Category: Life Change - Jethro TOOLS

The Chaos

2/15/2026

Genesis 1:2
Chaos is an interesting word that describes disorder, confusion of direction and lack of correct function. One way that we try to keep the chaos at bay in our life is through our societal emphasis on organization. We purchase file folders for organization. We utilize storage systems in an attempt to keep our things organized. We even use calendars with reminders to keep our life in order. Then we read books on organization that hopefully keep us from dysfunction. Why do we have a strong tendency toward dysfunction? The root causes of dysfunction and disorder lie in sin and the rebellious opposition to God and His ways of proper function and order. In Genesis 1:2 God describes the world before He made it as disorderly, dysfunctional and chaotic. The earth did not have a form, it was not filled with life of any kind and it was covered in darkness. The words used to describe this paint the picture of chaos. Yet, Genesis records that God was hovering above all of this, watching and preparing for what He was about to do next. That was God in the beginning before our world was made. What kind of chaos exists in your world today? Sin has distorted the order of our world and the submission to God’s rule in our life. Jesus told us to pray for His perfect order and rule (Matthew 6:9-10). As in the beginning, we can discover God and His work, all we need to do is look up and call out to Him. Perhaps we may doubt God’s power. Remember that in the beginning God formed the world out of chaotic nothingness. He is a delivering God. We need to discern that God is at work even in the chaos of our sin sick world. God is at work making all things new. Trust in God as your creator and savior. Tell others how He has changed your chaos to calm.

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Christmas Time: Entrusted

12/28/2025

Titus 1:1-4
What are the similarities between the sports of Football, Basketball, Soccer and Hockey? Each of these are team sports with a goal, and a ball, or puck. The teams strategically battle over who controls the play, and ultimately who scores with the playing piece. The ball, or the puck, is given to a selected player to begin moving toward the goal. Within each of these sports, the players must learn how to protect the ball or puck from the opponents in order to successfully carry the play to the goal and score. Players are entrusted with the most important piece, and given the opportunity to participate in the advancement of their team. To be entrusted with something means that you have been given something, and it is now your responsibility and under your care. The same is true in the spiritual arena. For example, Paul tells Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him (2 Timothy 1:14). Later, in the letter that he composed to Titus, Paul gives a similar message. He says that, as a servant and apostle, he has been entrusted with the message about Jesus Christ (1). Following that thought he then tells Titus that he has been entrusted with preaching the message God gave him (3). Notice that what is most valuable to Paul is that which has been given to him. Paul states it differently, in 2 Corinthians 4:7, referring to us as clay pots that hold valuable treasure. The container is the carrier that has the privilege to display its contents. As believers in Jesus Christ, we carry the message and the power of the gospel within us. Our goal is to be on mission like Paul. We are to be servants of God, daily advancing His agenda, and delivering His glorious life-changing message to others. Like a hockey player, we have ben entrusted with a mission, and a single goal, to honor God and deliver His message.

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Spiritual Maturity

10/26/2025

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
All grown up. That is a phrase used by grandparents to describe grandchildren who have surpassed them in height, but are they mature? Two years ago I planted several cranberry bushes in the yard. With much water and some fertilizer they are now taller than I am. Are they all grown up? Are they mature cranberry plants? Not yet, they still have to produce cranberries. Even though the plants have flourished and look healthy they have not produced the fruit that marks them as mature. The same is true regarding spiritual maturity. Our spiritual age and general spiritual health make it clear that we are getting enough to eat spiritually. However, if we are only measured by what we take in we still have some growing up to do. In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul commends a group of believers for their spiritual growth and the maturity of their faith, love and hope (3). The work of faith in their lives, by God, looks to the past and guides their present living (4-5). Their labor of love matures them through their personal practice and witness of their faith under pressure (6-9). Their hope remains steadfast and matures through the confident expectation of God’s future regardless of the present reality (10). These believers had a faith in God that changed them. They possessed a love that caused them to serve as active witnesses while possessing a hope in Christ that was exercised under pressure. That is a growing and maturing spiritual life. They did not allow their circumstances to limit their growth. Instead they allowed their hope and faith to direct their life to be lived as a loving witness for Jesus in all circumstances. The problem is that often we allow our circumstances to limit our spiritual growth. We look at the size of the problem rather than the greatness of our God. Ask God to mature your faith, love and hope through your circumstances.

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Sufficiency of God

9/21/2025

Habakkuk 3:3-19
Recently I watched an actor portray Lewis Sperry Chafer giving a speech, as part of a centennial celebration at Dallas Theological Seminary. In the speech Chafer is attributed as saying, “It is not the size of the man that counts. Not even the size of the dream. Rather it’s the size of the God who gives the dream to the man.” Our aspirations, however big or small are finite compared to the all powerful work of the all powerful God who can do more than we can ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21). God is never limited by humanity, but we as people are limited by our view and practice of confident faith in a sufficient and sovereign God. How we view God and His power makes all the difference to our perspective, and practice of faith. Habakkuk was enabled to see God and His sovereign power at work (3-7). God’s power is displayed through His unchangeable nature. Like Habakkuk, we also can have a confident hope in God who is faithful and unchanging. Even though our world is constantly changing God does not. Habakkuk closes out this chapter with his song honoring God and the confident faith that He instills within the prophet (16-19). Habakkuk confidently states that he has found God to be sufficient in all areas of his life even if everything is taken away (17). His joy is in God who saves him (18). Like Habakkuk our life is to tell the story of God’s sufficiency. He alone enables us to live a new life free from fear of the uncertainties and perils and to declare His supreme greatness. God is sufficient. Through Jesus, He has come to give us hope and conquer the control of sin in our life. Like Habakkuk our purpose is found in praising God’s work. Our proper view of God’s sufficiency and strength will guide our life and practice of walking by faith. God is enough.

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Member with Christ

7/27/2025

Acts 2:37-47
What is the best group to join? As people, we are not created to be alone. To solve that we spend time searching for places that we like and people that like us. We move to neighborhoods and communities we like. We become members of a country, communities, groups, associations, and even members of a family. The Bible refers to those that believe in Jesus as members of His body, a spiritual family called the church. The difficulty is that we view the church as a building. You may be asked, “What church do you belong to?” Our normal response is some form of directions to some building. The person who believes by faith in Jesus as their savior is made a member of God’s family (Romans 6:3, 1 Corinthians 12:27). The church is not a building, but the believers that gather together in a building are the church. In Acts 2 we see the beginning of the church, and the initial steps of church growth. It begins with Peter’s message encouraging people to believe in Jesus (14-39), and concludes with many people responding (41). These new believers, or new members, of the early church devoted themselves to the teaching of God’s word, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer (42). This chapter highlights what God does as He changes people, their beliefs about Jesus, and association with Jesus. You see, the early church was made up of people who had originally been opposed to Jesus. In coming to Christ they were changed by Christ. They now desired to learn of Christ through His word and live out those truths in a spiritual community with others. They were a changed people, who are now members with Christ. They had changed hearts and expressed the transformation through changed lives (46-47). Are you relationally connected to Jesus Christ and His church? Are you growing in Christ with others?

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Faith and Earning

6/22/2025

Colossians 3:22-4:1
Labor Day… We know it as a holiday, a day off work, a time for a vacation and the last weekend to get away before school activities take off. Labor Day was created as a national holiday to honor all the workers and their influence on our country and society. It is nice that workers have a day off and are recognized for their efforts, but most only look at the vacation not at the reason for the day off. Work is hard regardless of the job. It may not be physically tasking but a job can be mentally draining. Often you may hear someone stating how hard their job is or how bad the boss is. Did you ever stop to think that your work is one way to display your faith in God? In the book of Colossians, Paul seeks to apply the truth of Christ ruling as supreme in the believers life. Christ has changed the believers relationship to God, therefore all other relationships change because of Christ. Even in the work environment, the believer is to be a true image bearer of God who loves them, made them and saved them. At the time of this letter Paul addressed slaves (3:22-25) and owners (4:1). Each group was part of society, and people from each group were also believing members in the church. God desires that all Christians, who have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, live differently. A worker is often self reliant, trusting in their abilities to perform. An employer is hoping that they can get a lot of work out of a cheap employee. Both are trusting themselves for their security through their abilities and management. However, Paul challenges the church in Colossae to trust God for their future, to work diligently and be fair in compensation. They were to live by faith, even in their work. May we do the same.

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Faith and Worship

5/18/2025

Hebrews 11:4
A simple search of a dictionary or on line sources will often define worship by its elements or activities. For example worship is prayer or it is led by a worship leader. These and other elements simply describe parts of worship. So how are we as people to respond to God? How should we respond to all that God has done for us? In the first chapters of Romans, Paul addresses what God has done for sinful humanity to provide salvation through Jesus Christ. Then, in Romans 12 Paul shifts His approach by addressing the believers response. Because of all that has previously been said Paul urges his audience to give themselves fully to God as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). This is an act of worship that impacts and directs all of life. Paul uses the wording of living sacrifice to describe the ongoing daily practice of giving ourselves in obedient service to God through a life that is changed (Romans 12:2). This is what is good and acceptable to God. Worship is not a single event one day a week where we go to church to experience a worship service. Worship is a changed life that is directed by faith each and everyday. That is Paul’s message in Romans 12 and that was the practice of Abel in Genesis 4. Able, in faith, offered a better sacrifice than his brother Cain (Hebrews 11:4). He lived his life by faith believing that God was worthy of all his work. Therefore, everything that he did was done in worship and honor of God. All his work with his flocks was done in faith, in preparation for the day of sacrifice. Everything was done to present God with his very best as worship. Able’s offering was accepted by God because of his faith in God and desire for a righteous life. His faith changed his life, his work, his service and his worship. May the same faith be found in us.

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Restored

3/16/2025

Romans 6
The old shed on the back corner of our property seemed like a worthy investment. So in the spring, after thinking and planning repairs all winter, I started. The building had settled and rotted its original support beams, requiring the foundation to be rebuilt. Once the shed was level and stable the roof and the door were replaced to keep the structure dry and free from roaming critters. Since the outside was able to withstand the extremes of weather, I turned my attention to the inside to make the shed functional. A simple shelf and some hooks made a once rundown and deteriorated building useful again. In many ways we are like an old shed. God sees us, and purchases us, to restore us to the functional purpose that He designed us to be. In Romans chapter 6, Paul calls this process sanctification. From the point of salvation, God begins a process of removing the practice of sin from the life of the believer. The control of sin is broken (1-14) through what Christ has accomplished on the cross for us. But God does not just leave us there. He wants to restore us to the true servants that He originally intended us to be. There is a change that takes place as the believer no longer serves sin, but gives the control of their life to God (15-23). Gradually, the practice of sin is replaced with purity and a righteous life that pleases God. Sanctification is God’s life long process that He works in us to restore us to His standard. Speaking of our relationship with Jesus, Peter writes, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You Shall Be Holy, For I Am Holy. (1 Peter 1:15). What we believe will change the way that we live. What we live will prove what we truly believe.

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The Disciple's Purpose

2/16/2025

1 Peter 2:1-10
It was January of 2020 and we watched in shock as the coronavirus in China exploded out of control. The problem grew so much that the government immediately began building a thousand room hospital to try and deal with the epidemic and needed beds. Soon people were in desperate need of doctors, specialized care, and medicine all over the world. Medical teams and essential workers functioned in a ballet-like dance, as each one did a specific task for the purpose of eliminating the virus from their country. Throughout the pandemic we saw medical staff repeatedly praised for their sacrificial service. As we open the book of 1 Peter, we read along with an audience of believers who was living in hard times. In chapter 2 Peter reminds these believers under pressure that they have been given a new spiritual life for the purpose of growing in Christ, building others for Christ and continuing on with their belief in Christ. The end result is praise for what Christ has done in each life, regardless of the trials that have been faced in the process. Peter is challenging his readers, and us as well, to remember what God has done and what He is doing. This spiritual birth (1-3), formation and connection (4-5) are not things we can accomplish on our own. This is accomplished through God’s initial work of grace on the cross that is built on the foundation of Jesus our Savior (6-8). God’s purpose is to change us, and grow us, so we can praise Him (9-10). Just as a doctor is praised for his work on desperately sick patients, likewise, we are called to believe and carry the message of salvation and healing through a great Savior. If we can tell others how great our doctor is, can we not also tell others how great our God is?

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The Disciple's Passion

2/9/2025

Matthew 22:34-40
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. With that, our thoughts are drawn to what we love, who we love, and how we might show that love. Love is the root of a passionate expression. We can say that we love ice cream, sports, coffee or someone, but there is always an expression of that love. In its simplest form passion is doing what we love and loving what we do. Being a person of passion is expressing the strong excited response that is based on the deeper sense of love. If there is not a connection that attracts then there will not be the action based on the attraction. The Bible lays out God’s passionate connection for all humanity in John 3:16. God loved the world so much that He gave Jesus, His only Son, to be our savior from sin. Love is the motivation for the extreme action of God’s passion. The passion displayed in the action proves the reality of the love. In Matthew 22 Jesus was asked to identify the greatest command in the law (36). In response He says, love God and people (37-39). Jesus came and displayed God’s love to us so we can display His love to others. The good news of God’s love drove His passionate display of love. Our display of love for others is to be based on our understanding and acceptance of God’s love passionately displayed for all the world to see. That is life changing love, the kind of love that God wants His committed followers to display to others. On our own we do not have the capability to accurately display God’s love. Yet, as disciples of Jesus, we are graciously given the ability to love because we have experienced God’s love (1 John 4:19). Are we actively displaying our love for God and others as God has loved us?

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The Disciple's Mission

1/19/2025

Matthew 4:18-22
As a boy, I had always enjoyed dogs, but never had a chance to have one. Perhaps we never had a dog because Mom and Dad had moved frequently. Eventually, when I was about ten, we settled into a home that I would consider home. Arriving home from school one fall day, I noticed a dog tied up in front of the house. It turns out that some friends needed to find a new home for their dog and my parents approved. Well, that began the process of getting to know the dog and trying to train the dog. There is an old saying, “You can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” That was definitely true of this character. He should have been a good candidate to pull a sled. He was broad and muscular, but he lacked the motivation. He would pull for a bit and only when he wanted to. When he realized I was on the sled the ride was over. I was on a mission to develop him into a sled pulling dog and he wanted nothing to do with my trick. My plans and dreams for him could never compare to his desire for his enjoyment fulfilled his way. You could say it was a training disaster. However, when it comes to reshaping our lives and retraining us God has a plan, but it takes our submission. In Matthew 4 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to follow Him (18) and promises to make them into something different (19). Change is not easy because we become comfortable with our way. Like these disciples we are called to follow Jesus and allow Him to change us, reshape us and use us for His purposes and honor. Like my old dog; Are we willing to submit to our savior and His new direction for our life? When we do we will find that our life has an exciting new meaning and purpose.

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Ministry of Care

10/6/2024

1 Timothy 5:1-16
Care is an interesting word. For example, I have an old dog that was literally dumped in my neighborhood on a cold rainy day. I felt concern and care for her which led to catching her, feeding her and helping her overcome health and trust problems. I cared about the dog and stepped in to help her. However on the other hand, the phrase I could not care less means that I have no interest in the subject at hand and have no level of connection or concern that could influence my position. In other words, on the caring meter that measures how much one cares, I am at a zero. Simply put, the level of feeling concern could not go any lower. You see, on one hand we can be moved deeply to reach out and show care or we can be ambivalent and distant by not being involved with any care. In 1 Timothy 5 Paul instructs Timothy to be one that offers care, instructs in care and guides in care. Timothy is to offer correction with care by coming alongside to help reorient the individual to God’s way of living (1-2). Second, Timothy is to be one that instructs others how to care, particularly families as they care for their elder members (3-8). Finally, Paul provides Timothy with guidelines for the church in providing care to those within the church (9-16). All this involves the practice of grace because those in need of care may be truly unlovely. The church needs to correct problems with grace and caution, but also be a place where people find value belonging to a gracious family. Are we ones who willingly step toward the problems and the people with problems? As we think about the ministry of caring for people we need to be ones that display the grace of Christ within the body of Christ to bring honor to Christ and make a difference for Christ.

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Proclaim the Gospel

8/25/2024

1 Timothy 1:12-17
My Grandma was one who made sure that we stayed warm by making various winter garments. I recall one Christmas my brothers and I opened our gifts to find our own matching pair of mittens plus a hat. These were not just any normal hat and gloves, these were double thick. Grandma made them with two layers of yarn that doubled the thickness and the warmth. In fact, that hat was so warm I remember sweating while wearing it in the middle of winter. Different people commented on the hat and asked where I got it. That was my cue to tell them that it was my Christmas gift from Grandma. In much the same way Paul is saying the same thing to Timothy. In 1 Timothy 1:12-14, Paul proclaims the gospel message because God has given him the gift of salvation and enabled him to serve (12), even though his past sin was great (13). He then turns and challenges Timothy to proclaim the gospel message of salvation (15-17). This is opposite of the false teachers, who had a message that was without substance and value because they did not hold to the truth of the gospel message (1:6). Paul’s exhortation to the young pastor, Timothy, is to keep Christ and His work on the cross central in his beliefs, teaching and practice. The same is true for us today. When we understand the greatness of our sin, and the greatness of God’s work, we will naturally proclaim the greatness of God and worship Him (17). In ministry, our past is to be an opportunity to display God’s grace in the present. Our guilt and shame of past sin do not limit God’s power in transforming the worst of sinners into His greatest servants. True ministers will view sin in light of grace and be an example pointing others to Christ and the gift of salvation He has given.

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Participate as a Witness

8/11/2024

Acts 1:1-8
Just down the street, from my home, a new house is being built. Have you ever paid attention to the process of building a home? Several months ago several large pieces of heavy equipment arrived on the site and began digging the foundation. Then concrete was poured and now the walls and roof are going up. There is a small crew of workers at the new house site each day moving the project toward its designed completion. But what if each of the workers decided to construct what they wanted without regard or communication with the others? The end result would be nothing but disorganization and chaos. There would be wall without doors and stairs going to nowhere. However, each of the workers reads the house plans, listens to the boss, and does what is being communicated. The same is to be true in the church. The early church, in the book of Acts, saw continued growth with many people coming to faith in Jesus. In Acts 2:41 about 3000 people believed and were baptized. Stop and ask yourself why. The answer is found in looking back to the beginning of the book. In His last words to His disciples Jesus promised power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). This promised individual spiritual power brought change to each disciple and they spoke of Jesus the savior who is alive and no longer in the grave. God gave His power to His disciples to build His church through their witness. The same is true for us today. The promise of the Spirit’s indwelling and transforming power is true for everyone who believes in Jesus. God desires that we listen to Him, point others to faith in Him and thus see His body, the church, built for Him. As believers we are empowered by God’s Spirit for God’s glory to proclaim God’s message! Let us live each day using His power by participating as His witness.

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Participate in Service

8/4/2024

Matthew 20:20-28
Have you ever been to a restaurant where the service was poor? One time, we as a family stopped at what appeared to be a good restaurant. We walked in, found a seat and waited, and then waited some more. Our stomachs began to growl. The kids began getting restless and started to complain. If my memory serves me correctly, we were there about 40 minutes and not a single waiter stopped at our table. Needless to say we eventually got up and walked out because the service did not meet the need of our hunger. In Acts 2:42-47 we see that the early church had been changed by placing their faith in Jesus, and now they were intent on serving. Their work was done to benefit others through their sacrifice. They were not concerned about positions or power, instead they were intent on serving. Through their work of service they continually gave testimony to the fact that Jesus changed them. Yet, if we go back in time we find that the disciples previously had been more interested in positions of importance rather than serving. In Matthew 20 we pick up the recorded story when two disciples approached Jesus, along with their mother, asking for a favor (20). In their ambition and pride they desired positions of greatness alongside Jesus (21). Hearing this conversation the other disciples became angry (24). Jesus stops the argument and reminds them that He has come, not seeking a position, but to serve and sacrifice Himself for the benefit of all (28). Jesus, the greatest servant, served to meet our greatest need of salvation from sin. Christ chose service over self in contrast to the disciples. He came and served sacrificially to meet the hunger of our soul. Like the early church, our service is to be a living testimony of the gospel message and how our savior met our greatest need.

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What do others say about us?

6/16/2024

Ephesians 6:21-24
Over the years people have sought to memorialize themselves or others through witty phrases etched on their tombstone. One of those sayings that has been used by several is, “I told you I was sick.” What would you think if you saw that on a tombstone? You might think the person had a sense of humor, or perhaps someone else was doing their best to describe this character. When a person passes away it is a serious time for remembrance and reflection. This should cause us to pause, with some sober thought, and ask “What will others say of us when we are gone?” I believe that question is the challenge behind the closing verses in the book Ephesians. In closing out this letter Paul begins his conclusion to Ephesians 6 by describing a faithful brother, Tychicus (21-22). This man was noted as a dear brother and faithful servant. One who is deeply appreciated and loved as a brother, and one who dutifully and consistently meets the needs of others through his service. Tychicus was the one who carried this letter to the church and Paul used him as an illustration of unity and service in the body of Christ. This beloved servant of the church had been changed through his belief in Jesus as savior and sought to continue to show his love for his savior through his dedicated service. In our world today, the temptation is to make our efforts about ourselves and for our benefit. Paul noted just the opposite about Tychicus. His faith in Jesus transformed his life and his love for others. Tychicus served because the grace of God, and Jesus as his savior made all the difference in his life. Just like Tychicus, may others remember our love and service for our savior.

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Walk as a Family

5/26/2024

Ephesians 6:1-4
I have an old dog. For those of you who have had old animals, you can relate. This old dog, like others that I have had, has become disinterested in food. I have realized this and have tried to keep her healthy by making her meals more exciting. I am now sprinkling the magical pixie dust of parmesan cheese on her food. Now, every meal is a treat of spaghetti and meatballs. It is funny to watch her apathy at every meal turn into excitement which turns into an appetite, which leads to nutrition and then good health. Similarly, our lives as believers are strengthened by feeding on God’s Word and then excitedly living out the truth through His grace and strength that He provides. That is what Paul wants from the Ephesian believers as he writes to them in Ephesians 6:1-4. Paul first addresses children, challenging them to live obediently toward parents and honor them (1-3). Then he turns his attention to fathers, or more accurately parents by encouraging them in the proper use if their authority within the home (4). Paul desires for his audience to truly be changed by God’s grace so it is displayed in the home and shown as an example to the community. Today, we need to understand that God’s grace changes us at the cross when we believe in Jesus for salvation. God then enables us, through His grace, to live a transformed life with His power by His Spirit. Parents need to understand that the purpose of their parental responsibility is to show God’s transforming grace and not bend children to their will. Children need to understand that their obedience is a sign that God has truly changed them to ultimately honor Him. Like an old dog, our life is renewed by God’s grace and that should excite us, transform us and change our families.

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