God’s Design for His Church

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 11-12, Psalms 146

God has given us everything we need to accomplish the plans He has for us. All the money we need. All the time we need. All the talent we need. All the resources we need. All the people we need. This has been a fundamental conviction of mine ever since I became a pastor over twenty years ago. It’s been true in every church I’ve served no matter the size. Attendance doesn’t matter. Budget doesn’t matter. Buildings don’t matter. Property doesn’t matter. All that matters is God’s will for that individual church because every single church has been designed specifically by God to accomplish His plan and purpose in their particular community or context.

The challenge, of course, is that each church has to commit to putting God’s mission first. They have to seek God’s Kingdom first. They have to submit to God’s will and God’s timing and God’s ways. And this has always been a challenge for the church. Even in the first century. Even among the early Christians. The temptation is always to seek our will and our way and our timing and our desires and our plans rather than God’s. Consider what we’ve been reading in 1 Corinthians. The Apostle Paul confronts the Christians in Corinth multiple times over their tendency to divide. They do not look to the needs of others. They do not consider others better than themselves. They even take the gifts God has given them and use them for self-promotion. The result is a fractured church. A broken church. A church that is weak and impotent and ineffective.

So Paul gently but firmly guides them back to some fundamental principles. “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good…One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭4‬-‭7‬, ‭11‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Everything the Corinthians have has been given to them by God through the Holy Spirit. None of it is theirs to own. None of it has been earned. None of it is deserved. The Spirit has simply distributed the gifts as He sees fit and His desire is to see the Corinthians use those gifts in concert with each other for the common good. The Corinthians can’t get caught up playing the comparison game. “If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭15‬-‭19‬ ‭CSB) A healthy church needs all the gifts just like a healthy body needs all the parts. And God has ordered the different parts of the body in particular ways so that there would be no division and everyone would support and uplift and encourage and care for each other. “Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

I’ve served the church for almost thirty years now in various capacities. Over twenty of those as an ordained pastor. I’ve led churches. I’ve counseled churches. I’ve consulted with churches. I’ve helped churches heal from conflict and division. I’ve walked with churches through forgiveness and reconciliation. I love the church with all my heart. She is beautiful even in her brokenness. And she is God’s chosen instrument to bring the message of the gospel to the world. When she reflects the biblical pattern God has set for her, she can accomplish incredible miracles. I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve been blessed to experience it in several different contexts. Inside a prison in Trenton, NJ. Among the poorest of the poor in rural villages in South Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. In a racially divided and economically depressed area of Mobile, AL. And in my current context…a wealthy suburb of Denver, CO. God is doing amazing things through His church in each of these places and the key to unlocking our potential as God’s people is to trust God, seek His will, and serve His mission. As a friend of mine likes to say, “If we take care of the things God cares about, He will take care of the things we care about.”

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 13-14, Psalms 147

The Beautiful Complexity of Humanity

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 9-10, Psalms 145

Human beings are deeply complex creatures. We are an inscrutable mix of desires, passions, thoughts, life experiences, and core beliefs. We cannot be flattened into two-dimensional caricatures. We resist broad categorization. We refuse to conform to general stereotypes. Each person is unique. Each person fearfully and wonderfully made. I love how sociologist Christian Smith defines “personhood” in his book, What is a Person?

“By person I mean a conscious, reflexive, embodied, self-transcending center of subjective experience, durable identity, moral commitment, and social communication who - as the efficient cause of his or her own responsible actions and interactions - exercises complex capacities for agency and intersubjectivity in order to develop and sustain his or her own incommunicable self in loving relationships with other personal selves and with the non-personal world.”

If you are like me, you had to read and re-read that statement several times to really understand it and that makes perfect sense. After all, we are made in the image of God. We are finite creatures created to reflect the infinite. We are temporal creatures created to reflect the eternal. We are mortal creatures created to reflect the immortal. As such, we should expect complexity. We should expect intricacy. We should expect enigma and inscrutability. This is normal when one speaks of the human creature. It’s also why we have to meet each person where they are. We cannot make assumptions. We have to lay aside any expectations. We have to approach each person individually with a heart to listen and learn.

This is the genius of Paul. He treats each person as a unique creature worthy of God’s unconditional love. He believes with all his heart that no one is beyond the reach of God’s amazing grace. Listen to how he describes it from our reading today, “Although I am free from all and not anyone’s slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win more people. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law — though I myself am not under the law  — to win those under the law. To those who are without the law, like one without the law — though I am not without God’s law but under the law of Christ — to win those without the law. To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. Now I do all this because of the gospel, so that I may share in the blessings.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬) If Paul were using today’s categories, he might say, “To the Republicans, I joined their convention in order to win Republicans. To the Democrats, I joined their administration in order to win Democrats. I invited both conservatives and progressives into my life, listened and loved them well, in order to win them with the gospel. I spent time with those who saw the world differently, refusing to use shame or fear to coerce or change their behavior, instead choosing to embrace both grace and truth in order to win them to Christ. I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some.” This is the way of the Kingdom. This is the way of Jesus.

As we near the end of yet another challenging election cycle, my heart is broken by the divisions that fracture our families, churches, communities, and nation. Rather than walk in the way of grace, we walk in the way of the world. We judge our neighbors. We exclude and divide. We isolate and separate. We rarely, if ever, look in the mirror. We rarely, if ever, acknowledge our own contributions to the toxicity of our social environment. We shift blame. We externalize responsibility. Our problems are always someone else’s fault. Even more tragically, we treat those who think differently than us as not just wrong but evil. We treat them as if they are beyond the reach of God’s forgiveness and grace. Unworthy of our time or attention. This is not the way of Jesus. Friends, Jesus came to us. He met us in the depths of our broken condition. He came to us while we were still sinners. While we were still dead in our trespasses. While we were still at war with Him. He became our peace by tearing down every wall that separated us from Him. How can we - who call ourselves Christians - not do the same for others?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 11-12, Psalms 146

Deliverance

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 7-8, Psalms 144

Recently, I have felt overwhelmed by the immense pain and suffering that exists all around me all the time. I have found myself in situations interacting with people who bear on their bodies the scars of their emotional distress and it brings me to tears. I have spoken to person after person who are struggling with identity issues, substance abuse issues, relational brokenness, moral failure, the list goes on and on. Add to that the growing fear, hatred, anger, and potential violence of this year’s election season and I feel like I am stretched well beyond my own emotional and physical and spiritual strength. The burdens I carry these days are heavy. While I love what I do and who I get to do it with, I am weary. Wrung out on a lot of levels. Thankfully, my condition is not abnormal. Quite the opposite. The Psalmist knows exactly how I feel and gives voice to the emotions bubbling up from the deepest recesses of my soul.

“Lord, part your heavens and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke. Flash your lightning and scatter the foe; shoot your arrows and rout them. Reach down from on high; rescue me from deep water, and set me free…” ‭(Psalms‬ ‭144‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Only God can heal our broken world. Only God can heal our wounded hearts. Only God can heal our battered souls. This prayer from Psalm 144 was a balm for me today. As I sat with the Lord and laid all my burdens at His feet, I found myself crying over the state of the world. And from the depths of my heartache, came these words of hope. Part the heavens, Father, and come down. Touch the mountains that I gaze upon as I look out the windows of my office so they will smoke. Flash your lightning and put the enemy to flight. Shoot your arrows and rout the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly as well as earthly places. Reach down from on high and rescue us from deep water. Set us free. Free from the burden of sin. Free from slavery to our base desires. Free from the ungodly systems of power in this world.

As I prayed this prayer over and over again, I felt my hope renew. I felt my own heart be filled. I felt my own soul start to mend again as God’s Spirit assured me of His abiding presence. The reality is God has parted the heavens and come down. God has touched the mountains. He has flashed His lightning. He has scattered His foes. He has reached down from on high and rescued us from deep water. He has set us free. God has done all this and more in Jesus Christ and He sends the Holy Spirit to live and dwell with us to deliver us from all evil and protect us from all sin. All we have to do is submit to Him. Trust Him with those we love and live among. Trust Him with our hearts and our hopes. Trust Him with our plans and our resources. Trust Him with our choices and decisions. Trust Him with our will and our ways. If we walk with the Spirit, we will not grow weary or faint for He will lift us up like eagles and renew our strength so we might soar with Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 9-10, Psalms 145

Prayer

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 5-6, Psalms 143

Everyone has moments where they struggle. Everyone has seasons of dismay. Everyone struggles with depression or despair on some level. Everyone is fighting a battle. I don’t care whether you are young or old, rich or poor, black, white, or brown, heterosexual or LGBTQ+, Republican or Democrat, progressive or conservative…all of us have to find a way to overcome adversity in our world. This is why I love the Psalmist so much. He captures and expresses what we all feel deep down in our hearts. He gives us permission to bring our emotions before God, even when they are at their most raw and primal.

“My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all you have done; I reflect on the work of your hands. I spread out my hands to you; I am like parched land before you.” Weak. Overwhelmed. Dismayed. Parched. Dry. Weary. Those are good words for me right now. Words that describe my condition. Words that express how I am feeling at this moment. Life has not been easy for me this year. There have been great losses and great griefs that I am working through with the Lord. The Psalmist feels like a kindred spirit. He helps me know I am not alone in these feelings. Many men and women have trod this path before me. Their wisdom guides and directs me. Their experience comforts me. “Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. Don’t hide your face from me, or I will be like those going down to the Pit. Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you.” They point me to God’s faithful love. The only love that never fails. The only love powerful enough to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. They remind me that God never hides His face from me. He weeps when I weep. He laughs when I laugh. He is always at my side even when I am walking in valleys of deepest shadow. “Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I come to you for protection. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.” God not only is with me but He lights my path. He shows me the way. He teaches me how to walk. He strengthens my feet. He holds my hand. He leads me to level ground.

This is my hope today. In the midst of all I am feeling, God is with me. He is comforting me. He is strengthening me. He is filling me. He is giving me what I need for today. As I lean on Him, He answers me. He turns His face towards me and gives me peace. He abides with me and quiets my soul with His faithful love. And as I abide with Him, He reveals to me the way I should go. He leads me to level paths. He levels every mountain and raises up every valley in my path. He makes straight my crooked ways and my rough places, He makes plane. This is who my God is. This is how my God works. I never have to be afraid. Thank you, Father.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 7-8, Psalms 144

Importance of Teamwork

Readings for today: Romans 15-16, Psalms 140

No person is an island. No Kingdom leader every goes it alone. As one celebrity Christian leader falls after another, it is good for us to reflect on Paul’s words from Romans 16. Paul is surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. The burden of Paul’s work is shared by many. The names are listed for all to see. Phoebe. Pricilla and Aquila. Epenetus. Mary. Andronicus and Junia. Ampliatus. Urbanus and Stachys. These are just a few of the leaders Paul surrounded himself with as he carried the gospel throughout the Mediterranean basin. We also know he journeyed with Barnabus, Luke, John Mark, and several others. The early church was wise to set apart teams of missionaries rather than commission these men to go out on their own.

We would do well to follow their example. We live in a culture that celebrates the myth of the self-made woman or man. The woman who does it all. She has a fast-track career. Perfect kids. Volunteers on the local school board and teaches Bible study at church. The man who does it all. He climbs the corporate ladder. Prays with his kids every night. Serves his wife sacrificially. And is a leader in the community. We celebrate these women and men. We place them on pedestals. We follow them on social media. We read their books and take their advice. We seek to emulate them in all we do. Then they fail. They fall. They have an affair. They embezzle money. Their carefully curated public persona comes crashing down. And we are shattered.

Why do these things happen? The pattern is now fairly clear. These men and women start to isolate themselves. They separate from their team. They believe their own hype. They put themselves beyond any kind of real accountability. The results are disastrous.

Friends, Kingdom-work is teamwork. Not even the Son of God could do it by himself! Throughout the Scriptures, we see the great leaders of the Bible sharing authority. Moses raises up elders to serve alongside he and Joshua. David has an abundance of counselors to share the load. Jesus calls 12 disciples and the Apostle Paul thanks numerous people at the end of his letters for their support and encouragement and labor in the work of the gospel.

Who’s on your team? With whom do you share the burdens of life? Are you and your spouse a team in your home? Do you give your children as much authority and responsibility as they can handle as they grow up? Do you share leadership at work? Are you intentionally raising up leaders to take your place? Do you give people around you the freedom to fail and learn from their failures? Do you empower your team to make real decisions and then hold them accountable? Do you submit yourself to accountability? These things are critical if you are going to do God’s work over the long haul.

For my part, I am deeply grateful for a group of elders who hold me accountable. They ask about my marriage. They pray for my family. They are not afraid to tell me no. I am deeply grateful for a wife who is a true partner in life and ministry. She gets in my face. Doesn’t believe the hype. Brings me back to earth when I need it. I am thankful for my children and the honest relationships we are cultivating with each other. I am thankful for the staff and colleagues I work alongside who ask great, probing, personal questions that make me reflect deeply on life.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1-2, Psalms 141 (No devotionals on Sundays)

The Bible and Politics

Readings for today: Romans 13-14, Psalms 139

Imagine you are the Apostle Paul. Writing to a group of Christians living in Rome in the late 50’s AD. The Roman Empire has suffered tremendously since the reign of Augustus Caesar. Successor after successor has tried and failed to live up to his legacy. Political opposition is met with violence. The Praetorian Guard (think Secret Service of the first century) assassinates the very emperors they swear to protect. Tax rates rise and fall depending on public opinion polls. The borders of the empire are starting to crumble. The government is unstable and rulers are often certifiably insane. Then a man named Nero rises to power. The initial signs are good. He seems to care about the poor. He often takes the side of the little guy. It looks like he’s being advised well by Seneca. By all accounts, things are looking up. Then he murders his stepbrother. Murders his mother. Murders rival senators who oppose him. He initiates building projects that exhaust the treasury and overtax the populace. Rumors spread about the Great Fire that burned Rome for a week in July of 64 AD. Nero blames the Christians. He starts systematically persecuting them. He imprisons them. He throws them to the lions. He burns them alive in his gardens. It’s a rough time. 

Now imagine receiving a letter from Paul and reading these words, “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will have its approval. For it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason. For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong. Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience. And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks. Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.” (Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

How would you respond? What thoughts would go through your mind if you were living in Rome under Nero watching the country descend into chaos? How would you feel about the “governing authorities” when you see them carrying your friends off to be tortured and executed for their faith? How likely would you be to submit to them? Continue to be a model citizen? Pay your taxes? Honor the emperor? Is Paul serious? Does he not understand who’s in power here? Is he ignorant of what’s actually happening on the streets of Rome? 

Clearly, Paul understands. He will be imprisoned in Rome by 60AD or so, where he will await his eventual torture and execution. He has been flogged. Stoned. Beaten. Left for dead. He has been falsely accused. Falsely imprisoned. He knows what it’s like to suffer and yet, throughout his life, he seemed to model the very words he wrote to his Roman friends. And Paul didn’t come up with this approach on his own. He’s simply following his master, Jesus. Jesus submitted himself to the governing authorities of this world. Herod. Pilate. The Sanhedrin. All driven by a lust for power. All corrupt to the core. And yet Jesus refused to call down legions of angels to fight at his side. He allowed his farse of a trial to stand. He refused to advocate for Himself before Pilate. He ignored Herod when he asked for a sign. Why? Jesus and Paul both understood they belonged to a Kingdom not of this world. They were citizens of a heavenly empire that transcended any earthly one. Their sole allegiance was to the God of the universe who had given all authority in heaven and earth to Jesus so there was no need to fight the power. No need to lead a rebellion. Because at best you would be replacing one sinful system with another. 

At the same time, Paul is not advocating apathy. He is not calling for Christians to become doormats for the empire. What he calls for is a very proactive way of living that sets an example before culture and society of humble godliness even in the face of persecution. We are never to surrender the moral high ground. Never to surrender our deeply held Kingdom values. Never to give up Jesus for the sake of political expediency and gain. Why? First and foremost, we recognize all authority comes from God. It serves His purposes. God is able to bend both good and evil intentions to His will. God is able to use even the most corrupt to accomplish His plan. No matter what happens. No matter who gets elected President. No matter who serves in Congress. No matter who gets confirmed to the Supreme Court. ALL of them serve at God’s pleasure. He takes them down just as easily as He raises them up. All of them rule under His sovereign authority and command. 

Second, Paul understands the power of a godly witness. Even corrupt rulers cannot deny the power of the gospel. This was the genius behind the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights struggle in America. He believed by engaging in peaceful, non-violent protest of unjust laws that African-Americans and their allies would hold a mirror up to the corrupt soul of segregation. They believed their godly example would expose the evil legacy of slavery. They believed their political “enemies” needed salvation not destruction and this set them apart. The same was true for Nelson Mandela in South Africa. The same was true for Pope John Paul II when he led the Solidarity movement against communism in Poland. The same was true for Ghandi - though not a Christian, he based his resistance on the example of Christ - in India. In each and every case, these leaders led movements that transformed the course of nations and they were almost entirely based on the “good conduct” of their followers. “Do what is good and you will receive (the ruler’s) approval, for he is God’s servant for your good.” (Romans 13:3) This is the power of a godly witness.

Finally, Paul elevates the cardinal virtue of humility. Offering respect and honor to the office even if the person in the office is corrupt. Paul believes we should model our lives after Jesus. As he will write to his Philippians friends, Jesus is by nature God. But Jesus did not hold onto His equality with God. He relinquished it. He gave it up. He emptied Himself of all His divine rights and riches in order to become a human being. And not just any human being but a servant. A slave. But even then Jesus wasn’t content. He took it one step further. Humbling Himself to death. The most humiliating death possible. Death on a cross. Paul sought to pattern his own life after Jesus and he calls all Christians to do the same. “Follow me as I seek to follow Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1) Just as Christ rendered to Caesar what was Caesar’s, Paul now calls on Christians in Rome to pay their taxes. Keep honest financial records. Respect the authorities. Honor the emperor. For in so doing, we honor Christ.

Of all the things we’ve read this year, this may be the most difficult passage for us to accept especially on the eve of an election. Hate seems to be the political currency of our day. Rage. Anger. Condemnation. Character assassination seems to be our national pastime. We tend to rejoice when our enemies fall. We defend our allies at all costs. We are tempted to sacrifice everything - including our Kingdom values - on the altar of political power and gain. Scorched-earth resistance is now the norm when the opposing party is in power and it is crippling our nation. And this is true for both Republicans and Democrats. Sadly, Christians seem no different than their non-Christian neighbors in this respect. Jesus weeps, friends.

Thankfully, the truth of God remains. Though the grass withers and the flower fades, the Word of God is eternal. Jesus is still on His throne. He still reigns from on high. He still sits at the right hand of the Father. He will bend even this time to His will. He will use even the corrupt politics of our day and age to accomplish His plan. There is nothing any human being can do that will thwart His purposes. So submit to the governing authorities, friends. Live godly lives before them. Witness to them by working for justice and righteousness. Pray without ceasing for the Spirit’s work in their hearts. Give them the respect and honor due them by virtue of the office they hold. Engage. Vote. Stay involved even after Election Day comes and goes.

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 15-16, Psalms 140

Living a Different Kind of Story

Readings for today: Romans 11-12, Psalms 138

I recently came across this quote from one of my favorite pastors, “I more and more find the precious part of each day to be the thirty or forty minutes I spend each morning before breakfast with the Bible. All the rest of the day I am bombarded with the stories that the world is telling about itself. I am more and more skeptical about these stories. As I take time to immerse myself in the story that the Bible tells, my vision is cleared and I see things in another way. I see the day that lies ahead in its place in God’s story.” (Lesslie Newbigin) It reminded me of what Paul says in Romans 12 about not being conformed to the patterns of this world but instead be transformed by the renewal of the mind through Spirit.

What does such transformation look like? It looks like the life Paul describes at the end of chapter 12. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.” (Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭21‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)

This is the difference Christ makes in a person’s life. He changes us from the inside out. He shifts our outlook and understanding of the world. He transforms our thoughts and our attitudes as we surrender more and more of our hearts to Him. Because we are so deeply satisfied in Christ. Because Christ meets our every need. Because Christ is the object of all our devotion and affection, we are set free. Set free to love. Set free to do good. Set free to honor one another. To put one another’s needs above our own. We are patient in affliction knowing it is but a season. We are constant in prayer because we know our Father hears our every word. We are set free to be generous because money has no hold on us. We can bless those who attack us or seek to do us harm because Christ Himself is our defense and our reputation is secure in heaven. Christ gives us the confidence to grieve with those who grieve and celebrate the success of others. Because we rest in the forgiveness and grace of Christ, we can extend it out to others which leads to unity and harmony. Humility rather than pride is our constant companion. And we can release the need to get even or get back because we trust in the justice of God.

I get asked all the time, “What makes a Christian different?” Friends, this is it! When Paul talks about not being conformed to the patterns of this world, he means rejecting the way of hate. The way of outrage. The way of selfishness and pride. He means rejecting the ways of sin and evil for the ends never justify the means. He means rejecting any compromise with godlessness and instead living a life of unconditional love and grace. He means laying aside our desire for control. Our desire for power. Our desire for wealth and privilege and position and instead humbling ourselves before God. Christians understand our lives our not our own. We have been bought with a price. We have been purchased by God. We are slaves to Christ. We have no will of our own. No desires of our own. We exist to serve Christ and to bring Him glory. This is our highest calling. Our life’s passion. Our greatest priority. And it is the world’s most desperate need. Salt and light, friends. This is what you are in Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 13-14, Psalms 139

Radical Inclusivity

Readings for today: Romans 9-10, Psalms 137

It’s hard to overstate the radical inclusivity of the gospel. It includes people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. It includes people from every social and economic level. It includes men and women and children. It includes people from every political party. It includes people from every sexual identity. Whatever the world marks as a “distinction” that sets a group of people apart - for good or for ill - the gospel breaks down those barriers. And that’s why the Apostle Paul can say in Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This was a shocking idea in first century Roman and Jewish society. The Romans had a well-established caste system. Those with wealth and power advanced in society. Those who were poor and powerless were trampled on. Men were esteemed and honored. Women were limited in what they could and could not do. Following Aristotle, slaves and free people were both born into their condition. It was incredibly rare for anyone to break through all these barriers. For the Jews, the “system” was religious. People were divided into clean and unclean categories, depending on the particular sect you followed. Pharisees, Sadducees, zealots, Essenes, etc. all had their different rules and customs that a person had to follow if they wanted to be included. Of course, we see many of those same dynamics in play in our culture today. There are still vast differences between the rich and poor, powerful and powerless. People still divide along ethnic, social, and political lines. Careers depend on influence and access. Success depends on the circles one runs in. Inclusion requires conformity to a certain set of norms determined by those who are in charge.

The gospel pushes us beyond all these human-made barriers. It pushes us to reach across the aisle and expand our tent to include all who call on the name of the Lord. The only entrance requirement into the Kingdom of God is belief in Jesus Christ. Anyone who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. This is as radical today as it was when Paul and the other apostles first proclaimed it all those centuries ago. And any church that is truly seeking Christ will soon find themselves crossing all kinds of barriers. This isn’t easy work, of course. There will be a lot of resistance as the Spirit breaks down the barriers we have created in our own hearts towards those who are different than us. There will even be conflict as people naturally try to reinforce certain social patterns or cultural norms and impose them on others. But through it all, God keeps working with us. He keeps breaking us down and building us back up in His image. He keeps breaking down our churches and building them back up so they might become the inclusive communities He’s called them to be. God is faithful! He will keep doing His work so He can accomplish His goal which is to offer the gospel to all who would trust in Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 11-12, Psalms 138

No More Condemnation

Readings for today: Romans 7-8, Psalms 136

I recently preached a sermon from the Book of Revelation where I pointed out that Satan - a name that literally means “accuser” - has been thrown out of heaven for good. His access has been denied. His privileges taken away. He no longer can stand in the presence of God which means there is no one left to accuse us. No one left to attack us. No one left to condemn us before the throne of God. There is only Jesus who lives to make intercession for us. Only Jesus, our faithful high priest, who passed through the heavens to identify with us in our weakness, subject Himself to every temptation, and suffer and die in our place. This is why we can approach the throne of grace with confidence and receive mercy and help in our time of need. Because Jesus promises to save to the uttermost those who draw near to Him. I have to admit I was surprised at how deeply this idea impacted the church family I serve. So many wept as they thanked me for reminding them there is no longer any condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Many others sent me messages and emails throughout the week to let me know how this point had stuck with them and shifted their perspective profoundly. I was humbled by the feedback.

The Apostle Paul strikes a nerve in Romans 8. After vulnerably and honestly acknowledging the depth of his despair over his sin - “Wretched man that I am, who shall save me from this body of death?” - Paul finds hope in the gospel. Because of Christ, there is no longer any condemnation. Because of Christ, we have been set free. Because of Christ, we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Because of Christ, the sufferings of this present world are no longer worth comparing to the glory that will one day be revealed in us. Because of Christ, all things work together for our good. Because of Christ, we have been called, predestined, justified, sanctified, and glorified. Because of Christ, there is no one left to accuse, no one left to condemn. Because of Christ, we know God is for us, not against us. Because of Christ, nothing can separate us from God’s love. These are some of the most amazing and profound truths in all the Bible. In fact, I have often thought that if we lost the whole Bible but were somehow able to retain the verses from this chapter, we would be okay.

I have been a Christian for over thirty years now. Thankfully, I had spiritual mentors who pointed me to the Book of Romans, and this chapter in particular, from the very beginning of my Christian journey. I have prayed over these verses. I have clung to these verses in difficult moments. I have wrestled with these verses in the midst of great suffering. I have found solace in these verses when in pain. I have staked my life on these verses - and many, many others - and God has proven Himself faithful. Faithful to save. Faithful to love. Faithful to forgive. Faithful to bless. No matter where life may find you today, place your trust in God. Trust what He says about Himself in this chapter and let these truths shape how you understand your faith and life.

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 9-10, Psalms 137

New Life in Christ

Readings for today: Romans 5-6, Psalms 135

A few months back, I had to replace a car battery. The old one had finally reached the end of its life. It was dead. It would no longer hold a charge. It could no longer power my vehicle. It no longer served any purpose. When I put the new battery in, what did I do with the old one? Keep it there? Plug in the new one alongside the old one? Stick it on shelf of my workbench in the garage as a keepsake? No. I threw it out, of course.

The analogy holds for the Christian life. The life God offers us in Jesus Christ is something completely new. The old life is dead. It no longer holds a charge. It no longer has any power. It no longer serves any purpose. To try to keep it in place alongside the new life you have in Christ is pointless. To try to keep it plugged in alongside the new life you have in Christ will only hold you back. To stick it somewhere on a shelf as a memento only serves to distract us from the true purposes God has for your life. This is why the Apostle Paul uses such strong contrasts in his letter to the Romans. “Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive in God in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11 CSB) “You are slaves to the (master) you obey - either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness.” (Romans 6:16 CSB) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 CSB) Paul is making it clear we cannot serve two masters. We cannot keep a foot in both worlds. We cannot lay claim to the life to come without letting go of the life we once had. And really, when you stop to think about it, why would we? If we truly have tasted of the heavenly gift of Jesus Christ, truly experienced His amazing grace and love, truly been filled with His Holy Spirit, why would we ever want anything to do with our old life?

The life God offers us in Jesus Christ is not simply an improvement on the old. It’s not an upgrade or a facelift or a nip and a tuck. It’s not cosmetic. It’s not a bonus for all the hard work of self-improvement you have done. It’s not about self-realization or self-actualization or self-help. In fact, it’s not about “self” at all. God wants to replace your old life with something completely and entirely new. He wants to purchase you from the slave block of this world and give you a new master to serve. One who is full of grace and love and truth. He offers you the gift of eternal life which is not something you can ever earn, no matter how hard you may try. He doesn’t want you to spend your life for wages that only lead to death. Instead, He offers you a life that will produce the fruit of holiness and sanctification. A life that will finally and fully satisfy.

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 7-8, Psalms 136

Whose Praise?

Readings for today: Romans 1-2, Psalms 133

“Who are you trying to impress?” I still remember being confronted in counseling with this question many years ago. I had graduated from seminary and hit the ground running in ministry. I was serving a wonderful church in Mobile, AL, full of wonderful people who were so excited to be on mission for God. When I first arrived, I threw myself into everything. I did it all and led it all and after about two years or so, began to burn out. I couldn’t imagine being able to keep the pace I had set for much longer. That’s when I sought out a counselor. After listening to my story, he asked me the question above. It hit me like a two by four between the eyes. Who was I trying to impress? Why was I trying to lead everything? What was I trying to prove? These questions and others helped me take a step back, build teams of amazing people who did far more than I ever could, and the church thrived as a result.

The last words of the last verse hit me in a similar place this morning. “A person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart — by the Spirit, not the letter. That person’s praise is not from people but from God.” (Romans‬ ‭2‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬) Paul is challenging a core belief for many of the early Christians, especially those coming from a Jewish background. They had been raised their entire lives to honor and follow the Law of God. Starting with circumcision, they were marked as God’s own by their faithfulness to Torah. Here Paul challenges that idea by suggesting - radically - that one must be “circumcised” in the heart or as he will later put it, one must be justified by faith. This inward change is what elicits praise from God which he contrasts with faithfulness to the Law which elicits praise from other people.

So back to my initial question…who am I trying to impress? God or people? God or my family, my friends, even my church? Is the reason I do what I do and believe what I believe a matter of inward transformation or is it born from a legalism that is ultimately self-justifying? If I’m honest, it’s easy for me to slip from the former to the latter. After all, I get a lot of accolades in my line of work for being outwardly holy and pure. I get a lot of compliments from those I serve and my fellow colleagues if I set a godly example. And that’s where things can get dangerous. I can start to live more for the praise of God’s people than for the praise of God Himself. What about you? Where do you find yourself today? Why do you follow Jesus? Is it to bring Him honor and glory or is it to win the praise of those around you?

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 3-4, Psalms 134 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Influence

Readings for today: Acts 27-28, Psalms 132

Lately, I’ve been thinking about influence. All of us have it on some level. It could be with family, friends, at work or school, perhaps in our church or in society as a whole. Influence is what you gain over time as you invest in those around you and work hard to earn their trust and achieve some measure of success alongside them in life. Trust breeds confidence and confidence breeds influence as the people around you learn to look to you for wisdom or advice. Influence does not come from any position or title. It must be won through sacrifice and service to others. Influence takes a long time to cultivate but can be lost in a moment if one uses it to their own advantage. As a Christian, I treat influence as a sacred privilege, something to protect and never use for my own personal gain. It is humbling to think of the people who trust me and who allow me to have influence in their lives. My wife and children. My mom and in-laws. My church family. Not only do I have influence in their lives but they have a huge influence in mine as well. In this way, influence is reciprocal and reproduces itself in all sorts of ways.

The Apostle Paul is a man of influence. Not just with the churches he planted or the church planting teams he led but even with the pagan Roman authorities who imprisoned him and escorted him to Rome for his trial. Listen again to part of the story we read for today, “Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss. Now I urge you to take courage, because there will be no loss of any of your lives, but only of the ship. For last night an angel of the God I belong to and serve stood by me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul. It is necessary for you to appear before Caesar. And indeed, God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me. But we have to run aground on some island.”…Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut the ropes holding the skiff and let it drop away.” (Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭21‬-‭26‬, ‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB) The Apostle Paul clearly had a reputation. He was a man who heard from God. A man who served God. A man who was known for his faithfulness to God. So when the captain went against the advice of Paul and ran his ship and crew into trouble, they all turned back to Paul for advice. What should we do? Where should we go? What’s going to happen to us? Thankfully, Paul stewarded his influence well. He didn’t pout when the captain disagreed with him. He didn’t stop seeking the Lord on behalf of those he sailed with. He didn’t isolate or withdraw or tell them to go jump in the sea. Instead, he comforted them by sharing his vision from the Lord of their salvation. And they trusted Paul so much, they were even willing to cut the ropes to their lifeboats! How crazy is that?!

What kind of influence do you have over the people in your life? Do you steward that influence well? Do you seek the Lord on their behalf? Do you seek their welfare above your own? Do you seek to serve them rather than be served by them? Do you act out of their best interest or your own self-interest? Do you use underhanded techniques like manipulation or coercion to get your way? Bend them to your will? Make them do what you want them to do? Or do you set them free to choose their own way and make their own decision and honor them by continuing to walk alongside them no matter what? Even if they disagree or don’t take your advice? At the end of the day, the Apostle Paul was granted influence because of his faithfulness. Faithfulness to God’s will and faithfulness to those around him. How can you exercise the same faithfulness in your life today?

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 1-2, Psalms 133

Evangelism

Readings for today: Acts 25-26, Psalms 131

I’ve recently spent a lot of time with friends who are navigating heartbreaking situations with those they love. Children who have walked away from the faith. Spouses who no longer believe. Parents who have drifted away towards the end of their lives and no longer consider a relationship with Christ a priority. In each of these cases, the people involved are making foolish decisions that carry great risk. They are experiencing a growing sense of isolation and depression. They are even cutting themselves off from those who love them most. What I tell my friends is it’s like those they love are entering the valley of the shadow of death where they become incredibly anxious and afraid for they have lost any sense that God is with them. Their only hope is for my friends to walk into that valley with them. Hold onto them even as they themselves hold onto Christ with the hope that one day, the light of Jesus will break through the darkness and cause them to return to faith.

I thought about my friends when I read these words from Paul this morning. “I wish before God,” replied Paul, “that whether easily or with difficulty, not only you but all who listen to me today might become as I am — except for these chains.”(Acts‬ ‭26‬:‭29‬ ‭CSB‬‬) I think Paul wrestles with many of the same feelings my friends do. He looks around at his fellow Jews and he cannot fathom why they do not believe. Why can they not accept Jesus as their Messiah? He even mentions in some places that he would rather be accursed, he would rather be cut off from God, if it would mean his fellow Jews would come to saving faith. Paul grieves over those he loves who refuse to believe. He grieves over their resistance to their Messiah. His greatest desire is that they would see the light as he has seen the light. He could care less about his sufferings or his imprisonments or his fate. He knows his life is in God’s hands. He willingly sacrifices it all for the sake of knowing Christ and helping others do the same.

What about us? Is this our burning passion as well? To draw those we love to Christ? Do we pray for them? Do we share the gospel with them? Are we willing to walk with them no matter what dark valley they enter? Are we willing to go places with them that are uncomfortable? Are we willing to risk everything we have to see them come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ? I know I wrestle with these questions myself. I have people in my life who I love dearly who no longer believe or struggle with faith or who have walked away from Christian community. My heart and my prayer is that God will give me the privilege and opportunity to walk alongside them, love them the way He loves them, suffer alongside them if necessary, all with the hope they will experience Christ in and through me and come saving faith.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 27-28, Psalms 132

Good Trouble

Readings for today: Acts 23-24, Psalms 130

John Lewis was a strong Christian. In fact, it was his belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ that compelled him to get into “good trouble” as leader in the American Civil Rights movement. Lewis risked his life countless times as he organized voter registration drives, sit-ins at lunch counters, and challenged the systemic racism of the Jim Crow laws in the Deep South. On March 7, 1965, Lewis led over 600 peaceful protestors over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL in a march for voting rights. They were brutally attacked by Alabama State Troopers in what later became known as “Bloody Sunday.” The leaders of the Civil Rights movement were considered “agitators.” Everywhere they went, they fomented unrest. They disrupted society. They created all kinds of problems with their peaceful, non-violent protests as they advocated for a more just and frankly, more biblical society where every human being would be of equal worth and value, having been made in the image of God.

I thought about John Lewis as I read our passage this morning. Like Lewis, the Apostle Paul got into “good trouble.” Everywhere he went, he stirred things up by preaching the good news of the gospel. He was considered “a plague” and “an agitator among all the Jews throughout the Roman world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.” (Acts 24:5 CSB) Paul was considered a threat by both Jewish religious leaders and Roman authorities. To the former, he was considered a heretic and a traitor to his religion. To the latter, he was considered a danger and disturber of the peace. The last thing either group wanted was a new religion popping up that refused to bow the knee to Caesar and acted with such evangelistic zeal. Paul’s preaching was politically, socially, economically, and culturally de-stabilizing. It upended the power systems of the ancient world. It leveled the caste system, redefined the family, re-ordered human society, and disrupted the cultic system on which the Pax Romana was built. Little wonder a group of Jewish zealots took a vow to seek Paul’s death at all costs.

The world still finds herself in desperate need of those who will make “good trouble.” Those who will agitate in the name of Jesus and for the cause of Jesus in politics, economics, and human society. To be sure, such people will not be embraced. They will not be welcomed. They might even be considered a threat or a plague because the values of the Kingdom of God have a tendency to turn this world upside down. Over the course of the next month, we will be voting in my country. Voting for our next president. Voting for members of Congress. Voting for governors of particular states and legislatures of such states. We will be voting on new laws, new programs, and new policies. It can be difficult to resist the urge to vote as a member of a particular political party rather than as a Christian. It is tempting to put our own desires ahead of what’s best for society at large. It can be tempting to place our trust in a particular outcome and make dramatic changes if the result doesn’t go our way. This is an opportunity for Christians to stand up and stand out. To “agitate” for the values of the Kingdom of God and seek to advocate and vote in alignment with them for the good of our communities, our states, and our nation.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 25-26, Psalms 131

Discerning the Will of the Holy Spirit

Readings for today: Acts 21-22, Psalms 129

Discernment isn’t always easy. Sure, there are some things the Bible makes clear. Moral issues like murder, theft, deceit, and sexual immorality are consistently addressed throughout the Scriptures as are deeper issues like anger, lust, and greed. These things have no place in a Christian’s life. As we are sanctified in the Spirit, we should expect these things to diminish and the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to flourish. But what about discerning the will of the Spirit? Where He may be calling us to go? Who He may be calling us to meet? What He may be calling us to do? That is more difficult.

Today’s reading puts this issue front and center. Paul is heading back to Jerusalem. Presumably, he believes this is the will of the Holy Spirit for his life. It’s an unshakable conviction for him and one that drives him to leave those he loves dearly with no guarantee he will be safe. As he travels, he stops along the way to spend time with other Christians. Men and women who are the literal fruit in some cases of his ministry. They implore him - by the Spirit - to not go to Jerusalem. But Paul will not be dissuaded. Finally, he lands at Caesarea and stays with Philip the evangelist. A prophet named Agabus comes to meet him and declares to him - by the Spirit - that he will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles for judgment. Once again, the local people plead with Paul not to go. Once again, Paul is resolute. “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 CSB) So what’s going on here? Is Paul being stubborn? Is Paul being foolish? Is Paul being proud? Is Paul resisting the will of the Holy Spirit?

It’s honestly tough to know. What we do know is the prophecy of Agabus comes true. Paul is arrested, imprisoned, and handed over to Caesar who eventually executes him. And this raises some interesting questions for us as believers. How do we discern the will of the Holy Spirit for our lives? Surely, it starts with God’s Word. We listen for the voice of the Spirit as we read through the Scriptures. God’s Word is confirmed to us in prayer. We intentionally seek the will of the Spirit as we pray over our lives. We also need to listen to the voices of other believers who have our best in mind. They may receive a Word from the Lord for us. At the same time, the Word they share with us must be confirmed by the Word of God and the Spirit as He speaks to our hearts. We shouldn’t just accept it at face value. As one can see, discernment is a complex process involving a lot of different voices. Perhaps the most important thing we can do is walk with open hands, a humble heart, and a listening ear that is attuned to God’s voice.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 23-24, Psalms 130

The Impact of the Gospel

Readings for today: Acts 19-20, Psalms 128

We’ve already seen how the early Christians were accused of “turning the world upside down” with their preaching of the gospel. It is impossible to separate the preaching of the gospel from the social, political, and cultural impact of the gospel. Preaching Jesus by definition challenges our notions of justice, power, social class, economics, etc. because He Himself challenged those same things through His preaching and ministry.  

Ephesus was one of the great cities of Asia Minor in the 1st century. A commercial trading center. A major port. In the early second century, the great library of Celsus was built here, housing over 12,000 scrolls and putting Ephesus on the map alongside Alexandria as a center of learning. It had an amphitheater that held over 25,000 spectators. But perhaps the greatest draw was the famed Temple of Artemis. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Pilgrims came from all over to pay their respects to the great goddess. As a result, tradesmen and craftsmen made a lot of money supporting the cult by selling idols and little shrines for the people to carry home with them. Enter the Apostle Paul. He comes preaching a gospel of a God not made with human hands. A God who cannot be represented by idols here on earth. A God who is the maker of heaven and earth. A God greater than Artemis (the moon goddess) and many of her former adherents came to faith. Sales drop. Profits crumble. Money is lost. A riot ensues as the entire economic structure of the city is now in danger. 

Such accusations are nothing new to Paul. He’s already been accused of preaching a “king other than Caesar.” Already been accused of treason and sedition. Already been accused of upending entire social systems. Already been accused of blasphemy by his fellow Jews. No wonder he’ll remark to his Corinthian friends, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” ‭(2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-10‬ CSB) Paul understands preaching the gospel places one at odds with the social systems of this world. The economic systems of this world. The political systems of this world. The gospel is the good news of another Kingdom. A Kingdom that is in this world but not of this world. A Kingdom ruled from a heavenly throne not an earthly one. A Kingdom driven by eternal values not temporal ones. A Kingdom that is pure and noble and righteous. Unwilling to compromise with the sinful and broken ways of this world. So one cannot preach without meddlin’ in politics, social systems, economics, and justice. The gospel cannot be privatized. Jesus will not rest until He is Lord over every facet of human existence. Until every knee will bow in heaven. On earth. Under the earth. And every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 21-22, Psalms 129

Navigating Church Conflict

Readings for today: Acts 15-16, Psalms 126

I frequently come across people who are surprised when conflict takes place in a church. They have a false impression that because all Christians love Jesus we would never have a difference of opinion or an argument or disagreement. They seem to think “unity” is the same as “unanimity” which simply is not true. From the very beginning, the church has struggled over significant issues. Struggled to come to one mind and one accord on various things. Because we are all sinners and naturally self-centered in many ways, it is not easy to discern the will of God. 

Today’s reading highlights a number of different conflicts. Conflict over circumcision and the role of the Jewish law in a Christian’s life. Conflict over restoring an individual who proved untrustworthy in the past. Conflict over where the Spirit was leading different evangelism teams to go. Conflict in Philippi over the deliverance of a slave girl. Conflict in prison which results in the conversion of the jailer. It is messy. It is a bit chaotic. The process of discernment often involves lots of trial and error. Mistakes are made. I imagine feelings get hurt. Frustrations mount. Divisions are created. But through it all, the Spirit is faithful to make His will known. And the result is the churches are strengthened in their faith and increase in numbers daily as God adds to them those who are being saved. Is it possible that these chapters are paradigmatic for today? Do they reflect real life in the real church in the real world? Should we expect conflict? Expect disagreement? Expect arguments over where to go and what to do and who to involve? And if so, how can we resolve conflict peacefully? In a way that glorifies God and brings honor to His name?  

One of the keys to navigating conflict in a godly manner is mutual submission. In Acts 15:1, a question is raised. Is circumcision required for salvation? This was no small matter. It was a question of identity. For centuries, the rite of circumcision had set the Jewish people apart. Marked them as God’s chosen people. They suffered for this belief. They’d been persecuted for this spiritual practice. No matter where in the Roman Empire they found themselves, they were easily identified by the fact they had been circumcised so there was no way to blend in. Since Abraham, circumcision had formed the core part of their shared identity and linked them intimately with the covenant promises of God. Now it was being threatened...what should they do? Paul and Barnabus had strong opinions. Based on what they had seen and experienced, it appeared the Holy Spirit was moving among the Gentiles. Non-Jews. People who were not circumcised. Who were they to stand in God’s way? Why add to what the Spirit was doing? This stirred up quite a bit of dissension and debate. So they go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles to make their case. Again, there was much debate. Passionate opinions expressed on all sides. Finally Peter stood up. Shared his heart. Shared his experience. Sought to apply the Scriptures. Paul and Barnabus shared about what they had seen in their travels. James called for a decision and the council decided to make circumcision a secondary matter. Non-essential when it comes to salvation. 

Make no mistake, this decision had huge implications but they found unity as their conclusion “seemed good to the apostles, elders, and the whole church.” Though the issue will pop up at various times throughout the Book of Acts and Paul’s letters, this moment represents a turning point for the early church. A general willingness of all parties to mutually submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Another aspect that’s highlighted is their ability to differentiate between essentials and non-essentials when it comes to the gospel. Again, just because a compromise was reached doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Unity is not the same as unanimity. I imagine quite a few of the Pharisees who had come to faith walked away with serious reservations. But they set those reservations aside for the sake of unity. They recognized the danger of division and how much harm would come should the church fracture over this issue. They made sure to focus on the essentials - not getting mixed up in idolatry, sexual immorality, and maintaining purity which are all matters of the heart - rather than force Gentiles to become Jews before becoming Christian. 

Imagine how different the church would be if it could practice the same kind of mutual submission that so marked the early church? Instead of fighting over secondary matters like baptismal practices, worship styles, spiritual gifts, etc., imagine what would happen if we could exercise mutual forbearance and submission and keep the main thing the main thing? Rather than pull up stakes the moment we disagree with the preacher or the elder board or another brother or sister in Christ, imagine what God could do with a church that was unified around the gospel? What might happen if we obeyed the call to forgive and reconcile rather than bounce the moment we are disappointed or let down? Friends, unity does not always mean unanimity so we should never expect we will always agree. The key to doing life together is navigating conflict with a humility that honors God and keeps Christ at the center.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 17-18, Psalms 127 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Trust in the Lord

Readings for today: Acts 13-14, Psalms 125

What does it mean to trust in the Lord? This phrase appears all over the Scriptures and especially throughout the Book of Psalms. It is a critical aspect of the life of faith. Properly understood, it shapes one’s thoughts, actions, and even affections. When we trust in the Lord, we are placing our entire lives in His hands. We are allowing His will and His way and most of all, His love to guide and direct our steps. We do not trust in our own understanding. We do not rely on our own strength. We do not try to love others in the transactional way the world seems to promote. No, we follow the example of Jesus who models what it means to trust in God. He loved unconditionally. He served sacrificially. He humbled Himself and emptied Himself of all His power and glory, privilege and position. He did not consider His equality with God something to be held onto or to take pride in but instead offered Himself to die in the worst and most shameful way imaginable.

Lately, it seems like I’m having lots of conversations with different people from different walks of life about what it means for each of them to trust the Lord. Trusting the Lord through grief. Trusting the Lord in conflict. Trusting the Lord in the fight against addiction. Trusting the Lord when things don’t go your way. Trusting the Lord when life seems to pile on. Trusting the Lord for direction for the future. Trusting the Lord in relationships. Trusting the Lord with money. Trusting the Lord in the process of forgiveness and reconciliation and restoration. It’s not easy. It cuts against the grain of our own experience. It often forces us to go against our own desires, attitudes, thoughts, and ideas. It even sometimes requires us to give up all we hold dear so we might privilege that which God holds dear. But the reward is worth it. When we trust in the Lord, He becomes the stronghold of our life. He becomes a sanctuary for all our hopes and dreams. He becomes a safe place of refuge where we can run when we are anxious and afraid.

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. It cannot be shaken; it remains forever. The mountains surround Jerusalem and the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.” (Psalms‬ ‭125‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 15-16, Psalms 126

Radical Inclusivity

Readings for today: Acts 11-12, Psalms 124

Today’s reading contains one of the most explosive stories in the New Testament. The gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading rapidly around the region, moving from Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria and now to the ends of the earth. As that happens, it isn’t just Jewish people who come to saving faith but Gentiles as well and this presents one of the greatest questions to the early church. How in the world can Jews and Gentiles, separated from almost the beginning, be joined back together in one covenant family of God? These two groups were separated not only ethnically and socially and culturally and geographically but also theologically, tracing their division almost all the way back to the beginning. And though Israel was called by God to be a light to the Gentile nations, she had spent centuries at war with them and had turned inward, becoming far more concerned with her ritual purity than embracing her role as priests, interceding for an unbelieving world and teaching them about the one, true God.

But now the Holy Spirit has been unleashed. He was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost and He is moving so rapidly, the apostles can barely keep up. He awakens Jew and Gentile alike. He brings them all to saving faith. He fills Samaritans, Ethiopians, and all sorts of people in places like Antioch. The apostles send representatives to these places to follow up on what He is doing, seeking to verify the fantastic claims they are hearing. Then one of their own - the Apostle Peter himself - testifies to what he witnessed at the house of Cornelius. He walked the church leaders in Jerusalem, many of whom were Jewish believers and still held to circumcision as the sign of the covenant, through his vision and what happened afterwards when he preached the gospel to the Gentiles. He quotes Jesus Himself who said, “John baptized with water but you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.” And he went to share how God had broken through all the ethnic, social, cultural, and theological divisions that existed between Jew and Gentile and was bringing all people into His family. “If, then, God gave them the same gift that he also gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, how could I possibly hinder God?” (Acts 11:17 CSB) And how do the leaders respond? “When they heard this they became silent. And they glorified God, saying, “So then, God has given repentance resulting in life even to the Gentiles.” (Acts 11:18 CSB)

It’s an incredible story. One that sets the tone for the rest of the book. If Peter had not obeyed God’s voice or closed his eyes and heart to God’s vision, who knows what might have happened to the mission? Would it have remained a small Jewish sect like the many others that existed in the first century? Would it have died a quick death due to the self-limiting factors being imposed by the Jewish Christian leaders? Would it have been stifled by entrenched theological system of Judaism? I doubt it. The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. It cannot be contained by a theological system or inherited tradition or the limitations of leaders or any other created thing on the earth. The gospel will break free from any bonds we try to impose because it is a movement of the Holy Spirit and He cannot be contained. He cannot be constrained. And He is still at work today! He is still drawing all people to Himself. Still crossing every human boundary and division and faction and dividing wall of separation we try to set up. ‭‭

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 13-14, Psalms 125

Ananias

Readings for today: Acts 9-10, Psalms 123

I had a conversation with a friend recently who asked me about the work I do in Africa. After sharing with them all the incredible things God was doing in some of the hardest to reach places on earth, he asked me, “But isn’t it dangerous?” “Yes”, I replied. “But God never promised me I would be safe serving Him.” It may sound like I’m being a bit flippant but I’m not. I’ve been to some dangerous places. I’ve worked with men and women who are persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and even killed for the cause of the gospel. The last time I was in Ethiopia, we were in an area where we were the only Westerners. Everyone else had pulled out of the region due to the conflict in the area, including the UN. I don’t say this to brag but to simply illustrate the fact that sometimes God calls us to do hard things, even dangerous things for Him.

If you don’t believe me, consider the situation Ananias found himself in. He’s a disciple of Jesus living in Damascus probably minding his own business. He’s not a pastor. He’s not an apostle. There’s nothing in the text that suggests he’s even a leader in the church. He’s just an ordinary guy who is called to an extraordinary task. He is to go and meet Saul and pray for him to be healed. Saul? The church’s greatest enemy? The man who is pursuing and imprisoning and murdering Christians all over the Roman Empire? This is the man Ananias is called by God to go and meet? And not only to meet him but to lay hands on him and pray for him? Can you imagine the courage this would take? Imagine the conviction Ananias must have felt from the Holy Spirit. Imagine the fear he had to overcome. And yet he still went. There doesn’t seem to be any hesitation in his heart. Once the Lord had spoken to Ananias and shared with him the purpose behind God’s call, Ananias went. He obeyed. He laid hands on Saul. He prayed for Saul to not only receive back his sight but be filled with the Holy Spirit. And Saul’s life was never the same.

I wonder how many times Saul - who became Paul soon after this event - looked back on that day. How many times did Saul thank God for sending Ananias into his life? How many times did Saul pause in the midst of all his missionary journeys to reflect on how his ministry began? I know as I look back in my own life I marvel at the ways God used different people to not only bring me to saving faith but encourage me to become a pastor. I am blessed by so many men and women who invested in my life along the way. Yes, I wasn’t a persecutor of the faith like Saul was but I was resistant and rebellious in so many other ways. All of us not only need an “Ananias” in our lives but we need to be an “Ananias” to others as well. They may be people whom you love and live with or among. They may be people you work with or attend class alongside. They may be people on the other side of the political or social or cultural aisle. They may even be people who otherwise would be your enemy. I think back to my friends in the Horn of Africa. So many of them sacrifice their lives to reach people of a different tribe. They reach across all kinds of cultural and ethnic boundaries to proclaim the gospel to those whom God loves. Many of these tribes have been at war for generations and yet these men and women seek to intentionally reach their enemies with the good news. It’s a powerful testimony to what God can do when we make ourselves available to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 11-12, Psalms 124