Jesus is the standard.

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:24-28

Free from Judgment

Don’t judge me by my clothing! Don’t judge me based on my family! Don’t judge me based on one bad decision, or by my grades, or the way I look…and the list goes on. No one likes to be judged and evaluated by someone on the outside, because it’s scary! We know our own flaws and imperfections, and we tend to spend a lot of time and energy trying to cover them up.

From that perspective, it’s an even more scary thing to imagine facing judgment before the almighty and all-knowing God, yet that is something that awaits every person who has ever and will ever live. The writer to the Hebrews points out that for a child of God this appointment before the judgement seat of Christ doesn’t need to be a scary thing, because we already know the verdict that will be rendered.

Even though Jesus already knows your flaws and imperfections, he chooses not to judge you by those. Instead, he chose to lay down his own life and suffer God’s anger and judgment in your place! The writer to the Hebrews says that Jesus was sacrificed once for sin at the cross, and according to God’s perfect judgment that one sacrifice was enough! Your sins, whether known or hidden, are all gone. That means you have salvation already now. You’re a member of God’s family, already now. Stop living in fear of judgment! And someday, when Jesus returns, it won’t be to deal with your sin again, but to bring new life in heaven and eternal salvation to those who wait for him. What a day that will be! Amen.

Prayer:
Jesus my Savior, you suffered God’s judgment in my place and took my punishment on your own back. When I feel guilt and shame over my sins, or when I fear being judged for my thoughts and actions, remind me of this truth. Amen.

Death is not forever.

On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.

On this mountain, the [Lord Almighty] will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us.
This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

Isaiah 25:6-9

You Will Live Forever

The casket was open in front of the church. A woman lay inside… a wife, mother, friend, teacher. Her body was there, but she wasn’t there. She was wearing a pretty dress, her usual hairstyle, nice make up… but she was just an empty shell of the woman loved by her husband and children and friends. Death had changed everything.

Maybe you’ve experienced a similar scene at a funeral. If not, you will as the years pass. At some point it will also be your turn to be in a box in front of the church. The somber scene of a funeral displays the tragic reality of life: the wages of sin is death, and all have sinned, so all will die. Nothing can change that.

But listen to Isaiah forecast something different for the future. He talks about the shroud (the cloth draped over a casket at a funeral). He says the shroud covering the world is going to be destroyed! He says that the Lord is wiping away tears from the faces of his mourning people! The Lord is welcoming people into a feast! Where does this joyous change take place? On the “mountain of the Lord.” How does one get there? Jesus is the key. He climbed Mt. Calvary’s cross to destroy the shroud!

This past week, churches around the world celebrated All Saints’ Day. It’s a day to remember those who’ve died. More than that though, it’s a day of celebration knowing where they are – the Mountain of the Lord!

Don’t be afraid of the shroud of death – there’s life on the mountain of God! By God’s grace, you will ascend the mountain of the Lord to live with all who’ve gone there before you. Together you will live with God for eternity! What a joyous day that will be!

Prayer:
Lord God who holds the power over death, keep me close to your all the days of my life. When your time is right, bring me home to live with you and those who have gone before me forever. Amen.

The heart of a follower of Jesus when sharing the gospel is a heart that looks for nothing in return.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:22-23

Whatever it Costs

It can be hard to get fired up to share the gospel. As a follower of Jesus, we know we are supposed to share the gospel, but it can be hard to be motivated to share the gospel. That is because you don’t get anything in return. Getting a reward is a great motivator. Tell a teen that if they clean their room they can go to the movies with their friends. Chances are that room will get cleaned. Tell a teen to mow the lawn and they will get paid $100. That lawn will get mowed, edged and swept. Tell a teen that if they clean the toilets they will get a brand new car. Those toilets will sparkle. Tell a teen to do any of those chores because Mom or Dad says so, it is safe to say that teen will be less motivated. A person is highly motivated to spend time, effort, and energy if they know they will get something in return.

That is why it can be difficult to be motivated to share the gospel. It costs a lot and you gain nothing. Paul said he would do whatever it takes to win someone over to the gospel. If he had to be uncomfortable, he would. If he had to be weak, he would. If he had to be ridiculed, he would. If he had to pretend to like something he really didn’t like just to build a relationship, he would. If he had to spend his own money, he would. If he had to give up his Saturday, he would. He would do whatever cost him just so that he might possibly win someone over to Jesus. And what did he gain from all of that effort? Nothing. Actually, he received hardships more times than not.

So why was he so on fire to share the gospel? He didn’t need a reward because he already had everything. When you have Jesus, you have heaven. Imagine having a visa gift card that never ran out. When you went out to eat with your friends, wouldn’t it be easy to pay the bill for everyone. When you have everything, it is easy to pay whatever it costs and you want to share what you have with others. So if you are struggling to share Jesus with the people around you, take a moment and think about how awesome heaven is going to be. Then look at that person and think about what they are missing out on. You will be motivated to do whatever it costs here on earth to possibly get to share with that person the joy of having everything in heaven. Amen

Prayer:
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for giving me everything. There are so many people who have nothing because they don’t have you. Give me the opportunity to share the gospel with them. When I get the opportunity, give me the motivation, courage, and words to say. Amen

Submission or you first love is at the heart of every God pleasing relationship.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21

How to Date the Follower Way

Being a teenager is the time in your life when you transition from being a kid to adult. For many of you, that transition comes with experiencing dating (aka looking for the person you want to marry and practicing being in a marriage relationship.) The world has so many wrong ideas about dating and relationships, so it is good for you to look to God for guidance.

Gentlemen, God tells you to practice being the kind of husband who submits out of reverence for Christ. That means you do what is best for your potential future spouse. You practice faithfulness and sexual self-control by making sure you both save sex and anything imitating sex for marriage. It means honoring marriage by not living together until you are married. It means you make sure that you and your potential future spouse go to church together regularly. It means confessing when you did something wrong and asking for forgiveness. It means forgiving when your potential future spouse sins against you. It means showing the same love Jesus showed you by doing what is best for your girlfriend even though it comes at a sacrifice for you. Be the kind of leader in your relationship that is responsible for making sure your relationship is a God-pleasing relationship.

Ladies, God tells you to practice being the kind of wife who submits out of reverence for Christ. To be clear, that does NOT mean you do everything your boyfriend wants you to do. It means you support and help your future spouse be the kind of man God wants him to be. If he wants to be sexually impure before marriage, you lovingly but firmly say no. God thinks you are worth it. He gave up everything for you. He sent his Son who submitted himself to death on the cross for you. Help your boyfriend value you the same way. If he is not ok with giving up his sexual needs for you, he is not someone you want to marry. Dump him. If he does value you the way God does, help him be the kind of man God wants him to be by being patient and kind, supportive and encouraging. Forgive and ask for forgiveness. Submit to your future spouse by submitting to Christ first.

Love is not a romantic feeling. True love is submitting to each other in a way that would make Jesus smile when he looks at your relationship. That is how you date the way followers of Jesus date.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you gave up your life for me because it was best for me. Help me to show you first love and do what is best for those I have a relationship with. Send me your Holy Spirit to help me do this. Amen

What you gain on earth is temporal but what you gain in heaven is eternal.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

Mark 9:35-37

For Nothing

There were two men. The first man was a worldly man. He worked hard because he had goals he wanted to achieve. He got a good paying job. He bought a big house. He always had a nice car. He bought a boat. He ate in fine restaurants. He wanted to be seen as a generous person so every Christmas he gave to a charity. He was very political. Every year, he and his college buddies would travel to Las Vegas for their annual fantasy football draft. He won the fantasy football championship four times. He never married but had a few girlfriends. He invested well into the stock market. He retired early. He traveled the world. He died. He was not a follower of Jesus.

The second man was a follower of Jesus. He worked hard but his goals were different. He got a good paying job. He got married and committed his life to putting his wife first. They had four kids. He never could afford a fancy car but he had the car that he needed. He couldn’t afford to eat in fancy restaurants or go on fun trips instead paid for diapers and Christian education. He turned down the promotion so he could spend more time with his family. He was in charge of the Sunday school at his church. He gave generous offerings to the Lord. He would invite anyone and everyone he met to church. Once he retired, he mowed the grass at church and the yard of his neighbor who was an older widow. He too died.

The first man gained everything he ever wanted but took nothing with him when he died. It was all for nothing. The second man was a servant putting others before himself. He did it all for nothing, not looking to get anything in return. He did it out of love for his Savior whom he followed and out of love for others. In the end, he gained everything in heaven.

Which man are you?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, through your saving work on earth and the cross, you have made me your follower. Give me a heart that loves, not looking to get anything in return. Keep my eyes focused on heaven where you will give me everything. Amen

We are saved by the compassion and power of Jesus.

After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Mark 7:31-37

The Word Not Dependent On Ears

This is one of Jesus’ coolest miracles.

You probably know the passage, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) So, what do you do if you can’t hear words?

This man most likely had been unable to hear since birth which means his life had an emptiness that is hard for us to comprehend. We hear words. We think in words. We speak in words. If you can’t hear words, you can’t think in words, let alone speak. He had no way to organize his thoughts into words. His world was one of silent emptiness.

But the worst part of his situation was that he had no way of coming to know Jesus. News about Jesus had spread, but not to him. Reports would have come in about the Messiah who heals and saves, but he would have no idea. Jesus could preach a perfect sermon, but he would never hear it. And if he can’t hear the Gospel, he can’t be saved, right?

Oh, the compassion and power of Jesus! He knows exactly what this man needs and interacts with him individually. He touches his ears. He touches his tongue. He sighs up to heaven. And using his powerful Word that is not dependent on the ability of one to hear or understand, Jesus opens his ears, gives him the ability to immediately speak plainly, and gives him faith.

This is who Jesus is and this is how he deals with you. He knows exactly what you need and interacts with you individually. When you were dead in your sin, his Gospel created faith. For some of you, when you were unable to comprehend the words of Jesus because you were a baby, he opened your heart and gave you faith through the Word connected to the water in baptism. Yes, Jesus is powerful. Yes, he has compassion for you. Yes, he loves you. What grace that Jesus used his power to make you his follower.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, We thank you that you have opened our hearts by your Word. Give us the opportunity and the determination to bring those who do not know you to you. Thank you for the people in our lives who brought us to you. Amen

Some of Jesus’ disciples walked away from him because his teaching was hard to accept. The 12 knew better than to walk away from Jesus and his words of eternal life. We answer Jesus boldly as Peter did, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. At that, the Jews argued among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”… When they heard it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching! Who can listen to it?”

After this, many of his disciples turned back and were not walking with him anymore. So Jesus asked the Twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:51-52, 60, 66-67

Hard to Swallow Food

Family vacations are fun. They are opportunities to go see people you haven’t seen in awhile, or see places you’ve never been. The memories that you make on vacations remain with you forever. But the biggest drag about vacation is typically the drive. You’ve got to put in countless hours and miles to get where you are going.

Your family stops at a gas station to fill up and stretch their legs. You stare at the car door and you just don’t want to get back in. Your legs are cramped. Your siblings are annoying you. Your device is out of cell coverage. You just can’t get back in. Your parents may threaten that they’ll leave without you, but you just can’t do it!

But you HAVE to. You force yourself back into that car, because there is no other way to get back home. And if you sleep through it, it maybe won’t be so bad.
There are times in life that we have to choose the hard option, simply because there is no other option.

Jesus gave the people only one option. Eat the Bread of Life. Keep Jesus in your life.

It wasn’t hard to understand; it was hard to accept. It is hard to accept for the sinful soul to give up on the earthly appeal of this world. It is hard for the self-sufficient person to let God do all the work. But it is the only way.

There is no other option for us. As difficult as it may be to be a Christian, we realize there is no other realistic option. The world has nothing to offer us long term. Jesus is the only life-giving option we have.

Eat the Bread of Life. Keep Jesus in your life.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the only life-giving source, the Bread of Life. May we do the hard thing and choose Jesus over the world every day. Amen

The world seemingly has A LOT to offer to us. It tries to convince us that worldly wealth can keep us content and happy, but we know that the world and all it contains is temporary. We need true stability which can only be found in Jesus.

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Do not continue to work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. “I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them. “The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.
John 6:27, 35

Food for the Soul

“I’m hungry!” are words heard in households across the world. Kids looking for food after a long day at school are interested in filling their stomachs with sustenance. And while this happens day after day, our bellies can never be permanently filled. Parents will complain about their teenagers eating them out of house and home. But this is the way things have been and will continue to be.

The crowds came searching for Jesus after they had their fill of fish and bread on the hillside during the feeding of the 5000. This miracle opened their eyes to the incredible possibilities of regularly receiving their fill on the cheap! They wanted their daily needs filled by Jesus, every day. This is why they sought him out that day. They wanted Jesus to be their Bread King.

Still today people desire to have their needs filled by God without doing any work on their own. They think that a connection to Jesus means that life will be better. They’ll have more conveniences and luxuries of life if they are a Christian. This lie has been shared and believed far too often! The life of a Christian is not about having our physical needs filled but understanding our absolute need to be filled spiritually.

Jesus wanted to offer the world so much. He didn’t come to be a bread king of the nations. He didn’t come to end world hunger and fill our stomachs to make a fulfilling life on earth. He came to fill us spiritually. Christ came to give us spiritual life. Come to the Bread of Life and have your fill! The only way to truly be filled is to have Jesus in your life.

Prayer:
Lord, keep our eyes from focusing too much on the world around us. Show us that you are everything we need as the Bread of Life. Amen.

God owns everything and is the giver of every good thing I have. He has unlimited resources. He loves to bless me so that I can show love to others by giving to them.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8-11

God Meets our Need to Meet Other’s Needs

Have you ever found money on the ground? More than just change? Finding a $10 or $20 bill unexpectedly can be a rush, can’t it? You start to think of ways to spend the money. Buy a coffee. Grab some lunch. Browse Amazon for something you didn’t even know you needed to have! Having extra is fun. Multiple possibilities come to mind.

Did you know God enables you to have that same mindset with everything you have? The income from your part-time job. The gifts your parents and grandparents give you. The talents you possess. Everything. It all can feel like finding money on the ground. It all can feel like extra. How?

By remembering who gave it to you and what his resources are. God is the giver of every single thing you have. Every. Single. Thing! His resources are endless. And he loves blessing you with gifts. He says, “There’s more where that came from!”

God especially loves blessing you with gifts because that’s how he blesses others in your life. Through you! He designed you to be a river, not a reservoir. A reservoir stores up, but a river flows freely because it’s constantly being fed from a source.

God is your source of all good things, and he never runs out. He blesses me abundantly so that I can bless others abundantly. And when others experience your generosity, they give thanks to God. He gets the glory, and you get the deep satisfaction of helping meet a need.

Prayer:
Dear God, you truly own everything in the entire universe! And, you love blessing me. Let me meditate on those truths and let them change me. You give me good gifts because you love me. And you love others, too. You bless others through the gifts you’ve given to me. Let me give generously and cheerfully, knowing you never run out of resources. Give me the deep satisfaction of helping meet another’s needs. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus owns all ministry. He gives us the authority to serve others with the gospel. His love shapes our character to reflect him. Our Godly character gives evidence that we serve with his authority. 

The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 

Titus 1:5-9

Sent with God’s Own Authority

“What gives you the right?!?”

Has anyone ever said these words to you? More like…has anyone ever YELLED these words at you?

Authority is a touchy subject in our society. People don’t like it when someone tells them what to do.

Maybe it’s your sibling, or your friend. They know your flaws. They know you aren’t perfect. So who are YOU to tell THEM to do ANYTHING?

One of the most important truths when it comes to gospel ministry (service in God’s kingdom using the gospel message) is that all of the ministry belongs to Jesus. And him alone. Jesus is the owner. He calls us to be managers of all that is his.

That’s where we get the “right” or the authority to do ministry. From Jesus, as we do it in his name.

Look at verse 9 in Titus chapter 1- “…hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught,” When you tell others about Jesus’ words and promises or a command from the Bible, you are telling them GOD’S message, not your own.

Godly character in ministry is also important. Paul’s message in Titus 1 is that our character reflects on the message we are telling others and the ministry we are doing. It reinforces that we have God’s authority.

Love what is good. Speak the truth in love to someone going down a bad path. Encourage others with the gospel.
God gives you the right!

Prayer:
God, remind us that all ministry belongs to you. And, remind us you give us authority to serve others in your name. You give us the right to tell others your law and gospel. Shape our hearts through your love to become more like Jesus’ heart. May our character reflect this awesome authority we have. Open our mouths, that we may declare your praise! In Jesus’ name, and under his authority, we pray. Amen

One truth shared: The living Lord completely changes our view of death.

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him.

While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

Mark 5:21-24a,35-43

Victory over Death

Let’s talk about death.

Do you hate it? Fear it? When you think of death, do you think of your own death or the death of a loved one? Nobody wants to experience it – the dreaded phone call that someone we deeply care about is gone, the funeral of a loved one, the doctor’s terminal diagnosis, the reality of our own mortality or impending passing. It’s crushing! But we have to talk about it because it’s a fact of life. It’s unavoidable. That’s what makes it so difficult – the reality and finality of death.

Is your fear that we or our loved one did something so wrong to displease God that he would punish us or them with death? Or we fear that God is uncaring or insensitive to what we’re going through – that he would allow us to experience something so horrible alone and without hope? Even worse, when someone near to us minimizes our fear and grief that we’re experiencing. How can he or she be so ignorant or insensitive?!

Death can really put our faith to the test.

Perhaps that’s how the people around Jesus felt when Jesus said, “The child is not dead but asleep.” Perhaps that’s why they actually even laughed in the middle of their mourning. “Jesus, how can you be so insensitive?”

Jesus, however, is not cold-hearted or uncaring. Jesus can genuinely and sincerely minimize death because he has the power over it. He can wake someone up from death as easily as he can wake someone up from a nap. And that’s exactly what he did for Jarius’ daughter!

Jesus now says to us what he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Jesus took the death we deserved when he died on the cross. And then, Jesus rose from the dead to assure us that death is not the end.

That’s worth repeating: Death is not the end.

May we be like a grieving Jairus in our hour of fear and need. Seek out Jesus! He is the only one who can really help us with death. Be certain that he will not forsake us when we’re afraid. Recognize Jesus for who he is – the Son of God, who conquered death and has power over death. Then, like Jairus, trust that Jesus will calm our fears and will give us exactly what we need when death comes knocking.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am often scared of death, mine and those I love. I don’t like to think about it, and I hope that it doesn’t come anytime soon. I know that you have the victory over death. You raised Jarius’ daughter from death and your resurrection proves it. Help me to not be afraid. Amen.

One truth shared: The kingdom grows when the seed is sown. The Word works.

The Parable of the Growing Seed
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

Mark 4:26-34

Trust the Word

How do you measure progress? Or success? And how do you achieve them? In American culture, progress and success are largely measured by outward results, and the path to achieving progress and success is directly related to the amount of effort one puts in.

Think about it:

• Sports are measured by wins or championships and success depends heavily on the efforts of the players and coaches.
• School is measured by grades and test scores, and success is largely driven by how much studying a person does.
• Companies are driven by profits and revenue and success or failure is directly related to the efforts of the employees and management.

It’s easy to take those same ideas and mistakenly apply them to the kingdom of God – that kingdom progress means more people sitting in church, that if we’re doing a good job sharing the gospel then we’ll see more and more people coming to faith in Jesus right before our very eyes. Based on these ideas we’ll likely feel like our efforts are insignificant and failing, we’ll get discouraged, and we’ll possibly even stop trying to make disciples of others as Jesus commanded us.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus told two short parables about sharing the gospel. He often taught in parables – earthly stories with a spiritual meaning.

In both parables Jesus encourages us to simply share the seed (the gospel or good news of Jesus) with others and trust in God’s promises.
What are God’s promises when we do that? The first parable promises that the power to convert another person to faith is not in us, or in our efforts, but in the gospel itself. Faith will sprout and grow even though we don’t know how. By nature, all people, including you and me, are corrupt and sinful and we reject the grace of God, but God’s Word overcomes our unbelief and brings us to faith.

The second parable reminds us not to judge the growth of God’s kingdom by initial outward appearances or results. God promises that he will grow seemingly small and insignificant beginnings into something greater than we’d ever imagine!

Therefore go, and share God’s Word with comfort and confidence, trusting that the Word will do the work, and leaving the results in the hands of your almighty God.

Prayer:Lord of the Harvest, it’s such a human thing to take credit for success. Forgive me when I do that. Give me confidence, not in myself, but in the power of your Word. Help me share Jesus with someone new this week. Amen.

One truth shared: The rest (Sabbath) we need most—from guilt, from worry, from shame, from hopelessness—is graciously given to us by the Lord of the Sabbath.

One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Mark 2:23-3:5

Rest is a Gift, Not Something to Be Earned

It’s easy to see rest as a reward for doing hard work. A vacation is time off that you’ve earned after weeks of long hours on the job. Christmas or summer break is a well-deserved hiatus from school after studying hard for the semester and final exams.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying some well-deserved rest and down time after working hard on the job or at school, but it would be a mistake to believe that the spiritual rest that God desires for us is similarly earned through hard work. Unfortunately, we can easily slip into this way of thinking. It’s what many of the religious leaders of Jesus’ day thought.

God’s Sabbath Day commandment was originally given to Israel as a day of rest, a day to remember all of God’s creating and saving blessings. But the Pharisees piled on many of their own rules and regulations to God’s Sabbath commands. The joy in recalling God’s blessings was smothered by worries about whether one had done or not done something covered by the rules. In time, following the Sabbath rules became a way of earning God’s favor and even earning heaven.

This attitude about the Sabbath was what prompted the Pharisees to confront Jesus on two different occasions. They tried to trap Jesus, claiming that he was violating the Sabbath.
Jesus was deeply distressed by their stubborn and hateful hearts. He responded to their accusations from scripture, not from their interpretation of the law. As Lord of the Sabbath he defined what the Sabbath is and what it’s not.

The Sabbath was not created as a means to earn the grace of God but as God’s gift to us. The spirit of the Sabbath promotes mercy and compassion over ceremony and rules. Most importantly, by rejecting Jesus the Pharisees were forfeiting God’s favor, his heaven and his spiritual rest only found in him.

Do you want to experience true spiritual rest? This summer, you can find it – not because the school year has ended and you’re looking forward to an upcoming vacation. Summer rest is found in Jesus. It’s rest from your sins, guilt and shame through the forgiveness Jesus won for you by his death on the cross. It’s rest you can experience no matter what the circumstances around you may be. It’s a foretaste of the final full eternal rest you’ll have in heaven.

Prayer:Lord of the Sabbath, thank you for giving me true spiritual rest as a gift through Jesus Christ. My soul yearns for that rest in the middle of my busy, sometimes stressful life. Help me to work hard in your kingdom while also enjoying the rest I find in your Word and Sacraments. Amen.

One truth shared: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are active in our lives today. 

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.”

John 15:26

We Are Not Alone

Imagine your typical high school musical. You see the stage. You see the scenery. You hear the music playing. POOF! The spotlight flips on, and there is the lead character. Despite a changing teen voice that occasionally falters, he does a marvelous job in the opening scene. Then the curtain closes. A few moments later the curtain opens again, but this time in a different scene. Another character takes the lead this time. She does an amazing job too! You see, both characters are equally important, but at different times each has a different role to play—sometimes in the lead and sometimes in support.

In a somewhat similar way, God has operated in this world in different phases or stages. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have always been equal in power and authority. They are three equal persons in one true God. However, starting with creation, it was God the Father who took more of the center stage as Maker and Preserver of this world. The Son and the Spirit were certainly around and active, but they didn’t take the spotlight.

When Jesus was born, a new scene began. This time he took the lead as our substitute and Savior from sin. The Father and the Spirit were certainly around and active, but they didn’t take the spotlight. Once Jesus ascended back to heaven, the curtain closed on that scene as a new one was about to begin.

That new scene was the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came in a miraculous and marvelous way. He empowered the disciples to be bold witnesses and more than 3,000 people came to faith and were baptized. From that point forward and to the present, the Holy Spirit has had center stage. Now it is the Holy Spirit who is taking a more active role in the life of the Church. The Father and the Son have been and still are certainly around and active, but they aren’t taking the spotlight, so to speak.

This is what Jesus was promising and foretelling in John 15. He talked about the “Advocate” who would come to testify to the truth. An advocate is someone who speaks on behalf of or helps someone else. The Holy Spirit is that Advocate. When we share the good news of Jesus the Son of God, the Father sends the Spirit on his behalf. The Holy Spirit is the one who works people’s hearts. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings people to faith and then strengthens faith. And, the Holy Spirit is the one who fills us with courage and boldness to witness like those first disciples did.

It can be easy to feel alone at times and wonder, “Where is God?” Know that the Father is still our Maker and Preserver. He’s not standing on the sidelines, but actively working to preserve and protect us. Know that the Son is still our Savior. He’s not standing on the sidelines, but actively coming to us through the Gospel in Word and sacraments. Know that the Spirit is still our Advocate and Guide. He’s not standing on the sidelines, but actively working in people’s hearts when the Word and Sacraments are used. Praise be to God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—who actively works in our lives!

Prayer:Holy Spirit, fill me with comfort knowing that you are always working and with me. Then fill me with courage to be a bold witness to others confidence to know that you will work through my words. Amen.

One truth shared: Remain in Jesus’ love as you love other people.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:9, 12-13

Love Each Other

The story is told of a mother who was walking down the street with her two little girls one day. Each girl held mommy’s hand as they strolled down the sidewalk in their quaint little Alaskan hometown. It was just another day surrounded by beautiful scenery in a beautiful location . . . until they turned the corner. Suddenly a massive grizzly bear charged out of the woods at the three of them. Without hesitation, the mother pushed the girls to the side and took on the bear, knowing she was outmatched and about to be mauled to pieces.

Stories like this are moving. What selfless and self-sacrificing love! We could imagine most parents would do the same for their children. But would you do that? Would you lay down your life for someone else? Maybe a family member or someone you deeply love. But what about the classmate who spread rumors about you on social media last week . . . what about the school bully . . . what about a criminal who did evil things and now is in jail for life? Would you die for any of them?

Romans 5:8 says, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The remarkable fact of God’s love is that Jesus died for all people of all time—even the worst of sinners, which includes you and me.

In John 15, Jesus is talking about that incredible, selfless, self-sacrificing love that he has for us. He gives multiple examples of that love in these verses as he spoke to his disciples. These words also describe how Jesus loves us. Jesus laid down his life for us. Jesus calls us his friends, even though he is true God and we are mere humans. We didn’t choose him, but he chose us. All of these things reveal the extraordinary love that Jesus has for us, even though we are sinners!

Jesus’ love is not just a one-time thing of the past though. His love is life changing! Two repeated phrases tell us what Jesus wants us to do next: remain in his love and love each other. Jesus wants nothing more than for us to stay inside the protecting bubble of his love, constantly reassured of his forgiveness and care for us. And then, Jesus wants us to love other people in the same way that he has loved us.

This week, look for ways you can “remain in his love.” Don’t miss opportunities for Bible reading, devotions, prayer, and worship. Then, look for specific ways and specific people that you can show the love of Jesus’ too. His love has been life changing for us, and it certainly will be life changing for others!

Prayer: Loving Savior, your love for me is beyond what I can comprehend, but it means everything to me. Help me to remain in your love and to appreciate it with a glad and joyful heart. Then help your love to spill over in me in the ways that I love other people. Amen.