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“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Joel 2:12-14

Return and be renewed

One time, there was a wasp nest in the upper corner of the swing set. I found a rock, aimed, and fired. The rock sailed just over the nest and cracked the glass window behind it. Terrified of the punishment, I ran away.

Remember the last time you ran and hid? Was it because of something you looked at online—something you know God doesn’t want you looking at? Was it a substance you know you aren’t old enough to imbibe, but you did anyway? What are you hiding out of the sight of others because you know it’s forbidden by God?

We hide because we are afraid. We are afraid that God could never forgive “someone like me.” We think, “If I was a true Christian, then I shouldn’t keep falling into these sins.” We promise never to do it again. But then we do. Guilt and fear of punishment haunt our hearts and minds. No wonder we run.

Joel was an Old Testament prophet in troubled times to troubled people—tired of trying to crawl back into God’s good graces. They knew from the big-time disasters (like COVID-19) to the daily, little life irritations, they had only themselves to blame.

Joel’s message to them was, “Tear your hearts, not your garments.” Tearing your robe was an ancient sign of mourning and repentance. But what good is an outward show if it lacks real sorrow? Don’t just go the motions of saying sorry, but not be sorry enough to change your actions. Try standing before God on Judgment Day with torn clothes but untorn hearts.

In the moment the devil tempts you to give up and give in, run. RUN … not away from God, but run to God. Why? “He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” God put compassion and justice together, demanding punishment for our sins, but graciously sending his Son to serve our sentence as our substitute. The cross is the way back. There is no punishment for your sin. There you will find forgiveness.

If the COVID-19 virus and its destructive power is forcing you to think more of God and pray … GOOD! Use this time as a call to repentance. But remember how God has chosen to use his divine power: not to destroy you, but to save you. He loves you!

In perilous times, stop running away. Run to your gracious God. Run to the cross.

Prayer: Lord, you are overflowing with love for me. Give me the strength to stop sinning. Give me courage in this perilous time and your strength when I am weak. May I daily find forgiveness in you. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:20-24

Sin and grace

God was stuck.

From a human viewpoint, it may appear as if God, the all-powerful, the almighty, the creator of the universe was stuck, the devil had all the power, and we were hopeless. Let me explain.

God is described in two ways that are true yet completely opposite. God is just. At the beginning of time, God made a contract with humans. Those that obey him and do only things that are pleasing to him get eternal life. For those who sin, the punishment is eternal death. We know that all people are sinful. Since God is just, he cannot break his contract. He has to punish sin. This gives the devil power. He could go before God and say, “That person is a sinner. You have to send them to hell. Not because I said so, but because you said so.” And he is right, because God is perfectly just.

God is also love. God wants all people to be saved. He doesn’t want anyone to go to hell. He hates, absolutely hates, even the idea of anyone being away from him even for a moment. He longs and desires that all people be saved to live with him for all eternity. He longs to shut down the devil’s accusation against us.

So, how could God remain perfectly just and punish sin, but at the same time be perfectly loving and not send everyone to hell? The impossible became possible because of the cross. We remember this season of Lent the suffering and death of Jesus that culminated in his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

On the cross, God justly punished the sin of the world with hell and showed his perfect love by punishing his own Son instead of us. At the cross, God gets his justice for sin, declares us not guilty, and gives grace and the gift of heaven to you, to me, and to all.

Whenever you find yourself stuck wondering if God really loves you or is still angry with you because you’ve fallen short, watch Jesus. See the cross. See justice achieved. See grace given.

God isn’t stuck after all!

Prayer: Lord God, we praise and thank you for being perfectly just and perfectly loving. Help us to always appreciate what you have done for us. Amen.

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Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
Song of Songs 2:7-10

Save it for the real thing

What in the world did I just read? All I see are natural landscapes, scurrying animals, and changing seasons?

The Bible book entitled Song of Songs is, in general, about two people who are deeply in love. They are yearning for each other and the opportunity to express themselves through the gift of sex.

The world exclaims, “Yes, let it fly!” Our minds may ask, “But isn’t that wrong?” Awkward parents and teachers may wish, “Let’s not talk about it!”

Actually, we do need to talk. But how?

The world tells you that God is unnecessarily withholding something good from you and abuses God’s gift. Almost every form of entertainment minimizes the gift of sex: One-night flings, multiple partners before marriage, affairs, graphic pornographic exploitation, or just flat out inappropriate thoughts and touching that fly in the face of this beautiful thing God has ordained for marriage.

Before you get duped into the thinking, “How far can we go before it counts as sex?” know this: God created us to be different sexes to enjoy sex the way (and the best way!) intended—in marriage. Until then, God has called us to purity: pure thoughts, words, and actions. It is not about “how far can we go” but “how best can I safeguard my purity?

There is a chance that you may have already slipped into viewing pornography or engaging in sexual activity. Do not despair! Practice daily repentance. Plead for daily renewal. Jesus has covered all sins, including the sexual ones. Commit your way to Jesus, and he will guard and keep you from falling. God has not blocked you from this gift; he wants you to share it only with the one he has hand-picked for you to spend the rest of your life with, to save it for the real thing!

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for making me and all people special. Help me to treasure your gift of sex and prepare me to enjoy it only with my spouse, so that it can be a special gift we give only to each other. Drive sinful thoughts from me, and give me a pure heart that loves what you have decided is best for me. In Jesus’ blood you have made me free. Amen.

Ever read Song of Songs in the Bible? What in the world? It is a great love story written by God for his people. #Godsgiftofsex #blockedformarriage

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Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.
Proverbs 13:20

Unfollow the fool

Do you like hanging with the “rebel”? It may not be the best thing for you. Find someone who respects others…and you! #unfollowthefool #heartforJesus

There is something intriguing about dating a “bad boy” or “bad girl”. They tend to be irreverent to the teacher or defiant of their parents. They can cause disruption by forming a wedge between you and your friends. It seems that everyone else can sense the dangerous vibe, but we can’t. Maybe we just don’t want to see it!

Personally, I don’t get the attachment. Is there something charming about being disrespectful? Is there something cute about cruelty? Is there something endearing about being destructive? What does this foolish behavior accomplish? If that is what they are willing to do to the people you respect, what might they eventually do to you?

There may be that one person that makes you feel “special,” but if the other people in your life show concern, pay attention to the warning signals! There is a chance that you may be able to turn them around, but there is also a danger that they can lead you to fall from your firm position among God’s people.

No, not everyone is perfect. You should not automatically judge someone as “bad” without getting to know them. Look and listen to how their actions and words align with what Jesus expects from his word. Ignoring the wisdom of Jesus (and others) will lead to all kinds of issues, but trust in Jesus will lead us to leave behind the fool. Jesus’ love will keep us safe with him and lead us to find another one who will lead us to love Jesus more!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, my ignorant heart sometimes causes me to follow my own whims and go along with the edgy crowd. Help me see the error of my ways and draw me closer to you. Use your Word and the people you put in my life to help me navigate difficult relationships and see that you are the true source of happiness. Amen.

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Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

20/20 Vision: See his power better

Your mind is a powerful thing. It can solve mathematical equations without a pencil or paper. It can identify danger on the road so that without a conscious thought you swerve and slam on the brakes. Your mind is working even when you might not be aware it.

Consider this: Do you have to think in order to scroll down this devotion, or is it just happening? Do you have to think in order for your lungs to expand or contract so you can breathe , or does it just happen? Your mind is a powerful thing.

Now use that mind of yours. Take a moment and try to imagine what God can do in your life!

The creative and creating God who made this entire universe is powerful and beyond imaginative. Your powerful God set boundaries for the oceans and planted the mountains where they are.

In addition to his power, he is wise beyond our knowing. The wisdom of God is higher, wider, deeper, and longer than we could ever know. “Who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” (Romans 11:34) He alone knows what is truly wise and good.

God is full of a deeper love than our minds can begin to fathom. We can talk in great detail about the love of God that sent his Son to the cross, forgives all our sins, and cares for us as only a Father can. We can describe his love, but we can hardly begin to fathom how long, wide, deep, and high his love for us is.

Try to imagine what God can do. Now, multiply that by immeasurably more. That’s what God HAS already done for you! You can’t even begin to know what God is doing in your life by his power. That’s what he promises he can do for you, in you, and through you in your future life!

No one knows what that will look like in your life. But God’s working will be good because it is done for our good. Our God can do immeasurably more, and he wants to because of his deep love for us.

Prayer: Father, teach me to trust you. When I don’t know what is going on in my life, when I don’t understand your ways, when things don’t go my way, teach me to lean on this promise: You can do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine. Because you love me, do what is best for me. Teach me to trust you. Amen.

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We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Romans 6:4

20/20 Vision: See Identity Better

What do you see when you look in the mirror? Who do you see looking back at you? Who are you really?

We can answer that question in many ways. We can answer based on relationships: We’re sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors, boyfriends and girlfriends. Within those relationships things might be going well or they may going poorly.

We can answer that question based on wins and losses. Academic grades can tell a story about you. So can successes or failures in sports and “likes” and “dislikes” with friends on social media.

But even the biggest wins don’t last and the best of grades can be followed by a horrible quiz result. It mirrors the story of sin in our lives. A good day is followed by a bad day. Loving words can instantly change to whining and complaining. It’s really a story littered with sin, failure, and disappointment.

There is a better story about you and your life. The next time as you look at yourself in the mirror, remember this: We were buried with Christ, and we were raised with him (Romans 6:4). Paul wants us to see that our identity and the story of our lives is intimately connected to the story of Jesus’ life. His victory is your victory. His life is your life.

Try this challenge. Post the following three words on your mirror to help you see who you really are in Christ.

Covered: All your sins, failures, and shortcomings are covered by his blood. They are forgiven, and they are gone.

Clothed: You are clothed with the perfect life of Jesus. You get credit for all the good things that he did. You are perfect, holy, and good in God’s sight.

Shielded: Every moment of your life is shielded by his power. He is guiding and guarding your life—all of it.

Your true identity is found in Jesus’ win for us at his cross and empty tomb. We are covered, clothed, and shielded by him.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, when I look in the mirror this week and every week help me to see who I am in you. I am covered, clothed, and shielded. Amen.

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“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.”
Isaiah 28:16

An identity on unshakable ground

Who are you? I suppose there are a few ways you could answer that question. Maybe you’d answer with your name. But who you are is deeper than that. Maybe you’d then give your occupation, where you go to school, your hobbies, or your interests. But even these are all peripheral things. “Who are you?” demands a far more foundational answer. If you had asked me this question in high school, my “foundation” would have been popularity and acceptance. For example, when I was a freshman in high school, I got an invite to this huge party—hosted by a senior. For someone whose identity was founded on popularity and acceptance, this invitation was pure gold. I thought “My stock just went way up!” This was a vertical move up the social ladder if I had ever seen one! Me—a puny, wimpy freshman—was hanging out with the cool kids.

About an hour into the party, some of the seniors started making fun of a kid at school—really digging into him. And me? I said nothing. I thought if I did, the conversation might turn on me, and I’d be the focus of everyone’s insults. I mean, if I stood up for this guy, my chances of being seen as “cool” would be gone, and my social stock would go down. So, I said nothing. I just kept quiet and pretended they weren’t saying anything. But pretending didn’t change the fact that they did say something. Even worse, the person they were making fun of was one of my close friends. And because I anchored my identity on popularity and acceptance, I hid from an opportunity to be a friend.

You and I hunger for acceptance, belonging, and a sense of community. We tend to wrap up our identity—who we are—in all sorts of peripheral things, like popularity, our social affluence, how much we are admired by others, our accomplishments, or by the material things we either have or hope to have. When these peripheral things become the foundation of who we are, we find ourselves willing to sacrifice quite a bit to prop up that identity—even the truth. Maybe you fear sharing your faith because of the ridicule you’ll get. You’re worried what people will say if they catch you praying at lunch. Maybe you’ve felt the pressures to compromise your Christian convictions and adopt more trendy world views—to tap out in the wrestle with temptation and give in to our sinful nature. Soon, the “Christian” flavor is indistinguishable from the world. The “light” of the gospel gets snuffed out.

But that is not who you are! Jesus, the light of the world, has shined on your darkness and brought you into his wonderful light—into the light of truth. We—once spiritually blind—now see! We—once bound in darkness by our sinful nature—have been called out of our darkness and into God’s wonderful light—the light of the gospel; the gospel that shows our Savior fulfilling all the promises of Scripture; the gospel which shows our Savior living the perfect life we could not; the gospel which shows our Savior not running from suffering, rejection and isolation, but taking it all on himself so you wouldn’t experience that for eternity; the gospel that shows our Savior dying the death our sins of fear and silence deserved; the gospel that shows our sin, guilt, and shame nailed to the cross; the gospel which gives new life now and for eternity; the gospel which shows us our identity: blood-bought, redeemed children of the light. If someone asks you who you are, you know the answer. You know your identity’s foundation: Jesus. And he is a sure foundation.

Prayer: Dearest Jesus, draw us ever closer to you. With your holy precious blood, you bought for us an identity that lasts forever. Remind us that our identity is eternally found in you. Amen.

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A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
Isaiah 11:1

A spotless rose

Winter can be a beautiful season: the Christmas lights, the ice sculptures, the snowmen, the falling snow on a calm winter night. However, it seems that every winter gets a bit colder. Yes, the weather and wind-chill certainly contribute to coldness, but I’m not talking about that kind of cold. The world seems colder. Countries are at war with each other. Peaceful protestors are beaten and arrested. Families fall apart. High schools and movie theaters are tragically transformed into shooting galleries. It doesn’t take much critical thinking to see that the cold bite of sin is everywhere.

However, this was the life we chose, wasn’t it? God created a perfect world, flawless, full of happiness and prosperity, rich with the warmth of God’s presence—and we sold it all for knowledge. Yet, despite our foolishness, God made us a promise in the Garden of Eden. Through enslavement, wandering in the desert, assault on every side, and even captivity, it was this saving promise that gave the people of Israel hope—even if the world was cold around them. Amidst the cruelties of the world, the imperfection and the corruption—the coldest winter—Isaiah spoke words of gospel comfort to those cold from sin. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.”

Imagine a snow-covered field, the bite of the frosty wind, the gray of winter sky. Now imagine a single rose, pushing through the ice and snow from the ground beneath, and blooming. The frigid temperature and the absence of light do not hinder its growth. In fact, this crimson rose “unfolds to light” in spite of it. Later, the prophet Isaiah would refer to this rose as a lamb being led “to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent.” This tender shoot would bear the “iniquity of us all,” and later be “assigned a grave with the wicked…though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.” For a short while, it seemed that the cold had triumphed, leaving the flower frozen and withered. But, as you and I know, the crimson pedals didn’t stay sleeping.

This world is certainly a cold, cold place. Yet, amidst the cold around us, it is the same promise that Isaiah wrote about that assures us of the warmth and comfort of salvation, a promise that we know has come to fruition in the fruit of Jesse: Jesus Christ. Our Lord and King was born that Christmas night in a barn, in lowliness and humility. He, Immanuel, lived among us in our sinful plight, living the perfect life we could not, to die for our sins, the very people who put him on that cross. He conquered death so that we may have the assurance that we won’t stay sleeping in death’s cold either. And now, he has given us the opportunity to share this warm message with people living in a cold world. But not just here: everywhere! Let this message always take root in our hearts this holiday season and always.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us yet another opportunity to spread your word in song. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, the means and message of our salvation. Thank you, Jesus, for coming to this world and taking on our likeness and dying for our sins on the cross. Let us never take such a gift of grace for granted but remind us daily of your love and our need to dwell in the warmth of your word. Amen.

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Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”
But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”
Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:10-14

The best spoiled ending ever

I still haven’t seen The Avengers: End Game. I know I can get it on DVD or Blu-ray. I know I can buy it digitally online. And yes, I know I can now watch it on Disney+ (only after I watch Star Wars: The Mandalorian, of course). Point being, it’s not that I don’t know all the different ways I could watch Avengers: End Game. The problem is, I already know the ending. I didn’t get around to seeing it soon enough after it hit theaters. As time went on, spoilers started to creep into my newsfeed on social media. Now I know how it ends. I know all the ‘awesome’ moments, who dies, and who wins. All those details were spoiled for me. If you know how the story ends, you know where the story is going. It’s lost its suspense. No more twists and turns. The surprise is gone.

We don’t like spoilers. Be it books, TV shows, or movies, we like a story with surprises, with twists and turns, and nail-biting suspense—well, except when that story is my life. When we’re waiting to see how we did on a math final or worrying about those test results from the doctor, we don’t like suspense. When we’re struggling to navigate in a new school with new classes, we don’t like twists and turns. When we’re wrestling with questions of identity, wondering if we made the team, or thinking about what to do after we graduate, we don’t like surprises. We want to know how it’s all going to turn out. When we feel small and weak, or when we screw up big time and we’re left feeling broken and guilty, we want to know everything will be alright in the end. When it comes to the stories of our own lives, we’d warmly welcome any and all spoilers, wouldn’t we?

King Ahaz knew the feeling. His kingdom, Judah, was constantly under attack. Ahaz was afraid that, at any moment, these enemy nations would invade. So, God gave him comforting words of promise. “Keep calm and don’t be afraid,” God says through the prophet Isaiah. Why? Well, God spoils the ending. “It will not take place, it will not happen,” God says. But God wasn’t done spoiling the story. “You want a sign of my faithfulness, Ahaz? You want proof it’s all going to be alright in the end? That I still am advancing my plan to save my people?” Ahaz wouldn’t ask for a sign; God gave him one anyway. And that sign has been given to you, too.

A virgin woman miraculously gave birth to a boy called ‘Immanuel’, which means “God is with us.”  That child was Jesus, the Son of God! Jesus entered our broken world to save it from sin—by living a perfect life and dying on the cross in our place. Jesus has faced sin, death, and the devil—the greatest adversaries you will ever face—he fought them, and Jesus won.

There is a whole lot of ‘unknown’ that will take place in your life. But the story of your life has already been spoiled. Why? Because the God who is with you always to the very end of the age has already won. You are his dearly loved child. Your identity is safe in Christ and so is your future. Spoiler alert: it’s safe with him in heaven.

Prayer: Heavenly Gracious Savior, thank you for coming to our rescue and saving us from sin, death, and the devil. Comfort us with the assurance that, because of you and your love for us, we have heaven as our home. Amen.

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Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7

Thankful for the peace of God

Her dad died when she was five. Her mother died when she was in high school. She went to live with her grandparents. They weren’t in good health. It was hard for them to be involved. So it was easy for her to lose her way.

She had boyfriends who only wanted her for the wrong thing. It was hard to make friends moving to a new high school. And she didn’t know how to deal with the emotional loss of her parents.

She got into drugs and dangerous partying. She ended up pregnant, and the dad bolted. Working two jobs and raising a little girl of her own, she didn’t know how everything ended up so wrong.

We often don’t know why things happen the way that they do. But no matter where we are, no matter how much we might be hurting, God never leaves us.

That young lady is now in her 50’s. She is remarried to a wonderful man. They have a couple more kids as well. When asked what got her through those tough years she said, “When I realized that God wasn’t out to get me but was going to bring me through this no matter what… that’s when my faith deepened.”

Trusting in God’s rule is difficult when things are going poorly. When school is difficult, and friends are unkind. When tragedy happens or when we lose someone we love. Even though it looks like God isn’t near or in control, that doesn’t mean that’s true. In these moments, Jesus longs to draw us closer to himself.

You see that when the disciples were stuck in a storm on the Sea of Galilee. Terrified they asked, “Don’t you care?” And Jesus got up and stilled the storm. When they were hiding behind locked doors afraid of being killed like Jesus for following him, Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you.” Only our Savior who calms storms and rises from the dead can give us a peace that goes far beyond what we think and feel. In fact, God doesn’t ask us to understand his control. He doesn’t ask us to always feel good about it. He simply points our eyes to facts: “Your sins were paid for on the cross. Death, sin, and the devil can’t harm you because the tomb is empty.”

God’s peace in these promises will guard your hearts and minds.

Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to appreciate your presence. You are my perfect, heavenly Father who never leaves me. Lead me to appreciate your love and your guidance especially when my thoughts and feelings try to tell me otherwise. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

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I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6

Thankful for people

While he was incarcerated, he spent two days in solitary confinement. He had been in several prisons. He’d seen many jail cells. This tall, buff, bald, and tatted man helped run a drug empire. This man wasn’t scared of anything. But solitary confinement? That made him almost shake with fear.

We aren’t made to be alone. Several studies have shown that children, teens, and adults suffer when they are alone.

Maybe you know what that’s like. Does it seem like other teens have a great group of friends while you are on the outside looking in? Does it feel like you might be an after-thought when others are getting together? Or worse, does it ever cross your mind that you don’t have the number of friends others do? Maybe you wonder if people even notice you.

You’re not alone.

A man by the name of Paul knew what that was like. He had been persecuted and run out of cities. Worse than having only a few friends in Philippi, he had several sworn enemies. But that is where God stepped in.

Through the people of Philippi, Paul knew what it was like to have true friends who cared when few others did. He experienced the joy of having people who prayed for him, supported him, and were his partners in sharing the good news of Jesus. It was through the gospel that God gave them the joy of encouraging Paul. That joy was the source of his prayer of thanks to God.

Jesus too understands what it is to be alone. Crowds gathered for all the wrong reasons and ditched him by the thousands. Even his closest disciples left him when he asked them to watch and pray. After spending a night in solitary confinement, he was brutally beaten and nailed to a cross. And on the cross, he became more alone than anyone in the history of humanity. He was left all alone—even by his Father—as he suffered for our sins. But in this way, he paid the price so that we would never be alone from God.

Now the connection that we have with others means so much more.

We get to enjoy the company of our friends. More than that, in our faith family, we have partners who share eternal joy. Not just in this life, but as brothers and sisters in our Father’s eternal family. So, every encouraging word we share, every friendly moment, and every step we step we take together is all part of God’s plan in leading us to our heavenly home.

Remember that rough-around the edges character described at the beginning? He later admitted, “The only thing that got me through was knowing that I had just come to know my God and Savior. And I had a cell-mate who said he would pray for me.” He was never alone ever again. Neither are we.

Take some time this week to thank God for the people he has put in your life so you are not alone and with whom you might walk to heaven.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of friends who share my faith. I get to share not just my life with them, but by your grace eternity as well. Help me to be a support to them as they are to me on our way to heaven. Amen.

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So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-25

Monster killer: Self-control

Just stop it.

That’s our default strategy for dealing with spiritual monsters we face. Whether it’s lust, jealousy, rage, alcohol and drug addiction, or sexual sins, we normally have one plan to battle them.

“I’m just going to stop it. I’m going to use my will power.”

But this strategy doesn’t work. You know it doesn’t work because you’ve tried (and failed) to just stop. Why doesn’t it work? Because human will power is part of the “flesh”. That means it’s corrupt, weak, and incapable of following God’s will.

That’s why we will become frustrated and filled with guilt and hopelessness if we try to achieve self-control simply by following God’s law by our own power.

There’s a better way to battle against these monsters—these sins of our flesh.

Instead of “just stop it,” how about “just step with” the Holy Spirit? This is a better strategy. Why? Because with this strategy you’re tapping into the power of the only one who can truly transform your heart and life. With this strategy, you’re getting true self-control because you understand some important things about yourself.

Keeping in step (walking with) the Holy Spirit and getting true self-control involves three parts.

1. Remember who you belong to.

   Through faith, God has made you his dearly loved child. You belong to Christ, and he has given you his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is powerful. He has transformed your heart by giving you faith in Jesus. You are deeply loved and valued, no matter how well or how poorly you have been living. God never abandons his dearly loved children!

2. Call things what they really are.

   When you fall into temptation, don’t deny it or hide it. Confess it. Bring it into the open. Call those actions what they are: “the old me”. You will always have a sinful nature that wants to keep sinning here on earth. These actions lead to guilt, pain, and death. The more you call out your own sin, the more you destroy its power.

3. Put what you learn into practice and persevere!

   Stepping with the Holy Spirit means you are moving forward. He promises that when you stay close to him you will bear fruit (love, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control). And, most importantly, don’t give up! Keep going back to #1 and #2.

Remember that keeping in step with the Holy Spirit is a marathon and not a sprint. Jesus is with you on the journey!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give me true self-control by reminding me about myself. I am a dearly loved child of God bought with the blood of your Son, Jesus Christ. You will never abandon me! I also know I have a sinful nature. Help me put it to death every day by confessing my sins and trusting in your forgiveness. Finally, let me trust your Holy Spirit and keep moving forward. Staying close to him, I will produce good fruit in my life, all to your glory. Amen!

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All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5b-7

Everything in love

Think of the last time a trusted friend turned on you. You thought you could count on them only to find out that they only were concerned about themselves. What’s worse is they betrayed you. They posted unkind things about you on social media. They spread lies about you. In the end, they really weren’t your friend.

That’s how pride works. For a while, you like pride. He’s your friend. You feel good about yourself. Others might even view you as confident. You seem to be getting ahead in life.

Pride inside of you says, “If you want to be great, put yourself first. If you don’t, you’ll never succeed.”

But, at some point, pride turns on you. You realize that living a self-centered life has its drawbacks: Friends might leave you or avoid you. Everything seems dependent on you and on your shoulders, but you realize you aren’t always in control of life. One mistake could ruin you. That’s a lot of pressure.

The most frightening thing about having a prideful heart is that God will oppose you. That’s not a good place to be. He will oppose you because there’s no room for him inside a prideful heart. God knows that when he’s not first in your heart, everything falls apart eventually. Pride really is a monster.

The good news is that you have another friend. A truer friend. He is humility personified. His name is Jesus Christ. He’s kind. He’s dependable. He is concerned about you. He sticks with you when others bail. He’s always thinking of you. In fact, he left everything to come rescue you and serve you. And he’d do it again if he had to!

If the monster of pride is getting to you, fight him with humility. Humility starts with confessing your pride and turning to your friend, Jesus. God will then lift you up and calm your heart with his presence.

Jesus’ love and forgiveness refresh you and empower you to a better life. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.

So, hang out with and follow your best friend, Jesus, today. Put on your new self. Live today thinking of the interests of others, not just your own. Do something today that lifts up another person. Doing so will be a punch in the gut to the monster of pride.

Prayer: Father, you thought of us first even when we brought sin into the world. You promised us Jesus. He had everything, but willingly put our interests ahead of his own. Convince us that you belong first place in our hearts. Show us the ugliness of pride. Forgive us for our pride. Give us the strength to lift up another person today. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
1 Corinthians 12:14-18

We are many

Ever have that one little pain that drives your whole-body crazy? A sprained ankle leads to limping and possible back and hip pain, as well as sore hands and shoulders from using crutches. Waking up with a knot in your neck muscles leads to impaired mobility and subpar functionality throughout the day. A severe headache might cloud your thinking and sideline you for the whole day.

Of course, the more severe the impairment, the more difficult it is for the body. Those without use of limbs (either by birth, accident, or otherwise), have a great deal of work to do to compensate. Those without senses have to figure out certain ways to navigate this world without being able to see, hear, or speak.

You see, God designed the body in such a way that every part has a function. Every part is important. And, every part is meant to work together in unison as one fully functioning body.

The same is true for God’s church on earth. You are not less important if you are not a pastor. You are not useless if you are female and not male (or vice versa). You are not a waste of the church’s time because you are young.

As we said a few weeks ago, every service and every servant matters. The apostle Paul tells us again here that every part belongs because, “God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

Maybe you are part of the tech team on Sunday morning. Maybe you are an usher. Maybe you help with VBS. Maybe you sing or play an instrument, or help canvass and pass out fliers, or simply offer whatever best offering you are able. God has given you the abilities to function as that “part” of the body of Christ and your work matters to the functionality of the whole body of believers in the church.

Think carefully about what you enjoy doing—activities, hobbies, work. These are likely things that involve the unique gifts and abilities God has given you. How can you use those to serve your Savior and serve your neighbor? It doesn’t have to be big! Maybe you will be a mouth that witnesses. Maybe you will be hands that serve. Maybe you will be ears to listen and a shoulder to cry on. But whatever you do, know this—your part matters to the body of Christ!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in addition to the many gifts you shower me with daily, you also have given me unique gifts and abilities to serve you and others. Help me to use these gifts as a part of the body of Christ. Amen.

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There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11

Every service matters

“I just want to find a good job someday—you know, doing something that matters and is meaningful.”

It seems to be the elusive dream of every teen. Get into a good college or trades program. Find a job that is influential and important. Do something that really makes a difference. After all, who wants to be a low-class person doing low-class work?

The apostle Paul challenges you to think differently today. There is no such thing as doing more important work than others. There is no such thing as being gift-devoid or ability bankrupt, as if everyone else has some special gift (academics, athletics, personality, etc.) but you have nothing. Whether in the world or in the church, all work and all workers are equal. Why is this?

Because it is the same Holy Spirit who distributes gifts to each person. It is the same God who works in and through each person.

So yes, some people may function as leaders in the world or in the church. Some people may have higher profile jobs that get more attention than others. Some people may make more money than others. But what of it? Different does not mean better. Each person has gifts from God and so is an instrument of God with those gifts.

Think of the bread you eat in your home. Some farmer raised and harvested the crops. Someone bought the product. Workers in a factory processed and produced and packaged bread. Truck drivers delivered it. Stock boys (or girls) put it on the shelves. Someone rang up the groceries. And someone in your family purchased it with money earned from their job. Each had a different set of skills used in a different vocation (life-calling), but God used each to provide for you and many others.

Think of a Sunday morning. The pastor often gets the limelight and attention. But what if no one replaced the lightbulbs, turned the lights and AV on, or even paid the light bill for that matter? What if no one greeted you, gave you a service folder, collected and counted the offering? What if no one played an instrument or led the congregation in singing? Or, God forbid, what if no one made coffee or had snacks available?

This is precisely what Paul is teaching. There are many gifts and many kinds of service. Each is valuable and important—both inside and outside the church. You have been given gifts and abilities by God. So friend—get to work! And trust that your service is important and valuable to God and to others. Why? Because God himself is working through you!

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to see the gifts that you have given, to make wise use of them, to be grateful for the opportunities to serve you and others. Amen.

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