Harry Whitt on the Journey with Jesus
Many of us have seen a video clip where two guys are facing off in an ultimate fighting competition. One guy is prancing around all full of himself and the other guy is watching quietly and then boom, the cocky guy gets knocked out with one punch. Spiritual warfare is not for the “showboat” but for the one who has a calm confidence in Jesus.
Many people have a wrong perspective of leaders. In the extreme, some tend to either place them on a pedestal or despise them. Hopefully, most of us view them with some normalcy, as people with a tough job who are trying to do their best despite their own weaknesses. But how do ordinary people do extraordinary things?
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. He was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He jumped in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited his mother. In later years on the banks of the river he declared Jesus to be the Lamb who would take away the sins of the world. He baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and was present when the Spirit descended like a dove and remained on Jesus. I am sure he heard the words of the Father from Heaven directed to Jesus, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22 NKJV).
Moses had his first encounter with God at the burning bush in the desert while keeping his father-in-law’s sheep. He saw a fire in a bush, but the bush was not consumed so he went in for a closer look. The Angel of the Lord (Pre-incarnate Christ) called out to Moses and told him to remove his sandals because he was on holy ground.
The Lord commanded Moses to return to Egypt and lead His people out. Moses questioned God about His name and this was the reply, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14 NKJV).
More than likely, we all have lied or committed “false witness” in the recent past. What am I talking about? You know all those “terms of agreement” boxes you have checked and signed-off-on; those thousand-word, small print, legal “gobbly goop” things that no one ever reads yet you confirmed as read and understood by initialing. I have done it too! I am not making a case for reading all of that but to get you think about letting your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’
This morning, I was holding my little one-year old granddaughter on the front porch while it was raining. She was looking so inquisitively at the rain. She was watching the rain, I was watching her, and just thinking, “What is she thinking?” She was trying to figure out all the sights and sounds in her little world and I was her observer.
I still have memories of being a small boy and trying to make sense of the world. A child’s brain runs on overload to keep track and process all the new stimuli it receives. Have you ever wondered why a small child asks so many “Why?” questions?
Continue reading “Making Sense of Rain (and Life)”
If you follow any news, there is no question that there is an evil darkness in the world. People are frantic about what to do. In the United States we have had two mass killings almost back-to-back. In the political world there has been a rush to win the blame game. All have agreed that evil is at work, but no one wants to really name the true source of evil. Satan is on a rampage to kill, steal, and destroy but to the world elites, this would only be an archaic, outdated, and even unthinkable description of the source of this type of evil.
On a typical Sunday morning in the United States, as we ease into our comfortable pews if someone were to ask us, “Are you comfortable?” Our response may be about the pew or the temperature level in the church. While in other places of the world “comfortable” is not a consideration in their Christianity. They may have looked over their shoulder as they turned down the street leading to the gathering of the saints. The cramped quarters or the temperature level is the least of their concerns. Continue reading “Persecution from a Christian Perspective”
There have been thousands of books written about being successful, rich, happy, fulfilled, and the list seems to never end. Everyone seems to be looking for that formula of life that will bring the blessings of peace and joy.
Jesus began a sermon with some verses we call the Beatitudes (Blessings). It is not a formula but a lifestyle likened unto Jesus. For the follower of Jesus, these are not optional nuggets of wisdom but the principles for our lives as we journey with Jesus.
We can rest in God and allow Him to work through us.
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
