Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, June 28, 2025.

The Remedy For Worry
Meditations on Luke 12:22–34 and Matthew 6:25–34 and what it means to "seek the Kingdom of God."

We are troubled by many things (Luke 10:41)—seeking after food, drink, clothing, and other things that cause an anxious mind.

Why seek resources one after another that leave our minds scattered and our hearts divided, when we can have the Source from whom all the resources flow?

Here’s why: the Source is a Kingdom where I am not king. I want to control how the resources come to me and in what quantity. The problem is, my ultimate pursuit is the resources—which is a fool’s errand, because they do not satisfy.

But the rule of the rightful King is the best part (Luke 10:42)—the part that makes for our satisfaction and peace.

And if I love the King of the Source instead of the resources—so that they are no longer my pursuit—if He is the treasure I diligently seek, I will receive Him (Hebrews 11:6).

I am then satisfied with many wonderful things (Psalm 16:11), and He adds what is needed (Luke 12:31). And when He adds, He does so in healthy, sufficient portions—so my heart is not made fat and sick.

Then, I ultimately do not fret about the resource, because I’m satisfied with the Source—the Kingdom of God, where Christ is King.

So, my prayer is for a pure heart that loves and delights in God alone. And my sincere hope is a heart posture that says even if I should perish, I hope I do so in a way that blesses my beloved.

#TheRemedyForWorry #Anxiety #Peace #PerfectOurLove

Originally posted on Facebook on Thursday, June 26, 2025.

"Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31) has been heavy on my heart and the word that is in my spirit is "Oneness".

"Oneness" is a characteristic of God.

"The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.'"
– Mark 12:29

Everything God creates reflects His Oneness.

Separation and division, by contrast, are from the evil one.

But Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). And, He does so with this teaching that we find in Mark 12.

When I read the word of God, I'm often just as amazed by what God does not say as what He does say.

God could have told us to love our neighbor in countless ways, but He chose this one: "love your neighbor as yourself". I believe this is saying not to love my neighbor like or in a similar way that I love myself, but to love them as me.

This is an awesomely high bar that I fall totally short of.

I repent.

And I'm praying for His heart to see you as one with me—a heart that would not permit your harm, that knows I'm crippled without you and does everything it can not to lose you, and that has the wisdom to understand how it is all held together: Jesus Christ.

I believe Jesus Christ is the only thing powerful enough to hold it all together. (Colossians 1:17)

He is the only way to Oneness.

Wait a minute. What about Matthew 10:34?

"Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword."

This is an excellent point because it highlights what is necessary for Oneness: being separated us from what separates us (which is what His sword is against), but what is most important to Oneness is the only thing that can truly unify and hold all things together—Christ.

This is the context of the preceding and following verses: Matthew 10:33 "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." and Matthew 10:37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

Now, back to Mark 12. In verses 12:32-33, a scribe affirms Jesus' teaching of the law that there is no greater commandment than to love God with everything, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Yet in the very next verse (Mark 12:34), Jesus acknowledges that the scribe answered wisely, but replies, "You are not far from the kingdom of God".

If the scribe answered correctly according to the law, why isn't he instead in the kingdom of God?!

Because, when Jesus said, "You are not far from the kingdom of God," He was not talking about the law. Jesus was speaking of Himself, which the scribe had not yet embraced as the Christ which is necessary to enter into the kingdom.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'"
– John 14:6

I pray and press toward this call to Oneness.

Jesus is the way.

#Oneness #One #Communion #PerfectOurLove

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 23, 2025.

I used to call myself introverted.

But now I seek out fellowship with other believers—because I know I’ll be richer for it.

Being with other disciples is like standing in a stream, panning for something precious.

When I’m in the presence of people who love God, I receive Him.

Christ’s death and resurrection released something unimaginably powerful—like a star exploding and scattering all kinds of precious elements. Or perhaps more accurately, like the Big Bang, which many believe gave rise to everything in existence.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus released precious things—parts of Himself into people: grace, gifts, and ministries.

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Therefore He says:
'When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.'"
— Ephesians 4:7–8

These deposits of Christ in each of us were given for the very purpose of being discovered, drawn out, and shared which results in God's glory.

And what’s remarkable about this kind of “mining” is that it doesn’t leave the one being mined any poorer—but more refined, more radiant.

And those who receive what’s drawn out?
They become richer too.

The same person can be mined again and again, increasing their value collectively—without being diminished in any way.

Oh, the economy of God!

It’s not zero-sum like the world’s economy. It’s exponential.

And this deeply changes how I see my fellow believers—how I see people.

They are infinitely valuable.

"There's Gold in Thar Them Hills."

The treasure is Christ.
The gift of God.
The true riches.

#TheTrueRiches #Church #Fellowship #Assembly #PerfectOurLove

Originally posted on Facebook on Friday, June 20, 2025.

Your information does not help me love God, or my neighbors.

But your experience in the Spirit does.

To worship God in Spirit and Truth means that it is not theological.

It’s not theoretical.
It's not philosophical.
It’s not an idea in our heads.

It’s experience lived in the Spirit.

Jesus says,
"Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him."
— John 8:55

And,
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not [done religious works]?’
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
— Matthew 7:22–23

"Knowing" is life lived—not from the head, but from the heart—
the heart He gives.

Worshiping in Spirit and in Truth is to produce fruit after its own kind—
to behave the way the Spirit does,
not because I know the law,
but because doing His will is now my nature.

When Jesus says, "The kingdom of heaven is like…,"
He’s not speaking conceptually—
He’s sharing what He has seen through experience (John 3:11).

And that’s what helps us:
experience with God,
not academic theory.

As you are becoming,
as you are being born again,
as Christ is being formed in you
and is understood by way of exercise—
share.

What is it like walking with Him?
What is He like?
What did He do?
How is He helping you?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,
and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you,
with meekness and fear.”
— 1 Peter 3:15

Share how His life in you,
and His presence with you,
is changing the way you live.

Share what "the kingdom of heaven is like"—
your experience living with His nature,
in Spirit and in Truth.

That helps me love God.
That helps my love my neighbor.

#Theology #WorshipInSpiritAndTruth #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Something super cool (to me) came out of last night's Bible Study which built on another Bible Study earlier that day, and it's the definition of an idol.

An idol is a destination other than God. It's a place we go for something instead of God—when God wants us to come to Him for everything, because that's the only place good things are (James 1:17).

It was a gem that collected in my heart from the diffusion of His aroma through others believers. Oh how I love Him/them so!

Thanks Brad Cox and Torey Brown for creating these spaces of communion!

#idol #idolatry #heartwords

Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, June 16, 2025.

Work is not who I am.

It's not even what I do.

Work is the God-given gift and privilege of participating in His creative work.

"Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."
— Genesis 2:15

Work is exertion with purpose.

We become dissatisfied with work when we become disconnected from purpose (and when its return is less than what's invested).

God's purpose is God: God with us, God in us, God through us, God all in all—which results in His glory that all of creation enjoys. (Psalm 104, 1 Chronicles 29:11-14)

This is life—the true riches which Jesus, doing the work of the Father, came to give.

His work is good.

#GoodWorks #Thriveday #perfectourlove

Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, June 15, 2025.

You know what I find amazing?! In the account of Jesus' encounter with the rich young ruler, the young man walks away sad and Jesus lets him.

This is so contrary to Christian culture today, that tries to convince and convert into a way of thinking.

But Jesus' silence and stillness speaks
volumes. Jesus models true ministry here. He demonstrates that this is not a matter of the head but of the heart.

So He drops seed—the Word of God that pierces even to the division of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word is both what is being planted and the implement that prepares the soil.

And if it takes root, like a great tree emerging from concrete, it will tear asunder the foundation of lies and misconceptions of our hearts and replace it with the true foundation of Itself.

But, that takes time.

And like a skilled master gardener, He patiently labors then waits.

When our desire is misplaced—no theory, philosophy, or clever arguments will do—our hearts have to be broken to be saved.

"But [the rich young ruler] was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."
— Mark 10:22

And, Jesus allowed him to leave—I believe to let the Word do its work. And I think He alludes to this hope in verses 25-27.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
— Mark 10:25

Then verse 27 reads,
"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

The point being for us to preach and live the Word and trust it to do its work. Salvation is of God, not of man—WE CANNOT DO IT.

I wouldn't want a faith I could be convinced into because I could be convinced out of it.

The goal is not to get them to join the club but to bring them under the conviction of the Holy Spirit who imparts a new heart with a new desire for God alone. (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

So, we must stop tampering with the seed and trust it to break the hearts where they land.

We should also ask whether the distance we feel from God at times is His allowing us to leave so our hearts can break for His heart to shine through?

In either case, trust the Word.

#JesusLetHimLeave #discipleship #perfectourlove