Believer, are you poor in spirit? Are you poor and needy? Brokenhearted? Your Father knows, and He has already prepared His grace to sustain and comfort you. Come to the King of the Universe who brought Himself low, whose heart is “gentle and lowly” (Matthew 11:29). Come to the King who welcomes sinners, the sick, the lowly, the downtrodden, the broken:

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Believer, are you anxious and worried? Are your thoughts chained to the past? Fretting over the present? Obsessed with the future? Your heavenly Father already knows your needs (Matthew 6:7-8), and He provides abundantly.

7 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:7-8)

Put your past in the hands of the Bridegroom who knows all your shortcomings and yet is faithful to you. Put your future in the hands of the God who foreknows every step you have yet to take. Put your circumstances into the hands of the God who, in spite of the worst possible situation, will work it for good:

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)

Believer, do you feel stained by your sin? “Do you feel that you never were so consciously vile as you are now?” (Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Dec. 8th entry) God knows your every sin, more than you ever will. He knows every dark thought you’ve had, and everything you’ve done in the dark, and He loves you. If you don’t believe it, look to the cross, the evidence of His great love for you.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

Whatever makes your heart heavy, come to the throne of grace with confidence, knowing that the Father knows exactly what you need (Hebrews 4:14-16). Charles Spurgeon excellently speaks of Jesus’ sufficiency:

Reader, is your heart heavy this evening? God knew it would be; the comfort which your heart wants is treasured in the sweet assurance of the text. You are poor and needy, but he has thought upon you, and has the exact blessing which you require in store for you. Plead the promise, believe it and obtain its fulfilment. Do you feel that you never were so consciously vile as you are now? Behold, the crimson fountain is open still, with all its former efficacy, to wash your sin away. Never shall you come into such a position that Christ cannot aid you. No pinch shall ever arrive in your spiritual affairs in which Jesus Christ shall not be equal to the emergency, for your history has all been foreknown and provided for in Jesus. (Spurgeon, "Morning and Evening")

Last year I coached my daughter’s flag football team. I must say, coaching a group of 7-year-olds takes you through the whole gamut of human emotion. I had mostly the same kids for three consecutive seasons, and by the third season, I felt like we had really hit our stride. We were the Packers, and we were ready to dominate the field.

It was fun to look ahead at the schedule and size up the competition… I’ll emphasize the word “was” here. It was fun until I saw one team our entire little league was up against: the Ravens. This team was routinely putting up 40+ points, and after seeing them practice one day, I was certain they’d do the same to us.

There are some battles in life that no amount of preparation or willpower can fix. You will fail. In my case, I had little choice but to throw my team out to the wolves (or in this case, “the birds”) and watch them get absolutely destroyed… a good character-building opportunity.

You might be able to relate to that visceral feeling of preemptive defeat. It’s a real bummer to face the reality of undefeatable opposition.The concern of getting dominated in little league sports pales in comparison to the sobering thought we see from a man named Gamaliel. He was a teacher of the law, respected by all, and wise enough to consider the sobering reality of opposing God (Acts 5:34).

So here’s the context of Acts 5:35–39. The apostles had been proclaiming the gospel and healing the sick. The high priest and his associates weren’t just angry – they were jealous (Acts 5:17). They thought this uprising ended with the death of Jesus. Then came the empty tomb. To cover it up, they spread the story that the disciples had stolen His body (Matthew 28:13). But now the apostles were performing miracles and influencing crowds in undeniable ways. The high priest had them imprisoned, only to hear the next day that they were back in the temple preaching!

Reality is, the signs were all there. The signs demanded that a reasonable man take a moment to consider: “what if?”

What if Jesus wasn’t just another name-seeker?

What if He really was who He claimed to be?

What if the apostles were divinely appointed to preach this gospel?

What if they were actually commissioned by God Himself?

These were the weighty questions Gamaliel seemed to wrestle with as he restrained his peers from killing the apostles:

38 “... keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

The council listened in so much as they didn’t kill the apostles. They beat them, charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. But the apostles rejoiced, counting it an honor to suffer for His name. And they did not cease to teach and preach that Jesus is the Christ.

So here’s the truth for you and me: if it is of God, nothing can stop it.

If your salvation is of God, no one can remove His saving grace from your life. If your calling is of God, no power of man or darkness can overturn it. Whether the Lord plans to use His people for kingdom work or calls them home through the veil of death, nothing can stop what He has set out to accomplish.

And here’s the flip side: whatever is opposing the Lord will ultimately fail. Always. That is a certainty under the sovereign hand of the Lord.

So take heart. Rejoice, church. The Lord upholds His people. He is a firm foundation, a mighty fortress, and He alone is sovereign forever.

Each of us would do well to consider this… are you opposing the unstoppable or have you set out on the road to glory with the unstoppable God?

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?”
— Psalm 2:1

The world we inhabit is aching. Violence is no longer confined to war zones or distant places — it visits churches, schools, shopping centers, homes, and hearts. Today we mourn lives stolen through a horrific shooting in Colorado. We grieve the senseless murder of a public voice like Charlie Kirk, whose death has rippled through many. We remember the death of a Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska— one who fled war only to be struck down far from home. These are not just news headlines. These are souls. Image-bearers of the living God.

“How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will You hide your face from me?”
— Psalm 13:1

We have recent School shootings. Drug trafficking. War in Europe. Hamas terrorism. The anniversary of 9/11.

And if we are honest, some of us are feeling what the disciples felt on the darkest day of their lives — the day their Lord was crucified:

Fear. Confusion. Hopelessness. Silence.

In moments like these, we are confronted with the brutal reality of death and evil. We see what sin has done to God’s good world. But that’s not all we see — because Jesus Christ stepped into this same kind of horror, willingly walking into the worst this world could offer — betrayal, mockery, injustice, torture, execution — so that He might overcome it.

“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…”
— Isaiah 53:3

Let’s be clear: Evil does not surprise God. Death does not defeat God. And the cross is not the end of the story. Jesus Christ rose from the grave, and that empty tomb is the loudest declaration in history:

Death doesn’t get the last word. Christ does.
— “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” — John 11:25

We grieve the brokenness of this world—murder, injustice, death—but we do not grieve as those without hope.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (ESV)

Jesus has entered into death for us, and He has overcome it. The cross was not the end; the tomb is empty.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
— John 11:25 (ESV)

Though evil may seem to win for a moment, the Lamb of God has triumphed. There is justice and life in His hands.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
— Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

So even as we lament, we celebrate Jesus—not in denial of the horror, but in defiance of its finality.

✝️Christ: The Man of Sorrows, The Lord of Victory

Jesus Christ entered our broken world. He was not immune to grief, violence, or betrayal. He was mocked, tortured, and crucified unjustly. He knew what it meant to suffer as the innocent.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief… surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”
— Isaiah 53:3–4

But this suffering was not defeat — it was God’s plan to save sinners.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
— 1 Corinthians 15:54–55

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
— John 11:25

? Persecution Is Real — But Not the End

Today, as we witness growing hostility toward truth, faith, and righteousness — even to the point of violence — we must not be surprised. Jesus warned us.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”
— John 15:18

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12

But here’s the paradox of the Kingdom: Persecution is not a curse — it is a crown.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,
for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
— Matthew 5:10–12

“Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.”
— Acts 5:41

When the world turns its hatred toward God’s people, we do not cower — we rejoice. Not because the pain is easy, but because the promise is greater.

✨ Justice Is in Jesus’ Hands

When the blood of the innocent cries out…
When the wicked seem to prevail…
When systems fail… and hearts break…
We lift our eyes to the One who will never fail.

“The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son.”
— John 5:22 (ESV)

The Judge is not blind.
He sees it all.
And He is not silent.

“But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.”
— Isaiah 11:4 (ESV)

He does not overlook evil. He bore its full weight on the cross.
He is both Savior and Judge—merciful to the repentant, but mighty against all wickedness.

“For we know him who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
— Hebrews 10:30–31 (ESV)

The cross proves that justice is not forgotten.
The resurrection proves that death is not the end.
The return of Christ will prove that evil does not win.

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”
— Revelation 22:12 (ESV)

So we don’t lose heart.
We don’t take vengeance into our own hands.
We cry out, we trust, we wait—because justice is in the hands of Jesus.

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”
— Genesis 18:25 (ESV)

? A Wake-Up Call to the Living
These tragedies are not just reasons to grieve. They are alarms in the night — divine wake-up calls to every soul who thinks tomorrow is promised.

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
— Hebrews 9:27

God is not playing games with eternity — and neither should we. What if the next headline is about you? Or me? Are you ready to stand before a holy God?

The gospel is not a warm blanket for the religious. It is a rescue line for the dead. Jesus didn’t come to improve your life — He came to save your soul. This world is under judgment. Your heart is not neutral. And your only hope is not in politics, positivity, or performance — it is in the blood of a sinless Savior.

✝️ This is the Gospel
✦ God is holy and created us to know Him.
✦ We have rebelled against Him in sin and deserve His just wrath.
✦ Jesus Christ lived the perfect life we failed to live and died the death we deserved to die.
✦ He rose again to offer forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe in Him.

This hope is not automatic. It requires surrender. It demands repentance. It’s not for the proud — it’s for the broken. For those who know they need mercy.

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
— Romans 10:9

? For the Grieving

To those reeling from loss: Your tears matter. God is not distant. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, even knowing He would raise him. He is not indifferent to your pain — He entered into it.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
— Psalm 34:18

You may not understand why this happened. But you can know Who holds the future. And one day, Jesus will wipe away every tear from every eye — not with platitudes, but with justice and healing.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more… for the former things have passed away.”
— Revelation 21:4

Until then, we live in the tension of sorrow and hope. But we do not grieve as those without hope.

⚔️ Final Challenge: Whose Side Are You On?

In the battle between light and darkness, there is no neutrality. Either Christ is your Savior, or you are still dead in your sins. Either death ends your story, or it begins eternal life with the risen King. You are not promised tomorrow — but you are offered grace today.

“Choose this day whom you will serve.”
— Joshua 24:15

If you hear His voice today, do not harden your heart. Flee to the cross. Lay down your pride. Run to the mercy of God while there is still time.

Because in the end, Christ wins.
And every knee — including yours — will bow.

“At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
— Philippians 2:10–11

?️ Final Word

Let the murder of the innocent not just break your heart — let it awaken your soul.
Let the death of the refugee not just shock your conscience — let it stir your repentance.
Let the silence of the grave point you to the thunder of resurrection.

Evil is real.

Grief is deep.

But Christ is greater.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
— John 1:5
 
Death does not win. Christ does.
Let your life reflect that truth, before it’s too late.

There is a “spin cycle” for many when it comes to obedience to the Lord. It goes like this: We disobey the Lord, which results in sin. The Lord then corrects or disciplines us, which at some point results in repentance, and then the merciful and gracious Lord gives forgiveness. We then live in tune with the Lord until the “spin cycle” starts again.

This is not new. Thousands of years ago, the Israelites had the same “spin cycle.” In the Old Testament, in the book of Judges, after disobedience, and the resulting oppression, the Lord would provide a deliverer, a judge, to save the people. In Judges 3:12-14 we read about Israel’s disobedience and resulting oppression:

12 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 13 He gathered to himself the Ammonites and the Amalekites, and went and defeated Israel. And they took possession of the city of palms. 14 And the people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

The previous judge, Othniel, had died, so you would think the people would keep up their worship and obedience to God after the death of a judge. You would think Israel would obey and be faithful to His covenant. Not to be, and as soon as Othniel is no more, the people revert back to rejecting God and embracing idolatry. Why is that? Two possible reasons:

1)The priests and Levites. They not only oversaw the tabernacle, but they also taught the people the law and encourage them to obey it. It appears this responsibility was not actively done.

2)The parents. Jewish parents were to teach their children the ways of the Lord and be good examples for their kids. It also appears they did not do this as they should.

This is so critical today as it was in ancient times. The church needs to teach our children as well as adults. I can brag that our children’s Sunday School does this. Anyone who has volunteered in children’s Sunday School or is a parent with a child in Sunday School, can confirm that our children learn from the Bible. We also see discipleship continue as the children become youth, and then as adults. At RiverLakes Community Church we teach God’s Word. Likewise, discipling your children in the home is one of the greatest responsibilities for parents.

Back to our passage, who does God select as the next judge? A man named Ehud, a left-hander.

15 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.

Ehud is not a “top 10” Bible character. If you were to select a biblical name for your child today, you might choose David, Jonathan, Isaiah, Matthew, Silas, or some other well-known bible character, but not Ehud! I’m not aware of very many kids named Ehud, are you? In fact, it is estimated there are only 440 people with this first name today.

Back then, if the Jews had been asked to vote on a leader, Ehud would have lost on the first ballot. He was looked at with pity because of his left-handedness, certainly not someone who would rally a people to defeat an enemy, but this is who God selects. God used a “left-handed” deliverer to save His people. Ehud turned his disadvantage into an advantage because he depended on the Lord.

Why was this a disadvantage? In that society he would have been considered ineffective or tainted. No one would have looked up to him because being left-handed was thought as “damaged goods”. Yet, he is God’s choice. When you look up references in the Bible about “right hand”, they are all positive. Since most people were right-handed, the right hand was a symbol of power and ability. You fought with your sword using your right hand. But God selects someone completely opposite. God uses all types of people.

Let’s reflect on this. Think of what you were when you were called by God. You accepted Christ as Lord and Savior and then you depend on Him for all things, and the result is God uses you to further His plan. You might say, “Well, that’s true, but I’m not all that. What can God do with little old me?” A lot! The apostle Paul is clear about how and why God chooses to use us despite our unworthiness.

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 is very clear.
“Few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

God is a God of grace, not works. He takes and uses people who are not thought highly of in society to show that salvation is from Him, not from our own human ability. Paul says that God tends to choose people who are weaker socially, physically, and even morally. Why? So that no man can boast in the presence of God.

In our story, God chooses a lowly “left-hander” who leads Israel to victory and peace for many years.  Ehud depended on the Lord, despite his disadvantage. He offered no excuses. This is contrary to our human self that wants control and credit for what we do and accomplish. But when we truly to turn to God, we find that He demands complete heart surrender, and anything we accomplish is through Him. It’s not us. And God uses those who are willing to be used, so let God use you!

Philippians is my favorite book in the entire bible! It is the one book I return to over and over again for encouragement and faith - no matter what is happening in my life. Why? Because Philippians is all about trusting God… No Matter What! Because I believe Philippians has the answer for just about any question you may have about the Christian life.

Paul writes Philippians while being chained 24/7 to a Roman guard in prison, not knowing if he is going to be executed or released. Not knowing if he is going to live or die! He has been in prison for two years, but before this, he had been physically beaten, run out of more than one town, illegally arrested, spent another two years in prison in Caesarea, shipwrecked, stranded on an island, bitten by a poisonous snake, suffering from some “thorn in the flesh”; and yet he writes in Philippians “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (4:11-13).  Wow! Wow! Really?

How does he do that? What is it that Paul has learned that allows him to remain so joyful and trusting in the midst of such trying circumstances? Throughout Philippians I believe Paul is telling us what he has learned that allows him to find true contentment - no matter what! While he doesn’t tell us specifically what the secret is, (I sure wish he had – although I think God wants each of us to learn contentment for ourselves through our own circumstances-Eccl. 7:14), I do believe that Paul has summarized for us all that he has learned in chapter 1 verse 21 when he says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Paul has learned that it doesn’t really matter what happens to him, for he “wins” either way! Whether he lives or dies, he is going to be okay. Whether he stays chained up in prison or he’s let go, he is going to be okay; whether he has plenty or he has nothing, he is going to be okay.  If he lives, he gets to live for Christ and his purposes – he has things to do, places to go, people to see – to continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. And Paul knows that God will provide all that he needs to do that (Phil. 4:19; 2 Peter 1:3-4).

But if he dies, he gets to be with Christ immediately! How great is that? He can’t lose – and neither can we.  No matter what happens to us, we too get to live for Christ and his purposes. God has things for you to do, places for you to go, and people for you to see and He will provide what you need to continue to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world. When we really understand this - that no matter what happens we are going to be okay - we have found the secret to true contentment and to living a life of faith and trust in God. How does Paul live that and how do we live that?

In chapter one, Paul wastes no time in getting right into some of what he has learned that keeps him trusting God no matter what. In verses 3-11 of chapter 1 Paul gives us three things he has learned that have taught him contentment and faith.  

First, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting thanksgiving flow. Paul says in v. 3-5, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you…” Probably the least focused virtue in our lives and yet perhaps the most powerful virtue for learning joy and contentment is having a heart of gratitude, of giving thanks to God for all that he is and all that he has done for us.  Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we are to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  Paul is first and foremost focused on giving thanks to God - no matter what! How about you? Are you cultivating a heart of gratitude to God – no matter what?

Second, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting God’s work show. Paul says in v. 6-7 “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ… for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Paul focuses the spotlight on the work that God is doing “in them, to them and through them.” Whether in prison or out of prison, God is working through Paul and the Philippians for the defense and confirmation of the gospel. God is doing the work; God will finish what he has started and no matter the circumstances God is going to accomplish his purposes. We have the unbelievable and exhilarating joy to be part of what God is doing (Eph. 2:10, 4:11-16).

Third, we find joy and contentment when we focus on letting love grow. Paul says in v. 8-11, “and it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more… filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” The ultimate apologetic is love. The ultimate purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ is that people will come to love God and to love one another. This is Paul’s prayer and it ought to be ours as well. That we abound more and more in love for God and each other.  This is the ultimate focus that brings joy and contentment. Love that is pure and real; “love that is patient and kind… that endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

Have you found the secret to joy and contentment – no matter what? Here are three “first steps” to take toward trusting God - no matter what: focus on letting thanksgiving flow, focus on letting God’s work show, and focus on letting love grow.

While driving in Utah, on the way to our mission trip in Denver, we saw bunch of cows in open meadowland but there were multiple beautiful flowers, it was a beauty to behold. Amongst the manure grew wonderful flowers, a beautiful sight on the trip.

The Cross at the Heart of Christian Faith
The cross stands at the center of Christian theology, embodying the paradox of divine love and justice. As the Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." This statement encapsulates the transformative power of the cross, which theologians and philosophers have pondered for centuries.

N.T. Wright, a renowned New Testament scholar, emphasizes the centrality of the cross in Christian faith:
"The cross stands at the center of the Christian faith, not as a tragic accident, but as the fulfillment of God's purpose to redeem the world."
This underscores the intentionality behind Christ's sacrifice and its pivotal role in God's redemptive plan.

Reflecting on the Cross Through "The Wonderful Blood"
Tiffany Hudson's song "The Wonderful Blood" captures the essence of the cross with vivid imagery and heartfelt gratitude. The lyrics describe Jesus' blood as a "precious fountain" flowing from Calvary's mountain, washing believers clean and making them white as snow. This imagery echoes the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice, as highlighted in 1 John 1:7, which states, "the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

Hudson's song invites listeners to marvel at the simplicity and profundity of the cross. The pre-chorus asks, "Isn't it wild, doesn't it make you wonder how something so profound could be so simple?" This echoes the paradox of the gospel: the Creator of the universe humbled Himself to die for His creation, offering salvation freely to all who believe.

Theological Insights: The Cross as God's Deliberate Choice

In the bridge of Tiffany Hudson’s song, she sings:

“The cross was Your decision, but death was not the ending; You rose and now we're risen.”

This lyric rightly locates the cross not as a tragic accident, but as the centerpiece of God’s redemptive plan—chosen before the foundation of the world (cf. 1 Peter 1:20).

Paul affirms in Romans 6:4:

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

Lexical-Syntactical Note:
The Greek verb συνετάφημεν (synetaphēmen – “we were buried with”) is an aorist passive indicative, showing a completed action done to us—we were co-buried with Christ. This underlines our union with Christ not just symbolically, but spiritually and covenantally. It's not merely imitation, but participation in His death and resurrection.

✝️ Bonhoeffer’s Challenge on the Cross:

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

Bonhoeffer reminds us that grace is free, but not cheap. The cross invites believers into a death-to-self and resurrection-to-life. Jesus didn’t die simply so we could be forgiven—but also so we could be transformed. The cross is both substitutionary and participatory.
As such, theological reflection on the cross must ask: are we entering the tomb with Jesus so that we might walk in the resurrection power of newness of life?

Historical Context: The Cross in Early Christianity
In the early Christian church, the cross was a powerful symbol of faith and hope. Despite its association with Roman execution, Christians embraced the cross as a symbol of victory over sin and death. Early Christian writings, such as the letters of Ignatius of Antioch, reflect this transformation of the cross from a symbol of shame to one of glory.
In his letter to the Romans, Ignatius writes:
"Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones; let cutting off of members; let shatterings of the whole body; and let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me; only let me attain to Jesus Christ."
This profound devotion highlights the early Christians' unwavering commitment to Christ, even in the face of persecution.

Application: Living in the Light of the Cross
As we reflect on the cross, let us consider its implications for our lives:

• Redemption: Christ's sacrifice offers forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
• Transformation: Through the cross, believers are called to live new lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
• Mission: The cross compels Christians to share the message of salvation with others, as the Apostle Paul urges in 2 Corinthians 5:20: "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."

Conclusion: Responding to the Wonder of the Cross

In closing, let us join in the chorus of Hudson's song:

"The blood, the blood, the blood, oh the wonderful blood; Your love, Your love, Your love, oh the marvelous love."

May we continually marvel at the mystery of the cross and live in the light of its transformative power.

Reflective Challenge: As we contemplate the significance of the cross, let us ask ourselves: How does the reality of Christ's sacrifice shape our daily lives and decisions? Are we willing to embrace the challenges of discipleship, as Ignatius did, for the sake of knowing Christ more intimately?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son and His sacrifice on the cross. Help us to grasp the depth of Your love and the significance of the blood shed for our redemption. Empower us to live lives that reflect the grace and transformation we have received. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Elect Exiles (1 Peter 1:1-9, 13)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:1-2, ESV)

To the elect exiles. Wherever Peter’s audience was—Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, or Bithynia, all part of modern-day Turkey—they were exiles from their true home. Throughout Scripture, we’re reminded of this fact of our exile. I think God wants us to remember it! We are like the Jewish people, exiled from their home, but God has promised to bring us home to be with Him. Jesus told his disciples before his crucifixion,

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:18)

We experience both the present indwelling of Christ through His Holy Spirit and we have the promised hope of Jesus’ return in the future. Though our lives today might be “grieved by various trials” (1 Peter 1:6), we rejoice. Though we have not seen Christ (1:8), we love him.
 Our lives should be defined by this future expectation and hope:

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

How often do you think of the return of Jesus and of the New Kingdom? I think that the authors of Scripture thought about it a lot. Paul says that even creation is waiting for it with “eager longing” (Romans 8:19, cf. 23). How much moreso, then, should we? What will it be like? What will be different?

Pastor Matt loves the Lord of the Rings. I love the Chronicles of Narnia. Yeah, it has its faults, but it’s pretty awesome. In the last book of this allegory for the great story of Scripture, The Last Battle, one character describes his feelings at returning to his true home:

The Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Battle
It was the Unicorn who summed up what everyone was feeling. He stamped his right forehoof on the ground and neighed, and then cried: “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this… Come further up, come further in!

We’re going home.

Have you ever wondered, like I have, “who am I to proclaim the Gospel of Christ?” I’m not a great theologian. I don’t know or understand all sixty-six books of the Bible. I’m not eloquent. And while I’m being honest, I struggle with my sin nature (some days more than others). Isn’t this being hypocritical?

These are the common thoughts of humanity, and perhaps even spoken allegations from humanity to believers. “Who are you to tell me about the message of Christ when you are no better than I am?” The reason a question like this stings is because there is a critical part of the question that is true: I am no better. I know this because Romans 3:23 states that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. First John 1:8-10 continues in this vein with: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  Acknowledging that I am no better and can struggle in sin, eradicates the argument of hypocrisy. True hypocrisy would be to act as though I am perfect and without struggle.

Now we come to the second part of the question that needs to be addressed, “Who am I to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to others?” This is where I need to stop and take inventory of all that Christ has done for me through His life, death, resurrection, forgiveness of my sin (past, present, and future), that I am clothed in His righteousness, that He paid the penalty for my sin once and for all, and has written my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life so that I may live with Him forever. It is then that the question now becomes, “Who am I NOT to proclaim the Gospel of Christ?”

As was mentioned above, in proclaiming the Gospel, I don’t understand it all and don’t feel that I know enough, and am not sure I’m going to say it right, and (at this point, the true statement behind all of this is) I’m afraid I’ll look stupid. This is where the beauty of the simplicity of the Gospel comes into play. As was so wonderfully recorded by Paul in I Corinthians 2:1-5:

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.  

All we need to do, is to be willing to proclaim the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. When Jesus is lifted up, He draws all men unto Himself through the divine power of God.

The best way to proclaim the Gospel is not by having all the theological wisdom in the world, or by beating people over the head with the Bible, or by pointing out the sins of others. It is simply by proclaiming the transforming power of our crucified Savior through our own personal story. This is what Paul modeled in I Timothy 1:12-17 when he wrote:

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

What’s your story in Christ? My challenge is to go and share it with others where you live, work, and play. Share your story and then watch how the divine power of God can begin to work within the simplicity of the Gospel message.

When I first joined pastoral staff at RiverLakes Community Church, I was commissioned with the task of teaching for our Young Adults. The first book I chose to teach through was 1 Corinthians. It was during this time that I came across a term in a commentary that quickly became a favorite of mine and several others… that term is “Meaningless Imponderables”.

Meaningless imponderables are those things that some of us can spend hours laboring over in conversation. They’re the topics that produce circular conversation with no benefit. It’s the obsession with speculative doctrinal mysteries ranging from “Did Adam have a belly button” to “what language will we speak in heaven?”

Granted, I think there’s a reasonable and healthy curiosity that can be worthwhile to entertain. But there’s a difference between deep and distracting. Especially problematic is when these conversation venture into irreverence.

1 Timothy 6:20–21 (ESV)
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Not every thought is worth expounding. Not every conversation is worth having. Not every theological hot take is worth your time. Not every opinion dressed up as insight is from the Spirit.

This isn’t a call to avoid thinking deeply. But it is a call to think reverently and humbly. The thoughts we entertain and the conversations we have are deeply important. We move in the direction of our strongest thoughts. We profess the substance of our strongest thoughts… and for some, 1 Timothy 6:21 rings painfully true…


“By professing them, some have swerved from the faith.”
(1 Timothy 6:21)

But… not all mystery is bad.

There are things about God that are too big to fully grasp, and they’re meant to be. These are not meaningless imponderables but meaningful mysteries; truths that expand our minds and humble our hearts.

Speaking of God’s omniscience Psalm 139:6 says,
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.”
And again in Romans 11:3
Romans 11:33
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

The difference?

These mysteries don’t lead to confusion… they lead to worship.

They don’t pull us into pride… they pull us to our knees.

They don’t demand we master them… they invite us to be mastered by them.

Why this matters for all of us

The way we speak about God matters. The thoughts we dwell on matter. As the people of God, we want to speak in a way that builds up, not just stirs up. That leads people to Christ, not just to content.

So let’s be careful with our words. Let’s be thoughtful with our theology. Let’s resist the pull of spiritual noise. And let’s turn instead to the life-giving truths that have always been worth pondering:

• The mercy of the cross
• The wonder of grace
• The mystery of God’s sovereignty
• The beauty of His holiness
• The promise of resurrection
• The nearness of His Spirit

Not all questions have answers. But some mysteries are meant to be meditated on, not solved.

Ask yourself:

Am I impressed by my capacity or God’s majesty?
Am I proud of my knowledge or humbled by mercy?
Am I concerned with His glory or mine?

Here is a mystery worth pondering…  “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

National Day of Prayer was May 1, which was created in 1952 by Congress and signed into law by President Harry Truman. But this goes way back. In 1775 the first Continental Congress called for a National Day of Prayer. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln called for such a day.

It is a time to come humbly before God and seek His guidance and grace upon us as a people. We typically pray for our country, for one another, for our leaders, for churches, for families, for issues facing our nation today, and for those needing salvation. My request is that we pray for salvation for individuals who God has put on your heart. Pray that God would make the gospel known to them.  

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT) says the following:
“I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.”

Don’t you love this passage! Paul is encouraging young Timothy to pray with urgency as he recognizes God’s heart for every person to be saved.

Every one of us knows specific people needing to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. We’re encouraged to intercede and to make requests and to pray for them. We do this from a grateful heart because we know that the same God who saved us wants to save others. God wants all to be saved, which includes all types of people, some well-known but mostly people who are not known.

Here's a silly secular example of this point. For over 60 years, I have been collecting baseball cards, specifically vintage baseball card sets, which means I collect every card made from a particular card manufacturer for a specific year. Currently, I’m completing a 1963 Post Cereal baseball set, which has 200 players. As a set collector, I value all 200 players equally. In fact, the less well-known players are often the most difficult to collect because as a kid, you would focus on collecting Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, or Hank Aaron, not the lesser-known players. Just as God desires all to know Him as Lord and Savior, a set collector desires to obtain every player, or it is not complete.

Recently, our seniors who meet every Sunday morning at RiverLakes Church compiled a list of 170+ names of people they personally know who need salvation. They have committed to praying for them daily. You can do this too!

Ask God to show you at least one specific person in your life who is currently not saved. Lift them up in prayer daily. Remember, Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10), and James 5:16 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”

God hears the prayers of His children. We know what happens to those who die in their sins, and this prompts us to pray continually for the unsaved to respond to God’s call and join us in heaven!

Life in its purest form can be seen in the eyes of a newborn child. They are soft, they are vulnerable, they are simply a touch of perfection. They are born so fragile and dependent that without adults caring for them they simply could not sustain life on their own. In what seems like a lifetime ago, I worked in the medical field. During my time in that profession I worked in surgery assisting surgeons in whatever procedure was scheduled for the day. Two of my specialties were Neurosurgery and Gynecological procedures. On one occasion, I had the privilege of assisting in a vaginal birth that unfortunately resulted in the delivery of a baby too young to sustain life. In these instances, the parents are given the option of holding the baby until its last breath or, if unable to cope with the immense grief of watching their child pass, they can say their farewells and have a nurse care for the baby. It was under these circumstances that I witnessed the most heartwarming and heart-breaking encounter. A nurse wrapped the dying baby in a blanket, settled in a rocking chair and held the baby until it was no longer breathing. As I watched in silence, I saw the care in that nurse’s embrace, I saw her step in without hesitation and bestow this baby with the worth and dignity it deserved. There was no less care given because we knew the baby was not fully mature and had zero chance of survival; the baby was held in the highest honor even as we witnessed life slipping away. Each person in that room understood we were standing in the middle of a space between life and death, where beauty and tragedy embrace.

And so it is, for every baby who is lost through miscarriage, premature birth, illness, or abortion. The tragedy is in the loss of the tiny image bearer, the beauty is in the splendor of its conception…a spark of life created in the very image of its Creator…that is the sacredness, the majesty and the mystery of life. Genesis 1:27- So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. All human beings are set apart and marked with unique dignity and worth; we should marvel at our very existence and acknowledge each other accordingly. For when our Holy and Sovereign God gazes upon humanity, there is no life of less value or importance.

This sacredness begins with conception and slowly, as the baby develops within its mother’s womb, two lives become intricately intertwined. In fact, a woman and her child are bonded in such a way that if anything happens to one, it impacts the other.

+Psalm 139: 13-14 For you created my inmost being you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. This verse is about the beautiful wonder of the two lives intertwined during pregnancy.

In Genesis 21:8-21 we read a story about the dignity and worth of a woman and her child. It’s the story of Hagar and her son. In the wilderness God came to Hagar with a message of provision. He led her to life-giving water and told her of a future for her child. Abraham sent her away and Sarah insisted on her departure, but the Lord met Hagar during her greatest need. In the eyes of Abraham, perhaps Hagar had become a nuisance. In the eyes of Sarah, she was a threat, and in the eyes of the culture at that time, a slave girl had no rights; she was simply property at the mercy of her owners. How sad that we are not much different…we assign value to one’s life based on status, intellect, or wealth. And life in its simplest form is voiceless, and because of this, the frail form of an unborn child is often disregarded. That is why it is crucial that we as the church of Christ speak in honor of its value and worth. But we must do so in a way that also honors the vessel carrying the child. I’d like to provide some sobering statistics:

4 out of 10 women who choose abortion are regular churchgoers and profess Christianity.

Only 7% of women approach the church for help before getting an abortion.

By the age of 45, 1 in 4 women will have an abortion and nearly half of all unintended pregnancies will end in abortion. These women and children do not need picket lines, they need a grace-centered solution. They need tangible options and a lifetime of support and encouragement.

The way the church approaches this issue could be life-giving or life-depleting. So, how do we do this? I believe we find our answer in John 8:1-11. We must do as Christ did when confronted by an angry mob who desired to stone an adulterous woman and entrap him by His response. In what was probably audacious behavior, Jesus begins writing in the sand. He then dared someone to condemn the accused. After dealing with the self-righteous crowd, he then turned to the woman and gave her a grace-centered solution. Instead of condemning her, he did the most audacious thing He could, especially in an honor/shame culture. He forgave her and set her on a path of restoration. Together we can exemplify this posture. We can let our community know there is safety within the walls of our church. We can cover the broken woman and her child and stand beside those who are weak and hurting. And I believe we are doing this; we have setup ministries for the abortion minded woman, the single mother, the widow, the married, we have a ministry for those struggling in poverty, and one for the elderly, we have a counseling ministry ready and equipped to help a person who is dealing with any number of issues. And it doesn’t stop there, as God presents a need, we are stepping out of comfort and doing our part. This is how the church thrives–when each person is using their gifts to serve…that’s the Christ-centered solution. So, in honor of Sanctity of Life, let us continue to do the hard work, let us, draw the distinction between church and culture and strive to emulate our King with the confounding behavior of love in action and the audacious message of Christ’s hope.

How do you pray? Do you pray boldly and pray expectantly as the author of Hebrews said in Hebrews 4:16, which says: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Unfortunately, prayers are often one or the other: praying boldly but not expectantly or vice versa. Well, the Bible has one of the great stories of praying boldly and expectantly. In Acts, chapter 12, Peter has been tossed in prison by Herod. As he was in prison, fellow believers were at a home praying boldly and expectantly for him. Let’s pick up our story at verse 6:

Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. ⁷ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands.

Currently, 30% of all Americans have difficulty sleeping. Well, Peter did not, although he was about to be executed. How could this be? It "be” because Peter was content to glorify God, whether in life or by death. What a splendid example for us! As he is sleeping, he gets a wake-up call by an angel with a mom complex! The angel acts like your mom when you were a teenager. The angel pops Peter and says, “Get up!” And to emphasize this, the chains fall off Peter.

⁸ And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” ⁹ And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

The phrase “dazed and confused” applies to our groggy Peter. The angel goes back again to the “mom persona” and says, “Get dressed and follow me!” Peter obeys.

¹⁰ When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. ¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Peter is now free. The prayer group has been praying boldly and expectantly and God has responded in an amazing way. But Peter is now a wanted man, so he knows to go to the location of the prayer group meeting, which is at John Mark’s mom’s house.

¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. ¹³ And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ Recognizing Peter's voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate.

Visualize this: the church folks are praying intensely (boldly and expectantly), there’s a knock on the door, and the young servant girl Rhoda answers. She hears Peter’s voice and is so excited she leaves Peter outside in harm’s way because she couldn’t wait to tell the others.

What about those praying? Well, they can’t believe that their bold and expectant prayers have been promptly answered.

¹⁵ They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” ¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.

The prayer group must have been so overjoyed at seeing Peter they are whooping and hollering. But Peter is a wanted man, so he tells them to “nip it!,” then tells them to inform James (Jesus’ half-brother) and the others, and promptly skedaddles.

What do we learn from this fun story? Well, we cannot always expect God to do as we ask or give us what we want, but we can be sure He will always do what is right, which is His perfect will. Always.

We need to trust in the sovereignty of God because God is certainly able to do beyond all that we ask, so we should always be bold and expectant in our requests. Let’s all remember to pray Ephesians 3:20:

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more that we might ask or think.”

One last time: pray boldly and expectantly!

Isn’t it amazing how something of comfort, beauty, and appreciation can be experienced and then go worldwide? We have a local restaurant that serves, without a doubt, some of the best chocolate cake that ever went into your mouth. People will experience a bite and then take a picture of the deliriously delicious dessert in its clear clamshell container, then post it on social media for all the world to see and wait for the likes and comments. Yet when it comes to the things of Christ, most Christians have a “should I share this” mentality over an “I can’t wait to share this” mentality.

In the safety of my office, I begin to ask questions of “Why do believers have such a hard time speaking of Christ to others?”, “Isn’t Christ what this world needs? and Shouldn’t all Christians be shouting it from the rooftops?” Then I begin to rattle off a list that begins to feebly attempt to answer the reason of why. Perhaps it’s…

• Fear of rejection
• Fear of failure
• Fear of not knowing enough
• Insecurity
• Arrogance
• Apathy
• And so on…

Then I begin to realize that this list poured out of me not only because of why people won’t share Christ, but because these are thoughts and feelings that I have experienced throughout my life that have been obstacles of me sharing Christ.

The Bible even has verses that deal with not sharing and acknowledging our Lord.

Matthew 10:33 – but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

2 Timothy 2:12b – if we deny him, he also will deny us;  

Titus 1:16 – They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.  

Sideline confession. I am a struggling people pleaser and earlier on in my walk with Christ, these verses would have sent me down a path involving guilt, shame, and self-deprecation. However, praise be to God, these verses have now become an alarm, a warning that I am called to have a healthy, biblical fear of the Lord and not an unhealthy, worldly fear of sharing the Lord.

The phrase “fear of the Lord” appears over 130 times in the scripture, like:

Proverbs 9:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.  

Proverbs 19:43 - The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.  

Hebrews 12:28-29 - Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence (Greek word “eulabeia”, fear of God) and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

The fear of the Lord should empower us to please God over man.

Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.  

Acts 5:29 - 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

I Thessalonians 2:4 - but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts

Each of us, as a believer in Christ, has been entrusted with the saving news of Jesus Christ. And it is only by us that others can hear the gospel…

Romans 10:14 - How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Let us not allow the attempts of the enemy to replace the fear of the Lord with the fear of man and silence us from telling the truth of Christ to others where we work, live, and play.

We, as the church, are to have a healthy fear of the Lord. One that is submissive, reverent, full of awe, willing to glorify and trust Him. Where He is priority over everything and not to be swayed by the fear of man. We need to echo the words of Paul when he said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

As was mentioned earlier, we can so easily tell others about temporal experiences like a piece of cake and post them for the world to see. The Psalms tell us to taste and see that the Lord is good! He is truly the one that we should be experiencing, tasting, and telling the world of His goodness. Jesus Christ is the greatest source of comfort, beauty, appreciation, peace, love, and most of all salvation. Let us pray not only for a refreshing boldness to share His gospel, but also to be aware of the daily opportunities to share in word and deed.

Why pray? We pray for many reasons. For example, prayer is being obedient to God, because He commands us to pray.  
 
Philippians 4:6-7: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Prayer is an example given for us by Christ (Mark 5) and the early church (Acts 1). So, if Jesus felt it was worthwhile to pray, then we should also! We pray to help us with small decisions as well as big decisions. We pray for help in our day-to-day life and for us to live a life that honors and glorifies our Lord.  

We come to God with specific requests and have God’s promise that all our prayers are not in vain, even if we don’t receive exactly what we asked for. Sometimes, we don’t know how to pray which is where the Holy Spirit will help us.
 
Romans 8:26-27: “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[a] in harmony with God’s own will.”

There is a simple saying that says, “Prayers un-prayed will be prayers unanswered.” God said we often go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). So, clearly, prayer is essential in a believer’s life.  

One aspect of prayer is to simply pray Scripture. Maybe you do this now, but if not, it can greatly help your prayer life. Here is one example in God’s Word. In Acts 4, Peter and John healed a disabled man, then Peter started preaching. In the middle of the sermon, they are arrested. They spend the night in jail, then the next day face the Sanhedrin, who try to intimidate them to quit talking about Jesus. They refused and then they were released.  
Peter and John immediately go to their church family and the following happens:  

Acts 4:23-31: “When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
 
They immediately and spontaneously began to pray. They gave their situation to the Lord, and they prayed Scripture, specifically Psalm 2:1-2. They recognized that opposition is for people identified with Christ. They celebrated God’s sovereignty; they gave confidence that
God was in control working out His plan.  

The result is they are filled with Holy Spirit, which is realized by something we in California are all familiar with: an earthquake! Finally, it said they spoke with boldness, which is what all of us should have: boldness in the Lord!

Now, why should you pray Scripture? There are many benefits. Here are just a few of those benefits of praying Scripture:  

You should pray Scripture because…

• God’s people did in the Old Testament and New Testament. 
• Jesus did. 
• It glorifies God the Father. 
• It helps you focus on what is important. 
• It helps you understand Scripture better.  
• It helps you pray confidently because when you pray back Scripture, you can be 100% confident that the Scripture you are praying is pleasing to God; it’s His Word! 
• Often, when we don’t know what to pray, Scripture can give us the words. 

Below are just a few subjects with a Bible passage you could use in prayer:
Praising God - Exodus 15:2 “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him!”

Struggling with Lack of Faith – Mark 9:24 “The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (dad who had a young son with an evil spirit in him)

During Hard Times – Psalm 4:1 “Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”

Praying for Boldness – Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Praying for God’s Guidance & Direction – 1 Chronicles 16:11 “Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.”

Praying for Family & Friends – Colossians 1:10 - “Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”

God wants to hear from us. May God glorify His name in our lives as we come to Him often in prayer.  

So, I did a thing a few weeks ago. I brought home an eight-week-old puppy who we named Bubba. Bubba is my Time Eater. Yes, cute, teething, obnoxious Bubba is a voracious consumer of my time. He cares not that his momma has a full-time job, is a part-time student, a wife, a mother of four two-footers, a friend…no Bubba’s appetite of my time has no fulfillment. At his discretion, he will consume every fleeting moment of my days and nights. Yes, Bubba would wish nothing greater than that his human parents bow down and serve his 4/12-inch frame.

You may laugh at my self-inflicted crisis, but I am sure you also have in your possession a Time Eater…maybe it is your tv, or your social media accounts. Maybe it’s a new pastime, the newest bestseller from your favorite author; but I guarantee there is something in your life that, if left unchecked, would consume all your time and demand all your attention. The funny thing about Time Eaters is that they themselves have no regard for time.  Deadlines, healthy balances in life, moderation, these are not words in the vocabulary of a time eater. Consider the famous portrait of the melting clock by abstract artist Salvador Dali. This symbolizes the mindset of a Time Eater; they have no circadian rhythm, and no sense of satiety. Ironically, although they are insatiable in their consumption, their result in your life is slothfulness in all other matters.
 
To be clear, my Time Eater, Bubba, is neither good nor bad per se. He only becomes debilitating when I allow him to feed on my day. So, what happens when you allow your Time Eater to consume without restraint?  When the most important things in life are devoured by the eater of your time…What becomes of your family life, your friendships, most importantly where is the sacred boundary line which guards the time set apart for God? So now that we have the Time Eater defined, let us look to the word of God to see what He has to say on consumption without restriction.

First a warning to the one in possession of an unchecked Time Eater:
Proverbs 6:10-11 A little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Who is this armed man?
John 10:10a - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober- minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

How will he devour you?
Proverbs 18:9 He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.  
Proverbs 12:24 The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

And what is the outcome of a man who has allowed this great destroyer to become the slave driver of his home?
Consider the Parable of the Talents; Matthew 25:14-30 Let us focus in on the slothful servant who did nothing with what God entrusted him with and was rebuked as wicked and worthless. The consummation of his unfruitful life led to weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And now a commendation to the one in God’s possession:
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  
Matthew 7:24 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Who is this rock?
Psalm 18:31 For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

How will He deliver you?
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

And finally, what is the outcome of a man who has welcomed God to become the master of his home?
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special passion, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

The days are long, and the nights are short my friends. Give your time to the one true God who redeems every moment you surrender. And at the end of our time, we will gaze into heaven at the splendor of our King and enter his fullness with a hallelujah and amen. Amen?

In the city of Ephesus about 500 BC, there was a Greek philosopher by the name of Heraclitus. He is credited with the saying; “The only constant in life is change”. This quote has been passed along and requoted for over 2500 years, and there is truth in it. We can see through our lifespan from diapers to depends, change happens. Sometimes we have a voice in the change, other times (most of the time) it is thrust upon us.

There were some changes in my life that called for celebration… Getting my driver’s license, graduation, marriage, having children… But there were some changes that had an edge of pain to them… moving, surgeries, death of loved ones, division in the family. Even change that has been hoped for can have a twinge of grief. The decision that my wife and I made to have children. We were blessed with three beautiful daughters. We enjoyed our time spent with them, raising them, loving them. Then, one by one, they grew up, moved away, and started living their own life. They are doing exactly what we wanted them to do, but there is a part of me that grieves the change. Even perceptions change! Growing up, Psalm 90:10 was just a verse in the Bible (10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.) Today, it is a very weighty life verse, literally! And then, there are the changes occurring in our world, politically, morally, physically, etc. that are well beyond our control or influence, and sometimes all we can do is be spectators with most of it.

However, the greatest hope we have in this ever-changing world is a never changing God. Malachi 3:6 begins with “For I the LORD do not change” . When we focus on change, we can begin to be discontent, fearful and/or frustrated. But, when we focus on the Lord, we can find comfort in His presence and love. As it says in Psalm 90:14, “satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.”  

Another scripture came to mind as I was thinking on this theme of hope in change is Psalm 46:

1 God is our refuge and strength, 
a very present help in trouble. 
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, 
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 
3 though its waters roar and foam, 
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, 
the holy habitation of the Most High. 
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; 
God will help her when morning dawns. 
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; 
he utters his voice, the earth melts. 
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; 
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, 
how he has brought desolations on the earth. 
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; 
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; 
he burns the chariots with fire. 
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. 
I will be exalted among the nations, 
I will be exalted in the earth!” 
11 The LORD of hosts is with us; 
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 

As Heraclitus said, change is constant in this life, except when it comes to our wonderful immutable God. He is changeless, constant, comforting. He is with us!
 

How do you look at your life? Do you ever ponder the impact of your past, reflect on what is occurring currently, or think of what is still in front of you? One perspective is that life is a series of phases that occur throughout your life. One simple way to look at each phase of your life is by asking a pointed question.  

In your 20’s you might ask, “Can I make it on my own?”
In your 30’s you might ask, “What’s next?”
In your 40’s you might ask, “Have I accomplished what I set out to do?”
In your 50’s you might ask, “How do I manage it?”
In your 60’s you might ask, “Have I planned well enough?”
In your 70’s you might ask, “What remains unfinished?”
In your 80’s you might ask, “Will I lose my independence?”

And if you reach your 90’s, you don’t need to ask anything, instead, you can triumphantly say, “Lord Jesus, here I come!”

When do you think about your legacy? More than likely, a person’s legacy is not on their radar until they reach their 50’s, when you begin the inevitable “downside” of your life. But this is something you can ponder and plan, no matter your age.
First, it’s important to clarify the difference between a legacy and an inheritance. The Bible speaks about both. An inheritance is what physical “stuff” will be designated and dispersed after your death. These are typically things of value, like money, property, personal valuables, mementos, and so forth.  

A legacy is more intangible. It consists of values, wisdom, and memories. A legacy is your impact on those who outlive you. Think of a legacy like when you toss a stone into the water. It causes a ripple, and from it rings occur, even though the rock has disappeared.  So, it is with your legacy. It outlives you.

What is more valuable – an inheritance or a legacy? Well, an inheritance will be ultimately consumed and then it’s over. However, a legacy can be everlasting. Not everyone will leave an inheritance, but we all will leave a legacy, whether you have planned it or not. The key is if it’s being built by the Lord, it will last into eternity, which is a legacy worth leaving!

Jesus expressed this in Matthew 6:19-20. He said, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.”

What legacy do you want to leave? A wasted life with wasted opportunities? No, of course not! But that is exactly what Paul was thinking in 2 Timothy 2:1-7, when he wrote this letter to Timothy. Paul is nearing the end of his life, and he is encouraging the younger Timothy to stay strong in the faith after his death.

Paul suggests four very simple ways from your daily walk that will result in leaving a good legacy. Let’s read the passage to reveal those four things.

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

First, in verse 1, leaving a good legacy is simply showing grace towards others. Often, the greatest impact on a person’s life are people who have shown the greatest amount of grace to them.

Second, in verse 2, Paul highlights that a legacy can be given through words, especially how we use those words. Simply, once something is said, it can’t be unsaid. A legacy has been created – good or bad. So, think carefully before you speak.

Next, in verses 4-6, Paul gives three examples of staying focused on your task in life. He compares the Christian life to a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Now, especially in today’s world with social media, it’s easy to be distracted in life. Paul’s three examples all highlight hard work, focus, and discipline. The more disciplined we are and the more we exercise spiritual disciplines, the closer we walk with God and reflect His life to others, which is reflected in our legacy.

Finally, in verse 7, Paul speaks of wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to know what to do with the knowledge you have acquired. A wise person doesn’t always act on their knowledge. A wise person doesn’t always speak. A wise person knows when to speak and when to be silent. Acting out in wisdom is the key to leaving a great legacy.

The best example of this is at a “celebration of life” or funeral. Stuff vs. impact on others.
So, consider how you can fill your life with grace toward others. Consider the impact that your words have on others. Consider what is important and stay focused on it. And consider how to be wise with the knowledge you have. No matter at what stage of life you are at, think about your legacy. Whether you are in the later stages of life, or in mid-life, or just a youngster, utilize these four simple ways to create a positive legacy as you live out your life.

The best stories are those that have a theme of redemption and spiritual lessons we can apply to our lives.  One of those stories was portrayed in a recent movie release entitled, “The Boys in the Boat.”  It wasn’t a Christian movie (there is no mention of Christ or faith), but it spurred me to think of several spiritual lessons that could be applied to my life.
The movie is based on a true story that occurred in the mid 1930’s at the height of the Depression in America.  The story begins on the campus of the University of Washington in the Seattle area.  The Depression in the country is severe and times are desperate.  For students to stay in college, it required great personal sacrifice – working multiple jobs – forgoing meals – surviving on very little sleep – just to pay tuition and continue in school.
The main character in the movie is Joe Rantz.  Joe’s father decided to remarry and start a new life with a new family.  His father couldn’t afford to care for Joe, so at age 14, he told Joe he was a man and needed to make his own way in life.  Joe ended up living in an old, abandoned truck in a shanty town (similar to a homeless encampment today) and worked multiple jobs to survive.  However, he never lost sight of his dream to obtain an engineering degree from the University of Washington.  

After some time in school, there were no jobs to be found and Joe fell behind in his tuition payments.  One day a friend told him about tryouts for the Rowing Team at Washinton.  If he made the team, all of his tuition and room and board would be paid for until he graduated.  That seemed like a great opportunity.  The problem was there were only eight spots on the Rowing Team and hundreds of guys were in line to try out.  

By God’s grace, he was chosen as one of the eight guys for the Rowing Team.  I don’t want to spoil the rest of the movie for you, so I will skip to the major points and applications.  All eight guys selected for the team were from lower class families.  They were nobodies on a nobody team.  Their story is one of hard work, discipline, overcoming adversity against all odds and forming a bond together as a band of brothers.  Contrary to all human reasoning they end up winning the gold medal for the 8-man Rowing event in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany.

As I reflected on this movie, a bunch of spiritual life lessons came to mind.  I narrowed my thoughts down to five takeaways that I would like to share.

1.Many Members make up One Body (1 Corinthians 12)
a.I really had no idea about all that goes into Rowing as a sport before watching this movie.  I kind of thought it boiled down to the strongest rowers win the race.

b.To be successful in a Rowing event, it takes unity, teamwork, technique, and conditioning.  Each of the guys has a unique and distinct role on the team.  Eight guys working together as one unit in perfect harmony.

c.This picture reminds me of how Paul compares the body of Christ to a human body in 1 Corinthians 12.  Each person has a specific function and purpose that is necessary for the body as a whole.  Each person must work together in unity and concert in order for the body to be effective and whole.

d.As I reflected on the boat with eight rowers, it was a great image of the body of Christ.  A boat full of people who are desperate to be on a team.  The rowers in the movie were nobodies with nothing really to offer.  Yet, they learn how to row in perfect harmony and unity.  Every person in the boat had a unique and specific responsibility.  Everyone doing their job matters to the overall success of the team.  We all matter.  If we drop an oar, it hurts the whole church.

2.We must live by faith, not by sight (Hebrews 11; 2 Corinthians 4:7)
a. Rowers never see where they’re going.  The boys in the boat gave every ounce of energy they had with their backs to the finish line.

b.The Christian life is about faith.  Everything about it is based on faith.  God wants us to give everything we have and most of the time it is through faith, not by sight.

3.The Holy Spirit is the One who directs us (John 14:25-26; Romans 8; Ephesians 1)
a. Have you ever heard of a Coxswain?  He is the coach of the boat.  He puts on a megaphone and shouts instructions to the 8-man Rowing Team.  He sets the pace and steers the boat.  He is the only one who sees the destination and the competition.  The rowers look to and listen to him.  It is his job to get the team to the finish line.  He pushes and encourages the team and all 8 rowers must put their complete trust in him.

b.For all of us who have placed our trust and faith in Jesus, we are a new creation and have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit of the Triune God dwells inside of us and we have access to the power of the Living God at all times.  He is our guide, He directs our steps, He is the light unto our paths.  He provides us His wisdom, counsel and discernment and He gives us strength when we don’t feel like we can take another step.  We often can’t see ahead, but we can trust and follow His lead.

4.The Journey of life may seem impossible at times (Proverbs 3:5-6)
a.In the final race for Olympic Gold, the USA team starts slowly and falls way behind the favored German and Italian teams.  The situation looks grim and hopeless from a human perspective.  It seems completely impossible that they could cut the huge deficit and come from behind to win.

b.But, the Coxswain pushes the team to row 46 times per minute (they had never come close to that before).  They followed his lead and pulled out a miraculous victory.  

c.How many times in your life have you faced seemingly impossible situations?  Mountains that were in front of you and seemed like they would be impossible to climb.  My life has been a series of impossibilities like that.  And, Jesus, has continually asked me to row at 46 times/minute with my back sitting to the direction He was pushing me to go in.  And, unbelievably, He led me to victory.

d.I wasn’t supposed to try and figure out how to overcome the obstacles.  I was to listen to my Coxswain (the Holy Spirit), who asked me to go far beyond what I thought I could do.  I was to embrace the truths of Proverbs 3:5-6 – trusting the Lord with all my heart and letting Him direct my steps.

5.We live for Great Purpose (Matthew 28; Hebrews 12:1-3)
a. In the movie, Hitler watches his favored German team lose the race by a split second to the American team.  He was shocked and full of rage because his team lost.  The race was an important victory for the Americans with an evil dictator looking on.

b.In the same way, we are in a great race that matters to the whole world for all eternity.  We have an evil enemy who wants us to fail and lay down our oars.  We must persevere and endure and never give up.

c.As we run the race marked out for us, let us fix our eyes upon Jesus – let Him set the pace – let Him steer the boat – let Him instruct us.  And, as we fix our eyes on Jesus, let us keep rowing with confidence knowing that our victory is assured because He has already won the race for us.

Just about all of us fear something. It could be heights, spiders, snakes, getting a shot, being alone, germs, public speaking, or just general anxiety about everything. We all have fears.
The most famous scene of all time about fear is in A Charlie Brown Christmas, where Charlie Brown is depressed about Christmas. He goes to Lucy and pays his nickel to get help. For five cents (and the wonderful sound it makes rolling around the can),  neighborhood psychiatrist Lucy suggests he may have some fears. Lucy says:

“Are you afraid of responsibility? If you are, then you have hypengyophobia.” Charlie Brown responds: “I don’t think that’s it.” Lucy then says, “How about cats? If you’re afraid of cats, you have ailurophobia. Charlie Brown shakes his head and says, “Sort of…I’m not sure.”

Lucy continues: “Are you afraid of staircases? If you are, then you have climacaphobia. Maybe you have thalassophobia. This is the fear of the ocean. Or gephyrobia, which is the fear of crossing a bridge.” Then she nails it! Lucy says, “Or maybe you have pantophobia. Do you think you have pantophobia?” Charlie Brown asks, “What’s that?” Lucy says, “That’s the fear of everything.” Charlie Brown yells, “That’s it!”

Fear is something we all face, especially when it is something you have no control over. In the book of Joshua, chapter 1, verse 9, God tells Joshua the following:

 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Besides being “strong and courageous”, God told Joshua to “not be frightened.” How does this apply to us today? What did God mean? Well, the Bible mentions two types of fear. The first type is beneficial, and it is fear of the Lord. This type of fear doesn’t necessarily mean to be afraid, but it’s rather a reverential awe of God, a reverence for His power and His glory. But it is also a respect for His wrath and anger.

We know that fear of the Lord brings blessings. Psalm 111:10 says it is the beginning of wisdom and leads to good understanding. Proverbs 1:7 says only fools despise wisdom, and Proverbs 19:23 says fear of the Lord leads to life, rest, peace, and contentment. Gosh, I want that, and I know you do too!

The second fear is what God is warning Joshua about. It’s the spirit of fear mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” So, a spirit of fear or being timid does not come from God. But we are human, and fear can overcome us. The remedy is to trust in and love God completely. None of us are perfect, and God knows this, which is why He gives encouragement against fear throughout the Bible. Again and again, God reminds us to “Fear not.”

What a great encouragement for us all. Don’t be fearful because God is with us, and He has our back. A great example of this is in 2 Kings 6 where the young servant to the prophet Elisha was fearful because he looked around and saw a massive enemy army surrounding them. He says to Elisha, “What will we do now?” The circumstances looked hopeless from a human perspective. Elisha responds, “Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!” He then prayed and the Lord allowed the servant to see angels everywhere. God has our back!

Fears in our life can take many forms: maybe a relationship, maybe health for you or a loved one, or finances, or family-related. The biggest fear of all is often about the future, but when you understand God’s grace and mercy, you don’t need to fear the future.

The remedy is to pray for God’s peace when facing a fear in your life. When I realized I was going to have kind of a serious bypass surgery a few years ago, my first emotion was fear. Big fear. I finally gave that fear to the Lord, and I prayed for God’s presence and peace to calm me, and God provided that in abundance in an amazing supernatural way. Bottom line: God is telling us to not be afraid. Pray and give that fear to the Lord. Then stand still and watch God work. Let God take over because He will handle your predicaments so much better than you can, right?

Easter Sunday is less than three weeks away. Do you know where Jesus was three weeks before His death, burial, and resurrection? He was in Jerusalem for the final week, but what about three weeks before?

According to John, He was in the region of Perea, just east of Jericho, across the Jordan, the place where His ministry began when He was baptized by John (John 10:40-42). And John tells us, “…and there he remained.”

So, what was Jesus doing these final months before Passion Week? He taught a number of fascinating parables, most notably the Parables of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Sons. He had some memorable interactions with some key individuals, like the Rich Young Ruler and Zacchaeus. He performed some vivid miracles like raising Lazarus from the dead and healing blind Bartimaeus.

Even as Jesus waited for His “hour” to come in an obscure place, John says, “many came to him…and many believed in Him there.” And while it isn’t the point of why John is writing, I think there’s a spiritual principle here.

Jesus bids you to come and be with Him. True, He’s with you always by the indwelling Holy Spirit. But He doesn’t force you to pay attention to Him. He waits for you to turn your gaze and your affection toward Him. And when we do, He shows us more of His Marvelous Self, and we believe in Him afresh and anew, and we’re changed.

Let’s prepare for Easter by going to Jesus in our daily lives through His Word and prayer so that He can show us more of Himself.

As we all know, Easter 2024 is nearly upon us. I hope you will plan on joining us for Easter Weekend on March 29 – 31. I was recently asked by Bakersfield Life Magazine to answer the question, “What is the significance of Easter?” The following was my response:

Easter is one of the most important celebrations on the church calendar. It is a time when we remember that although death is the penalty for sin and our sins nailed Jesus to the cross, death could not hold Him. Having absorbed the full wrath of God towards our rebellion, His resurrection is the assurance that our sins will never be held against us, and our eternal hope is new life with God, of which Jesus is the first fruits. Therefore, we need not fear separation from God, nor should we fear death. Because Jesus lives, we also will live. We exist in relationship now with God in a way that makes life truly worth the living, and death is not the end because we are confident of a future resurrection with Jesus one day. All of this rich truth causes our hearts to sing as we exalt the one who has beaten sin and the grave.

The entire church staff and I are continually going to the Lord in prayer over Easter Weekend. Below are a few of the things we are petitioning God for, and I invite you to join us in praying over these things.

• That what Christ did would become personal to each individual.
• The word spoken would break people’s hearts.
• The lie that there are other ways to salvation besides Jesus would be debunked.
• That many who claim faith could be stirred to live it out.
• People of other faiths would look at the resurrection of Christ and its reliability and turn in trust to Him.
• Our church would represent Christ well.
• Unbelievers would hunger for Christ.
• Our church family would be bold in inviting the community to attend.
• People would have an increased sense of belonging and spiritual family.
• That the Holy Spirit would blow embers of faith into a flame.
• Those serving would do so as an expression of worship.
• That people who are truly hurting would experience God’s peace.

Staff Devotion from February 15, 2011

I’m not gonna be really spiritual today. I’m not gonna go through a passage with you. I’m gonna be really practical. I tried to think of some Scripture passages I could tie in with what I want to say but I didn’t have a lot of luck. Everything I’m gonna say has something to do with something a staff member has brought up as an issue over the years and it’ll be brief and practical.

Several years ago, when we had a Jr. High pastor named Joseph, we would go to breakfast occasionally. I remember one time at breakfast he asked me a question. How do you handle compliments? What do you say if somebody comes up to you after you’ve taught and they say, “You’ve done a great job.” Or if someone complimented you on what you’re wearing and told you something looks nice on you. What do you say, how do you respond to that? A lot of times we say dumb things, you know, if somebody thanks you for a great teaching job: “Oh don’t thank me, thank Jesus.” Somehow, we’ve got to sound spiritual or whatever. Or they compliment you on your sweater: “Oh, I got that from the Goodwill ten years ago.” What do you say? It’s really simple. “Thank you.” Just say thank you.

Now when somebody compliments me on a job well done (which is rather rare nowadays), I will normally say, “Thank you I appreciate your encouragement.” That’s all you need to say. Don’t try to sound spiritual or humble like, “Oh you shouldn’t have said that.” “I really don’t deserve that,” or, “If you really knew what kind of jerk I am you wouldn’t have said something like that.” Just say “Thank you.” And there is a Scripture verse that I can bring in: “In everything give thanks.” So just say “Thank you.” First, just say thank you. The next thing is shut up. Just shut up.

Another staff member, Rob, shared with me an experience he had. You know his Granddad was sick. He was really sick, so Rob went back to see him. He loves his Granddad. I got the impression he helped raise Rob and it just broke his heart to see the way his Granddad was. And he was really feeling bad about it.

So he came back from visiting his Granddad and he was sharing with somebody how he was still hurting. And in a sense what he was doing was grieving. You don’t just grieve over death. You grieve when someone you love is hurting deeply. And that’s what he was going through. And Rob was sharing this with a friend and the friend said something like, “You should be over that by now. You shouldn’t be feeling that way now. You’ve had enough time to deal with that.”  In that case, that friend should have just simply shut up. A Scripture verse for that is, “Weep for those who weep.” Don’t try to fix them. Validate their feelings. “Man, I can understand how you would feel that way because I know how much you love your Granddad.” But see this person was trying to fix Rob from hurting by telling him he didn’t need to feel that way. Never tell a person how they should feel or how they shouldn’t feel.  Feelings are involuntary. And if you want to relate to them, try to validate their feelings. They tell you what they’re going through and you say, “Man that must really be tough for you.” Never say, “Oh I know how you feel.” You don’t know how they feel even if you have had an identical experience. Everybody feels differently about things. But just validate their feelings. Just say, “Thank you.” Just shut up or validate their feelings. And the final thing is just show up.

There was a gal who worked in the office who was telling me about her neighbor that she had grown up beside and grew up with her neighbor’s kids. She was really close to this gal and a close friend of her mother who is in the hospital. It was serious and this staff person told me, “I just can’t go visit her.” And after I peeled myself off the wall and got in her face she said, “I don’t know what to say.” She wasn’t going to show up because she didn’t know what to say.

Now I told her you are going to show up. You’re gonna go visit her in the hospital this evening and you don’t have to worry about saying anything. Just show up. Tell her you love her but don’t try to be profound or provocative and, again, don’t try to fix her. You can’t fix her, but you can love her. And you’re showing love when you show up.

That has been one of the most freeing things for me in my ministry. I get called to have to go the emergency room, or a home, or a kid’s committed suicide, and typically I’d be thinking, “Oh, what am I going to say?”  Well, I don’t have to worry about what I’m gonna say. All I’ve got to do is show up, tell them I’m sorry for them, and that I hurt for them, but I don’t have to be provocative. I don’t have to fix them. You can’t fix people like that. But you can be there for them, and you can listen.

And typically, what happens when you show up is they’ll start talking. And you don’t have to worry about talking. You just listen because they’ll pour their heart out to you. And when you realize you can’t fix them and you don’t try to fix them, you don’t worry, “Well, I’ve got to think of something really wise or really profound.” You just got to be there and give them a hug. That’ll go further toward fixing them than anything you can say. I remember this guy loses his wife and a friend comes along and says, “Hey you’re young enough to get married again.” “Oh goodie! Thanks, I feel so much better now. Now that I know I’m young enough to get married, it’s no big deal my wife died.” You know, just don’t try to think about things to say. Just put it in the Lord’s hands.

The year 2024 is here and, of course, another list of the top 10 New Year resolutions. A recent Forbes Health/OnePoll survey listed the following top 10 resolutions for 2024 and there are no surprises:

1. Improve fitness.
2. Improve finances.
3. Improve mental health.
4. Lose weight.
5. Improve diet.
6. Make more time for loved ones.
7. Stop smoking.
8. Learn a new skill.
9. Make more time for hobbies.
10. Improve work-life balance.

These are all commendable but there is one glaring omission and it’s a big one: “have no bronze serpents.” What? That’s right – remove any bronze serpents from your life. Let me explain.
There is a story in the book of Numbers, chapter 21, where the Israelites are wandering in the desert, and they are big-time grumps. They gripe to God and Moses about the “worthless” food and lack of water. They gripe, and gripe some more. God responds by sending poisonous snakes to punish the people. The snakes bite the people, and many die. The people realize their sin and beg Moses to ask God to remove the snakes. Moses prays for the people, and God tells Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Anyone who looks at the bronze serpent will be healed. Moses obeys, and it miraculously works.

Now, fast forward about 800 years and we come to 2 Kings 18:4 where it says “He (King Hezekiah) removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).”

Did you catch this? They hung onto that bronze serpent for 800 years, dragging it everywhere they went. They finally made an idol of it, and called it Nehushtan, which simply means “a piece of bronze.” This story is applicable today, because it highlights what can happen when you make an idol of anything or anyone in your life. You might think you are more inclined to make an idol of “bad” things, but it is often the good things that slip in unnoticed, and it soon can take control of your heart. Good things and good people can easily become idols in our lives. This is contrary to our devotion to God, where our praise, worship, and adoration are to be given to Him alone.
So, a simple question as we begin 2024: can you say that you have no bronze serpents in your life? Does Christ reign in your heart above anything and anyone else? Jesus said in Luke 12:34 that “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” That means that what you invest your time in, what you talk about, what you keep thinking about in your mind, reveals what’s really going on in your heart. It’s just that simple!

The apostle Paul likewise says it so clearly in Colossians 1:18: “Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.” Get that? First place in everything!

So, let’s start this year with no bronze serpents in our lives. Let’s keep Christ first!

As we stand on the edge of a new year – I know it’s somewhat of a cliché but nonetheless it’s true - it is a good time to reflect on the year that is ending and look forward to the year that is beginning. It is also a good time for all of us to take inventory of our walk with God and where we are in our relationship with Him!

This is a great time to examine ourselves and see where we have been, where we are, and where the Lord wants us to go – to see who we are and who God wants us to be - especially for the year to come!  

Yes, while Paul in Philippians 3 tells us to “forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead” (v 13) he does not mean that we completely ignore the past. What he means is that we can’t live in the past – we can look at the past, we can reminisce about the past, we can mourn the past, we can celebrate the past, we can learn from the past – but we can’t stay in the past. We give our past to Jesus, we learn our lessons, and move forward to what God has for us today and tomorrow. We learn from the past!

Our past does not determine our future, but it does inform our future. It helps to shape us but does not control us. Whether it is our successes or our failures, God does not want our lives to be all cluttered up with the junk of our past. It is past – it’s done, it’s over – remember it, learn from it and move forward to what God has for you now!  

If you are young – think about how everything you do today will impact your future! If you are older, think how your past has already informed your life? How will it inform tomorrow?
God wants us, in the coming year, to walk by faith, to trust Him and to see our future through His eyes. To live in that living hope! (Heb. 12:1-3; Col. 3:2; Eph. 1:18)

With this in mind, here are 24 things I have learned from my past that will inform my future – particularly this coming year! 24 for 2024! What will God use in your past to inform your future?

Lessons learned: 

1. Contentment is a learned response of trust in God – no matter what He allows in your life – from the smallest inconvenience to the largest disruption! Contentment is learning to accept God’s answers to your prayers and trust Him for the outcome!  Contentment learns to trust God’s answers no matter what!  I’ve learned in the things of my life – everything from a dented fender to the early death of my dad – to trust God and learn to respond with contentment. (Phil. 4:11-13)
2. Nothing enters my life accidentally! God is not surprised by anything! God is a sovereign God who providentially intervenes in my life. He has promised and can make even the results of my sin or even others’ sinful choices work together for His glory and my good. I’ve learned that because He is in control of all things, there is no need to fear! (Rom. 8:28)
3. Breakfast for dinner is a great idea – but dinner for breakfast, not so much! Except for pizza!
4. God wants to use you where He’s already taken you! What He has allowed you to go through, He will use to encourage, comfort, or challenge someone else. This is the foundation of our counseling ministry - for God never wastes a hurt and He wants to use you and what you’ve been through to be able to identify with and connect with others who may be going through the same or similar things, in order to share His love with them.  I’ve learned that God uses the hurts in my life - virtually every week - to connect with others and their hurt – e.g. my son’s leukemia, or my grandson’s leukemia, a broken family relationship, financial setbacks, etc. (2 Cor. 1:3-7)  
5. God’s grace is sufficient! There is never a burden, a trial, or a strain for which God’s grace is not enough to meet my needs. I’ve learned that God always meets me where I am and makes me capable to do what He has called me to do. (2 Cor. 3:5; 12:9)
6. God’s mercies are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness! Go to Him every day and thank Him for it! I have learned in all my failures that His mercy is still there every day! (Lamentations 3:22,23)
7. Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. You spend way too much! Likewise, don’t make major decisions when you are really tired! You just can’t think straight enough. There will be trials of many kinds in your life; don’t make major decisions in the midst of them.
8. Whatever is happening or has happened in your life does not change who God is. As damaging, disheartening, difficult, or disturbing as the events of my life have been, God has remained the same. Because He is unchanging, - the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow - I have learned to trust Him to do what He says He will do. (Heb. 13:8)
9. Expectations are life’s greatest destroyer of joy and happiness! Expectations are the things we expect from others, from God, from life, and from ourselves. When our expectations are not met they set us up for failure, frustration, anger, resentment, bitterness – all the things that rob us of our joy. I have learned to keep expectations as realistic as possible and still have dreams.  (Prov. 3:5-7)
10. Community, relationships and church are necessary! In the same way that a recording will never capture the magic of a live performance or that a digital book will never be the same as a real book, relationships are not the same unless we are physically connected and involved with one another.  I learned, especially during Covid, that being connected on a screen was not the same thing as being connected in person. We need the body of Christ, in person, to help us. As the church, we need to make the time and sacrifice to spend time together, encouraging us to love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24-25)
11. You will always have something that needs fixing. Get used to it. Accept it. And ask for help! I have learned to ask for help.
12. Your family will include people with personalities that are very different from your own.  Get used to it! Accept it. I’ve learned that we can handle most people for some time, just not certain people all the time! Be wise about how much time you spend with them. The best definition of maturity, I know, is that maturity is being able to be in a relationship with another and not be pulled into their dysfunction. Which means me not pulling them into my dysfunctions, too. (Ps. 139; Rom. 12:18; 15:7)
13. God’s timing is not always your timing.  The process of waiting for anything is often frustrating, if not painful!  Scripture tells us, though, that waiting on the Lord is a good thing and can produce fruit in our lives. God works during waiting periods to refine us and help us see our need for Christ even more. Learn to be patient. I’ve learned that I can wait for some things better than for others, so I seek to find one thing I can do while waiting to make it more doable. (Is. 40:31)
14. Not everything has to make sense! I used to think that I needed to have the right answer for everything. Sometimes there are no answers, let alone right ones. But I have learned I don't have to understand everything because God does. While I know that God does not change and that he understands everything, things on earth are constantly changing. As much as we fight against it, change happens. Like the passage of time, all things change. We need to anticipate change and even prepare for it. Get used to it. Accept it!  (Is. 55:8-9)
15. In order to understand Matt’s sermons, you have to have watched “Lord of the Rings” and know all about Gandolf and Frodo!  Confession time… I have not watched Lord of the Rings and I frequently do not know what Matt is talking about.
16. The older I get, the less I know. I have learned that the more I know, the more I know how little I really know! Life is humbling that way. But I am thankful that I don't have to know everything because God is sovereign and knows everything and he reigns with perfect wisdom, knowledge, and insight. (Eccl. 7:13-14)
17. The older I get, the more of a sinner I realize that I am!  Paradoxically, (God loves paradox!) I have learned that the more you grow in holiness, the more you realize how much of a sinner you really are. It's not that you sin more, it's that more of your sinfulness becomes apparent. Unlike what happens with our eyes as we age physically and our eyes see less and less, as we mature spiritually, our vision becomes clearer and clearer, and we see better who we truly are and how much we desperately need God's grace.  (Rom. 6-7-8)
18. Many offenses can and should be overlooked!  In marriage, in parenting, in friendship, in work, there are many little things we make a big deal out of that we probably shouldn’t! Not everyone will put the toilet paper roll on the correct way. Get used to it. Accept it! I have learned that most of the arguments or conflicts people have are about opinions and preferences – they are not really about right and wrong!  Let people have their opinions and let them be wrong if they want to! (Prov. 17:9; 19:11)
19. The longer you live – the more junk you will accumulate! Get used to it. Accept it! And learn to live with it. I’m trying!
20. Treat others kindly and they are more likely to treat you kindly. I have learned that the golden rule – do unto others as you would have them do unto you – really does work and goes a long way in building great relationships. (Matt. 7:12)
21. You are responsible for you! I have learned that no one will want what you want as much as you want it – but we spend a lot of our time trying to convince others to want what we want as much – or sometimes even more – than we want it! How foolish because they are busy wanting what they want! So, the big question should be – what do you want? And what are you willing to do to get it? (Ezek. 18:20)
22. Weakness is okay! When we are young, we feel more compelled to convince people that we can do things on our own, that we are capable, and we have the answers. As we get older, though, at some point, we learn that we aren't as capable or as wise as we thought and that we have weaknesses.  Admitting and recognizing that we have weaknesses is a mark of growth and maturity. It helps us to stay humble, accountable, and teachable. In recognizing that we are weak it helps us to realize we need one another. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
23. We need the gospel every day! The gospel is not just for the moment of salvation, it is a reality that we need each and every moment of the day. We need frequent reminders of what Christ has done for us at the cross. Throughout our lives, we need to turn to the cross in repentance when we sin and be reminded again of the forgiveness and grace Christ purchased for us there. We need the gospel to remind us that we've been made new, and we are not who we once were. We need the gospel to point us to the day that is coming when all things will be redeemed. The gospel is something we never outgrow. (Eph. 1-2; 2 Peter 1:3-4; 1 John 1:7-10)
24. Having children will bring the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Your children may be in their 30’s, 40’s or even 50’s but they are, in your eyes, still your kids, and still need your advice. I have learned to just make sure they ask for it before you give it!

Remembering is an action that brings the power of God into the midst of your life. As we remember what he has done, it enables us to stop focusing on what seems impossible and instead focus on God - who does the impossible!  

Philosopher and author, George Santayana, is credited with saying something I think we are all familiar with: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” -George Santayana

Wise learning from our past informs our future. Our past is not meant to determine our future – it only helps in shaping it if we look carefully at it and learn from it!

Looking carefully at the past can give great hope for the future. May I encourage you to look at your past – let it remind you and motivate you to be who God wants you to be and to do what He wants you to do – in this coming year and beyond!