Archive for category: Teen Devotions

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

Emmanuel

There is no other time of the year like this. I really enjoy the season of Advent and the many Christmas services. Most people do. It is a special time of year.

It wasn’t quite so special for the shepherds, at least not at first. Suddenly the night sky was lit up with angels. The shepherds were scared. They should have been. God had come. God’s glory was all around them. They were exposed.

That’s what light does—it exposes. It uncovers all ugliness and sin. That’s the part that we hate. The glory of God and the light of his Word shines in the deepest corner of your heart to expose the dark thoughts of your heart. The light of his Word exposes the sins that have owned and controlled you this past year. You know what he’ll find, and it’s dark.

God does not withhold the truth. In fact, Jesus is full of truth. He tells us things just the way they are. He tells us he sees all the sins hidden in our hearts. God doesn’t hide the truth or cover it up.

Instead of covering up the truth of our sinfulness, God covered himself up.. To save us and to spare us from his blazing glory, God covered or clothed himself in flesh. That’s what John is saying: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” God clothed himself. How does the hymn go? “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate deity… pleased is God with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.”

God clothed himself in flesh. He hid himself in the flesh of baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger. He hid himself behind the frailty and weakness of a human being. Yet, right there, in the flesh of Jesus, all the fullness of the Deity lived in bodily form.

God comes at Christmas, but not to consume us with his anger. That’s why the angels spoke up quickly when the shepherds were so scared. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you! A Savior has been born for you, he is Christ the Lord.” God had come to help his people. God clothed himself in flesh to cover you with blood. Don’t be afraid! His name is Emmanuel, which means God with us. God is with us to save us!

Prayer: Lord God, you clothed yourself in the flesh and came to this earth not to condemn, but to save the world. Help me to marvel at the majesty clothed in flesh; you are Emmanuel! Help me to rejoice that you have clothed me with your blood; I am forgiven. Amen.

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5

Light has come

I was sitting in a strange car in the middle of Buenos Aires when I heard these very words from St. John. A friendly man was driving me to the airport. After some roundabout Spanish small talk, he told me that he too was a Bible-believing Christian! He plugged a flash drive into his car’s stereo and together we listened to these words, “En el principio ya existía el Verbo.” Translated, it is the opening of John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word.”

Studying Spanish in a foreign country helped me understand the power of words. My words could communicate to a waiter that I’d like to order the pizza with extra cheese or help me navigate my way through the city in a taxi. But when I consider that Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit created the world with a word from their mouth, my words seem like nothing. I can use words to tell people what I want, but God used the words “Let there be,” to create the world from nothing! And he saw that it was good; yes, it was very good.

God was happy with his perfect creation, but that perfection didn’t last long. The first sin plunged the world into spiritual darkness. But God doesn’t settle for mediocrity, he demands perfection! I can’t do anything perfectly. I snap at my siblings, throwing insults at them. I gossip. I blame. I complain. God hears every terrible word I say, he even knows each sinful thought I think. Do you struggle controlling your words and thoughts too?

Our future would be bleak if God didn’t say anything after the first sin, but he did. God spoke to Adam and Eve and promised them a Savior to bring light into the darkness. What gracious words!

Flash forward to Good Friday. The sky is dark as night in the middle of the afternoon. Jesus suffers on the cross while the sin of all people of all times hangs on his shoulders. This gruesome death in the pitch dark brought us life. There in the dark, Jesus, true God, spoke, “It is finished.” What powerful words!

After three days Jesus rose from the dead! He burst out of the tomb after conquering the darkness. Death has lost its power. Death doesn’t lead to eternal darkness and terror. Jesus promises us victory over death and eternal life in heaven. He is the light! He is the life! Yes, he is our light and our life.

Prayer: Dear God, your words are powerful. Your words created this world. The Word made flesh, Jesus, saved me from sin and death. The Word came to scatter the darkness. You have brought us light! Now, help us be lights to others so that they can also be with us in heaven! Amen.

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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3

Joy

Before you begin to read this, make a list of things that make you happy. You can write it down or make a mental list. Try to get as many as you can.

Did you get them all? Now continue reading … .

In an episode of VeggieTales, Madame Blueberry says she has everything she could ever need, but she is not happy with what she has. On her way home from the store, after buying pretty much everything, she passes a girl who is with her mom and dad on her birthday. The girl does not have much, but she is happy. That’s when Madame Blueberry realizes that she does not need material items to be happy.

It is easy to get caught up in material things. Go back to your list of things that make you happy. What’s on it: A TV show? A book? Your pet? Mom, Dad, Aunt Sally, and Uncle Joe? Did God, church, or the Bible make your list? When we think of what makes us happy, it’s so easy to get caught up by the things we see and touch nearest to us. As long as we live, we face the temptation to place God who brings us his salvation on the backburner.

Remember to focus on the reason for that joy:

• God gave you “new birth” through baptism!
• God gave you “living hope” through Jesus’ resurrection!

Our hope is alive because Jesus is alive! Now we look forward to an eternity in heaven with him! That’s something to be happy about! No more trials. No more heartache. No more temptation. We will have the honor of standing at the feet of Jesus. He wiped away our sins with his death so that we can finally know what peace feels like. Resting our hope in Jesus Christ will bring us eternal happiness, no matter what struggles we are faced with here on earth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the joy of life everlasting in your arms. Continue to work through me so that I can help others find your joy. Guide me to hold tight to your Word when I am faced with trials, and help me to find joy here on earth, knowing that I will find eternal joy it is in heaven with you. Amen.

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Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 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, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:19-27

The cause

A quick jab to the nose! A left hook to the temple! The enemy is gaining on you. His punches are coming one right after another. After another left hook to your head, he finishes you off with an uppercut that sends you to the ground. Staring at the mat beneath you, you wonder if you will ever be able to get back up again.

Have you ever felt this way? As if you are trapped in a boxing match and life is throwing punches at you, one right after the other?

What about when it comes to telling others about Jesus? Our text for today shows us how the author, the apostle Paul, tirelessly tells others about Jesus. Like Paul, our purpose here on earth is to share the gospel and win souls for heaven. This is easier said than done. We get rejected, we feel we don’t have the words to say, we don’t think we are getting through to anyone, and maybe even our own friends laugh in our faces. These are the punches that come with sharing the gospel, and the truth is…we can’t win this match on our own.

We don’t have the strength to finish the fight. We are weak and sinful human beings. Because of the sin that corrupts us to the core of our very being, we and all those we love deserve only eternal damnation. If we ourselves are destined for death in hell, how then can we expect to win the souls of our fellow damned for heaven? The dead cannot raise the dead. That friend you have that does not know Jesus, you will never be able to convert him…on your own.

Jesus Christ, our mighty substitute, steps into the ring. He fights for you and me! He came to earth, lived the perfect life we could not, died an innocent death on the cross in our place, and then raised to life so we too may rise. As if that was not enough, he also promises to be with us as we tell others about his love. It is only with his power that we, and many others, will receive the crown of eternal life in heaven.

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, I am weak. So often I do not take hold of the opportunities you give to me to proclaim your Word. Fight for me, dear Savior. Be with me as I tell others about your amazing love. Amen.

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For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18

Rebel #3 – The Bloody Fool

Jesus would never make the list of superheroes. He just wouldn’t. He doesn’t carry himself like a superhero. He doesn’t act like a superhero. The cross appeared to be his kryptonite, rendering him powerless. If you look at the man, Jesus, and his story, you’ll see that he has quite a dismal end.

When human eyes look at Jesus, they may be tempted to see only a failure. His enemies got away with his murder. He appeared to have lost everything at the grave.

Human ears hear things that don’t make sense. His enemies tell lies about him, and Jesus doesn’t defend himself. The people mock him, and Jesus silently lets them. We hear sounds of defeat and loss, and Jesus seems powerless to stop it.

This is our Savior!?! The one who loses to all his enemies? The one who is mocked and doesn’t even offer a response?

He is the one we worship. He is the one in whom we believe.

It’s no wonder that people think we are foolish. The One we call on for help and salvation couldn’t even help himself. “He couldn’t even save himself, how will he save the world,” they mock. “He was silent against all his enemies, maybe they were right,” they laugh. The One we trust seems like a failure, and we look foolish for trusting him. People think we’re crazy for believing in Jesus as we do.

But it’s not as foolish as it seems. In the weakness of Jesus, we see the power of Jesus letting people take his life so that we could have our life forever. In the death of Jesus, we see Jesus taking all the punishment that our sins deserved, so that we wouldn’t be punished for the things we had done. In the cross, we see the triumph of Jesus over and against all our enemies. There at the cross and in his death, Jesus delivered a death blow to our enemy, the devil.

There in his death, we find our life and resurrection. There in his weakest moments, we find our salvation. To the world, our Savior Jesus seems like a bloody fool. But to us, he is our Savior and our God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for helping me to see you as you really are. You are not weak, you are mighty to save. You are not foolish, you are wise to win me for heaven. Grant me faith to believe you even when the world says I’m crazy and foolish for doing it. Amen.

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So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Romans 7:21-25

Rebel #1 – The Enemy

Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? Do you ever feel like you don’t fit in?

It’s supposed to be that way for us in this world. The Bible calls us aliens and strangers in this world. We’re supposed to be different. While our friends go one direction pursuing sin and priorities that are not God’s, we go against the stream pursuing that for which Jesus took hold of us. We don’t belong in this world. Heaven is our destiny; that is where we belong. Not only that, but we have a different God, a different guide, and we fight a different war than everyone else in this world.

This month’s devotions consider what it means and looks like to be rebels as followers of Jesus. This week we look at our enemy. Immediately, we think of the devil who like a prowling lion creeps in the tall grass looking to devour us. We also think quickly of the temptations that the world dangles in front of us.

Those are certainly our enemies, but sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Paul knew it was true: “Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” There was a war inside of him. It made him a prisoner to sin. Previously in Romans 7, Paul expresses a deep frustration because he isn’t doing and can’t do what he knows he should.

You’ll find the same thing as you look at your heart and life. You know the good that you should be doing, but you don’t do it. Sometimes you intentionally plan to do that thing you shouldn’t do. Other times, you fall into sin and feel helpless against it.

Paul is teaching us a powerful and important truth about ourselves: We’re worse than we thought. There isn’t a spark of goodness in us. We can’t just get over our sin by trying hard and doing the right things. It’s not in us. What a bunch of wretches we are!

Our only hope is that we are more loved than we would even dare imagine. Our God has delivered us from sin and death. Our God has even rescued us from this wicked, sinful nature in us. He has drowned it to death in our baptisms. He has given us complete victory in our Savior Jesus and set us free to live for him. He does it daily for us as we confess our sins and hear his forgiveness. He does it daily in the waters of our baptisms.

The truth is you don’t belong to sin anymore; you belong to your God. He redeemed you by his Son and gives you the victory through his Son, Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I am so frustrated by the sins I commit. I don’t want to do them. Sometimes I do them on purpose. Sometimes I do them without even thinking about it. Forgive me for them all and set me free by your blood to live for you. I belong to you. Help me to live for you. Amen.

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“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41

The power of habit: Know your weakness

No one gets married and thinks, “In ten years, I’ll be unhappy in this marriage and go looking for love somewhere else.” No one ever says to themselves, “I think I’ll be a drug addict or an alcoholic when I grow up.” No Christian ever confessed their faith thinking, “I won’t always believe this.”

Yet it happens every day. It even happens to pastors of churches and the most dedicated students of the Bible. They fall into sin and away from Jesus. What happens?

Peter never dreamt that he would be the one to deny Jesus. He actually took an oath, because he was so sure that he would never do it. But just hours later, he swore another oath saying that he didn’t even know who Jesus was.

What happened?

Jesus identifies it for us: “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” We have the heartfelt desire to remain faithful and steadfast. We have the sincere intention to stay true, faithful, and steadfast in our faith. Our spirit is certainly willing.

But our flesh is weak. Our nature has been weakened by sin and weakness. Ever since Adam and Eve, our nature has been tipped toward sin in the most despicable and vile ways. Even as Christians, our sinful nature is still a powerful force to be reckoned with.

Our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. Because of the weakness of our nature, we need spiritual disciplines to bolster and to hold us up. We need the power of God’s Word to correct, rebuke, encourage, and train us. We need to be people of prayer, constantly turning to our source of strength. We need close and trustworthy Christian friends around us to keep turning us back to the God of our salvation.

Because of our sinful weakness, it vital for us to keep active in God’s Word and prayer and to stay close to God’s people.

His Word, prayer, and his people are God’s gifts to keep us close to him all the days of our life and to call us back when we stumble and fall. Use them. They are God’s gifts to you.

Prayer: Lord God, I know my weakness more and more each day. Keep turning me back to you for strength and direction. You are my Savior. I need you. Please help. Amen.

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The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:16-18

The power of habit: Prayer

Why we don’t pray more? I can only speak for myself, but I sometimes don’t pray more because I think I can get more done if I actually “do” it than if I pray about it first. I think that my thinking, my working, my worrying, and my planning are more powerful than actually praying about it.

When I write it down it sounds pretty foolish, doesn’t it? But our lack of prayer says just that. Our lack of praying says to God that our activity and our working is more important than asking him to act and work and do.

James inspires us to believe that prayer is a powerful thing. He tells us that our prayers are powerful and effective. Our prayers matter. Our prayers change things. Our prayers make a difference.

If you believed that something was powerful, would you do it? Of course. If you thought something would make all the difference in the world, you would make sure it happened. If you thought something mattered, you would make time for it, intentionally, purposefully, regularly. That’s what we do for things that make a difference and matter to us.

James gives an example of an effective prayer. He reminds us of the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17 and 18. Elijah prayed that it would not rain—and it didn’t rain. God withheld rain for three and a half years because of Elijah’s prayer. Then Elijah prayed again that it would rain—and God sent rain.

Prayer works. Prayer matters. It is powerful and effective, not because of the person who is praying, but because the person praying invokes God’s powerful name and humbly relies on God’s gracious promises and saving will. The story of Elijah—and many other stories throughout the Bible—show us that this is true.

So pray. Make a habit of it. Your Father in heaven loves you. He has forgiven all your sins, and he now invites you to call on him in prayer. In his love for you, he hears your prayers and works powerfully for you and for the world.

Prayer: Lord God, you teach me that prayer is a powerful thing. In your grace, Father, you invite me to pray. Help me to understand how powerful prayer is so that I make it a part of the very fiber of my life. Yes, Lord Jesus, teach me to pray without stopping. Amen.

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Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew‬ ‭6:19-21

Tough conversations about stuff

This morning as I scrolled through my Facebook memories, I caught a project from about a year ago. I was laying some flooring in the first floor of our Texas home and also painting the exterior. I was trying to make that house our home. But that was a year ago. Today, my family and I live in Milwaukee. Someone else is living in what used to be our freshly painted, newly floored, clean and pristine house. We’re living in a house which meets our needs well but needs some maintenance and work.

Things in this life are temporary and fleeting. We live in a house for a while, maybe even for a long time. But the house wears out and needs to be updated and repaired. Or we move to a new house, maybe into a new city, a new state, and a new school. Things in this life constantly fall apart. We buy a new pair of shoes, and in just weeks they’re already creased and wearing out. Our favorite pair of jeans becomes thin and worn.

Everything in this life is temporary. Yet, these are the things that we chase. We’ve got to have the right shoes, the right jeans, the right clothes. We want just the right house in just the right neighborhood where we drive just the right car. We work extra hours to have a little extra spending money. Then it disappears and wears out. It’s here today and tomorrow it’s gone.

That’s not even the most dangerous part. Jesus points it out to us: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” If our hearts treasure the stuff of this world—which can make life comfortable and enjoyable—then we will go the way of our treasures. Away. Worn out. Tossed out and away from God.

That is why we must have this tough conversation. In some ways, it is none of my business what you do with your money and what kinds of things you enjoy, especially if it isn’t forbidden by God. But I am concerned for your heart and for your eternity. That’s why I have to warn you. If your treasure is your stuff, then you will go the way of your treasures.

But when Jesus is your treasure, you have everything. You have forgiveness, life, and eternity. You have a Father in heaven who loves to give all these things to those who seek first his kingdom and a Spirit who loves to dwell in your heart to give you contentment and joy whatever the circumstances of your life. When you have Jesus, you have everything. He isn’t ever going to go away. He won’t ever wear out or fade away. He will remain for you and with you forever.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are everything to me. You are my life, my righteousness, my redemption. You are my eternity. Help me to set my heart on you and treasure you above all things. Amen.

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Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 42:5

Tough conversations about depression

Your body aches, your energy runs low, and all you can think about is how much you would love to just stop to rest. You keep running toward the finish line, but it seems as if the longer you run the more distant the finish line is. No matter how hard you keep pounding the pavement, the end never comes. You tell yourself “Just one more step, just one more step.” Eventually, you collapse. Out of energy and in pain, you wonder if it will ever end.

Does this sound like everyday life for you?

Depression is a reality that can hound and chase us every day. It seems as if everyone else has their lives put together. But for you, each day is a struggle. The loneliness, the guilt that haunts us, the fear of what’s going to come next, or simply not even having drive to get moving in the morning, depression cripples everyday life. This describes the life of many people, maybe even your life.

Depression has always been a very real thing for God’s people. In this psalm, the writer experiences a very real despair. He asks despairing questions: “Why are you downcast, O my soul?” and “Why have you forgotten me, God?”

What do I do with this depression? How do I go on from one day to the next? What does God say about all this?

The answer is found here in the psalm. “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” There is no magical cure to make the darkness go away, but there is a rock, a sure foundation to stand on when dark days come. It is our salvation and our God, Jesus Christ. Christ, your God, came down to be a man and suffer as you have, as your own brother. He took upon himself the guilt of the whole world. All your sins, every last one is nailed to his cross, and they cannot come back again. Now Jesus rules all things for your benefit.

Put your hope in God. He is your Savior. He is your brother. He is your God. He knows your struggle. He knew a despair that is greater than anything you have experienced. He knew what it was to be abandoned by God. This One is your Savior and your God. Put your hope in him. He is with you in the deep waters of your depression, and he won’t ever leave you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when depression comes and overwhelms me, lead me to put my hope in you. As the storms of life assail me, continue to be my rock and salvation. Turn my thoughts and my heart to you, so that I trust your promises. You are my Rock, my Salvation, and my God. Stay with me and help me. Amen.

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No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Bible doesn’t say: “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

When I was growing up my mom gave us a mantra to encourage us to keep going. She would say, “You can do it if you try, go Nate, go.” She’d sing it again and again. She wanted us to get it into our heads that we should persevere, that we should never give up, that we should push on and forward no matter how hard it got. That’s good advice. That’s even Scriptural. God’s Word would urge us to persevere and push forward in faith with the strength God provides, no matter how hard or bleak it seems.

As with anything good, sayings like this get perverted. This “You can do it, if you try” mantra turns into “you can do anything you set your mind to.” That, simply stated, is not true. There are certain things in life that we simply cannot do. Should we make a list? It isn’t hard.

There are things in this life that you just can’t handle. You can’t control the events of this world. You can’t even control some of the events of your own life. You couldn’t stop that tire from going flat. You couldn’t stop your mom or dad from getting sick. You couldn’t control whether you kept or lost that job. There are things in this life that you just can’t handle. It’s too much!

There are certainly things in the spiritual world that you can’t handle. That’s what Paul is getting at in the verse for this week. He’s talking about temptation that comes to all people; he even says, “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” That’s where people get the idea that God won’t give us more than we can handle.

That’s not exactly what Paul says. Notice carefully what he says, “When you are tempted, HE…” Paul isn’t saying that you’ll have the strength to escape this and the strength to handle it. Paul is saying that God does and God will. God will provide the strength. God will provide the escape. God will handle it.

In many cases, that is exactly God’s purpose. When temptation comes, God would have us fall to our knees unable to handle it and pray, “Lead me not into temptation.” When trial and hardship comes, God would have us fall to our knees unable to deal with it and pray, “Deliver me from evil.” God would have us turn to him for strength and help; he will give it!

Things will come into your life that are far more than you can handle. In your weakness find strength in your God who says to you, “My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). In this, learn to boast of your weakness against temptation. Learn to boast of your weakness when you suffer trial, insults, hardships, persecution, and all kinds of difficulties. Learn to say, “When I am weak, then in Christ I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

It may be more than you can handle, but it is never too much for your God to handle.

Prayer: Lord God, when hardship, trouble, and temptation enter my life, turn me to you. I am weak, but you are strong. I can’t handle it, but you can and in your love for me, you will handle it. Amen.

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Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5

The Bible doesn’t say: “Don’t judge others.”

Actually, the Bible does say it. You can read the words from Jesus’ lips right there. Jesus himself said, “Don’t judge or else you will be judged.”

We need to understand that Jesus is talking to us in these verses. He’s talking to us about our attitudes and our own sin. It’s probing and piercing when Jesus says, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye…” He’s right. You can’t possibly come to someone else in this life to point out their sin and help them out of it when you haven’t addressed your own sin first. Jesus urges us to repent and ask for forgiveness and cleansing for our own sin.

This leads us to be honest with ourselves and with God about the sin in our own lives. It isn’t that Jesus forbids us from pointing out the sin of others. Jesus wants us to be honest with him and with ourselves before we do.

Honesty leads us to be humble and broken as we point out other people’s sin. It helps us see that we are no different from the people whom we want to call out for their sin. We are also under the threat of God’s judgement. Jesus wants us to “see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

In all of this, as you call people out for their sin, remember these two things. 1) God is ultimately the judge. You are not the judge; you are simply telling people carefully, clearly, and lovingly what God says in his Word. Let his Word speak to these dear people. Let God be the judge. 2) Remember your goal. Your goal is not to get people to change their ways. Your goal in pointing out sin is to lead people to repentance and then to tell them the good news, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Learn from Jesus who, even though he could have tossed stones at a woman caught in adultery, said to her: “Woman, has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you. Go now, and leave your life of sin” (cf. John 8:10-11). He addressed her sin, most importantly forgave her and urged her to leave that life behind.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I don’t like it when people turn from you and live in sin. I want them to turn to you for repentance and faith. Give me honesty, humility, and deep love for them as I talk to them about the sin in their life and your never-ending forgiveness. Amen.

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He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things.
Romans 8:32

The Bible doesn’t say: ”God helps those who help themselves.”

This month we are going to look at sayings that people, even Christians, use which are not from the Bible. We want to be careful not to believe things that aren’t from the Bible. Sometimes these unbiblical sayings seem harmless. At other times, these sayings are downright harmful and dangerous to our faith. We are going to look at a few of the more dangerous ones.

This week we look at: ”God helps those who helps themselves.”

At first glance, it sounds pretty good, right? It seems to say that if we want to get anywhere in life, we have to help ourselves by doing some work. It seems to say that we have to work to accomplish anything or amount to something. That’s true. Even the Bible says: “If a person won’t work, he won’t eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). God does tell us to work with all our might in life.

But look again at that saying. We are not only being told to work or “help ourselves out in life.” It is telling us that if we help ourselves, God will help us. We are told that our actions push God into action. We are even left with the impression that if we don’t help ourselves, God won’t help us.

Here’s where the saying gets dangerous. It treats God like a vending machine. You get something out after you put something in. You have to do work, before God will do his.

Always trying to earn God’s help is a stressful way to live and the wrong way to believe.

It is a faithless way to live too—using our work to try to earn God’s favor. It leaves us relying on ourselves for earthly things—and heavenly things too—rather than relying on God’s grace.

Look what Paul says about why our God gives, about why our God helps. He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things. He tells us that God gave us his Son as the proof and the evidence that God will give us all things. He uses the word “graciously” because he wants us to know our salvation is God’s gracious and undeserved gift to us through his Son. He uses this word to teach us that God’s help in our lives comes without our work or our help. It’s all grace. It’s a gift. God helps us because he is good and he loves us.

So, yes, get to work. Plan for your future. Do what you are asked to do in your daily life.

AND, believe that God will help you both now and eternally purely because he is gracious. His love for you is the reason he helps. It has nothing to do with what you have or haven’t done. God helps simply because he loves you.

Prayer: Dear Lord, keep me from believing that my work earns your favor and your help. Keep me from relying on myself. Instead, teach me to trust your grace and your goodness to me. You promise to help me because you love me. In your name I pray, amen.

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When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, “Get up! The Lord has given the Midianite camp into your hands.”
Judges 7:15

Fear<less: Numbers don’t count.

Everyone loves underdog stories. We all want to see the scrappy team from the small town win the state championship. People love to root for the underdog. But nobody wants to be the underdog. When it gets down to it, we would definitely prefer to be the top dog with no one to challenge us.

Gideon didn’t want to be the underdog either. He was given the job of rescuing God’s people, the Israelites, from the invading Midianites. Israel was outnumbered badly. From a military point of view, their best course of action would be surrender and hope they were treated well as prisoners. Gideon knew that, but he still tried his best to muster the best fighting force he could, a little over 32,000 men. He was as ready as he could be to face the enemy. The opening whistle of the most important match in Gideon’s life was about to sound.

But God had a lesson to teach Gideon.

You see, God had already promised to save the Israelites and to help them defeat Midian. And God wanted them to trust his promise to the win that victory for them. So, what did God do? He commanded Gideon to dismiss almost his entire army. At the end of that day, Gideon was left with less than one percent of his original force, only 300 men! You can’t even fill a large gym with 300 men, but that was Israel’s entire army. This meager army was up against an enemy so large that you couldn’t even count their camels, let alone soldiers. Gideon was about to learn a lesson on trust.

Israel did win the battle that day. But they didn’t win because of numbers, or strategy, or ferocity. They won because God was on their side.

God wants us to know the same thing. God is on our side so power, might, wisdom, or numbers don’t matter. If God is for us, who can be against us? With our trust in God, we really have nothing to fear.

It is true that even Christians sometimes suffer during their lives. Does this mean they didn’t trust in God enough? Or maybe God doesn’t care about them? No.

We believe that God will protect us spiritually above all else. He has already won the greatest victory possible for us. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, he suffered for every person through all of time. Jesus death paid the price for our sins. The battles against sin, death, and the devil have all been won for us. “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32)

God may not help our team win every championship. In fact, we will face troubles in life, but that doesn’t really matter. What matters is that we can trust God’s promise that he has won the final victory for us and is waiting for us in heaven.

That inspires the same confidence in us as in Gideon to call out, “Get up! The Lord has given this into our hands!” If God is for us, who can be against us? He will for fight for us in life so that we might enjoy an eternity with him.

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank you for fighting the battles we couldn’t. Thank you for watching over us and protecting us. Help us to remember your promises and to always put our trust in you. Amen.

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Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds… Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the LORD for help.
Judges 6:2,6

Fear<less: Crying out

It was 3:00 A.M., and I was awake. It was not by choice. I would have loved to have a peaceful night of rest, but not that night. When I was a child, I would often have nightmares that would have leave me crying, “Mom!” in the middle of the night. And every time, as soon as I cried out, my mom was there. She would come and comfort me. Pretty soon I would forget the bad dream and fall sleep once again.

What fills you with fear? Is it the unknown, the dark, violence, secluded alleyways, or being alone? Do health problems, relationship problems, or family concerns cause you uncertainty?

We aren’t the only ones. The Israelites experienced fear as they lived a nightmare. Israel had done evil in the eyes of the LORD, so God sent the Midianites and Israel’s other neighbors to the east to oppress Israel. They came into Israel, destroyed all their crops, killed their livestock, and devastated the land. The Israelites were hungry and scared as they retreated to caves in the mountains.

But their story didn’t end with Israel cowering in fear and being conquered by Midian. Israel cried out to God, and he answered “‘I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear…'” (Judges 6:9). Then he got to work. He called Gideon to drive the Midianites out of Israel.

What do you do when trouble comes? Do you cry out? When personal sin, fear, and confusion strangle and push you down, where do you turn?

Remember, God is always listening for your cry. Seek him in his Word, then go to him in prayer. Cry out to him. Israel had strayed from the LORD, but he still was there, listening and ready for them the moment they cried out. Wherever you are or whatever you’re going through, God is listening. Whatever you fear or whatever paralyzes you, know that nothing is impossible for your God. He knows what you need even if fear paralyzes and numbs you, preventing you from getting the words out. (See Romans 8:26.) Turn to Jesus who is making a fear-free home in heaven for you.

I keep a Bible next to my bed. When fears come, I open that book and cry out to God. Sometimes my cry is just a single verse. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

Cry out. He’s listening.

Prayer: Dear God, whenever I am afraid, help me immediately cry out to you. You give me strength. Amen.

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