Unanimous

Posted on May 11, 2016 by jesustrek
Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry

After leading the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors to a record-setting season, Stephen Curry has been named league MVP for the second consecutive year. He is just the 11th player to be named Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons. Curry was such an obvious choice for the award that it was a unanimous decision. No one had ever been a unanimous choice for MVP of the NBA—not Michael Jordan, not Magic Johnson, not Larry Bird—no one had ever earned all the first place votes.

It is a remarkable achievement to be the unanimous pick for this award. Usually one or more of the voters will cast their ballot for someone else, just to be different, or perhaps to prevent someone from being the unanimous choice. However, this year all the voters agreed that Curry was the clear-cut winner.

If only we could get everyone to see that Jesus is the only choice for eternal life!

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”—John 14:6.

 

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Clean Exchange

Posted on May 9, 2016 by jesustrek

Cross-FSThe Ledger Independent, a daily newspaper in Maysville, Kentucky, has a mascot, Ponto the office dog. Ponto has daily words of wisdom that he imparts to subscribers of the newspaper. Here is one of Ponto’s most recent musings—“You don’t get anything clean without getting something else dirty.”

How true! A bath can get you clean, but not without making the water dirty. The same principle applies with a mop and a floor, a dust cloth and furniture, and so on.

Along those lines, we can’t be made clean from our sins unless Jesus takes them upon himself.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”—Isaiah 53:5.

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Jesus and His Mother

Posted on May 7, 2016 by jesustrek

mary at the cross“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother…When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, ‘Woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”–John 19:25-27.

In these verses, we see the love that Jesus had for his mother. He made sure that she would be cared for after his death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven.

We also see in this scene the love that Jesus had for all mothers, for fathers and for children too. His love for all humanity is shown in how he provided for our eternal care by dying to pay for our sins.

 

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The Real MVP

Posted on May 7, 2016 by jesustrek
Kevin Durant and his mother

Kevin Durant and his mother

When Kevin Durant was named the Most Valuable Player in the NBA for the 2013-14 season, he gave a memorable acceptance speech. He went beyond the usual accolades given to teammates and coaches. Durant gave credit to his mother, Wanda, calling her “the real MVP”. Fittingly, this moving speech took place on Mothers’ Day.

It’s true that mothers have a special type of influence on their children. They have the power to mold them in positive ways. Mothers point their children in the right direction, teaching them important truths and modeling for them righteous living. Many of us who are living lives of faith today are doing so largely because we had Christian mothers who showed us the way. These faithful women deserve our love, our honor and our respect, not only on Mothers’ Day, but on every day of the year.

So, here’s to you Mom—the real MVP!

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”—2 Timothy 1:5.

 

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Important Business

Posted on May 6, 2016 by jesustrek

prayingIn How I Pray, Billy Graham wrote:

“I heard about a young president of a company who instructed his secretary not to disturb him because he had an important appointment. The chairman of the board came in and said, “I want to see Mr. Jones.” The secretary answered, “I’m terribly sorry, he cannot be disturbed; he has an important appointment.”

The chairman became very angry. He banged open the door and saw the president of his corporation on his knees in prayer. The chairman softly closed the door and asked the secretary, “Is this usual?” And she said, “Yes, he does that every morning.” To which the chairman of the board responded, “No wonder I come to him for advice.”

To those who pray, God promises wisdom and help.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”—James 1:5.

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See the Effect

Posted on May 5, 2016 by jesustrek

sailboat-1There are some powerful forces that you can’t see, but you can certainly see the effect they have. For example, you can’t see gravity, but without it we would all go flying into outer space! You can’t see electricity, but you can enjoy the benefits provided by many appliances that it powers. You can’t see the wind, but you can use it to move a sailboat across a body of water. You can’t see radio waves, but you can hear the sounds that they produce.

In the same way, you can’t see God, but in Jesus we can see his great power. Colossians 1:15 says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” In Jesus we see God’s power: power to heal, power to multiply food, power to calm storms, power over death and–most importantly–power to save.

Look at Jesus and marvel at the great power of God!

 

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Valuable

Posted on May 4, 2016 by jesustrek

piggy bankI recently bought a book I found in the bargain bin. It was a collection of devotions that I think will be a good source of sermon illustrations. It was written by a well-known author, and the book was beautifully printed and in excellent condition. I was pleased to find this treasure for only $1. I was even more pleased when I peeled off the price sticker and saw that the original cost of the book was $14.99!

While some things lose value over time, we will never lose value in the eyes of God. There is nothing we could ever do to cause him to love us any less. We will always be valuable in his sight.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!…”—1 John 3:1.

 

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Two Hugs

Posted on May 3, 2016 by jesustrek

hugAs soon as I saw a certain lady at church last Sunday, I went over and gave her a hug. She was sad because her sister-in-law had just lost a long battle with cancer. A hug was the least I could do to comfort her.

Later, after church had started, I noticed another lady in the congregation. She was there for the first time in a few weeks because she had just had surgery and gone through some tests that could have revealed some very bad news. The tests had come back fine, and she was glad to be back in the worship service. So I went over while we were all singing and gave her a hug.

Two hugs, given for different reasons, but both serving the same purpose—to build up the body of Christ.

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”—Romans 12:15.

 

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Love Caused His Death

Posted on May 2, 2016 by jesustrek
Toby and Jennifer Norsworthy

Toby and Jennifer Norsworthy

40-year-old Jennifer Norsworthy died unexpectedly from a blood clot on April 22. Her grief-stricken husband, Toby, was so traumatized that he died of a heart attack 24 hours later. Family members are certain that the stress of his wife’s death was too much for him to bear. Ricky Self, an associate pastor at Toby and Jennifer’s church, said, “Toby loved Jennifer. She was his world, and so he was of course heartbroken when she passed away.”

Jesus was heartbroken to see us dead in our sins. He loved us so much that he chose to die so that we could be saved. It was his love for us that led to his death.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”—John 15:13.

 

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First Time Apart

Posted on April 30, 2016 by jesustrek

teddy bearA 7-year-old girl became terribly upset when she couldn’t find her beloved teddy bear. Her anguish was obvious for all to see. She was so relieved when her long-time companion was finally found.

I was finding it hard to understand why being separated from a ragged old stuffed animal would be so disturbing for the little girl. Then a family member explained that the teddy bear was a gift that her aunt had given her when she was born. She had never known what it was like to live without her precious friend. That is why she became so upset.

Jesus did not know what it was like to be apart from God. He had been with God and equal to God for all of eternity (John 1:1-2). However, at the cross, when God laid upon Jesus the guilt and punishment for all of the collective sins of humanity, Jesus felt that he had become separated from God. He cried out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

We can only imagine the emotional pain that Jesus felt as he experienced something that he had never known before—separation from God. Realizing the suffering that he endured for our benefit should serve to strengthen our love and commitment for Jesus!

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