Guilty By Association

Has there ever been a cost associated with being friends with someone? Have you ever had to distance yourself from friends or family members, because their actions could tarnish your good reputation? Maybe there would be some, who would look down upon you if they only knew the company you kept? Whether you’ve experience this or not, I can emphatically say, “that at times it can cost you to know someone.”

We see it all the time, a big time political figure, professional athlete, or celebrity losing popularity, endorsements, and public approval, because of their association to someone who did not meet the standards that society deems as acceptable. I often wonder would I be accepted in certain circles if people only knew more about my family and my friends. Would others receive me if they knew my grade school buddies who went to jail, sold drugs, consumed drugs, murdered, and were murdered? You may be able to attest to the fact that there are people in your life that could tarnish your good reputation, if others knew who they really were. {or maybe we are that person}

See the question we all must ask, is not if there is a cost of being associated with those who’s reputation is subpar, rather, “is the pay good enough for you to distance yourself from these friends?” When is the right time to distance yourself, what would you not be willing to lose because of your friendships, when is the time to walk away, and when is the time to run?

In Philippians 1:13, the apostle Paul says that it has become known to everyone that the reason for my imprisonment, “is for Christ.” Paul had not sold drugs, nor had he stolen anything, he committed any white-collar crime, the reason why he was in jail is because of his relationship with a man known as Jesus Christ. Certainly this Jesus had to have killed someone, I’m sure he must have done some heinous act that caused another to become paralyzed, he must have introduced someone to some sinister acts of demonist behaviors, or maybe he betrayed his closest confidants by becoming a traitor?

As much as we would think that this had to be the reputation of Jesus, since Paul was imprisoned because of him. The stark reality is that Jesus did not kill, “he raised the dead,” he did not paralyze, “through His name the lame walked,” he was not a devil worshiper, “He cast out demons,” he wasn’t a sell out, “He was sold out, so that we might have eternal life.”

Much like the days of Paul, being associated with Jesus Christ might cost you something. You might lose some friends, your popularity may dwindle, and public opinion concerning you may diminish, but are any of these things worth you distancing yourself from Him? We must maintain this relationship, no matter the cost. Regardless of how we are perceived by the public, we have to be “down with the King” and everyone must know it. In a day and age when name-dropping has become the norm to get ahead in life, we must never drop the name of Christ unless we really mean it.

To put it plainly, Paul says it like this. “Nothing can separate me from the love of God, through Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:35-39 

There is Power in Positioning

In church on Sunday, I had a chance to speak about the two blind men that encountered Jesus, and received their sight. (Matthew 20:29-34) I cannot help but ponder on the first point I shared with the congregation, “there is power in positioning.” As discussed on Sunday, “our problems may be the things that put us in position to encounter Christ.” Simply put, “God will use anything to get you in a position to encounter the living Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever thought about what it took to get you in the place you find yourself in? School, relationship, finances, sickness, wellness, emotions, death, {to name a few} are places that Christ will pass along during the course of your life. They all have played apart in getting you to the place that you find yourself at ‘RIGHT NOW.’ But God is only interested in one question, that we all must answer, “what place do you find yourself with my Son, Jesus Christ?” Much like trying to find a new home, or moving to an unknown city, or entering into a new relationship, we want to be sure that we are in the “right place.” I will never forget the days of my youth with my best friends Lee and Steve. Before going out to do “WRONG,” Lee’s mother (Mrs. Bobbi) would make us assume the position. We had to stand at the door, hold hands in a circle, and pray. At that time I thought it was nonsense, but now it makes sense. She helped to teach me a position that would always get me before God.

These blind men positioned themselves in a place where they could expect that someone would PASS BY. Their goal was to be close enough, to hear those passing by, and ask for alms. In our relationship with Christ, like these blind, men we must position ourselves close enough hear from, and ask of Christ. We know that these men shouted and shouted all the louder, but they also were close enough to hear His question. This unique interactive moment, between Christ and these blind men would not have happened if they were out of position.
I am reminded of God’s passionate pursuit of Adam and Eve. (Genesis 3:9-11) After they had eaten of the fruit, and were forced to hide, for fear of their nakedness, the first thing He asked was, “where are you?” The omnipotent God was keenly aware of the answer, but He wanted Adam and Eve to understand their “position.” My family, friends, acquaintances on behalf of almighty God, may I ask a question, that he wants us to give strong consideration to, “In relation to His sacrificial Son, where are you and what’s your position towards Him?” This will determine whether we are passionately pursuing Him or aimlessly avoiding Him.

Lets get in the right position today.

Bless you family!!!!!!

Still In the Dark pt. 4

When my brother and I finally made it to our home, it became apparent to me that he was not familiar with our home, because it was not the one he had visited in times past. I considered it a privilege to walk my brother around and show him how to maneuver his way throughout the house.  It required me to walk him around the kitchen, telling him where the refrigerator was, and allowing him to feel it. I would also let him walk along the wall to feel the entryways to different rooms.

We made our way through the kitchen, living room, downstairs to the basement, and even upstairs to the room that was now his. We repeated these steps numerous times, until we both felt like he was ready. Then the day I will never forget.

After walking downstairs, I remembered hearing my brother’s voice saying, “who is that” over and over again. Once I made it downstairs, I was surprised to see that my brother had lost his way, and his sense of direction. While he desired to go downstairs to the basement, he was lost in the middle of my living room, and reaching “blindly” for anything he could find.  

As I consider it now, tears still fill my eyes, because I hated the sight of seeing someone I LOVED SO MUCH, BLIND!

John 1:5 says, “darkness has not understood the light,” and when it’s dark, we can’t either.

No matter how much we think we know, God will puts us in foreign places, to see if we will rely upon his instructions, or will you rely upon on own instructions instead.

My message to the blind:

-carefully consider God’s instructions for your life.

-when unsure of the direction you are suppose to go STAY PUT.

-going through life with no direction, will lead to you bumping into something or maybe falling.

My message to those who lead the blind:

-growing comfortable with your loved ones living in the dark, is unacceptable

-repetitive instructions are the eyes for the blind.

-be watchful of ways of those you instruct, so they don’t hurt themselves.

-don't expect someone to know your voice when they are in a state of confusion.

-HAVE AN APPRECIATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE BLIND, BECAUSE YOU WERE ONCE BLIND.

-BE THANKFUL for those who give you instructions and directions.

Be Blessed! 

Still In the Dark pt. 3

After James was blind, I invited him out to live with our family. When I saw him I could not believe he was blind. He look liked the same brother I knew with shades on. Then I noticed something. As soon as he came off the plane, I could see James being led by an airline attendant, who would soon lead my brother to me. He held on to her elbow, and he followed her lead.

Life reminds me of this moment. When we are blind, no matter how much it looks like we know where were are going, or it looks as if we know what we are doing; when we are blind without anyone to lead, WE’RE LOST! 

John 1:5 again says, “darkness has not understood the light.” When it gets dark, blindness is coming. Never allow the light of understanding who your Savior is grow so dim, that you find yourself being your only guide in your dark world.

We don’t see it all, we can’t see it all, so lets relieve ourselves of acting like we know it all. When we think like that, its not that its dark, we are blind.

Find your guide, hold on tight, and let them lead you.

Still In the Dark pt. 2

I have an older brother, who is four years older than I am, and if you’ve seen my profile picture on face book, then you’ve seen my brother James. James lost his sight, and could not see. He was completely blind, and his expressed to me, his frustrations about becoming blind.  When the incident occurred that caused his blindness, he said, ”everything went dark.”

I remember to this day the statement to follow, “Darryl one of the worst things in life is to have had the ability to see, and then lose it.” This resonates in so many ways to life.

John 1:5 says the darkness has not understood the light. The goal of darkness is not to understand the light, the goal of darkness to become so dark that people are blind. When it grows so dark, that you cannot see where you are going, look for light. If life begins to lose its color, and you feel yourself gradually losing your sight, find the light. When you find yourself being led by someone who is blind (the blind leading the blind), call on the one True light!

Like my big brother said, “one of the worst things to happen in life, is to have had the ability to see, only to lose it.”

"Still In The Dark"

The darkness could not comprehend the light. John 1:5

As I took a run this morning before daybreak, I found myself jogging in an area that was dimly lit. Parts of the path, although having no light, allowed for a semi-visible perspective on what way I should go. In other words, “although it was dark, I still could see.”  “I could navigate my way through darkness.” 

The sensory gift, impacted the most by darkness is, the ability to SEE.  We can feel, smell, taste and touch, in the dark; but the ability to see in the dark is severely deprived. The world we live in relies heavily on ones ability to see.  Visual components enhance learning, living, and loving.  Our eyes truly are the “GATEWAY TO THE SOUL.”

It deserves mentioning that, “darkness does not always negate our ability to see.”  In fact darkness tends to reduce (not diminish) our ability to see clearly. A powerful tool of the enemy is “semi-darkness.” Semi-darkness occurs when there are places (things and decisions) in our lives that we think we see correctly, but in fact, our vision is impaired. We see enough to THINK we know which way to go, even though “we can’t see further than our next step!”

As people we need to understand some important components of the dark:

1. The main adversary to ones ability to see is the dark

2. Darkness complements darkness (a lot of dark things are created in the dark)

3. Many learn to adjust to the darkness (nocturnal species have larger eyes, and stronger sensory abilities that are not associated with seeing)

As we go through our lives we have to be honest with ourselves and answer some questions:

1.     God what are the things in my life that are impairing my vision?

2.     Have I become accustom to living in the dark, or what has allowed me to feel so comfortable with living in the dark?

3.     Do I really want to see?

I must say that the jogging path I took today, was a new one.  I was unfamiliar with the course, because I had never run it before. If I had been familiar with the course I’m sure I would have run faster, because I would have known my way.  God has a way of running us on paths that we are unfamiliar with; so it is important to remember that it is never safe to run your life’s course, “still in the dark.”

I desire your honest thoughts and comments, so please reply.  I would like to use this devotional as a part of my upcoming sermon so please dialogue with God and yourself on this manner and post your comments.  I plan on using your quotes in my sermon.

Blessings,

 

Ps. Darryl

Preparation is the Precursor to Increase.”

Mark 4:20 “And those are the ones on whom seed was sown on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it, and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.”

This year my family decided to grow tomatoes in our backyard.  As we prepared for our first horticultural experience, it became obvious to all that two things were needed in order for the tomatoes to grow: seed and good soil.

The seeds were easy to find, and next, we were encouraged to buy fertilizer that would be mixed into soil to enhance the growth process.  The seeds were planted in the soil, the season of waiting was over, and to our surprise tomatoes began to grow!

We were not surprised by the seeds growing into plants, or that the plants actually produced tomatoes; what surprised us the most was that WE actually grew the tomatoes.

We are God’s increase!  God is the God of increase and His increase always breaks forth, through the soils of His creation.  Simply put, “when God prepares for increase, He looks to plant His seed (the word) into the soils of our hearts.”

As you prepare for your season of increase, cultivate the soil of your heart with rich nutrients of faith, allow the seed of God’s word to be planted, AND GROW.  Know that the SUPERNATURAL germination process is taking place, and that INCREASE HAS COME.

Just like those tomatoes, INCREASE COMES IN BUNDLES!

AFTER YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR INCREASE, FULLY EXPECT TO SEE AND RECEIVE IT!

Make sure you have prepared your heart to receive all that God has for you.