Photo by Kourosh Qaffari: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-standing-on-grass-field-while-opening-hands-1583582/

Philippians is one of Paul's joyful letters that he wrote to the church in Philippi. It is a letter writing to a church that he is very thankful for, and he writes them to let them know specifically of his thankfulness.

You'll see in verses 3-6 that this is one Greek sentence. Paul is full of gratitude for this church, but he says how he gives thanks by prayer. He prays to God on their behalf expressing his gratitude for them. It is a blessing from God to Paul these believers in the church of Philippi. There are people in your life that are a blessing to you, and you have God to thank for that.

Paul is specifically thankful for them because of their partership in the gospel. Your translation may say "fellowship" but it communicates the idea of more than just beyond interest. It is a shared vision of what it of transcendent importance. Ohio people usually have a shared interest of the Ohio State Buckeyes. You see someone with an Ohio State shirt on and you have the interest of watching the buckyeyes play every saturday. This parternship is deeper than that because this parternship is rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Of all the reasons Paul could have told this church he was thankful, it was their partnership that made him give thanks to God.

You can read in verse 6, Paul is sure of God's commitment to the Philippians. The entire work of salvation starts with God, and it will be finished by God. We can trust the character of God that He is faithful, and He always finishes what He starts.

Paul's joy is declared in verse five, and now his confidence in verse six. The confidence isn't just a personal blessing that God will finish the work, but that He will finish the work in the corporate body of the church. Amongst the partnership, God who started this work among this group of believers will finish the work He started. 

It's clear in this text that Paul cares for them, and he ends the text on a three-fold structure. There is a request, purpose, and a final result.

Paul prays that their love would grow in a specific way. It would grow that it is discerning and knowing. It's not just one or the other. If one grows over the other, we become imbalanced and it will affect us negatively. 

Why does Paul pray for this? So these believers be able to approve what is excellent. There are decisions we all have to make in life that aren't black or white. It's a grey area decision, and Paul's aim for believers is make the most excellent decision that will bring the most honor and glory to God. 

The final result is purity. The final result is holiness. Making decisions that honor and glorify God the most fills us with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. The picture here connects to a verse like Psalm 1:3 describing the believer. 

There have been many sermons on the Lord’s Supper. In the early church, such notables as Origen, Gregory of Nyssa, Tertullian, Cyril of Jerusalem, and Cyprian published expositions of the Lord’s Prayer. Later the greatest of the ancient theologians, Augustine, followed suit. The poet Dante devoted the eleventh canto of his Purgatorio to the Lord’s Prayer. Meister Eckhart, the medieval Dominican mystic and theologian, used the categories of the Lord’s Prayer to sum up scholastic theology. Martin Luther preached a volume of exposition on the Lord’s Prayer. And the famous Westminster Catechism of the Presbyterian churches bases its last nine questions on the Lord’s Prayer. Millions of hours of intense study have been devoted to these verses by centuries of successive genius.[1]
  [1] R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 402–403.

We find that the Lord is praying, and the disciples want to be taught how to pray. It is fascinating that you can ask the Lord anything as he is sitting right beside them, and they want to know how to pray. This is a common expression of many Christians that they want to be taught prayer. They want to pray better or feel like the way they pray is wrong or not fulfilling.

There are basic facts found in this text. We are to pray to God the Father. In his Greater Catechism, Luther asked, “How is it [God’s Name] hallowed amongst us?” Answer: “When our life and doctrine are truly Christian.” For Jesus, he gave up his life on the cross, obeying the Father’s will. How do we hallow his name as Father? With our lips both privately and publicly.

In this text, we pray for the kingdom to come. We pray for our daily nourishment. We ask the Lord to forgive us of our sins as we forgive others who have wronged us. We ask the Father for strength when temptation comes to glorify God in our struggles with sin.

But this section in vv. 5-13 answers some lingering questions about prayer that will help you and me understand the importance of prayer in our lives.

Let’s say you had a long day, everyone is asleep, and you are about to fall asleep when the doorbell rings. It’s an old friend that you haven’t seen in years who is a family friend but is in need of some food. You don’t have any, so you decide to go to the Lead Pastor’s house because they have a full refrigerator all the time. Let me remind you it’s close to midnight at this point. As Americans, this is not normal behavior, but not many people would like being wake up in the middle of the night for just some food.

The culture was big on being able to host for your guests. What you read in verses 5-8 goes on both the person asking for bread and the person being asked had a responsibility to provide for their guest. The persistence or shamelessness of the man will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Suppose a grouchy friend can be forced by his friend’s persistence to give what he should; how much more will our loving God respond to our persistence in asking for what we need? When we pray according to his standards and purposes, we can be bold.

There is an earnestness here from these words in ascending order. Why would someone pray with this much earnestness?

I think your prayer life reveals how much you believe God will answer. I think your prayer life reveals how much you trust God with the struggles and needs of your life.

Verses 11 and 12 aren’t difficult to grasp. Any good parent will not give their child something that will cause them harm. We can affirm that every parent is sinful. They are not perfect. They make mistakes, and they don’t raise their kids perfectly. But Jesus says in verse 13, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?

This should remind us what a blessed people we are. God gives good gifts, and we should expect Him to give good gifts. We are able to pray to him boldly, making our needs known to the Lord. We should pray passionately following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and others like Jacob, Nehemiah, and Paul.

While the knee jerk reaction of reading the title of this blog might lead to a parent having a “see that's why you don't have a phone” moment, that is not the purpose for writing this. Instead this blog is meant to stir up conversations, and maybe even lead to adults having hard realizations about things they may be blind to. In a world dominated by technology, the question often arises: "What is the right age for my child to have access to a phone?" or "Which apps should we be wary of ?" The truth is smartphones and social media platforms can be double-edged swords, wielding both convenience and peril. If you're reading this on your phone right now, consider that the device in your hand has more computing power than the Apollo 11 that took humanity to the moon. While these tools have their place, they also carry significant risks that we must address to safeguard our faith, relationships, and overall well-being.

The era we live in is marked by a constant flow of media. From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, we're bombarded with information, images, and interactions available at the tap of a screen. Yet, within this digital realm, there lie potential dangers that demand our attention. To navigate the complex landscape of social media and smartphones, we must adopt proactive measures to protect our faith and relationships. One way is by limiting the content that can be downloaded onto devices or by incorporating ”safe search” software. Remember, the media is everywhere, and escaping its reach is nearly impossible. Our primary focus should be on nurturing our spiritual and emotional well-being as we engage with these technologies.

The 5 Critical Impacts of Social Media on Believers
1. False View of Intimacy: Social media offers easy connections, often blurring the lines of what genuine intimacy entails. It's crucial to recognize that authentic connections, like dating and marriage, are God-ordained and should be pursued within those boundaries. Fake intimacy, driven by immediate desires, can lead us astray. Texting has become a common mode of communication, but it lacks the depth of true conversation. Adultery can take root more swiftly through social media, as it masks imperfections. We must differentiate between counterfeit and genuine intimacy, remembering that authentic connections lead us closer to God.

2. False Awareness of Isolation: Often social media can foster feelings of isolation despite its promise of connectivity. As we immerse ourselves in the digital realm, we isolate ourselves from the present and genuine human interactions. This loneliness can hinder the growth of our faith and can lead us astray. We must recognize the threat of allowing cyber interactions to overshadow our real-world relationships that God has engineered in our lives.

3. False Sense of Intelligence: While social media might appear to engage our minds, it often stunts our intellectual growth. Scanning information hinders deep understanding and processing. Communication skills suffer, impacting our relationships, especially marriages. By allowing social media to consume our time, we deprive ourselves of valuable opportunities for personal growth. When searching for truth we should go to the Bible for instruction and answers.

4. False Sense of Image: Social media platforms tempt us to compare our lives with carefully created profiles, leading to jealousy and depression. The desire for the perfect life depicted online can distort our self-image. This obsession with appearances can ensnare both men and women, pushing them to covet what others possess. Men might find themselves lusting after images of women who are not their wives. We must recognize the danger of allowing the media to dictate our perceptions of beauty and self-worth.

5. False Sense of Importance: Media cultivates a distorted sense of importance, making us believe that staying connected through media is beyond important. We may fall into the trap of valuing virtual interactions over genuine experiences. By fixating on media, we risk exchanging meaningful life moments for shallow digital pursuits, missing out on true fulfillment.

Steering Clear of the Dangers
Our challenge lies in understanding that social media is but a tool, not the antagonist. The true battle is for our hearts and minds. We must stand firm against the tide of false idols that the media often represents. Romans 1 warns us of the danger of rejecting the true God to create our own gods—the media can easily become one such false idol if we're not vigilant.
Remember, the media, including films, carries inherent biases and messages that often contradict our Christian values. As we immerse ourselves in this media-saturated world, we must always discern its messages and align them with our faith in Jesus. In a society inching towards "amusing ourselves to death," as put by author Neil Postman, we must tread carefully. Let's be deliberate.

The dangers of social media and smartphones are real, but they're not insurmountable. Armed with awareness and a strong faith foundation, we can navigate this digital landscape without losing ourselves to its pitfalls. Embrace these technologies as tools, but never let them dictate your values, relationships, or sense of self-worth. Engage mindfully, protect your faith, and cherish the meaningful moments that life offline has to offer.

1. Live.Me- a live-streaming video app that uses geolocation to share videos so that users can find out a streamer's exact location. Users can earn "coins" as a way to "pay" minors for photos.
2. Calculator%- one of several secret apps used to hide photos, videos, files and browser history.
3. Holla- a video chat app that allows users to meet others all over the world instantly. Users have reported racial slurs and explicit content on the app.
4. WhatsApp- a messaging app that allows users to communicate through text, calls and video chats worldwide.
5. KIK- allows anyone to message users with unlimited access. The app can bypass traditional text messaging features.
6. Whisper-  an anonymous social platform that encourages users to share secrets with one another. The app also reveals the user's location to allow people to meet up.
7. Bumble- a dating app that requires women to make the first move with connections. Kids have been known to create fake profiles and falsify their ages, according to officials.
8. Badoo-  a dating app that allows users to chat, share videos and share photos. The app is intended for adults only.
9. Grindr-  a dating app for the LGBTQ+ community that allows users to chat, share photos and meet up based on the apps geolocation.
10. Skout- a location-based dating app and website that allows sharing photos. Officials said children under the age of 17 have been known to make profiles with falsified ages.
11. Snapchat- a popular social media app that allows users to create stories, send pictures and videos. The app also shares your location.
12. Hot or Not-  a social app that encourages users to chat and rate each other's profiles. The purpose of the app is to hook up, according to law enforcement.
13. Omegle- a social app that allows users to video chat privately or in a group. Child pornography has been linked to Omegle, authorities said.
14. Meetme- a social app that allows users to connect based on geolocation and encourages them to meet up.
15. TikTok-  an app used to create and share short videos. Users have reported explicit content and cyberbullying on the app.

*This is not an exhaustive list just some apps to be aware List found at: https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/life/18-apps-parents-should-know-about/77-4068f338-f0dc-49e0-b740-736a31042ffa

Text: Acts 20:17-23, 36-38
17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

36 And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38 being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. And they accompanied him to the ship.

When it comes to farewells, you might feel like Snoopy who said to Charlie Brown one day:
Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes, and while farewells can be difficult, they are an inevitable part of our journey. As many may know, our summer interns had their last day with us on Monday, and with that we had to say “Goodbye.” When I was in college there was what seemed like never ending goodbyes. People coming in and out of my life who for even a short time made a great impression. The problem for me was how do I say goodbye the right way?  We understand the significance of saying goodbye, along with love, sorrow, and blessing when someone who is following God’s will departs from our lives. We should celebrate Christians who are following God's desire for their life. Just like the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:17-38, who bid farewell to the church in Ephesus, we too face times of parting. What we will see from Scripture is the importance of responding to these goodbyes with grace and how we should love, support, and encourage those departing from us during these transitions. We do this by understanding:

The Faithful Departure:

• When someone serves God faithfully within our church community, their departure marks the completion of a significant chapter in their life. Much like Paul, they may have impacted numerous lives during their time with us. As they step into the next phase of their journey, we recognize the importance of acknowledging their devotion and dedication to God's work.

Supporting Each Other:

• During times of farewell, it is crucial for us to rally around those who are leaving. Our support doesn't end when they walk out the door; rather, we commit to checking in on them, offering prayers, and ensuring that they know they are not alone. Our love and encouragement transcend physical boundaries, reminding them that they will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

Remembering the Journey:

• As we bid goodbye to individuals who have left their mark on us, we cherish the memories we've created together. Celebrating the fun times, the hard work, and the passion they brought to their service reminds us of the joy and unity we experience within our church family. These cherished memories serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to us as we continue in love and service.

Embracing God's Will:

• Goodbyes for Christians, are not seen as endings but rather as new beginnings. When we serve with a heart for God's glory, we understand that His plan and desire for our lives transcend our personal desires. Just as Paul followed God's leading on his journey, we encourage those leaving to seek His will and trust in His guidance.

Goodbyes can be emotional, but as a Christian, we should strive to embrace those leaving with love, sorrow, and blessing. Like the Apostle Paul, who bid farewell to the church in Ephesus, we recognize the significance of saying goodbye to those who have served God faithfully among us. As they embark on new journeys, we support and encourage them, knowing that our love and prayers transcend any distance. We cherish the memories created together and look forward to the continued legacy of love and service within our church family.

Judges 7:19–25 (ESV)
19So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch. And they blew the trumpets and smashed the jars that were in their hands. 
20Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars. They held in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow. And they cried out, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” 
21Every man stood in his place around the camp, and all the army ran. They cried out and fled. 
22When they blew the 300 trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his comrade and against all the army. And the army fled as far as Beth-shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel-meholah, by Tabbath. 
23And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian. 
24Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, “Come down against the Midianites and capture the waters against them, as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan.” So all the men of Ephraim were called out, and they captured the waters as far as Beth-barah, and also the Jordan. 
25And they captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb they killed at the winepress of Zeeb. Then they pursued Midian, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon across the Jordan.

To Gideon, it may have seemed that Israel’s small army was too big for God to use. God is not limited, but God wanted to test Gideon’s faith. God told Gideon to send home the soldiers who were afraid of the battle ahead. He also gave Gideon a series of tests to challenge his men to see if they were properly equipped for battle. Gideon’s army went from 32,000 men to 300 brave and fighting soldiers. To no one’s surprise, Gideon was very worried and could put his trust in no one else except God. God gave Gideon encouragement by telling him to go spy on the Midianites camp in order to reassure him of His power. God allowed Gideon to gain great confidence through the loaf of barley bread in the camp of Midian and the sword of Gideon to build his faith upon. Through God’s power, Gideon was able to launch a sneak attack on the Midianites and strike them down. Gideon would not have been able to succeed at this without having complete faith in God.
      We are called to be good stewards of what God gives us, and we are called to be faithful servants of God. Stewardship and faith go hand in hand. God may give us a lot or a little, but either way, we must trust that God is working and that He has given us everything that we need to fulfill His calling on our lives. On paper, Gideon did not stand a chance, 300 vs. 135,000; however, his faith in God allowed him to strategize how to take down the giant army. God is in the driver’s seat, and He rules over all, but effort is still required from Gideon.
      We must consider three things when we study scripture: Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude.

Guilt – Where are we feeling convicted? What are we not stewarding well? Where is our faith placed?
Grace – Recognize our sin and ask God to forgive us. He shows us that we can fully trust Him and that we can rely on His plan to work our as long as we place our faith in Him alone.
Gratitude – We must be thankful for the privilege it is to worship God and to get to pursue God. We get to fulfill His will and we need to thank Him for the many blessing He provides us with in our lives.

Photo by Skull Kat on Unsplash

Why do we go to church on Sunday’s? What happens when we gather with other believers
each Sunday? Colossians 3:16-17 gives us a description (and reminder) of what we should strive for as we meet each Sunday. It says:

Initially, we see this command to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. What is the “word of Christ?” It is both the message he proclaimed and the message that is centered on him. It is the gospel to which we cling and that we seek to make known in and through our lives. We are to let this gospel message dwell in us richly and we do this through teaching, admonishing, and singing.

Together, teaching and admonishing include instruction and direction but also warning and rebuking. In verse 16, there is a key phrase attached to teaching and admonishing that says, “in all wisdom.” I think this is the key phrase here because it implies that we cannot teach and admonish by our own power. We must depend on God’s Spirit to direct and lead us to wisdom, not only so we can understand the gospel more clearly, but also so we can articulate it well to others. I should also mention the plural “you” in Greek means this is something every believer should take part in. Every Christian has a part to play.

Also, I am continually amazed by the fact that one of the ways we let the gospel dwell richly in us is through singing. Just as we don’t take teaching lightly in the church, I want to mention we shouldn’t take singing lightly either. So often, the songs we sing and the theology we express through song is what sticks in our minds and hearts throughout the week. How often do you randomly remember song lyrics you haven’t heard in years? Music sticks with us and it is important to consider what fills our minds through song. In verse 16, Paul says we are to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,” meaning that our songs should be saturated with Scripture.
Finally, verse 17 says we are to glorify God with all that we do. It is important to do things well, but most importantly, remember that we serve an audience of One. This is a huge encouragement because it shifts my focus from simply trying to do well to doing well so that Christ may be displayed, and thankfulness might fill my heart and the hearts of our congregation. As Christians, we are called to do things well so that, through our work, we can show people who Christ is and magnify him with everything we have. Remember that as you go through your week.

Today, we delve into Revelation 3:1-6, a passage that speaks directly to the church in Sardis. It serves as a timeless message for us all, resonating with our desire to awaken our spiritual lives, revitalize our faith, and embrace the transformational power of Christ's love.

Revelation 3:1-6 opens with an address to the church in Sardis, a once-thriving city known for its prosperity. However, the vibrancy of the city did not extend to the church, for it had fallen into spiritual slumber. Though reputation and external appearances may have given the impression of life, Jesus saw the spiritual reality and offered words of admonition, urging them to wake up, strengthen what remained, and return to Him with fervent devotion.

In verse 1, Jesus declares, "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." These words pierce through the façade of religious activity and expose the lack of genuine spiritual life within the church. The call to wake up serves as an invitation for self-reflection and introspection. It challenges us to examine our own lives, seeking areas where complacency and spiritual stagnation have taken hold.

Continuing in verse 2, Jesus implores the church to "strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die." It is a call to prioritize the remnants of faith and hope, to fan the flickering embers into a vibrant flame once again. This involves reconnecting with the foundational truths of the Gospel, rediscovering the passion and zeal that may have diminished over time. By nourishing and reviving our spiritual disciplines, we can restore the vitality of our faith.

Verse 3 urges the church in Sardis to "remember how you have received and heard" and to "hold fast and repent." Remembering calls us to reflect on the initial encounter with Christ, the joy of salvation, and the transformative power it unleashed. It involves revisiting the teachings of Scripture, immersing ourselves in prayer, and cultivating a heart of gratitude. Repentance, in turn, requires genuine remorse for spiritual apathy, a turning away from sinful habits, and a wholehearted commitment to aligning our lives with God's will.

Verse 4 brings words of encouragement and hope, promising that those who wake up, strengthen, and remember will be adorned in white garments and their names will not be blotted out from the Book of Life. This assurance highlights God's desire for restoration and redemption, the abundant grace He offers to those who choose to rekindle their spiritual fervor. Embracing this promise opens the door to a renewed relationship with Christ, where we can experience His love and live in the fullness of His purpose.

In the closing verse, Jesus admonishes the church, saying, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." This exhortation extends beyond the Sardis church, resonating with believers throughout history. It calls us to attentively listen to the timeless truths revealed in Scripture and respond accordingly.

Revelation 3:1-6 serves as a profound wake-up call, urging us to evaluate the state of our spiritual lives. It challenges us to discard superficial religiosity and pursue a genuine, vibrant relationship with Christ.

By: Matt Keller

When I began studying the book of Esther to lead the church through this magnificent narrative, I knew chapter two would present multiple challenges. First, the facts leading to Esther's ascendency to the throne are dark and uncomfortable for our modern sensitivities. We cannot relate to how people lived under the most powerful monarchy the world had known up to that point. Furthermore, we continually want to view the Ancient Near East through the lens of 21st-century life.  

Second, because Esther isn’t a popular option to preach through, most Christians are familiar with the story of Esther as it was taught to them by well-meaning Sunday school teachers, through bible-study authors, or by the folks who produced Veggie Tales. Moreover, adults have primarily been led to view Esther as if Esther and Mordecai knew that God would use them to save the Jews from the plot of Haman. By viewing the events of Esther this way, we typically adopt one of the following positions, 1) Esther was a victim of her circumstances. 2) Mordecai put Esther in a terrible, no-win situation. 3) Esther and Mordecai did what they needed to do to produce the best possible outcome for the Jewish people—the ends justify the means.

Third, through the instruction of various Bible teachers, Esther has become a heroine—a feminine icon worthy of praise, adoration, and emulation. Therefore, the idea that Esther was a sinful young woman who compromised with the world in which she lived and intentionally made choices that betrayed any covenant commitment to Yahweh is simply offensive and unthinkable.

Yet, we must work hard to understand the meaning of Esther chapter two and deal with the facts given to us in Scripture. As believers, our job is not to subject Scripture to our understanding but to subject our understanding to Scripture. For this reason, we must read Esther with the knowledge that the principal characters in the narrative had no idea what would happen in the future. Mordecai was not a prophet who received prior revelation from God about Haman's plans to annihilate the Jews. Likewise, Esther did not know why God put her in a position to influence Xerxes and save God's people. The aha moment for both is found in chapter 4 when Mordecai said,

Esther 4:14
14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
 
The Hebrew word translated you have come is הִגַּעַתְּ which means to attain or to gain with great effort or through some inherent quality. This implies that Esther wanted to be queen and did what was necessary to become queen without truly knowing or understanding God's greater purpose for gaining the throne. Furthermore, the word leads us to believe what the text of chapter two has already revealed, precisely that Esther pleased ¹ Hegai and worked to win the favor of those with whom she came into contact.  The word pleased  is an active verb as is the Hebrew word translated won his favor. The verb tense reveals that Esther was not being acted upon, but acted to please and win the favor of Hegai. In verse 17 the Bible tells us that Esther won grace and favor from the king. Again, the verb is in the active voice meaning that she was working to win the favor of the king.   All of this points to the undeniable reality that God had a greater purpose than either Mordecai or Esther could have possibly known when the announcement was made that King Ahasuerus would initiate a competition to find a new queen better than Queen Vashti--a competition in which Esther was an active and willing participant.

I realize some believe Esther was a victim caught up in circumstances beyond her control. While I understand why people want to believe that narrative, the text simply does not bring about such a conclusion. First, it is true that passive verbs are used in verse eight to describe the gathering of the young women in Susa and that Esther was taken into the king’s palace. However, using passive verbs likely points to the possibility that being selected by the king would not have existed apart from his edict. In other words, the king acted upon the eligible young women of the kingdom by initiating the search. While the verb לְקָחָ֧הּ (lāqaḥ) can mean “taken by force” and has so been interpreted by some scholars…most feel there is no indication that she was taken by coercion.²

Second, the text says that Esther also was taken, and some believe this means that Esther was essentially abducted against her will by the servants of the king. However, the word taken means to transport into a new location or state. Furthermore, Karen Jobes wrote,

Esther “was taken” (2:8) into the harem where the virgins were gathered. Some commentators have understood this to mean that the women, and particularly Esther, were taken against their will. This is probably overinterpreting the passive voice, which may have been used only to express that it was at Xerxes’ initiative, not the women’s, that this occurred.³

Anthony Tomasino observed, “Esther was gathered with the other young women. She is “taken” into the house of women, but there is no implication she was forced to go against her will. As Fox observes, Mordecai will later state that Esther ‘attained’ the royal station (4:14), perhaps implying that she had actively pursued the position….The Jewish audience of the book of Esther could not have approved of Esther’s conduct.” ⁴

Finally, some find it difficult to believe that Esther would look for a way to win the king's heart and seek to gain an advantage that would assist her when her night with the king arrived. As stated in the sermon on Sunday, the text uses a common Hebrew euphemism to reveal that sex was one of, if not the key element in this competition. In verses 12-15, we see the English phrase, go in to or went in to—therefore, we have been given a window into the king's activity with each of these potential brides-to-be. In other words, the young women were judged not only by their looks but also by their performance. Is that offensive? Yes. But such was life in the empire of a pagan king. Therefore, Esther, knowing that her time with the king was approaching, actively sought advice from the person who best knew the king. Again, Tomasino wrote,  

When asked what she would like to take with her into the king’s presence, her response is, “What would you recommend?” Fox sees here evidence of passivity: “So devoid is she of individual will that she does not ask for further aids on her big night—a request that might at least show active participation in the process.” But Esther does not fail to ask for anything; she asks what Hegai thought she should take. It might be said that she was humble, not presupposing to know what would please the king. Rather than being passive, this move appears shrewd and calculating: Hegai, keeper of the royal women, would have known all the royal gossip and would have heard from the wives and concubines about the king’s preferences. Equipped with whatever Hegai had deemed best, Esther pleased all her admirers. Her strategy was working.⁵  

Karen Jobes provided this insight in her commentary,

Esther asked for nothing except what Hegai, the keeper of the harem, suggested she take with her….Levenson suggests that because Esther knew she had won Hegai’s favor, she wisely trusted in his expert knowledge of the king’s desires rather than in her own instincts. He infers from this that Esther was “wise and forbearing rather than inpulsive, prideful, and self-destructively independent.” Esther’s deference contrasts with Vashti’s defiance and implies a different outcome.

Given the sensual atmosphere created by the author’s description of the period of preparation and the competition Esther faced, the reader can hardly avoid wondering just how she won Xerxes in just one night with him. Did God give her favor with Xerxes? The text does not explain it that way. However, it is certain that because this young Jewish virgin apparently did whatever it took to please a lascivious pagan king, she won the position of queen, through which she later saved the whole of her nation, the nation from which the Messiah later came.⁶

The language used in chapter two is not only inspired by God, but it leads us to the conclusion that Esther was not a victim caught up in a process she wanted nothing to do with. The text teaches us the opposite. She went into this competition and did what was necessary to win. God, knowing what Esther and Mordecai could not have known, ensured that her efforts were successful and turned the heart of everyone who encountered Esther to favor her and be gracious to her—which culminated in Esther winning the heart of King Ahasuerus and becoming the Queen of Persia.  

So, why is this approach to Esther so different from anything most people have heard? Why don't other pastors teach the text the way I taught the text? Some might even be asking, why do you hate Esther? Well, I don't hate Esther, and I cannot speak for the actions of others, nor am I responsible for them. As the primary teaching pastor of CrossPointe, my responsibility is to preach the Word faithfully and accurately to the people God has placed under my care. The preaching task is one that I love; therefore, I approach it with great seriousness. My goal in the sermon on Sunday was not to destroy pre-conceived ideas of Esther or besmirch a woman who was used by God to deliver His people. Esther had many laudable qualities—things that will become more apparent throughout the rest of this series.  

If you've ever bought a diamond—not a ring, but the stone itself—then you know that a good jeweler will lay a black velvet cloth on top of the case, then they will place that diamond on the black fabric so that you can observe the beauty of the gem. The cloth does not make the diamond more beautiful or brilliant, but it provides a contrast to make it look more attractive. In the same way, the rawness of the narrative of chapter two will eventually allow us to see more clearly the brilliance of God's glory and His gospel in and through Esther.  

¹ Esther 2:9 tells us that Esther pleased him (Hegai). The word pleased means that Esther had good or desirable qualities that were especially suitable for a thing specified.  This could mean that Esther’s beautiful face and figure were what the king desired, or it could mean that Esther had personal characteristics that were desirable to the king.  I believe the text leads us to conclude that both are true—Esther was beautiful and was more compliant than Queen Vashti.

² F. B. Huey Jr., “Esther,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 4 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1988), 806.

³ Karen H. Jobes, Esther, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1999), 98–99.

⁴ Anthony Tomasino, Esther: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary, ed. H. Wayne House and William Barrick, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, n.d.), 185–187.

⁵ Ibid, 191-192.

 ⁶ Karen H. Jobes, Esther, 111.

Text: Philippians 2:3-4
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

As a church, we are made up of many parts, and we all have our own ambitions and goals. We may focus on how we can advance our own careers or ministries rather than putting the needs of others first. However, as Christians, we are called to serve with a heart of humility, putting others before ourselves.

In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes, "3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." This passage reminds us that our focus should always be on serving others, not ourselves.

Why should we serve with a heart of humility? When we do so, we are following the example of Jesus, who humbled Himself by becoming a servant and even dying on the cross for our sins. Jesus came to serve, not to be served, and as His followers, we are called to do the same.

It's easy to get caught up in our own ambitions and desires, but when we do, we lose sight of the needs of others. As Christians, we are called to be servants of Christ, putting others before ourselves. This doesn't mean that we neglect our own needs or ambitions, but it means that we prioritize the needs of others and serve them with a humble heart.

Humility is not something that comes naturally to us. It requires us to put aside our own desires and preferences and to focus on the needs of others. It requires us to be willing to serve in whatever way is needed, even if it's not the most glamorous or prestigious role.

When we serve with a heart of humility, we not only bless others, but we also bring glory to God. As we seek to serve others, let's ask God to give us a heart of humility, so that we can truly value others above ourselves and serve them with the love and compassion of Christ.

In conclusion, let us always remember that serving is not about us, but about God and others. Let's make a conscious effort to serve with humility, following the example of Christ and counting others more significant than ourselves.

1 The Spirit of God came[a] upon Azariah the son of Oded, 2 and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The Lord is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, and without a teaching priest and without law, 4 but when in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. 5 In those times there was no peace to him who went out or to him who came in, for great disturbances afflicted all the inhabitants of the lands. 6 They were broken in pieces. Nation was crushed by nation and city by city, for God troubled them with every sort of distress. 7 But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.” - 2 Chronicles 15:1-7 ESV

King Asa was a descendant of David and the third king of the southern kingdom of Judah. He ruled for forty-one years (1 Kings 15:10) and “did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2). King Asa of Judah had faced many challenges in his reign, including wars and idolatry among the people. However, he recognized the importance of seeking the Lord and following his commands. In 2 Chronicles 15:1-6, the prophet Azariah reminds Asa of the importance of seeking the Lord, and encourages him to be strong and not give up in his faith.

As Christians, we can learn from King Asa's example and apply these lessons to our own lives. The first lesson we can learn is the importance of perseverance. We must continue to seek the Lord and trust in him, even when we face challenges and difficulties in our own lives. In Romans 5:3-4, we read, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." Just as Asa faced wars and idolatry, we may face trials and temptations in our own lives. But we must continue seeking the Lord and trusting in him, for he will never leave us or forsake us.

The second lesson we can learn from King Asa is the importance of strength. We must be strong in our faith and in our commitment to God. This strength comes from relying on him and his power, rather than our own strength. In Philippians 4:13, we read, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Our strength comes from the Lord, and we must continue to seek him and rely on him for our strength.

Finally, we can learn from King Asa the importance of reward. Our work will be rewarded when we remain faithful to God. This reward may not always be visible in this life, but we can trust that God sees our efforts and will bless us accordingly. In Galatians 6:9, we read, "For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Let us be strong and do not give up in our faith, trusting in the Lord to guide us and reward us for our efforts.

Closing:
As believers, we can take comfort and inspiration from the example of King Asa in 2 Chronicles 15:7. Just like him, we face challenges and difficulties in our faith journey, but we must persevere and not give up. We can draw strength from relying on God's power rather than our own, and trust that our efforts will be rewarded in due time.

Let us also remember that our reward may not always be visible in this life, but we can trust that God sees our efforts and will bless us accordingly. Therefore, let us not grow weary in doing good, and continue to seek the Lord with all our hearts.

Micah 6:8 (ESV)
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

As a kid my mother always told me to have good posture: do not slouch, to sit up straight, and to stand up tall when you walk around. We notice good posture in others and see it as a sign of good body placement. Posture is not where you are, but how you are doing it. The prophet Micah tells us three ways that we can have proper posture with God: to act justly, to love mercy, and finally to walk humbly with God. While doing these things won’t make you perfect, or keep you from ever sinning again in your life, doing these thing will make it to where you find yourself better positioned in your walk with God. in Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus establishes exactly what God requires of us as believers. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” With Micah 6:8, the Lord tells us how he wants us to love him and love our neighbor. To act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him.

Act Justly
First, we are instructed to act justly. We are instructed to do this because our God is a just God who never steps out of his attribute of fairness, and who is never found as impartial. Micah instructs us here to act justly, because in doing so we show the world a heart that is void of partiality toward someone, or favorites. In our sinfulness we often find ourselves having favorites. Whether we had a favorite toy as a kid, a favorite place to eat with our friends as a teen, or even now as an adult a favorite(best) friend. Through favoritism we find ourselves blind to the sin or bad things that are so close to us. We must not only call out the sin of someone distant to us, but also the sin of the person we find dear to us. By acting just, we are showing God’s fairness and show a heart that is void of partiality.

Love Mercy
Secondly, we are instructed to love mercy. This command offered by God in Micah 6:8 to love mercy requires both an inward change and an outward action. To understand mercy, we must first understand the mercy that God the Father displayed for us by sending his Son to take on flesh and take on the cross. Mercy is often seen in scripture in relation to the withholding of punishment that we deserve. God the Father showed us mercy when he sacrificed his son, Christ Jesus, on the cross to pay our sin debt, when the wages of our sin was death. As Christians we should show compassion to one another, and be quick to forgive instead of looking to get even or punish someone for their sin against you.

Walk Humbly
Lastly, in Micah 6:8 we are instructed to walk humbly with our God. This is the step I believe many christians find to be the hardest, as it is very hard for us to be humble. Humility is essential for christians, because it shows our need for total dependence on God. God has given us the gift of life, and without Christ’s setting down of his life on the cross, we would be under judgement for our sin. We have done nothing for our salvation, and it is important for us to have a healthy reminder of this. When we are humble we have a heart ready to work for God, and a heart ready to walk with him. Humbleness should not only come in your spiritual walk, but your physical walk as well. Be slower to jump toward thinking better of yourself, and position your heart with God.

These three steps are not perfect by any means, but living them out will move your heart closer to God, and better position yourself to have not only a healthy walk, but to also have a better life.

By Brendan Pratt

It's a new year where culturally people take this time to tell themselves or others they want to change. They want to lose weight, accomplish more goals and do many other things to make themselves better or happier.

But where can we find happiness?
The simple answer found in God’s Word is because of God we can be blessed.

The word blessed I like to phrase as “The one whom God looks at with approval”

But what does it mean to be blessed?

In verse one, there are three words: walks sits, and stands which are all in the perfect tense. It means simply that a follower of Jesus lives differently than this description at all times. You are not influenced by sinners. You don’t take their counsel on the things of life. You don’t adopt their lifestyle. Where do you get the wisdom and counsel for this life?

The blessed man or woman is not just delighting in the Word of God, but they are meditating on it day and night. You approach the Bible with your heart and your mind. The Bible is not only stirring your mind to think greater of God, but stirring your affections to love God more and more. It's from these two actions that you do what you do in life. Why would you come to church week after week? Why would you get up early to read your Bible? Why do you spend money on books to help you understand this one book? It is because of your delight and meditation in the Word of God that you are stirred to obey what God’s Word says. It's a love of God that stirs you to love His book. 

What if this is the year where you make time to read, study, think, hear good preaching, and obey the Word of God? The blessed person who devotes their life to God’s Word is considered blessed. The question is how are they blessed?

The tree does not grow but it is planted. God has planted each of us where we are with a plan and purpose. We are not here by chance. Second, God’s planning in each of our lives. It says in the text the tree was planted by streams (plural). We are put in a place to thrive. Third, the blessed person yields fruit in every season. I assume you have gone through seasons of prosperity and seasons of little. You have gone through various seasons of life where you bore different kinds of fruit. You read here in verse three what you have seen in your own life. It leads to the 4th blessing that its leaf does not wither. When the things of this world can strangle the life out of those around you, but your roots are deep. Your roots rely on the water that is given to you by the gardener. When everyone around you has their identity in this world and it is failing them, you rely on God’s Word. Your identity is found in God and not in this world. Lastly, in all that he does, he prospers. This person is recognized by the people around him. They rely on God for every area of their life, and they prosper. Not the worldly sense of prospering, but they are considered blessed.

The work God gives us where he has planted us will prosper as we turn from sin, delight in God’s Word, and meditate on the Word.

Verses four and five paint a picture of the wicked. They are not considered a tree but the writer describes them like the chaff that the wind drives away. We can read this and consider the winds blow away the chaff who do not have roots to hold them steady and reach the water. Life gets hard and they are blown away and do not survive spiritually. They will ultimately be driven away from God’s people because they do not belong.

The Lord knows His people. He watches over them. He is guiding their life through good times and bad. The wicked have nothing but themselves. It leads to the final question: which life is yours? Ultimately we can not live up to the standard of Psalm 1 perfectly, but there is one person who did and his name is Jesus. He did what we could not do and then died in our place, was buried for three days, and rose from the grave so all who believed in Him may have eternal life with the Father. My prayer is this year receive the blessings of a blessed life Psalm 1 describes.

Colossians 3:23-25
23Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically,[h] as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever wrong he has done, and there is no favoritism.

What gets you out of bed every morning? Is it a cup of coffee, the chance for you to go to a job and make money, or could it be getting up and making breakfast for your family? For many of us, we are stuck in a rut of waking up to our alarm, making ourselves get ready, and then pushing ourselves to go do something that we aren’t enthused to do. In Colossians 3, we are told to do whatever we do “enthusiastically.” Why? Because our motivation for doing all that we do should be Christ. He has paid the ultimate price by taking on the cross and defeating death. We should do everything as if we are doing it for God, and because why we do it we should do it with every bit of effort that we have. We should be excited to live on a mission for God and to spread his message and love. 

How to live an Enthusiastic life:
1. Live for an audience of one.
Whether you are typing, faxing, speaking to customers, or trying to sell a product, it should be done for God’s glory. The phrase audience of one has grown in popularity over the last couple of years, as athletes have used it to describe the way they want to play the game. They want to do it for God’s glory alone, and as if he is the only one watching them, perform. We can adopt this way of thinking and can live our lives in a way that points to Christ no matter what we are doing. When we do this, we can find purpose in him.

2. Remember who your inheritance is from.
We should constantly remind ourselves of what Christ has done in our lives, and how God’s mercy and grace has shaped the trajectory of our eternity. as a child of God our inheritance is greater than anything the world can give us, and living with that as a reminder might just make you more enthused to do what you do well. When we remember that our inheritance is not from man or from this world we can establish a more peaceful life.

Take Away:
This week place reminders in your life to force yourself to see what Christ has done for you. Remind yourself of the crucifixion, and what Christ has done for you. Also, live for only God this week. This doesn’t mean to abandon all of your weekly tasks, but to do them to the best of your ability because of who you are doing them for.

By: Kasey Knowlton

John the Baptist is an important figure of the New Testament since he played a vital role in
preparing the way for our Messiah, Jesus Christ. His ministry began in the mid-20s AD, and he was the cousin of Jesus. Let’s closely examine John’s story in Matthew chapter 3. There we will discover that his calling required sacrifice, faithfulness, courage, and incredible conviction.

In Matthew 3, we find that John came preaching in the wilderness of Judea. This was a
barren wasteland extending along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The first people who would have heard his message were likely shepherds and others of low social status. I find it is common for God to do things in a surprising or unexpected way (such as our Savior being born in a stable) and here, rather than having John show up outside the temple or set up in the heart of the city, he begins his ministry in the middle of nowhere with the “unwanted peoples” as his first converts. This illustrates the incredible loving nature of our God. It also shows us that John left his family’s home for the harsh environment of the desert, sacrificing the comforts and conveniences of that time. We read in Matthew 3:4 that he “had a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.”  John was not dressed in fine linens or priestly attire; he was dressed primitively - literally living off the land - eating bugs and honey. This speaks to John’s faithfulness to the call God placed on his life. Think of all
he gave up, willingly living an uncomfortable life in order to fulfill God’s mission. I wonder if many Christians in churches today would be willing to take on a similar sacrifice for God’s calling.

But why is John doing all of this? Why is he calling the people to repent? Matthew 3:2 tells us.
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” God’s Kingdom began breaking into our sin cursed world, for the Messiah had come. Matthew confirms this further in verse 3 by quoting from Isaiah chapter 40, saying “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!” John is clearing a path for Jesus of Nazareth. And his method for preparation was to call the people to repentance. This would not have met the expectations of those who had been anticipating the coming of the Jewish Messiah. Those Jews would’ve been expecting a mighty king to ride in and reestablish the Davidic kingdom: vanquishing Rome, bringing prosperity, establishing peace, and restoring all the promised land to their people. Instead, God’s plan began with a personal call to repentance to prepare the people’s hearts for the coming of Christ. John makes this clear in Matthew 3:11-12. “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Here we see the humble character of John, as he is quick to give the glory to the God who called him, declaring, “...He who is coming after me is mightier than I” and that he was “not fit to remove His sandals.” John has no interest in making a name for himself. He knows the purpose of his calling, to proclaim the One coming, making a way and not getting in the way. John’s example can be quite convicting as we follow Christ: are we consistently seeking our glory, or His?

It doesn’t take long for word to spread of John’s ministry. Matthew 3:5-6 reads, “Then Jerusalem
was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.” Even though John’s social status would have been on par with the commoners (as was true of so many of the prophets before him), he still had no interest in making friends with the religious leaders to elevate his status, which we see in Matthew 3:7. “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee the wrath to come?’” Yikes! It's clear that these religious leaders were coming to be baptized, but it makes no difference to John. He makes zero attempts to “make good” with these religious elites; rather he immediately rebukes them! He goes on in Matthew 3:8-10. “Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; and not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” The common teaching of that day said that the Jews participated in the merits of Abraham, which made their prayers acceptable, helped them in war, atoned for sin, and appeased God’s wrath, among other theological assumptions. John strikes all this down immediately. There’s no friendly greeting here. Instead, he makes it crystal clear that their lineage would not put them in right standing before God. Imagine a big-name church leader showed up at your church - the Pope perhaps - and your first response was to immediately rebuke him for his false doctrine and hypocrisy! That takes some serious conviction.

We see that John’s ministry reaches its true fulfillment when Jesus shows up at the river to be baptized by John. This was a declaration that John’s ministry was ending and Christ’s was beginning. Verses 13-17 read, “Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’ But Jesus answering said to him, ‘Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” We see the emphasis that the Father puts upon this moment, with the Spirit descending like a dove as God declares, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” The Father speaks from the heavens to declare to all those present, I am confirming that this man is my Son! There should be no doubt now, this is the One whom they had all been waiting for.

It is clear that the calling on John’s life required much of him. He had to leave his home to dwell in an unpleasant wilderness. He had to sacrifice many comforts and conveniences and be seen as an outcast. He ate bugs and wore shabby clothing. Yet he remained faithful to his mission, preparing the way for our Lord. What incredible conviction he must have had to see it all through, even to the point of his death sometime later at the hands of King Herod. May we continue to ponder what we are prepared to lay down for the sake of God’s plan and calling for our own lives.

Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. 5 For each person will have to carry his own load. 6 The one who is taught the message must share all his good things with the teacher. 7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have the opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

Question to Answer:
How do we get to the point that we can call someone’s sin out the right way, or that we feel we are fully supported by another Christian?

What does the Text Say?
By being accountable to one another, and by pouring into people around you. One thing that we struggle with as Christians is accountability with one another. Through accountability, we learn how to help one another, and how to best do life together. One of the greatest things someone can have in their life is other Christians supporting them through their life. Through prayer, reading scripture together, and fellowship. We read in Galatians chapter 6 that one of the best ways to protect yourself is to evaluate your own sin and struggles. Having someone close to you in life that can call out your struggles in a loving way is helpful since we often are biased to our own sins. We see in verse 2 that the way we fulfill the law of Christ is by supporting one another, and by restoring a Christian who has fallen short.

Understand Your Sin, and the Consequences that it Has:
It is no secret that even though we are Christians, we are not perfect. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” All have sinned, and despite our efforts, man will continue to sin. We are called to live as Christ lives, and to strive to show his love, but as sinful humans, we cannot reach perfection. The wages of sin is death, and without Christ, your sin would eternally separate from fellowship with the father. When we understand our sin, we can better confront someone else’s knowing that we too have fallen short which causes us to be more humble. Verse 4 tells us that through the humbling act of examining our own sin, we are not only humbled but reminded of the fact of what Christ has done in our lives.

Invest in Good Christian Relationships:
In verses 7 through 9, Paul is calling for Christians to be mindful of what they are doing as there are consequences for their actions. The best way to make sure you are sewing well is to have someone in your life that will call you out for your sins and help to build you and restore you after you fall short. Accountability pushes us to look at possible consequences before they happen and often keeps us from sinning because we know another might see it.

The takeaway from the Text:
Invest in good relationships this week, and open yourself to others holding you accountable, pray that God will move in your heart, and show you how you can better point others to him.

By Brendan Pratt

The church of Thessalonica was a church worth celebrating. It was a church these brothers and sisters were proud to be part of, but it was a church that obeyed the will of God in their lives. Though Paul was encouraged by them, they still had things to learn which is part of the reason Paul seems to write to these believers. At the beginning of this letter, Paul is still a model to them for what it looks like to live like Jesus.

Paul writes to them, “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,” (1 Thessalonians 1:2, ESV). It has been said before that prayer to a Christian is like oxygen to a human being. Prayer is to be part of the life of the believer, and Paul is modeling that by praying for them. He prays for them often and says he is constantly mentioning them in his prayers. They are on his mind often, and he is thankful for them. It shows us an example to pray for our fellow believers not just every once in a while but often. It is part of the gospel believers share that we love one another enough to pray for one another.

There are three details Paul mentions about his remembrance of them.

1. Their work of faith
2. Their labor of love
3. Their steadfast hope in Jesus

If these three qualities were evident in the life of churches today, there would be stronger churches in the world. Christian prayer, by contrast, is powerful in that it is directed to a powerful God. He lays out several truths in this section saying he knows God has chosen them because of the powerful transformation that had taken place in their life. The gospel he preached came to them with the power of the Holy Spirit and conviction. There is evidence of the outward transformation that took place because of the inward transformation that happened in their heart. “Faith,” “love,” and “hope” are not some invisible qualities that bear no relationship to the real world. They are vibrant realities that express themselves visibly. What did this do in the church of Thessalonica?

The church of Thessalonica was sharing their faith with those around them. Keep in mind that they were facing persecution because of their beliefs, but this still did not stop them from sharing the good news of Jesus. People not just in their local context, but across the globe were hearing of the obedience of the Thessalonians. Sure, this could be an exaggeration and not everyone heard, but it seems that people not close to Thessalonica were hearing about their obedience. It is the heart of Christian discipleship that the beginner imitate the teacher. In the case of Thessalonica, they imitate Jesus and the Pauline team and thus provide a model for other Christians. Nevertheless, it is not simply the Christian ethic that the Thessalonians determined to follow. They also imitated that which evangelistic Christians like Paul, Silas, and Timothy were doing. They were determined to follow Jesus, and their lives showed the radical gospel transformation that took place in their life.

I think Christians would claim that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I think we would confess that God is unchanging. I think we would claim that we have the Holy Spirit living within us. I wonder if we live like we believe those truths. I think reading about the church in Thessalonica believed these truths and their lives reflected it. I think we can learn from the believers in Thessalonica and take God at His Word and live like it.

By: Kasey Knowlton

While languishing in a prion somewhere around 61 A.D., the Apostle Paul writes a letter to the church in Philippi, the first church founded by him in Europe.  Throughout the letter, Paul admonishes the people in this body of believers concerning their Christian conduct and reminds them of the expectations they should have related to persecution.  Since all of scripture is God-breathed and relevant to those of us who follow Christ, the experiences of the early church continue to be important to us even in our time, given the rising godlessness and persecution that Christians are facing.

We begin in verse 27, where Paul tells this church to, “…conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…”  This begs the question: What does “a worthy manner” look like?  There are several verses to help us flesh out what Paul means, including verse 29.  He states, “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake…”.  Suffering is promised to these believers.  It is a promise that extends to us also.  What’s more, it has been “granted” to us, in essence, we are privileged to suffer for His names sake.  Paul expounds on this over in chapter two, verses 5-8.  It reads, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  This adds weight to what conducting ourselves as Christians in a worthy manner looks like.  God Himself, took on the form of a man, dying an excruciating death on our behalf.  We are to give Him our full obedience in humility in return, for we have been bought at a very high price.

Paul goes on in verse 27 to state, “…so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you and that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”  Paul couldn’t be with this church since he was imprisoned at the time of the letter.  He reminds them that regardless of his presence, they should be unified in the faith, keeping the gospel of Christ their primary focus.  What’s extraordinary is that he goes on to say in the next verse, “…in no way alarmed by your opponents - which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.”  I’m sure there would have been plenty of reason for alarm for these early believers.  There was plenty of persecution to go around, from the Roman government to the Jewish religious leaders.  Paul is, after all, writing to them from prison!  As we read this now, nearly 2000 years later, we see rising persecution against the church, even in western countries.  Just north of us in Canada, Pastors have been arrested just for having services.  Some have even been dragged from their cars, fined, and imprisoned.  And Paul is telling us that by not being alarmed, we are acting as “a sign of destruction for them.”  After all, we have the hope of salvation through our Lord, so what can evil really do to us in the end?  Earlier in the letter Paul states, “For to me, to live is Christ, to die is gain.”  Do we believe this to be true, or are we tethered to the here and now in this life?  What a difference it would make for us to remember daily the incredible offer of God, that we have a “hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).

Lastly, Paul reminds them that they have not only been granted the hope of salvation but have also been granted suffering for His names sake, just as Christ suffered for us, and just as Paul was suffering as he wrote the letter.  “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”  Let it be repeated friends, you will suffer.  It may be because we now live east of Eden, in a cursed world of sin and death.  It may be due to persecution against us as believers because we follow the One True God.  As darkness grows, so to will our suffering.  I wonder, as Christians living in the luxuries of western culture, are we conducting ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel?  Are we prepared to suffer well in the name of Christ, for the name of Christ?   Or have we let the comforts and conveniences of our time and culture lead us to a false sense of security?  Are we ready for whatever may come, and in no way alarmed by it?  We must prepare our hearts daily in prayer for the possibility of future suffering.  But do not despair.  Remember the words of our Lord from the gospel of John 16:33: “In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering but be courageous; I have overcome the world.”  We need not fear.  There is not cause for alarm.  Our hope and our future are in the hands of the One who has overcome.  As darkness and suffering increase, let us never forget to whom we belong, and that He is coming back for us, and that right soon!

The greatest compliment for a defensive lineman when playing in a football game is being double-teamed. A double-team block is a big deal because it usually means that every other player on the offensive line has the responsibility of blocking someone by themselves. When it comes to a double team it is important that the offensive lineman is on the same page, and that they are in sync working together. This is important because the best defensive lineman can split the block in two, or use one player against another. Separation, and one on one situations, is the best way for a defense to expose a weak player on the offensive line.

In Ecclesiastes chapter 4 we see what a call for believers to work together, and to support one another. The truth is that as believers just because we can handle something on our own doesn't mean we should. We as believers are stronger together than we are on our own. In our Student Ministry, our students have groups where they talk about their weeks, and discuss the weekly challenge they are given. The intent is for them to grow closer, and to be there for one another through their hardship.
"9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.”( Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

One of the Devil's greatest weapons is to make Christians feel like they are alone and that no one is there to help them. As Christians, though we are called to live life together, to fellowship, to have accountability amongst our brothers & sisters in Christ, and to pick one another up when they fall. Solomon shows us in Ecclesiastes that it is better to do life with another Christian than it is to try and handle the things of this world alone. So often we find ourselves in positions where we feel like nobody else is going through what we are, or that no one would ever understand. When we are alone in our sin and have a lack of support or accountability it is so much easier to keep on going back to that sin or to feel that no one has ever experienced the pain or loss that we have had.

Do not fall into this trap, while the things of this world will cause you pain Christ has placed other believers around you to be there for you and to pick you up in those moments of weakness. If we were open about our sins and if we found someone that we could discuss our hardships with this loneliness tactic would fail against us. Make it a point to find accountability and support in your life. Find people to pour into you, and to build you up. Go to those Christian brothers and sisters when things get hard, and be quick to rely on God to get you through. When we continually go back to one another and make it a habit to rely on one another, we create a bond. If we make it a point to often discuss our hurt with others, or to do life with others, we are more likely to not be split apart, and to help each other out.

By Brendan Pratt

More than likely, we all could use better time management in our life. The world has ways it teaches people to make most of their time. Most the time, the teachers of time management show you how to have more time for yourself. Whether it is at work or in your personal life where you just feel like you have no time, these teachers want to help you. As Christians, is it our goal to have more time for us?

The text above Paul’s teaching to the church in Ephesus is calling them to look carefully how they walk. They are to walk as wise and not unwise. It's the same call to us today to walk wisely and not unwisely. How do we know what is wise or what is unwise? We know when we know the Word of God that tells us how to walk wisely in this world. We know what is good and what is evil.

The next call to them is to make the use of the time because the days are evil. As the days were evil in the church of Ephesus, the days are evil today. It is for this reason we are to make most of the time. If this is true, then our time management as believers is motivated by this fact that the days are evil. So let’s look at what we could be doing if we are making the most of the time.

If we are making most of the time, we can grow in our relationship with the Lord and know Him deeply. If we are learning how to be more productive in the workplace, at home, and with our day to day living, we can spend more time with the Lord. We read stories of men and women who would spend multiple hours a day with the Lord in prayer. That does not sound productive in a worldly sense, but time with God is time well spent. I don’t think anyone regrets spending too much time with God.

If we have more time, we can be proactive in sharing the gospel with those around us. I think for every Christian, the goal is sharing the gospel with the people in our life. It is a broad goal that we need to breakdown, because it seems unrealistic to share the gospel with every person we run into in our day to day life. We know there are people in our life that do not know Jesus as Lord, and do we have the time to share the good news with them? Can our schedule be interrupted? If we are too busy though that we are not making this a priority, this needs to change in our life.

If we are making most of the time, then we are prioritizing time with other fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. As Christians, we are all part of the universal church, but we should also be part of the local church. We love one another, serve one another, carry one another’s burdens, but how do we do that if we do not have time to spend with other believers? Again, this should not be the reality in any Christian’s life. The days are evil, and none of us are to do this Christian life on our own. We live in community with other brothers and sisters in Christ helping one another to grow more like Jesus.

Reading or listening how to be more productive in your life is not wrong. Understand as a believer why you should be making most of the time and what you should do with that extra time.

By: Nate Sexton

As the Music Director for our worship services at CrossPointe Church Westerville, I am tasked with the responsibility of selecting songs and presenting them to our church each week. The goal is to do this in a way that draws and leads the congregation in lifting their voices in praise and adoration to God. Being in the position that I am in, I receive feedback from various people in the congregation, which I appreciate. I am given feedback on what people like about the worship music and what they don’t like about it. This helps me to better understand the culture God has given my team to serve. The feedback also helps me to know where and how I need to teach and admonish others in worshiping God through song. It is one thing to have a preference but it’s another thing to have a complaint. More often than not when someone in the church doesn’t sing due to a difference in preference or complaint it points to a heart of self-worship. 

To worship, by definition means, reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or any object regarded as sacred. In the New Testament, the Greek word proskuneo means to prostrate oneself. It means to lay oneself down flat on the ground or bow so low that your entire body is laying flat on the ground. It was a posture of humility and service towards someone of greater importance. 

We as humans exhibit this posture every day.  We must understand the unsaved are enslaved and cannot posture themselves before God because they do not have access to the Father. They are slaves to sin, held in bondage, and only have the capacity and ability to bow themselves to sin and darkness. As believers, as those chosen by God, freed from the bondage of sin, we have a choice, every moment of the day we choose whom we will bow in service to and worship. 

As Christians, we are called to die to ourselves daily and to bow before our Creator God in worship.  Unfortunately the old man “self” creeps into our personal and even corporate worship. When this happens there is not a posture of worship towards God but instead a posture of worshiping ourselves. This is most often revealed when we blame something or someone else for ruining our worship experience. It is easier to blame others for our rebellious hearts than to look inwardly and allow the Holy Spirit to change our hearts. 

Here are several things I believe many people use to excuse themselves from worship. 

The Look - This would be the visual atmosphere where the music is being played and sung. This could be, but is not limited to, lighting and/or fog, chairs vs pews, suits vs jeans, clapping vs no clapping, engaging worship leader vs stagnant leader. - Paul and Silas while in prison did not let their environment become an excuse for worship through song. 

The Sound - They think it is too loud or not loud enough. They don't like the drums and some of the other instruments. - Take a minute and read through Psalm 150; explore how musical instruments were used in worship and see if the volume was an excuse to not worship. 

The Style - “Sounds like a rock concert”, “sounds like a funeral”, “sounds too liturgical”, “it sounds too southern gospel or bluegrass”, “it sounds like my grandparent’s church”, “it sounds like rap music” - Again, in Psalm 150 we see a myriad of different instrumentation and a call for everything that hath breath to praise the Lord. This world and everything in it was created to bring glory to God and if we can take what God has given to us and turn it into praise then how can we use it as an excuse to not worship? 

The Song - “I don’t know these songs”, “they are too old”, “too new”, “too repetitive”, “too simple”, “not deep enough” - We are called to sing unto the Lord a new song and let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  In Psalm 136 the phrase “His steadfast love endures forever” repeats over and over again. A disclaimer about lyrics- Doctrine Matters. The church should not be singing songs that teach false doctrine. This does not mean that every song has to include every teaching or nuance about the particular doctrine it is communicating but every song should communicate accurately what it is teaching.

The Quality - “The singers are off the pitch”, “the audio mix could be better”,” too many vocals” or “not enough vocals”, and “too much drum or electric guitar”. - We all may have a different idea of what is good and acceptable to offer to God in corporate worship. We must keep in mind the example of the widow’s mite (Mark 12) and how she gave everything she had. There are those with a lot of talent and God has blessed some churches with more talent than others but God isn’t comparing the quantity or perhaps the quality of our worship. God desires that we offer all that we have. All our gifts and talents. That is going to look different from person to person. He also wants authenticity. In Luke 18 we see a parable about a pharisee’s prayer and that of a tax collector. One prayer sounded amazing and the other was simple. The acceptable prayer was the one that was authentic and came from a true perspective of their brokenness and need for a Savior. When we are worried about the quality of worship being a certain way more than focusing on the content, the heart, and having a posture of worship we are worshiping ourselves and our preferences rather than humbling ourselves to a posture of surrender. 

Unfortunately, these are not the reason people do not worship. The simple fact is there is a posture that worships self. When we demand that our criteria for singing must be met to worship the posture is focused on pleasing ourselves rather than following, submitting, and ultimately worshiping God. 

All of these areas ought to be considered but I would only consider them for two reasons. 

1. Cultural Excellence - we desire to draw our focus to God. Some things culturally can distract us from what we are trying to accomplish. This doesn’t mean that a church is doing it wrong but perhaps could work towards doing it better. I always say God only requires us to give our best whatever that may be.  But God deserves the best and we should always be striving to improve and become more excellent in our gifts and talents because He is worthy of it. 

2. To Help the Immature Believer - The mature believer may notice the imperfections in a worship service and may even have a different preference but can move beyond the observations and preferences and submit themselves to a posture of worshiping God. As leaders, we try hard to consider the overall demographics and preferences of our church. We understand that not everyone is mature in their faith and able to move past their own desires. We try to help those God has entrusted to CrossPointe Church, whether mature or immature in their faith, to be able to easily focus, and freely worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The larger God grows a church the harder it becomes to cater to everyone's preferences in that church. This means it is critically important to teach the church as it grows to put other's interests ahead of their own and grow in this area of spiritual maturity. To understand that these are not reasons to abandon worship but to inwardly humble themselves and outward join in corporate worship. 

In summary, God doesn’t need your worship. We worship because He demands it and deserves it. When we refuse to sing we choose in those moments to worship ourselves, our comforts, our emotions, and our desires, rather than lay prostrate before God. It’s a posture of the heart. All of us must determine to sing because God is worthy of worship(1), He tells me to sing a new song(2), He tells me to sing with my church(3), and He tells me to worship him with all that is within me(4), He tells me to die to myself(5), and we sing because He loves music and because He designed all kinds of music to be used to praise Him.(6) 

We must lose the art of worshiping ourselves and learn the art of worshipping God no matter the circumstance or environment we may find ourselves in. 

Let us together praise the Lord!

1. Revelation. 4:11
2. Psalm 96:1-3
3. Ephesians 5:19
4. Psalm 103
5. Luke 9:23
6. Psalm 150

By: Kasey Knowlton

Psalm 23 is one of many Psalms authored by King David and speaks to the goodness and provision of God.  It also reflects the Messianic promises of Jesus.  It paints God as a shepherd, one who tends to His sheep with care.  In fact, the first verse begins with, “The Lord is my shepherd…”  There are many references in scripture that relate God to a shepherd of His people.  Most notably I think would be how Jesus refers to himself in John 10:14-15 - “I am the good shepherd.  I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”  The Psalm continues with, “I shall not want.”  David explores why we are not left in want throughout the next several verses.

             “He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul.  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.”  Here the Lord is shown as bringing us rest and abundance.  We are lying down in green pastures.  He doesn’t bring us to a barren waste, but to green, lush, pastures.  There’s no concern of going hungry.  Our Shepherd brings us peace and refreshment.  We shall not go thirsty.  And notice the waters are not threatening, they are not a raging river, but quiet, still and inviting.  We are offered restoration, and not merely for our bodies, but for our souls.  It reminds me of Jesus’ offer back in John 10:9 - “I am the door.  If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”  He is our guide to good paths, righteous ways.  He does not lead us astray.  The verse also tells us why.  It is not merely for our good, but for “His names sake.”  He does it because it brings Him glory!

            The Psalm continues.  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.  Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”  Despite being in the face of death, we have no fear of evil.  Not because of anything we’ve done, but because the Lord is with us.  The shepherd protects his sheep with his rod or club (used to fight off wild beasts, as David was very familiar with), and he guides straying sheep with his staff or crook.  His protection and provision is a comfort to King David, as it is meant to be for us as well.  And just think, God is serving us, preparing a meal, a feast, for us.  And not only is He acting here as a gracious host, but he is also doing so in front of those who hate us!  It reminds me of Paul’s words in Romans 8:31 – “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

David continues.  “You have anointed my head with oil” (This would’ve been a courtesy shown to special guests, the oils full of rich, fragrant smells).  “My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life.”  God is a God of abundance.  We shall not run out!  And why do good things follow us?  Going back a few verses, it is because He is with us.  He then ends the Psalm.  “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  David speaks here of assurance of his eternal destiny, that he is spoken for.

The assurance that David speaks of is ours as well.  It reminds us that we are not guests for a day, but for all time.  Jesus reminds us of this in John 10:27-29 - “My sheep here my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”  We are secure in Christ, and nothing can separate us!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

How should I live my life? Why am I not happy where I am? These two questions plaugue the hearts and minds of believers every single day. We struggle to see the purpose that God has for our lives, and in turn we do our own thing, or even sometimes we do what makes us “happy.” 1 Thessalonians talks of the early christian church in thesolanica, and Paul specifically is writting about how he was encouraged by them after only being with them for a small amount of time. Throughout the letter the reader can see three themes pretty quickly: endurance in persecution, teaching about the end times, and growing to be more Christ like through sanctification. We see two of these themes present in Chapter 5 verses 16 through 18)

“16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Verse 16 through 18 tells us how we are meant to carry ourselves, and how we are supposed to handle the evil of the world. Verse 16 instructs us that we are to “Rejoice Always.” Through the good, and through the bad we are to give glory to God, and rejoice in every opportunity that we are given. When we find joy in what Christ has done for us, and when we allow ourselves to reflect on what we have been given, we are a whole lot more likely to be happy with it. Our lack of joy often comes from a heart that doesn’t celebratre the small things in life, or that doesn’t find joy in what Christ is doing. Every step closer to Jesus, and every thing that he does in our lives, should cause joy!

Verse 17 calls us to “Pray continually.” Our lives should be enveloped in prayer; our constant desire should be to be in conversation with God. We should be in talks with God about the good bad and ugly while it happens. The way that we learn about God’s plan for our lives is being in fellowship with him. The common answer gven to me when asking questions on Wednesday nights for our students is to have a closer walk with Jesus we must do two things: pray, and read our Bibles. If you show me a Christian that is struggling to be happy or content, I will show you a christian who problably struggles to get in the Word, and who struggles to pray.

Verse 18 tells us to: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We are blessed, as Christians, and we have been given a gift so great that we shouldn’t allow anything to shadow the joy we have in it. A gift so great that our hearts should be joyful and thankful always. The fact that a loving father would give his one and only son as a sacrifice for our wrong doings and sin is something that many in our world struggle with including many christians. We should be thankful for the life we have been given, the loving family around us, the roof over our heads, the food on the table, and so much more, but so often we allow the world around us to tell us that we do not have enough. The truth though, is that through Christ we have been given more than we could ever deserve. The second part of verse 18 shows us that our thankfulness, and our reflection on said thankfulness is what God wants for us.

Stop looking for your happiness in wordly prizes or posessions, and find yourself looking to Christ for your happiness, joy, and satisfaction. Find yourself falling in love with Rejoicing, praying, and  thankfulness. These three Christian attributes could single handedly change the way we not only view our world but also ourselves.

Nehemiah hearing what the nation of Israel was going through causes him to mourn. He is hurting, and the story of Nehemiah shows us a ordinary man with an ordinary job used to lead the restoration of Israel. Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the nation of Israel would be able to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It first starts by him being moved to compassion and wanting to do something. He directs his attention to the Lord in prayer.

Nehemiah does several things in this prayer that should stand out. He first recognizes who God is, and this should be noticed because prayer is not just to anyone. Prayer is to the God of the Universe. Prayer is to God the author and sustainer of life. He recognizes that God is the one who keeps His covenant. This covenant is important because God did not break his promise while the people of Israel did not keep their end of the covenant. God always keeps his promises even when we don’t deserve His grace and mercy.

Nehemiah confesses the sins of the people but does not ask for forgiveness. He recognizes that they are not worthy of what God has done for them, and what He continues to do for them.

Nehemiah will make his requests known to God. The story will continue with Nehemiah, and what he needs to do to help the people of Israel. However, Nehemiah is asking God to hear his prayer, and remember the people of Israel. He is asking God to remember the covenant he made with Moses, and to keep that covenant.

It gives us the example to remind God the promises he has made to us. When we read a promise that believers have in Christ, we can remind God in our prayers to keep those promises. He will answer those prayers because it is His will to keep his promises. God cannot do anything outside His character.

Let this story with Nehemiah encourage you to trust in the Lord through prayer. You may be wondering what God is doing in your life, but he has called on you to draw near to him that he may reward those who seek him. Draw near to the Lord and pursue Him in prayer.

By Kasey Knowlton

            For much of Christian culture today, the cost of following Jesus involves giving up a little time on a Sunday morning, sitting in an air-conditioned building, and sipping coffee while attempting to follow along with the sermon on a smart phone.  These comforts and amenities of Western culture have lulled the Church to sleep.  The command to “deny yourself” has seemingly been replaced with the tenets of a consumer-driven society; that is, to consume content in a comfortable environment and then head back home.  This is more like a movie theater than a church and is hardly what Jesus had in mind.

To follow after Jesus, we are told that we must deny ourselves and “take up [our] cross daily.”  The impact of this is lost on us, living so many centuries after crucifixion was outlawed.  But for the Jews of Jesus’ day, this would have immediately conjured up images of pain and torture.  They would have witnessed many crucifixions at that time.  Most victims of crucifixion were first stripped naked and scourged, then made to carry a cross beam to the place of their eventual death, assuming they hadn’t died already from the severe whipping.  What possessions they had on them, including clothing, were divided up among the soldiers performing the grisly act, after the victim had been tied or nailed in place to the cross beams.  It is widely believed most people died from asphyxiation, unable to lift up their body enough to take in oxygen.  Once deceased, family members could only remove and bury the body if given permission by Roman officials, and then only if the body hadn’t first been devoured by wild animals.  It is no mystery, then, given the tortures of crucifixion, that the word “excruciating” was spawned, meaning, “out of the cross.”[1]

The verses in Luke go on to say, “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”  It is human nature to seek self-preservation, is it not?  Here, Christ is saying that one must be willing to give up His life in order to be saved.  We follow Christ to Calvary in order to find salvation.  The theological implications here are the basis for the gospel itself.  As it states in Romans 10:9 – “…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  We trust in the works of Christ for our salvation with the understanding that following Him will cost us something, perhaps even our lives.  It’s interesting to note that all but one of the disciples abandoned Jesus before His death on the cross.  John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20), was the only apostle present at Christ’s crucifixion.  He is also, based on history and tradition, the only one of the twelve to die of old age.  All the other disciples were martyred for their faith.  (This is not to discount the sufferings John endured for the faith, or to suggest that the other apostles died due to their abandonment of Christ, for all still lost their lives due to their faith.  As the verses say, “but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.”)

It is important to note that taking up our crosses to follow Jesus requires intentionality.  It is an act of will, an on-purpose break with the cultural expectations of security, comfort, and convenience.  It won’t happen without great effort.  In taking up our crosses, we are giving up our entire lives to His service, which means that He is not only our Lord at church, but that He is over our entire calendar.  I wonder how many of today’s church attendees who claim they will lay down their lives for Christ then become embittered if the service runs long?  Christianity is not something we do certain days of the week.  As the verse reminds us, we are to take up our crosses daily and follow Him.  This may mean investing our time serving in our local church, discipling children, doing missionary work, or meeting the needs of orphans and widows.  Scripture tells us that “…we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).  Taking up our crosses means giving our best in whatever the Lord has for us.  In choosing the cross, we are giving up our lives to the cause of Christ.  Mark 12:30 states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”  We are “taking up” our crosses, meaning we are willingly following our Lord, giving our lives, all that we are.  It is not a half-hearted attempt to just be good people.  To follow Jesus, we give all that we are, our very best, because Christ gave His all for us.  “For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

But we must also take up our crosses in the smaller moments of life, too.  In my own self-examination of “dying daily,” I realize that I frequently grumble due to my discontentment over facing life’s inconveniences.  Whether it be the frustrations of bad traffic, having trouble sleeping, something breaking that needs to be replaced – I’m embarrassed to say that I often whine in the same spirit as one of my young children.  Certainly, we should rejoice in all that the Lord has blessed us with, including our modern conveniences.  As it says in James 1:17, “Every good…and…perfect gift is from above.”  But as Christ followers, we are not promised comfort or convenience.  We should remember as much when life gets difficult.

I’d challenge anyone reading this today to seriously examine your life before the Lord.  How are we being intentional with taking up your cross?  Are there any hardships or adversities in our lives for being a Christ follower?  Are we giving of our time and energies to the Lord?  Are we doing it willingly, without complaint, giving our best?  If not, perhaps it’s time to take a hard look at why this is the case.  And as we do suffer hardship for the Lord, let us not forget the words of Christ: “In this world you will have troubles.  But be brave, for I have defeated the world!” (John 16:33).

   [1] https://www.livescience.com/65283-crucifixion-history.html