Shaped By Grace Blog

The Uniqueness of the Gospel (Galatians 1:1-10)

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the opening of Galatians is Paul’s tone, and the frame of mind that lies behind it. He is surprised. And he also seems angry. His language, almost from the outset, is remarkably strong. Where normally Paul’s letters move on, after his greeting, to a thanksgiving for those he’s writing to, here he simply says, “I am astonished…(verse 6a). What has made Paul so emotional?

Desertion

First, Paul is astonished because these young Christians are taking hold of a “gospel” that isn’t really a gospel (v7), so they are in enormous danger. They are in confusion (7b).

Second, he is directly angry at the ones who are misleading the converts of the church – those who are “trying to pervert the gospel” (v7b). He calls down condemnation on them (v9). More indirectly, he is also angry at the Galatian Christians themselves, warning them that they are deserting the God who called them (v6b) – a serious charge!

We’ll see as we walk through Paul’s letter that what caused his opening outburst was a group of teachers who were teaching Gentile Christian converts that they were obliged to keep the Jewish cultural customs of the Mosaic Law – the dietary laws, circumcision and the rest of the ceremonial law in order to be truly pleasing to God. To the Galatians, this probably didn’t appear to be a radical difference from what they’d been taught. Surely the whole point of the Christian life is to be pleasing to God! But Paul says, “This is an absolute repudiation of all that I have been telling you.

He is not puling his punches! But if we believe what Paul believed about the gospel, then we will find his attitude justifiable. If the Galatians are really turning their backs on God and taking hold of a gospel that isn’t a gospel at all, then their condition is dangerous. The anxiety and anger that Paul expresses is the same that any loving parent or friend would experience if a child or companion was going seriously astray.

Paul’s Right to Speak

But who is Paul to write to these Christians in this way?

An “apostle” (v.1) – a man who has been sent with immediate divine authority. The Greek word apostolos means to be “sent”. Paul’s phrase “not from men nor by a man” drives home the uniqueness of the first apostles. Those who are called to ministry by the Holy Spirit today are not “from men” either – the ultimate cause of their ministry is Jesus’ call, and the ultimate authority for their ministry is Jesus’ word in the Bible. But they are appointed “by man”. (The Greek word here – dia – means “by” or “through”, as in our word “diameter”). This means that though ministers ultimately receive their call from God, they are called through the intermediaries of other human ministers, or through the election of a congregation, and so on.

Paul is claiming something more than this for himself. He is saying that he did not receive his apostolic commission through anyone else at all. No other apostles commissioned him. He was commissioned and taught directly by the risen Jesus Himself (see Acts 9:1-19).

Second, in verses 8-9, Paul says he was sent with a particular divine message – the gospel. This means his divine teaching is the standard for judging who is orthodox and who is heretical, as he says in verse 9, “if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” Even an apostle cannot alter, revise or add to the message of Christ. What he says is not the result of his study, research, reflection and wisdom. It is God-given, and both unchanging and unchangeable.

We might wonder: are there any more apostles today? Not in the full way of Paul and the Twelve. In the early church, others were called “apostles of the churches” (for example 2 Corinthians 9:3). Barnabas was “sent” to Antioch, and in that sense was an “apostle” (Acts 11:22, and see also Acts 14:14). However, while they were sent out as missionaries, they were commissioned by the other, original apostles or by the churches – “by man”. Barnabas never met the risen Christ; he was never taught and tutored in the gospel by the bodily-present Christ, as Paul and the Twelve were. So we can call people who have unusual leadership gifts, then and now, “small-a” apostles. But Paul is a “capital-A” Apostle, commissioned directly by Jesus. The “capital-A” Apostles had, and have, absolute authority. What they write in Scripture.

What is the Gospel?

And so this divinely appointed Apostle reminds the Galatian Christians of his particular divine message – the gospel. In his opening, he gives them a quick, yet pretty comprehensive, outline of the gospel message:

Who we are: Helpless and lost. That is what the word “rescue” implies in verse 4. Other founders of religions came to teach, not to rescue. Jesus was a great teacher, but when Paul gives us this nutshell version of Jesus’ ministry, he makes no mention of that at all. The average person on the street believes that a Christian is someone who follows Christ’s teaching and example. But Paul implies that’s impossible. After all, you don’t rescue people unless they are in a lost state and a helpless condition! Imagine you see a drowning woman. It doesn’t help her at all if you throw her a manual on how to swim. You don’t throw her some teaching – you throw her a rope. And Jesus is not so much a teacher as He is a rescuer. Because that’s what we most need. Nothing in who we are or what we do saves us. This is what theologians call “spiritual inability.”

What Jesus did: How did Jesus rescue us? He “gave himself for our sins” (v. 4a). He made a sacrifice which was substitutionary in nature. The word “for” means “on behalf of” or “in place of.” Substitution is why the gospel is so revolutionary. Christ’s death was not just a general sacrifice, but a substitionary one. He did not merely buy us a “second chance”, giving us another opportunity to get life right and stay right with God. He did all we needed paid for our sins on behalf, we can never fall back in condemnation. Why? Because God would then be getting two payments for the same sin, which is unjust! Jesus did all we should have done, in our place, so when He becomes our Savior, we are absolutely free from penalty or condemnation.

What the Father did: God accepted the work of Christ on our behalf by raising Him “from the dead” (v.1) and by giving us the “grace and peace” (v3) that Christ won and achieved for us.

Why God did it: This was all done out of grace – not because of anything we have done, but “according to the will of our God and Father” (4d). We did not ask for rescue, but God in His grace planned what we didn’t realize we needed, and Christ by His grace (v.6) came to achieve the rescue we could never have achieved ourselves.

There is no indication of any other motivation or cause for Christ’s mission except the will of God. There is nothing in us which merits it. Salvation is sheer grace.

That is why the only one who gets “glory for ever” is God alone (v.5). If we contributed to our rescue…if we had rescued ourselves…or if God had seen something deserving of rescue, or useful for His plan, in us…or even if we had simply called out for rescue based on our own reasoning and understanding…then we could pat ourselves on the back for the part we played in saving ourselves.

But the biblical gospel – Paul’s gospel – is clear that salvation, from first to last, is God’s doing. It is His calling; His plan; His action; His work. And so it is He who deserves all the glory, for all time.

This is the humbling truth that lies at the heart of Christianity. We love to be our own saviors. Our hearts love to manufacture glory for themselves. So we find messages of self-salvation extremely attractive, whether they are religious (keep these rules and you earn eternal blessing) or secular (grab hold of these things and you’ll experience blessing now). The gospel comes and turns them all upside down. It says: You are in such a hopeless position that you need a rescue that has nothing to do with you at all. And then it says: God in Jesus provides a rescue which gives you far more than any false salvation your heart may love to chase.

Paul reminds us that in the gospel we are both brought lower and raised higher than we can imagine. And the glory for that, rightly, all goes to “our God and Father…for ever and ever. Amen (v.5).

Questions for Reflection

1. Paul’s tone reminds us that Christian faith is a matter of heart, as well as head – feelings, as well as intellect. How does this encourage you? How does it challenge you?
2. When do you find it hardest to accept the authority of apostolic New Testament teaching? Why?
3. How would you explain the gospel to someone who asked you today what you believe?

Gospel Revision – Gospel Reversal

The biblical gospel of grace is a precious thing. And it’s this glorious gospel that the Galatian churches’ leaders have been perverting, and that the Galatian church members have been deserting.

This matters because Paul says that any such change to the gospel means it becomes “no gospel at all” (v.7). Why is this? Why is it that any change to the gospel, however small, makes it null and void?

Because, Paul says, Christians were “called…by the grace of Christ” (v.6). God called us; we didn’t call Him. And God accepted us right away despite our lack of merit. That is the order of the gospel. God accepts us, and then we follow Him. But other religious systems have it the other way around. We must give God something, and then He accepts us. So in verse 7, Paul says that any teaching which adds keeping Mosaic ceremonial law to faith in Christ “perverts” the gospel. Literally, the word he chooses to use means “reverses.”

This is illuminating. If you add anything to Christ as a requirement for acceptance with God – if you start to say: To be saved I need the grace of Christ plus something else – you completely reverse the “order” of the gospel and make it null and void. Any revision of the gospel reverses it. That is why in verse 6 Paul says that the false teachers are producing a “different gospel”, which he quickly qualifies in verse 7 as “really no gospel at all.” Literally, Paul says: “another gospel, which is not another.”

This is crystal clear. Another gospel is not another gospel. It is no gospel. To change the gospel the tiniest bit is to lose it so completely that the new teaching has no right to be called a “gospel.” The sixteenth-century Reformer Martin Luther summed it up well:

“There is no middle ground between Christian righteousness and works-righteousness. There is no other alternative to Christian righteousness but works righteousness, if you do not build your confidence on the work of Christ you must build your confidence on your own work.”

Losing the Gospel Today

What Paul battled in his day, and Luther fought against in his, we witness in ours, too. Remember, Paul condemns any teaching that is not based on the fact that:

• We are too sinful to contribute to our salvation (we need a complete rescue).
• We are saved by belief in Jesus’ work – the “grace of Christ” – plus nothing else.

Here are three examples of current views that deny one or both of these two truths:

1. In some churches, it is implicitly or explicitly taught that you are saved through your surrender to Christ, plus right beliefs and behavior. This is a fairly typical mistake in evangelical churches. People are challenged to “give your life to Jesus” and/or to “ask Him into your life.” This sounds very biblical, but it still can reject the grace-first principal fairly easily. People think that we are saved by a strong belief and trust in and love for God, along with a life committed to Him. Therefore, they feel they must begin by generating a high degree of spiritual sorrow, hunger, and love in order to get Christ’s presence. Then they must somehow maintain this if they are going to “stay saved.” So functionally – that is, in actual reality – a church is teaching the idea that we are saved because of the level of our faith. But the gospel says that we are saved through our faith. The first approach really makes our performance the savior, and the second makes Christ’s performance the Savior. It is not the level but the object of our faith that saves us.
2. In other churches, it is taught that it doesn’t really matter what you believe as long as you are loving and good person. This is a typical mistake in “liberal” churches. This view teaching that all good people, regardless of their religion (or lack of one), will find God. This sound extremely open-minded on the surface, but it is actually intolerant of grace, in two ways.

First, it teaches that good works are enough to get to God. If all good people can know God, then Jesus’ death was not necessary; all it takes is virtue. The trouble is, this means bad people have no hope, contradicting the gospel, which invites “both good and bad” to God’s feast (Matt. 22:10). If you say people are saved by being good, then only “the good” can come in to God’s feast. The gospel offer becomes exclusive, not inclusive.

Second, it encourages people to think that if they are tolerant and open, they are pleasing to God. They don’t need grace – they get eternal life for themselves. And so “glory for ever” (v.5) goes to them, for being good enough for heaven. The gospel, however challenges people to see their radical sin. Without that sense of one’s own evil, the knowledge of God’s grace will not be transforming, and we will not understand how much God is glorified by the presence of anyone at all in heaven.

• A third example is found in churches that are extremely intolerant of small differences of dress or custom. The false teachers of Galatia wanted (as we will see) to impose many old rules and regulations having to do with dress, diet and ritual observances. It is natural for us to associate them with highly regulated churches and religious communities which control their members very tightly and direct them into the “right” way to eat, dress, date, schedule their time, and so on. Or they may insist on a detailed observance of many complicated rituals. Modern-day examples of the Galatian church would be highly authoritarian churches or highly ritualized churches, highly legalistic churches. To my mind, these churches are the most obvious of the three examples we’ve looked at, and therefore less dangerous. The first and second are much more prevalent, and perilous.

Is our Gospel the True Gospel?

Since the one true gospel is so crucial, and so often and easily reversed, this awakens in us a troubling question: how can we ensure the gospel we believe is actually true? How do we know it is not merely a gospel that we feel is true, or are told is true, or think is true, or sounds to us as true – but a gospel that is true, objectively, and therefore can save, really and eternally?

Paul lays down, in the strongest possible language, a plumb line for judging all truth claims, whether external (from teachers, writers, thinkers, preachers) or internal (feelings, sensations, experience). That standard is the gospel that he (and all the other capital-A Apostles) received from Christ and taught, and which is found in this letter and throughout the rest of the Bible.

“If we…should preach a gospel other than the one…let him be eternally condemned” (v.8). Here is how to judge external authorities such as human teachers, or human institutional leaders, or even ordained officers in a church hierarchy.

It is remarkable that by saying “we”, Paul includes himself as a human authority. He is saying that he must be rejected if he ever says: I’ve changed my mind about what the gospel is. As he’ll tell us, the gospel did not come to him through a process of reasoning and reflection, it was received, not arrived at. So he is not free to alter it through reasoning and reflecting. In Galatians 2, Paul will tell us that his gospel was confirmed by others who had also gotten the message by revelation from the risen Christ. This apostolic consensus – this original Christ-given “gospel deposit” – is therefore the touchstone for judging all truth claims, from the outside and the inside.

This is very important. Paul is saying in verse 8 that even his apostolic authority derives the gospel’s authority, not the other way around. Paul is telling the Galatians to evaluate and judge both him as an apostle and his teaching with the biblical gospel. The Bible judges the church; the church does not judge the Bible. The Bible is the foundation for and the creator of the church; the church is not the foundation for or creator of the Bible. The church and its hierarchy must be evaluated by the believer with the biblical gospel as the touchstone or plumb line for judging all truth claims.

Nor is the final plumb line for truth our personal experience. We do not judge the Bible by our feelings or convictions; we judge our experiences by the Bible. That means that if an angel literally showed up before a crowd of people and taught that salvation was by good works (or anything except faith alone in Christ alone), you should literally kick the angel out (v. 8)! When Paul says, “If we or an angel…,” he gives a sweeping summary of proper Christian “epistemology” – how we know what is true.

Why it Matters

We noticed at the start of this article (episode) that Paul’s tone is uncompromising, to say the least! But that’s because the gospel is something we need to be uncompromising about. That’s because, first, a different gospel means you are deserting the one who called you (v.6). To abandon gospel theology is to abandon Christ personally. What you do in theology  eventually affects your experience. In other words, a difference in your understanding of doctrine leads to a difference in your understanding of who Jesus is – and means it’s questionable whether you really know Him at all.

Second, a different gospel is no gospel at all (v.6-7). This means that the gospel message, by its very nature, cannot be changed even slightly without being lost. It’s like a vacuum. You can’t allow in some air and say that it is now a “90 percent vacuum” or an “air-enriched vacuum.” It is either a complete vacuum or no vacuum at all! Equally, the message of the gospel is that you are saved by grace through Christ’s work and nothing else at all. As soon as you add anything to it, you have lost it entirely. The moment you revise it, you reverse it.

Third, a different gospel brings condemnation (v.8-9). Later in the book Paul says that different  “gospels” bring a curse with them. This means, ultimately, that to alter the gospel is to play with eternal life and death. But it also means very practically that fear, anxiety and guilt (the sense of condemnation and curse) will always be attached to different “gospels” even in this life. As we will see later in the book, even Christians sometimes experience a sense of condemnation. When they do, it is because, functionally, they are trusting in different “gospels”, different ways to earn salvation. The “present evil age” (v.4) can still influence believers.

Now we can see why Paul  adopts such intense and even severe language. The stakes are high – our knowledge of Christ, the truth of the gospel, and the enteral destiny of people’s souls. These are the things worth fighting for; worth speaking out over; worth reminding ourselves and others of over and over again. Paul’s bluntness is loving. He is a capital-A Apostle who loves the Lord, the Lord’s gospel, and the Lord’s people. If we love as he did, we’ll understand why he wrote as he did – and be grateful that he did.

Questions for Reflection

1. How important is gospel truth to you? How is this shown in your life?
2. Why will understanding the true gospel produce anger at false “gospels”?
3. Which of the three modern false-gospel dangers could you or your church mostly easily fall for?

When Jesus Arrives

Come Out of the Grave

The moment has come. Jesus stands before the tomb and says: “Take away the stone.” Martha hesitates. “Lord… by this time there is a bad odor…”

Translation: It’s too far gone.

But Jesus responds: “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Then He calls out: “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man walks. Still wrapped. Still bound. But alive. And Jesus says: “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” This is resurrection. Not just for Lazarus—but for all of us. Because Jesus still calls people out of graves. Graves of sin. Graves of shame. Graves of fear. Graves of hopelessness. And when He calls—you come alive.

When Jesus Arrives

Jesus Wept

Shortest verse. Deepest truth. “Jesus wept.” He knew what He was about to do. He knew resurrection was coming. And still—He wept. Why? Because Jesus is not distant from our pain. He enters it. He feels it. He shares it. This is not a detached Savior. This is a compassionate one. He doesn’t rush past grief to get to the miracle. He pauses. He mourns. He stands with those who are hurting. And that means this: You are never alone in your sorrow. Jesus doesn’t just fix brokenness. He sits with you in it.

When Jesus Arrives

When Grief Meets Jesus

Martha meets Jesus with both faith and frustration: “Lord, if you had been here…” Have you ever prayed something like that?

If You had shown up…
If You had answered…
If You had intervened…

Martha believes—but she’s hurting. And Jesus doesn’t rebuke her. He meets her. Then He makes one of the most powerful declarations in Scripture: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Not I will be. Not I can bring. But I am. Resurrection is not just an event. It is a person. Hope is not a concept. It is Jesus Himself. Even before Lazarus walks out of the tomb,
Jesus invites Martha into deeper faith. Not just belief in what He can do— but trust in who He is.

When Jesus Arrives

Walking without Fear

Jesus finally moves—but not toward safety. Toward danger. The disciples are confused:

“Rabbi, they were just trying to stone you…”

In other words:
Why go back there?

And Jesus responds with a powerful image:

“Are there not twelve hours of daylight?” In essence, He is saying: When you walk in the will of God, you walk in the light of God. Jesus is not reckless. He is resolved. He is not controlled by fear—He is guided by the Father. And that’s the difference. Fear asks: What might happen to me? Faith asks: What is God calling me to do?

Thomas—often remembered for doubt—actually shines here: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” It’s raw. It’s honest. But it’s also courageous.

Following Jesus doesn’t always lead to comfort. Sometimes it leads straight into uncertainty. But here’s the promise: When you walk in obedience, you are never walking alone.

When Jesus Arrives

When God Delays

Text: John 11:1–6
There is something deeply unsettling about this passage. “Lord, the one you love is sick.” And then… nothing. No urgency. No immediate response. No miracle on demand. Instead, John tells us something almost jarring:

“So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”

Jesus delays.

And not because He doesn’t care—but because He does. That’s the tension. We often interpret delay as absence. We assume silence means indifference. We conclude that if God loved us, He would act faster.

But this passage dismantles that assumption. Jesus’ delay is not neglect—it is intentional.

He says in verse 4: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory…”

What if the delay in your life is not denial—but design? What if Jesus is doing something deeper than what you can see? Mary and Martha wanted healing. Jesus planned resurrection. They wanted relief. Jesus was preparing revelation. And here’s the hard truth: Sometimes Jesus allows a situation to move beyond fixing…so that He can reveal something greater. We want a quick answer. Jesus wants a deeper transformation. We want the pain to stop. Jesus wants faith to grow. Delay does not mean Jesus is distant. It means He is working on a different timeline. And His timeline is always anchored in love—even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Living and Loving Like Jesus

Sent into the World

Scripture

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
— John 20:21

The Mission Continues

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and spoke these powerful words. “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” With that statement, Jesus entrusted His followers with a mission. The work He began would now continue through them. And that mission continues today.

Everyday Mission Fields

Many people imagine mission as something that happens far away. But the truth is that God places His people in everyday mission fields. Our homes. Our workplaces. Our communities. Our friendships. These are the places where we reflect the love of Christ. Every act of kindness. Every word of encouragement. Every moment of integrity. All of these point people toward the grace of God.

Living as Ambassadors of Christ

The apostle Paul later described believers as ambassadors for Christ.

An ambassador represents the values and message of the one who sent them. In the same way, followers of Jesus represent His kingdom wherever they go. When we live with love, humility, compassion, and faith, people begin to see the character of Christ through us.

Reflection Questions

1. Where has God placed you to influence others?
2. Who around you might need to experience the love of Christ?
3. How can your daily life reflect the mission of Jesus?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for inviting us to participate in your mission. Help us live faithfully wherever you have placed us. May our lives reflect your love and truth so that others may come to know you.

Amen.

Living and Loving Like Jesus

Surrendering to the Father

Scripture

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
— Luke 22:42

The Prayer of Surrender

In the quiet garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed one of the most profound prayers in Scripture. He knew the suffering that lay ahead. He knew the cross was coming. And yet His prayer revealed complete trust in the Father. “Not my will, but yours be done.” These words capture the essence of surrender.

Trusting God in Difficult Moments

Surrender does not mean pretending that life is easy. Jesus was honest about His anguish. But even in that moment of deep struggle, He trusted the Father’s plan. Following Jesus means learning to trust God in the same way. Sometimes God leads us through seasons we do not fully understand. Moments of uncertainty. Moments of difficulty. Moments when the path ahead seems unclear. In those moments, the prayer of Jesus becomes our prayer. “Your will be done.”

The Freedom of Surrender

At first, surrender may seem like loss. We release control. We let go of our plans. But in reality, surrender leads to freedom. When we trust God with our lives, we discover peace that does not depend on circumstances. We find assurance that the Father’s purposes are good. Jesus’ surrender in Gethsemane ultimately led to the resurrection. God’s plans are always greater than what we can see.

Reflection Questions

1. Is there an area of your life where God is inviting you to trust Him more deeply?
2. What does surrender to God look like in your current season?
3. How might the prayer of Jesus shape your own prayers?

Closing Prayer

Father,

Teach us to trust you the way Jesus trusted you. Help us surrender our plans, fears, and uncertainties into your hands. Strengthen our faith so we may walk in obedience and peace.

Amen.

Living and Loving Like Jesus

The Compassion of Jesus

Scripture

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
— Matthew 9:36

Seeing People the Way Jesus Saw Them

One of the most striking characteristics of Jesus in the Gospels is His compassion. Again and again we read the phrase: “He had compassion.” Jesus was not distant or indifferent toward human suffering. He was deeply moved by it. When He saw the crowds, He did not see a nuisance or an interruption. He saw people who were hurting. People searching for hope. People longing for guidance. Matthew describes them as “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” This imagery reflects a profound spiritual reality. Without God’s guidance, people wander through life searching for meaning, belonging, and peace. And Jesus responded with compassion.

Compassion That Moves Toward People

The compassion of Jesus was not passive. It always moved Him to action. When He saw the sick, He healed them. When He saw the hungry, He fed them. When He encountered the brokenhearted, He spoke words of hope. His compassion reached across social boundaries. He touched lepers. He forgave sinners. He welcomed outsiders. In a world often defined by exclusion, Jesus consistently moved toward those who were pushed aside.

The Power of Being Seen

Sometimes compassion begins with something very simple: noticing people. In our busy world, it is easy to overlook those around us. We pass people every day without truly seeing them. But Jesus noticed people. He noticed the blind man sitting by the roadside. He noticed the woman who had been suffering for twelve years. He noticed Zacchaeus in the tree. When people encountered Jesus, they experienced something powerful. They felt seen. They felt valued. They felt loved.

Compassion in Everyday Life

Living like Jesus means cultivating that same awareness. It means slowing down enough to see people. The coworker who seems unusually quiet. The neighbor who lives alone. The friend who seems discouraged. Compassion invites us to move toward others with kindness and empathy. Sometimes that means offering practical help. Other times it means simply listening. Either way, compassion reflects the heart of Christ.

Reflection Questions

1. Who around you might be feeling overlooked or discouraged?
2. How can you show compassion in a tangible way this week?
3. What would it mean to see people through the eyes of Jesus?

Closing Prayer

Lord,

Give us hearts that reflect your compassion. Help us see people the way you see them and respond with love. May our lives become channels of your grace to those who are hurting.

Amen.

Living and Loving Like Jesus

The Servant King

Scripture

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
— Mark 10:45

A Different Kind of King

Every culture has its own definition of greatness. In many places, greatness is measured by influence, wealth, or authority. Leaders rise to positions of prominence, and others serve them. Power flows downward from the top. But when Jesus came announcing the kingdom of God, He introduced a completely different vision of greatness. The King of heaven did not arrive surrounded by royal guards or seated on a throne of gold. Instead, He walked dusty roads with fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary people. He touched lepers. He spoke with outcasts. He spent time with children. And when His disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest, Jesus responded with words that turned their assumptions upside down. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” The King became a servant.

The Kingdom’s Definition of Greatness

Earlier in the same passage, Jesus explained to His disciples that the rulers of the Gentiles “lord it over” those under their authority. In other words, worldly leadership often centers on control and status. But Jesus said the kingdom of God operates differently. “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43). In God’s kingdom, greatness is measured not by how many people serve you—but by how many people you serve. Jesus did not merely teach this principle. He embodied it. His entire life was a demonstration of humble service.

The Basin and the Towel

One of the most powerful illustrations of this truth appears in John 13. On the night before the crucifixion, Jesus and His disciples gathered for the Passover meal. In that culture, washing the dust from someone’s feet was the job of a servant. Yet no servant was present that evening. The disciples likely noticed the basin and towel sitting nearby, but none of them stepped forward. Then something astonishing happened. Jesus stood up from the table, wrapped a towel around His waist, poured water into the basin, and began washing the disciples’ feet. The Creator of the universe knelt before His followers. One by one, He washed their feet. Imagine the silence in that room. The disciples must have been stunned. Even Peter initially resisted, saying, “You shall never wash my feet.” But Jesus insisted. Afterward, He explained the meaning of the moment. “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15). Jesus was showing them—and us—that leadership in the kingdom of God is expressed through humble service.

Service That Reflects the Heart of Christ

When we think about serving others, it is easy to imagine dramatic acts of sacrifice. But often, service looks much simpler. It happens in everyday moments. Helping someone who is struggling. Encouraging someone who feels discouraged. Offering practical help without being asked. Listening patiently when someone needs to talk. These acts may seem small, but they carry great significance. They reflect the heart of Christ. Jesus did not seek recognition for His service. He simply loved people in tangible ways.

A Quiet Example of Servant Leadership

A well-known Christian leader once shared a story about a janitor at a church he attended as a young man. Every Sunday morning, the janitor arrived before anyone else. He quietly prepared the building—cleaning floors, arranging chairs, and making sure everything was ready. Most people never noticed his work. One day someone asked him why he was so committed to a task that few people appreciated. The man smiled and said, “I’m not just cleaning a building. I’m preparing a place where people will meet with God.” His perspective transformed a simple task into an act of worship. That is the spirit of service Jesus invites us to embrace.

Serving Without Recognition

One of the challenges of serving others is that it often happens without recognition. There may be no applause. No public acknowledgment. But Jesus reminds us that the Father sees every act of love done in His name. Even the smallest gesture matters. In Matthew 25, Jesus describes how acts of kindness toward others are received as acts of kindness toward Him. When we serve someone who is hungry, lonely, or struggling, we are reflecting the love of Christ.

Becoming Servants Like Jesus

The life of Jesus invites us to rethink our priorities. Instead of asking, “How can I be recognized?” we begin asking, “How can I serve?” Instead of seeking status, we pursue humility. Instead of pursuing power, we pursue love. And when we serve others in the name of Christ, something remarkable happens. Our hearts begin to resemble His.

Reflection Questions

1. Where might God be inviting you to serve others this week?
2. Are there opportunities for quiet acts of service that often go unnoticed?
3. How might humility reshape the way you lead or influence others?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,

You showed us that greatness is found in humility and service. Help us lay aside pride and follow your example. Give us hearts that seek to lift others up and serve with joy.

May our lives reflect the humble love of Christ.

Amen.

Living and Loving Like Jesus

Love That Defines Us

Scripture

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
— John 13:34–35

The Defining Mark of a Disciple

If someone asked you how to recognize a follower of Jesus, how would you answer? Some might say it is belief in certain doctrines. Others might point to church attendance, prayer, or Bible study. All of those things are meaningful parts of the Christian life. But Jesus Himself gave a much simpler answer. The defining mark of His followers would be love.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gathered His disciples for what we now call the Last Supper. The atmosphere must have been heavy with emotion. Within hours, everything would change. Jesus knew the cross was coming. His disciples did not yet understand what lay ahead. In that moment, Jesus gave them a command that would shape the identity of the Christian community for generations to come. “Love one another.” But Jesus did not stop there. He added words that raised the standard far beyond ordinary kindness. “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This was not merely a suggestion. It was a command. And it was not a vague concept of love either. Jesus defined the measure of love by pointing to His own life.

Love as I have loved you.

The Love of Jesus

To understand this command, we have to consider how Jesus actually loved people. When we read the Gospels, we see that the love of Jesus consistently crossed boundaries. Jesus loved people others ignored. He spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well, even though cultural expectations said He should not. He welcomed children when others thought they were a distraction. He healed lepers who had been pushed outside the community. He ate meals with tax collectors and sinners who had been rejected by religious society. Over and over again, Jesus moved toward people who had been overlooked. His love was not selective. It was not based on who deserved it. It was generous, gracious, and deeply personal. But the greatest expression of His love was still to come. Later that same evening, Jesus would leave the upper room and walk toward the garden of Gethsemane. Within hours, He would be arrested, mocked, beaten, and crucified. And He willingly walked that path. Why? Because of love. As the apostle Paul would later write, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The love of Jesus is sacrificial love. It gives rather than demands. It forgives rather than retaliates. It seeks the good of others even at personal cost. This is the love Jesus calls His followers to reflect.

Love as the Evidence of Faith

Jesus said something remarkable in John 13:35. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Notice what He did not say. He did not say the world would recognize His followers by their theological knowledge. He did not say it would be their influence or religious activity. Instead, Jesus said the world would recognize His disciples by their love. Love is the evidence that Christ is truly shaping our lives. This kind of love is not always easy. It requires patience with difficult people. It requires forgiveness when we have been hurt. It requires humility when our pride wants to be right. But this love is also powerful. When Christians genuinely love one another, it becomes a living testimony to the presence of Christ in the world. The early church understood this well. Historians have noted that one of the things that astonished the Roman world about early Christians was the way they cared for one another and for the poor. Their love was visible. And people noticed.

A Story of Everyday Love

Years ago, a pastor shared a story about visiting a hospital late one evening. A member of his church had been seriously injured in an accident. When the pastor arrived at the hospital room, he discovered something unexpected. Several members of the church were already there. One person had brought food for the family. Another had been sitting quietly with the patient’s spouse for hours. Someone else had arranged childcare for the couple’s children. No one had asked them to do these things. There was no public recognition waiting for them. They simply showed up because someone in their community was hurting. The pastor later reflected on that moment and said, “That night I realized something. The world may not always listen to our sermons, but it notices our love.” That is exactly what Jesus meant. Love makes the gospel visible.

Living This Love Today

What does it look like to love like Jesus in everyday life? Often it begins with small, intentional actions. It may mean offering patience when someone is difficult. It may mean forgiving someone who has hurt you. It may mean showing kindness to someone who feels overlooked. Sometimes loving like Jesus means simply being present. Listening to someone who is struggling. Encouraging someone who feels discouraged. Serving someone who cannot repay the kindness. These moments may seem small, but they reflect the heart of Christ. The love of Jesus is not meant to remain an idea we admire. It is meant to become a way of life we practice.

Becoming People of Christlike Love

None of us loves perfectly. We all fall short of the love Jesus describes. But the good news of the gospel is that the same Jesus who commands us to love also transforms our hearts. As we walk with Him, pray, and remain rooted in His Word, the Spirit of God begins to shape our character. Gradually, we begin to reflect His patience. His kindness. His compassion. His grace. Over time, our lives begin to look more like His. And when that happens, something beautiful occurs. People begin to see Jesus in us.

Reflection Questions

1. Who in your life might need to experience the love of Christ today?
2. Is there someone you need to forgive or show grace toward?
3. What practical step can you take today to love someone the way Jesus has loved you?

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for loving us with a love that is patient, gracious, and sacrificial. Teach us to love others the way you have loved us. Help us extend grace where it is needed, offer kindness where there is hurt, and serve others with humility. May our lives reflect your love so clearly that others see you through us. Amen.

A New Season of Calling

There are moments in the life of faith when the path ahead becomes clear only after a season of quiet listening. For many believers, discernment unfolds not through dramatic signs but through prayer, reflection, and a growing sense that God is gently guiding the next step. Recently, I have experienced such a season of discernment as I sought the Lord’s direction for the next chapter of ministry.

Throughout Scripture, God’s people often find themselves standing at these crossroads. Abraham was called to leave familiar ground and walk toward a promise he could not yet see. The disciples were invited by Jesus to leave their nets and follow Him into a life that would transform both them and the world around them. Again and again, the story of faith reminds us that God leads His people forward—sometimes into places of uncertainty, but always into deeper trust.

Over the past several months, that sense of calling has come through prayerful reflection and conversations about what faithful service might look like in this season of life. In those quiet moments of seeking the Lord’s will, a consistent theme has emerged: the call to shepherd, to teach, and to walk alongside others as we grow together in Christ.

Pastoral ministry has never been about standing above others with all the answers. Rather, it is about walking together as fellow travelers in the way of Christ. The church is a community of disciples learning, day by day, what it means to love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. In this shared journey, pastors and congregations alike depend upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The New Testament reminds us that Christ Himself is the true shepherd of the church. Human leaders are simply stewards of that greater work. The Apostle Peter wrote, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care… not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2–3). These words capture the heart of pastoral calling: a ministry rooted in humility, service, and love for God’s people.

As this new season begins, the central hope is simple but profound—that Christ would be lifted high and that lives would be shaped by His transforming grace. The mission of the church has always been the same: to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to nurture disciples who grow in faith, and to serve the world with compassion and hope.

Every congregation carries a unique story of God’s faithfulness. Over the years, countless acts of prayer, generosity, perseverance, and love become part of the spiritual legacy of a church community. When we step into the life of a church, we step into that story—receiving what previous generations have faithfully built while seeking God’s direction for the future.

Yet the future of the church ultimately rests not in human plans but in God’s continuing work. The Apostle Paul reminds believers of this truth in Philippians 1:6:

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

This promise offers deep encouragement. The same God who called the church into being continues to sustain and guide it. Seasons change, leadership changes, circumstances change—but the mission of God remains constant.

The prayer moving forward is that this next chapter of ministry will be marked by several things:

• Faithful proclamation of Scripture, allowing God’s Word to shape hearts and lives.
• Deepening discipleship, helping believers grow in maturity and spiritual formation.
• Authentic Christian community, where people are known, loved, and supported in their faith.
• Compassionate outreach, reflecting the love of Christ to the surrounding community.

When these elements take root, the church becomes more than an institution—it becomes a living testimony to the grace of God at work among His people.

In many ways, ministry is simply the ongoing work of pointing people toward Jesus. In worship, we lift our eyes to Him. In Scripture, we hear His voice. In fellowship, we experience His love through one another. And in service to others, we embody His compassion in the world.

Wherever the Lord leads His church in the years ahead, the prayer remains that Christ will be at the center. When Jesus is truly the focus of our worship, our teaching, our fellowship, and our mission, the church becomes what it was always meant to be—a community shaped by grace and sent into the world with hope.

May we continue to seek the Lord together, trusting that the One who calls is faithful, and that His purposes are always greater than anything we could imagine.

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
—Matthew 28:20

Living Letters – A New Podcast

Introducing the Living Letters Podcast: Faith Written on Hearts

We are excited to announce the launch of our brand-new podcast, Living Letters—a space where the words of Scripture move beyond the page and into the heart of everyday life. Inspired by 2 Corinthians 3:3, this podcast reminds us that God’s Word is not only read but lived. Each episode will explore the teachings of Jesus and the living truth of the Bible in ways that inspire, challenge, and encourage.

At Living Letters, our hope is simple: to discover together how the timeless words of Scripture continue to shape who we are and how we live. Whether you’re driving to work, walking through your neighborhood, or setting aside time with your Bible, we invite you to journey with us as we open God’s Word and find its relevance for today.

Why Living Letters?

It’s a story of faith, family, and formation—and it reminds us that God’s Word speaks into every stage of life, even the in-between seasons of waiting and growing.

The name comes from the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 3:3:

“You show that you are a letter from Christ… not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

That’s the heartbeat of this podcast. We want to see Scripture come alive—not just as something studied, but as something lived. Every believer is a living letter testifying to the truth of Christ.

Sneak Peek: Episode One – The Day the Teachers Listened

In this episode, we’ll explore:

Our very first episode takes us to a remarkable moment in Jesus’ life: the story of the boy Jesus in the temple (Luke 2:41–52). At just twelve years old, Jesus astounded the teachers of the law with His wisdom and understanding. Yet this passage is not simply about His brilliance—it’s about identity, calling, and the deep relationship between a Son and His Father.

• What this passage teaches us about Jesus’ awareness of His mission.
• How Mary and Joseph’s response reflects our own struggles to understand God’s work.
• What it means for us today to “be about the Father’s business.”

Join Us on the Journey

The Living Letters podcast is now available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major platforms. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode and share it with a friend who might need encouragement today.

We believe your life is more than ink on a page—it’s a Living Letter, written by the Spirit of God. Let’s read it together.

The Desire to Be Used by God

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:13

As we step into the fall season, there’s something refreshing about new beginnings. The air is crisp, the routines of summer give way to fresh rhythms, and many of us feel the pull to refocus our hearts. For followers of Jesus, this is an opportunity to once again lay our lives before Him and say, “Lord, here I am. Use me.”

At the center of that desire lies a beautiful truth: we are not left to our own strength or determination. Philippians 2:13 reminds us that God Himself is at work within us—shaping our will and empowering our actions so that His good purposes might be fulfilled through us. This means our longing to serve Him, to love others well, and to bring His light into our communities is not simply our idea—it’s His Spirit stirring within us.

Fall is more than just a change of season; it’s a reminder of God’s invitation to daily surrender. Just as the trees release their leaves, we are called to release our own plans, ambitions, and even fears, laying them at the feet of Jesus. In doing so, we make room for His purposes to flourish.

This new season is a chance to ask: How does God want to use me right where I am? Maybe it’s encouraging a neighbor, serving at church, mentoring someone younger in the faith, or simply being a steady presence of Christ’s love in your workplace. Whatever it looks like, our willingness to be used is matched by His promise to empower.

So, as we begin this fall, let us set aside time to pray:
“Lord Jesus, shape my heart. Stir my desires. Use me for Your glory. Let my life be a vessel of Your love in my community.”

When we surrender to God’s will, we discover the joy of being part of His story—a story that transforms us and blesses those around us. This fall, may our hearts echo the simple but powerful prayer: “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”

The Character of a Disciple – Week #12: Discerning His Voice

Bible Reading: John 14:16-17; John 18:37-38; Matthew 4:19

Discerning God and his voice come from being aligned with our Heavenly Father. For most, spiritual discernment is a mystery because they lack understanding of what Jesus promised his disciples (and us as followers today) when he left this earth.

John 14, verses 16-17 says,

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.

Disciples, followers of Christ, are called to make other disciples. We can only accomplish this with help from the Holy Spirit. It is important to note that when we make our faith decisions, we are invited into the triune relationship of God the Father and God the Son by the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit speaks only the truth. Living every day aligned with Jesus brings about knowing his voice and learning his ways, the same as being raised by our parents, except the Holy Spirit will be with us forever (John 14:17).

The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Bible as well. The Bible is God’s revelation of himself that we may know him and his purposes. Living with our family, we understand their moods, mannerisms, and motives because we are accustomed to them daily. The same is true of God. We will see the why of the gospel and God’s promises as we study his Word. We begin to recognize the voice of God and its prompting because of the Holy Spirit. I have a pastor friend that calls this a nudge from God.

God is nudging, who will you disciple?

REFLECTION

• How do you feel you are doing with listening to and discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit? Write down your answer with specific examples.
• What do you think God is nudging you to do today? What might stop you from being obedient?

PRAYER

Father, teach me to hear only your voice. Help me to filter out all others. Give me the courage to be obedient to your nudges. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #11: Fruitfulness

Scripture Reading: John 15; Galatians 5:22-23

In the opening scene of the creation account in Genesis 1, we find that to be fruitful is the very first command that God gives to those who have been created in God’s image and likeness: Adam and Eve. Genesis 1:28 says, “God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth…”

This Hebrew word describes an abundant increase, abounding production, and multiplication. God not only commanded humanity’s first couple to be fruitful and multiply, but he also commanded Noah and his sons to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth (Gen. 9:1, 7). The Lord gave this same command to every creature on land, under the sea, and in the air (Gen. 1:22). This command appears to be God’s original intention for all of his creation.

As the one through whom everything was created sits among his disciples in the waning hours before his arrest, Jesus instructs his students on how to be fruitful in the days ahead after he is no longer with them in person.

I would encourage you to use the following descriptions and categories of fruit and their references in Scripture as you launch into understanding your task as a disciple of Jesus.

• Fruit in Our Character – Galatians 5:22-23; Philippians 1:11
• Fruit of Our Words of Praise & Thanksgiving – Hebrews 13:15
• Fruit of the Gospel Transforming Lives – Romans 16:5; 1 Cor. 16:15; Col. 1:6
• Fruit of a Godly Life Trained by Discipline – Hebrews 12:11
• Fruit of God’s Kingdom Qualities – Matt. 21:43
• Fruit of Good & Righteous Deeds – Matt. 7:17; Rom. 7:4; 15:28; Col. 1:10; James 3:18
• Fruit in Making Other Disciples – John 15:8; Matt. 28:18-20

REFLECTION

• What daily routines do you (or should you) practice to keep you attached to the True Vine? How can you strengthen those practices?
• What kind of fruit are you bearing for the kingdom? Be honest.

PRAYER

Father, show me the areas of my life that could be more fruitful. Help me to cling to you and abide in you so I can produce the kind of fruit that will bring you glory! Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #10: Embodies a Lifestyle of Worship

Recently I came across a quote that really stopped me in my tracks. Do you ever have one of those days? A day in which you read something, and God allows it to expand your mind? It was not something new, but for some reason, on that day, it really impacted my life. This quote was the title that came from one of James K.A. Smith’s books. James simply said, “You are what you love.”

What do you mean I am what I love? Really? I am what I love? I literally stopped and gave myself an inventory. What do I love? During my quiet time, I wrote that question down, then I proceeded to write down all the things I love. It was amazing the things I wrote down that day.

Then something else came to the front. Jon, Who do you love? Lord, I love my wife, my son, my church, my friends, to name a few. It is a simple exercise.

Lord, I love [fill in the blank].

What appeared to be happening was a simple time to be reminded of the people I love. Thank you Lord for this time to remind me to put my priorities in place. Who do I love? Jesus, family, others. Yes, that’s it. Amen.

God was lifting out of my heart what and whom I love.

• How have I been conformed to this age?
• What needs to be changed?
• How am I devoted like the early disciples?
• How is my mind or my attitude like that of Christ Jesus?
• Am I presenting my body as a living sacrifice to the Lord?
• Is Your Word dwelling in me?
• Do I sing with gratitude?
• Do I sing?
• Am I worshiping in spirit and in truth?
• Am I loving those around me?

A disciple embodies a lifestyle of worship.

REFLECTION

• Answer the questions in the list from this post.
• Spend some time thinking about who and what you love. How does your love list line up with Christ’s commands?

PRAYER

Father, teach me how to prioritize who and what my heart should be holding as important. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #9: Living in Holiness & Purity

Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:1; Hebrews 12:4; 1 Peter 1:13-21; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Purity and holiness are two words that evoke a powerful image in the life of a disciple. Volumes of books have been written about these two topics throughout the ages as man has tried to express the vastness of these two important subjects. To be clear, I don’t intend to even scratch the surface or say something that hasn’t already been said. Instead, I intend to remind us of the role that purity and holiness play in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ.

The writer of Hebrews poses this question in 12:4, “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood?”

This question challenges our devotion, purity, and call to holiness. It is a challenge from the one who calls us to live a blameless life (Psalm 119:1). It’s a sobering question and a question that revolves around the purity we must fight for in our lives.

If we were to answer the question posed by the writer of Hebrews, there are not many who could respond with a resounding yes. If we are honest with ourselves, there are many who have not resisted sin to the point of inconvenience, let alone to the point of shedding one’s blood. To put this into some perspective: If someone were to break into my house and try to hurt or harm my wife or son in any way, I would literally fight to the death to make sure that my family was protected and safe. I wouldn’t just fight and be ok to shed my blood; I would fight with every ounce of strength within me, even if it meant that I would lose my life while trying to do so. You would do the same as well. That is the type of fight that we must exhibit when fighting for purity in our lives. It is what Christ calls us to.

So how do we fix this? How do we get back to a life of purity and holiness before a perfect God? The task seems impossible. With every sick and depraved thing the fallen human mind can come up with accessible within the palm of our hands, how will we overcome? How do we overcome when the enemy is gaining ground in our world, nation, schools, churches, homes, and even in our hearts and minds?

The first part of the solution to this purity problem is remembering God’s holiness. The second part of the solution is that we must remember that the blood of Jesus has purchased us. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.”

REFLECTION

• How do you define the word holy? What do you need to change in your life to move toward holiness?
• In what areas of your life do you struggle with purity?

PRAYER

Father, show me your holiness. Teach me to submit my life to you and to obey your commands. Give me the desire and courage to live a life that seeks your holiness. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #8: Secure & Free

Scripture Reading: Psalm 139; Isaiah 61: 1; Luke 4:18-19; 9:23-25

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!” (John 8:36). Do you believe that? What does that mean to you? Let’s take a deep dive into what the Bible says about the freedom that we can count on as believers in Christ.

What does it mean to be free…really free? Our idea in America is that freedom means we can live how we want, get what we want, be the author of our own life. What if freedom doesn’t mean that at all? What if freedom starts with death? Death and surrender? That doesn’t sound very freeing does it? Let me explain.

When Jesus left heaven and became a man, he did so freely. He chose to make his appearance on earth. And his primary ministry was focused on the oppressed and the downtrodden. While teaching in his hometown of Nazareth, we read in Luke 4:18-19, that Jesus quoted the Scripture found in Isaiah 61:1.

Now, imagine the way Jesus’ followers felt when they heard him say, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” (Luke 9:23-25). Whoa! How does this kind of rhetoric indicate freedom? If we are to truly follow Jesus, we must give up ourselves and the way that seems right to us. Let’s go a step further in this idea of taking up our crosses.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

In order to be Christ’s representatives on this earth, we need to become more like him, rather than perpetuating our sinful selves. Dying to self does not mean that we cease being who we are. Rather, dying to self means that we surrender to God’s will and desires for our lives. We put away the “me” that the world says we should be, and we become who God intended us to be when he created us. And, in that, we can be free to be a blessing to those he puts in our paths. Instead of being bound by our sinful selves, our choice to daily die to, and surrender, our whole selves to Christ positions us to bear fruit with our lives. But be sure that God does not expect us to lose ourselves. Let me get personal with you for a moment. God loves you. Extravagantly! He desires to be with you and to have relationship with you. He says you are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and that you are uniquely suited for the purposes for which he created you. If you have difficulty believing these things, spend some days (or weeks if necessary) in Psalm 139. Let God’s truth about you wash over your soul and convince you that his words are true. When you die to self, you do not lose that uniqueness. You are not assimilated into the larger whole at the expense of your soul. You actually become the very best version of yourself that you were created to be. You are transformed into the likeness and image of Christ!

REFLECTION

• Do you consider yourself to be free in Christ? Why do you answer the way you do?
• After today’s reading, what part of self is God calling you to die to? How will you go about making sure that happens?

PRAYER

Father, please give me the courage to die to self, daily. Show me how to take up my cross daily so I can walk in intimate relationship with you. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #7: Justification

Scripture Reading: Romans 3:21-24, 27; Romans 8:33-34, Ephesians 2:8-10

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL DOCTRINE OF JUSTIFICATION?

A good starting point to understand this doctrine is to consider Romans 8:33-34, “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn?”

Note how this verse contrasts the words “justifies” and “condemn.” To condemn someone is to declare a person guilty. The opposite of condemnation is justification, which means to declare someone not guilty.

“Justification” is technically a legal term, taken from the Roman court system of that day. To picture this, think of God (The Judge of all the earth) dropping a gavel and saying, “I declare you not guilty.” But you say, “How can God declare me not guilty when I am guilty?” Answer: because God has directed his condemnation toward another. Jesus took the condemnation we deserved so we could receive his justification. It is like the marriage declaration, “I pronounce you husband and wife.” You are the same person you were minutes before, but your legal status has changed. You were legally single, now you are legally married, because of a legal declaration.

WHERE DOES THE BIBLE TEACH JUSTIFICATION?

Jesus gives us a window into this truth in his “Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector” (Luke 18:9-14).

You will notice three characteristics of the person God justifies (declares not guilty).

1. God justifies “ungodly” people, not church attenders, Bible readers, or tithers, but people like the tax collector in Jesus’ parable who acknowledge their ungodliness.
2. God justifies “the one who does not work.” Salvation, in the New Testament, is “not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:9).
3. God justifies those who “believe,” and who exercise “faith.” In other words, you put your faith, belief, or trust not in your righteousness, but in Christ’s righteousness.

REFLECTION

• In your own words, what is the difference between justification and sanctification?
• What do you think it means to have the righteousness of Christ?

PRAYER

Father, help me to continually seek a life embodied by the righteousness of Christ. Teach me to trust you with all I am. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #6: Adoption

Reading: Romans 8; Galatians 4; Ephesians 2

GOD INSPIRED LOVE

Paul writes in Romans 8:

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Paul writes this in Galatians 4:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” so you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

PART OF THE FAMILY

Paul emphasizes several recurring concepts: the Spirit, adoption as sons, and Abba! Father!. The Holy Spirit and the Father, along with the Lord Jesus Christ who paid the price, each have an important role in our adoption. We are placed into Christ and therefore into the Trinity. Adoption establishes our new identity as one who is part of the family – loved and accepted. Not only accepted but given the privileged position as heirs. We who were once slaves to sin are now heirs of the King. Many Christians find this difficult to believe and therefore struggle to live their lives in line with this new reality. According to God, we are adopted heirs, but still, we often think of ourselves as orphans and strangers.

R.C Sproul said:

Nobody is born into this world a child of the family of God. We are born as children of wrath. The only way we enter into the family of God is by adoption, and that adoption occurs when we are united to God’s only begotten Son by faith. When by faith we are united with Christ, we are then adopted into that family of whom Christ is the firstborn.

Understanding our adoption as heirs in Christ leads us to embrace God’s love and grace. Grace alone saves us and sanctifies us. As Paul makes abundantly clear in Ephesians 2, the human paradigm never earns us a relationship with god. We are saved by grace through faith. Not works. With that clearly, in mind, we can now live in light of our true identity in Christ, and our efforts to serve him are no longer attempts to earn his love, but simply ways of saying, “God, are you really that good?”

Adopted as sons. Heirs to the King. Welcome to the family!

REFLECTION

• What does it mean to you that you are an adopted child of God?
• How does (or should) that change the way you respond to God?

PRAYER

Abba, Father, help me to believe that you really did choose me to be your child. Show me how to be a productive member of this family. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #5: Significant in Christ

Reading: 1 Corinthians 12; James 4:13-17

PERFORMANCE

The world teaches us that what we do is where we find our value. As we grow up we are taught how well we perform academically will determine the course of our lives – what college we are accepted to and, ultimately, what job we have. We are told to be athletic, to be a leader. Oh, and don’t forget to learn art or music so you’re a well-rounded individual with a stellar resume, making yourself more marketable as a candidate for that job you’ve always wanted. As if all of these titles and accomplishments are who we are.

Too often that leads to our identity being rooted in the things that we do. How smart are you? How hard-working and efficient are you? How many plates can you spin at the same time without any of them toppling down to the ground? And if we’re not living up to the standards that the world has set, we feel insecure and unworthy because we have fallen short of these expectations.

PERFECTION

Always worrying about what others think of you, afraid of making a mistake, or being out of control. Do you believe you are what others have said about you your whole life? Maybe you grew up feeling worthless, never good enough, or unseen, or held to a standard you didn’t feel you could keep up with.

THE PROBLEM

Here’s the thing about finding our significance in our performance or our futile attempts at perfection…or anything other than Christ for that matter…we carry a load so heavy it makes our knees buckle; a burden that Jesus never intended us to carry. We are slowly crushed by the weight of trying to live up to a purpose we were never meant to fulfill. We get tired, angry, insecure, and lose our joy.

Tomorrow you could lose your job, be diagnosed with cancer, or get in a car crash. When all we focus on is what this world has to offer us we risk missing the resurrection life Christ intends for us. However, if we focus on him we will be granted much more than we could ever ask or imagine. Eternal rewards, yes, but also the joys of living a righteous life now. Your life will be marked by the fruit of the Spirit and you will be free to become all that God created you to be.

REFLECTION

Who are you….really?

What boxes have you put yourself in that draw you away from the you God created you to be?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me see me through your eyes. Give me the courage to really believe you when you show me the real me. Teach me to share my gifts with those you send my way.  

The Character of a Disciple – Week #4: Participants in New Creation

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5

THE OLD IS GONE

You must accept that reality, choose to change directions and discover the new creation that is not our reality. You see, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He will not force you to live in your new reality. He will simply continue to draw you toward Jesus.

What stops you from putting away your old self? What are the parts of the old you that you hold onto, thinking that’s just who you are? We will spend more time this week thinking about that question.

THE NEW HAS COME

We become transmitters of beauty, truth, and goodness in the world around us.” We learn to love God in the way he desires, and we learn to love people, through Christ, as he transforms us into his likeness.

GOD’S HEART

Part of the new life is developing a deepening relationship with Jesus and other believers. This is where discipleship comes in. Those who are mature in the faith walk with those who are new to the faith, and we learn from each other how to walk with Christ in a life-transforming way.

As we see in the Gospels, the disciples who walked with Jesus made a gradual turn toward life with Christ. They began with a choice when Jesus said, “Follow me.” That’s step one in the journey toward living the new life in Christ. Time for you to move into your do-over!

REFLECTION

How are you taking advantage of your do-over as a Christ follower?

What are some of the old ways you need to put away?

PRAYER

Father, change my desires to be your desires for my life. Help me to grow into the person you have created me to be. Amen.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #3: Participants in the Resurrection Life

Reading: Colossians 3:5,8-10;12-14;17

PARTICIPANTS AND RECIPIENTS

One of the sacred privileges of being a disciple of Jesus and a part of the Body of Christ is that we are participants in, and recipients of, the benefits of the gospel.

The apostle Paul wrote about the richness of this connection with other believers and used the word “koinonia” to describe this relationship.

1. “Koinonia” is fellowship or communion, with God or, more commonly, with fellow Christians.
2. So, what does this new resurrection life look like for you and me in our new “grace-sovereign country?” A complete and extreme makeover of our life from the inside out! I believe it means we now have a brand new calling, identity, and purpose.

BECOMING

Paul describes our new life in Christ as a “resurrection life.”

Through our new birth from above, we now have a new calling, identity, and purpose. Let me take a moment to clarify what I believe this involves.

CALLING

Our calling is to become aware of our identity from God’s perspective.

No less than three times throughout the New Testament, Paul refers to disciples of Jesus as “eikons” of Jesus.

The English word is usually translated as “image” or “likeness.”

REFLECTION

Where would you say your priorities lie?

How has your life changed since coming to know Christ? In other words, how would others know you have become a new creation?

PRAYER

Lord, thank you so much for your sacrifice that gives me the opportunity to become a new creation. Please help me to keep my eyes focused on you so my priorities will be straight.

The Character of a Disciple – Week #2: Participants in the Sufferings of Christ

Reading: James 1:2-4; Philippians 2 and 3

BECAUSE YOU KNOW

James gives a great word about trials.

James says something staggering to me in this verse “Because you know…”

James was telling them something they already knew. This was not something they had never heard before.

Takeaways:

• Because you know, you can have great joy in the trial.
• Because you know, the trial will test your faith but it births endurance.
• Because you know, when you run with endurance the reward is maturity.
• Because you know, when you run with endurance you will lack nothing.

As a follower of Jesus, we will face all the same things he faced, and that will include sufferings or trials of all kinds.

MIND OF CHRIST

We have to adopt the same mindset as Christ. When we adopt his mindset, we will see the suffering, the trials, and the storms from a different perspective. We have a tendency to ask God, “Why?” The better question is, “What’s next?”

• Will you serve God when life turns tragic?
• Will you serve God when you have to stand alone?
• Will you serve God when God is silent?

I know those are tough questions. Suffering is part of our journey until we finally make it home.

Let me leave you with three words:

Because you know…

REFLECTION

In what areas of your life do you need to be more intimate with God?

How are you experiencing joy in the midst of the sufferings of life?

PRAYER

Lord, help me to stay focused on you, even when life gets tough. Thank you for making a way for me to know you! Amen

The Character of a Disciple – Week #1: Image Bearers

Reading: 1 Peter 1

DISCIPLESHIP IMPERATIVES

Peter gives us five imperatives in this section that we would be wise to disciple people toward:

1. Prepare your minds for action – study – be smarter than the enemy.
2. Be self-controlled – take your thoughts captive – choose to believe the truth God set before you.
3. Set your hope on the coming of Christ (The Hope).
4. Do not conform to evil desires (you do have a choice).
5. Be holy – set apart.

These are questions we can use to help those we are discipling to move closer to the narrative God has written for their lives.

Who is God?

How is he different from what I have thought?

What is his true nature?

In light of who God is, how shall I spend my days and resources?

Do my insides match my outside?

How can knowing who God is inform each moment of my day, each choice I make?

When I lose sight of that knowledge, can his love and forgiveness free me from beating myself up, and help me see that tomorrow is as fresh as his mercies?

For this week, I have a short exercise I would like you to try.

1. Take a piece of paper or cardstock.
2. Draw a line down the center. Title one side: “Who You Say You Are”.
3. Begin by writing a letter to God telling him who he says he is (You are my Abba, Father. You are perfect in all your ways…).
4. The title for the other half should be: “Who You Say I Am.” Write a letter to yourself from God (You are dearly loved, my child…). This may take a bit of time, but let the truth of the Scriptures we have read inform your answers. You may even want to read on into 1 Peter 2.

REFLECTION

Journal your thoughts and feelings as you complete the above exercise.

PRAYER:          

Father, help me to really believe who you say I am. Teach me to hear only your voice, and to stop listening to the lies of the enemy.

Compline for Personal Devotions

Compline is a prayer service that is part of the Divine Office and is used to “complete” or close the day in prayer. Here is a compline service that I use in my personal devotions at the close of the day:

---

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen

Confession

As preparation for a prayer of confession, it is appropriate to spend this moment in an examination of conscience.

Holy and gracious God, I confess that I have sinned against you this day. Some of my sin I know – the thoughts and words and deeds of which I am ashamed – but some is known only to you. In the name of Jesus Christ I ask forgiveness. Deliver and restore me, that I may rest in peace. Amen

By the mercy of God we are united with Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven. We rest now in his peace and rise in the morning to serve him.

Psalmody

One or more psalms (4, 33, 34, 91, 130, 134, 136) are prayed.

Psalm 134

Come, bless the Lord,
all you servants of the Lord,
who stand by night in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to the holy place,
and bless the Lord.
May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth,
bless you from Zion.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

As a brief lesson, one or more of the following are read:

You, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us. (Jeremiah 14:9)

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith. (1 Peter 5:6-9a)

Gospel Canticle (Nunc Dimittis, The Song of Simeon – Luke 2:29-32)

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers may be prayed:

Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of life may find our rest in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, Lord, in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Visit our dwellings, O Lord, and drive from them all the snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal God, the hours both of day and night are yours, and to you the darkness is no threat. Be present, we pray, with those who labor in these hours of night, especially those who watch and work on behalf of others. Grant them diligence in their watching, faithfulness in their service, courage in danger, and competence in emergencies. Help them to meet the needs of others with confidence and compassion; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gracious Lord, we give you thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive; the day is now past and we commit it to you. We entrust to you the night; we rest in surety, for you are our help, and you neither slumber nor sleep. Amen.

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last. Amen.

---

Vespers (Evening Prayer) for Personal Devotions

Vespers is a prayer service that is part of the Divine Office and is used for prayer in the late afternoon or early evening. Here is a vespers service that I use in my personal evening devotions:

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Psalmody

One or more psalms are prayed, beginning with Psalm 141.

Psalm 141

Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord,
and guard the door of my lips.
Let not my heart incline to any evil thing;
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers.
But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God;
in you I take refuge.
Strip me not of my life.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever. Amen.

Choose other psalms to read, as time permits. I often use the psalms appointed in the Book of Common Prayer’s 30-Day Psalm Cycle. Each psalm is followed by the doxology:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Scripture Readings

The scripture readings are read. Silence for meditation follows each reading. When this Office is prayed alone, it is appropriate to make this reading one’s lectio divina and to stop for reflection whenever a “word” reveals itself to the heart.

One possible scripture reading that I sometimes use is the Moravian Daily Texts, available online here: Moravian Daily Texts. If there is not sufficient time for other scripture, one or more of these passages can be read:

Psalm 125:1

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time on and forevermore.

John 14:1-3

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

Romans 8:26-27

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Gospel Canticle (Magnificat, The Song of Mary – Luke 1:46-55)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers may be prayed:

Evening Prayer of Martin Luther

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have this day so graciously protected us. We beg you to forgive us all our sins and the wrong which we have done. By your great mercy defend us from all the perils and dangers of this night. Into your hands we commend our bodies and souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels have charge of us, that the wicked one have no power over us. Amen.

Evening Prayer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Lord my God, I thank you that you have brought this day to an end. I thank you that you allow body and soul to come to rest. Your hand was over me and has protected and preserved me. Forgive all weakness of faith and wrong of this day and help me gladly to forgive those who have done wrong to me. Let me sleep in peace beneath your protection and preserve me from the assaults of darkness. I commend to you those dear to me, I commend to you this house, I commend to you my body and soul. God, your holy name be praised. Amen.

Collect for Peace

O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works: Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

---

Afternoon Prayer for Personal Devotions

Here is a very simple Afternoon Prayer Service that can be used by those keeping the Divine Office, or by anyone wishing to pause and spend a few moments in prayer in the afternoon:

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Psalmody – Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.   
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Scripture Reading – The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers can be used:

Prayer of Evelyn Underhill

Lord! Give me courage and love to open the door and constrain You to enter, whatever the disguise You come in, even before I fully recognize my guest. Come in! Enter my small life! Lay Your sacred hands on all the common things and small interests of that life and bless and change them. Transfigure my small resources, make them sacred. And in them give me Your very Self. Amen

Prayer of Martin Luther

Dear God, give us peaceful hearts and a right courage in the confusion and strife against the devil. And so may we not only endure and finally triumph, but also have peace in the midst of the struggle. May we praise and thank you and not complain or become impatient against your divine will. Let peace win the victory in our hearts, that we may never through impatience initiate anything against you, our God, or our neighbors. May we remain quiet and peaceable toward God and toward other people, both inwardly and outwardly, until the final and eternal peace shall come. Amen.

Prayer for Daily Work

God our creator, you have given us work to do and call us to use our talents for the good of all. Guide us as we work, and teach us to live in the Spirit who made us your sons and daughters, in the love that made us brothers and sisters, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

Midday Prayer for Personal Devotions

Here is a very simple Midday Prayer Service that can be used by those keeping the Divine Office, or by anyone wishing to spend a few moments in prayer in the middle of the day:

Opening

O God, come to my assistance.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Psalmody – Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Scripture Reading – Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers can be used:

Prayer at Midday of Richard Foster

The day has been breathless, Lord. I stop now for a few moments and I wonder: Is the signature of the holy over the rush of the day? Or have I bolted ahead, anxiously trying to solve problems that do not belong to me? Holy Spirit of God, please show me: how to work relaxed, how to make each task an offering of faith, how to view interruptions as doors to service, how to see each person as my teacher in things eternal. In the name of him who always worked unhurried. Amen.

Serenity Prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr

God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things which should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.

Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting that You will make all things right, if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.  

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

Matins (Morning Prayer) for Personal Devotions

Matins is a prayer service that is part of the Divine Office and is used for morning prayer at the start of a new day. (It can also be called lauds.) Here is a matins service that I use in my personal morning devotions:

Opening

O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Psalmody

One or more psalms are prayed, beginning with Psalm 95.

Psalm 95

Give glory to God, our light and our life.
Oh, come, let us worship him.

Oh, come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. 
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.
For the Lord is a great God
and a great king above all gods.
In his hand are the caverns of the earth;
the heights of the hills are also his.
The sea is his, for he made it;
and his hands have molded the dry land.
Oh, come, let us bow down and bend the knee,
and kneel before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture
and the sheep of his hand.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

Give glory to God, our light and our life.
Oh, come, let us worship him.

Choose other psalms to read, as time permits. I often use the psalms appointed in the Book of Common Prayer’s 30-Day Psalm Cycle. Each psalm is followed by the doxology:

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.  Amen.

Scripture Readings

The scripture readings are read. Silence for meditation follows each reading. When this Office is prayed alone, it is appropriate to make this reading one’s lectio divina and to stop for reflection whenever a “word” reveals itself to the heart.

One possible scripture reading that I sometimes use is the Moravian Daily Texts, available online here: Moravian Daily Texts. If there is not sufficient time for other scripture, one or more of these passages can be read:

Lamentations 3:22-24

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

Jeremiah 29:11-14

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Gospel Canticle (Benedictus, The Song of Zechariah – Luke 1:68-79)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our ancestor Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God,
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

Prayers

One or more of the following prayers may be prayed:

Morning Prayer of Martin Luther

We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that you would also protect us today from sin and all evil, so that our life and actions may please you. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. Amen.

Morning Prayer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

God, I call to you early in the morning, help me pray and collect my thoughts, I cannot do this alone. In me it is dark, but with you there is light. I am lonely, but you do not abandon me. I am faint-hearted, but from you comes my help. I am restless, but with you is peace. In me is bitterness, but with you is patience. I do not understand your ways, but you know the right way for me. Amen.

The Prayer of Good Courage

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Grace

O Lord, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us in safety to this new day; preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome in adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Take some time to hold in prayer your family, congregation, community, world, and all that comes to mind.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

Closing

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Almighty God, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
bless and preserve us. Amen.

---

What is the Divine Office?

Seven times a day I praise you. Psalm 119:164

What is the Divine Office? And why should you consider using it for your personal devotions? Here is my answer to those two questions.

First, what is the Divine Office? To put it simply, the Divine Office is a tried and true way for Christians of all walks of life to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Office is from the Latin officium, meaning “service,” so the Divine Office is simply a way for us to serve God in our daily prayers. It is based on an ancient form of prayer, originating in Jewish prayer long before the time of Christ. In the ancient world, the day was marked by recognized points – cock-crow, dawn, the third hour (9:00 am), sixth hour (12:00 Noon), ninth hour (3:00 pm), sunset, and midnight. Services of prayer were developed for all of these hours. This is why the Divine Office is also known as Fixed-hour Prayer or the Liturgy of the Hours (you might also hear it called the “Daily Office” or the Breviary).

During the Reformation it was recognized that praying all of these offices had become more of a burden than a joy, so they simplified the office greatly. We can see this in our Lutheran hymnals, which now typically include just four of these offices – matins, vespers, and compline, to be prayed in the morning, evening, and at the close of the day, and a responsive prayer service that can be prayed anytime between matins and vespers. 

A confession: I personally do not “religiously” pray the Divine Office. I don’t pray all of these offices every day, in other words. And there are seasons when I don’t pray them at all, but instead follow other ways of praying daily that I find more helpful at the time. However, I know that the Divine Office is always there for me, and it is something that I can return to whenever I am, in Martin Luther’s words, “becoming cold and apathetic about prayer.” Here is how Luther opens his little book, “A Simple Way to Pray,” advice that I find quite helpful:

“I’ll do my best to show you how I approach prayer. May our Lord God help us all to do better in this regard. Amen.

First, sometimes I feel I am becoming cold and apathetic about prayer. This is usually because of all the things that are distracting me and filling my mind. I know this is a result of the flesh and the devil always waging war against me, trying to prevent me from praying. When this happens I like to take my little book of the Psalms and sneak away into a little room, or, if it is the right time of day, I like to go to church with other people.”

Luther is describing here the praying of the Divine Office, which uses the Psalms extensively, and offers us all a way to pray daily when we are becoming “cold and apathetic about prayer.” 

Some years back, I put together a simple form of the Divine Office to use in my personal devotions.

I put together a Matins Service to be used in the morning, a Vespers Service to be used in the late afternoon or early evening, and a Compline Service to be used before going to bed. I intentionally kept all of these services simple, adapting them for personal devotions while staying faithful to their traditional form. So, each of these services included readings from the Psalms, one of the Gospel Canticles from the Gospel of Luke, and other prayers, always including the Lord’s Prayer.

To me, it is not necessary for Christians to pray the Divine Office rigidly, but it is good to have this spiritual discipline in our toolbox, so to speak. The Divine Office can be thought of as something like a trellis – a framework to give form and structure to our daily prayers when we need it. (Which, candidly, is quite often for me!)

I have added each of these Services to my blog, so that I have them in a convenient place for me, personally, and so that others can make use of them, too. I have shared Services for Matins, Vespers, and Compline, along with a simple service to be used at midday, too. 

There are many online forms of the Divine Office available these days, of course. Most of us have phones in our pockets or purses that can connect us to innumerable resources for daily prayer. But I still thought I would offer these services of the Divine Office on my blog, to honor the importance of daily prayer, and to share one way to pray daily that I have found helpful over the years. Blessings to you as you “pray without ceasing,” in whatever way that God is calling you, always to the glory of God!

The Holiness of God

“The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him” (Hab. 2:20). The prophet Habakkuk wrote in a time of international crisis when the security of Israel was under threat from the approaching Babylonian army. The man of God was deeply troubled and perplexed over the fact that God would permit such an enemy to overthrow His people and carry them into exile – so much so that he dared to offer not one but two complaints to the Almighty, asking God to justify His actions. But God neither rescinded His decree nor explained what He was doing. He did, however, punctuate His lengthy responses with these words, which declare the “otherness” of His being, wisdom, and ways, reflected in the “otherness” of His earthly sanctuary.

The temple and its predecessor, the tabernacle, were intended to be breathtaking visual aids to help Israel appreciate the nature and attributes of God for whom these structures were designated as the meeting place between God and man. The mere sight of these physical structures was intended to give God’s people a potent reminder that God, in both His essence and character, is higher than all human thought or imagination. He is, as Moses learned when God appeared to him in the burning bush, “Yahweh (Ex. 3:7-8): “I AM WHO I AM” or “I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE,” the One who is eternally self-existent.

These structures were also intended to allow God’s people to catch a glimpse of heaven. God’s dwelling place, not only to see what it is like but to realize that it is suffused with the glory of His presence. There are several places in the Bible where we are given breathtaking insights into the wonder of what this is like. Ezekiel’s vision of God in the opening chapter of his prophecy nearly defies description. So, too, in key sections of Revelation, it is almost impossible to conceptualize the glimpses of heaven revealed to John. But the most memorable and enlightening glimpse of heaven’s glory is found in Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple.

There the prophet not only sees the glory of God – reflected in “the train of his robe” that “filled the temple” (Isa. 6:1) – but also catches a glimpse of God’s heavenly entourage and is struck by the dominant note of their praise. Heaven reverberates to the refrain of the seraphim: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory”; v3). These exhalted creatures – who strike awe and wonder into the hearts of human beings – are themselves overwhelmed with awe and wonder in the presence of God.

It would be tempting to think that not only angels and heavenly creatures but also we as human beings can respond to the divine holiness only by echoing the seraphic praise, but that would fall short of the divine intent. God, speaking through Moses, declares to Israel, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Ex. 19:6; Lev. 19:2). And far from being merely an Old Testament stipulation, this call to holiness is repeated in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:16).

It makes sense that this is so. As the only creatures in the entire cosmos who have been made explicitly in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), we as human beings have been designed to reflect both the glory and the holiness of God within the created order. We do so not merely in isolation as individuals through our shared humanity but also corporately through our shared relationships in community as His saints. The distinguishing feature of this is most visible in our consecration to God in all of life.

It is tempting to view the divine holiness as something to fill us with dread and fear. That was certainly Isaiah’s response in his close encounter with God in the temple: he was overawed and cried out: “Woe to me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isa. 6:5). But God provided atonement for the prophet to allow him to draw near in worship and communion.

The same is true for us if we are Christians. Through the atoning blood of Christ our Savior, we can draw near to God by faith and worship Him “in the splendor of holiness” (Ps. 96:9). This is our highest privilege and deepest joy.

Don’t Announce the Revolution

I stole this line from my friend Bill Hull, the founder of the Bonhoeffer Project, who stole it from Dallas Willard, who stated:

I certainly would warn you, don’t go and announce a revolution; you will just have a fight. Don’t go in and say, “Now, we are all going to be disciples.” You will get some interesting responses among which would be, “Aren’t we already?”

If only I’d had this information when I first discovered Jesus-style disciple-making—and if anyone tried to give me such a warning, I didn’t hear it. So, I announced the revolution. It didn’t go the way I expected. Whenever we first discover the importance of being and making disciples of Jesus, we have a tendency to get excited and share the news with everyone about how we are going to change everything in order to make disciples.

What I failed to realize was that not everyone else processes the same information and emotions in the same way as I did. The danger is that our attempt to be and make disciples comes off as another half-baked idea to do something new.

In reality, in this situation, it is very easy to begin by making several incorrect assumptions.

For example:

Assumption #1:  Everyone in the church realizes that there is a problem. There are probably people in your church who are perfectly happy with the way things are. Humans are hardwired to be opposed to change. This hardwiring allows us to get up every day and do the same things, in the same manner, without much re-thinking required. It allows us to be efficient. Instinctively we know that doing something new will be inefficient and will require a concerted effort.

This is often why even when church members realize that there is a problem, they want to keep doing the same things expecting a different result (the proverbial definition of insanity). Of course, the reality is that your church is perfectly designed to produce the results that it is currently producing. It will take time, effort, and education to convince your church members that not only are different results needed, but that in order to produce different results, different methods are required.

Moreover, you need to prepare your church for initial failure. Again, change is inefficient at first. Even if the entire church is convinced of a need for change, it will feel like a failure at some point. In the business world, this is known as Kanter’s Law:

Kanter’s Law asserts that somewhere during the middle of significant changes and transformations, individuals often face doubts and discouragement. This is because all major changes are accompanied by uncertainties and challenges, and the ‘middle’ phase is usually where progress may seem slow or even non-existent.

Another reason that we humans are hardwired against change is safety. If we have done something before and know it to be safe, it will most likely be safe to do it again. Doing something different might be unsafe. And the reality is that being and making disciples probably isn’t really safe, as C.S. Lewis reminds us:

Aslan is a lion–the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion…” “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver… “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

The people of your church will need time to process that something new needs to be done and that ‘something new’ might not feel safe.

Assumption #2:  Everyone in the church wants to be a devoted follower of Jesus. Yeah, this is a hard one. Cultural Christianity comes easily to North Americans. Just because someone is a devoted cultural Christian does not mean that they want to be a disciple of Jesus. And sometimes, the most devoted cultural Christians will be the ones most opposed to being and making disciples of Jesus.

The difficult part is that in America being a “Christian” can be a part of someone’s cultural identity and nothing more. In reality, their god may be their culture and Jesus is just something that is referenced by their culture. Once you begin to change the culture of the church, it doesn’t take long to begin to discover those who are devoted to the culture and those who are devoted to Jesus.  This can be a surprising discovery. There were people who I thought would jump on the disciple-making bandwagon with me who abandoned me, and there were people who I never thought would get it and they got it. Keep an open mind and direct your energy toward those who are getting it, not just those who you ‘want’ or ‘think’ will get it.

Assumption #3:  You have enough information and training to carry out the task at hand. Again, this is another mistake that I made. My first piece of advice is to read books by people who have demonstrated success at being and making disciples of Jesus.

There are plenty of other good disciple-making books, and I recommend you read as many as you can. This list is just a launching pad.  If you prefer digital books, check out Audible. For most of human history, people learned by listening instead of reading. And remember, you might not agree with everything you read, but I would encourage you not to miss the good stuff, as well.

I would also recommend you find an organization or church that demonstrates success at being and making disciples of Jesus. Spend some time on the internet looking up all of the different organizations that offer to train you to make disciples of Jesus and connect with the one that best fits your needs. Before you attempt to convince your church to be and make disciples, be sure you have done your due diligence–do the research and have a handle on where you are going.

Assumption #4:  You are committed enough to lead the revolution. When you begin to study what it means to be and make disciples of Jesus, and what it takes to lead a church to be a Jesus-style disciple-making church, you might figure out that it is not for you. That doesn’t mean that you are not a believer, and it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be in the ministry in some form, but it does mean that you probably shouldn’t be a senior minister/pastor. It would be better to figure this out before you crash and burn yourself and a church in a misguided attempt to change it. There is no need to make yourself and others miserable. There are professions in the ministry other than leading a church as a senior pastor.

However, if you discover that you have the commitment and drive to lead a church to be a Jesus-style disciple-making church, you need to be patient with those you lead. They probably do not have the same level of drive as you and they approach things more carefully than you.  It is better to start small and slowly acclimate your church to the idea. Begin with the elders or the church staff and see who really gets it and invest in them.

If you have already announced the revolution, that doesn’t mean you can’t still pull it off. It just means that you have placed yourself under scrutiny and you need to follow up convincingly on what you have proclaimed. Take it slow, step back, and again, begin to educate yourself on what it means to be and make disciples of Jesus.

Holy and Blameless

Thinking about God leads us to quickly affirm God’s holy and righteous character. But pondering our own holiness can leave us feeling bad about ourselves. We heartily confess that God is holy, that He is unchanging in His holiness, and that His being and character exemplify and define holiness, yet we are painfully aware of our own sins. We don’t feel very holy, and therefore we conclude that we are not holy.

In ourselves, we are not holy. We are born in sin, and thus we are radically corrupt, at enmity with God, and bound for God’s eternal and righteous judgment. When it comes to our sin, if we’re honest, not only do we have to confess the sins we commit that people see, but we must also confess those sins in our hearts and minds that only God sees. Most of us not only don’t feel holy; we feel like the opposite of holy. We don’t feel like we’re “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37); instead, we often feel like complete failures.

Moreover, we are quite willing to affirm the holiness of other Christians. We recognize the ways that they beautifully manifest humility, grace, the love of Christ, and the fruit of the Spirit. We do the same with those men and women throughout church history whose lives seem to have consistently displayed the holiness of God. But we often don’t see ourselves as holy because we don’t feel holy. Some of us even believe the antinomian lie that it’s appropriate and humble never to claim that we are holy in any way.

Nevertheless, God has declared us holy. Therefore, while we know that we sin, God does not identify us by our sin. Satan identifies us by our sin, and we often join him in doing so, but God identifies us in Christ. God identifies us as holy and calls us to be holy and blameless before him (Eph. 1:4). He further urges us, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience” (Col. 3:12). As Christians, we are definitively holy because God has declared us so, and we are to strive for holiness, exercising repentance by the power of the Holy Spirit, which is one of the greatest evidences of our holiness in Christ.