A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:16

Good Christians

What makes someone a good Christian? Is it the fact that they are in church almost every single Sunday? Or that they give ten percent or more of their income to the work of the church? Or that they always seem to be helping a neighbor in need? These certainly are wonderful fruits of the Christian faith, but they do not make someone a good Christian.

In the apostle Paul’s day there were some who thought being a good Christian meant keeping certain Old Testament laws like eating the right foods, observing the right holidays, and being circumcised. Unfortunately, they began to think that doing such things somehow contributed to their salvation. They believed that their obedience to certain laws played some part in being declared innocent of their sins before God.

Being a good Christian has never been about keeping God’s law, and if it were, none of us would be good Christians. “A man is not justified by observing the law,” the Bible says. That’s because the law demands 100 percent obedience 100 percent of the time. According to God’s law, even one slip-up means total failure. God’s verdict in his law on mankind is absolutely true: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).

This is why we so desperately need Jesus. He is the only one who perfectly observed God’s law, and he did it in our place. He died for all our failures to keep God’s law. Through faith in him, we are declared not guilty before God. We are connected to Christ in his death and resurrection and set free to live our lives in thankful obedience to God’s law. Not to be good Christians, but because through faith in Jesus, we already are.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to continually see that my obedience to your law has nothing to do with my status before your heavenly Father. Lead me to trust in your righteousness alone which becomes mine freely through faith in you. Amen.

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:24,25

Real Hope

In 312 A.D., emperor Constantine of Rome marched off to war. He looked up at the sun and saw a cross of light above it and the words, “In this [sign, you will] conquer.” Tradition claims that the following night, Constantine had a dream. In this dream, Christ explained to Constantine that he should use the sign of the cross to conquer his foes.

However, Christ’s victory on Calvary does not assure us of earthly victories over foreign enemies, financial woes, failing health, or our favorite sports nemeses. Rather, it assures us that Christ conquered sin. And his victory when he walked out of the tomb assures us that he conquered death. Death was not the end of Jesus. Jesus was the end of death.

We live in confident hope that Jesus will give us eternal victory over the rule of sin and death. We live in certain anticipation that he will rouse us from our earthen beds and reunite our resting souls with our renewed bodies. We live in peaceful patience for the day when he will renew all creation and banish the old ways of sadness, suffering, and death.

The hopes of the earthly-minded rise and fall. The real hope given by God to all who focus on the cross of Christ is that Jesus will return and fix everything wrong with this broken world forever.

Prayer:
Jesus, grant me patience as I wait for the joys of the eternal life you promise to provide. Amen.

Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. . . . We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Romans 8:19,22

My Soul in Stillness Waits

When our first child was born, I was not allowed to be in the room. Like the wizard in the land of Oz, I had to stand behind the curtain. I could hear the groans of my wife. I could hear the doctor’s encouragement.
“You’re doing great.”
“I can see the head.”
“Here she comes.”
Then there was silence.

The silence was agonizing. Was it a boy or a girl? Was the child healthy? Was the child alive? The silence only lasted seconds. It felt like an eternity. I couldn’t wait for our child to be revealed. Then I heard the peace-inducing words: “Okay, Dad, you can see your daughter.”

Like a Father waiting behind the curtain for his child to be revealed, you and I are waiting eagerly for God to reveal what our existence will be like after this world ends, and he creates a perfect, new world for us to enjoy. While we wait, we groan as we endure the agonies of this imperfect world. Thankfully, though we don’t know what God is doing behind the scenes, he still speaks peace-inducing words to us in his Word, “You are my child. I am coming soon. In the meantime, take comfort. I know the plans I have for you, and I am working good in all things for you whom I love.”

And one day, what joy will be ours when we hear Jesus say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Take your inheritance—the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” What joy. What joy. What joy.

Prayer: (Christian Worship: Hymnal – 325)
For you, O Lord, my soul in stillness waits, truly my hope is in you. O Root of Life, implant your seed within us, and in your advent, draw us all to you, our hope reborn in dying and in rising. Amen.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18

Nothing Compares

Imagine three identical rooms. Each room is occupied by one individual. You tell the three individuals, “You will stay in this room for twelve months. Every week, you will work eighty hours. The work will be joyful and fulfilling. But at random times, for unexplainable reasons, for unpredictable periods of time, your work will be frustratingly hard.”

You say to the first, “Stick with it, and at the end of the year, you will receive an annual salary of $10,000.”

To the second, “Endure the year, and you will receive an annual salary of $100 million.”

To the third, you say, “Work hard, you have twelve months to live.”

You put each of them in their personal rooms, and they get to work.

After one month, the first subject quits. The reward was not worth the frustration. The third subject does not even last a day. “If I only have twelve months to live, I’m going to make the most of the time I have left.” However, the second subject keeps working with joy and finishes the twelve months with a smile on his face.

What makes the difference? Each person had the same circumstances. Yet each had the promise of a different reward. The greater the reward, the more resilient the worker. And without a reward, why suffer through the work?

Suffering is a fact of life. We all experience it. But those who know Jesus as their Savior from sin who promises eternal life in a perfect paradise can be sure that whatever they suffer in this life is nothing compared to the joys they will experience in the next life.

The apostle Paul says the current way of things—the momentary frustrations, fears, and failures—has a term limit. When Christ returns, he will make all things new. A new heavens and earth. A new life. A new you.

God grant that you may grasp the mind-blowing magnificence of God’s eternal reward of grace. Then all your present sufferings will feel as light as a feather.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I must suffer my crosses, keep me focused on the victory won for me by Christ and his cross. Amen.

“But what about you?” [Jesus] asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:15,16

The Real Jesus

It seems that everyone is trying to find the “real” Jesus. Who is this man who commands so much interest and attention? Who is this man who has had such an impact on humanity?

Jesus once asked his disciples, “Who do people say I am?” The disciples gave a number of complimentary responses comparing him to great religious teachers and very moral men.

However, none of these answers were good enough. Now, wanting his disciple’s answer, he asks them, “But who do you say I am?”

Peter boldly responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

This is the real Jesus.

More than just an ordinary man, he is the very Son of God sent for our salvation.

Is there any gift more precious? Or any gift more valuable? Jesus is God’s own Son to right our wrongs and save us from our sins. No one else will do.

Jesus is God’s Son; he is true God. There was no sacrifice that would be sufficient to pay for our sins other than God’s very Son, who is God himself. There was no one who could meet the perfect requirements that God demands other than his only Son, our Lord.

If you want to see the proof that God loves you and wants to draw you to himself, look no further than this most precious gift, God’s own Son. If you want to know if this Jesus is powerful enough to help you, look no further than the one who has skin and bones like you and me but is nothing less than God.

This is the real Jesus.

Prayer:
Almighty Father, thank you for sending your only Son into my world. May I always treasure him as the Christ, the one you chose to be my Savior. Amen.

Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God.”
Exodus 34:5,6

What’s in a Name?

Why did you receive the name you did? If you have children, why did you give them the names you gave them? Maybe they were family names that were passed down. Maybe they were chosen just because they sounded good. Or maybe it was because of what those names meant.

On one occasion, a man named Moses asked to see God’s glory. God said no. But that came out of love for Moses. Sinners cannot see God and live. If Moses saw all of God’s glory, he would be destroyed. Instead, God had a better idea. He would pass in front of Moses in a way in which Moses would only get a partial view of his glory. As he did, he proclaimed his name.

In the Bible, God gives himself many names. And those names are not just nice-sounding words. Each one of those names tells us something about God. And when the Bible talks about God’s name, it doesn’t just refer to those titles like “God” or “Lord,” but to the many things we know about who God is and what he has done.

As he passed in front of Moses that day, God described himself so beautifully: “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”

Moses was leading a nation of people who had repeatedly lived in wickedness, rebellion, and sin. He himself was a weak sinner, just like you and me. We have not kept God’s perfect laws. We justly deserve God’s wrath and punishment. How wonderful to hear God describe himself as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, loving and forgiving!

God proved that patient love to us when he sent his Son, Jesus, to live and die for every rebellious sinner. In him, we see God’s loving face. When we know Jesus, we know God’s beautiful saving name.

Prayer:
Lord, I am a sinner. I need your grace. Thank you for revealing your name of forgiving love and compassion to me, so that I can live in hope and peace. Amen.

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:16,17

Jesus’ Identity Revealed

When they teach their children, parents have to decide whether it is better to tell them something or to let them figure it out for themselves. Many things we learn better by experience or through the process of discovery. A parent who tells their child the answer for their homework isn’t helping them learn. It is often better to guide and support children as they learn, rather than to just give them the answers.

God, our heavenly Father, wants us to know something very important. He wants us to really know who Jesus is. For 2,000 years, people have tried to figure out for themselves the answer to that question. When Jesus was on earth, many people thought he was a prophet who came back from the dead. Today, people may see Jesus as a great leader, a moral teacher, or a good example to follow. All of those are fine-sounding, complimentary descriptions, but aren’t the whole story.

The truth is, we can’t fully know who Jesus is on our own. The Bible says, “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” In our verse for today, Simon Peter recognized Jesus as “the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus called him blessed and said, “This was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.”

There was evidence of Jesus’ identity in his miracles and the way he loved people. There was evidence in the way he fulfilled every promise and prediction he made. But it was still impossible for human reason to fully grasp his identity. It was through the words Jesus spoke and the words recorded in the Bible—all of which pointed to Jesus—that God opened the minds and hearts of his disciples to know and believe who Jesus was.

Through the Bible, God wants you to know who Jesus really is. Hear it. Read it. Study it. And God will be working to open your mind and heart to know Jesus, your Savior.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, through your Word, open my eyes to see my Savior ever more clearly. Amen.

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
1 Peter 2:16

Freedom

Jesus has set us free from sin, death, and the devil. God doesn’t count any of our sins against us. In him, all is forgiven, and we’re headed for heaven.

There is a temptation to take this freedom and run with it. We think, “It’s okay if I break God’s commandments because I’m forgiven anyway.” We’re tempted to treat freedom in Christ like it’s a get-out-of-jail-free card, a license to indulge ourselves. But that’s not freedom. That’s slavery.

Sin is a harsh master. It promises us freedom, then chokes us with guilt. Sin makes us want to serve only ourselves and to resent the people around us. They seem to demand our time, energy, and service, and we feel constrained to give it. There’s no freedom when sin rules our lives and drives us with guilt.

Jesus has saved us from this empty way of life. He has covered us in his righteousness. True freedom is the freedom to be the people God wants us to be. True freedom is serving others without a speck of guilt driving us. So, forgiven in Jesus, take a fresh look at the people around you—your family, your friends, the people you serve at work, home, and school. God put them there, and the same God who has taken away your sin is calling you to serve them. Forgiven in Christ and headed for heaven, you can do just that.

Today’s Bible verse says, “Live as free people,” and then, “Live as God’s slaves.” God isn’t talking out of both sides of his mouth. Jesus has freed you to be the person God wants you to be. You are free from guilt and serve God and others with a happy heart. Be who you are in Christ. Be the free person who willingly serves others with a glad heart because Jesus has set you free.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, help me to live like the forgiven sinner you have declared me to be through Jesus, your Son. Take away my guilt, and free me to serve others with a glad heart. Amen.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13

Bridging the Chasm

The Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona is one of the largest canyons in the world. At its widest point, the Grand Canyon is 18 miles across. Its depth is over 5,000 feet. There is a great chasm between each side.

Imagine a group of people standing on one side. They are burdened by sin, brokenness, and spiritual death. On the other side of the canyon stands Jesus and his holiness and perfection. But because of the great distance, the people cannot come to Jesus.

And so Jesus goes to them. He leaves behind his glory in heaven, and he humbles himself to become a human. He steps into the treacherous terrain of the chasm, a chasm caused by sin. Jesus faces the separation, the pain, and the darkness that sin has caused.

As Jesus walks through the chasm, he endures separation from his heavenly Father, becoming not just far away; but cut off from God. The weight of the world’s sins rests on Jesus’ shoulders as he hangs on the cross. The great chasm between us and God is filled with the sacrificial love and grace of Jesus. He gives his life on the cross, and the blood Jesus sheds becomes the bridge across the chasm.

That’s what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote the words of our Bible reading for today. He wrote, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” What great news! Through Jesus, we are at peace with God and members of his family.

When you are feeling all alone, remember God is with you. When you feel the guilt of your sins and are sure God must want nothing to do with you, remember what Jesus did to forgive those sins so that God wants everything to do with you.

Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for the gift of forgiveness bought by the blood of Jesus by which you bridged the chasm between you and me. Amen.

[Jesus] answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Matthew 15:24-27

Persistent in Prayer

There are sunflowers in my backyard. It’s fascinating to look at the faces of those sunflowers at different parts of the day and see them always facing the sun. They are unwavering in their devotion to the sun because its warm rays give them life.

Similarly, the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus for help showed relentless determination. Despite the initial silence and then receiving a response from Jesus that might have discouraged others, she did not falter. She knelt before him, pleading, “Lord, help me!” Her faith remained unwavering, like the sunflower’s unwavering pursuit of the sun.

Jesus’ reply, referring to the Canaanites as dogs, may appear harsh on the surface. However, the woman’s response revealed the depth of her faith. She willingly accepted her humble position, comparing herself to a dog waiting for the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.

Her response not only showcased her humility but also highlighted her unwavering belief in Jesus’ ability to provide the smallest measure of his grace. She reasoned that even the lowest place in God’s kingdom is better than any position outside of it.

This encounter reminds us that persistence in prayer is not about demanding or manipulating God but rather about aligning our hearts with his will and trusting in his timing. It is about remaining steadfast in our pursuit of his mercy, even when faced with challenges of apparent silence.

God will not be silent to us forever. Why? Because Jesus endured the silence of the Father on the cross in our place. Jesus cried out to God, and he received no answer. Jesus endured the damnation that our sins deserved. The Father treated Jesus worse than a dog.

Jesus endured this not so that his believers would be dogs in his kingdom but that they would be his coheirs, sons, and daughters of God. Keep your face turned toward Jesus, who gives true life.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, help me to be persistent in prayer and faith even in the face of challenges and silence. Amen.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
Matthew 15:21

The Boundless Reach of Jesus

It almost sounds like a retreat: doesn’t it? “Jesus withdrew.” An injured athlete withdraws from the competition. A businessperson withdraws a proposal when they can’t match a better one. When we are tired and worn out, we withdraw.

Maybe Jesus was tired. Tired of the lack of faith that he found in the people of Israel. Tired of the religious leaders questioning his every move. Tired of his own disciples’ greater concern about Jesus offending the religious leaders than the spiritual truth Jesus was teaching.

So, “Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.” But if this was a retreat, it wasn’t so that Jesus could nurse his wounds, rethink his strategy, or get some rest and relaxation on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

No, it was really no retreat at all. Instead, it was an attack on the forces of darkness that had long lived in this region. Jesus came to shine light in the heart of pagan darkness. Tyre and Sidon were port cities. A multitude of cultures converged with diverse backgrounds, traditions, and beliefs. Jesus chose to reveal his heart for the world in this place. His message of salvation went beyond the borders of Israel to every corner of the earth. Jesus left the known shores of Galilee to guide lost souls to the embrace of God’s love.

The city of Tyre had two harbors offering refuge to ships traveling through treacherous waters. Jesus offers refuge from the treacherous waters of sin. He guides sinners back to the safe harbor of his love when they get lost in this life. He does not withdraw from the darkness of this world; he shines brightly in it and attacks the darkness. Like a lighthouse in the raging sea, Jesus draws sinners to calm waters.

Jesus promises calm waters where it matters most in our relationship with God. Jesus weathered the storm of God’s fury in the place of sinners so that all who believe in Jesus and look to him for refuge will find it. So all who trust in Jesus are no longer pagan foreigners but the very children of God.

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for finding me and making me your child. Amen.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:29,30

Walking on Water

We know that we cannot normally walk on water. When we use the expression today, we mean that someone is performing at a level far above what is expected or thought possible. But to actually walk on water—that is beyond the performance level of you or me, ever.

In the incident related in Matthew chapter 14, the apostle Peter actually got out of the boat and walked on the water. It wasn’t because of his ability. It was because of Jesus’ power. But it did not last. Peter was distracted by what he saw around him, and he forgot the power of the Lord.

Jesus giving Peter the ability to walk on water was certainly marvelous—in fact, miraculous. But think what he has given us. Jesus has given us eternity with him in heaven. We had lost that possibility because of our sins against him. God demanded perfection, not the breaking of his commands, for us to be permitted into heaven. But once we had sinned, that was no longer possible. So, God sent Jesus to become a human like us, to keep all of God’s commands perfectly in our place. He died and rose again to show his power over Satan and his evil empire, the source of sin.

Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” when he became fearful. God anticipated the fear that we would feel by being separated from Him eternally. God loved us and planned our salvation. He sent his Son. Jesus saved us from that fear. His salvation will last!

Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for saving me from drowning in my sins as I deserve. Increase my faith in you, my only hope for heaven. Amen.

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

The Trip

When writer Lindsey Lazarte was growing up, she took her father for granted. Because she did, she carried certain attitudes about her dad that were simply wrong. She failed to grasp the profound love he had for her. She resented certain decisions he made for the good of the family. There were even times, she said, when she went out of her way to stir up tensions between herself and him.

Then came the trip to the Philippines, her father’s home. Waiting for them there were her father’s many siblings and a large, extended family. And it was only then—in spending time with them, listening to their stories about her father, seeing him tear up time and again—only then did she begin to realize all he had personally given up in order to provide the chance for a better life for her. After that trip, Lindsey’s view of her father’s love changed forever.

When it comes to our relationship with our heavenly Father, there have been times when you and I have behaved like Lindsey. We have taken him for granted. We have resented what he has allowed—or not allowed—to happen in our lives. The impulses of our old sinful selves have even driven us to distance ourselves from him, to rebel against his will for our lives. For what, to make some statement about our independence? To declare that “no one is the boss of me”? For such moments of betrayal, you and I deserve his abandonment.

But our heavenly Father has not abandoned us. Instead, he calls us to repentance. And to remind us how much he loves us, he invites us on a trip as well—a trip to the cross. For it is there, at the cross, you and I see what God was willing to do to wash us clean and make us his own. There, at the cross, God gave up his own Son to wash our sins away. There, at the cross, the extent of our Father’s love becomes clear once again.

Prayer:
Lord, when the distractions come, take me once again to the foot of the cross. Amen.

I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.
1 Kings 19:18

Appearance Versus Reality

The classic adventure-fantasy film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, concludes with this climactic scene: The Nazis have seized what they believe is the actual Ark of the Covenant from the Old Testament. They open the Ark, expecting to find fascinating wonders inside. All they find, however, is sand. They—and we, the audience—droop in disappointment. They are about to shrug their shoulders and move on. Before they do, however, angels fly out of the Ark. At first, the Nazis are thrilled, but they quickly realize their doom is at hand. In dramatic fashion, the angels dispatch all the Nazis, and good prevails.

This scene is a good example of appearance vs. reality: It appears the Nazis have the upper hand. It appears the Ark is simply a harmless box full of sand. But then comes reality and reality is very different. Appearance vs. reality is a theme in countless works of literature, plays, and, more recently, movies. Such ancient themes in our stories resonate for a reason. They resonate because what appears to be true often isn’t reality.

This brings us to the true account of the prophet Elijah. From his perspective, it appeared that belief in the Lord had virtually disappeared and that he was the only believer left. All he could see around him was a rampant belief in the false god Baal, a fertility god who promised material success and reckless pleasure without consequences. Baal had hundreds of prophets. The Lord had one.

Ever feel like Elijah? Ever feel as though God’s Word is in full retreat and the lies of the devil are in full command? From one end of our culture to the other, it can appear as though all is crumbling, all is darkness, and all is lost.

But appearance is one thing. Reality is something else. The Lord assured Elijah that he was far from alone. The same holds true for us. The Church remains. The gospel message of full forgiveness through faith in Christ continues to bring souls into the light. And it is this reality—the reality of Jesus our Savior—that has the final word.

Prayer:
Lord, move me to look beyond mere appearances. You alone have the final word. Amen.

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Matthew 14:22-24

Jesus Knows Our Troubles

All people—including Christians—have problems. Even many of our happiest times are spoiled by something that has gone wrong. The prospect of what awful things the future may hold distresses many people. But it doesn’t have to be that way for us. Children of God know that they have a Savior who loves them, who was willing to die for them, and who took away all the punishment for their sins. And that same Savior steps into the turmoil of our lives and says to us, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus knows what our troubles are. Even though Jesus was not with his disciples, he knew where they were and their needs. The disciples were not able to make much headway in the strong wind and against the high waves. They had been straining at the oars for most of the night and were only three miles from the shore. But even in the darkness of night and at such a distance, Jesus knew exactly where his friends were. This would be impossible for an ordinary man but not for the all-knowing Son of God.

In that same way, Jesus knows exactly where we are at all times, and he knows what circumstances we are facing. Jesus knows the difficulties we are going through. From the top of that mountain, he saw the plight of his disciples. And now, from heaven’s vantage point, he sees our lives’ struggles.

When you cry out to him for help, don’t be afraid that he will not find you. Jesus sees you, knows your need, and can reach you wherever you are.

Prayer: (Psalm 138:7)
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.