by Chad Lewis on June 29, 2006
During a sermon years ago, Dave Busby defined intimacy in one of his last sermons. He simply stated that intimacy means “into me see.” I ponder that definition as I type today. I’m on the other side of marriage now. After 32 years of singleness, the Lord has blessed me with an amazing friend. Even though she is my special gift fom God, I still have to fight to open myself up instead of crawling into a shell of safety.
It is a dangerous thing to let someone in. I know that men too often believe that we must have this persona of strength even when we are weak. We all may battle the lie that if someone sees us for who we really are, they could not love us. Though I know these are lies, the battle still rages. The encouraging thing is that I am learning.
As I am real with my wife, I find her embrace growing stronger. As I reach out from my innermost parts and reveal what I feel is ugly, she loves me even more. Isn’t this just a small picture of God and His children?
Much of the journey of the Christian life is growing in belief of what is true. God already sees everything about us. He sees and knows ALL. The invitation of God is the most amazing imaginable. He says to us, “Into me see.” He desires for His children to grow in the knowledge of Him. It is not for the sake of knowledge, but rather, it is for the sake of a thriving, intimate relationship. He already knows all so why don’t we share all with Him?
As we grow to know who our Abba, Father is, we grow in trust and the journey of life becomes one that we walk by faith and not by sight. He is GOOD! Oh, He is GOOD!!! Believe this and pour out your heart to your Father. Believe this and dig into His Word so you can know the very Creator of your soul and the keeper of all things. He calls us just like He called David. “When You said ‘Seek My face’, my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I will seek.’” Let us have the heart of David and seek God’s face today.
As a simple reminder, I once put a large sign on my wall. It simply said, “‘Chad, come sit with me.’ God”
by Chad Lewis on March 9, 2006
“He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young” (Isaiah 40:11 NLT).
I had the privilege of speaking four times to a group in Chatham, Illinois this past weekend. I usually stick to my notes fairly well, but God brought a story to my mind during one of the sessions and it was useful to bring home some of the truths we had been talking about concerning God being our Father. The story follows…
Brian Lowe is a dear friend of mine. A few years ago, he took his family to the beach. His oldest son, T.J., was just a couple of years old then. As T.J. saw the hugeness of the ocean for the first time, he began making a b-line to the water. He had little floaties on his arms and a vision of making it to the endless blue.
Brian lovingly followed his son to the waves and told him to wait on daddy. Little T.J. continued to run and say, “I do it with myself!” Brian continued to follow and admonish his boy to wait, but T.J. did what most little kids do, he ran on.
Upon reaching the water, T.J. was hit with the first little wave and was knocked over. He got up with determination and went back for more. The next wave came and tumpled him over again. After a few episodes of this getting up and getting knocked down, T.J. looked up at his daddy and said, “Hold you!” Brian picked up his son and they waded into the water together. Brian turned his shoulder to take the brunt of the waves and this father and child went and enjoyed the beautiful ocean together.
I heard Brian share this story one Wednesday night years ago and have shared it myself a few times since. The implication is pretty obvious. We are called to follow God, but we too often run on ahead and do things our own way. We don’t keep in mind that the Christian life is impossible to live in our own strength.
As we get knocked down, we often try harder and harder and are continually disappointed about our failure. The funny thing is that we were never supposed to be able to make it on our own. Our very failure is a good sign that we need something greater than ourselves to live this life.
As we turn to the Father and say, “Hold you!” we can walk each day with the confidence that it is in our weakness that we are strong. The very characteristics of God can be exhibited in our lives as He works in fruit that brings Him glory (John 15).
Are you tired of walking? Are you getting beat up each day? Maybe you have been living in your own strength too long. Maybe you are like I was just a few years ago when I finally discovered that I had been living on my own too long. Maybe you need to hear Jesus say, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NLT).
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 January 18, 2006
During four summers of my life, I was on staff at a Christian camp in Mississippi. In addition to being a worship leader and activity coordinator, I pulled nightly patrol duty. I was nicknamed “The Green Lantern” because I had a green headlamp I would wear around camp. Rumors circulated that you didn’t want to be caught out of your cabin and see the green light coming towards you. Students were afraid. As I roamed the camp, the light helped me see. Basically its function was simple. It helped me see what was already there.
As Paul prays in Ephesians 1:17, he asks God to open the eyes of the Christian’s hearts. One author interprets this by translating it as follows: “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light…” (NLT). I believe this is a beautiful thought as Paul goes on to ask that the people realize the hope, inheritance and power of those who believe. This would mean that their hearts would realize what is already true about them.
It seems so much of our sanctification consists of growing in a deeper understanding of what took place at salvation. As we grow deeper in the knowledge of God and His love for us, we grow more confident in trusting Him and surrendering our lives to Him each day. We need Him each day and there will never come a single moment when we will not need Him.
As I spoke at a retreat this past weekend at the very camp I wore the green light, I shared with the group about a new relationship that has been birthed out of a friendship. My heart is aglow with the adoration and encouragement of my new girlfriend Ginger. A man who has been married for 40 years relayed a message to me. He said, “Do you think you love her now? Just wait until you’re married.” “Do you think you love her then? Just wait until your first child is born.” He went on to explain how love deepens as life steadily goes by. This thought excites me very much.
I imagined how this is true about us with God. His love is never changing. It is the greatest it can ever be. We can do nothing to increase it or decrease it. He is unchangeable. However, our love towards Him will always be growing. As truths are revealed and our hearts are flooded with light, we will grow in love and adoration.
So I ask, “Do you think you love Him now? Just wait until you see Him carry you through the next storm.” “Do you think you’ll love Him then? Just wait until He shows you more and more the enormity of the cross and your adoption as His child.” The list could go on and on, but let us recall that we need to dwell on the amazing truths of Scripture and ask God to get out the floodlight so we can see what is already true about us in Christ.
by Chad Lewis on December 29, 2005
One of the greatest struggles of my life deals with belief. Do I believe God is in control of my future? Do I dare trust the promises of Scripture in regards to my acceptance in Him? Am I really adored by my Abba, Father?
Because I feel so deeply and dwell too often in the land of introspection, the battle to believe rages daily. Because of this, I have been stuck in the 3rd chapter of Ephesians for several days now. The implications are huge and I’m praying that these truths will sink deeper into my heart. I’ll list the truths below.
Paul is basically falling to his knees and praying that this church would be empowered to believe what was already true. This is amazing – the battle is not to earn anything or achieve anything more for ourselves. The battle is to simply believe what is reality but God must open our eyes more and more each day. We must be reminded more and more each day to the amazing truths of the gospel.
So Paul prays (v. 14 ff)…
that God from His unlimited resources would empower them with inner strength through His Spirit… (God’s resources are unlimited)
then Christ will make His home in their hearts as they have trusted in Him…(Christ has made His home in our hearts)
then their roots will grow down into God’s love and keep them strong… (God’s love is the foundation on which we can live each day. These roots will keep us grounded in the storms when we don’t “feel” His love – we know it is truth.)
and that they would have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is… (All God’s people should seek to understand this love)
that they would experience the love of Christ though it is too great to understand fully… (It is too massive to fully understand)
then, then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God… (Life and power find their source in the reality of God’s love for His children)
As you battle to believe these truths today, soak in the Scripture – write down Romans 8:38 and 39. List out all the things that cannot separate you from God’s love. You will see that everything is included – NOTHING can separate us… NOTHING! Then ask God to help you live in the reality of what is today.
