Me first! Anyone who’s spent even a few minutes in an early childhood center has definitely heard this sentiment at some point in time from the mouths of little ones! But in truth, it’s the default for every human; we just become better at masking it as we grow older.

“Me first!” can play out in employee situations where some employees never volunteer to take an extra shift to ease the burden of work for others, while others might often volunteer, but do so in hopes of receiving some notice or reward. “Me first!” can show itself in parents when the needs of their own child trump the good of everyone else in the building. We could go on and on with examples from working as well as living within our own personal families. By nature, our human hearts desire to put ourselves and our needs first.

Except one human heart was different: the heart of the God-Man, Jesus. The book of Philippians tells us that Jesus “made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself.” Jesus is number one, over all, yet he left his heavenly home, he humbled himself, and he lived on the earth which is so filled with self-service and pride.

Philippians goes on, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross.” When God looked down at our earth and saw the truth that “there is no one who does good, not even one,” (Psalm 53) he planned a solution in the form of his very Son. Jesus came to earth and lived humbly, then even more, he died humbly for all of us, who so often do only what is best for ourselves.

And so now, we, too, strive to humble ourselves. We know all too well who we are, the sin that comes into our hearts, even if filtered out of our words and actions, each and every day. But we know, too, the forgiveness that Jesus won for us. In that forgiveness, we walk humbly as we go about our day. We work to take into account the good of others and to serve our Savior selflessly. Since Jesus has already made us number one by giving his life for us, then we have no need to push ourselves to the top or to leave others behind. Jesus has already exalted us. Now we can live for him!

In my time as a grade school teacher, we had a track meet each year for students in grades K-8. Runners, both little and big, enjoyed practicing for the meet, and grown-ups enjoyed cheering in the stands. Nothing brought more smiles to people’s faces, though, than the kindergarten 75m dash. Legs churning wildly, braids streaming in the wind, big grins…and feet that wound up all over the track. It was a common sight to see runners veer into the next lane or even further! The problem, of course, was that their eyes were fixed on their friends nearby or on their mom in the stands, rather than on the end goal.

In our text today, the writer to the Hebrews tells Christians where their eyes need to be fixed as they run their race toward heaven: firmly on Jesus. Why? Because unlike a grade school track meet, where the course is neatly marked, and the track has been cleared of any debris beforehand, our race looks a lot messier. As we begin the race, the track is already littered with the trash and chaos of a sinful world. Starting to run, our feet often wind up all over the track as our hearts chase after this or that and lose sight of the end goal. Added to that are the devil’s many attempts to make us swerve off course. In fact, the devil wants nothing more than to ensnare us in a sin so tightly that we leave the track altogether.

Thankfully, we’re not the first ones to have run this race. Because we could never make it through this race on our own, Jesus came and ran the race for us. The writer to the Hebrews calls Jesus “the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Jesus did exactly what we cannot do on our own. He faced every obstacle of the sinful world. He threw off every one of the devil’s traps with the power of God’s almighty Word, perfectly. And he didn’t do that only for himself. The whole time he was racing, Jesus had his eyes fixed on the joy set before him. That joy? It was getting to bring us to heaven to be with him someday. To accomplish that, not only did Jesus live a perfect life, he died on the cross in our place, so that all the times we have veered from the path would be forgiven. As nails were being driven into his hands and feet, Jesus had his eyes fixed on you, on me, so that someday we could run a race that would end up at his side.

Races between Kindergarteners are so much fun to watch. Races for Christians can be painful to observe and to experience. But we have one who has gone before us to not only pave the way, but who is our Way. With time spent in his Word, we can keep our eyes firmly focused on him, all the way to heaven.

Focus! The preschooler flits from one activity to the next, unable yet to carry out a plan for any sustained length of time. The grown-up knows she’d better turn on her “Driving Focus” app if she wants to stay safe on the long road home. It is so easy for our brains to get distracted from whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing or thinking about!

God, through the apostle Paul, is speaking to exactly that kind of trouble in our verses for today when he says, “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” In a nutshell, “Focus!”

Why do we need this reminder? Because God knows exactly the kind of unfocused mess we often are. He sees how our eyes drift so quickly to Facebook Marketplace to add to the list of our possessions. He sees how often our hearts yearn after the praise of people. He knows how easily we become consumed with ticking the boxes on our to-do lists, losing sight of why we’re doing what we’re doing at all.

Thank our God that for all of our lack of focus, Jesus came into the world ready to reach his goal with laser-sharp precision. Jesus lived without concern for his earthly possessions, kept his eyes on giving praise to his Father, and worked tirelessly every day, never losing sight of the mission for which he came: to die on the cross for every sin, including the many times that we have failed to stay focused on heavenly things.

We are forgiven, in Christ! Paul tells us that now “our li[ves] are hidden with Christ in God.” All those things we think we need, all those to-dos we face? That’s not our real life anymore. When the Holy Spirit worked faith in each of our hearts, our focus became completely changed. Our hearts now see and desire what Jesus desires. Our minds remember that it’s not for earthly things, praise, or achievement that we’re working, but rather to bring glory to God in everything we do. This side of heaven, we will never focus perfectly, but with Jesus’ help, in the strength of his forgiveness, we work daily to keep setting our focus where our focus should be: on our life with Jesus in heaven and the ways in which we get to share about him while we still go about our days on earth.

Martha or Mary? Which one? I’m wondering if you are at all like me when you read this story. I often think, “Yes Jesus, but give Martha a break. You and your disciples are there, and the meal won’t just arrive. She was trying to be a good host to you and your disciples.”

And then I reread the final sentence that reminds us of the one thing truly needed—sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to him.

What’s the right thing to do? First, you and I likely are a little bit Mary and a little bit Martha. Last week’s devotion spoke about serving others out of love and gratitude for all God has done for us. Serving others is certainly God pleasing. Martha preparing a meal for her Lord and the disciples is a blessed task. Imagine making a meal for such a group with the conveniences available at that time. It’s remarkable. However, note carefully Jesus’ response. He doesn’t reprimand her for preparing the meal. “You are worried and upset about many things,” is what Jesus says to Martha. It’s not the work, it’s the worry and stress that Martha is expressing that are the concern.

Mary. Someone to whom we may aspire. She had her priorities set. She sat quietly and received Jesus’ service to her. She was focused on worship and her worship was sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him. I can’t think of a more idyllic way to spend an afternoon.

So, what’s the take-away for us? God loves our service to him as we express our love to him through that service. God loves our worship. Our worship flows out of receiving his service to us. As God fills us through the Word, we respond by reflecting his grace in our acts of service to others. So, be a Martha who eagerly serves. Be careful that the tasks that you do don’t get in the way of your time in the Word and at Jesus’s feet in devotions, worship, Bible study. Be a Mary that prioritizes time with the Savior. Treasure that time in the Word and then take what you hear and learn from God’s Word with you in all the things you do each day.

Martha? Mary? How about a Martha with Mary’s heart for the Word and a Mary with Martha’s heart to serve? It’s not really about either woman. It’s all about Jesus, what he has done, growing in faith through the Word, and responding in service to him and to others.

“Your kingdom come.” Whenever we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we speak those words. Do you sometimes wonder just what that means? It certainly means that we want God to keep us as his dear child and when our life on earth comes to an end, we want to be with him in heaven. These words have a much broader meaning than just our desire to be with him in heaven. In this three-word phrase, we are asking God that his kingdom, his message of grace, comes to all people. Think about that. Each time we say the Lord’s prayer, we are asking that his message of salvation and grace come to all people everywhere.

Our reading for today takes that same thought and puts it into a beautiful mission prayer. We first ask God for his grace, his blessing, and that he looks on us as his dearly loved child. As our Father, God loves to answer that prayer. However, this prayer is not a simple prayer for ourselves. It’s much more. As we read the next phrase we see the result or the why for that prayer. We ask God to answer our prayer so that his ways, his power and love, could be told and known throughout the earth, in all nations.

But then what happens? As people hear about God’s grace for us and for them, they praise him. The prayer continues to ask God to lead all people everywhere to praise him. Imagine for a minute what that would look and sound like! God wants every person in every place and in every time to know him, to love and worship him, to praise him, to be his own. As ones who know and experience his grace, forgiveness, and the blessings of faith, we are asking God to lead us to reflect him in our lives to those around us. Think of the old commercial— “and they told two friends, and they told two friends.” That’s the privilege God gives us! We get to be one of his messengers!

The result? An amazing harvest of people who turn to God in faith and in praise. God will bless it. He promises this. His kingdom will come. May his salvation be known among all!

You’re sitting in a dark room and shout out, “Let there be light!”  You pause expectantly. Nothing. You try again, this time with a bit more gusto. “Let there be light!” You pause again. Still nothing, but you really knew that all along. You could whisper it, shout it, sing it, say it in another language, but unless you walked over to the light switch, you’ll remain in a dark room. Our words can be powerful in that they can encourage or discourage another person. Our words can express care, or they can hurt. Our words can teach and inspire. While powerful, they are nothing in comparison to God’s words. His words have power beyond what we can understand. Think of creation. God spoke the simple words, “Let there be” and there was light, darkness, firmament, trees, fish, animals, stars, sun, mountains, and on and on.

Think of the many times that Jesus spoke, and miracles happened. A lame man walked with sins forgiven and body healed. Lazarus rose from his tomb. The storm at sea was calmed. Leprosy gone, Jairus’ daughter and the widow’s son raised from the dead. He spoke and his words had power over life, over health, over nature.

Jesus also used his powerful words that have us in awe in another way. Several times Jesus demonstrated his power over his enemies and over Satan. Luke 8:26-39, a reading from this Sunday, shares the account of Jesus restoring a demon-possessed man. In this story, Jesus gave permission to the demons to leave the man and go into a herd of pigs. The demons needed his permission. His words have power to create, to forgive, to heal, and to protect and save those he loves from evil.

What does that mean for us? As today’s reading shares, we can stand in awe and praise God for all he has done for us and continues to do. We are witnesses who get to tell all that God has done. Every time we share a Bible story or tell about the miracles of Jesus, God uses it for his glory and to push back the power of Satan. While not taking Satan’s power for granted, we don’t need to fear Satan and his attacks on us. God is our protector and defender whose love for us defeated Satan. We can live each day with bold confidence as God’s dearly loved child. We can use our words to share God’s Word. As today’s verses say, we can shout it, say it, sing about God’s awesome power and his love for us! Shout for joy!

How did you hear? Who was the first one to tell you about God? For some, it was Mom or Dad when they were a small child. Or perhaps a teacher. For some of you it may have been a friend or coworker. Somewhere in your life, someone told you about God and there have likely been many additional people along the way who also shared things about faith with you.

This Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. In Bible times, Pentecost was a special time of year. It was the Feast of Harvest. Jews came to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate. The city was likely packed with people speaking many different languages.

Before he went back to heaven, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit who would teach them about Jesus as they had never learned before. The way the Holy Spirit came that day was miraculous and unique: the sound of a strong wind, the flames of fire on the disciples’ heads, and the immediate ability to speak in different languages. They were being prepared to take what they know and go out and tell others all over the world. Out they went, into Jerusalem, to use this new gift and all that they had learned from and about Jesus to tell all those they could. What an amazing day!

You and I don’t have the experience that the disciples did on that first Pentecost, but God asks us to do the same. You are a witness of Jesus. While you didn’t travel with him like the disciples, you have learned about him from the Bible and from others. Now God says to you and me, “Go!” Trust that the Holy Spirit is the one who creates faith, but he gives us the privilege of telling the story of God’s grace through Jesus for all people. We are told to go and tell but also, we get to tell!

Someone was the first or second or fiftieth person to tell you about God. You get to be that person for others. Think about the people you know. Who can you tell? Who can you encourage? Who can you comfort with the message of God’s love, forgiveness, and grace? You and I can go with joy and with confidence knowing that God not only told us to go, he also promised to be with us as we do.

Peace. If you could describe what the word “peace” means to you, what would you say? Is it an idyllic setting on the edge of a beautiful lake? Is it the quiet of the house after everyone else had headed to bed? It could be that feeling of calm after a stressful visit to the doctor or with an anxious parent. Peace can come in many forms, and it’s something we all crave.

Our reading today comes again from Jesus’ conversation with his disciples in the Upper Room the night before his crucifixion. He has shared so much with them up to this point. He’s given them instruction after instruction and shares that he will no longer be with them physically. They have so much to process and so much to take in. How could they possibly sort it all out and grasp all that he’s telling them? I picture them leaning in trying to get every word. However, with human limitations like ours, they couldn’t possibly understand everything he was sharing. Jesus knows them and anticipates their reaction. “Peace.” That one-word reminder and gift. Like a parent calming a child in the night, he tells them that they don’t need to be afraid. On the brink of a heart-wrenching day for them, Jesus reminds them and us, that the peace he gives is not the same as the world’s peace. It’s not the removal of earthly challenges, disasters, and heart-breaking events. We live in a time of division in our country, horrendous acts of violence in Ukraine, violence in our cities, and on and on. We have more than enough worldly concerns. Jesus is clear that his peace doesn’t depend on harmony between countries or relationships among people. His peace calms our fearful hearts knowing that we are one with God through forgiveness that is ours because of Jesus. We have the peace of confidence in our eternal salvation. Our peace from Jesus comes from being God’s chosen child, loved and redeemed.

Take heart, my friends. Not only does Jesus provide us with a peace that is greater than any earthly concern, but he also promises to send the Holy Spirit to help us, as he did with the disciples, who teaches and reminds us of all that Jesus said and did.

Peace. It’s a quiet spot on a serene lake. It’s a restored relationship with someone we care about. However, ultimate peace, greater than any worry or concern, is the peace from Jesus of sins forgiven, a relationship with God secure, and the gift of heaven. No earthly challenge can take that peace from us as children of God with faith in him.

Babies can recognize their mother’s voice while they’re still in the womb, even though it’s a muffled voice they hear. When they are born, her voice will cause a baby to turn its head or soothe their cry. It’s remarkable. It’s miraculous. Even when they don’t understand language and words, they understand the sound and tones of the voice they know so well.
Do you know anything about sheep? While adorable, they’re not the brightest animals. It’s no small job for a shepherd to keep each sheep safe. They wander. They eat things they shouldn’t. They don’t pay attention to their surroundings which can put them in danger of falls, injury, or attacks. They’re easily identified as high maintenance. The shepherd truly has a 24/7 job to keep them out of harm’s way. His tools are simple. He watches with his eyes and listens carefully for their bleating cries. He uses his rod, his staff, to guide and prod the sheep to safety and to places with food and water. He also uses it to protect the sheep from any would be attackers. The shepherd also uses his voice to call the sheep closer and to provide the reassuring sound of his voice nearby.
Sound familiar? It’s no surprise that the Bible calls Jesus the Good Shepherd and refers to us as sheep. Let’s start with us. Aren’t we, like sheep, so prone to get off track in so many ways? We set a goal of reading our devotion or Bible study each day. We work at having a more positive attitude no matter what comes our way. We think about that one sin that nags at us. We want so badly to avoid it and yet there it is, once again. We get discouraged, anxious, worrisome, impatient, and on and on.
And then we hear it—the voice of our Good Shepherd. It may not be an audible voice but it’s there. Jesus, our Shepherd gently calls us to him in the Word. His Word is like the shepherd’s rod, reminding us when we stray in sin. We hear the patient voice of Jesus reminding us that he loves us, he forgives us, he is watching over us, and he is with us no matter what challenges come our way. It’s his desire that we are close to him each and every day, listening to his Word and eagerly going to him in our prayers.
Like the youngest of children, turn your head toward the Shepherd’s voice. Hear him clearly and regularly through his Word so that you are strengthened for each day. Trust in him to be with you and rest in the joy of knowing how dearly he loves you.

Our younger son, now grown and with a family, has always loved games. As a child, he tried so hard to start “Family Game Night.” I loved it. Our other son and their dad, not so much. For weeks, Adam and I would sit at the kitchen table playing Mancala, Monopoly, or any number of games. Eventually he gave up involving his dad and brother.

When he would come home from college and several years after college, our tradition was cribbage or Scrabble. He was a notable opponent for me. Those rare times when I came out ahead, it was hard to resist the fist pump and a gleeful shout (often with a question mark at the end), “I won!?”.

“I won.” Words of triumph. Words of victory. It can be really sweet to be able to say those words after a rousing match of your favorite game with a friend or family member. There’s a sense of accomplishment and joy. However, that moment of joy typically lasts until you move on to other activities. It was sweet for a moment.

Today’s reading talks about victory at another level entirely. The victory described is the greatest triumph in the history of the world. Christ had been crucified, enduring an unthinkable death, for all of us and the endless sins we commit. “It is finished” are three of the most amazing words ever spoken. They carry the powerful message that the payment God demands for our sins has been fully met through Jesus.

But the story is not over. Jesus did indeed die on Good Friday. And then he declared his victory over Satan. “I won!” he could exclaim like no other victory ever. I’m not sure there was a fist pump that glorious Easter morning, but Christ rising from the dead and an empty tomb, gave evidence for all time that Jesus had won the victory over death for all who believe in him. And this victory was not momentary. It was for all time. This is a victory that is ours every day of our lives. We can begin each day, go through each day, and end each day with the words, “I won…because of Jesus!” His victory over death and sin is our victory. We can live each day, no matter what challenges lie before us, with the confidence that heaven is ours. Peace through God’s forgiveness is ours. God’s faithful promise to be with us in all things is ours. We can say that every single day. There is no other win that comes even close to that.

Since our son got married and had three little ones, we don’t get to that cribbage board quite as often. Those shouts of “I won” now come from the children. It’s the prayer of every Christian that the joyful expression of victory through Christ is ours today and every day. He is risen indeed! His victory is ours.

It’s Holy Week. A week that has been part of the church year for centuries. Holy means, “set apart.” The days of Holy Week are intended to be set apart from other days of the year. They fit together and yet each day has a focus that leads us through Jesus’ final days before the cross and the empty tomb of Easter.

The week begins with Palm Sunday. On that day, we remember when Christ, completely aware of what was before him, headed into Jerusalem. He could have decided to avoid Jerusalem that week. He also could have entered quietly. Not our Jesus. He came in a manner that was not easily missed. To those who attended his entry, they likely had no idea what they were witnessing. Here was the Son of God who created all things and who came for their salvation riding on a lowly donkey. At the same time, the people had heard about this Jesus. They honored him with a carpet of coats and palm branches, a sign of honor. They shouted words of praise for him.

Today’s text from Philippians reminds us who this Jesus is. He is the Son of God, the Creator of all things. Jesus willingly put all his power, his majesty, his glory in heaven aside to take on human nature. He was a true human. He experienced all that any other human being experiences—cold, hunger, fatigue, temptation. At the same time, he was still fully God with all the power, all the strength, all the glory that was his. This is one of those things that is impossible to understand. How can he be fully human and fully God at the same time? I don’t know. Our human reason can’t understand this. We can only accept it by faith.

Why would the Creator of all things, humble himself even to the point of death on a cross, the humiliating death by crucifixion? At any moment he could have stopped those who planned and carried out his crucifixion, but he didn’t. Why? You. Me. He put his glory aside so that he could fulfill God’s promise of salvation for all of us.

Is that the end of the story? By no means. Jesus conquered Satan and took all our sins on himself. He won the victory that we could never win. Today he sits at God the Father’s right hand where God has exalted him. Today’s text emphasizes that God gave Jesus the name that will cause people to bow in honor of him. It’s the only name that saves. He is our Savior, our King.
As you go through Holy Week, set apart time each day to focus on the events of this week and all that Jesus did for you, for me, for all. Spend time reading the account and pondering all that Jesus has done in humility and love. Spend time in prayer with the One whose grace is yours.

Can you believe that Christmas was already three months ago? As a teacher, it’s fun to receive Christmas gifts from your students. They walk into the classroom beaming with pride with their perfectly wrapped and well thought out presents that are just for you.

By now, the gift card to your favorite coffee shop has probably run out. The cute houseplant you had high hopes for may have already died. The festive mugs have most likely been shoved to the back of the shelf that has been deemed the “cute teacher mug shelf”.

Until next year, teacher gifts!

Have you ever done the same thing with Baby Jesus? Maybe you’ve “spent” all your Christmas joy and it’s long run out.  Perhaps you’re waiting until next December to deeply ponder again the precious gift that was given to you at the manger.

This passage in Romans gives us a pretty incredible reason to not leave Christmas in December. Paul reminds us that our sinful nature has made us “powerless” when it comes to our salvation. Conversely, he states “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” So how then do we gain access to eternal life?

The answer is baby Jesus in the manger. What we couldn’t do “God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.”

This time of year can feel like a grind. Just maybe you have been too busy striving and hustling since school started back in January that you haven’t taken a moment to remember the one gift that hasn’t run out- your Savior.

The devil can tempt us to think that our striving will carry us to our worth, our redemption, our freedom. Of course, our work is not in vain. It matters. It brings glory to God. And yet, but when it comes to salvation, the most important work has already been done.

The good news of Christmas changes our day-to-day life even when it’s not “the most wonderful time of the year.” We needed a Savior and God sent us one. Not any old gift, but a perfectly wrapped and well thought out present that is specifically for you.

Don’t wait until next December, brothers and sisters. Let the gift of a Savior live in every day of the rest of your life. Be filled with glad tidings of joy that the Christ child has set us “free from the law of sin and death.” This gift is for you today and always.