Category: <span>thoughts by Rand Kreycik</span>

No Regrets
Published September 28, 2019

No Regrets

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Persevering isn’t my strong suit. It seems like, in life’s journey, I am more apt to give up and give in when the going gets tough, believing the obstacles are just too hard to get past.

One of the sharpest tools the enemy of my soul uses at those times is the weapon called “regret.” When I find myself lagging, languishing, or looking back, that sinister voice whispers that I should quit, that I’ll never be strong enough, or that I’ve let those I love down every time. He always uses some truth and mixes it with a large dose of deception.

When I begin to wallow in regret, however, Hebrews 12:1-2 comes to my aid. I’m never isolated, never alone in this race. Not only are all the saints who have gone before cheering me on, but my Founder and Perfecter sits by his Father, watching, encouraging, calling, “Press on and share my joy!” And the voice of the enemy fades in the light of my Lord, my Endurer. Because he finished his race and purpose on earth, I can as well — in and by his power.

The next time you hear that malicious whisper accuse you as your strength is draining, remember all those who have finished the race. Remember and rest in the One who endured it all to set you free. Ask him for the joy that helped him keep going. Resist your enemy and press on in your Lord’s strength and freedom.

Lord Jesus, thank you for never giving up in your pursuit of your people. Thank you that you have never given up on me, even when I want to give up on myself. Thank you for showing me the way to joy. Amen.

By Rand Kreycik
Used by Permission

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Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rand Kreycik

The Pursuing God
Published September 8, 2019

The Pursuing God

“But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up […] And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:4, 17

This story of the prophet Jonah and his misadventures has captured the imaginations of generations of children. It was one of the first Bible stories I became familiar with as a youngster.

While being swallowed by a great fish sounds like an amazing and scary adventure — and it undoubtedly was — what strikes me now as I read this powerful story is how unrelentingly God pursued his reluctant prophet. Instead of a lifeboat, God brought a “life fish”!

Notice the verbs “hurled” (the wind) and “appointed” (the fish). These things didn’t just “happen” to Jonah. They were the intentional actions of the pursuing God. The book of Jonah, from beginning to end, reveals the God who loves men and women enough to pursue them until they repent (turn around), surrender, and give their hearts to him.

Who do you relate to in the story of Jonah? The reluctant prophet who runs from God, not fully surrendered? The people of Nineveh who were wandering in darkness? Maybe the unbelieving but good-hearted sailors who did everything they could to keep from throwing Jonah overboard? How about the big, obedient fish that was willing to be used for God’s purpose?

Wherever you find yourself today, you can take comfort from the book of Jonah that the Creator God who commands the wind and the fish will also care for you!

God of the storm, who cares for every human life, teach me to trust you whatever comes. Thank you for pursuing me with your love! Amen.

By Rand Kreycik
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Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rand Kreycik

Strong and Mighty Worrier
Published July 2, 2019

Strong and Mighty Worrier

“How’s the battle,” I asked my wife as she was sewing a hem under time pressure.

“Why’s it a battle?” she looked up, quizzically.

“Hmm, guess I always think of things as a battle,” I replied. ” But aren’t I supposed to be a warrior?”

“Yes, but most of the time you go around all hunched, worrying.”

“A Strong and Mighty Worrier, eh,” I joked.

Are you like me? Do you have trouble understanding and applying Paul’s admonition to the Philippians:

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

“But you see, Lord,” I might counter, “I’m responsible for many things. I’ve got to love my wife, raise my kids, provide for my family.” If I don’t worry about these things, who is going to? Well certainly not God! When will I learn that He’s got this? That I’m called to work hard, yes, but in the end, I’m also called to let go, cast my cares on Him (1 Peter 5:7), and rest.

“Peace I leave with you,” Jesus told his disciples, just before he surrendered His life to the cross. “my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Wow, with all these promises and exhortations from Scripture, what’s my problem? Seems like a no brainer, doesn’t it?

Control, that’s my problem. When it comes down to it, I want to be in charge, and if I’m in charge – frankly – I’ve got a lot to worry about!

Surrender is the key. Surrender to His love, surrender to His grace, surrender to His plan. If He is in charge (and ultimately He is, whether we accept it or not!), then I don’t have to be. As I trust and rest in Him and His good plan for me and for my family, His peace will come. As I speak with my good and loving Father daily, lifting my concerns to Him – His peace will naturally begin to rule my mind and heart.

Now that sounds like a better place!

Lord, please help me trust and rest in you … so I can be the Strong and Mighty Warrior that I long to be … loving and fighting for my King, my wife, my kids, and my neighbor, near and far. Amen.

By Rand Kreycik
Used by Permission

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Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rand Kreycik

Greater Love
Published May 28, 2019

Greater Love

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:12-14

 I’ve never had someone risk his life to pull me out of a fire or step in front of a bullet for me. As I think back, though, there have been plenty of people who gave their lives for me in various ways. My mother sacrificed much to raise her children after a painful divorce. Friends all along my life path have spoken hard words that I didn’t want to hear… because I needed to hear them. In recent years, my dear wife, faithful pastor, and several friends have died to self in order to step into my rebellion and speak truth to me because they loved me enough to get in my face.

Yes, if a friend gave his or her physical life for me that would be amazing. But for the Son of God, the Sinless One, to pay my penalty — death, so that I could walk free and experience relationship with God — now that is astounding, unthinkable, truly amazing. Nothing in human language is adequate to express gratitude for such love.

The refrain from the Charles Wesley hymn, “And Can It Be” comes close: “Amazing love! How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me!”

Do you ever feel like you are not worth saving? Perhaps you have made so many mistakes in your life that it seems there is no way back. God wants you to know that it is never too late to return to Him. Receive His amazing love today!

Lord Jesus, I don’t know why you loved me enough to give your life and sacrifice your relationship with your Father to save me and reconcile me to God. I am so grateful that through your obedience you were not only restored to your Father, but you also rescued me. With the hymn writer, I proclaim your amazing love today! Amen.

By Rand Kreycik
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Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rand Kreycik

Light Keeper
Published May 11, 2019

Light Keeper

I love lighthouses. I’ve threatened to drag my family on trips to see every lighthouse in New England, for example, or on the Great Lakes (there are dozens!). They like them too, and would probably follow me gladly, only beginning to complain after the 100th or so!

Why are lighthouses such a draw? I’ve been contemplating them lately and understanding what a strong spiritual picture they give us of our life in Christ. One needs only to understand the purpose of these vital sentinels to begin to see the parallels.

What is the number one job of a light keeper? To make sure the beacon never, never goes out! You see, in the days before reliable radio communication, those shafts of blazing light, piercing the darkness, often meant the difference between making it to safe haven or facing a watery grave on unseen rocky shoals. To mariners, the light shouted, “Stay back; there’s danger here!” And it spoke comforting words: “Here is the way to safety!”

Jesus told his disciples,

“let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

In this same passage, he warned believers not to put their light under a basket. That would be absurd and go against what the light was made for.

We are light keepers, and our bodies (these transitory dwellings) are lighthouses! That’s the truth that has been animating me now for weeks. It makes sense. What’s my most vital job, besides simply loving God with my whole heart? It’s loving my neighbor by shining Light and speaking Truth into his or her life. It’s keeping the light lit in my heart (staying powerfully connected to my Father through his Word and prayer). It’s shining that light as brilliantly as I can – making sure the lenses of this lighthouse (the body that has been loaned to me) are kept pure, clean, polished, never blocking the light. Jesus also told us,

“The eye is the lamp of the body.” (Matthew 6:22) and that we are to watch what enters these lenses. What goes in is what will come out. Evil will cloud our lenses and dim the light.

I’ll spend the rest of my life contemplating this powerful picture, but each day it helps me to understand that I am a light keeper, my body is a lighthouse of which I’m the steward, my eyes are the lenses through which the light shines to those lost in the darkness and storms of life. They need to see the light! They need to see the danger coming their way! They need to see the way to safety. They need to see the way home.

By Rand Kreycik
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Thoughts by Men thoughts by Rand Kreycik

Break the Cycle
Published November 4, 2018

Break the Cycle

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

I always thought I was free. Not only was I descended from independent pioneer forebears, but I had also come to understand (I thought) the concept of grace. It was comforting to think that, even though there was compromise in my life, God would always forgive me because He is gracious and kind. I might displease Him, but in the end, grace would trump disobedience and I would waltz into heaven.

I had learned how costly grace had been to the Savior, even though it was free for me. I had heard of “cheap grace” — treating God like a kindly grandfather and taking His love and mercy for granted — but that certainly was not my attitude, or so I reasoned. I would not have expressed it quite that way, but my behavior certainly showed it.

But did I really understand the freedom grace brings? Clearly not.

In John 8:34, Jesus told the Jews,

“Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

They too thought they were free. They had “never been enslaved to anyone” (v. 33).

Jesus made it obvious that their sin had captured them. And mine had snared me as well. I was trapped in a slavish cycle of sin, false repentance, and sin again. Only after decades of futility did I finally come to the end of myself and plead with God to truly set me free. And, gloriously, He did!

He always answers prayers like that. Are you truly free from the cycle of sin?

Heavenly Father, thank you for never giving up on me! Thank you for setting this enslaved sinner free when I finally surrendered and called on you. Thank you that I now walk in freedom that will never end. Amen.

By Rand Kreycik
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