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Author: Merry Ohler

Another Day 3 Willing Responsibility

March 8, 2023 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Another Day 3 Willing Responsibility

Merry Ohler

March 8, 2023

Deep,Family,Genuine,Humility,Love

Read His Words Before Ours!

Colossians 3:12-17
Ephesians 2:14-22
Romans 12:1-21
Psalm 133

When two horses are harnessed together, they share the load. They “bear with” each other. If one stops or pulls away, they won’t get far. Rather than using their time, energy, and force to move the load forward, they’ll exhaust themselves pulling in opposition. This image may help us understand Gospel preacher Paul’s letter to the house churches in Colossae: 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
(Colossians 3:12-14, emphasis mine)

The believers at Colossae were not so different from your local church body or mine. They believed in Jesus Christ, had turned from their sin, and were doing their best to follow Him.

The Colossians were imperfect humans, just like us. They had emotions, feelings, and thoughts. The believers at Colossae had histories, both shared and unique. They had distinct cultural and family customs. They likely had specific ideas about politics, medicine, family culture, and hundreds of other minutiae. 

All those differences would have created a wide margin for disunity, wouldn’t they? 

Add a heaping dose of false teaching to the mix, and it’s easy to imagine a firestorm of discord smoldering within a fellowship. Circumstances were ripe for believers straining against one another, each pulling away from the brothers and sisters with whom she disagrees.

In my experience, it’s far easier to walk in Christ’s grace toward unbelievers, but to believers? Woo. That’s a whole different matter. 

But, Lord, they know better! They know You, so why should I have to put up with this? 
Would a little smiting be too much to ask? 
Okay, so I’m exaggerating, but I bet you know just what I mean.

The temptation to be self-righteous is strong and sneakily subtle, isn’t it? Every believer’s background and personal perspective may differ, but we all need to be reminded of Christ’s Gospel: we were all unbelievers once, marked for death by our sins. We are saved only by God’s mercy and grace. 

“For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy – through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
(Titus 3:3-5)

This life in Christ is not for the faint of heart. 

Just as Paul exhorted the Colossians, we are also called to “put on” our life in Christ as we “bear with one another”. We are called to walk as Christ’s ambassadors to unbelievers, yes, but also to our brothers and sisters in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20, Galatians 6:10) Clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace and thankfulness, we are called into deep, family-like community with other believers. 

We are utterly incapable of fulfilling this call in our own strength,
but we are now in Christ if we have repented of our sins and accepted His gift of salvation and forgiveness!
Thank God! (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Through Him, we are able to respond in obedience. 

While Paul exhorted the Colossians to live in peace, he didn’t advocate an absence of God-honoring challenge in believing relationships. In fact, he discipled the Colossians on how to sharpen and teach one another.

Paul directed every believer to “let the word of Christ dwell richly among you[.]” (Colossians 3:16) Paul called them up and out, directing them to choose to live soaked in the teachings of Christ. Paul explained only by living with an emphasis on Christ’s word would they be able to follow His instruction: to admonish, or teach and rebuke, one another in all wisdom.

Paul instructed the Colossians to allow the word of Christ to transform their lives. 

To be a willing participant in the fellowship of believers. 
To choose to live a life of willing responsibility and accountability. 

Paul called the Colossian church, and us, to choose community life, to hold ourselves accountable to Christ’s word by leaning into wise vulnerability, and to lovingly point one another to the authority of His word.

There’s a subtle nuance here we must grasp. 
It is transformational. 

Jesus doesn’t force us to open our lives and hearts to others within the body. In the same way He will never force any person to put their faith and trust in Him, He will never force anyone into a life of mutual submission to other believers. 

When we try to hold accountable, correct, or rebuke others without being teachable or honest about our own struggles, our relationships are imbalanced. This quickly leads to self-righteous hypocrisy while wounding other believers. We disobey Christ’s command to love one another; instead of sowing love, we are actively sowing seeds of discord and dissension.

Conversely, if we vulnerably allow other trusted believers to see, know, and disciple us to Christ’s way, but we are unwilling to invest in them in return, we still miss the mark. Instead of a holy, mutual willing responsibility to bear one another’s burdens, we instead become constant, self-centered receivers in relationships.

Neither picture lines up with God’s design.
Both indicate a required adjustment in our hearts and minds.

Christ will never force us to live in this kind of radically vulnerable, give-and-receive relationship within His body, but He does invite, enable, and empower us, if we’re willing! He will make His word dwell in us richly and transform us to live in willing responsibility to Him and one another by the power of His Holy Spirit!

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There is no shortage of issues believers disagree over; from denomination to denomination, yes, but also from one believer to the next. It’s easy to talk about essential beliefs, but many times we are quick to distance ourselves from believers whose nonessential beliefs do not match our own.

Paul’s words in Colossians are for us today, too. We are called to “put on” the clothing of life in Christ.
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Posted in: Deep, Family, Genuine, Humility, Love Tagged: burdens, family, humble, load, shared

Philemon Day 15 Friends & Neighbors: Digging Deeper

March 3, 2023 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Philemon Day 15 Friends & Neighbors: Digging Deeper

Merry Ohler

March 3, 2023

Broken,Christ,church,Community,Faith,Family,Fellowship

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Friends & Neighbors"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Philemon 1:23-25

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why did Paul include the names and greetings of others in his closing sentiments in this particular letter? (verses 23-24)

When we consider Paul’s sermons, travels, and many contributions to the canon of Scripture, it’s easy to forget Paul was only one member of the body of Christ. But Paul didn’t forget. In every letter, Paul’s words pulse with humble love and compassion for the whole church.
 
To understand why Paul included personal greetings to others in his letter to Philemon, we must remember Paul’s overall purpose was to champion unity between Philemon and his runaway slave-turned-brother in Jesus, Onesimus.

Paul intentionally highlights relationships within the family of God as he mentions Timothy writing with him, and extends greetings to Philemon, Apphia, a woman believer, and Archippus, who all serve a house church. With respect, Paul lovingly refers to Philemon, Apphia and Archippus as beloved fellow worker, sister, and fellow soldier highlighting the unique, counter-cultural relationships of those who serve Christ. 

There is no blood relationship between these individuals, but the fondness and love communicate a strong bond between these fellow believers. From this foundation of love, Paul compels Philemon to embrace his slave who is now a brother alongside him. Paul’s brotherly love for both men is clearly felt.

As Paul closes, he widens his lens to greet Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke. Just as he opened his appeal to Philemon with an emphasis on relationships between believers, he closes the same way. 


Paul deliberately mentioned several believers Philemon would recognize or personally know. This is likely two-fold. First, calling out specific names of others who knew about this letter placed an additional layer of accountability for Philemon to forgive Onesimus. Second, Paul illustrated God’s design for close-knit relationships to be shared between believers. He wanted Philemon to recognize that Paul counted Onesimus as one such brother in Christ, and to encourage Philemon to forgive Onesimus and consider him the same way. 

The Everyday Application

1) Why did Paul include the names and greetings of others in his closing sentiments in this particular letter? (verses 23-24)

We don’t have a clear picture of whether Philemon was a believer when Onesimus left his household, but regardless, Paul used his letter to remind Philemon of what it means to be a follower of Christ. Regardless of where Philemon was in his journey with Jesus, it would have been a cultural offense to his position, person, and authority to have a slave run away. By law, he held the right to exact punishment, even death, from Onesimus. 

But Paul wanted Philemon to see a fuller picture. Just a few lines prior to his closing sentence, he had offered to pay whatever debt Philemon felt Onesimus owed him, knowing full well the debt might include death. Paul may not have experienced the same thing Philemon experienced when Onesimus ran away, but he did experience a parting with Mark when Barnabas split from his company. Yet, Paul was purposeful to include Mark in his closing, illustrating Christ’s reconciliation and restoration at work in himself.

We need reminding about the big picture sometimes, too, don’t we? When we feel hurt by the words, actions, or even betrayal of a brother or sister in Christ, forgiveness doesn’t always come easily. The pain of the wound can prevent us from seeing the whole picture. In those moments, we need to remember we are not only people in relationships, we are ambassadors of Christ Jesus, co-laborers in the Kingdom of God, and ministers of the gospel of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 3:5-17, 2 Corinthians 5:16-21)

Unforgiveness and offense are contrary to our redeemed lives. Instead of focusing on ourselves, we are called to follow Christ, die to self and allow the forgiveness and redemptive work of His death and resurrection to foster reconciliation in our relationships. (John 12:26, Ephesians 4:25-32)

The Original Intent

2) What relationships are represented in these verses? (verses 23-24)

Epaphras was an evangelist from the same area as Philemon. (Colossians 4:12) It’s possible he was the first to evangelize there, and he would have been known either personally or in name by Philemon. Paul wrote that Epaphras was a fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, indicating Epaphras was imprisoned not for committing a crime, but for his work to spread the gospel. Paul considered Epaphras a co-laborer who was also a worker for the gospel. (Colossians 1:7) The relationship between the two was undoubtedly strengthened by their shared imprisonment and suffering for Christ.

Mark and Paul were co-laborers in ministry and mission together. At one point, Mark and Paul parted ways when Barnabas and Paul disagreed (Acts 15:36-41), but Paul includes Mark among a list of faithful servants, evidencing their relationship has been repaired. Aristarchus accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, and was imprisoned with Paul at one point. (Colossians 4:10) Their relationship was cemented in their shared work as evangelists and workers in the Church, and furthered by shared suffering for the sake of the gospel.

At this time, Paul considered Demas a fellow worker for the spread of the gospel. (Colossians 4:14) Later in 2 Timothy, we hear more about Demas, but at the writing of this letter he was a fellow worker in ministry with Paul.

Luke was the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and intentional co-laborer with Paul. He accompanied Paul on many missionary journeys, and remained with him in his imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:11). Brothers in Christ, Paul and Luke were close partners in the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Everyday Application

2) What relationships are represented in these verses? (verses 23-24)

Each relationship represented in these verses is rooted in Christ and the spread of His gospel. The language used implies close, family love and respect, and appreciation for each person’s role. 

These relationships portray God’s design for His family, for all His adopted sons and daughters by faith in Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters in Christ, working together to serve His people and spread His gospel. Working and serving in their individual roles, but all needed, respected, loved and appreciated for who God created them to be in the body of believers. (Romans 12:4-8)

Paul was a high-profile member of the body of Christ, but Christ’s church is filled with men, women, and youth who answered Christ’s call and served faithfully, whether their names were ever known beyond their small circle or not. We may only hear about Epaphras and Archippus a few times in Scripture, but we know from what is shared that they were faithful men of God who served Jesus and their respective mission fields well. 

There is a very real temptation every believer may experience when we see the work Christ does in and through another Christian, to question whether or not we “measure up.” Whether we’re doing enough or being enough in comparison to others. When our eyes and thoughts begin to focus on these questions, we’ve lost sight of who we are, why we’re here, and what our mission is: Christ and His gospel. When we find ourselves struggling, we can take encouragement from Paul’s words to Philemon and remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is our ruler and Savior; all glory belongs to Him alone. 

The Original Intent

3) Why did Paul close by praying, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”? (verse 25)

Paul had just finished a very specific letter to Philemon and extolled the relationships between believers and fellow workers in the body of Christ. He highlighted what a blessing Onesimus was to him and emphasized how Onesimus was now a brother in Christ. Paul wrote all these things while being fully aware of the challenging circumstances surrounding the way Onesimus left Philemon.

He knew Philemon had every right to extract punishment from Onesimus; at that point Philemon could have legally killed Onesimus for running away. Paul knew Philemon would only be able to forgive and receive Onesimus by the grace of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and his prayer echoes this understanding. Paul prays that Philemon will be granted grace through Jesus Christ to not only forgive and receive Onesimus, but also to receive him as a brother and fellow worker for the gospel.

The Everyday Application

3) Why did Paul close by praying, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit”? (verse 25)

Paul knew it would only be by the supernatural grace of Jesus Christ that Philemon would be enabled to forgive and receive Onesimus after his crime. Paul also knew Philemon had chosen to make Jesus Christ the Lord of his life. He prayed for grace to rule in this matter, and that Philemon would respond through the reality of that grace in his spirit.

The same is true for us if we’ve surrendered our sinner-souls to the God who offers to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, even though we don’t deserve such rich grace. (1 John 1:9) We are all sinners, saved only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
We may think otherwise, but the reality is that in our flesh, we are utterly unable to forgive and release the debt we feel others owe us for any sin, wound or infraction. It is only by the power of God’s redemptive and sanctifying work in our spirits and lives, and the grace we have access to in Christ Jesus that we can forgive others. Thank God for His gift of grace through Christ Jesus!

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Journey Study

I cannot recall a sermon preached about Epaphras or Aristarchus.

Yet, clearly they were hard-working and faithful companions to Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament. From their stories, we learn we don’t have to be well-known to do great work for Jesus. These lesser-known men were simply faithful to God’s call and faithful to their mentor, Paul. Here is a lesson for all of us!
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Posted in: Broken, Christ, church, Community, Faith, Family, Fellowship Tagged: bound, Community, faith, family, prayer

Champion Day 15 He’s The Hero

June 17, 2022 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Luke 5:1-11
Luke 6:12-16
John 18:16-27
John 21:15-19
1 Peter 2:1-17

Champion, Day 15

For as long as I can remember, my husband has contended the fictional comic book character Batman is the only plausible superhero. When asked why, he will happily explain: unlike other illustrated literary superheroes, Batman doesn’t have any special powers or alien origins.

Immeasurable wealth and influence? Sure.
Mad ninja skills and physical prowess? Check.
Insanely cool superhero lair and technological marvels to help him fight crime? Yup.

But aside from the seemingly endless supply of money and inner torment,
Batman is basically just a regular guy with excellent resources. 

This might seem an unusual way to introduce a journey with Peter, but stay with me.

When we study the radical accounts of miracles God performed through Peter, it’s easy to see him as a spiritual giant.

He boldly exhorted those in Jerusalem following the Holy Spirit’s outpouring on Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36).
He miraculously healed (Acts 3:6-8),
raised the dead to life (Acts 9:38-43),
was the first to witness the unveiling of God’s complete plan of salvation for all people (Acts 10:9-33),
was imprisoned for his faith and proclaiming the gospel (Acts 4:1-4),
was freed from jail. by angels (Acts 12:6-19),
and people were healed simply by his very shadow (Acts 5:12-16).

With a resume like that, anyone would assume Peter was basically a Biblical beast. In a way, he was, but if we only examine the miracles and remarkable eternal impact of Peter’s life, without acknowledging Peter’s colorful humanity and frailty, we miss the best things about Peter’s story.

Just like the overarching account of Scripture and every vignette therein, Peter’s story points to God, His plan for salvation through Jesus Christ, and the redemption He alone brings.

Peter was a man of humble beginnings. His work was essential to the economy, but could hardly be considered illustrious. Brash and outspoken, Peter was impulsive, rough around the edges, and often ruled by his emotions.

When the disciples saw Jesus walking on water, they were frightened. (Matthew 14:22-33) Jesus comforted them; when He was tested by an impulsive Peter, Jesus invited him to step onto the waves. Peter initially fared well, but became afraid and began sinking.

Peter failed. 

When Jesus told His disciples He would be killed, and raised to life on the third day, Peter “caught feelings” and again tested Jesus, rejecting what He said outright. (Matthew 16:21-22)

Again, Peter failed. 

When Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter was overcome by his emotions, drew his sword, and cut off a man’s ear. (John 18:1-11)

Jesus also prophesied Peter would deny Him three times. Vehemently, Peter objected and declared he would never. When Jesus’ words came to pass and he heard the rooster crow, Peter was broken. (John 18:16-27)

Failure.
Again.

It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it?
Separated from the Messiah, Peter carried the weight of his personal betrayal of the Master he loved while Jesus was persecuted, crucified, and buried. Even after He was resurrected to life three days later, Peter’s actions undoubtedly haunted him.

Time and again, Peter messed up,
and doubted,
and hurt others,
and didn’t believe Jesus,
and argued with the very Son of God,
and failed.

Over, and over, and over.

Oh Peter. I can relate. On every. single. count. 

But then.

“When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ [Peter] said to him, ‘you know that I love you.’

‘Feed my lambs,’ [Jesus] told him.”
(John 21:15)

Three times, Peter had denied Jesus.
Three times, resurrected Jesus asks this question and commissions Peter, restoring him to full relationship and ministry.

Herein lies the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the trajectory of salvation!

Peter wasn’t enough. Yet, Jesus called him.
Peter failed, many times. Yet, Jesus disciplined him in love.
Peter denied Jesus. Yet, Jesus died for him.
After all that, Jesus offered him redemption, commissioned him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, transformed Peter to be a living demonstration of the work of the Gospel. 

The most important part of Peter’s story is that
he
wasn’t
enough.

In fact, Peter was basically just a regular guy, with excellent (read: supernatural) resources.

When we look at the accounts we see in Scripture and compare ourselves to the people we read there, we miss the point completely. Throughout all of Scripture, no one was ever enough, except Jesus Christ.

When faced with that reality, Peter put his faith in Jesus. He allowed himself to be transformed completely. Because of that surrender, the Holy Spirit was freed to work through him.

Beloved, the truth is, we aren’t enough, either.

If we were, then we would actually BE God.
We wouldn’t need salvation, because we wouldn’t sin.
We wouldn’t need sanctification, because we would already be completely holy. 

Just as He saw Peter, Jesus sees us as we really are, in all our frailty and failure and not enough. Because He IS enough, He transforms us into a new creation! Praise be to God!

Jesus, thank You for being enough, for filling every gap and showing Your strength in my weakness. Teach me to walk in Your ways and help me to remember that You are the real Champion in all of Scripture, and in my life.

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Posted in: Called, Enough, Freedom, God, Gospel, He, Healing, Holy Spirit, Love, Redemption, Salvation Tagged: boldly, champion, discipline, doubt, Failure, hero, humanity, hurt, plan, Son of God, surrender

Enough Day 6 Fallen Kings

April 5, 2021 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Samuel 8:19-22
1 Samuel 13:6-15
1 Samuel 16:4-13
2 Samuel 12:1-10
John 4:1-15

Enough, Day 6

“But MOO-ooom, I WANT it!” My toddler’s cheeks flushed with the heat of emotion. He knew what he wanted, and he wanted it RIGHT NOW.

I can relate. Maybe you can, too.

Countless times, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted or needed. I may not have articulated myself the same way he did, but the heart posture and desire have been identical. I know myself. I know what I need. I certainly know what I want, and when I want it.

Ahh, the self life. Like it or not, we’re born with it. It’s fully ours, from the moment our heart begins beating. Self-focus and self-service feel right because it’s in alignment with our flesh. We are born with the intense, driving desire to serve ourselves.

The Israelites weren’t so different from us as they, too, were born with a sin nature. They were born slaves to self, just as we were. In their desperation to make up for the incredible lack they felt, they demanded a leader. A King. A tangible leader to follow; one who’d care for them, inspire them, and check all the boxes they thought would make them feel satisfied, safe, and happy.

But the need they ached to fill with King Saul was a void only God Himself could fill.

Yet, God gave them what they so desperately clamored for: a King. And not without a measure of divine help; Scripture tells us when Saul was anointed by Samuel, God put a new spirit within him. (1 Samuel 10:10) Saul was strong, and handsome. In other words, he checked all the boxes. The Israelites couldn’t have found anyone who seemed a better fit for a king.

But he wasn’t enough. 

Saul was human. He was a man, and when he fell, the Israelites were left in even worse shape than before his reign.

Next, God appointed young David, the lowly shepherd, to be Israel’s king. David was truly a man after God’s heart. The youngest of many brothers, he was relegated to caring for sheep in the fields. During his time in the fields, he learned to play the lyre, and experienced many incredible feats as he kept the sheep in his care safe. Eventually, he began to play for King Saul, and spent time in his courts. David experienced his fair share of rejection, but the Israelites loved him dearly. God loved him dearly, too. Even when David sinned, he remained soft to the Spirit of God. He accomplished much for the Lord, and God blessed Him.

But he wasn’t enough, either.

David was also a man, and like any human being, he sinned. While he did repent, he was completely incapable of meeting the incredible need the Israelites felt.

The hunger for hope.
The longing for leadership.

They knew what they thought they wanted, but they didn’t know what they needed.

But God did.
He knew all along.
He created them, so of course He knew they needed…

To be seen and known.
To be heard. And held.
To be washed clean of every spot, every blemish.
To be forgiven, set free, adopted, and transformed.

Just like any good father, He sees us, just like He saw the Israelites. He sees us, exactly as we are. He sees all the people and things we use to seek solace.

He knows these imitations will never be enough.

Beloved, where are you today? Are you hurting, tired and angry, longing for more but unable to find the thing that makes you feel complete? Do you long to plunge deep in His refreshing presence? Do you wonder what it might feel like to be completely unfettered by the sin which has entangled you? Do you crave belonging, community, and purpose?

Beloved, truth?
You will never be enough.
You’ll never attain enough, or acquire enough, learn enough or do enough.
The Israelites felt all the same things, and looked to their earthly leaders for fulfillment, but their kings fell . . . never enough.

Could anyone ever be enough to reconnect us to the God who sees us, knows and is exactly what we need, and longs to share Himself with us?

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Posted in: Adoption, Blessed, Follow, Forgiven, Freedom, God, Holy Spirit, Love, Sin, Transformation, Truth Tagged: desire, enough, Fallen, God's Heart, Heard, Held, King David, King Saul, Kings, known, Seen, Self-Focused, Self-Service

Fervent Day 15 The Call To Family

March 5, 2021 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Leviticus 19:18
Matthew 22:35-40
Romans 15:5-6
2 Corinthians 9:12-15
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Fervent, Day 15

Unity. 

The quality or state of not being multiple. A condition of harmony. The quality or state of being made one. (Merriam Webster)

Oh Beloved. Does the mere definition make your heart ache the way it does mine? Division is evident in practically every corner and crevice of the world today, and sadly, within Christ’s Bride, the Church, as well. We squabble over semantics, and methods. How long services should be. Which translation of the Bible is best. We disagree over our prayer, our worship, and missions. We disagree over how often to serve Communion, and what to serve. Who we should vote for.

I could go on, but I don’t need to. You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Our adversary’s chief aim is threefold, with a capital D. Division, destruction, and death. And the truth is we’ve allowed him to take ground in the Church on our watch.

As the words of Paul’s prayers for unity wash over us,
may they sink into our very souls and spirits,
and may God answer his prayers in our own lives and in the universal Church today.

When Jesus’ disciples asked Him how to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer, which begins with the familiar line, “Our Father in heaven…”.  The Holy Spirit-led, inspired Christian, Andrew Murray, unpacks this prayer in With Christ in the School of Prayer at great lengths, but our focus today is simply the first word: our.

In one single word, Jesus illustrated the heart of our Father and the way of His Kingdom.
Family.
Brothers and sisters, beseeching their Father for what they need.
Not individually, or independently, but together, as one.

Prayer is most effective when we are united in it, together. Jesus Christ was the first person in history to speak of God as Father. In this brief interaction with His disciples, He called them up and into family with Him. It’s easy to see from where Paul absorbed his method of high challenge and high invitation; Jesus did it. As He called them to unity, He also called them into family.

Because this is the Gospel work of the Kingdom, Loves.
We who were fatherless, through Christ can know our Father.
We who were imprisoned to our sin, through Christ are made free.
We who were isolated and alone, through Christ are adopted into God’s family, and made co-heirs of His Kingdom. 

Paul knew firsthand the incredible, redeeming power of God, and his fervent desire was for all God’s children to experience their full inheritance in Christ. He prayed passionately for all believers to be made one. To be of one mind and spirit. To approve all things righteously, together.

Do we desire the same? It’s easy to nod and agree, but do we really? Do our actions, words and prayers reflect a passionate desire for unity in the body of Christ? Are we desperate for the unity Christ commanded and prophesied?

I’m not sure I can say yes. Can you?

It’s one thing to comment about the division we see ravaging the Church our brothers and sisters us, but do we weep over it? Don’t mistake gravity for condemnation here, Loves. This is for all of us, including me. Here’s the thing: we are not capable of changing the desires of our heart, or our passions. But God can. We have only to ask Him, and He will do it! 

In order to come to the realization that something must be done, we must have a clear view of where we actually are.

Where are you, Beloved? Are you numb, or indifferent to our divisive plight? Do you find yourself unable to muster a desire for unity? Are you comfortable where you are, but aware that maybe you shouldn’t be? Does this talk of passion, change, and a togetherness as yet unseen spark excitement in your belly? Or does it spark fear?

I’m with you. We are all weighing our hearts in this space, and our Father is doing the same. So where do we go from here?

We go to our Father, together!

Our Father. It’s only by Your mercy and grace we can come to You, together. And hopefully, confidently, if stumblingly, we come to You. Lord, we don’t possess the kind of love that knits hearts together in one mind and spirit, but You do. Your word says we can ask for anything in Your name, and it will be done. Abba, we want to want unity in the Church. We don’t know how to go about it, but You do. Would you fill us with the Spirit of unity? Would you pour out love like we’ve never seen in Your Church in this age? Make us one, as You are one. You’re the only One Who can. This day, our lives and all we have are Yours alone. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Posted in: Beloved, Christ, church, Fervent, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Kingdom, Love, Paul, Power, Prayer, Redeemed, Unity, Worship Tagged: called, communion, Desperate, Division, family, God Can, Harmony, heart, Heart of Father, passion

Fervent Day 3 One Another

February 17, 2021 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Numbers 6:22-27
John 13:31-35
Romans 1:8-10
2 Corinthians 13:7-9
Ephesians 1:15-17

Fervent, Day 3

Truth?
Few things will highlight the holes in our own prayer lives like studying Paul’s prayers for the body of believers. It’s impossible to read Paul’s fervent, devoted prayers for the Church and miss the pure, undiluted love of God manifest in his heart. The staggering reality of Paul’s dramatic conversion from his former life as Saul, who persecuted the early church with vigor and violence, gives glory to the God of transformation. His Spirit-led words are saturated with God’s heart for every believer, and as I read through his prayers in preparation for this study, I was convicted that even on my best days, it is rare I have prayed with the kind of conviction and fervor Paul embodied.

Through every prayer, it is evident Paul considered each member of the body of Christ a gift to him, personally. In every passage, he thanked God for other believers. In fact, he even said he never stopped giving thanks for them. He was desperate to be with them. That kind of emotion and desire … to put it bluntly, it’s not of this world.

Think about Paul’s words in the first chapter of Romans. “God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in telling the good news about his Son—that I constantly mention you, always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.” (Romans 1:9-10)

Beloved, is there anyone we “constantly mention” to God in prayer? Anyone we always ask Him to reunite with us? I mean, really think about it. Can we honestly say we feel the way he described about our literal family members? It’s culturally acceptable to joke about our in-laws, but when we hold the practice up against the light of love we see portrayed here, it all feels pretty crass, doesn’t it?

Furthermore, what do Paul’s intense prayers and care for his fellow believers show us about God? Paul did many incredible things to advance the Kingdom of God, but he could take no credit for the love and leadership he exhibited after his radical conversion. The pure, fervent love God gave Paul for the body of Christ was a heavenly gift designed to give glory to God and reveal His incredible power and majesty to the world.

Because God’s plan has always been family. 

He sees us, exactly as we are: rejected, flawed, sinful people. He knows every hidden intention, every secret and not-so-secret sin. And He wants us anyway. He calls each of us by name. And when we respond to Him, confess our sin and invite Him to be Lord of our lives, He does it and makes us part of His family. Sons and daughters. Co-heirs with Christ.

But not family in the broken, earthly way.

Family in the heavenly, knit-together-by-the-Holy-Spirit, grafted-together-in-the-Vine kind of way. Woven together with a love we are utterly incapable of generating. It is completely, undeniably beyond us. Paul’s prayers for the believers in the early Church left no question every member was vitally important, and sharing equally in the mission.

Over and over, Paul prayed his brothers and sisters in Christ would do no wrong.
That they would become spiritually mature, and for God to grant them wisdom and revelation.
That they would know the hope of Christ’s calling.
That they would keep growing in knowledge and discernment.
That they would have great endurance and patience.
That they would be joyful, pure and blameless, and filled with the fruit of righteousness.
That God would deal mercifully with them.

The conviction is strong, isn’t it? It is for me, too. I can’t remember the last time I prayed that a fellow believer would do no wrong. Have I prayed for their physical health? Absolutely. Have I prayed for their finances? Yes. Their family? Favor? Blessings? Yes, yes, yes. These prayers aren’t necessarily wrong, but do they have anything to do with spiritual health and calling?

When I see the example Paul gave us in his letters, I realize I haven’t taken on the full measure of my calling to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Maybe you haven’t, either.

So where do we go from here?

I’m going to take a page from Paul and issue a little encouragement and exhortation to us all, myself included.

Let’s ask God to fill us with His love for each other, and to give us a hunger to pray for one another. 

We are members of one body, through the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry “Abba, Father!”. (Romans 8:15) First, let’s confess we do not possess the ability to love one another the way Christ loved us. We have to be real about where we are, and we must invite the Holy Spirit to change our hearts and minds. Every one of us has a specific role to fill. We need each other, and we need to pray for one another!

Abba, You are the Maker of heaven and earth, and You have drawn me into Your family. I don’t fully understand what it is to love the way You love, but I want to know, Lord. Fill me with Your love for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to experience the kind of love Paul had for the believers in the early Church. Will You call Your Bride to life in this today? Jesus said the world would know we belong to You by our love. We can’t manufacture it; only in You will we ever fulfill His words. This day, my life, and everything I have are Yours. In Jesus’s name, amen.

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Posted in: Beloved, Christ, church, Fervent, Gift, God, Holy Spirit, Kingdom, Love, Paul, Power, Prayer, Transformation, Truth Tagged: Body of Believers, family, Giving Thanks, glory, Joyful, light, One Another

Questions 2 Day 11 Rescue Mission

February 8, 2021 by Merry Ohler 2 Comments

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Exodus 20:1-17
John 3:1-21
Romans 3:21-26
Romans 3:9-20

Questions 2, Day 11

How could a loving God send anyone to Hell?

The question is a reasonable one. The juxtaposition of a God who loves mankind so much He would send His very Son to die for them appears to be utterly at odds with a God who would send good people to a fiery destination for all of eternity.

However, the very question itself is hinged on a dangerous and erroneous assumption: people are inherently good. It’s tempting to lean toward the thought. After all, as humans, we tend to categorize wrongdoing at varying “levels.” We wouldn’t categorize a murderer with, say, a person who told a lie to spare someone’s feelings. Our natural instinct is to determine who is good, and how good they are, by their actions and our own perception of morality. But this view is absolutely inaccurate. 

From the moment mankind fell from a perfect relationship with God and chose knowledge and self over trust in Him, every human being has been marked by the consequences of that choice. We are born with sin’s DNA woven into ours by our own failings, but the truth is humans have never been “good” on our own. Even Adam and Eve, who had every opportunity to continue in a right relationship with God, and who enjoyed perfect communion with Him in the Garden of Eden, lost everything the moment they chose the allure of sin’s temptation for self. Sin excluded them from fellowship with Him. Because God is completely righteous, holy, and just, He can not be in the presence of sin. Adam and Eve could not remain in the place of intimacy with God while sin existed in their hearts.

The same is true for us. 

Loves, not one of us is good. Romans 3:23 reminds us all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God. As we studied in Ten, God says if we have broken even one part of the Law, we are guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10) Furthermore, Jesus said if we so much as think sinful thoughts, we have actually committed that sin in our hearts. (Matthew 5:21-22) This is why Jesus came to earth as a man. He was the only One Who could live a perfect, sinless life and serve as the spotless sacrifice for all our sins, past, present and future.

Only One who was righteous, both fully God and fully man, would ever be able to do it. 

Because of His selfless sacrifice, our ability to be in communion with God was restored. The sin we have all chained to ourselves has no power against the blood of Jesus Christ when we surrender to Him. God’s master plan for a relationship with His beloved creation is perfectly fulfilled in the salvation He purchased for us. We, who are born sinners, can access communion with God through the shed blood of Jesus when we give our lives to Him and trust Him over ourselves. We were born dead in our sin, but we are made alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:5) When God looks at those who have trusted Him for salvation, He no longer sees our sinful nature. Instead, we are completely, totally wrapped in Christ. When He looks at us, He sees His Son in us. He sees righteousness.

Do you know what the enemy’s master deception is, Beloved? He’s been singing the same tired tune for literally ages.

It’s to sell all of us on the lie that we are basically good, on our own. That we, ourselves, are righteous, apart from Christ’s blood. That we are capable of saving ourselves. In fact, he would love for us to be so completely infatuated with who we are, what we’re like, and how we feel, that we have no room in our thoughts for God. After all, if we’re basically good, and we can be trusted to do the righteous thing, why do we need Jesus, anyway?

This is why the Law is such a vital part of God’s ultimate rescue mission: without the knowledge of God’s law, we are absolutely incapable of recognizing we are sinners. Romans 3:20 says, “For no one will be justified in His sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.”

Read that again. Twice, if you must.

Every one of us are born sinners. There’s nothing we can do about it. No amount of denying will change it. No amount of good works will offset it.

Our adversary is against us from day one. He endeavors to convince us that we’re good, and if we’re honest, most of us are inclined to agree.

But God. 

Long before we were born, long before Jesus was born, He handed His Law to Moses. It is the very knowledge of this Law that brings us to the realization that we are filled with sin. But the knowledge of this sin isn’t designed to condemn us! It’s to draw us to repentance and confession that we need salvation through Jesus Christ, so we can enter into relationship and communion with God! 

Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your very Son to die for my sins. There’s no One else like You. Help me to understand how deep and how wide Your great love is for all mankind. Show me every place where I haven’t invited You to rule and reign. All I have belongs to You alone. In the name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

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Posted in: Christ, Community, Fullness, God, Good, Jesus, Perfect, Redemption, Relationship, Rescue, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sin Tagged: communion, intimacy, Loving God, questions, Reign, righteous, Rule

Follow Day 8 Whole Surrender

January 13, 2021 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Samuel 16:1-13
1 Samuel 17:20-54
Psalm 69:1-12
Jeremiah 24:4-10
Luke 1:26-33

Follow, Day 8

Rejection. 

The experience of being turned away, excluded, dismissed, or unwanted.

Merely reading the description brings a swell of emotion, doesn’t it? We’ve all felt the sharp wounds of rejection sometime in our lives. We have experienced it at the hands of our peers, friends, and classmates. Worse, we’ve felt it from those we expect to love us best, our parents, siblings, our children, even our spouse. The closer the relationship, the more extensive the damage tends to be.

And it’s a double edged sword, isn’t it? Because when we are rejected, our deepest need to be approved and accepted is brought into sharper relief. The very thing we desire most is withheld from us, which leaves us feeling even smaller and needier, if possible. We waver between hurt that another could make us feel this way, and anger that we allowed ourselves to be so vulnerable. We’re left with an overwhelming urge to run and hide.

I remember it well. The defensive pull to withdraw from relationships and close ourselves off is powerful.   

David, the shepherd boy-turned-king, was well acquainted with rejection. When Samuel came to his father’s home in search of the Lord’s next anointed king, David was literally the last to come to Jesse’s mind. As time went by, God made space for him in King Saul’s court to play his lyre when Saul was troubled, and he became Saul’s armor bearer.

However, when Saul’s army was camped out, hiding from the threats of the Philistine Goliath, David faced rejection again. His oldest brother, Eliab, grew angry at David’s bold words. He mistook the Holy Spirit’s stirring in David for arrogance, and threw his lowly status of shepherd in David’s face. Saul heard about David’s words and summoned him, only to serve yet another helping of rejection by pointing out David’s youth and inexperience.

But David persisted. Goliath fell, and God was glorified.

Those weren’t David’s only experiences with rejection. Repeatedly, he faced rejection from those he loved and led. Saul gave his daughter Michal to David in marriage, following his defeat of Goliath, but later did everything in his power to kill him. David’s men grew tired of running and hiding, and blamed him for the situation. They, too, wanted to kill him. He faced discouragement and isolation. David literally spent time hiding in caves from those who rejected him and wanted to murder him.

But still, he pressed on.

When we think about the rejection we have faced in our lives, it pales by comparison, doesn’t it? Few, if any of us, have experienced such significant rejection.

Yet, when we do face rejection, do we allow God to heal those places and persist in following His call? Or do we turn away from the illuminating light of revelation and attempt to nurse our wounds in the dark?

I know what my answer has been. I’m betting yours has been pretty similar, too.

So, what’s the difference between us and David?
“I’m no hero of the faith!”
We’re all thinking it.

And yet.

Scripture tells us from the time David was anointed, the Spirit of God rested powerfully on him. Throughout David’s life, he wrestled with sin; he was a man, just like anyone else. But he was a wholly surrendered man. His heart posture was positioned to follow God, wherever He might lead. When confronted with his mistakes and sin, David was grieved. He acknowledged his sins against God, and he turned from his ways. Many times, David could have taken the reins and done what he thought was right. There were several opportunities when he could have simply killed Saul and taken the throne. He knew God had anointed him as the next king of Israel. No one would have blamed him; King Saul was murderous and deranged.

But David didn’t expect his God to serve and follow him. He served and followed his God.

Woo. The conviction cuts deep, doesn’t it? Same.

Because regardless of the pretty words we use to talk about our faith, and regardless of anyone else’s perception of us, our response in the face of rejection reveals our heart posture, doesn’t it? If we do not press in to follow our Father in the face of rejection, we are seeking the approval and acceptance of others over our King.
When we try to fill our need with anything other than God, we aren’t following God at all.

Think about it. Think about the time you give to the Lord. Time in prayer, in relationship with Him. I’m not talking about what you “do” for Him. Do you give your time to the Lord? Do you serve and follow your God? Or do you do what makes you happy, and expect Him to fit in somewhere around the edges?

Do we really know what it means to be wholly surrendered, Love? Perhaps the greater question: do we even think it possible in this day and age?

Love, it is! But it’s not something we can manufacture in our own strength or willpower. It is only possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth? It’s not something our human nature even wants. God Himself must instill the desire within us.

In the same way God turned David’s heart toward Himself, He can and will do the same for us, Love!

The real question is . . . do we want Him to?

Heavenly Father, You are my King. I confess that I haven’t lived like it, but I want to change. Lord, change my heart, and give me a desire to live fully surrendered to Your will. I can’t do it on my own, but I know You can and will. Show me how to respond to You, every day. I love and praise You, only. In Jesus’ name, amen.


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Posted in: Accepted, Deep, Faith, Follow, God, Holy Spirit, Need, Overwhelmed, Power Tagged: Anointed, David, Deepest Desire, discouragement, Glorified, isolation, Persistent, rejection, Samuel, Served, Whole Surrender

Reveal Day 15 The Gift Of One

December 25, 2020 by Merry Ohler Leave a Comment

Read His Words Before Ours!

Ezekiel 34:20-31
Philippians 2:5-11
Ephesians 3:14-21
John 10:14-18

Reveal, Day 15

We murmur with excitement at the whisper of a snowflake or two in the cold, December air. The trappings of Christmas beckon all to lean into the “most wonderful time of the year.” And we celebrate, with brightly wrapped packages. With twinkling lights, and cheerful holiday music, and cozy socks.

Yet, beneath the swirl of bright colors and enthusiasm, there is an underlying emptiness.

“Not enough,” and “too much,” are somehow equally accurate descriptions of the way our culture embraces the Christmas season. Because how does one properly celebrate remembering the birth of our Saviour? So little of what is familiar resonates with the simplicity of that miraculous event. We lean into more, forgetting that it all comes down to one.

One dark, starry night. A young couple, weary from a journey.
One tiny babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
One promise, foretold by Scripture and the prophets, passed down from generation to generation, and finally fulfilled in the virgin birth of Emmanuel, God With Us.

One Way. 

Paved by the crucifixion and resurrection of the one spotless Lamb of God, come down to earth and wrapped in flesh, to pay for all the sins of the world.
Lined by the selfless service and sacrifice of countless followers of Him.

One. The man, Christ Jesus. He alone is the One Thing we crave more than anything else.

The Love we each ache for so intimately, so desperately, was given to us freely. Simply.
One day of celebration isn’t enough. One life isn’t enough.

Still, we seek what He gives so freely from everyone and everything but the Giver. We seek it in our earthly relationships, from our spouses, from our lovers, from our children, from our parents, from our friends. We seek it in acceptance, through our titles, and our accomplishments, and our social statuses. We seek it in the way we feel, through food, in drink, in substances. In busy-ness, in usefulness, in commitments.

We seek it in ourselves. In our own intellect, our own wisdom, our own perspective.
We work to fill the ache, the need, with all these things, every day, every year.
We’re born trying, and many of us die trying.
We yearn, and we strive, and we fail to fill the divine void with something tangible.
Over, and over, and over.  We work to better ourselves.
To become stronger, kinder, smarter.
To become more.

When the gift of Christmas, this Jesus, beckons us to become less. To stop trying, and stop doing, and simply accept this priceless gift He paid everything to extend.

Where are you striving in this season, Love? In your marriage? In your mothering? In your providing, or your homemaking, or your working? Where are you faltering? Where are you seeking approval from anyone other than your Heavenly Father?

Lean in close, Beloved. Listen to His words.
Let freedom wash through your weary soul this day.

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

This, HE, is the Gift of Christmas. Our Saviour, come to life, and to death, and then to life once again.

For you, Sister. For all of us. This is LOVE. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the priceless gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for loving me so much, You would send Your Son to pay the price for my sins. Help me to understand this Gift more fully, to accept the freedom and salvation You give me so freely. My life, and everything I have are Yours. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

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Posted in: Amazed, Birth, bride, Faith, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Joy, Love Tagged: Christmas, gift, God, hope, reveal
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14