So he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the contention of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Exodus 17:7

I am once again reading through the Bible in the year in chronological order. Currently, I’m still within the chapters of Exodus, as Moses recounts the incredible saga of how the Lord delivers His people from over 400 years of bondage in the land of Egypt. But, in all transparency, this portion of the narrative never fails to convict me. 

Thanks to Hollywood renditions, believers and unbelievers alike are familiar with how, after 10 terrifying and deadly plagues upon Egypt, Pharoah finally relented to Moses’ plea to “let my people go”—the more than two million Israelites loaded up with their neighbors’ gold and walked away from horrific slavery and suffering. The now-free men, women, and children are stopped at the Red Sea when Pharoah—who had changed his mind, despite the death and destruction brought on by the plagues of God—and his army gave chase. But God. The Red Sea parted, the Israelites walked through it, and then the Egyptians were all drowned when they tried to follow (Exodus 14-15). The people celebrated and wrote a song of praise…but just a few weeks later, they were grumbling to God and Moses as they walked toward the Promised Land. “Remember when we ate our fill?” they cried (Exodus 16:3). “Life was so good back in Egypt!” Um, in reality, they were beaten, terrorized, and worked to death—Pharoah even murdered all the Israelite baby boys to quell their population. 

And even after their miraculous survival of the plagues, their enriching exodus, walking on dry land through a sea, and actually being led day and night by God’s presence in a pillar of smoke and fire, respectively, they still grumbled and complained to God. Not only that, but they looked back at their bondage and mistreatment with some serious rose-colored glasses, longing for the good ol’ days of enslavement. 

 And over the next few months, this cycle continued over and over. Despite a miracle of provision having just happened, the people would grumble gripe, and complain. Then (in great patience, mercy, and love) God would miraculously show His power and provision again. Whether it was providing water from a rock, giving these non-fighters victory in battle, or raining down food from heaven, the people would receive mind-blowing grace from the Lord one day and forgot about it the next. What’s more astounding is that, even while being a literal walking miracle, these people turned their minds and hearts to a broken, miserable past from which they were delivered. 

Cue the conviction. I tend to read through these chapters with self-righteous mockery. The narrative in my head sounds something like, “I cannot believe those ungrateful idiots! How could they possibly experience God’s amazing provision just to turn around and gripe to Him about their circumstances? And they seriously pined for their “good ol’ days” of their enslavement?”

Ouch. These chapters of Exodus might as well be a mirror. See, I was once enslaved to sin, but through the work of Jesus (not anything I did), I was set free and set off in a different direction toward the Promised Land (heaven). I am a walking miracle, having been redeemed by Christ and reconciled to God (Romans 5:10). Yet I still tend to gripe and complain. Over the past 25 years as a Christian, the Lord has shown me innumerable miracles—protection, provision, restoration, mercy…inexpressible grace. I even have the very presence of the Lord with me day and night, as the Holy Spirit lives in me! Sure, after each recognized gift of God, I am thankful, singing His praises! But then the sun rises again, and—somehow—I find myself whining about my circumstances again. What’s worse, though, are those times when I heed the hissing in my ear from the enemy: “Remember the good ol’ days, when you went out partying with your friends—wasn’t that so fun? Remember when you could talk and act however you wanted? Your money and time were all yours. You were so free back then!” Similar to the Israelites, though, my perceived “good-ol-days of freedom” were not so good. They consisted of pain, misery, selfishness, and enslavement to pursuing anything to fill the God-shaped hole in my soul.  

The words in Exodus remind me of my own desert-wandering attitudes, giving me the opportunity to repent and shift my perspective—to keep my eyes on the Lord and who He is and all He’s done for me, not on my circumstances or some glamorized version of my past. But friend, that is the beauty of the entire Bible! Each page, from Genesis to Revelation, reveals to us who Jesus is—and who we are in Him. I encourage you to dive into the Living Word, recognize the miracles of our gracious God (including you!), and learn from these power-filled pages how to walk not in grumbling and complaints, but in Gratefulness, Joy, and Peace.

Lord, thank You for the reminder that we are prone to wander—in thought, word, and action. May we keep our eyes on You as we walk toward our ultimate Home.

And wherever (Jesus) entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.

Mark 6:56

Although I haven’t been to a concert in more than a few years, there was a time when I was pretty fanatical about seeing my favorite bands. Of course, this was when ticket prices were reasonable, not Taylor-Swift-level ridiculous. And when my friends and I attended these concerts, getting as close as possible to our rock idols was always the goal (for which we sometimes did pay a big price—be it in more dollars, more time waiting in lines, or in dangerously crushing struggles when general admission was a thing…I think of U2, Hampton, VA, 1987). But I digress. My point is that for us crazy fan girls, it was about getting close enough for indirect contact—a guitar pick, drumstick, a drop of sweat, or a moment of eye-to-eye connection. Then there was the screaming, begging, imploring for the rockstar to come close enough for a touch of your outstretched hand—this was the ultimate aspiration.

As Jesus was traveling around teaching and healing, He became quite the proverbial rockstar to the people. Some, like the Pharisees, consistently rejected Him, despite his clear message and miracles. Others dropped everything to follow Him, becoming sincere disciples of God incarnate (“groupies” if you will). But the majority of people in the crowds, in awe of what He was doing, just wanted some indirect contact with Jesus. In the sixth chapter of Mark’s gospel, we’re told that “wherever He entered villages, or cities, or a countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and all who touched it were being healed.”

The crowds were lining up, maybe even struggling for the best positioning, just to implore Jesus to come close enough for a touch. They believed in Him enough—had faith enough—to receive healing for themselves or their loved ones through the indirect contact with the edge of His cloak. Were they all just caught up in the rockstar mob mentality, just in it for what they could get from Him? Or were they truly believing that Jesus was exactly who He said He was—the Way, the Truth, and the Life? We aren’t told. 

We are informed (John 6:59-71) that the masses following Him around thinned quickly when the teachings of Jesus offended and challenged them. When Jesus made it clear that He is the Bread of Life and only those who believe in Him have eternal life, well, that was too much for the “fringe” crowd. They rejected Him, turning away to previous attitudes or maybe some contemporary idol (literally). These people, though temporarily demonstrating faith in Jesus, were simply not all in.

What about you? Are you following Jesus from a distance, agreeing with some of His Words (ones that align with your lifestyle)? When pain, illness, and difficulties come, do you implore Him to come near enough to heal your situation—faithful enough and grateful for what He’ll give you, but once healed, you fall back into the crowd once more? Are you on board with the Bible, until you read something that challenges or offends you? Have you actually turned away when things got too real, believing that your way and your will were better than the Lord’s?

Friend, fringe Christianity is not what Jesus wants or intended for us. He wants us fully committed to His whole Word, obedient to His will, set apart from the world as light and salt. We are to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength (Mark 12:30). And when troubles and trials come—because they will (John 16:33)—we’re to draw even closer to Him for strength and comfort, not walk away. Jesus wants us all in. Because, after all, He went all in for us, giving everything to make a way for us to be reconciled with God. To pay the penalty we deserve for our sin, giving us His righteousness, so we can have eternal life with Him. And once we accept this gift of salvation, we have full access to God Himself through Jesus, and we have the power of the Holy Spirit living in us! Instead of mere indirect contact with Jesus, we can hang out with Him whenever we want, talk with Him, get to know Him—in fact, we’re part of His family. So, don’t be satisfied with fringe living. Go all in.

Lord, You long for us to let go of the world—even ourselves—and surrender all to You. May we be reminded that You gave all for us, so why would we give You anything less?

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 

1 John 4:16

If you’ve been walking with the Lord for any amount of time, you’ve probably recognized when He’s really trying to tell you something. You hear it in Sunday’s sermon, then you read it in a daily devotional and hear it on a podcast, then it comes up in conversation with a brother or sister. And you think, “Ah, I get it, Lord!”

So, when a “Providential theme” around me lately seemed to be “the love of God”, it was easy to think, “Well, of course God loves me and others!” One of the first Bible verses most Christians (and football fans) come to know is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” God loves the world! And He loves you and me so much that while we were yet sinners (separated enemies of God), Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Moreover, nothing—not trouble, persecution, famine, rulers, even death—can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39).

But the other night, in talking with husband about yet another message we heard about God’s love, the profound statement, “God loves you” was opened up in a fresh way within my spirit. And it was simply by reiterating the statement with a respective emphasis on each of the three words. Let me explain.

First, with the emphasis on “God”: GOD love you. The Creator of heaven and earth. The Sovereign King of kings and Lord of lords. The Light, the Way, the Truth. The great I Am. The Alpha and Omega of eternity love you. Let that sink in, friend.

Second, with the emphasis on “loves”: God LOVES you. This love is not the fleeting kind of this world, emotion-driven love that waxes and wanes depending upon the recipient’s performance or attitude. The love of God is unconditional, steadfast, perfect. It is sacrificial. It casts out fear. As noted from Romans 8, His love is unbreakable. It’s also unreasonable, unfathomable, unending. 

Finally, with the emphasis on “you”: God loves YOU. Whether or not you’re a believer, you may be thinking to yourself, “Me? How could God love me, given the life I’ve led (or am leading)? How could the Creator of all things who loves people with perfect love possibly extend that love to me?” Oh, friend, He does. And regardless of the mess you think you are (whether you’re wallowing in a proverbial pigsty or sitting in a pew every Sunday), the Father is here with open arms ready to embrace you. In fact, as Jesus shared in the parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32), as soon as you recognize your need for this unreasonable love and turn away from your sin (repent), turning to God, He will run to you! And in that embrace, there is no rebuke, disgust, or “I told you so” over your sin. Just forgiveness and love.

God loves you. And He demonstrated His perfect love for you by sending His perfect Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and then take the penalty for your imperfection (sin). By conquering sin and death, Jesus made a way for us to be reconciled with the Father. When we accept the Great Exchange of our filthy rags for Jesus’ righteousness—when we receive the gift of God’s love—we are forgiven and free. And the statement “God loves me” will have an entirely new meaning.

Lord, I pray that anyone reading this who believes they are unloved or unlovable, will come to truly know Your unreasonable, perfect, sacrificial love. And that they turn around and run into your open arms today.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:13-14

If you’ve been walking with Lord for any amount of time, you’ve probably had seasons of wrestling—times when the Holy Spirit is working on some attitude, situation, or direction. For me, it usually starts with that Still Small Voice (which I tend not to hear in my uber-busyness and constant “get-er-done” mode). Then, His voice gets a bit louder, and I do start wondering what He’s up to. I pray and journal but continue my “busyness as usual”—I’m hearing, but still trying to figure stuff out myself. Finally, the Lord will shout so that I’ll simply stop, shut up, and listen (and if you’ve been here, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about).

Although I am getting better at being a Mary, my Martha still dominates (see Luke 10:38-42), so this pattern has occurred quite a bit over my 25 years of being a Christian. In fact, the past several months, the Lord has been revealing some things to me through Bible study, quiet time, and conversations with my husband. But without (what I deemed as) clarity, I pondered, journaled, talked…but kept on going and doing. Until I had eye surgery a couple weeks ago, after which I could not read, be on the computer, or look at my phone for one week. (Think about this friends, how much through the day are your eyes on your phone or other screen? Yeah, now don’t do that for 7 days.) 

Needless to say, the Lord had hours and hours and hours of my time and attention. The funny thing is, He wanted even more than my mere daylight hours—He wanted this time to be a crash course in listening. So, I spent much of the first five days awake through most the nights as well. Wrestling, talking, and yes, listening. And He made it very clear to me that, although I have been doing very Good Things for Him, it’s time to Go. 

It’s time for me to Do for Him in different ways. He is sending me. Not to the jungles of Africa or the sandy streets of the Middle East, but into my own city—where there is ample brokenness, poverty, and hurt. Where babies are being murdered, children are being trafficked, families are being shattered, and elderly are being forgotten. Yes, I am being called to the mission field in my own backyard. A rescue mission, to be the hands and feet of Jesus and proclaim the love, freedom, and hope of a surrendered life to Him. And I’m so excited!

What about you? If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, how is the Lord using you? How are you serving—and who are you serving? Is it only the person in the mirror? Are you going to church every Sunday (and maybe on Wednesdays) to feed on God’s Word and maybe to get a little spiritual bump, but the rest of your week is business (busyness) as usual? Maybe you’re serving your church body on Sundays, greeting or even teaching a Bible study. This is awesome! But are you also reaching out into the lost and broken world to reveal Who Jesus is through meeting practical, real needs—caring for others so they want to know the Reason behind your unreasonable love?

Friend, upon salvation, each of us is rescued—from sin, death, and eternal separation from God. While we were still sinners, enemies of God, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). So, because He first loved us, we are to love others in the same sacrificial way (1 John 4:19). We are to serve, love, and share the Good News. Once rescued, we’re to join the rescue mission. We are all SENT. And you don’t even have to wait for your own wresting match to ensue…just go!

Lord, thank You for rescuing me! Now, help me be bold in word, action, and grace as I step out into the world to be part of Your rescue mission.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen (Revelation 22:20-21).

As 2023 kicks off, you may have decided on a few resolutions—bad habits you’d like to stop or new ones you’d like to start. It may only take a few days for you to have broken one or two. But that’s ok. Just get back on the horse, so to speak, forgive yourself, and start fresh again now (not “tomorrow”, mind you, but right now). You can do it!

Regardless of how long you have been a follower of Christ, here is a New Year’s question for you: What is your Bible-reading habit—is it a habit at all? Maybe you read a verse or two from an emailed devotion each morning, or you open the Bible and randomly choose a couple verses to read. Once you spend those 5 minutes with the Word, you call it “good” and get on with your day. Maybe you have go-to verses you like to lean into, like a particular Psalm or passage from one of Paul’s letters—going to Leviticus or one of the minor prophets seems, well, “unprophetible” (lol).

But friend, “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man (and woman) of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 timothy 3:16-17). It is Truth, living and active. Every word of God’s Word—not just the pillow-stitching verses. The Bible is His-Story (Jesus) and our story.

Have you ever challenged yourself to read the whole Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation? How about doing it in one year? Why not make 2023 the year to do so? It may require getting out of bed a few minutes earlier, or taking your Bible to work and reading on your lunch break, or turning off the TV sooner than usual to spend time in the Word with your spouse or kids. But you can do it! This is one habit—I promise—that may require discipline at first…but soon it will be the desire of your mind and heart. And you won’t want to miss a single day.

One approach that’s really cool is to read through the Bible in chronological order—the order in which Biblical events happened. There are lots of websites and apps out there to help you find a plan, but here is one for you now! So, get your copy of the Bible now, opening up to Genesis 1:1. You may have a few days of catchup to do, but you’ve got this! This will be the best investment you’ll make this year…the best habit you’ll form—in fact, it will no doubt positively impact all your other resolutions and habits.

Lord, You promise that Your Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). May I diligently seek You in the Bible each day, learning more about Your love for me and growing deeper in love with You.

The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:7

If you’re a New Year’s Resolution kind of person, then during this week between Christmas and New Year’s Day you may be mulling over the changes you’d like to make in 2023 (still hard to believe another year has come and gone!). Perhaps you’ll write a list to post on your fridge or tuck away in a drawer. Maybe you’ve purchased a fresh journal in which you’ll decree your “to-dos” and “not-to-dos” for the year, with the intention to fill its pages with your 365-day journey. Or maybe you’re a “word-of-the-year” person—choosing a single word for 2023 to intentionally drive your thoughts, words, and actions.

Maybe, though, you think New Year’s Resolutions are for the birds, and January 1 is simply a flip of the digital calendar page. 

Whatever your perspective on one year’s end and another’s beginning, time is undeniably ticking for all of us—whether you’re 18 or 88. And life’s passage, dear friend, requires growth and development. In fact, as followers of Jesus Christ, we Christians are made to be transformed. At the moment of salvation (surrender to the work of Jesus on our behalf), we are made new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17)—the old nature passes away as we are forgiven and set free from the shackles of sin. Then, our life task is to be continually conformed into the image of Christ, day by day. To progress in holiness and righteousness, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, as we walk through this life toward heavenly glory (Colossians 3:10; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18). We are called to spiritual evolution. 

But how do we accomplish this? We have all the instruction we need in the Bible! God’s Word is a light to our path (Psalm 119:106), the bread of life (Matthew 4:4), the truth (John 17:7), purposeful (Isaiah 55:11), and eternal (Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 40:8). God’s Word teaches, corrects, and equips us (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12). And that’s just the start. For a full description of the power of God’s Word, check out Psalm 119!

Reading and meditating on God’s Word keeps us focused on truth—it informs us who we are in Christ, what is right amid this upside-down world, how to keep from falling prey to the enemy’s schemes. God’s Word is powerful—in fact, “by the Word of the Lord the heavens were made” (Psalm 33:6). And it will convert, convict, console, and conform us. Most importantly, God’s Word keeps us from believing the pervasive cultural lies that constantly bombard us. Through reading and studying the Bible, our minds are renewed daily and stay clear, rather than being dulled and lulled into succumbing to wide path of worldly ways. It’s so much easier to go with the flow than to swim upstream. But God’s Word roots us in truth, strengthening us to stand firm and walk in wisdom, not as a fool.

So, for 2023, consider making a New Year’s evolution—a commitment to grow deeper in your faith and knowledge of God through the study of His Word. Day by day, plunge into the amazing Truths laid out for us from Genesis to Revelation. I promise, friend, whatever your personal vision for next year may be (or if you don’t do resolutions at all), if you consume the Daily Bread of the Bible each day, you will be changed for the better. And, if you haven’t yet experienced the freedom offered by Jesus Christ—reconciliation with God, forgiveness, and new life—why not make today that day? There’s no better way to kick off the New Year than with an entirely new you.

Lord, Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. Thank You for clearly providing your pure and powerful Truths so I can walk in wisdom, live with righteousness, and experience Your peace.

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.”

Luke 2:14

I can say with confidence that everyone who loves Christmas also loves Christmas carols. Don’t get me wrong, there are different levels of carol-loving. Some of my friends literally start cranking holiday tunes in October. (These are the same friends who are ecstatic when carols start playing at Home Depot and Big Lots around the same time, while the rest of us roll our eyes.) My dad would, without fail, start every day-after-Thanksgiving with classic carols beckoning us out of bed for tree trimming. Others don’t care to hear these familiar tunes until Christmas Day is a just few days away—you know, when they’re scrambling to “get into the Christmas spirit” with last-minute shopping and decorating.

And when thinking of those classic carols, who doesn’t love “Hark! The herald angels sing”? Written by Charles Wesley in 1739 and becoming a standard carol about 100 years later (1857), this popular carol is featured in “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. No matter your age, its triumphant melody is one of the prevailing undercurrents of this season.

But, friend, did you realize that this song is more than its familiar tune and well-known verses? “Hark! The herald angels sing” is rock-solid theological truth—it is prophecy revealed, from Genesis to Revelation. It is the Biblically sound description of the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and clearly lays out the why behind His birth. If you want to know the real reason for the season, all you have to do is study this amazing hymn. Although I could spend thousands of words underscoring Biblical theology in each turn of phrase, I’ll just give some overview—but I hope it piques your interest to dive into your Bible and drink in the amazing truths in this song. (You’ll see “homework” Scripture for you to reference with each verse!)

The overarching theme of Wesley’s “Hymn for Christmas Day” (its original name) is simple: The redemption of mankind to glorify God. In the Garden, from Genesis 3, God declared His plan to reconcile us back to Him through a God-Man who would declare victory over Satan and death. God gave us clues (prophecy) throughout the Old Testament pointing to Jesus’s birth, life, sacrificial death, and saving resurrection…and Wesley points to many of these while he praises God for it all—and bids us to join along.

Again, there’s so much packed in each verse! But here are some highlights:

• Verse 1: Praise God with all of heaven—everyone—because Christ has been born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) to reconcile God and sinners! (Luke 2:14)
• Verse 2: Jesus came to earth, fully God and fully Man, to dwell with us. He was, as Isaiah prophesied, born to a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14; John 1:14)
• Verse 3: Jesus, the Prince of Peace, was born to remove the curse of death, to raise us to new life in Him, to transform and renew us. (Isaiah 9:6; Malachi 4:2; John 1:4; Psalm 27:1; Philippians 2:7; Romans 6:4)
• Verse 4: This verse combines Garden prophesy of Christ’s birth (Gen 3:15) with Isaiah-to-Revelation prophecy when the time comes for all nations to bow, every tongue to confess, and the fallen world/nature to be perfected. (Haggai 2:7; John 14:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 3:17; Isaiah 65:25; Revelation 21-22; 2 Peter 3:13; Galatians 2:20; 1 John 4:13)
• Verse 5: We are all born into sin, but through Jesus we are transformed—from glory to glory—into the image of Christ. We are lost but are found in Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:45; Romans 5:12-18; John 3:16)

And, of course, there is every refrain that is shouted with joy between each verse—a beckoning for us to join all of heaven in celebrating God with us, the King of kings, our Savior: “Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory to the newborn King!”

Father God, may we never cease to focus on You this Christmas, giving glory and praise for the way of reconciliation You made through Jesus Christ—our Emmanuel.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with jubilation; Come before Him with rejoicing. Know that the Lord [b]Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 100:1-3

Who doesn’t love the iconic Christmas movie, “Elf”? (Seriously, if you’re not a fan, you may want to consider getting some counseling.) For me, one of the most endearing things about the movie is the main character (Buddy the Elf) and his unabashed enthusiasm for all things Christmas (and, of course, for the four food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup). There’s that one pinnacle scene in the department store when Buddy finds out that Santa will be there the next day. His response is beyond excited, as he shouts to everyone around him: “Santa! I know him!” 

This silly and heartwarming Christmas-staple movie is also a fitting illustration for living the Christian life. And it’s deeply convicting.

When we first come to know the love and forgiveness and saving grace of Jesus Christ, I can safely say we are all in—experiencing daily Buddy-like enthusiasm for all-things-Christian because our whole view of life has changed. Everything becomes “the best” because we are new creations in Christ, washed as white as snow in the blood of Christ, set free from the bondage of sin…the world around is truly something we discover anew with our fresh heavenly perspective (think of all the “bests” Buddy finds as he explores New York City).

Most obvious for new believers, is the sheer joy of knowing Jesus—as Savior and new best friend. I recall when I first surrendered to Christ, I was so excited to profess my love for the Lord to people around me. And when everything is spiritually sparkly new, it’s easy to identify God’s hand in it all and be thankful and overjoyed. But as time—and life’s challenges and tedium—rolls on, though, do we let that unabashed enthusiasm fade? Do we let the daily miracles become commonplace in our mind? Is our relationship with the Lord so “old hat” and mundane that it’s not the focus of every interaction and experience we have?

Friend, whether we’ve been walking with the Lord for 50 minutes or 50 years, let’s commit to recapturing that initial unabashed joy and enthusiasm for all-things-Jesus. This Christmas let’s put on our proverbial Buddy-the-Elf hat and look around with fresh eyes of childlike faith. Let’s embrace the reflection of God in everyone we come into contact with and every little (and big) miracle. Maybe, at some point this Christmas, we’ll even take the opportunity to shout to those around us, “Jesus! I know Him!” And then proceed to share the Good News of who He is and why He is so wonderful.

Lord, let my childlike wonder and joy for you never fade, but only grow deeper and more profound as I continue to walk with you through this life.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

John 14:15

I was listening to an amazing and very heady Christian podcast called “Just Thinking”—it’s very intellectually demanding and spirit-inspiring, not the kind you can casually listen to at the gym. Anyway, the topic was indwelling sin in believers, and at one point one of the hosts made an off-the-cuff comment that struck me as incredibly profound. He said that with regard to obedience to God, Christians have a tendency to live with some asterisks—exceptions made for them. Mic drop. He didn’t dwell on the topic…but I did.

As a professional writer, much of my work is very technical (writing marketing material for a global computer company, a data analytics company, and others). And pretty much every piece I write in this genre includes an asterisk statement or two. You know, you read the sentence, see the “*” and look down to the bottom of page for explanation. Usually, it’s denoting that the sentence you just read is sometimes true, but there are caveats when it’s not true or is not relevant or applicable.

When it comes to living according to God’s Word, do we live a life with asterisks? Do we read in Matthew 5:43-48, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” and see an asterisk for ourselves? We may think, “Sure, Jesus said that to His audience, but that’s not applicable to me. He didn’t mean my neighbor/boss/government leader…that guy doesn’t deserve my love or prayers!” Or perhaps you know well that the Bible admonishes us to flee sexual immorality and that sex is designed only between a husband and wife (Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 6:1-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). But c’mon (insert asterisk here), that’s so irrelevant today. You live with your boyfriend because it’s financially wise—and he said he’s going to propose at some point. And (this one’s a real stinger, friend) God’s Word is very clear about us not fearing or being anxious (Philippians 4:6-7; Joshua 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Deuteronomy 31:6; Romans 8:15). Asterisk living says, “Yeah, but THIS situation is different—there are so many things to worry about! I’m so afraid!”

As Christians, we are called to be holy, set apart (1 Peter 1:15-16). We are to pursue righteousness—after all, we have been made righteous through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21)! We cannot pursue or even tolerate sin (Ephesians 4:17-32). Don’t get me wrong, we will sin—we cannot be perfectly holy and righteous as long as we are in this fallen world with this fallen body. But we must constantly walk in the direction of holiness, aligned with God’s Word and His will. And when we do mess up, we know it, we’re convicted, we ask forgiveness, and we repent (turn the other way). This is sanctification. We cannot, however, intentionally insert an asterisk here and there because we choose to disobey—because we believe that commandment or directive is not true, not relevant, or not applicable for us. 

Friend, our holiness—our set-apartness—is when our light shines and we draw others to Jesus. Conversely, asterisk living makes us look more and more like the world. And if Christianity is just like the world, why would anyone want to give their life to Jesus?

Father, help me live each day in accordance with Your Word, not making exceptions or excuses for my sin.

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.”

Psalm 96:10

We hear a lot about “equity” these days. It’s a word that is thrown around a lot in culture, business, even church. But I’m not sure that everyone who jumps on the equity bandwagon truly understand the concept—it certainly is not a synonym for “equality” upon which freedom is based. And the terms are quite conflated in use. Simply put, “equality” means equal opportunity and “equity” connotes equal outcomes. 

Humanly speaking, equity is not possible when freedom and choice exist. If you give 10 children $10 each, every one of those kids will likely choose to do something different with the money. Some will save (with dissimilar goals in mind); one may buy some candy; one may spend some and save some; one may buy a single toy; another may go to the dollar store to get as many random items as possible with the full sum, just to spend it all. All 10 kids had equal opportunity, but the likelihood of equal outcome is improbable. Now, if you give that same $10 to those same 10 kids and dictate to them exactly what to do (e.g., save $5 and buy a specific $5 item), this is equity: equal outcomes by force or demand.^*

But with God, dear friend, there is equity in its truest, unadulterated form. He gives us freedom to choose in this life—equal opportunity—but there will be equal outcomes. At the end of our lives, He will judge us with equity (Psalm 96:10; 98:7-9).

Each and every one of us starts at the same place: We are born into this world separated from God, sinners who fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Because God is perfectly holy and righteous, He requires perfect holiness and righteousness of us (Leviticus 19:2; I Peter 1:16). And no matter how hard we try to check off religious boxes or ensure our “do good” list is longer than our “do bad” list, we cannot achieve sufficient righteousness (i.e., perfection) on our own. If we breathe our last in this state, having chosen to make every effort to redeem and save ourselves, there will be equity—equality of outcome. One little lie or a lifetime of murdering. Doesn’t matter. One outcome awaits: eternal pain, sorrow, and isolation (hell).

But there is another equitable outcome provided by our righteous and holy God: heaven—an eternity in His presence. See, regardless of the life you’ve lived up to this point (liar or murderer), the penalty for your sin has been paid, a way of reconciliation with God made. Jesus lived the perfect life we cannot, died to take on the wrath we deserve, and then rose again to conquer sin and death. By accepting this gift of grace through faith, Jesus exchanges our unrighteousness for His righteousness—we are redeemed, deemed perfect in the eyes of God through Jesus. Regardless of what we’ve done in the past, we can be forgiven and free to turn our lives around, loving God and others in response to His love for us. And it is this choice, friend, that brings eternal peace and joy.

Regardless of where you started in life or where you’ve been, there is spiritual equity. But unlike the concept of human equity, there is no demand, no forcing of outcomes. You have total freedom to choose your eternity: heaven or hell. And if you haven’t made your choice yet, won’t you accept the gift of salvation in Jesus today and solidify your eternal outcome?

God, You are holy, righteous, sovereign—I am not. Thank You for making a way for me, for saving me and reconciling me to Yourself through Jesus. 

^*Don’t misunderstand, I realize there are nuances in this discussion, but for the purposes of this spiritual illustration, the above basics will suffice.