June 28: Tuesday Refocus

“The Church does not need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of Jesus.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

No crafting or filters. 

No lighting or cropping. 

No illusions or diversions.

No trickery, pretending, or hiding can fool the One who sees past outward appearances and to the heart of you and me (1 Sam 16:7).

Jesus tells his followers to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15)” How easy - especially in a social media age - to appear as something that we are not. But “…you will recognize them by their fruits… (Matthew 7:20)” because, “…a healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a diseased tree bear good fruit (Matthew 7:18).” Healthy fruit is not produced in its own strength but grows through abiding (John 15:5).

The faithful servant of Jesus bears fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). It is the fruit of the Spirit that marks the faithful servant of Jesus - more than the brilliant personality (Galatians 5:22-23). But perhaps it is faithful servants of Jesus who possess the most brilliant (but less outward) personalities.

Lord, may our lives be found abiding in You. May we bear fruit in keeping with repentance. May we bear the fruit of the Spirit. Even if our lives do not burn bright from the perspective of social media, may they burn bright with faithfulness to You. In Your name, amen.

Amen,

AB

August 10: Tuesday Refocus

‘I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.’ - Charles Spurgeon

There is perhaps nothing that exposes our hearts to ourselves more than trial and trouble.  We discover what we truly value, and where we are rooted and grounded. 

Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches, and He invites us to abide in Him (Jn 15).  But when we respond to trial and trouble attempting to muscle through, grit our teeth and bear it, or ignore it and pretend like it’s not there - really what is being exposed at that moment is that we abide in ourselves, not in Christ.  And those are shallow roots.

We can abide in Christ now by actively looking to Him, actively resting in Him, actively trusting Him, actively treasuring Him.  Abiding in Christ will not mean we are free of any trial and trouble, in fact, Jesus says in this world we will face trial and trouble (Jn 16:33).  But when we abide in Him, we can be rooted and anchored deeply in Him even in the midst of trouble and trial.

Yes, every one of us will face trial and trouble in this life, but Christ invites us to take heart - because He has overcome the ultimate trial and trouble.

Jesus, we are grateful that you have overcome the ultimate trial and trouble, and you are with us in our own trials and trouble.  Let us abide deeply in You, as You abide in the Father, amen.

Taking heart,

AB

28 July: Tuesday Refocus

‘Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it.’ – Oswald Chambers

In the midst of a pandemic, our outward existence may appear to be less hurried than normal.  But perhaps like me, you have discovered that the removal of outward hurry exposes inward hurry and unrest. 

Hurry is my attempt to earn what I can only receive.

It exposes a lack of abiding.

‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.’ John 15:5

When we abide in Christ (v4), and in His love (v10), we bear fruit (v5), glorify God (v8), are called His friends (v15), have access to the Father (v16), and love one another (v17).

Let hurry be an invitation to rest in what is already yours. 

Lord, let us be people who abide, continually, constantly, intentionally.  Thank You, that You abide in the Father, and in us.  We need You, and we are grateful, in Your name, amen.

Abiding,

AB

21 July: Tuesday Refocus

‘Growth is a slow, secret, unspectacular affair.’ – Lesslie Newbigin

We want fruit without the root.  But real fruit cannot be rushed or manufactured because real fruit is the result of slow, secret, unspectacular daily abiding.  But as the Psalmist reminds us, there is indeed blessing in the slow, secret, and unspectacular:

‘Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; but the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.’ (Psalm 1)

A life rooted in God may appear slow, secret and unspectacular on the surface, but it is a life that the Lord knows and sees (Ps 1:6, Matt 6:4).

 Jesus, help us abide in You, as You abide in the Father.  Let the unseen moments of our life be the roots of righteousness that grow fruit which honors You.  In Your name, amen.

Being rooted,

AB