Nothing Else Compares

“Nothing Else Compares”

By Zach Wood

Philippians 3:7-9

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God is by faith.”

These words of Paul have really inspired me this week and want to share with you all as we look this week more about what we’re thankful for.  While Thanksgiving time should be all year around, we really need to take time to be reminded what we have and all that we should be thankful for.  While it’s wonderful to have such great families, friends and things in our lives, we need to be reminded that God has given us everything we need.

Paul looks at all he has accomplished in his life and all that he has, but then he clearly shares that all these great things in life are nothing compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus Christ personally and following Him.  Paul came to a point where nothing in the world meant anything more than what Christ had become to him.  He found contentment through Christ and that everything else in his life was considered a loss if Christ was not his priority.

What will it take for us to feel the way Paul did?  When will we come to a realization that nothing in the world matters more than Jesus?  We easily say He is number one priority, but so often our lives say the exact opposite.  This is a daily battle and challenge.  We must surrender our lives to Him every day and hold onto Him more than we hold on to the relationships and things we hold so dear. 

Is Jesus our treasure chest?  Do we seek Him more than anything else we desire?  When we think of all our accomplishments, our relationships, our inheritances, or whatever else we have in our lives that we’ve accumulated, how do they compare to how much Christ means to us?  Are they more or is He the ultimate longing for us?

May Christ alone be the treasure chest we solely desire to seek.  

Joy Through Contentment

“Joy Through Contentment”

By Zach Wood

Philippians 4:11-13

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

I can’t tell you how many times throughout my life that I have read through these verses and not really given them any deeper thought other than thinking that Jesus gives me strength to do whatever it is I need to do.  While that’s true, there’s something far deeper here than that.

Paul is one of the most powerful and influential people we find in Scripture, especially the New Testament.  He goes from the extreme of murdering Christians to boldly proclaiming the name of Christ everywhere he went.  Talk about a life change!  What I find most appealing about Paul is how strength didn’t just come naturally to him.

One word here really sums this whole passage up, “learned”.  As strong and bold as Paul was, there was so much learning he had to do before he became content.  That’s a big word for us these days, “content”.  Who is content?  Are you?  You may quickly mutter “yes”, but I would caution you before doing so.  Look at your life and what you have and what you don’t have.  Are you satisfied and happy with what God has given you even if there are some things you’d like to have, but don’t have now?

Paul really learned how to be content, whether he had much or very little.  But that didn’t come easy.  He had to learn through some very rough times.  It’s all a part of learning and growing.  None of us are perfect about it.  However, if we continue to learn and grow and base our joy and strength on God and not what the world offers, we will truly learn how the Lord becomes our only source of joy and strength.

We all certainly need to learn how to be content, no matter the circumstances.  I know I do!  Being content is a daily struggle for me and I’m sure it’s for you all as well.  For Paul, the joy of the Lord certainly became his strength.  He was content, but it was only after years of growing through good and difficult times.  We must learn and grow to be content with whatever we have or whatever we don’t have.  The joy of the Lord should be our strength and we should be content with what He’s given to us.

Appreciation For Freedom

“Appreciation For Freedom”

By Zach Wood

1 John 2:2

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

As we’ve just celebrated Veteran’s Day, we take time to remember the men and women who have so faithfully served our country and the ones who have given their lives so that we can have freedom in this country.  This past week, I was reminded not only what so many men and women have done to give me this incredible freedom, but also the freedom that has been given to me through Christ.

I find myself so guilty, when these days of tribute come around each year, that I don’t express my gratitude for the wonderful freedom I have been given in this country.  But I also find myself feeling guilty that I don’t express my appreciation and take so much for granted the freedom that Jesus Christ has given to me by paying the price with His life.  Just as these faithful men and women have given freedom by serving and many have died doing so, Jesus Christ has been faithful to come and serve and give up His life so that we would have life.

I am guilty of taking the freedom of this country and the freedom that Christ gives to me for granted.  We are all so guilty of this and it’s important for us to be thankful each day, most importantly for what Jesus Christ gave to give us life.  While these men and women of this country give up so much to give us freedom, the greatest sacrifice ever given was through the death of Jesus on the cross. 

Do we really understand and appreciate what He did to bring us life?  Has Jesus’ death on the cross just become commonplace to us?  Do we sincerely, every day, feel a deep appreciation and sense of true gratitude for what He did? 

I’ve heard the phrase “Freedom is never free” so often through my life.  And, you know what, it’s true!  Freedom always comes with a price that someone has paid.  Faithful men and women have paid that price for us in this country.  Jesus Christ ultimately paid the greatest price by serving and giving His life for us for true freedom.  

Choose To Follow Daily

“Choose To Follow Daily”

By Zach Wood

Luke 9:23

“Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’”

The Apostle Peter makes a confession that Jesus Christ is the true Son of God.  Right after, Jesus challenges each of the disciples and says that following Him is going to be challenging and difficult.  The one word that stands out to me in this passage is “daily”.  The choice to completely follow Christ is a decision each of us makes every single day as soon as we begin our day.

We tend to wake up in the mornings with many things on our minds.  We have so many things to tend to and places to go.  We have our jobs, families to take care of and various activities to get around to.  Our daily lives are filled to the max these days.  No wonder we get so consumed with what we need to get done and that our daily lives with Christ often get tucked back into the corner of the day as it begins.

If we are really sincere and committed to a life of living for Christ, we must completely surrender everything to Him and pick up our cross to follow.  We must surrender to Him and allow Him to be in control of the day, leading and guiding us.  However, most often, our schedules lead and guide us.  We take care of what we need to do and often consult Christ’s guidance when we get into a situation that’s problematic or dealing with people who are frustrating us.

If we are going to fully follow Christ, we must be committed to a life daily lived through Him.  This is a life that should begin from the time we awake to the time we lay our heads down to the pillow at night.  It’s a choice we make every single day.  Are we going to follow Him?  Are we going to obey Him?  Are we going to let Him completely lead? 

To truly follow Christ means we completely deny ourselves of what we want to do and let Christ lead us to what He wants us to do.  He must be in the lead and we must carry our cross.  Too often we are comfortable and barely carrying any cross because that’s the life that is most comfortable.  If we are to claim a life lived in and through Christ, we must count the cost of truly following Him and be willing to deny ourselves each day.  

Life Is Better In The Light

“Life Is Better In The Light”

By Zach Wood

1 John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Does anyone out there enjoy walking through a dark house at night?  Whether it be a bedroom, living room or basement, none of us enjoys walking through a dark place with no light to guide the way.  Why is that?  Because we might trip over something or bang into something and cause some serious injury from what we cannot see.  Whether that light is coming from the ceiling fixture, a flashlight or a match, we prefer to have a light to guide our way.

Not only do we not want to walk in a dark place because we might hit something, it can also be just downright spooky at times.  If we’re blindfolded to do some sort of “faith-led” obstacle as we might do in a youth group or a church camp to teach us to rely on the person who is guiding us, we get a little nervous.  If we cannot physically see what is in front of us, we get nervous and a bit shaky. 

Why in the world would we not want to walk in the light?  We want to see our way.  We want to know where we can step and where we shouldn’t.  One wrong move and we can be in serious pain or even lose our life.  The light is so vital for us to see.  Not only is physical light vital for us each day to be guided in what we do, the spiritual light we have each day from God is important as well. 

Again, why would we not want to walk in the light, especially the light God gives to us?  Each day, we have the choice whether to walk with God in the beautiful light of life He shines or we can choose to walk in the terrible darkness that the enemy wants us to wander off into.  Not only does this affect our lives, but it also affects the witness we can be to others who also need to see God’s light.

When we choose to walk in God’s light, there are so many blessings and abundance of life to enjoy, especially in fellowship with others who also walk in His light.  Then, we can take that light and shine it for others to see who don’t know God.  Let us walk in that light so that we can live fully for Him and shine His light for others to see.  

Trusting & Resting In God Alone

“Trusting & Resting In God Alone”

By Zach Wood

Psalm 62:1-2

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

We often say to others that we trust fully in God.  We often share that we are placing our lives in God’s hands and that He’s in control.  We often proclaim to others that we are fully trusting in God’s provisions and know that He will carry us through.  However, honestly, how often are we really sincere in these things we share about trusting in Him?  Are we truly and fully trusting in Him?

Lately, I have noticed in my own life that it’s so much easier to say this and quite another thing to actually live this out.  As a minister, I often encourage others to trust God and to put their faith in Him to guide them.  Sometimes, it almost seems hypocritical because I look at my own life and I don’t find myself resting in God alone.  I am encouraging others to do this, but I am struggling to do it myself.

It’s in these times God reminds me that I am human and no different than anyone else who lives in this world.  When people share with me that it’s hard to trust in God, I nod my head in total agreement and share how so often I find myself saying I trust Him, but not fully living that way.  I am learning more each day that life is a continual process of trusting in God and learning to trust more. 

As we have experienced some health issues in our family recently, it’s been convicting to me that I am not putting my full trust in God alone as I should.  I find myself often focused on everything else but God’s provisions.  He has reminded me through His Word, through my family and through friends that I need to constantly be trusting in Him. 

This passage is so refreshing in that my soul needs to find rest in God and Him alone.  No other is going to give me the peace and rest I need.  My salvation is in Him alone, not in anything or anyone else.  He alone needs to be my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer.  I cannot depend on anyone else to be the support He needs to be for me.  He alone must be my source of true strength. 

I hope and pray that each of us finds true peace, trust and strength in God alone.

His Love Never Fails

“His Love Never Fails”

By Zach Wood

Psalm 73:26

”My flesh and my heart my fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Fail.  That is a word none of us likes to hear.  It’s not a positive word by any means.  I don’t know how anyone could see that word and get filled with warm fuzzies.  That just doesn’t happen. We don’t like to fail.  When we fail, we feel completely defeated and useless.  When we fail, Satan hits us with one of his greatest tools, discouragement. 

When we have a relationship with God, we know we should rely on His strength and not our own.  However, saying and doing it are two different things.  We know what we should do, but doing it requires effort.  As humans, we try to rely on ourselves so much.  We think we know the answers.  We think we know the best way to get something done.  We think we know what we ought to say to someone.  We rely on our own wisdom and our own strength. 

Thankfully, we have a wonderful and awesome God who gives us another chance to rely on Him when we try on our own and……fail.  Failure can do terrible things in us.  We become very negative at time and feel we have no hope anymore.  That’s a lie from Satan.  There is hope and it’s solely found in God.  In our flesh, we make so many mistakes.  We have human flesh and human hearts.  We fail, but God never does.  And when we fail him, He offers forgiveness and a new start if we come to Him and ask. 

Nobody likes to be reminded of their past failures.  That is one of the worst things that can happen to us when we do fail.  We become reminded of the awful past, whatever that may consist of for each person.  Failure can drag us down quickly.  In these times, God wants to restore us so much.  His heart breaks for us to experience restoration so that we can continue to experience His love and the reminder that He still loves us.

Our heart and flesh may fail, but God is the ultimate strength in and through our lives.