“ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” — Revelation 3:15-16 Jesus’ letter to the church at Laodicea is striking. He has nothing positive to say about this church. But he does graciously warn them and call them to repentance, saying, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Here Jesus names himself the “Amen,” which means, “So be it” or, in other words, “This is the truth.” Jesus is the true One, and what he says is trustworthy and true. When he speaks, so be it. He is “the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” Jesus rebukes the Laodicean church for its ineffective ministry. The cold mountain water of Colossae, 10 miles away, and the hot mineral water of Hierapolis, six miles away, both served people well. Cold water refreshes, and hot water heals. But Laodicea did not have a natural water source, so when either the cold or hot water made it to them, it was lukewarm and not beneficial. Jesus uses this local situation to describe the ministry of the church. It neither refreshed nor healed; it was putrid. Jesus wished for this church to be either refreshing or therapeutic so that their ministry would be effective. These words were harsh but needed. The Spirit calls us to search our hearts too. Does Jesus’ rebuke apply to us in our churches today? Have we become lukewarm? Do we rely on wealth instead of the Lord? Lord Jesus, fill us with your Spirit of truth. Forgive and renew us, we pray. Amen.

“I will also write on them my new name.” — Revelation 3:12 The church in Philadelphia was going to be rebranded, receiving a new name. They had been given an open door that no one could shut; they were recognized as true citizens of the kingdom of God. People who tried to discourage and persecute them would recognize that the love of God was directed toward all who believed in Jesus as Savior and Messiah. The resurrected Jesus was now the way to full life through faith. The Philadelphia church would also be protected by Jesus through a time of great trial. And Jesus does not say he would take them out of the trial but would protect them through it. As they held on to Jesus’ promises, the Philadelphia church would become like “a pillar in the temple of God,” a permanent part of God’s presence in the world. On them would be written the name of God, the name of the new Jerusalem, God’s city, and Jesus’ new name (this may refer to Revelation 19:11-16). They would be rebranded to show that they belonged to God through faith in Jesus Christ. “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says.” Childlike faith and perseverance in the name of the One “who is holy and true,” even through persecution, will result in citizenship in the eternal kingdom of God. Loving God, may we trust in you for all things, at all times, in every way. Strengthen our resolve to be your family. Amen.

“I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” — Revelation 3:8 I love passages in the Bible that show how Jesus welcomed children, blessed them, and urged his followers to come to him with childlike faith. Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus expects us to be as trusting as children. David wrote in Psalm 34, “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles,” and “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (vv. 6, 11). The Philadelphia church had little strength. They had little power to make their presence felt. They were a small group of people without a lot of movers and shakers. But what they had was a deep and abiding faith, like that of little children. They trusted Jesus despite the lies told by local synagogue members. And although they couldn’t do much against those adversaries, they could believe in Jesus. To this church Jesus pointed out the open door to the kingdom of heaven. He had lovingly opened that door by his death and resurrection, and they had entered through faith. They had kept his word and had not denied his name. A child with faith willingly makes childlike but confident assertions about Jesus. Let’s remember that we are God’s children, whom he loves, and that we can trust him with childlike faith. Lord, teach us to be like little children who believe with awe and wonder. Help us to trust you fully and completely. Amen.

“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.” — Revelation 3:7 The church in Philadelphia is one of two churches that do not receive a complaint from Jesus (the other is Smyrna). What a compliment from “him who is holy and true”! Imagine what it was like for the church in Philadelphia to be greeted this way. The One who is holy and true is wholly set apart from all that is worldly. Everything that Jesus says and does is holy and true, both now and forevermore. This reminds me of the inspiring hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!” based on Isaiah 6:1-3, Revelation 4:1-11, and other passages in Scripture. Jesus also says that he “holds the key of David.” In Isaiah 22:20-22 we find some background on this phrase. The one who holds this key can open and close the door of the house of David. (This probably refers to the kingdom that God promises to establish forever in Christ, a descendant of David—see 2 Samuel 7:11-16; Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:16.) And when he opens or shuts the door, it is permanently open or shut. When Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple in Jerusalem “was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). God did that, opening the way into his presence through the death of Jesus for all who trust in him as Savior. Jesus has opened the way to his kingdom. Will you enter in? Holy Spirit, open our hearts to your truth, the story of God’s love. Fill us with wonder and awe, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

“Yet you have a few people . . . who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.” — Revelation 3:4 White shirts with ties and hats used to be the standard wear of male baseball fans (most of whom were playing hooky from their work at the office). White shirts and ties were also standard for many males who attended church (that really cramped my style as a young boy). But white robes will be the clothes of grace when the multitude that no one can count stands before the throne of God and the Lamb in heaven (Revelation 7:9). In Sardis, Jesus said, there were yet a few people who had “not soiled their clothes”—and they would be walking with him, rewarded for their faithful service. And not only will these believers be with Jesus, but their names are written in the book of life. Written in the Lamb’s book of life (see Revelation 21:27), our names will never be blotted out. The atonement sealed by Jesus through his one sacrifice for all is satisfactory before God forever. And the victory will come when we wake up, strengthen, remember, hold fast, and repent. God our Father desires that we be with him and walk with Jesus forever. Are you awake, remembering, repentant, and ready to wear the white robe prepared for you in Christ? Lord and Savior, when temptations come our way, give us courage and strength to resist. Keep us walking in step with you, alert and faithful for your sake. Amen.

“I will put my Spirit in you and you will live. . . . Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken. . . .” — Ezekiel 37:14 Ezekiel’s prophecy about dry bones being restored to life is a startling picture of hope in the darkest of circumstances. When God speaks life into what is dead, resurrection happens. Jesus had told the Sardis church, “You are dead.” But he didn’t stop there. He called them to “Wake up!” His power could strengthen what life remained in them, giving them hope. Jesus called them to remember what they had received and heard. Memory itself is a gift from God to cherish. May the church never lose its memory of God’s great gifts. Then “hold . . . fast” to what you were given, he said. In other words, obey and be on guard and on high alert. Watch, and watch out! And “repent.” Confession is good and necessary for the soul. Repentance and the forgiveness that follows are so freeing to our souls. In repentance we can admit who we are before God. And God mercifully forgives because he loves us and wants us to live with him. The Lord wants us all to wake up and be fully alive, flourishing as he created us to be, and sharing his goodness with others everywhere in this broken world. Father, I have sinned against you. I have not loved you with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. I need to be made right with you, remembering what you have given and done for me through Jesus. Fill me and renew my life, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up!” — Revelation 3:1-2 As a youngster, I often played a game with my friends called “King of the Mountain.” All we needed was a mound of dirt. One of us would declare ourselves king of the dirt pile and defeat all who would try to dethrone us. Of course, the king needed to watch all sides for a sneak attack. The city of Sardis had a citadel on top of a mountain. The residents considered themselves safe from all enemies. But they became complacent and lazy about defense, and the city was captured. The church at Sardis had apparently followed a similar path. Prone to laziness in their spiritual life, the church was headed for destruction. Jesus knew their deeds and was not impressed. Though they had a reputation of being alive and healthy, the Lord of the church saw the truth and said, “You are dead.” Ouch! Even so, Jesus graciously urged them to remember what they had received and heard. Calling them to repent, he gave them hope. Do you and your church need to remember what you have received and heard? Are you spiritually alert to dangers both within and outside the church? Are people’s lives being changed so that they are growing closer and closer to Jesus? If not, what does Jesus tell you to do? Lord of the church, help us to follow you faithfully, not growing lazy in our service but always growing closer to you. In your name we pray. Amen.

“You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet . . . [and] misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.” — Revelation 2:20 Yesterday we marveled at the grace-filled good deeds of the church in Thyatira. Jesus also saw that they “were doing more than [they] did at first.” They were improving and growing in good deeds. “Nevertheless, I have this against you,” he said. Some people in the church were tolerating a “Jezebel” who called herself a prophet but taught the seductive practices of idol-worship feasts and orgies. Jesus compared her to Queen Jezebel in ancient Israel (see 1 Kings 16:29-33; 21:5-26). Jesus was patient, giving her time to “repent of her immorality, but she [was] unwilling.” So he would bring punishment, urging those who followed her to repent as well. The Jezebel of the Old Testament received a cruel and ugly death (2 Kings 9:30-37). It seems that this false prophet in Thyatira—and those who followed her—would receive a horrible death too. All this would happen because of a refusal to accept God’s grace and turn around (repent) to live by God’s way of blessing and life to the full. Jesus promised, though, that all who repented and did not follow such ways would be victorious, able to reign with Jesus and receive the morning star (see also Rev. 22:16). May we all search our hearts and listen, repenting while we have time to turn and follow the Lord into real, full life. Thank you, Lord, for your mercy. You are good and gracious. By your Spirit, guide us to follow you. Amen.

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” — Revelation 2:19 The Son of God, with blazing eyes and feet like burnished bronze, knows the deeds, love, and faith of the Thyatira church. They were living as God’s handiwork, doing good work that God had prepared in advance for them to do (see Ephesians 2:10). They had been saved by God’s grace to bring grace to a dying world. The church of the living God is honored to continue to live in Jesus, in this world, by doing good works that share the love of God with others. The deeds of the Thyatira church shone like stars in the darkness. They loved God above all, and they practiced love for one another. They cared, they encouraged, they supported, they shared. They believed what was true, and they stood strong in their faith in Christ. When misleading words were spoken, they resisted the temptation to be led astray and wander from the light of Jesus into darkness. They were faithful and loving in their service to others in Jesus’ name, and they persevered. They did not back down. Empowered by the Spirit of God, they stood firm on their foundation of faith in the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Persevering service is meant to be a hallmark of the church. What works of love and faith can Jesus highlight in your life and in your church? Thank you, Lord, for preparing us to serve you and others. We would not choose that on our own, but, by your Spirit, we can persevere. To you be all glory! Amen.

“These are the words of the Son of God. . . .” — Revelation 2:18 To the church in Thyatira, Jesus reveals himself as “the Son of God.” This is the first time we find this name for Jesus in the book of Revelation. Jesus also connects this name to the one “whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze” (see Revelation 1:14-15). In many cities like Thyatira in the Roman Empire, emperor worship and idol worship were impossible to miss. But if you worshiped the true Son of God, Jesus Christ, you could walk and move about with confidence amid the idol temples and altars. You could do that even if it meant you would be ostracized from the business world, rejected in your neighborhood, and perhaps beaten and put into jail or even put to death. John had been an eyewitness at the transfiguration of Jesus, and he had heard the voice from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (Luke 9:35). John knew Jesus, and now Jesus presents himself as that same Son of God to the church in Thyatira. Do you know Jesus? Who is he to you? A good teacher, a miracle worker from storybooks? Or do you know him as the only Son of God who came to this world to provide salvation and to rule as King over all earthly kings and rulers? Jesus is the living and reigning Son of God whose eyes penetrate to the heart and whose feet stomp out injustice. Let us join with all true believers to worship him! Son of God, to you belong all praise, honor, and glory, for ever and ever. Amen!

“To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” — Revelation 2:17 Jesus called the Pergamum church, some of whom were slipping into idolatry and immorality, to repent. Otherwise, judgment would come. But to all who would repent, to those who were eager to commit to Jesus, there would be victory. He would give them “some of the hidden manna,” he said. This refers back to God’s Old Testament people receiving a daily supply of manna for their food (Exodus 16). God sustained them in the desert with this “bread from heaven” as a sign of his love. Jesus built on that connection by announcing that he is the true bread from heaven who gives life to the world. All who come to Jesus in faith will receive bread that feeds the soul. Jesus, the bread of life, opens the door to eternal life (John 6:32-51). Jesus also said that each repentant believer would receive “a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” We aren’t sure what this means, but it seems related to having a new relationship with God in Christ and a new character that is treasured deep within one’s heart. (See also some passages about names in Isaiah 43:1; 62:2-4, 12; Revelation 3:12; 19:11-16.) Though some details here are mysterious, the message is clear: Jesus calls us to live faithfully for him, and he promises eternal life to all who fully believe and trust in him. Lord Jesus, reign over our hearts as we live for you in this world. We trust in you for eternal life. Amen.

“I have a few things against you. . . . Repent therefore!” — Revelation 2:14-16 Many of the Christians in Pergamum remained true to Jesus. That would not have been easy. An altar to Zeus stood near the tip of the city’s mountaintop, in the shadow of a temple built by the emperor Trajan. Below stood a “healing center” dedicated to the god Asclepius. And the worship of Dionysus led to sexual perversions in pagan worship. Jesus commended his followers for remaining true to him. “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you,” he said. Some people in the church were trying to mix their faith in Jesus with pagan practices. Those practices included worship “parties” where food was offered to idols and people engaged in drunkenness and sexual perversions. And Jesus does not put up with that. Many years earlier, Balaam, a false prophet, had set up a plan to tempt the men of Israel to similar perversions (Numbers 25:1-3; 31:16). Jesus also mentioned the Nicolaitans (see Rev. 2:6), who seem to have wanted Christ’s followers to compromise their beliefs. But any compromise would oppose a wholehearted commitment to Jesus. So the church was to call its members to repent, said Jesus, or he would come “and fight against them with the sword of [his] mouth.” This meant he would bring his Word of judgment against them. This warning remains for all of us today. Let us take note, repent, and submit to Jesus. Lord Jesus, help us to follow you wholeheartedly. We confess our sins and repent, knowing you are faithful to forgive. Amen.

“These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name.” — Revelation 2:12-13 The city of Pergamum was the capital of the Roman province of Asia (present-day Turkey). The Roman ruler there held the power of the sword; at his decision someone could immediately be put to death. So in that setting Jesus, “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5), with “the sharp, double-edged sword” of his mouth (1:16; 2:12), claimed ultimate authority over eternal life and death. Jesus commends the church for “remaining true to [his] name” and staying in Pergamum. They took up permanent residence in this city filled with pagan temples and idol worship. They became rooted in the Pergamum community and built up the church in a most difficult location, where Satan lived and reigned. Jesus had previously taught his followers to do this: “On this rock [the so-called ‘gates of Hades’ at Caesarea Philippi in northern Galilee] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Similarly Jesus is saying, “In Pergamum I will build my church, and the throne of Satan will not overcome it.” Satan will never overcome a faithful community of Jesus-followers. Trust the One who is Judge to keep his word on your behalf. Be humble, be obedient, be strong. King of kings, Lord of lords, guide us to follow you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Open doors to your Word, and empower us to share it. Amen.

Paul devoted himself . . . to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they . . . became abusive, he . . . said . . . “From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” — Acts 18:5-6 The apostle Paul had become God’s “chosen instrument to proclaim [Jesus’] name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). As Paul ministered across Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece, his method was to go first to Jewish synagogues and then to the Gentiles, sharing the good news of Jesus. Acts 18:1-8 describes Paul’s ministry in Corinth. Some of the Jewish people there believed the gospel, but others “opposed Paul and became abusive.” So Paul shook out his clothes in protest and moved along, saying he would go and preach to the Gentiles. In Smyrna a similar situation developed. The church of Jesus was being persecuted by people who said they were Jews, God’s original chosen people, but they were being influenced by Satan. Though Jesus’ church there was healthy, it faced troubles. Jesus said he knew the people’s affliction and suffering for being his followers. He also knew their poverty. In the bustling city of Smyrna business thrived, but unless you offered incense to the city’s gods, you could not do business there. Without an income, you became poor. Yet Jesus said they were rich! The kingdom of God operates on a different scale: amazing grace! Friends, be strong in Jesus. All who are children of God in Christ will wear the victor’s crown. Faithful Father, help us to be strong in testifying to your great faithfulness and love. Amen.

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” — Revelation 2:10 If I had the privilege of being with Jesus throughout his ministry years, I would have been on the lookout for enemies or traps. He told his disciples, “If they persecuted me [and they did], they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). Like John, Peter had heard Jesus say this, and he wrote about suffering “grief in all kinds of trials” because of belief in Christ. Yet, despite those trials, followers of Jesus would experience victory. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, all who believe in him have “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” This reality helps to form the foundation of our faith. The knowledge of our eternal inheritance with God outshines the suffering and grief caused by trials and persecutions that we might face in this life. Peter also says that the trials we can face will prove the genuineness of our faith, the effectiveness of the gospel, and the truth of the written and spoken Word. The church at Smyrna heard the word about persecution and the subsequent promised victory. Persecution would not be the end. Since Jesus is God’s promised Messiah to the world, we can boldly proclaim him to all who will listen. Lord, we worship you as the resurrected, victorious One. Your victory guarantees that all who believe in you will also be victorious. Fill us with joy in the salvation we have already received in you. Amen.

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” — Revelation 2:10 To the family of God, near and far, young and old, rich and poor, Jesus speaks as “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” Jesus presents himself to the church in Smyrna as divine and sovereign, being over all history—past, present, and future. As the First and the Last, he covers not only the ends of the spectrum but also everything in between. Even death could not hold Jesus; he is alive! All who believe that Jesus suffered and died for them can find comfort in knowing that death will not hold them either. In Jesus, like Jesus, we will be raised to new life. In Jesus we have assurance that we will live forever with him. With this truth Jesus encouraged and strengthened our brothers and sisters in Smyrna. He went on to mention their afflictions and their poverty. He knew they were slandered by people who said they followed God but did not. Those people were agents of Satan, he said. Jesus called his true followers not to be afraid of any suffering or persecution they would face. “Be faithful, even to the point of death,” he said. He had already been there for them. The One who is First and Last would hold them through all that would come their way. This same Jesus will also be with us through the difficulties we face. Jesus is the One who gives life and victory, now and forever. Thank you, Jesus, for dying and coming to life again for us. In you we can be assured that nothing will ever separate us from your love. Amen.

“To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” — Revelation 2:7 To live in Ephesus meant being surrounded by the worship of false gods. The temple to Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple of the Roman emperor Domitian dominated the central part of the city. How was a follower of Jesus to live in a culture that idolized power and false gods and encouraged sexual immorality? Jesus had told the Ephesian Christians, “Consider how far you have fallen.” In other words, remember what you once had and did and enjoyed with your Lord and Savior. Jesus called them to repent of their sin, to allow the Spirit of God to soften their hardened hearts and give them a restored heart of love. Then he urged them to “do the things [they] did at first.” In other words, persevere, hold on to the truth, and show love and compassion to one another. Otherwise, said Jesus, he would remove their lampstand. The Ephesian church would no longer exist. He would do that for the honor of his name. However, if they would repent and be restored to him, they would be victorious and be able to eat from the tree of life. This promise of Jesus looks forward to his return and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth, eternal life in the paradise of God. The tree of life awaits all who profess faith in Jesus Christ alone, live for him, and share his love with everyone. Come, Lord Jesus. Almighty God, help me to love you above all, and others as myself. For your glory, Amen.

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” — Revelation 2:5 The Lord Jesus has the authority to reveal the truth and call his people to repentance. He stands among his churches (including us!) with power, authority, and love. After commending the Ephesian church on their hard work and perseverance, Jesus says, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.” Paul had mentioned that love in his letter to the Ephesians: “Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you” (Ephesians 1:15). The Ephesians had loved one another, striving for unity in the faith. Now, however, Jesus reprimands them for forsaking that love, giving up on their commitment to show the love of Christ to everyone. Had they become selfish, proud, unwilling to do what was needed to get along with each other and with others? Had they become so absorbed with right thinking that they had allowed clouds of selfishness to come between them? Jesus graciously calls them to repent and turn back to the love they had lost. Friends, Jesus calls us to love one another and all people. Loving one another as Jesus has loved us is still the rallying cry of the church. Without sacrificial love between believers, any attempt at testifying to God’s love to others will appear shallow and be a sham. Lord, help us to show your love for your sake, that you may be known to the world. Amen.

“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” — Revelation 2:3 On a trip to Ephesus, I was able to walk through what had once been a neighborhood of houses and streets. Etched into a stone in front of one doorway was a symbol that looked like a fish. According to tradition, this may have identified the house as a place where Christians lived and met together for worship, prayer, and fellowship. In Revelation 2, Jesus tells John to write to the church in Ephesus, saying, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. . . . You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.” Jesus’ followers in Ephesus are commended for holding up the light of Christ against the darkness of this world. The apostle Paul had earlier reminded the Ephesians, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Still today, the devil aims to harm the church until Jesus returns. Jesus commended the church in Ephesus for standing strong in defense of the gospel. God’s Word to us today remains: Be strong, know the difference between light and darkness, be wise and ready to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Ephesians 4:1). Lord Jesus, strengthen us to serve you faithfully, shining your light into this world.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!” — Revelation 1:17-18 Earlier in his life, John had spent three years with Jesus as a disciple in training. We might expect that John would recognize Jesus, run up to him, and embrace him. But something is clearly different about Jesus. The glorious presentation of the Son of Man so overwhelms John that he falls at Jesus’ fiery-bronze feet as though dead. But then he hears the familiar words of his Lord and Master: “Do not be afraid.” The loving Savior speaks comfort and assurance. Jesus gives John an elaborate description of himself. What a way to build up John’s confidence and that of the churches! Jesus is the “First and the Last,” the “Living One,” who “was dead” but is “alive for ever and ever!” And there’s more: Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades, so they have no power over him or his followers. Jesus then commands John to write to the seven churches that are represented by the lampstands. (And, to us today, those churches represent the whole church of Christ.) By sharing what he has “seen, what is now and what will take place later,” John will describe how Jesus is the reigning Lord of heaven and earth. Despite the churches’ strengths and weaknesses, Jesus is God. The powers of darkness will do their worst to destroy the church, but they will fail because Jesus is the living Lord. Almighty King, you are the victor over death and the grave. Drive out our fear today. Amen.

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. — Revelation 1:9 John explains to his first readers that he understands what it means to suffer for the cause of Christ. He is imprisoned on the island of Patmos “because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” John confirms that anyone who follows Jesus is not excused from persecution. In fact, Jesus told his followers to expect it. As Jesus’ enemies did to him, they will do to his followers (John 15:18-20). But Jesus also rose victorious from death and ascended to the Father’s right hand. And the church will follow. “Patient endurance” is needed through trials and suffering for God’s kingdom while his people live here on earth, but full life with God forever is promised for all who keep serving him. Next John notes that Jesus announces himself with a trumpet-like voice, telling him to write to the seven churches. John turns around to see who is speaking, and a man is standing there among seven lampstands, dressed in a royal robe, with hair and eyes reflecting images of the “Ancient of Days” in Daniel 7:9, and with a voice like the sound of rushing waters (see Ezekiel 43:2). This “son of man” can be trusted despite what his enemies might do, for this is Jesus, the Lord of his church! King Jesus, you have “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). Give us courage to follow you faithfully each day, with all hope and trust in you. Amen.

“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. — Revelation 1:7 Did you notice the quotations in the text of Revelation 1:7? Those phrases come from Old Testament books of prophecy, and John uses them to remind his readers that Jesus’ mission was foretold long before he came. Daniel 7:13-14 gives us a prophetic look at the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) “coming with the clouds of heaven” and taking his place with the “Ancient of Days” (God the Father). The Father gives the Son all authority over a kingdom “that will never be destroyed.” And Zechariah 12:10 speaks of “the one they have pierced” (Jesus—see also Isaiah 53:5; John 19:34). The prophet says that God’s people will see what they have done to the Son of Man, and they will mourn because of it. This repentant attitude is a result of God’s grace. And God counts the shed blood of Jesus as the payment for all our sin, even the sins of those who have not yet believed in him. The God who speaks is “the Alpha and the Omega,” the one “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Jesus is the Savior and Lord of the church. From his position and authority he leads his church still today. In Christ, the church will stand firm and stand up against its enemies and their threats. Church of Jesus Christ, stand firm today and always. Almighty, eternal God, you led the authors of your Word to write history, prophecy, songs, and letters to reveal your love, power, and salvation. Thank you! Amen.

To him who . . . has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. — Revelation 1:5-6 At Mount Sinai the Lord instructed Moses to tell the people of Israel that they were to obey God and keep his covenant and that they would be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Unfortunately, no one was able to keep God’s law perfectly. So eventually God sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to be their substitute, saving them from sin and death. In fact, Jesus came to lay down his life to pay for all human sin. So he is the Savior and Lord of all who trust him in faith (John 3:16-21). In Revelation 1, John explains that in this way Jesus “made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father.” This means that, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are kingdom representatives to the world. We are called to be mediators (priests) with people by bringing the good news of Jesus and of God’s kingdom to the world, introducing people everywhere to God and his love. Through Jesus, we have unlimited access to God to know him and to be like him. Access to God is no longer limited to a formal earthly priesthood. That access is now open to all who come to faith in Jesus. “To him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.” In Jesus’ name we serve you, Almighty God. We worship you alone as Lord and serve your world as your representatives, your priests. Equip us with your Spirit for the task you have given us, we pray. Amen.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. — Hebrews 10:23 Hope is not wishful thinking, as we tend to imply when we say things like “I hope it doesn’t rain today,” or “I hope you get a perfect score!” Hope in Christ is founded firmly on the promises of the faithful God who has shown his love for us and calls us to trust that we will live with him forever. The church of Jesus Christ in the first century A.D. was facing difficult times, and John knew that the hope of Jesus’ followers would be shaken. The writer of Hebrews also indicated that the hope of believers in Christ would be challenged. But in Jesus we have the One on whom our hope can be fixed for all eternity. “Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). Jesus, who “freed us from our sins by his blood,” calls us to be confident and to hold on with each other in the community of faith as the day of the Lord approaches—when he will come again. Why do we have such confidence? Because through Jesus’ blood, poured out as payment for our sins, we are forgiven by God, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from his love (Romans 8:39). Thank you, Jesus, for opening the way to God the Father for us, providing the peace, strength, and confidence we need for each day. Amen.

John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. — Revelation 1:4-5 John is writing a letter, so he begins here with a greeting. Though he is writing to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia (present-day Turkey), this letter is not limited to those seven churches. Written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God, this letter is meant for the entire church of Jesus Christ. The church is made aware of God’s grace in Christ to strengthen its faith in times of challenge and hardship, including physical persecution that will come its way. God has provided Jesus as the Savior, “the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Knowing this helps us to put all things into perspective as history unfolds. John greets his readers with grace and peace from the God who is, was, and always will be—in the name of Jesus, the Christ (Messiah). Jesus is the faithful witness to all that God provides for the church. Jesus alone is the “firstborn from the dead,” and he is the exalted King over all kings (see also Colossians 1:15-20; Psalm 89:27), whether they be emperors, monarchs, presidents, prime ministers, CEOs, or chairs of the board. To Jesus, “who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,” belong all glory, power, and praise forever! Lord and God, thank you for helping us know you as our Savior and King. May we rest in you alone and honor you each day. Amen.

The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. — Revelation 1:1-2 When a curtain is pulled back to reveal a new work of art, the assembled crowd responds with appreciation and applause. Something that was a mystery is made known. A similar thing happens in the book of Revelation. God pulls back a curtain that has been concealing the finished work of Jesus Christ. Here God reveals to believers in Christ the source of their comfort, courage, and hope. The Lord initially revealed all of this to the apostle John, one of Jesus’ closest followers, through the work of an angel. And John testifies that this aligns with what he witnessed firsthand as one of Jesus’ disciples. In chapter one of Revelation, John writes about the Lord of the church of all ages, including the seven churches addressed in Revelation 2-3. And that Lord is Jesus Christ.This testimony guides us to continue as the church of Jesus today. The church needs to know its Lord and King, who at the same time is Lord and King over this world and all creation. Rejecting all that contradicts God’s Word and God’s will, the church must stand for all that is righteous, true, and good. The seven churches in Revelation 2-3 needed that message, and so does the church of Christ in 2024. King Jesus, you are the Lord of your church and of the whole world. Equip us to follow you. Amen.

“The kingdom of God has come upon you.” — Matthew 12:28 When Christians pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Your kingdom come.” In the long run, we’re asking for Jesus to come again and make everything new: heaven and earth, peoples and nations, each one of us. We’re asking God to put right everything that is wrong. The Bible paints some lovely pictures of the kingdom of God in this ultimate sense: the wolf living with the lamb, weapons of war remade into tools of peace, no more death or mourning or crying or pain, justice at last. But the kingdom of God is not just an ultimate reality in the future. The kingdom of God is also a present reality. It comes near through Jesus Christ, who announces the kingdom of God and makes it real. And it remains near through the Holy Spirit. So when Christians pray, “Your kingdom come,” we’re not just asking God to change the world for good. We’re asking God to change us too—and to change us now. Because we want to see the kingdom that’s already here through Jesus. And we want to participate in that kingdom by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise we remain captive to kingdoms of this world with their pride and their greed and their hatred and their violence. “Your kingdom come” is our plea that God will free us from all of that—so that we can begin to be new. Heavenly Father, give us a new way to see the world and a new way to be in the world. Set us free to live as citizens of your kingdom. Amen.

“I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God . . . because that is why I was sent.” — Luke 4:43 Here’s the good news as I heard it on my way to becoming a Christian: We’re all guilty sinners who deserve to be punished by God. But Jesus suffered the punishment for us when he died on the cross. So if we admit our sin and trust Jesus to deal with it, God forgives us and we are saved. That really was good news, and I was glad to embrace it. Here’s the good news as Jesus himself announced it on his way through Galilee: “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15). Wait a minute. The good news Jesus announced doesn’t sound like the good news I heard. How can that be? It turns out that the good news I heard is just a piece of the good news Jesus announced. We get a glimpse of that in our reading today from Acts 16. An overwhelmed jailer can’t make sense of all the commotion in his jail. So Paul gives him some good news, saying, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” But he doesn’t stop there. Because there’s more to the good news. So Paul goes on to teach the jailer and his family about Jesus and, for sure, about the kingdom of God. Because believing in Jesus is incomplete unless we believe what Jesus himself proclaimed. Jesus, help us to listen to what you say and to watch what you do. How else can we follow you into the kingdom? Amen.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” — Luke 22:42 While they are dying by crucifixion, one of the two criminals next to Jesus says to him, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replies, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Have you ever wondered what that’s all about? Originally the word for “paradise” referred to an enclosed garden. Later it meant a place where the righteous dead waited for the resurrection. In the book of Revelation it seems to point to the new Jerusalem and the new creation, where God’s people will live with the Lord forever. In our reading today, what does Jesus mean by “paradise,” where the criminal will join him that very day? Does he mean a garden? A waiting room? The New Jerusalem? Here’s what I wonder: what if “paradise” is right there, right then, on those two crosses on that Friday afternoon? I know, it doesn’t sound like paradise. And no one would want to vacation there—not to mention living and dying there. But according to the Bible, when Jesus surrenders his life on the cross—right there, right then—he is in his glory. Right there, right then he is on his throne. Right there, right then he has come into his kingdom, where the Father’s will is done on earth, the same as in heaven. And the criminal on the cross nearby is there with him, the first one there with him. Jesus, I want to be with you in your kingdom. So give me enough faith to take up a cross and to carry it to paradise. Amen.

When the centurion . . . saw how [Jesus] died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” — Mark 15:39 Paul had been jailed because of false charges from the religious leaders in Jerusalem. So he used his Roman citizenship to appeal his case all the way to the judgment seat of Caesar in Rome (Acts 21-26). From Egypt to Britain, from Spain to Armenia, the Roman Empire was Caesar’s world. Citizens and slaves bowed to him. They feared his armies, which brought him victory. They used his coins, which declared him “the Son of God.” Before the appointment, Paul spent two years under house arrest in Rome. During that time, he welcomed all sorts of visitors. And he spoke boldly about the kingdom of God and the Lord Jesus. Think about that. In the capital city of Caesar’s empire, Paul proclaimed another kingdom and another Lord. Yes, that Lord had died on one of Caesar’s crosses. But to a Roman commander who witnessed that death, it was obvious that Jesus, not Caesar, was “the Son of God.” The kingdom of God, by its very existence, and the Lord Jesus, by his supreme authority, are a direct challenge to every realm and ruler on earth. The law of Christ overrules every contrary human law. And the way of the kingdom sets aside every other way. Every bit of this is good news. But it’s also dangerous news, unwelcome by the powers and authorities of this world. Nevertheless, in Christ we are citizens of his kingdom and under his authority. Even if that means suffering on a cross. Jesus, we humble ourselves before you. May every realm and every ruler do the same. Amen.

They crucified two rebels with him, one on his right and one on his left. — Mark 15:27 What picture forms in your mind when you think of a king? Maybe it’s a handsome man with a golden crown on his head and a jeweled scepter in his hand. Maybe it’s someone giving orders while others bow before him and do as he says. Most likely, when we think of a king, the last thing we picture is a cross. That’s why we have to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus is a different kind of king, and that his kingdom is a different kind of kingdom—different from anything the world has ever seen. James and John still had to learn that. They pictured King Jesus sitting eventually on a gold-plated throne, and they wanted to be sitting right next to him. They wanted the power that comes with proximity—and that showed they didn’t understand the glory of Jesus. They didn’t understand the way of his kingdom. Jesus said that the places they wanted were reserved for others. And it turned out that two rebels were crucified on the right and the left of Jesus. Here’s what it adds up to. Forget the gold. King Jesus “sits” on a throne made of two crossed pieces of wood. And his glory is to do the will of God. King Jesus suffers and dies because his kingdom is about mercy and forgiveness rather than about power and conquest. We need to keep adjusting our picture accordingly. Lord Jesus, you are such a strange king. Your kingdom is strange too. And that’s good because it’s exactly what this world needs. We need it too. Every day. Amen.

“People [won’t] say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” — Luke 17:21 After his baptism, Jesus went around proclaiming the good news. He said, “The kingdom of God is near! It’s here! People are entering in front of your eyes!” Jesus proclaimed the good news by his actions too. He faced down the devil and drove out demons. He healed the sick and fed the hungry. He touched the untouchable and taught the unteachable. He welcomed the weary and sent away the smug. He forgave the sinner and challenged the self-righteous. All of it was evidence that the kingdom of God had come. When Jesus sent out an advance team of seventy-two followers, they healed the sick, like Jesus did. They even drove out demons, like Jesus did (Luke 10:17). Once again, it was evidence that the kingdom of God had come near (see Luke 9:1-6). Whether people accepted the news or rejected it, the news remained the same: The kingdom of God has come near! Jesus said you can’t point to the kingdom of God and say, “There it is!” Not because there’s no evidence of the kingdom—but because he wanted us to be alert for signs of the kingdom all around us. The Michigan state motto says this: If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you. I wonder what signs of the kingdom are waiting for us to look and to see. I wonder how close those signs are. Open our eyes, Lord Jesus, to see your kingdom. Surprise us by the wonder of its ways, so different from the ways of this world. Amen.

“What shall we say the kingdom of God is like . . . ?” — Mark 4:30 If you’re writing about a subject for school, you often start with a definition. But in this series I have been writing about the kingdom of God for several weeks, and I haven’t given a definition. Why is that? What do we know about the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is like yeast in a batch of dough, like a hidden treasure, like wheat and weeds growing together, and like a landowner hiring day-laborers. The kingdom of God is unexpected, like a feast with a surprising guest list. Sex workers and other “sinners” enter the kingdom ahead of deeply religious types. And it’s really hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God belongs to little children, to peacemakers, and to the poor. The kingdom is something to wait for, something to pray for. The kingdom of God is in our midst, but it’s not from this world. The kingdom is light. That’s a lot to learn about the kingdom of God. And there’s more where that came from. But that’s not what we would call a definition. Whatever the kingdom of God is, it gives us a different way to see the world, to see people, and to see God. It also gives us a different way to be in the world. And in some ways that makes us strangers and aliens in the world we know so well. Jesus, we like to know what we’re getting into. So we want to know what your kingdom is all about. But it’s all about you, isn’t it? Let that be enough for us. Amen.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” — Matthew 19:24 The kingdom of God is eternal. It’s the ultimate reality, when everything will be good at last. Surprisingly, though, the kingdom is also right here, right now—wherever Jesus is present in the flesh or by the Spirit. We can see that in Matthew 19. A rich man who comes to talk with Jesus is very interested in having eternal life—that is, life in the kingdom of God. But does he really want that kind of life? When Jesus tells the man, “Sell everything, give to the poor, and follow me,” the man can’t do it. He can’t take those three steps. It’s really hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. That’s what Jesus says. And he means more than entering the eternal kingdom in the future. He also means living the way of the kingdom right here, right now. Among other things, the way of the kingdom is selfless and generous. And the way of the kingdom includes deeply trusting in God to meet every need. Sadly, the rich man in this story wasn’t ready to live that way. Not here, not now. How about you? Are you ready to live the way of the kingdom here and now? If not, will you want to live that way in eternity? Lord Jesus, fears grip us, and things grip us—and it’s hard to break free. Help me to let go of everything but you so that I can live the way of the kingdom right here, right now. Amen.

“Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” — Matthew 11:6 John the Baptist had come to prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. And John was so confident! He had a clear and sure word from God, just as you would expect from a prophet. But in our reading today from Matthew 11, John has his doubts. Prison will do that to a person, making him question everything he’s sure of. What John has heard doesn’t measure up to the big hopes he has had for Jesus. God’s people are no closer to being free. Nor is John himself. So John sends a message to Jesus: “Have I been wrong about you?” Jesus has nothing new to tell John. But he does encourage him not to lose hope: “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” John had his expectations of Jesus. We all do. But Jesus doesn’t act according to anyone’s expectations. He acts according to the Father’s plan. Jesus encourages John—and all of us—to trust that plan. The kingdom will come in God’s way and in God’s time. There’s an old hymn that gets it just right: “For not with swords’ loud clashing or roll of stirring drums—with deeds of love and mercy the heavenly kingdom comes.” Of course the greatest deed of love and mercy is Jesus’ self-surrender on the cross. That one deed makes the kingdom a sure thing. Generous Lord Jesus, thank you for who you are and for what you do. Help us to be grateful for your generosity to us and to show the same generosity to others. Amen.

The apostles left . . . rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. — Acts 5:41 More than once in these meditations, I have referred to the way of the kingdom. There’s no definition for it. But in our reading from Matthew 5 today—often called “The Beatitudes”—Jesus names a number of desires, attitudes, and behaviors that are part of the kingdom “way.” As you read the Beatitudes, imagine the community Jesus describes. It’s a community of people who are humble, meek, and pure-hearted; who mourn over sorrow and pain; who show mercy and make peace—all because they hunger and thirst for what is right. You would think this kind of community would be inoffensive. That neighbors would be happy to have them around. But Jesus says the community may also be persecuted: hated, insulted, excluded, falsely accused, and more. The sticking point is Jesus himself—and the community’s first loyalty to him. That’s because the world and its kingdoms would rather be first in our lives. So trouble may come to us who live by the way of the kingdom. But blessings come too. There’s comfort to ease our sorrow and pain. Mercy to overcome injustice. Satisfaction in working for changes to do what’s right. There’s also welcome in the household of God—a place to call home, a place to belong. Above all, in the kingdom itself we will see and live with God! Jesus, thank you for showing us a better “way” and for going ahead of us. What a wonderful hope we have in you: the kingdom of God! Amen.

Christ Jesus . . . has become . . . our righteousness. . . . — 1 Corinthians 1:30 Here’s the main entrance requirement for the kingdom of God: You must have a righteousness that surpasses the righteousness of the Pharisees. Well, good luck with that! The Pharisees were amazing. They kept the law of Moses better than anyone. The apostle Paul says that when he was a Pharisee, his law-based righteousness was faultless (Philippians 3:5-6). Who could possibly top that? But could there be a different way instead of trying to do the Pharisees one better? There has to be, because Paul explains that the Pharisees’ way doesn’t work. We are all sinners, and none of us can keep the law perfectly—so none of us can claim to be righteous (see Romans 3-7). But what if the purpose of the law was to point out our sin and show us that we need a Savior? And what if Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the law for us through his death on the cross? What greater righteousness could there be? And what if this righteousness could be ours through the gift of Jesus? What if Jesus himself is our righteousness? Well, he is. And he is the one who brings us into the kingdom! No one enters the kingdom of God by having the best behavior, but only by having faith in the King, Jesus. That’s how the repentant tax collectors and sex workers entered the kingdom ahead of the Pharisees. Jesus was their righteousness. Now that’s good news! Jesus, thank you for taking sin out of the way so that we can enter the kingdom of God. Help me to trust that. Amen.

“Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 5:20 College admissions are competitive. So our daughter’s high-school guidance counselor recommended ways to sweeten her applications. I told the counselor not to worry. Our daughter would be going to our church-sponsored college. To get accepted, all she had to do was apply. The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were determined to keep the Law of Moses faithfully. They figured their righteousness would help bring the kingdom of God and would ensure their place in it. What a surprise they had when Jesus said that sex workers and turncoat tax collectors were going into the kingdom ahead of them! What!? Was the kingdom of God just free for the taking, with no special application requirements? To the Pharisees, that couldn’t be. They had staked their lives on the Law of Moses. They were not about to turn to a different way. But Jesus is the righteous one. He brings the kingdom. And those traitorous tax collectors and sex workers were trusting in him. They had repented and now believed in Jesus, the way to the kingdom of God. They certainly had no righteousness of their own. But that was okay. They had Jesus. So all they had to do was come to the kingdom, trusting in him. That’s all any of us has to do. Come. Just come to Jesus and his kingdom. Jesus, I come to you and to your kingdom. Show me the way of your kingdom every day. And help me to follow it. Amen.

“You gave me something to eat . . . [and] to drink, . . . you invited me in, . . . you clothed me, . . . you looked after me, . . . you came to visit me.” — Matthew 25:35-36 When people have a stake in something, they tend to puff it up. It’s the newest, the fastest, the brightest, the strongest. Not Jesus. He says the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed. A mustard seed is tiny. Looking at it, you wouldn’t expect it to amount to much. And like any seed, it’s dependent on outside conditions—soil, moisture, sunshine—to germinate and grow. Farmers today plant millions of soybean seeds in a single field. They make sure to plant plenty because they know they’ll have a 20 to 30 percent loss. Home gardeners plant several squash seeds in every hill because some of those seeds may fail to germinate and some of the young plants may not mature. But Jesus says the kingdom of God is like a single, small seed. Everything is staked on that one, tiny seed. If it fails to germinate, if it fails to grow, then all is lost. But when that one seed does sprout and grow, it becomes something far beyond its humble beginning: a safe and shady perch for a choir of songbirds. In the same way, the kingdom of God may not look like much. But here and there, almost invisibly, it welcomes, shelters, and supports life. Maybe you’re a part of that through a local congregation. I hope so. Lord Jesus, give us faith to see your kingdom all around us. And give us courage to make your kingdom visible, even in the smallest ways. Amen.

“Are you envious because I am generous?” — Matthew 20:15 From the time we are little children, we have a keen sense of fairness. So if my mom gave my brother a piece of cake just a little bigger than the one she gave me, I would protest: “That’s not fair!” Jesus told lots of parables—stories that use familiar scenes and images from daily life to teach about the kingdom of God. These stories are often surprising, and sometimes even shocking. For example, some of Jesus’ parables include outcomes that don’t seem fair—and that can surprise us or even make us upset. But what if fairness is not the point? In today’s story about day-laborers in a vineyard, the issue of fairness comes up in a big way. When the landowner pays all of the laborers for a full day, no matter how many hours they have worked, the laborers who worked all day protest: “We worked the whole day. The sun beat down on us for hours. Why should the people who worked only one hour get the same pay as we do?” This is certainly not fair. But fairness is not the point. The kingdom of God is not fair. It’s much more than fair. The kingdom of God is generous. Jesus is a generous King. He gives us all that he promises and more than we deserve. Generous Lord Jesus, thank you for who you are and for what you do. Help us to be grateful for your generosity to us, and help us to show the same generosity to others. Amen.

“People [won’t] say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” — Luke 17:21 Here’s an old Bob Dylan lyric: “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.” When I hear that, I first picture a foolish young man. He’s sure he knows what’s what. Then I picture a wise older man. Like a child, he embraces the mystery of what he doesn’t understand. Is that maybe how it is with the kingdom of God? People were bringing little kids—even babies—to Jesus. Parents wanted Jesus to bless their little ones. But the disciples knew better: Jesus was busy with important stuff, grown-up stuff. There was no time to waste on little kids. Well, Jesus set them straight, didn’t he? “Cut it out!” he said. “Let the kids come right here to me. Don’t you know that the kingdom of God is their kingdom? That God is their God?” The kingdom of God is kids’ stuff. And if we grown-ups don’t add a bunch of big words and picky rules, then kids will see the kingdom for what it is. And they will welcome it the way they welcome a carnival or a snow day. When something so unexpected and so wonderful comes along, of course they’ll want to be a part of it! If we grown-ups don’t feel the same way about the kingdom of God, we’ve most likely missed the point. Come on, Jesus. Bring your kingdom. We want to ride all day for free! Amen.

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror. . . . — 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) If you were a kid like I was in the 1960s, you might remember Sergeant Joe Friday from the TV show Dragnet. Friday was a no-nonsense police officer. When he questioned a witness, he didn’t want to hear stories or opinions. “Just the facts,” he would insist. And by the end of each episode, with the facts in hand, Friday would make an arrest. A focus on facts may be right for a police investigation. But things are different with the kingdom of God. When Jesus talks about the kingdom, he doesn’t rattle off a set of facts. And he never offers a definition. Because the truth of the kingdom is more than we could ever take in. Instead Jesus gives us glimpses of the kingdom through stories and pictures. He says the kingdom of God is “like a mustard seed.” Or like many other things. Yet what Jesus says about the kingdom isn’t necessarily obvious, even to the disciples. The same is true about what Jesus does. Just after the mustard seed story in Mark 4, we see Jesus calming a dangerous storm out on a lake. That certainly said something about Jesus as King. But it wasn’t altogether clear. The disciples were left asking, “Who is this?” (Mark 4:41). Let’s listen to some more of Jesus’ stories and watch some of his deeds to learn what we can about the kingdom and its King. Teach me, Lord Jesus. I want to know who you are and what your kingdom is about. How else can I serve you? Amen.

There before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. — Revelation 7:9 In the United States today we commemorate the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK). As we should. King dreamed about the kingdom of God—where the children of former slaves and the children of former slaveowners would see each other as family, and where everyone would share equally in freedom and justice. King also did what he could to make that kingdom dream real, even at the cost of his own life. I grew up in the world King was trying to change. And when I was about five years old, I got to live into some of that change. A new family moved in across from us. Right away, my brother, Tom, and I met Cheryl and Larry. They were black, and we were white. And in no time at all we were friends. When I was five, I had never heard of the kingdom of God. But I had seen a glimpse of it. Because in the kingdom, we all will be children of God together. I can hardly wait. How about you? Meanwhile, I keep wondering: What can I do, and what can the church do, to make the kingdom real? Do you think maybe we have to become more like children? King Jesus, you urge us not just to welcome little children but to become like little children. How else will we see the kingdom? How else will we make the kingdom real? So help us. Amen.

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” — Mark 10:43 The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem didn’t want Jesus as their king. They brought him to the Roman governor, Pilate, and he played that up for what it was worth. Though he could not find a reason to charge Jesus, Pilate went along with the people and sentenced him to death anyway. As a final taunt, Pilate placed a sign on the cross: jesus of nazareth: the king of the jews. Pilate sparred with Jesus about it too: “You’re the king of the Jews, right?” Jesus refused the bait: “You think a king has sword-wielding soldiers at his command. But my kingdom isn’t like that.” You wouldn’t know it from looking at the church, though. The church long ago made peace with the kingdoms of this world. The church even sent its children to war in the name of the kingdoms of this world. But Jesus said his kingdom is “not from this world.” (That’s a better translation than “not of this world.”) The way of his kingdom is not borrowed from Rome or any other kingdom. The way of Jesus’ kingdom is mercy, not brutality; joy, not misery; reconciliation, not enmity. The way of his kingdom doesn’t destroy a village in order to save it. Instead the King himself endures destruction in order to save the world. The kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms of this world. God’s kingdom is not from this world but from the world to come. Forgive your church, Lord Jesus. We forsake the way of your kingdom too easily and in too many ways. Have mercy on us, we pray. Amen.

“So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” — Acts 11:18 An old hymn reminds us that “God moves in a mysterious way.” Sometimes that’s more than God’s people can handle. Acts 11 shows how the brand-new church in Jerusalem was unsure what to do when Gentiles came to faith in Jesus. They were surprised and wondered what God was up to. In a parable in Mark 4, Jesus says the kingdom of God is like seed scattered on soil. The seed sprouts and grows, taking on a life of its own. Eventually there is a harvest. Nowadays we can explain all the processes that produce a harvest. But 2,000 years ago those processes were a mystery, something beyond explanation and yet wonderful. Similarly, the kingdom of God is wonderful and often beyond explaining. Like planted seed, the kingdom has a life of its own. The kingdom is outside our control. It grows and bears fruit however God pleases, without our intervention. It’s not that God doesn’t use us in the processes of the kingdom. But the kingdom is full of surprises—as surprising as Gentiles joining with Jews into one church. Have you seen God move in mysterious ways? Has God given you or your church unexpected opportunities to offer hospitality, to practice generosity, even to tear down boundaries that would keep people out? How wonderful is that?! Lord Jesus, you are the greatest kingdom mystery of all. You became human so that we can become more human than we have ever been. That’s beyond us! Amen.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. — John 1:5 Here’s the gospel (the “good news”): Jesus delivers the people of God from the dominion of darkness and brings them into the kingdom of light. There is no better news! Here’s the background: Sin had plunged God’s people into darkness. They had no temple, no king, and no homeland. The problem was their own repeated sin of turning away from God and pursuing the sinful excesses of neighboring kingdoms. So God sent other nations, that were bent on conquest, to uproot his people and take them into exile. In a long era of gloom, Israel’s hope grew dim. But when the time was right, God sent his Son to bring Israel out of darkness and into light. And not just Israel—because Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). On the cross he broke the back of darkness, because forgiveness of sins leads back to the light. Beyond our “little” sins, Jesus has secured forgiveness for our love of darkness. This frees us from the clutches of darkness and brings us into the light of the kingdom of God. We still live in a dark world. The drumbeat of tragedies and atrocities never stops. But we have the privilege and the duty to reflect the light of God’s kingdom into the world. We do it by keeping the law of Christ: loving and serving both God and neighbor with joy. Lord Jesus, whenever it’s dark, wherever it’s dark, and however it’s dark, I want to shine. Jesus, help me to shine! Amen.

“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” — Luke 6:20 The Bible says, “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” We see it in Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, where the love of money has closed off Scrooge’s heart. And hasn’t money shattered countless families throughout history?! Apparently the dangers of money increase as we get more of it. Because few of us can resist the seductions of wealth. We fall into a money trap. All we want is more. No wonder Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). When we hear that, we may think Jesus is talking about salvation and warning that wealth gets in the way. Because, if nothing else, having a pile of money can make us feel immune from everything, even from the justice of God. But I think Jesus may have something more immediate in mind: living the way of God’s kingdom here and now. Wealth can put the squeeze on us and keep us from living the way of God’s kingdom. And, proportionally, people who have less tend to be more generous than people who have more. No wonder Jesus says to people who are poor, “Yours is the kingdom of God.” Their generosity already fits. Lord, “give me neither poverty nor riches” (Proverbs 30:8). Help me to trust your generosity enough to be generous like you. Amen.

The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews. — Mark 15:26 Suppose you went to Jerusalem, looking for God, in the time of the kings of Israel. The locals would tell you, “You’ve come to the right place.” And they would point to Solomon’s temple, saying, “That’s where God is.” Because at the heart of the temple, behind a thick curtain and between golden cherubs, God was enthroned as King. By the time of Jesus, however, history has taken its toll. Solomon’s temple is long gone. A new temple has taken its place. Well, suppose you came to Jerusalem in those days, on a certain Friday afternoon, looking for God. Where would the locals point? The news that afternoon was stunning. The temple curtain was torn. And there was nothing behind it: no golden cherubs, no ark of the covenant, and certainly not God. Some of the locals might take you outside the city walls to a rugged hill called Golgotha. And they might point toward a dead figure on a cross and say, “There. That’s where God is.” Because the sign above the corpse is right. This is the king of the jews. The Roman commander is right too. This is the Son of God. What sort of kingdom can it be when the king is a dead guy on a cross, and when that dead guy is the Son of God? A kingdom like no other. That’s for sure. Jesus, you are a king like no other whose kingdom is like no other. Help your church to be a people like no other—in all the best ways. Amen.

Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. — Matthew 27:38 It’s important to note that our use of the words king and kingdom can be misleading when we talk about God and Jesus. These words that are so familiar to us may get us in the ballpark of understanding—but just barely. That’s because Jesus is not like other kings, and the kingdom of God is not like other kingdoms. The mother of James and John finds this out when she asks Jesus for a favor. She’s proud of her boys. So she asks Jesus to give them the top spots in his kingdom, to make them his right-hand and left-hand men. But Jesus says no; those places are already reserved. We gain a hint of what that means when we learn later that two rebels are crucified on either side of Jesus. So cross and kingdom are connected. Other kings would take up a sword and lead an army against the enemies of their people. But Jesus is not like other kings. He deals with great enemies by letting himself be defeated by them on the cross. Then that cross becomes the sign of the kingdom of God, which is not like other kingdoms. Because in the kingdom of God “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). So whenever you see one of those roadside displays of three crosses, remember that Jesus and his kingdom are not like anything else in this world. Jesus, I’m usually ashamed when I’m weak. So I try to act strong. Help me to trust that your power is made perfect in weakness, even in my weakness. Amen.

“Suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple.” — Malachi 3:1 When Jesus is 40 days old, his parents bring him to the temple to present the required offering after a son is born. It’s a big day. Here’s why. When the Israelites, under Moses, set up a tabernacle (a portable temple) in the wilderness, a cloud of glory signaled the presence of God. God was there in the midst of his people. Later, when they built a temple, under Solomon, the cloud of glory filled it to overflowing. God was enthroned in the temple as Israel’s true King. Many years later, the prophet Ezekiel saw God’s throne leave the temple—and the cloud of glory with it (Ezekiel 10). Soon the temple itself lay in ruins, destroyed by Babylon. Later the people of Israel returned from exile and built another temple. But this time there was no cloud of glory, no sign that God had come to live in the new temple. Many more years later, Mary and Joseph came to the temple carrying Jesus. And the Lord, Israel’s true King, was in the midst of his people once again. What kind of king will he be? And what kind of kingdom will he bring? We are faced with those questions to this day. How will we welcome King Jesus and his kingdom? With humility? With joy? With thanksgiving? With hope? With holy obedience? The answer is in our lives and in the life of the church. Jesus, you came to live among us for a while. And you will come again. We want to welcome you wherever you appear. And wherever you are, your kingdom is. Amen.

Before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. — Revelation 7:9 It’s hard to imagine what the 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection were like for the apostles. But we know this much: Jesus came and went according to his own sense of time and purpose. And whenever he was with his followers, he taught them more about the kingdom of God. The apostles caught his drift. It was hard to miss! Then one day they asked if the time had finally come for him to restore the kingdom of Israel. That was a bit off-track. But it’s no wonder they were thinking in terms of just their own people. That was the hope they had grown up with. Yet the time for the kingdom would be more than just that moment. And the home of the kingdom would be more than just Israel. Over long ages, the Spirit of God would equip the apostles and the whole church to carry the good news to the ends of the earth. And all the earth, with all its kingdoms and dominions, with all its peoples and nations, would hear about King Jesus and his kingdom. That’s how I heard about Jesus and his kingdom. That’s how you heard the good news too. Jesus, thank you for equipping your followers and your church with good news through the power of your Spirit. May the news of your kingdom continue to ring. Amen.

The Lord Most High is . . . the great King over all the earth. — Psalm 47:2 We usually think of kings as men who have political and military power. But King Jesus has a different kind of power. He has the power to take certain things that have gone terribly wrong and put them right. So instead of launching wars, Jesus heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, and casts out demons. One day a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon comes to Jesus. She asks him for help because a demon has hold of her daughter. But Jesus says nothing. When his disciples urge him to send her away, he says that he was sent to tend the flock of Israel. But the woman spars with him, insisting that God’s goodness extends beyond Israel. And of course she is right. Jesus commends her for her great faith, and her daughter is healed immediately. Today is Epiphany, the celebration of Jesus’ being made known to the peoples of the world. In the story of the Canaanite woman, we can see Jesus celebrating this good news too. Though he was sent to “the lost sheep of Israel,” he would soon be sending his followers to all nations (Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8). And he had already begun showing them that this was God’s intention (Matthew 8:5-13, 28-34). This may not be an epiphany for you, especially if you already know that God loves the whole world (John 3:16). Even so, it reminds us not to think small when it comes to God’s kingdom. Jesus, thank you for bringing the good news to all nations, and help us to follow your lead, in faith. Amen.

“Your kingdom come. . . .” — Matthew 6:10 Jesus’ followers have been saying the Lord’s Prayer since he taught it to them. Many of us know this prayer so well that we can say it without thinking. But if we look carefully at this prayer, we can see that it’s a kingdom prayer. This shows up in the first things we ask for when we say the Lord’s Prayer. We ask for God’s name to be hallowed. We ask for God’s kingdom to be established. We ask for God’s will to be accomplished. And we ask for all of this to happen on earth the same as it is done in heaven. Heaven and earth are not the same. In heaven every creature worships God. In heaven every creature welcomes God’s rule. In heaven every creature does God’s will. And all of this accomplishes God’s purposes in heaven. On earth we often fail to honor God’s holiness through worship. We tend to save our worship for heroes. On earth we fail to fully accept God’s rule. We prefer being in charge ourselves. On earth we often ignore God’s will. We have our own projects and plans. All of this thwarts God’s purposes on earth. When we say the Lord’s Prayer, we are begging for earthly reality to reflect heavenly reality. And we are committing to do our part by following the way of the kingdom as Jesus has taught us. Lord, so let it be! Our Father in heaven, may your name be hallowed, your kingdom be established, and your will be accomplished, on earth the same as in heaven. Help us to do our part. Amen.

You have . . . crowned [human beings] with glory and honor. You have made them rulers over the works of your hands. . . . — Psalm 8:5-6 A few years ago, the prison church I serve spent 16 weeks reading the Bible books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. It was mostly a depressing experience as the story turned from bad to worse. That’s when it struck me that the Old Testament is a long meditation on the subject of kingship. The first Old Testament story (Genesis 1) assigns to human beings a royal responsibility over God’s created world. The next story (Genesis 2) pictures that responsibility as the careful tending of a garden. In the stories that follow, human beings quickly lose interest in serving God. Instead they want to become gods themselves. From there it’s all misery and ruin. Until God takes things in hand and begins a long, even tortured process of putting things right. God sets out to establish his kingdom among the family of Abraham. God himself will be the King. But soon enough the people of that kingdom lose confidence in their divine King. They want the kind of king everyone else has. So that’s what they get. And as we can see in the books of Samuel and Kings, it’s not a pretty picture. No wonder a hunger develops for an ideal king and an ideal kingdom. But that’s a kingdom only God can establish. Jesus, you are the ideal King. You are God’s answer to the world’s aching need. You are the one who will make everything right. All glory belongs to you! Amen.

The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. — Romans 8:21 First, the bad news. You and I and every last human being on this earth are damaged goods. We’re bent out of shape by sin. We’re guilty of everything from minor missteps to major crimes. We’re in desperate need of forgiveness and a fresh start. But that’s not the half of it. The bad news keeps coming. Selfishness, injustice, hatred, indifference, violence. It all cracks the foundations of our societies and sets us against each other. The earth itself suffers under the weight of our greed and pride and war. And then there are spiritual forces of evil—principalities and powers—that oppose everything good. So the problem is bigger than your sinfulness or mine. So much bigger. And if we look at it all long and hard, it can seem hopeless. That’s what makes the news of the kingdom of God so good. The kingdom is God’s salvation for a broken, twisted, suffering world. In the kingdom there will be no more war. War that ends lives and scars them; war that levels cities and poisons the ground. In the kingdom there will be justice for discarded communities and reconciliation at every level. One day the kingdom will be a new creation, aflame with the glory and goodness of God. And the news will always be good. Lord Jesus, thank you for the big hope of your kingdom and for every little sign of its coming. Amen.

“This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.” — Matthew 24:14 I suppose we all have people we don’t trust. For one thing, it’s hard to trust somebody who doesn’t tell the truth. But sometimes untrustworthy people do manage to tell the truth. And sometimes even demons do. As Jesus cast out demons at Simon’s house, those demons said, “You are the Son of God!” It was the truth, of course. Somehow the demons knew Jesus was the Messiah. As the Son of God, Jesus was the long-promised “Anointed One” (Messiah, Christ) who would bring a new era of peace, justice, and righteousness for God’s people (Isaiah 42-43; 49-53). This was the good news (“the gospel”) that would go out to all nations. So Jesus came as the king of God’s people (Israel). No wonder he said he was sent to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. What else would the king do? The “good news” is “the gospel”—and that makes “the kingdom of God” the gospel chorus, the repeating theme of God’s great work through Jesus. The apostle Paul sang this chorus. He told the elders of the church at Ephesus that he was given “the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Then he described that task as “preaching the kingdom” (Acts 20:24-25). For Jesus and for Paul, the kingdom of God is at the center. It can’t be any other way because that’s the gospel truth. King Jesus, I welcome the good news about you and your kingdom. That news can change the way I see everything. Please make it so. Amen.

“The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign . . . forever; his kingdom will never end.” — Luke 1:32-33 As I write this, I’m visiting with my brother, his wife, and their cat, Bennie. Ever since I arrived, I catch myself singing the chorus of an old Elton John song: “B-B-B-Bennie and the Jets!” Meeting Bennie the cat and seeing him around the house has brought that chorus from the fringe of my mind to the center. Something like that has happened for me with the New Testament too. A theme that was on the fringe is now front and center. Because it is the center. That theme is the kingdom of God. When we read Luke 1, we focus on angels and announcements. We focus on the birth of John the Baptist and the impending birth of Jesus. All great stuff! But here’s what we tend to miss. Jesus comes to be a king. He comes to reign over a kingdom. It’s the kingdom of his father David (an ancestor who lived about 1,000 years earlier). But, more than that, it’s the kingdom of God. That’s where our attention will be this month. Because the kingdom of God is the chorus that repeats throughout the New Testament. And like any good chorus, it’s really the point of the song. So let’s give it a listen. It may even start us singing. I think Bennie would like that. God our Father, may your name be hallowed, may your kingdom come, and may your will be done on earth—the same as in heaven. Amen.

Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land. . . . — Deuteronomy 34:1 Come with me down Michigan Avenue, past Root Brothers Hardware and the blinking neon sign at the Currency Exchange. As we leave the Roseland neighborhood, in the rearview mirror we can see the people and places we reflected on this month—Lloyd, Annette, Bob, Corey, Charlene, Kimberly, Tina, Terrell, and many more. Before Moses died, God allowed him to go up Mount Nebo for a glimpse of the promised land. But what is looking forward if there is nowhere to look forward from? What is arrival with no memory of the journey? I imagine Moses looked not just toward the promised land but also back in the direction of the wilderness, the Red Sea, and Egypt (see Exodus 12-20). What a journey. Pausing to look back gives us the gift of perspective to celebrate God’s faithfulness over time. As we said earlier, “‘If the Lord had not been on our side,’ where would we be?” (Dec. 8). As this year ends, look back on the journey that was 2023. Remember the wilderness moments, the mountaintops, the people we lost, the babies that were born, and the friendships that formed. Let’s look back on the faithfulness of God in 2023 as we then look ahead to 2024. What a journey. God is good! Lord, thank you for your faithfulness this year and for your presence with us on the journey. Thank you for the gift of looking back—and for what lies ahead. Amen.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. . . . — Philippians 2:3-4 I heard someone say recently, “What we need nowadays is people with good character.” What is good character? Good morals? A firm handshake and a steady look in the eye? Tina has good character. She’s a little rough around the edges —smokes Newport cigarettes, has faded tattoos, and can slip into colorful combinations of language that would make a sailor blush. But she lives a life committed to using every resource and gift at her disposal for the good of others. Recently a young mom in the community died, leaving behind three young boys in the custody of their 18-year-old sister. These boys are fending for themselves in so many ways. Tina noticed them and began bringing them food and clothing. She takes the boys to a young men’s mentoring program at church, and when her immediate family has a birthday party or somewhere fun to go, she includes the boys as if they are her own. I think character begins with emptying oneself for others. David Brooks, who wrote a book on character, said in an interview: “People who really have character make deep, unshakable connections to something outside of themselves.” Character involves a commitment to service and community, outside of oneself. In Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan, for example, that is extended to include enemies (Luke 10:29-37). How might we empty ourselves for others today? Lord, you emptied yourself for us all. Fill us with your Spirit to live in humble service of others for your sake. Amen.

He went to the Kerith Ravine. . . . The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and . . . in the evening, and he drank from the brook. — 1 Kings 17:5-6 Last spring Chanell sat on a bench in the vacant lot adjacent to the Roseland Christian Ministries parking lot. A few years ago, with the help of a supporting contractor, that vacant lot was excavated. Good topsoil was brought in. Grass seed was planted, and that lot has become a beautiful stretch of green between an abandoned building and our parking lot. Chanell was sitting on a bench made by the Roseland Cadets boys club. She sat in the shade, staring at the community garden boxes, in which flowers and vegetables grow in abundance. A bird feeder invites goldfinches and other birds in. One morning I walked over to her and asked, “What are you doing out here every day?” She smiled and said, “I like to see the flowers growing, watch the birds come and eat. I’ve been through so much—abuse, domestic violence, addiction. You name it, I’ve lived it. I sit here and receive my little peace from God until I’m able to face the world again.” In a time of drought and famine, when the leaders and people of Israel had rebelled against God, Elijah went to the Kerith Ravine. Chanell sits on a bench at a community garden. In places like those, God provides safety, security, and a restoring of the soul. We all need a Kerith Ravine. Where is yours? Lord, lead us to restoration and security as you care for us each day. Provide us a place where we can find peace in you. Amen.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” — Matthew 10:16 Officer Clayton grew up on the South Side of Chicago and was inspired to become a police officer to serve his community. He has arrested hardened criminals in life-threatening situations. He can be tough skinned and all business in situations where he needs to be. He also comes by Roseland Christian Ministries to bring bicycles for children, tickets to the circus, and school supplies for kids when the school year starts. He is both tough and tender. He is strong-willed and sensitive to the needs of others. I am inspired by people who are a synthesis of gifts that we don’t normally attribute together. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered a sermon on this topic, titled, “Tough Minds and Tender Hearts.” This sermon is a gift to anyone who may feel like a square peg in a round hole at times. Following Jesus requires that we not give into societal expectations if they diminish the fullness of who God made us to be. We have in us, as children of God, the capacity to be both as shrewd as a serpent and as innocent as a dove, tough and tender, creative and organized, thoughtful and action oriented. In what ways are you a synthesis of attributes that may seem like contradictions but come together to form you? Lord, bring together all the traits that make us who we are, even those that can seem contradictory. Make us whole by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. — Proverbs 17:22 Nobody has a better laugh than Rev. Rick. In addition to serving as the pastor of a nearby church for 35 years, he also served as the president of the board of Roseland Christian Ministries for more than a decade. While he has multiple talents and abilities, what I love most about Rev. Rick is his laugh. There are all kinds of laughs: guttural, throaty, staccato, sinister. There are as many laughs as there are people. Rev. Rick’s laugh is pure joy. I’ve heard him laugh across a room at the face a baby made. Sheer unadulterated joy. There is a joyful kindness to Rev. Rick’s laugh that changes the atmosphere in the room. As Proverbs says, “a cheerful heart is good medicine,” and I’m inclined to believe that there is something healing that comes from laughter. Laughter is a gift from God. There have been many times in my life when I have just needed to laugh. Or just to hear laughter. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase “I had to laugh to keep from crying.” We could all probably do a little bit more of both. But today I want to laugh. As a gift from God, can we find pleasure in the fun, funny, silly, and even ridiculous? Maybe today we can find a moment to let out a cheerful laugh. Lord, thank you for the gift of laughter. Thank you for the joy and gladness that come with shared laughter and humor in your name. Amen.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. — 1 Corinthians 13:11 Corey grew up a few blocks from Roseland Christian Ministries. His dad went to prison when Corey was a boy, but Corey and his father would often write letters and talk on the phone. Corey did well in grade school, avoided gangs and trouble, and his mother, aunts, and grandmother raised him. His broader community, schools, and churches all proudly claim investing in his life. When Corey was a senior in high school, he became a Gates Scholar and was awarded a full scholarship to Morehouse College. After graduating from Morehouse, he earned a master’s degree. He worked for the Chicago Public Schools, and now he works with a foundation serving at-risk youth around the world. Corey also serves on the board of directors of Roseland Christian Ministries. One of the great joys of being part of a Christian community is being able to see young people grow into their gifts. There is great joy in watching boys and girls become men and women of character and integrity. Many young people who grew up in Roseland have come back and used their gifts by working in the women and children’s shelter, youth programs, and church ministries. Who are the children you have watched growing up to serve their communities and families? Who are the young people you can encourage today and lift up by name? Lord, thank you for all who have grown up to care for your communities in faith. Amen.

Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. . . .” — Luke 1:46-47 Lavelle tends to break into song at any given moment. Not like someone humming a favorite hymn from their childhood. Oh no. Lavelle will bellow and blast out a note of praise at the top of his lungs. He is a living testimony of God’s grace and goodness. Now, it’s true that Lavelle likes having an audience. But even more so, he needs to praise God. He needs to express what is inside of him—belting out praise for who God is in his life. Lavelle has inside of him a song to sing. In Luke 1 we read that Mary had a song to sing. And she sang, “My soul glorifies the Lord,” because God had chosen her—of all people!—to carry the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Other translations read, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” To magnify is to make bigger—like with a magnifying glass. For us, Mary became a model of a decreased self while Christ increased in her and in her life. As John the Baptist would later say, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30, NRSV). Do you sing a song that puts life back into perspective—where you are reminded just how big God, creation, and the love of Jesus are? What are the songs that God has put in your soul to magnify the Lord? Amazing God, you have given us a song to sing—like Mary and Lavelle—a song of victory, a song of praise. Today may we magnify you in all we do. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

The grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. — 2 Corinthians 4:15 Bob was from Chicago, and he ended up homeless in Seattle. With few resources, he did what he could for work. Bob met a barber who offered him a free haircut and a shave. Bob accepted, and when the barber was finished, Bob looked at himself in the mirror and couldn’t believe what he saw. It was the first time in months that he had looked at his face with more than just a passing glance. He looked handsome and dignified. He didn’t feel like a “bum.” His feeling of self-worth was overwhelming. Bob began to take more steps to take care of himself. He eventually became a licensed barber. He moved back to Chicago and reconnected with family members. He now sets up a barber chair twice a month at Roseland Christian Ministries and offers free haircuts and shaves to men in the community, many of whom are homeless. Most of the men walk a foot taller as they leave, heads held high. Something about being given the gift to be your best self is inspiring. Grace is the ignition for the motor of gratitude. Bob lives a life of gratitude, serving others in the same way he was served. When you look back over your life, think about times when you experienced God’s grace through the kindness of another person. In what ways can you share God’s grace with others? Lord, help us to remember the grace we have received, and guide us to show grace to the people around us, to your glory. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. — James 3:17 Five years ago the congregation of Roseland Christian Ministries gathered to worship with a partner church in a suburb of Chicago. A couple from Roseland arrived 45 minutes early at the partner church. The driver was nervous that if they were late, they would perpetuate a negative racial stereotype. So they arrived early, sat in their car, read the Bible, and drank coffee, with no music playing. Before long, police squad cars showed up. They had received a call reporting a disturbance in the parking lot. The police unclipped their holstered guns and told the driver of the car that he was on private property. Soon the car was searched. Members from the host church began to arrive for worship as the officers finished searching the car. The police departed since nothing illegal was happening—just a black couple going to church in a white neighborhood. I have a long way to go when it comes to issues about race; maybe you do too. What are the places in our hearts, society, and structures that need to be examined? In each of us and in the communities we serve, the wisdom from heaven is needed to form us into more “peace-loving, considerate . . . impartial,” and less fearful people. May we have the humility and strength to allow God’s wisdom to shape us and do his will on earth as it is done in heaven. Lord, may your wisdom dwell in us, take away fear, and give us fruits of mercy, peace, and goodness. In Jesus, Amen.

“I have summoned you by name. You are mine.” — Isaiah 43:1 “Alright, you can make one phone call.” Gary didn’t know any of his family members’ phone numbers, and the police officer was giving him one phone call to make. The night before, he drank too much, got into an argument with a stranger, and started yelling at the top of his lungs outside a liquor store. His phone fell and was lost in the melee. He was arrested for public disturbance, slept in a jail cell, and woke up in a daze. Again the officer said, “You can make one phone call.” He rattled off the number of Roseland Christian Ministries by heart to the officer and said, “Ask for Kisha or Pastor Joe. They know me there. Tell them Gary is in trouble and needs some help.” I am grateful to be part of a church where the community knows the phone number by heart. I am grateful to be part of a church where somebody in their lowest state, humiliated by bad decisions, disease, addiction, or trouble, can say, “Call them; they know me there.” I’m grateful for the God who calls us and knows us by name. No matter how badly you have messed up, or what you may have become—God knows you by name and claims you. You belong to God. Lord, we are grateful that you call us by name and that you claim us. We are grateful that we belong to you, body and soul. Amen.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 Charlene sat in a chair in the Roseland Christian Ministries shelter. She stared straight ahead, her eyes grew heavy, and her head nodded as she dozed off. Earlier she had received a methadone treatment to push back the withdrawals from her addiction to heroin. Across from Charlene was Kimberly, shuffling through a bag full of papers, envelopes, and legal pads. She suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. She talks to voices in her head, sleeps in abandoned buildings, and has trouble taking care of herself physically. Visitors to Roseland Christian Ministries often ask whether or not the people who come there for services work for a living. “When will they get jobs?” we sometimes hear. Questions like that seem to imply that a person’s worth is based mainly on the work they do. When people ask such questions, they probably don’t mean any harm, but it’s important to know that God sees the whole person, not just what they can do or whether they have a job. I am grateful to have a good work ethic. But I am certain that God’s measure for us is not limited to our work ethic. Charlene has since moved into a rehabilitation facility. She is three weeks clean and sober. We are grateful that the Spirit is raising her back to life after being nearly dead for so long. Lord, we thank you for the gift of life and all the ways you care for us. Thank you for not basing salvation on our works. In Christ, you love us freely. Amen.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. — Psalm 46:1 For most of my life I have either run through problems with my head down, or I have retreated. I’m learning the biblical practice of seeking refuge. There is a difference between refuge and retreat. To retreat is to run from trouble with no hope or thought of returning to the crisis. Retreat is avoidance. To seek refuge in the Lord, no matter what trouble we may find ourselves in, is an act of pursuing safety with the goal of being restored so that we can enter back into relationships and community. We seek refuge in the Lord not to avoid trouble but to find strength for the journey. Retreat involves throwing in the towel and saying “I’m done.” Refuge involves going to God to catch your breath, to regain some strength and perspective, and to keep on the journey. Retreat is a result of fear without hope. Refuge is a result of recognizing that the world can be a dark and scary place but that God’s light shines brighter. I am learning to take refuge in the Lord. I find refuge in the Lord through worship, silence, community, working out, running, relationships, and the beauty of creation. In what ways do you find refuge in the Lord? Lord, you are our refuge and our strength. So often we retreat, or we try to push through. Teach us to take refuge in you so that we can continue on the journey. Amen.

God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. — Genesis 1:27 John is the chair of the art department at Trinity Christian College. Seven years ago, when he heard that a teenage member of Roseland Christian Ministries was shot and killed, John initiated the Roseland Portrait Project as a way to honor the young man and to strengthen bonds in the community. John painted the young man’s portrait on a wood panel. He then went on to paint 404 more portraits of Roseland community residents, and the project became a traveling exhibit. Here are John’s words: “500 years ago, only kings had their portraits painted as a way of asserting their significance. The time and energy it takes to paint a portrait by hand is a way of paying concentrated attention to a single person. It is a way of valuing ordinary people for who they are, not what they achieve or the money they make.” John’s description of this process has been a helpful way for me to think about being made in God’s image. Before we build a life, achieve, grow, get sick, make mistakes—before any of what becomes our life takes place—there is in us the same inherent value because all of us human beings bear the image of God. You are created in God’s image. Every person you come across today is also made in God’s image. God, we thank you for art and the beauty of your creation. Give us eyes to see your image in all people. Amen.

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” — Exodus 3:5 It wasn’t fun anymore. The drinking. The late nights, late mornings, headaches, and excuses. So on December 22, 1990, Robert checked himself into the hospital to detox as he began what is now a decades-long journey of sobriety. What stands out most when he tells his story is that he distinctly remembers looking out his hospital window on Christmas 1990, watching the snow gently fall. In that moment he knew—not just in his mind but in his whole body—that God was telling him that everything was going to change. There are moments in the Bible when God shows up in a striking way and things change. God meets Moses at a burning bush. God reassures Elijah at Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:7-18). God speaks and a dove appears at Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:9-11). God speaks again at Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). The Holy Spirit comes with the sound of wind and tongues of fire at Pentecost (Acts 2). Have you had a time when you sensed the powerful presence of God and your life changed? Let’s ask God to help us be alert, aware, and awake to the ways he is working in us and in the people around us in his world. Lord, your world is full of your glory, and sometimes you make us especially aware of your presence and what you are doing in our lives. There are times and places that can feel sanctified and especially holy. Give us eyes to see and wisdom to understand what you are doing. Amen.

I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery. . . . But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” — Psalm 31:12, 14 There is a form of Japanese pottery repair called kintsugi. When a pot is broken, the artist will repair the broken piece with gold to seal the break. The goal of the artist is not to restore it to its original condition but to draw attention and create beauty where the pottery is broken. There is new strength and beauty at the place of the breaks. One of the great gifts I have appreciated from the Roseland Christian Ministries community is that beauty and strength are found in the places where we are weak. There’s no faking it. Our motto is “Come as You Are”—and people come broken. This doesn’t mean we wallow in the broken places. But it does mean that we can live with an openness about our wounds and hurts. There is tremendous freedom in this. This is a gift that God offers to anyone willing to accept it. The places of brokenness, vulnerability, and shortcomings are the places where the presence of Christ heals, dwells, and brings about new life. Can we come to Scripture, prayer, fellowship, worship, and relationships with a willingness for Christ and Christian community to take those broken pieces and make our lives a strong, beautiful gift to the communities we are a part of? Lord, thank you for reminding us that we aren’t perfect and that we can’t pretend to be. We come broken. Please make us a strong and beautiful instrument for your glory. Amen.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 Wednesdays are busy at Roseland Christian Ministries. The Greater Chicago Food Depository drops off several tons of food, medical professionals come to provide medical care to the community, and lunch is served to 70-90 men and women. In a small classroom behind this hustle and bustle, a gathering of mostly older women sits in a circle. Nearly every week our meeting begins in the same way. One of us reads Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Then we sit in stillness and silence together for a few minutes. I tend to want to fill the silence with noise. I want to break the stillness with movement. But when I surrender my desire to talk and move, and we simply sit in the still silence as brothers and sisters, I am surprised at the peace and calm that come over us. In our hearts and minds we say over and over again, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Those few minutes each week, for all of us who gather in the circle, have become a sanctuary in the midst of chaos. What about you? Do you have a place and time to sit with others in the stillness and silence of God’s presence? Lord, we can often get so busy and distracted. Help us to still our minds and bodies and to rest in the assurance that you are God and you are with us. Amen.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 I came home one night after officiating at the funeral of a young man who had been shot and killed. I changed clothes and sat on the couch. My wife, Cate, asked, “How are you doing?” “I’m good. All good.” This was my response 99.9 percent of the time to that question. “Really?” she asked. “I’m good.” The room was quiet. My eyes welled up, my nose got runny—and before I knew it, I began to sob. I shook and began to say the names of all the young Black men from Roseland who have been shot and killed in the past few years: Marqwell; Andre; Darnell, Sr.; Darnell, Jr.; Larry; and others. I wept and shook for an hour. My wife wiped tears from my eyes. So much grief, violence, and injustice had to find expression. For 10 years I had kept putting one foot in front of the other and had ignored the pain. And then it all came out on that couch. This was one of the most important interactions of my life. Letting go of being strong has strengthened relationships. I found that in weakness, tears, and brokenness, the power and grace of God expressed in community show up. Healing and restoration happen in this place. God, help us to let go of whatever disconnects us from you and each other. Give us the strength to let go of being strong, being right, being correct. Teach us to let go and surrender to you. In Jesus, Amen.

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. — Hebrews 13:3 Each month, I try to write letters to young men who grew up in the neighborhood and are now in prison. I have seen lines of boys become young men, make mistakes, and end up in court with no advocate, sentenced to prison for decades. I am asking you to pray for African American men, particularly young ones, in prison. And I want to invite you to learn about the United States prison system, just as I am trying to learn more about it myself. Over the past three decades, the U.S. prison population has exploded from 300,000 to 2 million. Twenty-five percent of these prisoners are African American, while only 13 percent of the U.S. population is African American. The work of Bryan Stevenson at Equal Justice Initiative has spotlighted the legacy of racism from slavery to incarceration. It would be easier to judge and write off those who are in prison. But I urge you to "continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison." What might that look like to do so in your corner of the world? I know we can do better, and I believe wholeheartedly that God wants better for us. Lord, you created us full of potential, promise, and beauty. Corporate and individual sin and injustice corrupt what you have created for good. We pray for all who are in prison, and may we work to create institutions that bring justice. Amen.

The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. — Acts 28:2 Have you ever been the recipient of unusual kindness? The apostle Paul and 275 others lay on the shore of Malta after surviving a terrible storm and shipwreck (see Acts 27). I imagine that Paul lay coughing up salt water as the islanders surrounded him. I’m sure both sides were fearful of the other’s presence. And yet the Holy Spirit was already at work ahead of them, bringing the travelers and the Maltese people together. The islanders showed Paul and the others “unusual kindness” by building a fire to provide warmth. Later they would provide the shipwrecked crew and soldiers and prisoners with the supplies they needed to continue on their journey. Think about someone who showed you unusual kindness. I’m not just talking about someone whose doctrine is correct or whose beliefs line up with yours. I’m asking you to reflect on times when you were the recipient of an unusual kindness. Could those have been situations when God’s Spirit was at work, bringing together people in a way that only God’s Spirit could? This is worth considering. When you were a stranger or an outsider, who treated you with unusual kindness (grace)? Lord may we be open to your Spirit’s work in and among people in situations that we might never expect or imagine. May we be gracious recipients and gracious givers of “unusual kindness.” Amen.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. — Galatians 5:1 The former pastor of Roseland Christian Ministries tells a story of a man addicted to cocaine who asked his wife to lock him in the basement when she left for work. Locked in, he was often free of the hunger that drove him to sell anything in the house to feed his addiction. Some days he would still beat down a door or smash a window. But other days his wife would return and find him sleeping peacefully on the couch. I read somewhere that we tend to define freedom as an absence of restrictions. I read somewhere else that freedom is not an absence of restrictions so much as choosing the right ones. If we never belonged to Christ, we would be free of many obligations. But I know that would not be freedom. One of the privileges of serving a church is to officiate at baptisms. In baptism, three promises are made: God promises to be faithful, the family promises to disciple and raise the baptized child, and the covenant community promises encouragement and support. A friend of mine thinks of those promises as tethers that bind us to each other. And those tethers give us freedom. In Christ you are free to belong to God and his community, and to be the person God has called you to be. Lord, thank you for the freedom of belonging to you in Christ. We freely belong so that we can love you, our neighbors, and your creation. Amen.

As [Jesus] approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. — Luke 19:41 God chooses not to turn away from human suffering. Instead, God chooses to identify with those who mourn, and, through Jesus, he has made suffering and humiliation his own—all for our sake. Christ’s coming and his crucifixion are the powerful bookends of a life filled with suffering, service, and identifying with “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Jesus had a humiliating birth in a barn or a stable where animals were sheltered (Luke 2:7). And he had an even more humiliating death, being publicly executed on a cross between two criminals (Luke 23:32-33). During his life among us, it wasn’t much better—he was often homeless (Luke 9:58), mocked, tested, and threatened with death. Recently a 17-year-old boy who grew up at Roseland Christian Ministries was shot and killed walking to his home. His sisters and grandmother wept for days. Jesus did too. Our shelter is filled with women and children who are displaced. Mothers have wept here over the humiliation and shame of being homeless. Jesus weeps with them. Jesus weeps and identifies with all of us in our suffering. Please know that in your tears, pain, and times of suffering, God is not far off. God in Christ Jesus weeps with you. Lord, in our suffering, we are grateful that you are not far off. We are grateful that in Christ Jesus you weep with us. Give us the peace of knowing you are with us. Amen.

Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. — Exodus 13:19 A friend of mine loves carrying bones. Huh? In the Bible, when God calls Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, they kept a promise by taking Joseph’s bones with them to be buried in the promised land. So for over 40 years it was someone’s job to carry the bones. Their names are not mentioned with Moses, Aaron, Miriam, or Joshua, and yet they helped to fulfill an important promise. And when the people got to the promised land, Joseph’s bones were buried (Joshua 24:32). Bone carriers are the people who do the unglamorous work that helps to hold faith communities together. At Roseland Christian Ministries we found a medical supply company and purchased a human femur replica. We passed around this bone to each other at staff meetings, recognizing people who do the work that often gets overlooked. Smoky picks up trash outside our building. Bone carrier. Bruce is always fixing whatever is broken. Bone carrier. Kisha puts in extra time in many areas that go unnoticed. Bone carrier. Tamika, DeWitt, Ty, David, Mary, Kadie, Steve, Sandra, Megan, Kayla—all bone carriers. God’s kingdom takes all kinds of people with a variety of gifts. I’m grateful for the carriers of Joseph’s bones, and I’m grateful for the bone carriers here in Roseland. Who are the bone carriers in your community? Lord, thank you for all the people who do the unseen work that keep communities thriving. May we honor and serve you in all we do. Amen.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. — Psalm 19:1 Once a week I meet with a friend early in the morning to run along the Chicago lakefront. When we begin, it is usually dark, and the city is quiet. Along the way we have seen a red fox that sleeps under bushes around Buckingham fountain, and we once came upon a handful of coyotes pacing the bike path, looking for rabbits. By the time we head back, the sun is just beginning to peek over Lake Michigan. Before long, the sun’s rays reflect off Chicago’s silvery, mirrored downtown skyline. The sky begins to take on pink and orange hues, and the water can be so blue. It’s breathtaking every single time. The sheer beauty is something to behold. It is one of the few moments that weekly puts me in a state of awe. Maybe you have a favorite walk that you take, a favorite spot to watch the sun set, or a telescope to look at stars, planets, or the moon—something that creates in you a sense of awe. Whatever does this for you, can you set aside a few moments today and take in the beauty and awe of God’s creation? Lord, there is so much beauty in your world. Open our senses to be aware of your beauty and power in your vast creation. Amen!

If the Lord had not been on our side . . . if the Lord had not been on our side. . . . — Psalm 124:1-2 “You remember me, Pastor?” He stood outside the door of the church, a smile across his face. Squinting at him for a few seconds, I finally recognized him. Five years earlier, Terrell had been 50 pounds lighter and in the grip of an unforgiving substance addiction. He stood smiling, confident, with his arm outstretched and a 50-dollar bill in his hand. “I know it’s not much, but if it had not been for God placing me in this ministry at that moment in my life, I don’t want to imagine where I would be. This place kept me going—meals, clothes, and a home for me. I thank God for you! Please use this to help somebody.” Dr. Margaret Douroux wrote a song based on Psalm 124 that I often find myself humming: “If it had not been for the Lord on my side, tell me, where would I be? Where would I be?” I thank God for Terrell. I thank God for the gifts he came with that day—his spirit, his encouragement, and his monetary contribution. Trusting and allowing others to walk with and encourage him took great humility on his part. I struggle to have that level of humility. And yet that sort of vulnerability opens a way for Christ to draw us closer as his community. If the Lord had not been on your side, where would you be? Lord, give us the humility to look back and ask, “If you had not been on our side, where would we be?” Give us gratitude for your faithfulness. Amen.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. . . .” — Matthew 18:10 Both Annette and her son, Lloyd, were born with disabilities and were often ignored by others. They worshiped at Roseland Christian Ministries and worked in the food pantry, drop-in center, and thrift store for 30 years. When Annette moved into a nursing home, Lloyd tried to manage without his mother. In an act of innocent hospitality, Lloyd allowed some shady men to move into their family home for shelter. Soon the men took over the house, and when Lloyd confronted them, they beat him to death. In Matthew 18, Jesus teaches about having the trusting, dependent faith of little children, and of welcoming them into God’s kingdom. He also warns against doing any harm to “these little ones.” The Greek word for this term, mikron, means “small in significance or size”—and while it could refer to children, it can also describe other people that we might consider little or insignificant. In the kingdom of God, however, everyone is significant. A group of RCM members, including the former pastor and his wife and other friends, gathered around Annette. Unable to leave the nursing home, Annette was rolled in her medical bed into a community room where we celebrated Lloyd’s life and the promises of God. A church member, Steve, sang, “Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong.” Father, thank you for your love and strength over all of us, for we are all mikron. Amen.

“When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?” — Matthew 25:38-39 Driving to Roseland Christian Ministries on a busy morning, I sometimes feel discouraged with the never-ending line of people at the doors needing groceries, a meal, a bus pass, a utility bill paid, a friend, or a letter to a judge on behalf of a young person in legal trouble. As I wait for the traffic light to turn green, I stare ahead, pretending to be on my phone while a man stands outside my car window asking for money. Sometimes I roll the car window down, make eye contact, and talk with the person outside. When I do, I’m reminded of my weaknesses, and I’m grateful for this community that embraces all people. In Jesus’ parable the goats are people who ignore neighbors that are imprisoned, hungry, and suffering. The sheep are people who offer a cup of cold water, shelter, and compassion to neighbors that are hurting. The big reveal of the parable is that Christ is present with “the least of these,” and we are called to serve hurting and humiliated people in Jesus’ name. We have the opportunity to serve Christ when we care for people who are hurting. If we think we are happy in our comfortable, safe lives, we are invited to let go of our illusions and enter community with others. This is the body of Christ. We need others, and others need us. We roll the window down and enter community, for Jesus’ sake. God, give us the strength to love and the will to enter community and let others in. Doing so, may we sense the very presence of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” — Luke 11:9 I received a text message late one night from the pastor of a large African American congregation in Chicago: “Sorry to bother you so late, but something hit my spirit. Do you have a family in your congregation that could use an anonymous financial blessing? They can use it however they want, but we want to bless them unexpectedly, with financial resources that have no strings.” Tracey has lived in the Roseland community nearly all of her life. She is raising three children while working an assortment of jobs. She also volunteers at the Roseland Christian Ministries food pantry, dropping off groceries to families who are physically unable to leave their homes. Tracey was also saving money to purchase a house, and it would take a few more years before she would have enough to be able to purchase a home. The pastor and congregation anonymously gifted Tracey $15,000. When she heard about the gift, she silently mouthed, “Thank you, Lord.” I’m so glad this pastor texted me at the midnight hour with the news of this gift. And I’m glad Tracey was willing to receive it. She had been asking God to make a way where it seemed no way was possible. Two months later Tracey was able to purchase and rehabilitate a boarded-up home. Her family has a home now. She knocked—and a door opened. Teach us, Lord, to knock on your door, ask, and learn how to receive. Teach us to seek after you. Amen.

The Spirit told Phillip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” — Acts 8:29 Emotions ran high as we debated on social media the shooting of a teenage boy by a Chicago police officer. I took one side, and a former classmate, a Chicago police officer, took another. We both dug in deeper, and we were both convinced that our own individual viewpoint was the only way to see things. A week later, following a friend’s prompting, the officer and I sat across from each other in a Chicago diner. I stirred my coffee with a spoon. Then he finally said, “Can we pray?” We did. And then, for the next two hours, we listened to each other. We committed to meet again. The next month, in the middle of the night, I received a text from a young man—a musical artist just released from prison on parole. “Pastor, I need prayer. I look over my shoulder everywhere I go because of the life I live. Can you pray for me? I have no one to turn to. I’m despairing.” The next morning, I called, and we prayed together. We have texted and prayed together regularly since then. Where is the Holy Spirit taking us, and into whose lives? A police officer? A musical artist on parole? An old friend? An enemy? We never know. God, lead us to follow your way, no matter how far it may lead outside our own plans. Like Philip as he met with the Ethiopian official on a desert road, may we be in step with your Spirit and obedient to his call. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” — 2 Corinthians 6:16 Ms. Betty, 86, shuffles with her walker to the front of the sanctuary. She drops to her knees while singing the words of a spiritual: “Walk with me, Lord! Walk with me. While I’m on this tedious journey, I want Jesus to walk with me.” Thirteen years ago Ms. Betty’s granddaughter Sabrina died in a car accident, leaving three young sons behind. Ms. Betty took in all three great-grandsons. After church one Sunday, one of those grandsons, Andre Taylor, was shot and killed. Roseland Christian Ministries has been her refuge—she comes here four to five times a week. She’s at worship and Sunday school on Sunday, prayer meeting on Tuesday, hospitality committee on Wednesday, and stops in at other times too. Some days she needs prayer; some days she needs groceries. Most of all, like the rest of us, she needs assurance that God is with her—that Jesus is still walking with her. Whether we are aware of it, feel it, acknowledge it, or not—we worship the God who, in Jesus and by his Spirit, walks with us. God is with you. Christ is present with you on your journey today and every day. Walk with us, Lord. While we are on this journey, please continue to walk with us, be our guide, and hold our hand. Amen.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. — 2 Corinthians 13:14 Anthony, wearing a black bomber jacket and aviator sunglasses, paces back and forth outside my office. I’m on the phone, but he gestures repeatedly that I should “hang up the phone.” Now inside my office, he continues to pace, rips off his sunglasses, and blurts out, “I need communion. Now, Pastor. Sir. Now indeed. Indulge.” Anthony struggles with his mental health. He has no access to quality mental care, so he wanders the streets talking to voices in his head, and he self-medicates with cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. Five years ago he tested positive for HIV. His outbursts have led to his being barred from shelters around the city. He sleeps on a mattress in his cousin’s garage. “Pastor, I need communion, sir, and I need it now.” Mental, physical, and emotional trauma have left him incapable of building trusting relationships. He needs to know he belongs—to God and neighbor. Felisha and Raphael, church council members at Roseland Christian Ministries, are both present. We scrounge up some bread and grape juice and gather in a circle, the four of us in my office. “Anthony, the body of Christ, broken for you; the blood of Christ, shed for you.” Anthony breathes deeply and says, “The body of Christ for me. Indeed. Amen.” Lord God, move us into relationship with you, community, and creation. In Jesus, Amen.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” — Matthew 13:44 Come to Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood with me. Drive down Michigan Avenue, past Root Brothers Hardware. “Checks Cashed” blinks in neon from the Currency Exchange, and “$2,300 – LIKE NEW!!” shines from the window of a red Chevy Cavalier. Snow falls on people outside Roseland Christian Ministries (RCM) as they wait for the food pantry to open. Just inside the front door eight men and women are busy stacking cans and boxes of food. As they finish, RCM volunteer Ms. Arlene says, in a Jamaican accent, “OK, let us gather to pray. . . . Holy Spirit, fill us with the love of Jesus. May your gifts be given to your people. Amen.” For the next two hours this group of employees and volunteers serves groceries to people coming in from the local community. The corner of East 109th and Michigan in Chicago is a part of God’s kingdom. Like a farmer who finds treasure in a field and then sells everything he has to purchase that field, I have had the privilege of seeing and working in a sliver of God’s kingdom here on Chicago’s South Side. And as you meet some of the people here, my hope is that you may discover a deeper awareness of Christ’s presence in the communities where you live. Lord, open our eyes to see you and our ears to hear you. May we be surprised by the treasure that is your kingdom in the communities we are a part of. Amen.

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” — Revelation 21:5 Some imagery that appears in the beginning of the Bible is contrasted or expanded upon in the final chapters of God’s grand story of salvation. The unformed abyss in Genesis 1, for example, is contrasted with the stunning architecture of the heavenly city in Revelation 21. The tree of life in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24) is multiplied in Revelation 22 and described as constantly bearing fruit and providing healing for the nations. And the image of the Spirit hovering and brooding over the waters is contrasted with the One who is now seated on the throne. Creation will be complete, fully formed and mature, and we will enjoy glorious, delightful friendship with our loving Creator, who invites us to live with him in the perfect unity of love that has always characterized God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The awe-inspiring creation that we live in today will be the foundation for the new creation, and we can look forward to rejoicing along with birds and all other creatures in the new heaven and earth. Not only is Christ seated in the heavenly realms, but we who love and trust him are also raised up with Christ and are seated with him even now (Ephesians 2:6). This means our lives are firmly grounded and maturing in Christ as we enjoy the intimacy of living in communion with God each day while awaiting his coming again. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, may all honor and glory be yours, now and forever! Amen.

I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God. . . .” — Revelation 19:17 My first sighting of the flight of tens of thousands of crows at dusk in East Vancouver was eerie and foreboding. But over the years, I’ve grown used to this cacophonous, raucous parade in the sky that takes place twice a day as these birds travel between the beaches and their rookeries. These midair birds fly higher up than songbirds but closer to the earth than soaring eagles, and they are flourishing in many cities today. They have even been dubbed the “Einstein bird” for the ways they have adjusted their behavior to human patterns. Crows have learned that threats are fewer and food is more plentiful in urban areas, so they live in abundance in protected parks, and they glean from the messes that humans leave behind. The Bible has many references to these prolific birds that God has appointed in his plan to bring justice, and in Revelation 19 they are called to devour evil rulers. Acknowledging these swarms, or murders, of crows is chilling and unpleasant, but we also have the hopeful promise that God will not allow evil to have the final word. There are things that happen in the world that break our hearts; we recognize corruption and evil. But in Christ we are assured that one day things will be made right again. God of justice and righteousness, we trust in your promise to make all things new. Let your kingdom come, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” — Matthew 26:75 While it might be easy for us to overlook sparrows and other small birds in our daily meanderings, it can be hard to ignore a rooster if we see or hear one: the gurgling, jarring, sometimes ear-splitting racket is enough to wake anybody up! In our reading for today, the sound of a rooster crowing became a devastating wake-up call for Peter. He had promised to be faithful, but when it came right down to it, he chickened out, and he denied ever knowing Jesus. And, of course, Jesus knew that would happen. It isn’t easy to identify with a suffering Savior. Sometimes today too, the Holy Spirit may use ordinary things in our lives to help us see how we have let Jesus down. It could be on social media, or at work, or when we’re driving that we are suddenly pierced with an awareness of how we haven’t done the right thing, and that we too are capable of denying our relationship with Jesus Christ. Thankfully for us all, God is merciful. In John 21, after Jesus has died and risen again, he lovingly restores Peter, calling him to serve faithfully (John 21:15-19). Through his perfect love, Jesus also reverses our denials by reclaiming us as his own. Lord Jesus, we are sorry for the ways we have denied you in our lives. Forgive us, restore us, and empower us to claim you as our Lord. In your name, Amen.

“Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.” — Luke 17:37 One time while we were on a hike as a family, we sat on a bluff overlooking a valley, and we took out a bundle of sandwiches made with leftover roast turkey. As soon as we started eating, a large vulture came swooping past us. And just as quickly it flew off again, seeing there was nothing dead or decaying for it to eat. Jesus’ comment about vultures in our reading for today has to do with questions about the end times. People often wonder whether disasters in their era are signs that the world is going to end. Today too, with wars, earthquakes, droughts, hurricanes, floods, and fires causing so much devastation and hardship, people question if these events might be the harbinger of Jesus’ return. But when his disciples asked him to explain about his coming again, Jesus gave a cryptic response about dead bodies and vultures! It seems he was simply saying that if you see many vultures gathering in the sky, you can be certain that something is dying. In another passage Jesus adds that only the Father knows exactly when the end will come—“not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. . . . So . . . be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him” (Matthew 24:36, 44). Knowing that Jesus will eventually come again, we can live faithfully as we continually look forward to his return. Lord, help us not to grow weary of waiting but to continually hope in you and to live for you as we long for your coming again. Amen.

“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” — Matthew 23:37 If you have ever watched a hen with her chicks, you might have noticed that the hen will cluck loudly when she senses danger nearby. The chicks hear her warning, and if they know what’s good for them, they run to her for cover. The hen will droop and spread her wings to make room for the chicks, but if they don’t respond to her invitation, they will be exposed to danger. Two things become apparent when this imagery is used to describe God and his people: God’s character is steady and protective, but human responses are sometimes unpredictable and foolish. Refuge is always available, but we need to seek and go to it as well. How many of us suffer because we haven’t run to the Father for cover? What needless pain do we bear because we don’t go to the Lord? If we are scurrying around, trying to fix things and worrying about getting attacked, why are we trying to do this on our own? Our only sure protection in life and in death is God our Savior. Jesus longed to cover God’s people with his protective love, but they wouldn’t listen to his invitation. Even so, on the cross Jesus took the full brunt of the enemy’s attack in order to save us—and through his death and resurrection we can have eternal life! Lord Jesus, thank you for saving us so that we can live with you. Teach us to seek refuge in you and to live faithfully each day. Amen.

“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.” — Luke 12:24 Today’s reading from Luke is similar to yesterday’s reading from Matthew. Jesus probably taught this lesson often, perhaps even pointing to birds that were nearby at the time. Jesus urges his listeners to recognize what is most important in life. Is it food? Clothing? Having lots of money and possessions? In many parts of the world, the expectation that people will enjoy a life of security, privacy, and comfort is almost assumed. Yet, after times of disaster, when possessions are destroyed, we’ll often hear, “Those were just things that can be replaced if we really need them—we’re just glad to be alive.” Jesus knows that a life attached to material things can lead to anxiety. Things are temporary, and we can’t always control when or how our possessions will be taken from us. So it’s better to attach ourselves to each other and to God. Jesus encourages us to live in such a way that people and their needs have priority over possessions and ownership. So let’s not be controlled by worries about possessions or food or money. Jesus concludes by saying, “Do not be afraid, little flock.” He knows that we’re vulnerable, and he knows what we need. In fact, he promises that God, our Father, will give us the kingdom—much more than we need. Lord Jesus, thank you for your tender care for us, and for guiding us in the way of wisdom. Help us to care more about each other than about our things. Amen.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” — Matthew 6:26 When Jesus said, “Look at the birds . . .” his listeners could probably watch these creatures as they flew among the plants and trees on the mountainside. If you can, take some time today to look at birds—even if just for a few minutes. Consider that much of what was written in the Bible took place outdoors, under the bright skies where we can see and make connections to the creation God has made. A problem with so many of us today is that we are often disconnected from what God has made; we read the Bible indoors with our heads down, and we try to distill the truth into statements that are general and abstract. Bit by bit, we can grow out of touch and unsure about what it all means. Our family’s children’s Bible illustrates this story with a couple of birds casually pushing a grocery cart loaded with food. Even though some birds such as nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers actually keep food in little caches, the sight of these birds gathering pantry items in a cart is comical. But Jesus’ point is that birds simply do what the moment requires them to do; they don’t agonize about their lives. They simply depend on God’s care—always. Jesus points out that just as God cares for birds, he cares much more for each one of us. And, truly, we can’t add a single moment to our lives by worrying. Best of all, God has given us everything we need in order to have eternal life! Lord, thank you for your faithful love and care for us. In Jesus, Amen.

At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. — Matthew 3:16 The fact that the Spirit rested on Jesus “like a dove” at the moment of his baptism is not insignificant. To understand why, we can start by asking where else in the Bible we have come across doves, and what connections we can make between these stories. Remember how Noah sent out a dove from the ark? It first came back with nothing, and then, after going out a second time, it returned with an olive leaf in its beak (Genesis 8:11). The fresh green leaf in the dove’s mouth signified the beginning of a new era, a hopeful turning of events, the renewed presence of peace and shalom, and the imminent promise that no such dramatic devastation would have to happen again. The reference to a dove at Jesus’ baptism is a sign that another new era has begun in Jesus Christ. In Jesus, there is finally a hopeful turning of events: the arrival of a peaceful reign and the promise that Jesus’ coming will be pivotal in history. In this event we see a sign that God is recreating the world in Christ, setting things right, and rebuilding so that his purposes can finally be realized. Lord Jesus, in your baptism we see the sign of God’s new promise and the unfolding of your great plan to restore the whole world to yourself. We marvel at the beauty of how everything holds together in you, and that the Scriptures point faithfully to your perfect plan. In your name we pray. Amen.

“Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.” — Hosea 4:3 Through Hosea, the Lord is bringing serious charges in our reading for today. Dangerous conditions brought about by people who care nothing for God and his creation have led to a loss of “the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea.” Sadly, there are chilling parallels in our pollution and degradation of the earth today. Reckless human action has negatively affected many plants and animals, birds and fish, and the environments they need to live in. Many kinds of pollution have harmed people as well. Wars, chemical spills, nuclear fallout, industrial contamination, and more have left devastating effects on the earth and its creatures, including us. While some areas are seeing remarkable restoration and many efforts today are being made to show good stewardship, there are still indications that creation is suffering immensely. Animals, birds, and fish are often pushed aside and destroyed as their habitats are altered according to human preference. While cause and effect in the environment is complex and not always easy to explain, we can still strive to do what we can to preserve and restore God’s good creation. Lord our God, help us to be aware of the consequences of our decisions, and give us the courage to protect and maintain the earth you have entrusted to our care. Amen.

Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. — Jeremiah 8:7 Sometimes, as much as we want to hold on to the way things are, we must face the reality that change is a part of life. Teenagers are encouraged to “leave the nest,” and “empty nesters” gradually become used to different rhythms in life as their children leave home. Still, even when it’s time for a change, we can tend to resist it. The prophet Jeremiah refers to storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes, contrasting their wise behaviors with the foolishness of people who have turned away from the Lord. Jeremiah laments the thick-skulled attitudes of the people around him, who lack wisdom because “they have rejected the word of the Lord.” The prophet is saying, in effect, “Even the birds know what needs to be done, but these people are so stubborn!” There is a season for everything, and it’s our task to recognize what season it is. The invitation here is to consider what season it is for each of us. Is it time to repent? Is it time to relinquish? Is it time to restore? The apostle Paul encourages the church to “be alert and always keep on praying” for each other as a way of being ready for whatever the Spirit will lead us to do (Ephesians 6:18). Lord, it’s easy for us to become distracted or discouraged, and we need your wisdom to know how we should live. Guide us to be alert, paying attention to the seasons in our lives, and to respond as we ought. Amen.

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. . . .” — Isaiah 40:31 In many places around the world, birds are a significant part of human culture. Just look at flags, stamps, coins, and bills from a variety of nations, and you’ll see a wide array of winged creatures. Do you know which birds are celebrated where you live? Canada loves the loon because it conveys solitude and peacefulness. China highlights the stork because it symbolizes longevity and wisdom. New Zealand favors the kiwi because of its uniqueness, and India prizes the peacock as a symbol of immortality and resurrection. Ancient Egypt famously profiled the eagle as an emblem of protection and strength, and dozens of countries, including the United States, claim the eagle as their national bird. Eagles are truly majestic creatures that symbolize strength and independence. Catching sight of an eagle as it soars high above the earth can be breathtaking, and watching one swoop and maneuver its immense wings is awe-inspiring. The reference to eagles in Isaiah 40 is a comfort for God’s people in a time of weariness and struggle. Our matchless Creator and Sustainer gives us his strength and glory, filling us with the capacity to do far more than we think is possible. We may feel weak and powerless in our current circumstances, but because of who we are in Christ, we can hold on to the promise that in his strength we will “soar on wings like eagles.” Lord God, renew our strength each day so that we may reflect your glory. Amen.

“See! The winter is past. . . . Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” — Song of Songs 2:12 In some parts of the globe, winter brings cooler weather and lots of rain. In other parts, the sunlight hours grow much shorter, the air gets cold, rain turns to snow and ice, and birds fly away till spring comes again. It can feel like a long, dreary season. Even people who like winter weather are eventually glad to see signs of spring, when flowers appear again and lots of birds return from far-off places. Blooming flowers and singing birds can stir up visions of a place and time that is inviting and flourishing. This hopeful picture in the Song of Songs touches on a universal experience: having one’s heart light up with hope, especially in the presence of another person. Even the memory of a significant relationship, or the hope of having one, can spark the important feeling of wanting to love and be loved. And experiencing such love is like the refreshing return of spring after a long winter. We were created for intimacy and closeness with others, and although this is not perfectly realized in this lifetime, the imagery of waiting for winter to be over is a bit like longing for heaven—when we will be lovingly received by our Savior, who takes great delight in us. Meanwhile, whether or not we face a long winter ahead, we look for signs of hope. Lord, we long for the time when all our seasons of bleakness and struggle will be past. Keep hope alive in our hearts till we can rejoice in living with you forever. Amen.

A bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say. — Ecclesiastes 10:20 When we are surprised that someone knows a secret, we might hear them say, “A little birdie told me.” Sometimes that can be a pleasant way to share that we know something special is afoot, but that phrase can also be a way to shift responsibility for a secret that hasn’t been fairly kept. So it is good to observe the caution in this column of wisdom from Ecclesiastes: Don’t share what’s not yours to share. The wise author of this passage knew that talking about things that should be kept discreet can lead to trouble for a person who likes to gossip—and to anxiety for the person whose private information isn’t respected. It can be nerve-wracking to consider how the sharing of private details or secret thoughts might damage one’s reputation or relationships. Instead, it can be far better not to repeat a person’s secrets at all. James 3 notes that the tongue can be like a spark that sets off a forest fire. Even just a little gossip can do a lot of damage. And Jesus taught that everyone will need to give account for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:36). Let’s be careful to speak wisely and faithfully, honoring God and our neighbor in all that we say. “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10). Lord Jesus, by the presence of your Holy Spirit, give us wisdom and discretion. Guide us to keep our tongues from causing harm to others and ourselves. Amen.

The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. — Psalm 104:12 When life feels chaotic and messy, it can be wonderfully therapeutic to look at creation and see how marvelously diverse and joyful God made it to be. There is order and purpose everywhere in God’s good design, and the more we learn about the earth and its creatures, the more we can celebrate how amazing it is. If you’re feeling out of sorts or discouraged, try watching a nature documentary about flamingos or weaver birds, cockatoos or hummingbirds. When you do, consider that Christ was there in the beginning, overseeing everything and taking great delight in the creation of this magnificent planet (Colossians 1:15-20). Spending time in wonder and awe as we consider God’s extraordinary, well-ordered creation can help us appreciate our place in the order of things too. This can also lead us to feeling grounded and secure rather than tossed about by the sometimes merciless systems created by humans. Pondering the marvelous works of God—the mountains; the water cycle; the birds, animals, insects, and sea creatures; and all the forests and plants they depend upon—can also lead us to worship. Recognizing all of this splendor with gratitude to God can deepen our connections both to God and to his world, filling us with the desire to lift up our hearts in praise and adoration. God of wonders, draw our attention to your glorious works so that we might know you better, inviting all peoples to praise and honor you. In Jesus, Amen.

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. — Psalm 91:4 Psalm 91 shows that God, “the Almighty,” is not intimidating or frightening. Instead, God is so gentle and concerned for everyone that they can find refuge in him like hatchlings under the care of a hen. As God’s people, we can trust the Lord fully because he will surround us, guard us against dangerous threats, and deliver us. Resting in the shadow of God’s protective wings means that we don’t need to be afraid of chaotic things happening around us. There is a time for us to walk courageously into situations with God’s help, and there is a time to retreat and be still in his caring presence. If you ever have the privilege of watching chicks take cover under a hen’s wings, you’ll see that they stay very still and quiet, completely out of view of danger, while the hen is alert and watchful and will do whatever she can to protect her young. Jesus uses similar imagery when he expresses his desire to gather up the people of Jerusalem and protect them (Luke 13:34). He is gentle and makes space for us near to his heart. Lord, help us constantly to stay close to you so that when danger threatens, we will be safe in your care. Gather us in and hold us close. Amen.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God. — Psalm 84:3 Several years ago, a building contractor who was working on a new site next to our church asked if we were aware of the birds that were flying in and out of the attic of our church building. We had to admit that we hadn’t noticed! The songwriter of Psalm 84 saw a bird that had built her nest in the Lord’s temple, and the writer reasoned that this was the best place to make oneself at home. God’s hospitality extends to all that he has made, and for people who love the Lord there is no better place to be. This psalm is a song of deep yearning for spiritual connection with God in a place of worship. The joy of worshiping God gives strength for people who travel. Even when they are far away from God’s house, even in a dry place like the valley of Baka, God’s presence goes with them. Wherever they may go, they can find the sweetness of God’s presence in worship, so they are able to go from strength to strength. Jesus echoed this teaching when he met a woman at a well in Samaria; he taught her that the place of worship is wherever God is. And when she discovered that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, she went to tell everyone in her town, and they came out to meet with him (John 4)! Better is one day with you, Lord, than a thousand elsewhere. Thank you for welcoming us into your presence wherever we go. Amen.

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” — Psalm 55:6 Have you ever had the desire to fly? Do you ever wish you could just leap up and fly away for some peace and quiet? Sometimes in life, the troubles we face can cause deep inner turmoil. We may struggle with our mental health, a physical disability or disease, a relationship that feels stuck, a difficult career, a deep disappointment or loss, a cycle of poverty, or something else. Many different things can make us feel trapped. When David wrote this psalm, he was feeling disillusioned and stuck. He was distraught by the situation he was in, and he felt betrayed by a friend. He desperately wanted a way out and dreamed of being like a dove so he could fly far away from all his troubles. But as he wrestled with his discouragement, he grew to understand that although he did not have wings to fly away, he did have a voice to call upon God. The solution to being released from life’s burdens isn’t to escape but to give them up to the Lord: “Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you.” Echoing the assurance of this psalm, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. . . . Learn from me . . . and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29). Lord and God, thank you that even when we are surrounded by troubles that we would rather escape, you give us the wings of prayer and you promise to sustain us. Help us to cast our burdens on you. Amen.

“I know every bird on the mountains. . . .” — Psalm 50:11 One day, as we were hiking a mountain trail, my son and I heard a bird song that was unlike anything we had heard before. We stopped and looked at each other in amazement, listening to the bird repeat its long, intricate song over and over. I know a few birds by their songs, but there are still many that I don’t know yet. Some people, though, can identify hundreds of birds by their sounds. In this psalm God says, “I know every bird on the mountains. . . .” To consider that God knows every bird isn’t just to say that God is the most advanced birder there is. It means that nothing in all of this world escapes God’s attention. There is no creature, animal or human, that is outside of his field of vision, no song he hasn’t heard, no call or cry he doesn’t recognize, no flight pattern or footprint he can’t identify. Not only does nothing escape God’s attention, but nothing can fool him either. The one who knows every bird urges us to be real, not false, in our relationship with him. God calls us to be sincere in worship—not just to pretend or go through the motions. We are to honor God in all we do, fulfilling our vows to the God who keeps his promises. And we know we can “call on [him] in the day of trouble,” for the Lord, who knows all the birds, will always hear our cry and meet our need. Father in heaven, it’s humbling to be reminded that you know us so well. Help us to trust that you always hear us and care for us. Amen.

“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork.” — Job 39:13 Some years ago, I took a bus to a small village a few hours outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Partway through the trip, as I was looking out the window, I saw an ostrich running wildly alongside the bus. Its long neck and bulging eyes stuck out in front of its oddly large body, and it flapped its enormous, fluffy wings while its skinny legs pumped furiously, kicking up clouds of dust as it scurried across the savanna. I couldn’t keep from laughing! What a strange and hilarious creature! But as outlandish as ostriches are, they still have their place in creation. Although God didn’t endow them with wisdom or good sense, he did see fit to make it possible for them to outpace horses and riders—and even transit buses on African highways! Perhaps God created such a funny creature for times when things that happen in life are just so strange that we have to shake our heads and say, “You can’t make this stuff up!” Our lives are often so complex in ways that we can’t explain, and sometimes we are left speechless. Still, even strange and inexplicable things have their place in life. And like the wildly joyful ostrich, somehow everything fits together, in God’s wisdom. Lord, thank you for your wonderfully diverse creation. We praise you that there’s a place for everyone in this good creation and that all things hold together in Jesus Christ. In your name we pray. Amen.

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you. . . .” — Job 12:7 Many children around the world have enjoyed learning from birds: Big Bird (from Sesame Street) and Mother Goose (with her nursery rhymes) are two of the most famous bird-teachers to have flapped or waddled on the face of the earth! One of my elderly professors often referred to birds as his teachers. When he started bird-watching, he said, he referred to small birds as “LBJs” (short for “Little-Brown-Jobs”) because he couldn’t tell all the sparrows and swallows apart. But the more he paid attention, the more he began to appreciate their differences. Eventually, he said, his learning to pay attention to small birds led him also to appreciate the people around him and the unique ways God was at work in their lives. Job was discouraged that his friends were making generalizations about how God works in the world—treating everything like an “LBJ.” They were spouting off ideas that had the appearance of wisdom but had no deep insight into how God could be present in times of deep suffering. Job explained that wisdom isn’t about having the right answers; it’s about being able to notice what God is doing in every circumstance, and seeing how God ultimately controls the outcome of our lives. Even the animals and birds know that much, he said! Lord Jesus, give us humility and help us to pay close attention to the people in our lives so that we can recognize your merciful presence and amazing work in and among us all. Amen.

“May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” — Ruth 2:12 Sometimes God goes out of his way to care for us, and sometimes we need to go out of our way to be cared for. It’s not always easy to ask for what we need, especially when others might have reasons to be cautious about helping us. But Ruth is a bold person. She knows what she and her mother-in-law need, and she asks for permission to glean barley in a field that belongs to Boaz, a landowner from Bethlehem. Now, Boaz is a relative of Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi, and he has heard about Ruth but hasn’t met her before. And rather than being dismissive or indifferent, Boaz welcomes Ruth and invites her to keep following along after the harvesters. What’s more, he blesses her for supporting her mother-in-law and indicates that Ruth is an honorable woman. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,” he says, “. . . under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” This statement reflects the caring, providing nature of God’s character, and it helps us to understand God’s love for us. God faithfully cares for and provides for us, and often he does this through the kindness and generosity of others. And whether we need help or we are able to help someone else, we can be assured that God empowers and celebrates both the one who asks and the one who gives. Lord God, help us to trust in you, knowing that we can seek refuge in your name and that you have blessed us to share with and help others. Amen.

“You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” — 1 Kings 17:4 There are so many radio stations where I live that the possibilities for listening to all kinds of songs can seem endless. For a time, though, one song seemed to be aired far more often than others—or at least I paid more attention to it than to others. It was meant to be a love song, not necessarily a worship song, but whenever I heard it, it felt like God’s Spirit was whispering: “Come and spend time with me. Let me shower you with love for a while.” This happened during a time when I was busy and tired, and the Spirit’s nudging in my heart to linger in his presence was a tender reminder that he wouldn’t leave me to flounder. Sometimes God meets us in ways that are unexpected—and maybe even unconventional. When Elijah was alone in the wilderness, God cared for him in a way that was considered taboo or impossible at that time. Ravens were unclean birds, so receiving food directly from their mouths would have seemed strange for Elijah. He might have wondered if it was even okay to receive help from something that was considered off limits. But God can potentially use anything to bring restoration, whether it’s ravens or songs on a radio. Lord, we are amazed that nothing is too hard for you and that you will come to reach us wherever we are. Thank you for doing what it takes to restore us to you. We live by grace in the power of your name. Amen.

He shielded him and cared for him . . . like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them aloft. — Deuteronomy 32:10-11 Not long ago, I realized that I hadn’t been invited to something that I would have liked to have participated in. It was surprising to feel excluded and forgotten. I wondered why I had been left out, but I was too embarrassed to ask, so I assumed there must have been a reason for it. In that weak moment, it was hard not to draw the conclusion that I had been excluded on purpose. At times when we might feel insecure or unwanted, it is natural to feel hurt and alone. Feelings of isolation can create an ache in our hearts and a tiredness in our bones. We yearn for friendship and understanding. Ironically, when we feel that way, it can be hard to connect with others even if they do reach out to us—because we’ve begun to feel out of touch and unwanted. Humanly speaking, there might not be anyone who can truly care for us in the way that we need to be cared for. Our hurts can sometimes be too deep for words to express. What we need is to be held and carried up over our troubled situations. Our Lord and Savior is the only one who can truly do that. God sees us, knows what we need, and comes to save us. He scoops us up and carries us when we are not capable of flying ourselves. Lord Jesus, we can’t thank you enough for your care for us. When we feel hurt and alone, it is the greatest comfort to know that you guard us as the apple of your eye. We love you and pray in your name. Amen.

If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young. — Deuteronomy 22:6 While walking near a lake one day, our family discovered a camouflaged nest of eggs that a killdeer, a small shorebird, had laid in the ground. It was breathtakingly beautiful, but it was also unprotected and exposed among the rocks. Among the many Old Testament guidelines for holy living, some instructions in Deuteronomy told God’s people what to do if they found such a nest. At that time it was considered okay to take the eggs or the young hatchlings, but it was not acceptable to harm the bird that laid them. That was a simple principle of conservation: if the eggs are taken, the bird can lay more eggs, but if the mother bird is taken or destroyed, she can’t produce any more. In times of hunger, it might have been tempting to take both the bird and the eggs, but the prevailing wisdom cautioned people to use restraint, even if they were desperate. These instructions aren’t only about conservation, though. We can trust that if God cares for birds, he cares far more about us, whom he made in his image. Jesus made this clear when he said to his followers, “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). He was explaining God’s care for them when they were threatened by enemies. Similarly, God cares for you, body and soul, when you feel exposed and in danger. Lord, thank you for protecting us when we are weak. Help us also to protect those that are vulnerable. Amen.

“These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean. . . .” — Leviticus 11:13 Every culture has its list of food preferences. Most of us tend to elevate certain foods over others, depending on what’s familiar to us, what agrees with us, and what we like and don’t like. In Old Testament Israel, however, living according to food laws was not a matter of preference. The law stated that certain birds and other animals were unclean. So, as a way to live holy lives, the people were required to avoid those animals and not eat them. The food laws seemed to honor principles about life and death, suggesting that God was putting in place a way for his people to flourish. When Jesus Christ brought about the new covenant, the old food laws were no longer required. In Acts 10, for example, we read of Peter having a vision in which God tells him that “all kinds of four-footed animals, including reptiles and birds,” were now considered clean! In this way God urged his people to spread the good news of Jesus to all other nations. People of other nations regularly ate those kinds of animals, and God did not want his people thinking that other peoples were unclean or unworthy of being saved through Jesus. Today we are still called to be holy (set apart), living with intention as God’s people. Rather than following rules about food, we are invited to live for our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, by loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Lord, please give us the wisdom to live intentionally for you. Amen.

That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning. . . . thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. — Exodus 16:13-14 Do you remember the shortages that people faced during the COVID-19 pandemic? In some areas, it seemed there was no yeast or bread to be found. Supply chains were interrupted, and it was difficult for many people to find some basic things that they needed. The Israelites faced a scarcity of food in the desert, and they complained bitterly to Moses and Aaron. But there was a problem with the people’s perspective. They didn’t trust God, who had shown his great power by freeing them from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12-14). Their cravings, and their confused memories, left them short-sighted and unhappy—and they began to say they were better off in Egypt! Nevertheless, God provided for them by giving them meat every evening and “bread from heaven” every morning. That very evening, “quail came and covered the camp,” and the people ate heartily. And in the morning they found flakes on the ground that they could eat and make into bread. They called it manna. But it wasn’t long before the people were grumbling and complaining again. How humbling it can be to realize that we often do the same: we get focused on something that we think we need in order to be happy, and we overlook the goodness that God is already pouring into our lives each day. Lord, forgive us for letting our cravings get the best of us. Help us to be content, knowing that every good gift we receive is from you. Amen.

The Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” — Genesis 15:9 Recently in one of my high-school classes, students became quite engaged in discussing what it means to submit. They argued that it wasn’t appealing and that it might cause people to agree to things that could be harmful for them. In their view, submission is potentially dangerous. In a way, they’re right. Submitting is risky. Today’s story about Abram believing God’s word and submitting to God’s promise is complex, and it has many cultural layers that can be hard for us to grasp. For example, we don’t make promises today by dividing animals and then walking through the pieces. In those days that meant, “If I break my promise, may the same be done to me.” Notice, however, that Abram doesn’t walk through the divided animals, as would have been the custom. Instead, Abram goes into a deep sleep, and God passes through the pieces. The emphasis here is on God making and keeping the promise. Abram’s task will be to believe God’s promise and to live according to it. Believing that God will keep his promises challenges us to submit and invite him to take control in our lives. And, rather than reducing our power, as some people are fearful of, this way of living brings us to live fully in the strength of God’s faithfulness and power. Promise-keeping God, your plans for us are way beyond what we can imagine for ourselves. Help us to trust in you always. Through Jesus, Amen.

When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. — Genesis 8:11 Maybe you have seen a picture or a logo showing a dove with an olive branch in its beak. That image draws from our reading for today. Over time, the image of a dove bringing a part of an olive tree has become a symbol for peace. When we look a little closer at today’s passage, it becomes clear that Noah wasn’t just passively waiting for good, peaceful news. He first sent out a raven, a robust bird that flew “back and forth” but apparently did not come back into the ark—probably because it found plenty of carrion to eat. Noah then sent out a gentle dove—a more vulnerable bird—to go looking for signs of new growth. And then he waited attentively. The dove soon returned because it “could find nowhere to perch.” So Noah brought it back into the ark for seven days. Then, when he sent the dove out again, it returned in the evening with an olive leaf. This meant the flood waters had receded to a safe level where the people and animals could flourish and thrive again, enjoying shalom (peace) in God’s world. As we reflect on this, let’s consider ways in which we might participate in bringing peace in God’s world. Do we just say we want peace, or are we intentionally working toward it, even in small, possibly vulnerable ways? Are we also sharing the good news of Jesus, who brings peace and rest for people’s weary hearts? Lord, help us to be bringers of peace in this world, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

God said, “. . . Let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” — Genesis 1:20 For anyone who has grown up under the wide-open skies of a prairie, where the horizons are far and wide and the ground is soft, it can be quite a shock to move to the city. The concrete, high-rises, and constant bustle can be disorienting. That was my experience a couple of decades ago when I moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Though Vancouver is a beautiful city, it wasn’t familiar or welcoming to me at first. I often walked with a downward gaze, wondering how to connect with a place that didn’t feel like home. Then one day the phrase “Look at the birds” entered my mind, and that was an unusual idea for me. From my perspective, birds were okay, but I didn’t know how to identify many of them. Yet I suddenly remembered that Jesus had said, “Look at the birds”—and I took it as a holy invitation to lift my eyes up. As I began paying attention, I saw that birds of all kinds were everywhere, in every season—even in the city! It shifted my perspective dramatically. Perhaps you feel far from home, or as if you don’t belong in the place where you are now. Could God be inviting you to lift up your eyes so that you can take note of his work around you and his provisions in life? Will you join me in being filled with wonder as we reflect on birds as an important part of his creation? Loving God, help us to lift up our eyes. May we notice your marvelous creation, in which you have even placed birds in the sky as a daily reminder of your care. Amen.

The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. — Genesis 1:2 Have you ever watched a seagull or a tern that seems to just hang in the air over the waves? The wind may be blustering and the waters roaring, but the bird still soars calmly over the rough ocean. That image of hovering over turbulent waters is how the Bible first describes the Spirit of God. The word for “hovering” indicates a high degree of care, even concern, in its action, and it is unmistakably linked to the behavior of protective birds that brood over their nests, guarding and keeping their clutch warm and safe as it develops. The Holy Spirit, in his protective love, hovers over the surface of the unformed deep. The story of creation in Genesis was given to God’s people at a time when other stories about the beginning of the world were filled with themes of violence and chaos. Into that unsettled situation, the Genesis story came as a gift that revealed God’s purposeful, loving intention to make all things good and beautiful. At the time, it would have sounded far different from the other creation stories. And because love and goodness are at the center of this story, it continues to invite people to know God as the loving, protective Creator that he is. As we’ll see this month, many other passages in the Bible also teach us something about God through the imagery of birds. Let’s keep reading and pondering together. Loving God, help us to be continually aware of how you hover over us, keeping watch as you protect us and sustain your creation day by day. Amen.

There was no longer any sea. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. . . — Revelation 21:1; 22:1 At the end of history, after battles long and hard, Satan is defeated by Christ and his followers (Revelation 12:10-11). And Jesus completes the work he began when he first came: the restoration of true human stewards and his good world. Heaven and earth are united; God’s will is fully done on earth as it was already done in heaven (Matthew 6:10). And we are told something odd: “there was no longer any sea.” Here God is not ridding the world of its “good” natural seas (Genesis 1:10) but, rather, what the sea represents: chaos and rebellion. Anything that threatens to harm God’s good creation is done away with. Then we see “the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal,” flowing from God’s throne, delivering the leaves of the tree of life to the world for its healing after so many years of sin, death, destruction, and evil (remember also the living water of John 7:38; Ezekiel 47). And at last the earth is “filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). This is the final reality we envision when a person is baptized in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism anticipates renewal in Christ and the rebirth of the whole world to new life, flooded with grace. Lord Christ, in baptism, we anticipate the day when you will return to finish all you started when you came to bring us salvation. Continue in the work of your Spirit-filled saints, and bring the restoration of all things. Amen.

The dragon stood on the shore of the sea. And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. — Revelation 13:1 In Revelation 4-5, the apostle John describes a vision of heaven. He sees God the Father on the throne, the Holy Spirit in the form of seven torches, and Christ as a Lamb, looking like it was slaughtered. In front of the throne is a peaceful “sea of glass, clear as crystal.” Around the throne, creatures representing all animal life give praise to God. Later John sees the spiritual reality behind events that take place on earth. There a dragon, Satan himself, stands on the shore of a chaotic sea, which brings forth monsters that have “power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them” (Revelation 13:7). These beasts represent a world turned upside down from what God intended. God had created humans to fill the earth and steward it (including its animals) with his authority and care. But instead humans turned away from God and sinned, worshiping idols and degenerating into beastly empires, brutalizing other people and nature. As John received these visions, the Roman Empire had begun persecuting the church. But although the empire had crucified Jesus, the Lamb of God, he had come back to life and had taken his rightful place as King of heaven and earth. Further, the Spirit of God was now living in believers, united with Christ in the waters of baptism. And the dragon knew his time was short . . . (Revelation 12:12). Lord and King, you are alive, and you rule over all things. Come quickly, Lord, to bring your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.

In [the ark] only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also. . . . — 1 Peter 3:20-21 In our reading for today, the apostle Peter mentions Noah and the ark, which we discussed on October 4 (Genesis 8). Do you remember another story this month that also pointed to the ark? In Exodus 2 (Oct. 5), as you may recall, Moses’ mother places him as a baby in a “basket,” and the Hebrew word for that can also mean “ark.” Moses’ mother did this, in faith, hoping that her little boy would escape the murderous reach of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt (see Exodus 1:22). In the New Testament, the apostle and fisherman Peter states that just as God rescued Noah and his family “through water” while other people were swept away in judgment, Christians are rescued from judgment by Christ’s death and resurrection, which is symbolized in baptism. If believers in Christ are symbolically rescued (like Noah and his family) “through water” (baptism), then what is the “ark”? What is the vessel of God’s rescue for us and indeed for the whole creation? It seems that this would be the church, the community of faith. Remember, baptism places us in the nurturing community of the people of God with its worship, prayers, sacraments, and fellowship. In this “ark” we are on the way to the resurrection and full life in God’s renewed world. Lord, we praise you for the church, which, though it can be rocked by powerful winds and waves, is nonetheless piloted by you and is the place of your grace and salvation. Amen.

We were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body. — 1 Corinthians 12:13 How often should a Christian be baptized? Only once in life. This is quite different from the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which Jesus gave us for regular spiritual nourishment (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:2326). That’s because, in baptism, God (not us) is making the primary statement of grace and faithfulness. However, we can continually be reminded of our baptism through the baptisms of others, through worship, and even in a church building’s physical features. In some medieval churches, for example, the baptismal pool was at the entrance to the worship area. Some pools were even made in the shape of a cross, since we are baptized into Christ’s death. Often these pools also had three steps going down into the water, signifying baptism in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As a baptized person came up out of the water, they were also given a white robe to wear, a symbol of being clothed with Christ (see Galatians 3:27; Revelation 7:14). When, as an adult, a person comes to faith in Christ, they are called to be baptized and to profess their faith publicly before entering the full life of the church—its fellowship, worship, and participation in the Lord’s Supper. In doing so, the believer commits to being one with Christ and with his people in the one body of Christ, the one family of God. Lord, thank you for receiving us into your one covenant family through baptism. In Jesus, Amen.

All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. — Romans 6:3 I have never been a “water person.” As a boy, I did not enjoy going under water, so water parks were not much fun for me. Even as an adult, when I am swimming in a lake, river, or ocean, I am always wondering about the creatures that are much more at home in those deeps than I am. . . . When some religious leaders taunted Jesus, saying they wanted to see a sign proving who he was, he said that the only sign he would give them was “the sign of Jonah.” Jonah, we remember, had been as good as dead, for he was thrown into the chaotic sea and was then swallowed by a sea-monster. But God had the monster spew him out on dry land after three days (Jonah 1-2). Jesus then said he would be “in the belly of the earth” three days, referring to his burial in a tomb. When Jesus explained this to his disciples, he said he would “be killed and on the third day raised to life” (Matthew 16:21). And then later Jesus died on a cross, was buried in a tomb, and on the third day rose to life again. He defeated sin and death for our sake so that we can have new life in him! When a person is baptized in a pool or a lake or river, they go under water, picturing how, in Christ, our old sinful nature has died. Then they come up out of the water, showing how we rise to new life in Christ. And the renewed person is empowered to follow Christ in his mission. Lord, thank you that in baptism we die and rise with you to live a new life. Amen.

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” — Acts 22:16 Earlier we talked about priests who had to wash with water, symbolically washing their sins away before they came into God’s holy presence in the tabernacle (Oct. 8). Because the seriousness of sin resulted in death, the symbolically purified priest would sacrifice an animal in the place of the sinful people. The priest would then sprinkle the sacrificial blood on the people to show that their sins were atoned for. Yet the priest’s washing with water and the sprinkling of blood did not actually take away the people’s sin (Hebrews 10:11). By the Spirit of God, Isaiah prophesied about a dedicated, suffering Servant who came to represent God’s people and take their sins on himself, even though he was innocent of sin (Isaiah 49-50; 52:13-53:12). This Servant was Jesus, and he became the great, sinless High Priest who offered himself for the forgiveness of all of our sins, and spiritually covered us with his blood (Hebrews 8-10). Old Testament priests looked forward to the day when God would somehow deal with sin, and today we can look back to the cross of Christ Jesus. And all of this is symbolized when someone is washed, covered in the waters of baptism. The next time someone asks you, “When were you saved?” be sure to answer, “About two thousand years ago.” “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). Amen.

[Hannah said,] “I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” — 1 Samuel 1:28 The story of Hannah and Samuel can help us understand the transition of identity that takes place in baptism. Hannah had not been able to bear a child, but she prayed, asking that if God would give her a child, she would give him to the Lord “for all the days of his life” (1 Samuel 1:11). God answered her prayer, and she eventually brought her little boy to Eli the priest to begin his training in the service of the Lord. And Samuel served God faithfully for many years. In a way like what Hannah did, giving up her beloved child to God’s service, in baptism we give children to be a part of Christ’s church and kingdom, in which we are called to serve the Lord. The child’s primary identity shifts to become part of the church, the family of God. In baptism, we recognize that the Lord claims and sets the child apart as his own. And the child is introduced to their new church family (which extends across history and geography). The parents or caregivers are then entrusted to raise the child in the Christian faith, with the church’s help. Bringing a child for baptism is therefore a profound act of faith, because the child may be called to serve God in radical or even dangerous ways for Christ’s kingdom. Even so, the Spirit assures us that each one’s destiny is always in God’s hand (John 10:27-30). Lord, thank you for calling us to be your own. We give our whole lives over to you, for you gave yourself completely for us. Use us for your purposes. Amen.

All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. — Galatians 3:27 Some Christian teachers have described baptism as a kind of “seal” that the Spirit of God places upon believers. Sometimes people say this is like a wax seal on a letter, identifying the sender and showing that it was sent by them for a purpose. The fourth-century church teacher Augustine used another analogy to understand baptism as a seal. He said it was like the sealing kiss at a marriage ceremony: witnesses are present, promises are made, love is declared, and all of that is affectionately summed up in a kiss. Many Christians throughout the centuries have also then asked: Will all who are “sealed” in baptism be “saved” in the end? Not necessarily. At weddings, love is declared and promises are made, but in some cases a marriage may fall apart. A pastor friend of mine describes the seal of baptism as something like a coupon: a customer must use the coupon to claim the value that is placed on it. God’s baptismal promises and his claim on us are sure and true, but the one who is baptized is also called to live into those promises and to claim that identity. Further, though a person can walk away from a relationship with Christ, we may never underestimate the love of Christ for that person. He promises to pursue his lost sheep, and his church is called to do that too. Lord, thank you for your ever-pursuing love, your promises, and your claim on all who are baptized in the community of faith. Amen.

[Abraham] is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. — Romans 4:11 The water of baptism is a physical “sign” that points symbolically to the washing away of sin through the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is also a spiritual “sign” of the renewing work of God’s Spirit in our lives. So in the way we live, think, speak, and act it should be clear that, by the grace of God, we are different, set apart (“holy”). As a song puts it clearly, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”—of God and all people. Water baptism, then, is really important. The sacrament of baptism is public and experiential, and it engages our imaginations. Further, when an adult or a baby is baptized, the congregation is asked to make promises to nurture that person in the faith and to help them as they follow God’s calling. Making these vows and seeing the ritual reminds us of the promises that were made over us at our own baptism, and the entire sacrament reminds us of the covenant promises of God. A road sign is something that points beyond itself to a destination, and it guides all who see it. Baptism is like that, pointing the community of faith to the reality of God’s grace found in the saving work of Christ for us. It guides us in the life of faith until the day Jesus returns to renew all things. Lord, we thank you for giving us the sacrament of baptism to remind us of the reality of your grace. Amen.

You were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him. . . . — Colossians 2:11-12 God called his people to be distinct (“set apart, holy”) from other nations. That way, the other nations could see this blessed nation and be drawn to meet the one, true, loving God (Genesis 12:1-3). Since the time of Abraham, God’s people were set apart by circumcision (of males, and usually as babies—Genesis 17:9-14). But that eventually led to a major question in the early church, as the Lord sent his renewed people, who were mainly Jewish, to bring the gospel to Gentiles and welcome them into his family. Did Gentiles have to be circumcised in order to be fully Christian? The early church eventually concluded, “No.” Since God was already accepting them through the Holy Spirit, they needed to be received into the church through baptism. Baptism, not circumcision, became the primary way that all of God’s people (Jews and Gentiles) were set apart as holy. So in the church today, adults and children, including infants, are set apart as “holy” in baptism just as adults and children in Israel were set apart by circumcision. Throughout the centuries, the church has practiced baptism this way as the sign of God’s lasting covenant with his people, welcoming all who are in the households of believers into the family of God. Lord, we praise you that all kinds of people, male and female, young and old, from all nations, are welcome in your family. In Jesus, Amen.

He and all his household were baptized. — Acts 16:33 Not long ago I found myself detained in a police station, in a country not my own. My offense? Taking a U-turn while driving and, as the police officer put it, “obstructing traffic” (which was not true). I prayed lots of silent (but angry) prayers that day—and eventually God sent a “good Samaritan” (a newspaper reporter) who helped me post bail so that I could go home. Paul and Silas found themselves unjustly detained. But their situation was much different. They had been sharing the message of Jesus and were falsely accused of causing an uproar, so they were beaten and thrown in jail (Acts 16:1624). In prison they prayed, and they sang hymns to God while the other prisoners listened. They had a deep confidence (faith) that God could use even their misfortunes to draw others (even criminals and jailers) into his family. When an earthquake sent by God opened the prison and unchained everyone, Paul and Silas assured the jailer that no one had escaped. And the jailer, who had been ready to kill himself, learned about salvation through belief in Jesus. Then the jailer and “all his household were baptized.” (See also Acts 16:15.) In that time a “household” often included a wife and children, aging parents, and slaves or servants. In examples like this, God makes clear that he wants whole households brought into his covenant family! Lord Jesus, Savior to all who call on you, bring us and our loved ones into the family of God, and use us to draw others to you. Amen.

“Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” — Acts 10:47 As we can see in this story, in the new era of Jesus and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, God was doing a new thing! Through a vision, Peter had received a new way of thinking about the people of other nations, and he was called to speak to a Roman centurion (Acts 10:9-23). Later, at the centurion’s house, Peter also met the man’s “relatives and close friends,” and he was able to share with all of them the good news about Jesus. Peter explained that Jesus came to save all who will believe in him. Jesus came to take away all our sin by dying on a cross, and then he rose from the dead and is now Lord over all. While Peter was still teaching, the Holy Spirit unexpectedly “came on all who heard the message.” This was surprising to the Jewish believers who had come with Peter that day. God was accepting even the Gentiles? Amazing! Well, “the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out” on them. So there was nothing to “stand in the way of their being baptized with water.” Peter, who, like other Jewish believers, had previously preferred to keep away from Gentiles, now embraced these people from other nations, welcoming them into Christ’s renewed family, the church. Heavenly Father, it is sometimes said that we Christians are merely beggars who show other beggars where to find bread. Help us to see all people through the eyes of your love. Amen.

Something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. — Acts 9:18-19 As we can imagine, Saul’s experience of meeting Jesus on the way to Damascus must have been terrifying. He said later that when Jesus appeared to him, he felt as if he were like a child taken from the womb too early (“one abnormally born”). Being stopped by a blinding light, falling to the ground, and learning that he had persecuted the church of God by chasing followers of the crucified Messiah—who was now ruling in heaven— was all too much! Saul, blinded by glory, had to be led by hand along the rest of the way to Damascus. Then, a few days later, the Lord sent Ananias to visit Saul, and he received the Holy Spirit, was healed from blindness, and was baptized. The book of Acts shows that people come to faith in Jesus in many different ways. The Spirit is free and does not follow a formula. Sometimes the Spirit uses words of Scripture to move a person’s heart. Sometimes a person hears the good news through someone else. Sometimes the Lord speaks through a dream or a vision. In some cases, as with Saul, the encounter may be dramatic and even terrifying, followed by a vision and the coming of the Spirit a few days later. In other cases, whole households are baptized, including children who will grow in faith throughout their life. But in all of these ways the Spirit is at work! Lord, to some of us you come hovering gently. Others of us need to be knocked to our knees. You know best how to fill us, Lord. Amen.

“From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings.” — Zephaniah 3:10 The man who met Philip in our reading today was from Ethiopia, which was “beyond the rivers of Cush.” (Cush was another name for Egypt.) People from many lands knew about and worshiped the God of Israel (Acts 2:5-11), and the Ethiopian man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship God at the temple there. On his way home, the man was reading from the book of Isaiah, and he was puzzled. Isaiah had written about a man who “was led like a sheep to the slaughter” and was “deprived of justice” (see Isaiah 53:7-8). Now, Philip had been led by the Spirit to meet the Ethiopian man, and he was able to explain that Isaiah was prophesying about Jesus, the innocent one who died on behalf of all sinners and was raised to new life. Here, as the Spirit worked, Philip was able to share the good news of Jesus with a man who was ready to receive the gospel in faith. Then, when the Ethiopian man saw some water up ahead, he said, “What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he was right—the Spirit of God had arranged for him to hear the good news through Philip, and the man had come to faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. So they went into the water, “and Philip baptized him.” From there, the Ethiopian man “went on his way rejoicing,” and he was likely one of the first people to share Jesus with others in East Africa. Holy Spirit, thank you for bringing the good news to us, and help us to share it with others everywhere. Amen.

A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and...they…were filled with the Holy Spirit. Those who accepted his message were baptized. . . — Acts 2:2, 41 The Holy Spirit is the main character in the book of Acts—and in the growth of the church. And through the Spirit-powered witness of his followers, Jesus said, the gospel will spread from Jerusalem (the city), to Judea and Samaria (the region), “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). In Acts 2 we see how that work of the Holy Spirit began. “A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven,” and Jesus’ apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit. As we have noted earlier, the Spirit of God and his mighty acts are often associated with wind. And the “sound . . . of a violent wind” echoes the power of the “strong wind” God used to make a pathway for his people through the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21). What’s more, as John the Baptist had prophesied, the work of Jesus would result in people being baptized “with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11)—and in Acts 2, as the Holy Spirit filled Jesus’ apostles, “what seemed to be tongues of fire . . . came to rest on each of them.” So on Pentecost, the people of God, followers of Jesus, were renewed through a wind (Spirit), fire, and water. The wind of the Holy Spirit rushed on the apostles, and fire alighted on them—and later that day 3,000 people came to faith in Jesus and were baptized (Acts 2:41). Lord and Savior, fill us with your Holy Spirit, and help us as we try to stay “in step” with the Spirit’s work in the world today. Amen.

“Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” — Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus came to live among us as the promised Messiah of God’s people. Many of the people thought the Messiah would be a political king who would free them from the grip of the Roman Empire. But Jesus’ mission was not political. He came to free sinners from the tyranny of sin and to give them new life with God forever. In his teaching ministry Jesus clashed with the religious authorities. He challenged them because they were more concerned with power and position than with leading people to live God’s way—by loving God and loving their neighbor. The religious leaders felt threatened by Jesus, so they plotted to kill him. And they managed to get him executed by the Roman government. So Jesus laid down his life for us by dying on a cross, and he was buried. But then he rose to life again, victorious over sin and death for our sake! Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus told his disciples (and us!) that against all appearances, in a world of tyrants and power politics, all authority had been given to him. Then he said that as we are moving about in the world, we are to make disciples. How? By baptizing them into the family of God, and by teaching them to be obedient to his teachings. And if we ever grow afraid of this task (for we will meet opposition), he promised that he will always be with us through his Holy Spirit. Lord Jesus, you have all authority. Help us to serve you faithfully in making disciples. Amen.

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” — Mark 4:41 Have you ever been in a boat that seemed to be at the mercy of the wind or the waves, such that you found yourself praying to God for rescue? In our reading for today, Jesus’ disciples were doing all they could to keep their boat from capsizing as they were crossing a lake in the midst of a storm. And, at the same time, Jesus was taking a nap! When the disciples woke Jesus, they were alarmed that he did not seem to care about the storm and its danger. But then Jesus simply got up and spoke to the wind and the waves, saying, “Quiet! Be still!” Jesus’ words were not a plaintive request or even a prayer, but a command. And the wind and waves obeyed! The disciples had just a moment of relief before another terrifying thought crept over them: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” The disciples knew their Scriptures and were very much aware that, in the beginning, it was God who told the waters what their boundaries were. In the time of the great flood, it was God who commanded the waters to cover the earth. It was also God who had made a way for his people through the Red Sea. So the disciples clearly knew the answer to their question “Who is this?” And they were trying to come to grips with the reality that their friend, who had just been napping in the boat, was also the Lord of all creation! Lord Jesus, touch us with appropriate awe and peace, knowing that you, the Lord of creation, have come to live with us, even (and especially) in the midst of life’s chaos. Amen.

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” — John 7:38 When Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well, he talks with her about “living water” that he can give for eternal life (John 4:10-14; see Oct. 13). In John 7, Jesus teaches again about “living water,” and this time he speaks of “rivers of living water” flowing from people who believe in him. Some other Bible passages help us to understand more about the “living water” Jesus introduces here. This imagery draws from some Old Testament prophets and points ahead to eternal life with God in the new heaven and earth. The prophet Isaiah, for example, talks about recognizing the Lord as your salvation and says, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:1-3). Isaiah 58:11 adds that with the Lord as your guide, you will be “like a spring whose waters never fail.” In addition, the prophet Ezekiel describes a vision of a river flowing from God’s temple in Jerusalem. The water begins as a trickle, but it grows wider and deeper as it flows. And when it reaches the Dead Sea far away, it “makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live” (Ezekiel 47:9). This vision also points to a New Testament vision of “the river of the water of life” (Revelation 22:1-2). In John 7, Jesus is saying that his followers have the water of life in them through the gift of the Holy Spirit. And they can go out into the world—even to all its dead places—to share the gift of new life with others. Spirit of God, lead us to bring new life into the dead and dying places of your world, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

“The water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” — John 4:14 In this story about a meeting at a well, we find some unusual imagery about water. Jesus reaches out to a Samaritan woman—and that is surprising because Jews did not usually associate with Samaritans. But Jesus’ purpose here, even though he was tired and thirsty, was to share the good news of eternal life so that more people could learn the truth about God, who loves them. Jesus asks the woman for a drink of water, and her first reaction is to say, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” And Jesus, the master teacher, gives a response that can sound in some ways like a riddle. He talks about “the gift of God” and something called “living water,” and he invites the woman to wonder “who it is that asks [her] for a drink.” He now certainly has her attention, and she is curious about this “living water,” where it comes from, and if it has anything to do with the water at the well. So Jesus explains that the water he is talking about is spiritual. He also says that it comes from him and that it will give people eternal life. The woman soon also learns that Jesus is the Messiah her people have been waiting for. And in amazement she rushes away to tell her townspeople, and many of them become believers (John 4:28-30, 39-41)! Have you shared Jesus’ message about living water with the people near you? Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to give us the “living water” we need for eternal life. Teach us to share it freely! Amen.

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” — John 3:5 What does Jesus mean when he says a person must be “born of water and the Spirit” to enter the kingdom of God? Is he saying that you have to be baptized with water to be counted among God’s people? I think the short answer has to be “Not necessarily, but usually.” God can certainly save someone apart from water baptism. But God uses baptism to engage with us and to communicate his grace, so that is the usual practice in the church today. We do well to keep in mind, though, the example of the criminal who was crucified along with Jesus. This man saw who Jesus was, and he asked to be remembered when Jesus came into his kingdom. And Jesus told him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). In John 3, I think Jesus is echoing prophets like Ezekiel, who spoke about water as a symbol of cleansing from sin, and about the Spirit of God, who comes to fill us and renew our hearts (Ezekiel 36:24-27). That symbolism is picked up by John and Jesus in their practice of baptism. Now this leads to another question: If a person is baptized as a baby or adult, does that mean they are saved? Not necessarily. Some people who are baptized might reject God. But, as some teachers have noted, baptism places us in the community of faith, the church, where we can grow to know and live by God’s covenant love and grace. Lord, thank you for baptism and for guiding us by your Spirit to grow in grace. Amen.

As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. . . . — Mark 1:10 John had baptized many people in the Jordan River before Jesus came to be baptized there. Jesus, who had no sin, had no need to repent. But John baptized him because Jesus said, “It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). Here, as Jesus set out to begin his teaching ministry and his mission to save us from sin and death, he was being anointed as the Messiah. In this role he would be the king and representative of a renewed people of God. He would be anointed by the Holy Spirit, and then, through Jesus, God’s people would receive the Spirit as well. When Jesus came up out of the water in the Jordan, he saw heaven “torn open” and the Holy Spirit coming down in the form of a dove to anoint him. This showed that God was returning to live among his people, as he had done in the tabernacle (see Oct. 8). Where else have we seen water and the Spirit of God described as a bird? We saw it in Genesis 1:2, with the Spirit hovering over the waters. And here, in Jesus the Son, who came to live among us as a human being, God was working to renew our relationship with himself. After his anointing, Jesus was sent by the Spirit into the wilderness. There, like Adam and Eve, he was tempted by Satan. But Jesus succeeded where they had not (Luke 4:1-13). Lord, fill us with your Spirit too, that we may work with you at renewing your world. Amen.

[Jonah] answered . . . “I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” — Jonah 1:9 In some ways we can think of Jonah’s experience as a kind of baptism. Jonah is a rebellious, runaway prophet who needs to repent, seek God again, and obey what he is called to do. God called Jonah to preach a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. But Jonah didn’t want to. The people of Nineveh were enemies of Israel, and Jonah wanted them destroyed. So he boarded a ship going the other way and tried to flee from God. But God “sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.” Where else have we seen God’s power at work in a wind on the sea? (Genesis 1:2; 8:1; and Exodus 14:21.) But here God created a storm and a different pathway for Jonah. The sailors, who were terrified and cried out to their pagan gods for help, showed more respect for Jonah’s God than Jonah did. But at least Jonah admitted he had caused the problem, and he told the sailors to throw him overboard. When they finally did that, “the raging sea grew calm.” Though Jonah was still trying to escape, God still wanted to call Nineveh to repent, so he sent “a huge fish” to swallow Jonah. And after three days, the monster fish vomited Jonah “onto dry land.” Here again, the sea should have meant death for one of God’s people (and many others) but God rescued Jonah to share his blessing and grace. Lord, guide us not to run from you, whatever you may call us to do. Forgive us, we pray, and pull us back to follow your way for us. Amen.

The priests . . . stopped in the middle of the Jordan . . . until the whole nation had completed the crossing. — Joshua 3:17 After Israel’s long sojourn in the desert, God opened a way for them through the Jordan River into the promised land. The waters upstream “piled up in a heap,” perhaps like the “wall of water” on the right and left as Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 14:22). Both stories say that the people passed through “on dry ground” (Joshua 3:17). Although God had been faithful to Israel, keeping his promises to rescue them and bring them to the land he had promised them (Genesis 12:1-8; 15:13-16; 28:10-15; 46:3-4; Exodus 3:4-10), the people turned away and rebelled. They did that again and again in a long history of unfaithfulness (Exodus 32; Numbers 14; Judges 2:10-23; 2 Kings 17:1-23; 25:1-21). Eventually they were punished and sent into exile, but God, ever faithful, brought them back again (Ezra - Nehemiah). Then, about 30 years after the birth of Jesus (Matthew 1; Luke 2), God called John to prepare the way for the Messiah, who had come to be the Savior of the world (John 1:29; 3:16). In Mark 1 we see John preaching in the wilderness, calling people to repent and baptizing them in the Jordan River. And here the people are called not to cross the Jordan but to be baptized in it. God calls them to make a new start through repentance, to seek forgiveness, and to prepare their hearts for the coming of the Savior. O God, when we rebel against you, remind us that you have called us to repent and be forgiven, in Jesus, that we may live for you. Amen.

“Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die.” — Exodus 30:20 After Israel had spent over 400 years in Egypt, God’s biggest task was not so much to get the people out of Egypt but to get Egypt out of the people. They needed to worship God and learn a different view of the world so that they could share God’s blessings with the world. And God used water to get them started. God’s instructions for setting up the tabernacle as a place of worship are in Exodus 25-31. The three main parts of the tabernacle reminded the people of the three basic levels of the cosmos (as understood in that day). The outer courtyard represented the earth—its dry land and sea. There people would wash in the basin, or “sea” (see 1 Kings 7:23-28), and be reminded that God had rescued them through the Red Sea. The Holy Place, a room inside the tent, represented the heavens. Another room, further inside, was the Most Holy Place, representing God’s throne room in the highest heaven. In essence, heaven and earth came together in the tabernacle. And this served as a model of the renewed world where God will come to live with his people again (Revelation 21-22). God wants humans to work with him in renewing the world, so he gave priests to Israel as a sort of renewed humanity, symbolically cleansed of sin and anointed for God’s work. The role of the priest, purified by water and wearing royal robes, reminded God’s people that they were created in his image. Lord, guide us to serve you and to share your goodness and love with everyone. Amen.

Was it not you [God] who cut Rahab to pieces . . .? Was it not you who dried up the sea . . . ? — Isaiah 51:9-10 God had set his people free from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:31-38), and as they were traveling away, they came to a halt at the Red Sea. Then they were terrified as they saw that Pharaoh’s army was pursuing them (14:1-10). But the Lord “drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land” so that his people could cross to the other side. Where else have we heard of a wind (Spirit) interacting with water? In Genesis 1:2, God’s Spirit/wind hovers over the chaotic waters, preparing for his creation. Then, in Genesis 8:1, God sends a wind to push back the waters of the great flood. Now here God drives the sea with a strong wind to provide a way of deliverance for his people. And while Israel stands safe on the far bank of the Red Sea, the waters come crashing down on Pharaoh’s army. God’s rescue of his people is dramatic and momentous, and so is the symbolism of this event. Remember that Egypt is described as the great sea monster “Rahab” in other Old Testament passages (see Psalm 89:10; Isaiah 30:7; 51:9-10). Here in Exodus the sea is cut in two. And then at God’s command the sea drowns the mighty Egyptian army. God has delivered his people, saving them from the chaotic, destructive forces of this world. Freed from slavery, they are set apart to bring blessing to the world through God’s promises. Saving God, we praise you for bringing us out from our slavery in sin to have abundant life in Jesus. Amen.

“I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.” — Exodus 12:12 When Moses and Pharaoh face off, the biblical text makes clear that this is not merely a battle of wills between human leaders. Rather, the God of Israel is making war against the gods of Egypt. The Nile River was the very heart of the Egyptian empire. Egypt depended on the Nile for crops, transport, and trade, making it powerful in its prosperity, politics, and religion. So when God goes to war against the Egyptian gods, a number of the plagues strike at Egypt’s very heart. For example, the first plague turns the waters of the Nile into blood. So there is no water for drinking or fishing or crops, making life very difficult for the Egyptians. Of course, this plague had deep spiritual significance too. It meant that Egypt’s gods of the Nile (Sobek, Hapi, and Knuum) and its great fertility god (Osiris) had no power over the one true God. Osiris was also the supposed divine ancestor of the pharaohs who guided them into the afterlife. The true Lord and Creator of the heavens and the earth showed that Egypt’s gods were all false. Egypt and its king were powerless to stand in the way of God rescuing his people. In what ways do we see God’s power at work against false gods in our world today? Lord and giver of life and death, we praise you that nothing in the spiritual realm or on the earth can separate us from your love, most clearly revealed in Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

She got a papyrus basket . . . and placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. — Exodus 2:3 In our reading today, God’s people Israel (the Hebrews) were living in Egypt, and they had been slaves there for generations. Their people had flourished after coming to live there in the time of Joseph (Exodus 1), but later a new king, driven by fear that Israel would grow too big and powerful, forced them into slavery. The king, Pharaoh, even tried to kill Israel’s baby boys by having them thrown into the Nile River. Because of Egypt’s beastly brutality, some Old Testament writers called the Egyptian empire “Rahab,” the name of a mythical monster that symbolized the sea and its chaos (see Psalm 89:10; Isaiah 30:7; 51:9-10). There is great irony here that God’s rescue of his people begins with water. A Hebrew mother hides her baby boy in a basket and sets it among the reeds along the Nile River. The Hebrew word for “basket” can also mean “ark.” Does that remind us of Noah and his family being saved from the flood (Genesis 8)? Then the daughter of Pharaoh finds this baby and decides to raise him as her son. She names him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.” And later Moses becomes the leader God uses to confront Pharaoh and to lead Israel out of slavery (Exodus 3-12). So God rescues his people from the monster Rahab (Egypt). And the water, which could have been deadly, turns out to be a passageway to deliverance by God’s hand. Lord, give us faith to trust in you to preserve and care for us and our loved ones in surprising ways. Amen.

God . . . sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. — Genesis 8:1 After human beings brought sin into the world (Genesis 3), things grew worse and worse until God decided to use the power of water in the form of a flood (Genesis 6). Many people would die, but God saved Noah and his family to become the stewards God had created them to be. In Genesis 8 we are told that Noah’s ark came to rest in some mountains, and that God “sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded.” Where have we seen a “wind” (or Spirit?) passing over waters before? Look back to Genesis 1:2. The Spirit (wind) of God hovers over the waters as the story of creation begins. And here, in Genesis 8, God is giving humans and his creation a new start. Noah sends out a dove to fly over the receding waters and look for a place to land. But it finds nothing at first. Seven days later, though, the dove returns with a leaf from an olive tree—a clear sign that plant life was flourishing again on God’s earth. Here, then, we see God resurrecting creation after the flood and making it possible for human stewards to take care of the earth again. How are we doing as the stewards of God’s creation today? Heavenly Father, we admit that we often ignore your call to care for your world and its creatures, including other people. Forgive us. Thank you for second chances (and many more) to listen to you and to obey your invitation to love and care for all that you have made. Amen.

The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. — Romans 8:19 The world Moses grew up in had many stories about the origin of humans and their purpose. One ancient story said that some lesser gods were tired of serving higher gods, so they went on strike. Then one of the lesser gods created humans from clay so that they could serve the higher gods. So humans existed to build and maintain houses for the gods (temples) and to feed the gods through sacrifices. To set things straight, God inspired Moses to explain who really created us and why. The one true God formed humans from dust and gave them life with his own breath (Genesis 2:7); God also created humans in his own image (Genesis 1:26). So we humans are created through love, not out of necessity or conflict, and we carry God’s authority with us into the world. In other words, we are children of the Lord of the universe, given authority to rule over and care for creation (Genesis 2:15). And if we would reflect God’s wise rule and care for creation, the world would flourish and provide abundantly for us. But our first human parents sinned (Genesis 3), so we have not reflected God’s wise rule and stewardly care. As a result, creation has not flourished but has become chaotic and has actually made life difficult and dangerous. Thankfully, Jesus came to show us the way back to God, and God’s Spirit came to teach us how to live for and serve God in the world till Jesus comes again. Lord, forgive us for bringing destruction into this world, and teach us to reflect your wisdom and care. Amen.

“I [Wisdom] was there . . . when [God] gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command.” — Proverbs 8:27-29 Historically Moses, directed by God, is understood to be the writer of the first five books of the Bible. Growing up as part of the royal family in Egypt, Moses (a Hebrew child adopted by the king’s daughter—Exodus 2) would have been taught many myths about the origin of the world. An old Mesopotamian myth, for example, held that Marduk, a warrior god, fought against Tiamat, a monster ruling the chaotic sea. Marduk defeated Tiamat and brought order out of chaos. Now, let’s look at Genesis 1 again. We see powerful waters, but they are not described as a god or a monster; they are simply a part of the world God is creating. God tells the waters where they can go and where they cannot go. (See also Proverbs 8:12-31.) Moses shows that the true God is in control of all things. In myths about creation there is always uncertainty about whether a people’s gods can hold back the forces of chaos. The ancient Egyptians, for example, believed that their sun god Ra had to descend into the underworld every night to defeat the great serpent Apophis, or else the ordered world would be destroyed. But in the Genesis story, God creates and makes peace not through battle but with a word. No other force or would-be god is there; creation has only one true Lord. Lord and God, we praise you that no force in heaven or on earth has power over you, and that you hold all things in your hands. Amen.

The earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. — Genesis 1:2 Do you notice anything curious in the first verses of the Bible? I have read these verses many times in my life, and just recently I wondered: Where did these waters come from? Well, God must have created these waters at some point, but we are not told that part of the story. We must be reading a poetic narrative that has been in progress for some time before we join with it. The NIV translation of verse 2 says that the “Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is ruach, and that word can also be translated as “wind” or “breath.” So some translations say that the “wind of God” hovered (or moved) over the waters. Either way, we can begin to imagine God’s person and power moving over these deep waters. In another passage the Hebrew word rahap for “hover” describes the Lord as a great eagle brooding, hovering over its beloved hatchlings as they leave the nest and learn to fly (Deuteronomy 32:11). So in the first verses of Genesis we see God moving powerfully and lovingly over his yet unformed world of water. Now, here is another question, to which we will return: Do you know of any other stories in the Bible that mention water, wind (or Spirit), and perhaps a bird? Creator God, may your Spirit hover within us, over us, and throughout your world as you bring all that is dark and chaotic into your peaceful light. Amen.

“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.” — Revelation 21:3 It was the end of a long trip. We had moved to a new home a few months before, and we had still been settling in when we left. The time away had been good, with some exciting adventures but also with some difficulties. But as we drove back into town, we commented that we felt like we were coming home in a new way. Similarly, we go through periods of change in our walk with God. Sometimes we face changes because we are following God faithfully into new and challenging places. Other times we face changes because in our wandering and sin we have turned away or distanced ourselves from God. Either way, we recognize that we are in unfamiliar territory. But then, by God’s grace, we return—and we discover that home is a gift. The Bible clearly presents our spiritual home with God as something we cannot achieve by our own efforts. Instead, we find ourselves at home when God comes to us. This happened when Christ came into the world to bring us salvation. It happens today through the work of Christ’s Spirit in our hearts. And it will happen again at the end of history when the Lord returns to make his home with us forever. God will bring heaven to us, to wipe away all the signs of our homelessness. May we praise his name and rest in his gift to us each day. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, help us to look forward to the day when all the comforts of your home are ours by grace, and we will live with you forever. Amen.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. — John 1:14 In the beginning, humanity had a beautiful home created by God for his creatures to flourish in. Adam and Eve were able to meet with God and walk with him “in the garden in the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8), and they enjoyed perfect companionship with their Creator. But then they fell into sin, turning their backs on God’s way, and they were banished from their home in God’s garden. Ever since then, humanity has been seeking ways to return. For many of us, our natural default is to imagine that we can find our own way back, that we can seek God on our own terms. If we are just good enough, or smart enough, or perhaps just better than the next person, then maybe we can make it home—or so we think. The good-news message of the Bible explains, however, that even though our seeking after God is fruitless, God reaches out in grace and love to us. Though we live in the depths of darkness because of sin and death, the power of God’s light shines into our lives, giving us new hope in the coming of Christ. In Jesus, “the Word . . . made his dwelling among us.” We could not find our way home to God, but, in Jesus, God has made his home with us so that we can be saved and live fully with him. Lord Jesus, thank you for seeking us out when we could not find our way to you. In your mercy, prepare our hearts to receive you as you live among us and guide us by your Spirit. Amen.

“I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.” — Jeremiah 29:10 Jeremiah sent this message from God to the people of Jerusalem who were exiled in Babylon. The people had sinned against God for many years, so the Lord had sent the king of Babylon to conquer them and take them away. Some were optimistic that their exile would be temporary, but God said the exile would last for seventy years, which for many would be a lifetime. Sometimes a crisis in our lives can seem like a time of exile. When will things go back to normal again? When our health returns, when our relationships are mended, when our temptations have passed, when our injustices are addressed. But what if God lets this go on for a lifetime? I imagine that the recipients of Jeremiah’s letter were not excited by what it said. Seventy years meant that most of them would not be able to go back to enjoy the good things they had before. Yet God called them to live as if they were at home in the place where they were now living. God urged them to trust that he could extend his saving work and build his kingdom through them even in their current situation. As God’s people adapt and seek to live for him in the new situations where they find themselves, they grow to see more of God’s character. His plan is to give us hope and a future—and he does that through the finished work of Christ. Father, help us to live with hope and confidence as we await your coming kingdom. Thank you for your good plans for us in Christ. Amen.

We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. — 2 Corinthians 5:1 Over the years, my family has often gone camping in tents, and we have many fun memories from those trips. We have also collected some stories about how camping in tents is very different from staying in your own home. Experiences with torrential rain and high winds leave us thankful that we can return to our solid, well-built house at the end of our trip. Our Bible reading today notes that our life on earth is like living in a tent compared with the home God has prepared for us in heaven. Though we can enjoy lots of good times on our earthly journey, we also struggle with the realities of sin and weakness. We suffer hurt and disappointment. We give in to temptation, and we hurt the people we love. Our bodies grow old, and our abilities weaken. When we struggle with such things, God’s Spirit reminds us that we are made for something more. We live our lives before the face of God, in the hope of being made new in Christ. Even in our weakest moments we can live with confidence because we are looking forward to a permanent home provided by God. Ask God’s Spirit today to open your eyes to the hope and confidence of the home you are promised in Christ. Father, you made us for your glory, and we are restless until we rest in you. When we groan in our weakness, fill us with the hope of our promised home with you, through Christ. Amen.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” — John 14:2 “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” These words from the American poet Robert Frost express something of the deep human desire for a place to belong. Whether it’s out of obligation or—even better—because of others’ love for us, we long for a place where we are welcomed, known, cared for, and embraced. Does such a place really exist? In this world, every home we make for ourselves, no matter how sweet it may feel, will always fall short. Sin and death bring an end to our earthly comfort, and even the best places in this life offer only a glimpse or a foretaste of full life with God in his presence. Jesus has promised something remarkable to all who trust in him. Even as he faced his own death for our sin, Jesus offered the hope of eternal life with God to all who will follow him. He promised to lead believers to the Father and to prepare a place for redeemed sinners longing to be at home with God. Our Savior doesn’t merely tantalize us with the offer of a perfect home; he assures us that his word is true. Believe his promise and trust in his grace to prepare you for the place where your Father will certainly take you in. Lord Jesus, help us to trust in you. We believe in God; may we also believe in you and in the power of your finished work for us. Prepare our hearts for our home with the Father and with you. Amen.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he . . . gathered from . . . east and west, from north and south. — Psalm 107:2-3 There are many ways to leave home or to be away from home, and we can do that for lots of reasons. Sometimes we may travel by choice, and other times we may have little or no choice at all in the matter. But there is only one way to return or to find a new home— and that is by the mercy of God. Psalm 107 recalls some of the stories of God’s people whom he rescued and brought back again. Though we may lose direction in different ways— perhaps our lives seem like a trackless wilderness (v. 4), or like a literal or figurative prison sentence (v. 10)—the story of redemption is the same: God’s people cry out for help (vv. 6, 13), and God honors the cries of those who turn to him for salvation (vv. 6-7, 13-14). The story is repeated throughout this psalm: God has brought us back, and we are thankful for his deliverance (vv. 8-9, 15-16, 21, 31). Today, we who know about Christ’s finished work for us have all the more reason to celebrate God’s mighty acts for his people. No matter how we may have wandered away in our spiritual lives, we know that God has redeemed us completely through his Son, Jesus Christ. Let our story be added today to those whom God has redeemed. Father, thank you for your unfailing love and your amazing rescue. We cry out to you, Lord, and, finding our salvation in Jesus, give you thanks in his name. Amen.

Let the governor of the Jews and the Jewish elders rebuild this house of God on its site. — Ezra 6:7 For several years, the rebuilding of the temple stalled while the Jewish people faced opposition from their neighbors. These opponents threatened God’s people and called on the king of Persia (who controlled the area) to stop this work. But then something unexpected happened: instead of stopping the work, the king confirmed that a decree had been issued to rebuild the temple, and he told the enemies of the Jews to back off—and even to support the work instead! Sometimes God provides support from unexpected sources to keep his work going in this world. In our personal and spiritual lives, we may find unexpected support at times too. Teachers and coaches may show us grace even if we have let them down. Employers may support us generously through a family crisis. A spouse may show deep and forgiving commitment to their partner who has been unfaithful. Through actions like these we gain glimpses of the mercy and care of God. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The gracious love of the holy God is an unexpected gift. But God not only welcomes us back to himself for Jesus’ sake; his Spirit also works through people and systems— even kings and governments— to remind us how to live and to do what is right. What a cause for joy! Spirit of God, thank you for the work you do through others to build us up and draw us closer to being at home with you. Help us to share your grace too. Amen.

The peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. — Ezra 4:4 The “enemies of Judah and Benjamin” had a long and complex history of opposition to God’s people (see 2 Kings 17). Despite what may have seemed to be friendly overtures, it was clear to the Jewish leaders that their enemies’ intention was not really to foster a good relationship with the exiles who had come back to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. Instead, the enemies made every effort to frustrate the plans of rebuilding the temple and restoring community life. The church has long taught that the world, the devil, and even our own flesh will fight against us. Even good, God-honoring decisions may not be affirmed and welcomed by the people around us. So we need to resist discouragement, temptation, and fear, and we need to focus on growing our relationship with God. The Bible reminds us that we have a Savior who “endured . . . opposition from sinners” and that we should focus “our eyes on Jesus” so that we will “not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3). The world may not welcome our return to Christ and our attempts to build up God’s kingdom, but our Lord and Savior will always welcome us home and strengthen us to keep working. When people around us despise and forsake us, Lord, help us to come to you in prayer. May we remember “what a friend we have in Jesus.” Guide us and help us to serve you faithfully for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. — Ezra 3:13 When the exiles returned to Jerusalem, one of their first tasks was to rebuild the temple so that the worship of God could be restored. The text emphasizes the community’s excitement about this project, and their gratitude to God for bringing them home again. The people gave sacrificially for the work. But we are also told that many of the older people wept. They had seen the glory of the former temple and did not think that this new one would be as glorious (see Haggai 2:2-9). Joy and regret sometimes go together. When we look back in life and see that we should have acted differently or made different decisions, we can see with sadness the effects of our sins on the people around us. And sometimes we only understand the full weight of our wrongdoing after God restores us and welcomes us back to himself. The tears of the older exiles did not signal a disappointment with God. Those tears reflected an awareness of how much the nation’s sins had cost. The old temple had been ruined because the people had rebelled against God. Yet the people recalled another key truth: “[The Lord] is good; his love . . . endures forever” (v. 11). In Christ, every sin is removed and every tear is wiped away so that what remains is only the joy of salvation. Lord God, give us godly sorrow for the effects of sin in and around us. But also give us joy, we pray, in the glory of your gift to us in Jesus. Amen.

These are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles . . . (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town . . . ). — Ezra 2:1 In between the verses of our Bible reading today there is a long list of names. Genealogies and other lists like this do not usually make for interesting reading. After all, we know very little about most of the people listed there. Their actions, hopes, and dreams—all of that is lost to history, and we have only their names. But the Bible includes this list because it would help later generations see how they were connected to the exiles and had a place among God’s people in history. Similarly today, many people have found it meaningful to trace their family tree and learn things about their ancestry that they had never known before. It can help people learn about their identity and even some of the places their ancestors come from. One of the great pictures of salvation in the Bible is that we now belong to the family of God. If you put your faith in Christ, you are adopted as a child of God (see Romans 8:14-17; Ephesians 2:19-22). This is good news for everyone! It can also give comfort to anyone who may feel that their past actions have burned bridges with the people around them, or whose families reject their faith in Christ. In Jesus, God has given us a place to belong and a people to belong to. Heavenly Father, the whole family of Christ finds its identity in you. Thank you for the assurance that you love and care for each one of us, and that we belong to you. Amen.

“Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah.” — Ezra 1:3 For many of us today, “home” may not be where we live but where we have roots or a family history. Perhaps it’s where you grew up, or maybe it’s the country your family emigrated from. Having been formed by that “home,” it can be exciting to have an opportunity to go back. The Jews had spent several generations in exile, far away from their ancestral home. While some had grown accustomed to their new place, memories and stories of Jerusalem continued to tug at the hearts of others. So when an opportunity came through a decree of the ruling king, they responded with enthusiasm and said to one another, “Let’s go back!” Similar things can happen at times in our spiritual lives. If we are living far away from God, we can grow comfortable with a secular lifestyle. We can get used to doing as we see fit, and we can make poor decisions that lead us into danger or even ruin. But God’s Spirit continues to nudge our hearts, reminding us that we are made for worship and relationship with the one true God. In Jesus, God has issued the decree that allows wandering and wayward souls to return to fellowship with him. He moves our hearts and provides the circumstances (vv. 5-6) to return to him. If you have become distant from God, why not turn back and be restored to him today? Holy Spirit, thank you for tugging at our hearts and urging us to return to you. Help us to turn back and be restored in Christ today. Amen.

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. — Ruth 4:13 Ruth had returned with Naomi to make a new home in Bethlehem. At least Naomi had memories of familiar people and places there. But Ruth had no connections to Bethlehem at all. As a foreigner, she was doubly vulnerable in this place that was new to her. But God provided in remarkable ways. First, “as it turned out” (Ruth 2:3), she found herself gleaning grain in the field of a kind-hearted relative named Boaz. Second, Boaz takes an interest in Ruth’s longterm well-being by making her his wife. These may seem like coincidences, but God specializes in gracious coincidence. Sometimes our own journeys—to familiar places or to new ones—seem to present unlikely prospects. Maybe you can’t imagine going back to a church because you were too deeply hurt by its members in the past. Or maybe you feel that your sins are too weighty to be forgiven. But please know that God forgives all of our sins through Jesus Christ. God has a way of providing for people who may not seem to belong. The genealogy at the end of Ruth 4 shows that Ruth became an ancestor of Israel’s great king David—and therefore also of the Savior, Jesus (Matthew 1). God can bring you into Jesus’ family too. Trust him today to give you the home you need. Heavenly Father, you surprise us with your gracious acceptance and provision. Thank you for welcoming us into your family through Christ, and help us to rejoice in your protection and redemption. Amen.

Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. — Ruth 1:22 It is not always easy for people to return to their hometown. Old memories, past mistakes, and expectations can make things complicated. Naomi returned from Moab full of disappointment and bitterness. For her, moving to Moab had brought death, loss, and heartache. And she reacted as many of us do: she blamed God for her troubles. Sometimes it’s hard to see God’s loving hand when we are faced with hardship. As Naomi returned, however, she was not alone. Ruth, one of her daughters-in-law, had chosen to join her, saying, “Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth, an outsider, went to find a new home in Bethlehem—a place among people whose God she had known only from a distance (see v. 15). As we see later in this story, God can redeem our emptiness just as he can accept our first steps toward him in faith. Though Naomi’s outlook is bleak at this point, God’s Word offers a glimpse of hope: the harvest is coming. God will make Bethlehem a place of blessing. And the wonders God works there will bless Naomi and Ruth—and eventually the whole world. Many years later, a descendant of their family would become the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1). God promises to bring blessing to all who find their home in Jesus. Shall we take that step toward him today? Lord, help us to see beyond our bitter struggles to the promises we have in you. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

She left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah. — Ruth 1:7 What happens when you realize you’re far from home? Naomi had been away from Bethlehem in the land of Judah for a long time. She and her husband had moved to Moab because of a famine, and their sons had grown up there and married. Naomi also experienced deep grief when her husband and then later her sons died. Being a widow in those days was very difficult because a household depended on men to provide food, shelter, and support. So when Naomi heard that God had provided food in Bethlehem, she was motivated to go back there. It can be interesting to see how God works in our lives. Wherever we go, God watches over us. And sometimes, in dire situations, we may be drawn to seek him in renewed ways. In this story, as we learn later, God was drawing Naomi back to Judah because he had a special plan for her family. But Naomi didn’t know that at the time. Perhaps you’re dealing with some kind of adversity. Maybe it’s the death of a loved one, or the unexpected loss of a job. Maybe it’s some kind of trouble you brought on yourself. Whatever the case, difficult situations can lead us to focus on the goodness of God and how he provides us a spiritual home for us. Wherever we are, may God help us see that our true home can only be found in him, through the gift of Christ, his Son. Father, wherever we are, help us to hear of your grace and to know that our home is with you. In Jesus, Amen.

“I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.” — Luke 15:18 As a pastor, I often talk with parents who are disappointed that their son or daughter no longer thinks Christ is important. I always try to assure them that it is never too late for someone to return to God and his people. Jesus tells a story about a son who ran away from home. Rather than work with his father on the family estate, the son demanded his inheritance and then wasted it on wild living. It probably seemed like an attractive idea at the time, but like many of our sinful decisions, it led to personal disaster. When his money was all gone, the young man wound up working with pigs—“unclean” animals that were detestable to Jews. And as he “came to his senses,” he asked himself, in effect, “How did I get here?” We might find ourselves asking the same question, having drifted far away from our Father. Repentance is the first step we take to return. And while we do not have the power to restore our relationship with God on our own, our Father promises to receive us back when we come with a repentant heart. If you find yourself far from the Father, he invites you to come back to him today. Repent and return, and God will welcome you home. Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy in Christ. Keep us from wandering from your care. Give us the courage to return to you, knowing that you will run to welcome us home. Amen.

Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home. — Proverbs 27:8 For several years, birds have built nests on or near our home. One year we watched robins hatch on the ledge outside our kitchen window. The mother robin could see us through the glass, and at first she was wary of every move we made. But she grew used to our presence, and we could watch how she tended her young. The nest, for them, was a safe place, warm and protected from predators until the chicks were ready to fly. In a similar way, we need churches and families to serve as spiritual homes, protecting us and providing for our needs so that we can be prepared to face the world God has given us to live and work in. Unfortunately, we sometimes try to go our own way before we are ready. We make foolish choices in friendships, and we may get into trouble with the law. We rush intimacy and find ourselves in a romantic relationship before we are ready. We imagine that we are spiritually mature, not needing Christian community, but then we find (too late) that we are unprepared for moral challenges that the world can throw at us. Home is a place to cultivate the habits that bring us close to God: Scripture reading, prayer, mutual accountability, and confession of sin. We all need the protection and provision of Christ. Let’s not take for granted the gift of a spiritual home. Savior God, you long to gather your children as a hen gathers her young under her wings (Luke 13:34). Guide us to value your care and the gift of a spiritual home. Amen.

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. — 1 Kings 19:3 What makes us run away? By all accounts, Elijah had just finished a successful revival. The false prophets of Baal had been routed, and the people of Israel had proclaimed their allegiance to the true God. God had answered Elijah’s prayers for an end to a crippling drought (1 Kings 18). But instead of resting confidently in the Lord, who had brought about all these good things, Elijah ran away. Why? Sometimes we are just too worn out to stay where we are. Even our moments of success can be clouded by opposition and fear, and it can seem easier to run away. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, or you feel unable to cope for another day with a difficult relationship. Or maybe you’re just plain tired and you think that being elsewhere—physically or spiritually—will fix things. But when we run from our challenges, we often miss the lessons God wants us to learn—about ourselves and his care. Thankfully for us, God is willing to meet us when we run away. He came to Elijah with a gracious question: “What are you doing here?” And God responded to Elijah’s hurt and fear with a promise of his presence and ongoing work. By coming to us in Christ, God has done even more. When you’re worn out and tempted to run away, let the presence of Christ lead you back home to rest in him. “Precious Lord, take my hand . . . I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. . . . Guide my feet, hold my hand, lead me home.” In Christ, Amen.

“What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me?” — Jeremiah 2:5 One hazard of technology today is the temptation to scroll aimlessly on social media or web feeds. Maybe we begin by looking for a recipe, but our search turns up a distracting new diet program, or we see a juicy update on a friend we haven’t seen in years—and before we know it, we’ve spent an hour wandering around the internet without a clear sense of direction. Something similar can happen in our spiritual lives. Sin rarely captures us out of the blue. Instead, we begin small—with a little lie, or a grudge we can’t let go of, or a few too many drinks—and later we discover we have wandered far into places we never thought we would go. The prophets reminded God’s people Israel that they had wandered from God’s way. They had followed idols—representing the sinful desires of the human heart—rather than walking with the Lord and obeying his directions. They stopped asking, “Where is God in our lives?” They turned away from the living water and dug cisterns that only ran dry. When Jesus came, he declared that he is the “living water” who fills us with his guiding Spirit (John 7:37). Rather than scrolling aimlessly through life, let’s follow this Savior to keep close to God. Lord, sometimes we don’t realize when or how far we stray from you. Guide us by your Spirit, we pray. Lead us to worthwhile endeavors that honor you, through Christ. Amen.

They have left the straight way and wandered off. . . . — 2 Peter 2:15 For the past fifteen years I have lived in the northeastern United States, where roads often meander all over the landscape. Make a wrong turn, and you often discover that it can take a long time to find your way back to the right path. I’m thankful for the map program in my cell phone! Peter describes the false teachers of his day as people who have gone off in the wrong direction. What leads people off course? Peter mentions the attractions of pleasure, greed, pride, lust, and the promise of false freedoms. All of these things and more lead us on meandering paths that can quickly bring us away from where God would have us go. The “wages of wickedness” can also be appealing. Balaam was an example of someone who thought sin could offer a shortcut to a good life (see Numbers 22). But that wouldn’t work, and Balaam had to be rebuked by his donkey before he could see the truth! In a similar way, we might think a financial scheme will get us what we want. And when we realize we have gone wrong, we may well have caused many people lots of harm and damage. God invites us to embrace Christ as our Lord and Savior— the one who directs us and saves us from our wrong turns. Follow him, and let him keep you on the way! Lord, we have a hard time sticking with your directions for our lives. By your Spirit, keep us on the right path, and lead us home with you. Through Jesus we pray. Amen.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. — 2 Timothy 2:17-18 A recent blog I read celebrated the idea of a “never-ending vacation.” Faced with the prospects of an unfulfilling job and the constant demands of everyday life, many people dream of “leaving it all behind” and heading for a place with no responsibilities. While it can be good to have a change of pace in life, the temptation to run away from all our responsibilities will lead to trouble and will damage the relationships in our lives. In 2 Timothy 2 the apostle Paul mentions two individuals who ran away from home spiritually. Apparently they got caught up in false teachings about the resurrection and undermined the hope that believers had in Christ. The false teachers painted a picture that misled people to wander from the good news of Jesus—that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, who died for our sins and rose again so that we can live forever with him. No matter how much we might enjoy learning new things in life, we need the “solid foundation” of truth that we can depend on to provide us with our spiritual home. We need a place where we are known and accepted in grace. And that’s what God gives us in Christ. Let’s be careful about the stories we tell and the “chatter” we might engage in. In all that we say and do, we should ask ourselves, “Does it point people to Christ?” Lord, keep us on the firm foundation of the gospel so that we don’t wander from you. Amen.

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God. . . . — Deuteronomy 8:11 It takes work to maintain a home. Whether you own your own residence or rent from others, there are always little maintenance projects that creep up: light bulbs need replacing, lawns need mowing, faucets begin to drip, doors need to be repainted. Sometimes we put the work off for another day, but if we wait too long the home will deteriorate. A home always needs regular maintenance. We can also face temptations to take our home with God for granted. When times are good, we look at our material blessings, at our relationships with family and friends, or at our moral character, and we assume we are doing fine. We forget that these are gifts from God that we receive by grace. Israel was reminded that when they arrived in the promised land, they needed to make work of remembering God. God warned that if they did not actively honor the Lord for his gifts, they would soon forget the Giver. I read once that most divorces occur not because of an affair or a spouse’s violence but because of apathy—a husband or wife simply begins to take the other for granted. Something similar can happen in our relationship with God. Our God wants us to know where our blessings come from—and especially the gift of our relationship with him in Christ. Do you remember? Gracious God, you have given us so much—and as if that were not enough, in Christ you offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life with you! Help us to remember and praise you. Amen.

Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. — Psalm 106:24 My computer shows me interesting pictures each time it starts up. As I prepare to log in with my password, I see images of beautiful places around the world: tropical islands, scenic mountain meadows, stunning landscapes, bustling city streets. These images, of course, are carefully selected to catch my attention. Not surprisingly, I often go searching for information about some of these places, even wondering what it would be like to live there. Have you heard the old saying “The grass is always greener on the other side . . .”? Of course, I have to remember that living in a mountainous paradise would lack many of the things I appreciate at home. My family and friends don’t live there. The community connections and conveniences I have are not there. But at times I am still tempted by the lure of a new place. Something like that can happen to us spiritually too. The psalmist recalls how God gave his people a home. God brought them out of Egypt and protected and provided for them. But Israel often longed for something different, thinking they could do better. Yet, in running from God, they ran from the One who provided their true home. Our sinful hearts easily forget the gift of the home we have with God. Can we recognize the dangers of our restlessness? “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.” God, remind us of the grace of serving you where you place us, and keep us near you in Jesus. Amen.

They did not receive the things promised . . . admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. — Hebrews 11:13 Every summer my wife and I load up our van and spend a week camping with our kids. The children are old enough now to help with setting up the tent and the campsite and settling in to the routines of the week. We look forward to these times away together. But living in a tent is no substitute for a solid home. The writer of Hebrews, looking back at the stories of Israel’s patriarchs (which we’ve examined in the past week), makes clear that something deeper drives our search for home. In faith we are “looking for the city . . . whose architect and builder is God.” Not all of us might recognize this deeper search, of course. Often we pull up stakes in search of something that will make our lives better. We imagine we can trade the hardships and heartaches of one situation for a week at the cottage, or with a new boyfriend or girlfriend, or with a stiff drink, or a new job, or a nicer home—whatever will seem to fulfill our longing. But the best this world can offer is mere tent camping compared to the home with “many rooms” that our Savior prepares for us (John 14:2). The patriarchs, by faith, went somewhere. They followed God’s call or discovered that God was with them as they went. And they learned that just going somewhere could never satisfy the longing that only God could fulfill. Savior, lead us by your Spirit through our journey of life. Bring us safely to the home you have prepared for us by your grace. Amen.

Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” — Genesis 50:25 “Never forget where home is.” Joseph probably didn’t say these very words, but if you stood by his deathbed that day, there was little doubt about what he meant. Joseph’s last words were all the more remarkable because he hadn’t lived at “home” for many years. He had grown successful and prosperous in Egypt. His children lived there. For all intents and purposes, Egypt was his home. But knowing where home is means you have to know first of all where you have come from and where you belong. Many people grow up somewhere and never leave, and they cannot imagine living anywhere else. But in our increasingly mobile societies today, “home” can be harder to recognize. Where am I from, if I’ve lived in a dozen places during my lifetime? Joseph reminded his brothers that their home was the place God had promised to their forefathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And one day God would bring them back there. No matter how successful we may become in a particular place, the Christian’s home is defined by adoption into the family of God. Our home with God is only possible because God has come to our aid in Christ. Never forget that you belong to this faithful Savior. You have told us, Father, that there is a place where we can live with you. You have sent your Son and Spirit to lead us there. May we never forget where we belong. Amen.

“I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again.” — Genesis 46:4 Jacob, who was now called Israel, had reconciled with his brother, Esau, and was living back in Canaan (Genesis 32-33). But after staying there for many years, he was on the move again. His son, Joseph, whom he had thought was dead (Genesis 37), had become a ruler in Egypt. And there was a great famine in the land (Genesis 41-45), so Jacob went to Egypt to live out the rest of his days. Sometimes God moves us in unexpected and surprising ways. A new job opportunity comes our way. Our grown children move to a different part of the country, and we follow. Moving can be difficult: we leave behind what is familiar, and the new place we go—even if it’s exciting—is unknown and unpredictable. Jacob spends time with God in worship on his way to Egypt. He needs to know that God will be with him, that God’s promises will be valid in this new place as well. He expresses his readiness to do whatever God tells him: “Here I am,” he says. And God promises to bring Jacob’s family back to their home in Canaan again. When we face unexpected opportunities in life, do we seek God’s will in worship and prayer? As followers of Christ walking in step with his Spirit, we are assured that the Lord will always be with us. So we can journey with God’s promises—no matter where we go. God of new opportunities, thank you for unexpected places and opportunities in which to serve you. Help us to discern your will and leading, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

“I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.” — Genesis 28:15 Jacob was running away from home. He had stolen his older brother’s inheritance (see Genesis 27), and now his brother, Esau, wanted to kill him. So, to save his own life, Jacob was fleeing the place that should have been home. Sometimes we shatter our experience of home with our sinful actions. We betray our marriages. We ruin family relationships with our jealousy. We antagonize neighbors with our angry words. We find that we can no longer feel at home in the place we ought to belong. Yet even when we are running away, God can meet us in unexpected places with his promises. Jacob was not looking for God; there was nothing special about the “certain place” where he stopped for the night. But in his dream, Jacob’s eyes were opened to see that no place is outside of God’s presence (Psalm 139:7). And he heard God’s assurance that even though Jacob had done wrong, God would keep his promise to Jacob’s family and bring him back home. Jacob’s experience anticipates the way God restores sinners through the work of Jesus. Even as we are still running, God meets us with the assurance that he will watch over us and bring us back to himself. And we discover that being in God’s presence is a refuge for all who feel away from home. Almighty God, our sins cause us to run from you. Amaze us with your grace, and help us to trust in your promises to forgive us and return us home to you, through Jesus. Amen.

“To your offspring I will give this land.” — Genesis 12:7 For many people, owning their own home is a great dream and a great blessing. Home ownership allows people to build equity and gain financial security. It also gives them a place to call their own—with private living space and a yard. The Bible gives us glimpses of humanity’s search for a home. But one thing we soon discover is that our dream home cannot really be the one we build for ourselves. Abram, it seems, had a good life in Harran, where his extended family was living. He had possessions and household servants. He was prosperous and successful. But Harran could not be his home. “Go . . .” God said, “to the land I will show you.” God led Abram to the land of Canaan and said that his descendants would receive this land. So this would one day be their home. But Abram lived in tents, without a permanent dwelling. He had to learn to wait for God to build the home that he longed for. Many of us are longing for a place of our own. We learn from the Bible that what we really long for is a place with God: a place where God is present with us, a place where we can worship God and lean on his grace. We cannot build that home with our own efforts, but only by waiting on the work of God in Christ. Faithful God, we want a place to belong, a place where we can lean on your grace for all we need. Guide us to trust in Jesus, and restore us to our home with you. Amen.

The Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. — Genesis 3:23 As I write, the news is filled with stories of hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. In addition to their destructive impacts on nature, disasters like these have long-term effects on the many people whose homes and towns they destroy. If we lose our home, we lose not only a place to live but also a sense of security and belonging. Our first human home was lost because of the fall into sin. The devil tempted Adam and Eve with the false promise that they could decide better for themselves and did not need to listen to God. But that was a lie, and our first parents’ fall into sin brought judgment and death for us all. As a result, humanity is now homeless, and we cannot make our own way back to the security of God’s presence. We still struggle under the effects of sin today. In this world we are cut off from God, and even our best human efforts fall short of repairing broken relationships or creating the paradise we long for. But God is not finished with us. God graciously provides for us so that we are able to survive away from home. And he asks still, “Where are you?” giving us an opportunity to recognize our homelessness and to follow the path to return home through his Son, Jesus Christ. Loving God, we long for a place of security and belonging with you. Provide for everyone who needs an earthly home, and restore us all to your presence in Christ, we pray. Amen.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. — Genesis 2:15 In the beginning, there was no reason to leave home because humanity lived in paradise. The garden God had created provided everything needed for human flourishing. Even work in the garden was fulfilling and comfortable. The Bible pictures God’s extravagant care as a free gift of grace for his creatures. From the world’s beginning, God offered us human beings a place to live in his presence with everything we needed. We could delight in God’s being with us, and we could enjoy being at home with ourselves before God. So why would we ever leave? As the Bible portrays it, one essential element of our sense of home is contentment, an ability to rest in God’s care for us. So when God sets limits, such as a tree from which we may not eat, can we trust that this is for our good? As we will see, humans find it difficult to be content. We prefer instead to make our own way, to find a place where we can follow our own desires. And we forever run away from the perfect home with God. But ever since we left the garden, we have been spiritually thirsty, longing for those rivers overflowing with God’s created goodness. Only in his Son, Jesus, does God offer a return to contentment. Will you follow him home today? Lord, we find it hard to rest in your extravagant grace and provision. Forgive us. Help us to be content. Give us rest in the finished work of Christ that brings us home with you. Amen.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. — Psalm 23:6 In many parts of North America, where I live, summer is a season of vacations. People leave their homes and go traveling to explore new places or to stay in familiar getaways. Being away offers opportunities to take a break from everyday tasks and routines. But a lot can happen when you’re away from home. When our family goes to a vacation home, we find that cooking plans can get complicated because the kitchen doesn’t have the pans or cooking supplies we are used to at home. The roads and stores are unfamiliar too, and we have to navigate new uncertainties. Sometimes people face medical emergencies when they are away from home, and crises like that be very difficult because there is little or no support network. “There’s no place like home,” an old saying reminds us. This is true for us spiritually as well. We are created to be at home in God’s presence. And while sin may promise adventures, the places it can bring us do not provide the security of being at home with God. Psalm 23 reminds us of the God who cares for us along the journey of life. And God offers us a home, a place of welcome through the promises and presence of his Son and Spirit. This month, let’s explore how the Bible invites us to be at home with God. Holy God, thank you that we can depend on you to guide and lead us. Assure us through your Son and Spirit that we can always be at home with you. Amen.

[Jesus] appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. . . . He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:3, 7-8 The book of Acts is not simply about the birth of the church or even the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, giving great power. Acts reveals the extension of Jesus’ work on earth, in which he uses not his human body but a different body made up of his followers—the church. That body, known today as the worldwide church of Christ, aims to live out and continue the ongoing work of Jesus as he grows his kingdom here on the earth. Jesus hinted at this when he taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). When Jesus met with his followers, gave proof of his resurrection, and spoke with them about the kingdom of God, he was helping them understand that he was creating not a new religion but a movement that would expand around the world through them. Thankfully the Holy Spirit gave them understanding, and we are here today as part of his church. Christ is our head, and we are his body, serving God in this world as the heart, hands, and feet of the Lord Jesus, who promises full life for all who believe in him. Jesus, thank you for wanting to use me as part of your work in this world. Help me to serve you as you draw others to yourself. Amen.

“‘Now get up and stand on your feet. . . . I am sending you to [the Gentiles] to open their eyes . . . so that they may receive forgiveness of sins. . . .’” — Acts 26:16-18 Consider your own story of faith. One of the ways you can know the awe of God is through your story. Maybe you came to Jesus out of a life of poverty and pain. Maybe you think your story is less than exciting because you grew up in the church and have always been a part of it. Whatever the case, you have a story to share because it’s really about God’s story happening through you. In all your struggles, celebrations, griefs, and joys, God has been telling his story of grace in and through you. When given the opportunity, Paul shared his story. One of the main reasons a personal story is so powerful is that no one can argue against the way God has chosen to work in and through you. Think of moments when you had to trust God with a loved one who was sick, or when you were not sure how to pay a debt and God provided for you. Or maybe you thought your marriage was at the point of no return, but God brought it back. People can debate theology and doctrine, but they cannot argue against the awesome work of God in and through a transformed life. May we not lose sight of the power of whom we serve and that we are called to be his people. Let’s embrace and cele­brate the awe and wonder of God’s power each day. God, undo me today! Soften my heart and bring me freedom so that I may see and know the wonder of who you are. Amen.

My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. . . . — Acts 20:24 Have you thought about what can hold people back from a deep sense of awe? We could answer that question in a general way by saying that sin is what keeps us from enjoying deep, full life with God. But have you also wondered about how subtle sin can be? Sometimes we don’t realize how much our sinful tendencies can deceive us. For example, I’ve noticed one thing that has a strong hold on many, many people: individualism. If you live in the West, you know that this shows up in a phrase like “Do whatever makes you happy.” I’m all for being happy, but what happens when that is taken too far? We end up putting ourselves first in everything we do. One of the hardest addictions to recover from is the selfie life. Paul taught that he counted his life as nothing in comparison to what he had gained by following Jesus. His deep sense of awe was grounded in setting aside his own plans, dreams, and desires so that he could devote himself to God’s greater purpose for his life. Paul was not consumed with comfort or convenience, and he found contentment in fo­cus­ing on the life Jesus had in store for him. The greatest battle we might face in developing faith can be in holding back from giving Jesus everything in our life. Jesus, thank you for giving your whole life for us so that we can have life to the full. Forgive us for seeking a convenient, comfortable faith. Help us to live the life you have called us to. Amen.

Many of those who believed . . . openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. — Acts 19:18-19 Lisa is a person I know who came to faith in Jesus Christ from a New Age background. In her early days of following Jesus, she tried to mix many layers of the New Age movement in with her faith. It didn’t work. She would constantly be confused and lacking in her understanding of following Jesus. She finally found freedom when she rid herself of those mixed-in practices. Jesus’ early followers knew that in order to fully surrender to him, they would need to get rid of everything that could distract from the work of the Spirit in their lives. In Ephesus, new believers who had practiced sorcery and witchcraft burned all of their scrolls in front of everyone. People in many cultures attempt to mix other religious ideas and thoughts with faith in Christ, saying, “Really, what harm is there in that?” It can also be tempting to mix the Christian faith with superstition or reading a daily horoscope for guidance. But if we do that, we fail to realize that we are not fully trusting in God and his Spirit to guide us and to provide us full life. When we approach faith as a mixed bag, we water down the power of the good news of life. Dear God, if anything in our lives misleads us from following you, help us to get rid of it. Guide us into real, full living each day, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

They took him . . . to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?” — Acts 17:19 Something special happens when someone earns the right to share an insight or opinion. Sadly, some people don’t seem to understand that there are times when you have to earn the right before you can share your opinion. In his visit to Athens, Paul was brilliant. As a follower of Christ, he had become distressed that the city of Athens was full of idols. And the Spirit gave Paul some insight into what was going on there. The city took pride in being a hotbed of ideas, and people engaged in the worship of all kinds of gods (represented by the idols). In fact, many people “spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” So Paul began to reason with people in the marketplace. He had taken time to listen to them, and they were intrigued by his new message about Jesus. They said they wanted to hear more, even though they didn’t fully understand what he was saying. In this way Paul earned the right to share about the one true God, and many people believed. It can be easy to get mad at the world, to be frustrated with how things are swinging one way or the other—but getting angry and combative is not the answer. Paul walked into the midst of a confusion of ideas and earned the right to share about God by connecting with people and gaining a sense of what mattered to them. God, help us to understand the world around us and to share who you are and what you have done for us all. Amen.

“God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted [the Gentiles] by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.” — Acts 15:8 Tension was building as God continued to expand his kingdom. Reports were coming in that Gentiles were becoming believers in Christ, and then some leaders from Judea began teaching that people could not be saved in Christ unless they were circumcised according to the law of Moses. Actually, those leaders had an “us and them” attitude about faith, and they wanted clear markers to show who was included and who was not. But God had other plans. Thankfully, cooler minds prevailed, and the church’s leaders saw the truth that all believers are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and that circumcision is no longer required. Salvation into God’s kingdom is a matter of the heart. As the work of the Spirit (by which every believer in Christ is sealed) produces fruit in us, we gradually take on the character and behavior of Christ. The Spirit works in us and changes our hearts. Having an outward mark does not change our hearts. Only the Spirit of God can do that. The gospel cuts to the heart of who we are, and by his power at work inside of us the Lord makes something beautiful out of our lives. God, thank you for the work you are doing in our hearts. May your love and grace overflow from within us to bring your goodness and fruitfulness into the lives of others. Amen.

They reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. — Acts 14:27 I once heard a speaker say that if your teenager is disconnected or uninterested in being part of the family, give them a better story to be a part of. If you have teenagers, that may be worth thinking about. In this section we see Paul and Barnabas sharing stories of transformation. After returning to Antioch, they gathered the community of believers and “reported all that God had done through them.” In other words, they shared with passion and excitement the things that the Spirit of God was doing. Part of having a deep sense of awe in our life with God is knowing that we are part of a better story. We might even say that continuing to tell the ­stories of God’s work will help to keep the mission going. After Jesus had sent his disciples out in pairs to spread the good news about him, he brought them together again and had them share stories of what had happened (Luke 10:1-24). Stories have the power to make our faith real, and they prompt us to live with our eyes open to see where God is working. As we grow in faith, we begin to understand that we are part of a greater story that needs to be shared with others. And when we are down and discouraged, stories can help us regain our joy. God, thank you for inviting me into your story. Help me to share with humility and boldness how you are working in my life and in the lives of others. Amen.

The Gentiles . . . were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. — Acts 13:48 When we go to a gathering where there’s a lot of good food, we often say, “That’s a great spread.” It points out that a great feast is spread across the table, and we look forward to enjoying it. Acts records for us that Paul and Barnabas were spreading the good news of Jesus across a wide geographical area, and many people were experiencing the love and grace of Jesus. They were on a mission, from God, to spread the good news to the Gentiles, people of other nations beyond the Jewish people, and the Gentiles were receiving the good news with great joy. The power of the good news of God’s love for us, given through the life and death of Jesus and his resurrection, cannot be contained. When Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the tomb, he proved that as much as we think we can predict how God is going to work, we can’t. We can’t even assume how God will work, because when we do that, we limit our ability to see and participate in God’s work in our lives. Paul and Barnabas understood that the good news was for all people, and many embraced the truth. Even when there was opposition, the disciples were filled with excitement as the word of God spread. Father, expand our understanding of how you want to go beyond the limits we tend to set. Fill us with your Spirit and with joy as we learn to follow you. Amen.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said . . . — Acts 13:2 There are subtle things written in Acts that we can easily miss while reading it quickly. I miss important details at times, and maybe that happens to you too. But then there are moments when the Spirit helps us see things that we never noticed before. Note that in the church at Antioch the believers were worshiping and fasting, and that the Spirit revealed to them that Barnabas and Saul were called. Then, after this was revealed, the believers fasted and prayed and laid hands on the two before sending them off. The word “they” is crucial in this passage. Prophets and teachers are identified, but the community of believers is mentioned too. There’s something powerful that happens when the community of faith is together. If you are part of a church, you know that churches often try to model themselves after other churches. There is nothing wrong with learning from another church model, but it can then be easy to try to go in your own strength to make it happen. This community was set on worshiping, fasting, and praying—and as they did so, the Spirit revealed an important mission. Notice too that they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul. The Spirit-led community sent them off with a communal blessing to serve in the Lord’s unfolding plan for his kingdom. Father, as we worship, pray, and fast, show us your mission for our lives. In your strength, we want to do what you call us to do. Amen.

They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. — Acts 12:22-23 Here Acts helps us again to stand in awe of God. King Herod had set himself up on his throne like a god. What he wore and what he said would have prompted the people to say that he was a god, not a man. And let’s not forget that they wanted something from him: peace and food. Well, the king did not give due praise to God, so he was struck down and eaten by worms. But let’s be careful not to pass judgment on King Herod so quickly. We may not have a throne to sit on or royal robes to wear. We may not even have one person following us. But sometimes we play God in our own lives. Excessive worry is one way we do that. Worry is a signal that we are taking over God’s role of being God in our lives. It’s as though we hold tight to this thing as if we have control over it—but of course we do not. As anyone who worries excessively can tell you, there is very little contentment and joy in living that way. When we try to sit on the throne of our lives, taking God’s rightful place and not opening ourselves to trust in him, we set ourselves up for trouble. Though we might not be struck down or eaten by worms, we can endanger our very souls. We need to stop playing God and let him guide us into full life. God, you are better at running my life than I am. Help me to give you my life today. Amen.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. — Acts 12:5 When there is a problem, I tend to go into fix-it mode. I want to find the solution and make it happen. Things were intense for the church in its early days, and we’ve been exploring some of that. We have seen today that King Herod was cruel and cunning. He had put pressure on the church and had killed the apostle James, and he liked how that made him popular with the people who had gotten Jesus crucified. So Herod arrested Peter and put him in prison too. It’s almost comical that Herod used four squads of soldiers to guard him. Did you notice the church’s response? Did they jump into a strategy meeting on how to get Peter out of prison? Nope! They did what came naturally to them—they prayed. Don’t you love that? And it’s not a prayer qualified with the word “just.” We sometimes do that when we pray, “God we just ask . . . .” But these people earnestly sought God with passion. Sometimes when I’m having a tough moment, I try to sort things out in my own understanding. Prayer gets sidelined as an afterthought. I wonder what it would be like if we grew a response muscle that moved us to turn to God first. I’m sure it would help us see things differently. Maybe we wouldn’t be so overwhelmed. Maybe anxiety and worry would have less of a pull if we stopped trying to fix it first. God, may turning to you be my first response in tough times. Forgive me when I don’t boldly make my requests to you. Amen.

Some of them . . . began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. — Acts 11:20 Sometimes, when you find yourself in a moment of oppor­tunity, you need to make a bold move. After Stephen was martyred, the believers scattered. It may seem odd, but that is one way the good news began to spread into other regions. God is so powerful that he can bring good results even out of bad things that happen. Today, many of us don’t look at persecution in a way like that. We tend to think of it as something that will ruin or destroy faith. But as we can see in this passage, the church can thrive despite persecution—and this still happens in parts of the world today. The point of this passage is that some believers, led by the Spirit, made bold moves and proclaimed the good news to people outside the faith. Their boldness was not of themselves; it was due to the presence of God in their lives. When we face tough times, we often need to step back and trust that God will create the opportunity for us to step in and be bold. Sure, it might seem like a risk at the moment, but it might otherwise be more of a risk not to take the bold step. As the Spirit of God nudges us in our Christian living, we get to know more of his work in us and through us. It takes time to discern such moments. It might also take wisdom from others to speak into our situation and ask, “What is keeping you from making a bold move?” Father, fill us with your Spirit so that we might be bold—not in our own strength or doing, but in yours. Amen.

While Peter was still speaking . . . the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. — Acts 10:44 One thing we learn from passages like this one in the book of Acts is that Peter and other believers did not create these moments. It was all the work of the Holy Spirit. Remember when we said earlier that Acts is all about the Holy Spirit? Well, we see the Spirit on full display here. Peter and the others were simply led by the Spirit into these moments of pure awe. Who could have imagined the Spirit filling Gentiles so powerfully here that they began “speaking in tongues and praising God”? We need to consider that if we try to create a certain kind of worship experience, or we aim for certain results by just following some model of doing church, we are relying on our own strength and understanding. But if we rely on the Spirit for direction, there is great power. It makes me smile that in this story Peter, who was a guy who liked to make things happen, had very little to do with the outpouring of power here. He was simply being a witness, and while he “was still speaking,” the Spirit of God came on the scene with life-changing power. Surely there are times when we need simply to trust that God has a better idea or plan, and we need to be open to the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is where awe resides. God, too often I try to make things happen in my own strength and my creativity. Help me to trust that you have a better plan for your amazing work in people’s lives. Amen.

The church . . . enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. — Acts 9:31 I remember going to visit a town near our home and being surprised to find a Corvette show going on. I was excited to check out all the beautiful cars on display. From older ’Vettes to new ones, those cars were something to behold. When I think of the church (no, not like a Corvette), I think of it as something of beauty. Sure, it has scratches and dents, and of course it has an ugly side because it’s made of people—but I think the church can be so stunning. When Saul (Paul) became a follower of Jesus, he was committed to making sure the church was something to behold. This verse for us today is worth reading a few times. The newly formed church of Jesus was a place of peace and was being built up. I think of a high-rise building being built floor by floor—and before you know it, the beauty is revealed. The people (the church) walked in the fear of God and multiplied. The building-up of the church wasn’t about slick programs or clever preaching. The hearts of the people were aligned with God, and they were encouraged by the Holy Spirit. They had a deep sense of awe as they walked in step with the Lord, and they made sure God got the glory. God, forgive us for seeing the church through the wrong lens at times. Guide us to focus on the right things that will help us grow. Amen.

“Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on [Jesus’] name?” — Acts 9:21 Maybe you have heard of the apostle Paul, but did you know he was also named Saul and had a nasty past? He felt that he was doing God’s work by putting Christians in prison, and he even watched approvingly as Stephen was stoned to death (Acts 7:58). Saul began using his Greek name, Paul, when he became a witness for Jesus to Greek-speaking Gentiles (Acts 13:9). Despite all of Saul’s nasty intentions, Jesus stopped him in his tracks and turned his life around. That was shocking to many of the people who had known Saul before. The Lord changed his life and gave him a new purpose. God would use him powerfully to invite Gentiles (non-Jewish people) into his kingdom. We can feel spiteful sometimes about people who cause trouble in our lives, but the power of Jesus can transform them from being angry, hateful, and vengeful to sharing God’s love, kindness, and peace. Imagine how it felt for people who knew the persecutor and then saw him preaching about Jesus as the Savior (Messiah). Saul was proclaiming the grace and power of the one he had fought hardest against. This is the power of the good news! God, search me and find any areas in my life that you need to turn around. Help me to see how you want to repurpose my life for your glory. Amen.

“How can I [understand],” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” — Acts 8:31 I wonder if Philip saw that moment coming. The Spirit of God surely did. Some years ago our family lived in a community of townhouses. We knew we were there for a greater reason than simply to raise our two young sons. We were called to be an example to the people around us of what Jesus was like. We prayed for various families around us. We hoped to gain a sense of whom God was working on. One day, though, a neighbor from a ways down the row of houses stopped my wife and asked, “Can I ask you some questions about church and faith?” We didn’t see that coming! We hadn’t prayed for her. But that didn’t mean God wasn’t working on her. In fact, God is working on all kinds of people all of the time. He may even be working on a person you least expect. So don’t be surprised when that coworker who annoys you sits down at the lunch table to ask what’s different about you. Or when a classmate who acts like they have it all together asks you to pray for them. Somehow they know you have a connection with God. What would happen if we began every day knowing that God has already been at work in the people around us, some of whom we might talk with that day? How could that change the way you go about your day? God, you work in mysterious ways. Give us eyes and ears and the right words to say so that we can be your witnesses everywhere each day. Amen.

Yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. — Acts 7:57-58 Stephen had just spelled out the story of God’s promise to Abraham. He explained how God had made a covenant with his people and had fulfilled it (Acts 7:2-50). Then he charged the high priest and the rest of the ruling establishment with the murder of “the Righteous One,” Jesus Christ. And at that moment Stephen’s day got much worse. The religious rulers were enraged. They were so angry that they dragged him out of the city and stoned him. Have you ever seen someone going through a tough time and wondered, “I don’t know what I would do if that happened to me”? Here’s a wonder and awe moment in the story of Stephen. As they pressed him, Stephen understood the power of God’s presence with him. He saw heaven open, and he found comfort. When we face tough times or when it feels like the world is against us, that can actually be a moment when we can know the peace that surpasses all understanding. A time like that can be hard and trying, but it can also be an opportunity to draw close to Jesus. People have said that perhaps the best question to ask in tough times is not so much “Why?” as “What are you revealing to me, God?” O God, help me to see a bad day or a tough time as an opportunity to draw close to you. I often fall prey to focusing only on myself. Instead, help me to see you and to serve you faithfully. Amen.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. — Acts 6:7 Look at the last part of today’s verse again: “a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” This had never caught my attention before. I had to do some digging to better understand the impact of this “large number of priests.” There were about 18,000 priests living among the Jews at this time. Wow! Their role was to serve in the temple, an actual physical space. Day after day they had priestly duties for taking care of the needs of the people around them. The task was enormous and exhausting. A large number of those priests were drawn to faith in Christ because they saw a group of people sharing the load of caring for the poor among them—and this was clearly not being done out of obligation. Jesus’ followers were doing this out of genuine love. That falls ­directly in line with being “devoted,” a trait we pondered a few days ago. As Jesus’ followers served diligently to meet people’s needs, many of the priests also found their way into this new community of faith. Of course, the church needs to balance its inward care with reaching out to others, but if the church becomes known as a community marked by care and love, that is something beautiful that others want too. Lord, what role do you want me to fill in your community? How can my gifts and passions help to shape the community of faith so that others may come to know Jesus? Amen.

“Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.” — Acts 6:3 We don’t often enjoy tension. Whether it’s in an organization, a business, a family, a friendship, or even a church, tension can really mess with things. But what if we can refocus the tension and see if it creates a new opportunity? Things were getting a bit tense in the fast-growing group of Jesus’ followers. Feelings were hurt, some people were left out, and some of them began to complain. Another word for this is “grumbling.” If you have heard the story of God’s people wandering in the desert after being freed from Egypt, you know that it did not take long for them to start grumbling (Exodus 16). What unfolds in this moment in Acts is an opportunity to decentralize the responsibilities of serving. The community has grown so large that it’s time to appoint leaders who can help take care of some needs that aren’t being met. When we take time to sit in the tension, we are able to see new opportunities. It’s easy to grumble. It’s also easy to find some people to grumble with. But if we step back and look at things from another angle, we might see an opportunity to start something beautiful. Too often in my life I have let the grumbling get in the way of what God may want to teach or reveal to me. How can we reframe what we are going through? What new thing might arise from the tension? God, please help us break free from complaining, and let us see what new things you are trying to teach us. Amen.

The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. . . . More and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. — Acts 5:12-14 When God begins to do a new thing, nothing can stop him. Forces of this world may try, but nothing can ultimately stop the momentum God creates. The reporting of signs and wonders can make some of us uncomfortable. I know it does that for me because I wasn’t brought up in that type of environment. However, God used signs and wonders to give evidence of his kingdom coming into reality. Though we might struggle a bit with these events, they can help us grasp the miracle of a changed life through the power of the resurrected Lord. When your life, or mine, is deeply transformed by the reality of God’s kingdom, we want others to experience it too. Read verse 14 again and reflect on it. Multitudes of people were being reached. This movement of Jesus was gaining momentum that would keep on going to the present day and beyond. In those early days, signs and wonders helped to reinforce the powerful new reality God was bringing into this world. As you take some time to reflect on all this, ask God to deepen your awareness of his power. Think about where and how you have seen God work in the past. Consider being stretched by asking God to give you his power today. Jesus, you did many miraculous things among the people you met and taught. Help me to see the miracles you are doing today. Amen.

God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. — Acts 4:33-34 As people were gripped by the reality of new life in Jesus, something significant was happening among them: no one was left out. “There were no needy persons among them.” Can you imagine what that was like? Think about being on the receiving end. As hard as it can be to ask for help, I’m sure that people felt relief, knowing their needs would be supplied. And what about the people who were giving? The ability to help meet the needs of people without expectations must have been contagious. People literally sold their property to help meet the needs of others. Talk about being devoted to one another. In our Western culture today, we tend to struggle with this concept of social living. If we help someone out, will they take advantage and expect us to keep on giving? How will we be able to say no at some point? Or could it be that God’s kingdom doesn’t work that way? Maybe we are called to show God’s heart by caring for and meeting each other’s needs, and maybe in doing so we will reflect the light of Jesus. Imagine what would happen if we, the church, lived each day with this kind of generosity. I’m sure that people outside the church would take notice and become curious. Holy Spirit, make me sensitive to the needs of the people around me. Give me the courage not to wait until someone asks for help but to step in when you nudge me to do so. Amen.

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” — Acts 3:6 Sometimes when we read the Bible, we can miss little phrases that make a transition. The beginning of our reading today provides a transition that leads into a new experience of God’s kingdom. It says, “One day Peter and John . . .” This will take us into a deeper sense of awe as we see God working and moving to bring more and more people to himself. Let’s savor each moment as it brings wonder, inspiration, and joy. It was a regular day as Peter and John headed to the temple to pray, and then things became really irregular. A lame man asked for money, and Peter offered him something completely different. He ­offered him Jesus and healing all in the same moment. Wait—what happened here? The man was healed in the name of Jesus, both spiritually and physically. This might make us uncomfortable, but when God chooses to reveal who he is and what his kingdom is about, he can do power­ful things! We may not always see healings like this, but when we see families restored, freedom from an addiction, and other amazing turnarounds, we can sense the wonder of the new life Jesus offers. Moments like this show us the power of God’s kingdom. They give us a glimpse of what the Lord came to do and what he will do when he fully restores all things. God, help me to see the power of the resurrection. Open my eyes and heart to the new things you are doing in and through and around me. Amen.

They broke bread . . . and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily. . . . — Acts 2:46-47 Have you ever gone to a show or a movie and laughed so hard that your face hurt? That has happened to me. There’s this one guy in my life who can make me laugh really hard too. For whatever reason, when he’s around, there’s often great laughter and even joy. As Jesus’ early followers began to emerge, something was happening that caught the attention of others: joy rose up from among them. Their lives were marked by Jesus, clearly seen in their deep devotion and great joy. Acts makes clear that they met daily, worshiped regularly, and had glad and generous hearts. Jesus’ followers had this internal joy marked with gladness, and it was not for themselves. Their outward-facing generosity brought joy into the lives of the people around them. Maybe when Jesus had taught them about the kingdom of God, he had shared how exciting and strange it would be to have so much joy that people would wonder and want what they had. Luke reports that they grew in favor with all the people and that the Lord added many to their numbers. Ask yourself if this joy is real for you. There are times when life can be hard and we can get discouraged. But it can also help to look deeper and see that joy grows when we are glad and generous as we look forward in hope. Lord, I want to grow in my understanding of what it means to be marked by joy. Even when life is tough, mark my life with great joy in you. Amen.

They devoted themselves . . . to prayer. — Acts 2:42 I don’t know about you, but this one is really hard. They devoted themselves to prayer? I’m a pastor, and I often am expected to pray, but that can be so hard at times. I can be a few minutes into my time of prayer, and boom—I’m thinking about mowing the lawn. It’s easy to get distracted when we pray. And yet this group of early believers devoted themselves to prayer! This means they consistently and regularly were going to God. But were they doing what we often do: bringing our lists of needs and concerns? Or were they doing something else? I talk to lots of people about prayer, and I often hear this: I tried praying, and it didn’t work. I asked God to heal my aunt’s illness, and he didn’t answer. And so on. But is that what prayer is about? Well, that’s a part of it, but there is more. Jesus’ early followers recognized that their source of strength and hope was God. For them, prayer was about laying down their lives before God and being open to serve him in whatever he called them to do. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that God is like a ­genie in a bottle, as if we could just pray and be granted whatever we wished for. When it comes to prayer, what God truly wants is to hear about what is going on in our hearts—and then for us to listen. God, help me to grow in my understanding of prayer. By your Spirit, help me to connect with you, talk with you, and listen to you. Guide me to follow you faithfully. In Jesus, Amen.

They devoted themselves . . . to the breaking of bread. . . . — Acts 2:42 There’s something about sitting around a table to share a meal. When our family is all together, we often have deep, rich conversations. And we have joyful fun—I recall that when our first granddaughter was becoming expressive, we all started cheering with our hands in the air as she did the same. As Jesus’ followers devoted themselves to breaking bread together, there was a sense of understanding that they were a part of something greater than themselves. It was a reminder that they were part of the kingdom of God that Jesus had taught about. Being together to break bread is a way of revealing that we are a part of a new kind of family as well. This family has a centerpiece, and his name is Jesus. As we sit together in community, breaking bread together and remembering Jesus, whether in a large gathering or a small one, we look around that space with an understanding that Jesus calls us brothers and sisters. In this picture of the table we need to understand that none of us deserves to be at the ­table breaking bread, and yet we are all invited and welcomed because of Jesus. Jesus spoke some powerfully prophetic words when he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” He knew that we would need to remember who and what we are a part of. Jesus, thank you for the power of the table. In your grace you have given us the greatest example of your good news by welcoming us and reminding us to remember you. Amen.

They devoted themselves . . . to fellowship. . . . — Acts 2:42 It’s important to know that we don’t just “go” to church but instead are part of the church. We might go to a hockey game or to a store, but church is different. If we follow Jesus, we are a part of his body, his people, the church. Jesus’ early followers were a diverse group. They came from many countries and from all walks of life. It was probably difficult for them to unite together and learn to be God’s newly formed people. And yet they found a way to be devoted to one another, to be together in fellowship—in Christ, through the power of his Spirit. What I love about the fellow­ship of Jesus’ followers is that they were there for one ­another. Their lives would not have been easy with all the political, cultural, and religious divisions in the Roman Empire. But they were able to find their way by being there for each other, in Christ. When someone was struggling, hurting, or even coming off the rails in their faith, there was someone to encourage them. Though we all have a tendency to try to deal with our struggles on our own, we need to learn to lean into community. Maybe we don’t want to bother others, but in our times of struggle we need to run toward instead of away from our community of faith so that they can care for us. Jesus, give me the strength and courage to live life in community. Help me to lean into your people around me and to let others do that with me. Amen.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. . . . — Acts 2:42 Not long ago I heard someone say that if you believe you can possess truth as your own, you will be argumentative and defensive. However, if you ­realize that truth is something you point to, you will be kind and compassionate because you know truth is for everyone. If there is one thing that has polarized our society, it is personal expressions of truth. If you are a follower of Jesus, or if you are becoming a follower, you need to know that you are called to be devoted to the truth that belongs not to you but to God. The very reason that Jesus’ early followers held on to and continued in the apostles’ teaching was that the apostles had been with Jesus and had heard the truth from his very lips. Jesus’ followers knew that these teachings brought life itself. When I look at the world around me, I see so much confusion and chaos. Maybe you see some of the same wasteland. As people who are trying to find our way through the wasteland of confusion and chaos today, we need to find our anchor in the foundational truth of Jesus so that we don’t build our lives on the ever-changing sand of society. The early believers’ devotion to the apostles’ teaching gave them a deep sense of awe for what would lead them to live with holy reverence for God and his Word. Father, knowing what is true can be hard. Please guide me to your truth so that I may stand strong in this world of confusion and chaos. Amen.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. — Acts 2:42 If you know a die-hard soccer fan, you know that they can be rather fanatical about their club. The way they talk, dress, and cheer is like they were on the pitch for the game. Through thick and thin a true fan stays true to their club, no matter what. A true soccer fan is a picture of what it means to be deeply devoted. As the group of first-century, new believers in Jesus was being formed, they did something almost automatically. They turned their lives in a direction that would allow them to grow a resilient faith. They devoted themselves to this new way of life. The word devoted carries with it the idea of being glued to something, unable to be pulled apart. When a person is devoted, they are not looking for the path of least resistance. When times get tough, they don’t strive for a comfortable and convenient life. People who are deeply devoted don’t allow their feelings to be the main indicator of how they define their faith. The early church shows us something very important about human nature: what we are devoted to forms our lives, shapes our thinking, and develops new patterns of life and friendship. God, life can be so tough at times. There are days when we are not sure if we can even move forward, so please give us the strength and the will to be devoted to you and your plan. Amen.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 After capturing his followers’ imagination with the kingdom of God, Jesus tells them, in effect, “I need you to be my witnesses here on earth. And here’s the great thing—you will not be alone.” Jesus says that God’s Spirit will come upon them and give them power to be his witnesses. He explains that God by his Spirit will be the source of their strength so that they won’t have to do this work on their own. Too often we think that in ­order to be a witness, we need to learn the right steps and know the right Scriptures so that we don’t mess things up. And while all of that is a good idea, it’s a great comfort to know that we are not alone in the mission of being witnesses to the living hope, Jesus. Jesus’ close group of followers knew about how God had told his prophets what to say in past generations. They had also seen Jesus do some powerful things. And now he was telling them that the Holy Spirit of God himself would empower them! They must have felt a bit terrified but also confident, knowing they could go forward with the power and presence of God. This was the same God who had created the earth and brought Jesus back to life! And the same power is available to Jesus’ followers today. Spirit of God, thank you for living in me and giving me your power to witness for Jesus. Guide me in each moment you have given me today. Amen.

After his suffering, he . . . gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. — Acts 1:3 Jesus could have talked to his apostles about all kinds of things after he had risen from the grave. He could have talked about what it was like to have nails driven into his hands and feet, and what it was like to come back to life and breathe again. While Jesus might have mentioned those things, we know that he especially talked with his closest followers about the kingdom of God. His entire three years in the public eye were all about proclaiming and pointing to God’s kingdom and the full life it offers for everyone. The kingdom of God means full life forever for all who believe in Jesus as the Savior whose death has paid for all our sin. And with this promise Jesus captured his followers’ imagination. He wanted to help them under­stand that what they were signing up for was not a stale form of religion, directed by laws and rituals, but a new movement of God’s realm and reality that has entered human history through Jesus’ suffering and resurrection. Jesus knew that what captures our imagination will shape how we live—and, more importantly, what we are willing to die for. He talked about the kingdom of God so that his followers would be prepared to have a deep sense of awe over what was about to happen. Holy Spirit, please renew and grow my imagination of what the kingdom of God is and what it can do in and through my life. Amen.

Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. — Acts 2:43 People can argue and debate faith, and they can talk about possible contradictions in the Bible, but a life transformed by Jesus is a powerful mystery that cannot be denied. It’s a work of the Holy Spirit that can fill you with awe. With this in mind, let’s explore sections of the Bible’s book of Acts. Acts tells the story of the beginning of the church built by Jesus Christ. It also shows how God, by his Spirit, was doing something new and powerful by coming to live within people whom he called to have new life in Christ. Luke, the writer of Acts, captures moments and events in the development of the church that brought a deep sense of awe. As we look to Acts for inspiration, we do this not to try to revive the past. We look back to find a way forward as we embrace the possibility that God by his Spirit is doing something new even today. So, if you are new to the Christian faith, this can help to draw your heart and mind to the possibilities of what God can do. And if you have been a Christian for a while, this exercise may help to refresh your focus and imagination on the amazing things God can do in our lives and for his kingdom. Lord and God, I long for more of you. I desire a deep sense of awe as I see you work and move in my life. Help me to set aside my ideas of how I think you work, and please renew my eyes, ears, and heart to sense what you want to do. Amen.

He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. — Hebrews 11:10 From the time he received God’s call, Abraham became a sojourner. He lived in tents and frequently moved around. While Abraham appreciated the blessings of God, he came to realize that everything on this earth is temporary. Everything has an expiration date. Over the years Abraham grew in perspective. He began to desire an even greater reward that comes by faith—an eternal home “whose architect and builder is God.” Abraham didn’t live long enough to see all of God’s promises fulfilled. Neither do any of us. Yet throughout his life, Abraham kept moving forward, following after God. By faith, he knew that the best was yet to come. He looked forward to enjoying life with God in a city that God would build—a reference to the New Jerusalem (see Revelation 21-22). Abraham came to believe that the promised land was more than a plot of dirt in the land of Canaan. It was not only a place where Abraham and his descendants could live but also a place where God’s Spirit dwells in all his glory. Abraham believed in having life with God in heaven, and that made all the difference while he was here on earth. We too live as sojourners on this earth. We experience partial fulfillments of God’s promises. And, like Abraham, we keep our eyes on the glorious prize that awaits us someday—when Jesus will return and make all things new. Lord Jesus, we can get so distracted in this world. Help us to look forward to life with you in your kingdom when it fully comes. Amen.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. . . . — Hebrews 11:13 In Abraham’s remarkable life, his faith in God is what stands out. Throughout the course of his ups and downs and his moves to various places, Abraham believed. He not only believed God existed, but he was willing to stake his future on God’s faithfulness. Abraham believed, even though there was no cloud of witnesses around to support him or spur him on (Hebrews 11:1-2). Abraham had some amazing adventures along the way. But every act of worship and following God’s call was motivated out of faith. Faith was not a one-time expression for him but a life-long experience. Although Abraham’s faith ­wavered at times, it never collapsed. Against all odds, he kept on trusting in God’s promises. God gave him the gift of faith, and Abraham believed. The Chinese bamboo plant barely grows during its first five years. For a long time, nothing seems to be happening. Then, during the fifth year, the plant can grow more than 50 feet. God’s work in our lives can be like that, taking a long time to develop and then bursting with visible growth. Yet this growth won’t happen unless we are patient and keep on believing. And with God’s leading, we can do that. Father, as you work out your good plan in our lives, help us to exercise patient, unwavering confidence in you. Amen.

Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. — Genesis 25:8 It’s not how fast we run the journey of life that counts, but how we run it. The object is to follow the Lord, who calls and leads us. The point is to live God’s way, trusting him with our destiny rather than charging ahead and doing life our own way. God called Abraham on a journey of faith that took him many hundreds of miles and lasted throughout his many years. Abraham died at the age of 175 and was buried with his wife Sarah. Though Abraham hadn’t always acted faithfully on this journey, God was always his faithful guide. Abraham eventually learned that he could trust God with everything in his life. In faith, he grew to trust that he could always depend on God to keep his promises. Many people come to the end of their life and look back with regret and remorse rather than fulfillment and joy. Abraham had his share of both. Ultimately, because of God, he could look back over his many years and be grateful, joyful, and satisfied. Abraham had become a believer in God. He had learned that God can be trusted fully. He had seen promises fulfilled and amazing deliverances. He had discovered that the real adventure of life is in following God’s call. May we, too, run the race of faith as God calls us and, in the end, enjoy the fulfillment of God’s promises. Lord, be our ever-true guide on this journey of faith. May we trust in you and find ways to share this faith with the people around us. Amen.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram. . . . He . . . took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. — Genesis 22:13 Abraham’s faith is tested with the ultimate challenge: Is he willing to give up his most precious treasure to God? And at the last possible moment, God intervenes, telling Abraham to stop. So Isaac is spared, delivered from a death sentence. And God provides a substitute, a sacrificial ram to be offered instead. The place is then called “The Lord Will Provide.” Abraham could not have known that about 2,000 years later an even greater sacrifice would be made. God would again provide a substitute, who actually became “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). That substitute was Jesus, God’s only Son, who gave up his own life to pay for all our sin so that all who believe in him may have eternal life (John 3:16). God’s judgment against sin fell on his own Son. Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, stepped in and took our place. On that day, through Jesus’ death on a cross outside Jerusalem, a sufficient sacrifice was provided (see Mark 15:33-39). Abraham could not have known all this, but by the grace of God he had received the gift of faith and could trust that God would somehow keep his promises. Lamb of God, thank you for being our substitute and dying in our place, opening the way for us to be saved. Give us faith to believe in you and to serve you every day. Amen.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy. . . . Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” — Genesis 22:12 Abraham’s faith is severely tested in this episode. How it must have pained him to look into the face of the son he loved so dearly, knowing that this long-promised child was to become a sacrifice. Yet Abraham trusted that God would somehow make a way when there seemed to be no way out. Abraham displayed a surprising, unshakeable faith in the almighty, good God, who keeps his promises. Here God put Abraham to the ultimate test of faith. God needed to know who really held first place in Abraham’s heart. And Abraham needed to know that God could be completely trusted. For this reason Abraham was asked to surrender his most precious treasure to God. What is your most precious treasure? What might you be holding on to because it’s more important to you than life itself? My guess is that it’s probably a very good thing. But if a good thing becomes a distraction that pulls you away from God, it can become an idol, and that is a bad thing. Sometimes God has to do the painful work of prying our fingers off that treasure so that we can give back to him what belongs to him in the first place. Nothing is truly safe or secure until it is surrendered and dedicated to God. Father, help us to release our treasures into your hands. May we hold loosely what you have given us while holding tightly to you. Guide us to find our true joy in you. Amen.

God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and . . . sacrifice him . . . as a burnt offering.” — Genesis 22:2 Abraham’s journey of faith involved some painful twists and turns. This episode can tend to leave a knot in nearly every parent’s stomach. Here God tests Abraham by telling him to offer up his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice—and Abraham very nearly goes through with it! The request seems unthinkable—asking Abraham to ­offer up his own son. After all, this was the son of promise—the one through whom God promised to bless the nations of the world. This command likely made no sense at all to Abraham. Isaac was God’s great gift. But now it seemed that this gift was to be given back, surrendered up to God. Could Abraham let go of his son—the one thing that meant more to him than life itself? And what about God’s promise to bless the nations through him? This surely was a challenging, excruciating test of Abraham’s faith. But somehow Abraham had learned to trust God enough to provide a solution. He even told Isaac, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And as Abraham was about to slay his son, God told him to stop. At times our faith may be tested too. Will we trust God to keep his promises, however challenging it may be to obey? Through Jesus, God’s only Son, who laid down his life for our sake, we can trust God with the outcome. Lord, give us deeply trusting faith in you. Help us to know that you will see us through every trial we encounter. Amen.

When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. — Genesis 21:4 The long-awaited son finally arrived. Abraham and Sarah were overjoyed at Isaac’s birth. Yet this stunning birth came with new responsibilities, which Abraham took seriously. First, he circumcised Isaac, as God commanded. And as Isaac grew, Abraham instructed his son in the ways of the Lord (see Genesis 18:19). Later Abraham also helped to find the right woman for Isaac to marry (Genesis 24). Despite his advanced age, Abraham diligently worked to share his faith in God with the next generation. God instituted the home to be an environment where children can be raised to grow in faith: warmed by God’s love, nurtured in his Word, and protected from influences that would damage or destroy. Like tender vegetation, children are especially vulnerable and in need of constant care. This is where godly parents come in—providing an environment that instills faith and encourages spiritual growth. (See also Deuteronomy 6:1-9.) If we are parents, we can’t pass along what we don’t have. To pass faith along, we need to have a deep love for God that helps to shape the rhythms of family life. This includes intentional times of spiritual training as well as informal conversations about God and his love as we go about our lives each day. Father, may we create holy habits that bolster our love for you. Help parents and other family members to plant seeds of faith in children’s lives, that you may bring the increase. Amen.

“The day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down. . . . It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. . . . Remember Lot’s wife!” — Luke 17:29-32 “Remember Lot’s wife!” Even though this is one of the shortest statements in the Bible, it packs a wallop. It offers a ­solemn warning about choosing foolishly. Lot’s family is ­given clear instructions: Sodom is about to be destroyed, so head for the hills and don’t look back. But, tragically, Lot’s wife cannot resist looking back. She steals a peak and is turned into a pillar of salt. She is frozen in time at the moment of her disobedience, a monument to the dangers of spiritual compromise. Most societies memorialize significant achievements in some way. We build statues to honor war heroes, great leaders, and athletes. But what do we do with figures of failure and ruin? They are embarrassing rather than inspirational, so we keep them out of sight. God, however, is so concerned with our spiritual well-being that he immortalizes failure. Through the story of Lot’s wife, the Lord calls generations to remember the high cost of sin. It breaks God’s heart to see his children fall into disgrace because temptation has gotten the best of them. Although the sin may be forgiven, often the scars and collateral damage last a long time. That’s why he says, “Remember Lot’s wife”—who held on too tightly to the things of this world. Lord, forgive us for holding on to worldly desires and failing to obey you fully. Guide us to follow you. Amen.

One of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back . . . ! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” — Genesis 19:17 Genesis 19 tells the tragic story of Abraham’s nephew Lot. Until the arrival of two heavenly messengers, Lot was oblivious to the danger around him. He had gotten so close to sin and evil that he had lost perspective. Lot was a God-fearing man, but he had a divided heart. He loved the Lord, but he also loved the things of the world. Lot tried to serve two masters. But in the end he lost everything that mattered to him. Failure in the Christian life is seldom the result of a sudden blowout. Most often it is the result of a slow leak. It usual­ly involves a gradual drifting away from God and into sin, as was the case with Lot. He and his family were so torn by their ­divided loyalties that the heavenly messengers had to lead them by hand out of the city before destruction rained down. God’s exhortation still stands: flee from evil! Flee, before evil gets its claws so deeply embedded into you that you are unable to break free. Running from sin is not the mark of a coward, but yielding to sin is. It takes guts to admit our vulnerability and to flee from sin’s overwhelming power. There is a high price in choosing to follow Jesus—but an even higher price in not choosing to follow him. Lord, our hearts are often divided. We have become so accustomed to sin that we no longer blush. Forgive us. Purify us. Make us wholly yours. May we run to you whenever we are overwhelmed. Amen.

In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah . . . serve as an ­example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. — Jude 7 Every caring parent has warned their child about the dangers of playing near a busy street or in some other hazardous place. Young children are often unaware of danger, so they need to be warned. Our heavenly Father responds similarly when his children are sometimes careless. Thoughts of them perishing so stirs his heart that he sends warning signals our way. The dreadful destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah serves as one of those warning signs. The events described in Gene­sis 19 give us a small window into the godless depravity of these cities. Two heavenly messengers, sent to warn Lot about Sodom, said, “The outcry to the Lord against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” Having rejected God long ago, these cities no longer had any moral or social conscience. The tragic truth about human nature is that the worse we get, the less we realize it. We can become like a skunk that gives off a putrid smell but is not ­offended by it at all. People entrapped in sin are often oblivious to their own moral stench. May the fate of these ancient cities serve as a solemn warning of the consequences of trying to live our own way without regard for God or his way. Lord, have mercy on us. We are attracted by sin but are often blind to its many dangers. May we heed your warnings, keeping our eyes fixed on you—the author and perfecter of faith. Amen.

“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?” — Genesis 18:23-24 Prayer doesn’t stop with making requests for ourselves. It ­reaches out to include others. That’s why, with great intensity, Paul could say, “I urge . . . that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. . . . This is good, and pleases God” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). God works through intercession—prayer for others—to do mighty things. We can pray powerfully to God for others—and when we need prayer, with others pleading our cause before the Almighty, that can be a powerful experience. Abraham’s visitors informed him that Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed. Knowing that his nephew Lot was in danger there, Abraham pleaded with God to spare the city if even fifty, or forty, or thirty, or twenty, or even ten righteous people lived there. And God said he would spare the city if even so few righteous people were there. This episode demonstrates the powerful impact of intercessory prayer. It’s as if the intercessor has one hand reaching out to a needy, broken world, and the other hand reaching up to the gracious God—­linking them together. Intercession gives us an opportunity to partner with God in accomplishing his work. When we intercede for others, we come close to the heart of Jesus, the great intercessor (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Father, thank you for the privilege of prayer. May we seek to be conduits of your grace, interceding for others so that your presence and power may fill their lives. Amen.