Category: New Life - Jethro TOOLS

Revealed

2/23/2025

Philippians 2:1-11
One of my favorite types of online videos involves people rescuing lost or abandoned dogs. The story typically plays out in one of two ways. First, someone sees an abandoned dog in a certain location for a number of days and then returns with group of friends and a bag of hamburgers as a mouth watering incentive for the dog. The video ends with the dog being loaded into a car and heading off for a new life. The second, involves an abandoned dog in a shelter that has literally shut down emotionally and cowers in a far corner. Someone decides to make the effort, stepping into the cage and befriends the scared dog. Both scenarios end with the dog going to a new home with a new owner and with a happy look on their face. This all took place because someone was willing to step into the world of a dog that was lost and without hope. The same is true for the human race. We are stuck, and without hope of ever finding spiritual freedom and a new life of victory over sin. Philippians 2 tells us that hopeless situation changed when Jesus, as God, humbled Himself and served humanity by giving Himself to pay for our sin (8). He did this by stepping into our world, and became human like us (7). He stepped away from His position as God (6) to meet our greatest need. In love, Jesus graciously served helpless humanity by not only revealing Himself to us but also rescuing us. Just as the animal lovers seek to restore the lost dog and give it a new life, we need to remember that apart from God we are helpless and hopelessly lost in sin. However, when we experience God’s gracious gift of salvation given through Jesus we can then step into the world of others who are lost, and joyfully point them to Jesus and the new life He gives.

For More See PHILIPPIANS or SHEBA

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?

For More See 1 PETER or DISCIPLESHIP

The Disciple's Vision

1/26/2025

Luke 19:1-10
Have you lost something? We have all lost something at some point in time like keys, glasses, or that important paper. But what about the times when we realize that what we have is something we don’t really desire like an old shirt, a broken chair, or out of style shoes. Our focus shifts from the invaluable things of the present, to a desire for some other thing. All too often we assign too much value to power, positions, and possessions, that we miss what is truly valuable. That is the story of Zacchaeus. Luke 19 tells us that he had power, position, and wealth (2), yet above those things he was motivated to see Jesus (3), and nothing was going to stop him (4). He had everything that a man could possibly get in this world, and yet he was an outcast searching for answers to the deep longings of his heart. He desired to be known and accepted. Zacchaeus had come to the point where he knew his life was not right. Yet, regardless of his sin, Jesus sought him out. He knew exactly where Zaccheus was in the tree and noted the change that faith had brought to his life (9). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (10). His focused vision for coming into this world was to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). Today, God works in us and through us to seek out the lost around us. We must believe and accept the salvation offered only through Jesus. It is His sacrifice on the cross that makes us right with God. As disciples of Jesus, we are to adopt His vision for the lost. Zacchaeus desired a new way to live with new values and a new vision for life. That drove him to search for answers and seek out Jesus. May we believe in Jesus as Savior, adopt His way of living, and help others do the same. Has Jesus found you and radically changed you?

For More See LUKE or 1 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

The Gift

12/15/2024

Isaiah 9:3-7
Gift giving is on our minds at this time of year. At times we all struggle to determine what to give that certain someone. If you ask others for advice on what to give, you may hear a wide range of answers including something to eat, something to wear, something to do, or even time with you. Helpful as that list of suggestions may be, we are still left scratching our heads, puzzled by what to give. Perhaps we need to simplify the process. Rather than thinking about what to give the other person, it might be better to think like the other person. Once we begin to think of a great gift from the receivers perspective we will see what they need and value most, then give accordingly. That is exactly what God has done for us. In Isaiah 9 we see that God clearly understands us as people and gives us exactly what we need. Isaiah, under God’s direction, records God’s promise that a child will be born and a son will be given (6). God is making a grand announcement proclaiming what He will do for us. This simple verse describes the human side of a child being born and also the divine side of God giving His son. What is this? This is God, through Isaiah, building in the people the belief that God will come and live with man as God with us, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). The rest of Isaiah 9:6 goes on to describe how this gift from God is exactly what lost and sinful humanity needs. At Christmas our gift giving is a very small imitation of the gift of Jesus himself, that has been given to us. God knew exactly what we needed and gave His Son to forgive us, restore us and give us new life (John 3:16). In Jesus, God has given the perfect gift of salvation that we have deeply desired.

For More See ISAIAH or CHRISTMAS

Walk of Love and Light

5/5/2024

Ephesians 5:1-14
There is an old saying that states, “A fake is a cheap imitation of the real thing.” Allow me to add to that… A fake is a cheap imitation of the real thing that looks good on the outside, but on the inside it lacks substance. In other words, I could illustrate that concept with a piece of jewelry. A real piece of jewelry will be made with gold or silver through and through. However you can get an imitation jewelry set for children that is not authentic. It may have the shine on the outside but it is lightweight and made of plastic. As we continue in our study of Ephesians, Paul also continues his practical emphasis of the how the believer is to live that he began in chapter 4. As we turn the page to chapter 5, Paul challenges his audience to be imitators of God (1). He first explains that the one who believes in Jesus as savior is to walk or imitate a life of sacrificial love as modeled by Jesus (2). However, people have a tendency to twist and corrupt what God designs as good. Paul warns the Ephesian church against the self centered, sinful perversion of love, and following falsehood instead of God (3-6). Paul then shifts his thinking to talk about living or walking as children of light (7-8). We imitate God by participating in what is spiritually healthy and fruitful, and not the deeds of sin (11). Paul is trying to tell his audience that they need to allow the reality of their salvation to seen by those around them (11-13). Just as a flashlight has no power on its own apart from the battery, so those who believe in Jesus are to utilize His power to live. In doing so, we let His light shine through us, to guide others to Him, as the true source of real life change.

For more see EPHESIANS

New Life New Walk

4/28/2024

Ephesians 4:17-32
In 1979, a new television show aired that was called This Old House. That show has now been produced for 45 seasons. Each half hour show records the process of how a team of workers completely transforms an old house into a new one. While the house will still retain its recognizable historic and architectural lines on the outside, on the inside it is completely different. From cracked foundations to rotten timbers and broken windows, everything is made new because of the master carpenters and their unwavering effort. In much the same way, we have a master carpenter at work in our lives. From the moment we trust Christ as our Savior the transformation process begins. In the book of Ephesians, Paul emphasizes how God’s grace, displayed through Jesus Christ, changes everything and makes us new. What we see in Ephesians 4:17-32 is similar to what we see on This Old House. Paul discussed a practical transformation from old too new, from broken to functional, from decay to delight, all at the hands of the master carpenter, our God and Savior. Paul reminds the Ephesian believers to not be corrupted by, and insensitive to, sin as they were in their previous lives before knowing Christ (17-19). He then calls them to live holy lives that are made new by God in true righteousness and holiness (20-24). Finally, Paul leaves the Ephesian believers with the challenge to live new lives (25-31). The practice of this new life and new walk displays the reality that their relationship with Jesus Christ has truly changed them. Like that church, we are challenged by Paul to live new lives that are modeled after Jesus Christ (32). The final result, like a restored old house, is that we are on display for all to see the greatness of our God, who transforms us from broken too beautiful.

For more see EPHESIANS

Acceptance

3/18/2024

John 3:1-21
Have you ever wanted to get to know someone but were afraid to talk to them when others were around? In John 3 we see that Nicodemus was a religious leader with serious questions for Jesus. So, he arranged to met with Jesus at night, asking questions that people still ponder today. He began with a general statement regarding what people in the community were saying about Jesus. He then moved too much deeper questions in response to the truth that Jesus presented. His perspective about Jesus was challenged (2-3). His beliefs about Jesus and salvation were confronted (4-8). Through this, Jesus desired that Nicodemus would believe that He was the promised savior as predicted in the scriptures (9-15). The conversation concludes as Jesus emphasized that a new life is only the result of God’s transforming power (16-21). As we read this conversation we often miss what Jesus was modeling for us. Jesus was willing to take the time to meet with Nicodemus. From there He started with what Nicodemus knew and challenged his understanding of the truth. Jesus made sure that the truth was presented in such a way that it would lead to beliefs being challenged and to salvation. Today, we can do the same in our conversations with others. We can only tell others of the truth of the gospel if we know it by experience. Let us ask God to open the conversations and relationships so we can tell others of Jesus and point them to salvation in Him alone. Like Nicodemus, our acceptance by God is not found through what we know about Him or the things we do. We must come to God on His terms through Jesus our savior. In that, God begins a visible transformative process, moving us from spiritual darkness to spiritual light (21). Like Nicodemus, what we know will affect what we believe, and what we believe will affect the way we live.

For more see JOHN or EASTER

What is Salvation?

1/14/2024

Romans 8
Several years ago a dog was dumped in our neighborhood. She was a dirty, hungry mess and did not trust people. I first noticed her just lying in the road, most likely where her previous owners had dropped her. She soon became the conversation of the neighborhood as various ones tried to catch the dog, feed the dog and some even called the police to catch the dog. Nothing worked. She was lost and alone after being rejected by her previous owners. I decided to offer her a chance at a new life. One where she could belong, be fed and secure. That took time. I started by talking to her and letting her experience my presence from a distance. Gradually she tolerated me, to a point. Next, I introduced food, the tasty treats that enticed her and met her deep hunger for more. I remember tossing the treats and coaxing her closer and closer until finally she was eating out of my hand. As you can guess, the rest is history. I now have a 40 pound ball of fuzz who trusts me and enjoys being with me more and more each day. Is that not what God does for us? We are lost and alone in a world of sin and Jesus pays the price for our sin so we can be set free to live a new life with Him. He saves us from the power of sin and a life ruled by sin. He alone gives us peace and helps us trust Him each day. Finally, by believing in Jesus Christ as savior, we find peace and security in the presence of God as we move from this life to the next. Just like my dog, Jesus seeks to have a relationship with us and save us from sin, give us victory over sin and guarantee our future with Him.

For more see ROMANS or QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What Will You Do With Jesus?

4/10/2023

Luke 24
It all began a week ago. There was a thump on the window and then thrashing and scratching. This continued for days until I finally caught a glimpse of a Robin staring at the window and then attacking the window in defense of its territory. The problem is that the Robin was fighting the reflection of its own image. Research has informed me that eventually the love sick Robin will stop, and tend to caring for his nest. In his angry little bird brain the Robin only sees a rival and a threat, not reality. We approach Easter and the resurrection in much the same way. On Easter we come face to face with the intersection of divinity and humanity. Jesus as a man died, but as God He was raised from the dead and returned to life. That is the dilemma the people in Luke 24 faced. At the resurrection of Jesus there were questions of belief (1-12). However, His followers publicly proclaimed that the resurrection is a reality. That was followed by the searching questions from two of His followers. However, Jesus met them, and pointed them to the Scriptures and the necessity of His death to pay for sin (13-27). Salvation is possible through belief in Jesus Christ alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and not by anything we can do on our own. Jesus paid our debt of sin and because He lives we can have new life through Him. Our faith and hope are based on Christ and His love for us. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. As in Luke 24, Jesus wants to change us from doubters to ones who tell others of Him (33-36). What will you do with Jesus? Have your eyes been opened to the reality that that Jesus is alive (28-32)?

for more see LUKE or EASTER

Reproduction of Disciples

1/1/2023

2 Timothy 2:1-2
Spring is just around the corner… well not really. However, now is the time to begin making plans for the garden. We may think of new or better locations to place certain plants based on how much shade or sunlight they need. We may gather the tools and plan a new garden design. But, all of this is useless unless we have seeds to plant in the warm spring soil. Seeds will naturally want to grow with the proper sunlight, soil, and water. Under these conditions the plant will sprout into a seedling, continue to grow as an immature plant, and finally develop as a mature plant that produces a crop. At maturity the plant is able to produce seeds that can be used to reproduce a crop for the following year. There is a life cycle in nature and people that starts with birth and leads to maturity. God has designed all that He has created to grow into maturity. However, do we think the same way about our spiritual life? Often when we think about our spiritual life we only think about the start. We think of the good news of Jesus coming at Christmas to bring us salvation. When we believe in Christ as Savior we gain His gift of salvation. That is only the beginning. That new life and the transformation is to be on going and maturing just as we see in nature. Our spiritual life does not stop at salvation, it is to continue, grow, develop, and mature in us. God has intentionally created all that is around us, including us, for growth and maturity. Stagnation and remaining in one spiritual life stage is not normal. It is unhealthy. God’s purpose in sending Jesus to be our Savior is to save us and mature us so we can spiritually reproduce and be used by God to plant new spiritual seed in the soil of others lives.

For more see 2 TIMOTHY or DISCIPLESHIP

Christmas & Invitation

12/11/2022

John 3:16
What do you do with that unwanted gift that you will never use? The best option is to return it to the store and exchange it for some item you really want. The exact numbers of post Christmas returns are not in for this year, but based on previous years, retailers expect about 55 percent of shoppers to exchange or return an unwanted gift. What is the problem? Why so many returns? The issue is the giver and the ability to fully know the one receiving the gift. With all the returns some stores turn to post holiday sales to move the unwanted merchandise. But have you thought about the time when the giver got the perfect gift for everyone? God did just that at Christmas. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” God is the perfect giver who gives with a purpose to display His love to a world full of people that have no idea what real love is. God gave His one and only Son at Christmas as a personal gift for every one. This gift and His sacrifice in our place for our sin provides new life now and eternal life for the rest of time for all who believe in Jesus. The gift is given freely by God with the all the benefits of life and not death. The only requirement is belief in Jesus as the Son of God who has come to save us from our sin. Do you believe that Jesus is God’s gift for you? When we understand the greatness of this gift we not only treasure it but also tell others about it. It is the gift that we can continually give away and never lose. It is the best gift that we will never return.

For more see JOHN or SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS

Christmas & Incarnation

12/4/2022

Philippians 2:5-8
I recall late one fall that we added two kittens to our household number. They were young and of course very mischievous. My Dad threatened to call them Fun and Games, but in reality they were more like Trouble and Terrible. Those two would chase each other all over the house. However, their favorite arena to display all their antics was the living room rug. I still remember all of us sitting in the living room and laughing as two kittens raced and jumped all over. Who needs an entertainment center or a TV when you have energetic kittens displaying their skill! The kittens were great, but then came Christmas and the insertion of a tree into their venue of toys. I recall several occasions where the tree ended up horizontal on the floor because of climbing kittens. My Dad, being the wise man that he was, tied a stout string to the top of the tree and the other end to a hook in the ceiling. Problem solved. Likewise, Christmas also reminds us of the problem called sin and God’s solution to send Jesus into our world to be our savior. This is called the incarnation and it highlights the truth that God stepped out of time and space and stepped into our world to be born as a baby. Philippians 2 speaks of the example and incarnation of Christ. The purpose of the incarnation is to make God known to humanity (5-6). The result is that Jesus now gives us a practical example for a new way to live (7). However, the incarnation is also personal in that Jesus is the sacrifice for our sin (8). Our problem of sin finds its solution in Jesus. Problem solved. The kittens still climbed the tree, but Dad’s solution worked. Our sin caused the Christ of Christmas to die on a tree and His solution still works.

For more see PHILIPPIANS or SYMBOLS OF CHRISTMAS

Also Blog article on Salvation

I Can Do All Things

11/6/2022

Philippians 4:10-13
This week a friend of mine sent me some pictures of my favorite car, a Ford Mustang. I don’t know why, but I have always liked that car. I can clearly remember the first time I saw one when I was about 6 years old. The car in the pictures was a much newer model, yet it still had some of the classic body lines and contours that reminded me of the much earlier version. We discussed, in jest, how I could convince my wife and possibly trade my current vehicle for this one. However, in the end I decided to be content with the car that I have because it is a gift from God, but that is for another story. You see things may make us content for a little bit, but if my contentment is wrapped up in things have I not lost my commitment to God? We can have all the material possessions of this world and lack peace in our circumstances. If we lack a contentment in what God has provided, and a commitment to Christ, we are spiritually lost. Christ provides all that we need for today and eternity. His powerful work of grace on the cross provides new life, new power and new perspective for all of life’s circumstances. If we do not have Christ we have nothing. We do not have His power for living and His joy that sustains. We need a commitment to Christ and a contentment with His provision to have peace in our circumstances. That is the message of Philippians 4:13 which states, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” We need joy in the Lord not our circumstance. We need joy for how God is working in others through our circumstance. We need contentment with what God has provided in the circumstance, and a commitment to God in all of our circumstances.

For more see PHILIPPIANS or MISAPPLIED SCRIPTURE VERSES

What is Salvation?

6/27/2021

Colossians 2:13-15, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 8:28-30, 1 John 3:2-3
There is an old saying, “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” The meaning of this highlights the special nature of actually holding a bird as compared to just seeing them sitting in a tree. There are actually two instances where I held birds that came down the chimney of my wood stove. One was a duck that scared the living daylights out of me when I went to start a fire. Then in a different house, there were two birds that decided to make a similar journey down the chimney. Comedy would probably best describe me chasing and attempting to capture the birds. I remember asking myself, “Are they really worth saving?” Thankfully, in the end, I was able to watch each of them fly away. Perhaps they were thankful they did not have to pay the price of their mistake. Perhaps they were thankful to be released from the power of the stove that trapped them. Or perhaps they were just thankful to be away from my terrifying presence. For us, salvation is much the same and should lead to a similar response. At salvation God justifies those who believe by faith so they no longer have to pay the price for sin all because of what Christ did on the cross. The believer is released from the power of sin over their life to live a sanctified life being transformed daily by the Holy Spirit. The future is filled with the certain hope of heaven, being free from the presence of sin, and having the process of sanctification finally completed. What glory! Justification, sanctification and glorification form the framework of God’s past, present and future work of salvation for the believer. Our response like the birds is thankfulness for the transformation and freedom of a new life.

For more see QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Debt Payment Guaranteed

5/23/2021

Philemon 18-20
What is debt? Debt is something that is owed or due. Most often debt involves money but there can be other debt like a debt of service or love. Each one of us, most likely, has some debt. It may be an auto loan, a house mortgage, a credit card, a student loan or even a loan between family or friends. Debt is incurred because we assess our level of desire or need and decide to borrow from someone else so this need or desire can be met. The act of borrowing makes us indebted to someone else. Now, what would you say if I told you that I would completely pay off all your debt? Paul was offering to do the same thing for Onesimus. In Philemon 18-20 Paul offers to not only pay off any debt that was owed to Philemon by Onesimus, but he also personally guaranteed the payment. Going beyond this promise, Paul is encouraging Philemon to display God’s grace toward Onesimus, in the same way he has received God’s grace. Like Onesimus, Philemon did not deserve grace. In the same way, like Onesimus, we also have a debt of sin that we can’t pay, however Jesus offers and guarantees to pay for our sin. He becomes our substitute, taking on our debt, so we can live a new life because of His grace. By faith we must accept this offer and live a new life because of God’s grace to display God’s grace. Knowing Jesus as savior changes everything about debt for Philemon, Onesimus and us.

For more see PHILEMON