Too Lofty an Aspiration?

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher, fire fighter, doctor, or nurse? As you matured, did your aspirations morph, as well, letting go of your super-hero dreams, for instance, to pursue the construction trades? Or were you like the college student I know, who resolutely pursues a career as an ESPN announcer, a goal from which he has not wavered since the fourth grade? Yet of all the aspirations I’ve ever heard, I don’t recall anyone saying, “When I grow up, I want to be a servant.”

Servanthood—we may regard it as the lowest rung on a worldly ladder, but it is our highest heavenly calling. Think for a minute, how powerful the moments spent in prayer with someone who is confused, angry or hurting! Very few people will refuse your offer. Recall for a minute, what is it like to hear words of truth spoken in love, replacing confusion with clarity and doubts with hope? Marvel for a minute, what is it like to be a conduit through whom God’s eternal power and divine love meet people’s earthly and spiritual needs? Reflect for a minute, what is it like to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God”?¹

Or imagine for a minute how it must feel to share the honor of those whom God has called, “my servant”—Moses², Joshua³, Samuel⁴, David⁵, Elijah⁶, and Jesus⁷. Too lofty an aspiration? I don’t think so. In fact, I’m guessing that in your heart of hearts, your deepest desire is to hear Jesus speak these words to you when you see Him face to face, “Well done, good and faithful servant! ... Come and share your master’s happiness.”⁸ And if this is indeed our innermost yearning, then would we live our days with servant hearts from which flow servant deeds? Is there any higher calling? Can there be any greater reward?

I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:9b-10)

Father, your Son came to us as a servant; grace us the humility to serve with Him. Amen.

Christ in me is humility.

¹ 2 Corinthians 1:4

² Exodus 14:31

³ Joshua 24:29

⁴ 1 Samuel 3:10

⁵ 2 Samuel 3:18

⁶ 2 Kings 9:36

⁷ Isaiah 52:13

⁸ Matthew 25:21

The One We Get To Serve

No matter who we are, we “Gotta Serve Somebody,”¹ concludes Bob Dylan in his tune of this title. His refrain emphasizes time and again:

“Well it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”²

The legendary songwriter is onto something. In fact, Jesus says we will serve a master—be it God or money—and that we must choose only one. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”³ So, let’s consider our dilemma: money as our life’s master, or God as the Lord of life.

Money perches precariously “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal,”⁴ but God guarantees us an inheritance,⁵ one that “can never perish, spoil or fade … kept in heaven for you.”⁶ Wealth conditions our value on a cold calculation of net worth, but God proclaims our pricelessness through the cost of our redemption: “not with perishable things such as silver or gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ.”⁷ Wealth tantalizes the soul through sips of success, but never in quenching quantities, for “Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income”⁸; but Jesus says, “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again … [It] will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”⁹ Of money it is said, “You can’t take it with you”—it drops us off at death’s door empty-handed and barren-souled; but Jesus counsels us to invest ourselves into what lies beyond our retirement years: “Store up for yourselves treasures in in heaven,”¹⁰ which surely awaits all who serve Him.

We could contrast these two masters in many ways and for a long time, exposing one and revealing the other, but here is the rich irony of it all: Money robs those who serve it. It would rob us of life itself, consuming our existence today with worries over what we will consume tomorrow. This is not freedom, and we need not squander our days serving the money god who oppresses us under a scepter of fear. Instead, Jesus points to the beauty of creation as the reflection of both the heart of the eternal God and the greater glory to which He raises His people. “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?... Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”¹¹

When money is our master, we “gotta” serve it, and we do so in fear. God is the glorious One we “get to” serve, and it is a privilege, it is a joy. For in Him is freedom from the fear of tomorrow; in Him is life itself, today. .

Father, I choose to trust you today. I choose to serve you today. I choose not to worry about tomorrow, for you know what I need and you will be my Master then, too. Amen.

¹ Dylan, Bob. Gotta Serve Somebody. Columbia Records, 1979.
² Dylan. Gotta Serve Somebody.
³ Matthew 6:24 (ESV)
⁴ Matthew 6:19 (ESV)
⁵ Ephesians 1:14
⁶ 1 Peter 1:4
⁷ 1 Peter 1:18, 19
⁸ Ecclesiastes 5:10
⁹ John 4:14
¹⁰ Matthew 6:20 (ESV)
¹¹ Matthew 6:28b-30, 33 (ESV)

The Peacemakers

Did you ever notice it takes months of detailed planning and diligent building to erect a magnificent edifice, but only days or weeks to raze it to mere memories? Over seasons of integrity and years of faithfulness is our trust in another established; sudden is its betrayal, however, and we behold its ruins through blurry eyes of bitter tears. We hard-earn honor over lifetime of prudent decisions, only to damage our reputation with an unconstrained word or a me-first choice. So it is, also, with dissension and peace: “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”¹ There are few ways as impactful to “making a difference” than to defuse conflict and foster peace in our small space in the world. Here, then, are some peacemaking observations from throughout the years. Feel free to add your own at the end of this post.

Listen. We often talk when the solution lies in listening. As Job in his agony implored of his friends, “Listen carefully to my words; let your ears take in what I say.”²

Look beneath symptoms. Too, we often stop at the symptom of conflict and not dig to its roots. “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” queried James, “Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”³ We do well to stop an honest moment and think.

Stay on point. For a variety of reasons, it is very difficult for some people to accept or admit their own shortcomings, so they marginalize their offenses by pointing to the offenses of another. This gets us nowhere in terms of conflict resolution, so I’ve learned to remain focused by acknowledging impertinent issues, then setting them aside for later conversation.

Find shared values. I think people’s common ground is much larger than their battle ground. Most, for instance, value faithfulness, justice, goodness, honor and mercy. To the extent conflicting parties identify common ground, their differences become more clearly defined, seemingly smaller, and easier to address.

Move beyond detente. Personally, I think detente—the mere absence of conflict—is only slightly better than conflict itself. True resolution settles for nothing short of unity. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”⁴

Know when to steer clear. “Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own,” advised Solomon.⁵ I can’t quarrel with that.

Father, give me an honest heart to confess my sin and turn from it. Give me a discerning heart to know when to be—and when not to be—involved in conflict. Give me a wise heart to know how to help calm a quarrel. Give me a patient heart, because peace takes time. Amen.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9)

¹ Proverbs 15:18
² Job 13:17
³ James 4:1
⁴ Psalm 133:1
⁵ Proverbs 26:17

Watchfulness

When our son Matthew was in college, he and some friends decided to encourage another friend, Andrew, as he ran in the St. Louis Marathon. Each painted on his own exposed torso one letter of the runner’s name, so they could spell it out together and cheer him on as he raced by the half-way point. Marathons are lengthy, however, so they began to pass the time by seeing how many words they could spell with their animated alphabet. When Andrew ran by—grinding out the distance on his own—his would-be cheerleaders were completely distracted and unprepared. It was actually Andrew who got their attention as he sped by, “Hey, guys!” Peggy and I laughed as Matthew related the story, and we asked him, “What were you spelling when he ran by?” “Nothing!” he exclaimed. It was for these merry collegians a short course in attentiveness, if they let it be, and one gained at virtually no cost.

Life lessons aren’t always so mercifully learned. It was Jesus enduring the distance that dark night of Gethsemane, “very distressed and troubled ... deeply grieved to the point of death”¹ by the punishment and abandonment which lay immediately before Him. He’d schooled the disciples in the importance of watchfulness—remaining attentive over time—and now asked it of them as He implored the Father for mercy and strength. Yet every time He sought their support, Jesus found his friends asleep and Himself alone. His frustration might be tallied, but not fully measured, in exclamation marks: “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”²

“Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy,”³ wrote a very sage Solomon. It is true, we can never truly experience the depths of another’s pain or the fullness of one’s gladness; only God can, and only God does. Yet it is inestimably vital that we be there amid cries for help, be they spoken or, more often, silent. “Sit here while I pray,” friends may say, or “Stay here and keep watch,” they fear to ask. Together, then, may our lives spell out, “WATCHFUL,” for the assurance of our presence makes both bitterness and joy a far less lonely place to be.

Father, it is so encouraging when others share my joy and pain, yet I tend to shortchange the value of my presence in their life. Send your Spirit; make me attentive to those who, like me, need someone to be there in the moment with them. In this also, be glorified. In Christ, I pray. Amen.

¹ Mark 14:34, 35
² Mark 14:41, 42
³ Proverbs 14:10

A Living, Breathing Masterpiece

I would have to say the mosaic icons in The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio, are more captivating and inspirational than any European cathedral artwork I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing. Here master mosaicist Bruno Salvatori arranged an estimated five million Venetian glass tiles of various colors, shapes and sizes into intricate patterns to depict the early-church apostles and some of their Old Testament forebears. His exquisite portraits dutifully adorn the walls and vaults of the Byzantine structure as thoughtful reminders of these ancients of the faith, yet they also illustrate something even more profound, the unsearchable beauty and creative genius that is the church—the body of Christ.

The apostle Paul explained that to each believer there are given different kinds of spiritual gifts, all of which are “the work of one and the same Spirit,” and that “he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”¹ Every such gift is a “manifestation of the Spirit ... given for the common good,”² he mused. We are, in a way, like pieces of glass in countless combinations of dimension and hue. Some stand out as bold shards of brilliant red, those who preach or those who exhort us onward to our heavenly goal. Evangelists among us emanate life and hope with all the energy and optimism of sunlight yellow, while teachers of indigo blue dive deep in study, raising to the surface unalterable gospel truths and revealing them in graspable ways. Those who serve as accents or assume background positions are every bit as worthy of honor and appreciation—reliable earth tones representing the bedrock of faith and wisdom, and golden inlays, the hearts of the givers, perhaps the greatest of whom are the poor who sacrifice generous portions of limited means.

We are all precious tiles of inestimable worth in the hands of the true Master, and He has arranged “every one ... just as he wanted [us] to be.”³ Yet this masterpiece, this body of Christ, is alive and with purpose, climbing down from our domes and commencing forth from our walls to serve others in grace and truth and in justice and mercy. Peter challenges us: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”⁴ Paul likewise exhorts, “Do not neglect your gift”⁵; we are instead to “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you ... For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”⁶

It is a beautiful thing God has done in your life and in mine. Then what He has made from all of us is utterly breathtaking, and what He accomplishes through us, life-giving.

Father, through Christ you bring us into your glory. Be glorified in the praises—the living sacrifices—of your people today. In Jesus we live, and in His name we pray. Amen.

¹ 1 Corinthians 12:11
² 1 Corinthians 12:7
³ 1 Corinthians 12:18
⁴ 1 Peter 4:10
⁵ 1 Timothy 4:14
⁶ 2 Timothy 1:6, 7

When More Is Less

It was those darn Pharisees again, some of them now believers in Christ (yea!) but pushing some alloyed brand of righteousness: “grace-plus,” we might dub it—believe in Jesus as the Messiah, yes, but still earn God’s favor by keeping the law. It was a straddling of the fence, trusting God but not all the way, compromise when compromise was the worst possible option. Protecting liberty against oppression—and with all the boldness required to do so—Peter spoke up, “Why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yolk that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved.”¹ Thank you, Peter, it needed to be said.

How many times does God have to remind us of the emptiness of our own goodness? “All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one,”² lamented David in a psalm intoned by God’s people for centuries. Echoed Isaiah, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”³ So, do we now with “filthy rags” augment Jesus’ sacrificial atonement for our sin as though it were insufficient? Do we load again onto the backs of His people the law, a burden Christ so painfully, lovingly and completely removed at great cost? Peter, redux: “No!” What righteousness could we or anyone else possibly contribute to that which God himself has given to us in Christ Jesus? “Grace-plus” is grace-less!

We can do nothing more than what Christ has already done for us, for there is nothing more to be done. Paul explains: “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”⁴ This is the truth in which we rest, the promise in which we stand, and the strength in which we go. We are forever forgiven and free. Praise His name!

Father, thank you for sending your Son to do what we could not do—live a perfect life, die a perfect sacrifice, and rise to present us perfectly to you. Grace us to live as free people, blessing you and serving others in great confidence, peace and joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Christ in me is freedom.

¹ Acts 15:10, 11
² Psalm 14:3
³ Isaiah 64:6
⁴ Romans 8:3, 4

Smash! Crash!

In our growing-up years, my friend Duane’s family owned an auto salvage yard in our home town. Junk cars were their expertise, harvesting parts for resale and reuse, while selling off unusable metal to scrap dealers. It came as no surprise, then, that when August came around—and the county fair with it—Duane entered the Demolition Derby. Now, he had acres of inventory from which to choose his ride, but I can promise you this—Duane’s Corvette was never a consideration for the annual melee in the mud. We pamper dream cars, and they return the favor.

Writing to the church in Corinth, Paul instructed them in the care with which we must treat God’s most prized possession—a redeemed us. “Flee from sexual immorality,” he wrote, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?”¹ These believers were no longer the total wrecks of a broken-down world, but newly restored people of God, to be steered now by the Holy Spirit and to bring glory to the Father. Why should they even consider returning to their former ways of destruction and, in the process, dishonoring themselves and the One who purchased us at great price for Himself?

We don’t need to be reminded that sin, in whatever form it takes, is corrosive to our soul and damaging to those around us. Life is a great teacher, and it has taught us this lesson well, too often the hard way. Instead, let’s take time to remember Whose we are, the ultimate price He paid to make us His own, and the image—His image—to which He is steadily transforming us. We are no longer clunkers destined for demolition, we belong to God now, and we care for that which is His—namely ourselves.

“You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.”
(1 Corinthians 6:19b, 20)

Father, you’ve redeemed me from destruction and destined me for your glory.  I cannot fathom your love, but I gratefully accept it. May your truth and love guide me today, so that this life would glorify you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Christ in me is redemption.

1 Corinthians 6:18, 19a

His Purposes and Our Priorities

What goes through your mind in the morning before your feet hit the floor? Is it a mental listing of all that awaits you this day? Is it a lingering rehash of the today that ended as you fell asleep last night? Perhaps it is a stir-pot of emotions, whether they synergize into empowering optimism, conspire toward debilitating fear, or blend in some measure of both. Personally, a fresh to-do list and an urgency to conquer its demands greet me anew each morning as the alarm falls silent. Eager to accomplish, it is easy to bound out of bed and beeline toward first-things-first, pursuing my passions in my strength. Some such days end with the satisfaction of completion, while others draw to a close with too few checkmarks on the checklist, yet in all self-directed days, these two most vital things I carelessly leave behind—God’s purposes and His power.

To a people stirred to faith by the fresh news of the gospel and imploring, “What shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”¹ This Holy Spirit, this gift from God, elevates our perspectives and straightens our priorities. He guides us in all truth, for instance, making known to us the words and ways of Christ,² so we can live our days effectively in newfound wisdom. When we open ourselves to the Spirit, He puts God’s desires in our heart³ and in our mind⁴, then His purposes become our purposes, and our life has meaning. He blesses each one of us individually with Spiritual gifts⁵—wisdom, knowledge, faith, discernment and others—and we go forth collectively in His power.⁶ Through the Spirit, God pours out his love into our soul⁷, and throughout a lifetime of todays He steadily transforms us into the likeness of Christ⁸ with ever-increasing glory⁹. Our days change, for we ourselves are changed, and our lives bear fruit that lasts for eternity¹⁰. In the Spirit, God’s purposes become our purposes, and before our feet hit the floor, our days become His.

Father, slow me down today and redirect me, that your purposes would supersede my purposes and my plans be subjected to yours. Grace me to see your Spirit at work all around me and deep within me, that I would join Him and bring you glory. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Christ in me is wisdom.

¹ Acts 2:37, 38
² John 16:13-15
³ Ezekiel 36:26, 27
⁴ Romans 8:5
⁵ 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
⁶ Acts 1:8
⁷ Romans 5:5
⁸ 2 Thessalonians 2:13
⁹ 2 Corinthians 3:18
¹⁰ John 15:16

GOAT

“How can someone be so much better than the best?” my brother mused one day. We were talking about Wayne Gretzky, hockey’s “Great One,” who remains without question the best who’s ever played the game. The GOAT (greatest of all time) debate is a bit less settled in some other sports, though many would single out basketball’s Michael Jordan or football’s Jim Brown as standouts over and above an unabridged listing of their peers, and when it comes to the weightier matters of world leadership, the GOAT designation is even more elusive.

Israel’s King Solomon—glorious as he was in wealth and wisdom—looked forward to a Ruler so great as to be without peer. “All kings will bow down to him and all nations serve him,”¹ he wrote. What would elevate this Sovereign above all the others? “He will deliver the needy who cry out ... the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak ... and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.”² It would be His divine nature to love and His eternal power to act on such love that set Him apart from all others. Who wouldn’t want this Royal?

The King has come; His name is Jesus. He came first to deliver us from our sins—a merciful scapegoat, bearing our justice—and to build His kingdom “not of this world.”³ And herein lies another difference between the heavenly King and all earthly rulers: our risen King does not rule by external decree, but by inner transformation. He changes our hearts to rescue the oppressed, and His love overwhelms us to the point of overflowing to others. We give to His kingdom not through heavy-handed taxation, but through open-handed generosity; we fight His enemy not as a people conscripted into battle, but as a people convicted of His cause.

Jesus will come again, this time to rule over all. Sin will be vanquished, and all will be new. At that time—and at His name—“every knee [shall] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”⁴ There will be no GOAT debate; everyone from great to small will honor Him. So, why wait? Let’s worship Him with submitted lives now.

Father, thank you for loving us so much as to send your Son. I confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Send your Spirit to lead me in your way today, that this life would bring glory to you. Amen.

¹ Psalm 72:11
² Psalm 72:12-14
³ John 18:36
⁴ Philippians 2:10-12

Holy Ground

Read Joshua 5:13-15

Christmas changes us. Certainly, we join family and friends in festive celebration, and we take time to ponder the reason for the season, but Christmas marks the advent of “God with us." Both we and our place in the world are forever changed because of Christ.

The Bible teaches that wherever the Lord is, is holy. This is why in the Old Testament Moses and later Joshua were told to remove their sandals, for they found themselves standing on “holy ground”—in the presence of God. But now that Christ has come and removed our sin, He is both with us and in us. We are, says Paul, “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Wherever we are, He is; wherever we go, He goes; wherever we stand is holy ground, for God is present.

So, we live and move and breathe with newfound purpose. Ours is to embrace the grace we have received and to share the love and truth of God wherever we are. For the Lord is present and where He is, is holy.

QUESTIONS:

1. Does sharing Christ feel like an obligation you have to do, or a privilege you get to do?

2. Can you just for today offer yourself to the Spirit and trust Him to work through an imperfect and awkward you?

PRAYER:

Father, thank You for making me a dwelling place for your Spirit. I am humbled by such great love. Use me as You will. Amen.

Paul Nordman

Contagious Carriers

It was the summer before my freshman year in high school when I began to notice change in my small town. There was story after story about person after person discovering Jesus Christ to be real. I saw life after life change—the hard-hearted now showing God’s love, the cynical teeming with hope and released to joy. And I wanted that. I wanted the peace that she had. I wanted the joy that he had. I wanted the assurance that they had. It would be years before I, too, placed my trust in Jesus, but it was these people’s undeniable experience and the irrefutable evidence of lives changed that sent me searching in earnest.

Peter urges us, “In your hearts, revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). For most of us, it was love and joy shining through another that stirred our hope from its slumber and the word of God that woke our spirit to a new, never-ending day in Christ Jesus. Yet sometimes we let Peter’s call to defend our hope put us on the defensive. We feel inept to answer myriad questions arising out of a naturalist worldview or a relativistic culture, so we either consume ourselves in endless study, or we muzzle our hope and keep it to ourselves. But while it is helpful to grow in our ability to address people’s faith obstacles (answers do exist), we need to remember it is the truth of the gospel and its evidence through changed lives that reaches into searching souls and resonates in seeking hearts.

Using a lion as a metaphor for the word of God, 19^th-century preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “Open the door and let the lion out; he will take care of himself.” We can say the same for our testimony: Open the door and let your new life shine; it will take care of itself. For Christ is contagious, and He is as real as the need in those who seek Him.

Father, you have given us new life. Send us in the truth of the gospel and the love of Christ, that your Spirit would shine through us as He has shone before us. May lives be reborn because you used your people. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Christ in me is confidence.

Godliness in Peoria

“Will it play in Peoria?” This uniquely American idiom recognizes a new act, event or product may or may not appeal across a broad populace. For one reason or another, many well-conceived ideas fizzle in Anytown, USA. So, let’s ask ourselves, “Will ‘Godliness’ play in Peoria today?” More to the point, does this character trait remain relevant in our culture? It depends …

Is this godliness we speak of merely an “act” in which we try to appear different than we are? Is this the kind that lives life “on stage,” visible yet safely separated from an onlooking humanity? Are we forcing stilted, rehearsed lines when real life calls for an engaging ad lib? If this is the godliness we present, we play to an empty theatre and an audience of one.

True godliness is not a staged performance of our production, but the genuine outcome of inspired transformation. It is the welcomed work of the Holy Spirit in the life of one awakened to the truth that God is real—that He is who He says He is, His promises are true, and His love immeasurable. We applaud His ways, so much better than ours, and we choose them. The thoughts from His heights stir in our depths, and we cheer with changed lives. He develops our character, not instantaneously, but over time; not forcibly, but naturally, through the power of His Spirit. We change, we grow, and it shows.

Now, some may pan devotion to God; in fact, the apostle Paul promises, “All who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”¹ Such is the price of our passion. But people know “real” when they see it, and for many, true godliness—a life given to God in joy over His life given for us—is the evidence of hope to a “standing room only” crowd desperately searching for it.

Is godliness relevant today? Do you see the lights flickering for an encore?

Father, our world needs you, and we know it. Grace us, your people, to leave our ways behind and to walk in yours, so that others will see the light of Christ and find new life in Him. In His name we pray. Amen.

¹ 2 Timothy 3:12

Insert Your Name Here

How many times have we witnessed this scenario? A colleague or acquaintance is well thought of as a highly ethical person, a Christian perhaps, a living example of “do the right thing.” Then one day our model citizen slips on a moral banana peel, speaking ill of someone behind their back, for instance, or playing the nasty political card at work. Then invariably, someone—could be us—says this: “Now we know the real [insert name here].” Despite all the goodwill they have amassed through right decisions, we regard their wrong as the sole determinant of their true self.

Why do we seize upon people’s mistakes like this? Why do we discard in an instant the good reputation painstakingly built over the course of a lifetime? Is it that we think ourselves more attractive beside a morally blemished neighbor? Does our pronouncement arise from a deep sense of cynicism, our hope for good shattered yet again? It could be a lot of things, I suppose, for we all yearn for a rightness we can trust, elusive though it seems.

We do well to know what is right and to want what is right, but it is not ours to judge the wrongs of others. This is God’s job, and His alone. Moreover, we cannot muster from within ourselves the righteousness we crave; this, too, is God’s job, for Christ has taken our sin upon Himself and given us, in exchange, His own righteousness.¹ This is His gift to all who receive it through faith.

Then to anyone who would define God’s people by the sins Jesus already died to forgive, He says this on our behalf: “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. . . He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness.”²

If you are in Christ, then insert your name here, for He defines the real you.

Father, in truth you see my darkness, and in love you’ve become my light. By your sacrifice, I know your righteousness. Fill me to overflowing in grace, so others may know it, too. In Jesus’ name and by the power of your Spirit, I pray. Amen.

Christ in me is righteousness.

¹ 2 Corinthians 5:21
² Micah 7:8, 9

A Bit of Advice from the Old Man

His moment had arrived; it was time to lead. (Have you ever been there?) All eyes were on Solomon as his father commissioned him, “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary” (1 Chronicles 28:10). It was an enormous responsibility, so before releasing him to his work, David offered three pieces of valuable advice to his “young and inexperienced” son. Let’s eavesdrop and learn.

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.” Are you called to lead, but paralyzed in fear? David says we have a decision to make: choose strength. Every morning, put on courage, and go.

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you...” Have you lost your courage somewhere along the way? David reminds us where it is found: in trust in God. Remember that He who holds all power is faithful; He always loves you and never leaves you.

People are “ready for the work ... skilled in [their] craft ... will help you ... will obey your every command.” Are you overwhelmed in self-reliance? Then esteem with David the nobility of labor: people are capable of work and wanting to excel. Make their day by uniting all under one vision, equipping doers with what they need, and then honoring their skill with your trust. Give people the gift of going home fulfilled. Good leaders do this.

Solomon has long been regarded as the wisest man who ever lived. Must have listened to the old man! 

Father, I confess that fear is constantly nipping at my faith. Fill me with your Spirit, that I would live today in strength, courage, trust and humility. I ask this as your child in Christ. Amen.

Christ in me is wisdom.

See David’s leadership advice in 1 Chronicles 28:19-21.

Singleness of Heart

One of the marvels of this incredible, shrinking world of ours is that we see up-close the incredible, expanding church of Christ. At two weekly Bible studies I attend, believers have come from or gone to places all over the world—Malaysia, Indonesia, Burkina-Faso, Slovenia, Peru, China, Nigeria, Thailand, India, Taiwan and Japan, to name a few. All these faces representing all these nations reflect this beautiful prophecy fulfilled: “I will give them singleness of heart and action” (Jeremiah 32:39). From continents and cultures around the globe, we share in new life in Christ Jesus and the call to reach others in His name.

What’s fascinating, then—and fun to watch—is how God creates a new diversity among a united us, for His Spirit uniquely gifts each believer for the common good. Take Iris*, for instance. Here from a foreign country to study economics, she found new life in Christ. Now from this leader flows a healing compassion for those who hurt, and the gift of intercession as she earnestly prays for them. Then there’s Rhonda—a friendly “force of nature” whose unquenchable zeal for the salvation of souls is sourced in the Spirit of God working through her in power. Eric is a proclaimer, boldly and joyfully sharing the gospel of Christ and letting its truth produce fruit for itself.

I could go on, and so could you, with example after example of how God calls and gifts His redeemed people for His glory and our good. For the one Spirit He has placed in all of us will accomplish His purposes through each of us. It is evidence of yet another prophecy fulfilled in Christ—In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world” (Isaiah 12:4, 5). 

And so we have, and still we are. 

Father, seeing you at work around me increases my desire for you to work through me. Yet more important still is that you be glorified through the body of Christ, your own people loving and serving with singularity of heart and action. May this be so today. Amen.

Christ in me is holiness.

Read today’s Scripture in Isaiah 12:1-6.

*Names have been changed. 

All of You

“Prost!” we cheered, hoisting our mugs that Oktoberfest evening in Munich. It was the German version of its counterpart toasts around the world—“Cheers!” “Salute!” “Santé!” With that we clunked our mugs in unison (real mugs don’t clink), binding us together for a fun time of pretzels, hops, people and song.

In a far different place and time, gathering friends also lifted a cup. “Drink from it, all of you,” Jesus said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”¹ He spoke of a true and lasting oneness, the universal bond of all who would rest their soul in Him. Still today, we celebrate “communion,” a gathering together of believers to participate in Him who unites us to Himself. But does Jesus’ church really worship as one, or have we let worldly disputes separate “all of you” into smaller subsets of “some of us”? It’s a rhetorical question; I think we know the answer. And gathering as a people divided is to commune “in an unworthy manner,” warns Paul; to do so is “sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.”² Peace is paramount to God.

So, what do we do? Certainly finger-pointing, hand-wringing and towel-throwing get us nowhere. I think a friend of mine, Michael Young, has an answer. Senior pastor of a largely African-American congregation, Michael convenes open town-hall meetings at his church, inviting community leaders with different vantage points—clergy, police, elected officials, business people—to share their thoughts and to listen to the collective hearts and voices of all gathered there. The purpose is not to assert one opinion over others, but to meet deeper needs: of hearing and being heard, of understanding and being understood, of airing perceptions and addressing misperceptions, of looking up from that which divides us and embracing the aspirations we all share in common—the desires of the soul only the Son of God can meet.

Oneness takes work. It calls us to humility, wisdom, perseverance and faith, for “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against ... powers of this dark world and ... spiritual forces of evil.”³ My friend has chosen to look up to Christ who unites us and stand with Him against the enemy who wishes only to divide and destroy us. His resolve silently begs the question of us, “What about all of you?”

Father, I’m far too willing to be one with you but divided from my neighbor. Give me the humility, patience and desire to unite with my brothers and sisters in Christ against any enemy who would separate us. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Christ in me is peace.

Read today’s Scripture in Matthew 26:26-30.

¹ Matthew 26:27, 28
² 1 Corinthians 11:18, 27
³ Ephesians 6:12

Safely Hidden

It’s a joke in our house—I’m just not good at surprising my wife. Once, I bought Peggy a bracelet for Christmas and hid it where I knew she wouldn’t find it. The secret would have been safe, too, except for the fact I was so pleased with my hiding place that, one day, I went to admire it ... and Peggy found me there. Years later, we still laugh about it. The legend lives on. 

Fortunately for the human race, God is better at hiding things than I am. In the Biblical context, a mystery is something knowable only by the one who initiates it and those to whom he chooses to reveal it. And before time began, God hid one mystery, in particular, in the safest place in the universe—He hid it in Himself, undiscoverable until the time of His choosing.¹ When something is hidden in God, it’s hidden. What then could possibly be so important to God that He would keep it so secure? We are. For the mystery He eventually revealed was this: Jesus Christ living in us,² freeing, saving and uniting forever all who would receive Him through faith.³

But why such secrecy? Why such drama? Again, it was for our own good and for God’s, for Paul tells us that if “the rulers of this age”—the spiritual powers of darkness—had understood the mystery of Christ in us, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”⁴ But for the hiding, the justice of God and the mercy of God would not have reconciled at the cross, and we would still be in our sin, separated forever from a holy God. As it is, however, “we may approach God with freedom and confidence,”⁵ for in Him and because of his wisdom, we are forgiven, reconciled, loved.

And in Him, we are eternally secure. How do we know? We have been “raised with Christ,” writes Paul, and our life is now “hidden with Christ in God.”⁶ And when something is hidden in God, it’s hidden.

Father, your wisdom is unsearchable, your power unsurpassable and your love immeasurable. I trust you. Send me and use me today in the complete confidence that, no matter what happens, I am safely and securely hidden in you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Christ in me is confidence.

¹ Ephesians 3:9
² Colossians 1:27
³ Ephesians 3:5, 6
⁴ 1 Corinthians 2:8
⁵ Ephesians 3:12
⁶ Colossians 3:3

What Makes You Sing?

Think about it for a moment, what makes you sing? Is it, for you, beautiful weather? Words of encouragement? The kindness of a friend? Or time alone, perhaps? A few years ago, I had to chuckle at the curious realization that whenever I accomplished a meaningful task, my inner satisfaction found outward expression through lyrics. (And seemingly random ones, at that!)

Does anything stir us more deeply, though, than those moments when we experience for ourselves that God is real, that He loves us, and His words are true? He shows up when all hope is lost, and our spirits are lifted by a promise fulfilled—“I am with you always.”¹ We see change within that only God could have brought about, and we are relieved to know He’s not finished with us yet.² A Scripture passage leaps off the page and into our soul, proving God’s word to be “alive and active,”³ much more than a worldview. The one we’ve been praying for comes to new life through faith in Christ, and we can almost hear the “rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”⁴

These are the epiphany moments of truth, when we realize God is who He says He is, that He is faithful and His promises sure. So, Paul guides our thoughts: “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”⁵ For these things of God are too powerful to contain, too mighty to suppress. We shouldn’t be surprised when they spring our silence into song.

Father, incline my heart to your Spirit, that I would overflow with joy at the thought of your faithfulness and the knowledge of your goodness. May my life bring you glory today. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:15, 16).

Christ in me is confidence.

¹ Matthew 28:20
² Philippians 1:6
³ Hebrews 4:12
⁴ Luke 15:10
⁵ Philippians 4:8  

You Shine

“I’ve seen the light!” It’s the stereotypical expression of the religious experience. We say it more in exaggerated, joking tones than anything else. But you know what? I have seen the light! You have, too.

Of Jesus, John writes, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”¹ The apostle teaches us who Jesus is—the Son of God who lived among us in human flesh for a specific time and for a specific purpose before returning to the Father in heaven. He came and He left, but His presence remains; it always will. Says John, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”² True enough, we see Him beaming all around us, and truth be told, He glows through you.

Jesus shines from you who have known Him all your life and from you who discovered Him later in life. He shines from you who turn to God in grief, and He shines from you who comfort the brokenhearted with care. The Light shines from you who struggle against the dark powers of addiction and from you who faithfully walk beside these daily victors. He shines through you on the left and through you on the right who share eternal citizenship in a Kingdom not of this world. Jesus shines from you who stand boldly as mighty oaks of faith; He shines from you who cling to Him with seed-sized belief. He shines through your faith; He shines through your forgiveness. He shines through your compassion; He shines through your humility. He shines through your brokenness; He shines through your healing. He shines through you.

“You are the light of the world,”³ taught Jesus to the eager crowd. In this confidence and in this joy, we step into a new day and, once again, “shine like stars in the universe as [we] hold out the word of life.”⁴ For we have seen the Light, and, in Him, we are light, too.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14, 16).

Father, send your Spirit, that I may shine today in what I say and do. Be pleased with your people; be glorified in us. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Christ in me is life.

¹ John 1:4
² John 1:5
³ Matthew 5:14
⁴ Philippians 2:15

Listen to John proclaim Jesus Christ as God in John 1:1-14.

Who Wins, Really?

“He who dies with the most toys wins.” Someone had embraced the idea to the point of proclaiming it from his rear bumper, his nearsighted worldview trailing along behind him—unsafe at any speed—baiting the gullible wherever he went: “Game on! It’s me against you, Sucker!”

Why do we benchmark our lives to the traits and accomplishments of others, anyway? Instead of savoring our successes or dealing with our difficulties at face value, we evaluate the acceptability of our existence against that of other people. If possessions, achievements or fame tilt in our favor, we go about our merry way in our “life is good” gear, but if we fall short of someone else’s good fortune or their outward signs of success, our narrative nosedives by comparison into, “I lived life and all I got was this lousy t-shirt.” And if those around us are winning by cheating, well that’s just plain intolerable.

There is a more peaceful way to live life, and it has everything to do with where we look for validation. “Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong,” writes David the psalmist, for our quality of our life is not determined by that of anyone else, least of all “those who carry out their wicked schemes,” whatever form their treachery may take. Instead, David redirects us to God, in whom exists life itself: “Trust in the Lord ... Delight yourself in the Lord ... Commit your way to the Lord ... Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” For God is never against us, but always for us.

If this life were all there was—if death were the finish line of all things—then the materialist motorist, his toys in tow, might be right. But Jesus lives forever, and for all who live in Him by faith, this life is only the beginning. And he who never dies always wins.

Father, my life is safely secure in you through Christ, and you’re all I need. Send your Spirit to remind me to set my sights always and only on you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Christ in me is life.

Read today’s Scripture in Psalm 37:1-7.