“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!
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!
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!
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12, NIV)
Every day you make a choice that has an impact on eternity. Do you believe that? Don’t answer too quickly, because it’s easy to either scoff at such an idea or, perhaps even more dangerous, to quickly nod your head without ever stopping to consider this truth. I believe this principle about the gravity of this daily choice is found all through Scripture. Once you see it, it begins to appear everywhere.
Before taking his final breath on earth, Joshua urged the people of Israel with these words:
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15, NIV)
Do you recognize what Joshua is saying? Every day, we choose whom we will serve, how we will live, and what we will prioritize? Will you serve the gods of this world (money, comfort, pleasure, sex, power, control), or will you serve the Lord, the living God who reigns from Heaven?
Is the Lord undesirable to you, or is He your greatest Treasure? To whom or what will you give your life? Each day you make that choice, consciously or unconsciously. But for that choice you will be held accountable.
Let me back up this claim with some Bible:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he/she has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)
This applies to every believer. Notice, Paul says “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” Salvation is all by grace, but the daily choices and deeds done in the body directly impact rewards received.
Again:
“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God… So then each of us will give an account of himself/herself to God.” (Romans 14:10-12, emphasis added, ESV)
Are you prepared to “give an account” of yourself to God? Make the commitment today to live in light of the end, when you stand before the Judgment Seat of God and Christ.
Many people tell themselves that the choices they make don’t matter… after all, God is gracious and forgiving. So what’s the big deal?
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7-10, ESV)
Many are deceived. Don’t be counted among them. Live each day knowing that whatever you reap, you will also sow. God will not be mocked. He is not manipulated or cajoled. But He is for you in Christ, which is why He gives these warnings and reminders. Because the world will attempt to cloud our vision and deceive us into thinking what we do each day doesn’t really matter in the end. But it does.
We need to number our days to get a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12). We need to make the best use of the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16). One day, our work–our daily choices–will be tested by fire, resulting in reward or loss (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). If you are a Christian, one day, God will call you home to be with Him, and you will have to give an account. Are you ready for that day? If you are not a Christian, you need to stop living for yourself (repent), acknowledge the God who made you, and put your faith in the living Lord, Jesus Christ, who died the death you deserve for all your sins on the cross. Then, begin a life of daily surrender to Him alone.
So number your days. Live each day in light of the end. Embrace the mercy and forgiveness available to you in Christ. Offer up your body as a living sacrifice to Him, because that is true and spiritual worship (Romans 12:1-2).
You get to decide what kind of Christian you will be. Will you be the half-hearted, half-engaged, bored, and drifting Christian, who merely goes with the flow and never takes a stand or boldly steps out in faith to where God is calling you? Or will you be the Spirit-filled, knee-bowing, totally committed, all-in Christian who knows that each day you must “die daily” so that Christ will be manifest in your life?
We are called to live in daily surrender to the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ. On the cross, Jesus gave His life for you. Will you give your life each day for Him?
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
The gospel is the story that Christians have to tell the world. It’s the message of salvation for a world that is spiritually adrift. As we speak the gospel to others, we act as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). To remember the basics of the gospel, you can use the basic outline of God, Humanity, Christ, and Response.
God
Who is God? He’s the Creator of all that is (Genesis 1). He is the reason everything exists, and everything was created to bring Him glory. Unlike the gods of paganism, He is not merely part of creation or responsible for one aspect of creation, like the rain or the sun. He is the King over all the universe. The gospel must begin with God, because nothing makes sense apart from Him.
What is God like? God is holy, just, and loving. To be holy is to be set apart as spotless, pure, and perfect. He is unlike us in that He can never make a mistake and has never wronged anyone. And because He is just, God is a perfectly fair Judge who must hold the world accountable. It would violate His nature to sweep sin and evil under the rug of the universe. He must exact a just penalty for every single violation of His moral will. God is also loving, and this is tremendously good news. In fact, not only is God loving, the Bible even says “God is love” (1 John 4:8). As the Bible lays out, God has eternally existed in a perfect relationship of love as three persons in the one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Humanity
Because God is love, we were created for a relationship of love with Him. We were made for Him, and we will never find our purpose in any created thing. We were created to be like Him in many ways, but we have all “fallen short” of His glory (Romans 3:23). Through the cunning deception of our enemy, the devil, we have all missed our true purpose in life by choosing our own way (see Genesis 3).
According to the Bible, the world of humanity is now spiritually lost and broken. That’s why we all see so much evil and suffering in this world, and we all know we’ve done things we knew to be wrong. We each have wanted to do things our own way, and because of that we have incurred a spiritual debt that will have to be accounted for. The worst part is that we have deceived ourselves into thinking we are okay on our own, which has only exacerbated the spiritual darkness that has clouded our thinking (1 John 1:5-10). In short, we have all rejected God as our authority, and because of that, we are destined for a fair and just judgment.
Christ
The glorious good news of the gospel is that God didn’t leave us in our desperate and hopeless state. He promised to send a Savior to the people of Israel, One called “Messiah” or “Christ.” The surprising twist is that this coming Christ would be God Himself. He showed the full measure of His love by entering the very world that had rejected Him. John’s Gospel says of God the Son: “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him” (John 1:10). Incredibly, the infinite Son of God became small, by taking on human flesh and being born of a virgin (Merry Christmas!). Growing up, His friends knew Him as Jesus the son of Joseph. As Jesus grew to adulthood, He lived a perfectly spotless life. His own followers, who knew Him best and wrote about Him later testified that “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22).
Jesus lived that perfect life and taught some amazing things, but ultimately, Jesus didn’t merely come to give us an impossible example to which we must aspire. He came to give His life. For His claims to be divine, He got crucified. And as He hung on the cross, suspended between Heaven and Earth, He bore the very sin that was separating man and his Maker. The judgment our sins deserved fell on Him, and He was willingly sacrificing His life so that we might live. But that wasn’t the end of the story.
Response
On the third day, Jesus rose to life again and appeared to His chosen followers so that they might testify to His resurrection and proclaim that forgiveness of sins is available. He told them that all that He had accomplished had been written about the promised Christ in their Hebrew Scriptures: “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations” (Luke 24:46-47).
To “repent” is to change one’s mind about who’s really in charge. It’s about doing a spiritual U-Turn, where you stop living first for yourself and start living for God. But this isn’t about changing behavior to earn forgiveness. God has promised to save only by grace those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord (see Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 10:9-10). And as you are united to Jesus by faith, you receive a new spiritual life. The Holy Spirit comes inside, and from that point on, we will be transformed more and more into the likeness of God. The secret to repentance is being honest. We have to admit we have gone wrong, that we have done things we know we shouldn’t have, and that our only hope is the forgiveness and cleansing that is offered in Christ. Not only that, but when you trust in Christ, you join the people of God, known as the church. Through fellowship and community, we encourage each other on life’s journey.
This is the story we have to tell. It is a story about reality; it’s an overview of what life is really all about and what God has done to redeem us from our self-deception. It is the hope of the world, because through Jesus, we learn that this life is not all there is. Because of the Cross, our guilt does not have the last word. Because of the Resurrection, death is not the end. There is an eternity before us, and everyone will have to stand before God. My hope and prayer is that you will stand before Him, not dressed in your own shoddy goodness, which will not measure up and will leave us eternally lost, but that you will stand clothed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ and experience eternal joy in His kingdom forever.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15, NLT)
Sometimes when I watch movies with my kids, I like to ask them what “gospel themes” they saw in the movie. I do this, because I recognize watching movies is something they love to do (me too, actually), and I want to seize as many opportunities as I can to disciple them in the way of Jesus and help them develop a biblical worldview—even at a very young age.
Now, this isn’t as torturous as it sounds. I don’t pause the movie every five minutes to quiz them. I try to talk after we’ve finished the movie. Sometimes, we only get through half a movie during the evening, so I will try talking with them at bedtime about where they saw things like evil, redemption, hope, and sacrifice show up in the movie.
Disney’s classic animated film The Lion King is one that actually carries a pretty powerful message about identity. I know, I know. There are some pantheistic themes to The Lion King. It’s good to address those, too. But I would argue that the whole “circle-of-life” thing isn’t actually the main theme of the movie. At the core, I think it’s all about how our identity shapes our purpose in life.
The Lion King is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, with the whole bit about the evil uncle slaying Hamlet’s father so that he can be king. But in The Lion King, as young Simba runs away in fear, he also ends up running away from responsibility.
He meets Timon and Pumbaa, a lovable meerkat and warthog duo that has developed a philosophy of life called “Hakuna Matata,” which apparently means “No Worries.” They are the classic slackers. They talk about embracing a lifestyle of “no rules, no responsibilities,” and how this leads to a carefree existence.
Honestly, I think there are a lot of Timons and Pumbaas in our world—those who would rather eat a plate of bugs than embrace any level of responsibility. The two teach Simba how to belch, joke, and sing. With nothing better to do, they speculate about the mysteries of the universe with no true authority or guidance but their own imaginations. Ironically, I think these comical clods are meant to be an indictment of where running from responsibility will take you—looking for satisfaction by eating slimy worms! Notice we never meet a Mrs. Timon or Mrs. Pumbaa.
Simba joins their lot for a time, until he runs into a freaky baboon named Rafiki, who tells him: “The question is… Who are you?” Simba regretfully admits he’s not so sure anymore.
Then comes the great turning point in the plot—the reason The Lion King is a compelling story, kids’ movie or no. Simba has a vision of his father, Mufasa, who says, “Simba, you have forgotten me.” “No,” Simba replies, “How could I?” Mufasa continues, “You have forgotten who you are, and so, you have forgotten me… Remember who you are. You are my son and the one true king.”
That reminder is what makes all the difference and compels Simba to return to his place as king. In the same way, you and I who belong to the one true King need to remember who we are.
When you come to Jesus Christ, you leave your old identity behind, and you find your true identity in Him. Through our union with Christ, God our Father adopts us into His family, and He calls us His beloved children with whom He is well pleased (Matthew 3:17; Romans 8:14-17).
To our great astonishment, God now considers us royalty, destined to be co-heirs with Christ our King. This thought should blow our minds. If we really contemplate what this means, it just might!
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17, ESV)
We belong to God our Father, and that means we who suffer in union with Jesus will one day be glorified in union with Jesus. See if your soul can take in the magnitude of that thought.
What does this mean? Well, for starters it means that we have indescribable value in God’s eyes. We matter more to Him than we could possibly fathom. It means there is a purpose and meaning to our lives beyond “Hakuna Matata.”
Ironically, if your existence is just about a grand “circle of life,” then the “No Worries” lifestyle actually makes sense. We live. We eat. We die. Our bodies become food for bacteria. So, why worry about how you live? Your “life force” is going to keep going around the same circle anyway, so you might as well live it up and enjoy yourself for your brief segment of the circle.
But if we belong to God, we really do have a purpose in this life that will carry forward into eternity. You were made to make a difference—to know God and to make Him known. It also means that God has a calling on your life. Like Simba, we have an enemy who wants to thwart our Father’s plans for us. He lies about our identity. He tells us we don’t matter to God, that we’ve sinned too much to be forgiven or used by Him.
That is why we have to take up the shield of faith, Scripture says, to protect us from all the fiery darts of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). Only through faith in what God says about us can we overcome and be more than conquerors through Him who loves us.
Remember whose you are. If you have trusted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, you have a new identity. You belong to Jesus Christ. You are clothed in His righteousness. You are forgiven. You are valuable in your Father’s sight. He adopted you as His own child because He loves you, and He is not ashamed of you. He is well pleased to call you His own.
“In love He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-5, ESV)
Are you interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and what He’s done for you? I’d love to hear from you!
