You sit down across the table from someone you just met. You just happened to strike up a conversation in a public setting and decide to sit down together to talk some more. After just a couple of minutes, the conversation takes a turn, and this person starts telling you your own life story! Imagine they make a comment about your past, so specific that you are stunned because there is no way this stranger could have known that. In fact, it is something that very few people know about you, and you do not talk about often because it is embarrassing. How do they know? Why do they bring this up? What could all this mean?   Two thousand years ago, just outside of a town called Sychar in the region of Samaria, there was a woman, whose name we are not told, who had an experience quite similar to the one mentioned above when she met Jesus at a well. First, it is important to note the social dynamics at play between these two people. Jews and Samaritans had great social tension between them that went back centuries. They did not like each other at all. Jews especially viewed Samaritans with intense hatred, and would go to great lengths not to have to travel through Samaria. As John puts it in John 4:9 , “Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.”  Despite this, Jesus takes His apostles through Samaria, sits down at a well to rest, and sends His apostles into town to buy food (4:6-7). The woman quickly acknowledges the unexpectedness and abnormality of Jesus addressing her at all, much less striking up a conversation with her, when she says, “How is it, that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” ( 4:9) . Jesus answers by referring to “the gift of God,” and “living water,” and His comments seem to confuse the woman at first, but over time, she becomes convinced that He is the Christ. Her main reason for believing He is who He claims to be? As she puts it, “He told me all that I ever did.”   What happened was, after speaking to the woman about eternal life, Jesus asked her to go get her husband and come back to Him to talk some more. She had not mentioned this ahead of time, but He knew (as the Omniscient God Incarnate) that she had in fact been married five times and was currently living in a sinful relationship with a man she was not married to. We are not told why she had been married five times or what the exact situation is with the man she is currently with is, but we can imagine that her past would have been a source of great shame and heartache for her. Imagine the awkwardness, sadness, bitterness, and pain that would come from five failed marriages. Then add to it the guilt associated with her current relationship. Beyond all of that, though, her painful past is being trudged up all of a sudden by a man who from her perspective, does not know her at all! The truth, though, is that He knew her before she was born! What a powerful thought!   We all react different ways to feeling guilty. I would imagine for many of us, if our past sins were brought up unexpectedly in a conversation with a stranger, we might take offense to that and not want to keep talking, or just be so embarrassed and ashamed that we look for an escape. However, as this woman talks with Jesus, she is appropriately convicted of her sin, and His talk of eternal life and God’s gift to mankind starts to make sense. He was here to save people from their sins, not by sweeping them under the rug, but by addressing them head-on and overcoming them with His own blood! She certainly did not understand all that that meant just from their interaction at the well, but the ball was rolling. All because He told her all that she ever did.   As we look at the skeletons in our closets and the shameful parts of our pasts that only God Himself fully sees and comprehends, may we first be convicted of the high price that sin has, but also find overwhelming comfort in the fact that Jesus died for us, “while we were yet sinners” ( Romans 5:8, 6:23 ).   It is only when we look at Jesus’ description, price, and payment for our sin that we can fully acknowledge that He is “indeed the Savior of the world” ( John 4:45 ).

James, the half-brother of Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit says in James 1:26-27 , “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Sometimes, people say “Religion” is a bad thing. Certainly, there have been terrible events that have happened in the name of religion. However, one must define what they’re referring to when speaking about religion. Let’s make some observations from the passage above to see what we can learn from James about religion. The word refers to one’s holy service and exercise of devotion to God. The word Religion and Religious are used a few times in the New Testament . We have it here in James and in Acts 13:43  where it says, “Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing (religious) proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue to in the grace of God.”  The word “Religion” is used in five passages, Acts 26:5, Galatians 1:13-14 , and the passages in James. James says Religion is a good thing! There is such a thing as pure and undefiled religion! As We think about being religious, we need to consider what God sees!  One can think himself to be religious, but his actions must also align with his words. It’s not enough to be say we are religious, but we should be living in a way well-pleasing to the Lord. Specifically, James speaks about the tongue (James 3). We can deceive ourselves when it comes to being religious . What we say is what is in our hearts, Mark 7:21-23 . The apostle John spoke about the dangers of Christians deceiving themselves (1 John 1:8). While a person may deceive others and even themselves, God can’t be deceived. God sets the standard for religion ! God tells us what He’s looking for in His people. He’s looking for purity, helping the needy (which requires action), and to be in the world but not of the world. This is the religion that God will accept. James has already spoken on speech in James 1:19  and returns to it again as he speaks about pure religion. We should take seriously what we say. Widows and orphans were often singled out in the Old Testament. In Psalm 68:5 , it says, “A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation.”  Like our heavenly Father, we should be concerned for widows and orphans. We are to be unstained from the world. James will speak of heavenly wisdom and worldly wisdom later in James 3 . We must guard our actions and our hearts from the things of the world if our religion is going to be pure and undefiled. True religion is both inward and outward . One who is going to be religious and accepted by God must be hearers and doers of His word, James 1:21-25 . We must submit ourselves to the teaching of Jesus and His apostles. A transformation of the heart must occur and when it does, the proper fruit will be demonstrated outwardly.   “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

“I’ve considered being a Christian before, but there are too many hypocrites in the church.”   Have you ever felt this way?  Or maybe met someone in your life who felt this way? I have.  This can be a challenge for many people who engage in spiritual discussions.  This is actually a very common reason why many people either leave the church or refuse to join it altogether.   How should we respond to this argument: that the church is full of hypocrites and therefore the church should be rejected?  If you feel this way yourself, consider, is this a valid justification for refusing to acknowledge Jesus?   When someone says to me, “there are so many hypocrites in the church.”  My first response would be this….   YOU’RE RIGHT!   The church is made up of men of many different types and personalities. Are some of them hypocrites who aren’t practicing what they preach?  Yes I'm sure there are. However, does that discredit the church?  No way!   Let me make a simple illustration.   If I start teaching that 1+1 = 3, what would you say?  You should  tell me that I’m wrong.  But here’s the real question; just because I’m teaching error regarding this simple math question, does that mean that math as a whole is to be thrown out and considered “not worth our time?”  Silly example, but it’s the same logic. Applying this example, does the existence of a few individuals teaching or practicing error discredit Christianity as a whole? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Christianity, the way God designed it , is perfect and has no error to it. Error enters the picture when you introduce men into it. Because men aren't perfect. Christianity, the way some men often practice it , has error. Romans 3:23  tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  This mindset that we are discussing is one that becomes prevalent when we place our trust too strongly in men instead of God. Because sadly, there are many men in the world today who claim to practice Christianity, who really don’t.  However, if we dismiss the entire notion of Christianity on this basis, then we are simply distracted from what’s important. Men are not infallible as God is, so men will mess things up. There are many different teachings and beliefs in the world today that men call "Christianity" that don't line up with the Bible and what it teaches as truth. It's important to note that errors made by men, or sinful lifestyles that people adopt that they call "Christianity," don't discredit Christianity, the Bible, or God. There is a true and correct way to be a Christian, and its authenticity and validity are not to be questioned due to any individual or group being in error. To question Christianity on this basis is a logical error. 1 John 1:8  says that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  No one should be too arrogant to admit that sin exists in their life.  Because we all sin!  Because of this fact, we should expect to find sin amongst brothers in the church, and not be surprised by it.  This doesn’t mean that we tolerate it, it just means we shouldn’t be surprised when we see it. So, to the one who finds hypocrites in the church and is upset by it; here are two Biblical principals to remember: 1.      We can point it out to them and help them!  In Matthew 7:1-5 , Jesus talks about this very thing.  He cautions us first to check our own lives first to resolve sins that we may need to rid ourselves of, but then teaches that if we have dealt first with our own sins, then we can help others with theirs.  So if we see sin in the church, lets deal with it and get rid of it together! 2.      Ultimately, we can trust God to separate the weeds from the wheat.  Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 13:24-30 about the separation of weeds and wheat.  Ultimately Jesus is talking about the church and the fact that there will always be a mix of good faithful people (the wheat) and sinful people who need to be removed and “thrown away” (the weeds).  God is a righteous and all-knowing judge who will be fully capable of sorting out the truly faithful from those who are not. So if we see sin in the church, and consider avoiding God as a result, think again!  We are still expected to be faithful, even amongst the weeds.  God will take care of the weeds later. Finding sinful or hypocritical people in the church is NOT AT ALL a valid excuse to dismiss Jesus all together. It’s not sound logic, nor will God be accepting of it.

It is impossible to fathom just how powerful God is. When we think of His size, Isaiah 40:12 asks rhetorically, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” While I do not imagine that God literally has a cosmic-sized scale to measure the weight of the mountains and hills, we do know that He is omniscient, meaning that He knows everything from how many galaxies and stars there are (He made them all!) to how much the mountains weigh, to how many hairs we have on our heads (Matthew 10:30) !   Even in the resurrection, the foundation of the Christian faith, we see His immense power. He is able to defeat death, and that was 2000 years ago! In modern times, there is a general arrogance that goes with scientific and technological advancement that over the past century has had man believe that it is only a matter of time before we “have it all figured out.” However, a simple look around at the manifold problems around us makes it clear that while we have new technology and have discovered some of the details of how biological and chemical processes happen in our world, there is less certainty than ever before in human history as to the “how” or “why” behind human life. The more knowledge science gains, the more it realizes for itself that there are no limits to the intricacies of our universe. From the molecular level to the cosmological: the more we learn, the more apparent it is that we know relatively nothing! While remarkable medical advances are made all the time, science will never be able to produce an “answer” or “cure” to death. This side of eternity, there will always be more to learn, understand, and “fix.” This is the reason faith in God is so important. He is so far beyond us that we have no reason to fear what we do not know, because He knows everything! Humanity will never come close to knowing a fraction of what God knows, and while to some that may sound daunting, there is actually great comfort in that!   Look at what Paul says in Ephesians 3:14-21 … “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”   Paul is praying for the Ephesians to be strong in the Lord, “according to the riches of His glory.” In the natural world, we see the richness of His glory, and the very power of the natural processes set in place and maintained by God Himself is the same power Paul is invoking to strengthen the Ephesians, because it comes from the same source! Put another way: the power that created the world and holds it together and the power that keeps us moving forward in Christ are from the same source: God Himself! He has demonstrated His power to us in a multitude of ways that we cannot even see or understand, and Paul is confident in His use of that power to strengthen His people with power, even to their “inner being.” What an encouragement to think that God is using His incomprehensible power to comfort and strengthen us as we go through day-to-day life serving Him.   Paul goes on to appeal to the Ephesians to be “rooted and grounded in love.” We know that “God is love” ( 1 John 4:8 ), and again, when we look at creation, the cross, and God’s daily provision for our needs, we see His immense love. There is nothing more stabilizing in this world than the love of God. When we set our eyes on Him, and take a moment to meditate on and absorb all that He is, does, and has done for us, we can rest assured in the fact that if He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us, He will be faithful in His blessings to us. Beyond that, Paul says that because we belong to Him, we can be filled with all the fullness of God! Things may not be perfect in this world, but we have the power of God at work within us, and He cannot be stopped!   Finally, Paul glorifies God and takes a moment to remind the Ephesians (and us) just how powerful He is. He is able to do “far more abundantly than all we ask or think”!  Paul reminds us in the most extreme language he knows to use that God is infinitely, immeasurably more powerful than we can imagine. He is eternal, His ways are “unsearchable,” and yet He created us so that He could love us and so that we could be His. What a blessing to serve a God that is “immeasurably more” than we are, in every way imaginable!

“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   In 1 Peter 2:13-14 , Peter then says: “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.” Notice what the apostle does here as he encourages the saints. First, he reminds them of what Jesus has done for them (and for us.) What a blessing to be reminded of the great love of God. We’ve been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus is not something to be viewed as cheap or common. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He was unblemished and sinless. He appeared (that is He came to earth) for our sake or for our benefit! Peter emphasizes the great salvation we have and what we have to look forward to when Jesus returns for His church one day. Second, Peter encourages the saints with having the proper response to this great gift given to us by Jesus! How? We are to live a certain way for the sake of the Lord. Specifically, we are to submit ourselves to every human institution. This can prove quite challenging for some, and yet we are called to do this. This could have proved challenging for Peter’s listeners because of suffering they were experiencing. But for the sake of Jesus, this is how we respond. In fact, in 1 Peter 1:17 , Peter says, “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” Why? For the sake of Jesus and what He’s done for us. Finally, consider what Peter says in 1 Peter 2:18-19 : “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.” Let us bear up under sorrows for the sake of conscience toward God. Other translations say: “…Because of a consciousness of God…” CSB “For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.” NIV “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.”   Jesus suffered unjustly for our sake. Let us be willing to do the same His sake. Jesus appeared for our sakes! One day He will appear again. In 2 Peter 3:10 Peter says, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” Why will Jesus return to bring His people into heaven with Him? For our Sakes. Therefore, let us live our lives for His sake.

What is a Parable? A parable is often defined as "an earthly story with a heavenly meaning." Jesus frequently used parables to convey spiritual truths in ways that were relatable to everyday life. He spoke of planting seeds, losing something valuable, and other simple, timeless scenarios. These stories are easily understood and still relevant today, showing how basic and universal their messages are. But the challenge lies in uncovering the deeper, spiritual meaning behind these relatable stories. The earthly part is easy to grasp, but what spiritual lesson is Jesus trying to teach? Why Did Jesus Use Parables? Why didn’t Jesus just state the spiritual truths directly? In Matthew 13 , the disciples ask this very question. After hearing the Parable of the Sower, they wanted to know why Jesus spoke in parables. Jesus explained that the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to those who are willing to seek them. The gospel is for everyone, but only those willing to seek the truth will understand it. This doesn’t mean that some people are excluded from understanding. The truth is available to all, but it requires a heart that is willing to seek, ask questions, and think critically. Jesus wasn’t trying to hide the truth from people. In fact, He explained the meaning of His parables to those who sought understanding, like His disciples. In Luke 8:16-18 , Jesus emphasizes the importance of listening carefully and seeking the truth. Nothing He taught was meant to remain hidden; it was all there for those willing to put in the effort to understand. "He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear" This phrase, often used by Jesus, is a call to truly listen and seek understanding. It’s not just about having physical ears but about having a mind and heart open to the truth. Whether you’re listening to a sermon, reading the Bible, or studying on your own, the key is to be attentive and willing to learn. Albert Barnes, in his commentary, explains that "He who has ears to hear let him hear" implies that it is every person’s duty to pay attention to what is being spoken. Jesus wasn’t responsible for making His teachings easy for everyone to understand. Instead, He expected people to seek the truth within his teaching themselves. What Hinders Understanding? Several factors can hinder our understanding of Jesus’ parables or any other teaching: - Unwillingness to Learn : If we don’t feel the need to learn from Jesus, we may miss the point of His teachings. - Complacency : Believing we already know enough can prevent us from truly understanding. - Arrogance: Assuming we have all the answers closes our minds to new insights. - Preconceived Ideas: Thinking we know what’s being said before fully listening can lead to misunderstanding. These attitudes were present in many of those who heard Jesus' parables but didn’t grasp their meaning, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. They missed the deeper truths because they weren’t willing to seek them. Conclusion Understanding Jesus’ parables requires more than just hearing the words. It requires a heart and mind open to seeking and understanding the truth. Anyone can understand the truth, but not everyone will. It’s up to us to be the kind of people who stick around, ask questions, and seek deeper understanding. In doing so, the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven will be revealed to us.

There are few displays of God’s power and might that are quite as amazing to see as storms. While they can be scary and dangerous, they also show just how powerful of a God we serve. David uses storms to describe God’s power in delivering him from his enemies in Psalm 18:12-16 :   "Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters…"   Throughout the nation of Israel’s history, there are many examples of God doing incredible things for them. Even within just a few chapters in Joshua, for example, He destroyed walls while the people marched in circles, held the sun in the sky, and used hail to destroy Israel’s enemies. Joshua was a faithful leader that helped encourage the people to have faith in God’s power over their own, even when they were outnumbered ( Joshua 10-11 ). Up to this point in their history, they had gone from a family of twelve brothers to a mighty nation in just a few generations, seen the plagues and other miracles to get them out of Egypt, been sustained in the wilderness for forty years, and then were being given the land of Canaan without much effort or any military expertise on their part.   Centuries later, David shows himself to be “a man after God’s own heart,” in part meaning that He relied on God’s power rather than his own ( 1 Samuel 13:14 ). He knew that despite his personal shortcomings and moral failures, God was eternally holy, upright, and good. Not only that, He had immense historical and personal evidence of God’s working on behalf of His people. To this end, he is honest with himself (and appropriately humble) about the role his own faith had God working on his behalf. He says in verses 20-24 :   "The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight."   While it is untrue that the righteous will never experience suffering or hardship, we do know that the Lord protects His people and works powerfully on their behalf. Whether we are observing the power of a thunderstorm, lose electricity, experience hail or wind damage, we can take courage knowing that the Omnipotent God that controls creation is still and will always be on His throne in Heaven.   When we look at our lives, do we have the same confidence that David did that we are presenting ourselves as blameless before God? It is incredible to think that as Mighty as God is, He still cares about and loves us. He has communicated His will to us through His Word, and has expectations for our lives and how we use them for His glory. David obviously knew what it was like to turn his back on God, ignore His laws, and make horrible mistakes, but he also knew that the way back into God’s favor was repentance and continued obedience. When we see God’s power on display, do we put our faith in Him and “keep ourselves from guilt?”   Praise God for saving us, cleansing us, and always working on our behalf. May we trust and serve Him faithfully as He continues to powerfully provide for our needs and act as our Refuge, Shield, and Fortress throughout life’s many storms.

There are many common phrases in modern vernacular that come from the Bible, one of which is “the blind leading the blind.” We often use this idea to talk about a situation in which someone is helping a group of people and no one in particular is better equipped to lead or teach than anyone else. For example, if I were to teach someone piano, it would be the “blind leading the blind.” I cannot play piano! It would just be two novices messing around (and it would sound pretty terrible)!   This phrase is first found in Matthew 15:10-20 , and in the context, Jesus is talking with the Scribes and Pharisees, who have taken issue with the fact that his disciples do not wash their hands before they eat, thus “breaking the tradition of the elders” (vs. 1). Jesus then cites an example where scribal tradition had gone directly against something that was explicitly commanded by God. By making this point, Jesus brings to light the importance of staying true to the word of God, no matter what “traditions” man may have made from it. To be clear, there is nothing wrong with traditions (as long as they do not go against God’s word), but fidelity to the scriptures and obedience to God’s commands has always been of the utmost importance. At the end of the day, though, it was precisely due to this intense affinity for their rabbinic traditions that caused the Jewish elite to lead their followers “into a pit,” so to speak. They cared more about their extraneous regulations than they did about the straightforward laws laid out by Moses.   Jesus uses this discussion as a teaching moment in which he informs his disciples about the danger of the Scribes and Pharisees’ approach to teaching: they are selfishly putting their interpretation of God’s word above the self-evident truth of the Word itself, and leading themselves and those that listen to them toward destruction.   Jesus uses several metaphors in this passage, but here are some key takeaways: - Uncleanness: Cleanness and purity laws were a core aspect of the Old Law. Many of these laws had to do with physical contact with people or objects that were unclean. However, the point of these cleanliness laws was always to point to the purity of heart that God expects from His people. We are to be holy, for He is holy ( 1 Peter 1:15-16 ) Food is ingested and excreted; this is a normal biological process that says nothing about our heart. - Roots: We are to be “rooted and grounded in love” ( Ephesians 3:17 ). We are “established in the faith, just as [we] were taught,” being “rooted and built up in [Christ]” ( Colossians 2:7 ). Christ is the Rock upon which our lives are build ( Matthew 7:24-27 ). There are so many ways in which our lives are built on Christ: He impacts everything: how we treat people, how we make decisions, even how we view life itself! Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 15 that His Father has specific intentions for the type of fruit His followers will bear. He defines what productivity and success looks like in His vineyard. If we are not rooted in Him, we are not rooted at all. - Blindness: This lack of roots leads to blindness. Without a “home base,” we are aimless wanderers, headed into the abyss with our eyes shut. People who claim to know they way to eternal life, glory, or deep-seated joy are blind frauds. Jesus tells his disciples to leave those kinds of people alone ( vs. 14 ). They are truly the blind leading the blind: people that know nothing about the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and both they and those that follow them will end up falling into a pit. In other words, there is no way but Jesus’ way!   Jesus concludes this section by defining what does in fact defile a man: sin. Sin comes from the heart and can take many forms. Whether ungodly thoughts about others, unbridled anger, lust, envy, etc., all sin separates us from God and “defiles” us. That is why we must guard our hearts so closely.   Jesus makes it clear that the issue the pharisees were originally so worried about was not a problem at all. There is no spiritual problem in eating with unwashed hands. An unclean heart, however, leads to all types of issues. For this reason, whether we are teaching or learning about God’s word, we must be careful to do exactly as it says, or we may just find ourselves leading others or being lead other right into a pit…

Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said, ‘There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great many flocks and herds. But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd, to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; Rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.’ Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, ‘As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.’ Nathan then said to David, ‘You are the man!’ 2 Samuel 12:1-7   This is the parable Nathan gave to King David to help him to see his sin concerning Bathsheba. There are a few thoughts that stand out in this story. It was a great approach to get King David’s attention. Jesus often taught in parables. It’s good for us to do the same. David could clearly see the problem of the rich man in the story yet couldn’t see his own. Why is it easier to see the problems of others, but not our own? Pride? Denial? Lying to ourselves? David knew exactly what the rich man in the story was to do. Yet David failed to do what was right. Because of David and his sinful choices, Bathsheba was taken, her husband Uriah was killed, David and Bathsheba would lose a child, and the sword would never depart from King David’s house. David was the problem. Sometimes we may find that in relationships we are the problem. That can be hard to admit. In fact, many have denied that they are the problem. Consider some examples:  “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, ‘Is this you, you troubler of Israel?’” 1 Kings 18:17 Elijah was innocent. He was doing God’s will. It was easier for Ahab to say the prophet was the problem instead of himself. “But Jehoshaphat said, ‘Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him? The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, for he never prophecies good concerning me but always evil. He is Micaiah, son of Imla. But Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.” 2 Chronicles 18:6-7 The prophet wasn’t the problem: the King was! Yet he failed to see or acknowledge his wicked ways! “Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Genesis 4:4-7 Was Abel the problem? No! Yet Cain took out his angry (not justified) out on his brother. Cain was the problem but failed to heed God’s warning. When challenges and difficulties arise, we may find that we are the problem. How are we to respond? Not like Cain or Ahab. But rather like David. David heeded the words of Nathan who helped him to see his sin, 2 Samuel 12:13. David could have ignored the words of Nathan. Many kings ignored and rejected the words of prophets. We too, if not careful can ignore wise counsel from God’s word and godly people. We will all need a Nathan in our lives at some point. Let us be wise and listen when what is shared is valid. David acknowledged his sinful behavior, 2 Samuel 12:13 . There was no one for David to blame. He took ownership of his sin. We must do the same. David remained with the LORD even through the difficult consequences, 2 Samuel 12:16-24 . David didn’t get angry at the LORD. Rather, he turned to the LORD. When we are the problem, we can still turn to the LORD for forgiveness. We can run back to HIM! When we find that we may the source of problems, there’s a right way and a wrong way to respond.

In Luke 18:10-13 , Jesus shares the following story:   “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’   If you are unfamiliar with this type of story, it is referred to as a “parable.” You can somewhat think of a parable as a sort of “spiritual fable,” so to speak, in the sense that the story is not meant for entertainment, nor is it a factual anecdote of something that Jesus really saw. It is a story meant for demonstrative and teaching purposes. In the context, Luke tells us that this parable was told “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt” ( vs. 9 ). First-century Pharisees were notorious for this type of attitude, so much so that people with such an attitude of hypocrisy, virtue signaling, and moral condescension are referred to at times as “pharisaical.”   This is precisely why Jesus appears to use them as an example in His parable. Jesus was keenly aware of people’s hearts, and we know that as God, Jesus could read people’s hearts ( Luke 16:15 ). On the one hand, I am sure many of us have known people where we thought they were a good person, maybe we even looked to them as a role model, and then something happened that made it clear that their heart and mind was corrupt and much different than we would have suspected. On the other hand, maybe you have had the experience where you assumed the worst about someone, but then they turned out to be a really great person. I will be the first to admit I have had that experience. This is the precise phenomena Jesus is expressing in His parable. See, while Pharisees were famous for being highly educated Jewish teachers and religious figures, tax collectors were known essentially as traitors of the Jewish people. At the time, the Roman Empire was occupying Jerusalem, and tax collectors had the job, as the name indicates, of collecting taxes from the citizens for the Roman Empire. As you can imagine, these taxes were often steep, unfair, and the punishment for not giving Rome their money would be harsh, making these tax collectors even less popular than the modern IRS! They were viewed with great contempt, essentially as sellouts working for the enemy. However, go back and read the parable itself again. Between these two men, whose attitude do you think is more Christlike: the Pharisee or the Tax Collector? More simply, which man’s attitude is more palatable? I would imagine many of us have great distaste for outspoken arrogance like that of the Pharisee. Maybe we find it difficult to even fathom going to God in prayer and being so bold as to talk about our own righteousness, while talking to The Eternally Righteous One. The two men in this parable are not only contrasted by their attitudes but by their social standing. They are not only juxtaposed to each other but to themselves—the Pharisee, an outwardly religious man who ironically exalts himself before God, and the tax collector, a likely wealthy and somewhat powerful man who begs God for mercy. It is because of this Jesus explains the meaning of the parable by simply saying, “I tell you, [the tax collector] went down to his house justified, rather than the [Pharisee]. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”   Jesus makes it clear in this parable that God is the one who exalts, not us. We must always be careful and cautious that we do not get to the point that the Pharisee reached where we are so overzealous about our holiness that we are boastful. On the other hand, may we look at God with the eyes of the tax collector and allow ourselves to be humbled by His holiness and overwhelmed by His mercy. We need not proclaim to God all that we have done, as the Pharisee does; He already knows. The only appropriate response to being in front of The Almighty I Am is to fall on our faces and plead with Him to bless us. He assures us that if we do this, He will exalt us well beyond any social status, career, or financial gain this world can provide us.   We were dead in our sins. God is unlimited in His mercy. Keeping that in perspective is of the utmost importance.   “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” ( Romans 5:6-11 )

What if I told you that you were at war, whether you knew it or not?   What if I told you that the Enemy would love nothing more than for you to ignore the battle and not fight back at all?   What if I told you that victory was guaranteed?   Renowned Christian author C.S. Lewis published “The Screwtape Letters” in 1942, a fictional story of a demon named Wormwood who is being trained by his uncle Screwtape how to tempt Christians. Harrowing in its portrayal of spiritual warfare from a demonic perspective, Screwtape at one point reminds his nephew that “…the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts…”   While the story of Screwtape and Wormwood is completely fictional, the above quote could not be truer. For those, like myself, who have never been in a true, physical, military conflict, it may be standard practice to imagine war as it is sometimes portrayed in movies: one massive army on one side, the enemy on the other, and then they run at each other and fight until one side annihilates the other, captures them as prisoners of war, or  forces them to retreat. Spiritual warfare is not always this clear or dramatic.   While there have been many wars in the past century (and, really, throughout human history) perhaps one of the most horrifying (if they can even be ranked) is the Vietnam War. One of the factors that notoriously made the Vietnam War especially horrid was the use of guerrilla warfare by the Viet Cong. The Viet Cong were obviously familiar with the jungles of Vietnam and used the natural brush cover, the darkness of night, the element of surprise, and other tactics to take complete advantage of their opponents, further exacerbating the devastating psychological effects of not being able to see the enemy plainly, know precisely where danger was, or if even taking another step forward was safe. Thinking of the terrors of the Vietnam war reminds me of the clandestine nature of spiritual warfare as stated so eloquently in the above quote. Satan will not put out flashing neon lights that say, “Death available here!”  anymore than the Viet Cong would have put a caution sign in front of a booby trap in the jungle or a lion would blow a trumpet before it jumped out of the brush to attack a gazelle (1 Peter 5:8).   Another layer to spiritual warfare that makes it even more difficult is that some do not even acknowledge there is a war. Ever since the garden of Eden Satan has been, as I hear one preacher put it, “painting something that will kill you as something you cannot live without” ( Genesis 3:1-6 ).  Satan is so vile he will not only trick you into stepping on a land mine, he will make it look fun. Worse still, he will do his best to numb us to the effects of sin so that we have to partake of more and more to get the same thrill we used to. By doing this, snake-like as ever, he acts as a boa constrictor slowly and surely tightening his grip around his victim ( Revelation 20:2 ).   Now, if the enemy is so strong and evil, what tactics can we use to fight back? What hope do we have of winning? If he is so subtle, how can I know how well I am doing?   According to Galatians 5 , the Christian is called to live in the spirit rather than living according to the flesh. Making decisions based on God’s will and not our own physical will is a major part of our spiritual battle. In verses 19-21 , Paul lists some works of the flesh—clearly identifiable actions the Christian is to stay away from—“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.” Also in Galatians 5 , some Godly qualities are listed; indicators of victory and Christlikeness, if you will: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Again, we see the idea of doing what may be counter to our temporary, physical desires in order to please our eternal, spiritual God.   The spiritual nature of this battle is further emphasized in Ephesians 3:11-18 , when Paul draws a comparison between the elements of a Christian life and how they pertain to the spiritual battle at hand.   “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance…”   Notice especially what he says at the end there: alertness and perseverance. We must realize that there is, in fact, a battle going on for our souls, and that it will take great perseverance to “stand against the schemes of the devil.” However, while we must never drop our guard, notice that the armor belongs to the Lord. It is Him that is protecting us, providing for us, encouraging us to stay in the fight. His, ultimately, is the victory.   To this end, 1 Peter 5 is not only clear about the predatory and deceptive nature of Satan, but about the active role that God takes in fighting for His people: “Resist [the Devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”   At the end of the day, may we stand firm and fight on, ever mindful of 3 vital facts: the Devil the enemy, we are not fighting alone, and we are fighting for the winning army—the army of the Eternal, Glorious, “God of all Grace.”

While the 4th of July brings celebration for many Americans, commemorating their national independence with fireworks and patriotic anthems, as Christians, we are called to acknowledge a more significant allegiance. This allegiance is not to a flag or a country but to the kingdom of God—a realm that transcends borders and offers a deeper, eternal freedom. This is a kingdom not built by human hands or achieved through historical battles but established by Jesus Christ and rooted in spiritual truths that govern our very existence. As we reflect on the festivities of the 4th of July, it's crucial to remember the greater kingdom we are part of, which offers not just temporary liberty but eternal salvation. Jesus is King In the kingdom of God, Jesus serves not just as a figurehead, but as the ultimate ruler, whose authority surpasses all earthly power. Scriptures like Ephesians 1:20-23 depict Jesus as resurrected by God and seated at the right hand of heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority. This sovereign rule over all things was affirmed by the early church and is vividly captured in Revelation 19:16, which refers to Jesus as the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." So what does this mean? It means Jesus is in control. It means we must submit to him. We need to be sure that in both our words and actions, we acknowledge him as king.  The Nature of Jesus' Kingdom Unlike earthly kingdoms built through political and military might, Jesus’ kingdom is fundamentally spiritual. While Jesus was here on earth teaching, this was a point of confusion even among His closest followers, who expected an earthly king. When tried by Pilate, Jesus was being questioned as to whether or not he truly was to be king of the Jews. Jesus, in response, told Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” John 18:36 Oddly, one of the few people who did seem to understand what was happening was a thief. A thief who, like Jesus, was being killed on a cross. This man recognized His true kingship when he asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom ( Luke 23:42-43 ). The theif knew that death was not preventing Jesus from ruling in his kingdom. This acknowledgment highlights a profound truth: Jesus' kingdom transcends earthly realms and continues to rule over the spiritual lives of believers. The Laws of the Kingdom Being under Jesus' kingship means adhering to the laws He has set. Matthew 7:21-23 stresses the importance of not just calling upon His name but actively doing the will of God. The kingdom of God requires true obedience to God's commandments, even those that go against current societal norms “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Clearly there are certain actions and lifestyles we can live that are incompatible with the laws required to be citizens in this nation. There are many things throughout the word of God that are provided as actions and lifestyles that will cause one to lose their opportunity to enter the kingdom of heaven. These laws must transcend above the laws of our earthly nation (USA). Here in our country there are many things that are legal by our governments standards. Yet, despite this fact, they will still cause us to lose our salvation if scripture defines them as contrary to God's law. The Freedom Offered by the King Despite its laws and rules that many call restrictive, the kingdom of God offers unparalleled freedom. "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:16-18 (NIV) If we going to reap the benefits of the one whom we dedicate ourselves to, why not pledge that allegiance to one who will give us life? Because until we pledge our allegiance to God and Christ Jesus we are slaves to sin which will only bring death. When we write off God as our ruler, then we are writing off the only ruler who can truly offer freedom and liberty. We get to choose who we follow; Jesus or our own pleasures and unrighteousness. And as a result, we will reap the benefites of our choice; sin or eternal life. The King's Invitation The beauty of Jesus' kingdom is that it is open to everyone. Regardless of past actions or societal labels, Jesus extends an invitation to all. This inclusiveness is emphasized in 1 Timothy 2, which expresses God’s desire for all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. However, accepting this invitation requires a conscious decision to follow Jesus, to obey His teachings, and to be baptized into His death and resurrection, as outlined in Romans 6:3-11. The kingdom of God is not just a theoretical concept but a practical reality that demands a response. It invites us to shift our allegiance from worldly institutions to a spiritual kingdom. Just as nations celebrate their independence and values, we, too, are called to celebrate and live out the values of the kingdom of God daily. The decision to accept this invitation is personal and transformative, offering not just freedom from sin but an eternal inheritance of joy and peace.