Full of the Spirit

Readings for today: Genesis 41-42, Psalm 13

When I played lacrosse in college, my coach would often talk about how all the great athletes had “it.” You couldn’t really define “it” but you knew “it” when you saw “it.” It was a special quality. A character trait that gave a person confidence to step up in critical moments like when the game was on the line. An instinct that not everyone possessed that allowed a woman or man to take advantage of a moment and elevate not only themselves but those around them as well. In today’s vernacular, we talk about an athlete being “Him” or “Her” and we marvel at their greatness. They always perform at their highest when the lights are brightest.

Joseph had “it.” Joseph was “Him.” He found success wherever he went whether it was in Potiphar’s house, the prison, or before Pharaoh. He never missed a moment. Never failed to take advantage of the opportunities God was giving him along the way. Why was Joseph so favored? It wasn’t because Joseph was especially smart or strong or gifted in any way. There’s nothing in the text to suggest Joseph was anything but an ordinary man. No, the one thing that set Joseph apart was the Spirit of God. After spending years in prison, Joseph appears before Pharaoh. His life is on the line. If he fails to perform, he could easily be thrown back in prison for the rest of his life or even executed. But when the lights were brightest, he turns to God. He doesn’t claim any special powers for himself. He doesn’t try to steal any of the credit or any of the glory from God. He doesn’t promote himself at all. He simply stands before the most powerful man on earth at the time fully trusting in God’s ability to deliver an interpretation. And after he does so, what is the response of the pagan king? “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?” (Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Do you have God’s Spirit in you? He’s really all you need. If you want to live a life full of blessing and favor from God. If you want to experience God in a profound way on a regular basis. If you want to walk in close companionship with God. Then you need the Holy Spirit. He is God’s faithful, abiding presence. He indwells the heart of every believer. He grants us the gifts and graces to live in complete contentment and fulfillment and joy. When we are full of the Spirit, we are given access to divine wisdom and strength to tackle the most difficult problems and overcome the most challenging obstacles. So how do we be filled with the Spirit? We must deny ourselves daily and follow Christ. We must empty ourselves of “self” and ask the Lord to fill us with His Spirit. We must keep in step with the Spirit every day of our lives, walking in obedience to His will and His way. Most importantly, we must allow the Spirit to sanctify our character and nature so that we become more and more like God.

When I think of the greatest people I have ever known, the number one quality that stands out is that they are full of the Spirit. They are people no one has ever heard of who played a critical role in my life. They are men and women of deep faith who taught me more about Jesus than I ever thought I’d learn. They showed me by the way they lived what it meant to walk in the Spirit and be full of the Spirit and, as a result, they lived some of the most extraordinary lives. Most of them were not rich or well-known. They were not influencers by any stretch of the imagination. They were simply ordinary people who had given their lives to an extraordinary God and God blessed them immeasurably. That’s what I want for my life as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 43-45, Psalm 14 (No devotionals on Sunday)

God with Us

Readings for today: Genesis 38-40, Psalm 12

One of the things we celebrate every Christmas is the idea of Immanuel, a name that literally means “God with Us.” It’s a powerful idea that continues to captivate each and every generation. We love the idea that the God of the universe would humble Himself to come and stand at our side. We love the idea that God would care for us so much He would walk with us through every season of life. We love the idea that God is so faithful that no matter where we go or what we do, He is always with and for us. He never walks away. He never abandons us. He never forsakes us. This is one of the unique features of the Christian faith.

God didn’t just become “Immanuel” on the day Jesus was born. He has always been Immanuel. He is Immanuel for Tamar as she wrestles over the cultural expectations of her day which would have her wed multiple men of the same family when the one who is her husband dies. He is Immanuel for Judah when he seeks comfort, unknowingly, in the arms of Tamar after the death of his wife. He is Immanuel for Perez and Zerah as they wrestle in the womb for supremacy. He is Immanuel for Joseph when he’s raised up to rule Potiphar’s house and then brought low through a false accusation. God is with us in the good and bad and ugly of life. Hopefully, you are beginning to see this as one of THE major themes in Scripture and it is what gives us hope even in the face of our own challenges and fears.

There are so many people in the world today processing all kinds of pain and suffering and heartache. There are all kinds of people living around us today who have all kinds of doubts and questions and fears. Lots of people who formally might have identified as Christian are deconstructing what they formally believe as they seek some kind of peace and wholeness and beauty and love in their lives. They want to be seen. They want to be known. They want to be free. They want to be affirmed. And the great news of the gospel is that God is with them every step of the way. He does see us. He does know us. He does set us free. He does affirm as His beloved. He also confronts us and convicts us and seeks to conform us to the image of His Son. Not through manipulation or coercion or by force but by loving us and comforting us and drawing us near. No matter where these opening weeks of 2024 find you, trust God is with you. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will never leave your side.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 41-42, Psalm 13

Sinful Self-Interest

Readings for today: Genesis 35-37, Psalm 11

The besetting sin of humanity is selfishness. From the moment we fell in the Garden of Eden, we turned inward, elevating “self” over everything and everyone else. We prioritize self over family. We prioritize self over friends. We even prioritize self over God. The checkered and often tragic history of the human race is replete with examples of human beings acting in their own sinful self-interest. On a micro level this results in broken relationships. On a macro level this results in all kinds of conflict and injustice. When you combine sinful self-interest with opportunity, power, and a certain level of authority, we human beings become capable of terrible evil.

Consider what happens in our reading today. Jacob/Israel acts in his own self-interest by privileging his favorite son of his favorite wife over his older brothers. In doing so, he breaks all kinds of cultural conventions and creates a situation where Joseph’s brothers feel deeply threatened. After all, what happens if Jacob/Israel should decide to make Joseph the leader of the family? This threatens their potential position in the line of succession and puts their inheritance at risk. This was no small thing in the ancient near east which is why they hatch a plot to get rid of Joseph. It isn’t simple jealousy driving their decisions but sinful self-interest. Furthermore, their decision to sell Joseph rather than kill him also is driven by sinful self-interest. What profit do they gain from his death? Better to sell him and get rid of him. It accomplishes the same purpose and rids them not only of a nuisance but also a rival for their father’s affection, position, and wealth.

Thankfully God is at work. He bends even our sinful self-interest to His divine purposes. Joseph’s brothers have no idea at this point in the story that the decision they make to sell Joseph into slavery will end up saving their lives and that of their families. They have no idea at this point in the story that God is orchestrating things, turning what they intend for evil into good. This is always how God works. He takes every decision we make - even the ones driven by our own sinful self-interest - and uses it bring about His good in our lives. This doesn’t mean it always feels good. Joseph’s brothers are going to go through a lot of pain and hardship and suffering. Joseph himself will undergo all kinds of pain and hardship and suffering. But in the end, God uses their sinful decisions to bring about their salvation and this gives us hope for our lives as well.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 38-40, Psalm 12

Beautifully Broken

Readings for today: Genesis 32-34, Psalm 10

There is nothing harder than having to face the serious consequences of the decisions you’ve made in your life. You have no one else to blame. Nowhere else to go. Nowhere left to hide. It’s just you coming to grips with the choices you made and the ripple effect they created for your family, friends, and community. I can’t tell you the number of times this has happened in my life. It’s never easy. It’s always painful. It creates all kinds of shame and heartbreak. And though I’ve often tried to run away from it all, God is faithful. He brings me back. He sets me in front of the mirror. He forces me to face myself in all my failures. He breaks me so that He might build me back up.

Jacob finds himself between a rock and hard place. He has burned every bridge possible. Laban, the father-in-law he defrauded, is behind him. Esau, the brother he usurped, is in front of him. For all he knows, he and his family are about to be wiped out. He’s under tremendous pressure. His fears and anxieties have gotten the best of him. All his scheming and manipulation have brought him to this point. God has him right where He wants him. He meets Jacob down by the river. He wrestles with Jacob all night long. He forces Jacob to come grips with all his failures. He breaks Jacob utterly to the point where he is given a new name and a new identity. He will now be known as “Israel”, the one who struggles with God. The one who walks with a limp for the rest of his life as a reminder of his encounter with the Holy One.

Perhaps you know how Jacob feels? Perhaps you too have wrestled with God? Perhaps you have been broken by Him? I know I have. My life is not the same as it was prior to 2009. I wrestled with God for months, spending almost every night pacing and arguing and cursing out God in prayer. I fought with God. I battled God. And I was utterly broken before Him. God did to me what He did to Jacob. He was faithful to stay in the fight. He never overwhelmed me. Never forced Himself on me. He simply waited until I exhausted myself struggling against Him. Once I came to the end of myself, He held a mirror up to my soul. There I saw all the ugliness of my pride and anger and frustration and bitterness and selfishness and fear reflected back at me. God gave me a choice in that moment. I could choose to continue fighting or I could surrender to His will for my life. Thankfully, I chose the latter but believe me when I say I walked away from that encounter with a serious limp.

Friends, God’s plan for your life is simple. He wants you to become more like Jesus. He is like a master sculptor taking up his hammer and chisel to break those parts of you that don’t belong. He is molding and shaping you in ways you cannot see. He is always at work using everything you’re going through in your life to complete the good work He’s begun in you. This is not an easy process. It is not a clean or neat process. It is not a linear process. It is often painful and hard and confusing. We often resist His sanctifying work in our lives. But God is faithful. He is patient. He will keep wrestling with us until we finally surrender to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 35-37, Psalm 11

Best Laid Plans

Readings for today: Genesis 29-31, Psalm 9

I don’t know about you but I am a planner. In fact, I make backup plans to my backup plans just in case my original plans don’t come through. I plan out each day. I plan out each week. I plan out each year. I have three year plans and five year plans. I have a professional plan. I have a financial plan. My wife and I have a plan for our family. We teach our kids to plan. We are working with our parents on their plans. Planning is a good thing, of course, but only if it is surrendered to the Lord. Ultimately, we can put together our best laid plans but it is the Lord’s plan for our lives that matters most. That’s why I try to hold onto my plans loosely. Walk with open hands before the Lord because He has a way of changing my plans along the way.

In our story today, it’s clear that everyone has a plan. Jacob has a plan. Leah has a plan. Rachel has a plan. Laban has a plan. Each of their plans is based on what they believe is best for them. Each of them is after something and they are willing to do just about anything to achieve those ends. Jacob has a plan for a wife and a family. Leah has a plan to earn her husband’s affection and love. Rachel has a plan for children to end the shame over her barren condition. Laban has a plan to use Jacob to grow his wealth. They compete. They deceive. They lie. They steal. They scheme. It’s striking to note that none of them seeks the Lord for His plan for their lives. They simply assume God is with them. (As an aside, how often do we make the same mistake in asking God to bless our plans rather than seek His plan?)

Finally, God intervenes. He makes His plan known to Jacob. Once again, it involves returning to the Promised Land. Returning back to the original plan God first gave to Abraham and Sarah. Returning back to the place God has given him and his family. “I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’” (Genesis‬ ‭31‬:‭13‬ ‭CSB‬‬) No matter where we go or what we do, God is faithful. He will use all our decisions and all our choices and all our experiences - good, bad, or ugly - to bring about His sovereign will for our lives. God’s plan is for Abraham’s family to inherit the Promised Land. God’s plan is for Abraham’s family to establish themselves in the Promised Land in order to bless the nations of the earth. God’s plan is to grow Abraham’s family until they outnumber the stars of the sky and the sand on the seashore. No matter what Abraham’s family does, God will make sure His plan comes to pass and this should bring us great comfort.

God has a plan for your life as well. He has made promises to you that He will bring to pass no matter what. This doesn’t mean we should take Him for granted or ignore Him or dismiss Him and do our own thing. There are consequences for the choices we make. The consequences for Jacob and Laban and Leah and Rachel were significant and painful. But when we align our plans with God’s plan for our lives, there is blessing and joy and fulfillment and peace. Before you make your plan for today, take some time and ask God to show you His plans for you.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 32-34, Psalm 10

The Will of God

Readings for today: Genesis 25-28, Psalm 8

What is the will of God and how do I stay within it? It’s a common question. One I get a lot by virtue of my profession. So many people - especially Christians - want to know what God’s will is for their lives and how they pursue it. At the same time, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about the will of God. Especially when it comes to how God’s will relates to our will. God did not make us robots. He endowed us with the inalienable right to make our own decisions. This is what is commonly known as “free will” and it is very real. Human beings have the ability to make real choices and God holds us accountable for those choices. At the same time, God has made a choice. He has made a decision to love us and love the world in which He placed us and He is at work to bring about the renewal of the world through us. But how does all that work together? How does God’s sovereign will and our free will interact? Where do they intersect? What does that actually look like in real time? Glad you asked…;-)

Think about what we read today. The family of Abraham is a dysfunctional one just like all human families. Abraham practiced polygamy which was common in his day, especially for wealthy men, but it wasn’t wise. It put the inheritance of Isaac in jeopardy so he had to essentially exile his other sons in order to secure Isaac’s position as head of the family. He sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac within the extended family or clan but she is barren thus creating yet another threat to God’s salvation plan. Isaac could have chosen a second wife but instead chooses to pray to the Lord and the Lord opens Rebekah’s womb. But the two children begin fighting before they are even born thus setting in motion a competition that will last most of their adult lives. Jacob steals Esau’s birthright and inheritance. There is favoritism in the family between dad and mom. Esau gets angry and threatens to murder his brother and it appears we may be headed for another Cain and Abel situation. It’s quite a mess and it leaves one wondering if God made the right choice when He chose this family out of all the families on earth to be His chosen people.

Despite the many bad decisions of Isaac and Rebekah and Esau and Jacob, God is faithful. He continues to intervene to keep His sovereign plan on track. He opens Rebekah’s womb. He reaffirms His promise to Isaac and provides miraculously and abundantly for him in the Promised Land. He establishes Isaac at Beer-sheba and meets Jacob in a dream at Bethel. Through it all, God is working His sovereign will in and through and over and among the people He has chosen for Himself. All of Isaac’s decisions - even the sinful ones - are used by God to further His purposes. All of the choices Jacob makes - even the deceitful, manipulative ones - are used by God to accomplish His will and move His salvation plan forward. This doesn’t make their choices any less real nor does it make them any less responsible.

The same is true for us as well. We too make decisions each and every day. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are ugly. Thankfully, God is sovereign. He will bend our decisions to serve His perfect will no matter what and that should give us all hope.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 29-31, Psalm 9

The Patience of God

Readings for today: Genesis 19-21, Psalm 6

God is the most patient being in the universe. He has to be if He’s going to stay in relationship with us. We are fickle creatures. One day we are strong and growing and humble in our faith. The next we are weak and struggling and full of doubts and fears. One day we are willing to take extraordinary steps of faith and the next, we try to manage life on our own. Through all of these ups and downs, God is with us. He works with us and through us and in us to bend every single decision and action - good, bad, or otherwise - to His perfect will.

Lot and Abraham serve as great examples for us. Their lives are case studies that reveal the gentle but relentless patience of God as He works to implement His salvation plan on earth as it is in heaven. Consider the case of Lot. Lot is a deeply compromised man. He lives in a corrupt city among a corrupt people. Their lives are marked not only by sexual violence and abuse and immorality but, according to the prophet Ezekiel, pride, greed, injustice, and terrible neglect of the poor in their midst. Some try to suggest that it was the latter sins rather than the former that called down God’s wrath but that’s parsing things too thin. The reality is Sodom was full of all kinds of sin and deserved her fate and it begs the question why a man like Lot would choose to live there with his family? Not only that but when the angels come to rescue him, he hesitates. He resists. He asks for all kinds of accommodations. Even then, the Lord has mercy. Genesis 19:16, “But Lot hesitated. Because of the Lord’s compassion for him, the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters. They brought him out and left him outside the city.”

Abraham is no paragon of virtue. Chapter twenty finds him once again acting out of fear and potentially putting the promise of God in jeopardy. He repeats the mistakes of his past as he tries to manage through a difficult situation with Abimelech. Rather than trust in the Lord, he trusts in his own ideas, his own wisdom, his own plans and the result is almost a disaster. Thankfully, the pagan Abimelech is more righteous than Abraham in this story and he returns Sarah unharmed and untouched thereby preserving the sanctity of her marriage. (The fact that he finds an almost 100 year old woman attractive enough to put in his harem is another story for another day.) Abraham’s actions put so much at risk. The promise of God. The inheritance of his clan and tribe. The future of his family. Thankfully, the Lord has mercy. Genesis 20:6-7, “Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that you did this with a clear conscience. I have also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I have not let you touch her. Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you will certainly die, you and all who are yours.”

What about you? How has the Lord preserved you even in the face of doubt and fear and hesitation in following His will for your life? How has the Lord protected you even in the face of sinful and difficult choices you made along the way? Rest assured, God is faithful. He promises to use all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. All means all. The good, bad, and ugly of our lives. God takes it all and uses it all to make us more in the image of Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 22-24, Psalm 7 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Covenant Faithfulness

Readings for today: Genesis 16-18, Psalm 5

I give God so many reasons to walk away but still He remains faithful. If one were to catalog my sins from a single day or week or month or year, one would have more than enough evidence to cut bait but God does not. My life is a series of ups and downs, successes and failures, good and bad decisions and still God is with me through it all. This is what it means to live in covenant relationship with God. A covenant is not a contract. It is not an agreement between two equal parties. It is not transactional in nature. A covenant is eternal because God is eternal. A covenant cannot be broken because God never breaks faith no matter what we say or do. God guarantees His covenant with His very life. He refuses to walk away no matter how bad things get. He never leaves us or forsakes us even if we leave or forsake ourselves.

Don’t believe me? Consider what happens in Abram’s life. Consider all the factors in play that put the covenant God has made with him in jeopardy. Family dysfunction. An illegitimate heir. Strife between Sarai and Hagar. Age considerations. Physical limitations. The shame of barrenness. And what does God do? He meets Abram in the middle of the mess. He sees Hagar in the wilderness. He blesses Ishmael as well as Isaac. He gives them new names and new identities. Abram will now be Abraham - “Father of a multitude.” Sarai will now be Sarah - “Princess.” Both will be blessed. Kings and nations will come from their family line. Through their family and household, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. There could be no greater promise for an ancient near east patriarch than to know the future of his family was secure. And if this were a contractual arrangement, Abraham would have no hope. He’s already proven he can’t hold up his end of the bargain. God would have every right to walk away. But it’s a covenant. An eternal arrangement made by God Himself. All these things will come to pass in Abraham’s life because God is faithful even where Abraham is not. And the same is true for us.

Jesus Christ invites us into a new covenant. A covenant sealed by His own body and blood. A covenant guaranteed by His own life. This covenant involves the forgiveness of sins. It includes the gift of eternal life. Those who enter it will always be part of it. No matter where they go or what they do. Why? Because Jesus is faithful. He chases down every single lost sheep. He searches for every single lost coin. He never rests until every single lost child comes home. This is His promise to all those who believe in Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 19-21, Psalm 6

Identity

Readings for today: Genesis 8-11, Psalm 3

Who am I? What defines me? What is my core identity? These are the fundamental questions every single human has to answer on some level. These questions seem to transcend culture and time and place. They seem to haunt every single human being who has ever lived. Some draw their answers from the culture around them. Some find their answers in their family of origin. Some tie their identities to specific abilities or vocations. Some ground their identities in sexual desire or ethnicity. Some seek to define themselves over and against their biological makeup as in the case of gender dysphoria. All of these fall short, of course, with devastating consequences. Fear and anxiety. Depression and despair. Isolation and loneliness. We experience these feelings because we have sought purpose and fulfillment and happiness in something other than God. We have tried to replace the divine identity He gave us at the beginning with a false identity of our own making.

This is the fundamental issue at stake in the Tower of Babel story. Listen again to the motivation that drives humanity. “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.” (Genesis‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Let us build for ourselves. Let us make a name for ourselves. This is the core problem with the human race. Rather than trust God, we look to our own strength and wisdom. Rather than rest content in our identity as image bearers of God, we have this insatiable appetite for more. Rather than surrender to God and submit to His plan and His will and His way, we believe our plans are better. We believe our ways are what’s best for us. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course, but we seem stuck on an endless cycle of “wash, rinse, repeat.” Every generation repeating the same mistake. Each generation believing they can somehow finally get it “right” without God. We all want the Kingdom without bowing the knee before the King. We want all the blessings but want nothing to do with the Blesser. We want all the benefits of heaven but reject our Benefactor. It’s insanity. Following the same rebellious path over and over again but expecting a different result.

So what’s the answer? We exchange all our false identities for our true identity in Christ. We stop fighting God and instead, surrender to His love and grace. We resist the temptation to define ourselves apart from God and instead, let His Spirit fill us and sanctify us. In Christ, God redeems our fallen natures. He heals our broken hearts. He renews our fallen souls. He restores His image in us. He makes us a new creation. We find our truest and deepest identity in Him. Our union with Christ becomes the very thing that defines us and this impacts not only who we are and how we live but also those around us. It changes how we relate to our spouses and children and parents. It changes how we relate to friends and colleagues. It changes how we relate even to those with whom we are in conflict. In short, it changes everything because we’ve been changed. How are you living out your identity in Christ today?

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 12-15, Psalm 4

Humanity’s Choice

Readings for today: Genesis 4-7, Psalm 2

Today we read about the growth of humanity on the earth. It’s important to note this is not an exhaustive, anthropological account. God is not giving us the history of the human race as much as giving us the details important to salvation history. The people listed in this narrative chart the genealogy that will eventually bring forth the Messiah. Furthermore, God is also showing us the impact of sin on each and every generation. The downward spiral of humanity is a direct result of the curse all of us are born under. This curse corrupts us to the core and turns us inward towards self rather than upward towards God and the results are frankly terrifying. Violence. Suffering. Pain. Abuse. Tyranny. Murder. Humanity rejecting the call to be our brother or sister’s guardian.

Why is humanity the way that it is? Why is humanity so prone to violence and anger and outrage and hate? Why is humanity so selfish and narcissistic? Why is humanity so greedy and power-hungry and corrupt? Even a brief, cursory look at history provides plenty of evidence to support the theological doctrine of original sin. Though we like to think of ourselves as fundamentally good, though flawed, people; it seems clear to me both on a macro as well as micro level that the opposite is true. We are fundamentally broken, selfish, sinful people who occasionally are capable of great good. This is the impact of the Fall. It is the impact of the choice humanity made in the Garden to define “good” and “evil” for themselves.

The story of Cain is a powerful one that sums up humanity’s biggest and most persistent challenge. Cain presents his offering before the Lord and it is not acceptable. Rather than choose the path of humility and reflect on the deficiencies of his own heart, Cain blames his brother for bringing the better offering and hatches a plan to eliminate the competition. God sees his rage and knows where it will lead so He offers Cain a choice, “If you do what is right, won’t you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7) Sadly, Cain rejects God and murders his brother in cold blood. This elicits God’s judgment. Interestingly enough, it is couched more in terms of logical consequences than arbitrary punishment. “Then God said, “What have you done? Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground! So now you are cursed, alienated from the ground that opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood you have shed. If you work the ground, it will never again give you its yield. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬-‭12‬) Like Adam and Eve before him, Cain will now experience alienation. Alienation from his family. Alienation from his community. Alienation from the very land he must till to survive. Alienation leads to shame as the full weight of sin comes crashing down on Cain’s shoulders. It is no longer crouching at the door, it has fully mastered him, enslaving him from this point forward. Listen again to Cain’s despair. “My punishment is too great to bear! Since you are banishing me today from the face of the earth, and I must hide from your presence and become a restless wanderer on the earth, whoever finds me will kill me.” (Genesis‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭14)‬

As a pastor, I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sat with people and seen this same dynamic play itself out. Sin is always crouching at the door and its desire is always to enslave us. It manifests itself in all sorts of ways. Lust. Pride. Greed. Selfishness. You name it. It is always there. Every day, we are faced with the same choice Cain faced. Will we do what is right? What is good? What is glorifying to God? Or will we go our own way? Serve ourselves? Feed our own sinful desires? When we choose to submit to God, we choose life. When we choose to surrender to our base desires, we choose death. Take some time today and ask the Holy Spirit to show you those areas of your life where you have yet to surrender to God.

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 8-11, Psalm 3

How it All Began

Readings for today: Genesis 1-3, Psalm 1

The creation story of the Bible is unique among ancient near east creation narratives. Most of the other cultures surrounding ancient Israel described creation as a war between the gods and chaos. Light and darkness. Good and evil. Typically, the gods prevail over chaos and literally dismember it in order to make the heavens and the earth. It’s a gruesome, violent depiction. Furthermore, it’s a battle that never truly ends as the forces of chaos are always looking for opportunities to re-assemble and overthrow the natural order of things. This requires constant vigilance which is why so much of ancient near east worship was geared towards maintaining the order of the universe and appeasing the gods so they will protect and provide for humanity. It’s very transactional and mutually beneficial with both gods and humanity benefiting from the arrangement.

Genesis 1 tells a completely different story. God doesn’t battle the formless, empty depths of the waters at the beginning of time. There is no war in heaven as God struggles to impose His will on creation. No, God simply speaks and creation comes into being. Light (Time). Heavenly expanse (Weather). Dry land and vegetation (Food). The very building blocks of life for the people of the ancient near east. Sun and moon and stars to rule over time. Birds to fill the heavens and fish to fill the sea. Animals on the earth. All of it designed by God with humanity in mind. For we are the crown of His creation. The creatures made in His own image. Given dominion over all He has made. Called not to hold back chaos - that’s already taken care of - but to live in covenant relationship with God and care for all He has made. There is no hint of conflict. No hint of violence. No hint of heartbreak, suffering, or pain. At least, not until Genesis 3.

There are two critical takeaways from today’s reading that set up the rest of what we will read this year. First and foremost, we were made to live in perfect relationship with God. We were made to live with God in paradise. We were made to reflect His image and glory to the world. This was God’s great desire at the beginning and it remains His great desire to this day. Because we are made in God’s own image, we are created with agency. Free will. The ability to make choices and be held responsible for those choices. In relationships, love must be freely given and freely chosen or it is not love at all. Sadly, and here’s the second key takeaway, we chose “self” over God and fractured our relationship with Him with devastating consequences. Conflict entered the world for the first time. We now live in conflict with God, with each other, with the land, and even with ourselves. We’ve become agents of chaos now and all that has gone wrong in the world is the ripple effect of our sinful decision to walk away from God. From this point forward, God will re-enter the picture to fight the forces of chaos we’ve unleashed and yet He will never let go of His original dream. He will continue to work with us and through us to bring order and love and life to this world, entrusting us as people of faith to fulfill His original purposes. This is our call, friends, and the rest of the Bible is the story of God’s mission to restore all that was lost.

How can you join Him today?

Readings for tomorrow: Genesis 4-7, Psalm 2

The Call

Readings for today; Revelation 14-18

Amidst all the fantastic visions and angelic pronouncements about the end times, there is this call to the saints of God. “Meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.” (Revelation‬ ‭14‬:‭12‬ ‭MSG‬‬) It’s so tempting when we read a book like Revelation to spend all our time trying to decipher what John was attempting to say. We do our best to cross the cultural divide. Analyze the apocalyptic text. Search for clues to help us discern whether these ancient prophecies are coming true in our own time. We spend all kinds of time, attention, and energy debating the finer points of each vision as we look for the day when Christ will appear and all things will be made new. All the while, Jesus is calling us to “stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.”

This is the fundamental call for every Christian in every time and place. Yes, we can spend our time debating end times theology. Yes, we can spend our time wrestling over the timing of the eschaton. Yes, we can argue pre-millennial, post-millennial, and amillennial points of view. But at the end of the day, the challenge remains the same for each one of us. Are we living lives of faithfulness to Jesus? Are we seeking to follow His commands? Are we remaining passionately patient? Fervently praying for His return? No matter the cost? Life has its ups and downs. So does history. There are periods of persecution followed by periods of peace. There are seasons where following Christ is affirmed and seasons where following Christ is challenging. There are places in the world today where it is safe to be a Christian and places where it is unsafe. Often, our perspective on the end times will be shaped by our experiences in this world, good or bad. Through it all, the call remains the same. Remain patient. Keep God’s commands. Stay faithful to Jesus.

We are coming to the end of our journey through the Bible this year. What does 2024 look like for you? What’s your plan to grow spiritually? To dive deeper in your faith? What goals have you set for yourself? What goals has the Holy Spirit set for you? What will it look like for you to remain passionately patient as you await Christ’s return? Where do you need to align your life with the commandments of God? What areas of your life do you need to submit to Christ? What does it mean for you to remain faithful to Jesus? How is such faithfulness reflected in the way you spend your time? Where you put your attention? How you spend your money? These are great questions to reflect on as you think about 2024 and beyond.

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 19-22

Judgment

Readings for today: Revelation 11-13

I find most people live with a sense of cognitive dissonance. On the one hand, everyone generally agrees that our world is not in great shape. There is too much violence. Too much pain and suffering. Too much disease. Too much inequality. Too much resource disparity. Too much anger. Too much hate. We generally blame God for not stepping in. Not taking care of things. Not leveling the playing field. Not solving our problems. Not restraining evil. At the same time, everyone generally agrees they want to be free. Free to make their own decisions. Free to live their lives the way they want. Free to pursue the fulfillment of their desires. We don’t want God to tell us what to do. Don’t want God to challenge our choices. Don’t want God to restrict our behavior. But we can’t have it both ways. The fundamental reality that the Bible affirms is that we are free, moral agents, created in the image of God, capable of great good and great evil, fully responsible for the decisions we make and the impact those choices have on others and this is why we are subject to God’s judgment.

God loves the world. He loves everything He has made. He loves every creature He has made. He loves every human being He has made. And that’s why God hates what we’ve done to the world. He hates what we do to each other. He hates what we do to ourselves. And He holds us responsible for each and every action and non-action. He holds us responsible for each and every word we say or don’t say. He holds us responsible for the way we respond to those around us and especially the way we respond to Him. He created us. He created us to worship and to serve Him forever. And when we reject His creative purposes for our lives, we live for ourselves and living for ourselves is what ultimately leads us to ruin. God, however, will not abandon us. He will not abandon the world He has made. He is coming again to judge the earth and everyone in it. He is coming again to make all things new and take control of His world once and for all. Listen again to how the Apostle John describes it, “The kingdom of the world is now the Kingdom of our God and his Messiah! He will rule forever and ever! The Twenty-four Elders seated before God on their thrones fell to their knees, worshiped, and sang, We thank you, O God, Sovereign-Strong, Who Is and Who Was. You took your great power and took over—reigned! The angry nations now get a taste of your anger. The time has come to judge the dead, to reward your servants, all prophets and saints, Reward small and great who fear your Name, and destroy the destroyers of earth.” (Revelation‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

Thanks be to God that we know the end of the story! Now the challenge is for us to live with God’s glorious end in mind. Live now as if the kingdoms of this world have already become the Kingdom of our God and His Messiah. Live in the reality of God’s reign and rule on earth. This is the call to the church. This is the call to every Christian.

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 14-18

When?

Readings for today: Revelation 6-10

I often meet Christians who believe the Lord is coming back in their lifetime. They look at the world around us and see the evidence of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The white horse gallops through places like Ukraine where Russia seeks to conquer her former republic. The red horse rides through places like Gaza and Somalia and South Sudan and Yemen where terrorist groups disrupt peace with violence. The black horse visits nations afflicted by famine due to natural disasters, locust plagues, climate change, and other calamities. And the pale horse eventually comes for us all, bringing not only famine but disease with him. Of course, these four horses don’t just ride in other parts of the globe. They are very present here at home as well. The conflict between political parties and extremist groups is real. The violence in cities like Chicago or on the southern border cannot be ignored. The plight of those living in food deserts in communities all over our country or those who struggle to find sustainable housing is heartbreaking. And the death of those we love due to tragedy, diseases like cancer, or some other event that robs those we love of life is more common than we want to admit.

This is why we cry out with the saints who have gone before us, “How long, Strong God, Holy and True, how long before you step in?” (Rev. 6:10 MSG) I imagine Christians throughout history and around the globe today join us in that same cry. Can you imagine, for example, what it must have felt like to live in Europe during the Black Plague when 1/3 of the population died? Imagine living in the Holy Land when the Crusaders arrived or in Spain under the Inquisition? Imagine what it must have felt like to live under Stalin’s purges or the regimes of Pol Pot or Mao Zedong where millions lost their lives? Imagine what it must have felt like to live in the death camps in Nazi Germany or to be Tutsi in Rwanda during the genocide? I don’t share these examples to diminish the very real pain and suffering so many of us face on a daily basis but simply to help us gain some perspective on the delay of the parousia or the Lord’s return.

God has a plan. He is never early. He is never late. He arrives precisely on time. He sees all the evil that is taking place on the earth and He will one day come to judge the living and the dead. No crime will go unpunished. No wrong will fail to be made right. No injustice will be allowed to stand. No sin will go unaddressed. Those who bear His seal will be saved and will represent a multitude from every tribe, tongue, and nation on the earth. But until that day comes, life on earth will not be easy. We will experience trial and tribulation. But we can take heart for if we persevere in faith, we will receive a white robe, washed in the blood of Jesus Himself. We will find ourselves standing before the throne of God, serving Him day and night. We will hunger no more neither will we thirst. God will wipe away every tear and take away every sadness and make all things new. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! Come quickly!

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 11-13

Alpha and Omega

Readings for today: Revelation 1-5

It’s the day after Christmas. The day after we celebrate the first Advent of Christ’s coming. The day we begin to turn our thoughts to the new year and what’s to come. Many will make resolutions in the coming days. They will set goals for 2024. They will reflect on their physical health, mental and emotional health, relationships, professional goals, etc. What about your spiritual life? Do any of your goals for the new year include growing in your relationship with God?

It’s an important question because the Advent of Jesus Christ is not a “one and done” affair. He is coming again. He is coming with all the power and authority in heaven and on earth in His hands. He is coming to judge the living and the dead. He is bringing the new heavens and the new earth with Him. He is coming to establish His reign and rule in glory once and for all.

When will it happen? No one really knows and the Book of Revelation is notoriously difficult to decipher and understand. So here are some basic ground rules as you wade into the final book of the Bible. First, it 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 genre 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 the rough days ahead. Fourth, many faithful Christians approach this book from many different interpretive angles. There is no one way to read the 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. 

So let me begin this home stretch with one of my favorite verses...“I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation‬ ‭1:8‬) Or, as the Message version puts it, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong.” 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 all we can really say. God stands outside the time and space continuum He created and will remain there looking in until He determines the time is right for His return. As John wrote 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. But when He comes again, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. He will leave no doubt. “Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye, those who mocked and killed him will see him, People from all nations and all times will tear their clothes in lament. Oh, Yes.” (Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭‭7‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

These are important words to reflect on as we begin the home stretch, as are the Spirit’s warnings to the seven churches. They provide a good spiritual barometer to help us discern how ready we are for Christ’s return. Have we abandoned our first love? Are we facing persecution for our faith? What idols do we cling to? What sexual immorality do we engage in? Do we tolerate sin? Are we ambivalent towards the gospel? Is our faith lukewarm at best?

Readings for tomorrow: Revelation 6-10

Building for Glory

Readings for today: 2 Peter 1-3, Jude

All of us want to know where life is headed. Is it headed for glory or for ruin? Will my life make a difference or will my life be wasted? Is my life worth anything in the grand scheme of things or is my life vain and worthless? Will I be remembered or will I simply be another name on a headstone somewhere? Will I leave a legacy or will my accomplishments turn to dust after I’m gone? Just about everyone I know has asked these questions at some point in time in their lives. I have sat at the bedside of countless people as they transitioned from this life into the next and these are the kinds of things they want to know. They aren’t interested in the size of their 401k. They don’t look back with longing at their careers. They don’t ask for more stuff. They want to know if their life counted.

The Apostle Peter clearly shows us how to live a life that counts for something. He gives us the roadmap for a life well lived. Listen to what he says again, “Don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.” (2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭9‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Peter understands the gift we’ve been given in Jesus Christ. He sees the invitation God has extended to us to live a life pleasing to Him. He knows that if we will be diligent and intentional about building our lives on the rock that is Christ, not a minute will be wasted. Not a second will be lost. Each and every day will bring with it an eternal reward. People often wonder why people like Peter or Paul or the many other women and men throughout history who were martyred for their faith could face death with such confidence. It’s because they were building for eternity. They understood their life’s horizon existed beyond the boundaries of this world. They knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that ever moment they spent developing their godly character and spiritual understanding was preparing them for the indestructible life to come.

What about you? Do you live with such assurance? Do you know your life is counting for something? Do you have confidence that when you appear before the throne of judgment that you will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant?” If not, I plead with you to follow Peter’s prescription above. Cast aside your sinful ways and turn to Christ with all your heart. Surrender to Him. Offer your life back to Him. Give Him all that you are and all that you have and trust Him to do even greater things for you than you can possibly ask or imagine!

Readings for tomorrow: None

The Life of Faith

Readings for today: Hebrews 9-13

I love this section of Hebrews because of how it helps us come face to face with the life of faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not yet seen. Walking by faith and not by sight is the key to a vibrant relationship with Christ. It places us in a posture of trust. It pushes us to open our hands and hearts to all kinds of God-ordained possibilities. What no eye has seen and no ear heard. What no human heart can understand. This is the life God offers us if we will let go of our need for control and certainty. God wants to do more than we can ever ask or imagine. God wants to give us every spiritual blessing from heaven. God wants to give good gifts to His children. These are His promises and they are sure. But we can only receive them as we let go of the things of this world. Let go of our plans for our lives. Let go of our need to manage and control outcomes.

A friend of mine likens the Christian life to that of a leaky boat. All of us have holes. All of us are taking on water to a certain extent. We were born this way. It’s the result of original sin as well as our own selfish, sinful choices in life. After we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, we have a decision to make. We can spend all our time bailing water. Grabbing a bucket and trying to stay afloat in our own strength and by our own effort. Eventually, however, we’ll tire out and we’ll begin to sink. The other alternative is to push the throttle all the way down. Commit ourselves wholeheartedly to Christ. Place ourselves under His power and His authority and watch all the water we’ve taken on flow out the back. This is what I think the author of Hebrews is talking about when he writes, “Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2-3‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

The more we place our lives in God’s hands, the more we will find ourselves tapping into supernatural resources of wisdom and strength. The more we trust God for our lives, the more we will be sustained by the manna which comes from heaven. The more we press into Christ, the more we will find ourselves disentangled from sin and released from the heavy burdens we carry. This doesn’t mean the life of faith is easy. Go back and read the stories listed in the 11th chapter and you’ll see a whole lot of struggle and suffering. However, what you’ll also see is victory. The people of God overcoming the trials and tribulations of this world because they kept their eyes focused on a higher prize. This is ultimately what fuels the life of faith. Keeping our eyes on Christ. Rehearsing in our heads and hearts all He went through on our behalf. This is what shoots adrenaline into our souls!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Timothy 1-4

The Truest Story

Readings for today: Hebrews 5-8

The gospel is the best story because it is a true story. Anchored on the promise of God. Sealed by the oath of God. Grounded on the fact that God cannot lie nor change His mind. Throughout human history, God has made many promises. He promised Noah deliverance. He promised Abraham a child. He promised Moses victory. He promised David a descendant to sit on his throne. In each case, He swears an oath by Himself. He puts His glory and His honor on the line. And in every case He delivers. He fulfills His promise. Even in the face of our doubts and fears, disobedience and sin, God never wavers. He is faithful.

This is why the author of Hebrews says “We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬b-‭20‬ ‭MSG‬‬) He knows God can be trusted. He knows God has made a promise. The promise of a Savior. The promise of a Messiah. The promise of a King to sit on His throne and a High Priest to intercede in the heavens. God not only made this promise but He swore an oath. He put His glory and honor on the line. He will not let it fail. So by these two “unchangeable things” - the oath and character of God - we have assurance. We have hope. We can hold fast to what God has set before us.

The story of Jesus is no fairy tale. It is no myth or legend. It is not fiction or something any human being made up. Jesus was born. Jesus lived. Jesus suffered. Jesus died. Jesus rose again. These are historical events. You can actually go and see where they took place. You can visit Bethlehem where Jesus was born. You can walk around Galilee and see where Jesus ministered for three years. You can go to Golgotha and see where Jesus was crucified. You can touch the slab where His body lay. Not only that but you can read about these events not only in the Bible but in extra-biblical sources as well. No one disputes that they actually happened. This is what makes the gospel so compelling after all these years. It’s true! It’s real! It happened! And that’s why we celebrate at Christmas!

Readings for tomorrow: Hebrews 9-13

Jesus is the Centerpiece

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…“So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do.” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2 MSG‬‬) 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

The Tyranny of Self

Readings for today: 1 Peter 1-5

We find ourselves in the midst of a massive cultural shift. For a millennia or more, Western Culture has largely aspired to the ethics of Jesus. He was the gold standard. His teachings formed the bedrock of our moral, religious, political, and legal codes. The way He lived provided the definition of the “good life.” Yes, we never got there. Yes, there were many abuses along the way. Yes, there are many times and seasons and even decades and centuries where the West engaged in gross and even monstrous hypocrisy. But the way of Jesus remained the governing paradigm for a life well-lived. Sadly, this is no longer the case. Many now believe the way of Jesus to be outdated and old-fashioned. Many believe the way of Jesus to be phobic and abusive. Many believe the way of Jesus to be immoral and even evil. Why the change?

Human beings are naturally oriented towards “self.” We are naturally focused on making sure our wants, needs, and desires are satisfied. In this way, we are naturally “selfish.” Meaning we are self-focused. Self-absorbed. Self-protective. Self-promoting. This makes perfect sense when one stops to think about it. After all, we live in a world that is violent and painful and full of injustice and evil and suffering. In such a world, we have to look out for number one because no one else will do it for us. We have to naturally look out for ourselves and guard our hearts and minds and protect our resources and assets or we might become victim to all sorts of nefarious, unhealthy, and toxic forces beyond our control. All this is the consequence of the Fall. It’s the primary symptom of original sin. It’s the root of why there are such vast disparities in our world when it comes to access, opportunity, resources, etc. We naturally do not sacrifice for each other. We naturally do not serve each other. We naturally are not generous towards one another. Yes, we might be able to do these things for a season - if enough cultural pressure is brought to bear - but, by and large, on a day to day basis, we are not wired for selflessness and this is tragic. It’s why the history of the human race is filled with so much horror and pain and suffering and violence and evil. We are not good. Not by any definition. Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Jesus came to wage war on the tyranny of self. He came to overthrow the kingdom of self. He came to set us free from slavery to self. I love how the Apostle Peter describes it in our reading from today, “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” (1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬) The reality is we are all “tyrannized” by our selfish desires. We are all enslaved to our insatiable appetites. No matter how much we achieve or how much we gain or how much we experience or how much we accumulate…it is never enough. The dopamine rush eventually wears off, leaving us craving more and more and more. The more we seek to feed our selfish desires, the more depressed we become. The more we seek to serve our “selves” primarily, the more impoverished and broken our relationships become. The data on this is overwhelming and unequivocal. What else can explain the sharp rises in rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation? What else can explain the accompanying rises in drug use whether it’s recreational marijuana, opioids, and other narcotics? What else can explain the dramatic rise in the need for therapists and psychologists? We are all seeking to address an existential hole in our hearts but we keep going about it in all the wrong ways. The answer is not to focus on self but on others. The answer is not selfishness but selflessness. The answer is not to be served but to serve. And if that last bit sounds familiar it’s because it’s exactly the antidote Jesus provides.

Jesus knows the tyranny of self. He has suffered under its yoke. He’s knows how challenging this world can be and how tempting it is to turn inward. Jesus faced all these temptations and more when He walked the earth. Thankfully, He never succumbed to their pressure. He refused to bow the knee to Self. He refused to use His limitless resources and abilities to serve Self. Instead, He gave Himself away and He calls us to do the same. If you want to live a life filled with joy and peace and grace and beauty and love, there is only one way to do it. Follow Jesus. Learn to think like Him. Learn to act like Him. As you do, you will be set free to live as God created you to live and be the person He created you to be.

Readings for tomorrow: Hebrews 1-4