English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

One of the things I enjoy doing in the early morning is going out into our subdivision for a walk.  Now I will be honest, I started walking for exercise because I wanted to improve my physical health.  When you get to my age, I have come to realize the reality of the statement, “Use it or lose it.”  What I forced myself to do in the beginning has now become something I enjoy.  Our subdivision has over 2.5 miles of roads, so it gives me ample area to walk each morning.  Since I live in the foothills it also gives me the opportunity to see God’s handy work as I look at His creation.  I often start my walks when it is just verily light enough to see.  As I look up into the morning sky, I can see a sliver of a moon rising with the planet Venus shining brightly.  At other times I see a harvest moon setting in the horizon.  As the sun rises, it illuminates the table mountains in our area with great beauty.   In the spring when the wildflowers are blooming, I see the intricate work of God’s hands.  My thoughts turn to how amazing is our Creator God.  He has made our world and universe and holds it together for us to visually enjoy, creating wonder as we look at the beauty around us.  I am reminded that He has created all this for me and others to enjoy as we walk through life.

The Psalmist, as he contemplated God’s creative activity, exhorts us to praise the Lord with our whole being.  There is an excitement about the beauty and wonder of creation.  It all points us to the reality that there is a Creator.  “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.  The skies display his craftsmanship.” (Psalm 19:1)   It causes us to respond in worshiping the Creator.  Creation proclaims that there is a God and that we can know Him.  “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20) Creation is a witness to God’s reality and is inviting us to know the One Who made it all.  As the Psalmist was drawn into God’s presence through the creation around Him, we too can be drawn to worship the Lord as His creation proclaims His glory.  The Word of God reveals God to us and how to know Him.  Creation also witnesses to God’s existence.  What a privilege we have to respond in praise and worship, as God declares His greatness in all that He has created and His Word.  What assurance this brings into my life that I know the Lord because He has revealed Himself to me through His Word and all that He has made.

The Psalmist is overwhelmed by what he sees.  He stands in awe of God.  The only way he can respond is, “O Lord my God, how great you are!”   He has come to an understanding of how great God is!  In the true sense of the word, God is “awesome.”  There is no one who compares to Him.  There are no other gods.  He is the only true God.  Today God is inviting us to come to Him in true worship.  Many times, in the morning I return home after my walk and realize this was not just exercise for my physical body, but this was a deeply spiritual exercise of seeing my Lord for Who He is.  It has been a time of worship as the Holy Spirit has recalled Scripture verses and songs that reinforce the wonder of creation that I see all around me.  Truly we can say with the Psalmist, “How great You are!”   

I want to encourage you over the next weeks to take time to get away from the routines of life and spend time worshiping the God of creation.  This may mean taking a drive, going for a walk or just sitting in your backyard, focusing on the handywork of God as declared in Psalm 19.  Take the time with me to see what a truly “awesome” God we know and serve.


Prayer:  Lord, I admit that so often in life I have become so busy that I have not taken the time to see and meditate on how great You are.  Help me to take those moments in my day when I can stop and focus on You.  Thank You for the privilege of being Your child and knowing You.  Amen     

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I recently had the privilege of attending my dad’s commencement from Re:Gen, which is a Christ-centered discipleship and recovery program designed to help individuals find healing from any kind of life struggle, addiction, or brokenness. And while I’m immensely proud of my dad for having the courage to confront his struggles, and be open about them, it serves as a good reminder that as Christians, we are all broken in some way. Now that’s not a reason to celebrate, but it should cause us to want to help and encourage one another in our brokenness rather than to view it as some great scandal.

Once saved we are not automatically free from our sin nature, in fact we will continue to struggle with our flesh until we are given our new glorified bodies in the resurrection. So this side of Heaven while we may sometimes be referred to as the “saints” we definitely are not saints in the sinless sense. We need to remember that the Church is not a club for perfect people, far from it, it is rather a hospital for sinners. For better or for worse that sin is often very well hidden from anyone but ourselves. To continue with the hospital analogy, some of us have very obvious wounds, sins that everyone can see, but we all have some stage of cancer, which is often far deadlier. The visible sin, while shocking and attention grabbing is often the easiest to treat, it’s known, others know how to come alongside to help address it, and to pray for it. But the cancer that goes unseen, goes untreated, undealt with, and grows unchecked.

It’s very easy to think of sins in levels, like we do with crime. A little lie for instance is nothing compared to sexual immorality or even adultery. This is how we view our criminal system, petty left isn’t seen as a big issue compared to armed robbery or murder. But with God all sin is equally separating from His holiness. God doesn’t see sin in levels, He sees it as sin, pure and simple. You may look really good on the outside, especially compared to someone who’s sin is very obvious, but God knows your heart, your innermost thoughts, and whatever you are struggling with, and you have something, makes you just as wretched a sinner as the one who you see.

That’s why the Gospel is so important, it is the only remedy, it’s nothing we can do, only what Jesus did for us on the cross. His righteousness is credited to us if we only accept His gift of salvation and believe and confess that He is Lord. We can’t clean up our own life, but with Jesus’ help we can strive to be more like Him, and when we fail in our own strength, His free gift of salvation carries us home. Further in James 5:16 it says “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” So pray for each other that when we stumble, fall, and fail, that we would be lifted up and return to Jesus, the only source of our salvation. 

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

When my wife and I first started dating, we banned a phrase that we (mostly me) were using too often. That phrase was “you can do it,” including variations like “you got this.” Why in the world would we do something like that?

We found ourselves using “you can do it” or “you got this” to encourage each other when facing a difficult task or situation (an irritating roommate, a daunting assignment, etc.). It’s a pretty common admonition in our world today. There are many times where, for whatever reason, we hesitate in the face of difficulty. Sometimes we are fearful about a challenge ahead and need to be reminded to be “strong and courageous… for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). At other times, the obstacle might be our own laziness, and we need to be challenged to “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). So what’s the problem with using “you can do it” as shorthand for these biblical reminders? After all, Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

What Lauren and I found was in using “you can do it”, we emphasized the “I can do all things” part of Philippians 4:13 and forgot “through Him who strengthens me.” When facing a problem, my tendency was to muscle up enough confidence and determination to tackle it in my own strength. When I tried to encouraged Lauren with “you can do it,” what I usually meant was “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and work harder.”

This philosophy is everywhere in our culture. How many movies reach a resolution because the main character learns to “believe in yourself?” Psychologists and social media personalities assure us that all our problems are surmountable through the power of self-belief. It’s the American mythos: with enough hard work, determination, and self-confidence, the world can be yours. “God helps those who help themselves,” right? Like the Little Engine that Could, chanting “I think I can! I think I can!” enough times can get us over any metaphorical hill. But is this true?

If we look at Scripture, the answer is a resounding “no.” Scripture says not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). God’s power is made perfect in weakness, not strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). Jesus puts it simplest: “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Nothing! In other words, as depraved sinners, whose best deeds are no better than “polluted garments” (Isaiah 64:6), the only way we are capable of living a life that pleases God is through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Romans 8:5-8). If our response to life’s challenges is “I got this,” without recognizing our total and utter dependence on God’s strength, we commit the sin of pride. We aren’t saved by grace to be sanctified by our own effort; “apart from me you can do nothing” makes that pretty clear. Thus, the self-reliant worldview hiding in the phrase “I can do it” is antithetical to the reliance on God that is at the core of godly living.

So for Lauren and I, “you can do it” represented trying to do things in our own strength instead of depending on God, a sort of “bootstrap Christianity.” To remind ourselves that we can do nothing apart from God, we opted to replace “you can do it/ you got this” with “you can’t do it/ you don’t got this.” It reminded us that, like Paul, to “boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me… for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). “I can’t do it” is a cry to God to step into the midst of our fears, failings, and frailties and empower us to live for Him.

Maybe you’re a spiritual tryhard, like me, and need to be reminded that “I can’t do it.” Do I recognize my dependence on God? Has my Christian worldview been infected by the “self-believism” that our culture hawks at every street corner? Do I try to face life’s challenges in my own strength, or in the strength that God provides? Maybe all of us could benefit from hearing “you can’t do it” more often then “you can do it.”

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."

I've been reading a book by Daniel Henderson entitled Old Paths, New Power. While highlighting how the apostles put men "in charge" in Acts 6:3, Henderson states,"Believers are all set apart to God, for official kingdom-oriented service. It made me think of 1 Chronicles 15 where the musicians were appointed to their positions. They were put in charge because they were skillful (Chron. 15:22).

God has uniquely appointed or put each of us "in charge" of an area of ministry. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Do you realize that no one has your DNA. God prepared beforehand just how unique you would be and has an appointment that He has selected you to do. It's pretty incredible!

Do you know what your appointment is, what you are to be "in charge" of? The first step in finding out is believing in Jesus Christ as you Savior and Lord, The next is spending time with Him, learning what He says about you and what He plans for you (Romans 12:1-2 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." And then you have the joy of discovering what He has appointed for your to do!!

He has designed you to do something that you are the best one to do! I love that! It's also an amazing thing to remember as we fellowship with each other. We are all important in the eyes of the Lord. Unique and best suited for His appointment:)

Who Else 
Abbie Gamboa, Josiah Funderburk, and Zac Rowe
Verse 1
I am an instrument of exaltation
And I was born to lift Your name above all names
You hear the melody of all creation
But there's a song of praise that only I can bring

Chorus 1
Who else is worthy who else is worthy
There is no one only You Jesus
Who else is worthy who else is worthy
There is no one only You Jesus

Verse 2
You are the infinite God of the ages
Yet You chose to make my heart Your dwelling place
You healed my brokenness showed me Your glory
So I have songs of thanks not even angels sing

Bridge 1
Lamb of God anointed one
Who was and is and is to come
Seated on the throne above
Holy holy
Righteous One who shed His blood
You proved to us the Father's love
Jesus Christ be lifted up
(Holy holy)

2023 Gateway Music Global Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
and Remaining portion is unaffiliated
CCLI Song #7223119 License #144020

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

If you grew up in the 1990s, you probably remember the faith-based T-shirt called “The LORD’s Gym.” It was a Christian spin on the iconic Gold’s Gym logo. Beneath The LORD’s Gym emblem was an image of Christ’s hand pierced by a nail, blood flowing from the wound, a powerful reminder of His crucifixion. Underneath that image were the words: “His Pain, Your Gain!” As a teenager, I loved that shirt. I bought one and wore it proudly for years.

Nowadays, I often wonder what ever happened to that crusty old, sweat-stained, T-shirt. But even more, I’ve found myself thinking about that phrase: “His Pain, Your Gain.” I believe there is profound truth in those words. Through Christ’s suffering, we have received forgiveness, redemption, and the hope of eternal life.

Yet lately, another question has been weighing on my heart…What about my pain? I realize that can sound selfish. It is, in many ways, a very human response to the reality of suffering. And I’m not confused about where pain comes from. I believe what Scripture teaches about living in a fallen world. I know suffering is part of the human experience. Still, knowing the theology of pain and enduring pain are two very different things.

Recently, I’ve been dealing with physical ailments that have been both frustrating and demoralizing. Some days the pain feels relentless. I’ve spent more time in doctors’ offices than I care to admit, only to be prescribed more medication, undergo more tests, and given the ol’ “It’s tough getting older” reminder.

I’ve found myself repeatedly asking the Lord to remove these thorns and allow me to do what He has called me to do without pain. At times, I’ve even caught myself bargaining with Him…as if He doesn’t already know exactly what I’m thinking.

Yesterday, I happened to be talking on the phone to one of my best friends on our Security team, who had reminded me of a verse that the Lord had been pressing on his heart, and he wanted to share it with me as a blessing due to the ailments he knows I’ve been battling. The verse is Psalm 16:11 “You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

At that moment, it hit me like a ton of bricks!  That I am to have deep confidence in God. God is the one who guides me along the path of life, providing direction, purpose, security, and health. He is the source of true joy when circumstances are terrible. In fellowship with Him, there is a fullness of joy that nothing in this world can match. To enjoy God's very presence and allow Him to glory in my weakness!  

Wait!!  Did I just remind myself of another verse?  Yes!  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “…And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me!”  

Prayer Point:
Thank you, Lord, for this reminder of your amazing Grace!  And from now on, I want MY pain to point people to the very one that perfects and sustains life! I want YOU to be glorified in my weakness until YOUR strength is revealed in me!  For “my pain is HIS GAIN” through me!  

New American Standard Bible®
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Around this time every year, summer vacation season kicks into full gear. Suitcases come out, flights get booked, road trips begin, and parents suddenly become part-time travel agents, snack distributors, and professional luggage carriers.

Vacations are a gift from God. Rest is healthy. Time with family is valuable. Even Jesus regularly stepped away from the crowds to rest, pray, and spend time with His disciples away from the constant demands of ministry.

But one thing that can quietly happen during vacation season is that while we step away from our normal routines, we can also begin to drift spiritually.

Our schedules change. Normal routines disappear. Bedtimes get later. Mornings start slower. Days become filled with activities, restaurants, travel plans, and trying to make memories together. None of those things are bad. In fact, many of them are good gifts from God.

The challenge is that when life loses structure, spiritual habits are often the first thing to disappear. Bible reading becomes inconsistent. Prayer becomes rushed. Church attendance becomes optional. We may never consciously decide to distance ourselves from God, it just slowly happens while life feels “out of routine.”

But perhaps summer can become more than just an escape from busy life. Maybe it can become an opportunity to notice God more clearly.

Long drives create space for conversation. Quiet mornings away from work create time for prayer. Mountains, oceans, sunsets, and star-filled skies remind us of the greatness of the God who made them all. Sometimes the very moments meant for relaxation can also become moments of renewed spiritual clarity.

The encouraging truth is this: God does not stay behind when we travel. He is just as present in hotel rooms, airports, beaches, mountain cabins, campsites, and unfamiliar places as He is in our normal routines at home.

So enjoy the vacation. Rest well. Laugh often. Make memories with the people God has given you.

Just don’t leave your walk with God packed away at home.

Prayer Points:
• Ask God to help you remain spiritually present even when your routines change this summer.
• Thank Him that His presence faithfully goes with you wherever you travel.

New American Standard Bible®
Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Road trips are hit or miss for me. Much of it has to do with the other individuals who are in the car. But the place(s) that we are going to, the type of music we're going to listen to, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the type of snacks we are going to eat are all vital aspects of my enjoyment of the road trip. In general, a road trip with friends can be a representation of our relationships with others. Those relationships will go many places and take us many places together, but with so many unique needs and perspectives and opinions, moments along the journey can be hard. The reality is it's so much easier for us to focus on fulfilling our own needs, and in doing so, we miss opportunities to see the needs of those around us.
 
And yet caring for others was at the core of who the Master was. Jesus taught His disciples and teaches us that loving others, including our enemies, is part of following Him. In the text, we are reminded that one of the most challenging things to live by is to do for others as you would want them to do for you. And I don't know about you, but I know at times I get pretty self-focused and self-centered. I often think of and care for myself first, and unfortunately, caring for others isn't always the first thing on my mind. I think that we want to care, but don't always know how.
 
In the great example in the feeding of the 5,000, as Jesus was teaching, it got late in the day, His disciples started worrying about what would happen if thousands of people suddenly got hangry. But their solution was for Jesus to send the people away so they could take care of their own needs. Yet Jesus had a different proposal, “You give them something to eat.” As they listened and obeyed, Jesus provided food for everyone. Today, may we focus on putting Jesus at the center of our relationships and allow Him to help us see others’ needs. As we do this over time, we become more like Him. Becoming people who understand that we should never miss a chance to care for each other.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

I was in elementary school when America celebrated its bicentennial on July 4th, 1976. My teachers did a great job explaining that it had been 200 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. They explained that the American Revolutionary War began in Massachusetts with the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19th, 1775. The Continental Congress did not officially adopt the Declaration of Independence until more than a year later on July 4th, 1776. By putting their signature on the bottom of the Declaration of Independence each of the signers was committing an act of treason against the British Crown. This was punishable by death. Benjamin Franklin summed it up this way, “We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.”

I remember watching President Gerald Ford on TV leading official observances on July 4th, 1976. He was delivering his address at Valley Forge, PN. And he signed the Bicentennial Day Declaration at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Our church in Chicago did patriotic concerts every summer in the park. Thousands attended as our choir and orchestra sang beautiful songs about our country. And the Pastor came up at the end and talked about the privilege we have to be citizens in a free country, but that freedom wasn’t free. And he said, “The same is true for our freedom in Christ. That freedom, while free to us, was paid in full by our Lord Jesus Christ when He died on the cross for our sins. And as a result of accepting Christ as our Savior, our citizenship is not only here in America, it is in heaven.

Philippians 3:20 says “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Then the Pastor would close by saying, “If you’re here this evening as a citizen of America, but you don’t have citizenship in heaven, then you need Jesus Christ. Would you like to receive Him as your Savior right now?” And after he gave the invitation, many would choose to accept Jesus Christ into their hearts, asking Him to forgive them for their sins and to give them life anew.

As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, let’s take this opportunity to pray for America…
Thank the Lord for 250 years of freedom and opportunity.
Thank the Lord for the men and women who fought and died so we could have these freedoms.
Pray for unity, that God would unite our country around the Word of God and what it teaches.
Pray for wisdom for our leaders as they guide this country.
Pray for peace in our communities and cities.
Pray for justice, that our nation would be fair and righteous, especially to the underprivileged.
Pray for healing, that divisions and broken relationships would be restored.
Pray for faith, that God would renew spiritual hunger among all Americans.
Pray for our families, that marriages and homes would be strengthened.
Pray for our youth, that God would guide the next generation with biblical purpose and hope.
Pray for our churches, that they would be the light of Christ to their communities.
Prayer of Dedication, asking God to guide America to do His will for another century.

At our Memorial Day Picnic, Pastor Wil quoted Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.” What an appropriate verse for the moment. If America truly is “One nation, under God’, then we will be blessed by the Lord. So may that be our prayer, that God will send revival to our nation starting with me. And that we will strive to live lives consistent with what the Word of God says.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

A while back a group of men at our church finished studying the Book of Ecclesiastes. We spent 21 fascinating and exciting weeks discussing Solomon’s enigmatic message, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible.

When most people think of Ecclesiastes, this is the kind of verse that comes to mind: “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
 
The Hebrew word for vanity is hebel, which can be translated as vanity, futility, emptiness, or meaningless.

Does Solomon really believe everything in life is meaningless?  Was he a depressed, defeated, broken, bitter and cynical man who had given up on life?

The key to answering that question is found in the term “under the sun,” used about 30 times in the book.
 
One author wrote: “Under the sun means viewing life at ground level without any thought of higher values, omitting any light from revelation, and any notion of God.”

It refers to mankind’s foolish attempt to live independently from our Creator, trying to find meaning, purpose and happiness in the things of this world.

From that perspective everything is vanity, because God is the source of happiness.  Apart from him, life is empty, lonely, transient and ultimately meaningless.

The purpose of Ecclesiastes is to help us learn this lesson.
 
Augustine once said the ultimate objective of the book is “to make us yearn for another kind of life” – a life with God at the center of everything.

That’s why Solomon included 7 exhortations to rejoice in the book!  Over and over again, he says things like: be happy, do good, eat and drink, find satisfaction, this is the gift of God.

In the final analysis, the message of Ecclesiastes is not that life is vanity.  It’s that life is vanity without God!

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

 "BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY WILL BE CALLED SONS OF GOD."
Matthew 5:9

If someone asked you to give a one-word job title for the Christian, what might you say? I like the term peacemaker which I think is as good as anything you can suggest.  If it works as our job title, then it is important how you describe what is entailed in doing the job correctly.  All that we have learned from the previous Beatitudes is all prep work for this job.  To be effective in serving the Lord, maturity is a key ingredient and the Beatitudes give us the steps toward that maturity.

What did you sign up for at Salvation? Too many people act like becoming a Christian has as its primary purpose, the obtaining of fire insurance. But while I like the insurance, there is something much bigger that you did. You enlisted in the Lord’s Army.

What type of soldier are you? Are you a gold brick? Are you AWOL most of the time? Are you just biding your time until discharge?  Hopefully, you are someone who takes pride in your enlistment. Truth is each and every one of you enlisted to be in the Lord’s peacekeeper army.

Imagine Jesus was interviewing you to be His peacemaker to the world what questions might He ask? He might run you right back through the prior Beatitudes:

So how did you do with your interview before Jesus?

What does it mean to be a peacemaker? First, it involves a real concern for the well-being of others. The focus is what God would want for a situation (you cannot look to your own selfish needs in a situation).

Notice it says peacemaker not peace-lover. How would you describe the difference?  It indicates an action to make peace not avoidance of conflict. You don't become a peacemaker by simply avoiding a situation and hoping it will get better. Passivity is not always the route to making peace, often it takes bravery and boldness. There are four ways to be a peacemaker:

1. Between ourselves and God – For the non-Christian this is step one.  Even for the Christians, it should be a primary concern.  While as the redeemed our long-term situation vis-a-vis God is settled and assured, it does not mean our momentary circumstances are always in good shape.  We are capable as Christians of falling or deliberately stepping into sin and finding ourselves estranged from God in a temporal sense.  We should daily be seeking to maintain a strong peaceful relationship with Him.  While He will never abandon us, we can be under His discipline.

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves.”
 Hebrews 12:6

2. Between others and God – While we can save no one since that is the exclusive convicting work of the Holy Spirit, we can provide the material that the Holy Spirit will use to do His work. We may have no greater work as peacemakers than to be evangelistic to the world around us. As I have said before we act as ambassadors or PR persons for God. By word and action, we provide material the Holy Spirit can use in drawing folks

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”
1 Peter 3:15

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:20

3. Between ourselves and others – A key part of our witness is how we interact with the folks around us.  While some people are in a closer relational circle to us than others, how are you doing in all circles?  Do you let things fester or do always attempt to resolve conflict?  Do you have the humility to always make the first move?

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:1-3

4. Between others and others – This can be a tricky one.  You do not want to stick your nose where it does not belong.  You certainly do not want to be a busybody.  However, you are legitimately called on here at times; usually where because of the situation or your relationship with one or more of the folks involved, you have a reason to step in.

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
Romans 14:19

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

As I observe my own life and the lives of others, I have come to realize that our life paths are all different.  God has set before us, as if it were, a unique race to run. There are a lot of similarities to our races, but similarity does not mean identical.  The course we travel through life will at times have detours, potholes, construction zones, and difficulties that make a difference in how we traverse what God has designed for our life.  What I have found to be true is that the detours, potholes and constructions zones, are the difficult times in which I grow spiritually.  I grow some when life is going well, but I grow a lot more when I go through the difficult times.

When we struggle to keep running spiritually, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to remember the men and women of Scripture that ran their God designed course by faith.  They kept their eyes on the faith-inspired goal that God had given them.  Nothing detoured them but they continued faithfully following their spiritual path.  These men and women are described in Hebrews 11 and are in what many have called “God’s Hall of Faith.”  Today, these heroes of the faith encourage us to keep going and to continue to live by faith.
Since everyone’s journey is different, difficult times will come in our course, and we will often look at others.  The temptation is to look at the race they are running and feel that their course is easier.  We would rather run their race, but we don’t see the whole course they will run.  We need to remember that God is the one who has marked out the race planned for us.  The course may seem easy at times but also very difficult at other times, making it a struggle to keep going.

There are many things in life that can hinder us from running effectively and can easily entangle us.  They tend to trip us up and keep us from running our race well.  The hinderances are not usually big things but are often little things that we hang on to, weighing us down and taking our eyes off the goal.  To run well, we need to set these things aside and fix our eyes on Jesus.  He is the pioneer, the One who blazes the trail in front of us.  Jesus experiences all the hardships of our course in front of us.  As we follow Him, He matures our faith.  We grow to trust Him more as He takes us through every hardship and struggle.  Jesus is our example to follow.  He has endured the shame, suffering and temporary rejection of the Father to pay the penalty for all sin. He was able to do this because of the joy that was set before Him.  Jesus completed the Father’s will, rose from the dead and is exalted at the Father’s right hand. When life doesn’t make sense and we face the rough places, we need to keep our focus on Christ and follow His example of endurance.  It is helpful to ask ourselves these questions:

• What areas of unbelief entangles us and hinders us from effectively running the race of life?
• How is Christ’s example an encouragement to us?
• What steps can we take this week to keep from giving up?
• How can we apply these truths to our family life?

Prayer: “Lord, when the things of life seem so difficult, remind me of the men and women who lived a life of faith and remained faithful to You as they endured the worst of circumstances.  When I feel weak, strengthen me and help me to keep my eyes on Christ, following His example.”  Amen

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

As some of you may know, I have been facilitating a class here at Campus Bible Church for a number of years now called Financial Peace University. It’s a nine week course by Dave Ramsey to help people get a handle on their finances, including getting out of debt, budgeting, and learning how to save and spend appropriately. I first took the class myself back in 2014 and it made such a difference for me that I decided I wanted to help bring the program to more people.

One of the tenants of Financial Peace is to learn to do a budget, every month, for the rest of your life. If we don’t designate where our money will go and keep control of it, it will go away. I know this from personal experience. When doing our budget, we are taught to budget our giving first. Now this might seem backwards to some of you. You might be saying, shouldn’t we make sure all of our bills and necessities are met first before we start giving money away? But if you budget like that, you will more often find that there is simply no money left over to give. There is always something more important (in our mind) to spend our money on. But God wants our first fruits, not our leftovers.
 
God has blessed us with all that we have and asks us to give a portion of that back to Him. It’s about faith, that we will trust Him knowing He will provide for our needs. So in our budgets we give out of faith first, then spend the rest. Now I want to be clear, this is not a magical formula or cosmic investment. God does not say give me $10 and I’ll bless you with $1000 dollars. To be fair He might, or He may decide to call you to become even more dependent on Him. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, but either way blessed be the name of the Lord. We don’t give to God in order that we may get back, we give out of love, reverence, trust, and obedience.

God calls us to give but He wants us to give cheerfully, not out of obligation or grudgingly. Think back to when you have given someone else a gift. Did you wish you hadn’t or did it bring you joy to see the look on their face? Giving is some of the most fun you can ever have with money. And as Christians giving to God and to others should be a part of our daily lives. And when you learn to manage your money you will find you have a lot more to give than you thought you did.
 
I really like the verse that follows this one, verse 8 says: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.” Become a cheerful giver and see what God does in your life!

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

While studying at Hillsdale College in southern Michigan, I spent three years in an all-guys dorm, two of them as a resident assistant (RA). My dorm, Galloway, housed around 80 guys, giving it a similar feel to what a fraternity might be at a large state school… minus the booze and partying. (Hillsdale was an uber-conservative nerd school.) The men of Galloway were mostly studious, composed, even subdued… until Thursday nights at 10 PM.

Every Thursday night, a majority of the dorm would gather around our fire pit for an event we called FEAST. It was an hour-long fusion of rock music, grilled meats, and fireside conversation. The event included several rituals. First was the “call to arms” of a dozen guys running through the dorm blasting AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” while shouting “FEAAAST!!!”. Second was the 10:30 FEAST Run, a coordinated jog around campus to showcase our camaraderie. Third was the closing ceremony, where all the guys linked arms in a circle around the fire and sang John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”  The final and most important ritual, however, was that most of the guys participating did so sans shirts, regardless of the weather. Huddling with around a fire in sub-freezing temperatures with other shirtless men was an experience I’ll never forget.

FEAST baffled many on-campus observers. Some might call it a display of “toxic masculinity.” Why on earth did we perpetuate this bizarre ritual? Why did I, an aspiring minister, participate in something borderline scandalous? While I was initially skeptical about FEAST, I discovered that behind the trappings of college boy stupidity, FEAST was really a celebration of male friendship. My closest college friends ended up being the fellow Bible study leaders in that dorm.

Male friendship is a lost art in today’s world. Women have “girl time” and “girl talk;” the male equivalent is rarer. Frankly, men are less likely to have deep friendships than women. This is evident in statistics; for example, a 2021 survey determined that only 27% of men had at least six close friends, compared to 55% in 1990. Conventional wisdom says that by middle age, men lose touch with up to 90% of their friends from their younger years.

Why has male friendship eroded culturally? Perhaps the American ideal of “rugged individualism” perpetuates a twisted vision of the “real man” as one who never cries, never talks about his feelings, who has no one and needs no one. Perhaps in the digital age, it’s easier for men to spend time on TV or video games rather than building relationships with other men (or to substitute virtual, Call-of-Duty-lobby friendships for real ones). I would also argue that in our hypersexualized culture, men are afraid that relational intimacy with other men might be labeled or interpreted as “gay.”
 
But male friendship is biblical; God created men to need relationships with other men. The favorite verse of men’s Bible studies, Proverbs 27:17, says that “iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Or consider the friendship between Jonathan and David. 1 Samuel 18:1 says Jonathan loved David “as his own soul.” David mourns Jonathan’s death by saying “your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women” (2 Samuel 1:26). Don’t mistake this relational intimacy for anything sexual. Jonathan and David had a deep friendship, one that all men would do well to imitate.  Finally, as the joke goes, the least-talked-about miracle of Jesus was that he had 12 close male friends in his 30s.

Women, are you encouraging the men in your life—husbands, brothers, sons, fathers—to form deep, meaningful relationships with other men? Men, are you prioritizing building relationships with other men, like David and Jonathan did? It’s one thing to “hang out” with other guys and do things together; to get to the point of loving one another “as your own soul” requires some intentionality. This should include accountability, which is tremendously important, but accountability is not the same as relational intimacy. I think all Christian men could use a little more celebration of male friendship… even if it’s not as outlandish an example as FEAST.

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."

I finished reading 2 Kings the other day and although I could relate to all the congitive information, I was struggling to find a deep spiritual connection with what I was reading. But I learned some interesting things. It seemed like the evil kings lived shorter lives than the ones who did right in the Lord's eye. And it also seems like the mothers of the evil kings were mentioned more than the ones who did right. Made me take note of the influence those moms had on their sons. Also, it was of interest to learn that Joram, King of Israel and Ahaziah, King of Judah fough against Haziel, king of Syria together. I wondered why they would do that as they were usually on opposing sides of a battle. And then it said that Ahaziah went and visited Joram because he was sick. It made me look back and discover that they were brother-in-laws descending from Ahab, an evil king. Sometimes I forget that people and families were the same then as they are now. 

Then I started reading in 1 Chronicles. And the first 11 chapters are all about descendants starting with Adam. It made me think about a conversation I had with a friend who was reading a book about the life of Corrie Ten Boom. She was talking about the amazing importance of the Word of God. She said, "If all you had was a page torn out of the first chapters of 1 Chronicles and you hid it in a laundry basket and could only sneak it out every so often to read it, what kind of impact would it have?"

I thought about that and realized that as I read through those first chapters, I recognized names and could attach them to the lives of those men and how the Lord used them (or didn't). The Word of God came alive because I had been spending time with the Lord and learning His love and character through His people. They weren't just names in a line of descendents. They were real people with real lives.

So I guess what I continue to learn and pray you are too, is that the Word of God is stronger than any two-edged sword, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."  No matter how tiny of a patch we meditate on,  it teaches, inspires, exhorts and molds us into the Lord's image. 


Speak O Lord - Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

Verse 1
Speak O Lord as we come to You
To receive the food of Your holy word
Take Your truth plant it deep in us
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness
That the light of Christ might be seen today
In our acts of love and our deeds of faith
Speak O Lord and fulfill in us
All Your purposes for Your glory

Verse 2
Teach us Lord full obedience
Holy reverence true humility
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
In the radiance of Your purity
Cause our faith to rise
Cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority
Words of power that can never fail
Let their truth prevail over unbelief

Verse 3
Speak O Lord and renew our minds
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time
That will echo down through eternity
And by grace we'll stand on Your promises
And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us
Speak O Lord till Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory

© 2005 Thankyou Music | CCLI Song #4615235 CCLI License #144020
 

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Verses 6 through 10 go on to describe the directions Jesus gives that leads to the miraculous turning of water to wine.  Verse 11 concludes:

"This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him."

This first sign is one of Jesus’ well known, even if only by the adage “turning water to wine”, used to describe accomplishing the seemingly impossible.  It was something unique, perhaps also making it memorable.  Compared to the other signs, it might make us at least curious at why it was included.  Some may even just view it as Jesus helping to keep a party going!
 
The wedding ceremonies in those days were major community events, usually spanning over many days, involving not just extended family but the whole village.  Wine was not just some side option, it was a centerpiece together with feasting, music and joy.  Couple all that with hospitality being really a sacred social obligation, and you have a major crisis brewing.  There could be embarrassment and even lasting shame due to the host failing in preparation.

When Jesus’ mother speaks to Him about it, His response may seem a little blunt at first.  However, the phrase at the end is what gives us pause: “My hour has not yet come”.  This phrase always signifies His death and resurrection.  What a peculiar time to bring this up!  I remember when I held my first baby girl, Carissa, in that hospital room a few short hours after birth.  Of all the beautiful thoughts that came into my head, one very strange one hit me: “Wow, I could be a grandpa”.  The clock had started, and even though it wouldn’t be something to realistically think about for probably a couple of decades, in that moment it seemed so near.  I believe in this passage, the Savior of this wedding feast is stepping onto the path leading to His ultimate sacrifice as Saviour of the world.  In this first sign, there was a degree of solemnity similar to what Jesus experienced in Gethsemane, like a shadow cast back.
 
But there is still the question: why a wedding feast for this first sign?  Why not a healing, a miraculous feeding, a raising of the dead, or a powerful calming of the sea?  All these would seem to point more powerfully to His person and work as the Son of God.  It was not displayed before rulers, religious leaders or the masses at large, and even the guests didn’t appear to know it was happening (just the servants and the disciples).  In the wedding we see a picture of the joyful end God truly desires: intimate fellowship with the crown of His creation.  We see this theme from the first “God-ordained union” in Eden, when He walked in joyful fellowship with Adam and Eve, to the final marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation.  That’s what’s on His heart for us to enter into, beloved.  As you read these next verses, let your mind imagine the experience of this!

Rev. 21:2-3:
And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them”

Hebrews 12:2 states Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.  Even under the shadow of that sacrifice, He brought joy and restoration at a humble wedding in Cana.  We can remember that God is often working toward eternal purposes even through ordinary moments and difficult paths. As His betrothed, let us not allow our affections to be pulled to any other loves in this world.  Like the servants at the wedding feast, we may not always understand what He is doing, but we are called to faithfully obey whatever He says to us, trusting that the One who began the good work will also bring it to a glorious completion.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Several years ago, I remember hearing some ridiculous story that just the parking passes for a Taylor Swift concert were being sold for as much as $800 online!  While I certainly don't identify as a “Swiftie”, Forbes declares that more than half of the US adult population says they're Taylor Swift fans. Again, not a fan per se, but I understand that some of her music just relates to her audience. For example, she has a song called Bad Blood, a thing that most people know and have tasted at some point. You know, when you have someone who you thought was close to you, and seemingly out of nowhere, they stab you in the back and everything changes. Just look at some of these lyrics and ask yourself if you've been there before: “Now we've got bad blood. You know it used to be mad love.” “Now we've got problems, and I don't think we can solve them.” “Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes, you say sorry just for show..." 
 
Those lyrics are pretty heavy, but the truth is, if we've been in situations like these, it does feel like they can be hopeless. As if it's not possible to repair the damage that has been done. Yet the solution to bad blood is forgiveness. It's simple, but it's not easy. When Peter asks the question, “How many times are we supposed to forgive,” he's really asking, “What's the limit on how many times?” Like, “Lord, I get that we’re supposed to love and forgive, but when is it ok to stop and start hating that individual again?” I’m being a little facetious, but that’s what I would be thinking in my heart as I ask Jesus that question. And yet, what is the Master's response? Essentially, He says that we should constantly forgive. He says that there is no limit.
 
Here’s the perspective we should keep in mind. Can we truly imagine not forgiving someone, considering our understanding of everything that Christ forgave us for?  I think Scripture is clear and shows us how seriously God takes forgiveness. It encourages us and yet challenges us that no matter how often we are wronged, it is our job to forgive as people who have been forgiven so much. The call is not to forgive as your pastor forgives. And it’s not to forgive as others forgive you. But the call is rather to forgive as Christ forgives us. It's simple, but it's not easy. May the indwelling Holy Spirit help us today in those difficult times and relationships to reflect the love, mercy, and forgiveness that our Heavenly Father has shown us.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

I’m not a huge fan of rap music, but back when I was in high school there was a Christian rap band called DC Talk. They came out with a song called “Nu Thang”. Feel free to punch it in on YouTube when you have a couple of minutes. I think you’ll like it.

The chorus says:
 "God is doin’ a new thing (In our lives, so)
      We’re doin’ a new thing (Through Jesus Christ).
      God is doin’ a new thing (Through our music).
      We’re doing a new thing (So He can use it).

The song is based on Isaiah 43:18-19 which says “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. “Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."

It’s so easy to be trapped by your past. Memories of failures. Regrets for stupid things we’ve done or said. Or even thinking back on the “good ole days” when life was simple and easy. But God makes it clear that He doesn’t want us living in the past.

God is doing a new thang. He is not just making adjustments to your past, He is making all things new; giving you fresh opportunities, even in “desert” seasons. The desert feels dry and dead and almost impossible to navigate. But God promises to create “rivers in the desert” - to refresh you in unexpected ways.

The challenge is to quit focusing on the past and start looking to the future. After all, we can’t change our past. These things have already happened. But we can learn from our past. And we can certainly go back to those we’ve hurt in the past and apologize and make amends. Doing this can actually help you as you move into the new things God has for you.

So here are two things you need to do in order to experience the “new thang” God has for you…

1. Let go of your past
Isaiah 43:18 says not to call to mind the former things or ponder things of the past. If Jesus Christ is your Savior and Lord, the sins of your past, present, and future have been paid for at the cross. (Psalm 103:12) says “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” So they’re gone. Live your life as a “new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). One of the ways the evil one attacks Christians is to remind us of our past. And we all have a past. We all have regrets. We all have things that, if we had it to do over again, would make different choices. And even though there are triggers in life that bring these things to mind, don’t dwell on them. Realize that you are a new creature in Jesus Christ. Claim it. Live as His child. Be victorious because of Him.

2. Focus on the “New”
When you committed your life to Jesus Christ, at that moment God the Holy Spirit entered into your heart and began this new thing called “transformation”. (Romans 12:2) says “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” I like to think of “transformation” as “Jesus Christ changing me from the inside out.” As a new believer you will start to see these “new things” in your life. Identify them when. You are a changed person. It will start with your language. Then it will progress to your thought life. And then your actions. The stuff you used to do will lose its appeal. And as you start doing what God wants and living according to His Word, you will know you’re a new creature because of Him. Praise God for that. It’s not you, it’s Him.

Our God is a God of new beginnings. He is doing a new thing in your life. He is creating a way where you can see no way. So stop dwelling on your past and step into the future. God is making rivers of fresh water in the desert of your life. He is doing a new thang in you!

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (ESV)

Growing up, I had a big dream of being someone who could get up on stage to tell people about the defeated sin in my life and how, in my own power, I could save myself. I thought the Christian life was one where, after accepting the gospel, I could then save myself through my own goodness rather than God’s. To me, a moralist more than a Christian, read this verse and thought, if I could just bear enough fruit in my life, that is actually when I will bear more fruit. I thought abiding had to do more with doing good Christian deeds rather than remaining in the hope of the gospel that Jesus died for my sins and resurrected from the grave three days later. When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I quickly learned how wrong I had been about this verse.

See, I had thought that if I just mustered up enough Christian teaching in my life, then I could be seen as saved rather than trusting in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. This verse has helped me see, in many ways, that the reason I still struggle with certain sins in my life is not that I have not tried to break cycles of sin, but that I am trying to rely on myself to overcome them. I had been abiding in myself rather than in the truth of the gospel that Jesus saved me from my sin, and I could defeat the sin in my life not through my own effort but by remaining in and trusting in Jesus to overcome it. It is only in abiding in Jesus that I have been able to defeat sin in my life.

In abiding in the truths of the gospel is how we change and move past the sin in our lives. The Christian life will be full of us fighting sin, as Galatians 5:16-17 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (ESV). The hope of the gospel is that we have been saved from our sin to follow in the direction of following God. Sin, though, is not just the bad behavior we do, but also the motives behind our good behavior. I had been self-righteous before, actually accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. There is a part of me now that, while writing this, wants to say I made it as a Christian, but I know how, without Jesus, all of this is done in vain, and no life change comes from vanity. Oh, how we need Jesus to make us His and change us by the Holy Spirit.

Daily Prayer: God, only you can save me. Amen.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

I wonder if you’re going through a battle right now?  According to Ephesians 6:12, we’re always facing some form of invisible warfare or another, some form of spiritual attack from our enemy.  And the secret to victory is fighting our battles in God’s strength: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Eph 6:10).

But sometimes it’s helpful to know what not to do in battle.  If you want to know how not to lose your battle, read 1 Samuel 4:1-11.  It’s a guaranteed formula for disaster.

In that passage, the Israelites march out to war against the Philistines, and there are two catastrophic sins that they commit.

First is the sin of presumption: assuming that God is going to bless your plans without bothering to stop and ask him first.  In this story, it’s striking that the Israelites went out to fight the Philistines.  In other words, they went on the offensive.  They decided to attack their enemies.  But what is even more striking is the fact that they never stopped to pray.  They never inquired of the Lord or asked for his guidance and direction.  They made the mistake of assuming that their plans must be God’s plans, and they automatically presumed that God would bless them.

The second sin the Israelites commit is the sin of superstition: ascribing power and glory to an object, when in reality that power and glory belong to God alone.
 
After the Israelites lost their first battle, they decided to bring the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, thinking its presence would ensure their victory.

When the Philistines heard about this, they said: “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?” (v. 7-8).
 
But the crazy thing is the Israelites were just as superstitious as the Philistines!  They treated the ark like a good-luck charm, like a talisman… like an idol.  They had become more devoted to the object than God himself, and treated the ark like it was interchangeable with God.

When we read stories like this in the Old Testament, we’re tempted to snicker with disdain at the Israelites.  But we don’t recognize that we do the same thing.  When was the last time you made a decision without first stopping to ask God?  When was the last time you put a plan into motion without praying?  When we do that, we wrongly assume that God will automatically bless us.  But we’re demonstrating the level of our pride and self-sufficiency.
 
The other thing we do is trust in some object other than God for our safety, security and provision.  The ark of the covenant isn’t around anymore, but we still have plenty of idols to lean on – things we are tempted to trust in rather than God.  Things like our job, our bank account, our cleverly crafted plans and preparations, our hard work, our reputation in the community, even our spiritual disciplines.  When we are tempted to trust in anything other than God for victory in the daily battles of life, we’re guilty of bringing the ark out of Shiloh just like the Israelites.

That’s why it’s important to know what not to do in battle.  Don’t make plans without consulting God first.  And don’t trust in anything for your success except the Lord of Hosts.

New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

In the story of when Jesus withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon (Matt 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30), a woman approaches and cries out to Him to help her daughter who is severely demon-possessed. His reaction seems to lack all compassion. At first, He doesn’t even answer her. His disciples want Him to send her away, “because she keeps shouting at us.” Jesus explains to them (I suspect within earshot of the woman) that He “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet she bows down at His feet and pleads “Lord, help me!” He finally speaks to her saying “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Mark and Matthew’s gospels point out that the woman is a Gentile, of Syrophoenician descent, a Canaanite. Obviously, not a part of the house of Israel. And by Jesus statement, in a way, no more highly esteemed that a little dog. All this would certainly make her feel unworthy. Yet, she does not relent, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs” is her reply.

I find her first two words to be powerful, wonderful words; “Yes, Lord”. Yes, because she does not disagree. Yes, the children should be satisfied first. Yes, it is not good to take the children’s bread. Yes, the lost sheep of the house Israel (which I am not a part of) is your mission.
 
“Yes, Lord”. Mark 7:25 says that “after hearing about Him” the woman came and fell at Jesus’ feet. How much about Jesus did she hear? I suspect more than just the fact that He’s in town.  She calls Jesus “Lord” more than once, and in Matthew’s account she addresses Him as “Son of David”. She’s heard enough about Jesus to know and believe in who He is and what He can do. Might I say that to the woman, “Lord” is not just Jesus’ title, but that she is submitting to Him as her Lord.

The woman continues, “…but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” But even the dogs, (the unworthy), under the table, (lowly and submissive), get to feed on the crumbs. She’s saying the crumbs are all she wants. They are more than sufficient for her needs. With them, she would be very satisfied. That’s the kind of faith she has in Jesus. I liken this faith to be similar to the woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years. She came up behind Jesus, not even facing Him or asking Him directly, but believing “if I just touch His garments.” Or like the Centurion who’s servant was paralyzed and about to die. Telling Jesus how he was unworthy for Jesus to come under his roof, but rather, “just say the word.”

Just the crumbs, please! That’s all the woman is asking. Her belief in Jesus is such that just a crumb of His power and mercy is more than sufficient to save her daughter from this demon. The crumbs are small but the woman’s faith is great. Jesus even said so, “O woman, your faith is great”. And like the bleeding woman and the Centurion, this Gentile, Syrophoenician, Canaanite woman received what she asked for “and her daughter was healed at once”.

Thank you Jesus for giving us more than crumbs. You gave your whole and complete self for our salvation.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

The Apostle Paul was a man of great spiritual stature, but not without issues.  He wanted his readers to know that he had not attained to full maturity in Christ.  Paul saw himself as the worst of sinners when he wrote, “…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.” (1 Timothy 1:15 NLT) God’s grace had worked in Paul’s life and he had made a lot of spiritual progress.  Yet he knew there was room for more.   Who he was now was all about God’s grace in his life.  “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”  (1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV) Paul recognized that there were issues through the years that had held him back.   He had to deal with them to fully experience Christ in his life.  He was actively reaching toward the goal of a full experiential relationship with his Lord.  (Philippians 3:10) God was working in Paul to remove those areas of brokenness that would keep him from that deepening relationship.

Paul had experienced and gone through many spiritual battles as he came to understand the areas of brokenness in his life.  He very openly expresses that God was not through with him yet and there was room for more change.  Paul’s testimony serves as a reminder that we need to look at any areas of brokenness in our life that might be holding us back spiritually.  Our spiritual growth is a lifelong process and should never stop this side of heaven.  As a result, we need to continually allow God to probe into those areas of our life that we have kept secret.

It is easy to compare ourselves to how others are doing spiritually but all along covering our issues, so others do not see them.  We are medicating the deep wounds of life with activities or substances that make us feel better for the moment.  It becomes our coping mechanism.  Often, we feel it is not safe to share our woundedness for fear that others will reject/abandon us or be critical in some way.  In many cases we have retreated into our own private worlds where we feel safe.  We often are afraid to share due to shame or pride.  As a result, our Christianity is only surface deep, and we struggle to keep up the front before others.

Often, we have forgotten how much God loves us and the depth of His grace.  He desires for us to deal with our brokenness that we might be free.  Free from the chains that keep us in shame and free to experience God in a real and life changing way.  Christ is inviting us to come to Him with our brokenness.  His love is not only demonstrated to us in salvation, but also as he relates to us each day.
 
The Apostle Paul had to honestly evaluate his life.  He had to admit his issues.  He thought he could please God through his human accomplishments.  God lovingly met with him where he was and not where he pretended to be.  Paul realized he had to give up all his human efforts in order to mature in Christ.

Paul is encouraging us to do the same.  He wants us to recognize those areas that need to change and to allow God’s power to bring healing.  We need to stop clinging to our human efforts to effect change.  Those methods only make us feel better about our core wounds for a moment.  We need to take hold of Christ and allow him to heal us from the inside out.

Prayer:  Lord, I need You to speak into my life.  Thank you for meeting me where I am and graciously helping me to move forward in my spiritual walk with You.  Show me Lord, the depth of Your love and grace as I deal with the issues of my life.  Amen

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

As the world seems to descend further into darkness around us, I think it is timely to remember that we as christians were not guaranteed an easy or prosperous life here on earth. Rather we have actually been promised persecution for Jesus’ name’s sake. A little later on in Matthew 10:22 Jesus says “You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake.” He says you will, not you may, or there’s a chance, He says you will. As Christ followers we are called to be set apart, to be holy as Christ is holy, and the world will hate us and persecute us for it.

Now our persecution is not just so that we will have a miserable time on earth, we are the salt and light, we are to be a witness to the world of the Gospel. We are the representatives of Christ and we must always remember that, especially in the midst of difficulty and persecution. Jesus says in these verses that we will be brought before governors and kings as a testimony, therefore we must not harm that testimony by our behavior or reaction to persecution. We are called to be wise as serpents AND harmless as doves. Whenever we find ourselves being persecuted for our faith we need to stop and think how our reaction will be a witness and testimony for Christ in the midst of our circumstances.

So how should we react to when the world targets us, restricts us, silences us, or harms us? Well we should turn our eyes towards heaven and pray. Pray for God’s justice, pray for deliverance, pray that we ourselves would not give into the temptation to fight evil with evil, and pray for those who are persecuting us. God promises us that He will give us the words to say in the hour we need it. He will be there as our Defender and Shield and will be with us always. Remember in the hard times, when it matters the most to lean on Him and not on yourself so that your life can proclaim the Gospel until the end.

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Theology is important. The essential quality of eternal life, according to John 17:3, is the knowledge of God. But too often, theology is boring. Most of my high school students would probably read a theology textbook only as a last-ditch approach to combat insomnia!

Take, for example, the discipline of Christology. Scripture is clear that Jesus is fully God (John 10:30) but also fully man (Hebrews 4:15). He is one Person with two natures. We call this the Hypostatic Union, as defined by the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451: “[Jesus is] truly God and truly man… to be acknowledged in two natures inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably.” This definition arose out of 150 years of intra-ecclesiastical conflict over Christological heresies like Arianism, Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and the Monophysites.

Having a correct view of what Scripture teaches about Jesus’ humanity and divinity is extremely important for any Christian, including a junior higher or high schooler. But the paragraph above would not make for a very interesting short-form video that my students are so fond of. They might make it four or five seconds in before scrolling to the next video in the never-ending stream of algorithmic content. Then again, that may be true for most of us. So how do we communicate theology in a way that actually sticks in our brains?

One of the best ways I’ve seen this done was in a lecture by Sean McDowell at an apologetics conference. I’ve since encountered similar analogies in other sources. Sean used superheroes to explain the four parts of the Hypostatic Union. Here’s my version:

• Batman heresy: Batman may be an excellent crime fighter, but he has no superpowers. Just brains, brawn, and a bank account. Likewise, the heresy of Arianism said Jesus was a created being; super powerful, but not actually God.  Jesus is not “godlike,” in the same way that Batman is almost superpowered; Jesus is fully God. 
• Superman heresy: Superman does have superpowers, but he’s not human. He looks human when posing as Clark Kent, but he’s really a solar-powered alien. Likewise, the heresy of Apollinarianism said Jesus only “looked” human. He only took on part of our nature, like putting on a human skinsuit. But Jesus doesn’t just appear to be human, like Superman does; Jesus is fully man.
• Hulk heresy: The Hulk has two natures: Bruce Banner and the Hulk. But only one of them controls him at a time; sometimes he’s a brilliant scientist, and sometimes he’s a giant green rage monster. Likewise, the Nestorians taught that Jesus’ two natures were separate; the “human” Jesus felt hunger and exhaustion, while the “divine” Jesus taught and did miracles. But Jesus’ two natures can’t be divided or separated, like the Hulk’s can; Jesus is one Person. 
• Spider-Man heresy: Spider-Man’s DNA is a combination of human and radioactive spider. His human and spider “natures” are combined into a third nature, a human-spider hybrid of sorts. Likewise, the Monophysites taught that Jesus doesn’t have two natures, but one, a neither-fully-God-nor-fully-man nature that blends the two. But Jesus isn’t some third thing, like Spider-Man; Jesus has two natures.

See what we did there? We took a difficult theological concept (the hypostatic union) and used contemporary terminology to make it memorable and engaging. A student might not remember the Definition of Chalcedon, but they hopefully will remember the heresies of Batman, Superman, Hulk, and Spider-Man.

So what’s the point? Theology is important, but it doesn’t have to be boring, as this little superhero analogy shows. To take the life-changing truths of God’s Word and make them dull and unappealing is frankly sinful. A proper understanding of who God is, of what His Word says, is critically necessary for real worship, real life change, real service of God and others. May we never resign doctrine to ivory-tower academics because it might be “boring.”

"English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers."

When my husband Gary came home from the Gulf War there was a period of 5 years before the VA designated him 100% permanently disabled. I won't go into all that that entails but during that time he wasn't able to work consistently because of his disability. So obviously our financial situation was never secure.

As I was reading in 2 Samuel and came upon this verse I was reminded of those years. The Lord used the kindness of the body of Christ to show us He was our provider many times over. And as I recalled those times I realized that kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit from Galations 5:22-23! I don't know how many times I have read and quoted those verses and glossed over the fruit of kindness! But thinking back I'm not surprised, because the love and joy those kind acts portrayed exuded the outpouring of the Spirit. Those memories bring smiles to my heart all over again and challenges me to open my eyes and heart for the Lord to use me to show kindness to others.
 
Jesus Strong And Kind
Colin Buchanan, Jonny Robinson,
Michael Farren, and Rich Thompson

Verse 1
Jesus said
That if I thirst
I should come to him
No one else can satisfy
I should come to him

Verse 2
Jesus said
If I am weak
I should come to him
No one else can be my strength
I should come to him

Chorus 1
For the Lord is good and faithful
He will keep us day and night
We can always run to Jesus
Jesus strong and kind

Verse 3
Jesus said
That if I fear
I should come to him
No one else can be my shield
I should come to him

Verse 4
Jesus said
If I am lost
He will come to me
And he showed me on that cross
He will come to me

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CCLI Song #7139992  CCLI License #144020
 

New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.