The Rich Man and Lazarus: Who's at Your Gate?

I ended up travelling to Louisville on a business trip this past week. While it didn't lend itself to getting any writing done, it did present several opportunities to apply last Sunday's passage. We were in Luke 16 again - this time looking at the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (see text below). There's a lot in here to talk about, but I'm going to focus on the man at the gate.

As our pastor was giving us insight into this passage, there was an attitude that struck me. The Rich Man passed by Lazarus day after day and simply ignored him. Plenty of well known researchers and even celebrities have run the experiment where they dress up like homeless people and sit on the sidewalk holding a sign. Every one of these studies I have read about result in the same reaction - "It was amazing how I simply became invisible to everyone passing by."

I can imagine that Lazarus felt the same way in this story - invisible. It was like he was just part of the landscaping at the Rich Man's gate; albeit an unattractive part. I'm guilty of the same behavior when I'm around the homeless and beggars (and others that I don't think about). Here's the thing though - it's intentional on my part to make them part of the landscaping. By ignoring their humanity and not recognizing their Creator, I can pass it off as someone else's problem.

I considered the multitude of problems in our culture and around the world. The fact is, I don't want to know about most of it. Seeing it is disturbing. Being disturbed creates compassion. Compassion becomes a desire to act. Staring at the size of the problem becomes overwhelming. Overwhelmed, I feel impotent to make any difference. Impotence leads to hopelessness and hopelessness to inaction. It becomes easier to let those issues become part of the landscaping.

Isn't there a reality that I can't do something about everything? Is it possible to do everything about something? I just don't have the resources. That's all true, but there's also a carefully crafted lie in there. The truth is God has given you and me talent and resources that do make a difference. I won't solve the world's problems on my own - that's not my job. Jesus is the Savior of the world, I'm just a tool available for His use when He needs me.

This past week, my Bride and I prayed that we would see the beggar at our gate. As we talked through it, we just weren't convinced of who or what that could be. We weren't used to looking for them. We asked for the ability to seem them along with the boldness and courage to act on it. Our prayers were answered in ways we didn't expect.

Remember the Parable of the Shrewd Manager? The takeaway was that we should use all of resources, from money to our intelligence and wisdom, to win others for the sake of spreading the Gospel. We're giving financially to the church and have a desire to be more generous as time goes on. Yet with the opportunities God presented us this week, it didn't cost us anything financially. What people were begging for was kindness to be shown, love to be extended, and to hear about what grace really means.

Sometimes the avenue to open someone's heart to the message of Jesus does have a financial cost. Other times, all they want is to live with the kind of peace and joy that only the Spirit living in us can offer. Still others just want to overcome the hurdle holding them back from a relationship with Christ or even their family. There are many more.

Regardless of what it looks like, ask God to open your eyes to the beggar at your gate. He doesn't ask to you tackle the entire world. What we need to do is be available and be seeking the part He is asking us to play. We can be confident He will give us the resources to handle it. Just keep the lines of communication open and remember it's not your will and effort making things happen. God isn't delegating this to you as a manager, He's working with you. While you're acting as His agent to help others, He's also refining and sanctifying you in the process.


Luke 16:19 - 31

The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side.[f] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers[g]—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

Recognizing Sin

This is probably more of a confessional than anything else today. In a way, it's more like a public journal, but I hope that my thoughts will still offer encouragement and provoke thought.

As a recovering pharisee, I had one of those "the guy I used to be moments" yesterday. A good friend and mentor of mine were planning a social event as a way to reward some hard working people. When I looked at the guest list, I noticed a few people that weren't part of the group in the way I had expected.

Admittedly, I immediately started rationalizing in my mind why they shouldn't be there. Part of it was a feeling that I wanted the event to be exclusive. Part of it was feelings I had left with from a former church, thought I had dealt with, but had really only put a band-aid over. So where did my thoughts go? Back to a self-righteous, high and mighty mindset.

Through the work of the Spirit, I was convicted that my reaction was sinful and I was ashamed. I told my friend my honest thoughts (he's also my primary means of counsel, so I wanted to be transparent) along with the disclaimer that I needed some time to pray and meditate to get down to what was at the root.

This was actually kind of exciting to me. Though I was ashamed, it also marks a moment where I was able to able to immediately recognize the sin and the lie for what is was - before it had a chance to really take hold.

The whole thing had thrown me off, so I needed to take the time right then to start working through it. My mind wandered to the last couple of sermons, in particular the last one from Luke 16:1 - 15 about the Dishonest Manager. I thought about the idea that we'd been hitting on considering generosity and how we should be using our resources for the glory of the Kingdom rather than our own comfort.

As I recalled that passage, the Spirit led me to look deeper at my own thoughts and feelings. I knew it wasn't right and I knew I didn't like, but I was still having trouble understanding. After chewing on it a little while, He led me to it - selfishness.

See, I am where I am today thanks to the grace and mercy of God and the generosity of others. Yet I had made this simple social gathering about me and my comfort when it was supposed to be a thank you to others. The additional names took me away from where I was comfortable and in control.

The fact is we're constantly looking for ways to be generous towards our friends. Finding the smallest connection as an excuse to include others is part of the fun of generosity. So we're going to have a good time and we're going to give away a lot of great stuff. My hope is that as we use the "unrighteous wealth" of this world to bless others, that it is God who will be glorified and not us.

All of the good things we have came from Him and we're only stewards. As He continues to refine me and convict me of my sin, it is my desire to start living more like a steward and less like a master. It doesn't come easy though. In a world that would draw us in the opposite direction, it's only by faith in Christ's work and through belief in the absolute truth of Scripture that we'll have the confidence to stand up to the lies and deception - and recognize them for what they are.

The Parable of the Dishonest Manager - Praising the Bad Guy

Luke 16: 1 - 15 (text below) chronicles the Parable of the Shrewd (or dishonest in some translations) Manager and is on of the more confusing texts in the New Testament.When my Bride and I read through it together, we had trouble seeing the point that Jesus was trying to make. We were so caught up in the poor character of the manager that we couldn't see that Jesus was praising him for the talents that he had. 

This guy essentially is about to get fired, so he writes off significant amounts of debt that his master in owed in hopes of finding favor with those who owe. He's making his exit strategy. He thinks through what he is and is not good at then makes the decision to set the foundation for a life that he can find tolerable, if not comfortable. 

Here's the point that Jesus is making to the disciples that he is speaking to and the Pharisees listening in - if people are willing to use their talent, wit, and intelligence to benefit themselves, why aren't we doing the same thing for the Kingdom of God?

That's a great question. I bring the full force of my knowledge, skills, and abilities to bear on my work. We need money to survive in this world, so we work hard to earn it then use wisdom in how we decide to spend and save it. If the Kingdom and the Church is so important to me, doesn't it also deserve my full effort? 

Last week, I came to the conclusion that in order to be rich towards God, I needed to really consider if everything I have is available to Him if He asks for it. This text forces me to realize that He gave me intelligence, wisdom, and drive in some measure as well. It's compels me to consider He didn't give me those just to earn a living, but for His glory and benefit. So now the question changes. If I have made everything (or even just some things as I mature) in my life available, how am I proactively using or preparing to use those to benefit the Kingdom?

What if I take account of the gifts God has given me? I'm responsible for the accounting of how I use them, just like in the Parable of the Talents. We all have a responsibility to use what we have just like an good businessman would consider what he has and what he needs to pursue the passion of his drive. 

One last thought from the conversation my Bride and I had - it's easy for me as a recovering pharisee to take this down a legalistic road and try to figure out how all of my gifts are being used all the time for the work of Christ. It's not going to happen that way. We can always give monetarily because it's always needed. It's a great form of worship. We can also look around us to the believers we need to connect with and the people we have the opportunity to reach. Then take a look at your gifts and start working on how make those connections using the gifts, blessings, and talents you have. 

Luke 16:1-15New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.

The Parable of the Rich Fool - Why is it So Hard to Trust?

What are the things you worry about most in life? Why is it so hard to trust God for His Provision?

Worry - we're told not to worry (Matthew 6:24 - 34), yet I do it every day. I worry about having enough money to cover the bills, take care of unexpected expenses, to purchase the things I'd like to have, and to so things we'd like to do. I worry about the welfare of our children since my ex-wife has such different views than I do. I worry about meeting deadlines and working far enough ahead for things to be in place when I travel for work.

I'm anxious about my weight and the ability to bike and run the way I'd like to. I get stressed about finishing the decorating and organizing of our apartment. I get worked up about the political and social state of our country along with how I can prepare our children to persevere in it. I've actually got a list on my phone of things that stress me out so I have a place to put those thoughts and get them out of my head without consuming me.

So why is it so hard to trust that God will take of all these things and just let it go?

I'm a recovering pharisee. For 34 years, I took care of righteousness by my own effort. I didn't need God to do anything for me. The only thing I needed other people for was to advance whatever current agenda was on my mind.

When I was finally put on my knees, I had to be completely and utterly dependent on God and others for everything. It was terrifying and amazing all at the same time. But even as I've been refined through the process and the wounds heal with time, it's tempting to fall back into those old habits of taking care of my own problems.

The insane thing is that God has shown me love, faithfulness, and grace in every situation. He hasn't given me a single reason not to trust Him, yet I'm quick to take back the reigns as soon as I have the chance.

A friend and mentor once told me that all sin boils down to one of two things - pride or fear. We want control in our pride and that's why it's so hard to trust God with those things that we think we can handle on our own. In our pride, we still know that God can handle it and that He will handle it better than we will. Still, pride whispers to us constantly the song of the Sirens and we have great difficulty fighting it off. So we work it in all out foolishness until we find ourselves in a mess that leaves us no choice but to look to God.

There's hope though. Each time we fall to pride, God proves His faithfulness and sustenance to us again and our confidence in Him grows. While I know worry and pride are areas that I need to improve in, recognizing that is an important point. We can pray that God would work on our areas of weakness and help our confidence and trust in Him to grow stronger as we mature. Then with each small step or giant leap of faith that we take, we'll see His faithfulness and be able to use that experience to help and encourage others.


Luke 12:13-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Interested in hearing Pastor Dave Martin's sermon on this text?

Listen online here or download the file.

Parable of the Rich Fool - Does Being Rich Towards God Have to Involve Money?

What does it mean to be rich towards God? (Luke 12:21) Is it possible to truly be rich towards God without involving your pocketbook. 


For me, what lies at the heart of this question is generosity. That can take many forms. Some people are generous with their time and will drop things mid-project to help someone in need. Others are generous with their belongings and you know who you can go to if you need to borrow a tool, a car, or a vacation house. Still others with their talents and are willing to teach you any skill they possess from HTML coding or training for a marathon to gator hunting.  Yes, there are those who are generous with their money. They'll help a person in need and it's as much a blessing for the giver as it is the receiver.

When it comes to being rich towards God, I believe that it has to do with remembering that everything you have, including your life itself, belongs to Him. That forces me to ask if I am making everything available to Him.

Am I willing to help someone repair their home? Am I available to to be a cycling or running coach to someone who struggles with exercise? Will I step out and tutor someone trying to make sense of math or science? Do I hold back if there is a need to provide meals? Am I willing to give money for the benefit of the Kingdom or one of its members? Is my life available should God ask me to pick up and go somewhere else on His behalf?

Honestly, some of these answers are easier than others for me. I'm good at making excuses. As I've been told, I have a B.S. in B.S.. From my heart, consistently giving to the church is a not only a form of worship, it's also a reminder that all areas of my life need to be made available. It's an area that's difficult for me though and I'm thankful that my Bride is able to keep me accountable.

Is it possible to be generous towards God without involving your pocketbook? Sure, God can do anything. It's possible to have your entire life available to Him and money not be something He requires of you during some season - but it would extremely rare. If you think you're in that boat, I'd encourage to really dig deep and get with a trusted elder or pastor to examine that.

For most of us, opening our wallets to be generous is the hardest part of worship. When we do it consistently though, our act of worship keeps the flow of availability open. It's much easier to develop a generous heart towards God when there's a least a trickle there to work with. If we show ourselves to be faithful with what we have, perhaps we can be trusted with the resources to have the flood of generosity that we hope for.



Luke 12:13-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Interested in hearing Pastor Dave Martin's sermon on this text?

Listen online here or download the file.

The Parable of the Rich Fool - How You Spend Your Money

The way you spend your money is a direct reflection on what you value the most. Agree or disagree?

Looking at the text from the Parable of the Rich Fool (below), we could come to the conclusion that the subject of the parable put his value in the ability to store up grain and goods - the accumulation of wealth. Looking at this person, it would be easy to agree that the way he spent his money is a direct reflection of what he valued. But what if I turn that question around on myself?

Before I elaborate, let me plainly say that I agree with the above statement. Money is talked about so much because it is one of the hardest things for us to let go of. It's easy to find security and hope in money. So when we look at the things that we're willing to part with our money on, I'd say that's a good indication of what's important to us.

If I'm honest about my budget, we spend the most on our apartment, food, child support, and on down the list. Giving is near the bottom of the list if you take it from a total amount point of view. It makes up about 3% of our budget. Does that mean supporting the church and Christ's work isn't a priority for us? No. The amount that we have budgeted for giving is not negotiable unless we're talking about giving more. It's set aside from the first check. So I'd say that we do value the ability to give to the work of the church.

Let me flip the coin for a moment. What would happen when unexpected expenses come up? Is giving the first thing to be reduced? I think that says a lot as well. Actually, we have some of those unexpected expenses. A $1000 trip to the ER, a $1500 orthodontist bill for our son, Another unknown amount from a doctor's visit for strep throat for our son, tires for my car. We don't have that kind of money saved. There's going to be some pinching and stretching, but our giving isn't on the table for consideration.

When we made the commitment to start giving regularly, we didn't make it hurt as much as many people are willing to. We just wanted to get started giving something consistently. We've got a plan for increasing our giving though. We decided that we would give 10% of any increase in income that we receive. We know that our current bills are covered, so we're going to make that commitment right off the top before any of that new salary or bonus is spent. That's just the way we've decided to handle it.

I get that many of you are jaded from church experiences where you really didn't know where your money went, you pastor was living in a million dollar home, the stewardship of the money was horrible, or you were actually swindled. I get that. When you feel that pull to start giving for the first time, but you're hesitant because of that experience, consider where your passions are. Do you hurt for children in the sex trade? Feel a desire to reach those in prison? Love the work an urban ministry does? Do some research on Christian organizations involved and start by giving there.

Talk to the pastor or elders at the church you attend. Any good church will be open about their financial reports. Once you've done your due diligence, I'd encourage to start giving to your church. It doesn't have to be a 10%, just pick a number you're comfortable with after praying about it and make it a habit, even if it's small. Giving is a form of worship between you and God, not a competition to prove who's the most self-righteous.


Luke 12:13-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Interested in hearing Pastor Dave Martin's sermon on this text?

Listen online here or download the file.

This Parable of the Rich Fool - How Does it Make You Feel...?

This is nothing more than my personal reflection from our last sermon on the Parable of the Rich Fool. The text is Luke 12:13-21 and my hope is that you'll take a quick read through that passage (text below) and consider with me this question:.

What thoughts run through your mind when the church talks about money?

My thoughts immediately turn to the idea that I should be giving more. My wife and I don't give 10% - it's quite a bit less than that. Not that it makes me righteous by any means, but we got into the habit of giving a consistent amount. No percentages or calculations, just a set amount that we write a check for each week. While it's still not up to the common (but no longer required) standard of 10%, our goal is to contribute 10% of any increases we see in income moving forward. Hey, it's a start.

I know that you're supposed to give from your first fruits. I'm happy to give the entire amount from our first paycheck of the month. My wife likes to be able to put something in the offering each week. What do we do? Compromise. We budget our giving from the very beginning, but we give each week as a way to participate in that form of worship.

Even with our meager giving, I always think to the things that I could really do without in my life and my mind wanders to how easy it would be to give up some of those luxuries to give more. That also leads to how my time is spent. Giving up some of the luxuries would also free up time that could be spent volunteering or serving in other capacities. I workout probably 5 - 7 hours a week. How much could I contribute in both time and money if I were to sell my bike and ditch the cycling/running habit?

From the side of me that I'm not so proud of, I often think to the support that I send monthly to a single mom from my former hometown. That's actually 23% of my income if we're going to be counting. It's no secret that I'm divorced and that "donation" is child support.

It's easy to think that I shouldn't have to give to the church when I'm already giving so much off the top, but that's a lie. There are consequences to sin, and child support is one of them. I have a responsibility to provide financially for my children whether the state sets the amount or not. Giving over and above that is where I'm worshiping God, not when I legalistically attempt to rationalize it otherwise.

I'm still left with more questions at this point and I'm sure you may be as well. That's okay - getting answers to those questions and applying them is part of our growth process.

There are three more questions to consider as we work through this text. We'll hit those in the next three days. For now, I'd love to hear what you have to say about this first question! Head over to Facebook and let's chat about it!


Luke 12:13-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Parable of the Rich Fool

13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Interested in hearing Pastor Dave Martin's sermon on this text?

Listen online here or download the file.

A Foggy Morning Run

It has been so long, years really, since I last ran naked. Running naked in the endurance world means electronically naked – no music, no phone, no GPS watch, not even the timer on a wristwatch. I take a deep drink of the cool, wet air and prepare my mind to listen to the only indicators I have - my heart and lungs.

As I start down the road, I find a steady cadence and rhythm that I know I can maintain. The path is familiar, but only a few yards are revealed at a time. Normal visual cues are shrouded in the cloud of fog that surrounds me.

Making a turn from the main road, I pass the school as the fog intensifies. It is the creek. The warmth of the water delivers more moisture to the air. I hit the bottom of the hill. How hard should I push? I can't see the top. If I go too hard, I won't have the energy to make it. I work to maintain my cadence and allow my heart to increase to match it. It's uncomfortable, but I can hold it.

How far do I have to go? How far have I gone? How much time has passed? Questions I can't answer, so I put one foot in front of the other and follow the path before me.

Should I pick up my tempo? The weather is still cool and I feel good. I don't know exactly what is ahead of me now or how far I have to go. Are there more hills? Maintain a steady rhythm I tell myself. That will keep me going and leave me prepared for the unexpected.

Suddenly, home breaks through the fog. I'm nearly there. I look back, almost disappointed that the run is over. The fog prevents me from seeing exactly where I've been. I know there were hills and creeks, churches and schools, but they're nothing more than memory now. I walk through the door, greeted by my wife and children. The run was good and I enjoyed it, but it's better to be home.
_________________________________________________________________________________

As I thought while I ran, I couldn't help but consider how similar it was to our journey in this life. God doesn't always show us exactly where we're going. He gives us just enough of the path to stay the course and trust that He knows where it leads. He only asks us to keep pressing on.

Philippians 3: 12 – 14
“12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Like the fog shrouds what's ahead, it also leaves our failures in the past. It doesn't matter what struggles and temptations we fell to, they're nothing more than memories when we're made new in Christ. Yes, they leave scars and wake us up in a panicked sweat in the middle of the night. Those are tools of our adversary attempting to leave us chained to our past. In Christ, we are redeemed and righteous; seen as flawless by God in spite of the claims of our accuser.

2 Corinthians 2:17
“17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Pace becomes an important part of our lives as well. We often throw ourselves into our passions without regard. We burn hot, but burn out quickly. It leaves us exhausted and disappointed. We have to decide what those passions are that deserve our best efforts – our relationship with Christ followed by our spouse and family. This is not a call to spend every waking moment working for the church. That's the church, not your relationship with Christ. The relationship draws closer in the quiet moments when Christ can be intimately close to His chosen bride.

It's also not a call to live without regard to wisdom to keep your spouse happy. There are needs and there are wants. When you love your spouse well, it also has everything to do with the quiet moments. It's the emotional and physical intimacy that comes from being available and vulnerable to the person God gave you. Christ repeatedly uses the example of marriage to talk about His relationship those that belong to Him. It's the closest and most tangible example we have. It's not perfect, but when we're loving each other well, it's a beautiful reminder of Christ and His Church.

The journey is not easy. It takes effort and you'll struggle every step of the way. When you tackle it with the proper perspective, a naked run in the fog is the best you'll ever experience. You'll find that it's more satisfying to trust in the One that put the path before you that all the stuff that tells you how fast you're going, how far you've been, how far you have to go, and attempts to take your mind off the struggle by keeping your mind somewhere else. You'll look back at the memories of a good life, but the homecoming will sweeter than you ever imagined.

Romans 5: 3-5
“...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”