Lisa Brennan-Jobs is the daughter of Apple’s famed founder, the late Steve Jobs (1955-2011). She recently wrote about her final visit with the father from whom she was often estranged. About a month before he died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56, Lisa heard words of regret spill from the emaciated, dying icon.
He told her, “I didn’t spend enough time with you when you were little. I wish we’d had more time.” She told him it was fine, but he replied, “No, it’s not okay. I didn’t spend enough time with you. I should have spent the time. Now it’s too late.” He looked into her eyes, teared up, and then said, “I owe you one.”
During their final weekend together, he repeated that phrase over and over, “I owe you one.” Sadly, regrets often leave us with an overwhelming sense of impossible indebtedness.
Have you read of Peter’s regret? Remember Luke 22.61-62 – “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”
Peter’s regret for his decision did not mean he stopped living. In a few short weeks, it would be Peter’s words to echo throughout all time on the day of Pentecost.
Do you have any regrets?
If so, are you letting your spiritual regrets stopping you from knowing Jesus? Peter didn’t. Even though he made a mistake, he knew there was much more in store for his life because of Christ.
Most people have heard of Warren Buffet. Mr. Buffet is not only among the world’s wealthiest individuals, but he’s also established himself as one of the biggest philanthropists by giving away over $30 billion.
Being the most successful investor of all time obviously seems complicated, but Mr. Buffett has stated, “There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult.”
Mr. Buffet’s statement apples to many areas of life. While he was speaking of investing, the concept can be applied to spiritual things as well.
Take the statement that people can make easy things difficult and apply it to evangelism. Many times, Christians have made evangelism more difficult that it is. People can develop systems, procedures, checklists and techniques, but many times the greatest results are found in the easiest ways.
Do you remember John chapter 1?
In John chapter 1 a personal invitation was given to go and see Jesus. There was no class or checklist, it was the simple passion that someone had as they met Jesus.
Have you mentioned Jesus to anyone this week? Have you, out of your passion for Christ, shared with them the gospel?
Let’s not get so weighted down with techniques that we forget to speak from our hearts about Jesus.
Possibly from the time many of us were younger we heard the word “priority.” We heard it in school regarding studying and paying attention in class. In church services we heard it when it comes to putting God first. At work, we heard it used regarding projects that needed to be accomplished.
A little “priority” history – In the 1400s, “priority” came into the English language. It meant the “very first thing,” and was singular. It wasn’t until the 1900s that people began to pluralize this word and speak of “priorities.”
The word “priority” is of Latin origin and there does not seem to be any plural form of the word. In fact, the term “priorities” in Latin is a different word.
The singular nature of the word meant there was one thing greater than all the rest. Rather than having one priority or one first thing, it was illogically believed that we could have multiple things that were of greatest importance.
In truth, we can create the illusion of having many things being our priority but in fact we’re declaring nothing is. Sometimes we even us the term, “multi-tasking” to give us a reason for multiple priorities.
Regarding Bible translations, the New Living Translation of Matthew 6:33 captures this idea well with, “make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Everything else is secondary – maybe very important, but secondary.
The Wall Street Journal reported on a study published in the December 2017 Journal of Happiness Studies and suggested “getting married is one of the best ways to cement a couple’s long-term happiness.”
Using research spanning the past two decades and more than 300,000 people, the study sought to discover if marriage causes happiness or if happy people are more likely to get married and stay that way. The simple conclusion is “a close marital bond spurs long-term happiness.”
The Wall Street Journal reporter noted, “That level of commitment, formalized by a ritual and a legal document, may be one reason why the advantages of marriage trump those of just living together.” The article was appropriately titled, “For Happiness That Lasts, Take Those Vows.”
The Bible speaks of the marriage commitment in Genesis 2.24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The commitment to the husband (man) and wife (woman) are to each other. Their unity is a oneness bound by God. Mark 10.9 shows the firmness of the marriage bond with God’s actions, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
While the marriage is joined through God’s actions, there are still actions involved in the lives of the husband and wife. Paul speaks of these two actions (love and submissiveness) in Ephesians 5.22-33.
The two components Paul mentions are shown to be as strong as Christ’s love for the church. The happiness that we have as Christians is based on long-term significance. Happiness in marriage is founded on the long-term commitment as well.
Being wrong and hearing that you have been wrong stings to the very core. However, being wrong and accepting it are two different situations. It takes laying your pride aside to acknowledge you are wrong and you want to fix it.
Kin Hubbard is quoted as saying, “The man who says, ‘I may be wrong but—’ does not believe there can be any such a possibility.” The acceptance of wrong means one must realize they are a flawed individual and they make mistakes. A person may not be as perfect as they think they are and accepting that is the beginning.
In Acts 2.37, those Jews gathered in the upper room heard some stinging words. Their response showed where their hearts were that day. The Holy Writ say they were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2.37; ESV). The King James Version says, “they were pricked in their heart.”
Whether you are “cut to the heart” or “pricked” in your heart, you know that it hurts. You may also know the Bible was not written in English, but in Greek. So, to better see what this word means, it is necessary to examine the word, “katanussō.”
The word, “katanussō”,”is defined as “to pierce thoroughly, to agitate violently” (Strongs). Thayers Dictionary defines the word as “to prick, pierce; metaphorically to pain the mind sharply, agitate it vehemently.”
So, the word used show that the audience was hit right where it hurts – their heart.
The words spoken stung.
They hurt. They not only hurt, but they agitated the hearers to action.
Instead of being hurt and getting angry, the audience responded with a question. Everyone could have shunned the responsibility and just been angry. They could have got up and left. They would have went home and told everyone they know how mean those words were and how they were never going back. They could have stirred the drama pot of angst and hatred, but they did not.
The audience accepted those words.
Even though the words cut them deep, pierced them to the core, and agitated them, the audience chose to act on their newfound knowledge. They chose to be responsible.
Their response was in the form of a question, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
At their question, they were ready. They were willing to accept responsibility and press forward. They were ready for a change. They were going to do what it took to solved the problem they created.
What would you have done at those moment? At the moment you were hit at your very core, how would you have responded?
To help answer this question, think of how you would respond today. Would you accept the words? Would you acknowledge you were wrong?
It seems easy to shed the responsibility and blame someone else. It seems easier to just get angry and walk away. However, in the long run, the problem still exists.
Putting off a problem only helps it to grow greater for another appearance later.
How do you handle the stinging words of truth?
Each of has been wrong before. Some of us will be wrong again.
When it comes to religion, being wrong is hard. A person may grow up and attended services at their church every time the doors are open only to find out later, they may have been wrong. It might not have ever happened to you, but it has happened to man some a point.
The key is where to look.
One not need to look at man’s words, but at God’s. Dig into the Holy Scriptures and see what they say. If we are doing something not in line with God’s word, then we need to change.
While we might be angry, upset, frustrated or sad, the emotions of the hurt must be solved but the actions to become right.
Be a person who does not shed responsibility, but me mature and accept the mistake and begin making changes to live well.
Read Acts 2 today and see how those who were “cut to the heart” responded.
Two of the most known apostles were told not to speak. Their punishment was one of silence. (Acts 4.18)
Their crime? Healing a lame beggar. (Acts 3.6-8)
As Peter and John stood before the council and heard their punishment, they could not help but speak. The Jewish Council knew they could not deny the miracle (Acts 4.16) and their only recourse was to silence Peter and John.
When Peter and John heard their judgement that they were “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4.18) they could not help but respond. Their answer was simple, but passionate. They said, “Whether is it right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God, you judge., for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4.19-20)
In 1962, John Stott wrote a timeless truth about evangelism which speaks volumes; even today. He stated, “Nothing shuts the mouth, seals the lips, and ties the tongue like the secret poverty of our own spiritual experience.”
To put it simple, we cannot share what we do not possess. When we are silent, we still speak. We do not speak the same as using words, but we speak. We communicate. Our silence can be an indicator we have not been saved, or we have hidden the blessings of Christ and the life that He provides to us, so that we have nothing to share.
It should be a prayer that we desire to be like the disciples who passionately answered, “we can’t help but speak about the wonderful things we’ve seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
