My mom often talks about how tough it was to take my sister and I out in public together when we were young because we always stirred each other up. Even now, when we are together, we tend to be louder and more obnoxious as a duo than we are separately. In a way that is relatively harmless, and at worst slightly annoying to those around us, we “stir each other up.”   Separately, we might think of people that “stir things up” as instigators. My in-laws called my wife “the instigator” growing up because she knew how to press her older brother’s buttons and so often and on purpose. She knew how to frustrate him and make him mad! I would imagine many of us have in one way or another, even as adults, either “stirred” or “been stirred” (or, more likely, both). Especially with people we know well, we know what motivates them, either by encouraging them to be better or stubbornly opposing them in some way to provoke some form of determination from them. While these types of “tactics” can unfortunately be abused and turn into outright manipulation, the Bible not only warns against negative provocation, but demands positive motivation as well.   In Proverbs , we find the language of “stirring things up” multiple times. ·  10:12 – Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. ·  15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ·  15:8 – A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. ·  28:25 – A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. ·  29:22 – A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.   Notice how often being “stirred up” is used as a negative! Specifically, we see the idea of stirring up strife emphasized. God ultimately wants peace on earth, and Jesus, also known as “The Prince of Peace,” said that His followers would be peacemakers ( Isaiah 9:6 , Matthew 5:9 ). While there are certainly times that we should and must disagree with people, oppose sin, and there may be unavoidable drama in our lives, we as much as we are able, should live peaceably with all ( Romans 12:18 ). Solomon mentions multiple time the wisdom in neutralizing conflict rather than inflaming it. It is safe to say all of us likely know someone who seemingly makes every situation worse with their temper—almost like superheroes with super strength in the comics who break everything they touch. If we are the type of people who easily get stirred up, we need to be extremely cautious that we do not fall into sin because our temper got the better of us.   On a positive note, the author of Hebrews demands that Christians be stirring one another up “to love and good deeds.” This too is a type of animation and motivation we can understand on a practical level. Hopefully, when we see something that needs to be fixed or taken care of, we are “stirred up” to be the one to find a solution or some other way to serve. The author of Hebrews goes on to remind his audience of the importance of spending time with the local body, i.e. “meeting together,” not only in the organized worship assembly but by implication perhaps, spending time together outside the assembly as well (as described in Acts 2:42-47 , for example). When we assemble together to worship God as brothers and sisters in Christ, there is motivation and encouragement found there that is not found anywhere else. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we all realized how disheartening isolation could be, and yet at times God’s people may still avoid contact with like-minded brethren. This dynamic speaks directly to the point of the author of Hebrews’ words here: as God said before creating Eve, “it is not good for man to be alone” ( Genesis 2:18 ).   Finally, in Hebrews 10:24 , the author of Hebrews implies that part of our fundamental motivation for “stirring each other up to love and good deeds,” is the fact that there is a “Day drawing near” where each of us will be called to give an account of what we have done in this life. Matthew 24:36 , 42 , and 44 read:  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only…Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming…Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”   Jesus makes abundantly clear that He is coming back and when He does, He expects His children to be ready. In the meantime, as we wait, we must avoid stirring up strife and hatred, and stir each other up positively, encouraging each other to hold on to the hope of Heaven and live in a way that is pleasing to the Father, as we see the Day drawing near.   May we forever continue to stay stirred up, and never settle.

Does Jesus Expect Us to Believe Without Evidence? A Closer Look at Doubting Thomas In the Gospel of John, Jesus famously tells Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”  ( John 20:29 ). Some take this to mean that faith requires believing without any evidence—but is that really what Jesus was saying? The Context of Thomas’s Doubt Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, was not present when Jesus first appeared to the other disciples after His resurrection. When they told him what had happened, he refused to believe, insisting, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe”  ( John 20:25 ). Eight days later, Jesus appeared again, this time with Thomas present. Jesus invited Thomas to see and touch His wounds. Thomas immediately responded, “My Lord and my God!”  ( John 20:28 ). It is at this moment that Jesus gives His famous statement about those who believe without seeing. Does This Mean Faith Requires No Evidence? No, and the very next verses in John’s Gospel clarify this. John immediately follows this account by saying: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”  ( John 20:30-31 ). John is not promoting blind faith—he is documenting evidence. The entire purpose of his Gospel is to provide testimony so that people may believe. Why Was Thomas Rebuked? Jesus was not saying that Thomas should have believed without evidence. Rather, Thomas already had evidence—he just refused to accept it. The other apostles had seen Jesus and shared their eyewitness testimony with Thomas, but he rejected their word. Jesus’ rebuke was not against seeking evidence, but against rejecting trustworthy testimony. Jesus’ statement in John 20:29 highlights that future believers—those who will not see Jesus in person—will be blessed for believing based on the testimony of the apostles. This is exactly what the Gospel of John provides: a written record of eyewitness accounts, meant to serve as evidence for future generations. Faith Rooted in Testimony The story of Thomas is not about promoting blind faith but about trusting reliable testimony. The apostles saw Jesus and shared their testimony so that others might believe. We, too, are called to believe based on their witness—recorded in Scripture—just as Thomas was called to believe based on the testimony of his fellow disciples. Far from dismissing evidence, Jesus affirms the importance of testimony as a foundation for faith. The blessing in John 20:29 is not for those who believe without reason, but for those who trust in the faithful witness of those who saw Him.

“I guess that is just my cross to bear…” some people say.   Usually though, unfortunately, when people use this phrase they are being flippant, talking about some burden in their life that may not really be that bad in the grand scheme of things. However, Jesus very seriously tells us that, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” ( Matthew 16:24 )   When Jesus first said this to His disciples, they certainly knew what roman crucifixion was, but based on what we know from the rest of the gospels, they did not yet understand that Jesus would literally have to carry a cross and be crucified. How devastating it must have been for them when they realized what He had meant. How intimidating for us to know the whole story. But what does it look like to carry our cross? What is MY cross? Do we have the same cross? There are multiple different ways to look at Jesus’ teaching here.   One specific instance that shows Jesus using this language that helps us understand what Jesus means is with the rich young ruler in Mark 10:21 : “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.’” Despite the fact that this young man had obeyed the law of Moses to the letter in many ways, Jesus still sees in him that he is too attached to his possessions, and we are told that the young man went away sorrowful and presumably did not comply with what Jesus asked of him. Will we let our material goods keep us from following Jesus? The problem with this young man is not that he is rich, powerful, and young. None of those factors nor the combination of them really affect his salvation. However, Jesus’ interaction with him seems to indicate that his connection to his “stuff” was deeper than it should have been. While the young man likely would have denied it if you were to ask him, Jesus simply was not worth as much to him as his “stuff” was.   When we come to follow Christ, there is an act of letting go that needs to happen: letting go of our past sins, letting go of sins we may currently be ensnared in, and letting go of anything else that may stand in the way of us following Christ. Letting go of these things is often called “repentance.” To repent literally means to turn around and go the opposite direction. Put another way, repent is to drop sin, leaving it behind never to be picked up again, as we follow Jesus forward, even knowing that His path will require us to pick up a cross.   On another occasion, Jesus says very clearly, “…he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” ( Matthew 10:38 ). The fact of the matter is Jesus taking up His cross has a two-fold meaning for us: on the one hand, and most importantly, He took on the punishment that we deserved for our sins. As the sacrificial Lamb of God, He died for us. Additionally though, He set an example of what it means to obediently do the Father’s will, and showed just how disliked and unpopular God’s people (or God Himself!) can be. By going to the cross, He demonstrated that God’s plan likely will mean temporary pain, even extreme suffering, but all for the hope of immeasurable glory. As Paul puts it, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). No greater pain or glory has been experienced than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and that is the road He invites us to follow Him down. In short: “We love because He first loved us” ( 1 John 4:19 ).   Finally, perhaps one of the most to-the-point verses about what it means for us to take up our own crosses is Galatians 6:14 : “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”   Even though He was God, Jesus did not boast in being God or even in His miracles. He denied Himself, took up His cross, and lead the way to Golgotha. But as we well know, His story did not end there, and neither does ours. After the struggle of self-denial and self-sacrifice comes immeasurable glory and eternal life. In the mean time, let us boast only in Him and take up our cross day by day.

It’s all about Him. That’s the conclusion one will reach when they read the book of Colossians. It’s all about Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote to these saints, He spoke about the Preeminence of Christ. He spoke about His power and all that He had done for them. Paul reminded them that they had been rescued, redeemed, and reconciled through Jesus. We also see the importance of the Lord’s church in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Let’s notice some observations.   “IN HIM” “For He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”   Colossians 1:13-14 The church is made up of people who are “In Him.” Those who heard and obeyed the truth, are in Christ, Colossians 1:4-5, 2:12 . When one is “In Him” they are also in His body, the church. Paul says in Colossians 1:18 , “He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” It is God who adds the saved to the church, Acts 2:47 . Those who are saved and added to the church must submit to the will of Jesus. Those who are in Christ also need to recognize the importance of being in His body. The body, the church, is not something that is optional. You can’t have Christ without His body. It can often happen that people want Christ, but they don’t want anything to do with His church. That’s not Biblical. One can’t have Christ without His church, Acts 8:3, 9:5 . Therefore, the church is not to be viewed as an afterthought. It’s designed as a body, which means we each play a vital role in it. “BY HIM” “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created through Him and for Him.”  Colossians 1:16  All things were created by Christ. That includes the church. Christ promised to build His church in Matthew 16:18 . He purchased the church with His blood, Acts 20:28 . He is head over the church, Colossians 1:18 . Man did not establish this spiritual body, John 18:36 . Jesus did. Therefore, it is something special that only Jesus could design and create. It’s all about Him. How should this impact our lives? It should cause us to recognize and appreciate that we’re a part of something great. People like to be a part of something great or special (colleges, schools, sports, etc.). Being a part of the Lord’s church is something truly great! Consider the cost, Colossians 1:20 . Jesus gave up everything for it. Through the church Jesus has accomplished something that no one else could. He has brought both Jews and Gentiles into one body, Colossians 1:26-27. This is the great mystery that Paul spoke about. Jesus destroyed the racial divide that stood for so long. He’s brought unity in one body, the church. That’s awesome. No political party will be able to do what is accomplished through the church. No fraternity, school, or any other club can do what Jesus has done. It’s all about Him and what He has done. “FOR HIM” “…All things have been created through Him and for Him…”   Colossians 1:16 . All things have been created for Him. That includes the church. This is a game changer. We live in a “ME Mentality” age. For some, it can be all about them. It’s about our rights, our desires, and our needs. But when it comes to the church, it’s not about ME. It’s not even about WE. It’s about HE. Is this the attitude we have as members of the Lord’s church? Everything we do is to be for Him. Our motivation to serve, to worship, to submit is all for Him! When we have this mindset, this will truly change our perspective of Christ and His church. It’s all about giving Him the glory, Ephesians 3:20-21 . We can give Him glory in our worship. We can strive not to forsake the assembly because it’s all about Him. We will forgive one another when we sin, because it’s all about Him. We will put our needs to the sides and help others, because it’s all about Him. We will not quibble with His pattern or worship, because it’s all about Him. We will not quit and give up on the church, because it’s all about Him. We will struggle for one another because it’s all about Him. He struggled for us. We will do the same. It’s all about Him! Let’s demonstrate our love for Him.

One of the most epic accounts in the Old Testament is that of the flood. We know from the beginning of scripture in the garden of Eden that God sees His people, knows what they are up to, and knows what their hearts are like for better or for worse.   In Genesis 6:5-8 , “The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.’” However, we are told, “Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”   Do you ever feel like Noah? If you pay attention to politics or the news, you may feel like “the wickedness of man is very great on the earth,” and most peoples intentions and thoughts are primarily evil. Maybe (hopefully) are not this cynical, but life may feel that way at times. A few verses later, the Holy Spirit goes into even more detail about the evil in the world, saying that, “the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth’” ( Genesis 6:11-13 ).   Then, God sends the water. It rains for 40 days and 40 nights, with only 8 people and 2 of every animal safely on board the ark that Noah had made. As the floods came, “everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. [God] blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark” ( Genesis 7:22-23 ).   After the flood though, God creates a rainbow, which He explains to Noah is a “sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth” ( 9:12-16 ).   Ultimately, God makes it clear that He took no pleasure in destroying mankind, but rather was sorrowful and only sent the flood to wipe out the evil that mankind had become involved with. God is holy and righteous and created everything, including humanity, to be perfect and good. He created us so that He could love us, and to reject God by sinning goes against the very purpose for which we were made. God loves us and wants to bless us, but He is also holy and just and cannot allow evil to continue unchecked. I would imagine if we were to “put ourselves in God’s shoes,” so to speak, when we read about the horrible, rampant violence that was all over the earth and in the hearts of all mankind before the flood, we can understand why God would want to take drastic measures to “clean house,” and restore His creation to the perfect state it was in when He created it. Obviously, it did not stay perfect forever, and even Noah himself committed a terrible sin at one point ( Genesis 9:20-29 ). However, the flood serves us as an example of God’s judgment: He wipes out evil with a mighty hand, and sees and preserves the righteous, using them for His purposes and sparing them in the day of trouble.   In the New Testament, Peter directly correlates the flood to baptism, explaining how we too are “brought safely through water,” redeemed, and made righteous, despite our sins and the sinfulness of our world:    “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” ( 1 Peter 3:18-21 )   Let us be perfectly clear: baptism saves us. Jesus came and suffered, taking on death on our behalf, so that through baptism we could be cleansed from our sins. Just like in Noah’s case, our salvation requires the grace of God, our faith in Him, and action both on God’s part and on ours. In his second letter, Peter assures us that, “if [God] did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly…then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority” ( 2 Peter 2:5, 9-10 ).   No matter how evil, vulgar, and violent the world around us may be (or how much worse it may get in the future), God’s instructions are simple: have faith, listen to Me, and I will bring you safely through the water.   “…He who promised is faithful.”( Hebrews 10:23 )

The life of Jesus is recorded in the Bible for a reason—He is the perfect example for us to follow. 1 Peter 2:21 tells us, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps." Jesus lived a life of absolute perfection. He committed no sin ( 1 Peter 2:22 ) and never once spoke deceitfully or retaliated when wronged ( 1 Peter 2:23 ). His life was marked by unwavering commitment to God’s will, both in how He lived and in His ultimate sacrifice on the cross ( 1 Peter 2:24 ). But how did He do it? How did Jesus resist temptation and remain sinless despite Satan’s constant attacks? And more importantly, how can we follow His example and live successfully in God’s eyes? The Four Keys to Jesus’ Success Key #1: Jesus Did Not Prioritize the Things of This World In Matthew 4, we see Jesus being tempted by Satan after fasting for forty days. Satan’s first attack was aimed at Jesus’ hunger: "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread" ( Matthew 4:3 ). Jesus could have easily done this, but instead, He responded: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" ( Matthew 4:4 ). Jesus saw past His physical hunger. His priority was not earthly comfort but obedience to God. He understood that the things of this world—food, wealth, and pleasure—are temporary. In Matthew 6:19-21 , He teaches, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." The book of Ecclesiastes reinforces this truth. King Solomon, despite having everything—wealth, power, and pleasure—concluded that it was all meaningless ( Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 ). True success is not found in earthly gain but in pleasing God. For us, this means we must not prioritize worldly things over our relationship with God. While money, careers, and possessions are not inherently sinful, they become a problem when they take precedence over our faith. Key #2: Jesus Relied on the Word of God Each time Jesus was tempted, His response began with, “It is written…”  He relied on Scripture as His source material —His ultimate authority and guide. Psalm 1:1-3 describes the person who delights in God’s Word as a tree planted by streams of water, thriving because it has an unending source of life. Psalm 19 declares that God’s Word revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and endures forever. Today, many people turn to friends, social media, or entertainment for guidance. But if we want to live successfully like Jesus, we must make Scripture our foundation. It must be what we turn to for answers, for wisdom, and for strength in times of temptation. Key #3: Jesus Let God Be God In Matthew 4:5-7 , Satan tempts Jesus to test God by throwing Himself off the temple. Jesus responds, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." Jesus understood that it was not His place to force God’s hand or demand signs. He trusted God’s will completely. Too often, we try to make our desires align with God’s will instead of truly seeking His will. We pray, "God, I want this… but only if it's Your will,"  while inwardly hoping that God will agree with us. Sometimes, we push ahead with our own plans, assuming that success means God must have approved. But Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. We must learn to trust God fully, surrendering to His plans instead of trying to fit Him into ours. Key #4: Jesus Made Worshiping God His Priority The final temptation in Matthew 4:8-10 is when Satan offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. Jesus refuses, saying, "You shall worship the LORD your God, and serve Him only." Jesus understood that God alone is worthy of worship. He made worship a priority—not just something He attended , but something He did . Many people think of worship as a noun— something we go to on Sundays and Wednesdays . But worship is also a verb—it is something we actively do every day. Psalm 145:2 says, "Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever." True worship is not confined to a church service. It means prioritizing God in everything, living with an attitude of praise, and refusing to let anything—whether money, career, or personal ambitions—take His place. Applying These Keys to Our Lives Jesus’ life was the ultimate success story—not in worldly terms, but in spiritual ones. And while we will never be perfect as He was, we can follow His example by: Not prioritizing the things of this world Relying on God’s Word as our guide Trusting God’s will instead of trying to control everything Making worship a daily priority Are you living successfully by these standards?

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!