The Hero's Journey

Imagine you’re spending the first days of your summer relaxing by the pool, or working in the flowerbed, or just trying to take it easy, when a stranger approaches you and invites you on a special mission. After the initial “stranger danger” reaction, let’s assume this person is sane and really believes there’s a special prize for whoever finishes this mission. What do you do? It could be risky, it could be expensive, and you might be ridiculed for going on the journey. 

It doesn’t take much imagination to realize that’s kind of the invitation to follow Jesus. While the first invitation may remind you of some kind of action/adventure movie, the invitation to follow Christ is often very tranquil or symbolic in comparison—or so it seems. 

Joseph Campbell wrote a book called The Hero with a Thousand Faces, in which he describes the Hero's Journey, a common pattern in nearly every hero story, especially the ones involving a quest. His model starts with the status quo, someone who isn’t looking for change but has a call to adventure. This is where faith begins to take place (Romans 10:17), believing that the quest truly is a worthy one. 

Once the proper gear is obtained and assistance, the hero begins the journey. The cycle continues through departure, trials, facing danger, crisis (James 1:2-4). Although this is only the first half of his model, it makes a great place to stop and think about this pattern in our journey with Christ. Once we’ve come to a sense of contentment, or humility, or genuine love for others, the remainder of the journey should seem to be more rewarding. However, for many people, the journey up to these moments of conflict causes them to abandon the quest. Or as Jesus illustrated in the parable of the soils in Matthew 13, some seed fell on the rocky soil and had no roots, and some fell among the weeds and briars and were choked out by the worries of the world. 

It takes great perseverance and determination to face the giants on this journey. It takes great faith to see beyond the dangers to the prize ahead. As Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” 

On this hero’s quest, there is a clear goal and a clear mission. We’re reminded in Matthew 28:18-20 of the Great Commission. Many other stories and letters reveal the seriousness of the mission, the stakes involved, and the reward for staying with it. This scenario really is true. 

Do you believe it? 

Will you join the quest?

Acknowledgement

Life is filled with challenges—family, faith, work, extracurricular, etc. Nearly every aspect of our life will have the occasional setbacks, fears, disappointments, or unknowns. The question is how will we reflect on those events when they are over? 

After Jesus was betrayed and during His crucifixion, He demonstrated an amazing example of respect even while going through a storm. He said in John 19:25-27, “Woman, here is your son,” and to [John], “Here is your mother.” From that time on, John took her into his home. This was Jesus' way of caring for His mother after He was be gone. 

There have been many people that have helped each of us overcome something bad or to achieve something great. Paul said in Galatians 6:6, “The one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” 

Frequently, Paul ends his epistles, “instructions in the word,” by acknowledging those who have been a blessing to him by their contribution to his work in some way. Romans 16 is one of the longest lists of those he wanted to thank. Paul gave his greetings to Rufus, who he says is “chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.” (16:13) 

It’s easy to thank our mothers, because they typically are the ones that nurture us, cheer us on, console us, encourage us. Their contribution to our success may be behind the scenes at times, but it’s such a beautiful thing to be able to honor them for what they’ve done for us. 

It may be tempting to skip over the acknowledgments in a book, or to ignore the “thank you's” to people we don’t know in a graduation or an acceptance speech, but each of those names represents someone who made a contribution to getting someone to the point of being recognized as a hero, a survivor, or a success.

As Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians, he takes the time to thank those who made a difference to him. No matter how his letters started, it was part of his discourse to take the time to recognize those who helped him, those who he misses, and the great examples among those he’s writing to. Be sure to take the time to thank, or at least acknowledge those who have made a difference to you—especially your mother!

Unity Over Tolerance

What’s the difference between unity and tolerance? One definition of tolerance could be putting up with someone, or something, you are not particularly in favor of, for the sake of fellowship with other people. While that’s not altogether a bad thing, it could be potentially dangerous; Paul reminded us that “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Yet, it’s our association with others that allows the gospel to be shared. Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are [immoral]... In that case, you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister [who is immoral].” 

Therefore, there is a higher standard for those of us who belong to Christ’s kingdom. “His ways are higher than our ways” (Isaiah 55:8), and we now live and think like Christ—at least that’s the goal. But we’re reminded often of how often we sin, how often we criticize, how often we lust, how often we hold a grudge, how often we cheat in some way. While we sin often, and while we’ve been warned about the dangers of associating with ungodly people, we are still called to be unified! This seems nearly impossible, and from a worldly perspective, it seems many “believers” are not very unified. 

Unity is a huge theme throughout the Bible. In fact, after God made humans and then they rebelled, the entire rest of the Bible is the efforts God is going through so that we can be unified again.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians addresses some key principles needed for people prone to sin, need to practice in order to obtain Christ-likeness. When you only “put up with” others, the opportunities to plant eternal seeds into the hearts of people is overlooked. To achieve unity, you must continually remind yourself what you have in common, what your goals are. 

Colossians 3:1-4, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and [our] life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is [our] life, appears, then [we] also will appear with Him in glory.” 

Thankfully Jesus desired more than to simply tolerate us; He sought for unity with us (John 17). Hebrews 4:14-16, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

"How many times do I have to tell you?" said every parent

What is it about cleaning a house that’s so hard? What is it about sharing your things that is so tough? What is it about forgiving people that is so challenging? From birth to death, we all struggle with these. The reality is that these aren’t difficult—as long as our pride and ego don’t get in the way

When reading the handful of letters written by the Apostles to congregations to encourage them to live more fully to the will of God, we should notice something: many churches struggled with the same problem(s). If the Apostles were still writing letters to congregations, probably most churches would receive a letter encouraging them to continue in demonstrating genuine love and respect for others.

This simple message cuts to the core, dividing the Godly from the ungodly. Yet this simple message can get cluttered by teachings that don’t highlight the Greatest Command (Matthew 22:37-39). There is a real danger of people explaining the Truth in ways that cause a person to misunderstand God’s mission.

Ironically, the seeds of false teaching impact how confident we are about sharing it with others. The incorrect teachings, plans, and theories about God’s will floating around out there can cause us to be timid about sharing our hope of eternal life!

Paul said in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

Jesus said about the Pharisees in Matthew 5:20, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” And as He continues in the Sermon on the Mount, He outlines how we should respond to others: help out, share, forgive, etc. Matthew 7:12 could serve as a summary of His sermon, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Paul said to the Corinthian congregations, “You yourselves are our letter [of recommendation], written on our hearts, known and read by everyone…” (2 Corinthians 3:2). What a tremendous goal: to be a “light on a hill,” to be a picture of Truth being lived out amongst our communities!

The Colossian Christ

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to receive an instructional letter from one of the apostles? Paul wrote a majority of the letters to the congregations included in our New Testament, many of which were addressing issues amongst the believers—especially the divisive issues between Jews and Gentiles.

Gentile just means "nations," which could refer to “other” nations not part of the Abrahamic Covenant. It was part of God’s plan from the very beginning to “save” any nation that will trust in Him by following Him. Obviously, that was best seen beginning with Jesus’ ministry. Although the official invitation for all nations to join the Jesus Movement wouldn’t be until the days of Cornelius, Acts 10, the message was already being clearly defined for anyone listening to Jesus.

This inclusion of the Gentiles, other nations, was offensive to the Jew because of how they interpreted the promise made to Abraham. In their mind, the promise we read about in Genesis 12 was an exclusive one. However, when we read what God said to Abraham, it is virtually undeniable of God’s plan. He says, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Later, God told Moses on Mt. Sinai, “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’” (Exodus 19:5-6).

After Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and ascension, the church would be born (Acts 2), and it was then that the true understanding of God’s kingdom began to take shape. To have a kingdom, means you have a king, a territory, and subjects to that king. But who would qualify to be part of the kingdom? Paul’s many letters to congregations helped shed some light on this issue. The kingdom wasn’t exclusive to Jews, but instead was open to all the nations—the Gentiles!

Paul’s letter to the Colossians was helping them to see the supremacy of Christ throughout the entire world. Therefore, he makes a lot of connections for these believers, both Jew and Gentiles, between God’s creation and all people’s invitation to join this wonderful kingdom. 

Crescendo

What is a crescendo? The loudest point reached in a gradually increasing sound, especially a song. It’s that point in the song that has the most powerful, emotional part. It’s not just in songs though; life has crescendo moments. You can probably hear a lot of crescendo moments when you go to a funeral, and you hear the eulogy. We highlight the greatest points in a life. 

But what if our greatest moment in life was after we die? We talk about that in worship, but sometimes it’s difficult to believe. When we read Scripture, although people saw the amazing things Jesus said and heard life-changing wisdom, they too had trouble believing that after death is where our greatest moments lie. 

At Lazarus’ funeral wake, Mary and Martha both expressed how things could have been different (better) if Jesus had been there when their brother was sick. Jesus, however, knew that it was at that particular moment when He could demonstrate the crescendo of life—resurrection! 

He said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” Paul would later say that this concept is what his entire Gospel message is built upon, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15) “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” 

The resurrection of Lazarus was a huge turning point in Jesus’ ministry. Once people realized that He had power over death, following Him had a different appeal. Until those who were jealous of Him were able to have him killed. After all, a person can’t raise themselves from the grave! Right? 

One of the original endings to the Gospel of Mark ends like this: “Don’t be alarmed,” [the angel] said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’” Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid!” [The End] (Mark 16:6-8)

Most scholars believe this would be intended to leave the reader with a desire to know what happened next, and then go investigate. Whether that was the intent or not, we are left wondering what we do with the message of resurrection. We must decide if we believe it enough to follow Jesus or ignore it. But even a skeptic would agree that resurrection from death would truly be an amazing crescendo to this life! 

“Do you believe this?” (John 11:26).  

Approved by God

Praise is an expression of approval or admiration for someone. We all like to receive praise because it lifts us up. It is a human desire to be admired or approved of by others. The reality is oftentimes we don’t return praise to others—whether it’s from not knowing what to say or perhaps simply being so self-involved to not notice the need they have to be admired or approved of.

But Jesus came to show us a different way. His way drew people into the beauty that comes with recognizing people in difficult times and encouraging them. For instance, the Woman at the Well, whose story is told in John 4, powerfully benefited by Jesus showing a kind of approval towards her. He didn’t endorse sin, but He saw the need for value and He genuinely offered that to her. But others also received a kind of “praise” from Jesus: Zaccheus (Luke 19), Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52), or any of the many people He healed along His way to Jerusalem.

Jesus was on the way to make us “approved” by God. That would require giving up His life to do it. The lengths Jesus went to for us to be able to stand with God someday is truly inspirational.

Mercy Me sang a song called “I Can Only Imagine,” and the lyrics echo the struggle we may have at times in knowing how to praise God appropriately. But in the end, it’s about trusting Him, longing to follow Him, serve Him, honor Him. The chorus of that song says, “Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine…”

As we better understand what’s at the heart of praise, we are more likely to offer praise to God and to others that truly reflects Jesus’ selflessness. Try to reflect on the meaning in this Psalm and see how it applies to your own life.

“I will praise You, Lord, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing Your praise. I will bow down toward Your holy temple and will praise Your name for Your unfailing love and Your faithfulness, for You have so exalted Your solemn decree that it surpasses Your fame. When I called, You answered me; You greatly emboldened me. May all the kings of the earth praise You, Lord, when they hear what You have decreed. May they sing of the ways of the Lord, for the glory of the Lord is great. Though the Lord is exalted, He looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, He sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life. You stretch out Your hand against the anger of my foes; with Your right hand, You save me. The Lord will vindicate me; Your love, Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of Your hands.” (Psalms 138)

Psalms for Praise

The old saying, “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” isn’t very true. Words can be powerful tools for either evil or good. It’s amazing how often certain words show up in Scripture that point to something we instantly recognize as godly. These may be words we use almost exclusively with worship. Words like: sanctify, devotional, righteous, and holy, are just a few. 

Paul sums up the proper attitude to have in worship, and in life for that matter, in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” As he shares the three qualities that should be utmost in our lives, these words also reflect an attitude of praise that God longs to see in us. 

But there was a collection of Hebrew poems and songs that were made into five books that focus on lamentations and praises. It’s a book we typically know as Psalms. Oftentimes attributed to David even though only 73 actually bear his name, they all help us better know how to praise God. In fact, the first two chapters remind us that those who meditate on God’s words, His promises, and even His laws will be blessed. Therefore, those who take refuge in Him will find comfort during difficult times (songs of lament) as well as fuel for praise for all times. 

There are a few words that we see periodically throughout Psalms that may not be common words for us in our language, but they were quite impactful in the Hebrew culture. Two words I want to share with you are: Selah and Hallel. Selah’s meaning is not completely understood, but most scholars agree that it’s a word that describes taking a rest and meditating. This might be equivalent to a guitar solo in a song. But it serves as a reminder to slow down! 

The word Hallel means to praise, and we are more familiar with the command version of it, Hallelujah, which means "Praise the Lord!" In the book of Psalms, the last five Psalms (146-150) are designed to focus exclusively on praising God. However, at the end of each book there’s a common ending that serves as a reminder to praise God regardless of our circumstances, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.” (Psalms 41:13, 72:18-19, 89:15, 106:48). 

It’s not always easy to be in the mindset to praise God, but having a constant meditation on His character and His promises will definitely help motivate us to reflect on His most precious Word that God ever gave us—Jesus!

The Hardest Part?

In the board game Clue and in the online game Among Us, the objective is to determine who the killer is. Thankfully, determining who is the gruesome killer is not a decision most of us ever have to worry about. But that doesn’t mean doing investigative work to make sure WE aren’t the bad guy is a decision we are free from. Unfortunately, many people choose not to look too deep into who they are, how they treat others, or how they respond to temptations.

Jesus gave a powerful summary of the entire Bible in Matthew 22:37-39, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ (Deuteronomy 6:5) This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Leviticus 19:18)

At face value, this seems like an oversimplification of 66 inspired books that outline laws, rituals, and examples of good and bad followers of those laws and rituals. However, when we ponder the depth of what Jesus is revealing, we see a self-directed investigation of our own thoughts and motives.

First, a clearer picture of that command is given in 1 John 4:19-21, “We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

So, loving our neighbor is key to truly loving God. But loving our neighbor is obviously the more challenging command. However, what makes loving my neighbor so difficult? Consider the endless examples of greed, jealousy, lust, or revenge we read about in the Scriptures. Those are emotions that can dominate our life, unless we do as God told Cain in Genesis 4:7, “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” In other words, we have to control ourselves. That part of us that can’t accept who we are because we’re constantly comparing ourselves to someone else. That part of ourselves that only sees our failures and can’t see the blessings in life.

What if we were the source of division and hatred towards our brothers and sisters? It’s an awful thought, but David realized the need to examine himself to make sure that wasn’t so. Psalms 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

James 4:1-3, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Stay With the Plan

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, there were often times when those who made the choice to follow Him weren't clear about His real mission (John 6:35-59, Mark 8:14-38). Their lack of understanding caused them to question His motives, or maybe even His sanity. Yet, Jesus stayed true to the plan; He kept pursuing the way to redeem humankind.

Romans 5:6-8, “You see,. at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… (8) God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Sometimes we are put in awkward situations, stressful situations, or scary situations where we must press on towards the prize, even when no one else “gets it.” Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Each of us has to decide to continue to follow God’s plan even when it seems risky or insane. All throughout the story of God’s guidance to the Promised Land, those who chose to follow had to go against human fear and even against logic at times.

The more we “see” His plan, the more we can see how our obedience to that plan isn’t risky or careless or insane. God knows that when we trust Him enough to do what he told us to do and modeled through His son, that we will reach the prize we all long to have: eternal life! No more death! Peace!

1 Peter 1:3-7, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this, you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 

Fighting for Faith

A fundamental verse in regards to evangelism and apologetics is found in 1 Peter 3:15, “but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you…” It’s upon this principle that many Christians have armed themselves with the Biblical knowledge needed to defend the truth and stand for what’s right.

Although standing for the truth can be an enormous struggle and even dangerous, it’s important. It also takes the right motivation to fight. Webster defines a Fight as “contending against or in battle or physical combat” with someone. But who? And when?

Jude 3, “Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.”

The contention of our faith might be said something like “We must make an effort to win a debate about our faith.” But a debate with who? Those who oppose the truth about Jesus? Or the doubts we have in our own minds? The reality is that we often find ourselves engaged in battles that can’t be won on the outside and fail to fight the battles that can only be fought inside our hearts.

Remember the words of God to Cain in Genesis 4:6, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Paul described our fight this way in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “For the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.” EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE is not an easy task, but it might be the most powerful way to defeat the tricks of the devil. Because, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:11, “We do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”

Consider the ways the devil has won the battles in your life before, but then consider how God’s ways have proven to be more powerful. We must constantly be reminded of the power that works within us (Ephesians 3:20) and take comfort in knowing that “you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Art is Everywhere

Art is everywhere, and it changes style over time and cultures. But the thing about Art is that it tells a story. As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Therefore, art isn't always in portraits of people or things; portraits may be in the words themselves.

In the case of the Bible, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The Word shows us the beauty of God.

Psalm 27:4, "One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: 'That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.'"

Isaiah 33:17, "Your eyes will see the King in His beauty…" And yet, Isaiah goes on to describe the beautiful king in a different than expected way in Isaiah 53:2-3, "...He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind..."

What is the beauty of Jesus? How is His life an expression of God's artistic nature?

Just as art is interpreted differently by different people, so is the image of Christ.

Psalms 18:25-26, "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd."

Jesus' disciples had trouble seeing God's beautiful design, when they were drawn to the beautiful buildings (Luke 21), but despised Mary's sacrificial gift of perfume in Matthew 26:10, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to Me."

How we see Him has a lot to do with our own heart; theirs changed, so can ours. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

So, the beauty of Christ focuses on what God was willing to do for us to be part of His family, His kingdom, His life! Be an "art critic" that can see the beauty in God's love for us.

Role of Unity

The Corinthians wrote a letter to Paul asking several questions about daily life as a follower of Christ. Questions about marriage, association with anything pagan, and resurrection, to name a few.

Today, nearly 2,000 years after their questions, we still have the same concerns about our involvement in a culture that doesn't honor God as the creator of all life.

Truth is that there are plenty of scenarios that we are faced with that we don't have a clear-cut answer for. That seemingly ambiguous nature of God's will might actually be a big part of our dying to ourselves and learning to think like God (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Jesus explains this in one way in Luke 9:23-26, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when He comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."

What is it about "ourselves" that we need to deny? What is it about His ways that we may be ashamed of? Perhaps the temptation to put our desires over those of someone else. Jesus advocated that we be willing to even die for others (John 15:12-14, 1 John 3:7-10, Matthew 22:37-39).

This is at the heart of the matter: What does God expect from us concerning being unified with those who are not like us: ethnically, religiously, or any other way? 

What is the Tree of Life?

What is the tree of life? That has been a question that many people would like to know the answer to. We read about it in the beginning scenes of the Bible. Genesis 2:9, "In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."

It might seem that humans had to choose between living eternal life OR receiving the gift of knowledge. Some might recognize the test of obedience presented early on; like a parent does with a toddler. Others might recognize the basic struggle all of us must deal with soon after showing up on earth—making choices!

God has given us enough to know what His will is for us. He wants us to trust His guidance throughout life, but that takes our involvement in the process.

Hebrews 5:12-14, "... solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."

The Tree of Life gives life like an apple tree gives apples. The real question is where do I find life? Jesus addresses that, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. "(John 14:6)

But consider the imagery of life presented through trees in the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, trees are highlighted…perhaps for an interesting reason.

God often uses symbolic imagery to convey a message. And the Hebrew language is full of plenty of imagery. For instance, the Hebrew word for ‘tree’ is ‘Etz’ { }עץwhich is spelled and pronounced almost identically as the Hebrew word ‘Etzah’ { – {עצהwhich means ‘advice.’

Ponder the significance of that.

The Mystery of Christ

Homer wrote an epic poem called The Odyssey, about a hero named Odysseus, king of Ithaca. However, an Odyssey is not just a story, it's also noted as a long voyage marked by many changes of fortune. The story of the Israelites is also a kind of an odyssey where a chosen people are sent on a journey towards a Promised Land. While on the journey, they encounter plenty of enemies, giants, plagues, gods, and demons. There were times when they were extremely prosperous, like the days of Solomon; there were also times when they were completely destitute like in the days of Hezekiah, or Jehoiachin. But amidst their ups and downs, blessings and curses, freedom and captivity, they had a glimmer of hope in one who would make it all worth it—the Messiah.

Jesus was the Messiah they were waiting for, but like Odysseus, His true identity was cloaked from His own people upon His return. Jesus, the Messiah, was the one that John proclaims, “Behold, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). His ability to pay the penalty for our sins is what makes Him unlike anyone who ever has lived or will live.

He was their “change in fortune” that they had been longing for but really didn’t understand. Paul said in Romans 11:25-27, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: The deliverer will come from Zion; He will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (Isaiah 59:20-21; 27:9)

Jesus’ methods though, were like a mystery. Many people lost hope at His death, but God chose to reveal His plan for salvation the way He did for a reason. 1 Peter 1:11-12, “[the prophets were] trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told to you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.”

Like many stories people tell, God’s story follows a literary pattern that allows those “with ears to hear” to have an “aha!” moment when they begin to see how God had been giving many hints along the way that He loved us enough to counter the evil lurking within our hearts with a perfect example of selfless love—Jesus Christ! A love that would compel us to follow Him and be “faithful until death.”

The Promised Land is yet to come. We must be the diligent hero that battles through the obstacles that try to keep us from the “things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We must continue on the journey with a willingness to give up everything that hinders our progress. Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

The Road Ahead

How blessed are those who have a loving family to guide them during their younger years. To have someone to point out the right path, and give priceless advice. For many, their reality doesn’t include the counsel of wise people helping them reach a higher plane in life. Solomon gave some advice to his son (s) that were intended to “... give prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…” (Proverbs 1:4-5). This was more than just good advice; it was, as he said in Proverbs 7:1, “My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live…” 

Regardless of where a person started out or how involved their parents were with giving them direction, at some point, our success depends a lot on the choices we make. Therefore, it’s imperative that we surround ourselves with good people, and avoid situations that only lead to sin and heartache. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’ Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God…”

Jesus came to serve as a pattern to follow so we could follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21). The challenge is knowing and understanding the path He’s pointing us towards. Oftentimes we have our preconceived ideas of what we’re going to say or what we’re going to do, when in reality, we might quickly realize that our original plan won’t work.

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to some men walking towards Emmaus, a little village outside of Jerusalem. While He walked with them, He explained God’s will to them and helped them see how God’s hand had been in all the events of His death, burial, and resurrection (Luke 24:13-35). What they would soon understand about Jesus’ mission was that it was that we would become ambassadors for His cause—pointing people towards the only “way, truth, and life” (John 14:6).

Today, we still struggle with understanding God’s will, but that’s typically because we fail to acknowledge how Jesus’ mission encompasses every aspect of our life. That mission: love our neighbor! (Matthew 22:37-39; 1 John 3:19-24). How do I demonstrate love towards my neighbor in every aspect of daily life? Jesus said in Luke 9:23-25, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Does your life reflect one that uses Jesus’ model of living in every part of your life? Listen to the advice of many godly people in our past, in the Bible, all around us...and make a change for the better today!

Hope During Uncertain Times

In the game called “Complete the Sentence,” one person starts by saying a word or two, then the next person has three seconds to add to the sentence. It ends up sounding kind of like a Madlibs®. The point is you don’t know the direction of the sentence by how it starts out.

In life, it is that same way. How you start out isn’t always how it ends. In fact, we can read in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12, “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: as fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.”

From one perspective, the “unknowns” can actually add excitement to our life. Surprises lend to the anticipation of what might be coming, which is similar to hope and faith. Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” While those unexpected surprises are kind of nice, those same unknowns can be the source of all kinds of worry and anxiety.

In our current national climate, there are many people wondering, worrying about what will happen next. But as Christians, this is our opportunity to shine—or rather shine our light on God’s power. Matthew 5:16 reminds us to, “...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Or as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:12, “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”

There are many Scriptures that point us to the way we are to live during difficulties. The early church often faced struggles and persecutions for a long time. Therefore, many of the epistles dedicated quite a bit of encouragement to stay faithful:
▶ Romans 12:12, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
▶ Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
▶ Hebrews 3:13-14, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.”

Jesus’ example and all Scriptures are useful to teach us, rebuke us, correct us, and train us so that we can act righteously in the face of any struggle and that we’ll be ready to do good for those around us.
It’s probably easy to reflect on the “good ol’ days” during times of uncertainty and worry, but consider the words in Ecclesiastes 7:10, “Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions.” Powerful words to prepare our minds for Godly action—not just reaction! Ecclesiastes 7:8, “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”

Are You Going Against the Grain?

In Daniel 3, we read the famous story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s encounter with a fiery furnace. Their names had been changed. Their Hebrew names were Hananiah which means “the Lord shows Grace,” Mishael means “Who is like God?” and Azariah means “The Lord helps!” It’s interesting that Nebuchadnezzar perverted the meaning of their names in ways that try to honor the gods of Babylon. But time would tell that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were truly dedicated to the one and only God, Yahweh! Their dedication became obvious to those watching because of how they functioned and why they did it. As their peers noticed that they didn’t bow down to the elevated things in the Babylonian kingdom, those three brave servants of the God of heaven had an opportunity to give everything up for the loyalty they had to God.

Their example serves as a motivation for many people today that ‘going against the grain’ isn’t easy, but it is very noticeable. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:16 to “let your light shine in such a way that people may see your good deeds as you do them, and glorify God in heaven.”

Going against the grain doesn’t come naturally, but Jesus came to show us what it looks like in everyday kinds of ways. He told His disciples at the Last Supper after He washed their feet, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you…” (John 13:14-15) He also said prior to that in Luke 9:23-25, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood that gaining acceptance or popularity, or simply avoiding problems by fitting in with the world instead of standing with God would profit them nothing. John wrote in 1 John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

It’s easy to go with the flow, but those who will receive the crown of life are those who are “faithful unto death,” (Revelations 2:10). Peter said in 1 Peter 2:20-21, “But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” Jesus truly went against the grain to be consistent in blessing people; what an amazing example to follow in our lives starting today!

A New Life

In Charles Dickens' novel, Great Expectations, a young orphan named Pip is given an opportunity to change his poverty into prestige and fortune by the works of Miss Havisham. Throughout Pip’s journey to “high society,” he experiences a lot of twists and turns that leaves him basically where he started.

Life is full of “unexpected” twists that might leave us scratching our heads or wondering what went wrong. Consider the life of Job, the man from Uz. He had an amazingly blessed life and was a Godly man, but he found himself completely broken and confused. In fact, that type of story is very common throughout the stories in the Bible; it even happened to Jesus!

He told His followers in Matthew 17:22-23, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day He will be raised to life.” Multiple times Jesus foretold what awaited Him in Jerusalem, a fact that wouldn’t be appreciated by those who heard Him until after His resurrection. In time, His expectation of being the true King would be reality. Although we still await the final unveiling of His kingship in the fullest way, we still press on knowing that “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time…” (1 Peter 1:3-9)

He was willing to lay everything down so that we could have “new life.” During this time of year, many reflect on their life and determine what needs to change inside of them, or around them, to help them embrace the reality of a changed life. For some these “new year's resolutions” might simply be a change to a physical element of their life. Many others choose to make no changes at all. But Jesus did what He did on the cross so that amazing, eternal, important changes could be made to our own lives so that the glory of God might be seen in us.

Paul reminds us in Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”

The Christmas Story

One of the classic Christmas movies that a lot of people love to watch is A Christmas Story. Cleverly narrated from a 9-year-old boy’s perspective, of his greatest gift of Christmas, and his attempts to ensure Santa would deliver it. Although his logic wasn’t always right, his passion to have his very own Red Ryder B-B Gun was unmatched. 

That story was told in a way that most of us can probably relate to. The overly anxious feelings as a kid longing to open a special gift on Christmas morning. But there is a gift that is better than all gifts. Something that Paul refers to Isaiah’s words, “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him…” (1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4). 

Yet when the time to receive the gift came, the people who played a part in that story, didn’t recognize the gift for what it was—the ultimate gift. Then again, would we have recognized it? Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, “We declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 

At Christmas time, the story of Christ’s birth is retold and celebrated as the focal point during this season. While His birth is an important event, it’s not at the heart of the Good News. One scholar, Rolf Jacobson, said that “It’s easier to proclaim the gospel through the Christmas story, telling of the birth of a baby and angels announcing peace on earth… than [the story of one who…] ‘suffered, died, and was buried.’ The story of crucifixion takes us through scenes of anger and brutality, of hostility and disgrace. Instead of simply celebrating life, it confronts us with the reality of death.” 

When we try to look into the lives and motives of those surrounding the Cross, it’s fairly easy to categorize the good from the bad, but we need to be careful in doing so. There is a helpful concept held by some, that suggests that the Bible is filled with “stories” about how God interacted with mankind, and how man reacted to His actions. Isaiah reminds us how “[God’s] thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways [like His] ways” (Isaiah 55:8). He has used situations to remind us that we “all are like sheep, have wandered away.” We all have found ourselves in denial of God’s power or even existence. We’ve all let fear control our faith. However, when we can honestly and humbly read the greatest story of redemption, and consider how I have been like Peter, the Pharisees, or Pilate, then perhaps I better appreciate the heart of God and His perfect gift of love. 

What's In A Name?

 What’s in a name? As a Christian, the name of Christ is huge in regards to our salvation. Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Philippians 2:9-10, “God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” John 14:13, Luke 10:17, Romans 10:13, 1 Corinthians 6:11, just to name a few more!

Although we recognize the power in the name of Jesus even though we never met Him physically, many don’t see Him as anything--including the religious leaders in His time. They valued their own name more than the name of the Redeemer.

In the garden of Gethsemane, they seized their opportunity to finally arrest Him and try to erase His name from the people's lips. In reality, people had been whispering the name Messiah soon after the return from exile. They were looking for the one who would bear the name of God.

The hint of God’s powerful kingdom really began to take shape after Jacob left Laban’s homestead with his many wives and children. Their names also help us see something about the people involved in promoting this coming kingdom:

The sons of Leah: Reuben (“Behold, a Son”), Simeon (“God has heard”), Levi (“Joined in Harmony”), Judah (“Praise God”), Issachar (“Man of Reward”), and Zebulun (“A Dwelling Gift”)
The sons of Rachel: Joseph (“God will Add”), and Benjamin (“Son of my Right Hand”)
The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid: Dan (“Judgment”), and Naphtali (“My Struggle”)
The sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad (“A Coming Troop”), and Asher (“Happy”)

Getting people to hear and believe the nature of God’s kingdom wasn’t easy (and still isn’t), but God didn’t quit. He stayed focused on his plan. His consistency helps us to have faith in Him. His example guides us closer to the truth and our purpose, as Paul stated in Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”

Prayers for the World

What impact does prayer have on you? Or more importantly, on the people around you? Throughout the Bible, there were many people that prayed for those around them. People like Noah, Abraham, Moses, or Samuel who said in regards to the Israelites’ rebellion against God, in 1 Samuel 12:20-25, “.... As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will perish.”

Occasionally, even the kings would pray for the people of Israel. David made several prayers concerning his people; Hezekiah interceded at a very dark time in Israel’s history; in Isaiah 37:16-20, “...Now, Lord our God, deliver us…” But in spite of all the efforts those priests and kings made on behalf of their “brothers,” the people still rebelled and doom and gloom seemed inevitable.

Yet all those failed attempts for redemption and deliverance highlighted the urgency of a savior. Israel, God’s chosen people, didn’t have a future without His intercession. Then Jesus showed up!

He revived hope for God’s chosen people. His power, His love, and His discipleship left a standard that would be felt forever. In Luke 22:39-46, Jesus takes some of His chosen ones up to the mountain to talk to God on their behalf. John 17 beautifully expresses His longing for our deliverance:

“...Now I'm returning to You. I'm saying these things in the world's hearing so My people can experience My joy completed in them. I gave them Your word; the godless world hated them because of it, because they didn't join the world's ways, just as I didn't join the world's ways. I'm not asking that You take them out of the world but that You guard them from the Evil One. They are no more defined by the world than I am defined by the world. Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that You gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. I'm consecrating Myself for their sakes so they'll be truth-consecrated in their mission. I'm praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in Me because of them and their witness about Me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, so they might be one heart and mind with Us. Then the world might believe that You, in fact, sent Me. The same glory You gave Me, I gave them, so they'll be as unified and together as We are— I in them and You in Me. Then they'll be mature in this oneness, and give the godless world evidence that You've sent me and loved them in the same way You've loved me. Father, I want those You gave Me to be with Me, right where I am, so they can see My glory, the splendor You gave Me…” (in the Message Translation)

Now, more than ever, we need to consider the power of prayer. James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Consider calling some friends, family, or coworkers together to pray for our nation and the spreading of God’s word. 1 Timothy 2:1, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people…”

The Lord's Supper

Jesus once responded to a young rich man’s rejection of the gospel with this timeless phrase, “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” (Matthew 19:30)

One of the prerequisites for entering the kingdom is poverty and humiliation! But who wants that kingdom?! We naturally seek a land that offers “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” A place where “dreams come true” and “hard work pays off” Is that the picture of God’s kingdom?

In a world that frequently rejects those things that seem “less” in our eyes, God redirects our focus on those with less as an opportunity to model kingdom behavior towards them. To do that, it often means we have to take less so that they can have more.

The Lord’s Supper was a fresh perspective on an old memorial feast that reflected on God’s faithfulness to deliver those in trouble. The Passover feast had certain conditions in which it must be eaten (Exodus 12). While that was a feast of remembrance, it was also a reminder that the journey has just begun, and there will be a great day of feasting when we get where we’re going!

I’ve heard people say that communion doesn’t fill you up. But it wasn’t designed to fill you up but remind you of the things to come. The lesson in the encounter with the rich young ruler wasn’t necessarily aimed at the rich man (although Jesus hoped he would get it), but rather the lesson was for those who chose to give up what they could be “feasting on” for the anticipation of what’s to come. Jesus said it another way in Luke 18:29-30, “No one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Paul reminds us of a passage from Isaiah, “‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived’ the things God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9) But Isaiah continues that message of hope for the Israelites who had lost so much because of their poor choices, “The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create…” (Isaiah 65:17-18)

The Lord’s Supper is intended to cause you to reflect on the sacrifices necessary to make heaven a reality for you. 1 Corinthians 11:24, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” But its bigger focus is for us to keep in mind that we will be filled up when we give our allegiance to God by sharing our blessings with others.

Like the small bite-sized portions on a sampler plate of desserts is intended to make you want more, so is the paradoxical “supper” of “little” intending to cause you to want more of it. The way to the kingdom should bring new hope to how life will be like when Jesus truly is king!

Judas Iscariot

When the Romans took over the world, the Celtic’s Day of the Dead was moved around and purified a bit to become a more holy event – All Hallows Eve, which means “all the holy people” was celebrated on November 1. But what about the bad people, not “holy” ones?

[Enter Halloween stage left]

What made the “holy” ones different from the “unholy” ones? We should feel confident to say, "Decisions." Hebrews 5:12-14, “You need milk, not solid food! [Because you are] not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

Making good decisions is something parents should be teaching their children to do (Deuteronomy 6:7-8; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:1-4). When someone knows how to make good decisions, they can look ahead to see where that decision could lead them and determine if it’s good or not.

Judas made a decision that cost him tremendously: he betrayed Christ! But what else can we know about Judas Iscariot? Apparently, he was a businessman, since he was given the charge of the purse (the bank account).

In John 12:5-6, we read that it was Judas who objected to the woman anointing Jesus’ with expensive oil by saying, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” The next line paints a picture that will probably never be erased, “He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” Was this an inspired description of Judas, or did Jesus call Judas to serve alongside Him just like the others? In Matthew 26:13 Jesus says of the woman anointing His feet, “Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” It’s Judas’s decision that would become his identifying mark forever!

In fact, most people don’t their child after Judas because of how bad his decision was.

We may not know much of him, and what we do know may be skewed a little because of the impact Judas’ decision had on all of the followers of Christ, but hopefully, we can see that Judas teaches us about the cost of our decisions, and the impact those decisions can have on others. Remember that all the apostles decided to follow Christ at one point. And in time, they all had to make other decisions about how long to follow Him, under what conditions, and whether or not they were willing to truly give all for Him. That’s true for us as well.

Remember Paul’s words to the churches of Galatia, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel…” (Galatians 1:6) They too were making decisions that made a negative impact on the body. It’s healthy to reflect on the life of Judas and ask what we can learn from his weakness? Our weaknesses have probably been the source of many acts of betrayal towards our pledge to Christ; thankfully God can provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:12-13), just as Jesus told Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

The key? Don’t give up on Christ when it seems like He can’t help (perhaps Judas’s weakness) – that’s when He shines the brightest!

The End of All

Try to imagine what it must have been like for God to speak the cosmos into existence. Those first words echoed through the formless and empty void of darkness, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:1-3) To know that God had a plan in mind is evident by the way He created an increasingly more complex infrastructure to support the pinnacle of His plan—mankind! Yet, the first scene we read, after mankind was created, was mistrust, rebellion, and deception. The story just gets worse from there; read Acts 7 some time to hear Stephen’s recount of the “chosen people” of God. It’s quite dismal!

Isaiah 46:9-10, “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I [planned].’”

As God had a plan in the very beginning, He knew how the very end would happen, too. That didn’t stop Him from making great efforts to convince His creation to trust Him, to obey Him, and to live by His truth. He has given mankind plenty of reasons to put our faith in Him, and yet…

Jesus spent much of His time on earth preparing His followers, those who trusted Him, how to stay faithful even through hardships. In Luke 21 Jesus informed them that the things they’ve put a lot of trust in (like the temple), wouldn’t be what would “get them through” the difficulty.

Paul would remind Timothy of the need for a deep faith in Jesus (not the temple) in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

Peter would tell God’s elect, exiles, scattered throughout [Asia] that we have so much to praise God for, giving us an amazing inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade; protected by our faith in Jesus! But he told them, “for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” But these “opportunities” make our faith stronger than ever, and because of that strong faith, we will be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy—the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Thinking about “the End” can be a scary thought. But it’s one that God has had in mind from the beginning, and it doesn’t have to be awful—if we trust Him.

End Game for the Temple

The mission statement for Habitat for Humanity describes their “love for God being modeled by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.” Their vision: “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.” The concept is great! People help others who are helping build their own homes. The people who will be living there are required to help on a large percentage of the construction of the home, with only limited customizations they can make to the design. Once the foundation is poured, the layout is set. From there, they won’t get to move in until the final touches are complete. But in the end – it’s theirs!

When you think about the house that Jesus is building for us, we too have to be patient for the final touches to be completed. He says in John 14:1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.”

“But when will it be completed?!” is a question that many homeowners ask during the construction process which is similar to the question about the end of time. As Jesus’ earthly ministry was drawing to a close, He emphasized the difference between an earthly kingdom and the one He was building.

Imagine how you would have interpreted what He said in Luke 21:6, “The time will come when not one stone [of the temple] will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.” To a Jew, the temple represented God’s dwelling with them (Exodus 25:8-9 or 1 Kings 8:27-30). Therefore, to have it destroyed (again!) would seem so utterly hopeless. The Jews had suffered the loss of their temple at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar (587 B.C.), and now Jesus was talking about something similar.

Even today people are still asking those questions, still wondering what it's all about. After all, the walls of the temple did fall in 70 A.D. by General Titus, Vespasian’s son. How are we supposed to grapple with the events leading up to “the end” when some of the specific language Jesus used has already taken place, but we’re still here!? Basically – Trust!

We must trust that what He has planned for us will come at the appropriate time. Those aren’t always the words we want to hear, but that’s what we’re reminded to do… “Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown” (Revelations 2:10b). Perhaps our biggest lesson, as well as the Jews listening to Jesus, is that bad events will happen, but you must be part of God’s kingdom (the church) to remain hopeful. The temple they put their trust in was just man-made, but Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”

Trust in God

When did you know you were an independent person? When you got your driver’s license? Graduated high school? College? Got married? Started your career? It’s hard to know when the process actually began because there are many little steps that led to each (or most) of those achievements. The process of becoming more confident in life is quite complicated.

The actual driver’s license doesn’t mean you really know how to drive, any more than the diploma means you’ve learned what’s needed in your job. And having a marriage certificate doesn’t mean you understand what it means to pledge your heart to someone or that you’ve got it all figured out.

Somewhere in that process, there are natural moments of doubt, conflict, and then growth. These are points along the pathway that cause you to question whether or not you’re on the right path––career, spouse, even faith! Does that equate to sin?

Is it wrong to pause and reflect on your choices? Perhaps the sin comes in when I realize a flaw in my plan and choose not to do anything about it. James 4:17, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

During Jesus’ ministry, He was under fire by the religious leaders. People who, we would assume, longed to know God and His will better. Yet, when His will was revealed, they refused to budge. In other words, they doubted the legitimacy of Jesus’ claim to be “one with the father” – (Read John 6). At one point He was asked in John 6:28, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe (trust) in the one He has sent.” To which they asked, “What sign then will You give that we may see it and believe (trust) You?”

People all throughout the Bible didn’t always understand what they were experiencing, which seriously threatened their trust in God! (Read Psalms 88 & 89 as an example). Even Job wanted a face-to-face counsel with God, Jacob wrestled God, and multiple people weren’t persuaded to fully trust God yet. In part, that’s the beauty of Scripture––we get a raw glimpse into the lives of people who chose to trust even in the uncertain spots, a decision that led to a more mature faith, but the complete abandonment of faith for others. Struggles happen!

Jesus demonstrated that He not only has power over illness, disease, hunger, even death, but He also demonstrated how He was acting out what had been prophesied about the Messiah. They could trust Him (believe in Him) to be the Messiah, the promised anointed king, or they could reject it. But that’s true for us today as well––we can choose to accept the words of God as the map that leads to our heavenly father, or we can reject them and head out to the pigpens (e.g. Luke 15:11-32).

The widow in Luke 21:1-4 trusted God with her livelihood. Her trust was her faith in God. That faith led her to give all. Those who wouldn’t be persuaded gave nothing except themselves over to their own jealousy. On this path of life there are many turns and twists that challenge our trust in God, but remember that God’s words and His actions were the proof that they needed to trust God… Are you persuaded?

What Does Marriage Mean?

What does marriage mean? Psychology Today defined it as “the process by which two people make their relationship public, official, and permanent. It is the joining of two people in a bond that is supposed to last until death…” But a psychology magazine isn’t the best place to find out about marriage. It helps to go back to the source that shows how and when it started––the Bible.

But what do the Scriptures tell us about marriage? The purpose of it might constantly be in question in our culture, but the essence isn’t that difficult to grasp. The very fundamental purpose is bound up in creation. Creating another generation of humans to occupy the planet God has made for us. Genesis 1:26-28, where God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may… Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…” The bigger challenge is modeling behavior that helps to love and respect others to ensure continual harmony in as many lives as possible.

However, marriage is also a very powerful symbol of our relationship between God and mankind. From Genesis to Revelation the Bible is filled with, and begins and ends with, a marriage (Genesis 1-2 and Revelations 21:9, 22:17). At the heart of it all, marriage begins with a promise to love, honor, and cherish. But, for humans, there is a lot of inconsistency in keeping promises––in marriage or otherwise. The solution is making love… into a verb. This is what Jesus demonstrated during His time on earth: Love is visible and therefore it helps define itself by what it does.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

If “God is love” (1 John 4:7-12), then everything He commanded us to do, is an acknowledgment of that love in action. In other words, we’re created to recreate the demonstration of God’s love to others. Marriage is probably the most universally recognized union between two people that starts with a promise, deals with differences, focuses on bringing up another generation, and ultimately has the most lasting influence on people.

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a marriage for a reason––God has a marriage-style commitment to us, and those worthy of that commitment will have a similar commitment to those God has made in His image.

A Rock of Offense

Most of us talk to someone every day, therefore, as Ecclesiastes 5:3 says, “…too many words make you a fool” (NLT), or as Proverbs 10:19 says, “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable.” (NASB) What do I mean by bringing these verses up? Basically, the more you talk to people the more likely you say something that offends them.

To some degree, that’s just life. We’re all imperfect people, hopefully doing our best to get along with others. But it seems that we are living in an increasingly angry and easily offended world. While that’s too bad, it does give us more opportunity to exercise the principles that Jesus instituted in the Sermon on the Mount… “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.…” (Matthew 5:38-45).

Here are a few thoughts on what might help us react to times when we are offended. After all, how we handle being “offended” can make a huge difference.

1. Be cautious. Sometimes the best response is no response. James 1:19, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

2. Be calm. If you go looking for a fight, chances are you are going to find one. Romans 12:17-18, “Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

3. Be clear. Think through what you want to say before you say it. Then make sure the words you use don’t create more friction. Take time to pray and meditate on what it means to be a “peacemaker,” since Jesus said that they would “be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

These high-tension moments allow the heart of who we are to shine the brightest. While we shouldn’t be looking for conflict and being offended (or being offensive), it will happen. Our goal is to lean on God’s directions to better handle those situations.

Take some time to reflect on how easily “offended” the Pharisees and priests were by Jesus’ teachings. But had they responded with more godliness, they may have been able to see more of the picture and even change their destiny. What about you? What do you need to do to mend an offended relationship? God’s word will help!

The Authority of Christ

From our earliest years of life, most of us were taught to “respect” those in authority: parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, police, etc. And yet, most of the defining moments of our lives are developed from those crossroads where we break away from “the nest” and go our own way and establish our own “authority.” It’s as if we’ve been trained so that we can establish personal authority in a responsible way at the appropriate time.

In fact, when we meet an adult who isn’t able to make a decision without the approval of a parent, most would agree that there was an over-dependence issue. In 1961, a trial was conducted in Jerusalem concerning the Nazi war crimes committed during WWII. One person in particular on trial was Adolf Eichmann, who played an integral part in the death camps. Yet, at the trial, he claimed that he wasn’t guilty because he was “just following orders.”

Long before that trial in Jerusalem, another trial was underway against Jesus, the son of God most high. The claim was that He claimed authority that He wasn’t authorized to claim (Luke 20:1-8). However, He’d been proving his authority over and over again throughout His ministry, from His beginning sermon (Matthew 5-7), where the people recognized that “He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (7:29) to His own disciples who quickly learned that “even the winds and the waves obey Him!” (Matthew 8:27)

Jesus verified He was the Messiah to John the Baptist’s followers by doing things that demonstrated His authority. Luke 7:22-23, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of Me.” This happens to be a quote from Isaiah 61, and that entire book had a lot to do with establishing the authority of God through His promised redeemer of the world–the Messiah.

Although questioning authority is healthy if done respectfully and at the right time, the Pharisees didn’t have pure motives. When we read the Bible, we get a peek into the mind of God, and therefore we can begin to understand what His will is (Ephesians 5:17, Matthew 7:21). Jesus proved He had power even over death! That proof gives credibility to all His other actions and teachings that point to His authority over everything! It’s difficult to truly let God’s will be my authority, and not just my own interpretation of it.

Ephesians 1:18-23, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he Has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority…”