“…I will build my church…” (Matthew 16:18).

What a thrill to see how the church of Jesus Christ has grown from that band of twelve disciples at the time Jesus made this statement to become the largest religion in the world at more than two billion believers. It is true that we are now seeing membership declines in parts of the world, including the United States; however, this growth is still impressive.

The church in one sense is the local congregation of believers who regularly gather to worship and to be discipled. However, in the larger sense, the church is all the body of believers who have ever lived. In fact, as it says in Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” That great cloud of witnesses is the church—the body of all believers who have ever lived, and they are still useful to the work of the kingdom.

Jesus is the foundation and the corner stone of this virtual church structure, and we as believers are the living stones of the church. As Peter, the one to whom Jesus spoke the words that Matthew quotes above, tells us in 1 Peter 2:4-6 – “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’”

Why is Christ building his church? What does He even need a church for? Have you ever considered this? From the book of Genesis, we know that God called Abraham to go from his hometown of Ur to travel to the Promised Land, and He promised that from Abraham would come a great nation and a great land. The Bible tells us the fulfillment of this promise through Jesus, his Son. And through Jesus, the promise is extended to all who believe. Our Creator God created man to glorify Himself. “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory” (Isa. 43:6–7).

Most of Jesus’ promises are what he will do for us. However, this is a promise to build his church is one that He will fulfil through us as we submit to His will. I cannot imagine a better purpose in life than to follow the calling to serve the body of Christ as a faithful member of His church. What a joy to be faithful in all the “one another” commandments that evidence our love for each other as Christ loved the church. What a life goal to be rewarded as a good and faithful servant as in Matthew 25:23 – “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

And what indescribable joy when we celebrate with Christ in our new Eternal Home. We know that Jesus considers the church his Bride. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, “…for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready…” (Revelations 19:7).

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18).

In Christ,

Judy

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 5:9).

Have you ever experienced what I call a “David and Nathan moment?” In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan the prophet, through means of a parable, got it across to King David that he had committed the sins of adultery and murder (you must read the story if you don’t already know it).  This is called conviction. I believe that David felt gut-punched when he was convicted of his sin; I myself have felt the gut-wrenching sense of conviction of my sin—it is unbelievably uncomfortable.

Upon becoming convicted of sin in our lives, we have two choices:

1. Acknowledge our sin. This is called confession, and it means that we agree with God about our sin. In this case, King David’s response is “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Samuel 12:13), OR
2. Ignore the conviction, hoping it will go away. This is called hardening of the heart, and if you do it enough, you will become immune to your sin. “If we don’t confess our sins, they have a cumulative and desensitizing effect on the conscience, making it difficult to even distinguish right from wrong. And this sinful and hardened heart is tantamount to the “seared conscience” Paul speaks of in 1 Timothy 4:1–2. Scripture makes it clear that if we relentlessly continue to engage in sin, there will come a time when God will give us over to our “debased minds” and let us have it our way. The apostle Paul writes about God’s wrath of abandonment in his letter to the Romans where we see that godless and wicked “men who suppress the truth” are eventually given over to the sinful desires of their hardened hearts (Romans 1:18–24)” (From Got Questions)

As believers, we need to continually evaluate our choices—what we think, say, and do—and seek conviction. And when we receive conviction, then we must confess our sins as stated in 1 John 1:9. Confession means agreeing with God about our sin; it means admitting to God that we have sinned. Confession does NOT require a priest; it is a direct interaction with God. God is the only One who can forgive sin, and Jesus is our only Mediator. However, there are times when it is also appropriate to confess to others about our sin if that is what it takes to reconcile, or to ask for prayers or encouragement in overcoming our sin.

With confession comes repentance, an about-face, a turning from sin. We can’t just say I agree I have sinned, but I’m not going to change.  And the promise is this: when we confess our sins to God, he is faithful to forgive us and purify us.

Some supporting comments:

1. We all sin. “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23).
2. All sins are equal before God, and without forgiveness will result in death. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a).
3. Some sins have greater earthly consequences than others. For example, while hate and murder are equally sinful before God, murder carries a greater punishment in earthly courts. (Matthew 5:21-22).
4. “Scripture singles out sexual sin as having worse consequences than other types of sin: ‘Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body’ (1 Corinthians 6:18). In this passage, immorality is considered apart from other sins such as dishonesty, pride, envy, etc. All sin will negatively affect the mind and soul of a person, but sexual immorality will immediately and directly affect one’s body.” (From Got Questions)

Where does grace fit in to all of this? In the Message, we learn “All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end” (Romans 5:20-21).

In our opening story, Nathan displayed the grace of Jesus Christ in confronting King David with his sin. King David received this grace, which led to his confession and repentance. Let us seek to follow David’s example so that we can receive God’s gift of grace and eternal life.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

In Christ,

Judy

“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 20:20-23).

One of the first rules of parenting is that the mom and the dad must back each other up. Otherwise, there is chaos because the children learn quickly how to pit one parent against the other (if that is not an example of our innate sinful hearts, I do not know what is). Do not get me wrong, as a child I sometimes wanted my mom to say “yes” to counter my dad’s “no,” or to just let something slide that he never would have allowed. However, although difficult to realize at the time, it was ultimately a comfort to know that they were on the same page because that gave my life a certainty and security I would not have had otherwise.

The attributes of God are demonstrated in His promises. One such attribute, his trinitarian nature, is demonstrated in God’s promise of unity, The word Trinity cannot be found in the Bible, but the truth of it can. While there is only one God, the Godhead consists of three distinct persons – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are equally omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, eternal, and unchanging, but each has unique functions.

Throughout the Bible, we see the Trinity operating in unity, each performing their specific functions, all to achieve the same objectives, kind of like the ideal parenting model. You never see an example of conflict within the Trinity. The Trinity was present at Creation. As far back as Genesis, God said, “Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:27). Note the use of the plural. And the Hebrew name for God, Elohim, itself is plural.

Jesus often referenced the authority of God the Father and aligned himself with his Sovereign God.

• “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).
• “Then Jesus said to them, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him’” (John 8:28-29).
• As we see in the opening passage, Jesus prayed to his Father “that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.”

In this passage, we see that we have the promise of unity that Jesus has with his Father. What a beautiful and comforting promise.

Sinclair Ferguson distinguishes six categories of union with Christ.

• Union with Christ is covenantal in that Christ’s obedience is accounted, or imputed, to believers. When we trust in Christ, God does not see our sin; he sees Christ’s obedience.
• It is carnal or fleshly in the sense that Christ became incarnate and thus became one with humanity.
• Union with Christ is also a faith union in which by faith Christians depend on Christ for nourishment.
• It is a spiritual union because Christians are united to Christ by the agency of the Holy Spirit.
• It is an extensive union in that Christians are united with Christ in everything he has done, including his life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and being seated at the right hand of God.
• It is finally a union of life because Christ lives in Christians, and he is visible in their lives.

What a beautiful and incredibly awesome thing it is that when we accept Christ as savior, then we are united with Christ through faith. We become one with Christ. That is why I close my messages with “In Christ.” This signifies our union with Christ.

This does not mean that we are never unhappy; it means that we are unhappy about the same things. It does not mean there is never conflict, but it means that we are committed to the same outcome. If we can be unified with the Godhead and each other on the things of eternal significance, then we are achieving the inherent promise of unity found only in God.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

In Christ,

Judy

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19).

The weekly Chaplain’s Corners this entire year-to-date have been focused on the promises of God, and there are plenty more to come. However, I thought I would take a moment just to dwell on how incredible it is that we worship a God who is willing to make promises to us, and even more awesome that our God takes those promises seriously in His fulfillment of them.

I put this in the context of something a high school friend used to say. It went something like this: “I don’t want to promise you something because I don’t want to break it.” Well, I agree that is better than making a promise you know you cannot keep, because breaking a promise leads to breaking trust whether it is keeping confidence, showing up, or fulfilling a commitment. Trust is huge with me, as I imagine that it is with you. I will trust someone until they give me a reason not to, and once the trust has been spoiled, it is really hard for me to regain that sense of trust.

However, let us take this a step farther. It can become an excuse never to make a promise, even with the admirable intention of not wanting to fall short. Our relationships are built on making commitments—the right kinds of commitments—and then following through. I do not know about you, but I want a friend that will promise to keep a confidence and then do it, who will make plans with me and then show up on time, who will commit to doing something for or with me and then follow through. And that is what God has done, repeatedly. The Bible is one example after another of God’s promises and their fulfilment.

I thought a great deal about this as we have all learned more about interacting with those experiencing homelessness and the 5:1 principle—it takes five positive interactions to balance just one negative interaction. This principle is especially true with trust. We usually trust someone until they prove untrustworthy; but once trust is broken, it can take five or more times of demonstrating trustworthiness to overcome that one violation of trust. And again, it is not enough just to be noncommittal. How secure would that feel if we did not have commitments from God regarding His presence, His providence, His saving grace?

One of the elements of the Mission Code of Conduct is Trustworthy, described in ourEmployee Handbook as: “Earn future trust by accurately reporting current and past facts. Use power and influence prudently and humbly. Model the trustworthiness of God in leadership to encourage and develop trustworthiness in others. Demonstrate a commitment to the well-being of the people we are called to serve. Keep promises. Respond sensitively and appropriately to requests and needs.”

God’s actions always coincide with his promises. God is utterly trustworthy, being truth itself and unable to lie (Hebrews 6:18). He never makes covenant promises that he cannot or will not keep. Thus, those who trust in the Lord understand that when they hear God’s promises, what He has promised is as good as done. He will certainly fulfill His word.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10).

In Christ,

Judy

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged“ (Deuteronomy 31:8).

There are so many important elements to this promise. For example, it is the Lord himself who goes before us. He may command his angel army, but he does not delegate or abdicate his own role in this promise. Also, he goes before us and with us. Timewise and location-wise, he is always with us as he provides His leadership. And we know He is able to do this because of his divine attributes:

1. He is eternal. Friends and family may pass away; but God is forever.
2. He is omnipresent—present everywhere all the time. Pastors may be called to another church, but God will never leave us.
3. He is all-powerful, and He is Good, so his power will aways be used to serve His good purposes.

We know from 1 John 4:8 that “God is Love.” In 1 Corinthians 13:7-8, we find the beautiful description of love—or–God, in that “(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” We can count on God to never forsake us.

I was studying Exodus in preparation for a Bible study and read this passage with a fresh perspective: “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long” (Exodus 14:19-20).

Most commentators interpret the “angel of God” to be God himself or Jesus, son of God. The angel of God had been leading Moses and the children of Israel from Exodus to the Promised Land, going before them as a pillar of fire by day and a cloud by night. The Egyptian army gained on them as they approached the Red Sea; seemingly, they were about to be captured. But God moved from in front (where the Israelites could see Him) to behind, to protect them. In other words, God literally “had their backs!”

How many times have I felt abandoned by God, when he was there with me all along. He was still with me even though I could not see him, because he was engaged in battle or protective maneuvers. Therefore, I should trust in Him and not be afraid or become discouraged.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

Own In Christ,

Judy

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  (Matthew 6:10).

The reference to “Kingdom of God” occurs thirty-one times in Luke’s gospel. Specifically, in Luke 4:43, Jesus preached “the good news of the kingdom.” What does the Kingdom of God imply? It implies that Jesus has overcome the enemy, He is the ruler, that he is the Victor! And it is good news because it means that he is redeeming a people from every nation, tribe, and tongue in fulfilment of God’s covenant promises, and that he is extending his rule until the day when “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Robert Browning, a renowned poet, penned these famous lines: “God’s in his heaven—All’s right with the world!^” This sounds lovely, but it is misleading. In analyzing the words, we can begin to realize that truth of the first part: God is in his heaven. However, the second part indicates a future state. All is not right with the world, right now. There is a deeper sense, though, that we as believers do belong to the Kingdom of Heaven now, but because Christ has not yet returned to bring us to our heavenly home, we still live in a corrupted world, a world where everything is not right. This divided state is sometimes called the “already/not yet.”

This scripture describes this already/not yet state: “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, “Here it is,” or “There it is,” because the kingdom of God is in your midst.’” (Luke 17:20-21). In other words, the Kingdom of God is now, but unbelievers are unable to see it because of their spiritual blindness. On the other hand, God has revealed the Kingdom to believers who can already enjoy many benefits of the Kingdom of God. For example:

1. Jesus has already completed his atoning work of salvation. “It is finished,” he declared from the cross.
2. Believers are already justified, that is, declared not guilty, through faith in Jesus Christ.
3. The Holy Spirit already indwells all believers.
4. Jesus ascended to heaven where he already sits “at the right hand of God.”
5. Resting on the promises already fulfilled, we can continue to rest with assurance on Jesus’ promise of ultimate victory for his bride, the Church. “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hadeswill not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

When you feel like things cannot get worse in this life, remember: As a believer, you are already redeemed and justified and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus is your King. This world is temporary, but we have the promise of eternal life with Jesus in Heaven.

And when you feel complacent or even contented with your life here on earth, remember to give all the glory to your Lord and Savior who is the source of all your benefits.

“On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:16).

In Christ,

Judy

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18).

My husband and I are dealing with internet insecurity issues right now. Our computers have been hacked, and we have been told that hackers are trying to access our bank accounts. We are feeling hunted, as if every time we turn on our computers we are at risk that our identity or resources will be stolen. It is not a good feeling. We are trying to create an impenetrable firewall to keep them out so that we can be secure.

I imagine I am feeling on a small degree how people must feel who live in countries where war is being fought—like Ukraine, for example. Where can they turn, where can they go, to be safe from the enemy? David spoke of this: “Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets” (Psalm 55:9-11).

 And in a different manner, how someone who has cancer or other invasive disease may feel—as if out of control from the advance of a deadly virus or bacteria or tumor. Again, the Psalmist writes, “My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body” (Psalm 38:7).

While not everyone deals with these issues, we are all dealing with an enemy that is constantly on the prowl looking for every weakness to invade and try to overtake us. We are advised to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

What is even worse about this enemy is that he is so deceitful. That is why the command to be alert and of sober mind, because otherwise we might not realize he is there. Like that internet hacker, lurking in the background–you think all is well, until it is too late. The money is gone, the screen is dead, the operating system does not work anymore.

Three things we know for sure:

1. We are not alone. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).
2. God already has a plan. We see this so clearly in the narrative describing the Exodus. As far back as Genesis, God tells Abraham: “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there” (Genesis 15:13). Then in Exodus we learn: “Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come” (Exodus 12:40-42). As we read in last Chaplain’s Corner, God knows the beginning and the end of all our problems, and he has a plan to use them for his purposes and glory. And why? As he says in Exodus 7:5 “And the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out of it.”
3. And finally, we know for sure that no matter what the enemy is up to, our God is stronger. God is building his church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. A mighty fortress is our God! “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2).

The Bible is referring to you and me in these passages; about all who believe. No matter what those hackers try to do to me, they cannot touch my soul and my promise of eternal life. The same is true for you. Whatever you are going through, God wins and therefore, so do you. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

In Christ,

Judy

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”  (Galatians 5:1).

There are so many types and degrees of slavery: ownership of one by another which is opposed to the natural rights we have as humans, tyranny of evil government, oppression by someone in authority (leader, employer, spouse), inability to get around because of disability–physical or mental, lack of resources, and addiction. Slavery can lead to despair, hopelessness, or desperate measures. Some of us know this all too well. Others of us may have never experienced anything so traumatic.

However, the Bible tells us that we are all slaves; Paul explains that we are slaves to whomever we obey. “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:16-18).

In Genesis 15, God portends a time of slavery:

“Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there” (Genesis 15:13). God gave Abram this promise as part of the unconditional covenant he made with him to make Abram a great nation. “He took him outside and said, ‘Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.’ Then he said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, ‘I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it’” (Genesis 15:5-7).

I realize that verse thirteen does not sound very hopeful at first read; especially if you were on the front side of history. However, in this verse I see a Sovereign God with a purpose beyond what we can understand at times. I also see a limit, an end time, when slavery and mistreatment will end. God was not only prophesying about the Israelites sojourn in Egypt and their rescue by Moses, but also our sojourn on this earth, corrupted by the Fall. It may feel hopeless, it may feel like there is no end in sight. But God has promised, and he has already demonstrated his power to fulfil his promises. He made a plan to rescue us from sin and sent His son Jesus to lead us to the ultimate Promised Land.

God continues by saying: ^“But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions” (Genesis 15:14). It was these possessions that would be used to build thebeautiful tabernacle, portable earthly dwelling place of God. Our great possessions, our rewards from faithful obedience, will be the crowns we lay before the throne of God when we reach our heavenly eternal home.

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. This was Abram’s legacy of freedom. Let this be your story of freedom.

In Christ,

Judy

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked “(Luke 6:35).

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God. He quotes from Deuteronomy 6:5 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus then goes on to quote from the royal law found in Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.” When Luke writes of this teaching by Jesus, he includes the Parable of the Good Samaritan as an example of how we should treat our neighbor, which seems to indicate anyone in proximity to us without regard for their religion, ethnicity, social status, etc. In other teachings and commandments, we are told to honor our parents and to care for the poor, orphans, widows, and aliens. That pretty much covers everyone except our enemies.

There are two typical reactions to enemies:

1. Confront, or 2. Avoid.

I fall into the latter category. Jesus; however, gives us a different command. He doesn’t tell us to confront or to avoid. And he doesn’t just tell us to be nice to our enemies, although that is implied. Rather, he tells us to love them, to do good to them, to lend without expecting repayment. This is just not humanly possible. This requires a heart change. This is radical!

But this also describes the Father’s love for us. This passage says that Jesus is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Ungrateful and wicked pretty much describes you and me, at least before our salvation. Without the saving grace of Jesus, we are enemies of God. “Whoever is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30). “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4). What an amazing act of grace for God to seek us when we ignore or reject Him.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

I remember the story of Joseph, a beloved son of Jacob. Because of Jacob’s favoritism, Joseph was hated by his brothers. They were enemies. When they saw Joseph coming, they first thought to kill him, then to abandon him in a pit, but then decided to sell him into slavery where he went to Egypt. Despite the mistreatment, when the tables turned and Joseph had an opportunity to exact his revenge, he instead offered them protection and protection. The brothers were understandably wary because they knew their own wicked hearts. “However, Joseph told them, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them” Genesis 50:20-21).

Joseph was reflecting God’s love, and his reward will surely be great. We can show the same kind of love for our enemies through the power of the Holy Spirit.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans5:8).

In Christ,

Judy

P.S.: If you would like to talk more about any of these devotions or matters that concern you, please stop by my office, or call or text me at 615-804-3453 to arrange a time, and I will be happy to speak with you.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19).

For believers, once we have accepted Christ we have an intense desire to be used by God. This is a desire that is placed in the heart of all believers by the Holy Spirit. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10). Even so, we often fear that we do not have what it takes.

The backstory to Matthew 4:19 is that Jesus has just begun his active ministry, having been baptized by John the Baptist and having completed his forty days in the wilderness. He had begun preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 4:17). When he encountered Andrew and Peter, who were fishing, he called to them to follow him. Andrew, at least, was already a disciple of John the Baptist, we learn from John 1:37. When John the Baptist told him who Jesus was (“Look, the Lamb of God!”), Andrew was ready to follow Jesus.

Andrew become one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He was not prominently mentioned during the Gospels. His claim to fame was extending the call to Peter, his brother. Based on Peter’s extensive accomplishments, that would have been useful enough. However, we do know from other writings that Andrew was a faithful evangelist after Jesus’ resurrection and was crucified for his ministry.

How can we be useful like Andrew and Peter and the other disciples? What did Andrew and Peter do when they were called? The very next verse tells us: “At once they left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:20). It is not that they did not have anything else to do. They were gainfully employed with families to support. From an extensive reading of the Scriptures, it seems that the key requirement is responding to the call. That is all. There are really no excuses:

1. Age is not an excuse (neither youth nor old age).
   1. Elizabeth (Luke 1:36)
   1. Joshua (Joshua 13:1)
   1. David (1 Samuel 16:1-13), (1 Samuel 17:42)
   1. Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12)
2. Lack of ability is not an excuse.
   1. Moses (Exodus 4:10)
   1. Paul (1 Corinthians 2:1)
3. Your past mistakes are not an excuse.
   1. Rahab (Joshua 2:1)
   1. David (2 Samuel 11)
   1. Saul/Paul (Acts 8:3)
4. Lack of education or social status is not an excuse.
   1. Peter, John, Andrew, James, et al (Acts 4:13)

I am very blessed to participate in a Bible study with our women who are experiencing homelessness. Several of the women expressed to me last week their desire to be used by God, even while living in a shelter. We had a good discussion. We talked about how often all we must do is look right around us to find ways we can share our faith, help where needed, offer an encouraging word, or just set an example of love and compassion.

It is a privilege to be used by God in the furtherance of the gospel. It is one not to take for granted. Like Andrew and Peter, when Jesus calls, let us immediately follow Him.

“How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
 “Your God reigns!”

(Isaiah 52:7).

In Christ,

Judy