A Sheepish Mistake

Posted on by stevenlucht1

It seems like any social media page or television show has some stretch to whatever truth is out there. (Some more than others.)  Not too long ago, I opened Facebook and saw an article “How to Spot Fake News”. We all know fake news is all around us, but how do we truly know the truth? How can we find fact in a world surrounded with fantasy.

In the beginning of this spring, I was on a walk around a small lake I live near. On this walk I crossed paths with a very unexpected guest. I called him, Mr. sheepish. Yup! That’s right! I saw a sheep standing in the middle of the trail. It looked incredibly thin with mud and its own feces all over it. I couldn’t help but feel some compassion looking at it. As I walked close to the sheep it quickly jumped into the woods and started walking off. I kept walking for a while and decided that I needed to do something and help the guy out. So I quickly ran over to the sheep. While it tried running away, I grabbed the back of its neck. Trying to get Mr. Sheepish to go forward, he wouldn’t move… So, what would any good person do? I rolled up my sleeves and picked the sheep up and carried it to the nearest road. At the road, I thought of a better idea. The sheep kept wanting to get away from me so I took my belt off and made it into a quick leash. Long story short I tried calling for help with my phone, asked people that drove by for help to no avail. I was completely on my own with this sheep for well over an hour. Frustrated and annoyed, I had enough and left the sheep at the side of the road as I walked back to my vehicle and drove home.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but that sheep would teach me more than I thought when it came to truth and love.

So back to truth, what is truth?

If you don’t have a  Bible, I suggest you get it out and open to John 8:32. Based off this verse we know that this “truth” is freeing.  Let us dig even deeper into this amazing truth!

“Teach me your ways,
O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.”
~Psalms 86:11~

God’s Word is Truth! I always imagine the Bible as the most beautiful written love letter between God and us. When we get a love letter (or a letter of any sorts) from someone we admire, do we toss it aside after just reading it once? Maybe throw it in the trash or in the depths of a drawer that we’ll never see it again? OF COURSE NOT! We cherish the letter because it’s from someone we dearly care for. The same goes with the word of God. We ought to take care of the Word of God and often get into it as a beautifully written love letter to us.

In John 17:17 it reads, “Sanctify them in the truth: your word is truth.” The Word of God is the truth! If we truly desire to know truth and where truth comes from, we need to get into the scriptures.  The word “truth” is Alētheia which in Greek is described as a noun. Why is this important you ask? Well, I’ll be happy to explain. If “truth” was as adjective in this passage that would mean it is describing another ultimate truth, and God’s Word would not be the absolute truth. Since “truth” is a noun, it is the absolute truth.

Here is my challenge to us. Open your Bible back to John 8:31-32. We are to abide in God’s word. Meaning to heed or accept and uphold the Word of God. Is our lives showing that we are in obedience with the Bible? If not, are you truly God’s disciple?

“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
~John Bunyan~

“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone that isn’t”
~Charles Spurgeon~

Now I’m not advocating to tear and rip one’s Bible. However, you should be getting into God’s Word on a regular basis. Sunday morning at church is not enough time or effort when you are trying to pursue a personal relationship with God. It is an every day privilege. You cannot convince me you have a strong relationship with God and have dust on your bible. I can not stress enough the importance of getting into God’s Word!

How are you suppose to defend your faith if you don’t find the importance to reading the Bible. We need to stop making up our own faith in what’s right and wrong. The Bible speaks about the ultimate truth from God.

So, all this said, what do we do with this? When we are confronted, how are we suppose to respond?

The first way you could respond is in a sharp manor. The idea that “I’m right and your wrong!” It’s the same thing I did with the sheep. I tried to get the animal to safety and actually help it. That sheep wanted nothing to do with help. After a while, I just got upset with it and left. It wasn’t done in love. Yes, I understand we aren’t going to be going out and telling sheep about Jesus. However, just as the Bible says, we are all like sheep and have gone astray. (Isaiah 53:6)

The other way, and much better way, comes from Ephesians 4:15:

“Rather, speaking the truth in love,
we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”

 

Now, social media, television shows are going to stretch whatever truth is out there. In order for us to keep on the path for Christ, we need to get into the Word of God and seek the truth ourselves. Open God’s love letter today and read what He has to teach you.

That Inevitable Question

Posted on by stevenlucht1

The inevitable question that all single guy or gal is bound to hear when you greet someone they haven’t seen in some time. “So, are you seeing someone” or “Is there anyone special in your life?” Now don’t get me wrong, I believe it’s nice when a person comes into your life and they show a special interest toward your life and how you are doing. However, why does this questioning have such a high priority in our conversations?

I have heard plenty of sermons that taught being single is a gift from God. When we approach each other and start questioning if there is someone special in that persons life, you partly take away the importance of this gift of singleness. I visited an old church not too long ago and within five to ten minutes I was questioned whether I was in a relationship with someone or if I was interested in someone by at least six different individuals. No, it’s not offensive by any means, but where are our priorities?

If we are teaching youth and the body of Christ that singleness is a good thing, why do we keep asking whether one is in a relationship? It seems quite contrary what we should be practicing. Paul teaches in I Corinthians 7:8:

“To the unmarried and the widows
I say that it is good for them to remain single
as I am.” (ESV)

It’s a GOOD thing to be single. Our society teaches that one is weak or inferior to others if they are single. How ridiculous! This couldn’t be further from the truth. The other part is that so many singles believe they will be fulfilled once they are in a relationship with someone else.

There is only relationship that will ever fulfill you and so much more. This relationship comes above all else in life. This is your relationship with God. We neglect this relationship so often. Our conversations should move away from where one is in getting into a relationship with another person and into the pursuit of ones relationship with God. If you know me by any means, I love asking the question, “How’s your relationship with God.” I don’t care how many people say that you have a strong relationship with God. My desire is that you keep pursuing Christ in all that you do. He is the ultimate source of fulfillment.

“If Christ is not all to you He is nothing to you. He will never go into partnership as a part Savior of men. If he be something He must be everything, and if He be not everything He is nothing to you.” ~C.H. Spurgeon.

Push for asking others how their relationship with God is doing and what God is teaching them. That is incredibly more important than asking whether they are interested in someone. Never assume that ones relationship with God is going well. Always pursue into someones life in how you can encourage and grow them in their personal growth in Christ.

“Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.”
~Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)~

If you really want to get to know someone that is walking with the Lord, ask them about that very walk. We need to be more encouraging toward singles in their relationship with Christ. I, like many others, have a desire to some day be in a relationship. However, this desire will never get in the way of my pursuit toward Christ. The more we rely on Christ and His love the more He reveals the beauty of life and what He has in store for our lives. I can not even begin to express all the areas of life God has blessed and I know will continue to bless in my life.

Right into the Heart

Posted on by stevenlucht1

Sunday mornings are by far one of my favorite mornings. Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoy sleeping in, however this morning was a little different.

You see, I’ve been reading this book by Francis Chan: Crazy Love. This morning I really wanted to get through another chapter before going to church. There were some amazing quotes in there. As I was reading Francis Chan’s book, I couldn’t help but think about being called home. No, I’m not talking about my parents house or any other place that is close to my heart, but to my Heavenly Home.

The thought stayed with me as I went to church. Do I really desire to go home? I thought about it plenty of times before. The obvious answer that comes to my head is “DUH”! Then my mind starts thinking about all the things that I want to do in my life yet. The thought of eventually getting married, raising a family, being in the ministry… the list goes on.

…In other words, I wasn’t ready…

So, I went to church and sat down in the usual spot and looked up front to see that today was the day we were to take communion. I bowed my head and prayed that God would put my heart in the right spot and that I would be only focused on Him. It took a couple of songs but eventually my heart was falling in love with the songs that were being sung.

One of the points the pastor made was “Jesus is our bridegroom”. Now most of us have heard that so many times, but today it struck me in a different way. The verse he read with that was Ephesians 5:25-27. It’s a wonderful description of what Christ did for us!

I got up and took a piece of the bread and juice then took my seat. In my head the thought of us being God’s bridegroom overwhelmed me. That someday I will be with the one that died for me. The celebration that us, the Church, will be forever with our Savior.

All the thoughts of wanting to control my life and wanting all the things in life were gone… All I could think of was that I want to be with Him. It was amazing…

Have you ever had those times? Where nothing in the world matters but God! I couldn’t help but have my eyes water (obviously because the room was dry and I was deeeefinitely not tearing up…) and picture myself in the presence of God. GOOSEBUMPS!

I most definitely walked away that day more in love with God than I did walking in. I pray that more people feel the same way. To fall more in love with the one that loves us more than this temporary world could ever give us. Too many of us are falling into this world and not focusing on falling in love with God.

 

 

This past week we had a fairly good size snow storm. I decided that the day after the storm to go our cross country skiing by a lake. As I was driving down the hill going toward the lake the trees were just covered with snow. It was spectacular. Parking my car I got my skis on and headed off onto a trail into the woods.

…It took my breath away…

No joke. There were times where I couldn’t breath I was in so much awe of how beautiful it was. I’ve seen plenty of trees and woods that was just covered in snow, but it was as if it were the first time I ever saw this. I started giggling like a kid I was so in awe of God. Falling in love with what He has created for our enjoyment.

I need to have this same mentality toward Christ. When I come into worship and sing praises to Him or see the beauty around me to really start praising God as if it were the first time. To truly be in awe of God and to fall deeply in love with Him.

I can’t wait to be home with Him someday… to be His bridegroom…