Jesus has done great things for you personally.

“For the Mighty One has done great things for me.”

Luke 1:49a

A Real Christmas Will Lift up the Lowly

How are you feeling? I mean… how are you really feeling?

A famous Christmas carol announces that, “It is the most wonderful time of the year.” So you must be feeling on top of the world, right?. After all, you’ve certainly aced all your end of the semester tests. All your relationships are rock solid. Everyone only has kind things to say about you at school.

Or maybe not?

Christmas time has a way of magnifying problems going on in life. It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, so why doesn’t it always feel that way?

Let’s move on to spiritual things. How’s the battle going with that one sin you pray no one else finds out about? How’d you do on that Bible reading plan that you started almost a year ago? Do you feel worthy of a holy God?

Maybe, just maybe, you’re feeling a little lowly right now. That’s a good thing, because a real Christmas will lift up the lowly.

Mary knew that she was not perfect. She acknowledged her lowly state. Yet she included the words from Luke 1 above in her famous song called the Magnificat, “The mighty one has done great things for me.”

Mary grasped the personal way God had shown her favor. He had chosen her to be the mother of the savior of the world.

The mighty one has done great things for me.

Slow down. Read those last two words again. Internalize them. It’s easy to look at others and see how God does great things for them, but it can be hard to take those great things and apply them to ourselves.

Think about all the great things he’s done for you. He knew you before you were born. He decided he wanted you to be his child. He knit you together in your mother’s womb. He sent his Son to pay for your sins on the cross. He’s given you the certainty of eternal life through the resurrection. He’s washed you and adopted you in the waters of your baptism.

All of this for you!

You might be feeling lowly. That’s ok. It’s for lowly people like you that the God of the universe lowered himself took on human flesh that he might lift you up and make you holy and an eternal victor.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, no matter how lowly I feel, help me to recognize all the mighty things you have done for me. Amen.

The entire life of a Christian is one of repentance. Even this is something that God works in him through the Holy Spirit.

(John the Baptist) went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Luke 3:3

A Real Christmas is Rooted in Repentance

Put up the decorations. Bake the cookies. Take the end of the semester tests. There is so much work to be done in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Have you bought your mom a present yet?

In the days leading up to the start of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist was preparing the way for him. He didn’t give people a list of tasks to do to be ready for Jesus to come. He said only one thing was needed to be ready.

Repent.

Repentance isn’t really a work we do. It’s something God works in us. When his law exposes our sin, it cuts us to the heart and makes us realize our need for a savior.

Repentance really has two parts: 1. Sorrow over sin and a desire to turn from it. 2. Trusting fully in Jesus for his promised forgiveness of that sin.

Repentance is the thing we need to be ready for Jesus’ second coming as well.

The first “thesis” in Martin Luther’s 95 Theses says this: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’, he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.”

Repentance is the heartbeat of a Christian. We still have a sinful nature, so sinning is inevitable. Our response to sinning should always be repentance and aiming to cut that sin out of our life.

What a relief that there is no work required of us to have a real Christmas. Jesus has done the work for you. That’s why you can repent and trust in the forgiveness he has promised you through his death on the cross.

When we realize this, we are able to celebrate a real Christmas free from worry and stress. There is no work left to do. It’s all been done in Jesus.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for doing the work necessary for me to have eternal life. Grant that every day of my life would be marked by repentance. Help me to live a life that’s pleasing to you in all things. Amen.

Jesus entrusts the world to you.

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back.”
Mark 13:32-25

You’re in Charge?

Think back to the first time you heard your parents say something like this: “We’ll be back later – you’re in charge of things! Be good!” What tremendous words of freedom – an evening to yourself where you can make your own decisions! And at the same time, what tremendous words of responsibility! What if something unexpected happens and you aren’t sure what to do? What if something dangerous happens and you aren’t up to the challenge? It’s exciting to be in charge… as long as things go well!

What are we to make then of the fact that Jesus left us “in charge” of the world until he returns? Should that be exciting? Should it be scary? Are we up to the task? Can we carry out the mission Jesus has entrusted to us? If we look at our past track record of sins and mistakes, the prospect of being “in charge” of the mission of the church becomes quickly becomes intimidating.

But the good news is this: Jesus doesn’t ask you to change the world. He’s already done that with his perfect life and innocent death in payment for sin. He simply asks you to testify to what he has done and eagerly await his return. And make no mistake, his return is coming! What’s more, you know what that day means for you: Jesus will gather his servants safely home for an eternity of joy and service in heaven! So be patient and take charge of the opportunity Jesus places before you. He is coming soon! Amen.

Prayer:
Jesus, you have already chosen the time and date of your return. Grant me the insight to see the opportunities to carry out your mission in my life and give me the strength and resolve to follow through. Forgive me when I fail and continue to renew me through your word. Amen.

Jesus sees the sinfulness we try to hide and loved us anyways. 

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 12:38-44

Real Life

Every time an election season rolls around, it serves as a good reminder of how many things in the world are fake. Photos taken and retaken and then photoshopped and airbrushed. Promises made and then restated, perhaps with good intentions, but all too often some are unlikely to be kept. Stories told and retold and embellished and modified. All this for the sake of building a candidate or political party’s image!

The teachers of the law in Jesus’ day were also important and influential people in society, but Jesus points out that they too were “fake.” They were all about image and outward appearance, but underneath the show their hearts were filled with self-centered attitudes and self-serving motivations. Have you ever felt like that describes you too? Things look OK on the outside, maybe even pretty good a lot of the time, but it’s a good thing people don’t know what’s underneath because they’d see what a sham that outward appearance is! Most of us would probably do almost anything to make sure people don’t find out about the deepest secrets of our hearts.

Jesus knows all those secrets. But Jesus doesn’t respond like a sinful person. He doesn’t spread gossip in the rumor mill or look down his nose at you. Instead, he takes up your burden. He knows about your most shameful secrets, and he choose to love you anyway, so much so that he laid down his life for you! And now he invites you to spend your life with him. With Jesus, you can live secure in the knowledge your sins are forgiven and don’t need to bother you any longer. With Jesus, you can put aside your sinful habits and work and study and speak and play to his glory, every day of your life! Amen.

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I have sinned more than I care to remember, and I have made so many efforts to hide my sins. Today I confess to you that I have failed in every way. Thank you for making me your child anyway. Thank you for loving me despite my flaws. Teach me to put aside my sinfulness and live my life for your glory. Amen

God is able to save his people.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Daniel 3:16-18

Will You Fit in or Follow?

What are you going to wear today? How will you style your hair? Which extracurricular activities are you going to join? Which classes did you decide to take? These decisions in life, whether big or small, are probably decisions that are affected, at least in part, by what friends are doing. For many aspects of life, that’s completely normal and just fine. Everyone likes to fit in with the group, and friends who share your interests and tastes are a blessing from God.

But as a child of God, there are also going to be situations in life where you won’t be able to fit in with the group, no matter how desperately you want to. Your desire to live as a Christian will at times conflict with the sad realities of a sinful world populated by sinful people. The temptation will always be there to compromise your beliefs and values to fit in.

This is not a new struggle for children of God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were forced to fit in or follow God. Choosing God would cost them their lives! Many Lutheran churches this time of year are celebrating the Lutheran Reformation. Martin Luther faced the same choice: fit in with a corrupted church or choose the truth of God’s Word.

Where can a child of God find the strength to stand out from the crowd in situations like these? Perspective comes from remembering who God is and what he has done for you. The almighty God is powerful enough to rescue you, even from death itself, should he choose to do so. That’s what he did for the three men in today’s reading. But you know that even if God chooses not to do that on a particular occasion, he remains the God who adopts you into his family where you’re always welcome and always fit in no matter what. Why is that the case? Because your sins are always forgiven in Jesus. Your mistakes are always wiped away through his sacrifice. Your flaws and failings are forgotten forever. Especially when facing the choice to fit in or follow God, remember … you are a child of God. Hold onto that status, even when it means standing out and not fitting in!

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, give me the strength to stand up when I need to, the courage to live my faith when so many do not, and the wisdom to connect your promises to my own life. Amen.

God’s grace is the most valuable thing you possess. 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Mark 10:26-27

You Have the Prize

A man asked Jesus the question every human being should be desperate to get the answer for, “How do I get into heaven?” Surprisingly Jesus didn’t say, “Believe in me as your Savior.” Instead he told the man to obey the commandments. Why?
Getting into heaven is like an archery competition. In order to win the prize of heaven, you have to hit the target. The target is obey God’s commandments. If you do this, you get heaven. The young man thought that he had hit the target but Jesus pointed out that he missed. He would rather sacrifice Jesus for his money than his money for Jesus. If you hit the target by obeying God perfectly, you get the prize. If you don’t hit the target, whether you miss by a little or a lot, you don’t get the prize. It means that you don’t get heaven. You get hell. And so, the man left in sorrow.
The truth is no one is able to hit the target. The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. We, like the disciples, come to the same conclusion, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus’ answer, “With man this is impossible, but not with God.” God sent his Son, Jesus, onto the archery range (Christmas). Jesus pulled back the string and hit the bullseye (he had no sin). Jesus won the prize but doesn’t keep it for himself. He comes over to you in your sorrow, and even though you missed the target badly, he taps you on the shoulder and says, “Hey, I want you to have this.” He gives you the prize (Jesus’ death and resurrection). This is God’s grace for you.
The reason Jesus told the man to obey the commandments rather than telling the man to believe in him as his Savior is because he wanted the man to realize he was not capable of winning the prize himself. Jesus wanted him to despair of himself and then look to God to save him. We don’t know if the man ever looked to Jesus to give him the prize. The question is, do you?

Prayer:
Dear Jesus, Thank you for winning heaven and giving the prize to me freely as a gift. Help me to never take the credit or take your grace for granted. Help me to show my thanks for your gift by getting as close as I can to God’s target. Amen

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

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

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

2 Kings 6:16-17

Meet the Squad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ephesians 6:10-13

You are at War

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark 7:20-23

What’s on the Inside?

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

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

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

So which tender are you?

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

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

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

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

Wisdom Gaining Food

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fear Not, For the Lord is With You

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus Models a Compassionate Shepherd’s Heart

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not Glee and Gratitude, but Rejection and Resentment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Power and Perseverance Through the Storms

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Victory over the Devil

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

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

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

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

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