Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Luke 24:12

Filled with hope

Peter ran to the tomb.

Don’t pass by that detail.

Peter and the other disciples had been told by some women that angels appeared to them at Jesus’ empty tomb and said he was alive.

“But Jesus is dead. These women are crazy.” That’s what they all thought. Peter even saw him die with his own eyes. He was confused and afraid. Luke 24:12 says he walked away from the empty tomb wondering to himself what had happened. He wasn’t fully convinced yet.

However, even in his doubt and fear, Peter had something else in his heart—a little bit of hope. “What if Jesus really is alive? Wow. That would change everything for us.” So he ran.

In the next weeks and months, Peter’s hope became rock solid as he remembered everything Jesus had said. Jesus’ resurrection changed him. It filled him with hope—not in himself or his circumstances—but in Jesus.

Today is the greatest day of the year because it’s a day to remind you of your rock-solid hope. Jesus is alive! He defeated death! He beat Satan and the power of sin!

Wherever you are today and whatever your circumstances, run to the tomb and be filled with hope!

That means to bring your fears and doubts from the challenges of life to Jesus. View your challenges in the light of his victory.

You are not a victim of your circumstances. You are a victor in Christ!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for today! Thank you for rising from the dead. Today means I have a rock-solid hope. Let me bring my fears and doubts to you and let me leave them with you. Because of Jesus, I am not a victim of my circumstances but a victor in Christ! Amen.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Isaiah 58:9-11

Practice makes perfect

There is nothing cooler for a teacher than when a student gets the correct answer on a test after hours and hours of extra work together after class. There is nothing better for a coach than when the team runs the play to perfection to win the game after hours and hours of hard work in practice.

It took a lot of work, a lot of pain, a lot of effort, time, patience, mercy, and grace to make you the person that you are today, a child of God. God chose you before the beginning of time. Your Father has redeemed you. He sent his Son to die for you. He raised Jesus from the dead for you. He made you spiritually alive even when you were dead in sin. He adopted you into his family even when you were an enemy and hostile toward him. He has given you a new identity, eternity in heaven, hope, love, forgiveness, and comfort. The Father has a vested interest in you and your life!

Life is filled with a lot of work, pain, and effort. Isaiah knows you need these encouragements:

1. Call on God when you are in trouble. When you mess up, look to God for help. When anxiety creeps up into your world, cast it on him. He answers, “Here I am.”
2. Let your light shine. God has made you his own dear child. So, act like the child of God that you are. Be kind. Be loving. Put others before yourself. When you do this, you show the world who you are. He promises, “Your light will shine in the darkness.”
3. Be nourished. Come to the oasis of God’s Word in the desert of this world. Come to the hospital for your souls and find healing in his promises. Be the soul that is connected to God through his Word. Remember the baptism that changed your identity. Receive the Lord’s Supper and know that your sins are forgiven. In all these ways, the Lord will satisfy your faith and strengthen your resolve!

Remember who you are. Recall what God has done for you. During these pandemic days, continue to live your life for him.

Prayer: Lord God, you made all things. Continue to watch over the world that we live in. Keep people safe from all danger until that day when this world will be perfect again. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 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.
Philippians 3:7-11

Take out the trash

Your phone is worthless. Your friends don’t matter. School is important, but not that important. Your job is not a big deal. Your video games are garbage. The sports you play are meaningless. Your social media accounts are unimportant. Like comparing a remote-control car to an actual Ferrari, all of these things are nothing when you compare them to knowing Christ.

Follow along with me:

• When you know Christ, you have faith in him.
• When you have faith in Christ, you are perfect in God’s eyes.
• When you are perfect in God’s eyes, you are guaranteed heaven.
• Therefore, those who know Christ have heaven! Nothing else really matters.

As you get ready to celebrate the death and life of Jesus, take out the trash and value knowing Christ above everything else. Clear away the trash, the things that aren’t as important, so that you can focus your heart on what is truly valuable. Focus on the sufferings of Christ that took on your sin. Think about his resurrection that gives you heaven and promises life forever.

Get ready to celebrate the death and life of Jesus by valuing in your heart what is truly most precious to you.

Prayer: Lord God be with the missionaries who bring the most precious gift of heaven to people all over the world. Bless their work so that more can share in this valuable treasure. Amen.

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, so also death spread to all people because all sinned. But the gracious gift is not like Adam’s trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of this one man, it is even more certain that God’s grace, and the gift given by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ, overflowed to the many!
Romans 5:12,15

Death and life

Whenever you prepare for an event, you will get so much more out of it. Let me illustrate. On the one hand, there’s the person with no Star Wars background going to see the newest Star Wars movie. They saw it and thought, “Meh, it had some good action scenes, it was ok.” On the other hand, there’s the person who watched all eight previous Star Wars movies. As they watched the final movie, they laughed, cried, cheered, and departed with a feeling of satisfaction. Why? Preparing to watch the movie allowed the person to enjoy it much more.

During the season of Lent (the six weeks before Easter), we take the opportunity to prepare ourselves for Holy Week. Don’t miss out. We prepare ourselves, so that when Good Friday and Easter Sunday come (the days we remember the death and resurrection of Jesus), we will better appreciate all that God has done for us. Why? Because the story of his death and life intersects our life and death.

Imagine taking a class in which failure was a guarantee. No matter what you did or how well you did in that class you fail. This is the story of our sin and death. Because Adam sinned, all people sinned—you sinned! Since all people are sinful, then all people are doomed to hell and eternal death.

Now imagine taking a class in which you were guaranteed an A+. Wrong answers wouldn’t matter because you would get an A+ in the end. Even though you are a sinner, you don’t have to be scared to die in hell. God has freely given you the gift of eternal life in through the death of Jesus. Why? Because the God of Lent and Easter LOVES you.

As you get ready for Easter and to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, spend the time of Lent remembering the life and death of Jesus. It’s a story of God loving you. It will give you much more joy in your celebration.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to focus our hearts on you as we prepared ourselves for Holy Week. Show us the depth of your love for us and the impact it has on our lives. In your name we pray. Amen.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:29-32

So it didn’t work out

Do you like to “share time” with your significant other? Don’t get too enamored with one person. They may hurt you, but Jesus never will! #sharingtime #noheartache #keepitonmute

I use a unique phrase when I see people of the opposite sex hanging out in a social setting. When I see one of them on their own, I ask, “Are the two of you sharing time?” They have a quizzical look on their face as to what I mean. “You know dating, going out, going steady.” I prefer the thought of “sharing time,” because it seems a lot less exclusive and possessive. And if you are not exclusive or possessive, then there are no break ups because you are only “sharing time.”

Part of the fun of being young and dating is learning about yourself and other people. As you do this in the dating world, you may come to the realization quickly that you have very little in common with the other person; certain things drive you up the wall. Or, the person you may be infatuated with may not have the same feelings toward you. That is okay … because you are just “sharing time.”

Sometimes it hurts your feelings. The natural reaction is to lash out, spread false rumors, try to sully their reputation. But Paul teaches to forgive the hurt that you feel. Don’t tear others down but keep silent.

The Bible tells us that you are not your own; you were bought with the price of Jesus’ blood. As God’s chosen people, when your heart gets broken (and that may happen several times), do not lash out. See it as a learning experience … remember, you were just “sharing time.” Dating is the time to learn who we are and what is important to seek from a companion in this life.

Relax, my young friends! Take this whole dating thing slow. Don’t give your heart away to just anyone or everyone; give it to Jesus and trust him. It didn’t work out with that boy or girl? No big deal … it was just sharing time! Keep sharing time with your best friend, Jesus!

Prayer: Dear God, you wire us in unique ways to appreciate others and their companionship in our lives. Help us to be thankful for the opportunities to learn and grow in appreciation for the way you made us. When things don’t work out like we plan, help us chalk it up to experience and move on in a loving and forgiving spirit toward those who may hurt us. We will keep our eyes on you because you never hurt us. Amen.

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31

Follow your heart to Jesus

Have you ever made the “prom-posal”? Dating shouldn’t seem so difficult! Follow Jesus first; and all other relationships will fall into place! #letJesusguideyourheart #matchmadeinheaven

“Will you go to the dance with me?”

If I was interested in someone, I just used those eight words face to face. Sometimes I liked the answer I received; most of the time I did not. Now I see many of you (from your mom’s Facebook post!) putting hours of effort into the perfect date invitation or “prom-posal”. Yikes…that’s a lot of construction paper, glue, candy, and flowers just to see if someone will return your interest in them!

What leads you to ask someone on a date? I would imagine looks, sense of humor, smart, lab partner, honest, sporty, fashionable, and great hair (check some out from your parent’s teenage years!) are all a part of the mix. Does being a “Jesus lover” ever enter into the equation? If not, now may be the time to get past the simple crush phase of life and take a look at who guides your heart and the heart of those who attract your eye. Jesus has made you his own, so do not take for granted how much he loves you!

As great as your boyfriend or girlfriend may be, your God is greater. And he does not want only a part of our affection and our love. When we love him the most, he will bless us with rational and reasonable feelings about others and help us identify people who share love for Jesus. The truth is, not all people who date in school are going to live “happily ever after”.

Jesus loves us and wants us to be his own. When we love him and follow him, we will find true happiness. That is truly “a match made in heaven”!

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, help me to always make you number one in my life. As I become interested in others, may they never take your place. Guide my heart to see your love for me. Help me to always remain faithful to you so that I can live happily ever after in your presence. Thank you for loving me first! Amen.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

20/20 Vision: See Purpose Better

There’s something admirable about wrestlers. Not WWE style wrestling, but wrestling with the mats, the protective headgear, and the singlets (that’s the tightfitting uniform).

The strength and stamina of wrestlers in competition is amazing. They are willing to do nearly anything within reason and wisdom to make weight. For the sake of the team, for the sake of personal performance, and for the sake of their success in the sport, these wrestlers go to great lengths to achieve their purpose.

Here’s the point: When you know your purpose, you will do just about anything to achieve it.

The flip side is also true. If you lack purpose, you struggle to do just about everything. Ever had a morning where you didn’t really want to get out of bed? Ever had a day when you wondered why you were here? It’s tough to get moving if you don’t know your why—your purpose.

This is why Paul’s words are so powerful for our lives even when we’re not sure of our purpose or why we’re here. Paul makes some powerful declarations about our life; more powerful than any other positive affirmation. This is God’s affirmation of you.

You are God’s handiwork. This is a statement about your identity. You are a creative work of your holy, mighty, and merciful God. He made you and shaped you just as you are. Then he perfected you in Christ by canceling your sin on his cross and changing your status as his son/daughter at your baptism!

You are created for good works. You don’t have to go looking for them. God is going to put them right in front of you. God has a purpose for your life. In fact, he has already prepared opportunities for you to live for him today, this week, and this year.

A new challenge for this week: Take note of your day. At the end of each day, pay attention to all the opportunities to do good that your God gives you. Write down the opportunities you have to share an encouraging word. Take notes about the opportunities God gave you to help someone in need. Pay careful attention to the simple ways you get to do good works in your home, school, and community.

When you know your purpose, you will do almost anything. There is no higher purpose than the purpose given by your God who called you.

Prayer: Lord God, give me eyes to see the good works you have prepared for me to do, and give me strength to carry it out. Amen.

“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
Matthew 2:6

20/20 Vision: See Jesus Better

It’s 2020! The old year is gone. The new year is here. Happy New Year!

What is your take on your 2019? Was it a year of successes or a year of failures? Was it a year to be burned, or was it a year for the history books?

What is your hope and dream for 2020? One year from now, who do you hope to become and what do you hope to accomplish so that you can say: “This was a good year!”

Most, if not all people in this world, want to make a difference, a measurable difference. We want to matter and be significant. We want to be valued and valuable. We want to do big things.

Did you know there is a new way to significance, importance, and to see your value? This new way to significance is in Bethlehem. Bethlehem seemed like such a small, insignificant place. It was a little town, not a main town. But in this little town, the Ruler of the nations was born. In this town was born the One who would shepherd his people.

He is the One who gives you significance. Why did he leave his heavenly throne to come to this little town? Because you were so important to him. He couldn’t bear the thought of spending an eternity apart from you. He came because you were that important to him.

Jesus is the One who makes an eternal impact in your life. He is the One who says that you are important, valuable, and loved—and this has nothing to do with what you do or do not accomplish. He is the One who calls you to a purpose that is bigger than you and gives a divine power that is at work inside of you (more on this in the coming weeks).

This year see Jesus better. He came to an insignificant place in a simple way because we are significant in his sight. What an eternal impact that makes in our lives this new year!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, you made yourself lowly and came in a lowly way because you wanted to lift me up and exalt me in God’s sight. Help me to see you as the One who gives me true significance and value in this world. You valued me! That’s all that matters. Amen.

“Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
Isaiah 25:9

Jesus is worth the wait

If something is worth the wait, we’ll wait for it. We’ll wait 10 minutes at Starbucks for a $10 cup of coffee. We’ll wait even 20 minutes in the drive through at Chick-fil-A. We’ll grind through four years of high school to get to graduation. We put in months and months of diligent time and energy to get that ‘A’ or make the varsity basketball team. We wait for friends to be there for us when we need them. Because if something or someone is worth the wait, we’ll wait.

But any kid at Christmas time can tell you how hard it is to wait when eyeing up those gifts under the tree. Waiting demands patience. Waiting also demands trust—trust in that product or the person you’re waiting for—trust that they are worth the wait. If they’re not, we’ll take our business elsewhere. We’ll buy a different smartphone or pursue a different career. We’ll find new, more reliable friends. Because if something is not worth the wait, we won’t wait for it anymore.

What about Jesus? Is Jesus worth the wait?

It’s hard to wait when we don’t know how long we have to wait. It’s hard to wait when things seem urgent and desperate, when we hurt, or when we are teased and ridiculed for our faith. It’s hard to wait when things are out of control and we can’t see God’s plan. The more we have to wait, the more we start to worry. Is Jesus really worth the wait?

Jesus—the promised Messiah has come into the world, suffered the punishment that brought us peace, and risen from the dead. He has defeated sin, death, and the devil. And he will deliver you. Our God fulfills his promises. His people never wait in vain. The same God who shows us today our standing in salvation history, showing us his guiding hand as he carries out his saving work—the very God who gave you life and breath—is the same God who took on human flesh to give up his life so that not even death itself can separate us from God. That Savior is the God we trust in. That Savior is worth waiting for always.

Prayer: Gracious God, you alone are our rock and our redeemer. Help us trust in you and your gracious promises as we wait for you to take us home to heaven. Amen.

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2

A light has dawned on our darkness

The year was 1940. The situation for England looked rather dark. On the European front, Nazi Germany had already invaded and conquered Poland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In just 46 days, Germany conquered all of France. Hitler then set his sights on England, and with France out of the fight, the darkness of the Third Reich was just across the English Channel. The Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill, had two options: negotiate terms of peace with Hitler or face imminent invasion. Churchill would call this dark time in English History “the darkest hour,” not to imply that there was no hope for England, but because—as the saying goes—“it’s always darkest before the dawn.”

Maybe you’ve paged through this chapter of world history already at school. Thing is, we don’t have to page back to 1940 in any history book to see the darkness in our world. Hitler is long gone, yet we still see abundant proof that we still live in a sinful, dark world. We see it on our phones. We hear about it at school. We read it in our newsfeeds. We experience it personally in our own lives. Maybe it’s when you’re bullied. Maybe it’s after someone breaks into your house. Or maybe it is that sinful habit you’re struggling with? Maybe it’s anger or jealousy? Maybe you struggle to be patient with your classmates? Maybe there’s guilt in your heart from something you said, something you thought, or something you did. You have a hard time looking at yourself in the mirror when you get ready in the morning. The darkness around you seems so deep, you start to doubt whether God’s light could possibly make any difference. “There’s no way God can fix someone this broken. There is no way God can forgive me—that God could love someone like me. Could God’s light really shine on my darkness?”

The answer is yes! A light has dawned: Jesus. Jesus—the light of life—healed the sick, raised the dead, preached forgiveness of sins and life eternal to every nation dwelling in darkness. Jesus took on human flesh to live in our dark world, to be tempted, to hunger, to thirst. Our God took on flesh so the very face of his love and compassion was seen weeping at the funeral of a loved one. To pull us out of our darkness, out of death and suffering, our Savior himself suffered and died—not as a victim of darkness, but as the hero who ran into the mouth of the beast and conquered it! For you. So that you would have life and life to the full. Because he lives, we also will live. Darkness has no hold on us! Not sin. Not guilt. Not Satan. Not death. For Christ, the light of life, has shined on our darkness.

“It is always darkest before the dawn.” I’d modify that saying. “For those in darkness, a light has dawned.” That light is Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for shining on my darkness. Thank you for preaching and proclaiming your Word to me, for bringing me to faith, and making me your child. Amen.

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
Philippians 4:10

Thankful for the concern of God’s people

Have you ever had powdered milk? If you haven’t, don’t. It’s gross. As it sounds, you add water to powder and voila! Milk.

I remember the first time I had it. They just let dad know at work that they couldn’t pay him or any of his coworkers that month. My mom was a stay-at-home mom with a handful of kids. Money had to stretch. Meals were “creative.” And delicious, cold, milk was replaced by cheaper, pasty powdered milk. Bleh. And that wasn’t the worst thing. I remember overhearing my mom crying while she spoke with my dad. They didn’t know how they would make things work. Word was that there would be no payment the following month.

We easily take our next meal for granted. Most of us wonder what we’ll have for dinner, not if we will have dinner. In addition, many of us are discontent because we don’t have the latest iPhone, aren’t wearing the newest clothing (despite a dresser and closet full), and we don’t like food we have.

We would do ourselves a lot of good if we would pause and thank God for what he has given and how he gives it to us.

During the days of powdered milk, God did that for my family. One day out of the blue, some friends dropped by with a bunch of extra food that they had been given. They didn’t know about our situation. They dropped by “just because.” Coincidence? I think not.

God has a way of providing for us that we cannot explain. It all looks so ordinary. But our God works through the ordinary to do some of his most extraordinary work.

While Paul was in dire need, God used the Philippians to provide for him. They sent a gift to support him while he shared the gospel. These were ordinary people who gave him an ordinary gift in extreme times. He couldn’t help but overflow with thankfulness.

God has done the same for you and for me. The list is long. Parents and teachers, friends and governmental leaders, extended relatives, church family, and pastors too. Sure, they are imperfect. But God put them in your life with the purpose of caring for you in ways he has designed.

This is how God works, isn’t it? He did that in the life of his Son? He didn’t look like anyone special. He often didn’t have a place to lay his head. Even then he thanked his Father in heaven to live out the perfect thankfulness we lack. And in his sacrifice on the cross we have been forgiven from our discontentment and greed. Your God who saved you for eternity through the person of Jesus Christ also put people in your life to care for you hear and now.

Take a moment and thank him for the ordinary ways that he cares for you.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you provide for us in so many ways, including the special people you put in our lives to care for us. We can’t help but thank you for loving us through these people. Open our hearts to live this thankfulness to you all our days. Amen.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13

Thankful for the plan

“Aaaaachoooo!!”

He sneezed all over my lunch. Very gross. Not only did he ruin my appetite, he also spread some of his sickness my way. Getting a cold wasn’t on my agenda that day.

Did you know that frowning and complaining does the same thing? Like a virus that’s gone airborne and inhaled or ingested, our grouchiness and grumbling negatively impacts others.

We could talk about smiling more frequently, complimenting others consistently, or demonstrating our gratitude more gladly, but we should look deeper. How can we live so positively? What would make us want to live that way?

While in prison, the apostle Paul had many reasons to complain and give up. He thought he would die soon. Even so, he writes with gratitude and joy and even gives the reason why—God is working in us.

The God of heaven who has loved you from before the beginning, who has saved you through his Son, Jesus, who has claimed you in the waters of your baptism, is working in you. Think of it, the God of heaven who controls the stars is working in you for your good. The God over the earth who creates sunrises and sunsets with unrepeatable beauty is working in your life.

Consider all that went into today for you. The sun rose bringing warmth and light. God has ordered it all for us. And since his works are wonderful and his plans are always good, then you can know without a doubt that his plan for you is good. And just in case we need one more reason to thankfully trust God’s plan, Jesus’ tomb is still empty. Not only do we have eternal life, but our lives matter here and now.

You might want to know more about God’s specific plan for you. What’s next after high school? What does God want for you and your boyfriend or girlfriend? What does God seek to change through you? Whom does he want to help through you?

For all the things that we don’t know, we do know this. God loves you. He does have a plan for you. And his purpose for you is good. Since that is the case, we have reason to smile with gratitude to God.

A study conducted by Duke University and Mayo Clinic uncovered that positivity and optimism generally adds time to life. Of course, we know that the Lord is in control of that. Unlike a viral negativity, our optimistic and hope-filled outlook on life is powerful. And since we have a God who’s working in us according to his good pleasure and will, we have every reason to smile.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to trust that your plan for my life is good. Lead me to smile with joy so that my gratitude to you would lead others to know your grace as well. In the difficult days lift my eyes heavenward and remind me of the eternal hope that I have in you, all because of your great love in Jesus. Amen.

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

“Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “ ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:14-18, 24-30

Monster killer: Risk

This parable seems pretty harsh. At first glance it can seem like the master (God) is mean and overacts concerning the man with one bag of gold.

But, Jesus is giving us some key insights through this parable into how seriously God takes our relationship with him.

Imagine you just got a boyfriend or girlfriend that you’ve always wanted. They’re kind, smart, ambitious, generous and make you feel special. You never thought they’d like you, but now you’re actually together! They are committed to you.

Now imagine that every time you ask them to hang out, they say no. They justify their answer by saying they fear that if you hang out together you might discover something you don’t like about them and then you’d breakup with them.

Seems pretty crazy, right? A boyfriend or girlfriend that never wants to do anything with you? You might say there’s no relationship at all. Their inaction killed your relationship. Inaction is a monster.

God is the master of taking action! He moved heaven and earth to have a relationship with you. He sacrificed his Son, who got into the mess of this sinful world and even faced the wrath of God himself in our place. God saved us from an eternity without him. We now get to call him our Father and get to look forward to a life of perfect happiness with him.

And, God saved us for something, not just from something. He saved us for a life filled with purpose and action. He gave each of us spiritual gifts and talents that are beautiful. When we use them it’s like we’re “hanging out” with God and showing him we’re glad we’re in this relationship.

The man with one bag of gold knew that in order to gain more bags of gold he’d have to take a risk. He knew he could face ridicule, failure, jealousy, and pain if he used what he had. He didn’t want to take that risk. But his inaction produced more severe consequences than his risk would have.

The men who had five bags of gold and two bags of gold took a risk. They went out into the world and used their gifts. They knew their master would value the risk they took. They knew his heart—that if they failed he would welcome them still and love them.

Don’t just settle with being saved from something. Live for something. Take risks for God and use what he’s given you. Even if you get a little bruised and beat up along the way, you’ll end up stronger, more resilient, and even more reliant on God because you’ll realize you need his grace even more.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for saving me from death and saving me for a purpose-filled life. Forgive me for my inaction. Forgive me for burying my gifts. Help me step out in faith and take risks for you. Convince me that there is a certain thrill to living my life for you. It’s what I was made to do. And when I stumble (because I will) you will be right there to comfort me, encourage me, and empower me. Amen.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
2 Timothy 1:6-10

Monster killer: Love

False imprisonment, whippings and beatings, a shipwreck, rumors and lies spread about him, ridicule, sleeplessness, and extreme hunger. What would you call a guy who perseveres through these things to share the good news of Jesus with people?

Courageous? For sure. Strong? Definitely. Determined? Absolutely.

Loved? Loving? Uh…didn’t think of that.

I’m talking about the apostle Paul, who wrote the Bible verses above to his good friend, Timothy. Paul went through extreme suffering in order to spread God’s Word to people who didn’t know God’s true love in Jesus.

Paul was afraid at times. Wouldn’t you be? But something kept Paul going. Something slapped his fear in the face and held it back.

It was love.

Jesus’ love for him had radically transformed Paul’s life. He realized he now didn’t have to fear the ultimate fear of eternal death. He grew up thinking the opposite. He grew up fearing God and thinking the only way to heaven was through following a bunch of rules—rules he knew he couldn’t keep completely.

But now Paul knew better. He knew that he was saved by God’s great power and love. So with his ultimate fear gone, he was now ready to face his other fears in life. Now he not only knew he was loved by Jesus, but he felt love for other people. He wanted them to have the same peace he felt. Paul’s love for other people kept him going.

The next time you face fear, especially the fear of sharing your faith, remember this: love drives out fear. Jesus loves you right in that moment. He’s with you as you stand next to that person who needs to hear about him.

Let your love for that person slap your fear in the face. When you look at that person with love, things change!

Facing the monster of fear with Jesus’ love is a recipe for success.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your love for me. Holy Spirit, thank you for giving me power, love, and self-discipline. The next time I feel afraid of rejection or suffering because of my faith in you, fill my mind and heart with the truth of how much you love me. Your perfect love drives out my fear. You help me do what seems impossible—you help me love another person and share the good news of Jesus with them. Thank you! Amen.

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 the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and 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

Everything in love

Who is the most accomplished person you know personally? A classmate with a 4.0 and tons of scholarships coming? The all-conference captain of the team? The soulful singer who steals the stage and the show? The neighbor who seems to have endless friends and perfect relationships?

The words that open 1 Corinthians 13 are fascinating. And they open our eyes to a completely different way of thinking. You might have the greatest gifts and abilities (which these devotions have talked about a lot this month), but unless you act in love you do nothing, you gain nothing, and you are nothing. Without love, then, the greatest action or deed is meaningless.

It all comes down to love. So, what better thing can there be than a checklist of what love looks like, right? However, reading through the description of love in verses 4-8 of this great “love chapter of the Bible” is like reading your own personal list of epic fails. Patient? Nope! Not proud? I wish! No record of wrongs? Fat chance! For me, it seems like love always fails.

But this is where our attention needs to shift focus to true love, to the one who embodies love and even is love—God. “God is love,” the Bible says, and it also tells us how “God so loved the world,” and how “God demonstrated his love for us.” We need look no further than Jesus. There we see perfect love that never has, never did, and never will fail. In Jesus we see love that was perfectly patient, kind, compassionate, forgiving, and every other descriptor you could add.

That perfect love of Jesus is your love. Why? Because he is your substitute and his perfect righteousness now belongs to you. And, he is also your Savior who blots out and erases your every failure. Now that is perfect love!

That love of Jesus is what wraps us in a warm and snuggly embrace. That love of Jesus is what fills our hearts with joy to the point that eventually it spills out as we love and serve others. That love of Jesus is what never fails to be good or the right thing to do. Yes I may fail, but his love never does—either for me or through me.

So go on friend! Live your life. Pursue your goals. Chase your dreams. Do your daily work. But whatever you do, let the love of Jesus drive each thought, word, and deed.

Prayer: Jesus, so fill my heart with your love that I may live that love for you and others in all I do. Amen.