“Therefore encourage one another and build another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
How good are you at encouraging others? As Christians, we recognize the need for encouragement. We live in a fallen world filled with false ideas, and we need a community of brothers and sisters in the Lord who will remind us of what is true and uplifting.
I love that God commands that we encourage each other. It’s not an optional nicety for those who want to do something extra. Every Christian is commanded to be an encourager. I need to see myself as someone called to this. Even on days where I need encouragement, I need to be thinking of how I can encourage others.
God smiles on His children looking for ways to build each other up in a world where so many are anxiously trying to tear others down.
Let’s meditate together on why encouragement is so vital for God’s people.
Why Encouragement Is a Big Deal
Chuck Swindoll is a 91-year-old pastor who has been a pastor to many other pastors, including myself, through his books. He explains that encouragement is “putting courage into someone else.” When you encourage others, you inspire confidence, assurance, and hope for the future because they are more prepared for what life will throw out them.
Swindoll writes:
“Encouragement is awesome. Think about it. It has the capacity to lift a man’s or a woman’s shoulders. To breathe fresh air into the fading embers of a smoldering dream. To actually change the course of another human being’s day, week, or life.”
Have you stopped to consider how powerful your words of encouragement might be to someone else today? You might be used by God to say the exact words someone needed to hear that might change the trajectory of their day, and possibly, their life.
When I first arrived at Grace Point Community Church, I sat down for coffee with the previous pastor, Steve McCracken. Steve was mentored by Swindoll. Rather than making me feel like I was being examined, he spoke words of life, joy, and excitement about the future. Throughout that first conversation, I felt built up and encouraged by this godly man, who I now consider a friend and mentor. And by the way, Steve has continued to be a man who lives out Ephesians 4:29. His words communicate the grace of Jesus Christ.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)
Our World Is Desperate for Encouragement
Here’s the reality: Everyone needs encouragement. I have yet to meet someone who is tapped out with too much encouragement or is too busy to hear uplifting words of encouragement.
Scripture says that when we speak words of encouragement, we help to lift someone’s heart.
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)
Quite honestly, our world is full of discouragers. We see this online, in the workplace, and sometimes even within families and churches. Too often, I’ve heard of someone pouring cold water on the embers of enthusiasm or someone feeling let down by a negative word when they were desperate for a word of appreciation for their hard work.
So much power rests in the tongue (James 3). It can build up, and it can tear down. It can heal, and it can cut like a sword (Proverbs 12:18).
Frankly, if you have an accurate theology from Scripture, you should expect people to be discouraged as a default setting. They are dealing with loneliness, pain, anxious thoughts, fear of death, fear of rejection, shame, and guilt. Without intentional encouragement a person’s heart can grow hard with sin’s deceitfulness.
Consider this little devotional to be an urgent encouragement for you: You can be an encourager! You can help change the trajectory of someone’s story. You can be someone who lifts others up rather than pushes them down. We all need encouragement.
And for Christians, this is commanded because we know the greatest Source of encouragement. Jesus Christ sought us when we were lost in our sin and shame, and He lifted us out of the miry pit and set us on the solid rock of salvation. He showed us grace and forgiveness and gave us fresh purpose in life. Without Jesus, we too would have few encouraging words to say about life and the state of the world. But in the power of the gospel, we have every reason to encourage others and to build up weary souls.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Who can you encourage today?
Prayer:Lord, make me an encourager today, by the power of Your Holy Spirit!
“I’m not really sure where we went wrong.” This mother wasn’t the first and won’t be the last I’ve heard say this. She was genuinely distressed over her daughter’s choices, lifestyle, and apparent disinterest in the Christian faith she had been raised in. As her mother explained, “Once she was out of the house, I rarely see her anymore.” Based on conversations like this one, I wonder if watching your own child wander away from Christ is one of the greatest agonies a Christian parent can know.
In other conversations like this, a Bible verse is often referenced. Proverbs 22:6 clearly says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
It seems so cut and dried. As long as you train up your child in the right way, that child won’t leave that path. Right? But here’s where basic Bible study tools can be so helpful.
The Book of Proverbs is a unique genre. Each proverb presents wisdom in the form of a straightforward axiom that usually describes two ways of life: the way of the wise that leads to life, and the way of the fool that leads to death.
But while each proverb describes a general truth about the world, they are not meant to be read as foolproof, ironclad promises. Rather, they are divinely inspired true observations about life in a fallen world where God still reigns as King. Something can be generally true, but not specifically true in every individual case. Proverbs 22:6 was never meant to be read as an absolute promise or as a source of parental guilt.
It’s possible for parents to faithfully train up a son or daughter in the way they should go, and yet that child still walk away from God. We see examples of this in the history of Israel’s kings. In numerous cases, a faithful father has a godless son. And the reverse is also true.
The Family is the Pillar of Society
At the same time, there is a profound truth in Proverbs 22:6 that Christian parents do need to take to heart. The family is the pillar of society. As the family goes, so goes the nation. So, Christian parents should see the hope of this proverb. Training up your children to know and follow Jesus is essential.
We see many passages that point to the active role of both a father and a mother in teaching their children about the fear of the Lord, what God expects of us, how we can be reconciled to Him, and how we can live out our God-given calling (Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 12:24; 19:18; 22:15; 29:15, 17; Ephesians 6:1-4; Colossians 3:23).
The family is the primary place of generational discipleship. Every generation has the responsibility not only to run the race of faith, but to hand off the baton to the next generation.
It is no secret that so many of the social ills our world is experiencing are traced back to the impact of fathers, in particular, walking away from their responsibility to love, lead, and be present in the home. Satan has done his best to dismantle families at every level, because the family is God’s good design for human flourishing. The first time we see the serpent in Genesis 3, he targets the first marriage by approaching Eve and undermining Adam’s role as head of the household.
Karl Marx may have called for “the abolition of the family” in his manifesto, but followers of King Jesus know better. The family is central to God’s plan of redemption. Even Jesus Himself entered this world through being born and raised in a family. As a boy, He submitted to His parents (Luke 2:51). He is the “Seed of the woman” who came to crush the serpent’s head (see Genesis 3:15). The gospel is about God the Father creating a family by adoption through faith in Jesus Christ, our elder Brother (Hebrews 2:11).
“Train Up”
The Hebrew word chanak (“train up”) carries the idea of developing an appetite. It was used in the ancient world of a midwife rubbing a date on a newborn’s palate to stimulate sucking. In a similar way, parents are called to cultivate desires in their children through both teaching the Word and living it out in front of them.
One of the most powerful ways a parent can impact the next generation is through discussing the way a living relationship with Christ is changing them day after day. If children don’t see the Word making a difference in the lives of their parents, they won’t have an appetite for the things of God. A parent’s faithfulness is vital, but ultimately it is the sovereign work of the Spirit that changes a child’s heart so that they love God and pursue Him with all their heart.
Discipline is clearly needed to establish boundaries and to teach children that going your own way leads to disastrous consequences. At the same time, author Josh McDowell encourages parents to pursue a real relationship with each of their kids. Rules outside of a relational context will foster rebellion.
“In the Way They Should Go”
This phrase is actually somewhat debated. Pastor Chuck Swindoll explained that this phrase in the Hebrew emphasizes the uniqueness of each child. Just as an eagle, a serpent, and a ship have their distinctive “way” (Proverbs 30:18-19), so children differ. Every child has their own “bent”: their personality, gifts, and temperament. Therefore, a parent can’t use a cookie cutter approach with each child.
In order to train up little Jimmy in the way little Jimmy should go, Jimmy’s parents need to become careful students of Jimmy and what makes him so unique. They can’t assume Jimmy needs the same exact guidance as his older brother Billy.
I should note that some read Proverbs 22:6 to mean something negative. If you don’t train up a child, you leave them to their own way. And they are likely to stay on that self-destructive path since it’s all they’ve known. There is certainly some truth to that interpretation, too.
Either way, without giving any absolute promise about the outcome, the verse teaches that parents are going to be necessary for a child’s formation and growth. It’s not teachers, youth pastors, coaches, or curricula, but a child’s parents that have the central role of discipleship. Moms and Dads, with God’s help, you can do this!
A Prayer for Parents:Father God, we are lost and hopeless without your fatherly guidance to teach us the way of life. We need Your wisdom, truth, and grace as we seek to parent our children for their long-term good and Your glory. Do a mighty work of grace in our hearts and in our children’s hearts. Help us not be dismayed or fall for the lies of the enemy, but to faithfully embrace the calling and stewardship You have entrusted to us. It’s all by the grace of Your Son, Jesus, in Whose name we pray.
In 1865, a bishop named J. C. Ryle wrote a book called Thoughts for Young Men. Don’t let the humble title fool you. Despite being a very short book, it was packed with powerful exhortations for young men of his day. But because Ryle used timeless, Christ-centered principles, that little book is still very relevant today. I’ve taken several young men through it who found it both bracing and helpful.
He started by saying, “Seek to become acquainted with our Lord Jesus Christ… Till you know this, my warnings and advice will be useless, and your endeavors, whatever that may be, will be in vain.”
In a similar tone, I want to offer five exhortations to young men today, as a brother in Christ. Today, the challenges many men face are very different in one sense. We live in a much more tech-saturated atmosphere, and the temptations and distractions often look very different. But our calling as men remains the same: we must turn from self to Jesus Christ so that we can serve, lead, and bless others by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Turn from Self to Jesus Christ
In 1 Corinthians 16, the Apostle Paul counsels:
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:13-14, ESV)
For a young man to stand firm in the faith, he must first bow the knee to Jesus Christ. As Ryle pointed out, unless you are first born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, you cannot live out your God-given calling. So, break with sin, deny yourself, and surrender to the Lord who purchased your soul with His lifeblood on the Cross. “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
Some young men assume that being a Christian is following religious rules, respecting God and the Bible, or attending church services on Christmas and Easter. But the reality is that a profound change must take place in your soul. You must be made new.
You have to turn from the sins you’ve been indulging in and surrender your whole self to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. You must know that His death is enough and that you are accepted, justified, and cleansed in the sight of God through faith in Christ alone. Only then, will your conscience be cleansed and your heart made new.
Fear God, not man
In our social media age, many young men desire approval online. They crave attention and admiration, but they should be craving fellowship with the God who made them. The Bible insists that the years of your youth are precious and few, and you’ll never get them back.
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). Youth is fleeting, hell is real, and there is no refund for wasted years. Rather than following the cultural compromises of our age, make it your ambition to know Jesus Christ every day more than the day before.
Put Christ at the center of everything you do in life. Seek His honor and glory, not your own. Live for an audience of One. Live on mission as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Have a vision for your life that is bigger than yourself.
This doesn’t mean you should be a lone ranger. Find other men for community and accountability. You need to be in a band of brothers who are pulling in the same direction and want to see you succeed in faithfulness to Christ. Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). A fire grows cold until you add more pieces of firewood. And those who isolate themselves are rarely on fire for Christ.
Receive your identity from Christ, not the world
Many reach for the phone in their pockets to answer their question: “Who am I really?” Reject the devil’s lie that you need to “find yourself” before you can really be the man God calls you to be. If you belong to Jesus, then you can already hear God’s blessing over your life: “You are my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.”
You don’t need to create your own persona. Your identity is secure in Christ, and His image is being renewed in you (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10). If you base your identity on what the world says men should be, the goal posts will be constantly shifting. You’ll never know if you’ve done enough.
God doesn’t call you to merely be an alpha male who gets the girls and the applause. God calls you to embrace the humble mindset of a servant, like Jesus (Philippians 2:1-5). Instead of focusing on finding “the perfect girl” out there, aim to become the kind of sacrificial, servant-hearted man that a godly woman would want to marry. Worldly men think that by boasting and exaggerating their abilities they can impress others, but it actually reveals how fragile their sense of self really is.
Your identity in Christ is not fragile. On your best days and your worst days, you can say the same thing: “I am loved, known, redeemed, and governed by a King who will not give up on me.”
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)
Choose commitment over consumption
Young men, God has a purpose for your life, and it’s not ultimately about you; it’s about His glory and your dependence on Him for everything. If you don’t find satisfaction in making everything about His glory, your hungry soul will turn elsewhere for joy.
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22, NIV)
Too many young men spend countless hours playing video games, looking at porn, scrolling social media, and smoking weed. They live as a consumer rather than a contributor. Many young men are floundering, and this is because they avoid making and keeping commitments.
Think about what Jesus did for you on the cross. He finished the work He was given. He did not quit early. My friend Rob recently used the phrase, “It’s about the last five percent.” In other words, a job done well is a job done completely. If you will be a man who keeps his word, finishes the degree, shows up on time, completes the project, and is dependable both on the job and at home, you will be ahead of most men today.
Many young men have this contagious fear of commitment, especially fear of committed relationships. I say “contagious” because oftentimes they hang with other men who also fear commitment. They affirm each other by saying, “You’re just keeping your options open.” But that’s not how God’s men live. They stand firm. They make promises and resolve to keep them. They commit to others. They serve the needs of others before themselves. That’s how Jesus lived.
He knew His mission in life: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). He could say from the Cross: “It is finished” (John 19:30). He didn’t quit before that last five percent. Because He finished His job, He had the authority to command those who follow Him to do their job (Matthew 28:18-20).
Submit to Scripture, not your feelings, as your highest authority
Feelings are real. We don’t want to downplay suffering or trauma. But young men need to know that feelings were never meant to be your authority. They alone do not tell you the truth about who you are.
Because we live in such a therapeutic culture, many young men feel that if something is uncomfortable, painful, or requires a lot from them, then it must not be for them. But the Bible says that God uses suffering to mold us and grow us into the men He wants us to become. Sometimes, as a man, your calling is to step into the discomfort and accept the suffering of life, not because pain is good in itself, but because it is building you into a Christ-shaped servant of God.
Consider the Apostle Paul’s example. That man suffered at a level you and I probably never will. Just read his journal of pain in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29. After reading it, I guarantee your life will seem pretty cushy by comparison. Jesus Himself said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT). He said, “I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19, NIV).
Some young men have said things like, “I just don’t have peace about this decision yet.” Let me just give a friendly reminder that Jesus was sweating drops of blood the night before doing His work on the Cross. We shouldn’t assume our emotions can show us what we’re to be about. When Paul was heading to Jerusalem, he was warned by numerous people to turn back because suffering awaited him. Even the Holy Spirit told him suffering was coming! Here’s how he responded:
“I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (Acts 20:22-24, NLT)
All Paul knew was that God had called him to preach the gospel of a crucified and risen Savior no matter what. So, he assumed he’d have a cross to carry, too.
Instead of searching your feelings for the right answers, submit your mind to Scripture.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
Don’t neglect time with the Lord in His Word. You need it more than you need that protein drink or those supplements. You need it every day like a compass when you’re trekking through the woods. It’s that vital.
Take heart, man of God, He has not left you alone. Your Father is with you and for you in Christ. And He will be your Shepherd if you will stay among His faithful sheep.
If you have thoughts or questions, I’d love to hear from you!
The ordinance of baptism illustrates our freedom and new life in Jesus Christ. It’s an outward picture of what has taken place in our hearts when we surrendered to the Lordship of Christ.
Baptism is very important. The New Testament urges every one of us to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of sin that He won for us on the cross. We’re going to see why it’s so important, what it pictures, and why Christ calls us to be baptized.
Baptism Identifies You as a Follower of Jesus
Every year, the NFL holds a draft where each team announces whom they have chosen, and you see the athlete stand up with joy and excitement on his face. He goes on to the stage and poses there with the commissioner and holds up the jersey with the team’s name on it. Everyone cheers and congratulates him. It’s significant because from then on, you begin to think of that athlete not just as their own name, but as a Cowboy or a 49er or a Seahawk. In some sense, the team they have joined has now become part of their identity.
The significance of identifying with Christ is infinitely more important, but that is a picture of what it means to be baptized.
It’s a very public statement. It’s a way of demonstrating to all those who are witnesses that you are not the same person you once were. You have switched teams on the cosmic scale. You are no longer living for the world, the devil, or the flesh. You are living for Christ.
You’re telling everyone, “I’m with Jesus. He’s my Lord and Savior. And I’m committing totally to His leadership in my life.” And you’re not just committing for the time being, as long as things go well. You’re committing to Team Jesus as a lifetime member.
Before ascending into the clouds above, Jesus told His followers how to begin reaching the world with the good news of His salvation. This is often called “The Great Commission.”
Jesus said:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and 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. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV)
Teaching them the Lord’s commands is what we do every time we gather for worship on Sunday and every time we study Scripture. But the first step in making disciples, Jesus says, is “baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” That’s the launching point for discipleship. It’s the first step showing your commitment to Christ.
Baptism Doesn’t Save you, but Christ Calls Every BELIEVER to be Baptized.
Some people ask, “Now, is baptism necessary for salvation?” Maybe you even grew up in a religious tradition teaching that you need to be baptized in order for your sins to wash away. And to that I say, “What about the thief on the cross?” He repented at the very last minute possible.
That thief had just been hurling insults at Jesus an hour before. But when he saw the love Jesus had for even His enemies, and the way that Jesus was so clearly the Son of God, he believed. He repented and believed. He showed that faith by saying, “Jesus remember me when you’re reigning on high.” And Jesus didn’t turn to him and say, “Sorry, pal. You didn’t get baptized.” No, He gave him all the assurance he needed that he was forgiven: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
The message of salvation is:
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. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV)
Salvation is a gift; it cannot be earned.
So does baptism save you? Absolutely not, otherwise the thief on the cross would be damned, not in paradise. But that doesn’t mean baptism isn’t important. It’s so important that Jesus included in the final words before His ascension.
Baptism is an Outward Expression of Our Union with Christ
Several years ago, I spoke with a woman about the gospel. I told her that forgiveness is a gift of God. It’s something we can’t earn. Salvation is all by grace, and all we have to do is repent and believe.
She tilted her head and said, “But see I have a problem with that.” I said, “What’s the problem?” And she said, “If people are told they don’t have to do anything to be saved, they’ll just go on living for themselves and hurting others like so many Christians throughout history have.”
I said, “You’re right that Christians haven’t been perfect throughout history. And many who have claimed to be Christians aren’t true Christians. But here’s what I know… when you come to Christ, you become a new creation. Not yet perfect in your daily life, but your life has a new direction because you are now united to Christ by His Holy Spirit.”
This woman’s objection to the gospel of grace has been around for 2,000 years, because Paul addressed that very topic:
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2, NIV)
Paul is answering that same objection. Won’t grace mean we can just sin all we want? No! Paul uses the strongest negative here. It literally can be translated: “May it never be!”
Okay, but why, Paul? What’s to keep us from going on a sinning spree, and then celebrating God’s grace?
Answer: “We are those who have died to sin… How can we possibly live that way anymore?” Paul says we died to sin. Death is a pretty extreme word, and Paul uses it for that reason. He says, “We died (past tense, it already happened) to sin.” Okay, when did that happen?
At the cross. Paul’s saying that when Christ died on Calvary, I—in some sense—died, too! In God’s eyes, my old sin-loving self was staked to the cross with Jesus. His death becomes my death. My soul is now knit together with Him by faith.
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Romans 6:3-5, NIV)
What’s all this saying? Union with Christ is what the gospel is all about. His death becomes our death. His resurrection life will be our resurrection life. It’s as though, by the awesome power of the Holy Spirit, we have been welded to Jesus with an unbreakable bond. What is true of Jesus is now true of us. If Jesus has defeated sin and death, then we too have victory over sin and death.
This is what baptism pictures. It’s all about our union with Christ.
When we go down into the water, we are identifying with His death. As we’re under the water, we are identifying with His burial. And as we come up out of the water, we are identifying with His glorious resurrection from the dead. Baptism is an outward symbol of our victory in Christ.
Water is often a picture of life in Scripture. But being baptized in water also helps us visibly understand the total immersion in Christ and the way He totally cleans us. The Greek word baptizo, where we get “baptized” and “baptism” simply means “immersion.”
So, Paul is saying our union with Christ is our “immersion into Christ Jesus.” That’s conversion. This is why I don’t believe sprinkling water on a baby’s head is what Jesus and the Apostles had in mind. It doesn’t capture the sense of total immersion and cleansing in Christ. And it emphasizes the act of baptism ahead of the true confession of belonging to Christ. A baby can’t proclaim the salvation God has already worked in their hearts, so I think in many ways it undercuts the purpose of baptism.
When we first come to Christ, we become so united to Him that you can even say we are “immersed in Him”— immersed in His grace, His love, and His goodness. All that He is fills us spiritually. That’s what it means to be baptized in the Spirit.
And once you are in Christ, you’re no longer in Adam. You are justified, no longer condemned. The power of sin is broken in your life. That’s what it means to be dead to sin. When you get baptized, you’re boldly expressing, “Sin has no claim on me. I no longer belong to the world; I belong to Jesus!”
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
In recent years, neuroscience has opened some previously locked doors into our understanding of the brain. As a Christian, I love to learn what I can from scientists who are studying God’s world and how He designed it. I don’t put research in the same authoritative category as revelation, but it’s still incredible to discover how often science and Scripture dovetail so well. Scripture often points out how the natural world directly confronts us with the glory and grandeur of God (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:18-23).
One clear area where I’ve seen this is in the area of neuroplasticity. Norman Doidge, a psychiatrist and researcher says, “Neuroplasticity is the property of the brain that allows it to change its structure and function in response to what it senses, what it does and even what it thinks and imagines.”
Let me break that down. Pictures of the brain now indicate that by introducing new thoughts, attitudes, and habits of the mind, you can actually change the structure of your brain. The reason this fascinates me is that Scripture speaks not about the brain per se, but about being “transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). We also read about “taking every thought captive” (2 Corinthians 10:4) as a central aspect of spiritual warfare.
All of this leads me to think about Bible memorization and why I believe it’s likely the most powerful spiritual discipline for transformation—especially as it is linked with meditation on Scripture. Here’s why: What we think about determines how we will act. If our words and actions are the fruit, then what has captured our mind is the root of all spiritual growth. In large part, our thoughts determine the outcome of our life.
I want to give ten reasons why developing a habit of memorizing Scripture might just change your life (I know it has mine!). But one quick note of caution: Memorizing Scripture should not be thought of as a do-it-yourself hack for spiritual growth. Like all areas of growth in the Christian life, it should be done with prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit. You can sow and water, but only God gives the growth.
10 Reasons to Memorize Scripture
Jesus did it. It’s clear from passages like His battle with the devil in the desert that Jesus had spent years saturating His mind in Scripture, because He’s able to deftly counter each of Satan’s temptations with the sword of God’s Word from memory (Matthew 4:1-11). If it’s good enough for the Son of God, it’s good enough for me.
It leads to prosperity and success, as God defines them. Joshua was commanded to meditate on the Word of God over and over, day and night (Joshua 1:8; cf. Psalm 1:1-3). Scripture memorization is all about thinking over a truth until you can speak it from your heart. God promises spiritual victory, blessing, and success if you will commit to this practice diligently.
It renews your mind. As mentioned above, we often carry many lies in our minds connected to our past (I’m worthless; I’m disgusting; No one cares about me; God doesn’t love me), and we need to wash out the lies with repeated exposure to God’s Word. Memorizing Scripture trains our minds to think differently about God, ourselves, and our purpose.
It’s a weapon against temptation. Psalm 119:11 gives it to us straight: “I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Memorizing Scripture has a purifying power that guards our thoughts. When you’re up against temptation, you’ll find yourself standing less on your emotions and more on the rock-solid truth of Scripture.
It provides you with wisdom. As you memorize Scripture, you are thinking about a truth over and over. As you meditate on a principle, it develops wise thinking for all areas of life, and new neural pathways are carved out in your gray matter. “Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies… I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:98-100). Scripture is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). So, the more you memorize, the more light you carry with you in this dark world.
It motivates you for ministry. Just as 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, all of Scripture is profitable “that the servant of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” When you have memorized a truth, it begins to work its way into your psyche and compels you to live out its truth. You will want to help others know and follow Jesus because of it.
It empowers your prayer, worship, and intimacy with God. As you marinate your mind with God’s words, you are given new words of prayer and affection for God. In John 15:7, Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
It strengthens you for spiritual warfare. Demonic attacks often come in the form of deception—which is easy to drift into when you’re not attuned to the truth. As you meditate and memorize Scripture, you arm yourself for the battle so you can “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
It liberates you from habitual sins. When Christian brothers tell me that they have been ensnared by a particular sin they know is wrong and just want to be free from, I always encourage them to memorize Scripture that directly targets the sin they are battling. The truth sets us free, Jesus said. Psalm 119:9 adds: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” John Bunyan once said it so well: “Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
It will give you greater joy in Jesus. Psalm 119 constantly speaks about how God’s Word is the delight of those who know and follow His precepts. Because memorizing Scripture transforms your affections, you find new delight in knowing God’s will for your life and not being defeated by sin and deception (Psalm 119:14, 16, 24, 50, 92, 111). Like Jesus, you will delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Brain science tells us that new habits and experiences can change both the structure of your brain and your mode of thinking. Scripture agrees that renewal of your mind is possible. You can change old, sinful, diabolical thought patterns by replacing them with the living and active truth of God’s Word. And a major way to do this is through Spirit-empowered memorization of Scripture. I encourage you to invest time and energy into this fruit-bearing practice.
If you have thoughts or comments, I’d love to hear from you!
This last week, I preached a message at Grace Point on the end times, a subject formally known as eschatology. I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to preach a sermon on the end times that covers everything you wanted to say, but a single message forces you to focus on what really matters. And the heart of eschatology is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
As disciples of Jesus, the return of our Lord is something that should never stray far from our thoughts. As I said in the sermon, “The question is not whether Jesus is returning; the question is whether you will be ready when He returns.” Jesus told us to stay vigilant.
“Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44, ESV)
Because we know who wins in the end, Christ’s return is something we must not merely be prepared for, but long for with joyful anticipation.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we can disengage from living life in the present. We’re called to live today in view of how this whole thing ends. Our lives should demonstrate that we are not captive to the secular voices and treasures of this world. We are sons and daughters of God, and we worship King Jesus, the Lord of the universe. By focusing on the end times, we are really focusing on the reign of Jesus, which is breaking forth in our hearts and lives and churches today.
If you ask the Apostle Paul how he was able to fight the good fight of the faith, finish the course, and keep the faith, he would say he kept his eyes on the prize:
“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8, ESV)
Will you be counted among those who love Christ’s appearing?
Christ’s first coming is a historical fact. The weight of the evidence is simply too overwhelming to deny. Christ’s second coming is still in the future but no less certain. We are to be ever ready for His return, but even the history-deniers will be overwhelmed with the reality of that day.
I love looking at the contrast between Jesus’ first coming and second coming. Just as God’s people once looked forward to the Messiah’s first coming, not knowing exactly what that would look like, so we today look forward to the Messiah’s second coming, a day of such extraordinary importance that it’s hard to overemphasize. Both comings fulfill prophecy, demonstrate God’s faithfulness, and call for a response of faith, repentance, and commitment to holiness. The fact that Jesus came once, fulfilling God’s promises, guarantees He will come again to fulfill those remaining promises.
Let me encourage you to prayerfully reflect on how the two comings of Christ compare and contrast.
How the First Relates to the Second
At His First Coming, He came in humility and weakness as a helpless baby. At His Second Coming, He will come in majesty and power as an omnipotent warrior.
At His First Coming, He came as God incognito, living in obscurity for much of His life. At His Second Coming, He will come as God in all His glorious splendor, and “every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him” (Revelation 1:7).
At His First Coming, He came to inaugurate a kingdom with small beginnings and largely unseen. At His Second Coming, He will establish His kingdom in its fullness, and it will be seen across the world.
At His First Coming, He came to seek and save the lost, offering salvation to all. At His Second Coming, He will come to judge and rule as King, bringing destruction on all who have rejected His offer.
At His First Coming, He came as a substitute sacrifice and ransom for many. At His Second Coming, He will lovingly embrace all who trusted Him as their substitute and ransom.
At His First Coming, He rode a young donkey and was welcomed by a crowd expecting a king who does what they want. At His Second Coming, He will ride a white warhorse and will be welcomed by multitudes who obey Him as King, bowing to what He wants.
At His First Coming, He wore a crown of thorns, and many mocked, beat, and spit on Him. At His Second Coming, He will wear many crowns, and many will wail, flee to caves, and shudder because of Him.
At His First Coming, He was lifted up on a cross for people to jeer. At His Second Coming, He will ascend a throne for people to cheer.
At His First Coming, His face was so badly beaten, people hardly recognized Him and looked away in either sadness or disgust. At His Second Coming, His face will radiate brighter than the sun, all will recognize Him, and people will either look on with joy or look away in shame.
At His First Coming, He came as a suffering Servant to purchase redemption for His people. At His Second Coming, He will come as a ruling King to apply redemption fully for His people.
At His First Coming, He came to absorb God’s judgment for the world’s evil. At His Second Coming, He will come to pour out God’s judgment on all those who sided with the world’s evil.
At His First Coming, He was rejected by many as the Messiah. At His Second Coming, He will be recognized by all as Lord.
At His First Coming, He came to die and rise again. At His Second Coming, He will come to raise all who have died in Him.
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
My wife, Whitney, and I recently celebrated 13 years of marriage. Over those 13 years, God has been so very gracious, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am to be married to such a godly, compassionate, devoted, and beautiful wife and mother of our four children.
As I think about marriage, I can’t help thinking about the many myths that pervade our culture. I firmly believe that marriage is not first about us—it’s about God and His covenantal faithfulness to His people. Therefore, it matters deeply how we think about marriage. Our enemy deceives and distorts our thinking about marriage, often in very subtle and small ways initially, teaching us to believe that marriage exists for reasons that ultimately undermine its grand and glorious purpose.
We need to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16), identifying counterfeit pictures of marriage for what they are and returning again to its biblical purpose.
Myth #1: “Marriage Exists to Make Me Happy”
Like every diabolical myth that our culture embraces, there is a grain of truth in this one. Does God want us to be blessed, happy, and fulfilled? I would argue He clearly does, but He is equally clear that ultimate satisfaction cannot be found outside of Him. True happiness is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. He came to give us joy and fullness of life in Him (Psalm 16:11; John 10:10). There is a supernatural joy found in surrendering our lives to His leadership and obeying His commands, which are for our good (John 15:10-11).
“Happy are those who obey theLord, who live by his commands.” (Psalm 128:1, GNT)
When we admit we don’t know best and humbly surrender the steering wheel of life to Him, He fills us with His Holy Spirit, and we delight to do His will.
Marriage is a good and glorious thing. I can certainly testify that Solomon was on the money when he said, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22). The problem is that many people think marriage and/or a romantic relationship will fill the void in their soul. How many men have looked dreamily into the eyes of their girlfriend or wife and said, “You complete me.” And what often happens is that he is looking to his girl to be his functional savior who will make his life meaningful. The Bible calls that idolatry. Only God can give us the ultimate satisfaction our hearts hunger for, and to seek it in any created thing is to turn that good thing into a god thing, which is an idol.
Marriage does not exist simply to make you happy. Despite this myth being so common, what many don’t realize is that by looking to marriage to make them happy, they are putting an unbearable weight on their spouse, asking them to be something they simply cannot be. When challenges come, it will devastate you, because you thought, “Marriage is supposed to make me happy, not frustrated.” In the end, believing this myth leaves both husband and wife hurt, angry, and disillusioned.
Look to Jesus to be your Fountain of joy and living water, and then you can pour into your spouse with joyful service. See marriage as an opportunity to grow together through challenges and become more like Jesus as you pray together, serve one another, and care for one another through the good and bad of life. Seek Christ first as your reason for living and, out of that purpose, you can seek to encourage your spouse in their relationship with the Lord.
Myth #2: “Love in Marriage is Primarily about Romantic Feelings”
This myth is founded on a misunderstanding of love itself. In many minds today, love is more equated with a strong—even overwhelming—feeling. At the end of the day, this reduces love to chemical reactions in the brain and emotional highs. We use phrases like “swept off my feet” and “falling in love.” But no matter how powerful such feelings may be in the moment, they were never designed to sustain a marriage or be the foundation of your marriage.
Biblical marriage is covenantal. It is founded on a promise and a commitment. We still see it in our traditional wedding vows: “for better, for worse… till death do us part.” The whole reason for wedding vows is to give your marriage a cement foundation, not a foundation of quicksand. Feelings come and go. And very often, people conclude that because the romantic feelings have faded, they are no longer “in love,” and therefore, to be true to themselves, divorce is the obvious next step.
But when your marriage is viewed as a covenant, the foundation for that marriage is not fleeting feelings, but the vows made before God. In marriage, something unique happens, as two souls are joined as one.
Jesus rooted His view of marriage in Scripture:
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’”And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.” (Matthew 19:4-6, NLT)
Myth #3: “The Grass Is Greener Outside My Marriage”
Many assume that marriage is about personal fulfillment (Myth #1), and then go on to assume that because their marriage is facing challenges, they must have married the wrong person. “I’m not supposed to be unhappy in my marriage.” Some may even go the religious route: “God wouldn’t want me to be unhappy in marriage.”
When this is your thinking, someone else suddenly seems so perfect for you (an obvious lie to everyone closest to you), and you’re tempted to pursue romance outside your marriage (which hurts everyone involved). The enemy would have us believe we married the wrong person and that our “soul mate” is still out there. This leads to emotional drift and comparison.
The issue is not whether you are perfectly compatible with your spouse; the issue is with whom you are in covenant. God is utterly opposed to infidelity and seeking romance outside your covenant.
Didn’t theLordmake you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. “For I hate divorce!” says theLord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says theLordof Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.” (Malachi 2:15-16, NLT)
If the grass seems greener elsewhere, then you probably need to start watering your grass. Cultivate your marriage by communicating honestly and reigniting the romance with date nights, having sex, and finding new things to enjoy together.
Myth #4: “Marriage Should Be 50-50 with No Roles”
This myth is very popular, and it fits with the egalitarian mindset that says, “Men and women are totally equal; therefore, there should be no distinct roles!” Many would say that assigning roles to the husband or wife is outdated and at times demeaning. What this myth gets right is that marriage does involve two people with equal value. But while men and women are equal, they are not equivalent.
The 50-50 mindset sets up your marriage for scorekeeping, power struggles, resentment, and confusion because it erases the God-given roles the Bible describes for a husband and a wife. According to Scripture, the husband is the sacrificial head of the wife (Ephesians 5:25). He is called to lovingly lead, protect, and provide. The wife is called to be the sacrificial helper (Genesis 2:18). That title “helper” is not demeaning; it is used of God more than anyone else in Scripture. It implies that the man needs help and support if he is going to lead well. Together, this dynamic is powerful and effective.
As Whitney’s husband, I know how badly I need her help and input, but I also recognize that God has called me to lovingly lead as the head of our household. When we work together as God prescribed, our marriage reflects the gospel (Christ and His Church) and is able to flourish as loving partners who embrace the roles God has given us.
This complementary approach says that each plays a vital but different role in making the marriage thrive. God blesses us when our marriage is structured around His good design and under His reign rather than bending to cultural pressures.
Myth #5: “It’s Just a Piece of Paper”
When I first announced that I was engaged to Whitney, a couple of my co-workers at a bank I worked for encouraged me to have a prenuptial agreement. I said I saw no point in doing that. They said, “It’s just covering your bases in case it doesn’t work out.”
What a horrible way to begin a marriage! In my years as a pastor, I have occasionally heard the explanation from couples that they haven’t wedded yet because, after all, “it’s just a piece of paper.” One man I sat down with later told me that the Lord had convicted him, and he admitted that this line was just an excuse for him to live with his girlfriend while putting off getting married as God designed.
What this lie misses is that marriage is far more than a mere contract; it is a covenant entered publicly which points to the glory of the gospel. A contract says, “I’ll commit to you as long as you keep your end of the bargain.” A covenant says, “I am committed to loving you no matter what—for better or for worse.”
God loved us first, not when things were going well, but when we were still sinners running from him (Romans 5:6-8). When we trusted in Christ for salvation, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit and bound in union with the Lord by covenant. Marriage is a signpost for this glorious reality of union with Christ (Ephesians 5:31-33).
Conclusion
Underneath all these myths is the big lie of individualism, which undercuts all relationships with self-centeredness. Rather than choosing to love our spouse through thick and thin, these myths undermine the foundation for the marriage relationship. The real question husbands and wives should be asking is, “How can I honor my marriage by serving my spouse today?” When we have that approach of loving service, we put the gospel of a God of unconditional love on display for the watching world.
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
In the musical The Greatest Showman, P. T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) assembles a group of social misfits and turns them into a team of incredible circus performers. One of the standout themes of the film is this hunger for acceptance. The misfits have grown accustomed to being shamed for their appearance or status in a culture where “polite” society disdains outsiders as problematic. But Barnum, a flawed and, at times, abrasive man, nevertheless sees potential in these outsiders and tells them they cannot let the elites define them.
The Greatest Showman reminds me of a parable that Jesus told in Luke 14 about a man who hosted a banquet.
Here’s the context for when Jesus told this parable. Jesus was a guest in the home of a “ruler of the Pharisees,” and several of the religious elites would have been sitting in a U-shaped pattern around a table. Luke implies that Jesus was invited to this dinner party so that the Pharisees could evaluate Him, because he says “they were watching Him carefully” (Luke 14:1).
Unprompted, Jesus tells the ruler that when he has a banquet like this, he shouldn’t invite family and friends; instead, he should invite “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (v. 13). Just imagine how that would have landed, as the religious leaders look at one another uncomfortably. To break the ice, one said, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
In other words, “Why don’t we just celebrate the fact that we’ll all be included in the banquet hall in the kingdom!” Here’s where Jesus gives the parable of the great banquet.
“A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet He sent His servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses.” (Luke 14:16-18, ESV)
Note that the servant announced the dinner was ready to “those who had been invited.” Kenneth Bailey explains that in that Middle Eastern culture, the host would send out the initial invite seeking an RSVP to find out how much food needs to be prepared, and those who RSVP’d would receive a follow-up message once the banquet was all ready.
So, these guys who give various excuses for not coming had already said they would be coming. Scholars note that the excuses given were incredibly lame. For instance, one says, “I need to go see the land I just bought.” But, much like today, in the ancient world, you wouldn’t purchase a piece of land before first going to see it. The second says he can’t come because he has to go examine some oxen that he bought, but that again wouldn’t make sense. No farmer would purchase livestock prior to examining them.
Today, this would be like someone saying, “I know I said I could make it to your wedding and reception, but I’ve gotta go take a look at the car I just bought.”
The last excuse, Bailey points out, is the biggest insult. He says he’s married a wife, and he can’t come. What kind of excuse is that? Did he forget he’d be married when he RSVP’d? He didn’t even ask to be excused. He basically just said, “I’m married, so I’m not coming.”
The master of the house gets angry. He’s been publicly insulted in an honor-shame culture. But here’s where Jesus drops a bomb. Instead of retaliating against those punks who just insulted him, the master tells his servant, “Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame,’” intentionally echoing what He’d just said a few verses earlier (v. 21).
The image is startling. Jesus is directing this parable at these religious leaders sitting on either side of Him. They were the ones who knew the Hebrew Scriptures. They knew the promises of the coming Messiah, and they claimed to be awaiting the arrival of God’s kingdom. They are like the guests who had RSVP’d to the banquet.
But when the Messiah finally shows up and announces God’s kingdom is arriving through Him, they are unwilling to go to the party. So, what does Jesus do? Does He angrily cancel the banquet? No, He goes out to the margins of society—to prostitutes, beggars, tax collectors, and sinners. And He says, “Come to the banquet. The food is ready!”
I love this image, because it teaches us how to think of mission. Many people will reject the invitation to meet Jesus, but that should not deter us. We simply must go to the ones who are hungry for God.
Religious hypocrites are those that make a show of devotion to God. They use lots of “God talk,” may go to church, and claim to be on God’s side, but they don’t actually want God. If God was to show up in the flesh, they wouldn’t recognize Him.
Others make only a half-hearted commitment to follow Jesus. They RSVP that they want to go to Heaven, but Jesus is such a low priority for them that the moment something “more pressing” comes along, they have plenty of excuses for ignoring Him.
What I love about this parable is that it shows the incredible grace of God. He wants people to experience His joy. Those with hearts that hunger for Him will come to His banquet. When the servant says he has invited everyone from the city and “still there is room,” it reminds me of the greatness of God’s heart for the lost.
The master says, “Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled” (v. 23).
It’s like the kingdom is ever-expanding, and God wants Heaven crowded. But why does the servant have to “compel people to come in”? Here’s what I see. The invitation is going out to the marginalized, the outcasts, the misfits, to those who have always felt that they don’t belong. But they hesitate.
Why do they have to be compelled? Because at first they cannot believe that some great noble hosting a grand banquet would want them there. They have been convinced that they are worthless, that no one would want their company.
Here’s the part that breaks my heart. Many people believe this today, and they struggle to believe that God could really love them this much. Grace is not easy to believe. It sounds too good to be true. The hope of the gospel will always feel unreal until you understand the depth of God’s love for you.
If you want to know how deeply God loves you, you have to understand that God is the one hanging on the cross. There we see God in the flesh laying down His life for a world that had rejected Him, spat on Him, insulted Him, and treated Him as the ultimate outsider. The Bible says Jesus became sin for us so that through the shame of the cross, we might be welcomed in.
I don’t know about you, but when I read this parable, I want to go tell everyone I meet how much Jesus loves them! I want them to know about the redemption He accomplished for them and for the world. If people reject the invitation, I don’t want to be discouraged. I want to go “to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in,” that the Lord’s house may be filled.
The parable ends with Jesus giving a warning: those who were initially invited but never actually came will never taste the banquet. They were so close, but never actually entered the Kingdom of God.
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
We, Your Church, come before You in humility, gratitude, and hope. Lord, without question You have blessed the United States in tremendous ways since its inception. Under Your providential hand, this nation was founded 250 years ago on unique principles which the founding fathers largely drew from the well of Scripture. These principles included human dignity, governmental accountability, the rule of law, and the truth that rights are endowed by You, our Creator.
The American experiment of self-government and elected officials has proven to be a tremendous blessing for many in our nation and around the world and led to great advances in technology, social welfare, and material prosperity. May we never grow numb to the blessings we have received or take for granted the sacrifices made by countless men and women to guard the freedoms we enjoy.
Father, we also humbly confess our nation’s failings. We humbly repent of the ways we have contributed to the sins of our nation. Forgive us for our apathy, our entitlement, our shedding of innocent blood, the breakdown of the family, the idol of comfort and self, and the neglect of Your revealed Truth. Thank You for Your grace available to us when we call upon You, and for Your Son, Jesus Christ, whose shed blood allows us to be reconciled to our Creator.
In times past, You called the nation of Israel to seek Your face for the welfare of the city of Babylon, even as they were exiles in the land.
“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)
While the United States is not Israel, the principle remains that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Father, we ask that You would turn the hearts of our people back to You in humble repentance. Heal our divided land. Restore us to true peace and love for our neighbors. Revive us through the preaching of Your Word. Save us through the Cross and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ! Make Your Name known among the nations, including our own!
May we always plead for Your shalom in the land we indwell—even when we sometimes feel like exiles. So, Father, we pray not for material prosperity—but for true shalom rooted in righteousness and justice. Lord, bring true prosperity to our families, our churches, our cities, and our local and national leaders. Bless them with Your ruling and reigning presence, the only true hope of the world.
Lord, may Your Church shine brightly as salt and light. May we be known for humility, genuine love, constant prayer, and bold proclamation of the gospel. Help us to be a people who care for the hurting and the vulnerable, provide for the poor, and bring hope to the hopeless. Father, we ask that You would bless our families with strong marriages founded on Your Word and that our children would be discipled in the Way of Jesus.
Make us faithful in our generation, Lord, that we might bless our nation, and in turn, be a nation that blesses the world.
We ask this humbly in the Name of Jesus Christ, the risen and ruling Lord of Heaven and Earth. Amen.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-4, ESV)
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
A recent report said in the United States, “anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern.” Over 56 million adults are affected by them, which comes to 19.1 percent of the US population. But in the younger generations, it gets even worse. Researchers have noticed there has been an incredible uptick of anxiety-related issues among Gen Z (those born after 1997). They tend to report more stress and anxiety than previous generations. Many researchers have noticed the direct tie between young people using smartphones and social media and this rise of anxiety.
Because I’m a follower of Jesus, I believe He is not only the Son of God, but that He speaks with profound wisdom and insight into all aspects of human life. That means that while He was here on earth 2,000 years ago, Jesus’ message is always relevant and timely. Let me encourage you to take the time to read the entirety of His famous Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew 5-7 this week. In that sermon, Jesus tells us how to say “No” to anxiety.
Fear is the first negative emotion described in the Bible, and fear and anxiety are closely related.
The most frequent command in the Bible is “Fear not.” Some have said that we find it 366 times in the Bible. Now think about that. That’s a “Fear Not” for every day of the year, even on leap years!
The key to overcoming anxiety is getting a bigger view of God. Anxiety is actually a symptom of small faith. That’s exactly what Jesus says in this passage. Anxiety stems from seeing your problems as bigger than your God.
There is a way to deal with problems productively without magnifying them or seeing them as bigger than God. And the key is to see your Heavenly Father’s direct care over every aspect of your life. Remember, God does not roll the dice when it comes to your life. He exercises His Fatherly control over everything that you are dealing with—no matter how big or how small it might be. As my pastor friend Steve McCracken has said, all of life is “Father-filtered.”
Essentially, Jesus taught that the secret to overcoming anxiety in your life is to choose to delight in the sovereign power and gracious provision of our Heavenly Father.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26, ESV)
Jesus reminds us to study nature, to look at the flowers and the birds and take a lesson from creation so that we better know our Creator. A few days ago, my family and I went to Washington Park here in Portland and checked out the International Rose Garden. At one point, a bold (and fat) squirrel ran right up to my kids (pictured above). The reason? My boys were eating from a bag of mixed nuts, and he wanted in on that. In other words, the squirrel decided he could trust us because he saw us as a source of provision.
That got me thinking about why we do or don’t come to God with our problems. Do we really see Him as our Heavenly Father who loves to provide for His children?
Elizabeth Cheney wrote this little poem called “Overheard in an Orchard” to help us understand what Jesus is saying here:
“Said the robin to the sparrow, ‘I should really like to know, Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so.’
Said the sparrow to the robin, ‘Friend I think that it must be, That they have no Heavenly Father, Such as cares for you and me.’”
Part of the reason for this passage is that Jesus is telling us we have every reason to be settled and secure, every reason to feel confident about the future, every reason to be happy, because we really do have a Heavenly Father who cares for us unceasingly and individually.
This is also a message about our witness to the world. The gospel is a joy-giving message (Luke 2:10). And it’s a message for everybody! So when we live as children of our Father, we adorn the message of the gospel and give people a reason to want what we have.
I want to point out something pretty basic here. We can choose not to be anxious about the things of life. How do I know that? Because Jesus tells us not to be anxious. Many times people say things like, “I just have an anxious personality” or “I’m just a worrier,” like it’s a permanent fixture of their identity.
Let me say something that many need to hear. We are not merely driven by instincts and genes. Being human means God has given us agency. We can make choices that change the course of life. We don’t have to do what we’ve always done. When people say, “This is just how I am,” they aren’t recognizing that freedom from sin and fear is found in Jesus. That’s part of what it means to be redeemed.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can choose to live differently. And in this passage, Jesus is calling us to a new way of life. To look at life the way He does. To have the mind of Christ. He wants us to see that we can choose to delight in God, no matter what circumstance we face.
Here is something very practical to try: For every worry that enters your mind, choose to delight in God in that specific area.
Jesus asks that rhetorical question to put things in perspective: “Isn’t life more than what you put in your mouth and what you put on your body?” The obvious answer is….yes! You are not the sum total of your diet or your wardrobe. Life is not quantifiable like food or clothing.
Jesus is telling us that when we feel anxious and start worrying about the future, what we most need is to shift our perspective. We need to see things as He sees things, with God at the center of all reality.
There’s a little parable that illustrates this principle of choosing to delight in God.
Once upon a time, there was a widow with two sons. One sold fans; the other sold umbrellas. Sunshine brought her misery, because she knew no umbrellas would sell. Rain brought her misery, because she knew no fans would sell.
Finally a friend remarked, “If the sun is shining, people buy fans. If the rain is falling, people buy umbrellas. Change your attitude; be happy!”
It’s a simple story, but this is actually a life-changing principle. If you look for reasons to be anxious, you will always find them. But if you look for reasons to be happy and grateful to God, you will always find far more.
Everyone wants to be happy, but something that most people overlook is that happiness is a choice. Because true happiness comes from delighting in God.
Jesus isn’t just telling us to see the glass half full. He’s saying that with God, the glass is completely full. In other words, He’s calling us to see things as they really are. He’s not telling us to live in a dream-world. He’s telling us to see reality for what it is. There is a God who loves you more than you could possibly know, who knows your every need, and is already working out the details to make sure you have all things in Jesus. Through faith in Christ’s shed blood, you have been purchased, redeemed, adopted, made new, forgiven of everything that could be counted against you. And through faith in the empty tomb of Jesus, your eternal destiny is secure, and it’s not because you measured up. It’s all by sheer grace! That is gloriously GOOD NEWS.
A couple years ago, my friend Tim had an accident while helping his buddy. He fell off a ladder and broke his femur. For those who don’t know, the femur is the largest bone in the body. It was an extremely painful injury that set him back from doing some of the things he loves—like going for long walks and hiking to his favorite fishing spot.
But when I visited Tim in the hospital, he was smiling from ear to ear. Ordinarily, this might surprise me. But this is who Tim is. Or I should say this is who Tim is in Christ. When I asked him how he’s doing, he just told me how thankful he is that God has a good purpose in this. He actually looked forward to how God might use this painful injury! That’s what it means to choose to delight in God in all circumstances.
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
