God's grace is amazing, abounding, powerful, and freely given through the Sacrifice and High Cost of Love on Calvary! Yet, grace misunderstood, misused, or reduced can lose its impact, potency, and potential in our lives. Our salvation is not determined by the kindness others show us, but by our personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Human kindness should never be mistaken for the acceptance or affirmation of every choice we make or the lifestyle we choose. Grace does not eliminate truth, and kindness does not cancel consequences.
It's unlikely that students of Scripture are unfamiliar with Luke, the author of the gospel that bears his name, as well as its sequel, the book of Acts. However, although most readers are familiar with his gospel account, not as many are acquainted with the man himself. Therefore, it will be good for us to consider who Luke was, both to encourage us toward godly living and to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior whom Luke exalts.
Steve and I just returned from a wonderful vacation in Costa Rica. One cultural norm in Costa Rica is that people are not in a rush. Most people seem pretty relaxed. One evening, there was a little marching band—not like the marching bands in the Rose Bowl parade—just very small. Maybe there were eight people in the band. Behind them, there were at least fifty cars and motorcycles lined up on the narrow road.
Last week we discovered that the mind cannot process a negative command. This week, we go deeper into why this matters so much. The mind has one primary drive which is to gain control of every situation by categorizing it and placing it into a safe, controllable box. Watch your mind work for just a moment. Notice how it's constantly scanning for threats, planning for contingencies, rehearsing conversations that haven't happened yet, or reviewing ones that already did. It's building scenarios, creating backup plans, and trying to anticipate every possible outcome.
The quote, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace," often attributed to Jimi Hendrix, feels less like a poetic observation and more like a diagnosis of the moment we're living in. It names, with uncomfortable clarity, the tension that seems to define much of modern life in America—a culture increasingly shaped by the pursuit of power rather than the practice of love. From a spiritual perspective, this tension is not new. It is the same struggle that runs through the story of Scripture and the life of Jesus.
Culture treats identity as personal expression, but God views identity as representation, getting just the briefest understanding of how profound it is. When God said, let us make man in our image. It will transform your thinking. It will radically expand your expectations and your entire approach to life. Now I won't be able to do this justice. It's that profound. But I do want to bring enough to begin to challenge your thinking, to cause you to begin to understand how God sees you, what he's called you to, and the impact you're to have.
Do you remember the last time you experienced a challenging or difficult situation? Maybe you're in the middle of one right now. We usually don't get excited about going through them. In fact, when trouble comes, we sometimes ask, "Why is this happening?" Many times, things happen that we simply don't understand. But that's okay—God doesn't expect us to have everything figured out. We can trust that He knows and will take care of everything. He wants us to look to Him and say, "God, I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I'm trusting You to take care of me."
I have faced difficult circumstances in my life, and I know you have too. Perhaps even today, there are pressures upon your life, and you are feeling squeezed from every direction. It could be family problems, financial difficulties, or even concerns about your health. Whatever it may be, I am reaching out to you today with a message of hope in the pamphlet I have enclosed for you. Looking back over the years and the many challenges I have faced, I realize that at the moment when they were happening I "felt overwhelmed" and when we are overwhelmed, fear and anxiety follow.
The constancy and loyalty of God's lovingkindness is displayed in its ability to persevere through all sorts of obstacles and trials. The ultimate expression of this loyal love is seen in Paul's teaching in Romans 8: What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?
Yesterday I received an awesome prophetic word while watching a live stream video on Facebook from a prophet named Dontrell, who is a credible and anointed prophet of God. My friend Gerri sent me the link to the video which was already three hours in. He and another prophet, named James, were ministering the whole time, teaching and prophesying to the viewers. At around the three-and-a-half-hour mark, he called my name and prophesied to me.
Follow Up
