KLOVE Radio Features – October 2023

BEWARE OF REVENGE

In Acts 16, after Paul and Silas were inappropriately beaten by their captors and thrown in jail, city leaders realized that these two men were Roman citizens and begged them to leave their city. Paul and Silas could have been revengeful for their mistreatment and enacted Roman law that no Roman citizen could be beaten without a trial. Instead, they chose to forgive those who had hurt them and move on. Sounds like a sequence we each should repeat. True, it will take great humility and confidence in God for each of us to offer mercy and not judgment. Yet, it is exactly what each of us are hoping to receive. “All of us would want mercy to triumph over judgment. That’s exactly the seed we need to sow. With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful…” (Psalm 18:25)

WHY LOVE YOUR LIFE?

Why should you love your life? Because that’s been God the Father’s hope ever since He created you. What parent doesn’t want his or her child to love their life; especially if they could completely script every aspect of it? What parent wouldn’t want to do everything he or she could to make their child’s life absolutely lovable. Not spoiling them and damaging their future but guiding them to the Christ-like character needed to experience the Abundant Life Jesus promised. It wasn’t a pipe dream Jesus couldn’t fulfill, but a miracle He created us to receive. You’ll never love your life unless you follow the best of all possible options for your life . . . it’s called “God‘s will.” “It is God who gives us the power to will and to do of His good pleasure.”

CONQUERING EVIL

Do you want to conquer evil in your life? If not, you should. It’s one of the most important goals in life! Why? Because evil is coming for you, like it or not, and you’d better be ready for the deception and ultimate pain and destruction it always brings. So, what does the Bible say about defeating evil? Well, it’s counterintuitive, so get ready. Do good! That’s right, “do good” and you’ll overcome evil. Romans 12 says, “Pay back evil with good. Give your enemies food and water to drink and then they will be ashamed for what they have done to you.” You’re probably thinking, “Isn’t there an easier option to conquer evil?” If there was, God would have told us. Because He created us to be mighty overcomers. Frankly, it’s exactly what Jesus did, and it’s what is on the menu for us. 

YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED

In Matthew 15, when thousands of followers of Jesus were in the wilderness and hungry, Jesus basically told His disciples, “What you have is more than sufficient for what you need.” He then proved it with a miracle. Would it shock you to hear, though you may not realize it, you have what you need if Jesus says you do? Moses had a stick. Samson had a jawbone. Esther had a dress. Abraham had faith. Paul had a testimony. And Jesus was fully surrendered to the will of God. When you think what you have is either non-existent or too little, look again. You may then see what God sees, you have just enough to mix with faith and trust in God to receive the miracle that you need. “I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

UNIVERSAL INSECURITY

Insecurity started in a Garden with the most secure couple who ever lived. Yep, that Garden! How ironic that the safest and securest garden of all time didn’t satisfy the selfish longings of our ancient parents. Sounds like us sometimes as well, doesn’t it? One person imparted insecurity to another, and it spread to their descendants like unguarded cancer. Yet, even now, God wants to provide a safe and heavenly environment for each of us to grow in, in order to live truly blessed lives. It’s called learning to love the will, the script, God wrote just for you. Filled with unexpected twists and turns from Mount Everest to Death Valley, those who navigate this “best-of-all” adventures, experience life to the fullest and a finale prepared by God Himself to bless us forever. 

LIVING WITHOUT LOCKS

My wife and I lived in and led a community of 75 people for over four years,  without locks on our doors. And these weren’t just any people. Some were murderers, many were recovering drug addicts and alcoholics, and a few had even been in prison for 10 to 20 years. From our first day, when I asked an “out of control” person to leave, he said he was going to come back and kill me. So, from the very beginning, my wife and I resolved, “If God couldn’t protect us, we couldn’t be protected.” Over the next 52 months, though my life was threatened on many occasions, God kept us in the hallow of His hand, and no harm was done to us or our young children. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not against keeping your family safe. Just remember, no one does that better than God.