Why it Matters - Pharisees

Readings for today: Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35

Any cursory reading of the Gospels makes it clear how Jesus feels about Pharisees. Blind guides. Hypocrites. Whitewashed tombs. He doesn’t mince words. On the face of it, it does seem a little strange. After all, the Pharisees were among the most faithful people in Israel. They were scrupulous about following the Law of God. They were passionate about holiness and purity. They grounded their identity in God’s covenantal faithfulness. They did everything out of a desire to honor and worship God. So what’s Jesus’ problem? Why doesn’t He enlist them as His most staunch allies? Why doesn’t He deploy them as His most faithful ambassadors? Why are they not among His most ardent and devoted followers?

For all their faithfulness, the Pharisees missed the forest for the trees. They got so bogged down in the minute details of the Law that they missed the greater purpose. They treated God’s Law as an end to itself rather than a means to a much greater end which is the glory of God and the salvation of all who believe. They were ideological purists. It’s why you find them focusing on non-essential matters like the specifics of sacred oath-taking or tithing rather than the essential matters of justice and righteousness and mercy. They were behavioral legalists, focusing on sin management rather than inner transformation. They were the first century version of religious fundamentalists, absolutely convinced they were the only faithful ones in all of Israel..

Sadly, the spirit of Pharisaism is alive and well in our world today. I see it in the church where our sinful tendency to allow non-essential matters creates all kinds of divisions in the Body of Christ. Rather than focus on fulfilling the Great Commandment and accomplishing the Great Commission, we get bogged down in all kinds of theological minutiae. We find ourselves far more concerned with “review and control” in our church boards than prayer and seeking the mind of Christ. We judge and condemn one another over the smallest transgressions instead of extending grace. It’s heartbreaking. The spirit of Pharisaism is alive and well in our broader culture as well. The rise of political and social fundamentalism is costing us dearly. The application of ideological purity tests is ripping apart families, destroying friendships, and tearing at the fabric of our nation. Political opponents are no longer those with whom we disagree, they are existential threats who must be destroyed. This has very real-world consequences as we witness the sharp rise in violence and hatred and outrage in our country. And elections only pour gasoline on this fire.

So what we are to do? How are we to respond? Thankfully, Jesus loves the Pharisee as much as He does the Prodigal and He offers them words of advice. Focus on the Giver rather than the gift. Promote the most important values the Law was designed to lift up - justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Seek the sanctification of your own heart first before you look to judge others. Listen to those whom Jesus sends to preach the gospel. Don’t reject them. Most importantly, humble yourself before the Lord. Stop fighting with your Messiah. Embrace Jesus, the Son of God, before it is too late.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

Why it Matters - God’s Patience

Readings for today: Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12: 37-50

I’ve been thinking a lot about the patience of God. The endurance of God. The perseverance of God. One of God’s great desires is that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. He’s been working towards this great end since the Fall of humankind into sin. He will never let us go. Never abandon us to our fate. Never stop reaching out to us. Never stop relentlessly pursuing us. Jesus says as much in one of my favorite parables. He talks about a man who planted a vineyard and leased it to a particular group of people and then went into a far country, entrusting what he had made into their care. Unfortunately, the tenants got it into their heads that they deserved to keep the fruit of their labor so they rebelled against the master. They beat his servants. They treated them shamefully. They even killed a few along the way. Still the master was patient with them. He kept reaching out to them. Kept calling them back to covenant faithfulness. Eventually, the master sent his son, hoping to convince the tenants to listen to reason and repent of their ways. Tragically, those wicked tenants took the opportunity to kill the heir and secure the vineyard for themselves.

Isn’t this how humanity operates? Our inhumanity to one another knows no bounds. I am currently in East Africa. I am in an area that was ravaged by civil war. The atrocities committed were indescribable. The trauma is real. In addition, it’s an area that suffers from significant drought. The rains didn’t come this year. The crops failed. Food is scarce. Starvation is on the rise. It’s heartbreaking. Sadly, I see some of the same dynamics in my own country. Once again, we find ourselves in the midst of an election season. Once again, the political rhetoric is heating up, each side casting the other as an existential threat. The divisions in our nation are only growing wider with no end in sight. Layer in the rise in cost of living. The gap between rich and poor. The lack of opportunity for far too many in our country and you have the recipe for an eventual disaster. A significant breakdown of the social order. We just can’t seem to get out of our own way. Human beings are selfish. Greedy. Sinful. Always looking out for themselves or their own. Always placing their own needs and wants and priorities over others. And it never ends well.

Why doesn’t God step in? Why doesn’t God clean up this mess? According to Jesus, it’s because God is still holding out hope for some of us to turn to Him. It’s why He continues to send servants into the deepest, darkest places on earth to spread the good news of the gospel. It’s why He calls us to plant churches in communities where they have never heard the name of Jesus. It’s why He calls believers to take a stand for the gospel in our world.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35

Why it Matters - Hosanna

Readings for today: Matthew 21:1-22, 26:6-13, Mark 11:1-26, 14:3-9, Luke 19:28-48, John 2:13-25, 11:55-57, 12:1-36

Yesterday, I preached in a local church here in East Africa. After several flights, a divert to France for weather, a missed connection to Africa, and a seven hour drive north, I finally arrived on Sunday morning. I immediately jumped in another vehicle with one of our church planters to preach at his church. It was a beautiful sight. There were just over one hundred people in the room. Mostly young people ranging from kids to those in their early twenties. The church began meeting under a tree nearby but has sense been able to purchase their own property and begin building their own building. They’ve also started a school. The pastor is dynamic and clearly has a deep love for his people. He travels 150 kilometers almost every day to minister in his community. It’s a powerful testimony of faithfulness. After my message, I offered an invitation for anyone to receive Christ and several came forward. At that point, I usually step back and let the local pastor step in. He prayed over each and every one of them. Prayers for healing. Prayers for deliverance from demonic possession. Prayers for salvation. And throughout the prayer time, their little choir sang “Hallelujah” and “Hosanna” on repeat.

Hosanna is a word that literally means “save us.” It’s the deepest cry of the human heart. Save us from oppression. Save us from injustice. Save us from poverty. Save us from disease. Save us from demonic spirits. Save us from death. It’s the word the crowds used the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. They believed He was their Messiah. Believed He had come to deliver them from their Roman oppressors. Believed He had come to cleanse the Temple of the corrupt priesthood. Believed He had come to establish His Kingdom forever. On that last point they were right only it did not happen the way they expected which is why many of those same people turned on Him by Good Friday. The people of Israel were suffering. Suffering under the domination of a foreign empire. Suffering under the authority of their own religious leaders. Suffering from all kinds of poverty and pain and grief and heartbreak. This had been their condition for generations. So you can understand why they placed their hopes in Jesus. Here was a man who healed disease, cast out demons, confronted the religious elite, and didn’t seem afraid of the Romans. So when He rides into Jerusalem during the Passover feast, their hopes rose to a fever pitch. They lined the roads. They threw down their cloaks. They waved palm branches. And they cried for salvation.

Have you ever experienced a similar feeling of desperation? Ever hit rock bottom with nowhere to turn? Ever cried “Hosanna” from the depths of your soul? Almost like it was being ripped from the core of your being? This is why it is so hard for those of us who live in places like Parker, CO in America. We’ve been given so much. We’re blessed with what most of the rest of humanity around the world and throughout history would consider unimaginable wealth and freedom. We have access to all kinds of social services and an abundance of resources. As a result, we simply don’t find ourselves as desperate and “Hosanna” becomes more of an abstract, intellectual idea than a primal heart cry. Furthermore, desperation is not something we can manufacture on our own. It can only come as we look upon Jesus and allow the weight of our sin to drive us to our knees before HIm. It can only come as the sheer magnitude of all we have done in our lives overwhelms our senses and fills our hearts with a deep and holy grief. It can only come when we despair of every saving ourselves and grasp how truly hopeless our condition is in this world. In those moments, the Holy Spirit will fall upon us and give us the words to pray. And those words will be “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12: 37-50

Why it Matters - Desperation

Readings for today: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

I love the story of the blind men in Jericho who cry out to Jesus. One of them is named Bartimaeus. The other goes unnamed. Both have the same cry of desperation. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus being Jesus has compassion on them. He heals them. Gives them back their sight. They jump up, praising God, and follow Jesus. It’s a story repeated in three of the four Gospels. That’s no accident. For the Gospel writers, it illustrates how powerful desperation is in the Christian life.

I am en route to East Africa. I will arrive in country after over 27 hours in the air. Four different airports. Three countries. Hours of layovers. I still have at least ten hours to go to get to my final destination. However, I go because I want to see yet again the kind of desperation that God meets in miraculous ways. Yes, I have seen miracles of healing over here. I’ve seen the blind get back their sight. I’ve seen the sick healed of disease. I’ve even seen a little child raised from the dead. Furthermore, I’ve heard story after story from the indigenous church planters I serve of miracles and signs and wonders. But the thing that has the biggest impact on me is their hunger and thirst for God. They are desperate for more of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives. They spend hours on their knees in prayer. They give up home and family and community to go to places to preach where the gospel has never been heard. They literally risk their lives in dangerous environments to make Christ known. As I listen to them share their stories of sacrifice, it makes my sacrifices seem small by comparison. It’s deeply convicting because I know I don’t have the same desperation.

Is this kind of desperation something we can develop on our own? Our context can make it hard. Jesus said it is hard for a rich person to get into heaven. Not impossible. But hard. Hard because it is so easy for us to fall in love with our wealth and resources. It is easy for us to settle when we have so much. It is easy for us to become complacent which causes us to lose any sense of desperation for God. The only way I know to counteract this powerful force in our lives is to push myself to the edges of my own strength and wisdom and energy and resources on a continual basis. Push myself to serve rather than be served. Push myself to give generously and sacrificially. Push myself to love radically and unconditionally. The more I engage these spiritual practices, the more I am taken beyond myself. And the more I am taken beyond myself, the more I am forced to lean on God. And the more I am forced I am to lean on God, the more I depend on Him.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - True Discipleship

Readings for today: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16, 17, 18:1-30

What does discipleship mean to you? Is it a life of obligation or a life of freedom? A life of rules or a relationship? Do you find yourself checking boxes to get by or truly giving God your all? The life God offers us is nothing short of supernatural. Supernatural joy. Supernatural peace. Supernatural love. It is a life that is full and rich and overflowing. It is a life that is fresh and pure and ever-flowing. It is a life that enriches and blesses others. It is a life that is Kingdom-centered rather than self-centered and therefore free of so much of the anxieties and fears that plague so many in our world.

This is the life Jesus offers the rich young ruler. He comes to Jesus asking what he must “do” to inherit eternal life and thereby betrays his immediate error. The abundant life Jesus offers us cannot be earned or purchased or obtained by any means other than grace. Jesus sees his heart immediately and points him to the commandments. “All these I’ve kept since my youth” he says. Jesus looks on him with love because clearly just keeping the commandments isn’t enough. It’s not enough to satisfy. It’s not enough to provide the assurance he’s looking for. So Jesus offers him the gift of eternal life here on earth. “Sell all you have and serve the poor.” In other words, surrender all you hold dear in order to embrace the life God offers you in Himself. Sadly, the man turns away for he loves his riches more than God. It’s a heartbreaking scene but one that gets repeated all too often, even in churches. So much of my time is spent with people essentially helping them navigate the same challenge. And all too often, they turn away for they love whatever it is they are clinging to more than God. Like Jesus, I love them. I don’t condemn them. I get it. I see the same dynamic in my own life as well.

Here’s the challenge. Do we take a minimalist or maximalist approach to discipleship? Do we perceive the Christian life as doing the absolute minimum required to get into heaven? Raise a hand in worship? Pray a prayer of salvation? Check the box? Get my fire insurance? Or do I take the maximalist approach? Giving all that I am to God. My life. My loves. My resources. My abilities. My time. My relationships. Am I willing to surrender all I hold dear so that I may gain all God has for me? The secret I’ve discovered is the more I lay down, the more I receive in return. The more I give, the more God entrusts into my hands. The more I serve, the more blessed I become. This is what it means to live the abundant life and it’s what Jesus wants to give to every single of His followers.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

Why it Matters - Humility

Readings for today: Luke 14-15

I am sitting at the airport waiting for my flight to East Africa. Over the next two weeks, I will have the privilege of training indigenous church planters in two different countries in the Horn of Africa. It’s an honor to spend time with these men and women. They come from nothing and yet have everything. They not counted among the rich and powerful and yet are more wealthy than the world could ever know. There is a power present inside them that drives them to take the gospel to some of the most dangerous places on earth. They are my heroes and have taught me much over the years. Perhaps the biggest lesson has to do with humility.

Years ago, I was spending some time in prayer after one of these trips when I heard God speak. Not audibly. More of a voice in my mind. An undeniable impression God laid on my heart. He didn’t speak for very long. Just three words. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. Part of the reason I knew these words were from God is because they aren’t words I spend anytime thinking about. They aren’t words I would associate with my life at all. But as I received these words and meditated on these words and asked God for wisdom to understand these words, I realized God was challenging me through my relationships with my brothers and sisters around the world to think more deeply about the way I live. He was calling me to labor in obscurity, embrace anonymity, and pursue insignificance. Basically the opposite of how I’d been living my life. I am, by nature, an achiever. A high performer. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of success in my life. It would be easy for me to make the mistake of the man in the parable Jesus tells in our reading for today and seek the highest place of honor. But the one who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted and that’s the lesson God was trying to teach me.

I’ve never forgotten those words. In fact, I often associate them with this particular parable because I was reading it around the same time the Lord spoke to me. I realized I had spent my life chasing the place of highest honor. Trying to outperform my peers. Achieve success. Become a person of influence. Sure, it was all for God or at least that’s what I told myself. But in reality I was trying to exalt myself. So when I received those words, I took a step back. I let go of my need for affirmation and recognition. I let go of my need to be perceived as a success in the eyes of the world or the eyes of the church. Titles and position became meaningless to me. I committed to never seeking another position nor asking for another raise. I intentionally sought to serve rather than be served. I wanted to seek the place of lowest honor and trusted God to raise me up as He saw fit. The result was an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment.

Ever since that time, God has exalted me over and over again. He has given me positions of leadership that I did not seek. He has blessed me financially in ways I would not have thought possible. He has allowed me the blessing of serving Him in a variety of capacities not just locally but nationally and even internationally. Again and again, the Lord has come to me and said, “Friend, move up here to a better place.” (Luke 14:10b NET) This was not my goal. These are not accolades I earned or achieved. They are simply blessings from God’s own hands as He fulfills His promise to exalt those who humble themselves under His mighty hand.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16, 17, 18:1-30

Why it Matters - Generosity

Readings for today: Luke 12, 13:1-30

What do you treasure most in life? Is it your spouse? Your children? Your grandchildren? Is it professional success? The admiration and esteem of your peers? Is it influence and recognition? Is it wealth and the lifestyle it affords? Is it a particular possession? A set of exciting and unique experiences? Whatever it is, whatever we treasure, we will do anything to gain it. We will make every sacrifice. We will put in maximum effort. We will do whatever it takes. And Jesus knows this about us. He knows this is how we are wired. And it’s why He calls us to store up our treasure in heaven. For where are treasure is, there our hearts will be also.

Our treasures are not necessarily bad things. In fact, most of the time, they are good things. The problem comes when we make them ultimate things. When this happens, the good things we treasure are forced to carry a weight they are not strong enough to bear. For example, if you treasure your spouse as the ultimate good, you will be bitterly disappointed when they let you down. If you treasure your kids as the ultimate good, they will be crushed under the weight of your unrealistic expectations. If you treasure professional success as the ultimate good, what happens when you peak out in your career? If you treasure influence and recognition, what happens when your fifteen minutes of fame are up? If you treasure wealth, what happens when the stock market crashes or an investment fails? None of these things is strong enough to provide the freedom and security and hope we need.

This is why Jesus tells His followers to seek first the Kingdom of God. He knows it is the Father’s delight to give His children all they need. And because God has promised to provide, we are set free. Set free to give generously. Set free to serve sacrificially. Set free to offer all that we have for the good of those around us. Because we know our treasure is heaven. Our treasure is eternally secure. Our treasure is not of this world and therefore not subject to the threats of this world. It cannot be stolen. It will not decay. It cannot be destroyed. Listen again to how Jesus describes it, “Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬-‭34‬ ‭NET‬‬)

There is no greater freedom in this world than living by faith. No greater joy in this world than serving Jesus. No greater mission in this world than advancing the Kingdom of God. How do I know this to be true? I look to Jesus. Jesus was the most free person to ever live. Jesus was the most joyful person to ever live. Jesus was the most impactful person to ever live. All because He sought His Father’s Kingdom. He trusted His Father’s good pleasure. He understood the inexhaustible treasure stored up for Him in heaven if He would simply do His Father’s will here on earth. And I want to be like Jesus. I want to live like Jesus. I want to love like Jesus. I want to serve like Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 14-15

Why it Matters - Listening

Readings for today: Luke 10, John 10, 11:1-54

I often tell people “I have the easiest job in the world. I simply listen to God and tell others what He tells me.” I know it’s not quite that simple. Nor is it quite that easy. I spend a lot of time in prayer, study, and self-reflection. I pray because I know unless the Lord speaks, all my words will be in vain. I study God’s Word because no one wants or needs to hear Doug’s opinions. I self-reflect in an effort to screen out any personal agendas. Am I always successful? No. Have I gotten better over the years through daily practice? Absolutely. Do I still have a long way to go? Without a doubt. Now I understand that I’m a pastor. I spend my days drinking coffee and offering spiritual counsel to those I love and serve. I spend my Sundays in a pulpit preaching God’s Word. I am blessed to travel internationally to teach others to do the same. But I don’t think listening to God and sharing with others what He tells me is something only pastors should do. I think it’s a spiritual practice for all Christians in every vocation and every location.

Perhaps that’s why I love these words from Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. “The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭NET‬‬) Jesus is sending His followers out two by two into towns and villages all over the countryside to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. They aren’t to carry any bags nor take any money with them but instead rely on the grace of strangers. People of peace they will meet along the way who will offer them hospitality. Some will receive them. Some will reject them. The disciples are not to let any of that get them down. They do not represent themselves. They do not offer their own wisdom. They must put aside any personal agendas. They are simply to trust what Jesus has taught them and what He has told them and they are to do all they can to share it with others.

When Jesus looks out on the world today, He sees a ripe harvest field. He sees men and women who are like lost sheep without a shepherd. He sees so much pain and heartbreak and suffering. He sees so much evil and injustice and violence and death. What’s His answer? What is He doing to address these things? These are questions I often get and I always turn them back around on the person who asks me. What’s your answer? What are you doing? The reality, friends, is that Jesus is sending us! His plan from the beginning of creation has been to work through the creature He made in His own image to bring His message of good news to the world! So make sure to spend time every day listening to Jesus. Make sure to spend time every day studying God’s Word. Make sure to spend time every day asking the Holy Spirit to help you set aside every personal agenda. And then share with others what you have received. Let me leave you with these famous words from Richard Halverson, former chaplain of the US Senate, “You go nowhere by accident. Wherever you go, God is sending you there. Wherever you are, God has put you there. He has a purpose in your being there. Christ, who indwells in you, has something He wants to say and do through you, wherever you are. Believe this, and go in His grace, and love and power.”

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 12, 13:1-30

Why it Matters - Authority

Readings for today: John 7-9

On Thursday, I will board a plane for Eastern Africa to train church planters. The subject I am teaching on at the conference is preaching. We will cover subjects like prayer, Bible study, hermeneutics, exegesis, interpretation, cultural distance, and communication style. Each of these play a significant role in how a pastor preaches God’s Word. I like to teach in small groups. Some of it is because of the heat. Some of it is because I’ve learned it’s a better approach than lecturing. I will gather them. Give them a text. Walk them through it. Help them craft a sermon. Give them a chance to deliver it in front of their peers. I can’t wait. Another thing I like to do is offer a time for questions and answers at the end of each session. I already know what one of the questions will be. It comes up every time. Should pastors promote their own authority or trust God for His authority? It sounds like such a simple question. Of course the answer is to rely on God’s authority over our own. But how does that map itself out? Especially in a social media driven world where so many pastors pursue celebrity all in the name of Jesus?

I wish I had a good answer for them. I don’t. I look around our culture in America today and I see pastors and preachers engaging in all kinds of self-promotion. Some do it intentionally. Most do it by default. They’ve bought into the lie that somehow they must promote themselves in order to reach people with the gospel. It’s why their social media feeds are full of selfies. It’s why their church highlight reels are dominated by their preaching. It’s why they project themselves on as many screens as possible in as many locations as possible on a Sunday morning. It makes me think of the words of Jesus from John 7. “If anyone wants to do God’s will, he will know about my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from my own authority. The person who speaks on his own authority desires to receive honor for himself, the one who desires the honor of the one who sent him is a man of integrity, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” (John 7:17-18 NET) Clearly, Jesus was a popular teacher in His day. He drew large crowds wherever He went. His name was associated with all kinds of miracles and signs and wonders. But Jesus never confused his popularity with His authority. He knew His authority came from His Heavenly Father and He spent His entire career seeking to point people beyond Himself to His Father’s coming Kingdom. He sought to bring glory to His Father and kept none for Himself. In fact, He emptied Himself of His heavenly glory in order to become a servant and humble Himself to death on a cross. I wish my colleagues in ministry would do the same.

Does this mean we should never post on social media? Never share our highlight reels from Sunday morning? Never preach in multiple venues? I think it’s worth reflecting on. Why do we share what we share? If someone were to simply look at our social media feeds, who gets most of the attention? Who gets most of the credit? Who gets most of the glory? Why is it so important to plaster our faces everywhere? Why is it so important that people hear our voice and no one else’s? Why is it so important for us to hog the platform? Furthermore, we have to consider the influence we have on emerging churches around the world. Young pastors and young believers who take their cue from what they see online. After all, I know we all agree that we want to preach and teach with God’s authority. We all want to lead with integrity and righteousness. We all want God to get all the glory and honor from our ministries. So how are we seeking to live this out? Are we willing to move into the background to let this happen and lift the name of Jesus high above our own?

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 10, John 10, 11:1-54

Why it Matters - Affirmation

Readings for today: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

Affirmation is powerful. Letting someone know how much you admire them, how proud you are of them, and how you see God at work in their lives can be life-changing. Especially in a world full of negativity, pessimism, and constant complaint. Far too many people go through their days without receiving a single word of authentic, heart-felt encouragement. Far too many people find themselves withering under a constant barrage of critique. Far too many people have no one in their life who sees God’s best in them and calls it out of them. It’s why when I mentor younger men, I do my best to be the one person in their life who sees the man I believe God has called them to be and encourages them to get there. It’s why I started a spiritual practice with my kids years ago where I text them a few times a month just to let them know how proud I am of them and the people they are becoming, what I see God doing in their lives, and what I see for them in the future. All of them have let me know how much it encourages them. Sadly, they’ve also let me know how rare it is for them or their friends to receive anything like it.

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 17:5b NET) This isn’t the first time Jesus has heard these words from His Heavenly Father. He heard them at His baptism when the heavens opened as He came out of the waters. Though the Gospel writers do not tell us, I imagine Jesus heard these words when He withdrew by Himself to pray. And today we read them after Jesus has been transfigured before His disciples. The Father making it clear He is proud of His Son. The Father making it clear He affirms His Son. The Father making it clear what He sees in His Son. It may be strange to think that Jesus needed to hear these words from his Father. After all, Jesus is one with His Father. He is the second Person of the Trinity. He exists from eternity in perfect, unbroken relationship with His Father. And yet, the Father chooses to affirm His Son publicly in this particular way. To me, it’s proof the power of affirmation. Not just for Jesus but for those who are with Jesus. The Father affirming His Son publicly so those who follow Him could hear and bear witness.

I wonder what would happen if Christians took this same approach. Husbands affirming their wives. Wives affirming their husbands. Parents affirming their children. Pastors affirming their congregations. Teachers affirming their students. Employers affirming their employees. Political leaders affirming each other and the constituents they serve. What if we saw the best in each other rather than the worst? What if we sought to build up rather than tear down? What if we saw and called out where and how God was at work rather than point out all the ways we fall short in life? What if we spent more time encouraging rather than complaining? Wouldn’t that make a difference? I think about my son. He’s twenty-six. He shows the texts I send him to his friends. They all tell him how lucky he is to have his father in his corner. To have a father who believes in him. A father who is cheering for him. None of them get anything like that from their dads. It breaks my heart and it motivates me to be the primary encourager for everyone I meet.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - The Church

Readings for today: Matthew 16, Mark 8:11-38, 9:1, Luke 9:18-27

This morning, a dear friend introduced me to his neighbor. Tibebe is a fascinating man with an incredible story. He grew up in Ethiopia. Came to Christ at age 13. Spent his life building businesses all over the world. He used his wealth and influence to plant churches throughout his home country. But he had to flee after getting crossways with the political regime in the early 2000’s. He came to America. Settled in and rebuilt his life. God has blessed him tremendously and, after a regime change, he has been able to go back and begin planting churches again. He reminds me of many of the men and women I’ve met over the years in my travels to Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Uganda. They are fierce and courageous. They are more than willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of the gospel. Why do they go? Why do they risk their lives? Simply put, they trust Jesus. They trust the promise Jesus gives us in Matthew 16:18 NET when He says, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Jesus is building His church. He is the architect and He holds the master plan. He is the general contractor who is gathering together all the materials. He is the laborer who actually puts all the pieces and parts together. His goal is to create a community to call His own. To call out from the world a family who will bear His name. Through the church, Jesus is fulfilling His ancient promise. “I will be their God and they will be my people.” It’s one of the earliest promises God makes to humanity. A promise to restore that which was broken. A promise to redeem that which was lost. A promise to save that which is enslaved. God wants to walk with us in the Garden in the cool of the day. God wants to live with us in an eternal city full of light and life and wonder and joy. And between what was at creation and what will be in the new creation, God has a church. And because that church draws her life from Jesus Himself, she can never be overpowered. She can never be overcome. The gates of Hades itself cannot stand against her.

The church planters I serve when I go overseas labor at the gates of hell. They live at the edge between the natural and supernatural realms. Their lives are “thin spaces” where the veil between this world and the next becomes translucent. They often battle demonic powers. The spiritual forces of evil manifest themselves in all sorts of ways. Deliverance from demonic possession is a practical, pastoral skill. Their churches are often planted through a miraculous demonstration of God’s power. A healing. A resurrection. Manna from heaven. The kinds of things we read about in the Bible but aren’t quite sure we believe. And through their prayers and sacrifice and service and love, the Kingdom of God is advancing and the kingdom of Satan is fading. Heaven is filling up. Hell is emptying out. Entire communities are being transformed. It’s breathtaking.

Can this happen in America? Absolutely. What will it require? A commitment to build our lives on the Rock that is Jesus Christ. He alone is steadfast, immovable, and unshakeable. He alone is faithful and true. He alone holds the power of Death and Hades in His hands. And He alone has the knowledge and authority and skill to build His church in such a way that not even hell itself can stand against it. What part do we play? Simply put, we believe. We obey. We pray. We proclaim. We give. We serve. We sacrifice. Just like my new friend, Tibebe. As we do these things over a lifetime, God promises to use us as “living stones” to build up His church and change the world.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 17-18, Mark 9:2-50, Luke 9:28-56

Why it Matters - Tradition

Readings for today: Matthew 15, Mark 7, 8:1-10

One of the things I am constantly challenged by when I travel to Africa is how quickly the Holy Spirit raises up church planters and sends them into the mission field. In my denomination in the United States, it takes years and tens of thousands of dollars to get prepared to go into ministry. We employ a model based on a Western academic culture that requires significant graduate level work over a long period of time and if we’re totally honest, the results aren’t great. Most of our churches have plateaued or are dying. The Christian faith is shrinking not growing. But still we cling to our model. We cling to our traditions. We refuse to let go and try something new. Contrast our approach with how church planters are raised up in Ethiopia, South Sudan, or Uganda. They are called by the Holy Spirit through the local church. They are sent out into the field almost immediately. While in the field, they often plant multiple churches in multiple villages. And then they are responsible to raise up their replacements as soon as possible so they can go to the next unreached village. Along the way, they attend training conferences. They gain knowledge and wisdom and understanding. They grow spiritually. They are held accountable. They are disciplined if they go astray. They are restored after demonstrating true repentance and sent back out. The results are incredible. Thousands of churches being planted. The Christian faith exploding as millions come to Christ.

Why do we cling to our traditions? Jesus confronts the Pharisees with this question in our reading today. Over time, humanity tends to create systems and structures and these things often become more important than the people they are designed to serve. The Pharisees were famous for creating all kinds of rules to govern everyday life. Granted, it was from a desire to be faithful to God but their commitment was misplaced. They focused on all the wrong things and they nullified the Word of God by their traditions. They honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from God. This is what makes them blind guides. I wonder. Are we making a similar mistake? Am I making a similar mistake in the organizations in which I serve and lead? Where have I created barriers, however unwittingly and with the best of intentions, to what God wants to do in and through me and others?

Traditions don’t just exist in the church. We all have our traditions. In our homes. In our schools. At our work. In our personal lives. We all have our systems and structures and routines. But when those things become more important than the deeper values of mercy and compassion and love and sacrifice. When those things no longer serve but must be served, we run aground in our faith. We must repent and renew our commitment to put the Lord’s will above what we may hold dear.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 16, Mark 8:11-38, 9:1, Luke 9:18-27

Why it Matters - Sent

Readings for today: Matthew 10, 14, Mark 6:7-56, Luke 9:1-17, John 6

I leave for Northern Uganda and South Sudan in a little over a week. I will spend seventeen days over there, primarily teaching indigenous church planters. I’ve been doing this for about fifteen years now. I’ve taken over twenty trips to Africa at this point. I’ve met well over two thousand of these church planters in places all over the Horn of Africa. Together, they have planted over 9500 churches at last count in places like Somalia, Djibouti, several different regions in Ethiopia, northern and eastern Uganda, and South Sudan. It’s truly amazing and perhaps what’s most remarkable is that these men and women often go out just like the disciples did. They travel from village to village without money or baggage or a staff. They rely on the hospitality of strangers. They are often persecuted, suffering imprisonment, beatings, and even death for the sake of the gospel. They tell stories of miraculous healings, resurrections, and the casting out of demons. Many millions have heard the good news of the coming Kingdom of God and millions more have given their lives to Christ as a result. I love being part of it. It feels like I’m watching Jesus send out His disciples all over again.

One of the historic marks of the church is her “apostolicity.” Her “sentness.” The church was designed by God to be a community in motion. Dynamic not static. Always focused outward not inward. The church is God’s chosen instrument to bring His good news to the world. God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. God doesn’t want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance. And to this great end, He sends us. His chosen people. We are sent out, much like the original disciples, without much in the way of human resources in order to deliver a divine message. “The Kingdom of God is near.” We preach this message to our family and friends. Neighbors and co-workers. Anyone we meet along the way. We tell them of all God has done in Jesus Christ. We welcome those who respond to His message to join us and we recognize, sadly, that not everyone will accept what they hear. Any church that loses her sense of being sent is like salt that loses it’s saltiness. It’s not good for anything and can be thrown into the street. Any believer that loses their passion to share Christ is like a light that’s being hidden under a basket. What good is it?

Jesus is still in the business of sending His disciples. Just as soon as He calls us, He sends us. Just as soon as He saves us, He sends us. We don’t need to prepare. We don’t need a host of resources to rely on. We don’t need to be afraid. The Holy Spirit dwells inside us. He will give us the words to say. He will provide all that we need. He will give us the strength to endure. He will protect us from the enemy. Trust Him! Let Him lead and guide you in all your conversations and encounters with others today.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 15, Mark 7, 8:1-10

Why it Matters - Faith

Readings for today: Mathew 8:18-34, 9:18-38, Mark 4:34-41, 5:1-43, Luke 8:22-56, 9:57-62

Faith is not easy for me. That may be strange to hear from a pastor but it’s true. I am a born skeptic. One of my many besetting sins is cynicism. I struggle to trust anyone but myself. Perhaps it’s because of how I grew up. My father was an alcoholic for most of my life. Sadly, I learned not to depend on him. He would make promises he never intended to keep. He would lie to me frequently. He failed frequently in ways that deeply impacted the stability of our family. So I learned to control what I could control. I became fiercely independent. When I turned 18, I made sure I would never depend on someone so undependable again. Of course, I quickly discovered that I was just as undependable as my father. As hard as I tried, I failed often. I struggled on my own. I was just as enslaved to the desires of my flesh as he was. Finally, I hit rock bottom and that’s when I met Jesus. He met me in the middle of my desperation and He gave me the greatest gift I have ever received…the gift of faith.

It’s why I love the stories we read in the gospels today. Stories of similar desperation. A demon-possessed man. A woman with a medical condition. A father whose daughter has just died. Two blind men who won’t leave Jesus alone. Crowds who were bewildered and confused, like sheep without a shepherd. Disciples who are afraid. I can identify with each of them. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and loss. I know what it’s like to feel chained by addiction. I know what it’s like to feel like your body has betrayed you. I know the loss of a child. I know what desperation feels like. I’ve been lost and confused, wandering aimlessly through life. Thankfully, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He meets me in the middle of my struggles just as He met the people we read about today in the midst of their struggles. He offers me the same freedom, the same healing, and the same hope that He offered them. The fundamental question for me is this…do I believe Him? Do I believe this is Jesus’ desire for me? Do I trust Him to make it happen in His time and in His way and according to His perfect plan?

As I said, I struggle to believe. Thankfully, Jesus helps me in my unbelief. I struggle to trust. Thankfully, Jesus proves Himself trustworthy. I struggle to find faith. Thankfully, Jesus offers it to me as a gift. And what I’ve learned through all of this is that there is so little I actually control. So little I actually contribute. So little I actually have to offer. But Jesus isn’t looking for anything from me. He simply wants me to open my heart and receive what He has to offer instead. Will you open your heart to Him today?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 10, 14, Mark 6:7-56, Luke 9:1-17, John 6

Why it Matters - The Kingdom of God

Readings for today: Matthew 13:1-53, Mark 4:1-34, Luke 8:1-18

I am blessed to be involved in several different Kingdom movements around the world. First and foremost, God is working powerfully through the church I serve in Parker, CO. PEPC is flourishing as she seeks first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. She has put God’s mission first in her life and God has richly blessed us as a result. I’ve never been part of a church making a greater impact in the world for the gospel. It’s humbling and awe-inspiring. Second, I serve as the chair of the board of the Petros Network which has planted over 9500 churches in the Horn of Africa. We work with over 180 denominations at last count and through them, I’ve met some of the most amazing men and women who willingly offer their lives to spread the gospel. Third, I get to work with incredible immigrant leaders in my own community. They come from India and Latin America. The work they’re doing to spread the gospel among their own people is incredible. What these movements all have in common is they began small. They faced real obstacles along the way. They’ve often had to work with a skeleton staff on shoestring budgets. But God is faithful. The seeds we’ve planted are growing. They are becoming tall trees and many are coming to rest in their branches.

According to Jesus, the Kingdom of God often takes the form of a small seed. It may not look like much at first but after it’s planted and watered, God gives the increase. It grows and grows and the fruit is undeniable. Listen to how He described it to His disciples again. “He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest garden plant and becomes a tree, so that the wild birds come and nest in its branches.” (Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NET‬‬‬‬) I will admit it’s hard at the beginning. I know I’ve often grown impatient as I waited for the seed to take root and grow. I’ve sometimes become discouraged at the time and effort it takes to cultivate the soil and water the ground. But God is quick to remind me that there’s nothing I can do to make the seed grow more quickly. I have to be patient and faithful and trust God for the increase.

I can see that dynamic in pay in my own life as I look back over the years. I can also see it in my marriage which has grown in so many ways in the thirty plus years my wife and I have been together. I see it in my children right now. Two of whom are passionate followers of Jesus who are growing leaps and bounds in their faith. Two of whom who have walked away from their faith in Jesus and who are struggling in lots of ways as a result. It’s hard and heartbreaking at times to watch but I have to be patient as I wait for the seeds we planted as parents to grow. Where do you see this dynamic in play in your own life? With those you love and live among? Those you hang with and work alongside? Are you doing all you can to cultivate the soil and water the ground? Are you praying for God to give the increase?

Readings for tomorrow: Mathew 8:18-34, 9:18-38, Mark 4:34-41, 5:1-43, Luke 8:22-56, 9:57-62

Why it Matters - Division

Readings for today: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:22-35, Luke 8:19-21, 11:14-54

On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech in Springfield, IL. He had just won the Republican Party nomination for US Senate. His words were prophetic. Drawing on Jesus’ own words from the gospels, Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved—I do not expect the house to fall—but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other. Either the opponents of slavery will arrest the further spread of it, and place it where the public mind shall rest in the belief that it is in the course of ultimate extinction; or its advocates will push it forward, till it shall become alike lawful in all the States, old as well as new—North as well as South.” He was pointing out the internal contradiction of a nation, founded on liberty, permitting the enslavement of an entire race of people. He knew this contradiction was not sustainable and would end one way or the other. Either with the abolition of slavery or its complete and total embrace. Thankfully, it was the former though it came at great cost.

It’s not surprising that Lincoln would quote Jesus. Jesus Himself came to a world that was deeply divided. The Jewish people were not monolithic in their beliefs. The Pharisees, Sadducees, priests, scribes, Herodians, and zealots were just a few of the groups that vied for power in the first century. All of them may have shared the same goal - the overthrow of the Roman Empire - but they all pursued vastly different means to achieve that end. It’s why the Pharisees were always after Jesus. He was disrupting their political and social project with His talk of the Kingdom of God, rejection of ritual purity, and the performance of miracles. So they had to find a way to discredit Him. “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons!” (Matthew 12:24 NET) If they could convince people that Jesus was in league with Satan, they could cripple his movement and put a stop to His growing influence. Jesus, however, was well aware of their intentions. He knew what they were thinking and planning and His response is on point. “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25-26 NET) Jesus clearly points out the contradiction and forces His opponents to come to grips with the truth of His mission. “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has already overtaken you.” (Matthew 12:28 NET)

It feels like we are living through similarly divided times. Extreme elements of both political parties continue to drive a wedge deep into the heart of our nation. The rise in hatred, outrage, and even violence around our country is the fruit of their efforts. Their goal, stated or unstated, is to see America fall. They perceive America to be either the source of great evil in the world or irreparably broken. Their solution is to burn it all down and start over. And lest you think I am referring to one political party over the other, let me be clear. Extreme elements on the political Left and political Right seem to share this same goal. The same is true for the many different advocacy groups, all funded by dark money, that seem to be driving a similar narrative. Promoting their specific agendas. Hi None of them with our country’s best in mind.

Jesus offers us a different way. A better way. The way of the Kingdom. Love over hate. Gentleness over anger. Peace over violence. Forgiveness and reconciliation over bitterness and estrangement. Only Christ is strong enough to hold us together when every other power in the world seeks to tear us apart. And only the people of God, empowered by the Spirit of God, can live out the principles of the Kingdom of God and offer our nation and our world a different way. A house divided against itself cannot stand. This is true in our homes, neighborhoods, communities, regions, states, and nation. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom as you seek to proclaim the Kingdom of God today.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Why it Matters - Faith

Readings for today: Matthew 8:5-13, 11:1-30, Luke 7

What is faith? Hebrews says it is “being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” (Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭NET‬‬) Romans suggests it is an unwavering trust in God’s promise and cites Abraham who ”did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God promised He was able to do.” (Romans‬ ‭4‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NET‬‬) We see both of these dynamics at work in Jesus’ interaction with the centurion.

The story is a scandalous one on a lot of levels. Why would Jesus interact with a centurion at all? Much less go to his home? Offer to heal his servant? Affirm his faith? It’s crazy! This man is an oppressor. An enemy of God’s chosen people. An agent of the Roman Empire. Empowered to enforce Caesar’s will, using violence if necessary. Furthermore, he’s a pagan. A worshipper of false gods. He’s a Gentile. Not a drop of Jewish blood in him. But still he believes. He trusts Jesus. He recognizes Jesus as a man who holds authority. He knows all Jesus has to do is say the word and his servant will be healed.

The Bible says Jesus was amazed. I love that even Jesus can be surprised! But perhaps the centurion’s faith shouldn’t be surprising. After all, as he himself says, he is a man under authority with soldiers under his command. He knows what it’s like to give and receive orders. He knows what it’s like to say the word and expect immediate obedience. He knows what it’s like to operate within a chain of command. Whatever the details of his belief system - and we aren’t given much to go on honestly - he sees in Jesus a divine authority. Someone to whom even the demons are subject and he cries out to him for help.

How would you describe your faith? Is it like the faith of the centurion? Do you believe Jesus holds all authority in heaven and on earth? Do you believe Jesus reigns even now from the throne room of heaven? Do you believe Jesus is at work in the world, bringing about His perfect will? Do you believe all things are subject to Him, including diseases and demons and even death itself? If so, are you living in obedience? As a man or woman under God’s authority? Subject to His will? Do you trust God? Do you trust Him to be faithful to His promises? Do you believe He is more than able to do all we could ever ask for or imagine? Do you live for God’s glory? Seeking to honor Him above all?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 12:22-50, Mark 3:22-35, Luke 8:19-21, 11:14-54

Why it Matters - The Power of Love

Readings for today: Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49, 11:1-13

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be like your Father in heaven, since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? So, then, be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭43‬-‭48‬ ‭NET‬‬)

This is one of Jesus’ most challenging commands. We live in a divided world. We live in a divided nation. We live in divided communities. Many of us even live in divided families. People are divided along political and social lines. Family and tribal lines. Ideological and identity lines. These divisions are leading to all kinds of outbursts of anger and hatred and dehumanization and abuse. Some choose to respond in kind. Some choose “no contact” and cut people out of their lives. Some even resort to violence. It’s heartbreaking on so many levels.

In recent years, some have tried to justify their “tribalism” by suggesting it is appropriate to love those like you over those who are not like you. Love those who love you over those who hate you. Love your friends and not your enemies. Love your family and not your neighbors. Love your nation and not other countries. Such justifications fall flat in the face of Jesus’ words today. Love your enemies. Love those who persecute you. Love those who hate you and attack you. Love them just as your Heavenly Father loves them. Bless them just as your Heavenly Father blesses them, causing the rain to fall on the righteous and unrighteous alike. It’s so easy to love those who love you. It takes so little effort to greet only those who you know already. Even the pagans who don’t know God are able to do that. But if you want to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect, love like He loves. Love those who are not like you. Love those who are at odds with you. Love even those who are at war with you. Why? Because perfect love casts out all fear. Perfect love casts out all hate. Perfect love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and never fails. That’s how God loves us and that’s how we love like God.

Can you imagine what would happen if Christians would follow this command? Imagine the difference we could make if we had the courage to reach across the political aisle? Engage across the social spectrum? Embrace those who are not like us? Include those outside our family or tribe? Let go of our ideological purity tests and instead extend grace to those who may be different? Would we not shine like lights in the world? Would we not act like salt in the earth? Would we not reflect our Heavenly Father to the world? There is only one way to make this happen. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. We must walk in step with the Holy Spirit. We must be led by the Holy Spirit. He alone can give us the strength and courage and wisdom it will take to love our enemies in a world that seeks to destroy them instead.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 8:5-13, 11:1-30, Luke 7

Why it Matters - Mercy

Readings for today: Matthew 8:1-4, 9:1-17, 12:1-21, Mark 1:40-45, 2:1-28, 3:1-21, Luke 5:12-39, 6:1-19

One of the things I love most about Jesus is His embrace of sinners. He hangs out with them. He eats with them. He spends time with them. He doesn’t seem embarrassed or ashamed of them. He’s not afraid to confront them but it is always in love. Always with their best in mind. Three of the four Gospels record the account of Jesus calling Matthew or Levi as His disciple. The very first thing Matthew does is throw a party. He invites all his friends. But it’s definitely not the “in” crowd. Definitely not the kind of crowd anyone would want to associate with in first century Israel. Tax collectors and other sinners. They all gather around the table with Jesus and His disciples and it creates a scandal. The Pharisees, always so concerned with religious purity, challenge Him. Why do you eat with tax collectors and other sinners? The implication is they are not worth His time. They are unclean and impure. They are lost and far from God. They have rejected God’s Law by the choices they make. They are disobedient and rebellious. They should be marginalized and ostracized until they repent. Jesus’ response is brilliant. “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. Go and learn what this saying means: “I want mercy and not sacrifice.” For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:12 NET)

We live in a Pharisaical culture. We are so concerned with ideological purity that we refuse to associate with anyone who might disagree with us. Might not share the same values as us. Might not be a full-throated supporter of all we believe in. We cut off family. We cut off friends. We cut off spouses in divorce and disown children and parents. In this way, we are no different than the Pharisees who challenged Jesus. And where has our Pharisaism led us? Estrangement with those we love. I think of the prevalence of “no contact” counseling that has become popular in therapy these days. Clients are encouraged to cut off those they love. They label family members and friends as “toxic.” They justify their actions by talking about “safety” but what they really mean is ideological conformity. It’s a terrible approach that comes with a psychological cost. Relationships are broken. Loneliness and isolation increases. It often leads to greater levels of depression. A much better approach is to follow Jesus. To privilege mercy over purity. To privilege compassion over conformity. To privilege grace over legalism.

I know it’s not easy. I have people in my own life who I love dearly with whom I disagree profoundly. When we get together for dinner, there is always a certain level of tension in the room. We have to watch what we say and how we respond because we’ve committed to respect and honor one another despite our deep disagreements. The same dynamic is present in the church I pastor. We have people who attend from across the ideological spectrum politically, socially, economically, and religiously. Every Sunday we have multiple ethnicities and multiple cultures present in our midst. We have people of deep faith and people of no faith who call PEPC home. And the only reason we are thriving is because we have largely taken Jesus’ words to heart. We desire mercy over ritualism. We desire mercy over legalism. We desire mercy over ideological conformity. Friends, only Jesus is strong enough to hold us together when everything else in the world threatens to tear us apart. Trust in Him. Follow Him. Believe Him. His mercy is greater than sacrifice.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 5-7, Luke 6:20-49, 11:1-13

Why it Matters - Born Again

Readings for today: John 3-5

All human beings fall into same trap. We fall for the same lie. We make the same fundamental error. We believe we can be like god. We believe we exist on the same level playing field as God. We believe we have the same choices as God. We even believe we have the right to judge God or question God. Don’t believe me? How many times have you heard someone say, “I don’t believe in God?” A statement like this suggests we have the ability or authority or knowledge or understanding or wisdom to make such an evaluation. It is almost nonsensical. It would be like saying, “I don’t believe in gravity” or “I don’t believe the earth is round.” These things are reality whether we believe them or not just as God is a reality whether we believe in Him or not. Additionally, have you ever heard someone say, “I couldn’t believe in a God who does…?” Or “I couldn’t ever worship a God who…?” Statements like these suggest we have the moral and ethical standing to judge God. To question God. To put God on trial as it were and demand an accounting for His decisions and actions. Even more insidious are the attempts we make to know God or define God or understand God apart from His revelation in Jesus Christ. We try to define God according to human terms. We project onto God our own wants, needs, and desires. We try to remake God in our own image.

Jesus confronts this temptation in the third chapter of the Gospel of John when He tells Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” Born from above. Born of the Spirit. Nicodemus is a Pharisee. He is a master at arguing and manipulating the Law. He is a master at seeking to use God’s Law, not as a means of getting to know God, but as a means of controlling God. He expects his obedience to God’s Law will influence God in some way, perhaps even forcing His hand so He will intervene and deliver His people from the hands of the Romans. But Jesus exposes the poverty of his spiritual thinking. Nicodemus is bound by earthly thinking. He is limited by the natural world. He cannot see outside himself and that’s why he must be born again. He must be born of water and the spirit. He must be born of the Holy Spirit so he can transcend the thinking of this world and gain a heavenly perspective.

The simple truth of the matter is this…we cannot get from earth to heaven. We cannot understand God apart from the revelation of His Son. In order to know God, we must listen and learn from the One whom He sent. We must surrender our need and our desire to be like god ourselves. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. There is no other way to heaven. No other way into the Father’s presence. No other way to salvation. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven by which we may be saved. Jesus Christ is the name above every other name. He is the One who has descended from heaven. He is the eternal Word of God now made flesh and dwelling among us. He is the perfect revelation of God and the exact representation of His divine being. He is the radiance of the glory of God and He has come to initiate a relationship with us that will last for all eternity. To believe in Jesus is to be born again. To believe in Jesus is to receive the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. To believe in Jesus is to know God in all His fullness and greatness and glory. Jesus plus nothing equals everything.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 8:1-4, 9:1-17, 12:1-21, Mark 1:40-45, 2:1-28, 3:1-21, Luke 5:12-39, 6:1-19