One key truth: We can always trust God’s loving plans for us.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:11-12

God’s Plans are Bigger and Better

What do you love? I suppose you might have a few things come to mind right away. Your family… Chick-Fil-A… Sour Patch candies… PS5 with the boys… hanging out with friends… that one show you can’t stop binge-watching… doomscrolling for hours on your phone.

Your answers would probably change drastically though if the question was slightly different: What does your sinful nature love? Those are things we aren’t so eager to share—things often so embarrassing and shameful that we would hate for anyone ever to know what we sinfully love deep down inside our hearts.

Such is the problem with our sinful nature. It wants to grab onto and love anything that is not God. In selfish love for “me,” my sinful nature wants to indulge in my wants, my greed, my lust, my desires, my anger. And then, my sinful nature will even take good things (like some of the things in the first paragraph) and turn them into “god things” as we obsess about them and make them more important than God. For example, how easy is it to spend an hour on TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Instagram, or gaming without even realizing it—but five minutes in God’s Word feels long? You might also think about how often a good thing—like your phone—leads you into sinful things.

The apostle Paul’s words at the end of his first letter to young pastor Timothy were important for him then, and they are important for us now! He reminds us that as God’s people, we should flee from all these things. Instead of wasting time on meaningless things or indulging in sinful things, we should instead “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.”

Easier said than done, right?

If we’re honest, some days it feels impossible. We know what God wants. We even want to do it. But then temptation shows up again.

Thankfully we have a Savior who came here to this world and did flee from all temptation and sin. Not only that, he crushed Satan on the cross as he took on himself our sins and paid for all that we have done. He wiped our slate clean and freed us from death and hell when he rose from the dead. He already won the victory for us!

So yes, it will be tough to battle our sinful nature. But when Paul tells us to “fight the good fight” and “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called,” we can be thankful that we aren’t doing it alone. Jesus who won the fight is with us every step of the way to give us strength to overcome, and Jesus who called us to heaven will walk with us to that eternal home.

Enjoy your good things. Have fun with friends and family. Waste an hour here or there on a video game. Devour a handful of Sour Patch while you watch videos of squirrels waterskiing. But as you enjoy what is good, be sure to love God the most. Because when God is first, all those other good gifts find their proper place. Pursuing him, his Word, and his ways will always lead to the greatest blessings and the most strength to fight the good fight of faith.

Prayer:

Lord, I confess that often my sinful heart wanders. It gravitates to things that don’t have much spiritual value, and it indulges in things that are sinful. Help me to fight the good fight of faith by pursuing righteous things. Guide me with your Word to see what those things are and strengthen me in your grace to live a life for you. Amen.

One key truth: Jesus gets all the glory.

Moses said to the Lord, “May the LORD, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.”

So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.
Numbers 27:15-19

The Gospel is the Only Way

Grant was really going through it. He couldn’t seem to get himself out of the funk that he was in. Everywhere he turned, everything he did—it all seemed like disappointment was following right behind him. He made the team, but he didn’t play very much. Others were much better. He was passing chemistry, but just barely. Others seemed to understand covalent bonds with ease. He had friends, but he never seemed to get invited to parties or hangouts and people rarely ever liked or commented on his Instagram posts.

Grant wanted so badly to accomplish cool things, to be appreciated and liked, and to be something special. Honestly, he felt invisible sometimes. But most of the time, Grant felt like he would never be enough.

Maybe you know that feeling too. You scroll through social media and everyone else seems happier, funnier, smarter, better looking, more athletic, or more popular. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to survive another week of school.

Many years ago, Moses was really going through it, too. He had such a difficult task in leading the stubborn, whiny, complaining Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land! He already didn’t think he was good enough to do it when God called him. But then there were so many of them—perhaps around two million people! And then they started complaining and rebelling! It was incredibly tiring and frustrating!

Imagine trying to lead a giant group project where literally nobody listens to you—and then multiply that by a million.

One time Moses disobeyed God and did a little of his own rebelling. Instead of speaking to a rock to make it bring forth water, he struck it with his staff. That may seem like no big deal, but Moses was being defiant. He was reacting in frustration and anger. He was taking matters into his own hands. He was doing things his own way, because God’s way didn’t seem to be going so well.

And honestly? We do the same thing.

When life gets frustrating, we stop trusting God and start trusting ourselves instead. We think: “I’ll handle this my way.”

Sadly, as a result, the consequence Moses received was that he would not be the one to lead the people into the Promised Land. That’s where Joshua enters the scene. He would be the Lord’s newly anointed one to lead them to the Promised Land. And here’s a fascinating note about that: Joshua’s name means The Lord is salvation and is also related to the name Jesus. Thus, God used this situation as a shadow for the future—for Jesus who is the ultimate anointed leader, the Savior who leads us to the promised land of heaven!

Moses had to learn a difficult lesson. When we try to achieve or accomplish things on our own it’s never going to end well. Putting this in Bible terms we might say that doing things by the law and by works will never accomplish anything. We need to rely on God’s grace and promises as revealed to us in the gospel and then follow God’s ways for our lives.

Grant needed to learn this lesson, too. Everything he was chasing for a sense of worth and value revolved around what he did or accomplished in high school. But that will never work for anyone. You will always fall short. You will never be good enough simply by what you do.

Your grades won’t save you. Your popularity won’t save you. Your followers won’t save you. Your talent won’t save you. Even being “better than other people” won’t save you.

Thankfully, Moses and Grant—and you and I—have a Savior who was enough. Jesus is the perfect Son of God who lived and died for us and rose triumphant from the dead so that we could be delivered to the promised land.

Because of Jesus, you do have worth and value. Not because of your achievements. Not because people notice you. Not because you never fail. You are enough!

So set aside all your empty works of the law and shallow things of this world and let your hope rest securely in the good news of the gospel. Jesus is your salvation and he will lead you to the promised land of heaven!

And unlike popularity, sports, grades, or social media—Jesus will never let you down.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, there are so many times that I put my focus on things that I do. Who I am, what I’ve accomplished, and what people think of me often become too important. Help me to remember that it’s not about what I’ve done but rather about what Jesus has done for me. Not to me, but only to you be the glory now and forever! Amen.

One key truth: We bear the name of Christ.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:16-20

A Name with Meaning

What’s your name? Or better question—what does your name mean? What comes to mind when people hear your name?

Maybe your name has a cool or sentimental meaning. Maybe your name has a meaning in a different language like Irene, Mira, or Amani—all of them mean “peace.” Maybe it was picked because it sounded strong, unique, or meaningful. Maybe you were named after someone important in your family. Or maybe your parents just thought, “Yep. That one sounds good.”

Whatever the reason, your name matters.

Your name is more than just what teachers call you during class. It’s tied to your identity and who you are. People connect your name with your personality, your reputation, the things you do, and what you’re known for. Some names instantly make you think of something:

• Taylor Swift = music
• Tom Brady = football
• Simone Biles = gymnastics

A name carries meaning. And if you’ve been baptized, there is one name that matters even more than the one on your birth certificate: Christian.

When you were baptized, you were marked with the sign of the cross and you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In that moment:

• the Father declared you to be his child,
• the Son’s work was applied to you, and
• the Spirit filled your heart to believe it all by faith.

You still have your own name. But now you carry another one too: Christian. And that name comes with everything Jesus has done. His reputation? Yours. His accomplishments? Yours. His victory over sin and death? Yours. His future? Yours.

Rejoice in the name that God has given, and then go out in joy and make disciples of all nations, that they might carry that name, too!

Prayer:

God, thank you for putting your triune name on me at my baptism. Now that I am a Christian, I am covered in the blood of Christ and his righteousness. Help me now live like Christ and glorify your name in all I do. Give me courage to share your saving name with others. Amen.

One key truth: The risen Jesus gives us strength as he carries us through suffering.

Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery trial that is happening among you to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead rejoice whenever you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. …
Therefore humble yourselves under God’s powerful hand so that he may lift you up at the appointed time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him by being firm in the faith. You know that the same kinds of sufferings are being laid on your brotherhood all over the world. After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:12-13; 5:6-11 EHV

Strength in Suffering

When life gets hard, it can hit harder than you expected. Maybe it’s stress. Maybe it’s drama with friends. Maybe it’s something at home no one else really sees. And when that happens, the questions show up fast. Why is this happening? Did God forget about me? Does he even care? Your heart is searching for something steady, something that will not move when everything else feels uncertain.

Those are real questions. Peter understood that kind of fear. He knew what it felt like to fail hard. He knew what it felt like to be afraid. He had denied Jesus—three times. At one of the worst moments of his life, Peter completely fell apart. But Jesus didn’t walk away from him. After rising from the dead, Jesus came back for Peter, forgave him, restored him, and gave him purpose again.

Peter never forgot that. So when Peter writes to Christians who are hurting, he’s not giving shallow advice. He knows what it feels like to be weak. He knows what fear feels like. And he knows what Jesus does with people who fall apart. He forgives and shows them mercy.

That’s why he urges you to place yourself under God’s mighty hand. In other words, to let God’s strength hold you when your own strength is gone. When your thoughts spiral, he tells you to throw your anxiety on him—not because your problems are small, but because his care for you is bigger. And how do you know he really cares? Look at Jesus. Jesus entered into suffering for you. He carried your sin. He took your guilt. He died your death. And then he rose again. That means your pain is never proof that God has left you. The cross proves he came near. The resurrection proves suffering does not get the final word.

That doesn’t mean suffering is easy. Peter says the devil is like a roaring lion—loud, threatening, and always looking for fear to feed on. He wants suffering to turn into doubt. He wants pain to make you think God is absent. He wants fear to pull your eyes off Jesus.

But Jesus has not lost sight of you. You are not the only one struggling. Christians all over the world carry pain, stress, fear, and pressure too. And they are being held by the same Savior who is holding you. You are not weak for struggling. You are not alone in it either.

Peter closes with words that steady your heart. The God of all grace will lift you up and make you firm again. He will strengthen your faith and steady your steps. Because your Savior lives, every trial rests within his care. His promise will not fail. He will carry you through and bring you safely into glory.

Prayer:

God of grace, keep me firm when trials come. Remind me that Christ lives and that his care holds me secure. Restore me when I stumble, and lead me until the day I share in his glory. Amen.

One key truth: The risen Jesus is the only way to eternal life with God.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel… There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:8,12 EHV

The Only Way

When Peter stood in front of the most powerful religious leaders in Jerusalem, he spoke with a courage that only the gospel can give. They wanted to know by what power a crippled man had been healed. Peter didn’t hesitate. He went straight at it: the man was healed by Jesus—the same Jesus they crucified and God raised from the dead. His words left no room for uncertainty. And then Peter said something that still makes people uncomfortable today: Jesus isn’t one option on a list—he’s the only way. Salvation is found in no one else.

That idea pushes against what we hear all the time. Our world loves options.

• “You do you.”
• “All paths lead to God.”
• “Just believe whatever feels right.”

Peter knew something we need to hear: If there were another way to be forgiven and saved, Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on a cross. If life could be earned or found apart from Christ, the Father would not have sent his Son to suffer and die. Peter spoke with such boldness because he knew that the death and resurrection of Jesus stand as the solid ground of every person’s salvation.

Jesus is not one choice among many. He was THE plan. THE Savior who carried your sin and took it to the cross. THE cornerstone. And the resurrection? That’s the proof it worked. Proof the work is finished, that forgiveness is real, and that heaven stands open to you.

The message Peter spoke opens the door of grace to the world—and you. God is holding the door open and calls the world to come in through Christ. Those who are weighed down find rest. Those who are guilty find pardon. Those who are dying find life that death cannot touch.

You belong to Jesus because he made you his own. His cross has taken away your guilt. His resurrection has opened the way to eternal life. So when doubt creeps in, when fear begins to pull at you, when everything feels confusing, come back to this: Jesus is your cornerstone. Salvation is found in Christ alone, and that salvation is already yours!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, keep me firm in the truth that you are the only Savior. Take away my doubt and pride, and give me confidence that in you alone I have forgiveness, life, and salvation. Amen.

One key truth: The risen Jesus walks with us to restore our hope.

Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him [Jesus]. Then he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us along the road and while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?” They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those who were with them assembled together. They were saying, “The Lord really has been raised! He has appeared to Simon.” They themselves described what had happened along the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
Luke 24:31-35 EHV

Hope Restored

It doesn’t take much for hope to fade. One bad grade. One awkward moment. One fight. One disappointment. You think something’s finally going to work out, and then it doesn’t. You study for days, but the test still goes wrong. You show up for practice, give it everything, and the team still loses. You try to make peace at home, but the arguments keep coming back. After a while, it’s easy to think: “Why even try?”

Two men once walked a dusty road feeling that same way. They were on their way to a town called Emmaus. Jesus had been crucified, and everything they believed about him seemed to fall apart. They thought the story was over. But now he was gone and so was their hope.

Then someone started walking with them. They didn’t realize it was Jesus. As they talked, he began to open the Scriptures, showing them how God’s plan always included his suffering and death. Step by step… verse by verse… something started to change inside them. The truth began to settle in. Their hearts warmed. Later that evening, when Jesus broke bread at the table, their eyes opened. It was him. Alive! Right in front of them!

That same joy and hope is meant for you, too. Jesus knows what it feels like when disappointment weighs on your heart. He knows what it’s like when the future looks like a wall you can’t get past. But his resurrection changes everything. He already carried your sin. The worst thing already happened—he already faced death and came out the other side. Because he lives, your story isn’t over.

Even when you can’t see it, hope still has a pulse. Jesus walks beside you when the path feels confusing. Through his Word, he keeps reminding you that every promise God made still stands.

The hope Jesus gives reaches right into your life. He knows your name, and he will never let you go. Even when you stumble or the path feels uncertain, he picks you up and stays with you.

So when your heart feels heavy, think about their words: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road?” Jesus is alive. He’s with you right now. And he won’t stop giving you hope.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for walking with me when hope fades. Open my eyes through your Word to see your promises and your presence. Fill my heart with the hope of your resurrection until the day I see you face to face. Amen.

One key truth: The risen Jesus takes us from death to life.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 EHV

What Happens After Death?

Stand in a cemetery for a while and you can feel the weight of silence. Rows of headstones stretch out in every direction, almost like they are all saying the same thing: “Death claims everyone.” That silence has a way of reminding us that life is fragile. It makes you think about questions people don’t always want to talk about: “What will happen to me? What happens to the people I love?”

Paul knew those questions. The Christians in Corinth had heard the gospel, but some of them still wrestled with doubts about the resurrection. “Could this really be true?” Paul takes them back to the simple, solid facts of Easter:

• Christ died for our sins.
• He was buried.
• He was raised on the third day.

These weren’t rumors or made-up stories. Hundreds of people saw Jesus alive. They talked with him. They ate with him. This is more than a legend whispered through generations. This is the heartbeat of the Christian faith.

And it is personal. Death doesn’t own you anymore. The punishment for sin has already fallen on Jesus. His death counted as your death. His resurrection means your life.

When God brought you into the waters of Baptism, he united you with this victory. You were connected to Jesus’ death—and also to his resurrection. Already now you live a new life that death cannot cancel.

Think about what that means when you grieve. Tears at a grave are real, but they are not hopeless tears. The living Christ promises to raise those who have fallen asleep in him.

Think about what that means when fear about your own death creeps in. Your future isn’t a big question mark. It is life with Christ, secured by the one who has already walked through death and destroyed its power.

Jesus lives! That is the song of Easter. It is the song Christians live by every day. It is the difference between fear and hope, between despair and confidence, between death and life.

Prayer:

Risen Savior, you broke the power of death and gave me life in you. Fix my heart on your resurrection so that when I face grief or fear, I trust your promise: because you live, I also will live. Amen.

One key truth: Everyone faces death because of sin. But because Jesus defeated death, those who trust in him will live forever.

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”
John 11:21-27 EHV

Exactly What I Need: Life

Martha. Yes—that Martha. The one from the famous bible story about Mary and Martha. The sisters who invited Jesus into their home. Martha was busy cooking and serving while Mary sat and listened to Jesus. Martha got frustrated that her sister wasn’t helping—and Jesus gently reminded her that listening to his Word mattered most (Luke 10:38-42).

But things are very different now. Martha’s brother Lazarus is dead. Before he died, he had been seriously sick. Martha believed Jesus was the Messiah. She knew Jesus could heal people. She even believed he had the power to stop death. So she sent word to Jesus to come quickly. But Jesus didn’t arrive in time.

Have you ever waited for help that didn’t come fast enough? Imagine how Martha felt. Now what? What would you say to Jesus if you were standing where Martha stood? Martha doesn’t explode in anger. She doesn’t accuse Jesus. Instead, she says something honest and full of faith: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Then she adds something amazing: “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Martha trusted Jesus—even in the middle of grief.

Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day.” In other words, Martha believed in heaven. She believed God would raise the dead one day. Her faith wasn’t shallow. She trusted God’s promises.

But Jesus wanted her to see something even bigger. Jesus said: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies.” Death is one of the scariest things people think about. Nobody likes talking about it. It feels unknown and out of our control. And the truth is: every person will face it someday.

But Jesus changes the whole story. Jesus came to defeat sin. He came to destroy death. How did he do it? By dying in our place on the cross… and then rising from the dead. Because Jesus lives, he makes this promise: “Whoever believes in me will live, even if he dies.” That means death is no longer the end for those who trust in Jesus.

For believers, death is not a dead end. It’s a doorway. It’s the moment when Jesus brings his people into eternal life with him. How can we be sure? Because the one who said, “I am the resurrection and the life”… proved it by rising from the grave himself.

And today he still asks the same question he asked Martha: “Do you believe this?”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. Thank you for conquering death and filling our hearts with hope that never fades. Strengthen our faith to trust your promises, so that even in the face of death, we rest in the life you give that never ends. Amen.

One key truth: Faith allows us to trust God’s incredible promises, giving us hope and confidence to live for him.

Now the Lord said to Abram, “Get out of your country and away from your relatives and from your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.
Genesis 12:1-4 EHV

Exactly What I Need: Faith

Have you ever trusted someone and then been disappointed? Maybe your parents said, “We’ll do it, trust us!” and then work got in the way. Or a friend said, “I’ve got your back,” and then pulled a prank on you in front of your classmates.

It stings, doesn’t it? Once someone breaks our trust, it can be hard to believe them—or anyone—again.

Now imagine God asking Abram (later Abraham) to do something even bigger. God said, “Leave your home, your family, and go to a land you’ve never seen. I’ll make you a great nation, and through you, I’ll bless the whole world.”

At this point, Abram had no children, was as old as your grandparents, and his wife couldn’t have kids. Still, he trusted God completely. He believed God’s promises, even though he couldn’t see how they would happen.

So Abram went. He obeyed and went where God led him. That’s faith.

Abram’s trust in God gave him confidence that God would keep every promise, including the greatest one: the coming of a Savior from his family—Jesus! As we go through life, we experience the same truth—God’s promises made to Abram are true for us: Our sins are forgiven, we have eternal life, and we belong to God’s family.

Once God makes a promise, he will never go back on it. Just like Abram, we trust God by faith, even when we can’t see how it all works out.

Prayer:

Lord, give us faith like Abram—faith that trusts your promises, even when we can’t see them yet. Keep our hearts steady and confident in your rock-solid promises. Amen.

One key truth: Jesus gives us glimpses of his glory now through his Word so we can trust him until we see his glory fully in heaven.

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1-9

Almost Heaven

One of the most famous karaoke songs of all time is John Denver’s “Country Roads.” The opening words are “Almost heaven.” When we hear that line, we know what he means—something so beautiful, peaceful, and breathtaking that it feels close to heaven, but isn’t quite there. It’s “almost heaven.”

The disciples experienced their own version of “almost heaven”—only theirs was far closer to the real thing. They saw Jesus shine with his own glorious light. For a moment, the curtain was pulled back, and they saw who Jesus really is—the Son of God.

That moment mattered more than they realized. Soon they would see Jesus bruised, beaten, and bloodied. When those dark days came, they could remember the mountain and remember his glory.

It’s easy to wish we could have been there with Peter, James, and John. If only we could see the glory with our own eyes, maybe faith would feel easier. Maybe hard days would feel less bleak. Would a sneak peek at “almost heaven” keep you going when times get hard?

Actually, we can! We see Jesus’ glory even more clearly than Peter, James, and John did. We see it in every page of God’s Word. We see Jesus’ glory when he willingly goes to the cross to pay for our sins. We see his glory when he rises from the dead and defeats death for us.

The disciples almost saw heaven for a moment. In Jesus, we see the promise of heaven itself. Someday, what we now see by faith, we will see face-to-face. How we look forward to that glory!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you showed your disciples your glory when they needed it most. Thank you for showing us your glory through your Word, your cross, and your resurrection. When life feels dark or confusing, help us listen to you and trust you. Keep us strong in faith until the day we see you face-to-face in heaven. Amen.

One key truth: Because of Jesus, your value isn’t based on how impressive you are, but on the fact that God chose you and calls you his own.

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Christian Self-Talk

It’s really easy to be hard on yourself—especially in your own head.

That voice in your mind (your self-talk) can be brutal. We set high expectations for ourselves—or feel them coming from parents, teachers, coaches, or friends—and then tear ourselves down when we don’t meet them. We want perfect grades, perfect performances, perfect bodies, perfect posts. Even the things we do for fun can start to feel like pressure.

And then there’s comparison. We scroll through social media and compare our normal, messy, everyday lives to someone else’s highlight reel. It can leave us staring in the mirror wondering, “Am I actually good enough?” Good enough for friends. Good enough for family. Good enough for God.

But when you read the Bible—especially 1 Corinthians 1:26–31—God’s voice sounds very different from our inner critic. God doesn’t pretend we’re perfect. He’s honest about sin and weakness. But he doesn’t stop there. He tells us who we are because of Jesus. And that changes everything.

Paul reminds us that most Christians weren’t considered impressive by the world. Not the smartest. Not the strongest. Not the most popular. And yet—God chose them anyway.

Do you ever feel foolish? God chose your foolishness.
Do you feel weak? God chose your weakness.
Do you feel ignored, invisible, or looked down on? God chose the lowly and despised.

Why? So no one could brag about themselves—only about God.

When God looks at you, he doesn’t see your worst moment, your biggest mistake, or your most embarrassing failure.

He sees Jesus.

That means your self-talk doesn’t get the final word. God does. And God says, “You are chosen. You are redeemed. You belong to me.” So when that voice in your head starts tearing you down, remember this: You don’t have to boast about yourself—but you can absolutely boast about the Lord.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my thoughts about myself can be harsh and unfair. Help me see myself the way you see me: forgiven, loved, and chosen. Don’t let my mistakes or insecurities define me. Let your grace define me instead. When I look in the mirror, remind me that I belong to you. Help me live confidently as your child and love others the way you love me. Amen.

One key truth: In Jesus, the infinite God entered finite human flesh, not to be fully understood by us, but to save us and be trusted by faith.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:6-15

Infinity Inside the Finite

Infinity is a concept that makes your head spin if you think about it for too long. It’s the idea of something that never, ever ends. How can something truly have no end? Your brain almost wants to quit trying. When you consider the scale of the universe and how unbelievably small we are, it already feels overwhelming to think about God’s creation. Now take it one step further: what if the universe doesn’t have an end at all?

Now think of that infinity that stretches our understanding, and try to imagine it fitting inside something else. That should be impossible, shouldn’t it? Infinite things don’t fit inside finite ones. The mere idea of it is so strange that we usually don’t even think about it.

Yet we read in Colossians, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” That means God, who is infinite and has no end, took on a real human body. Jesus is the infinite God who stepped into finite human flesh. He wasn’t half God and half human. Not a mixture. Not a brand-new kind of being. He is fully God and fully human at the same time. The infinite meeting the finite. God and Man together—Jesus.

How does it work? Honestly, we don’t know—and that’s okay. Thankfully, we don’t need to understand this great mystery in order to believe it. God doesn’t ask us to figure him out. He simply tells us who he is, and then he gives us the faith to trust what he says. If salvation were based on understanding, none of us would have a chance. But much like the person of Jesus himself, God’s salvation goes beyond what our minds can handle.

Most false teachings in this world are attempts at making God easier to explain. People want Jesus to be more understandable, his Word more comfortable, his teachings easier, and his commands less challenging. The Bible warns us about these “hollow and deceptive philosophies.” Sometimes it’s actually comforting not to understand everything—after all, if God were something a human mind could fully explain, he wouldn’t be much bigger than us.

The fullness of God lives in the man Jesus Christ. Does that boggle the mind? Good. God’s mind-boggling salvation is exactly what we need.

Prayer:

Eternal Lord, I praise you for the mysteries you reveal in your Word. Thank you for being bigger than my understanding. Thank you even more for giving me the faith to believe in you and your salvation. Amen.

One key truth: Keep your head and heart focused on Jesus, the Savior of all.

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-2,9-12

Be Wise

It’s one of the great mysteries of all time. Who were these wise men? Where exactly did they come from? How many exactly were there? And how exactly did they know what they were looking for?

Over the years many have had their guesses. Some have called them kings, though it seems most likely they were astrologers or wise advisors. The Bible tells us they came from the east, and the word origin of Magi might point us toward the area of Persia, where Babylon use to be. We know they brought three gifts, but we don’t know if there were only three of them. We don’t know much, but we do know this—they were in fact very wise!

These men seemed to have knowledge of the Scriptures, perhaps remnants left behind from the days of Daniel in Babylon and Persia. They were focused and dedicated—traveling 30-60 days through rough terrain, heat, deserts, and danger to get to Jerusalem. They were bold and courageous, unfazed by wicked King Herod who wanted to kill the infant Jesus. But wisest of all, they recognized who this young child was—the promised Messiah and Savior of all.

We know this by their reaction. As soon as they saw him, they bowed down and worshiped a toddler—imagine doing that! Their three gifts revealed their faith:

• Gold—a gift fit for a king.
• Frankincense—a gift fit for a priest who would offer prayers and sacrifices.
• Myrrh—a gift fit for anointing the body of one who would die.

These symbolic gifts reveal just how wise these Magi were!

Let their story cause us to reflect:

• They traveled over 600 miles to worship Jesus. How many of us struggle to make it six minutes to get to church on Sunday?
• They were bold and courageous—they fixed their eyes on Jesus despite Herod’s hateful persecution. How many of us shrink back in fear when someone simply asks what we believe?
• They were excited to worship and give Jesus their best. How many of us complain when we “have to” worship Jesus or give offerings to him?

Let the Magi inspire us! Be wise like there were—fixing our eyes on Jesus, the promised Messiah and Savior of all. After all, that child they knelt before grew up to live perfectly, die sacrificially, and rise triumphantly for them and for you.

Be wise like the Magi. Fix your hearts and minds on the Christ Child!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you came to be the Savior of all nations. Thank you for the faith of the wise men who traveled from afar to see you at your birth. Thank you also for their example of courage and joy. Help me to be so wise that when I see clearly who you are and what you came to do, I will want to do nothing but worship and praise you. Amen.

One key truth: Jesus didn’t just come hear us— he came to be with us.

Therefore the LORD himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14

God With Us

Have you ever had a celebrity encounter? Maybe you went to a concert, saw your favorite player at a game, or even bumped into someone famous at Target. Those moments make people freak out a little: “Can you believe it?! I actually saw _______!” And of course, it’s mandatory to post it instantly so your friends don’t accuse you of making it up.

But let’s be honest, celebrity culture is kind of wild. These people may be talented or gifted, but they’re still people. Regular humans. Other than a cool photo and a story you tell a few times, meeting a celebrity doesn’t change much about your life.

But what about a celebrity encounter that actually changes everything? Not a king, not an athlete, not a musician—but God himself.

That’s exactly what Isaiah predicted. God’s people were going off the rails under King Ahaz, so God promised a sign they couldn’t miss: a virgin would give birth to a son. Something literally impossible. And the miracle wasn’t just the birth—it was who the child would be. God wasn’t sending a messenger or an angel. He was coming in person.

That’s what the name Immanuel means: God with us. Not far away. Not checking in occasionally. With us. Here. Human. Close.

Now that is a celebrity encounter worth talking about! God came to walk with his people, hurt with his people, and fight sin for his people. And even more, he came not just to be with us, but to be for us.

• His perfect life counts for us.
• His cross wipes out our sin.
• His empty tomb proves he wins.

Who needs a celebrity selfie when the God of the universe became human for you—and promises to return and bring you home?

Now that is something to look forward to.

Prayer:

Jesus, you took on real flesh and blood to live among us and live for us. You died for us and rose for us too. Help me to remember that just as you are the God who was with us, so you are with us now, and soon we will be with you in eternity forever. Trusting this good news I pray, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

One key truth: John the Baptist calls us to repent.

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 3:1-2

The Judge Is Coming

You can picture the scene, can’t you? A packed courtroom, everyone tense, the accused gripping the edge of their chair. A piece of paper is handed to the judge. He opens it slowly. He leans forward. The whole room freezes waiting for the verdict that could change someone’s life forever.

You’ve watched scenes like this in movies, shows, maybe even real news stories. Courtrooms feel serious because what happens there matters.

But what about the courtroom you can’t see yet?

Soon, Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, God Almighty and Judge of all, will return on the Last Day. Everyone will stand trial before him in his eternal courtroom. One verdict. One eternity. Either life with him in the joys of heaven—or banished apart from him in the fires of hell. Forever.

So how do you get people to take something that serious… seriously?

“In those days,” God sent John the Baptist to do just that. Everything about him communicated, “Wake up! This is serious.” He lived and preached in the desert. He ate locusts and wild honey. He wore clothing made of camel hair and a leather belt. He looked wild—and his message was even wilder: “Repent! The kingdom of heaven has come near!”

God used John to shake people awake, turn them away from sin and back to him. To prepare them for Jesus.

Now it’s our turn to listen.

John’s message isn’t just ancient history. Jesus came once, and he will come again. His “rough” message startles us to attention: This is serious. You and I will stand in Jesus’ courtroom.

But here’s the part that changes everything: Don’t be afraid! You already know the verdict. When Jesus came the first time, he declared, “It is finished.” He defeated sin, death, and Satan. Your sin is forgiven. Your guilt is gone. Your baptism stamped his victory onto you. The Judge himself pounded his gavel and took your punishment—so you could be justified—not guilty. Imagine that!

This Advent, listen closely to John the Baptist. His call to repent is still serious, but when you hear that message, lay your sin at the cross of Jesus and know that the final verdict has already been written in stone. When Jesus returns, he will declare you innocent and welcome you into life with him forever.

Prayer:

Lord God, help me truly hear John the Baptist’s message. Give me a heart that is quick to repent and quick to run to Jesus. Remind me every day that because of Jesus’ victory, my verdict is already “not guilty.” Fill me with confidence, joy, and hope as I wait for his return. With faith in your promises I pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Amen.