Beyond Words

Readings for today: John 1:1-3, Psalms 8, 104

Psalms 104 is one of my favorites. I imagine the Psalmist sitting down to compose this song about the nature and character and being and glory of God and basically running out of words. He writes and writes and writes, drawing on what he knows about God and what he sees all around him in creation. He uses all kinds of amazing imagery to depict a God who uses light like a garment and the skies like a tent curtain and the rain clouds for construction material and the winds for His chariot. This God is immense. One cannot see His beginning or His end. One cannot measure His height or His depth or His breadth. One cannot wrap their minds around His glory and splendor and majesty. One cannot begin to understand or fathom His power and authority. The Psalmist writes with wonder about God’s artistry and creativity. Over here is the deep, wide sea filled with innumerable creatures. Over there are the smoldering mountains where the wild goats play. It’s awe-inspiring to say the least.

And yet, none of this is possible without Jesus. The Word who was there at the beginning. The Word who was with God and fully God. The Word through whom all things were created. This Word gives life and light to all He has made. And most incredibly of all, as we will see when we get to John’s Gospel in our readings this year, this Word becomes flesh and blood and makes His dwelling place among us. The same Word that spoke all creation into existence speaks to us. He uses our words. He uses our voice. He speaks to us in a language we can understand. He teaches us using imagery we can understand. He reveals to us the nature and character and glory of God in terms we can understand. Jesus is the One who bridges the gap between heaven and earth. Jesus is the one who heals the division between God and humanity. Jesus is the one who tears down every dividing wall of hostility that once separated us from God. He is before all things and in Him all things are held together.

All things are held together. Including you. Including me. Including this broken world. You may be starting the new year on a high note. Everything looking good. Everything looking up. Everything going your way. Praise the Lord! Thank God for the many ways He has sovereignly orchestrated your life to bring you to this place of blessing. You may be starting the new year on a low note. Everything falling apart. Everything in pieces. Praise the Lord! Ask God to do what only He can do which is put the pieces of your life back together for your good and for His glory. You may find yourself somewhere in between. Again, praise the Lord! Look to Jesus to perfect your faith in the year ahead as you navigate the peaks and valleys that are sure to come.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 3-5

New Year’s Resolution

Readings for today: Genesis 1-2

“Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water.” (Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭NET‬‬)

In many ways, each new year begins “without shape and empty.” The future is dark and uncertain and unknown. Sure, we all have our plans. We all make our resolutions. We all know how we would like each year to go but how many years actually go to plan? How many years follow the script we lay out in early January? Take a moment and reflect back on the past year. How many of your resolutions did you end up keeping? Did you stick with your diet? How often did you go to the gym? Did you save what you hoped? Did your investments pan out? Did you achieve the professional success you hoped for? Did you earn that degree? Did your relationships improve with those you love? Did you read through the Bible in a year? ;-) If you are like most, you won some and lost some. Life didn’t go quite the way you wanted.. The year didn’t turn out the way you hoped. Unexpected expenses came up. Unexpected obstacles got in your way. Unexpected crises derailed even your best laid plans.

So what if 2026 is different? What if, instead of you making your plans and setting your goals for this year, you let God fill the empty space? You ask God to shape what is currently “without shape” and form what is currently “formless?” What if you let God be the light in the darkness? The lamp for your feet and the light for your path? What if you let God order the chaos of your life rather than striving so hard to bring things under control? At the dawn of creation, everything was shapeless. The universe was void and empty. There was nothing but darkness and chaos. And life can feel that way at times. But the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the primordial deep just like He’s moving over the surface of your life today. What if you let Him set the agenda for your life this year? What if you asked Him to reveal His plan for your life before you made your own?

I know this may sound scary if you’ve never done it before. It’s not easy for us to give up control. You may not even know where to begin. That’s okay. All of us have to start somewhere. Thankfully, it’s not complex. Start small. Pray and ask God to show you what He wants for your life on a given day. Ask Him for wisdom for every decision. Ask Him for grace for every relationship. Ask Him to give you a heart of compassion and mercy for everyone you meet. Ask Him for power to meet every challenge. At the end of each day, take a few moments to review how things went. Where did you see God show up? How did you feel throughout the day? What were the points of tension? What were the moments when you felt at peace? Is there anything unresolved? Anything left unformed? Empty? Dark? Ask the Spirit of God to order those places that remain chaotic and trust Him with the result.

It’s important to note this is not a call to passivity. It’s not a call to sit back and do nothing. Quite the opposite. In my experience, the Spirit of God will challenge and stretch you in ways you never would have chosen for yourself. In fact, He will often take you beyond your strength and beyond your wisdom and beyond your ability so that you learn to rely on Him. But as you partner with Him, you will find yourself more fulfilled and more satisfied than you could possibly imagine. So take it one day at a time. Don’t sweat it if you fall short or forget. Get right back into it and let the Lord fill your life. Trust when I tell you it will be worth it!

Readings for tomorrow: John 1:1-3, Psalms 8, 104

Fulfillment

Readings for today: Revelation 19-22

I love the image of a new heavens and new earth. Creation redeemed. Creation renewed. Creation restored to its original glory. God finally putting an end to sin and evil and death once and for all. This is the fulfillment of God’s salvation plan. It’s the final act of the divine play that’s been working itself out since the opening words of Genesis. And as you let these words sink into your soul, take note of a few important things.

First, the new creation will be like a bride adorned for her husband. I remember well my wedding day. My wife has never looked more beautiful. Never more pure. Never more perfect than at that moment she walked down the aisle. (I have never felt more unworthy either!) The same is true for the new creation when it comes. God has always intended to have a relationship with His creation. He desires depth. Intimacy. Complete and total transparency. The kind of relationship we can only dream about this side of heaven. The kind of relationship of which human marriage is but a foretaste.

Second, there is no Temple. God is fully present and we are fully able to experience His presence in our glorified, resurrected bodies. God literally takes up residence with us. He can be seen. Touched. Heard. He wipes away our tears. He heals our infirmities. He makes us finally, completely, and utterly whole. There is no need for sun or moon for God will be our light. There is no need for walls or guards for God is in perfect control. There is no need for judgment or punishment for all the nations of the earth will walk in the light of the Lord and will bring Him the worship He deserves.

Third, there are no divisions in the new creation. No human distinctions to keep us apart. Every dividing wall of hostility will finally be torn down. The New Jerusalem is built on the foundation of the twelve apostles and her gates represent the twelve tribes. In other words, God will gather His people - Jew and Gentile alike - together and make them one. He will gather His people from every tribe, tongue and nation before His throne and all that separates us will fade away like mist before the Lord.

It’s a beautiful picture, is it not? Now here’s the challenge. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. We ask for the church to be a living reflection of this future glory. We ask for God’s will to be done in our lives. In our community. In our nation. In our world. How are we living and acting and speaking and treating others so that they see the new heavens and new earth emerging in our midst? How are we presenting to the world a picture of heaven? How are we giving those around us a foretaste of what’s to come through what we say and do?

Becoming more like Christ is more a marathon than a sprint. It involves a long obedience in the same direction. I hope you’ve gleaned that if nothing else from your reading this year. God is at work across the centuries and across the generations. His primary desire is to make us more and more into the image of His Son. To restore us to the image He originally intended for us to bear. May the Lord continue His work in us and among us and through us until He comes again! Maranatha!

Judgment

Readings for today: Revelation 14-18

I know a young man who grew up in our church family who has become an atheist. He and I dialogue from time to time about all that is wrong in the world. He simply cannot bring himself to believe in a good and all-powerful God when there is so much evil and suffering and heartache and pain. I have to admit I sympathize with him. I’ve seen man’s inhumanity to man firsthand. I’ve been to refugee camps and seen victims of attempted genocide. I’ve spent time with those dying of starvation or drought or famine. I’ve prayed with good friends who’ve been attacked and beaten and threatened for their faith. I’ve sat the bedsides of those dying of cancer. I’ve spent time in memory care units with those suffering from dementia. So I can understand where this young man is coming from. At the same time, I’ve challenged him. What if the problem isn’t God but us? What if the issue is the person looking back at us in the mirror? After all, my young friend does very little - by his own admission - to alleviate suffering. He does very little to help those in need. He gives no money. He gives no time. He takes no personal responsibility and this, I believe, is the root of our problems.

When God created the heavens and the earth, He created humanity in His own image. He gave us authority and dominion over all He had made. He entrusted His creation into our hands. He set us up as stewards and through our work the earth would flourish and thrive. He also gave us agency and free will. He didn’t want a slave, He wanted a partner. He wanted someone who would care about creation as much as He does. Tragically, we rejected our partnership with God and went our own way. We wanted creation for ourselves and what have we done with it? Exploited it. Abused it. Even raped it at times. We see creation as an expendable resource to satisfy our selfishness and greed. The result is pain. Suffering. Heartbreak. Human beings have an insatiable appetite so those who have much seek more and refuse to share with others. The result is a disproportionate allocation of resources. Some have more than they need while others do not have enough to survive. And rather than try to rectify this situation, we tend to double down. Might makes right. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. It’s survival of the fittest on a global scale.

This is why God will bring an end to this world. He simply will not allow injustice and oppression and sin and evil to have the final word. He will not allow the pain and suffering to go on forever. He will not allow death to have the final victory. But the crazy thing about today’s reading for me is the grief that humanity experiences when Babylon finally falls. One would think humanity would rejoice that her tyrannical reign had come to an end. But those who enjoyed her sensual and excessive ways. Those who profited from her unjust economic systems. Those who benefited from the world she created will all cry out at her destruction. “Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the mighty city! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” (Revelation‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬) Why? They know their time has come as well. They placed their trust in the principalities and powers of this world rather than God and now they must face the consequences of that terrible, tragic choice.

At the end of the day, we will all have to face the judgment. At the end of the day, every single one of us will appear before the Lord on His throne. On that day, we will finally have to take personal responsibility for all the choices we have made. Every single decision in our lives. There will be no one to blame. God will hold a mirror up to our souls. We will finally understand the depth of our sin and how we have personally contributed to the pain and suffering and brokenness in our world. It will break us. Completely. Finally. Utterly. And the only hope we have is Jesus. If we have placed our faith in Jesus, He will stand in our place. If we have placed our faith in ourselves, there will be no one to take our place.

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 19-22

Christmas

Readings for today: Revelation 11-13

Christmas Day. The day the world shifted on its axis. The day the Kingdom of heaven established a foothold on earth. The day the Messianic plan of God found fulfillment. In a very real sense, today is the beginning of the beginning of the end. The end of the world as we know it. The end of suffering and pain and grief and death. The end of sin and evil and the works of the devil. From this point forward, the enemy will be in retreat. From this point forward, the forces of darkness will flee before the light. From this point forward, death begins to work backwards as Christ begins to establish His rule and reign over all He has made.

This is why I loved reading the cry of victory from Revelation this morning. “The seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.“ The twenty-four elders, who were seated before God on their thrones, fell facedown and worshiped God, saying, “We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, but your wrath has come. The time has come for the dead to be judged and to give the reward to your servants the prophets, to the saints, and to those who fear your name, both small and great, and the time has come to destroy those who destroy the earth.” Then the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant appeared in his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder, an earthquake, and severe hail.” (Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬) While we have yet to hear the seventh trumpet, the birth of Christ is God’s guarantee that one day soon it will blow. By sending His only Son to become flesh and blood and take on a fully human nature, God is guaranteeing His final victory. He is giving us every reason to place our trust in Him. We don’t have to wonder. We don’t have to worry. We don’t have to play the odds or take bets. Christ is God’s answer to all that wrong in the world. Christ is God’s guarantee that all will be made right.

As I said earlier, today marks the beginning of the beginning of the end. This is why the angel calls the birth of Jesus “good news of great joy for all the people.” Today presents an invitation to every human being living on earth to join the winning side. Become part of the winning team. Because of Jesus, the Temple of God in heaven is now open. We have access to 24/7 into the presence of God Himself. God has taken the extraordinary step to establish a relationship with us. And the celebration of Christmas is our chance to respond to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 14-18

Sing!

Readings for today: Revelation 6-10

Why do Christians sing? I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been asked that question over the years. Why is singing such a significant part of Christian worship? Why do Christians from every tribe and nation and people group spend so much time and energy creating new songs? Adding new styles and rhythms to the great hymnal of the saints? Why are Christians so passionate about music? To the point where they even get into fights over it! ;-) After all, especially in the West, we are not a “singing” culture. We don’t get together to sing anywhere else in our society. At best we sing in the shower or in the car as we drive to work. We might sing at concerts but that’s about it. We don’t read music anymore. We don’t join choirs anymore. Sure, we enjoy music but as a spectator not a participant. So why then does the church still gather to sing?

In the Book of Revelation, it’s clear that heaven is full of singing. The angels sing. The seven spirits of God sing. The elders sing. All the saints who have gone before us - myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands - join their voices together to give praise to God. They speak every language. They come from every culture. They all have their own unique musical expressions. They even write new music! Music that captures the heart of the gospel. “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB)‬‬ “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭CSB)‬‬ There’s just something about music that moves the heart. Far more than words. Far more than sermons. Far more than even personal testimonies. Music taps something deep inside us. When we sing together, we literally become part of something bigger than ourselves. A sense of community develops. We experience the power of the many becoming one.

There’s nothing quite like it…at least on earth. But heaven is a place where all the barriers that divide us are torn down. All that separates us is replaced by an intimacy and a unity so deep and so profound that perhaps the only way to appropriately express ourselves will be to sing. Sing the songs of Zion. Sing the songs of Emmanuel. Sing the songs of the gospel. The church is called to “rehearse” this reality. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. The church is where we learn to sing so we can be ready to join the heavenly choir when our time comes. The church is where we get a foretaste of the reality to come and it’s why we spend so much of our time singing. It doesn’t matter whether we can hold a tune. It doesn’t matter whether we can carry a note. It doesn’t matter whether we have rhythm or not. All that matters is that we sing from the heart. All that matters is that we give praise to Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 11-13

Revelation

Readings for today: Revelation 1-5

I always find it strangely appropriate to end each year with readings from the Book of Revelation on the 2nd coming of Jesus even as we celebrate His first coming on Christmas Eve. Today is Christmas Eve eve. The day before the day. The day before God invades time and space and history. The day before eternity enters our temporality. The day before the Almighty comes to dwell with us. Even the idea of “revelation” is a shocking one when we stop to think about it. Why would God reveal Himself to us? Why would God cross the universe to be with us? Why would God become one of us? Before we get past the title of this book, we need to pause and reflect on the remarkable nature of a God who wants to be known. A God who wills be to known. A God who makes Himself known.

Too often we brush past these important questions. We approach the Book of Revelation as a roadmap or a timeline for the end times. We want to know when things will happen. How things will happen. When will God come again and make all things new. But the reality is no one really knows and the Book of Revelation is notoriously difficult to decipher and understand. So as you wade into this final book of the Bible, here are some basic ground rules. First, Revelation is written by John while in prison on the island of Patmos. In order to get this letter out to the churches, John had to write it in code. The Roman authorities would have screened every piece of communication coming in and out of the prison so John had to be careful. Second, the writing is “apocalyptic” which is a very specific style of writing known to many in the ancient world. The fantastic images and visions are hallmarks of this type of literature. Third, the churches John is writing to are under persecution. They are facing the prospect of torture and death on a daily basis. This book is meant to encourage and equip them so they can endure in the rough days ahead. Fourth, many different Christians approach this book from many different interpretive angles. There is no one way to read this book and we want to make sure to extend liberty and charity to one another as we go. Wherever you land on the “end times” theological spectrum, what’s most important is that we all agree Jesus will come again. 

Revelation is written to reveal God. That may seem obvious but it’s easy to forget. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬) God spoke the first Word in creation and God will have the last Word in consummation. He who began all things, will bring them to a close according to His will and good pleasure. God is. This is all we know. This is really all we can say. God stands outside the time and space continuum He created and will remain there looking in until He determines when it is right for His return. As John said in His Gospel, God revealed Himself to the world but the world did not recognize Him. He revealed Himself to His people, His family, and they rejected Him. When He comes again, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. So it is to be. Amen.” (Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭CSB‬)

These are important words to reflect on as we end the year. They provide a good spiritual barometer to help us discern how ready we truly are for Christ’s return. Have we abandoned our first love? Are we facing persecution for our faith? What idols do we cling to? Do we tolerate sin? Are we ambivalent towards the gospel? Is our faith lukewarm at best?

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 6-10

Discernment

Readings for today: 1 John, 2 John, 3 John

Discernment is a lost art. The ability to determine right from wrong. Truth from falsehood. Good from evil. In fact, recent studies have shown how challenging it is for people to identify fake news, debunk conspiracy theories, and identify propaganda. The crisis is compounded by the rise in online warfare as nefarious people, influencers, and organizations weaponize social media to sow seeds of dissent and confusion in societies that value free speech. All this is made possible, of course, by post-modern philosophies that started taking hold in the 20th century where truth was intentionally relativized, individualized, and marginalized. The results are not good. We are more depressed than ever. More anxious than ever. More dis-integrated than ever. The social fabric of our culture tearing apart at the seams.

Over and against the prevailing winds come these words from the Apostle John, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.” (1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The Graeco-Roman world was a lot like our own. People did what was right in their own eyes. It was a culture that showed little to no restraint. People were encouraged to engage in whatever behaviors felt good and right at the time. John is writing to Christian believers who are trying to remain faithful to Jesus in the midst of all the mess. He wants them to be able to know right from wrong. Good from evil. Truth from error. So he offers them a roadmap, a decision-making matrix that will allow them to find the godly path.

Test #1: Does the thought, attitude, or action align with Jesus? Does it reflect the ethics of the Kingdom of God? Does it bring honor and glory to His name? Will following the “spirit of the age” lead one to confess or deny Jesus?

Test #2: Resist temptation. Once one determines what is good and true and noble and right and godly, one must resist the very real temptation to go the other way. To listen to the false prophets. To follow the ways of the world. It’s tempting to think we are at the mercy of our feelings. Trapped by our biology. Helpless in the face of our circumstances. But these are lies from the spirit of the anti-Christ. John promises that in Christ we have the power to overcome temptation because greater is He that is in us than is in the world.

Test #3: Hold fast to your identity in Christ. No matter what challenges may come. No matter what difficulties you may face. No matter how much stress and anxiety and fear you may endure. You are from God. You are in Christ. Your heart has been transformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Listen to God’s Word. Obey God’s commands. Trust in His will and His way for your life.

I know I’ve found these three tests to be true in my own life. They’ve kept me from running my life into the ditch time and time again. By employing them regularly, I have also learned to listen to the Holy Spirit. I’ve learned how to discern His voice among the cacophony of others that demand my attention. And as I listen to the Spirit and learn from the Spirit and live by the Spirit, God has made my life a living demonstration of the gospel in action. I could ask for nothing more.

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 1-5

Paradox

Readings for today: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude 1

The Christian faith is full of paradox. Ideas that seemingly don’t go together. Illogical impossibilities. Take the doctrine of the Trinity for example. How can God be One God in Three distinct Persons at the same time? Or the Incarnation. How can Jesus be both fully God and fully human? Recently, I was talking to a friend about the paradox of predestination and freewill. He wanted to know which comes first. God’s action in regenerating the human heart or the human decision to open oneself up to God? And if God moves first, is it even possible to resist Him or is salvation a forgone conclusion and if that’s true, doesn’t it make a mockery of free will? These are important questions that cause us to wrestle with mysteries our finite human minds simply don’t have the horsepower to comprehend. It’s why the Bible makes it clear that God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. It’s entirely possible that what we might consider an “either/or” from the perspective of human logic is actually a “both/and” according to God’s logic.

Take our reading from today as an example. Peter says, “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection,  and brotherly affection with love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭CSB)‬‬ This absolutely tracks for me though it doesn’t make much sense. God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness and yet we still have to make every effort to supplement our faith with godly qualities and character so we can be useful to our Lord Jesus Christ. Some want to push back on Peter and say, “Which is it?” Is it God’s divine power that enables us or our own will and effort? If God has given us all we need then why do we need to “supplement” what He has done? Isn’t this introducing works-righteousness into God’s great salvation plan? I don’t think so. I think Peter is simply echoing what God’s people have known from the beginning. Yes, God has acted decisively within history and within our hearts to bring about salvation. At the same time, those who have been saved still need to make every effort to become the people has called us to become in Christ.

It’s “both/and” not “either/or.” The Apostle James says something similar when He argues that faith without works is dead. One simply cannot settle for one or the other. Nor can one pit one against the other. Both are necessary. God’s divine power effects saving faith. Our effort is the evidence of saving faith. So if God has truly delivered you from darkness into the kingdom of His marvelous light, then make every effort to be the light He has created and called and saved you to be this Christmas!

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Godly Wisdom

Readings for today: 2 Timothy 1-4

One of things I love about the Apostle Paul is his ability to apply the gospel to real life. For example, his second letter to Timothy is full of practical advice. Godly wisdom that will guide Timothy in the years to come. Long after Paul has passed from the scene to go to be with Christ. Timothy is a young leader. Inexperienced. He is serving a church in a very challenging environment. Ephesus was one of the major cities of the Roman Empire. The center of banking for the region. It even had an ancient wonder of the world - the Temple of Artemis - that drew pagan worshippers from all over the world. And Timothy was charged to lead a gospel movement in this particular city. The leaders of the early church had laid hands on him and assigned him this task. It would not be easy so Paul does all he can to help him out.

“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus…Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus…Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound…Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth…Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬, ‭8‬-‭9‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭22‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

First and foremost, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Timothy won’t be able to accomplish this task in his own strength and wisdom. The success or failure of this endeavor doesn’t rest on Timothy’s effort and hard work. Timothy must lean on Christ, trust in Christ, and rest in Christ if he is to advance Christ’s Kingdom.

Second, Timothy should expect to suffer. Suffering is part and parcel of the Christian experience. Much like a soldier entering battle, Timothy should expect to get hit and get hurt. Paul himself is writing these words from prison so he knows what he’s talking about. This is a call to endurance more than anything not a call to fight back. It is a call to engage violence with non-violence much like Jesus Christ.

Third, if we are going to suffer, make sure it is for the gospel. Don’t trip over yourself trying to play the political and social games of this world. Don’t get wrapped up in intrigue and gossip and slander. Don’t take sides with the different parties and factions in the city. Remember Jesus Christ. Hold fast to the Word of God which cannot be chained.

Fourth, make sure to encourage the other believers to follow your example. Fighting over useless words is not the answer. Fighting for scraps from the world’s table is not going to satisfy. Instead, cling to the Word of truth. The words of eternal life given to us by Jesus.

Finally, flee from all temptation and sinful desire. Say “no” to anything that might compromise the witness of the gospel in the world. But, of course, staying faithful to Jesus is not just about what we say “no” to but what we say “yes” to as well. So pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace. Fill yourself with these things and there will be no room for gratifying the sinful nature.

Such great advice! Not just for life as a Christian in the first century but life as a Christian in the 21st century as well!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude 1

Covenant

Readings for today: Hebrews 9-12

God has always related to His people through covenants. In the Garden of Eden, God established a covenant of works with Adam and Eve. It was based on their perfect obedience. The reward was eternal life and blessing in the intimate embrace of the Triune God. We don’t know how long Adam and Eve walked with God. We aren’t told how many years or decades or even millennia they enjoyed perfect fellowship with Him. We only know the covenant was broken the minute they decided to break God’s command and eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil so they could become like God. The result of Adam and Eve’s fall was exile. Exile from the Garden. Exile from blessing. Exile from the presence of God.

Humanity may have broken their covenant with God but God had not broken His covenant with them. He instituted a new covenant. A covenant of grace based not on the will or actions of the human creature but based on the faithfulness of God Himself. The rewards of this covenant are redemption, justification, sanctification, and ultimately, restoration to eternal life and blessing in the embrace of the Triune God. This covenant is mediated through Christ, who takes our place as the 2nd Adam, fulfills the original covenant of works on our behalf, and thereby rightfully offers us the reward He Himself earned.

The covenant of grace has two administrations in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the covenant of grace looks forward to the fulfillment of the promise in Jesus Christ. All of the ceremonies and laws and prophecies are given to prepare God’s people for the coming of the Messiah. The worship ceremonies having to do with sacrifices and most holy places train us to respect and understand the difference between a holy God and a sinful people. The laws trains us not only about what it means to live righteously but also ultimately leads us to a holy despair in our own effort. The prophecies foretell a day when the Messiah will come and offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice in our place, as the perfect high priest offering the sacrifice on our behalf, and thereby fulfill all that is required to bridge the gap between us and God. Not only that, but those same prophecies declare the Messiah’s perfect obedience to the Law of God thus making Him uniquely qualified to offer Himself in our place, take the punishment we deserve, propitiate God’s righteous anger and judgment towards us, and extend us grace as a result. It’s simply breathtaking in scope.

This is what I love most about God. He is eternally consistent. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes His plan. He never deviates from His course. He fulfills every single demand of the law and thus remains eternally faithful to His covenant. All so we can be restored to our rightful place at His side.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Timothy 1-4

Permanence

Readings for today: Hebrews 5-8

The only thing consistent about humanity is her inconsistency. We are physically inconsistent. Meaning our bodies are in a constant state of change. Our cells are constantly dying and new cells being born. In fact, the common myth out there is that our cells turnover every seven years. While not entirely true, there’s enough to it to make it stick. We are intellectually inconsistent. None of us is truly logical or rational. In fact, psychologists like Jonathan Haidt argue that we are more “rationalizing” than “rational” creatures. We are emotionally inconsistent. We all know the rollercoaster. We’ve been there and done that. Puberty. Maturity. Success. Failure. Grief. Loss. Menopause. Hormonal changes over time. Life experiences. All of these have an impact on our emotional state and well-being. We are morally inconsistent. How often do justify bad behavior because it’s someone we know or love or happen to agree with or support politically while at the same time being highly critical of the same bad behavior in others? We are spiritually inconsistent. Those who follow Christ know there are incredibly rich times where we feel especially close with God and spiritually dry times when we feel God is distant. Again, the only thing seemingly consistent about humanity is her inconsistency.

This is why we need Jesus. A faithful high priest. After the order of Melchizedek. A permanent priest. One in whom there is no shadow or turning or change. Human high priests come and go. They are just as inconsistent as we are which is why they have to make offerings for their own sin. They cannot save themselves much less anyone else. But Jesus is a different kind of high priest. He is sinless. He is eternally consistent. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He lives to intercede for us for all eternity. Listen to how the author of Hebrews puts it, “But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The permanence of Christ is critical for our salvation. Because He is forever. Because He holds a permanent priesthood. Because He lives eternally to make intercession for us. We are saved. Not just in part but in whole. I love the line He is able to save to the uttermost. There is such promise in those words! Such hope! Every part of me. Every part of my life. Every word I say. Every thought I have. Every emotion I experience. Every moment of every minute of every day of my life is redeemed by my faithful high priest, Jesus Christ. Nothing is left out. Nothing put on hold. Nothing in question. All because of Christ’s indestructible and imperishable life. Thanks be to God for His permanence!

Readings for tomorrow: Hebrews 9-12

Jesus

Readings for today: Hebrews 1-4

Hebrews is a great book to read the week leading up to Christmas because of how it focuses our attention on Christ. The author has a clear view of Jesus. He knows Jesus is greater than the angels. Greater than the prophets of old. Greater than even Moses who came before Him. There is none like Christ. None whom the Father claims as His Son. None who was given all authority in heaven and on earth. None who even now sits on the throne. Only Jesus. He cannot be dismissed. He cannot be ignored. He cannot be denied. He cannot be commercialized or trivialized. His birth is the greatest miracle the world has ever known. His life is the greatest testimony the world has ever seen. His death is the greatest sacrifice ever made. His resurrection is the greatest victory ever won. And all of this is what we celebrate on Christmas.

I’ve been preaching Christmas Eve services for over twenty years now and the story never gets old. It’s incredibly humbling to get to share the good news of great joy each and every year. I still cannot believe I get to do what I do. I stand in a long of line of heralds who came before me. Men and women like Paul and Priscilla. Apollos and Junia. The unnamed author of Hebrews and the disciple whom Jesus loved. Not to mention the thousands upon thousands of pastors and missionaries and theologians throughout history who dedicated their lives to this same proclamation. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. The Son of God took on human form and entered the world. The Spirit of God hovered over the virgin womb of Mary and conceived the God-Man. The Son of the Most High became one of us in order to give His life for us. This is why the writer of Hebrews talks about Jesus as the great high priest who suffers like we suffer. Endures the same temptations we endure. Lived as we live. In this way, He can identify with us in our weaknesses and present them before the Father. This is why He came. It’s incredible. There are no words.

As you hustle about these final days before Christmas, here’s my prayer for you…“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.” (‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Spend time with Him every single day. Let His Word dwell in you richly. Let His love fill your soul with joy. Let His passion to reach the lost compel you to share Christ with those around you and invite them to join you on Christmas Eve. Most of all, let the miracle of His birth fill you with awe and wonder yet again as you approach the manger.

Readings for tomorrow: Hebrews 5-8

Suffering

Readings for today: 1 Peter 1-5

It is the fundamental assumption of the early Christians that following Jesus would involve suffering. They knew their faith would make them different. Set them apart. They knew they would not be welcomed in either Jewish or Gentile societies. The Jews would consider them heretics. Blasphemers. People who dishonored God by claiming Jesus as Messiah. The Gentiles would consider them seditious. Traitors. People who dishonored Caesar by claiming Jesus as Lord. As a result, they had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. There was no place they could go for safety. So what did they do? They endured and they trusted God would use even their suffering for their good and His glory. Listen to how the Apostle Peter, a man well-acquainted with suffering himself, puts it. “You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith, more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire, may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Suffering is not just external. It’s also internal. We battle not just forces external to us like the world, human society, and cultural norms. We fight a spiritual battle against our own sinful nature. Once again, Peter puts it in stark terms. “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles  to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul.” (1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Every day we face temptations. Every day our flesh tries to draw us away from God. Every day the enemy attempts to get us to indulge our sinful desires. It could be greed. It could be selfishness. It could be lust. Sex, money, and power tend to be the biggest draws. But we must resist these desires and live holy lives before the Lord and before our friends and neighbors in the world.

How do we do this? Especially when our flesh is so weak? When our strength is so small? Once again, Peter gives us the answer. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil  is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.” (‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬) I can’t tell you the number of times God has used these specific verses to encourage and challenge me. The reality is I battle temptation every day. The needs that come my way as a pastor are often overwhelming. I find myself coming face to face with my own inadequacies on a regular basis. And there are times when I start to lose hope. Start to lose heart. Especially when I spend time with my friends around the world who are suffering under intense persecution. It is in those moments that God reminds me the battle belongs to the Lord…not to me. It is the God of all grace who restores, establishes, strengthens, and supports…not me. It is the mighty hand of God that holds all my anxieties and fears…not mine. And I can trust Him. He will be faithful.

Readings for tomorrow: Hebrews 1-4

Challenge

Readings for today: 1 Timothy 1-6

Imagine you’re Timothy. A young man who’s been entrusted by Paul with the church in Ephesus. Ephesus is at the zenith of its power and influence. Made capital of the region by Caesar Augustus, it is a center for learning and commerce. It is home to one of the seven ancient wonders of the world. The Temple of Artemis draws thousands of pilgrims from all over the region. They came to worship. They came to trade. They came to make deposits at the Temple which served as the largest bank in the area as well. The cult of Artemis created great wealth. An entire economy had grown up around the worship of their deity. The priestesses exercised great political and social influence. Your mentor Paul started a riot here when he preached the gospel and the church he left behind was facing some significant challenges. 

Whenever the gospel penetrates a new region, one of the real dangers that pops up almost immediately is syncretism. The merging of older, pagan religious beliefs with the truth of the Christian faith. Some of it is brought on by the missionaries themselves as they try to translate the gospel into the local language and culture. Some of it is brought by the new believers as they struggle to leave the old ways behind. What often ends up emerging is a faith that is sub-Christian or pseudo-Christian and this is exactly what Paul is warning Timothy about as he begins his letter. “As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach false doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.” (1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

Why is this so important? First and foremost, eternity is on the line. The primary message of the gospel is “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...” (1 Timothy‬ ‭1:15‬ CSB) Nothing should be allowed to get in the way of Jesus and those He came to save. Not the myths of the Ephesians nor the laws of the Jews. Second, what we believe shapes how we live. Throughout this letter, Paul will offer Timothy advice on a variety of subjects. Prayer. Leadership. Spiritual discipline. Teaching. Mentoring. Money. All of these are very practical, down to earth realities in the church Timothy serves. All of these probably caused Timothy a rash of headaches from time to time. Most of the conflict in the church even today revolves around many of these issues. And Timothy is young, as Paul points out. He is green. He probably doesn’t have a ton of experience to fall back on as he looks to lead his congregation. So Paul encourages him to fall back on his faith. On his call to be a pastor. One that was confirmed by the council of elders when they laid hands on him. Timothy is not to let himself get bogged down but instead is to pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

These words are as much for us as they are for Timothy. Unity in the essentials. Liberty in the non-essentials. Charity for all. The reality is it is just as easy for us to get bogged down. We read a letter like this and we focus on non-essential questions like who gets to serve and in what role or what people should wear to worship or the patriarchal nature of 1st century culture. We get so hung up on making sure the finer points of our theology align that we forget the major point Paul is making. “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy‬ ‭1:5‬) Get this part right and the rest has a way of taking care of itself. 

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Keep it Simple

Readings for today: Ephesians 5-6, Titus 1-3

We have a tendency to make things so complicated. I was talking recently with someone on my staff about the recommendations of our insurance company. In an effort to eliminate all potential risk (and therefore the need to pay out any claims), they have given us a set of recommendations that, if implemented to their fullest extent, would actually defeat the purposes of ministry. We faced a similar dilemma when we build an addition onto our building. The police department recommended we have a single, controllable point of entry and egress while the fire department required us to have doors that opened outside in every classroom. I can’t tell you how many meetings I have been in locally, regionally, and nationally where new policies are created and debated in an effort to eliminate every single potential issue, no matter how exceptional and rare. The results are policy manuals that are several inches thick. Elaborate security procedures in case of fire or a threat. Restrictions on what we can or cannot do as a ministry to reach people with the gospel. It’s all so complicated.

Thankfully, the gospel is clear and simple. I love how the Apostle Paul describes it for his mentee, Titus, as he begins his own ministry in Crete. “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.” (Titus‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭CSB‬‬) This is a great summary of the Christian life. God’s grace appeared and brought us salvation. We didn’t earn it. We didn’t achieve it. We didn’t buy it or strive for it. The gospel not only saves us, it instructs us on how to live a life that honors God. A life that is rich and full of eternal purpose and meaning. It’s a life marked by self-denial and the setting aside of all godlessness and worldly lusts so we can live completely and fully for God. It’s a life designed to get us ready for another world, even as we live in this world. A world that will come when Jesus Christ appears again in glory. Jesus is the embodiment of God’s saving grace and He is the one who redeemed us from all lawlessness and godlessness, washed us clean from our sin, and gave us a new heart with new desires to serve Him and do the works of the Kingdom.

When you read these words, how do you feel? Do you feel encouraged or discouraged? Do you feel uplifted or convicted? Do you feel like these words describe you? Describe your understanding of the Christian life? Or do these words seem foreign to you? New to you? Have you experienced the saving grace of God in your life? Do you find yourself longing to live under God’s commands or do they seem like more of a burden to you? Are you waiting for the blessed hope of Christ’s return or are you putting your hopes in the things of this world? Spend some time praying and reflecting on these questions and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to a deeper understanding and embrace of the gospel in your life.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Timothy 1-6

Privilege

Readings for today: Ephesians 1-4

I’ve enjoyed many privileges in my life. Many of them unearned. For example, I was born in America. A nation of freedoms and democracy. I was born into a relatively stable family with both biological parents at home. I was born middle-class which afforded me many opportunities. I am white and male which means I have never faced obstacles due to my ethnicity or gender. My extended family was relationally connected which meant a lot of time spent around a lot of adults who believed the best of me and encouraged me and helped raised me. I was born with certain talents and abilities that I did not choose. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me and gave me a rock solid moral foundation. I went to neighborhood schools with lots of resources and great teachers who invested and cared for their students. I had the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities like music and sports and Boy Scouts that helped shaped me as a person. All of these things were given to me or provided for me. I did not choose them. I did not earn them. They were not a result of my own achievement or success. Perhaps that’s why Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:5 resonate so strongly with me. “You are saved by grace!” This is true for me on more levels that I can possibly comprehend.

Grace is a privilege as well. It is not something we earn. It is not something we achieve. It is not something we can buy no matter how much money we make or gain for ourselves no matter how hard we strive. It is a gift. Given to us by a God who is rich in mercy and love. Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes it in Ephesians 2. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift, not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Why would God do all this for us? The answer is clear. By saving us, we become trophies of grace on display for all eternity. This both accomplishes our greatest good - salvation - and God’s greatest glory. For we are His workmanship. We are His handiwork. We are His DIY projects. And God never leaves a project unfinished. Not in this world. Not in our lives.

God certainly didn’t have to show us grace. He could have walked away as soon as things went sideways in the Garden. But God loves what He has made. And God is merciful and compassionate. Instead of washing His hands of everything, He got them dirty. He went to work. He executed the plan He had set in eternity. Grace was always God’s will. Always God’s desire. It was not a secondary response to our sin. It was the primary mechanism by which He would create the world, relate to the world, and eventually, save the world. And it’s why grace is the greatest privilege can possibly enjoy in this life and the next.

Readings for tomorrow: Ephesians 5-6, Titus 1-3

Discipleship

Readings for today: Philemon 1, Colossians 1-4

We do not accidentally become like Jesus. We don’t just stumble into more faithful discipleship. Growing in Christ-likeness is not a product of random chance or a roll of the dice. It’s an intentional effort every day to put on Christ. To put on the same qualities and characteristics that mark Christ. To put on the same attitude that is in Christ. To put on and seek out the mind of Christ. The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Colossians 3:12-17, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

Jesus isn’t hard to find. He’s actually not hard to follow. He’s not confusing or unclear about His expectations. He even promises to send His Spirit to lead us into all truth, produce good fruit in our lives, and complete the work He’s begun in us. All we have to do is surrender. All we have to do is empty ourselves of “self.” All we have to do is “put off” the old self and embrace the new self, the new identity, Jesus promises to give those He loves. I love how Paul starts the above passage with an affirmation. We are God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. This is the fundamental reality of our existence as believers in Christ. This is how God sees us. Before we say or do or think or feel anything at all, we are already chosen, holy, and beloved. This is the foundation of our identity. As such, we “put on” the qualities and characteristics that mark such people. Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Meekness. Patience. Forgiveness. Grace. Love. Putting on these things every day begins to change us. As we practice these things, we actually become a different kind of people. And as we become a different kind of people, the peace of Christ begins to rule in our hearts. We live from a place of deep gratitude and thankfulness. The Word of Christ dwells in us richly and we are able to encourage others along the way. Finally, whatever we do or say becomes an act of devotion to our Lord and Savior.

It’s a beautiful picture of discipleship. And, again, it doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a long obedience in the same direction. It’s a lifetime of daily devotion to Jesus. It’s an intentional decision day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year to “put on” Christ. We put on Christ when we don’t feel like it. We put on Christ in the midst of our doubts and fears and anxieties. We put on Christ as we struggle and suffer and experience heartbreak and pain. We put on Christ when we fail and fall short. We put on Christ consistently, constantly, regularly, persistently and He transforms us from the inside out. This is how the Christian life works and thankfully, it rests not on our ability to make it happen but on God who is faithful to use all things - the good, bad and ugly of our lives - for our good.

Readings for tomorrow: Ephesians 1-4

Prayer

Readings for today: Philippians 1-4

If you are like me, prayer isn’t always easy. It’s hard to know what to say to the Lord of the universe. What do you tell someone who already knows everything? How do you talk to someone who doesn’t always talk back? At least in an audible way? What do you do when it feels like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling or you can’t seem to find the right words or you feel like you’re just going through the motions? For me, that’s when it’s time to go back to the Scriptures and read over the kinds of prayers God’s people have been praying for centuries.

The first one that comes to mind is the Lord’s Prayer, of course. The Psalms are next as they express the full range of human emotions and can help us find our “voice” again. But then you run across prayers like the one we read out of Philippians today. I love it. “And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭CSB‬) Isn’t that awesome? Paul is literally in prison, potentially awaiting his death, and how does he spend his time? He’s praying for his brothers and sisters in Philippi to increase in love. I can think of no better prayer to pray!

Paul is an amazing man. As you read Philippians today, listen to how little Paul thinks of himself. From a human perspective, he has every right to complain. Every right to demand justice from God like Job. Every right to be angry with where his life has ended up. After all, has he not given up everything to follow Christ? And this is his reward? Thankfully, Paul left the “human perspective” behind a long time ago. He now sees the world as Christ sees it. It’s why he calls the Philippians to have the mind of Christ. It’s why he can say to them that to “live is Christ and to die is gain.” It’s why he points them to the love of Christ even as he languishes in a prison cell awaiting execution. Paul lives a “lover’s life” to the very end. He never stops preaching. Never stops making Jesus Christ attractive to everyone he meets. He wants everyone to get involved “in the glory and praise of God.” And for that great end, he is willing to give his life.

I still remember going to Africa for the very first time. Meeting church planters in some of the most remote areas on earth. Like Paul, they too were willing to sacrifice everything for the privilege of proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. I was changed by that encounter. My life has never been the same. I came back with a renewed desire to lay down my life for my wife, my children, my family, and my church. Most importantly, I came back with a passion to give my life to God and His great mission in our world. The mission of love. And God has answered my prayers. He gives me opportunities every day to share Christ with those around me. I wouldn’t want my life to be any other way.

Readings for tomorrow: Philemon 1, Colossians 1-4

Surrender

Readings for today: Acts 27-28

The Book of Acts ends with the Apostle Paul living under house arrest in Rome awaiting trial before Caesar for his faith in Jesus Christ and his belief in the resurrection. During that time, he seems to enjoy a bit of freedom. He’s able to teach and preach. He welcomes visitors regularly into his home. And he never stops sharing the gospel. He knows his time is growing short. He knows he’s about to finish his race. He knows his life has been poured out as an offering before the Lord. And even though many scholars, including myself, believe Paul was released from house arrest, set free by Caesar at this point, and continued his missionary endeavors for another couple of years; it won’t be too much longer before Emperor Nero goes insane, rounds up the Christians, persecutes them terribly, and eventually imprisons Paul in the infamous Mamertine Prison which was essentially a dark hole in the ground where political prisoners were kept before being executed.

Through it all, Paul remains faithful. As you read these final chapters of Acts, Paul seems completely oblivious to his fate. Almost like he doesn’t care what happens to him. Paul has settled in his heart that to “live is Christ and to die is gain” so no matter what comes, he is content. He is perhaps the most free person in history. Free from the cares and worries of this world. Free from the need to jockey for position or power. Free from the need to be successful. Free from the need to be comfortable and safe. Just as the boat he was on was tossed about on the waves of the sea before shipwrecking on Malta, his life is being tossed about by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is no longer under control. He is not the master of his fate. He is not the captain of his destiny. He has embraced his Lord fully and completely and surrendered all into his hands.

It’s tempting to get to the end of Acts and think we’ve come to the end of the story. Not so fast! There is a 29th chapter being written even as we speak! The generations that have come after the Apostle Paul and the other leaders of the early church risked their lives in many cases - just like Paul - to carry the gospel around the globe. They too were filled with power as the Holy Spirit came upon them. They too were Jesus’ witnesses in their own Jerusalems, Judeas, Samarias, and to the furthest corners of the earth. Almost 2000 years have elapsed since Paul walked the earth. In that time, billions of people have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Revivals have broken out at different times and in different places all over the world. Indeed, the story of the Book of Acts will not be complete until Jesus returns because the “Acts” the book refers to are the acts of the Holy Spirit not the acts of the apostles. Their actions ended with their deaths. The acts of the Holy Spirit continue to this day and you and I get to be part of it!

Readings for tomorrow: Philippians 1-4