One truth shared: Christ’s love for us both motivates and equips our love for him and others.

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Selfless Love Marches Victorious Over Self-Glorification

“I love you” is a phrase said in a myriad of situations between many different individuals. It’s shared between spouses, family members, and friends. It’s said to express genuine affection.

“I love you” is also a phrase where the words uttered don’t match the actions carried out. In fact, love is endangered in a world that today is so dominated by anger and hate.

We have to admit that we too are guilty of this, aren’t we? “I love you” might be said over and over again with words. But what about our actions? Too often we fall far short of being motivated by love in how we interact with others.

The apostle Paul knew this. He knew that a lack of love was something that not only affects us each day of life, but also was threatening the well-being of an entire congregation near and dear to his heart—the one in Corinth.

So Paul, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes what has come to be known as “the great love chapter of the Bible.” He shares with his readers—then and now—exactly what love is and how it reveals itself in the lives of those who are in Christ Jesus.

We find an example of what true love really is in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. Notice how selfless he was in everything. Notice how he was resolute in his concern for others when things seemingly crumbled around him.

All for us. He did it all for us. And his resurrection? It’s proof that his sacrifice was more than sufficient to pay for our every unloving action and to assure us of our heavenly home built with God’s love for us.

So we learn this: Love is not all about us. It never has been. It never will be. Flee the temptation to become so caught up in self that you don’t reach out to those in need. Fight against focusing so much on “me, myself, and I” that there’s no room left to say and show “I love you” to others. All because of Jesus. All empowered by Jesus.

Prayer: Your love for me is selfless, timeless, and immense, O Lord. Thank you for everything, especially your Son, who is the personification of your love for me. Guide me in my life, heavenly Father. In this world of hatred, let me be a beacon of your love and an ambassador of your grace. Amen.

One truth shared: The truth of Easter opens our eyes, hearts, and lives to see the goodness of our God.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14

Sight Marches Victorious Over Blindness

The book of Revelation is often referred to as a picture book. It is a full color kaleidoscope of awesomeness that lets us see the majesty, power, and love of our God in a different way than we’re used to.

Revelation 5 is a great example of this explosion of brilliant sights and sounds the apostle John received as a glimpse of the heavenly splendor that awaits us all in eternity.

What he sees is mind-boggling enough—countless angels surrounding Christ’s throne of grace, all in service to him who is and who was and who is to come.

It’s what he hears that builds our excitement to the tipping point, though, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (v. 12). Imagine seeing this happen. Imagine hearing the roaring sound of it proclaimed—all at the same time—by countless angelic hosts.

Nothing in our reading today, though, is possible without the reality of Easter. If Good Friday is just the demise of a good man or the end of the road for someone hated by his detractors, then John’s revelation is not possible. In fact, if Christ is not risen from the dead, then there’s no reason to celebrate at all. But what we see in this full color kaleidoscope of awesomeness is the result of the truth that Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed.

Look again to the picture painted for us in Revelation 5 and listen again to what is spoken by the angels, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (vs. 13). We who are spiritually blind by both nature and nurture can still—by our God’s grace and our Savior’ love—clearly see that Jesus alone is worthy of our love and adoration.

While we walk through this life by faith and not by sight, the majesty of what we see in God’s Word and through eyes of faith amazes us. That’s because Easter truth is our reality today. That’s because Easter truth is our reality for all eternity in the One we worship and adore.

Prayer: Lord God, we deserve nothing from you except for pain and punishment. And yet you love us. Fill us with this love today and always that we might join together to praise and worship your Son above all else. Amen.

One truth shared: Easter causes us to confidently, continually proclaim—Christ is risen! He is risen indeed.

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:51-57

Life Marches Victorious Over Death

Death had its moment in the Garden. Even though Satan tried to convince Eve “You will not surely die” if she would just take hold of the fruit and eat it, death became a reality for the world’s first couple—and every person and couple after them—because sin had entered the world.

Death had its moment for the children of Israel. God gave them a new land with everything needed to not only survive, but also thrive. But they were scared—intimidated by the people of Canaan. So God had them wander—wandering for 40 years until the desert floor God confined them to was littered with their lifeless bodies.

Death had its moment on Calvary. Christ, the Son of the Almighty, had been brutalized, beaten, and crucified—hanging there until his heart stopped beating and his lifeless body was taken down to be buried in a tomb.

Yes, death had its moment. But it didn’t last. And why? Because “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” The tomb couldn’t hold the triumphant Son of the Most High. He had paid the price. He had won the battle for our souls and the war for our salvation. Bursting forth from the tomb, we witness the Father’s stamp of approval on a mission perfectly completed.

In the resurrection, we see that life marches victorious over death. Death still has its moments, including the one you and I will eventually have with it. While it remains a reality for all who are born into this sinful world, it is not the end. It’s described by the apostle Paul as a “sleep.” People wake up from sleep. Sleep is welcomed. Sleep refreshes and prepares us for what is next.

And what is next for the believer in Jesus? An eternity with him in heaven. Paul adds, “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

We are victorious because Jesus was victorious. We have heaven because Jesus suffered hell. Our sins are washed away because Jesus took them on himself to the cross. Death had its moment. But we have eternity because Christ conquered death and has given us the victory in him alone!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you conquered death that first Easter Sunday and burst forth from the tomb. Fill my heart with Easter joy, reminding me daily that because you live, I also will live eternally with you in heaven. Amen.

One truth shared: Part of being human means facing rejection. It can be crushing. We see that is especially true for Jesus this Lenten season. The result for us is spectacular, God promises to never leave us or forsake us.

This is what the Lord says—
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Isaiah 43:16,18-19

Human Rejection Is Crushed by Divine Exaltation

We’d been friends ever since high school. We saw each other every day, got coffee every morning, and went to dinner at least once a week. Sometimes I would pay, and sometimes she would pay. I thought this would be a fantastic relationship, but I knew she didn’t really know how I felt. So, I made a plan. I went out and bought tickets to a show and asked if she would go. She seemed very excited until the moment I finished the question with “as my date.” There was an eternal two second pause before she said “…no.”

In my head, I saw this whole scene going very differently.

Rejection feels awful especially when you’re on the receiving end. Can you imagine when it happens to an entire nation? Today’s Word of God was to a nation who felt rejected by God. Israel was held in captivity twice. The first time was in Egypt—through no fault of their own. The second time was in Babylon as a result of their rejection of God.

God is no stranger to rejection. Think about Jesus on the cross. He cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” God turns his back on his loved Son when Jesus needed him most. As Jesus dies, we see all of God’s anger against us poured out on him. We see our best friend rejected for what we should have done.

Rejection hurts. God has a message for those who are hurting because of rejection. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Maybe that sounds “fluffy,” but it’s actually bigger than just “sorry you got rejected.” Or “God has something/someone better in store for you around the corner.” God doesn’t promise blue skies and flower-strewn pathways throughout life. He promises strength to get through your fragile moments. “He says, “I’m doing a new thing” for you. It’s a promise to never leave you or forsake you. And no matter who rejects us, he accepts us. He has chosen us. It’s iron-clad too! Just as Jesus was raised on the third day, you were raised with him through your baptism and marked as a child of God. Your identity as part of God’s family makes you incredibly valuable to him.

Jesus faced rejection in his life. So will you. Yes, it is painful, but God promises a way through it to something far better. “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13,14).

Prayer: Gracious and almighty Lord, you were rejected but became the cornerstone. Help me to build my life on you. When I face rejection, remind me of your grace and the calling you have given me. When I fall, forgive me because of your Son. Be my strength and my confidence. Amen.

One truth shared: Even when we lose our way because of temptation, God promises to provide a way out.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 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 10:12-13

False Security Is Crushed by Faithful Presence

It’s a commonly asked question: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” Why would God allow something bad to happen to us—his followers? When trouble or hardships come into our lives, we often find it easier to question or even blame God than to trust in him. And this is not unique to us, the Israelites did it too.

When the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, they grumbled and complained about food. God gave them food. They grumbled and complained about that food. They chose to ignore God’s way and faced severe consequences as a result. Read 1 Corinthians 10:1-13. Ask yourself, ”Why do people repeat the same mistake over and over?”

Maybe the question ought to be, “Why do I repeatedly make the same mistake over and over?” In some way and to varying degree, our lives imitate what others have gone through. People of all ages have grumbled and complained. You are not the first to face similar “pet sins” through life. They never seem to really go away. How easy to think, “I can conquer this sin, after all, didn’t God say I wouldn’t be tempted beyond what I can bear?” Later, I end up eating those words when I succumb to temptation.

Here’s the painful truth: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind.” What an ugly mess life becomes when the agenda for our lives gets disconnected from God’s agenda. Listen to God’s warning, “If you thnk you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

But here’s another truth: “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.” What way out is that? It’s the gospel message that Jesus was tempted in every way as we are. Where we failed, he succeeded. He made right all our wrongs.

God know the limits to your strength and power. Trust that in the moment of temptation, he will help you stand up under its weight so you don’t fall.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are times you allow hardships to be part of my life. Too often, I grumble or complain about them. When facing temptation, I give up too easily. Help me remember that Jesus is my way back to you. And in the moment of hardship and temptation, be faithful in your promise to help me bear it and overcome with your strength. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus understands how hard life is because he faced every temptation we have faced and more.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

Uncovered by the Spirit

The tall grass is a dangerous place. You are either going to encounter a wild Pokémon or be eaten by velociraptors. Unless you have your own Pokémon or a Remington bolt-action rifle, it’s safer not to wander.

“Oh, but where is your sense of adventure?!”

I think there is something to be said about the “sense of adventure” that is nearly ever present. It seems humans have always wanted to see who can go the farthest, or climb the highest, or build the biggest, or . . . this list could go on forever. Our society today has capitalized on it and now sells faux-experiences and urges us through media to take one more step in any area that Google’s personalized advertising says we should go.

“Gotta get the new iPhone.” “Oh, there’s a PS5 now?” “New line of clothing from who-and-such!” “I’m an Instagram travel influencer, and my life is so awesome! Leave a comment about where you love to travel!”—you get my point. We are told to be adventurous, and it urges our natural inclination to want new experiences as well.

God wants us to experience all that he has blessed us with in this world. He has given us so much. Yet, because we live in a fallen world, there is risk that accompanies it. With new experiences come new challenges, new temptations, new consequences. To misquote Uncle Ben, “With great [new experiences] comes great responsibility.”

God’s standard for everyone never changes. He says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). That applies even when you have never been tempted in a particular way before, such as: how to use your phone in an appropriate manner; respecting yourself, your significant other, and God with his gift of sexuality; not abusing the freedom your parents give you as you get older and spend more time away from the safety of your home.
However, if past performance is any indicator of future performance, we may not feel confident. We may start looking back on all the mistakes we have made and already feel defeated and like giving up. Maybe we even fall into the devil’s trap where we start thinking “If I can’t love ‘me,’ how can anyone else?”

Barring velociraptors, I can say that facing the consequences from mishandling new experiences is not pleasant. In fact, it can be downright devastating. But I must tell you, when God looks at you, he sees Jesus. Jesus has experienced every temptation we have, and he did not make any mistakes. And now he intercedes for us. When God starts going down the checklist of every requirement to enter heaven, Jesus shows his perfect record of obedience and credits it to us. Believe in what he has done. Cling to this faith and never let it go. Approach God with confidence, and he will be the source of your supply in every and any need.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for choosing to suffer and face temptation for my sake. When I am overwhelmed by Satan’s temptations and crushed by the weight of shame from sin, remind me that you have faced all trials without mistake and credit them to me, taking away all my guilt and shame. Keep me confident and strengthen me as I strive to live for your glory until I am called home to you. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus speaks clearly to his disciples and us and directs us toward radical love.

But to you who are listening I say, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
Luke 6:27-28,36

Uncovered Love

But Jesus, that’s not fair. It’s not just. It is just not right.

That’s the way it feels. If someone hurts us, that wrong must be righted. If an injustice occurs, there must be justice. If someone speaks evil about us, then we must speak up and speak out against them. At the very least, we should do nothing.

But Jesus goes beyond calling us to inaction here. He calls us to action. He calls us to loving action. He calls us to do good to those who may have done us harm. He calls us to pray for them, to intercede for them. He calls us bless them and to mean it when we do.

This kind of love to which Jesus calls us seems to be upside down. It’s the hardest kind of love.

Well, kind of. When we think this way, we are assuming that we deserve better from other people and better from God. We assume that we’ve never hated, that we’ve never cursed, that we’ve never mistreated. We’re thinking to ourselves that we have somehow deserved goodness and blessing.

Do you know what mercy is? It is to withhold the justice that is due. It is to not give what is deserved.

That’s what God has shown toward you. He has given you blessing and forgiveness, instead of eternal cursing and condemnation. He turns his face and his attention toward you instead of turning away from you in anger. He does not give you what you deserve—though he has every right to do it. Instead, he gives you everything—and I do mean everything—that you do not deserve.

Maybe you and that enemy of yours are not so different after all. Perhaps you and those who mistreat you are not so different after all. So, let’s do the weird thing (at least to the world), the radical thing, the God-thing. Let’s hear Jesus today and be merciful just like God has been merciful to us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you call me to a love that is like yours. That’s so hard. It’s hard to not want to give what is deserved to another. But that’s the way you loved me. You did not give me the justice I deserved. Teach me to be merciful, just like you are merciful. Amen.

One truth shared: These whom Jesus called to follow him were not the most likely agents of his mission, yet these were the ones whom he called. In this we see the method of Jesus: he doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies and equips the called.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Luke 5:10-11

Uncovered Agents

Strange, isn’t it, the ones whom Jesus calls to follow him? Even the location of the calling strikes us as odd. They were fishermen who had been up all night fishing a lake and didn’t have a single fish. This was their calling and their living.

These guys had no education, not formal rabbi training anyway. They didn’t come from the local Jewish Seminary. In fact, later, people were amazed at these guys because they were unschooled, ordinary men (cf. Acts 4:13). There was nothing special about them.

But these were the ones whom Jesus called to follow him, to learn from him, and to carry the gospel out into the world after him.

Strange, isn’t it? Jesus also calls you. You…

Let that sink in for a moment.

Sinful you? With all that you’ve done against him, he has still called you.

Timid-and-afraid you? With all your frailties and weaknesses, he has called you.

Unlearned-and-without-all-the-answers you? He has called you.

Jesus doesn’t need perfect people to tell other people about him. He forgives us and then he sends us. He doesn’t need us to get rid of our weaknesses. His gospel is powerful and matters more than any presentation style. He doesn’t need you to know all the answers and be eloquent with words. He promises to give you the Holy Spirit to give you words to say.

Awesome, isn’t it! Jesus has called you. First, he called you to faith. Now, he calls you to tell others about him. Jesus has called you.

Who will you tell about him today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, it is amazing that you have called me—sinful, weak, and uneducated me. It proves your power and grace! Use me in any way that you choose so that more and more people might know you and believe in you. Amen.

One truth shared: When Jesus went out to preach, what could he expect? When we go out with the gospel, what can we expect? Though we pray for gospel success and hearing, the rule is more often rejection.

All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 4:28-30

Uncovered Rule

I hate to break it to you, but following Jesus isn’t the easier way. Not everyone will be happy to hear what you tell them about God and his Word. Not everything in life smooths out and gets easier when you believe in Jesus. Your family life won’t suddenly be better. Your struggle with a temptation won’t miraculously go away.

The life of Jesus makes this clear to us. In one of his first appearances as a preacher, Jesus is rejected by his own hometown. They wanted to throw him off a cliff! Jesus started out another day feeding over 15,000 people, and the next day he wasn’t sure if his own disciples were going to stick with him. Remember how his ministry ended? At the cross.

If the life of your Savior wasn’t easy, you can be sure yours won’t be either. You will try to share your faith, and people will push back against it even though it is the truth. The devil will make it difficult for you to follow Jesus. In fact, Satan will do whatever he can, not just to make your life difficult but to turn you against Jesus too. That is his goal and his purpose.

Following Jesus is not the easier way, but it is the better way. It is better because Jesus has already carried your punishment and your sorrows. It is better because you can trust that Jesus is the King who is ruling over your whole life, and he is good. It is better because he promises to always be with you and to ensure that you are never alone. It is better for 1,001 reasons more.

Following Jesus is not the easier way, but it is the better way. Stay close to him and you will not lose.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, when the road behind you is scattered with difficulties and hardships, stay close to me and support me. When people don’t hear me when I share the truth about you, assure me how true your Word is. Do not let anything turn me from you no matter how the road of faith may be. Amen.

One truth shared: God identified that there was something special about David, some hidden potential. What was it? His anointing, like ours, purifies us and sets us on our course for greatness in God’s kingdom.

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

Uncovered Life Potential

What was it about David? What was it that was going on his heart that led God to choose him?

Maybe it was his bravery and courage. God knew about the bravery and courage that David would show in the face of Goliath. Maybe it was that.

Maybe it was his humility. God knew that David would humble himself beneath an evil king who constantly tried to kill him. Maybe it was humility.

But what if God saw the sin that David would eventually commit and the harm he would cause? God certainly saw the way that David was bent toward sexual sin. God certainly saw the way that David was prone to his own fits of anger. God knew David was proud in the depths of his heart.

God saw it all, both the good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. And this is the one whom he anointed to be the very next king.

Sometimes people say that God sees our potential more clearly than we do. Those people aren’t wrong. God has a plan for our lives, a plan to save us and a plan to use it.

But that’s not why God chooses us and anoints us. He chose and anointed Jesus for us because he is merciful and gracious. Then, he anoints us with water and the word in Baptism to cleanse our hearts and to make us his. Through Baptism he sets us on a course to carry out his plan in and through our lives.

Just as God chose David despite his sinful heart, so God has chosen and anointed you through Baptism. He has given you a clean heart and a powerful purpose.

Now, step into that purpose and serve him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see the purpose for which you have anointed me. You didn’t look at what I was capable of, but instead cleansed me and gave me power from your Spirit. Use me this year for your glory and good. Amen.

One truth shared: This lowly child is no lowly king. The warrior’s boot will be burned. The yoke will be broken. And he will sit on his throne bringing peace. This is what happens when he comes.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:4-6

Peace

Almost every time that we imagine the Christmas scene and draw pictures of it, the scene seems so peaceful. We picture angels standing guard and their chorus singing outside. We imagine Mary and Joseph gently holding the baby Jesus and gazing adoringly into his eyes. The wise men and the shepherds are there too, but it is still a peaceful thing. It is gentle. Serene. Peaceful.

But that is not the picture that Isaiah paints for us. He pictures something violent happening when Jesus comes. He pictures a yoke that burdens people getting crushed over a warrior’s knee, absolutely breaking it to smithereens. He pictures the boots and the bloodied garments of the warrior being used as fuel for the fire. Why? Because a son is born to us.

It’s not the picture of Christmas that we normally have. We don’t picture a shattered yoke or a bloodied garment in the fire.

When Jesus was born and entered this world, the angels rejoiced but Satan surely cursed. He hated this idea that the Messiah had come to save. In that moment, he surely rounded up his demonic hordes to do their worst against this Anointed One of God. This was war!

Jesus grew and rose to meet them in battle. And this is what he did. He took the yoke of sin and guilt and shame that was on our shoulders, and he shattered it. He broke it into slivers and used it as kindling for the fire. He strode into battle—a conquering King—and bloodied his garments in the war against our enemies, absolutely decimating them.

The war is won! The yoke of our sin is shattered. Their garments are fuel for the fire. And so, we have peace! Peace with God. Peace for eternity. Sins forgiven. Heaven won.

Enjoy the victory and live in the peace that he has won for you.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for this vision of your coming through Isaiah. It shows me again how complete the victory that you won for me is. Here you show me that you are, indeed, my conquering Hero. Amen.

One truth shared: There are times when it seems as if the enemies of God are getting away with it. There are times when the enemies of the Lord are our enemies too. When the Lord comes near, we will be vindicated, and his enemies will be thrown down.

Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, Daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. On that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:14-17

Defeat

Trauma and abuse can be absolutely debilitating. After it happens, many people lose purpose, hope, and a sense of safety.

A group of scientists once carried out a very sad and provocative experiment on dogs. They wanted to know how trauma impacted dogs. So, they planned and executed a scientific study. In the study, the first group of dogs were put in cages. Throughout the day, these cages were electrified repeatedly while the doors to the cages were locked. At first, the dogs tried to get out of the cages, but after a while these poor traumatized dogs just laid down and endured the painful shocks over and over again. Horrible, isn’t it? This was phase one of the study.

In phase two of the study, they opened the cage doors of the traumatized dogs and a second group of dogs who had not been previously shocked. Then, they shocked all of the dogs. The group of dogs who had never been shocked before simply walked right out of the electrified cages. But not the traumatized dogs. Even with their doors wide open, they just laid in their electrified cages. They had come to consider themselves as nothing more than victims, like sheep marked for slaughter. This was now their life. Horrible to think, isn’t it?

Is this really who we are? Are we just sheep marked for the slaughter? Is laying down the only thing we can do in the face of abuse and trauma we have experienced? Are we the sum total of what has happened to us?

That’s not what our God says about us. That is not at all what our God has done for us. Our God is a Mighty Warrior who saves and turns back those who want to and even do harm to us. Our God is a Mighty Warrior who takes great delight in us. The Lord is coming near this Christmas to be with us and defend us. He has taken upon himself our punishment. He has defeated our enemies! He promises to return someday and deliver us from those who harm us.

Don’t be afraid and don’t hang your head in defeat! We are not traumatized dogs; we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us” and “nothing can separate us from his love” (cf. Romans 8:35-39).

Prayer: O Mighty Warrior, when I lay down because I feel that there is nothing else I can do, strengthen me by your Spirit. I am not a traumatized dog. I am not a victim. I am more than a conqueror. I am your child. So, strengthen me for this life. Amen.

One truth shared: There is a series of emotions that fill us when we think about the coming of Jesus. Fear. Anxiety. Perhaps even terror. One thing is sure. We are safe at the coming of Jesus.

“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.” “In those days and at that time I will make a Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD our righteous Savior.’”
Jeremiah 33:14-16

Safe

I’m not sure what I would do if some celebrity walked into my office. It’s never happened to me so I’m not so sure what I would do, but I can imagine some of the emotions. There would be a certain “wow” factor. I might want to snap a picture with them and may even getting an autograph. I also think that it’s entirely possible that I would be so overwhelmed that I’d avoid eye-contact and wouldn’t have anything to say. Meeting a celebrity would be awesome and even terrifying all at the same time.

Those are some of the same emotions that I have when I think about the coming of Jesus. What are yours? Before you read on, take a moment, and reflect on the question: How would I feel if I met someone famous and important?

I think about how he came in the manger, about how he was born into this world, and I want to run up to him and peer into the manger. I think about how he marched into Jerusalem on a donkey, and I want to join the parade. It would be just awesome to meet Jesus and hang out with him, wouldn’t it?

I also think about how he described his coming at the end of the world—that scares me. His coming to judge. His coming to separate the sheep from the goats. His coming to send some to hell and others to heaven. This should scare and frighten us.

When Jeremiah talks about the coming Jesus, he doesn’t paint a picture for us to make us afraid. He pictures for us a tree growing in the middle of a field with sprawling branches. He pictures a place for us there under those branches for safely resting, a place for us to chill in his shade.

Jesus is for us a tree with sprawling branches. We can rest under his protection. We can chill under his forgiveness. Even now, we can put our feet up under this tree and rest in his protection and peace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, at times your coming makes me afraid. I imagine judgment day and I know my sins; that day scares me because of my sin. But I know and believe that you have taken my sins away. I am safe from your judgment. I am safe in your care until your return. Keep me until that awesome day when you will gather me home. Amen.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:10-14

Our Glory Days

A dad takes a trip down memory lane with his son. They climb up the stairs to the attic, where the dad then opens a giant box full of memorabilia from his “glory days” as a high school quarterback. The son’s jaw drops as he pages through newspaper clippings with his dad on the front page of the local paper.

“Dad, was that you?!?”

“Yes, it was!” the dad replies. He throws on his old letterman jacket to prove it, but it didn’t quite fit. The dad had put on a few since his high school years. This once varsity quarterback was now pushing papers at an accounting firm; and it showed. “Those were the days” the dad says as he holds a picture of his younger, slimmer self. “I’d relive these days in a heartbeat.”

Anyone who has played high school sports knows that feeling. If we could, we’d relive scoring that winning touchdown. Or sinking that buzzer-beater three-pointer. We’d relive receiving that glistening trophy and holding it high for the world to see.

Even if you don’t play high school sports, everybody has their “glory days” they wish they could revisit. We’d relive days when we were stronger and in better shape. We’d go back to when we were still with that certain someone—before the breakup. We’d go back to before we made those costly decisions, before we screwed up, before we made those mistakes, before our lives began their downward spiral.

But those “glory days” are inaccessibly buried in the past—regardless of how much we don’t want to let them go. The trophies may still be shining now, but eventually they’ll start to show their age. Our jerseys will one day no longer fit us. The lettermen jackets will eventually wear out and fall apart.

But high school trophies aren’t the only things broken, faded, and falling apart. Our lettermen jackets aren’t the only thing getting boxed up and buried.

We are too.

We can be as health conscious as we want and work out every day, but our mortality is thrown in our face every second of every day. And there is nothing we can do to change that. We can try all we want to immortalize ourselves in our victories, our accomplishments, and achievements; but we cannot undo death. We can wax nostalgic all we want and reminisce of “glory days” gone by; but our “glory days” and their trophies have little impact and significance on the problems we face today—death included.

Is that all Jesus’ resurrection is? A celebration of another empty “glory day”? Is Easter just a day we nostalgically celebrate once every spring, but, beyond that, it really has no lasting, significant importance?

Not in the slightest!

You see, the Bible isn’t a catalogue of wishful thinking. These things actually happened. That Jesus rose from the dead isn’t some fictitious event cooked up by Christians who couldn’t come to grips with dying. Christ has died. Christ is risen. And Christ will come again.

Jesus’ tomb is still empty—and it will stay empty. And because Jesus has risen from the dead, that means you will rise, too! That Jesus rose from the grave vindicates and validates everything he said and everything he did. He is who he says he is. He is your God. Your Redeemer. Your Rescuer. And by faith, his victory over sin, hell, and the grave is your victory.

While our glory days are still yet to come in heaven, as Christians, our glory days are now too! Even when we’re faced with hardship, we already hold a trophy that will never expire. Even when we are persecuted for our faith, we still possess an identity in Christ that will never tarnish, rust, or rot—that being the eternal identity of being a blood-bought, forgiven, redeemed child of God. Even when we are faced with death, not even death can rob us of the victory our Savior has won!

You are clothed with the letterman jacket of Jesus’ righteousness and perfection. You are forgiven! You belong to God. You are heaven-bound. Your Savior has laid claim on you!

So, as you fight for the next five yards, find comfort knowing Christ has already won the championship.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, fix our eyes ever firmly on you—especially in the face of hardship and adversity. Fill our hearts with the peace and joy of your resurrection. Move us to never cease celebrating the victory we have in you over sin, death, and the grave, and move us to share this joy with those around us. In your name we pray. Amen.

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6

God is a Finisher

It was sophomore year. The due date for our first semester biology project had finally arrived.

And my project wasn’t finished.

It’s not that I didn’t know about it, and it’s not that I had forgotten about it, either. In all honesty, I had simply procrastinated and punted that project to the last minute. And that left me scrambling those early morning hours on the day it was due—frantically trying to get it finished.

I just barely did—but, as you can imagine, my procrastination was seen all over the final product.

Love them or hate them, due dates and deadlines are a massive part of your high school career.

Maybe it’s that physical science presentation you’re giving next month; maybe it’s that American history paper that’s due next week; or maybe it’s those three chapters of that one book that literally need to be read by tomorrow (and you have to read them, because your AP English Literature teacher can tell if all you’ve read are the chapter summaries on BookRags, CliffsNotes, or SparkNotes).

You might not see it, but due dates and deadlines really are a good thing. They help us stay focused. They help us distribute our time effectively over multiple ongoing projects. They help us say no to distractions and keep us disciplined as we manage our time.

The thing is, we don’t always meet these due dates, do we? We turn in papers and projects late—and get penalized for it. Or maybe we meet our deadlines, but the product we present to our teachers is not exactly our best. We’ll cut corners. We’ll take shortcuts. We’ll settle for mediocrity instead of pursuing excellence. Sometimes it’s honestly because we’d rather scroll through TikTok or play PUBG. But a lot of the time, it’s because we struggle to focus. There’s stuff going on at home. You’re picked on at school. You’re grappling with some major questions about your identity or who you are. And when our head and heart are divided, even a small amount of incoming due dates and deadlines can feel debilitating. We can feel so overworked or overwhelmed, we’ll even give up on projects entirely.

Now put yourselves in God’s shoes. I mean, think about all the projects on his plate. Think of all the promises he’s made to you. He promises to provide for you richly and daily. He promises to put clothes on your back and food on the table. He promises to send his angels to guard you in all your ways. He promises he’s with you every second of every day. He promises to work all things—including the bad—for your eternal good. And God doesn’t just make these promises to you, but to every single one of his children. And yet, your God does not default on one of his promises.

The God who uniquely and wonderfully made you is the same God who uniquely and wonderfully saved you. At just the right time, God sent his Son. Your Savior Jesus, out of his amazing love for you, would perfectly carry out all his heavenly Father had given him to do. He would be perfect in our place, take our failure onto himself, die with it on a cross, and be buried with it in his death. And our failures and shortcomings stay buried—but our Savior Jesus did not! He lives! And because he lives, we, who cling to him in faith, will live too!

The faith your God worked in your heart through his Word is the same faith your God is committed to bringing to completion—that being the day you meet him face to face in heaven. Until that day, he is committed to strengthening and nurturing that faith through his means of grace because he’s not a God who fails to finish what he starts. He’s a God who gets his people home.

Take comfort knowing your God doesn’t sweat deadlines and due dates. Your God is a finisher.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you know we are constantly stressed by deadlines and due dates. When we feel overwhelmed and overworked, give us the peace that comes from your Son Jesus. Remind us that everything is going to be okay—because you, our loving Father, are in control. Remind us that, in Jesus, we have heaven as our home and you to thank for that! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.