Testimony

Readings for today: Acts 24-26

Felix. Festus. Agrippa. Bernice. Caesar. Religious leaders. Pagan governors. Roman emperors. The Apostle Paul testified before them all. On what charges? Was he stirring up violence? Was he an insurrectionist? Was he calling for rebellion? No, he simply was sharing the gospel. I love how Paul sums things up when the religious leaders accuse him of being a “plague” and an “agitator” and a “ringleader” of a new sect. Paul doesn’t get angry. Paul doesn’t throw a fit. Paul doesn’t lash out or respond with violence or seek to use his leverage to destroy his accusers. He simply says, “But I do admit this to you: I worship the God of my ancestors according to the Way, which they call a sect, believing everything that is in accordance with the law and written in the prophets. I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous. I always strive to have a clear conscience toward God and men.” (Acts‬ ‭24‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

The way of Jesus has always been a stumbling block to the Jewish religious leaders and absolute foolishness to pagan Gentiles. Why? Because literally no one believes a crucified Messiah makes any sense. The Jewish leaders reject it out of hand because they believed God’s Messiah would come to re-establish the Kingdom of Israel on earth. They believed He would kick out the Romans and sit on David’s throne and rule forever. They were looking for a political savior more than anything else so when Jesus is crucified by the Roman authorities, it effectively ended any claim He had to Messiahship in their minds. The pagan Gentiles rejected the cross because it was the ultimate sign of humiliation and defeat. It was the most shameful and painful way ever devised by humanity to execute another human being. It effectively made the victim a non-person. It de-humanized them in every way possible. Naked. Beaten and bloody. Slowly suffocating over hours if not days. All on public display. How in the world could anyone claim such a person to be the Savior of anything? Much less the world? The answer, of course, is resurrection. Only the resurrection makes sense of the cross. Only the resurrection sets Jesus apart from every other would-be messiah in the world. It was his encounter with the Risen Christ outside of Damascus that changed Paul forever and it’s why he became a follower of the Way and a proclaimer of the gospel.

Let me ask you an important question. If you were put on trial, like Paul, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian? The reality is that all of us find ourselves on the stand in the courtroom of public opinion every single day. The way we interact online. The way we relate to others at work or at school. Our reputation in our neighborhood. The love we show our family and friends. As you think about all the people God has placed in your life, do they know you are a Christian? Have they heard your testimony? Do they know why you believe the way you do? How can you pray for opportunities to share your faith with them today?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Discernment

Readings for today: Acts 20:4-38, 21-22, 23:1-35

Discernment isn’t always easy. Sure, there are some things the Bible makes clear. Moral issues like murder, theft, deceit, and sexual immorality are consistently addressed throughout the Scriptures as are deeper issues like anger, lust, and greed. These things have no place in a Christian’s life. As we are sanctified in the Spirit, we should expect these things to diminish and the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to flourish. But what about discerning the will of the Spirit? Where He may be calling us to go? Who He may be calling us to meet? What He may be calling us to do? That is more difficult.

Today’s reading puts this issue front and center. Paul is heading back to Jerusalem. Presumably, he believes this is the will of the Holy Spirit for his life. It’s an unshakable conviction for him and one that drives him to leave those he loves dearly with no guarantee he will be safe. As he travels, he stops along the way to spend time with other Christians. Men and women who are the literal fruit in some cases of his ministry. They implore him - by the Spirit - to not go to Jerusalem. But Paul will not be dissuaded. Finally, he lands at Caesarea and stays with Philip the evangelist. A prophet named Agabus comes to meet him and declares to him - by the Spirit - that he will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles for judgment. Once again, the local people plead with Paul not to go. Once again, Paul is resolute. “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 21:13 CSB) So what’s going on here? Is Paul being stubborn? Is Paul being foolish? Is Paul being proud? Is Paul resisting the will of the Holy Spirit?

It’s honestly tough to know. What we do know is the prophecy of Agabus comes true. Paul is arrested, imprisoned, and handed over to Caesar who eventually executes him. And this raises some interesting questions for us as believers. How do we discern the will of the Holy Spirit for our lives? Surely, it starts with God’s Word. We listen for the voice of the Spirit as we read through the Scriptures. God’s Word is confirmed to us in prayer. We intentionally seek the will of the Spirit as we pray over our lives. We also need to listen to the voices of other believers who have our best in mind. They may receive a Word from the Lord for us. At the same time, the Word they share with us must be confirmed by the Word of God and the Spirit as He speaks to our hearts. We shouldn’t just accept it at face value. Another factor in play is the place of suffering in the life of a believer. Far too many Christians, especially in the West, seem to be under the impression that God would never call us to suffer. We say foolish things like, “God would never give us more than we can handle” when, in fact, the opposite is often true. The reality is God may indeed call us to suffer. Call us to what looks like failure, from a human perspective. All of the disciples, except John, died a martyrs death. So many Christians throughout history and throughout the world today suffer incredible hardship and persecution. Does this mean they heard God’s call wrongly? Not at all. As one can see, discernment is a complex process involving a lot of different voices. Perhaps the most important thing we can do is walk with open hands, a humble heart, and a listening ear that is attuned to God’s voice.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 24-26

Love

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 13-16

The love of God is the most powerful force in the universe. It bears all things. Believes all things. Hopes all things. Endures all things. And never, ever fails. It is patient and kind. It is not boastful or arrogant or rude. It keeps no record of wrongs. It rejoices in all that is right and good and noble and true. This is why Jesus says to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength is the first and greatest commandment. It’s why He says the love of neighbor is the second great commandment. It’s why He believes all other commandments rest on these two. And I believe it with all my heart. In fact, I’ve staked my life on it. I’ve put all my eggs in this basket. Pushed all my chips to the middle to bet on the love of God.

The Apostle Paul clearly felt the same way. I love what he says in Romans 13:8, “Do not owe anyone anything, except to love on another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” He goes on to say that all the commandments can be summed up by loving our neighbors as ourselves and I would probably take it a step further. We should love our neighbor God loves us which is to say relentlessly, unconditionally, faithfully. Love, God’s love, indeed is the fulfillment of the law. Why does Paul say this? Why put so much emphasis on this one command? This one idea? Because only the love of God can motivate us to move beyond self to others. Only the love of God can move us to extend our love outward even to our enemies. The love of God is the most transformational force in the universe because it is grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ Himself. The Son of God who became the Son of Man. The Eternal Word of God become flesh and blood. God incarnate willing to empty Himself and humble Himself and die on a cross. The world has never known a love like this.

As I mentioned above, I have staked everything on the love of God. I have staked my marriage on the love of God. I have staked my parenting on the love of God. I have staked all my relationships, even relationships with those who I might consider my opponents or my enemies, on the love of God. I have staked my ministry on the love of God. I have staked my preaching and teaching and leadership on the love of God. Everything for me comes back to this love. What about you? What drives you? What motivates you? And is it the love of God or some other love?

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 20:4-38, 21-22, 23:1-35

Inclusivity

Readings for today: Romans 9-12

It’s hard to overstate the radical inclusivity of the gospel. It includes people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. It includes people from every social and economic level. It includes men and women and children. It includes people from every political party. It includes people from every sexual identity. Whatever the world marks as a “distinction” that sets a group of people apart - for good or for ill - the gospel tears down those barriers. And that’s why the Apostle Paul can say in Romans 10:13, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This was a shocking idea in first century Roman and Jewish society and frankly, it’s still a shocking idea in the 21st century. The Romans had a well-established caste system. Those with wealth and power advanced in society. Those who were poor and powerless were trampled on. Men were esteemed and honored. Women were limited in what they could and could not do. Following Aristotle, slaves and free people were both born into their condition. It was incredibly rare for anyone to break through all these barriers. For the Jews, the “system” was religious. People were divided into clean and unclean categories, depending on the particular sect you followed. Pharisees, Sadducees, zealots, Essenes, etc. all had their different rules and customs that a person had to follow if they wanted to be included. Of course, we see many of those same dynamics in play in our culture today. There are still vast differences between the rich and poor, powerful and powerless. People still divide along ethnic, social, and political lines. Careers depend on influence and access. Success depends on the circles one runs in. Inclusion requires conformity to a certain set of norms determined by those who are in charge.

The gospel pushes us beyond all these human-made barriers. It pushes us to reach across the aisle and expand our tent to include all who call on the name of the Lord. The only entrance requirement into the Kingdom of God is belief in Jesus Christ. Let me say that again for those in the back…the only entrance requirement into the Kingdom of God is belief in Jesus Christ. Anyone who confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in their heart that God raised Him from the dead will be saved. This is as radical a message today as it was when Paul and the other apostles first proclaimed it all those centuries ago. And any church that truly and honestly and authentically proclaims this message will soon find themselves crossing all kinds of barriers. It isn’t easy work, of course. There will be a lot of resistance as the Spirit breaks down the barriers we have created in our own hearts towards those who are different than us. There will be conflict as people naturally try to reinforce certain social patterns or cultural norms and impose them on others. But through it all, God promises to keep working with us. He promises to keep breaking us down and building us back up in His image. He promises to keep breaking down our churches and building them back up so they might become the inclusive communities He’s called them to be. God is faithful! And nothing will be impossible with Him!

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 13-16

Open Spaces

Readings for today: Romans 5-8

My view of life can be so narrow at times. I am limited by my lack of understanding. Limited by my lack of experience. Limited by my finite abilities. Limited by my emotions. Limited by the sin that so easily trips me up. All of these things and more conspire to narrow my field of vision. Foreclose on options I otherwise might consider. Shot down possibilities I might otherwise take advantage of. Close doors I might otherwise walk through. I’ve seen it happen in my life. I’ve seen it happen in the lives of those I love and serve as a pastor.

Recently, I was talking with a friend who is locked in conflict with their spouse. Neither of them can see the forest for the trees. Both of them are locked into a particular point of view. Their field of vision has narrowed to the point where their “way” is the only “way” they can see. It may end up destroying their marriage. I was talking to another friend who is frustrated with a colleague at work. They are wrestling with all kinds of emotions. They are battling their fears and anxieties and assumptions. When they let these things get the upper hand, they start to feel like the situation is hopeless. They start to believe the lie that there’s no way forward. Their vision begins to narrow unnecessarily and options they might otherwise consider no longer seem to be in play. It’s amazing how often we fall into this trap as human beings. It’s part of our sinful, broken condition and it impacts us all.

This is why I love what Paul shares in Romans 5 today. Listen to how the Message version translates it, “By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” (Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭MSG‬‬) I love the language of “wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory.” All kinds of images flash through my mind when I read these words. Summitting a 14’er here in Colorado and being able to see for miles. Standing on the Great Plains and seeing the wheat fields stretch out before me in every direction. Looking out the window of a plane and being able to see entire cities come into view. This is the difference between God’s view and my view. His view is unlimited, mine is limited. His view is infinite, mine is finite. His view is unobstructed, mine is obstructed by all kinds of tension and stress and anxiety and fear and sinful desires that I struggle with almost every day.

Friends, God wants to give us His eyes to see. His ears to hear. His heart to understand all that is going on in the world around us. He wants to expand our view, not only of our own lives, but the lives of those we love and live among and work alongside. He wants us to live in the wide open spaces of grace rather than the cramped spaces of sin. He wants us to live in freedom rather than in slavery. He wants us to see all the possibilities and all the opportunities He has prepared for us. He has promised to do more than we can ever ask or imagine! All He asks is that we let go of our hopes and dreams - which are small and petty by comparison - and turn our lives over to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Romans 9-12

Faith

Readings for today: Acts 20:1-3, Romans 1-4

What is faith? Some believe it to be wishful thinking. Some believe it to be blind hope. Some confuse it with a feeling. Some think it utter foolishness. And perhaps it is on some level. Depending on what we believe or rather, who we believe in. For example, I have many friends who place their faith in themselves. They believe they are smart enough and strong enough and charismatic enough to make their way in the world. But age catches up with them. The world changes on them. Suddenly, their wisdom fails, their strength fades, and their influence on those around them wanes. Another example. I have many friends who place their trust in human progress. They believe the world will get better given enough time. But then a genocide breaks out. An atrocity takes place. A heinous crime is committed. And we are reminded that for all the technological advances we’ve made, we just can’t seem to escape the depravity of the human condition.

In the Bible, Abraham is considered the “father of faith.” He is the one who models faith for us. He is the one who shows us what faith looks like in real life and in real time. Over and over again, the Apostle Paul will point to Abraham and say, “he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.” In fact, one of my favorite definitions of faith comes right out of Romans 4:18-22. “Abraham believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.” Abraham believed. Why? Because of the promise given to him by God. His belief was not based on anything earthly. All evidence of him becoming a father, much less the father of many nations, seemed to be to the contrary. But Abraham’s faith was not blind. He trusted God. In fact, he did not waver in unbelief because he was fully convinced God was able to do what He had promised. This last part is the key. Trusting in God’s ability to do what He has promised.

What has God promised? He has promised to redeem our world. He has promised to restore all creation. He has promised to save those who place their trust in Him. Is God able to deliver on His promise? Yes. He is more than able. What else has God promised? He has promised, as a good Father, to give good gifts to His children. To provide for them. To protect them. To bless them. To convict them. To discipline them. To use all things - including the good, bad, and ugly of life - for the good of those who love Him. Is God able to deliver on these promises? Yes. He is more than able. And the testimonies of Christians around the world today and throughout history provide all kinds of evidence to back it up. So what about you? Do you believe? Have you placed your trust in God alone? Have you staked your life and your future on His promises? Do you walk by faith and not by sight?

‭‭Readings for tomorrow: Romans 5-8

Weakness

Readings for today: 2 Corinthians 10-13

I was sixteen when I first went to see a counselor. It was something my mom set up in the wake of an intervention with my dad over his alcoholism that didn’t go well. I remember sitting in the woman’s office. The furniture wasn’t all that comfortable. The whole place felt “institutional” to me. Almost like a prison. I remember her asking me a lot of questions about my life. I remember being on the defensive from the start and not wanting to discuss my feelings. However, one set of questions still sticks out to me after all these years, “Why do you work so hard to succeed? Why do you feel you have to prove yourself to those around you? Who are you trying to impress?“ The truth was actually fairly simple. I was trying to impress my dad. I wanted his approval and affirmation more than anything else in my life. I wanted to prove to him that I was a success. The reality was much more complex. Deep down in my adolescent brain, I believed if I achieved enough, succeeded enough, won enough in life that perhaps I could erase my shame over my father’s addiction. I know it’s not logical but it’s real and it’s how I felt. Years later, I found myself in another counselor’s office. I was married now with my own children. I was serving my first church in ministry. I was working long hours and burning out. So I went to see a professional. Interestingly enough, he asked me a similar set of questions. “Why do you work so hard to succeed? Why do you feel you have to prove yourself to those around you? Who are you trying to impress?” This time, I was ready to process. The counselor and I worked through the layers of shame and guilt that had built up over my life and helped me ground my identity in the unconditional love of my Heavenly Father. This, in turn, helped me lay aside my need to impress others or prove myself to them.

I have no idea what kind of emotional journey the Apostle Paul took in his own life but clearly he had come to a similar conclusion. Though he had every reason to boast in his achievements and success, he considered them worthless when compared to the surpassing glory of Jesus Christ. It’s why he’s so uncomfortable having to prove himself to the Christians at Corinth. He doesn’t want to have to give them his resume or prove he was just as capable and qualified as the self-proclaimed “super apostles” who had come after him. So instead of boasting about his successes, Paul turns the whole thing on its head and begins to boast over his weaknesses. “If boasting is necessary, I will boast about my weaknesses.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬) In fact, he even shares about a persistent struggle in his life - no one is certain as to what it is - that he asks God to deliver him from. God’s answer is telling and transforms Paul’s perspective forever. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

“My grace is sufficient for you.” There is incredible freedom in those words. Freedom from the need to prove myself. Freedom from the need to impress others. Freedom from the need to perform. Freedom from the need to be a success. Freedom from the fear of failure. Freedom from the fear of being vulnerable. Freedom from the fear of letting people see the “real” you. Once God’s grace gets inside you, it changes you. It transforms you from the inside out. It grounds your identity on the unchanging nature of God Himself. It pours a foundation for your life that is immovable and unshakeable. It was God’s grace that gave Paul the courage to boast in his weaknesses. It was God’s grace that gave me the courage to overcome my shame and fear. And it is God’s grace that can give you the courage to do the same.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Authenticity

Readings for today: 2 Corinthians 5-9

I recently received a great compliment. A person in my church family shared with me that one of the things they appreciated most about my leadership was my authenticity. I don’t hide my flaws. I don’t pretend I don’t struggle. I talk openly and honestly about my pain and heartbreaks. I allow myself to be known not just as a pastor but as a person. An ordinary guy trying to follow Jesus to the best of my ability. Interestingly enough, I was taught the opposite in my seminary training. I was taught to maintain professional distance. I was taught to keep the people I serve at arm’s length. I was taught to not let them in lest I lose my ability to be their pastor. Thankfully, I knew even then that it was terrible advice. Well-meaning to be sure. I understood the point my professors were trying to make. They had my best in mind. But the model they were following simply isn’t biblical. It’s certainly not how Jesus led or the Apostle Paul. Listen again to Paul’s heart as he shares with the Christians in Corinth…

“Instead, as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardships, by difficulties, by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, through glory and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; as grieving, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Clearly, Paul had done life with these people. He had experienced a lot of ups and downs alongside them and didn’t pretend otherwise. He didn’t keep them at arm’s length and didn’t seem concerned about professional distance. He understood his life was a demonstration of the gospel in action and he wanted them to witness it up close and personal.

What gave Paul the strength to be so vulnerable? It was his confidence in God. He walked by faith and not by sight. This world had nothing for him. The esteem of the world was not attractive to him. He longed to be with the Lord so whatever happened to him this side of heaven simply didn’t matter all that much. He could be rich or poor. He could be strong or weak. He could be successful or a failure. he could be honored or dishonored. He could be understood or misunderstood. He could endure all kinds of hardships and sufferings. All that mattered was that Christ was glorified by his life, by his death, and everything in between. What about you? Do you feel the freedom to be truly known? To be truly yourself, warts and all? Do you feel the pressure to perform? Put on a mask? Never let those around you see you sweat? Let go of the need to be perfect. Let go of the need to be perceived as something or someone. Let go of the need for recognition or affirmation or influence. Place your hope in God alone.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 10-13

Happy Thanksgiving!

Readings for today: 2 Corinthians 1-4

Like many Americans, I will gather with family today and feast and celebrate all everything I am thankful for in my life. My family, particularly my wife and children. The many friends I have around the world. My colleagues in ministry. The incredible people I get to work with on a daily basis. The many godly men and women who call PEPC home. The many ministries and missions we get to be part of both locally and globally. The connections God has allowed me to make over the years. The impact of the Holy Spirit in my life and through my life. My country even with all the challenges we currently face. The men and women who serve our communities as first responders. The men and women who serve in our military forces around the world. Most of all, I thank God for what He did through Jesus Christ. Born into our world. Becoming a human just like us. Suffering and dying for us. Rising again to defeat death and sin and evil once and for all. It’s breathtaking to take it all in.

Perhaps the thing I am most thankful for this year is that God never gives up. Not on me. Not on you. Not on the world. I have watched God pursue those I love with relentless love. I have seen Him turn their hearts away from sin. I have watched Him transform them from one degree of glory to another. It’s amazing. And it’s what I love most about Him. He always sees the best in us. He always sees what He first created in us. He is always seeking to call His will and His glory out of us. The same was true for the Apostle Paul. I think of all that went wrong in Corinth. The Christians there were a divided and fractious bunch. They caused him all kinds of headaches and heartburn. He wrote them at least four letters that we know of though we only have two of them. He thought of them constantly. Prayed for them constantly. Confronted them constantly. They took up a lot of his time and energy. But still Paul saw in them what God saw in them. He could see the Spirit of God working in them. Transforming them. Changing them from the inside out. He could see the treasure God had entrusted to them though he knew they were fragile jars of clay. He could see that God hadn’t given up on them so he couldn’t give up either. Though their outer bodies were wasting away, their inner natures were being renewed day by day. The momentary light afflictions they were causing Paul or perhaps suffering themselves were not worth comparing to the weight of glory God had entrusted to them. How does Paul maintain such hope in the face of all the challenges? He focuses not on what is seen but what is unseen.

What about us? I think about the people I love who I will spend time with this holiday season. Inevitably, we will have our moments. Moments where we irritate or perhaps even offend each other. Moments where we struggle to get along or to say a kind word. Moments where we fight or argue or say things we wish we could take back. What if we entered this season with a commitment to focus not on what is seen but what is unseen? Not on what is on the outside but what God is doing on the inside? What if we asked God to give us the eyes to see the transformation He is working out in the hearts of those we love and live with and among? Would it not lead to thanksgiving?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 5-9

Fundamentals

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 15-16

Boil the Christian faith down and what do you get? A man hanging on a cross, buried in a tomb, rising from the grave three days later. This is the heart of our faith. Without it, we preach in vain. We pray in vain. We live in vain. Without the death and resurrection of Christ, we are fools. We would be better off to eat and drink and party and make the most out of life because death wins. Literally everything rests on this fundamental truth...Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.  

This is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions on the face of the earth. It’s what makes us unique. It’s what makes us different. It’s what makes Christianity true. We preach a crucified Lord and a Risen Savior. No other faith tradition makes anywhere close to the same claim. Sure, we might share the same moral code. Their gods might have some of the same attributes as our God. Their worship might look strikingly similar in terms of music and prayer. They might be good people with great families who live wholesome lives. They might make positive contributions to our society. But if they do not believe in the literal, historical, bodily death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; then their preaching is in vain. Their faith is in vain. They are still enslaved to their sins. Their dead are eternally lost. All because they are found to be misrepresenting God by denying the glory of His one and only Son. 

Paul is very clear. The physical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the essential cog in our faith. It is the key to unlocking saving faith. It is the lens through which we now see all of life. It is the cipher that cracks the code of the Bible. Christ has been raised as the firstfruits of the resurrection. He is the foretaste. The forerunner. The first to be raised so that He can go before us and prepare the way. His physical body was laid into the ground perishable, dishonored, and weak. It was raised imperishable, glorious, and in power! He is the first to be changed. The first to be transformed. The first to be raised. By His resurrection, we know death has lost! Sin has been defeated! The works of the evil one destroyed! The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is nothing short of the total and complete victory of God! 

And it is God’s victory that makes us immovable. Steadfast. Always abounding in His work. It is God’s victory that makes us watchful. Firm and strong in the faith. Persistent in love. It is his complete confidence in God’s victory that gives Paul courage to face the stones at Lystra. The beatings and imprisonments. The shipwrecks and torments. Paul considers all of it loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ! What about you? Do you share this same confidence in the death and resurrection of Jesus?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Corinthians 1-4

Love

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 12-14

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:7-8a CSB‬)

Our world is so confused when it comes to love. Too many people have fallen for the lie that love is a feeling. Something you can fall in and out of. Something disposable. Something that comes and goes. We see it all the time when celebrities break up. When cultural influencers announce their separations on social media. They still “love” each other but their love is not strong enough to overcome their differences. Their love is not strong enough to overcome their infidelities. Their love is not strong enough to hold them together.

To many people have fallen for the lie that they must “love” themselves first. To do anything else is to subject oneself to abuse or dysfunction. The idea of sacrificing oneself daily for another human being, putting that person’s needs above one’s own, is anathema in our culture. Love must be “self-serving.” Love must lead to “self-actualization.” Love demands that others love us the way we love ourselves.

Too many people have fallen for the lie that “love” is the same as sexual attraction. Everything is hyper-sexualized in our culture and to deny our sexual attractions is now considered harmful. We are warned it might lead to depression and suicide. If we fail to affirm the sexual attractions of other people - no matter how disordered - we are hateful and bigoted and phobic.

Love has become a false god in our culture. A brutal tyrant with an insatiable appetite. He demands complete obedience and blind loyalty. His corrupting influence is now being felt in our schools and communities. In our courts of law and state houses. Even many churches are bowing at his altar. The results are devastating.

The Bible is clear…God is love, love is not God. It’s a critical distinction. God is love. God demonstrates His great love in the sending of His Son. God shows us what love is by sacrificing Himself in our place. God’s love is completely selfless. It puts our needs above His own. It is solely focused on the good of the “other.” It is not self-serving. It is not possessive. It is not resentful. It is not prideful. It keeps no record of wrongs. It patiently endures all for the sake of all.

God’s love bears all things. Even you. Even me. All of us are sinners. We are enslaved to our desires. We do the things we don’t want to do and we don’t do the things we do want to do. We can’t help ourselves. But still God loves us.

God’s love believes all things. I have people in my life that I dearly love. They tell me they no longer believe in God. My response is always the same. “God believes in you.” He sees each one of us as we ought to be. As He created us to be. As He called us to be. And He longs for us to turn and embrace Him. Because He still loves us.

God’s love hopes all things. God will never give up on you. God will never stop pursuing you. God is relentless in the chase. His great desire is that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth…and that includes you. That includes me. Because God still loves us.

God’s love endures all things. All of us are at war with God. We rebel against His will. We reject His way. Our hearts are corrupt and deceitful and full of pride. They are always pulling us to go our own way. Do our own thing. Take our destiny into our own hands. God’s love endures our fits and starts. Our fears and failures. Our mistakes and missteps. No matter what we do or where we’ve been…God still loves us.

God’s love never fails. It will never fail you. It will never fail me. It will never fail the world. God’s love is enough. It died on a cross to satisfy the demands of justice. It willingly and joyfully took our place. Endured the punishment we deserved. Paid the price for our sin. God’s love would not stop until the work was finished. Until every last sin was wiped away. This is the love of God, friends!

Do you know you are loved by the God of the universe? Do you walk in His love? Rest in His love? Are you confident in His love? We aren’t talking about a feeling here. We are talking about an objective reality that is true whether we know it or not. Believe it or not. Understand it or not. Feel it or not. God’s love is the deepest, most profound truth undergirding the entire universe. His love is the foundation of all creation. His love provides meaning and purpose to human life. It is the telos or goal of our existence. Embracing this love is what gives us peace. Peace with God. Peace with others. Peace with ourselves.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 15-16

Discipline

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 9-11

I’ve been a pastor for almost twenty-five years now. I’ve spent thousands of hours counseling hundreds of people in that time. I’ve covered the gamut of issues from addiction and mental health to finances to relationships to spiritual crises to grief and loss to suffering and pain. I am the first to acknowledge I am not a professional. Most of the time, I am simply triaging care and making sure the person gets the help they need from the right authority in their life. But as I’ve listened to all the stories, a clear pattern has emerged, and it has led me to this conclusion…we are the product of the choices we make. Yes, there is much beyond our control. Yes, there are things that happen to us that are tragic and awful. Yes, we cannot control the other people in our lives. Yes, our choices can be limited by physical and mental and emotional disability. But by and large, we still have choices. We can control how we respond to the challenges of life. We can also control what we do proactively on a daily basis to build up our strength and resilience so we can pass the test when the time comes.

I love how the Apostle Paul describes the self-discipline of the Christian life. “Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable crown. So I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB‬) Perhaps it’s the former athlete in me. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve spent my life competing and training and looking to win the prize. Perhaps it’s the fears I have deep down of falling prey to the generational patterns of addiction, mental illness, or Alzheimer’s that run strong in my family. Whatever it is, I have sought to “discipline my body and bring it under strict control.” I have sought to discipline my mind through serious study and meditation and reflection. I have sought to discipline my heart so I might be humble and selfless in relationships. I have sought to discipline my soul that I might love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. What does this look like for me in my day to day? It means getting seven to eight hours of sleep, something that doesn’t come naturally to me. It means running five to six miles, four to five times a week, and I am not a runner. It means spending time with the Lord each day in silence and solitude through prayer and Bible reading and journaling. It means waking up each day with a prayer on how I can best serve those I love - my family, friends, colleagues, and the church I serve. It means dedicating time for serious thought and reflection and prayer so I have the wisdom I need to lead in the various spheres where God has called me. It means taking a Sabbath every week where I refrain from doing the work I do the other six days and instead spend intentional time in worship and rest and relaxation.

None of this is easy. Self-discipline never is. I often tell people that the hardest opponent they have to face in life is the person staring back at them in the mirror. We are our own worst enemies and we all know it. We beat ourselves up. We tell ourselves all kinds of lies. We spend so much time and energy and resources “running aimlessly” or “boxing like one beating the air.” The result is a series of life choices that lead to all kinds of negative consequences. God has a different plan for our lives but it is a plan that requires self-discipline. It’s why “self-discipline” is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. A gift from God to those who follow Him. The Bible says, “The Lord disciplines those He loves” not because He wants to condemn us but because He wants us to live lives full of blessing and fulfillment.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 12-14

Sex

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 5-8

Homer’s Iliad. The poetry of Sappho and Ovid. Pindar’s Odes. Plato’s Symposium. The Sacred Band of Thebes. The Greek and Roman world in which the early Christians were living was a highly eroticized one. Sexuality in all its forms was celebrated and embraced. Older men were encouraged to build homoerotic relationships with younger men. Homosexuality, lesbianism, and bi-sexuality were well-known and commonly practiced. Temple prostitution was normalized as farmers slept with high priestesses to ensure the fertility of their crops for the coming year. Sexual promiscuity and adultery were not considered taboo. Sexuality was a widespread theme permeating art, comedy, poetry, and philosophy. Sex was even used to bond men together in some of the great militaries of the period. 

By contrast, Jews and Christians practiced sexual restraint. They saw sex as a sacred act that bonded one man with one woman for a lifetime. Created to symbolize the “one flesh” God intended for men and women to experience with one other, Jews and Christians maintained a healthy respect for its power. This is why they established strong taboos against any sexual activity outside the bonds of covenant marriage. They recognized that sex was not purely physical but a sacred act that bonded people emotionally and spiritually as well. To disregard the depth of the sexual experience or share it with more than one partner was to commit a sin against one’s own body which itself was a temple of the Holy Spirit. Sexual promiscuity was therefore intimately tied to ritual purity which is why transgressions took on a more serious tone. 

The Apostle Paul was immersed in the Judeo-Christian world of sexual restraint. The Corinthian Christians were coming out of the Greco-Roman culture of sexual promiscuity. You can see why these two worlds would clash. Paul confronts the Corinthian believers with some of his strongest language yet. Calling for the excommunication of a man who slept with his father’s wife. Commanding the Corinthians not to associate with the sexually immoral. Most certainly, they should not engage with temple prostitutes and local fertility cults! At the same time, husbands should not deprive their wives of sex nor should wives do the same to their husbands. Celibacy is not God’s design for marriage. I truly see this as Paul at his pastoral best. Applying the gospel to the complex social and cultural realities that existed in this particular part of the world, particularly because he believed time was growing short and Jesus was coming soon.

But do these same principles hold true for us today? Many do not believe so including more progressive groups of Jews and Christians. But the Bible is univocal from Old to New Testaments about the sanctity of the sexual relationship. It is to be shared between one man and one woman within the covenant of marriage over the course of a lifetime. We see this principle established in Genesis, affirmed by Jesus, and re-affirmed by the Apostle Paul and the early Christians. Certainly one could point to deviations from this pattern throughout the Scriptures like the polygamy of the patriarchs. But those exceptions are “descriptive” not “prescriptive” and just because something appears in the Bible doesn’t mean God affirms it. As Christians, we are called to sexual holiness and purity. We are called to honor the sexual act as one of God’s great gifts and thereby exercise it under His divine authority.

We are witnessing one of the greatest moral shifts in history. Western culture is becoming increasing hyper-sexualized as it reverts back to more pagan, Greco-Roman sexual norms. Sexual promiscuity has been on the rise since the so-called sexual revolution of the 1960’s. Serial divorce is rampant. LGBTQ+ relationships are celebrated. The concept of “throuples” is quickly being embraced as definitions of marriage shift and change. The impact of all this rapid change is devastating on a lot of levels. Sexually transmitted disease. Unwanted pregnancies. Broken relationships. The objectification of the human body. Pornography. Harassment. Abuse. Violence. Rising rates of depression and anxiety. And let me be quick to add the answer is not “heterosexuality.” The answer is “holy sexuality.” Sexuality submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and practiced within the covenant of marriage He established. When Christians follow the way of Jesus in this area of their lives, the positive impact on families and communities is obvious. This is one of the major reasons the Greco-Roman world embraced the Judeo-Christian sexual ethic in the first place. Sadly, our world has few such examples as too many Christians do not seem committed to following the will of God in this area of their lives. And it’s why the strong words of the Apostle Paul remain relevant for us today, “Flee sexual immorality…for you are not your own! You were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18, 20 CSB)

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Simplicity

Readings for today: 1 Corinthians 1-4

Sometimes we make life too complicated. This is true for the Christian faith as well. We build elaborate theological systems and police adherence to them through equally elaborate denominational systems when in fact, the Christian life can be boiled down to very simple terms. Listen to how the Apostle Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians, “I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in him in every way, in all speech and all knowledge. In this way, the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you, so that you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; you were called by him into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

We are saved by grace. Grace is a gift. It is not something we can earn or achieve on our own. It’s not something we can buy with money or gain with enough investment of time and energy. Grace is given so we might believe in Jesus Christ and be saved.

We are blessed. God’s gifts don’t stop with grace. He lavishes His gifts on us. Filling us with all speech and knowledge. Providing every spiritual gift we need so we may accomplish His will for our lives in this world.

We are strong. Not in ourselves but because God is with us. He strengthens us to meet every challenge. He strengthens us to overcome every trial. He strengthens us that we may endure every temptation. He will never fail us as we make our way in this world.

We are blameless. Not because we do not sin but because we have been justified by Christ. Washed in His blood. Clothed in His righteousness alone. Sanctified by His Spirit. Made holy by His abiding presence in our lives.

We are never alone. We have fellowship with the Son of God Himself, even Jesus Christ. God is faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. He will never abandon us or walk away from us. He will be with us to the end. All the way until Jesus comes again.

These are incredible promises. Especially when one consider the mess the Corinthian church found themselves in. Divided. Broken. Prideful. Arrogant. Boasting. They believed they were wise. They believed they were strong. They believed they were rich. They believed they were powerful. But the gospel exposes them to the truth. They are foolish, weak, poor, and powerless. Only Christ is the wisdom and power of God. And those who are simple and humble in faith find their hope in Him.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 5-8

John’s Baptism

Readings for today: Acts 18:19-28, 19:1-41

Baptism can be a confusing subject. The word itself, in the Greek, simply means “immersion.” It has been used in a variety of contexts over the centuries. It is used to describe what the prophet John was doing down at the Jordan river. The disciples are commanded to practice it by Jesus in the Great Commission. The early church considered it so sacred they would require people to train for up to two years in order to prepare for it. It became later became more generally known as a “sacrament” as the church grew and matured and became more organized. Infants started getting baptized early on as first generation believers wrestled over how to raise their children in the faith. In the Reformation, the nature of the sacrament of baptism was challenged on many different levels. Some affirmed infant baptism but differentiated it from salvation. Others took a more radical path and invalidated infant baptism in favor of believer’s baptism only. In the modern church, baptism has become a highly individualized and emotional experience with believers often getting baptized multiple times in multiple churches over the course of their lives.

Baptism was confusing for the first century believers as well. Apollos, a great evangelist, was confused about it. He taught the baptism of John until he was corrected by Priscilla and Aquila. Paul met believers who held to the same false belief about baptism in Ephesus. He baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus and they received the Holy Spirit. So what’s the big deal? And what’s the difference? As the Apostle Paul says, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance.” (Acts 19:4 CSB) In other words, John’s baptism was not the same baptism Jesus would later command His disciples to perform. It wasn’t done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and it wasn’t accompanied by the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was what was known in the Jewish tradition as a “mikveh.” A ritual washing or bath used for spiritual purification. John was calling worshippers down from the Temple in Jerusalem to repent of their sins and, as a symbol of their repentance, immerse themselves in the Jordan River.

Jesus was talking about something much more profound and different. Jesus was talking about being baptized with the Holy Spirit. The water becoming an outward sign of an inward grace. A grace given freely by God to those who would believe. Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are baptized in the name of the Triune God and become indwelt by Him. They are transformed from an earthly degree of glory to a heavenly one. They literally become a new creation. This is not something any human can perform or achieve on their own. It is the gift of God so that no one may boast. This is why the sacrament of baptism should not be performed multiple times. To do so makes a mockery of God’s power in a person’s life. At the same time, it is fully appropriate to return back to the water to signify significant periods of repentance in a person’s life. When we do so, we are reminded once again of the power of our baptism to wash away all our sins.

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 1-4

Thanksgiving

Readings for today: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

We are heading into Thanksgiving week. If your family is like mine, you have adult children flying in from all over the country or perhaps planning to drive down to spend the day. Multiple generations of our family will take time out of busy schedules to gather, fellowship, eat a great meal, and share why they are thankful. Of course, there are many who feel alone this year as well. My dad passed away almost two years ago and my mom is still feeling the loss. My brother never has married and holidays are hard for him. I know many who are divorced who experience loneliness this time of year. However, even in the hard moments during holidays, there is much to be thankful for. Health. Provision. Opportunity. Professional success. Our nation. The men and women who serve in our armed forces both domestic and abroad. Those who serve as first responders in our communities. Most of all, our faith.

The Apostle Paul was a thankful man. We see it over and over again in his letters. He thanks God for just about every single church. He thanks God for just about every single brother and sister in Christ. He is thankful for the ways he sees God at work in their midst. Amidst hardship. Persecution. Division. He thanks God for His miracles. He thanks God for His blessings. He thanks God for the grace He has lavished on us in Jesus Christ. And when one reads Paul’s letters, we might be tempted to think life was pretty good for Paul. He must have had it okay. He must have never faced struggles or temptations or wrestled with anxieties and fears. Of course, nothing could farther from the truth.

Paul suffered throughout the course of his life. Especially after becoming a Christian. He worked long hours. He was imprisoned. Subject to death threats. Five times he received 40 lashes. Three times beaten with rods. Once he was stoned and left for dead. Three times shipwrecked and at least one of those times he spent a day and night adrift at sea. He lived in constant danger on his travels. Not just from the elements or from the roving bands of highwaymen who often waylaid people on the road but from his own people. He often went sleepless. Often went hungry. Often suffered from exposure. He struggled with anxiety over his churches. Fears of their future. He did not live an easy life. And yet he was thankful.

How is it possible to be thankful in a world where death seems to lie around every corner. Cancer. Heart attacks. Strokes. I think about the earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, drought, wildfires, or famine over which we have so little control. The suffering these natural disasters create is enormous. I think about the life-threatening poverty around the world that I’ve seen. Men and women and children suffering from addiction. I think about the burdens I carry. Anxieties over the churches I serve. Fears for my own family. Uncertainty over the future. It’s enough to drive me mad.

God calls us to be thankful. I love what Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 1:3, “We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing.” Yes, there is much that is wrong in the world. Evil. Injustice. Oppression. These are real things that must be resisted at all costs. At the same time, God calls us to focus our attention on the people and places where faith is flourishing and love is increasing. This is what creates a heart of gratitude within us. When we see God at work and it’s why it’s so important for us to get involved in what He’s doing in the world.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 18:19-28, 19:1-41

Faith, Hope, and Love

Readings for today: 1 Thessalonians 1-5

Many years ago, a person in the church I served began to decline mentally. As part of her decline, she began to fixate on me and all the ways I was letting her and the church down. She started dropping notes in the offering plate accusing me of simply preaching the same sermon week after week. When she got wind that the deacons were simply throwing her notes away, she began to stick them in envelopes with my name on it. Not receiving any response, she began to write our pew Bibles, “fire Doug.” In a final act of desperation, she went forward and actually wrote the same message on our communion table cloth. We tried to talk to her, of course, but she refused to listen or change her behavior and it became apparent to us that this was a symptom of her dementia…or at least that’s what I told myself! ;-)

She did get one thing right, however, and it had to do with the sermons I preach. A mentor of mine told me years ago when I was training to be a pastor that all preachers essentially preach the same messages with the same themes from a variety of angles over the course of their careers. This was definitely true for the Apostle Paul. I can’t count the number of times he refers to “faith, hope, and love” in his letters. For example, in his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he writes, “We recall, in the presence of our God and Father,  your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬ ‭CSB‬‬) He is obviously thankful for the many ways the Thessalonian Christians are putting their faith into practice, loving others unconditionally, and enduring hardship with hope. Life certainly wasn’t easy for them. They were suffering. They were struggling. They faced all kinds of challenges. But through it all, they kept leaning into the same three values Paul had initially preached to them when he first planted the church.

Sometimes it’s tempting to complicate the Christian faith. It’s tempting for preachers to spend time on the finer points of theology or tease out the nuances of the original language or create complex ministries in response to the different needs of the people in the church. But I’ve always found it much better to keep things simple. Faith. Hope. Love. These are the greater gifts Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. These are the core values of the Christian faith and those who seek to live by them will never be disappointed.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 1-3

On Trial

Readings for today: Acts 17, 18:1-18

I teach evangelism and mission at Denver Seminary once or twice a year and always spend time unpacking this text from Acts. Paul’s defense of the gospel in Athens is brilliant and a great model for us as we engage our own culture. Remember, 1 Peter 3:15 encourages us to “always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that lies within.” As Christians, we should live “questionable lives” or lives of such holiness and devotion that they naturally elicit questions from the people around us who do not yet believe. The Apostle Paul certainly lived such a life and often had to give a defense for what he believed to angry mobs, kings and princes, and the Athenian court on the Aeropagus.

In Acts 17, Paul is not engaging in a simple religious debate. This is not just any philosophical discussion. Paul has been dragged before the Athenian court to answer for the beliefs he is espousing. Religion was no joke in the ancient world. They truly believed the gods were engaged in their world and ending up on their bad side resulted in real life consequences. Paul also believes God is engaged with His world and refusing to believe the gospel holds real life consequences. So what we are watching unfold is a trial. Paul is fighting for his life as well as for the hearts of those who are listening.

Note how Paul begins with an affirmation. He complements the Athenians on their religious devotion. Their city is filled with shrines to every god imaginable. They truly do want to please the gods which is a good thing and a great place to build common ground. He further connects with them around a particular shrine to the “unknown god.” The Athenians were so worried about leaving one of the pantheon of gods out that they built a shrine to any gods that were not yet known. And Paul uses this shrine as a springboard to preach the gospel. Let me tell you the name of this unknown God. Let me share with you about His nature and character. Let me reveal to you who He is and what He’s about. He is the God of gods. The Lord of heaven and earth. A God with no rival or peer. He cannot be depicted in idols of wood, stone, or precious metal. He cannot be housed in a temple or shrine. He cannot be served by a cult of priests. He needs nothing from us and yet gives everything to us. And through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He has revealed Himself to us and called us to faith and repentance. As I said before, it’s a brilliant argument that the Athenians clearly appreciated even if they didn’t necessarily agree. So Paul is released. New converts are made. He moves on to the next city and assignment.

But the passage leaves us to ponder some important questions. Are we prepared to give a defense of the gospel? Are we ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within? Do we share our faith in Christ with those around us? Do we live “questionable” lives before them? What would I say if someone asked me about Jesus? How would I describe my God to them? What would happen if I were dragged into court and forced to give an answer much like missionaries are in different places around the world? Could I make a defense and how would I do it? Times are changing. Persecution may be coming. The day is drawing near when holding fast to Biblical faith will be difficult. Jobs will be lost. Accusations will be made. Doors will be shut. What are you doing right now to prepare for the day when you are commanded to give an answer for why you believe?

Readings for tomorrow: 1 Thessalonians 1-5

Conflict

Readings for today: Acts 15-16

Managing conflict is hard. Whether it is within our family, among friends, at school or work, or in the church; it’s never easy. There are a lot of feelings to process. Feelings of disappointment, hurt, and perhaps even betrayal. There are a lot of expectations to manage. Areas where we failed or were let down. Promises made and perhaps not lived up to. As we navigate conflict, it’s easy to become defensive and take things personally. This often results in anger and frustration and even more hurt feelings which is why so many avoid conflict like the plague.

Church conflict can be especially hard because there is an expectation that we are to treat one another with the love of God. So when we feel let down or people don’t live up to our expectations or God moves in an unexpected new direction, it can be hard for us to process. The same was true in the early church. So many of the early believers came from a Jewish background. Their entire framework of understanding God and His work in the world came through the Law and covenantal signs like circumcision. As such, they just didn’t have categories for what the Holy Spirit was doing among the Gentiles. They truly believed in their hearts that in order to follow Jesus, one must become a Jew first. At the same time, the miracles of salvation were undeniable and the testimonies of not only Barnabas and Paul but Peter as well were powerfully persuasive. So the early church sought the Lord in prayer and issued a decree that was absolutely radical for its time. Jews and Gentiles shared in the same Holy Spirit and the ties that bound them together would not be based on circumcision or the adoption of a Jewish way of life but rather a rejection of idolatry and sexual immorality. Sadly, this wouldn’t be the final word as this issue would plague the early church for years.

Conflict also gets personal. After the intense meeting of the early church, Paul expresses a desire to go visit the different churches he and Barnabas have planted to encourage them. The Bible doesn’t tell us why Paul felt so compelled but I wonder if it wasn’t to help them understand the debate and decisions of the first church council. Barnabas readily agrees with Paul’s plan with one caveat. He wants to bring John Mark with them. John Mark had already proven unreliable on an earlier journey so Paul wants to leave him behind. The disagreement gets so heated it sadly spells the end of their missionary partnership. Barnabas ends us going with John Mark and Paul picks up a new partner in Silas and they go their separate ways. The first “church split”, if you will, in history.

No matter what conflict you may be facing in your life, God calls us to forgiveness and reconciliation. God calls us to release those who have hurt us from the burden of the pain they have caused. In so doing, we too are set free from any bitterness that might have taken root in our hearts. God further calls us to reconciliation. This step is harder because it is a two-way street. It requires both parties to humble themselves before the Lord, confess where they went wrong, and rebuild their relationship. So who is God calling you to forgive? With whom is God calling you pursue reconciliation? How are you letting the Holy Spirit lead you as manage the conflicts that may be present in your life today?

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Freedom

Readings for today: Galatians 4-6

Galatians is the manifesto for Christian freedom. The freedom we have in Christ. The freedom Christ won for us on the cross. Without Jesus, we are enslaved. Enslaved to our sinful desires. Enslaved to our corrupt thoughts and feelings. Enslaved to the ways of this world. Enslaved by the enemy of this world. It’s why when we look at the world around us, we see such pain. It’s why human beings are often so hurtful. So abusive. So evil. It’s why man’s inhumanity to man often knows no boundaries. Paul knew this himself. He experienced this himself. Before Christ set him free, he was enslaved to his own passions and desires. He persecuted the church. Celebrated their pain and suffering. Rejoiced in their deaths. He relentlessly pursued them. Chased them down. Drug them from their homes and families. He was the chief of sinners. But then Christ came into his life and he was set free. So this freedom of which he speaks is not an abstract concept for him. It is something he experienced deeply, viscerally, and powerfully.

It’s why he’s so concerned for his Galatian friends. He is in anguish over what is happening to them. Having been set free by Christ, they are submitting themselves again to the yoke of slavery. Having begun so well in the Spirit, they are again seeking to ground their identity in something other than Jesus. Having been saved by grace through the gift of faith, they are now turning to their own work for justification. How often do we make the same mistake as Christians?

How can we guard our hearts and minds from falling into this trap? Paul lays it out for us in the readings for today. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1) A great verse to memorize and meditate on. A great verse to remind yourself of when you start to feel the sting of temptation. A great verse to cling to when you feel trapped or defeated or depressed or anxious or afraid. You have been set free! Christ has accomplished all you need! Simply stand in this freedom. Rest in this freedom. Trust this freedom and do not return to the old ways of slavery.

“For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Our world doesn’t understand true freedom. The freedom it offers is unfettered freedom. A freedom without boundaries. A freedom without restraint. A freedom that is centered ultimately on the gratification of our own selfish desires. This is not Christian freedom. It’s actually not freedom at all! It is a lie. It is the path back into slavery. Christian freedom results in service to God and to one another. Christian freedom means offering our lives back to God and to His people. It is a freedom constrained by love. A freedom bounded by grace. A freedom fettered by faith in the Son of God who gave Himself up for us. This is the freedom we were called to in Christ. 

And we gain this freedom as we walk by the Spirit. “I say, then, walk by the Spirit  and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭CSB‬‬) As we surrender our lives to the Spirit and His sanctifying work, we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. We will stand firm and resist the yoke of slavery. We will refuse to go back to the old ways of living. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬‬)‬‬ As we keep in step with Spirit - through daily prayer and Bible study and weekly worship with God’s people - we will find our lives being transformed. Our awareness of the depth and the breadth of the freedom we have in Christ will grow. Our experience of God’s presence will deepen. Our desire to love and serve both God and His people will increase. This is what Paul hopes and prays for his Galatian friends and it is my prayer for all of us as well. 

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 15-16