Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, January 9, 2023.
If I am betrothed to a Husband, dedicating myself to Him, summarily rejecting the pursuit of all others and turning my back on the opportunity for any other life, if all that I am and all that I have has been committed to His trust and He never does anything on my behalf nor ever comes to receive and establish me, if our wedding is a lie, I am the most pitiable of all men.
Believing Christ and following Him comes with the tremendous risk of losing everything because it demands everything –a cost which I ponder often and one that those who claim to be Christian should count well (Luke 14:28-33).
If I am truly Christian, I have committed my life to Him. And if I am wrong, if I have believed a lie, I SHOULD BE the most pitiable of all men.
But, how am I pitiable if I continue to live as a bachelor, as someone free and available for courtship or even wantonly promiscuous –seeking selfish pleasure from any and everything that does not advance His interests as my Lord and that are unfitting for someone betrothed? How am I pitiable, if in the event that He never comes, I have not lost anything and my life looks like everyone else's?
Before we call ourselves Christians, we should ask, "Am I really engaged? Am I really committed to Christ? Do I believe to the point that I'm doing and giving up so much that I would be completely pitiable if what I believe turns out to be a lie?"
Lord Jesus, I believe You. Knowing you has transformed me. I believe you are the only begotten Son of God sent to save the world from sin that's killing us and to give life both now and in eternity to those who receive You. I accept Your proposal to be my Lord and Savior.
I believe the best thing to do with my life is to give it to You. Saving lives, giving Life, You on the throne as King of a kingdom that never ends –there is nothing more worthy to be a part of than what You're doing.
Help me to go all the way. Help me to not keep back parts of my life so I can maintain some independence, so in case I want to bail or in case the engagement fails. Help me to go all the way, to the extent that if You fail, I fail. Though, I don't believe that You will fail.
I believe in You and am trusting Your promises (John 14).
I am afraid, yet I am confident that You will not leave me ashamed. Help me to fully commit, forsaking all else, giving my possessions, position and power, wholly given to You, which is the only way marriage can occur. My earnest hope and desire is to be made One with You.
I trust You to prune me of everything that prevents our union and to keep me until that great day.
Help me to go all the way.
Amen.
"And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable."
I’m a grown man that still gets frustrated about not being able to fit everything that needs to be done in one day.
We learn very early on that each day has twenty-four hours. And as an adult we understand that finite resources must be managed through budgeting –most importantly that is, in order to say “yes” to one thing requires saying “no” to another.
The frustration often comes when I’ve not taken the time to be deliberate about what I’m saying no to and am somehow caught by surprise by what hasn’t gotten done and disappointed by violated expectations (mine and others I’ve made promises to).
In those moments I have to grow up, to:
1. remember that it’s unfeasible to get everything done at once, therefore,
2. to take an account,
3. to choose based on my priorities what I’m saying yes to today,
4. to understand what I’m saying no to for today,
5. to evaluate if or when the “nos” may get a “yes” in the future and
6. communicate accordingly to stakeholders so that the appropriate expectations are set.
I shouldn’t just barge into the day hoping to please everyone.
I can’t.
So, I need a plan and to make sure I’m letting the right people down.
The goal is to express my life in a manner that is true to who I am and consistent with my values like how a fruit tree expresses fruit after its own kind, providing sustenance and shelter to other living things.
So, the goal is being authentic and fruitful, not being liked.
I often overcome dissatisfaction with how my day has gone by beginning it with a realistic understanding of the limitations of the time available to me, resulting in being deliberate about how I’m budgeting my time so at the end of the day I know I’ve spent my time in ways that are consistent with who I am and what my priorities are.
I am Christ’s.
And, my priorities are enjoying life in Christ and imparting it to others, all for the glory of God.
So, everyday, how I’ve spent my time should reflect that and then, assuming I have actually identified my authentic who and why, I can enjoy the satisfaction of having expressed and invested toward that.
It’s almost embarrassing how often as an adult I have to be reminded of how to function within constraints. But, I’m human and sometimes circumstances and emotions overwhelm my critical thinking, so I put this here as a reminder and in case it can help anyone else!
Do you remember when I said I was going through a rough patch a while back?
It was a season that started much earlier than the day I finally mustered the courage to admit it and ask for help.
It started around the time the 52 Weeks of Gratefulness posts stopped.
One of the first things Satan attacked was my thankfulness. There was a campaign to maximize self by emphasizing my trouble and minimizing the triumph I have in Christ.
Earlier last year, I was in a very dark place. I came to a point where after over 20 years preaching the gospel I was ready to walk away from God. Some people who have heard that thought I was overstating the case, that I was exaggerating or that I’m being dramatic. But, no. I began to doubt the very existence of God. I started questioning the reality of His person, His power and His presence based on what I thought should (or shouldn’t) be happening in my life.
There were a lot of things that led to that moment, aging loved ones, difficulty in my marriage, financial troubles, but it came to a head during a really rough summer for my business. It was worse than it had been in a long time. I was finding it difficult to cover basic expenses. It just felt like I had been struggling forever. Here I am following God, trying to honor Him, but there just doesn’t seem to be any relief or breakthrough, and for all I’ve done, I’m still a failure.
But, thanks be to God that even though I was ready to walk away, I found that I wasn’t holding on to God, God was holding on to me! His Word came to me as gentle as a whisper “Where are you?” When God asks a question, it’s not because He needs information but because He is trying to show us something. His question began a dialog called prayer where I confessed my anger, my frustration and how I just don’t feel God anymore.
God gave me one verse. He brought to remembrance one line and made it burn on my heart (this is why it is vital to get the Word in you.) That verse was Proverbs 18:1 “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.”
The idea was that part of my problem was that I was focused on myself. I had allowed a root of bitterness to spring up in me and I went into myself, crawling into the dungeon of my heart to nurse and steep in that bitterness. In doing that I had cut myself off. But God gave me a Word that prompted me to seek His face in the presence of His people.
So, I stepped out on that Word and that led to me attending the Men’s luncheon that they host at New Horizons here in Starkville, and that led to me engaging with Brian Spencer at the gym, and that led to me attending my first Man Church and that led to me developing new relationships and my wife and I started hosting a marriage ministry in our home and you know what I found? The Word of God is true! I found revival in the presence of His people.
Look, I have long considered myself a rabid introvert. I am not fond of being around people. I like being by myself, I’d rather be by myself. Being around a lot of people was torture and zapped all the strength out of me. When I’m around people for an extended amount of time, I go home and just collapse and sleep for the rest of the day because of how much it takes out of me.
But now since I’ve tasted the sweet communion of being in the presence of God with other believers, since I’ve experienced Christ where two or three are gathered in His name, I’ve been going out, seeking Him out almost every day.
I’m not talking about “going to church”. I’m talking about seeking to live and function along with other members of the Body of Christ and being the church.
Thankfulness is not just something you should remember to do occasionally, thankfulness should be developed and practiced as a discipline. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18
Thankfulness is a practical and important tactical maneuver in spiritual warfare.
So, in Week 1 of 52 Weeks of Gratefulness, I give thanks for fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ. It saved my life.
If you prayed for me, thank you. The prayers were effective.
I’m thankful. #52wog
Pictured is a regular get together with other members of a marriage ministry Melissa Luckett and I attended that was hosted by Pearson & Pepper Liddell. It was the first place we encountered authentic church.
Originally posted by Paul Luckett to Facebook here.
Have you ever been at work and weren’t exactly clear on what you should be doing or why it even mattered?
Jesus, from the beginning, makes His call to His disciples crystal clear and there may not be a verse that captures it better than Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17.
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
In one infinitely packed statement Jesus provides the purpose, the process and the product of our calling.
“Follow Me” – This is the purpose: to fix our eyes on Jesus and to walk as He walked (Hebrews 12:2, 1 John 2:6). And, like Peter who walked on the water toward Jesus, it should be apparent from the start that it is impossible to take one step unless we have supernatural help. And, not if, but when we fail in our walk and cry out to Jesus, He will save us (Matthew 14:25-33).
“And I will make you” – This is the process: as we step out in faith to follow Jesus, He does a work in us that makes us fit for the work. No experience required (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Faith in Christ is not a do it yourself project.
The world attempts to make Christianity like every other religion or system of thought and reduce it merely to a philosophy for living but Jesus won’t allow it. He says firmly, “Without Me you can do nothing.” -John 15:5. Authentic faith in Christ demands the ongoing involvement of a real, living God.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We follow after Him and depend on His supernatural power to make us what we need to be, to give us what we need to have to do what He called us to do and to keep us until the end (John 10:28-30, Jude 1:24-25).
“Fishers of men” – This is the product. God wants the people (John 3:16, 1 Timothy 2:3-4). Jesus gives us life in Him so that we may draw others to Him so He can give them life in Him. Christ in God, Us in Christ, They in Us, being made One together by the Holy Spirit all to the glory of God is the point of everything (John 10:10, John 17:20-23).
The people are the point.
In my home: the people are the point.
At my job: the people are the point.
When I’m choosing where to live: the people are the point.
When I’m choosing what to buy: the people are the point.
When I encounter a stranger pumping gas: the people are the point.
God wants the people. And, when we follow Jesus, He will make us into people who can get them, so we can all be together in Him.
Jesus is clarity. Follow Him.
NOTE: Believe it or not, I’ve written hundreds of what I believe are glimpses that God has given me that I’ve never shared. This particular one was written last month.
But, to show you how God works, a friend and sister in Christ, Alethea Burton forwarded me a podcast to listen to yesterday that echoed certain themes that matched what I had written previously and have shared today. It was so forceful, it felt like the volume of those parts were amplified.
And then, I attend Man Church last night and almost the exact phrase, “I will make you fishers of men” are echoed again by two different independent people! After three times in the same day, I was like, “Ok, yes, Lord. I will do it now.”
So, I am sharing this “glimpse” this morning with absolute confidence that it’s not only a Word (logos) for someone but it’s a Word that will make a significant shift and turn the tide for someone right now (kairos). I don’t know who that is or what that will look like but I praise God for it. Glory to God!
#JesusIsClarity
Originally posted by Paul Luckett to Facebook here.
A major lesson that I’ve learned at the feet of Jesus was what I was really looking for wasn’t happiness but to be whole.
When I’m whole, I can better enjoy happiness.
And, I can also be well without it.
Happiness is a high. It’s an event that heightens an experience. Happiness is even more satisfying and long lasting if what I was already experiencing was joy.
We often chase happiness because we had nothing to begin with.
The thing about highs is you can never reproduce the first one.
Why?
As a result of having never experienced it, you couldn’t expect it. Serendipity, something pleasant and unexpected, is core to happiness. It hits different –something that affects you pleasantly in an unexpected way.
True happiness, therefore, cannot be sought, or else you would expect it. While you can create conditions that improve the chances of it happening, happiness can only be appreciated when it happens to happen. There’s a reason “happen” is part of the name.
Happiness, when rooted in good (what helps and not harms), is good and should be fully enjoyed but it cannot be grasped. Happiness can only be received.
But, joy is the perpetual, ever-lasting pleasure and satisfaction that comes from knowing something true, good and certain. (e.g. Happiness is a hug from your Mom. Joy is knowing your Mom wants to hug you.)
Jesus makes whole so that you have joy that satisfies and always abides even if you’re low and deepens your happiness when you’re high.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”
-John 15:11
What the world has us chasing is totally different than what actually satisfies. Jesus said, “Come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)
Like the woman at the well, I can testify. While I sometimes find myself going back to the well out of habit, in reality, since coming to Jesus, I’ve never thirsted again.
#WholeOverHappy
Originally posted by Paul Luckett to Facebook here.
Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, December 12, 2022.
I believe I have received a Word. On this occasion, a word of correction for me:
I love money and it is preventing me from enjoying the "true riches" (Luke 16:11).
I am laboring "to take heed" as my Lord commands (Luke 8:18), to take hold of what I'm hearing, to chew it, drink it –consume it immediately, so that the Devil has no opportunity to steal it through distraction and deceit (Matthew 13:18) and so that I do not miss God while He's near. I do not want to miss my hour of visitation.
The Word that's burning on my heart is Matthew 13:44,
"the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field… and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
The man in this parable sees something of such worth that with "joy", sells all that he has to get it. To him, it is obvious that the "treasure" is worth more than everything that he has.
I, without question, see value in Jesus. I believe He's absolutely beautiful. But, I obviously don't see enough value to prevent me from thinking things in the world are still worth my affection and time. Obviously, I don't see enough value to forsake everything else to get it.
In an earlier chapter in my life I hit rock bottom by indulging in the very things that the world suggests will fulfill you: having stuff, living wild and being recognized, but it left me empty. So, I know intimately the worthlessness of worldly things. Jesus met me there and gave me the sweet, precious gift of faith that changed my life! Yet, here I find myself again enticed by the seductions of the world.
Therefore, I conclude, I don't see Him clearly because there should be no contest. So, I confess and cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Touch me again that I might see clearly (Mark 8:25).
I've tasted (Psalms 34:8) but I've not yet beheld (John 1:14, 1 John 1:1-4)
The man who sold all that he had for the treasure in the field was just a character in a parable, a story, but the apostle Paul was a real, living, breathing person who "beheld".
Jesus revealed himself to Paul and when Paul saw Him it was very obvious that Jesus was worth more than all that Paul had. He didn't even have to pull out his balance sheet. He writes,
"I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ" Philippians 3:8
I want to see Jesus like that!
And, I can.
Jesus shows the way.
In both the parable of the man who found the treasure in the field and the parable of the merchant who found the one pearl of great price, they both "found" which indicates they were looking.
Jesus told us there's a treasure: the kingdom of God, wherein are the true riches. He alone provides the way. But, to walk through the Door, I have to leave everything behind.
I believe Him but do I believe Him enough to forsake everything I know to lay hold of the treasure He promises?
I believe I do.
In light of this revelation, I feel like I've been at the door, in the lobby, at the threshold of Paradise all this time and a door opens revealing that there is so much more. It reminds me of when David writes,
"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness." -Psalms 84:10
Though I may have been just at the door all this time, a single day here is vastly better than one thousand in the world. I would rather stay here at the door in the house of my God, than a lifetime in the best place on earth without Him (aka impermanent, fleeting, "tents of wickedness").
But, I don't have to stay at the door. Jesus bids me come to see so much more.
Originally posted on Facebook on Saturday, December 10, 2022.
God is dealing with me.
When we read the Bible, we can have a tendency to see characters that we like to think of ourselves as, such as a Mary, Peter or Paul, but God has been revealing to me that I'm often the Pharisee.
I'm thankful.
The Word is Light that reveals sin: values, positions, ideas and behavior that prevent me from fully knowing and enjoying God. I should not shrink back but come fully into the light to be completely exposed so I can identify the things I need to forsake and surrender to God.
God doesn't reveal these things to condemn me but so that I can confess the corruption of my heart and come to Him to be healed.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9
Right now, God is dealing with me on my love of the world and money. Those things are preventing me from fully knowing and enjoying Him –the only One who is truly good and the only One that truly satisfies (James 1:16-17). I repent and to the extent that He reveals it, I'm laboring to follow after Christ, seeking the Kingdom, forsaking the world and my life in it (more on this later).
Don't cover up. Confess. Come to a loving Father who's heart is to cleanse and restore you, not crush you.
Photo Copyright and Courtesy of Upper Darby Potter's House
Originally posted on Facebook on Monday, December 5, 2022.
Some believe our savior isn't real, that we Christians worship a dead or fictitious Jesus, because He is no longer with us bodily.
But Jesus is even more real now than when He walked the earth because He has returned to what He always was –Spirit, with the Father as a member of God (John 4:24, 14:12,28).
We have Jesus more now than those who actually saw and interacted with Him in the flesh but did not believe. We who believe His Word by the gift and facilitation of the Holy Spirit truly have Him. We have Him spiritually and He is experienced in a very real way, in spirit and in truth –through loving Him (spirit) and obeying His Word (truth) [John 4:24, 14:19-23].
Having someone in a way where you cannot be separated (spiritually, because in the flesh you can be separated) and knowing them in a way that produces the effect of their presence (love, joy, peace), is more real than just perceiving them with our natural senses: sight, sound and touch.
When we have Jesus, the spiritual and eternal is more real than the physical and temporary and fruit is the verifiable evidence that even proves to the world that He and our fellowship with Him is real (John 13:35, 15:1-17).
**Note: To be clear, I do not mean to imply that Jesus was any less God when He walked the earth. I fully believe Colossians 2:9 that declares "in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." I mean that what we could perceive and know of Him was less then than what we are able to now. Because of the awesome gift of the Holy Spirit, we can know and experience the Lord even more fully through the ever-increasing revelation of Jesus Christ as the Spirit leads us into all truth.
Originally posted on Facebook on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
I enjoy grits.
A lot of people load them with butter, cheese and even stuff like shrimp.
All I need is salt.
Grits boiled in water and salt.
Without salt, grits become a mushy mess in your mouth with no flavor because everything tastes the same.
Salt altogether changes the flavor, bringing out the taste and even textures that would have otherwise been undetectable.
Salt accomplishes this feat because its taste is distinct. Its flavor is sharp, almost biting, like a minor key in a major chord, elevating the melody of the ingredients on our palette.
The world is a mushy flavorless mess. Everything tastes the same and the world doesn't even know what it's missing because Christians are like everyone around them. We, too often, are not set apart, peculiar or distinct.
We're salt with no flavor.
Our Lord taught that one of the defining characteristics of those who are true salt (authentic disciples of Jesus Christ) is their relationship to money.
Luke 14:34-35 says,
“Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
And, here's the verse that immediately precedes it:
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."
Luke 14:33
As Christians many of us have lost our flavor because we seek what the world seeks, –our heart's desire is material gain and to lay up treasure on earth (according to the pattern and value system of this world). Repent, with me.
Lord Jesus, I love money (material possessions). I repent! Give me your heart and free me from the love of money so that I may be salt for You to lead people into the everlasting enjoyment of the true riches!
