I remember the words of the old children’s song that said:
 
“He’s still working on me,
  To make me what I ought to be;
    It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be.  “Cause He’s still workin’ on me.”
 
You and I, as God’s children, are works in progress.  I should not be today what I once was, but I also am not yet what I should be tomorrow.  We are to grow.  Ephesians 4::15 tells how we are to “grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”  2 Peter 3:18 instructs us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord…”2 Peter 1:5-7 shares the areas of development we are to experience as we add faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, brotherly kindness, and love. Just as construction projects on the highway can be challenging to navigate the orange cones, barrels, and lane changes/reductions...so our growth in Christ can be difficult but SO worth it in the end.
 Please be patient; He’s still workin’ on me.  And you.

Jon Smith

      So, Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd in John 19:5.  What a sight he must have been; beaten, battered, and bloody.  They had thrown a robe of purple (the color of royalty) in order to mock him.  He was already badly injured, having not yet even endured the profound agony of the cross.  Even so, this politician brings Jesus out, perhaps hoping to finally satisfy the blood lust of the mob.  “Here he is.  Are you satisfied?”  Turns out that they weren’t, just as Jesus had known. What this politician did for unholy reasons, we must do for godly and appropriate reasons (and in the right way).  Whereas Pilate, a cynical and worldly governor presented Jesus to the world for selfish or political reasons, we must do for deeper and much more spiritual reasons.  A lost and dying world needs to see and meet Jesus, for He alone is their hope of the salvation they desperately need.  Let us always and forever present the Lamb of God, as the One whose crown is no longer thorns, but true and full Heavenly glory.  May we, with words and deeds, forever proclaim to the world, “Behold, the Man!”

Jon Smith

An actress once became famous for asking a certain question of other celebrities on the red carpet before glamorous award ceremonies. Her question was: “Who are you wearing?”  The question had to do with which designer had created their outfit.  In Christ, we have been dressed in greater splendor, beauty, and power than any Hollywood A-list celebrity.  Isaiah 61:10 states that God dresses His own in salvation and righteousness...something of vastly greater value than any worldly garment.  Look at Galatians 3:27, which states that, “all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.” In addition, Romans 13:14 says to, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”  So, it doesn’t just matter what you are wearing; it matters even more WHO you are wearing.  As clothing is close to you, goes where you go, and provides protection and covering, let your Lord Jesus be in you, on you and with you wherever you go.

Jon Smith

2 Corinthians 4:18 says that we “do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen?”  How?  If they are not seen, how can you and I look at them? The verse continues: “...For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The key is to look (focus on, give your heart and attention to) at the right things, with the right “eyes” and for the right reason.  Look with the eyes of faith at the spiritual things of God and see what cannot be seen otherwise.  God deals in the eternal.  He seeks to draw our gaze up, above the mere physical (the “temporary”) to the spiritual truths of Him and His Word.  So, be careful what you look at with the eyes of the heart.  Focus above all else on the things that matter most.  This will require a new set of “lenses” for many, so if that’s you, go to Jesus.  The Great Physician can give you a new lens (perspective) to truly see what you really need to see.

Jon Smith

Have you ever wanted to pray but not been sure what to pray for?  In Matthew 9:37 Jesus gives us an example of a specific prayer to pray, for a specific result. In the “field of souls” that is the world of those lost in sin, Jesus sees how great is the need.  Many are needed to spread the word and tell the lost of the saving Message of the Gospel.  Imagine a 10,000 acre farm with only 5 or 6 people available to gather the crop.  You would want to find equipment to assist the workers AND also find more workers!  Otherwise, much of the crop would never be harvested and subsequently lost. The crop we are seeking, however, is not cotton, corn, or wheat, but the SOULS of people who desperately need Jesus.  How can we not join in the harvest? So...pray this prayer, fervently, frequently, and faithfully.  Ask God (the Lord of the Harvest) to send forth workers to the field of souls.  We all have family, friends, neighbors and acquaintances who dearly need the Truth. And when the Gospel asks, “What about you, servant of God?  Will you be one of His workers?”, you can answer, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). A lost world waits for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Let all of us rise to the occasion and serve the Master in the field of souls.

Jon Smith