No matter how great the danger you face, you have a squad that is more powerful.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:16-17

Meet the Squad

Having a good squad makes a difference between having dread and confidence when facing an enemy. In the pregame lobby of a game of COD or Fortnite, if your squad is stacked, you are confident about what is about to happen. Sometimes, however, you are in that pregame lobby with a squad that is mediocre at best. You definitely don’t have the same confidence going into that game. Maybe you even have a little dread knowing that you are probably going to be destroyed by a squad of squeaky 9-year-olds.

The real danger, real enemies, and real pain that you will face in life is far worse than being defeated in virtual warfare. The devil will tempt you to sin and pull you down into the pit of guilt. His demons are chomping at the bit to stir up hardship and pain in your life. The world will hate you and will love to see you fall. These are the enemies that surround you. Knowing what imminent danger you face fills you with dread of what the future holds.

When the servant of Elisha was feeling dread seeing the enemies that surrounded him, Elisha asked God to open his eyes so that he could see the squad. He saw the powerful armies of God between him and the enemy. We too have God’s fiery angels on our side. Do you see them? We see by faith and not by sight but that doesn’t mean we can only hope the angels are there. We know. The promises of God that we read in his word take our faith from hoping to knowing. And when you know who is on your side, you no longer have any fear facing the enemies.

So believe the promises of God and know you have God’s squad on your side. He will never leave you or forsake you. He works out all for your good. You are forgiven. No one can snatch you out of the hand of God. Heaven is your home.

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Open my eyes of faith. Give me confidence knowing that you are on my side. Stop the attacks of the devil, the world, and my sinful nature. Keep my eyes focused on the cross and the empty grave to know that the victory is mine. Amen

We have what we need to win the spiritual war against the devil.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:10-13

You are at War

Getting ready for an average day is a lot different than getting ready for war. Instead of jeans and a t-shirt, you put on body armor. Before walking out the door, instead of grabbing your sunglasses, air pods, and Stanley cup, you grab your pistol, rifle, and grenades. Instead of slipping into your Birks and throwing on a trucker hat, you strap up your boots and put on a helmet. Getting ready on an average Tuesday is a lot different than getting ready for war because you aren’t worried about facing an enemy that is trying to destroy you.

But maybe you should be. Paul says we are at war against the devil who is fighting day and night to drag your soul with him into the pits of hell. On top of that, this enemy is smarter, stronger, and more determined than you.

Have no fear. You have an ally in this war, the Almighty God. He gives you what you need in order to withstand the attacks of the devil. First, don’t forget to take God with you into battle. Like a lighthouse standing on a rock in the middle of a raging sea, God tells you to stand in his mighty power. When you do, the devil cannot overpower you. Second, God tells you to put on his armor that no attack of the devil can penetrate. Remember who you are, a baptized child of God. God has washed your sins away and covered you with Jesus. Read the Bible. Being in God’s Word every day is like being fully loaded with the best weapons.

You are at war. Everyday get ready for battle and you will win.

Prayer:
Almighty God, Be my strength and shield. Protect me from the attacks of the devil. Help me stand in you and put on your armor every day. Thank you for the victory I already have in Jesus. Amen

Jesus wants his followers to care more about what is on the inside rather than what is seen on the outside.

“What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

Mark 7:20-23

What’s on the Inside?

Two chicken tenders are placed in front of you. One is perfectly golden brown, covered in a crunchy flakey crust, and dusted precisely with flecks of seasoning. Not one crumb is out of place. You bite into it and the inside is made up of some kind of bland whitish meat. The other tender is not quite as pretty but inside of it is juicy delicious perfectly cooked chicken. Which tender is better?

Being the kind of follower Jesus wants us to be is like a good chicken tender. You can present your life as perfectly put together. You can wear your Sunday best when you go to church. Your hair can have just the right flow. You can be a part of the youth group. You can have parents that aren’t divorced. You can present yourself to look like the kind of Christian you find on Instagram. But, if your heart is full of lust and your eyes linger on things they shouldn’t. If you look down at someone who clearly doesn’t have it all together and gossip about that person. If you think your political party makes you better than that other person from the other party. If you are money hungry, a liar, or hateful, you may look the part but you aren’t the kind of follower Jesus wants.

Jesus wants followers who are good on the inside. He wants followers who wake up every day and humbly say, “God have mercy on me again today because I am a sinner.” Jesus wants followers who look at others with love knowing that they need Jesus just as much as you do. Jesus wants followers who love him more than money, are honest, defend those who are weak or struggling, and find joy in lifting others up. He wants your heart.

So which tender are you?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus. Change my heart. Make me clean. Help me be the follower you want me to be. I know you will. Amen.

There is only one path to heaven. There is only one salvation to be found. It is free from the Father through the working of his Son. Our daily consumption of the Word fills us with this spiritual wisdom.

“I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them. “The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.

It is written in the Prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
John 6:35, 45

Wisdom Gaining Food

A student goes to school to learn knowledge, facts and skills. While some of the things you learn will definitely be a benefit to you in your life, some of them you will never use again! What is the point in learning all this? It is frustrating to have to learn information that will be useless to you. But you learn it to pass the exam and be a more well-rounded individual. Sometimes you learn knowledge on your own that will benefit you through your own experiences, experiments, and endeavors.

But the fact of the matter is, if we want to gain spiritual knowledge, it’s not something that we can find on our own. We cannot seek and find the God of full and free salvation within ourselves, the world, or the wisdom of this world. Our flesh will claim it’s not foolish and the world will want us to think it wise, but we truly know better.

There is only one way to see and know the Bread of Life; within God’s Word. This is the one place where God has revealed his full plan of salvation for the world. It is abundantly clear that we need to learn of the Father’s love through the working of the Son and the Spirit which brings us to trust in this knowledge of salvation. This knowledge is freely handed to all, so all may know their Lord.
Our regular and consistent connection to the Scriptures will be our key to being fed with this spiritual, life-saving wisdom. If we cut ourselves off from that which feeds our faith, it will starve. Unfed faith can hold to Jesus for a bit, but not indefinitely.

Learn from Jesus, learn from the Word. Receive spiritual wisdom to eternal life.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, Bread of Life, so encourage our hearts to seek you fully for our spiritual life. May we never seek our salvation elsewhere. Amen.

There are many reasons to be afraid and confused in ministry. There are extreme highs and deep lows. If Jesus’ disciples struggle, then I should expect struggle. And yet, Jesus tells me I don’t have to fear. Why? Because he’s with me. I can take courage knowing him and experiencing his presence!

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

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Mark 6:45-56

Fear Not, For the Lord is With You

Put yourself in the shoes of Jesus’ disciples.
Mark 6 tells us of the whirlwind ministry tour the disciples were on with Jesus:

• Jesus sends them out 2 by 2 to tell others to turn back to God. He gives them power to drive out demons and heal sick people.
• John the Baptist was beheaded. No doubt the disciples find out about this, and it impacts them emotionally and spiritually.
• Jesus tries to take his disciples on a little retreat to get some rest and relaxation
• People follow them. Jesus shows compassion. The people are hungry. Jesus says “You feed them.” They bring Jesus what they have, and he feeds over 5,000 people.
• The disciples are amazed but confused. They have trouble trusting Jesus completely
• Jesus makes his disciples go ahead of him on a boat to the next ministry location. A storm surges on the sea. They are afraid. Jesus walks out on the water. They are more afraid.

Talk about a rollercoaster of highs and lows! The disciples now had first-hand experience of how ministry is not for the faint of heart. And yet, in the middle of the storm, in the middle of their fear and confusion, Jesus says to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” There may not be a better way to end a series of devotions on ministry than these words from Jesus.

If you take courage in yourself, you will be discouraged. If you hope in another person, you will be disillusioned. If you look to positive results in ministry to make you happy, you will be disheartened. To escape these feelings you may turn to distractions—money, alcohol, porn, drugs, or another self-medication.

There are many reasons to be afraid and confused in ministry. You are a sinner serving other sinners. And yet, you are a dearly loved child of God. Bought with the blood of Jesus. And he says to you, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” The one thing you can count on in a life of serving Jesus is his presence. And that’s enough to sustain you and encourage you.

He is humble and gentle at heart. In him you will find rest for you soul and courage to face your fears. And you’ll find the motivation to keep going. His grace, mercy and forgiveness are the fuel to your ministry-fire.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you have promised to never leave me or forsake me. You tell me to take courage and to not be afraid, for you are with me. I can trust you because you proved your love to me by living for me, dying the death I should have died and beating death by rising from the dead. Because of you I am a dearly loved child of God! Thank you! Embolden me to do meaningful ministry in your name. Let your grace, mercy and forgiveness fuel my life and ministry. In your name I pray. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus has a compassionate heart for me and for all people. In order for us to have a meaningful ministry, our hearts for people need to match our words to them. We tell them that Jesus loves them and saves them, and we let our hearts break for them, love them, and be compassionate towards them.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
Mark 6:30-34

Jesus Models a Compassionate Shepherd’s Heart

Has anyone ever said the right words to you, but their attitude and behavior didn’t match what they said?
“I’m sorry.”- And then they repeated the hurtful behavior.
“I promise.”- And then they quickly break their promise.
“You’re my friend.”- And then they hardly text you and seem to have excuses whenever you want to hang out.

Sometimes it’s possible in ministry and in life, to say the right words, but have the wrong attitude. We tell people Jesus loves them, but we don’t have compassion or patience for them.
People may not believe us. They see our lack of compassion and could question if God’s love, which we’re telling them about, is actually true.

Life is hard. Sin is real. People mess up. They do need the truth. But, they also need compassion. The way God designed our hearts is that they are transformed by grace, not by guilt. They are changed by love, not by lists of to-dos. They are softened by compassion, not by commands.

That’s how your heart was transformed. Jesus saw you as a sheep without a shepherd. His heart broke for you. He longed to bring you close to him to bring you care and healing. So much so that he broke himself on the cross and under God’s wrath. For you.

Jesus and his disciples once tried to go on a retreat to get some relaxation. Their vacation was cut short by needy people. Mark tells us in chapter six that Jesus had compassion on them because they looked like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

Want to make an impact in ministry and in someone else’s life? Yes, say the right words—talk about sin and grace, forgiveness and salvation. And…let your heart break for them. Remember how far Jesus has brought you from where you were. Show them the same compassion Jesus has shown you.

When your demeanor matches your words, the message will stick.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, you have a compassionate shepherd’s heart! Your heart breaks for me when I am hurting and when sin ravages my life. Give me that same compassion for other sinners. Let my words and my attitude towards people be the same—full of compassion. In your name we pray. Amen.

One truth shared: People won’t always respond with gratefulness and joy when we tell them about God’s words and promises. If we aim to please an audience of One (Jesus) we will be satisfied in simply bringing God glory and we won’t crave the approval of others. That means we can even face rejection from others when we share Jesus with them.

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’ And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.
Ezekiel 2:1-7

Not Glee and Gratitude, but Rejection and Resentment

For the next month, we will be talking about ministry. Serving God and other people. Especially with the gospel—the good news about Jesus’ love and forgiveness. What results should we expect when we do ministry in Jesus’ name?

We all expect to see positive results for our efforts. When we lift weights. We expect to gain muscle. If we study hard for a physics exam, we’re disappointed to get a D. Hard work at our job should mean an eventual pay raise, right?

When our efforts involve serving other people, can we expect positive results from them? Not always. The fact is you can’t control another person’s thoughts, behaviors, beliefs, or feelings.
The prophet Ezekiel got a lesson in this truth from God. God was sending him to His people, the Israelites. You couldn’t blame Ezekiel for expecting God’s people to express glee and gratitude after hearing from their God.

But Ezekiel couldn’t control how the Israelites would respond. In fact, God told him to expect rejection and resentment. Ouch! God also warned Ezekiel he might become afraid after hearing the Israelite’s threats and insults. Ezekiel would feel like he’s surrounded by thorny ground while scorpions chase after him. I wouldn’t call those positive results from other people!

Maybe you’ve experienced something similar. You’ve tried to tell someone about Jesus and they weren’t impressed. You took a leap of faith and spoke to a friend about how their current lifestyle wasn’t bringing God glory. And you got verbally blasted. It hurts like thorns. It stings like a scorpion. No one likes rejection and resentment. If we put our hope in other people’s approval and acceptance, we will constantly be disappointed.

So, what can you expect when you serve others, especially by pointing them to God’s words and promises? Go back to verse 5: And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. You can expect the best result of all. People hear from God. The same God who sent his Son to face the ultimate rejection in your place. And God is pleased. He is glorified. And you get to be a part of that! If we make our goal to please an audience of One (Jesus), we can’t go wrong, and we won’t be disappointed.

Prayer:Heavenly Father, we want to please an audience of One, and that is you! You understand us. You know that when we face rejection we feel hurt and deflated. Fill us with your love. Forgive us for the times we let our weakness get in the way of letting others hear from you. Give us the satisfaction that when we tell others about your Son, you are glorified! Amen.

One truth shared: Our gracious God is with us through all the storms of life.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41

Power and Perseverance Through the Storms

Have you experienced any storms recently? Not the kind with rain, thunder, lightning, and high winds, what about the “storms” of your life? You know… those life circumstances that bring challenges, hardship and pain. Things like handling difficult people at work, struggles with teachers and grades, a personal illness, or injury or that of a loved one, a personal but contentious relationship with a parent, friend, or boyfriend/girlfriend.

On top of the pain and hardship that storms bring, have you felt as if God doesn’t care? Almost as if God is unaware of what we’re going through or that he is sleeping on the job? Does your prayer-life reflect your frustration? “Wake up, God! I need your help!”

That’s how the disciples felt. In this case their storm was an actual weather event – a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and rain. In the middle of their storm they too felt pain and challenged. And all the while their friend Jesus was, in fact, literally sleeping in the back of the boat. So they, like we would, fired off their “prayer” to Jesus. “Jesus, are you aware that there is a storm going on? Don’t you care that we might drown?”

How did Jesus respond? Mark tells us that Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and waves, and it became completely calm. Amazing!

In these verses Jesus lets us know that having feelings of fear and doubt in the midst of our storms is due to a lack of faith. While fear, doubt and struggling in faith are natural for sinful human beings, they are not what God wants. By God’s Spirit, we can respond in faith knowing from God’s promises and our past experiences that God does indeed care and he is in control.

One last thing … Jesus reminds us of his amazing and unconditional love. He forgives us for our doubt and unbelief. He shows us that what may seem like him being uncaring, or even slumbering during our storms, is actually our gracious, all-powerful God in complete control.

Remember, Jesus is with you in the storm. He will give you the faith to face and persevere.

Prayer: Dear Savior, it’s natural for me to respond to life’s storms with fear. I know you want me to respond with faith. Take away my fears when the storms come. Remind me that you have power over all creation, that you care and that you are always with me. Amen.

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

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”
And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
    and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
    and you will eat dust
    all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”
Genesis 3:8:15

Victory over the Devil

Have you ever heard the story about New Coke? Back in the mid 1980’s Coca-Cola company, one of the most iconic brands in the world, was looking to improve quality and make a splash in the marketplace so they created a new product with a new taste and introduced New Coke. Unfortunately, New Coke was a disaster. Consumers did not take to the new product like Coca-Cola hoped. After incurring a $30 million debt from New Coke, Coca-Cola company eventually scrapped the new version.

As big of a disaster as New Coke was, it was nothing compared to the disaster of the Fall into sin. The devil convinced Adam and Eve that they needed to “improve” their quality of life and make a splash in their world, so they disobeyed God and introduced the ugliness of sin into humanity. The events that immediately followed the Fall are a sad reflection of the brokenness we all experience today in our relationship with God and with others – fear, guilt, shame, conflict, pain, separation, and hostility. This widespread brokenness can lead us to believe that the devil is winning. It can lead us to despair.

Like Coca-Cola, our perfect God could have scrapped the project called “humanity” after the Fall. But God so loved his creation, that includes you and me, that he instead promised a solution – a Savior. This Savior would rise from within humanity and erase mankind’s impossible debt to God. His death on the cross would be a temporary strike to his heel, but his death would fatally crush the devil’s head, and spell victory for humanity.

Sin and brokenness is real and painful. Don’t despair. Genesis 3:15 is God’s promise of victory.  Rejoice in Jesus’ victory that is also your victory! Live at peace with God knowing that his grace covers all your brokenness and that he has forgiven you of all of your sins. Be at peace with yourself. Live at peace with others knowing God’s grace covers their brokenness and sins too.

Prayer: Almighty and Merciful God, when I see the problems in our world and in my life it can really bring me down. It’s worse when I consider my own sinful part in those problems. Thank you for responding to all of this with grace and forgiveness. Thank you for giving me the victory over all of this through Jesus. Help me to live in that victory. Amen.

One truth shared: Through Jesus Christ we are brought into a unique and blessed relationship with the triune God.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory

Romans 8:12-17

Our Triune God Makes Us Blessed Members of His Family

How many of you have seen the musical/movie Annie? Annie is a little orphan girl, living in a pretty dumpy home run by a terrible lady who’s often drunk, and forced to do inappropriate labor. A rich man named Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks selects Annie to live at his home in order to promote his image and political career. For Annie, everything changed on that one day when she was rescued from the orphanage and brought into Daddy Warbuck’s home – her sense of family, self-worth, identity and purpose.

What’s true of Annie in that movie, is true for all believers in Christ – but in a much bigger and better way.

All people including you and me are by nature spiritual “orphans” in desperate need of rescue, without a father, with no direction or purpose in life, and no identity. Like Daddy Warbucks, God dramatically changed all that. In an amazing act of love, God sent his Son Jesus to die on a cross, and to rescue us and adopt us into his family.

What does life look like for believers restored to God’s family? Paul describes it as an incredible, beautiful life centered around a relationship with the triune God of the Bible – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

You can call God – the almighty, eternal, supreme God of the universe – your Father! You can call on him at any time, just as you would call on your earthly father, trusting that he hears you and treats you as his beloved child.

You have Jesus, the Son, as your brother. He did everything to secure God’s love and a place for you in God’s family. You are a fellow heir with him in all of God’s blessings including the gift of an eternal home in heaven.

You have the Holy Spirit, living inside of you, strengthening you in your walk of faith, testifying to the Father on your behalf, and giving you a spirit of peace, comfort and contentment.

Through Jesus you have so much more than Annie did. You have someone so much richer and powerful and caring than Daddy Warbucks – you have a heavenly Daddy. One who truly loves you. It’s no political move. It’s no stunt to promote His image. Your heavenly Father truly wants you in his family – and he planned out everything from eternity, and carried it out in time, through His Son Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for adopting me as a child into your family. Thank you for my Brother Jesus, who paid the price for my adoption. Thank you for the Holy Spirit who brought about my adoption and dwells inside of me so that I might live for you and serve you all my days.

One truth shared: The Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold witnesses for Jesus. 

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 51-60

Bold Witnessing

Paige did everything right. She was kind, gentle, and respectful at work. Her Jesus-light was definitely shining brightly for everyone to see. She built good relationships with her coworkers and listened to them as they talked about their personal problems and issues. Everyone seemed to like and trust Paige. Well, at least they used to.

One day Paige was on break with two other teens, talking and relaxing as they often did during those short breaks. The other two girls started talking about the drama in their lives with boys and how hurt they were by their last boyfriends who slept with them and then dumped them. Paige saw this as an opportunity. Using her kindest and most respectful tone she said, “You know I’m a little concerned about what you’re telling me. God intended sex to be for marriage, and I think some of your hurt and pain is coming from relationships based on the wrong thing. Maybe after work sometime, we could talk more. I really think Jesus could make a big difference in your life. I know he does for me!”

Paige had been wanting to witness to these coworkers for weeks. She knew they needed Jesus. She felt so good that she finally had the opportunity to say something privately, respectfully, and lovingly just as she had been taught. But as soon as the words left her lips, things turned bad real fast. Both girls gave Paige the “Who do you think you are?” speech, including making fun of her for being such a judgmental “Jesus-freak.” After an awkward moment, they walked out of the room, ignored her the rest of the week, and blocked her on all social media. How could this be? Didn’t Paige do everything right? She most certainly did, but sadly, there will be times when hardened unbelievers will refuse to listen.

Stephen experienced that. He was a servant in the early days of the Christian church, and he boldly witnessed to Jewish leaders about how they killed Jesus, the promised Messiah. They needed to hear about their sin, and they needed to hear about Jesus as their Savior. It was just what they needed to hear . . . but not what they wanted to hear. So not only did they get angry and refuse to listen, but they dragged Stephen outside and stoned him to death.

There will be times when you share your faith and see incredible blessings spring forth—friends will listen, a coworker will ask lots of questions, a teammate will come to church with you. Praise God for those blessings! But prepare yourself! There will also be times when stubborn, hardened hearts of unbelief will lead unbelievers to reject you (and ultimately God)—and sometimes in very harsh and hurtful ways.

But fear not! Just as Jesus gave Stephen courage and wisdom, he will do the same for you. The Father will work the situation for your good, as promised. Jesus will be with you, as promised. And the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and words, as promised. So witness boldly friends, and trust that our true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—will be with you and bless your work and witnessing!

Prayer: God, sometimes the thought of being a witness today is very scary. I know others, like Stephen, have suffered worse than I likely ever will. But the words and actions of others are still mean and hurtful. I don’t always know what to do or what to say. Give me words, give me wisdom, and give me courage to boldly share the message of salvation with everyone. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus wants us to stay connected to him as branches to the vine. 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

John 15:1-8

Dear Teen, Stay Connected

Something was off. Cody could tell that something wasn’t right, but he didn’t know what it was. School seemed to be going OK. His grades were fairly stable. There was no friend drama going on—at least at this time. He hadn’t fought with his parents in a while. He even had a somewhat tolerable job with some chill coworkers. So how could Cody have all these good things going and still not feel right?

It was hard for Cody to explain. He got decent grades and made good money at work, but he still felt like he had nothing. Even though things were good with friends and family, he still felt alone. Even though he had so much going for him and filling up his time, he still felt empty and hollow on the inside. He didn’t know what it was, but something was definitely off.

Then one day Cody discovered something. He was digging around in his closet for a pack of batteries for a remote control when he found something in the back corner of the closet. It was a picture frame. He pulled it out and blew off the dust. Suddenly he had his answer. He knew what was wrong.

Inside the picture frame was Cody’s baptism certificate from when he was little. For years it had hung on his wall as a reminder of that special moment when he was made a child of God. But when Cody redecorated his room, he put it off to the side so it wouldn’t break. It had been sitting there in his closet for over a year. Cody started to recognize that just as he had forgotten about this important reminder of the past, he had been forgetting about his relationship with Jesus.

Cody had so many things going on that he rarely found time to pray or read the Bible. He was so tired on the weekends that sleep became a priority over worship. His friends at school always wanted to do things so he rarely hung out with the teen group from church anymore. It was almost as if Cody’s faith life had been hiding in the closet with his baptism certificate. And that’s what was wrong.

Jesus reminds us today how important it is to stay connected to him. He is the vine, and we are the branches. When we are connected to him, we are fed and nourished with his love and forgiveness, his strength, and his comfort. When we are connected to him, Jesus says that we will bear much fruit. But apart from him, no matter how many good worldly things we have going on, we can do nothing.

Cody was reminded that he needed to strengthen his connection to Jesus, the vine. How about you? How strong is your connection? How much are you being fed? How much fruit are you bearing? Today might be a good day for you to do some reflection. Jesus, the vine, graciously wants to feed and nourish you as a branch that grows and bears much fruit. Take some time to think today about how you can better stay connected to Jesus. Think about some plans you can make to help you do that. Make it a priority. Then wait and watch how you will grow and flourish when you stay connected!

Prayer: Jesus, I am so thankful to be connected to you. You are my everything. But there are so many things in this world that want to cut me off from you. Feed me with your Word and sacraments. Strengthen my faith. Help me always remain connected to you. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus is the Savior of all people from all sins.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 1:5 – 2:2

A Savior for All

Trey and Tyler had become good friends over time. They had been working together, flipping fries side-by-side, for almost seven months. They usually were scheduled on the same days, and they had a lot of fun. They called it T² Tuesdays when they worked together on that day. Silly, but that’s the kind of fun they had. That is, until Tyler started acting funny.

Trey wasn’t sure what it was, but he could tell Tyler was off. His head and shoulders seemed to droop. He acted and talked like he was distracted. His big belly laughs became few and far between. After noticing this getting worse over a couple of shifts, Trey finally asked Tyler, “Hey, are you alright man? You seem like you’ve been off lately.”

Trey was shocked to see tears welling up in the eyes of Tyler, a normally fun-loving yet tough football player. What he didn’t know was that he was actually the first person to notice and say something to Tyler. Sputtering out words that he seemed to have been holding back for weeks, Tyler said, “Nah man. I’m not. I’m not good right now.”

In a vulnerable moment, Tyler went on to share that he had not been making many good choices lately. He got caught up in drinking and smoking with some friends, and then he got caught doing it, too. He was in big trouble with his parents. He was going to be suspended for the first two games of the next season. And worst of all, among all the people he let down, it hurt to know that he let himself down. Tyler didn’t know what to do or if he could ever forgive himself.

It was definitely a blessing from God that the two had developed a friendship over the last months, because Trey felt comfortable enough to tell Tyler exactly what he needed to hear. He shared some of the verses above from 1 John. Trey reminded Tyler that there is a lot of sinful darkness in the world, and that he too falls into sin. But then he reminded Tyler that Jesus came as the Light of the world to shine brightly in the darkness with his love and forgiveness. What a comfort to know that, “the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” The two were busy at work, so they didn’t have a lot of time to talk. But Trey could tell his words about Jesus and his forgiveness made Tyler feel a little better. He invited him to church to hear more about Jesus.

The joy of knowing that Jesus is alive and that we have peace is the greatest joy of all. What can be better than knowing that not only your worst sins, but all your sins, have been paid for by Jesus! Too few in this world don’t know that message. So be bold and courageous and shine brightly in this world. Let the world know that there is a Savior for our sins, “not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Prayer: Dear Lord, I’m so thankful that you came to save me from my many sins. You have rescued me from the darkness of death and hell. Help me to shine with the brightness of your light and love into this dark world. Use me to spread the good news that you are the Savior of all. Amen.

One truth shared: Jesus gives hope even amid suffering.

Oh, that my words were recorded,
that they were written on a scroll,
that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead,
or engraved in rock forever!
I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!
Job 19:23-27

Having everything when you have nothing

Has anyone ever suffered more? It would be hard for anyone to compare their pain or loss with Job. In one day Job lost all of his wealth and all ten of his children. Yes, that’s right, all ten in one day. Just like that—POOF!—everything valuable, near, and dear to him was gone. As if that was not enough, Job was afflicted with painful sores on his skin from head to toe, so painful that he tried to find relief by scraping his skin with broken pieces of pottery. And to top it all off, soon his friends and his wife turned on him saying this was probably his fault and he should just curse God and die.

Who could ever imagine Job’s hurt? Who could ever know his pain? The physical and emotional turmoil is beyond comprehension. And yet . . . that doesn’t mean you don’t know pain.

You may not have suffered as deeply as Job, but you certainly have still suffered. You probably know loss from a boyfriend or girlfriend you broke up with, a friend who betrayed you, or maybe even a loved one who has passed away. You probably know hurt from mean words and gossip about you, or disappointment in school, or turmoil in your own family. And you most certainly know fear. What will happen next? What will you do after school? What will your future look like? Will you make the right or wrong decisions?

We aren’t living in a comparison game, as if I shouldn’t feel bad because my life isn’t as bad as Job’s was. No, the reality is that all of us live as sinners in a world that’s broken by sin. That means that all of us suffer hurt, pain, and loss in varying degrees. And any and all suffering can quickly make us feel helpless and hopeless.

Yet even though he suffered greatly, Job wrote a confession of faith that puts everything in perspective for us. “I know that my redeemer lives,” Job said. Though everything else was failing and dying, Job knew that he had a redeemer, a Savior who was winning and living. Moreover, Job knew that one day he himself would see that living Savior face to face in heaven—a place with no hurt, no pain, no loss, and no tears. How his heart yearned for that day!

Easter Sunday proves that Job’s hopes were not in vain. His redeemer, our redeemer, Jesus, does live. He crushed Satan at the cross as he paid for sin, and he conquered death and hell when he rose from the grave. Jesus promises that, “Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:19). Because Jesus rose back to life, we will rise to life with him in heaven.

You will suffer in this broken world. You will have hurt, pain, and loss. Sometimes even in extraordinary and awful ways like Job. But you also have Jesus. That means that when you feel like you have nothing, you actually have everything. You have hope. You have peace. You have a perfect life in heaven waiting for you. Oh, how our hearts yearn within us!

Prayer: Risen Savior, sometimes I have so much hurt and pain. Sometimes I suffer so much. But you also suffered and died for me, and then rose from the dead in victory. Continue to comfort me with the peace of knowing that one day I will see you face to face in the joys of heaven, and lead me safely there. Amen.