Author: Larry Grays

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

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I MUST DO ALL IN THE NAME OF CHRIST

 

Disney’s movie The Lion King features a young lion named Simba who is destined to rule the jungle but finds himself “on the outs.” As the story opens, his father, Mufasa, takes him to Pride Rock and shows him his inheritance… he would rule as far as his eyes could see; everywhere the sun placed its light. Soon afterward an evil plot is set afoot and Simba’s father is murdered. Simba flees. He runs from his destiny due to guilt and fear. You see, Simba did not fully grasp who he was or what power and authority he possessed.

 

Then there is a scene where Simba sees a mirage of his father. Mufasa tells Simba, “Remember who you are.” Once Simba realized who he was, what he possessed, and his role in the society of the Savannah, he returned, drove the hyenas from Pride Rock, took His place as king, and restored peace and beauty to the land.

 

In Colossians 3:17, the Apostle Paul reminds the church of who they are. They are members of God’s Kingdom and they represent Jesus in the world. They operate based on the authority and power of Jesus Christ. When the church does things in Jesus’ name to bring glory to Him they are backed by God’s power and presence.

 

Reflection

Many of you proudly wear team jerseys and apparel that reflect which team you support and proudly represent. Years ago, WWJD bracelets were reminders to ask ourselves, “What Would Jesus Do?” It was intended to cause us to pause and ask how Jesus would respond to the daily situations of life. Is there anything in your lifestyle that Jesus would not be pleased with?

 

Prayer/Praise

Thank God for the opportunity to be named as one of His followers and wear the name Christian. Ask God what areas of your life He would like for you to use for His glory where you currently are not.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16 (ESV)

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I MUST PRIORITIZE THE WORD OF CHRIST

 

Two construction workers were eating lunch one day. One of them says, “I hope I don’t have another meatloaf sandwich. I’m getting tired of meatloaf.” The next day the construction worker opens his sandwich for lunch and says, “Meatloaf sandwich again – I hate this stuff!” The third day this guy opens his lunch and says “Oh meatloaf again! I’m getting tired of this every day.” The guy who’s been eating lunch with him every day gets tired of hearing him complain and says, “Hey man, why don’t you just get your wife to fix you a different kind of sandwich for lunch?” The first guy replies, “My wife? What are you talking about? I’m not married, I make my own lunch.”

 

Some of us just seem to be wired to complain. However, Christ wants to rewire us to live lives of gratitude. In Colossians 3:16 we learn that we must prioritize God’s Word, and that eventually leads to praise and a heart of gratitude. God doesn’t owe us anything, not even meatloaf sandwiches. When we believe that truth we can find it easier to be grateful. However, when we feel entitled we are more likely to be discouraged and hopeless.

 

Reflection

As children, we learned, “garbage in, garbage out.” The idea is that whatever we put in our minds will eventually come out. If that’s true, it means, “Bible in, Bible out.” If you look at your lifestyle, what does it seem you have been putting a lot of in lately?

 

Praise/Prayer

Praise God for the hope and peace that He offers you through His Word. Ask God to help you make consistent Bible study a part of your everyday life.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

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I MUST RECEIVE THE PEACE OF CHRIST

 

During a famous battle between baseball’s Babes, Babe Pinelli was the plate umpire and Babe Ruth the batter. Pinelli called the legendary batter out on strikes. Ruth would have none of it. Babe Ruth said, “There are 40,000 people here who know that the last one was a ball, tomato head.” “Maybe so,” umpire Pinelli said, “but mine is the only opinion that counts.”

 

The original picture of “rule” in Colossians 3:15 is that of an umpire deciding the outcome of an athletic contest. The umpire would preside over the athletic games so popular in the Greek culture and distribute the coveted prize to the winner. The verse is, in effect, saying, “let peace win the trophy in your heart.” God’s peace is the opposite of worry. Worry means to pull apart and peace means to hold together. Colossians reminds us to let Jesus’ ability to hold our lives together win in our hearts.

 

Reflection

Unfortunately, some of us are allowing worry to make the calls in our lives. The way we let peace rule is by praying. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7, CSB) Instead of worrying we are reminded to pray.

 

Praise/Prayer

Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace.” Praise God for this title and the promise of peace we can claim because of who Jesus is and what He does for us. Spend some time praying about anything that has you worried right now. Ask God for His peace to guard your heart and your mind.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: 15 “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”

John 12:14-15 (NLT)

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JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM: RIDING ON A DONKEY

 

Tom Barnard writes, “The crowd was clueless. They never got it right. They shouted praises. He wept. They looked for a warrior-king riding a white stallion. They got a carpenter riding a donkey. They wanted hype. They got a healer. They wanted a prophet. They got One who fulfilled prophecy. They wanted a scepter. They got a Savior. They got nothing they asked for but everything they needed. Only they never got it. They were clueless. Jesus was the only One there who really knew what was happening on that first Palm Sunday.

 

In the culture of their day, a king would ride into town on a horse if he wanted the people to know that he was ready for war and that he was their warrior king. However, when a king rode into town on a donkey, that symbolized the time of peace was at hand. Jesus chose a donkey to show that the time for peace and love had come. The people were awaiting the king, but most of them thought the king would be an earthly king who would readily protect Jerusalem from all enemies. Jesus, however, came as a king of peace.

 

Reflection

Jesus would come to die for our sins so we could have this peace with God. Tom Barnard said, “The crowd was clueless.” In what ways have you felt clueless in your faith? When have you asked God to do something and later realized you were asking for the wrong thing?

 

Prayer

Thank God for being patient with you. Praise Jesus for starting with bringing peace to your heart. Pray God would open your eyes to misconceptions you have about Jesus.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hail to the King of Israel!”

John 12:12-13 (NLT)

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JESUS ENTERS JERUSALEM: PALM SUNDAY

 

“The palm branches! Where are the palm branches?” the Donkey shouted. “Yesterday, you threw palm branches!” Hurt and confused, the donkey returned home to his mother.  “Foolish child,” she said gently. “Don’t you realize that without Him, you are just an ordinary donkey?”

 

John records the beginning of what has traditionally been called “Passion Week.” Beginning with Palm Sunday (named this because the people spread palm branches out before Jesus during His so-called Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem). Spreading their coats on the road, as well as freshly cut branches, it was their version of rolling out the red carpet.

 

Praise God, also translated Hosanna, was originally a prayer addressed to God, meaning “O save us now” (Ps. 118:25a). Later it came to be used as a shout of praise (like “Hallelujah!”) and then as an enthusiastic welcome to pilgrims or a famous Rabbi.

 

This week started with praise but was filled with unpleasant interactions with Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, culminating in Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The people misunderstood the type of Kingdom Jesus had come to establish.

 

Reflection

What are some misconceptions you believe society in general has about Jesus? What are some misconceptions you have had about Jesus that have changed since you became a Christian?

 

Prayer

Praise Jesus as the King of all Kings. Ask God to show you any areas of your life where you have misunderstood His place in your life.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (ESV)

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THE WAY HOME TO THE FATHER

 

Anonymous writer, about an American tourist’s visit to the 19th-century Polish rabbi Hofetz Chaim: Astonished to see that the rabbi’s home was only a simple room filled with books, plus a table and a bench, the tourist asked, “Rabbi, where is your furniture?” “Where is yours?” replied the rabbi. “Mine?” asked the puzzled American. “But I’m a visitor here. I’m only passing through.” “So am I,” said Hofetz Chaim. (Christopher News Notes)

 

Jesus told the disciples that He was going to prepare a home in heaven with God the Father for all of His followers. This world is not the final destination for Christians. We are simply passing through. To “come to the Father” is to finally enter God’s heavenly kingdom.

 

Reflection

The Message paraphrases John 14:2 and says, “There is plenty of room for you in My Father’s home.” Is there anything that would change in your life if you treated this life as your temporary residence and heaven as your true home?

 

Prayer

Thank God for inviting you into His home in heaven. Ask God to show you areas of your life where you may be clinging too much to this world.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (ESV)

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THE WAY TO LIFE

 

Deep inside every person, there is a yearning for something more. In Greek mythology, King Tantalus was punished in the underworld by being chained in a lake. Its waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he bent down to satisfy his burning thirst. Over his head were branches laden with choice fruit, but they immediately withdrew whenever he reached upward to satisfy his hunger. A symbol of utter frustration, his name is immortalized in the English word “tantalize.” King Tantalus is the perfect illustration of the way people feel about life apart from Christ. We all feel like happiness, satisfaction, peace, joy, and acceptance is so close, but we can never seem to reach it. (Bruce Goettsche)

 

Just as spiritual death leads to separation from God, so spiritual life implies connection with Him. We are spiritually dead without Jesus. We become alive when we surrender ourselves to Jesus. John 5:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

 

Reflection

Jesus did not come to make bad men good. Jesus came to make dead men alive. When do you think you went from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive in Christ?

 

Prayer

Thank God for giving you spiritual life and eternal life in heaven through Jesus. Ask God to help you experience the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (ESV)

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THE WAY TO THE TRUTH

 

Do you remember that scene from A Few Good Men when Tom Cruise told Jack Nicholson he wanted the truth? Jack Nicholson responded to Tom Cruise by saying, “You can’t handle the truth!”

In John 14, the disciples wanted to know the truth. Jesus tells them that He is the truth. In this context, He means not only that He is dependable, but also that He Himself is the only true way of salvation (Leon Morris). Truth is a representation of things as they are. The life, the purity, and the teaching of Jesus Christ was the most complete and perfect representation of the things of the eternal world that has been or can be presented to man.

 

Reflection

Many people today can’t handle the truth. Mike shared four falsehoods some believe about God and Heaven:

1) Everyone goes to a better place when they die.

2) God grades on a curve.

3) As long as we are sincere, any spiritual path works.

4) A God of love wouldn’t keep anyone out of Heaven.

Which of these falsehoods have you been tempted to believe? What did Mike share that answered that falsehood?

 

Prayer

Thank God for opening your eyes to see the truth of God revealed in His Son Jesus. Pray for God to open the eyes of people in your life who are still believing lies about God.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6 (ESV)

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THE WAY HOME

 

A missionary hired a guide to take him across a vast desert. When they arrived at the edge of the desert, the missionary saw trackless sands without a single footprint or road of any kind before him. He asked his guide with a tone of surprise, “Where is the road?” With a reproving glance, the guide replied, “I am the road.” Jesus is the way to heaven. We must trust Him to take us there.

The word “way” is emphasized by being repeated in John 14:4, 5, and 6; it refers to the way to heaven and the Father. Significantly, Jesus doesn’t say, “I know the way to heaven and can point you to it.” Rather, He says, “I am the way.” Jesus makes plain that He, and He alone, is the path to God. One must travel the road named Jesus to find their way to God. Jesus is the access to the Father, the highway to heaven.

 

Reflection

What were you taught growing up was the way to heaven? When did you first realize that Jesus is the only way to heaven?

 

Prayer

Thank God for showing you the way to heaven through Jesus. Pray for your friends and family members who have yet to accept Jesus as the way to heaven to be saved.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

John 14:5 (ESV)

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THE WAY HOME: A GOOD QUESTION

 

Billy Graham once told about a time in a small town when he asked a boy how to get to the post office. After getting directions, Mr. Graham invited him to come to his Crusade that evening. “You can hear me telling everyone how to get to heaven,” he told the boy. The boy’s response? “I don’t think I’ll be there. You don’t even know your way to the post office.” (The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham by Harold Myra)

 

In John 14, Jesus has just told the disciples that He was going home to heaven to prepare a place for them. The disciple Thomas asks a good question. Thomas asked how they could know the way home to heaven. It’s a question that most of us have asked at one time or another. In a very short time, life for the disciples would fall in. Their world was going to collapse in chaos around them. Jesus knew the answer to that question was going to be a vital source of hope for them in the near future.

 

Reflection

If someone were to ask you how can you know you are going to heaven when you die, how would you respond?

 

Prayer

Thank God that Christmas is about Jesus answering the question of how we can get home to heaven. Ask God to help you share the hope of Christmas with someone who needs to hear.

 

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Dr. Larry Grays is the father of four and lives in the Canton area. Larry consults with churches, schools, city governments, and businesses nationwide. He’s been a member of the NorthStar family for over 20 years.