me that is more desperate for the easy chair and a great video experience that for loving others. I love my diversions. Yank me from my diversions. Jolt me into a place of immediate obedience. I repent. Help me to disconnect from diversions to hear Your voice and respond

Meet Jesus : Fisher of Men Matthew 4:18

April 1, 2013 by Phil Larson

Matthew 4: 18: And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Peter and Andrew were never the same after meeting Jesus. His nature as a gatherer of men for His Father’s family became their nature. He took a part of them and changed it to work for the kingdom. They gathered fish. He needed men gatherers. Meeting Jesus will change you to gather men and women and children to Him and His Father’s family. No matter what you gather now, He will add gathering men to His family.

My son and I were at the quick gas spot the other evening. A furtive man jumped from behind the car. Assuring us he only wanted to beg some money, he approached. I signaled to him to stay at a distance. This was not the time and place.

The next day, a half a block a way, we went to lunch with my wife. The man slipped from behind a car. I engaged him in conversation as my wife and son went into the restaurant. On the streets over time, I have talked to many such men. Some are harmless. Some are dangerous. Some are unpredictable. This one seemed the latter. He was desperate, either on drugs or suffering from having none, and persistent. Eye to eye, we talked. He began to give me a string of problems and diseases. Mid course, I stopped him and asked him what he was doing with what he was given. He told me he worked painting and then quit in the last seven days. He had already spent the money. It would have been enough for several days in his lifestyle.

He was quick witted. He was strong. He was trapped in somebody done me wrong songs. It would be pitiful to give him a dollar and say the inevitable Jesus loves you stuff. I gave him a few dollars, and I gave him straight advice. Sure, Jesus is my motivation. Do something with what you have. Take your mind and body and put it to work. Quit dwelling on the problems and get focused on the solution. People are helping. Use their help to get up and out. Let Jesus pull you from the sea of problems through His fishermen. Don’t just jump back in the water.

ACT! Think of one person around you that needs to be gathered to Jesus’ family.

What do you need to do to invite them to be a part?

PRAY! Father, help me to be a fisher of men. Jesus has come to my life. He’s met with me and called me to be a fisherman with Him. Help me to see those around me that He wants in the family. Help me to know how to draw them to Him and Your family.