In the news, we often hear stories or even see video footage of people fleeing war-torn places around the world to relocate to somewhere safer: somewhere with a higher quality of life, more opportunities for prosperity, and more overall freedom from harm. These people are called refugees—they are seeking refuge from the difficulties, fear, and violence they are leaving behind. When we hear about the circumstances of many of these refugees, for most of us, they are circumstances that can be difficult for us to relate to on a personal level. Spiritually, however, the Bible repeatedly refers to God as a “safe place.” He is a fortress, a shield, and place of refuge. What exactly does that mean, and how can we seek refuge in the Lord?   One of the first times in scripture we see the concept of “refuge” is in the book of Joshua, when various cities are laid out within the promised land where people who accidentally or unknowingly had taken another life could go in order to be safe from “the avenger of blood,” a close relative of the victim whose role it was to avenge their relatives death and was permitted to take the life of the killer (see Joshua 20:1-9 ). This instance beautifully demonstrates the first and most important harm that God provides us safety from: guilt. Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God knows that we are guilty of sin, and He has made abundantly clear how steep the cost of sin is (see Genesis 3:14-19 ). In Christ though, we are given freedom and life, and justified when we were “found condemned.” The idea of fleeing to a city of refuge helps us understand what safety in Christ looks like when it comes to our sin: if we are not “in Christ,” or “in the city limits,” so to speak, then we are not safe! This is why being baptized “into” Christ is so important ( Galatians 3:27 )! Are you in or are you out? As the psalmist writes in Psalm 2:12 , “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” Are you safe from the cost of sin, or as Belshazzar saw in the handwriting on the wall, “you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting…” ( Daniel 5:27 ).   God is also our refuge from physical danger, like the many dangers presented by living in a fallen world. We know that King David had many enemies and was often involved in military conflicts or fearful for his life for some reason, and as we read through the Psalms we can see how often David was reminded of the fact that God was at work keeping him safe from harm: -            “Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.” ( Psalm 17:7 ) -            “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” ( Psalm 18:2) -            “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” ( Psalm 57:1 ) While as Christians, we should always strive to be peacemakers ( Matthew 5:9, Romans 12:18 ), there will likely at certain times in our lives be people who dislike us, frustrate us, or maybe even wish to cause us harm in some way. We can take comfort and courage from David’s consistent faith that God was watching out for him, and that even when he was struggling with some sort of difficulty, God was always the place he could go for safety, peace, and encouragement. May we always look to God for refuge from danger, whatever type of danger that may be, and give Him glory for always being our help and safety.   “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” ( Psalm 59:16 )

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. while at a gospel meeting. The preacher at the congregation took to me to D.C. and we had a great time there. One of the places we visited was the spy museum. All the tickets were sold out for that day, so we were only able to look around in the bookstore.   While checking out some of the books, the preached said, “I wonder if they have any book on Hushai the Archite.” The name didn’t register with me and so I asked “Who?”    He replied, “The story of Hushai the Archite from 2 Samuel .” He then launched into how the CIA used the story of what Hushai did for King David when Absalom, David’s son was seeking to kill him. The story is found in 2 Samuel 15-17 . The CIA released some documents in 1996 describing Hushai as one of the first agents of influence. His story and how he persuaded Absalom to listen to him instead of the wisdom of Ahithophel has been used to teach new agents the art of persuasion for years to new CIA agents.   Do you know the story? Let’s summarize a few thoughts. 1.       2 Samuel 15 : Absalom has plotted against his father David. He sought to “Steal away the hearts of the men of Israel.” 2 Samuel 15:6 2.       2 Samuel 15:10 : “Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, ‘As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron.’”   3.       2 Samuel 15:12 : Absalom got David’s counselor Ahithophel the Gilonite to assist him as well. “And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people increased continually with Absalom.” 4.       2 Samuel 15:13 : David found out that “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” As a result of this David, his servants, and his household had to flee. It was a sad day for the king as there was great weeping with a loud voice as they departed and made their way to the wilderness, 2 Samuel 15:23 . It appears that Psalm 63 , is in connection with this event as well. David’s request to the LORD was to make Ahithophel’s counsel to become foolishness,  2 Samuel 15:31 . His prayer would be answered! This is when Hushai comes into the picture, 2 Samuel 15:32-37 . I find it interesting that right after praying, that David meets Hushai. David asks Hushai to go to Absalom and see if he could thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for him, 2 Samuel 15:34 . In verse 37 , it says, “So Hushai, David’s friend, came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.”   It's in 2 Samuel 17  where we see the bravery, courage, and influence of Hushai. He’s able to convince Absalom not to listen to the wisdom of Ahithophel, 2 Samuel 17:7 . Hushai plays to the ego and emotions of Absalom. As a result, Ahithophel leaves and commits suicide because he knows the Absalom and his men will fail. David’s prayer is answered by God. It says in 2 Samuel 17:14 : “Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, ‘The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.’ For the LORD had ordained to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring calamity on Absalom.” Calamity would come Absalom’s way! He eventually died in battle a terrible death.   This story is interesting on so many levels. One thought for us is to ask ourselves, “How far will we go for our King: Jesus? 1.       Hushai put his life on the line for King David . What are we willing to sacrifice for our king? We are to be dead to sin and alive to Christ, Romans 6:11 . 2.       Hushai demonstrated his allegiance to his King . How far are we willing to go to demonstrate our allegiance to our King Jesus? 3.       Hushai was willing to speak up on behalf of his king . How willing are we to speak and share the good news of our King? Let’s go all the way for King Jesus! Let’s be dedicated in our service to Him.

When we think of idolatry, we may think of statues made of wood, stone, or metal, like the ones we see in history museums or read about in the Bible. Consider these examples:   -            “And [Aaron] received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” ( Exodus 32:4 ) -            “And [Israel] abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.” ( 2 Kings 17:16 ) -             “Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols…   For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god...’” ( Acts 17:16, 23 )   Throughout the Bible, people find “things” to put above God. Sometimes this literally takes the form of some sort of animal (like a golden calf), an altar to a foreign god (like Baal or “the unknown god,”) or even a human form (Asherah were often long, skinny, wooden figures carved to look like female bodies.) While in some parts of the world, there may be places where people worship or pay homage to some sort of statue like Buddha or Mohammed, in 21st century America this is not very common. So is idolatry just not an issue anymore? This could not be farther from the truth!   The Bible indicates that idolatry will always be an issue. Romans 1 gives us special insight into what “modern” idolatry may look like and how modern idolatry relates to past idolatry.   Paul talks about the ungodliness and unrighteousness in the world that is indicated by the sin we see all around us. He explains that the root of sin is the fact that many people do not honor God or give thanks to Him ( vs. 22 ). He goes on to summarize sin this way: they “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things…they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” ( vss. 23, 25 ). What a harrowing definition of idolatry: to exchange all the glory of the Almighty Creator of the Universe for just images of animals. One way, then, for us to think about what idolatry looks like in our lives is by asking this question: what are we exchanging the glory of God for?   Paul continues talking about God’s glory in Romans 8:18 when He says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Here, rather than talking about God’s glory in the negative context of sin and idolatry, he refers to the fact that those who are saved in Christ have a hope of sharing in God’s glory in the future.   Really, idolatry comes down to putting God in His proper place: as our number one priority in life! We may not struggle with bowing down to images of wood or stone, but Paul makes it clear that in order to share in future glory, we need to glorify God now: with our words, our actions, our bodies, our time, our money—everything about who we are and what we do should glorify God!   When we prioritize things—even things that are not inherently bad, or abstract things like our ambition, our ego, or our comfort—above God, we are committing a grave mistake that humanity has literally struggled with since the beginning of time. Are you serving the “creature” or the Creator?

When studying a book of the Bible there are certain questions that need to be answered upfront. Knowing the answer to these questions will give you a better understanding of the book. Here are three simple but important questions as you think about books of the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. Who wrote the book? Who is the audience of the book? What is the purpose of the book or letter? Certainly, there’s more to consider than these three questions, but this is a start. I want us to consider the short epistle of 1 Peter . Let’s begin by answering these questions and then consider a few thoughts about God’s Grace. Who wrote the book? The apostle Peter did. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ…”   1 Peter 1:1 . Who is the audience of the book? Saints of God who are scattered. 1 Peter 1:1-2   “To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.” What is the purpose of the letter? Peter is writing to encourage these Christians who are going to face persecution. They are to stand in the true grace of God. “Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.” 1 Peter 5:12 .   The apostle emphasizes the need for holiness, endurance, and the grace of God throughout the letter. Let’s consider some thoughts Peter helps us to see understand regarding God and His Grace. 1 Peter 5:10 : “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”  Notice where grace comes from: God! Our God is gracious in every way. He’s always been gracious. Some think God in the Old Testament was not gracious, but that’s not true. In both the Old and New Testament God demonstrates His grace toward man. There is such a thing as “True Grace.” We are to stand or abide in the true Grace. If there’s a true grace, then there’s a false grace or concept of grace. Some view God’s grace as a get of jail free card when it comes to sin. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, Peter reminded the saints in 1 Peter 2:16 “…Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.”  We are not to continue in sin so that God’s grace may abound, Romans 6:1-2 . We have God’s grace because of the appearance, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus appeared for our sake, 1 Peter 1:20 . We were redeemed by His precious blood, 1 Peter 1:18-19 . There was nothing we could do to earn or merit this amazing grace. Yet the God of all grace has provided it for us. As a result of God’s grace Peter urges the saints to live excellent lives. By that, he emphasizes that their behavior is to be excellent among the people of the world, 1 Peter 2:11 . But why should Christians strive to live holy and righteous if we’re already saved by God’s grace? It’s because this great gift God has provided should be motivation for our conduct. Because we have tasted the kindness of God through the salvation He’s given us, this should be the natural response. Peter reminds the saints that because of who they are in Christ, they are to “…Proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light…” 1 Peter 2:9 . There’s much more to consider about God and His grace from the apostle Peter. One last thought. God has given His people commandments to know, to follow, and to live. While we have His grace, it doesn’t nullify obedience. His commands are rooted in His grace. Therefore, let us stand in the true grace of God. Let us be obedient children to Him.

The New Year is here. It’s Thursday, January 2, 2025—just days after celebrations and resolutions were made to start fresh. Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? If you did, you’re not alone. Many people create resolutions this time of year—but here’s a sobering truth: statistically, 25% of people give up on their resolutions within the first week, and only 8% will succeed by the end of the year. That’s a sad statistic. Only 8% of people keep the commitments they make. Let me ask you a deeper question:What if only 8% of people who made a commitment to God actually kept it? Would you be in that 8%? While I don’t know the exact percentage of people who will successfully enter the kingdom of God, Jesus said something worth reflecting on: “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” ( Luke 13:24 ). Isn’t that a sobering thought? Many will try to enter the kingdom of God, but few will succeed. Hopefully, each of us will be among the few. But that’s not going to happen by accident. It requires effort, planning, and a daily commitment. Do You Have a Plan? If you’ve set a New Year’s resolution, ask yourself this: Do you know what you are going to do every day to move closer to your goal? Do you have a strategy for when it gets difficult or when you feel like giving up? The reality is this: The 25% who give up quickly often don’t have a plan. They start with enthusiasm but don’t know where to begin, so they give up. The people who fail to finish strong lose sight of their goal. They forget what they are working toward and don’t make it a daily priority. This principle applies to our spiritual lives as well: Do you have a plan for your walk with God? Do you know how to stay focused when challenges arise? Are you reminding yourself daily of the ultimate goal? Succeeding in any goal—especially our walk with God—requires deliberate effort. It takes conscious decisions to stay on the narrow path Jesus spoke about. Stay Focused on the Goal Jesus made it clear that few will enter the kingdom of God. That’s why it’s essential to always know where we are heading and to make a plan to stay on course. The path is narrow, and if we aren’t careful, it’s easy to drift away. The Apostle Paul gives us a perfect example of the mindset we need. He wrote in Philippians 3:14: “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Paul pressed on daily. He reminded himself of his goal and kept his eyes on the prize. Every decision he made and every step he took was directed toward that eternal goal. We need to adopt the same attitude. Press on toward the goal. Make a Resolution That Lasts As you step into this New Year, don’t let your commitment to God fade like so many resolutions do. If you need to make a change—if you need to commit or recommit your life to Him—don’t wait. This isn’t just about a resolution for 2025; it’s about living for God every day for the rest of your life. Let’s strive together to be among the few who keep the most important commitment of all: living for God. What steps will you take today to press on toward the goal? Let’s make 2025 a year of deliberate growth, focus, and faith.

Have you ever had a friend or a loved one “fall away” from the faith? Maybe for a while, you did. What does this look like? How does it happen? And what can we do to help?   Paul warns Timothy of this possibility in 1 Timothy 4:1-5 :  “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”   Unfortunately, people leaving the faith is something that has been “expressly” told to us by the Holy Spirit in His Word. It is helpful, however, to know that this can and will happen, and have some identifiers as to what this looks like early, so hopefully we can “nip it in the bud,” whether for ourselves, our loved ones, or our brethren.   The first thing Paul lays out in this passage is the means by which people will depart from the faith: primarily by “devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teaching of demons.” He speaks of false doctrine earlier in this letter in 1:3-4 , telling Timothy to “charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.” While “different” in general is not always necessarily a bad thing, when it comes to the teaching or “doctrine” of Christ, that is not something that can be diluted or adapted in any way! While teachers, evangelists, and leaders have a special responsibility as far as what they teach, each individual has a responsibility as well to have Berean-like fervor as they learn about the Scriptures, “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things [are] so” ( Acts 17:11 ). If we are not careful of the sources we are listening to and checking everything we hear or read with the Scriptures, we may find ourselves being sidetracked or taken off-course by “different doctrine!”   Paul also makes clear that there are many types of “myths and genealogies” that are fruitless. Part of staying on course is that we listen to sound doctrine and continue to study more deeply, but another part is making sure we do not get “lost in the weeds,” so to speak. There is so much depth to be found and understood in scripture, and sometimes there is a lot of nuance and detail for us to discover, but sometimes what started as harmless curiosity can consume us in a way that simply is not helpful. Titus 3:9 specifically says, “avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” We want to focus on the “meat and potatoes,” not things that are “unprofitable and worthless!”   Paul also warns Timothy about listening to those who have a “seared conscience.” We can clearly see why this would be detrimental to our growth and development as Christians and students of the Word. The Bible is meant to impact, change, and teach us constantly. If we are not growing, we are coasting, and like a car in neutral, we are likely coasting downhill or somewhere else we do not want to be.   Finally, Peter gives us some daily practical advice on how to be on guard from “departing” from the faith, and that is “practicing” and “adding to” our faith! Just like our physical health, spiritually, we may need some “supplements”!   “… make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” ( 2 Peter 1:5-10 )   May we always be growing, supplementing, and confirming our faith, never departing from the Lord, just as He never departs from us!

Matthew 21:33-44 contains the most violent, direct, and clear parables in Jesus’ ministry. In the wake of this parable, we are told that the chief priests and leaders “perceived that He was talking about them,” and the stakes seem to be at an all time high for Jesus ( vs. 45 ).   “‘There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. Finally, he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.” And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.’”   While some of Jesus’ parables are rather simple, like the parable of the sower, this one has multiple layers and quite a bit of action! At first glance, this may seem like a straightforward story of some “wicked tenants,” but as with all of Jesus’ parables, when one understands the deeper implications of what Jesus is saying, this parable makes the reader appreciate God’s plan of salvation through His Son, Jesus.   Perhaps the most direct way to understand and interpret this parable is with Hebrews 1:1-2 : “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” We know from the Old Testament that God’s messengers have always been extremely unpopular. I especially think of Jeremiah, who is even known as “the weeping prophet” and wrote a book called “Lamentations”! Jeremiah knew explicitly that not many people would listen to him, and yet he still did his job anyway. He spread the message that God was going to send Judah into Babylonian captivity for their sin, knowing that he would be ridiculed and persecuted for it. In Jeremiah 20 , Jeremiah is beaten and put in stocks for preaching against the evil that was being done in Judah. Unfortunately, there are many stories just like this throughout the Bible, of people being offended by God’s message of repentance and change and “shooting the messenger,” so to speak. The foremost example of this, of course, is Jesus Himself, the Son of God, who was sent by the Master, and killed by His own creation.   In the New Testament, Stephen is on trial and about to be stoned to death for preaching the truth of Jesus, and he does not hold back as he sees that his audience is increasingly angry with him, going so far as saying, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it” ( Acts 7:51-53 ). What Stephen knew and demonstrates even in his death is that all throughout history there have been “stiff-necked” people who refused to listen to difficult teaching and judgment, and wanted to (and often did) kill those who taught such things. This is why Jeremiah and Stephen’s jobs were so hard, and ultimately why Jesus died! Many people are simply too angry and bitter to be able to handle the truth of their situation.   The biggest lesson to be learned from the parable of the wicked tenants and the profound history represented by it is this: do not join the wicked tenants. In other words, do not join in the evil plotting of those who, “will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears…accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and…turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” ( 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ).   Be one of the people who cling to Jesus, and honor and respect the Master’s Son. Be one of the servant’s who seeks to serve the Master no matter the cost, no matter the culture; because “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” ( Acts 4:12 ).

“There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it. Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it and stretch out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters. ...The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men build their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there. The River Jordan flows on south into another sea. Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children’s laughter. Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its water, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink. What makes this mighty difference in these neighbor seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not in the country round about. This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure. The other sea is shrewder, hoarding its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps. The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is the named the Dead. There are two kinds of people in this world. There are two seas in Palestine.”  These are lines from The Man Nobody Knows by Bruce Barton.   I first read this quote in the book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey. Me and my family are reading the book together. It really stood out to me. As Christians, we are to be givers. Our great God is a giver. Consider the following passages to consider what God gives and provides. Genesis 2:7 : “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” God gives us life. Psalm 24:1 : “The earth is the LORD’s and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” God has created all things and yet freely gives to us wonderful blessings from His creation to enjoy. He gives to both the righteous and the unrighteous the sun and rain.”, Matthew 5:45 ; Acts 14:16-17 . John 3:16 : “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” God has given us the greatest gift: Salvation through His Son Jesus! Salvation through Jesus is the free gift God provides to those who obey Him, Romans 6:23 . His grace is a gift to us, Ephesians 2:8 .   Just as God gives, we too are to be givers! The saints in Macedonia begged to be give of their means to help needy saints. “Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.” - 2 Corinthians 8:1-5   What a great example for us to follow! Like the Sea of Galilee, these saints freely gave what had been given to them by God. Even when they had little, they took it upon themselves to give. How did they do it? It was because they had given themselves to the Lord. There was something bigger behind their actions. Their “Why” was their love for God. So it should be for us as well.   God is a giver. God loves cheerful givers, 2 Corinthians 9:7 . Let us look for opportunities to give to others. It may be a listening ear. It may be time to visit them when they’re sick. It may be sharing the gospel. It may be some financial assistance. Let us be givers and share the blessings God has given us.

In Acts 3 , the apostle Peter preaches the gospel to a large audience in a place called “Solomon’s Portico.” There are many people there, which attracts the attention of many politically powerful families, who make Peter and John answer questions before the Jewish Council in Acts 4 . One of the foremost reactions we see from the council is shock and awe at Peter and John’s boldness in preaching about Jesus Christ, a message they knew would be extremely unpopular with the council. Acts 4:13 tells us, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”   Notice the impact that they have on the people they are talking to: because of their boldness in talking to this council of highly educated, social elite Jewish officials, these men can easily recognize that they had been with Jesus. We are likely familiar with the experience of being around someone so much that you start to act or talk like them, or have some of their mannerisms. This type of influence, except even more bold and obvious, is the type of impact we see from these apostles having been with Jesus. Think about all that they had “heard and seen” by this point: being called from being fishermen, innumerable miracles and parables, and then the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus! All of these factors should give any believer boldness, but especially so for Peter and John who were able to be there and experience those events. Clearly, being with Jesus changed their lives, and their words and actions showed this. Seeing the apostles preach with this boldness would have been inspirational to the disciples around them, and we see their desire for continued boldness, combined with the same desire in Peter and John, as they pray together in Acts 4:24-30:   “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,  while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”   Think about this: in Acts 5 , the apostles are arrested. In Acts 7 , Stephen is martyred for preaching the gospel. In Acts 8 , we are told Saul (who later became the apostle Paul) was “ravaging” the church. Christians have been persecuted since the beginning of the church in Acts 2 , and there will be people who hate Christianity as long as time continues. However, the Christians here are inspired by the boldness they had been witness to and want the Lord to grant them boldness as well to continue to obey Him and preach His Word. Being a Christian is difficult and unpopular in many ways, but we see in the example of the apostles, Jesus Himself, and others throughout history that God is always with His people, even when they are being persecuted. He demands boldness, but He also gives us boldness though His Word, His love, and the examples He has given us.   Notice also how the disciples pray with a clear view of God’s sovereignty, status, and control. They have no fear about Him being defeated, and they are confident in the power of the gospel. They are relying on their Sovereign Lord and King, not only to “look on the threats,” but to “grant [His] servants” the strength to continue their work, despite the worsening persecution. They also do not view the persecution as an attack against themselves, but against God Himself. It is incredible to see how they are focused on the good news of Christ spreading, rather than being concerned with their own safety and welfare.   When we pray, do we pray for our lives to be easier and more comfortable, or do we pray for the boldness to endure whatever this world throws our way? While it is not wrong to ask God to change our circumstances, sometimes rather than a different situation, we should pray like the disciples did in Acts 4 : “Lord, you are Sovereign, and we are your servants! Help us serve well.”

Biblical Things to Be Thankful For Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to reflect on the blessings in our lives. For Christians, some of the greatest blessings come straight from God’s Word. The Bible is filled with reminders of what we should be thankful for—not just once a year, but every single day. 1. God’s Creation - The beauty of the world around us points to God’s creativity and care. From the vastness of the heavens to the smallest detail of a flower, creation reminds us of God’s power and love. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” 2. God’s Promises - Throughout Scripture, God makes promises to His people—and He always keeps them. From His covenant with Abraham to His promise to never leave us or forsake us, God’s faithfulness gives us reason to trust and hope. 3. God’s Guidance - The Bible is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path ( Psalm 119:105 ). In a world full of uncertainty, God’s Word gives direction, clarity, and wisdom to navigate life’s challenges. 4. God’s Love - At the core of everything is God’s love for us. His love is unchanging, unconditional, and everlasting. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 5. Jesus and His Sacrifice - Of all the blessings we have, the greatest is Jesus. His sacrifice on the cross changed everything, giving us hope, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life. Because of Him, we can approach God with confidence, knowing we are loved and redeemed. As we gather with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving, let’s take time to thank God for these incredible blessings. Most of all, let’s thank Him for Jesus, who gave everything so that we could have life and hope.

Jesus is an example to believers in many ways: He lived a sinless life, was the epitome of a servant leader, and exemplified everything that He taught to others. One specific way in which He serves as an example that we may not often think of is in His prayer life. Not only does He often go off by Himself to pray to the Father, but He also prays with an appropriate balance of vulnerable intimacy and humble respect that can be hard for us to understand and maintain in our prayers. Consider His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane, the last night before His crucifixion:   “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Shortly after this, we are told that “again He went away and prayed, saying the same words” (vs. 39). We can tell by the context of His intense emotional state and what we know happens the next day that Jesus is under immense pressure, needing to spend the night talking with His Father and pouring His heart out, even repeating the same words multiple times to drive home His anguish and the seriousness of His request. However, we can tell from the way He speaks to His Father that He is clearly being respectful and humbling Himself before the Father’s plan. He knows that there is no other way for humanity to be saved, and that He will go to the cross. However, as a human being who can feel pain, sorrow, and intense anguish, He is terrified of the cross. In His final hours, there is nothing else He can do but pray.   One of the most remarkable lessons about Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane is that He fully acknowledges that His Father is capable of setting Him free. There was another very real way out of being crucified, but that clearly would not have been the will of the Father.  We see a demonstration of this shortly after Matthew’s account of Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, where He reprimands Peter for drawing a weapon against the group that has come to arrest Him, saying, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53)?   He knows what the plan is, and He wishes there was another way, but still, He prays, “not my will, but your will be done.” As a faithful Son, He submits Himself to the Father’s plan. This is just one aspect of the immense sacrifice Jesus made in going to the cross. Even though He wished for another way, He still allowed Himself to be killed for us.   By reading and meditating on Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane, we learn something extremely important about our own prayers: sometimes, “the cup” will not pass. In Jesus’ case, the “cup” of His crucifixion was a source of immeasurable distress. He was alone, afraid, and knew that He would experience emotional, mental, and physical pain that is impossible for us to imagine. However, He knew that it was very possible that the Father would not in fact remove the cup. Think about this: 1.        He did not lose faith in the Father’s power. 2.        He did not lose faith in the Father’s plan. 3.        He did not lose faith in the Father’s love.   Jesus knew that His Father was capable of removing the upcoming trial, but would not. He knew that the Father’s way was the best way, and He knew that the Father would not abandon Him. Jesus’ words in Gethsemane are an incredible encouragement for us when we find ourselves praying that a situation end, be avoided, or come out favorably. The reality of living in a broken, sin-filled world is that there often will be “cups” of suffering, sadness, and anxiety that will not be removed. When we find ourselves in these situations, we must ask ourselves, “what if the cup does not pass?” The answer?   Our Father is still able, our Father still has a plan, and our Father still loves us. He did not abandon His Son Jesus, and He will not abandon us. Praise God for listening to us, being with us, and providing us comfort an strength, even when the fearful cup remains.

It was a conversation I wish I could have been a part of. I’m referring to when Nicodemus went to Jesus at night. It’s recorded in John 3:1-5 . “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?’ Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. This which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”   The gospel of John shows us the journey of faith Nicodemus would take after this conversation. In John 7:44-52 , Nicodemus seems to be standing up for Jesus as the other Pharisees and chief priests spoke against Him. In John 19:39 after the death of Jesus, it was Nicodemus “…Who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and ales, about a hundred pounds weight.” We don’t have the rest of the story regarding Nicodemus, but I hope he obeyed the gospel.   What we do know is what Jesus taught him. One must be born again if they are to see the kingdom of God. What exactly did Jesus mean and what did this look like in the first century? The book of Acts is a great book to see exactly how people were born again. See my blog “Salvation Stories.” Another great place is in the book of 1 Peter . The apostle spoke about the saints who had been born again. Notice the following passages: 1 Peter 1:3 : “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1:23 : “… For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God…” What is that God has done so that we might be born again? What is it that we must do to be born again? Peter gives us the answers. Notice what God has done. “…Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” 1 Peter 1:18-20 . God sent His Son Jesus to earth. Jesus lived a sinless life, 1 Peter 2:21-25 . He bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might be redeemed. God raised Jesus up from the dead. Notice what we are to do. The apostle reminds the scattered Christians what they had already done to be born again. They heard the good news of Jesus preached to them , 1 Peter 1:12 . Through the preaching of the gospel, they heard of the grace of God that had been foretold by the prophets about the Messiah. The word of the Lord had been preached to them, 1 Peter 1: 23-25 . They heard about the life of Jesus and what He did for the sake of the world. They loved and believed in Jesus, 1 Peter 1:8 . They had never seen Jesus, but they could still believe in Him because of the word of the Lord preached. They repented of their sins, 1 Peter 2:11 . When one hears the gospel, they will also hear about repentance. Repentance (turning away from our sins) is necessary to be saved. The apostle continued to urge them to turn away from their sins. They were baptized to be saved, 1 Peter 3:21 . “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is how they were born again. We too must hear, believe, and obey the gospel. Notice in 1 Peter 1:22 where Peter says, “Since you have in obedience to the truth, purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart…” They had obeyed. The gospel can be preached. The gospel can be heard. The gospel can be believed. The gospel can be obeyed. Peter shows us how people in the first century were born again. Have we been born again?