by Chad Lewis on June 15, 2008
I carry around a bundle of Scriptures and quotations with me to read at various downtimes in life. One of my cards has the following John Bunyan quotation: “God has gone all the way from the gate of hell, where you were, to the gate of heaven, where you are going, with flowers out of His own garden. Behold how the promises, invitations, calls, and encouragements, like lilies, lie round about you! Take heed that you do not tread them under your foot.”
What promises are you resting in today? A famous pastor said that he searches the Bible each day for one nugget of truth to carry with him throughout the day. Whether it is something about the love of God or a particular promise that will be fulfilled in heaven, the beauty and depth of these promises and truths will never be exhausted.
At times in my life, I have said things in my heart like, “I know about God’s love”, or “I know about being saved by grace.” These statements are simple evidences that I wasn’t getting it at all.
The depths of God’s love are deeper than any ocean, wider than the galaxies, and as unfathomable as the mathematical languages of the universe. Even so, a simple child can know love. So we start simple and slowly move into the depths. We should all be moving towards the deep end of the pool by now.
So if you find yourself feeling like you know it all and you like you are only catching repeats from Scripture, try reading on your knees. Pray a simple and honest prayer to God and ask Him to help you see more. Ask Him to open the eyes of your heart to see more truth and to love Him more. Because in the end, if these promises don’t warm our hearts to love God and others with a love that can only come from God, they are not doing what God intended them to do.
by Chad Lewis on April 12, 2006
As I looked out of my Jeep window, I observed Jason and Scott getting ready to join me for a ride to church. The year was 2000 and I was living in a ministry house in Atlanta, Georgia. Jason and Scott had recently been homeless and I was one of three leaders in the mission house. Our goal was to help the helpless and try to train them with basic life skills so they could get off the streets and have a second chance at life.
As I watched, I looked down at what I was wearing and looked into the rear view mirror. My hair was a bit long and I wore my hooded jacket and jeans. Jason was lacing up his combat boots and was covered in piercings and tattoos (most of which were homemade tattoos.) Scott was dazed from sleep and putting out his cigarette butt before getting in for the ride. He also had the biggest afro I had ever seen on a white man. He would stuff it under a baseball cap.
Thoughts raced through my head and I imagined that we would be a group that others would try to avoid. I thought about how unlovely they seemed, how bad they smelled and how frustrating it was to help them as they usually were very difficult to get along with. I thought we must look like a motley crue.
In those 30-seconds before they got into my vehicle, God shot an arrow to my heart that still sticks with me today. The impression cut to the core and humbled me deeply. The thought rang in my heart, “Chad, you are no different than they are.” The thoughts continued about how I had no choice in the home I was born into or the I.Q. that I had been given. How was I to take pride for anything that God had given me? My body, mind, heart, circumstances and most of all the grace of God to transform a wretch into a beloved child – this is all God’s grace.
It is helpful to me to be reminded that all that I have is a gift of God’s grace. Apart from His strong hand being present in my life I believe I could be an alcoholic, addicted to all sorts of vices, selfishly abusing others for my own gain, and the list goes on and on… We must humble ourselves before our Maker and with thankfulness, submit ourselves in surrender. Just like the parable of the talents, to whom much is given, much is required.
Let us rejoice for the life that God has given us and the means with which He has blessed us. He desires that we give it all back to Him and give our lives away to point to the wonderful gospel message and to the cross. For it is here that we find true life.
So next time you see a homeless man, remember that could be you and thank God for His grace. You might also want to take him for a cup of coffee and lose some of your fear of the unknown.
by Chad Lewis on February 2, 2006
When I had just turned 23 and graduated from college, God led me to work at a camp in the middle of Mississippi. Lake Forest Ranch has become a second home to me. More than any other place, God has used LFR to shape me into the person I am today.
This morning, I was considering my grace awakening which took place in those woods 8 years ago. The staff was watching a series by Dave Busby. This particular session was simply called “Intimacy with God.” His main text was Luke 19 and the story of Zacchaeus. The story I had heard 1,000 times but something was different this time.
Busby painted the picture of this hated tax collector. He was rejected by his own people as he was employed by the Roman government and historically, tax collectors abused the power of their position. On top of this, Zacchaeus may have been ridiculed because of his height. Busby spoke that he probably heard the unbelievable press that Jesus was a friend of sinners. Zacch was exactly that and he just wanted to catch a glimpse of this amazing man.
What happened next was beyond his greatest imagination. Jesus came up to him and…
1. Jesus saw Zacchaeus – He saw him up in the tree.
2. Jesus knew Zacchaeus – Jesus didn’t have to ask about this man’s soul condition or his employment. He knew exactly who he was.
3. Jesus wanted Zacchaeus – Here is the most tender part of all. Jesus knew everything about Zacch and he wanted him.
Being wanted by Jesus affected him so deeply, he instantly gave half of his possessions to the poor and told the people he had defrauded that he would repay them four fold. Jesus said that salvation had come to Zacch’s house that day. Not because he gave his most prized possession away but because his heart had changed simply because he was wanted by Jesus.
So how did this apply to me? We can see the very heart of God by viewing Jesus’ heart. Looking into Jesus’ heart can shatter misconceptions about our Creator. He is the visible image of the invisible God.
So this is true…
1. Jesus sees you – everything you are going through; past, present and future.
2. Jesus knows you – He knows all your failures, sins, thoughts and fears.
3. Here is the most tender part of all! Jesus wants you! He wants me and you!
For years I had been running on a performance treadmill trying to earn God’s love and never realized that it was already a free gift. God’s love is never ending. We can do nothing to make Him love us more. We can do nothing to make Him love us less. That day the truths began to sink in that I am God’s precious, chosen child and nothing could ever change that.
So I type this morning. Some days these truths are too hard to believe, but as I grow older, they take deeper root in my heart and I live more in the reality of God’s amazing love for His children. Bask in these truths and remember today that you are God’s beloved if you are His child. These truths are the foundation that allow us to live the Christian life out of delight and not duty.
by Chad Lewis on December 5, 2005
“When good desires become demands, they turn into an idol and replace God.” As my teaching pastor said this last night, the sting made it’s way deep into my heart. I believe this statement can sum up many seasons in my Christian life – this one included.
In the past, one area that has plagued me is suffering through singleness. Some times I have soared with the wings of victory in contentment, while other times have seen me crashing in the rocks down below. During the times of crashing, too often my good desire for a best friend to marry has turned into a demand. “I must have this to truly be happy!” This is when my eyes roam and Chad becomes captain of the ship. Even during these times, God has been gracious to let me know that my mutiny is not right and I humbly give Him back the wheel.
Currently, music has become a demand. After recording four humble, self-produced albums, a few guys from my church have taking me under their wing to help me take my best stuff and make it better. Somehow as the process has begun, my good desires to have this album be useful for others has become a must. Somehow I believe if this doesn’t happen in a big way, it was all in vain and I’ll just quit songwriting altogether. I truly write music to encourage people and let them know they are not alone. This is a good desire. But when this desire turned into a demand, my focus changed for the worse.
This was not a quick process but it did sneak up on me. Last night I spent time repenting and God’s sweet refreshment came over me. I acknowledged that His ways are higher than my ways. To second guess the Creator’s plans and say my plans have to take place – that is not the Christian life. With every breath we can pray our desires to God, but they must be stipulated with “But Your will be done, Father. For You know what is best.”
I was humbled, but the fruit of peace has returned to me and I have stopped striving in this moment. However, I know that the battle will come again. When it does, we must stop and remember that He is God. We must be still and hand over the reigns again. This might be a daily thing for many of us.
Let us be encouraged that we are trusting in the finished work of Christ and our God’s mercy and grace are like the ocean. Like Amy Carmichael said, we are just tiny shells and the oceans of God can fill us over and over and over again. May we to God’s ocean and find ourselves filled in Him today.
I carry around a bundle of Scriptures and quotations with me to read at various downtimes in life. One of my cards has the following John Bunyan quotation: “God has gone all the way from the gate of hell, where you were, to the gate of heaven, where you are going, with flowers out of His own garden. Behold how the promises, invitations, calls, and encouragements, like lilies, lie round about you! Take heed that you do not tread them under your foot.”
