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

Crucifixion

Readings for today: Galatians 1-3

Galatians 2:20 is one of my favorite verses in all the Bible. “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” For me, this verse sums up the Christian life. My old life has been crucified. Put to death. Executed. It is over. It is gone. It no longer has any power over me. It no longer has a hold on me. And every time it tries to rise from the grave - which it does daily for me - I must turn to Christ and let Him put it to death once more.

Classically, this is known as the “mortification of sin.” It is the Christian practice of daily “dying to self” or daily putting to death that which seeks to tempt me away from Christ. And while that sounds hard and painful and maybe even “unhealthy” in our therapeutic culture today, it is actually freeing. We are all born enslaved to Self. We are all born with an inward orientation. And when we are crucified with Christ, we are putting to death Self itself. It’s why Paul says, “I no longer live.” He literally means it! He no longer lives for Self. Self no longer has a hold on his life. He is now set free to live for Christ. And not only to live for Christ but to actually be filled with Christ. When we put to death the Self, we don’t become an empty shell. Christ literally comes to take up residence inside us and we now live our lives for Him.

There is nothing better than living for Christ. My own life is a testimony to this fact. There is no greater joy. No greater fulfillment. No greater honor than living for Christ. Serving Christ. Sacrificing all that I have and all that I am for Christ. Because I no longer live, I do not have to hold back. I don’t have to worry or be anxious or afraid. I don’t have to wonder about provision or protection because God is my Provider. God is my Shield. God is my Protector and the lifter of my head. This is what Christ understood even about Himself. He lived on the good and faithful promise of His Father to give Him all He needed when He needed it. The same is true for us. When we live for Christ, we live in complete and utter and profound freedom because there is nothing this world can do to us. Nothing this world can steal from us. Nothing this world can take from us. Our lives are hid with Christ in the heavenly places. Our lives are held by Christ in His hands. And He is faithful and true and just and merciful and we can trust Him.

When you think about what it means to be a Christian, does it include death? Does it include the crucifixion of the old life or is there still a part of you hanging on to who you once were? Trying to perfect in the flesh what God began in the Spirit? (Galatians 3:3) This was the issue at the heart of Paul’s confrontation with Peter. Peter was still hanging onto his Jewish identity. He was still beholden to what his fellow Jewish believers thought of him. He had not yet fully crucified his old way of life and it was creating division in the early church. What about you? Are you living like Peter or like Paul? Can you say with full assurance that you’ve been crucified with Christ and no longer live and Christ now lives in you?

Readings for tomorrow: Galatians 4-6

Wisdom

Readings for today: James 1-5

It’s been observed by many in our world today that we are inundated with knowledge. We have more information at our fingertips than ever before. There is more news in one edition of the New York Times than a person might have learned over a lifetime a hundred years ago. The news cycle is 24/7. The alerts to our phones come day and night. Twitter and other social media feeds keep us up to date on the latest stories. And yet, we seem more foolish than ever. We seem more ideologically driven than ever. We seem more partisan than ever. More outraged. More angry. More hateful. Obviously, more knowledge isn’t the answer.

What we need is wisdom. Wisdom helps us understand what to do with all the knowledge we have gained. It guides us as we seek to apply that knowledge to life’s challenges. It keeps us honest, forcing us to grapple with our blind spots and weaknesses. It prevents us from becoming puffed up with pride and arrogantly assuming we have all the answers. Wisdom is the key to living well in this world. And thankfully, the Book of James teaches us all we need to know about how to gain wisdom. Listen to his words again…

“Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.” (James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB)

Real wisdom begins with a holy life. A life humbly submitted to God. A life lived in obedience to Him. A life characterized by love and grace and mercy and peace. It is a life marked by gentleness and dignity and respect and honor. It is a life that is focused on the good of others rather than the good of oneself. This is how God defines wisdom and this is how God also models wisdom Himself. Does He not offer us love and grace and mercy and peace? Does He not treat us with gentleness and dignity and respect and honor? Is He not focused on our good rather than His own? He is all these things and more which is what makes Him the “only wise God” as the great hymn once put it. And those who seek wisdom in this world will only find it as they seek to follow Him.

Readings for tomorrow: Galatians 1-3

Gods

Readings for today: Acts 12-14

The key issue in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation is idolatry. It is humanity’s besetting sin. We simply cannot get away from it. From the moment Adam and Eve chose to “be like God” in the Garden of Eden, we’ve been locked in self-perpetuating, idolatrous cycle. Generation after generation. Every nation, tribe, and tongue. Every human being on the face of the earth exchanging the glory of God for some kind of created thing. In the ancient world, it was paganism. The worship of totems and statues that personified parts of creation like the storms or the stars or fertility or the harvest. In fact, one of the primary accusations against the Jews and early Christians was that they were atheists because they had no “gods.” They had no carved idols. In the modern world, it’s still paganism but instead of totems and statues, we worship wealth, power, success, and sex. Sure, we don’t build temples to house these idols but we hold them close in our hearts.

In our reading for today, Herod goes to Caesarea, the Roman administrative capital of Judea. He built a beautiful palace there on the shoreline, complete with a freshwater pool on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea. While he was there, he received an audience from the people of Tyre and Sidon. Seeking to curry favor with him, they declared him to be a god. Rather than correct them, the egotistical Herod accepted their adulation which seals his fate before the Lord. He is eaten by worms and dies. Just a couple of chapters later, Paul and Barnabus are preaching in Lystra. Paul heals a man who has been crippled from birth. The people see it and begin to proclaim them as gods, declaring Barnabus to be Zeus and Paul to be Hermes. Things escalate to the point where the priest of Zeus in the city brings out a bull to offer a sacrifice to them. Rather than let them proceed, Barnabus and Paul immediately run into the crowd, tear their robes, and call them to turn from their idolatry to the worship of the living God who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. The crowds are so disappointed that they quickly turn on Barnabus and Paul and even try to stone Paul to death! Such is what happens when our idols are exposed.

The late Tim Keller once wrote that we can identify the idols in our lives by the things that give us nightmares. What do we fear the most? What, if we lost it, would make life not worth living? Anything that becomes more important to us than God - even the good things of our lives - becomes an enslaving power in our lives. Idols control us. The thought of losing them makes us angry, anxious, depressed, guilty, or ashamed. To lose them is to lose all sense of meaning and purpose in our lives. The only way to be set free from the enslaving power of idolatry is to turn to Jesus. To worship Him alone. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest and most important commandment.

Readings for tomorrow: James 1-5

Calling

Readings for today: Acts 9-11

I was talking the other day to a young person about calling. He is twenty years old and just beginning his journey in life and ministry. He is seeking God’s will. He wants to serve God in whatever he ends up doing. He is hoping to connect his vocation to his calling so he can find the most fulfillment in what he does. I shared my own journey with him and how I find myself in a place where my vocation connects to my calling and what a joy it is to bounce out of bed every morning knowing you are doing exactly what you were created and called by God to do. There’s just nothing like it. But then I read the story of the calling of Saul, who becomes the Apostle Paul, and I am reminded that the call of God is not without struggle. Not without suffering. Not without heartbreak. I start to think of the brothers and sisters I know in dangerous places around the world who are called just as I am but whose lives are filled with so much pain and hardship. They face persecution, imprisonment, even death for the sake of the gospel. And this too is what it means to be called by God. So embracing one’s calling in life doesn’t necessarily mean everything will always go well.

I was particularly struck by God’s words to Ananias before he went to pray for Saul. Ananias is rightfully skeptical. Rightfully afraid. Are you sure you mean this man, God? Don’t you know all he has done to your people? How much harm he has brought to so many? Listen again to God’s answer. “The Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-16 CSB) Saul is God’s chosen instrument to take God’s name to the nations! To Gentiles and Israelites both. To kings and emperors in their royal courts. What a calling! But then comes the kicker. He will also suffer greatly for the sake of God’s name. He will endure all kinds of pain and hardship in his life. He will be persecuted, imprisoned, and eventually killed. This too is part of the call. And we see it lived out almost immediately. Saul is healed, baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit. He begins to preach the gospel in Damascus. The impact of his preaching is incredible so the Jews there conspire to kill him. He escapes Damascus by night and travels back to Jerusalem. The early Christians were afraid of him but Barnabus convinces them to accept him. He begins preaching the gospel and again, a group of Hellenistic Jews conspire to kill him. Once again, he escapes and heads to Tarsus. This will become the pattern of Saul’s life as he fulfills God’s call.

What is God’s call on your life? How are you living into it? How does it connect to your vocation? How does it shape the way you interact with your family and friends? What aspects of your calling bring you joy? What aspects of your calling have cost you over the years? When do you feel most fulfilled in your call? When does your calling lead you into hardship, struggle, or pain? God’s call is not all rainbows and unicorns. All one has to do is read the Bible and the many stories of the men and women God calls over the centuries. Every single one of them not only experienced great miracles and victories but they also faced incredible trials and tests. The key, of course, is to remain faithful. God equips those He calls. He provides and protects them as well. He will never leave you or abandon you or forsake you. He promises to be with you even to the end.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 12-14

Responding to the Gospel

Readings for today: Acts 5-8

I have been preaching the gospel for almost twenty-five years and I am always amazed at the range of people’s responses. Some respond with indifference. Some respond with anger and frustration. Some respond with fear. Some respond out of selfishness. Some respond with faith. The same was true for the apostles. And whenever I find myself discouraged with how people respond to the good news of all God has done, I go back to their words and remember my calling is not to convince or convert but simply to bear witness. To share what God has done for me and for the world and trust the Holy Spirit to work in their hearts to bring them to saving faith. Listen again to how the apostles put it when they are on trial before the Sanhedrin, “We must obey God rather than people. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging him on a tree. God exalted this man to his right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” (Acts‬ ‭5‬:‭29‬-‭32‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Fear. Some respond to the gospel call with fear. Fear over a loss of control. Fear over a loss of influence. Fear over a loss of power. The religious authorities of their day feared the possibility of rebellion and what that mean for their country. They feared what the Romans might do in response to a messianic movement. They were afraid of losing their own positions of authority and power and influence. They were afraid of being blamed for what happened to Jesus. Many today fear the loss of control. They want to retain the power to be the captains of their own fate and the masters of their own destiny and Jesus threatens all of it.

Selfishness. Some respond to the gospel out of selfishness and greed. Like Simon, they want to make a deal with God. They want the power of God without the sacrifice. They want all the benefits of following Jesus without actually surrendering their lives to Him. They want to perform miracles and do all kinds of good things but for selfish ends. They use Jesus to promote their brand. They use Jesus to build wealth. They use Jesus to increase their influence. But their hearts are not right before the Lord and they place themselves in grave danger as a result.

Faith. Some respond to the gospel with true faith. Like the Ethiopian eunuch, they are humbly and honestly seeking God. They long for something more out of life. They’ve become convinced that the way of this world leads to a dead end. There is nothing in this world that can truly satisfy. So they search for significance. They search for meaning and purpose. They search for God and God meets them in a powerful way. Fulfilling His promise to be found by all who seek Him honestly and humbly.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Saving Faith

Readings for today: Acts 1-4, Psalms 110

One of the questions I get a lot is what it means, practically speaking, to place one’s faith in Jesus Christ. Is it an emotional response? A mystical experience? An intellectual assent to a set of propositional truths? To be sure, it could involve all these things but fundamentally, it is a conscious decision so surrender one’s life to Christ. I love how the Apostle Peter puts it in the first Christian sermon preached after the miracle of Pentecost. After sharing the good news of the gospel, the people listening ask him how they should respond and here is his answer, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭38‬-‭39‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Repent. A conscious, intentional turn in a person’s life away from sin to Christ. Literally, the Greek word for repentance suggests a 180 degree turn. A movement in the opposite direction from how we are currently living. Not just feeling sad for our sin. Not just feeling bad for getting caught. Not just feeling guilt or shame over being exposed. Repentance involves concrete action. It involves a change in behavior. And yes, it often feels very foreign at first - because we aren’t used to following Jesus - but it is a literal act of submission to His will.

Baptism. Once we repent and turn to Christ, we take the step of baptism and through this sacred act receive assurance that our sins are forgiven. Forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ. Forgiven because of what Christ has done for us. All sin. Past, present, and future. Nothing left out. Nothing left behind. Nothing forgotten. Nothing beyond the reach of His grace. We are washed completely clean. We become white as snow in His sight. We are clothed in His righteousness from this point forward.

Holy Spirit. Once we repent and are forgiven, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live a new life. He sets us free from the power of sin. He reorders our priorities. He gives us a new heart and a new spirit. We find ourselves filled with a desire to live according to God’s will. We develop a hunger for His Word. We develop a love for worship. We develop a longing to serve Him and be part of His Kingdom work in the world. We find ourselves walking in light rather than darkness. We find ourselves living with hope rather than despair. It doesn’t mean life will always go well or we will no longer face trials or struggles or suffering. Jesus promises His followers will face all these things and more but what we will find is a supernatural strength to endure. We will experience a supernatural peace that passes all understanding. And all this is from the Holy Spirit who is given to each believer when they come to saving faith in Jesus.

Do Peter’s words resonate as you think about your own faith? I’ve met so many people over the years who thought they were giving their lives to Jesus but never repented. Never received the assurance that their sins were forgiven. Never experienced the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Instead, they raised their hand at an emotional moment at the end of a conference or worship service. They had a mystical experience while climbing a mountain or watching the sun rise over the ocean. They worked through all the arguments for the Christian faith in their own mind and came to the understanding that it was true. Now, none of these things are bad in and of themselves. It’s just that they are incomplete. They are inadequate. They are no substitute for saving faith. Repent. Be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Receive the Holy Spirit. This is saving faith.

Readings for tomorrow: Acts 5-8

Death

Readings for today: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalms 22

A professor of mine in seminary once shared a story with us about a Bible study he led on the Gospel of Matthew. For many months, they walked through the gospel verse by verse. Most of the people in the room were adults who came eager to learn but there was one young teenager who basically fell asleep each class. His mom made him come each week so he would slouch in his chair in the back of the class totally disengaged. Or so it appeared. As they neared the end of the class, my professor was describing what happened at the death of Jesus. In particular, he wanted to know what people thought the significance was of the Temple curtain ripping in two. Most of the discussion centered on the traditional interpretation that the death of Jesus gives us free access to God. It was at this point that my professor noticed the young man sitting up in his chair with his hand raised. He called on him and asked him what he thought. The young man said, “I think you have it all wrong. I think the Temple curtain tearing in two means God now has free access to us. All the barriers have come down. God’s now on the loose...and the world will never be the same.” Amazing. 

The death of Jesus changes everything. Not only is the Temple curtain torn in two but the earth itself shakes. Rocks shatter. The sun goes dark. Tombs open. The dead rise. The natural order of things is turned upside down. Things will never again be the same. And this makes perfect sense when one steps back to think about it. The death of Jesus represents the final payment for human sin. Jesus made atonement for the sins of the entire world according to 1 John 2:2. His suffering satisfies the wrath and judgment of God that had been building since the Fall. Now that the perfect Lamb of God was slain, a new situation is created. A new opportunity. A new creation. With the advent of the new creation, we should expect the old creation to react violently as it enters its death throes. Thus, the signs and wonders that accompany Jesus’ last breath. 

What is our response to the universe-altering, world-changing, history-transforming death of Jesus? Hopefully we, like the Roman centurion, respond in faith. “Truly this was the Son of God!” We look in awe and wonder at what God has done. The Creator dying for His creation. The Lord giving up His very life for His servants. God sacrificing everything to save those whom He so dearly loves.  

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20-21

Politics

Readings for today: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Anyone who suggests Jesus isn’t political hasn’t read the Gospels. An illegitimate trial by religious authorities under the cover of darkness. An illegal sentence of death for a religious crime. Delivering Jesus to Pilate for judgment. Pilate’s appeal to the crowd to set Him free on Passover. Pilate’s attempt to shift jurisdiction to Herod. Pilate’s many attempts to avoid sentencing Jesus on trumped up charges. Pilate’s caving under the political pressure once Caesar’s name was invoked. It all reeks of politics of the worst kind.

How does Jesus respond? Does He defend Himself? Does He call on His followers to rise up? Does He rage against the injustice of it all? No. In fact, when directly asked by Pilate if He is the King of the Jews, Jesus essentially replies, “Those are your words not mine.” When directly confronted on the many false charges brought against Him, Jesus chooses to say nothing. When Herod questions Him and demands He perform miracles to entertain him, Jesus again stands silent. The only answer Jesus gives is recorded in the Gospel of John. He says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jewish authorities. But my kingdom is not from this world.” (John 18:36 CSB) This is a clear political statement. Jesus is claiming to represent a kingdom much greater and much more powerful than any kingdom in this world. Greater than Herod’s kingdom. Greater than Pilate’s kingdom. Greater than even Caesar’s kingdom. None of them have any authority over Him except that which has been given to them by the One Jesus came to represent.

Jesus’ example is instructive for us. Jesus never withdraws from the world. He never goes off into the desert to hide or to create an alternative society like the Essenes or the later monastic Christians. Jesus never seeks to dominate the kingdoms of this world. He never seeks to overthrow Herod or Pilate or Caesar. In fact, you will be hard pressed to find any criticism of any worldly authorities coming from Him. It’s not that there wasn’t injustice or corruption in Jesus’ day…quite the opposite actually…it’s just that Jesus never placed any stock in the reformation of the kingdoms of this world. He knew He was here to represent a different kingdom altogether. The same is true for us. To live in the world but not be of the world. To live and love and serve under the authorities of the kingdoms of this world while representing a different kingdom altogether. A greater kingdom. An eternal kingdom. A heavenly kingdom.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalms 22

Humanity

Readings for today: Matthew 26:36-75, Mark 14:32-72, Luke 22:39-71, John 18:1-27

There is nothing more revealing about the humanity of Jesus than His time in the Garden of Gethsemane. Sorrowful and troubled. His soul in great distress. In agony, He weeps. His anxiety is so high, He sweats great drops of blood. Some theologians speculate that what Jesus was experiencing in this moment was the withdrawal of the Holy Spirit. The withdrawal of the Father’s abiding presence as He begins to take on His shoulders the full weight of human sin. The dark reality of what He is about to suffer hits Him with full force. He begs the Father to take the cup away. But the Father is committed to this course of action. The Cross awaits the Messiah. 

The disciples flee. All their hopes are dashed as Jesus commands them to put away their swords. Their secret dreams of an uprising that would overthrow the Romans and re-establish the Kingdom of God on earth come to an end when Jesus heals the wounded soldier. One can imagine their bitter disappointment when Jesus doesn’t call on legions of angels to fight at His side. So they abandon Him. They finally see where all this headed and it doesn’t look good. 

But Peter isn’t quite ready to give up. He follows at a distance. Maybe waiting for an 11th hour miracle that would justify the last three years of his life. Has it all been a waste? Have all the sacrifices he’s made been for naught? Leaving his business? His home? His family? So he sits in the courtyard of the high priest hoping to hear news of the verdict. A servant girls sees him. He denies knowing Jesus and gruffly moves away to the entrance. She follows. Again, he denies knowing Jesus. A crowd has now gathered. Finally, he lets out a curse and swears he has never been with the man. In that moment, Jesus turns and looks at him. Peter sees His Lord on His knees being brutally beaten by the Romans. The religious elite jeering and cursing and spitting on Him. Peter is utterly broken. This is really happening. All hope is truly lost. 

I’ve often wondered what Jesus must have felt in that moment as well. His most faithful disciple. The one He loved perhaps more than any of the others. The man He had poured so much of His life into over the last three years abandoning Him. Betraying Him. Denying Him. Though expected, it must have cut Him deeply. Jesus is now truly all alone. His followers are all gone. The Spirit has withdrawn His presence. The angels are no longer at His side. He must face His suffering alone. He has been forsaken. And this is just the beginning. It is the Father’s will that He drink this cup to its dregs in order to save us from our sins.  

“Therefore, he had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters  pertaining to God, to make atonement, for the sins of the people. For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted…Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede  for them.” (Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬-‭18, 7:25‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16

Peace

Readings for today: John 14-17

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.” (John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Peace is so elusive in our world. No matter how hard we try. No matter how many resources we throw at it. No matter how many organizations we form or how much political, social, and economic pressure we bring to bear. Peace remains forever beyond our grasp. At best, we can achieve the cessation of hostilities for a period of time. A ceasefire agreement. A demilitarized zone. But true peace, the peace Jesus offers, simply cannot be achieved through human effort. How else can one explain human history? The ubiquitous violence in every culture, tribe, and nation? The immense suffering of so many people over the years and the callousness of those in power? How else can one explain the technological advances in military warfare? We deploy weapons that can literally kill hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people in an instant. And the crazy thing is it’s all in the name of peace. Peace achieved through mutually assured destruction.

And what about the peace that comes through shared prosperity? Equal access to opportunity and resources? Housing security? Food security? The physical security that comes through living in safe communities. What about the peace that comes from physical and mental and emotional health? The rights all of us have to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? One would think humanity might have figured out how to create peace after thousands of years and lots of trial and error when it comes to learning how to order a society for the common good. Sadly, we seem no closer to peace now than we’ve ever been.

And that’s why I lift up Jesus’ words today. He offers us a peace that is not of this world. A peace that doesn’t depend on this world. A peace that is not achieved through the resources of this world. A peace that passes all human understanding. A peace that guards our hearts and minds no matter what we may be going through. A peace that makes us immune to fear and anxiety and worry. A peace that comes to us from heaven. From Jesus’ own Father. A peace Jesus Himself prays over us in His high priestly prayer in John 17. A peace Jesus wins for us through His sacrificial death on the cross.

The peace Jesus offers is the peace of heaven. And it’s only available to those who believe in Him. It is a gift from Jesus to those who follow Him, those who trust Him. It is a peace Jesus offers to His family. His brothers and sisters. Those who’ve been redeemed by His blood. It is an eternal peace. A lasting peace. A complete peace. A peace that brings an end to all alienation. A peace that heals every division. A peace that tears down every wall of hostility. This is the peace Jesus promises to leave with us and give to us if we will but turn to Him.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotional readings on Sundays

History

Readings for today: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35, Mark 14:1-2, 10-31, Luke 22:1-38, John 13

For me, one of the most powerful places to visit in the Holy Land is the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. Located outside the Old City of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of Mount Zion, it is built over the site of the home of Caiaphas, the high priest. It is built on multiple levels and the lowest level includes a stone cellar where it is highly likely Jesus spent the night after his trial. I remember descending the stairs down into the cellar, standing where Jesus Himself potentially stood, and praying a Psalm of Lament Jesus potentially prayed. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Then I ascended the stairs out of the cellar that empty into a courtyard. The same courtyard mentioned in our reading for today. The same courtyard where the chief priests and elders of the people gathered to decide Jesus’ fate. The same courtyard where Peter would deny his Lord. Again, I was moved to tears taking it all in.

The events we are reading are not legends or myths or stories made up by the disciples. They are real events that took place within real history. Humanity putting God on trial. Humanity conspiring against God to arrest Him, betray Him, and ultimately kill Him. Humanity doing exactly what Jesus Himself predicted. Killing the Son of God, the rightful Heir to all creation, in order to try to steal His inheritance. It reminds us that sin not only leads to brokenness but open rebellion. We are guilty not just of poor judgment and bad decisions but of sedition and treason.

Another important aspect to this story is the timing of when it takes place. It happens during the Festival of Unleavened Bread, right before the Passover. Jesus sets a table for Himself and His disciples to celebrate the annual feast. However, He switches things up and infuses the meal with new meaning by talking about His body and His blood. Given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. Offered as a sacrifice in order to save humanity from the power of sin and death. The disciples don’t really understand what He’s talking about. He talks about them all falling away and one of them betraying Him but they don’t really get it. Jesus is prepping them for what’s to come. Even giving them a new commandment to serve one another in the days and years ahead.

What do we take away from our reading today? Hopefully, the reality of what Jesus did for us is begins to sink in. The depth of our rebellion swallowed by the even greater depths of His grace. The extent of our pride and arrogance and hunger for power exceeded by the even greater reach of His love. The brokenness of sin in our lives made whole by His sacrifice on the cross in our place. It’s the greatest story ever told. The greatest act ever performed. The greatest event in world history. And He did it for you. He did it for me. Praise Jesus!

Readings for tomorrow: John 14-17

The End

Readings for today: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

Today Jesus gives us a reality check. In this world, we will suffer. There will be trials. There will be tribulation. Our culture will reject God. Nations will defy God. Kings and rulers and authorities. Presidents and Congressional representatives and Supreme Court Justices will go their own way and do what is right in their own eyes. There will be wars. Violence. Natural disasters on a devastating scale. Drought. Famine. Disease will afflict so many. People will love injustice. People will love ungodliness. People will chase unrighteousness. They will call good “evil” and evil “good.” And these are just the beginning of the birth pangs of the new age.

In this confusing time, many will claim to speak for Jesus. They will claim to speak for God. They will push their own agendas. They will offer up their own ideas in place of God. They will promote selfishness and pride and narcissism. They will promote unrighteousness and lawlessness and unfettered freedom. They will be grifters who use the gospel to turn a profit. But they will sound so good that many will be led astray.

There will be abominations of desolation. Incredible acts of self-worship and idolatry that would make the ancient Canaanites blush. Worship will grow cold. Honoring God will become rare as people choose to do what feels good or what seems right in their own eyes. It will be like the days leading up to Noah. The days when the Judges reigned in Israel. Hatred. Rage. Violence. Pain. Suffering. All will become the norm as the world rebels against the authority of God.

Any of this sound familiar? Any of this feel familiar? What’s a Christian to do in the midst of it all? Endure to the end. Persevere in their faith. Cling to Jesus. The world will hate us. The world will seek to destroy us. The world will persecute us. Throw us into prison. Torture us and even kill us. They will restrict our rights. They will label preaching the gospel “hate speech.” They will make faithfulness to the law of God a hate crime. They will drag us into courts. They will put us on trial. They will do all they can to force us to abandon our faith. I’ve seen it happen in some of the places I’ve been around the world and I’m seeing signs of it starting to happen here at home. It shouldn’t surprise me. Jesus promises things will get so bad that if they weren’t cut short – if God somehow delayed His return – no one would be saved.

But make no mistake…God will return! Things will get so bad even nature itself will feel the effect. The sun will darken. The moon refuse to shine. It will seem like the stars have fallen out of the sky. And just when it seems like we cannot go on, Jesus will appear. He will come on the clouds with great glory and power! A trumpet will sound and the angels will gather His family from the four corners of the earth. We do not know exactly when this day will come but we know it draws ever closer. Seemingly with every single breaking news story! Climate change. Political corruption. Violence and hatred. Economic upheaval globally. The world seemingly stands on the brink.

So again, what’s a Christian to do? Stay wise. Be prepared. Make sure we stay about the work God has assigned to us. Caring for the least among us. The hungry and thirsty. The naked and ashamed. The sick and imprisoned. As we care for them, we care for Jesus. Seek the lost. Fulfill the Great Commission. Take the gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation in the world. This is the work the Master has assigned to us and when He comes again, may He find us faithful!

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 26:1-5, 14-35, Mark 14:1-2, 10-31, Luke 22:1-38, John 13

Traps

Readings for today: Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35

Let me start by saying God welcomes honest, heart-felt questions. God loves nothing more than comforting His people when they come before Him confused and hurting. Struggling to understand. Trying to make sense of life and tragedy and suffering. He understands our doubts and fears. He can handle our anger and frustration. When we are honestly seeking Him. Honestly asking Him. Honestly and transparently and vulnerably bringing all our insecurities before Him, He gently gathers us in His arms and lets us know it will be okay. He is with us. He is here for us. He will never leave us or forsake us.

However, if we set out to test God. If we set out to put Him on the witness stand and demand He answer to our notions of right and wrong, good and evil. If we try to put Him on trial and require Him to conform to our standards of justice. If we doubt His goodness and holiness and righteousness. If we press Him and try to discredit Him. If we approach God, trying to trap Him as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did, we are playing a very dangerous game. One that places our eternity at risk.

The religious rulers of the day had no interest in following Jesus. Their only aim was to discredit Him before the eyes of the people. They were seeking to trip Him up with their questions. They wanted to make a public spectacle of Him. Humiliate Him in the eyes of the people. Stamp out His ministry and movement and send Him back to Nazareth in disgrace. Their questions are designed to get Him in trouble politically – “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” Their questions serve as impossible riddles – “A woman married seven times goes to heaven…whose wife will she be?” Their questions present logical impossibilities – “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” But Jesus is not limited to human understanding. His answers reveal a divine wisdom that silences those who would seek to destroy Him.

It’s sobering to say the least. And it forces us to engage in honest self-reflection. What lies at the heart of our questions? An honest desire to understand or a selfish desire to justify our actions? A tender insecurity for which we need God’s comfort or an arrogant desire to go our own way and do our own thing? A doubt or a fear that keeps us from experiencing the peace that passes all understanding or a sinful desire to cling to an idol in our lives?

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, Luke 21:5-38

Authority

Readings for today: Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12:37-50

Imagine how you would feel if someone lived in your home and trashed the place. I have a good friend who owns a rental house in the Denver area. Several years ago, a tenant used his house to grow weed and cook meth. After going to court to get his tenant evicted, my friend had to gut the house and start over. It cost him thousands of dollars not to mention the time and effort he had to put in to get his house back in working order so it could be rented again. Now put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. The people you’ve entrusted your home to have trashed the place. They have turned it into a den of robbers. Exploiting the pilgrims who come for Passover each year. They make hefty profits by price gouging the people, especially the poor. So He makes a whip of cords and drives them out. He turns over the tables and throws them out. Do you understand now why Jesus is so upset? Zeal for His own home has consumed Him and He will do whatever it takes to restore His house to its former glory.

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. And it is that particular action that prompts the question that begins today’s reading. “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” Jesus responds in typical fashion. He answers their question with a question of His own and when they fail to answer, He tells them a parable. He talks about a landowner who plants a vineyard and then rents it out to tenants. When the time came for the harvest, the tenants didn’t want to give up the produce. Instead, they attacked the landowner’s servants. Beating them. Stoning them. Killing them. So the landowner sends his son to assert his rightful authority over the vineyard. But rather than submit to him, the tenants seize him and put him to death in hopes of stealing his inheritance. This begs the question, “What will the landowner do to these tenants?” The answer, of course, is destroy them and lease his land to others.

The point Jesus is making could not be more clear. Jesus is claiming rightful authority over the Temple. But not just the Temple. He is claiming authority over all of Israel - God’s vineyard. He is making it clear to the religious leaders - the tenants - that their stewardship of God’s people has come to an end. His house shall be a house of prayer. A hospital for healing. A sanctuary for praise. And how do the religious leaders respond? Exactly the way Jesus predicted they would. They look for an opportune time to arrest Him. Try Him. Sentence Him. Execute Him. They cast Him out of His own vineyard and put Him to death, hoping to remain in power. But God flips the script on them. He raises His Son from the dead. He uses the Romans to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, take away the power of the religious authorities, and He gives it to those who will bear the fruit of His Kingdom. “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭43‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35

Hope for the World

Readings for today: Matthew 21:1-22, 26:6-13, Mark 11:1-26, 14:3-9, Luke 19:28-48, John 2:13-25, 11:55-57, 12:1-36

“What has Athens got to do with Jerusalem?” So spoke an early church father by the name of Tertullian. The point he was trying to make is what relationship and/or influence should the world have on our faith? Athens represented the best of pagan philosophy. Jerusalem represented divine revelation. While there is always cultural pressure to conform to the ways of this world, Christians must resist such temptations and instead remember they have been transformed in their thinking and acting by the Holy Spirit. This sets us apart in the world. It makes us different. For our primary citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven, not any earthly kingdom, and our primary allegiance is given to Jesus, not any earthly king. This isn’t an easy line to walk, of course. Many Christians throughout history and even in contemporary society today blur the distinctions between the two. They believe our calling is to align with one political party over another and they try to co-opt Jesus for their own partisan ends.

Remarkably, Jesus and the early Christians didn’t have much to say about the politicians of their day. You never hear a word criticizing Caesar or Pontius Pilate. You barely hear a peep about Herod himself. Certainly each of these men were brutal and corrupt tyrants. They were violent and vengeful and used their authority to enrich and indulge themselves in every way possible. So why doesn’t Jesus speak up? Speak out? Lead a protest movement against them? Jesus seems to save his ire for the religious leaders of his day. He calls them out to be sure but at the same time, he eats with them in their homes. He engages them over and over again in dialogue. He gives them plenty of opportunity to respond to His message. Yes, Jesus does turn over tables in the Temple courts. But that’s not a political act so much as a religious one. The Bible is clear about Jesus’ motivations. The Temple should be a place of prayer not exploitative commerce.

So what do we learn from Jesus’ example? Should we just withdraw from the world? No longer engage in civic discourse, debate, or exercise our responsibility to vote? Some Christians have made that argument. Should we go the opposite direction and engage as fully as possible with the hope we can gain control of the levers of political and cultural power and enforce a Christian worldview on the nation? Some Christians have made that argument. I believe the answer lies not in a “middle way” or a “third way” but a completely different way altogether. I believe what Jesus proposes is the only way. “The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬) To put it another way, we must live in this world but not be of this world. We must pray for this world but not place our trust in this world. We must serve this world but not fall into the trap of believing we can transform this world. It is Jesus who will bring about the new heavens and the new earth, not us. It is Jesus who will bring the New Jerusalem to earth, not us. It is Jesus who will bring about a reign of righteousness and peace, not us. We must pray. We must preach. We must serve. We must love. And hopefully the world takes notice and listens but we must always remember our world lives under the tyranny of sin and it’s only hope is Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 20:1-18, John 12:37-50

Radical Generosity

Readings for today: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16-17, 18:1-30

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬ ‭CSB‬‬)‬

Honestly, I think this is one of the most difficult passages in all the Scriptures. Why? Because I am rich. By the world’s standards. By historical standards. I am one of the richest people to have ever lived on the face of the earth. I am not only in the top 1% but am in the top tenth of a percent of the wealthiest people to have ever walked the planet. Frankly, so is anyone who lives a middle class lifestyle in modern day America. So when Jesus says it is harder for a person like me to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, it is terrifying. It sounds impossible.

So what’s a person like me to do? Where can I find hope? First and foremost, I find hope in Mark’s version of the story because he includes this wonderful little nugget in verse 21. “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” Jesus loved the rich young ruler. He had compassion on the man. He saw the internal struggle in his eyes. Saw how much he wanted to please God and yet saw the hold his riches had over him. He knows how tempting it is for us to love money. He knows how easy it is for us to place our trust in our wealth. Jesus knows the fears and anxieties we feel every time the stock market drops or our savings diminish or our credit card bills go up. And Jesus wants to save us from it all. Jesus doesn’t hate rich people. The accumulation of wealth is not, in itself, a barrier to God’s love. And for that I am thankful.

Second, Jesus gives me a practical way forward. "Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The path Jesus offers is the path of generosity. He calls me to give as much as I can away to those who are less fortunate. He calls me to use my wealth to bless others. He calls me to invest the resources He has entrusted into my hands into His Kingdom so it can advance around the world. In this way, I protect my heart from the sin of falling in love with money. Trusting my riches. I cannot serve both God and money so I need to make a choice and I need to make this choice every single day because I live in constant temptation. Loving money more than God puts me in real spiritual danger so heeding Jesus’ command here is vital.

Third, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." God is mighty to save. The least. The lost. The rich. The poor. The powerful. There is no one who stands beyond the reach of His grace. Salvation ultimately is not be determined by the amount of money I give but by the grace that is given freely to me in Jesus Christ.

Finally, I need to take these words of Jesus to heart. Let them re-orient my desires. Let them re-order my priorities. Let them re-define success and achievement in my life. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Many years ago, I suffered a massive failure. Professionally. Personally. It was traumatic. It almost cost me my marriage and my ministry. Thankfully, God used the trauma of that experience to strip my life down to the studs. The result was a brand new outlook. A deep awareness of my own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Love of money is one of those. So is success. As a result, I felt God calling me to never ask for another raise and never seek another position professionally but instead to walk with open hands, trusting Him to take care of me. Over the last fifteen years, God has more than delivered on His promises. My life has been enriched in every way imaginable. And I have learned to live in the overwhelming abundance of His grace.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 20, Mark 10:32-52, Luke 18:31-43, 19:1-27

Humility

Readings for today: Luke 14-15

Years ago, I was spending some time in prayer when I heard God speak. Not audibly. More of a voice in my mind. An undeniable impression God laid on my heart. He didn’t speak for very long. Just three words. Obscurity. Anonymity. Insignificance. Part of the reason I knew these words were from God is because they aren’t words I spend anytime thinking about. They aren’t words I would associate with my life at all. But as I received these words and meditated on these words and asked God for wisdom to understand these words, I realized God was challenging me to think more deeply about the way I live. He was calling me to labor in obscurity, embrace anonymity, and pursue insignificance. Basically the opposite of how I’d been living my life. I am, by nature, an achiever. A high performer. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of success in my life. It would be easy for me to make the mistake of the man in the parable Jesus tells in our reading for today and seek the highest place of honor. But the one who exalts himself will be humbled and the one who humbles himself will be exalted and that’s the lesson God was trying to teach me.

I’ve never forgotten those words. In fact, I often associate them with this particular parable because I was reading it around the same time the Lord spoke to me. I realized I had spent my life chasing the place of highest honor. Trying to outperform my peers. Achieve success. Become a person of influence. Sure, it was all for God or at least that’s what I told myself. But in reality I was trying to exalt myself. So when I received those words, I took a step back. I let go of my need for affirmation and recognition. I let go of my need to be perceived as a success in the eyes of the world or the eyes of the church. Titles and position became meaningless to me. I committed to never seeking another position nor asking for another raise. I intentionally sought to serve rather than be served. I wanted to seek the place of lowest honor and trusted God to raise me up as He saw fit. The result was an overwhelming sense of peace and contentment.

Ever since that time, God has exalted me over and over again. He has given me positions of leadership that I did not seek. He has blessed me financially in ways I would not have thought possible. He has allowed me the blessing of serving Him in a variety of capacities not just locally but nationally and even internationally. Again and again, the Lord has come to me and said, “Friend, move up higher.” (Luke 14:10b) This was not my goal. These are not accolades I earned or achieved. They are simply blessings from God’s own hands as He fulfills His promise to exalt those who humble themselves under His mighty hand.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16-17, 18:1-30

Treasure

Readings for today: Luke 12, 13:1-30

What do you treasure most in life? Is it your spouse? Your children? Your grandchildren? Is it professional success? The admiration and esteem of your peers? Is it influence and recognition? Is it wealth and the lifestyle it affords? Is it a particular possession? A set of exciting and unique experiences? Whatever it is, whatever we treasure, we will do anything to gain it. We will make every sacrifice. We will put in maximum effort. We will do whatever it takes. And Jesus knows this about us. He knows this is how we are wired. And it’s why He calls us to store up our treasure in heaven. For where are treasure is, there our hearts will be also. (Luke 12:34 CSB)

Our treasures are not necessarily bad things. In fact, most of the time, they are good things. The problem comes when we make them ultimate things. When this happens, the good things we treasure are forced to carry a weight they are not strong enough to bear. For example, if you treasure your spouse as the ultimate good, you will be bitterly disappointed when they let you down. If you treasure your kids as the ultimate good, they will be crushed under the weight of your unrealistic expectations. If you treasure professional success as the ultimate good, what happens when you peak out in your career? If you treasure influence and recognition, what happens when your fifteen minutes of fame are up? If you treasure wealth, what happens when the stock market crashes or an investment fails? None of these things is strong enough to provide the freedom and security and hope we need.

This is why Jesus tells His followers to seek first the Kingdom of God. He knows it is the Father’s delight to give His children all they need. And because God has promised to provide, we are set free. Set free to give generously. Set free to serve sacrificially. Set free to offer all that we have for the good of those around us. Because we know our treasure is heaven. Our treasure is eternally secure. Our treasure is not of this world and therefore not subject to the threats of this world. It cannot be stolen. It will not decay. It cannot be destroyed. Listen again to how Jesus describes it, “But seek his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, Because your Father delights to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t grow old, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭31‬-‭34‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

There is no greater freedom in this world than living by faith. No greater joy in this world than serving Jesus. No greater mission in this world than advancing the Kingdom of God. How do I know this to be true? I look to Jesus. Jesus was the most free person to ever live. Jesus was the most joyful person to ever live. Jesus was the most impactful person to ever live. All because He sought His Father’s Kingdom. He trusted His Father’s good pleasure. He understood the inexhaustible treasure stored up for Him in heaven if He would simply do His Father’s will here on earth. And I want to be like Jesus. I want to live like Jesus. I want to love like Jesus. I want to serve like Jesus.

Readings for tomorrow: Luke 14-15