As Christians, our lives are to be patterned after Jesus.
When Jesus came to earth, He lived among people of the first century. During His ministry, Jesus spoke many things concerning the love and kingdom of God. But He also displayed that love through healing people and setting them free with truth.
Jesus loves through both word and action. He communicates the love of God through His words and showed others love through His actions.
In the same way, Christians should also follow Jesus as our model. However, many Christians are more comfortable doing one or the other. Some are more comfortable telling others the truth, and others are more comfortable showing love by helping others.
1 John 3:18 tells us that we need to do both in order to love people the way Christ has loved us. People don’t just need to hear the truth; they need to see it through love. But it’s not just enough to help others; we also need to share the message of Jesus Christ with them.
Think about your own life. Consider how you can take small steps to practice telling others the truth in love or showing people love through your actions.
Taken from "A Good Word" from Dallas Theological Seminary...
In an encounter recorded in the Gospels, a wealthy man met Jesus on the road and, addressing Him as “good teacher,” asked “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17 NET). Jesus took hold of the word “good” and would not answer the man’s eternal life question until He explained goodness: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus said in reply, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18 NET). Like the wealthy man, we tend to use the word “good” without much thought for what it really means. Jesus defines “good” as the character of God and wanted the man to understand he was speaking to someone who really is good: God Himself.
The Greek word translated “good” in this passage is the adjective ἀγαθός (agathos). It has a synonym in the adjective καλός (kalos); these two words are used almost identically in the New Testament, though sometimes καλός tends to emphasize the attractiveness (“beauty”1) or observable quality of good. In Matthew 7:17, these two terms for “good” appear together: “every good (ἀγαθός) tree bears good (καλός) fruit.”
The wealthy man was concerned with what he could do to acquire eternal life. But the Bible tells us God saves people not by works but for “good (ἀγαθός) works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:9–10 NIV).
God redeems believers to represent Him as His special people who are “zealous for good (καλός) works” (Titus 2:14 ESV). These good works God has ready for believers to do are meant to bring others to Him, as Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good (καλός) deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).
God’s goodness overflows to meet physical needs as Christians serve one another by working, “doing good (ἀγαθός)… to share with the one who has need” (Ephesians 4:28 NET). Likewise, God’s goodness works through us to meet spiritual needs when our speech is “good (ἀγαθός) for building up” (Ephesians 4:29 ESV).
God has good works for us to do, and He works all things for good for us. When the Bible says, “in all things God works for the good (ἀγαθός) of those who love him” (Romans 8:28 NIV), we must not imagine that it means everything will go our way. Rather, it is God who—through the adversity and opposition we face in this life—is doing His good will for us to “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29 NIV).
Let us, therefore, be transformed by our good God. And may we be ready to do the good works God provides, so that the world will see how glorious our “good teacher” is.
Throne of Grace
We’ve all messed up.
We’ve all done things, seen things, and said things we regret. We’ve all sinned—ignoring God’s commands and rebelling against His ways. And we know it, too. This is because God gave us the ability to discern right from wrong. His Word reveals His righteousness and magnifies our lack and need for Him.
The bad news is our sin separates us from a holy God.
But the good news is Jesus has already bridged the gap.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, lived the perfect life we couldn’t and died the brutal death we should’ve—becoming the final and ultimate sacrifice. He’s paid our debt, cleared our names, and defeated death itself by rising back to life. And now, as the author of Hebrews suggests, we have an open invitation into His presence…
Grace or Duty?
“Trust in him, and he will act.”
There’s no question that we’re responsible to pursue holiness with all the intensity the word pursue implies. Every moral imperative in the Bible addresses itself to our responsibility to discipline ourselves unto godliness. We aren’t just to "turn it all over to the Lord" and let him live his life through us. Rather, we’re to love one another, to put to death the misdeeds of the body, and to put off the old man and put on the new man.
If we’re to make any progress in the pursuit of holiness, we must assume our responsibility to discipline or train ourselves. But we’re to do all this in total dependence on the Holy Spirit to work in us and strengthen us with the strength that is in Christ.
Sometimes we don’t sense that we’re experiencing his strength. Instead we experience deep, agonizing failure. We may even weep over our sins and wonder why the Holy Spirit doesn’t come to our aid and strengthen us against the onslaught of temptation. We identify with Paul when he said, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Romans 7:15, NIV).
Why doesn’t the Spirit always strengthen us? There are several possible reasons. He may be letting us see the sinfulness of our own hearts. He may be causing us to realize how weak we are in ourselves and how dependent on him we really are. Perhaps he is curbing a tendency toward spiritual pride and causing us to grow in humility. Whatever the reason, which we may never know, our responsibility is to utterly depend on him. Sovereignly and with infinite wisdom, he determines how best to respond to our dependence. (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)
Conversations that Give...
We laugh, and we grieve.
We offer encouragement and voice concerns.
We agree and debate.
We communicate to complete tasks and coordinate schedules.
We make small talk and make plans.
We contemplate life’s mysteries together.
Conversations are a part of life, and each interaction is as unique as the person we’re talking to.
In the book of Colossians, Paul and Timothy advised the believers to live wisely, especially among those who weren’t believers, and to make the most of each opportunity (Colossians 4:5). They went on to say:
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6 NIV
This sounds good—but what does it actually mean to be “full of grace” and “seasoned with salt”?
Full of grace. Grace is a free and undeserved gift. So even if someone is difficult or disagrees with our opinions, we can still communicate with kindness and respect. Grace gives kindness without condition—and so can we.
Seasoned with salt. Salt is an essential mineral used for preservation and seasoning. As Christ-followers, we are compelled by His love to be living preservatives of His story while sharing His message with passion and flavor.
Does this mean we should become full-time people pleasers? Or that we’ll have all the answers? Of course not. But like 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
It’s not just about what we say but how we say it. In our everyday conversations, we can honor Christ by speaking intentionally and gracefully.
Light it up!
Picture it: a big city with tall buildings, a hilltop village surrounded by vibrant farms, an oceanside community on top of a giant bluff. Cities are impressive on their own, but they’re undeniably radiant when they’re high upon a hill. And, they’re extra brilliant when they’re saturated with light.
Speaking to the crowds and His disciples in His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told them:
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14 NLT
As He continued His message, Jesus explained, like a city on a hill or a lamp on a stand, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
Jesus often used metaphors to get people thinking, so here are three things to consider as you reflect on Matthew 5:14...
Light it Up - We’re chosen. We can’t do anything to. Earn the honor and responsibility of being a light-reflector. It’s a title given to us and not earned.
Light it Up - Don’t hide it. God’s light shines brightly when we’re truly following Him, it is obvious and undeniable.
Light it Up - Compelled to worship. The purpose of carrying this light isn’t to draw attention to ourselves but to compel others to worship God.
An Unwavering Hope
Job’s hope throughout his trial is rooted in God's character and promises. Even through his discouragement, He consistently reminds himself of God’s justice and love. Job 19:25-27 is a powerful statement of Job’s hope in God.
God is Job’s ultimate redeemer. Regardless of how circumstances change in his life, God is the one who ultimately rescues him in the end. After the suffering and grief passes, God will still remain. This is the hope that Job holds on to.
We can learn something from Job. All of us will go through seasons of suffering and grief. When this happens, it is important that we cling to God's hope and promises. Regardless of how long each season lasts, we know that God is the One who will ultimately redeem us in the end.
The promises of God will always remain because we know God is faithful to fulfill them (Hebrews 10:23). When everything is shaking around us, God will still be the solid Rock we can stand on.
And even if our suffering doesn’t end during our time on Earth, we have the hope of eternal life with God. We should always be looking forward to that moment when we will join Him in eternity.
Take some time to thank God for all He has done for you. If you're in a difficult season, pray for your hope to be anchored in Him. Spend some time thinking about God’s promises. As you do, you’ll begin to see how God’s promises shape the way you live.
Everything starts with Faith!
Did you know that you can please God? We often talk about the various commands and regulations that God gives, and we talk a lot about the good things God gives us. But have you ever considered the ways you can please God?
The first thing Hebrews 11:6 tells us is that we need faith to please God. Those who do not believe in God cannot please Him.
There is a difference between having a true relationship with God and performing religious tasks without faith. We don’t have to earn a relationship with God because it is something He gives us freely. Those who have faith can please God, not because we have to, but because we get to. When we have faith in God, our hearts are changed, and we begin to desire to please God through our words and actions.
Hebrews 11:6 also tells us that God rewards those who seek Him. This doesn't mean God will give us whatever we want in life, but rather, it means that those who genuinely seek a relationship with God will find it.
And in this passage, God Himself is the gift we receive!
Refreshed
Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out?
They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give.
The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this:
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 NLT
King Solomon knew a thing or two about generosity. In fact, Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others.
Some of the most miserable people on earth are also the most selfish people on earth. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries and avoiding burnout. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where:
The last will be first.
The greatest will be a servant.
Those who give up their life will save it.
Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44).
You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve.
So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.
"What do you have that you did not receive?"
We actually cannot give God anything that he has not first given to us. David recognized this fact when the leaders of Israel gave so generously for the building of the temple. In his prayer of praise to God he said, "Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own" (1 Chronicles 29:14,16).
David knew he and his people had not given anything to God that wasn’t his already. Even our service to God comes from his hand. As the prophet Isaiah said, "Lord, . . . all that we have accomplished you have done for us" (Isaiah 26:12, NIV). Paul summed it up rather conclusively when he said of God, "nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything" (Acts 17:25). When our every breath is a gift from God, there’s really nothing left to give that hasn’t been first given to us.
Where does that leave us? It leaves us in the blessed position of being eleventh-hour workers in God’s kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16). It leaves us going home at the end of the day from God’s vineyard profoundly grateful, knowing that the gracious landowner has been generous beyond all measure. In a word, it leaves us content, and "there is great gain in godliness with contentment" (1 Timothy 6:6).
Our Everlasting God
In Isaiah 40:28, we see that God is eternal. He is everlasting. God is the same today as He was a thousand years ago and will be a thousand years from today. This is an incredibly comforting truth that God will always be the same loving and dependable God He’s always been.
We never have to worry that God will act differently than what we learn about Him in Scripture. The same God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who loves and cares for you today.
Because God is eternal, He knows the beginning and the end. Therefore, we can trust Him in the midst of our journey, that He knows what He is doing, and that all things will work out for His good.
Take a moment to consider how great God is. Thank Him for being faithful, just, and merciful. Thank Him for being our Savior, Creator, and King. Worship Him in awe for being eternal and all-knowing.
Wrath and Love
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.”
While Jesus hung on the cross, darkness came over the land from noon until three o’clock. During those awful three hours, Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath in our place—the cup that we should have drunk. He drained it to its dregs.
We do not know all that transpired during those terrible hours. Scripture draws a veil over them for the most part. We do know that the physical suffering Jesus endured was only a feeble picture of the suffering of his soul. And part of that suffering was the very real forsakenness by his Father. Toward the end of that time he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). The night before, he had been strengthened by divine assistance (Luke 22:43), but now he was left alone. God turned his back on his own dearly loved Son.
We can perhaps better understand what transpired that day by considering Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (NIV). Christ was "made sin" for us by a judicial act of God; he charged the guilt of our sin to Jesus.
However, we must always keep in mind the distinction between Christ’s sinlessness in his personal being and his sin-bearing in his official liability to God’s wrath. He was the sinless sin-bearer. Though officially guilty as our representative, he was personally the object of the Father’s everlasting love and delight.
Should this not make us bow in adoration at such matchless love, that the Father would subject the object of his supreme delight to his unmitigated wrath for our sake?
Hope in the Good King!
Gospel means “good news,” and in the ancient world it’s always connected to the announcement of a new king. The Gospel of God’s Kingdom, then, is the good news that God’s promised king is here; his Kingdom is arriving. Why does this matter, though? Isn’t the Gospel about Jesus dying for sins and then resurrecting?
In the New Testament, notice how Jesus is preaching his Gospel long before his crucifixion or resurrection. He’s not focusing on that in his early ministry. Instead, he’s saying that God’s ancient promise to send a good king and set up his own kingdom on Earth is happening. It’s becoming real! The King (Jesus himself) has arrived - good news!
Notice how this Kingdom of God begins with acts of healing and generous provision. He’s founding an amazing new world on the basis of loving care for humanity, not on the basis of military power. Our world’s normal kingdoms usually find strength in victorious violence, but God’s divine-human Kingdom begins and expands only with the infinite power of love.
That’s especially good news today if you’re a human being experiencing the pain caused by average rulers and so- called authorities. Those listening to Jesus’ Gospel announcement soon learn that he himself is now the true ruler over all creation, the only real authority over any of us. We have hope in God himself as King Jesus, the incorruptible one who rules with love and uses his power not to coerce or destroy people but to heal each of us and set us free.
Who is like you, majestic in holiness!
Who is like you, majestic in holiness?”
God has called every Christian to a holy life. There are no exceptions to this call. This call to a holy life is based on the fact that God himself is holy. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God.
Holiness in Scripture describes both the majesty of God and the purity and moral perfection of his nature. Holiness is one of his attributes—an essential part of the nature of God. His holiness is as necessary as his existence—as necessary, for example, as his wisdom or omniscience. Just as he cannot but know what is right, so he cannot but do what is right.
The absolute holiness of God should be of great comfort and assurance to us. If God is perfectly holy, we can be confident that his actions toward us are always perfect and just. We’re often tempted to question God’s actions and complain that he is unfair in his treatment of us. This is the devil’s lie, the same thing he essentially told Eve: "God is being unfair to you" (Genesis 3:4-5). But it is impossible in the very nature of God that he should ever be unfair. Because he is holy, all his actions are holy.
We must accept by faith the fact that God is holy, even when trying circumstances make it appear otherwise. To complain against God is in effect to deny his holiness and to say he is not fair. As Stephen Charnock said, "It is less injury to him to deny his being, than to deny the purity of it; the one makes him no God, the other a deformed, unlovely, and a detestable God . . . he that saith God is not holy speaks much worse than he that saith there is no God at all." (Excerpt taken from The Pursuit of Holiness)
The Value of Each Other
As much as the world around us tries to lure us into self-dependency, God created us for each other. For community. For a life that’s not alone.
The author of Proverbs said it like this:
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 NIV
We’ll all face hard times—sometimes when we least expect it. But a friend’s genuine care can mean the world, a sibling’s unconditional love can’t be replaced, and a neighbor’s practical help is priceless.
We need each other more than we realize: emotionally, practically, and spiritually.
If you’ve found yourself in a busy season where you’ve unintentionally neglected your true friends or been too busy for your real family, now is the time to reprioritize.
If there’s unresolved conflict with a friend or family member, and it’s slowly deteriorating the relationship, now is the time to set aside your pride and choose to make things right.
If you’re silently struggling alone, now is the moment to let someone in. Give them a call, send them a text, or show up on their doorstep. If you can’t be honest and vulnerable, it will be difficult to get help.
Not only do you need people, but those same people need you.
You have strengths, gifts, talents, and a personality that’s unique to you and beneficial to them—and vice versa. Why bury them in the ground, in the name of autonomy, when they can benefit others?
Sometimes we need to ask for help, and sometimes we need to be the help. Do you need help, or can you offer it? Could you use a hand, or do you have some time, money, advice, or expertise?
If you’re tempted to self-isolate, don’t forget: we were meant to live life together.
Ask God Honestly
Everything begins with our relationship to God. Jesus made it possible for us to have a restored relationship with God. We can talk with God, spend time in His presence, and ask Him to help us because, as believers, we are called His sons and daughters.
Because of our relationship with God, He listens to us. Much like a child talking to their parents, God wants us to speak to Him. When we pray, we have the opportunity to tell God our needs, our concerns, and the desires of our heart.
Jesus tells us that if we seek a relationship with God, we will find it. God gives Himself freely to all who seek Him. God isn’t hiding in heaven, hoping we will someday find Him. He is readily available to talk with us.
This means we should be persistent in our relationship with Him. We have access to the Creator of the world. Everything comes from Him and has life because of Him. He has the ability to give us the things we need.
However, while we can ask for whatever we want, it doesn’t mean He will give us everything we ask for. Just like an earthly father won’t give his child something harmful, God also won’t give us something we do not need (Matthew 7:10-11).
We often don’t ask God for things because we may feel guilty for doing so. But God actually desires for us to go to Him—even with the smallest of requests.
Take some time today and tell God honestly how you feel. Ask Him for the things you truly need in life. Continue each day building a relationship with Him through Scripture reading and prayer.
Our Sure Foundation
Every time we turn on the news, we’re bombarded by tragedies happening in the world. Over the past few years, there has been so much world conflict, changes to our way of life, and disasters happening around the globe. This makes it easy to feel defeated and fearful of what is happening or could happen in our lifetime.
Natural disasters and global tragedies are not something unique to us. They’ve been happening ever since humankind turned away from God in the Garden of Eden. Scripture has a lot to say about these types of issues and also how God acts when tragedy strikes.
Isaiah 54:10 tells us that even though the earth shakes—God is immovable. In the midst of chaos, He is still in control. Nothing takes God by surprise, and nothing is greater than Him. A few chapters prior, in Isaiah 40, Isaiah says that God never grows weary as His power and might are everlasting.
Regardless of what is happening around us and whatever is happening within us, God’s love can never be taken from us.
In God, our past is forgiven, and our future is secured. There is nothing we can do to be taken out of the love of God. When we make mistakes, we can know that God’s feelings towards us do not change. He does not revoke His love from us; He continues to give it to us freely. He has compassion on us when we make mistakes.
That means we don’t have to live in fear. We can enter God’s presence confidently, knowing that there is nothing that can take His love from us. We can also live securely, knowing that whatever tragedies or world events occur, God’s power and might do not waver.
Scripture calls God our Rock that helps us withstand the greatest waves and earthquakes. Even when it feels like the earth is shaking and the hills are crumbling, God is at work calling us to rest upon a sure foundation—His unending love for us.
An Abundance of Blessing
Do you pray for God to bless you? We probably spend most of our time in prayer, asking for God to bless things in our life or asking God for something we need. And we should. Jesus even tells us we should.
We know that all good things come from God. That means that we don't truly own anything we possess. It's all a gift from God and ultimately should be used for Him. Our money, talents, and resources are opportunities to give back to God and others.
2 Corinthians 9:8 says that God is able to abundantly bless those who are generous in using their time and resources to do good things for others. This verse isn't saying that God will bless us unconditionally. The two verses before this one, in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, talk about how we should be cheerful givers in everything we do.
Paul is saying that God blesses us—not so we might have comfortable lives—but so that we would be selfless in giving back to God and others.
There are many ways we can give back to God and others. We can start by regularly tithing to our local church, which is an investment in the kingdom work God is doing through local believers. We can give generously to those who are in financial need. We can also be generous with our time, talents, resources, and anything else we can use to serve God and others.
Next time you pray for God to bless you, take some time first to think about how you are helping others. If giving feels more like an obligation and not like an opportunity, consider how you can take steps to change that perspective and give regularly. And then—watch how God honors your joyful generosity.
God's Glory Revealed
Before the telescope was invented, all that was known about the sky above was what could be seen with the naked eye.
Now, thanks to advances in modern technology, we are aware of far-off galaxies, stunning nebulas, and mysterious black holes. Now, we realize that our knowledge was (and still is) severely limited.
There’s something about staring up at a blanket of stars that beckons wonder. There’s something about a watercolor sunset that invites curiosity. There’s something about standing on top of a giant rock—that’s suspended on nothing in the middle of a massively complex universe—that invites worship.
We are merely discovering what God has put here in the first place. And the more we uncover, the more we are filled with awe.
Yes, the heavens remind us of God’s majesty; the skies remind us of His splendor. But they also remind us of how big He is and how small we are. They remind us of His vastness and our limitations, and of His independence and our utter dependence on Him.
So whenever you see a star-filled sky, are stopped in your tracks by a brilliant sunrise, or read about some extraordinary discovery on the fringes of space, don’t forget to praise the One who has created and sustained it all along.
Perseverance Brings a Harvest
Perseverance Brings a Harvest
Have you ever started something new and gave up after a few tries? Maybe you tried to create a new morning routine or Bible reading habit, only to give up after a few weeks? It can be hard to build enough discipline to start something new.
It is also hard to receive discipline from someone. Maybe you remember being disciplined as a kid by your parent. Or maybe you’ve been disciplined at work for a mistake you made.
In either case, discipline is hard and takes a lot of work.
Scripture says that for those who endure discipline and persevere, there is a harvest of righteousness and peace waiting for them. However, it doesn’t happen easily and often makes us uncomfortable. We have to be trained through discipline to create godly habits that will then produce righteousness and peace in our lives.
Take some time today to consider: Where can you allow the Holy Spirit to build discipline in your life? What daily habits should you begin working on today?
It’s always worth building discipline because the result is peace and righteous living.