Jeff Grisham

Slow Down and Look

December 19th, 2025

It really is a great time of year. It is a very busy and hectic time of year as well. Each of us have various activities and traditions around Christmas. There are parades, programs, and gatherings to schedule and attend. And as we drive to these various functions we pass by all kinds of decorations that are scattered all around our various areas. When the kids were smaller, one of our favorite things to do was to just take a night and drive around and look at all the Christmas lights. Among the Santas and sleighs, the lights and trees, we would see nativity scenes displayed. We would often drive past and comment about how nice it looked, or admire the way it was set up, without paying much attention to what is was we were actually seeing. Maybe it is time we slowed down a bit at looked.

On the surface, we see a couple with a newborn baby, a group of shepherds, and a group of wealthy kings. We see three very different and disparate groups of people with little if anything in common. Yet, these are three groups of people that we find in the accounts of the birth of Jesus recorded in Matthew and in Luke.

Mary and Joseph, the young couple from Nazareth were ordinary people on a their way to a life that was probably quite predictable. The shepherds were just going about their lives, following their sheep the way they had learned from their ancestors before. There were the kings from the East, wealthy and educated who studied and watched for the fulfillment of prophecy. Three groups of people that we see in various scenes all around us at this time of year, all brought together by a singular event.

That singular event was one that had been in the works for millennia, ever since the fall in Genesis 3. That singular event consisted of an angelic messenger, an imperial edict, a miraculous conception and birth, communication to various people via dreams, the appearance of a star, and a chorus of angels making the grand announcement. All of this, plus many more acts of God of which we read throughout Scripture, brought together people from all walks of life with God in their midst. There are several things we need to slow down and look at in that first nativity scene.

We see the importance of stepping out in faith, trusting in what God can do. When Gabriel shows up to make the announcement to Mary, she really doesn’t know what to make of all this. Who would? She was just told that she would conceive and give birth to God’s son, that he would sit on the throne of his father David, and that his Kingdom would never end (Luke 1:26-33). After asking how this could be possible and hearing the explanation of Gabriel, Mary replied, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) She had no idea where this would lead. She simply said, “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”

Joseph is another example of this kind of faith. Imagine being told by your fiancé that she is pregnant and that her child was the result of a miracle. It’s no wonder that Matthew tells us that he wanted to “put her away.” But when God communicated with him, confirming what Mary had said, “he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25)

We see the importance of being watchful. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1) We know few details of these men. What we do know is that they were people who were expecting God to do something. They had been watching and waiting for the promise of God to come. As a result of this, they were able to witness a marvelous event.

We see that this event was good news for everyone; no one was to be excluded. “And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-12) The shepherds, the least of society, were the first to hear of this news and to be invited to the celebration. It wasn’t just for the rich, the respectable, the religious, or even just the Jews. God sending his son is good news for all. We see that God does all of this in order to be with us. The divide between us and God due to sin was something we could not resolve. God wants to be with us badly enough to show up as a vulnerable infant, born in a stable. It is truly amazing what we can see if we will just slow down and look.
Don’t Miss the Point

October 31st, 2025

I love the book of Exodus. It is a great read which records the greatest salvific act of the Old Testament. The story contained in its pages is consistently referred to throughout that Old and New Testaments. It is easy to get caught up in all the action and adventure of this book.

Just think about what we find as we dive into this great narrative. A tyrannical king in Egypt whose fear leads him to order the deaths of all male Hebrew infants. The drama surrounding the birth of Moses, wondering if he will survive the edict of the king. The relief experienced and irony enjoyed as Pharaoh’s own daughter is the one who rescues this Hebrew child and hires the child’s natural mother to nurse him. We watch as Moses goes out and protects one of his own people from the brutality of an Egyptian slave master, only to have to flee for his own life. In his flight, Moses becomes a part of the family of the priest of Midian, marries, has children, and settles into the life of a shepherd, only to encounter God at Horeb to be sent back to Egypt to lead the Israelites to freedom. Then there is the family reunion, the showdowns with the Pharaoh, a series of plagues, and the liberation from Egypt. Then, just when we think everything is fine and the people of Israel are on the way to the land of promise, the Egyptians pursue them, and the people of God find themselves trapped between and enormously powerful army and the Red Sea. We watch as God parts the sea, rescues Israel, and drowns the Egyptians. After this, the Israelites begin to make their way to the Mount Sinai, and God provides food and water. They encounter the hostile Amalekites and emerge victorious. Then they meet God at the mountain. Exodus is a page-turning adventure.

Then, we turn to the last half of the book and encounter eighteen chapters of incredibly detailed chapters including the requirements of the new covenant agreement and instructions on the building of the tabernacle. After reading the first half of the book and all the action contained in it, we may feel somewhat disappointed by the second half. However, we shouldn’t because the tabernacle and the instructions involving its construction are the point of the entire book. We see it in several places. One is found in Exodus 25: The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. (Exodus 25:1-8)

The point of the book of the Exodus is that God wants to live among his people, and the tabernacle is the place where that will happen. In fact, God wanting to live among his people is the narrative of Scripture from beginning to end.

In Genesis 2 and 3, we see God plants a garden where he places Adam and Eve and where he comes and walks with his creation. Once Adam and Eve rebel, God continues to work so that the design in the beginning can once again be realized. We see it here in the book of Exodus. We continue to watch as God plants Israel in the land of Canaan and establishes them as a nation. We read of Solomon building the temple and the presence of God coming to reside there. Then we turn to the Gospels and encounter the incarnation and watch in awe as God comes to dwell among his people in person. We see him come and dwell in and among his people as the Spirit descends and that same Spirit continues to inhabit those who belong to Jesus today. Then, in Revelation 21 we see his plan will come to completion when Jesus returns as John writes, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:1-3)

The Bible that we have is a wonderful book, full of great narratives of the people of God throughout the ages. It reveals to us the One who created it all and his desire for us. It informs us of God’s desire to dwell among his people and all that he has done to make that possible. It instructs us and moves us to respond to him so that we can be in his presence forever. Let’s not miss the point.
Difficult Sayings

May 14th, 2025

There are a lot of difficult passages of Scripture. They are difficult on a couple of different levels. Some are difficult to understand. Since the biblical documents were originally written in different languages, it is sometimes difficult for translators to find an English word that captures the meaning of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek word. Some are difficult to understand because we are separated from the original authors and audiences by vast cultural differences. Figures of speech or illustrations that the original audience would have no trouble understanding do not automatically translate well for us 2000 plus years later.

The next difficulty is not in understanding, it is in doing what the text says. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, “Love your enemies. Pray for those who persecute you so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.” A little bit later he says, “For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others your heavenly Father will not forgive you.” It is certainly easy enough to understand. They are a clear as day. But they are still difficult to do.

Here’s another one. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16) Easy enough to understand. We don’t need an advanced degree in ancient Greek to make out what James is saying. It is still difficult, nonetheless. What responses come to mind when we encounter this instruction? We may wonder why we should do this. We may think to ourselves, “I can deal with this sin issue on my own.” Or, “Does everyone need to know my failings?”

Let’s take these responses in reverse order. We wonder, or may even ask aloud, if everyone needs to be aware of my sin, my weaknesses. Let’s face it; that can be a very scary thought. Imagine if everyone in the church knew all the ugliness that passed through my life last week, or yesterday, or even in the last few minutes. What would they think of me? Does James really think this is a good idea that my failings are on display for everyone?

I think from the context that James would say that not everyone needs to know. Not everyone, but someone. James appears to have the elders of the church in view in this section. In other words, the spiritually mature. Our sin failings do not need to be aired to just anyone, but to those who can handle it. Someone who wants the best for you. Someone who loves and cares for you. Someone who will sit with you, pray with you, cry with you, help you move forward, keep it to themselves, and not let you duck responsibility. Do each of us have someone like that in our lives to whom we can go for help?

I can deal with this issue on my own. This very independent attitude, a very pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps kind of thinking is incredibly popular in American Christianity in particular. It is also incredibly dangerous. It is very prideful and, quite frankly, anti-Christian. If we could deal with our own sin issues, we would have no need for the grace of God demonstrated at the cross.

It is also dangerous because of our capacity for self-deception. We can justify our actions; we can make excuses and tell ourselves lies about our sin enough times that we begin to believe it. We can scour Scripture looking for loopholes to convince ourselves that we are actually not sinning and that it is probably the fault of someone else that we find ourselves on the wrong side of the way God directs us to live. Think of Adam and Eve in the Garden. When confronted by God for their disobedience, Eve blames the serpent, Adam blames Eve and then blames God for giving her to him.

The truth is that we cannot do this, we cannot live the Christian life on our own. God through Christ has called together a people, a community that work together to love one another, serve one another, help one another, and bear one another’s burdens. That would include helping one another deal with the temptations and the sin to which we are all drawn.

So why does James (and others) instruct us to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another? Look at the text. So that you may be healed. Bringing our sin failings to light, being honest about our struggle with someone we trust who has our best interest at heart will bring healing. Getting our sins out into the light allows us to see just how ugly they are, what the consequences can be, and helps us to resolve to live differently.

We understand this concept in other areas of life. We can’t go to a doctor and refuse to tell them what is happening and hope to find the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment. You can’t take your car to the mechanic and refuse to relay to them what the car is doing and hope to get it fixed.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

The call in this verse is for us to be people of integrity. As difficult as it may be, it is vital that we pay attention to what James writes here. We are called to be honest about our sins and trustworthy in dealing with the struggles that are shared with us. We are called to be people who love deeply. We are called to be more like Jesus. We can’t do that alone.
Taking the Time

April 14th, 2025

Where does the time go? It’s as if we turned around and spring has suddenly arrived. Spring brings with it a lot of wonderful things such as warmer weather, longer days, and the beauty of the vegetation that has been dormant through winter. Along with these, spring also brings many things for us to do: yard work, spring cleaning, tax season, graduations, planning summer vacations, kids’ activities, etc. It is a busy time of year.

Busyness can certainly be a good thing. It keeps us active. It gives us a purpose and a direction. It can help get our minds off ourselves and to remind us that we are here for a purpose. It makes us feel useful. Not only that, but we may all think of various Scriptures that encourage us to be active and diligent instead of idle and slothful.

Busyness can also be a deterrent to our spiritual growth. Being busy with so many things can keep us from being busy about the right things. It can divert our attention from where it should be focused. We can even intentionally busy ourselves with things to distract us from the most important things. So then we ask the question. As the people of God, where should our attention be focused? What are the important things with which we should be busy?

Jesus gives us the answer to that in Matthew 22. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

So, we see it. We are to be busy in loving God and loving others. Sometimes, however, our busyness keeps us from pursuing the love that Jesus commands. What are some things we can do to make sure we are attending well to the things that are most important?

There are a several things that may come to mind that could help move us in the right direction. I would like to suggest two that I believe we find throughout the Bible in which we are instructed to participate: wonder and gratitude.

Scripture is full of passages that speak of the wonder of God. The creation narratives, the flood narrative, the Exodus, all the mighty works of God bring us into a sense of wonder. I think of passages like God’s speech at the end of the book of Job, or passages like Psalm 8 speak to the wonder of God. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beingsand crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8:1-9)

Wonder tends to lead to gratitude. When we think of the majesty, the sovereignty, the power, and the holiness of God who also pursues us with unrelenting love, it leads to gratitude. When we consider who God is and what he has done for us in Jesus, we realize our absolute dependence on him and his grace for our very lives.

When I think of these two practices – wonder and gratitude – and the way in which it moves us to love God with all we have and to love others well, I believe I see why God is so adamant that Israel observe the Sabbath. As we read Moses delivering the Law to the people of Israel in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5, we find two reasons given for Israel to keep Sabbath. In Exodus 20 it is to remember God as creator (Exodus 20:8-11). In Deuteronomy 5 it was to remember God as their deliverer (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). There are these two practices – wonder and gratitude. God’s people were to remember the one who created all things, stop striving and wonder at his power and his care, and they were to remember and give thanks for his redemption.

Do we find our lives to be crowded by activities? Do we find ourselves stressed and anxious over the tasks that seem unending? Is that busyness, even with good things, keeping us from attending to the business of loving God more and loving others well? Could we stop and sit, or take a walk, spend some time looking at the wonder of creation, remembering the goodness of the one who created it? Could we spend some time thanking him for all that he has done and continues to do for us and in us? That might go a long way in our growing in love for him and for one another.
Who Is He?

March 10th, 2025

He could have done it anywhere. They had traveled from the Jordan Valley, all over Galilee, across the sea and back going from place to place. He could have done it anywhere, but it was in Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” The responses varied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, some Jeremiah, and others one of the prophets.” The next question posed to the disciples was much more direct, “Who do you all say that I am?” It was a simple enough question but loaded with implications. But why ask it here? Why not immediately following some miracle he had performed? After all, there had been plenty. Why not within the confines of a place like Capernaum where the synagogue stands as the center of community life?

The area of Caesarea Philippi was an interesting choice to be sure. There were multiple deities worshipped in that region. It was home to the sanctuary of the Greek god, Pan, the half-man, half-goat god of fright. There was the Grotto of Pan, a cave into which sacrifices had been thrown for centuries. There were (and still are) niches carved into the rocky hillside at the headwaters of the Jordan where images of various gods and goddesses would be placed as the community came to offer tribute. This area serves as the backdrop for the simple, yet eternally significant question, “Who do you all say that I am?”

This ancient account has a lot of relevance for us today. The question of the identity of Jesus is asked of us each and every day. Sometimes it is easy to answer that question. We gather around Jesus on Sunday and confess with the rest of those who wear his name, “You, Jesus, are the Christ. You are the Son of God. You are the King. You are our Savior and our Master.” It’s an easy question to answer in that setting.

The real test comes during the rest of the week. We spend much of our time in surroundings in which many gods are worshipped. No, we’re probably not going to walk down the street and encounter a line of people throwing sacrifices into a cave in hopes of placating the gods. But there are plenty of other things that are vying for our attention, our allegiance, and offering us some benefit.

The list of these various deities is far too long to list in the space that we have here, but there are some that immediately come to mind. The god of nationalism, of racial superiority, of economic disparity, of self-righteousness, moral superiority, sexual identity, all call out to us and court our allegiance. While there may be many others to add to that list, all point to the chief among these deities, the god of self. With all this noise, all the voices that call, we hear Jesus ask, “Who do you say that I am?” How do we answer in these moments?

The answer to this question is incredibly important. The way in which we answer has eternal consequences. Since we confess that he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, our allegiance is solely to him. All other would-be gods must be put away and every aspect, every part of our lives must be brought under the lordship of Jesus. All our responses and reactions to the things that we face, all our decisions, all interactions are held up to his scrutiny. Everything is to be measured against the way Jesus responded to the world around him.

This will take time and attention. The disciples to whom Jesus posed this question were those who had been with him night and day for years. They had seen miracles, heard his teaching and witnessed all his interactions. Even with all this, they still got things wrong from time to time, but Jesus didn’t give up on them.

We won’t correctly answer the question of the identity of Jesus unless we are also willing to walk with him, listen to him, watch what he does, and continually learn from him. And just like those disciples who were with Jesus at Caesarea Philippi and beyond, there will be times when we get things wrong, react in the wrong way, say the wrong things, and mess up things. And just like those disciples, Jesus will not give up on us either as long as we continually run back to him for correction, help, direction, and forgiveness.

It is the good news of the gospel – God with us. It is the promise of Jesus that he will not abandon us but will be with us until the very end. There is no other entity that can keep that promise. There is no other god who can compare. There is no other god who is willing to sacrifice for us so that we can have life.

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)
It’s A Beautiful Thing

August 21st, 2024

One building is nothing special, just an ordinary, rather small wood frame building. It’s not incredibly ornate. There’s a gravel drive and gravel parking lot, that most days has maybe one or two cars in it. In fact, it’s the kind of building that people could easily pass without noticing. But, inside it is absolutely beautiful.

Another building is quite large. It has a paved entrance and large paved parking lot and well-manicured landscaping. The building itself, though, looks like many large facilities. It seems cold, sterile, plain, and, other than its size, unimpressive. It is the kind of building that looks so much like others in the area, that is blends in with its surroundings. But, inside something amazing is happening.

Inside these two seemingly different buildings, these two local churches, beautiful and amazing things happen. At certain times and on certain days, very ordinary people gather here. They come from various places with various backgrounds and experiences. They enter those doors carrying with them a week’s worth of ups and downs, wins and losses, joys and sorrows. The gather together and participate in something beautiful.

Inside these buildings, whether the number of people who gather are ten or ten thousand, we see children are taught about the One who created them on purpose and for a purpose. They are taught about the love that this God has for them. They are taught the stories of God’s interactions with humanity. They are taught about his one and only Son, the one who loved enough to go to the cross. They are taught to sing, to pray, to love, and to serve in response to that love. They are encouraged and supported and prayed for as they continue to grow and become the people they were created to be. It is a beautiful thing.

Inside these buildings there are teens who are facing the pressures associated with coming of age. They feel the pressure that comes with finding one’s place in the world. They are being pulled in various directions and told by many what values they should have. They are struggling with who they are and how they should fit in. Yet, they come. They come to pray together, study together, laugh together, cry together, and learn together. They come and find community and belonging. They come and reaffirm their identity in Christ. It is a beautiful thing.

Adults of all ages make their way inside these buildings. They come and find an oasis in the middle of the frantic pace and constant pressures of life. They come to find a place where they can breathe and be reminded of who they are, children of God who are dearly loved. They come seeking to learn, to be encouraged, direction and a word from God. They find here a place to belong, help from the Spirit, and love. It is a beautiful thing.

All these various age groups gather in these buildings and blend their voices in praise to the God who saved them through his Son. They join hearts and minds as through the Spirit they lift their thanksgiving, their petitions, their desires to the One who hears and can act on their behalf. They gather as the body around the table presided over by the One who gave it all for them. In that simple ritual, they are reminded of the good news of the Gospel. They are reminded of all that has been done to rescue them. They confess their belief in the love of God and their hope in the resurrection to come. They listen for a word from God from the Word of God. In it they find hope, determination, and strength to face the challenges that wait just outside those doors. They find opportunities to serve and to bring relief and hope to the world around them. It is a beautiful thing.

We live at a time where the local church is under attack somewhat. There is now, and has been for a while, a general mistrust of institutions, and the local church gets put in that category. There are those who have been genuinely hurt by actions and attitudes of someone (or more than one someone) in the local church. The stories of those incidents also feed that mistrust and make people cautious about being a part of that community.

Even for those of us that are a part of a local church, it is easy to find things that could be better. There’s the person who sings too loudly and off key. There’s the guy who prays too long, those who don’t dress up enough or dress up too much. It’s too hot or too cold in the auditorium or some inconsiderate visitors had the nerve to sit in our seats. We can always find something.

What if, instead of letting these things dominate our thinking, we looked for the beauty that we find there? What if, instead, we focused on the exuberant, heartfelt praise to our King, the words of thanksgiving and hope we hear as we bring our prayers to God, the fact that people are finding a place to belong and are participating, and that all that are present are people who belong to Christ. It really is a beautiful thing.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV)
Two Little Words

March 28th, 2024
The final week of the life of Jesus here on earth began with the triumphant entry as Jesus made his way into the Holy City. The crowds were shouting his praises and spreading palm branches on the ground as the King made his way into the city. The week continued with Jesus cleansing the temple and then continuing to teach day by day about the coming Kingdom of God.

As the religious leaders continued to challenge his authority and looked for ways to discredit him, the tension intensified. Finally, it all came to a head as the Jewish leadership executed their plan to get rid of this troublemaking rabbi once and for all. It all seemed to be working in their favor. It was Passover and having such a large crowd in the city to witness him being convicted as a criminal and to get rid of him in one great act was too good an opportunity to pass up. They had one of his followers who agreed to lead the officers and soldiers to arrest him away from the plain view of those who thought well of him. The trials which were all rigged by the leadership that wanted Jesus gone went as planned. The Roman governor who wanted to keep peace could and would be willing to go along with the wishes of the Jewish leadership. The crowd was easily manipulated into calling for the release of a real criminal and for the crucifixion of Jesus.

It all seemed to go just the way they planned. By the end of the week, just prior to the Passover Sabbath, the body of Jesus was taken down from a Roman cross and laid in a nearby tomb. They had gotten what they wanted. But God…….. Those two little words make all the difference.

Weeks later in that same city, in a sermon likely addressing many of the same people who had been in Jerusalem during the crucifixion, Peter used those two little words. “Men of Israel, listen to this Jesus of Nazareth, was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” (Acts 2:22-24)

When we stop and think about it, it is amazing how powerful those two little words are. It is incredible how much hope, mercy, grace, and love can be packaged in just two little words: but God. It is a theme that we find over and over in Scripture.
- Adam and Eve choose to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and as a result are banished from Eden where God comes to dwell with them. But God makes a way for people to return to him.
- During the days of Noah, every thought of humanity was on evil continually so that every living thing was going to be destroyed. But God called Noah and saved him and his family.
- Israel was enslaved in Egypt with no hope and no way to free themselves. But God called Moses, executed plagues, led Israel out, parted the sea, and destroyed their enemies.
These two little words are incredibly important and the only thing that brings us hope.

Paul in writing to the church in Ephesus uses those same two little words. “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:1-6)

As we find ourselves reflecting on the final week of the life, and particularly focus on the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, let’s remember these two little words, “But God….” Let’s remember to thank him for all he has done and think of where each of us would be if not for what he has done for us.
The Big Issue

March 13th, 2024

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11)

‘Tis the season. As I sat in my office writing this article, there was a constant stream of people coming into the building to vote in this year’s primary elections. Thinking about our national elections brings to mind all kinds of issues that are constantly paraded in front of us, inviting us to get involved and to pick a side. As a matter of full disclosure, I am not against voting. I think it is important to let our voices be heard, and to take advantage of the opportunity to “have our say.” Also, as a matter of full disclosure, I don’t believe that which political party or issue wins is any surprise to God.

I do think that it is a good time to remember what is most important, and the call that we have as people of God. While various issues are important, and while the direction one political group may lead as opposed to another may be seen as more favorable to Christians than the other, these are not the most important things.

We see this in the life of Jesus. All throughout is ministry, people were constantly trying to pull him into the middle of one issue or another. The religious leaders quarreled with him over how to keep the Sabbath (John 5). A lawyer asked Jesus to weigh in on what should be considered the most important commandment (Luke 10). Two brothers wanted Jesus to arbitrate their inheritance (Luke 12). He was asked about whether or not it was good to pay taxes to Rome (Matthew 22). Over and over, people tried to draw him in to various controversies over various issues. And over and over, Jesus refused to get involved in the controversies, but pointed people to what was most important.

I think there is a great lesson here for us. Our focus is to be on joining God in his mission to reconcile people to himself because of what he has done in Jesus and not on issues. The reason is simple. Issues tend to divide people. Look around and see. It is everywhere. People are divided over all kinds of issues. They are at one another’s throat over the various issues of our time. Focus on these issues leads us to label and categorize other people, to dehumanize them and treat them as less than us because of our differences on various issues.

Unfortunately, this bleeds over into the church. People are looking for hope, for community, for real purpose in life, and for something that really makes a difference in the world. In short, they are looking for Jesus. They are looking for all that Jesus came to bring. It doesn’t take much imagination to think of what happens when someone is looking for Jesus and instead finds a group of people fixated on issues that are of far less importance.

Jesus wasn’t content to settle for a position of the issues of the day. Instead, he pointed to something bigger, something better. It’s not about whether or not a man could carry a bed on the Sabbath. It was about God’s care for people, that suffering could be relieved no matter the day of the week. It wasn’t about setting one law above another; it was about loving God with all we have which leads to loving people the way we should. Life is more important, people are more important than to fight over an inheritance. Life is far less about paying taxes to Rome and much more about living up to the image of God in which we were created.

The early church was faced with a litany of issues that threatened to stop the movement. In Acts 6, there was a complaint that the Grecian widows were being neglected. In Acts 15 a council convened to come to a solution as to how to deal with the Gentile converts. Paul wrote to various churches with various issues that had the potential to do real damage to the spread of Christianity and the mission of God. In each of these cases, the apostles took their cue from Jesus. People were more important than one’s personal view on a particular issue. Attention to the mission of God is the big issue.

My prayer is that during this particular season when all kinds of people are trying to draw us into all kinds of issues that we remember what is most important. The good news of the Gospel of Jesus is that we can have hope, a future, and a place of belonging. We have been called to partner with God in his work of reconciliation, to carry the news of what he has done because of his great love. And that we continue to prioritize that mission as we carry the Gospel to people for whom Christ died, regardless of their position on any particular issue.
An Unstoppable Force

February 8th, 2024

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV)

It is sometimes easy to get discouraged by the things that are going on in the world around us. It seems as if there is trouble on every side. We hear of injustice, violence, and/or abuse to the point that we may think that evil is winning. We read about the decline in church attendance and religious adherence and wonder what the future may hold. We wonder what kind of world we are leaving for our children and grandchildren.

I wonder if the early Christians felt this way. Think of these people we read of in Scripture. In Acts 1, there are about 120 believers (Acts 1:15). This group faced enormous challenges as they work to carry the message of the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the world around them. They were marginalized, threatened, beaten, ostracized, and killed. From their perspective as at a major disadvantage and pressure from every direction, it must have seemed that evil would overwhelm them.

Sometimes I am surprised by their determination. Aren’t you? Sometimes I wonder if, when faced with the things they were faced with, I would have given up.

But then we remember that this God that we encounter in the book of Acts….this God whose purposes will not be defeated….this God is the same God that we can see all through Scripture.

This God is the same God who spoke this world into existence.

This God is the same God who, when rejected by humanity, made a way for humanity to have a relationship with him.

This God is the same God who saw the evil of the world and decided to cleanse the earth, called Noah. And through Noah’s faithful obedience humanity got another opportunity.

This God is the same God who called Abram out of the Ur of the Chaldees and promised him a great name, descendants, land, and that he would be a blessing to all the nations. Abraham followed and learned to be faithful and obedient.

This God is the same God who gave a son to Abraham and Sarah when they were 100 and 90 respectively. Who gave Isaac to them when they were, as the Hebrews writer said, were as good as dead. God is faithful.

This God is the same God who after 400 years of Israelite slavery in Egypt delivered them from the most powerful nation on the earth at the time.

This God is the same God who when Israel was between the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army made a way when there seemed to be no way, and Israel crossed on dry ground. This is the God who told Moses, “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” This is the God of whom Moses spoke when he told Israel, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

This God is the same God who led Israel, fed Israel, clothed Israel, appeared to Israel at Sinai and gave instructions so that he could live among Israel in the Tabernacle.

This God is the same God who drove out the Canaanites and gave the Promised Land to the descendants of Abraham.

This God is the same God who was faithful to every one of his covenant promises, even when his people were not.

This God is the same God who, after the period of the exile, made a way for a remnant of Israel to return to the land he promised.

This God is the same God who, when the time was right, sent his own Son who came as an infant to a poor Jewish girl and her intended groom. And when the king wanted to stop this movement of God, Jesus was spared because of the obedience of those who had faith in this God.

This God is the same God for whom the cross would not stop the movement; the same God who raised Jesus from the dead, defeating the enemy that faces all of humanity.

This God is the same God that we have seen empower his people throughout the book of Acts so that the message of the Kingdom of God, the movement of the Kingdom of God would not be stopped.

This God is the same God who invites you and me – incredibly flawed individuals- to partner with Him in this movementthat cannot be stopped. So, when we face doubts and uncertainty, intimidation, distraction, persecution, rejection, bickering, frustration, other religions, or anything else, this God – this God that we read about in the book of Acts and all throughout Scripture – our God who sees us as worthy of his own Son – this God who dwells in each of us as baptized believers – this God is with us. What he asks of us is that we love him, that we trust him, that we are obedient to him and that we partner with him in this movement to change the world.

We have been called to be part of an unstoppable movement. This movement continues and God wants us to take part in it with him. He empowers us, walks with us, and has promised that he will never leave us. He lives in us, and his purposes will be accomplished. His word will not return to him without accomplishing his purpose.
Good News and Bad News

February 2nd, 2024

“I’ve got good news and bad news.” We have likely heard these words before or at least some derivation of them, followed by the question, “Which one do you want first?” Statistics suggest that the majority of people want the bad news first. It makes sense. Hearing bad news followed by good news tends to relieve worry and elevate our mood. However, hearing good news followed by bad news tends to provide motivation for change in behavior.

That being the case, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want first? Just kidding. Here’s the good news. God who created us in his own image and breathed into us the breath of life loves us and desires a relationship with us. Even when we have turned our back on him, ignored him, and failed miserably to live up to the image in which he created us, he still wants us. He wants us so badly that he has worked to call us back into a relationship with him ever since the fall in Genesis chapter three.

He has pursued us, called to us, pleaded with us, and given everything so that we could be with him and him with us. He sent his only Son to reveal his great love for us. Jesus came and ministered, healed, fed, called, and gave himself for us. We see this throughout Scripture, and we hear it plainly from Jesus himself. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

This is great news, and there’s even more. God loves us first. While we were ignoring him, living to suit ourselves, damaging ourselves and those around us, even while we were actively opposed to him, he loves us. He calls to us, comes to us, and loves us though we have done nothing to earn that love. This is how Paul describes this good news in Romans 5. 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. (Romans 5:6-10) Good news indeed.

Now, the bad news. Although God loves us and has pursued us and meets us where we are, he does not want us to stay in that condition. We will have to change, and change is often uncomfortable or even downright painful. Jesus describes it this way: And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:34-35)

That language of carrying a cross, losing our lives for his sake, sounds difficult and painful. We will have to change and rid ourselves of old sinful habits. Jesus compares ridding ourselves of the things that cause us to sin in terms of cutting off hands and plucking out eyes (Matthew 5:29-30). Sounds difficult and painful.

Following him means we will have to look at the world differently, look at people differently, react to the things that happen in our world differently. We will have to put our trust in him instead of all the other things in which we previously placed our trust: power, wealth, possessions, our own standard of moral goodness, etc. We will have to vacate the throne as rulers of our own lives and determining our direction. Instead of responding to the things in the world using the same methods of the world, we will have to see things through the lens and lordship of our new King. Instead of seeking revenge, we forgive as we have been forgiven. Instead of looking only to our own needs, we are to be people of compassion and kindness. Instead of seeing people who are different from us (religiously, politically, racially, economically, etc.) as enemies, we love the way we see Jesus love.

This will be uncomfortable as we cultivate new habits and are continually transformed into the image of our King. It may seem impossible. We may get discouraged as we try and fail. We may wonder if it is worth it.

More good news. God does not expect us to do this on our own, or to be perfect in this new way of life. Since God has pursued and loved and given so much so that we can have a relationship with him, he wants us to succeed. God has given us His Spirit to be with us and in us. One of the benefits of surrendering to the love of God is the gift of his presence. At baptism our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who continues his work in remaking us in the image of our Lord and King.

He has also given us one another, a community and family of people who are making this journey together. In this new family of God we give and receive encouragement, strength, and real relationship.

The good news is that God loves us. He wants to be with us. He has done all the heavy lifting so that we can be with him. All that he asks of us is that we respond to his love. As we do that and continue to be the people he has called us to be, he is there to love, encourage, and forgive.