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

Living Proof

Readings for today: 1 Timothy 1-6

My life is living proof that God can save anyone. I was truly walking in darkness before the light of Christ changed my life. I was depressed. I was lonely. I was anxious and fearful. I was broken in all sorts of ways. My future was bleak. The walls of my life were closing in on me. I was locked in a downward spiral and didn’t have the strength or the fortitude or the wisdom to know how to pull myself out. I was lost. It certainly didn’t have to be that way. I had faithful parents who took me to church every Sunday. I was an honor student. An all-state athlete. An Eagle Scout. A leader in our youth group and soloist in the church choir. But I was living a double life. My inner world did not match my outer world. And that’s what led to my collapse in college. My heart was hardened to the gospel. My selfishness and pride and addictions to achievement and success had killed off any possibility of faith. I was on a rapid descent into a deep, dark pit and that’s when the Lord reached down and saved me. He lifted me up. Set my feet on solid ground. Gave me a new song to sing. Changed my heart and my life forever.

The Apostle Paul had a similar experience and I love how he describes it to Timothy. “Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.” (1 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16 ‭MSG)‬‬ Paul saw himself as the chief of sinners. He was public enemy number one on Christ’s hit list. He was the greatest enemy of the redeemed. He was seeking them out. Dragging them out of their homes and putting them in jail. He placed them on trial and sought their execution. He believed with all his heart that Christianity represented an existential threat to Judaism so he did all he could to combat the rise of this new faith. Not only that but Paul was a Pharisee. He believed with all his heart that if he remained faithful to the covenant, maintained the traditions of his ancestors, kept Torah and taught others to do the same that he would be declared righteous before God. Meeting the Risen Christ on the road outside Damascus radically changed Paul. Everything he thought he once knew went out the window as the amazing grace of God took hold of him.

From that point forward, Paul understood his life was to be lived in a very public way before the world. He was a living testimony to God’s grace. A living demonstration of God’s power to change even the hardest of hearts and the most rebellious of sinners. Everywhere he went, God “showed him off” as “evidence of His endless patience” to those who were considering placing their faith in Christ. I feel the same way. It’s why I live as transparently as possible. It’s why I share openly about my life as often as I do. Every bit of my life - the good, bad, and ugly - is all evidence of God’s great mercy and grace. I have nothing to call my own. I’ve done nothing on my own. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners and I was standing in the front of that line. Now my life is His to command. My steps are His to direct. All of my brokenness He puts on display to demonstrate the power of His grace to save even the worst of sinners. What about you? Is your life a demonstration of the grace of God? Do you understand the depths from which Christ saved you and the heights to which Christ has brought you?

Readings for tomorrow: None

Imitate God

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

A basic question I am often asked is how to live a life that is pleasing to God. A life that is open to God. A life that is surrendered to God. People want to know what it means in the everyday to follow Christ. What does it mean to live a godly life? What does it mean to have a godly marriage? What does it mean to raise godly children? Work towards godly ends in our vocation? These are all great questions to ask as we think about what it means to be a Christian. Is it just a set of beliefs about God? An abstract theological system we ascribe to? A set of laws we have to obey? I prefer the way Paul describes it in the Book of Ephesians…

“Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.” (Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬)

It starts with our perception of God. Is He a distant tyrant that exercises His rule over our lives whether we like it or not? Is He a loving Father who wants to bless and give good gifts to His children? If you lean towards the former, then the temptation will be to try to measure up. Try to prove yourself. White-knuckle your faith with an iron will and rigid self-discipline. If you lean towards the latter, you are set free to follow the example God sets for us in Jesus Christ. You can learn to imitate Him. Especially in love. As you walk with Him and talk with Him and spend time with Him, He promises to teach you a life of love. Extravagant. Abundant. Generous. Overflowing. This is the love of God and the love He wants us to walk in every single day. It is this love that should mark every relationship. It is this love that drives us to serve and submit to one another. It is this love that inspires obedience to His will. It is this love that changes how we parent, how we work, how we retire, and how we spend our free time. We don’t love to get anything from others, we love in order to give ourselves away. This is the secret to living a life pleasing to God.

Where do you find yourself imitating God in your life right now? Where is it easy? Where is it hard? What challenges do you face along the way? Are there certain people in your life that you find it hard to love? Lean into Christ. Follow His example. Rather than withhold love or keep the person at arm’s length or cut them out of your life, love even more deeply. Love even more fully. Love even more extravagantly. Love in a healthy, honest, transparent way. This is the way Jesus loved.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Timothy 1-6

Rich and Full

Readings for today: Ephesians 1-4

Rich and full. That’s how I describe my life to others. A friend of mine asked me the other day why I don’t ever tell anyone how busy I am. After all, he is a close enough friend to know the demands on my time. He knows how hard I run. He knows I pastor a church, teach seminary, train indigenous church planters internationally, and serve my denomination. He knows I have four children, all of whom are moving into adulthood. He knows I have aging parents and other family commitments. He knows I have a strong marriage of almost thirty years. He knows all this and yet he also knows how much I love my life. He can see in the way I live and lead how grateful I am for everything I have been given. So when he asked me why I never tell others I’m “busy”, I shared with him it’s because “busyness” is something we largely choose for ourselves. After all, I don’t have to do everything I do. I could easily step back from some of my commitments to get more time back in my life. Most people I know use “busyness” as an excuse or claim “busyness” as a complaint when, in fact, they are responsible for the choices they’ve made that create the “busy” conditions of their lives. And because I believe this, I choose to look at my life more positively. My life is “rich and full” and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. It doesn’t mean there aren’t hard seasons or tough moments but those are to be expected in a fallen world. I choose to lean into Christ. I choose to lean into love.

That’s probably why I love the words from the Apostle Paul in today’s reading from the Message version of the Bible. In response to the “busyness” of his life, Paul says, “my response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God. God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.” (Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭20 ‭MSG‬‬) Isn’t that a beautiful vision of the Christian life? Both feet firmly planted on love. Taking in all the extravagant dimensions of God’s grace. Living full lives in the fullness of God.

Does that describe your life? Why not? After all, God can do anything. Far more than you can imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! Do you believe Him? Do you trust Him? Of course, a full life with God doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges or obstacles to overcome. It doesn’t mean there won’t be trials and temptations. It simply means these things, by and large, won’t gain a foothold in your life. They won’t be able to gain any purchase. They won’t cling to you or define you or hold you back. Instead, you will be filled with God’s love and grace and mercy and peace in ways that pass all understanding.

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

The End of Slavery

Readings for today: Philemon, Colossians 1-4

The Bible has often been used to justify the horrors of slavery. Southern slave owners and their preachers in the 18th and 19th centuries proof-texted from all over the Scriptures to justify their crimes. Even well-known pastors and theologians like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield were blind to the sin of slaveholding. Many over the years cite these examples as reasons not to believe the claims of Christianity. After all, if Christianity is the “slaveholders” religion then surely it’s not worth following. I’d agree. At the same time, the Bible birthed the abolitionist movement. Christians like William Wilberforce, John Wesley, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney, and many others relied on passages like the ones we read today from Philemon and Colossians as they launched and organized a movement that put an end to the Atlantic slave trade and brought an end to the practice of slavery in the United States altogether. Furthermore, Christians remain on the forefront of the abolitionist movement to this day through organizations like the International Justice Mission as they battle slavery in all its forms around the world.

In my opinion, the Apostle Paul doesn’t get near enough credit for how radical he must have sounded to his contemporaries. As we’ve said throughout this year, though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. And Paul was preaching and writing and theologizing at a time when almost one-third of the world was enslaved. Slavery was normative in Paul’s day. It was part of the economic fabric of the empires of the ancient world. The idea that every human being was made in the image of God and therefore all human beings equal in the eyes of God was radical and far-reaching and had yet to fully take hold. Aristotle himself believed that some people were born to be kings and some were born to be slaves and this was just the natural order of things. And then along came this fiery little apostle whose life had been transformed by his encounter with the Risen Christ and what he preached and taught literally turned the world upside down.

Listen again to what Paul writes to Philemon about his runaway slave, Onesimus. “Maybe it’s all for the best that you lost him for a while. You’re getting him back now for good—and no mere slave this time, but a true Christian brother! That’s what he was to me—he’ll be even more than that to you.”(Philemon‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Paul’s vision of the Kingdom subverts and undermines every other kingdom on earth. His understanding of the ways of God’s Kingdom radically de-centers all natural human relationships. He upends cultural norms by pressing those he loves deeper into the ethics of Jesus. Philemon has come to Christ under Paul’s preaching. He himself was set free from slavery to sin and death in the name of Jesus and should therefore rejoice and embrace the emancipation of his former slave Onesimus now that he too has become a believer. This is the key for Paul. Because Christ has set us free, we must be about the business of setting others free. Spiritual realities should lead to physical and cultural realities. They are not separate entities.

Listen to how he describes it to the Christians in Colossae. “God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.” (Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭MSG‬‬) In other words, Christ has set us free. We are no longer slaves to fear. No longer slaves to sin. No longer slaves to the evil one. As a result, every relationship we have in this life is no longer bound by the rules of this world. No longer bound by the cultural practices of this world. No longer subservient to the ways of this world. Relationships are no longer about power or honor or shame or guilt. They are about love and freedom and service. All because we have become new creations in Christ. This is why Paul addresses the core relationships of his day when he talks about marriage and family and work. “Wives, understand and support your husbands by submitting to them in ways that honor the Master. Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them. Children, do what your parents tell you. This delights the Master no end. Parents, don’t come down too hard on your children or you’ll crush their spirits. Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters…Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ…And masters, treat your servants considerately. Be fair with them. Don’t forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven.” (‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:18-4‬:‭1‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Paul is not reinforcing existing power dynamics here. He is helping the believers see that they are set free to serve so this world no longer has a hold on them.

Fast forward to our day. How does this same principle apply? Well, the world seems hellbent on the accumulation of wealth and power and influence and control. Christians push the opposite direction. Because we have been set free from the principalities and powers of this present darkness, we are free to give and share and serve and love. In this way, we are still about the business of setting people free.

Readings for tomorrow: Ephesians 1-4

The Prayers God Loves

Readings for today: Philippians 1-4

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

The first one that comes to mind is the Lord’s Prayer, of course. The Psalms are next as they express the full range of human emotions and can help us find our “voice” again. But then you run across prayers like the one we read out of Philippians today. I love it. Listen to it from the Message version, “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭MSG‬‬) Isn’t that awesome? Paul is literally in prison, potentially awaiting his death, and how does he spend his time? He’s praying for his brothers and sisters in Philippi to increase in love. I can think of no better prayer to pray!

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

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

Readings for tomorrow: Philemon, Colossians 1-4

The End of the Story?

Readings for today: Acts 27-28

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

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

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

Readings for tomorrow: Philippians 1-4

Resurrection = Life without Fear

Readings for today: Acts 24-26

Everything for Paul hinges on the resurrection. When he met the Risen Christ outside of Damascus, a door opened in his heart that could never be closed. He was transformed. Suddenly all his zeal and passion for the Law was re-focused as he realized everything the prophets foretold had come true in Christ. His hope as a Pharisee for the eventual resurrection of the dead had actually taken place in his lifetime. Jesus was the firstfruits. He was the forerunner. He was the Messiah whom God had sent. And with this knowledge, all the tumblers fall into place. Jesus is the key that makes sense of the Law and Prophets. Jesus is the filter now through which all of Scripture should be read and understood. The Risen Christ brings new life and new meaning to everything Paul had learned over the course of his lifetime. And with this knowledge Paul is transformed from a violent, raging Pharisee intent on destroying Christianity to its foremost evangelist, pastor, and theologian. 

Of course, wrapping your life around the resurrection will not make you popular. Paul found himself at odds with the Romans who believed he was nuts. Paul found himself at odds with his former friends and colleagues in Judaism who tried to have him killed. Paul even found himself at odds - as we have already seen - with some of his fellow Christians who could not grasp the depths of his message of unconditional love and grace. Living the resurrection life will certainly make you strange. Weird. Odd. Because your values and priorities and thoughts and attitudes and actions are shaped by another Kingdom. A Kingdom not of this world. Ruled by a King who is not of this world. Submitting your life to Him means living an “other-worldly” life. A life not ruled by fear. A life not centered around self. A life untangled and unecumbered by the cares and worries of this world. 

Can you imagine living a life without fear? That’s the life Jesus offers. The resurrection life. Resurrection places us beyond the fears of this world. No longer do we fear death. No longer do we fear danger. No longer do we fear hunger or nakedness or prison or sickness. No longer do we fear the loss of possessions, reputation, position and privilege. No longer do we fear failure or pain or suffering. These “fears” are what the world uses to keep us in line. Squeeze us into its mold. Shape us into its corrupt image. But the resurrection sets us free from all of that! Now we are transformed as our hearts and minds are renewed by the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead now lives in us and is at work through us! This is what Paul understood. This is what Peter understood. This is what millions of Christians have understood throughout history and it is why the Kingdom of God continues to move with power on the earth. 

Readings for tomorrow: None