Word Gifts

Eph. 4:29  Watch the way you talk.  Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth.  Say only what helps, each word a gift. (MSG)

When we give a gift, we want it to be special.  Something that blesses and is beneficial to another.

Think of our words as gifts.  How careful would we be with our conversation if we were always mindful of what we were giving?  If we always watched the way we talked?  The words we speak are received into the life of another with some result.  We speak with intended purpose.  Either intending to edify, bless and benefit or to tear down, curse and bring harm.  Our words can have value or they can be worthless.  The choice of gift we give is ours.  May all we say (and think) be acceptable to God (Ps. 19:14).

Before we speak, we need to ask ourselves, "What kind of word gift am I about to give?"


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Speak only words that edify.  Make each word a gift.

Not Just Rocks

1 Pet. 2:5  And now you are living stones that are being used to build up a spiritual house.  (CEV)

As a building material, stone is substantial.  It is strong, durable and lasts a long time.  But it certainly isn't living.  We can build a very impressive building out of stone but unless it is used, inhabited, and serves some purpose, it is nothing more than just a lifeless pile of rocks.

The temple of the Jewish people was an impressive building, a house where God dwelt.  But Peter explained that God was now building a different kind of house.  A living, spiritual house made out of living stones.  Not an earthly building, but a heavenly kingdom.  Not a lifeless pile of rocks but an active, vibrant family.  Each member, each living stone contributing to build up the whole.

You and I are living stones that are used by God.  WE are God's building (1 Cor. 3:9).  His life-giving (Rom. 8:10, 2 Cor. 3:6) Holy Spirit inhabits us (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19).  We each serve a specific purpose (Rom. 12:4-5) and we all build up the whole that is His spiritual house.  We are active, vibrant participants in the kingdom of God.  Living stones, not just rocks.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  We are living stones in God's spiritual house.

Jesus Christ Version 1.0

Heb. 13:8  Jesus Christ never changes!  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (CEV)

A software program or computer application is never perfect when it is initially developed.  In fact, it usually starts out in a beta version.  After "bug" fixes, subsequent added or deleted features, and other tweaks and refinements, a "beginning" version, usually dubbed 1.0, is released.  After that, updated versions 2.0, 3.0, etc., follow claiming to have better features and other significant improvements.  End users ultimately need and want a reliable, dependable and stable product.  One we can always count on.  One that is perfect.

Today, reflect on the amazing truth that Jesus Christ, in every way, is the One who is perfect.  Who always was perfect and always will be perfect.  This perfect Version 1.0 is not only the "beginning", the Alpha, but He continues on into forever and is the Omega (Rev. 1:8).  Because He is perfect, He doesn't change.  His character isn't flawed nor are His plans ill conceived or incomplete.  He isn't steadfast one day and wavering the next.  He doesn't help us one day and forsake us the next.  He doesn't love us one day and reject us the next.  He is reliable, dependable and provides a stability on our lives that will extend into all of eternity.  We can always count on Him.  There have been nor will there ever be any required updates.  He is the same perfect One yesterday, today, and forever!  All we need is Jesus Christ Version 1.0.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Because He is perfect, He doesn't change.

Just Our Feet

Jn. 13:10  Jesus answered, "People who have bathed and are clean all over need to wash just their feet.  And you, my disciples, are clean, except for one of you." (CEV)

I've always viewed the account of Jesus washing the disciples' feet as a demonstration of His humility and as an example for us to follow.  And it is certainly that.

But I looked at it today from a different perspective. One that I missed before.  And depending on which Bible translation you are reading, maybe you missed it, too.  In the NIV translation, this verse uses the words "bathed" and "washed".  And although we may use these words interchangeably today, they have entirely different meanings here.  The word "bathed" (louo) means washed completely, totally and fully.  The whole person.  Whereas the word "washed" (nipto) means to wash only in part.  Therein lies, I believe, the hidden beauty of the foot washing.

When Peter asked Jesus to wash not only his feet but his hands and head as well (v.9), Jesus answered, in effect, by saying, "You're already washed completely, now you only need washed in part."  So how were they washed completely?

Jn. 15:3  "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you."

They were washed completely by believing His words, the Word of God.  We then, also as believers, have been washed completely.  Our faith in Christ, the Living Word of God, has completely washed and made us pure.  His shed blood and finished work on the cross have made us able to stand in purity before the Father.

So why then did they (do we) need washed in part?  Their feet were not clean.  There was a part of them that was constantly in contact with the ground, the earth, the world.  And this washing in part was necessary in order to remain completely clean.  Being in the world but not of it (Jn. 15:19, Jn. 17:13-16), and even though we are already "bathed", we will undoubtedly have opportunity to sin.  To get our feet dirty.  Willfully or inadvertently (Ps. 19:13).  But, Jesus stands always girded and ready to forgive us (Ps. 86:5), ready to "wash" us.  Just our feet.

Sock Monkey Snippet:  We're already washed completely, now we only need washed in part.

Entitled to Eat

Mk. 7:27-28  But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs."  And she answered, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs."

Jews and Gentiles.  Those who were God's children and those who were little dogs.  Those who were entitled to eat until full and those who were not.

The woman here who begged Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter was a Gentile.  As such, she was ineligible to receive God's covenant promises made to the Jews.  Yet because of her faith, Jesus responded by delivering her daughter.  No one who approached Him in faith was ever turned away or refused.  Most likely this encounter pointed toward the eventual "grafting in" (Rom. 11:17) of the Gentiles into God's kingdom.  Nevertheless, and even though she received a significant blessing, it was still only a crumb compared to the fullness of what was available to His children.

As God's children, now grafted in, we have an incredible privilege and blessing.  We are entitled to eat, to be filled and satisfied.  We needn't settle for crumbs or even morsels because we are given the whole loaf of bread.  So, are we seated at His table enjoying the bread that is the fullness of His presence, promises and provision?  Or are we scrounging around under the table like little dogs looking only for an occasional crumb?  God has an overwhelming and abundant supply available to all believers, to those having faith in Him.  Don't settle for crumbs.  We are entitled to eat!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Don't settle for crumbs when you are entitled to eat.

When I Consider

Ps. 8:3-4  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man, that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You should visit him?

Every time I'm outside on a clear night and I look up at a star-filled sky, without fail I am reminded of these verses.  The splendor of God's creation overwhelms me.  How magnificent, powerful and awesome must our God be to create such beauty and to sustain it?  And I think too often we forget that His creation extends immeasurably beyond what we can see, which makes thinking about it, considering it, all the more wonderful and amazing.

If you've ever watched an accomplished pianist perform, you were undoubtedly impressed by their fingering.  Skillful, deliberate, ordered.  And out of what seemed to be little effort, the beauty of music was created.  Did you ever notice in this verse that God used His fingers to create and orchestrate the universe?  It suggests to me that our God is so great, so skillful, that it took only His fingers, a little effort for Him, to create something we can't even begin to comprehend.  Consider that!

And yet, as David writes, God is mindful of us.  Comparatively insignificant beings in the immensity of His creation.  He feeds us, clothes us, protects us, provides for us, and communes with us.  He is concerned for us and about us!  So much so that He has even numbered the hairs on our heads.  He not only macro-manages the universe but micro-manages even the smallest details of our existence.  And He does it all perfectly.  Skillfully, deliberately, and with order.  I don't know about you, but I am blessed when I consider!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  In the immensity of His creation, God is mindful of us.

Reflecting Absence

Jn. 10:10  "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may  have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

Next week, the 9/11 memorial is scheduled to open in New York City.  It's design features two square voids, where the World Trade Center Towers once stood, each carved thirty feet deep into the earth.  Surrounding these voids are bronze panels on which are inscribed the names of the 2,983 victims whose lives were tragically taken.  The memorial is appropriately named "Reflecting Absence".  Visitors are to be reminded of what once was.  They are to forever take note that something is missing.  Abundant life that was intended to be was stolen away by evil.  The sin of a few men caused the death of so many others.

Paul explains in his letter to the Romans that through one man, Adam, sin entered the world (Rom. 5:12) also causing death to all men.  To all of us.  The abundant life God originally intended for us was voided by sin.  BUT, the Father loved us so much that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).  So just as by one man's disobedience we were made sinners, so by one Man's obedience we were made righteous (Rom. 5:19).  Jesus restored to us the abundant life that was always intended to be.

Be reminded today of the abundant and eternal life once stolen away from all of us, reflect on it's absence, and then rejoice in knowing it has been forever restored through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Jesus restored to us the abundant life that was always intended to be.