MAKING IT PERSONAL!

 

Thursday, February 26, 2026

 

MAKING IT PERSONAL!

 

Gen 22:6

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.

 

Matt 27:32

32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

 

Mark 15:21

21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.

 

 

Isaac was a type of Christ; he carried the wood on which he was to be sacrificed. This type was fulfilled when our Lord was led forth carrying His cross.

 

Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt. There were many Jews there, and they were in the habit, like others, of going frequently to Jerusalem. Little is known about him, except that he had two sons named Alexander and Rufus. But his name was Simon and that makes carrying the cross very personal.

 

We are forever inviting people to make Jesus their “personal” savior and yet the word “personal” is found nowhere in the Bible. The concept is certainly present, however. If I say that “God so loved the world” as we see in John 3:16 then I can easily discount the personal nature of it. But if, with the Apostle Paul, I say that “Jesus died to save sinners of whom I am chief” then I can not avoid the personal implication of salvation.

 

Indeed, the difference between Jesus preaching to the thousands and sitting on the lip of a well talking to a single woman is glaring. As far as we can tell by the stories the multitudes were not greatly changed but the woman at the well was never the same. Indeed, the whole of Samaria was never the same. It was personal.

 

The personal nature of close contact with Jesus challenges and changes all our other relationships. One of Simon’s sons was perhaps well known to the believers at Rome.

 

Rom 16:13

13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

 

Dear Lord, carrying your cross removes me from being a spectator to a player. I feel the weight of it; I smell the scent of it and the drops of blood fall upon me. It is personal – and I am glad. AMEN

 

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

 

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

 

EXPERIENCE MATTERS!

 

1 Tim 3:2-6

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

 

          The word “novice” in verse 6 is the Greek word neophutos and literally means “newly planted.” New plants are tender and have not weathered the storms and trials of a more mature plant. Their “systems” are not functioning as they eventually will. Their fruitful season is still ahead of them.

 

          Experience and proficiency are demanded of us. Teens who long for their drivers’ license are tested to assure that they know the rules of the road and are able to handle a vehicle. They are frustrated to see the question of experience on employment applications. They are eager for experience, but they don’t have much. They quickly learn that experience matters.

 

          Today, experience and age are dismissed as irrelevant in a world that is rapidly changing. Things no older than yesterday are considered antique. Everything is made of shine and plastic. Even the ministry comes packaged in slick smiles, bright lights and positive affirmation. Pastors grizzled with age and churches weathered by time are often shunned, but we instinctively gravitate to experience when we are in trouble. We want our doctors to be not only experienced but experts in their fields of medicine. We don’t want a neophyte cutting into our bodies. When our lives and our homes are falling apart, we want a pastor who is mature. Experience matters.

 

          Experience is the knowledge and wisdom derived from long practice and observation. If you are newly planted, the first thing you must learn is patience and the next is to pay attention. If you are an aged old sage, then find a young one to mentor. Pour yourself into him so that experience comes more quickly because experience matters.

 

1 Peter 2:2

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Dear Ancient of Days, thank you for being patient with me while I have grown. Let me pour myself into others that they may become fruitful. AMEN

 

WINNERS AND LOSERS!

 

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

 

A Classic previously presented.

 

WINNERS AND LOSERS!

 

Phil 3:7-8

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

 

          The word “loss” is the Greek word zemia [pronounced dzay-mee’-ah] which means “that which is lost by way of violence.” The word “to win” in verse 8 has the idea of winning by way of a successful contest.

 

          When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), his whole value system was reversed. He was highly educated, spoke several languages, and was a respected teacher. He enjoyed political influence and friendship with powerful friends. He was a craftsman and tradesman. He was a firebrand for his faith, albeit misguided in its application. He was probably wealthy. Jesus replaced those valuable things with things of even greater value.

 

          Winners are those who, when they encounter Christ, embrace the changes He wants to make in their lives. They welcome the new and let go of the old. They move forward. They go on without becoming bitter at the circumstance or their God who allowed it.

 

          Losers are those who, even in the face of yet unknown gain, cannot get past the pain of a temporary loss. Losers change the way they view themselves and distrust the image that God sees in them. They know their bitter, vindictive feelings are unfruitful, but they can’t get past them. Losers keep losing until they can let go of the loss.

 

   I quote from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “IF.” If you can make one heap of all your winnings

    And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

    And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

    To serve your turn long after they are gone,   

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

    Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’

 

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,   

    Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

    If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

    With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,   

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,   

    And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

 

 

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And---which is more---you'll be a Man, my son!

 

Dear Lord, comfort those who think themselves losers, and make humble the winners. Show us the great gain in knowing you. AMEN