Wayne Ortloff

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

In a garden thousands of years ago, Adam and Eve were challenged by the words of the serpent, "Did God really say...?" They failed to trust God's words, and allowed themselves to be deceived. John 18 also starts in a garden, and the characters in the chapter each deal with the words of Jesus differently. His pursuers fell backwards at His words. Peter misinterpreted His words and went on the offensive with a sword to bring about a new kingdom. The soldiers believed the truth of His words, that He was Jesus of Nazareth, but like the demons they stopped at belief and failed to make it personal vs just intellectual, so they arrested Him instead of worshipping Him. John, the unnamed "other" disciple, sought to get close, to hear more of Jesus's words and the words of His accusers. The servant girl and the others warming themselves by the fire asked if Peter was a follower of Jesus's words (possibly curious if His words were worth following?), but Peter denied Jesus's words, pretending he never heard them or even knew who Jesus was. An official took offense at Jesus's words and slapped Him. Anna ignored Jesus's words, and sent Him away. The relative of the man who lost his ear tested Jesus's word by proxy, seeing if His follower Peter would acknowledge his Master and His words (and perhaps submit to his revenge for what he did to his relative "in Jesus's name"). We don't know from John how Caiaphas dealt with Jesus's words, but we know Caiaphas spoke of maintaining his power, saying "it would be good if one man died for the people," inadvertently prophesying the significance of Jesus's death to atone for the sins of the world. The Jewish leaders made up their own words of Jesus, claiming He was a criminal. Pilate struggled with the words of Jesus, but ultimately rejected them, and mocked Jesus's words, posting them above His head on the cross.

Now I am tasked with the question- what will I do with the words of Jesus? Will I decide to not trust His words, and open myself to the world's lies like Adam and Eve? Will I fall to my knees when I hear His words like His pursuers? Will I misuse His words to advance my own preconceived agenda like Peter? Will I believe His words only intellectually like the soldiers, and fail to love The Word with all my heart and soul and mind and strength? Will I seek more of His words, even when it's not easy or convenient to do so, like John? Will I be curious if His words are worth following like the servant girl and those warming by the fire? Will I deny His words when under pressure like Peter? Will I take offense at His convicting words, and push back like the official? Will I close my ears to His words and send Him away like Anna? Will I test His words to see how real they are to me like the relative of the man who lost his ear? Will I attempt to extinguish His words for my own advancement like Caiaphas? Will I invent words He didn't say or twist His words to fit my own false religion like the Jewish leaders? Will I fail to understand the significance and power of His words like Pilate? Will I mock His words? Or will I make them a part of me, changing me from the inside out? Will I embrace the words that He spoke to me, which are full of Spirit and life (John 6:63)? Words matter. What will I do with the words of Jesus?

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

@JoeTegtmeyer @cybertruck

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

@JoeTegtmeyer @cybertruck One of these cars is not like the others.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Reading Hebrews this morning, I couldn't get past 10:24- And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

I asked Grok to read it to me in 20 different versions and in the Greek.

Here it is in The Message:
Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out

When I heard the word "inventive," I thought of another verse to contrast it with: Romans 1:30, where it talks about God watching His creation pursue evil. It uses the phrase "inventors of evil." We naturally find new ways to act in rebellion to God. But it takes effort, guidance, and most importantly God's Spirit to find new ways to love God and serve Him.

Water that doesn't have movement gets stagnant. Stirring it up removes the yuckiness and allows it to provide life to the fish once again. In our physical bodies, if we don't move, we become stiff and pain settles in, but when we exercise and keep moving, our energy increases. Spiritual movement works the same way.

May we all spend time thinking about how worthy God is to be loved. And inspire and stir each other to action, to fall in love with Him, and encourage each other to express that love by serving God and loving others.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Nehemiah 4:14b
Do not be afraid.... Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome

I cut out the beginning, middle, and end of the verse to help it relate more generically to me today. Nehemiah is encouraging the Israelites to not look at the size of the project and the opposition and get discouraged, but to set their focus on God. He is bigger than our struggles. Take heart- He has overcome the world!

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Isaiah 51:12
I, I am he who…

New Years is often a time of resolutions, committing to start something new or start something again, but so often I fail to stick with it. As I read Isaiah 51 as part of my daily reading, I decided that this year, rather than make my own resolutions that I probably wouldn't keep, I would lean on God's resolutions that He always keeps.

Isaiah 51 is full of them. I encourage you to read the whole chapter, and if you have time, keep reading for the promises in chapter 52, and the ultimate promises in chapter 53. It was so uplifting to read, and so freeing to rely on. Because unlike me…

He has done it.
He is doing it.
He will do it.
(1 Thessalonians 5:24)

I am because He is
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

I know it may be offensive to some to mention, but think about this:

If there is no Hell, then Jesus dying for our sins was the greatest blunder of all time. I mean, what exactly would He be saving us from?!?

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

1 Timothy 6:6-8
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Content or discontent- which tent do you live in?

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

A man is on his way to a city. He sees a sign for the city, takes it off the post, and sits on it.

Someone comes along and asks the man, what are you doing? He says, I was going to the city, now I'm here! The other traveler says, Um… the sign shows you the way to the city, it's not the city itself!

Christians can sometimes get caught up with going to church and thinking they have checked the spiritual box, then go home and live their lives without God. But the church only helps point the way to God. The goal is to be in the presence of God, not your presence in the pew. That's a moment by moment thing, not a once a week thing.

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

What was Paul Revere’s day job?

He isn't remembered because of his life achievements. He was an ordinary guy. But he is remembered because he urgently shared an extraordinary message- the British are coming!

Luke 2:16-18
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

The shepherds too were ordinary people, but they shared the most extraordinary message of all time- the Messiah has come!

Will I be remembered for my lifetime achievements? Probably not, but for each person that I share the extraordinary message that the Messiah, their Messiah, has come, and they turn to follow Him, I will never be forgotten. Not here on Earth, and not for eternity.

You can be extraordinary- not because of who you are and what you've done, but because you bring the message of who He is, and what He did to save us.

Be extraordinary.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Good morning! God morning! The morning we celebrate the day that God came to save the world, to save those I love, and to save me! Praise be to my God, my Savior!

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Immanuel- God with us. He came to us because He is for us. And through Him and His sacrifice on the cross we can be with Him forever. Thank you God for Your amazing gift!

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Luke 1:36
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

I'll admit I’ve always been a bit weirded out by the immaculate conception. But as I read this last night I couldn't help but think of this other miraculous mystery of Jesus, and wow, it gives a whole new meaning to it.

Colossians 1:27
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ in me. The Son of God. Mary birthed Jesus after 9 months, but Christ will live in me for eternity. How blessed am I to be chosen by God to bear His Son! Praise be to God on high!

Now, as Mary said in verse 38:
Behold, I am the servant of the Lord

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Genesis 24:12 (paraphrased)
O Lord, God, please grant me success today and show your steadfast love.

The entire chapter of Genesis 24 is a great read, but this verse stood out to me. A man was charged with a difficult task that was largely out of his control, so he prayed to God for help. Before he finished praying, his answer appeared in front of him.

I've made this my daily morning prayer. It reminds me that success comes from the Lord, and declares my trust that I will see God's love in action today

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Joy to the world! The Lord has come!

We try to find joy in many different people, places, and things, but our circumstances can change, so that joy is fleeting.

As I was reminded yesterday, look for joy where true joy can actually be found- in Jesus Christ

John 15:11
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Are you experiencing His joy right now? Let Him come. Let Him in.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.

This is one of my favorite verses, but as I was reading through the OT and came to this passage, I was reminded of the context. King Asa had just hired the Syrians to help in his conflict with divided Israel. He used money from the house of the Lord. This verse is the prophet Hanani basically saying- how stupid can you be? Taking from God to buy trust in your enemy. Why didn't you just trust God? He's actively looking to support those who trust Him.

How stupid can I be, putting my trust in the things of this world vs my God who is actively looking to support me if I will simply trust Him to do it. The context brings a much deeper meaning to that verse.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Psalm 32:10-11
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

As a child of the Lord, I have so much to be thankful for. Praise the name of the Lord!

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Psalm 32:9
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

I have to laugh when people say they won't follow God because all the rules are “so constraining.” God is specifically saying here it's not about rules that bind us. He tells us we should simply WANT to follow Him (because He's awesome and He saved us), making constraints unnecessary. Jesus says His yoke is easy. We have freedom in Christ, freedom from sin, not bondage.

There are certainly passages that talk about serving God, but it's voluntary, in the sense that God doesn't force us to do it. He commands us but lets us decide if we want the benefits or not. We aren't compelled to follow, only “highly recommended,” and “This is what I expect and will work out best for you.” When we choose to serve, He is delighted. Serving God is like choosing to snuggle up to God by the fire. It's warm and safe there. No chains, just a loving embrace from the God we love.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Psalm 32:6
Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to you immediately. When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.

When I read this I thought of what could be a movie scene where someone is trapped in a large tank, and water starts flowing in. He sees a guy at the top of the tank through a windowed latch, and the movie shares his thoughts- “Ugh, not him. Anyone but him!”. So he tries to get out of the tank on his own and keeps failing- the latch is locked from the outside. The water keeps rising and the area of air keeps diminishing. Finally he yields and calls out to the guy at the top- Help!

Our pride gets in the way of asking for help from God. We deny the situation and predict- it’s not that bad. I’ve got this. But the flood keeps coming.

I get it partially right- it's not that bad… for God! The waters won't reach Him. He's not in trouble, but I am, and I need His help.

Oh that I wouldn't waste time, and call out to Him immediately when I see the flood waters start to flow.

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

I've enjoyed reading Psalm 32 each day over the past few days. Like a good song I can't seem to get it out of my head. v3-4 talks about what happens when I try to hide my sin- from God and others. Hint- it doesn't work:

Psalm 32:3-4
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

These verses speak of my own stress while I know I'm running from God but choose to do it anyway, plus the weight that God brings to bear to guide me back to Him. I can speak from experience that hiding sin never makes it better. Only by acknowledging it, confessing it, and committing to change through His strength in His love for this glory, can I turn the page and move back into His forgiving, loving arms.

How refreshing it is to bathe in the love of God vs endure His correction!

I am because He is.
I will because He did.

[Wayne Ortloff @weowayne]

Psalm 32:2b
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

But I am responsible. I am guilty. Note it doesn't say blessed is the man who has no iniquity, but the one who doesn't have it counted against him.

Only through the blood of Christ transferring the cost of my sin to Him is it possible for God to not count my
iniquity.

Praise God for His loving sacrifice and forgiveness!

I am because He is.
I will because He did