A Loose Cable

A young missionary, Herbert Jackson, was given a car to help him in his work. The car was a major asset, but it had one difficulty—it would not start without a push or a jump-start. Jackson devised a system to cope with the car’s inability to start. When he was ready to leave his home, he went to a nearby school and asked permission to bring some of the children out of class to help him push-start his car.

Throughout the day, he was careful to always park on a hill or to leave his engine running when he stopped for short visits. For two years the young missionary used what he believed was an ingenious method to enable him to use the car.

When poor health forced the Jackson family to leave the field, a new missionary arrived to lead the mission. When Jackson explained to the new missionary his methods for starting the car, the young man opened the hood and began inspecting. “Why, Dr. Jackson,” he interrupted, “I believe the only trouble is the loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, pushed the switch, and the engine roared to life.

For two years, Dr. Jackson had used his own devices and endured needless trouble. The power to start the car was there all the time—it only needed to be connected.

Are your spiritual connections loose? Are you striving and straining in your own strength? When was the last time you lifted the hood and examined your heart? The power of God is always available to us as Christians. We just need to be connected. Connected to the cross of Christ. Staying in step with the Spirit. Serving and loving our brothers and sisters in Christ. Soaking in the Word of God. Jesus reminds us in John 15:5 (ESV),

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

We shouldn’t just live “for” Jesus we need to live “from” Jesus. Abide with your Lord and Savior today and make sure those connections are strong.

A Thread of Glory

"Just let a thread of your robe of glory pass me by." I remember well praying these words as I knelt on the thin brown carpet covering the concrete floor of my dorm as the Lord provided one my most intimate encounters with Him.

My words feel empty in trying to describe how I felt His presence come into the room. All I knew to do in that moment was keep my head bowed and "to say praises as He came". I felt warmness in my face and my heart bursting with thankfulness. I had no secrets from Him, and I felt no shame towards Him. As His more intimate presence left the room I just knew "to say praises as He departs".

There is no doubt His presence is always with us but there are times we experience His intimate presence. We can sit in a room with people enjoying each other’s presence and some bonding occurs. However, if we really want to bond with someone, we do it one on one and with a focus on that person.

Having had these intimate experiences with God, I still can struggle to make time for those divine appointments with Him, but I have never regretted doing so. I encourage you to seek an intimate time with our Father today by soaking in the words of His Son,

"The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one." -John 17:22-23

Way Too Formal

I can remember getting ready for church one morning a few years back. I plopped my son Corban on top the deep freeze so I could put his shoes on for church. As I began to put my son’s shoes on, he told me with a grin on his face, “Hey Pastoy Micah”. My son has a way of making me laugh and this time was no exception. Your toddler isn’t supposed to call you, “Pastoy Micah”. I couldn’t help but laugh. This got me thinking as to why this was so funny to me. Then I pegged it. It was way too formal. Although it’s true that I’m a pastor, being called that by my toddler is just weird. My son has a much closer way of relating to me than just as a pastor. I am his dad.

I wasn’t long after this special moment of humor with my son that my brain made a connection. I began to wonder how often we do this with God. How often do we make our relationship with God more formal than it needs to be? It is true that God is far above us. It is also equally true that God desires to be very close to us. He desires a very close, intimate relationship with His creation.

How do we know that a God who is so transcendent and unique wants to be close to us? We know because He sent His son Jesus to bridge the gap between God and man. Jesus came to saves us from our sins so we could be reconciled to our creator. The bible reminds us that when we put our faith in Jesus we are adopted into God’s family (John 1:12). We become His sons and daughters. And here’s the cool thing about adoption. When someone decides to adopt, they look at a child and see all there is to see about them. Then they say, “I want you.” They choose them. So it is with God. He sees all there is to see about us: the good, the bad, and the ugly. He chooses us anyways. He wants us. He wants to be close. He wants to be our Father (Ephesians 1:5).

So how about you? How formal is your relationship with God? Are you afraid to let God get close? I found at times we don’t get close because we are ashamed or afraid of what God will do with our wounds, failings, and sin. God sent his Son Jesus to heal, save, and redeem. God wants to be near to bring healing and wholeness to our lives. You need not to fear coming home to a Father that loves you (Luke 15:20). It’s fine to call God Lord, but many times Father will do just fine. Don’t miss the intimacy God has planned for you. Don’t keep Him at arm’s length. That’s just way too formal.

Helpless but Hopeful

When was the last time you felt helpless? Maybe you started a new job and are not sure how to navigate the new position. Maybe the terrible twos have arrived and you’re just not sure how you’re going to get through this phase with your kids. Or perhaps you’re getting older, and some things don’t come as easy as they used to. Whatever it might be, whenever something is beyond our control, things tend to get a bit uncomfortable.

Sin has kind of hardwired us this way. We have this desperate need to be self-reliant. We want to believe that we can do all things on our own, but we can’t. Recognizing our own helplessness is what leads us to the hope of Christ.

We see this reality woven into the verses of Psalms 116. This is one of my favorite chapters in Psalms because it paints this picture of complete reliance on the Lord, and that apart from Him we are capable of doing nothing. It gives us a glimpse of a desperate man in need of God’s grace, someone who is longing for peace but realizes that he is inadequate to provide it for himself. He needs the Lord. The psalmist fears death and affliction. He is physically, emotionally, and spiritually empty and at the end of himself. But in God’s presence, he finds hope. Psalms 116: 3-6 (CSB) reads,

3 “The ropes of death were wrapped around me,
And the torments of Sheol overcame me, I encountered trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called out to the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous,
Our God is compassionate.
6 The Lord guards the inexperienced:
I was helpless and he saved me.”

When I read this, I feel so wrapped in the Fathers love because this is the character of the Lord. He is compassionate, His forgiveness spans the width of eternity, His grace covers us, and He saves the helpless. There is no way that we can earn it. Our Heavenly Father is just that good.

Reread Psalms 116, and I hope that you see it. The praise that we see within the Psalm is tied to his weakness, his utter need to depend on God. Our weakness makes God’s grace such great news.

We see this all throughout scripture. People who are in desperate need of God's grace then acknowledge their own weakness and trust in the Lord’s unfailing strength. It’s a tough task to accept that we can’t do things on our own but it's a beautiful picture of our need for the Lord. We need him on our greatest days just as much as we need him on our weakest ones.

Being weak is our greatest strength when it leads to desperate dependence on God. Being helpless is not hopeless when it leads us closer to the Lord. So whatever burdens are heavy on your heart this week, lay them at the feet of Jesus because when we are weak, He is strong.