One truth shared: Standing in front of the judge is a humbling experience, especially when the verdict is right. The LORD knows things about us that we don’t know ourselves. Who can stand when he comes? This is a humbling moment.

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.
Malachi 3:2-4

Safe

I’m not sure why anybody wants to be on a reality TV show. When you end up on one of these shows—any of them—you and a portion of your life (maybe even all of your life) is put on display for the whole world to see. When someone sings off key, everybody knows it, and the video goes viral because it was horrendous. When someone fails horribly, everybody watches it repeatedly and shares it so that the failure goes viral. Suddenly, a person is famous… for a failure!

That’s why I’m not sure why anyone would want to put themselves out there like that. Unless you really are that good.

But who is that good? Who can endure the scrutiny of world-wide audience? Who hasn’t cringed a little bit when a singer sings off-key at a concert? Political pundits tear apart the speeches of politicians, fact-checking every little detail. People who watch football or basketball games always have something to say about the coaching or the refs or someone on the field. Who can endure that scrutiny?

What if the one judging is God? What if the one scrutinizing our lives is the One who can also read our hearts? Not only does he see every snap and TikTok, but he also sees what never gets posted because we kept it hidden. Who can endure that? Who can stand up when he appears? It is a humbling reality to face.

The truth is—you can. And you will. But not because you’ve got your life together. And not because you’ve lived your life in every detail the way God required you to live it. You will stand and you will be received, but not because of you at all.

You will not be ashamed when Jesus comes near because, in love, he chose to draw near to you. He came close to you and took your shame on himself. And because he did, you will not be ashamed on the Last Day. You will be welcomed and not shunned.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, my life can’t stand up under the scrutiny of your searching eye. I am humbled before you. Forgive my sins and lift me up by your forgiveness. Amen.

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Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8,9

Higher Thinking

Are you still bringing a teddy bear to school?

“Uh…no? How old do you think I am?” You might be thinking. “I wouldn’t be caught dead bringing a teddy bear to school!”

Well, why not?

Teddy bears, in basic psychology, are often referred to as comfort objects. As small children grow, they discover they are extremely small and dependent. This smallness and dependence can cause major stress and anxiety—especially when the child’s parents are away for any given point of time. So to cope, children ascribe characteristics of their parents (that is, protection, warmth, love) to comfort objects—such as a security blanket or a stuffed animal. When the parents feel distant and that feeling of dependence arrives, kids cling to their comfort objects for dear life. They will not let go.

So, are you still bringing a teddy bear to school?

As a teenager, you might think deriving comfort from a teddy bear is completely ridiculous. But is that anymore ridiculous than deriving your self-esteem from how many ‘Likes’ your latest profile picture got?

“Well, that’s different.”

Is it really?

Is that anymore different than defining your self-worth by how many ‘Followers’ you have on TikTok? Is that anymore different than defining ourselves by how well you can work an Xbox controller? Is that any different than infinitely scrolling through Instagram and envying the photoshopped lives of other people?

But those aren’t the only comfort objects in our lives.

We hold on to grudges—when we, in Christ, have every reason to reconcile with one another. We hold on to bad company—at expense of our physical and even spiritual well-being. We hold on to constant bitterness and nonstop complaining—when we, in Christ, have every reason and then some to be joyful. We hang on to our shame and guilt—when, in Christ, our sins were taken away and are remembered no more.

Suddenly, it seems naïve to think clinging to teddy bears is beyond any of us.

Here’s some higher thinking for you: you already have the greatest comfort object in the world: Jesus.

To a world that would cling to trash for life, God the Father sent his Son to this fallen world to give us life! To a world that was held captive by sin, death, and hell, our Savior lived a blameless life in our place and sacrificed himself on a cross so we would be set free! That is the same God who holds you through the bad days at school, who holds you through the bullying, who holds you in every heartbreak, who holds you when you’re afraid, who holds you when you’re too weak to stand. After all, he’s the God whose love for you held him on the cross—so he could hold you in his arms in heaven with him forever.

So, fix your eyes heavenward. Let go of the “teddy bears” and hold on to what’s truly good—specifically, the highest good and most important: your Savior Jesus. Cling to his Word—his divinely-inspired love letter to you. Cling to every promise your God has personally made you in his Word. Hold on to the joy we have in sins forgiven. Hold on to the hope we have in Jesus’ empty tomb. Hold on to the unassailable identity you have in Christ as God’s dearly loved child.

There is no higher comfort outside of Jesus. So, hang on to your Savior. He’s hanging on to you!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, there is so much in my life that seeks to steal my attention away from you. When I’m tempted to look to other things to derive self-worth, direct my eyes to you. No one loves me more than you—and you proved that by dying for me on cross. Move me to live for you as you lived for me. Amen.

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

Spiritual workout

Did you know that the average Planet Fitness has 6,500 members—but their gyms are built to only accommodate 300 people at a time?

Now, you might be tempted to think some architect goofed on the design. But there’s a reason why these gyms are so much smaller than their total membership. True, not every member is going to work out at the same time, but that doesn’t entirely explain the discrepancy between 6,500 members and a 300-capacity gym. So, what’s up with this math?

Well, according to USA Today, 67% of gym memberships go completely unused. That’s right: there are people who pay to go to a gym they’ll never go to.

Sounds ridiculous, right? I mean, isn’t working out what a member of a gym naturally does?

We as Christians are called to “work out” too; and this kind of work out is something the Christian naturally does.

The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Now, Paul is not saying that we need to earn our salvation. The same apostle Paul also wrote in Romans 3:28 that “a person is [made right with God] by faith apart from observing the [commandments of God].” We are reconciled to God purely by God’s undeserved love—on account of Christ alone—through faith in him. But that same faith in Jesus seeks to express itself in action. That we exercise our faith and do good works is natural—no different than a good tree bearing good fruit.

So, what does this spiritual exercise of our faith look like?

We fear, love, and trust in God above all things. We respect our parents and our teachers. We seek to help and befriend our neighbors—no matter who they are. We use our words to build up, not tear down. We not only see God’s gifts of sexuality and marriage as good things, but we appreciate the good paradigms for sex and marriage God has given us—because God desires to not only give us these gifts but keep these good gifts good. We turn to God’s Word for answers to life’s biggest questions—and strive to be always ready to give an explanation for the hope we have in Jesus. We anchor our identity solely in Jesus—who he is and what he has won and done for you, me, and the world.

That’s quite the spiritual workout, isn’t it? I mean, don’t you feel sometimes that it’d be easier to bench press 300 pounds than to make it through three hours on your phone without any sexual temptations? Don’t you feel sometimes like it’d be easier to hang clean for three hours straight than to go three days without saying or posting anything bad about anyone? Don’t you feel sometimes like it’d be easier to run on a treadmill for ten miles than to go ten minutes without complaining? Talk about a workout!

Here’s the thing: as Christ-followers, our spiritual workout is going to be—well, messy. Like any workout, there will be sweat and tears. We’ll get tired. We’ll fall. We’ll fail, too. We may even want to give up. In this world, we will experience great trouble; but take heart: Jesus has overcome the world!

Your right standing with God doesn’t rest on how strong your faith is, but how strong the object of your faith is—and there is no one stronger than Jesus, the object of your faith! When sin had separated us from God, God—in Christ—showed the strength of his arm and pulled us close to him. Where we would lose in the daily struggle with temptation, Jesus threw down with the tempter himself and outed Satan for the wimp he is. Jesus was tempted in every way we are, but Jesus, for our sake, didn’t sin once!

But Jesus didn’t just need to perfectly live for you; he needed to die for you. Jesus endured the wrath of God on the cross for you so nothing would separate you from his love. Jesus faced off against sin, death, and hell itself—and emerged victorious from the grave! Through faith, his victory is your victory.

But the God who has done amazing things for you does amazing things through you too. Just as God gets all the credit for your salvation, he gets all the credit for your fruits of faith! “It is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.”

So, take comfort as your flex your faith. Your gracious, mighty God is spotting you.

Prayer: Heavenly Dear Jesus, when our spiritual workout would leave us exhausted and frustrated, remind us that you have already lifted our sin, guilt, and shame from our shoulders and carried it to the cross. There, our failures have already died with you, and in you, we have new life. Because of you, Jesus, we have complete forgiveness and heaven as our home. Through you, Jesus, we are more than conquerors. In your name we pray. Amen.

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Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2:19-21

The solid foundation

Have you ever seen a house being built? It’s impressive. If all of the supplies were laid out, they would stretch for miles and miles. But when put together correctly, it makes one house. And yet, all of the boards, shingles, appliances, walls, etc. would become trash if one thing gave way—the foundation. If that cracked and crumbled, the rest of the building would be ruined. So much depends on the foundation standing firm.

Is your life built on a firm foundation? If you’re like me, it seems like everything is changing too quickly. Our current culture is getting carried away. Social issues are getting more sickening. The government and other leaders prove to be flawed humans regardless of their party affiliation. Even our fellow Christians can disappoint us. We rely on so many flawed people. It can feel like our lives are kind of like a house built with a bunch of supplies and resting on the cracked foundation of friends, family, and our country.

Thankfully, our lives are built on something much better and stronger than that. We have the foundation of God’s Word. And before we dismiss that, consider the following. God spent 1,500 years putting his Word together so that we would know a few things:

1. We would know of his saving plan in Jesus. From the first promise proclaimed in Adam and Eve’s hearing, to Jesus’ cry “It is finished!” to the fact that you now hear that God loves you and wants you to be part of his household, that’s a foundation built to last. And that’s for you.
2. If God has been building other people into his eternal household for all of time, then your life is built not on flawed humans, but on the living and enduring strength of God himself. He will never let you down.
3. God has built you into his house and even dwells in you by his Spirit so that you have a strength that perseveres regardless of the challenges of this life.

God’s Word is your foundation. He worked through apostles and prophets to record his saving words and work for you. And now he has built you into his household on a foundation that won’t give way, because Jesus is the chief cornerstone that will never break.

Prayer: Lord God, you have made me part of your household, built me onto a foundation that will never let me down. Keep me cemented in Jesus now and forever. Amen.

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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8

Faith Alone

Imagine that you were hanging off a cliff. I know, it’s kind of silly, but play along. You’re hanging off a cliff and your two hands are holding onto two different things. One hand is grabbing a rod of steel rebar that is well-anchored into the rock. And the other hand is hanging onto the root of a dead tree that is cracked and almost broken. Both hands are squeezing equally hard. The difference isn’t how hard you cling, but what you cling onto. And that’s the same truth for our faith in God.

God saved us. It was all his doing. He loved us before creation. When others don’t think about us or care about us, God does. He always has. And his grace took shape in place and time when Jesus walked through life perfectly for us, died to take away our guilt, and rose from the grave to guarantee that we are forgiven forever.

But imagine what it would be like if that was all true, but it wasn’t for you. Imagine hearing that good news—the best news ever—but it was for others and not for you. That’s what it’s like to have nothing to hang on to. It’s a life where you live just for the moment, just for some stuff, and only for a time. But then what? That’s hanging onto a broken root.

But not you, dear Christian! You have been saved by grace through faith. And the faith that God has put in your heart is also his gift. The arm to reach, the hand to hold, and the strength to cling to all of God’s gracious promises. That is God’s gift of faith which clings to the steely power of God’s saving love.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep me strong in the faith and clinging to your saving grace in Jesus my Savior. It’s all your gift. Amen.

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[God] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:5

Grace Alone

There was a man who was sick, very sick. He had a very rare disease. He spent years traveling to this hospital, and then that specialist, who would refer him to another place. He crossed the country and even oceans. Finally, he found a cure. And the good news compounded when he was given the cure … for free!

But imagine during his travels as his symptoms worsened—shortness of breath, wheelchair-bound, and close to death—he found the cure, but left it behind. Or, he decided it wasn’t what he was looking for, so he resumed his search. Does that make sense?!

In many places God describes us like that sick man. Actually, it’s even worse. Today’s passage portrays us as a spiritual corpse. We’re “dead.” On our own, there’s no hope, no direction, no life. And why were we pronounced dead? It’s the sickness of our own transgressions, every way we have crossed the line and gone against what God desires and designs for our lives. But the good news about those words is that they are past tense: “you were,” precisely because you are no longer.

God made us alive! There were no defibrillator pads to shock us alive. There was no medicine. Doctors don’t treat dead patients. Neither did God. Rather, he did something better. He made us alive in Christ. In the life of Jesus, God secured a perfect life for us. In the death of Jesus God paid for every transgression. And in the resurrection of Jesus God secured a life that will never end. This is the cure! It’s all made ours by God’s grace. You don’t just have some cure in hand. You are forever secure in Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, I was dead to you, but now I am alive in Christ. Lead me to live my life out of thanks for your grace in Jesus. Amen.

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And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

Mind your own business

When you hear the word ambition, what comes to mind? Passion? Success? Recognition?

When you hear the word quiet, what comes to mind? Unnoticeable? Private? Timid?

When God’s Word tells Christians to “make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,” that idea seems like a contradiction. Maybe that even sounds impossible. Our lives are lived online where there is little or no privacy. The internet is not a quiet place. Social media is for ambition.

Am I supposed to get off social media? Do I say nothing? Can I be ambitious? What if I am not naturally quiet? What is a Christian supposed to do?

When Scripture says living an ambitiously quiet life means you should “mind your own business,” God is not instructing you to keep your head down and never say anything. God is not advising you to move to a monastery high atop a mountain and cut off human interaction.

Rather, God’s Word is telling you not to express certain characteristics that have become common, even celebrated, in our culture. Be the person who does not need to give a hot take about everything that happens personally or globally. Be the person who isn’t giving a knee-jerk reaction to their every emotion. Be the person who isn’t promoting their “personal brand” every chance they get.

What should we do instead? Be selfless. Serve others. Speak timeless truths. Spend time talking about eternal matters. In other words, your ambition should be to humbly, quietly serve God by serving others.

What’s your motivation for that lifestyle? 1 Thessalonians 4:12 says that minding your own business and living quietly “may win the respect of outsiders.” Our purpose in all of this is to be like Christ who humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8). In a winsome way, let’s point people to Christ. His cross. His love. His forgiveness.

This is needed now more than ever. Look at your social media feed. People are panicking, picking fights, and putting private emotions on public display. Christians have a unique opportunity to be different simply by being quiet. Be quiet about the things that do not matter so that you can point people to the one thing that does matter—Jesus’ love!

Someone once said; “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.” The world is watching and listening. Show them Jesus by what you do. Tell them the gospel in what you say.

Prayer: Jesus, forgive me for making “noise” out of selfishness just so others notice me. Thank you for Jesus’ selfless sacrifice, which means I am a forgiven and dearly loved child of God. Help me to live quietly and humbly and gently—like Jesus—so others might know his love. Amen.

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Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:7-10

Really Living

“Get busy living or get busy dying.”

That quote was made popular by the critically acclaimed film, The Shawshank Redemption. The movie’s protagonist, Andy Dufresne, was wrongfully imprisoned. The way Andy sees life, he has two options. He can either accept his circumstances, give up, and live out his days in prison—that is, get busy dying. Or, he can get busy living—be proactive, do something about his situation, and have a real life! Inspiring, isn’t it?

People relate to that deep desire to “get busy living.” Many feel pressured to truly live, not merely exist. Maybe that describes you? You want to do something amazing with your life, or at least somewhat productive. What does a life really and truly lived look like?

Some suggest that to really live means to pursue your dreams. To really live means to live in the present. To really live means to accept yourself. To really live means when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. But what happens when life is dream-crushing, embarrassing, depressing, and leaves you with little hope?

God not only tells us what it means to really live, the gospel also gives us hope for when we feel we are merely existing, or worse, busy dying. The apostle Paul and his fellow Christians in Thessalonica were facing soul-crushing persecution. Satan was busy trying to kill their faith. Yet, during that distress Paul said, “Now we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord.”

Really living is standing firm in your identity as an infinitely loved and immensely forgiven child of God, even when life makes you feel less-than. Really living is standing firm in Scripture since God’s Word declares that Jesus loves you and Christ is for you, even when others tell you that the Bible makes no sense.

For Paul, really living by standing firm in the Lord resulted in an earthly life filled with joy, encouragement, and gratitude to God! God gives those blessings to you, too! You might feel you are living in a prison of doubt, a prison of depression, or a prison of one difficulty after another. No matter your life circumstance, you can really live. Why? The living and true God, who raised Jesus from the dead, who keeps you firm in your faith, has given you victory over death and the gift of an eternal life! Knowing that is really living.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the gift of faith in Christ that encourages me even when life is difficult. I praise you for the joy you have given to me that is based in your love; not my life’s circumstances. Help me to trust that, through your Word, you continue to supply me with all I need to really live by standing firm in you, dear Lord. Amen.

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In this series we’ll look at some of the struggles that we have that we endure silently, secretly. We struggle secretly and alone. What does God’s Word say to us in our darkness and trouble?

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:6-7

Drama

Ever feel like your life could be a television series?

You could probably look at some of the drama that you have experienced in your life and write up some interesting episodes. Maybe some of them would look like this:

Season 3 Episode 7: I learned my friend was a drug dealer.
Season 4 Episode 3: Word got out that my classmates were sleeping together.
Season 4 Episode 4: Word got out that my classmate was pregnant.
Season 7 Episode 2: My brother got caught stealing. Again.

If you are creative enough, you might be able to go ahead and write some scripts based on some of the things you have experienced. But before you go down that route, it is good to think about how God would have you respond to drama-filled situations that come up in life.

It is easy to make light of the situation and laugh at those who are causing the drama or getting into trouble.

You might become more popular for a moment if you draw attention to other peoples’ drama and gossip about it.

You might feel good about your own drama when you compare it to the people around you.

But what does God call you to do? He calls you to love people, even when they are in a difficult place. After all, that is exactly what he did for you. He could have laughed at your fall into sin. He could have made fun of you for your mistakes. He could have proven how holy he is compared to your unholiness.

But God chose to love you instead. He sent Jesus to die and rise again as the proof of his love.

So what can you do when drama rises up in the people around you? Take your cue from 1 Corinthians 13:6-7. Compelled by Christ’s love for you, love one another.

Prayer: Dear Father, forgive me for the times I delight in the misfortune of others. Thank you for the love and forgiveness you gave to me in Christ. May I be compelled by his love to befriend and help people whose decisions have created some drama. Amen.

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In this series we’ll look at some of the struggles that we have that we endure silently, secretly. We struggle secretly and alone. What does God’s Word say to us in our darkness and trouble?

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
Psalm 42:5

Depression

Feeling depressed can be a horrible thing to go through. Sometimes you feel down because something very specific happened, like breaking up with a close friend. Other times those sad feelings seem to come up for no reason at all.

It is normal to feel depressed. We were created to inhabit sinless bodies in a sinful world, so it is bound to happen that we will long for things that this world cannot give. That is something to be sad about.

Did you know that even Jesus felt depressed? Check out Matthew 26:36-38 if you have time today. There are two things from it that stand out:

1. Jesus recognized that he began to feel sorrowful and troubled. He didn’t ignore it and hope it would just go away. He identified the feeling for what it was.
2. He talked about it. He told his closest disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” Jesus was not afraid to let others know how he was feeling.

What do you tend to do when you feel depressed? While there are many ways to dull the pain, there is only one way to find peace from it. When darkness sets in and sorrow overwhelms you, know that you have a future filled with hope. Even though you do not feel joyful in the moment of feeling depressed, there are plenty days ahead when you will be singing, dancing, and celebrating.

You are loved so much by God that he wants to be with you, even when your life is full of struggles. How amazing that you do not have to go through the struggles alone.

Prayer: Dear Father, there will be times in my life when I am feeling depressed. It happens to everyone, even your Son Jesus. Remind me of your promises when I am feeling down. Give me eyes to see the hope you hold out to me in Christ. It’s in his name I pray. Amen.

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This series tackles selections from the book of Proverbs that provide godly wisdom in the areas of relationships, discipline, words, anger, and more.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
Proverbs 29:25

Audience of One

Whether it’s in a game or on a stage, performing in front of a crowd isn’t for everybody. Some get an energizing adrenaline rush from it. Others will avoid it like a plague. But can you always avoid being the center of attention? Can you avoid people looking at your social media profile? Can you avoid walking down a crowded hall at school? Can you avoid answering a point-blank question in a group of friends? Can you really avoid other people having an opinion about what you said, what you did, and who you are?

The most important question to ask yourself is this, “Am I trying to get everyone in my life to love and approve of me?” Because if you are, you won’t succeed. There will be some who think you’re less than the person standing next to you. There will be others who think you are the worst, even though you’ve done nothing wrong and haven’t sinned against them. We live in a world where the “audience” of our lives will, at times, disapprove of who we are and what we’ve done.

But there is One who will never disapprove of you. There is One who will never be ashamed of you. There is One who lived and died for you. One day because you clung in faith to him, he will say, “well done!” He is your One and only God. He keeps you safe. You never have to be afraid of what God thinks of you. In Christ, he promises to always love you, always forgive you, always approve of you.

So when you are nervous about what you will say, what you will do, or how you will perform in front of others, remember you are only playing to an audience of One. Only God’s opinion of you really matters. God’s approval is the only one you need. And God’s never-ending approval is exactly what you have in Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I know there will be times when people in my life will look down on me. Teach me to know and believe that you always love me and always approve of me. Give me that perspective so I can have confidence and joy serving others and you every day. Amen.

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This series tackles selections from the book of Proverbs that provide godly wisdom in the areas of relationships, discipline, words, anger, and more.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
Proverbs 17:17

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

The Importance of Good Friends

Were you interviewed for a new job this summer and hired? Maybe you were a little nervous because you thought everything depended on how you answered the interview questions. In reality, your first few weeks on the job are just as important. More than anything, your boss is looking for you to show up every day and do your job. They aren’t looking for a Superman or Superwoman, they just want you to be Mr. or Mrs. Dependable.

Isn’t that what your friends are looking for too? Your friends want you to be dependable and reliable. Will you text them back? Will you hang out with them when they’re bored or lonely? Will you be there for them when life is tough? Will you stand next to them when no one else will? That’s the kind of friend we should all want to be. But we all know none of us are the perfectly reliable and dependable friend people look for.

But there is one who is. His name is Jesus! He was born for your adversity. When sin convicted you, when the devil worked to steal you, and when death was going to end you, Jesus came into this world to stand up for you. He came to stand in your place. Jesus took away your sin on the cross. Jesus ripped you out of the devil’s arms and put you into the arms of God. Jesus defeated death when he rose from the dead so you would never have to be afraid. And now Jesus promises to always be your friend.

Jesus was and is our Mr. Dependable. Knowing all he did for us; Jesus calls on us to be that Christ-like friend to all of our friends. Stick close to them. Don’t give up on them, even when they screw up. Always love them as Jesus always loves you. Show up when they need you just as Jesus showed up for you.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, you are my greatest friend. You are my brother! Thank you for showing up and taking care of my sin, the devil, and death. Help me to be a dependable friend like you, always loving, always caring, always being there when my friends need me. Amen.

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For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.
Proverbs 1:32-33

Safety

You and your friends are looking for a restaurant to grab some food before the game. On your journey you come to two restaurants that are right next to each other. One of the restaurants has a sign that reads “Danger! Toxic Chemicals!” The other has restaurant has a sign in all caps that says, “WELCOME! Good Food and Good Times Inside!” What restaurant are you going to choose?

It seems too easy. Of course you are not going to eat at the restaurant which has a warning for toxic chemicals. That is ridiculous! You want to eat good food with good friends in a safe environment.

What is even more ridiculous is that when it comes to our spiritual life, we often choose the way that is toxic. Often times the devil tricks you into thinking that simple way that kills is the best choice. He can convince you to go along with the fools of this world and fill yourself with the toxic lies of the devil.

Continue to listen to Jesus! In Jesus and him alone you have real safety. You have nothing to fear! Jesus has come to conquer your greatest enemy, death, and he did that! “Don’t be afraid!” That was the message on Easter morning. It is a personal message for you every day! Don’t be afraid, all your sinful choices have been forgiven. Don’t be afraid, every time you took a wrong turn Jesus took the right turn for you. Don’t be afraid, you are God’s dear child and can live every day at ease in his care.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, continue to hold me in your powerful hands and help me to always remember that you are with me. Amen.

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Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
Proverbs 1:8-9

My son; my daughter

What does beauty look like? It is tough growing up in a world where beauty is defined by outward appearances. For some beauty is all about what kind of clothes you wear and how you look in those clothes. For others beauty is defined by the stuff they have. The newer the phone, the more beautiful you feel. So much of our time can be wasted trying to fit into the world’s definition of beauty.

Godly beauty is so much different. The wisest man that ever lived said that the more you listen to your father and mother the more beautiful you are. As you honor your father and mother and others in authority, it shows your real beauty.

When we break the Fourth Commandment, we show the world around us the ugliness of our sinful nature. When we disrespect our parents, we show the dark stain that is on our hearts. When we close our ears to our Heavenly Father, we are wearing the chains of sin around our neck.

Jesus kept the Fourth Commandment perfectly for you! He obeyed his Heavenly Father by coming to this earth and graced his head not with garland, but with a crown of thorns. He wore a chain around his neck, but it wasn’t a fancy gold one. It was the sin of the world. All of your sins were paid for by Jesus.

He can now proudly call you his beautiful sons and daughters. You have been washed by his blood and brought into his family by baptism. You are beautiful.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me godly wisdom to know what pleases you. Give me the strength to show my inner beauty as I live to honor and respect those in authority over me. Amen.

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The May series is for the times we may hit rock bottom as we experience seasons of fear and weariness, despair and depression, pain and loss … all of them due to sin. Yet God never leaves or abandons us. He pursues and seeks us in our dark moments.

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:20-21

Rock bottom… What now? Praise God!

We’ve all been told before something along the lines of, “If you think you’ve got it bad, there’s always someone who has it worse.” Job would have been hard-pressed to find that person. His sons and daughters had died. His home was gone. His riches were depleted. Everything about his life had changed in an instant and he had indeed hit rock bottom.

Put yourself in Job’s sandals for a moment. How would you deal with these challenges? If your cell phone suddenly doesn’t turn on, panic sets in. Someone shares a false rumor about you, and your day is ruined. You get a bad grade on a test and your mood turns sour as you lament your bad fortune. When bad things happen, how do you deal with them? Don’t we all at times look for someone to lash out at, to pout and complain, to blame others for what has happened, even if it might be our fault?

What a lesson we learn from Job. At such a challenging time in his life, he humbly turned to his God and confessed, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (v. 21). As Job’s life hit rock bottom with a thud, he didn’t complain. He didn’t lash out. He didn’t cry out “woe is me.” He marveled at God’s goodness, saying, “May the name of the Lord be praised.” Whether its the end of another school year or the beginning of summer vacation, whether life is going great or rock bottom is in sight, praising God is how our faith in Jesus responds to his love for us. Nothing in this life—NOTHING—can take away the truth of what our God has done for us and what is ours in him alone. Remember that, dear young friends. Live that. Cherish it always.

Prayer: Lord God in heaven above, it gives me such great comfort to know that you are with me throughout my life. Heavenly Father, there are times when I feel like I’ve hit rock bottom. There are times when it feels like I have nothing to be thankful for. And then I am reminded of your love for me. I’m amazed at the price your Son paid to forgive my sins and call me you own. Thank you for this gift. Thank you for my life here on earth and for life eternal in heaven. Amen.

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