Marriage should be for keeps … at least in this life.
A biblical marriage is one in which two people, one man and one woman, covenant to stay together for life on earth. God created the first humans to be connected to each other in a way that would demonstrate what covenantal commitment is (when it’s properly carried out). Although it was instituted by God with the first humans, it is important to note that marriage itself was always meant to be a temporary institution.

“Marriage is a pre-political institution. It existed long before the state existed. And all that recent governments have done is created legal protections and privileges that provide the married couple with some benefits. But the state did not create marriages.
Marriage is a God-ordained institution, not a government-ordained institution.”
Christianity Today

I agree that marriage existed long before the state gave it a sanctioned status. Because it is God who ordained it, marriage is sacred in that it is holy, spiritual, and set apart by Him. It should be viewed as more than just a temporary legal contract. In God’s eyes (based on the limited scriptures we have), the covenant of marriage represents a permanent, faithful promise made before Him. It is in this realm of covenant that I am convinced we have made sacred what God never intended to be so. Scripture has always taught that what is most sacred is the covenant … not the marriage. When temptations, trials and troubles come against a couple in a covenant, it is the covenant that keeps them. The covenant binds them together in truthfulness, faithfulness and righteousness. Although they have committed to one another to stay, they also are committed to the covenant itself. That is what makes a marriage meaningful.

Though I would not typically weigh in on something so serious or specific of which I personally know so little, enough people are being impacted by the recent documentary, “Death of the Pastors Wife,” I feel I must speak up (through my writing). After all, I am a pastor’s wife! And I’ve counseled enough women to know this is not an isolated incident, though this particular one seems extremely malicious and even criminal.
As I watched the three-part series, I found myself in deep grief. A combination of biblical sorrow and anger made its way into my soul to the point of becoming a “how long?!” cry to the Lord. I know that some of my agony stems from the ways the Church has (maybe unintentionally in most cases) talked about the sanctity of marriage in such a way that it undermines the very things a godly marriage is meant to display. We do not honor marriage by asking someone to endure what God never called marriage to be.

After watching the documentary, I decided it was important to clarify what scripture teaches and admit where we might have misrepresented God’s intention for the covenant relationship between a man and woman - the one we call marriage. There are important aspects of covenant we simply must not overlook when we talk about marriage. It’s important to note that although one spouse can strive to live out biblical principles (such as love, patience, and forgiveness), a true covenantal marriage relies on the joint participation of both individuals. When only one person honors the vows, the relationship ceases to function as the mutual partnership God designed, even if the abandoned spouse remains morally committed to the ideal. Marriage was never meant to be a place where one person’s sin is protected by the other person’s obedience. When we say “marriage is a covenant” it should not communicate “the victim of covenant-breaking must bear the covenant-breaker’s sin in order to preserve the covenant.” This is in no way biblical.

One thing I want you to know about me if you don’t: I believe with everything in me that God takes the marriage covenant profoundly seriously. But it is precisely because He takes marriage so seriously that He does not ask us to call covenant-breaking, oppression, or abandonment a ‘marriage.’ I realize there is room for both tenderness and truth here. We can, and we should, say that marriage is sacred. From the beginning, God planned to send His Son to save us from our sin, instituting marriage as a picture to the world of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But we need to understand that the picture is only as good as the promises kept. It is the covenant that makes marriage sacred. When it is broken, it changes the state of the marriage as it was meant to be. And because of that, there simply must be space for divorce to be a grievous occurrence without making innocent divorced people feel they wear adulterer status for life.

As I’ve pondered this, prayed about it, and studied what the scriptures mean, I’ve realized the church doesn’t need to speak less about the holiness of marriage. We need to speak more about it! And we need to speak about it so that we understand what we are defending when we emphasize its sacredness. Reducing marriage to a binding agreement, void of covenant keeping, is misrepresenting its nature. It invites pretense to become a way living as not to violate the permanence factor. I’ve witnessed marriage situations where fear is disguised as faithfulness, enabling is disguised as forgiveness, being controlled is disguised as covenant or commitment, and pretending everything is ok is an attempt to stay true to a false hope of possible reconciliation. But the gospel does not teach us to protect the appearance of righteousness while ignoring the reality of unrighteousness. Jesus was constantly confronting that kind of religious thinking.

When we understand biblical marriage in the way it was meant to be, and we are committed to protecting spouses from someone who is not living as a married person, we are protecting the sanctity of marriage. When we refuse to let the abuse of marriage be interpreted as the preservation of marriage, we are correctly applying the real meaning of marriage. I’ve worked through this in the last few years, starting with Genesis 2. I started there because I wanted to understand the meaning of covenant marriage. It is described as two people, male and female, becoming “one flesh.” That means a oneness in friendship, in sexual relations, in mutual belonging, in selflessness and in covenant. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5 that marriage is meant to be a living picture of Christ and His church. If it’s anything at all, Christlike headship is self-giving love measured by the cross. Although a marriage doesn’t necessarily have to end if one or the other isn’t living a life in obedience to Christ, it is important to consider what biblical marriage is when we talk about divorce.

As I was studying the scriptures, I noticed that God seems more concerned with a covenant being betrayed than a marriage ending. Although God is often quoted as being One who hates divorce (from Malachi, ‘I hate divorce’), He makes it clear in the passage that what He hates is men dealing treacherously with their wives and breaking covenant faithfulness. The passage is not meant to provide us a flat statement about God’s view on divorce. It is exposing the faithlessness that destroys covenant. The question is not, “How do we keep this marriage intact?” as much as it is “What has happened to the covenant here?” A marriage can have a legal certificate and still be profoundly violated by the person who breaks their promise to love. Scriptures’ teaching on the way God’s people should treat one another is remarkably clear. It speaks to husbands and wives and children and parents and neighbors. It continually condemns oppression, deceit, and the misuse of power.
At some point, we must realize that preserving the institution of marriage at the expense of the person God created is not biblical faithfulness. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul recognizes there are circumstances in which one person’s choices fundamentally alter what is possible. And even though God’s call is to peace, avoiding divorce is not necessarily the peaceful option. God’s call to marriage cannot be interpreted as a command to live perpetually under destruction and oppression.

Jesus’ treatment of broken people should most shape how we talk about divorce. This is something we, as believers, desperately need to recover. You just can’t notice that Jesus always, always sees a person. That’s important because sometimes our theological conversations become so focused on whether someone has crossed a particular line that we forget there is a wounded human being standing in front of us. It grieves me the way this has sometimes been communicated when it comes to a marriage ending. We can give the impression we are more afraid of a woman getting divorced than we are of a man who has become the kind of husband from whom she needs separation.* If we truly believe marriage is sacred, then we should be passionate about creating marriages that are worthy of the name. Much of my grief is due to the ways in which something that should have been beautiful has been distorted in the name of preserving it.

I am not anti-marriage, and I never want to make Scripture say something to be more palatable for people I love. I have been graced to have experienced all the blessings that come from a godly covenantal marriage. It is one of the biggest graces in my life. But I also want the whole counsel of Scripture to speak to all the marriages which need the voice of Truth. I hope (and pray) this is a righteous desire to see marriage become what Scripture says it is. As I mentioned previously, the temptation to use forgiveness to disguise the enabling of continued wicked behavior is a real issue in marriages within the church. And I need this to be understood: Biblical forgiveness does not mean pretending nothing happened or removing consequences for the one committing the offense. It also does not mean remaining accessible to someone who is dangerous or is refusing the given boundaries. Enabling someone else’s sin is not what forgiveness is. We really need to keep preaching this truth to those in destructive relationships: Forgiveness and reconciliation are not the same thing. Reconciliation requires repentance and changed behavior.

So …
Marriage is a covenant, and we should honor covenant.
Divorce is grievous, and we should not treat it casually.
Sin destroys covenant, and we should confront sin rather than ask the wounded person to absorb its consequences indefinitely.
God loves covenantal marriage, and we should teach people how to love, serve, forgive, repent, and remain faithful.
God loves people most of all, and we should never make preserving a marriage more important than protecting the person inside it.

It is Jesus’s love for His church that is the ultimate meaning of marriage. This is the message we seek to live out as we make and keep our vows, anticipating the coming marriage supper of the Lamb we read about in Revelation 19. For those of us who do so, we have been right to defend the sanctity of marriage. None of my words are meant to be an argument against biblical marriage. Instead, I am making a plea for the church to recover the biblical meaning of marriage. Though there are consequences when humans separate what God has joined together, it is the covenant breaker who is responsible before God. In defending the institute of marriage, let’s not forgot to defend the people marriage was meant to serve and the gospel it is meant to proclaim.

Important Note:
Underneath it all is the character of Jesus, the One who never used truth to crush the wounded, nor did He ever use grace to excuse sin.
Thankfully, this is the posture of most of the spiritual leaders I know personally, including my current pastor who knows what covenantal marriage is and isn’t. And I’m deeply grateful for his (and so many others) biblical stance on this weighty matter.

* Men and women can be guilty of breaking the covenant. I specified women here because they are the ones to usually seek counsel from their church.

In a garden called Gethsemane, Jesus cried out to His Father in a way we never saw Him pray before. But it is a prayer we must never forget. Although we hear the victory cry from the cross (tetelestai!), I believe the victory began and was solidified in Gethsemane. Camus calls the nights of our own Gethsemane an ‘absurd victory,’ and I am convinced there is a crucial lesson we must not miss in Jesus’ struggle. I think it’s worth repeating to ourselves as we daily preach the gospel to our hearts: Temptations are common to humans. Even Jesus was faced with them, but without sinning. It is not the temptations themselves that will destroy us . . .

Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There He told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,
“Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and He said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” . . . and He became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me.”
He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”
Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with Me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.
Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” When He returned to them again, He found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
So He went to pray a third time, saying the same things again.
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬

The Person

As I write, I am aware that I must be so very careful with this.
I don’t want to miscommunicate the significant event in Gethsemane, and I admit there is a divine mystery here we must hold. In some ways, the incarnation of Christ defies ordinary human categorization. Theologians would argue He is much more than an anomaly, understanding Him to be the planned focus of creation. The apostle Paul refers to Jesus as the “second Adam” and all the New Testament writers convey that He is the very standard by which reality and salvation are measured. The early church consistently taught that Jesus is one Person, possessing a fully divine nature and a fully human nature. “Christ has two natural wills, divine and human, and His human will is not opposed or resistant to His divine will; rather, it willingly follows and submits to it.” (The Third Council of Constantinople in AD 680-681) The church fathers were not saying that He had two competing consciences or natures, and neither do I say that.
Fully God. Fully Man.

“For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity,
Christ Jesus, Himself human,
Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, revealing God’s purpose at His appointed time.”
1 Timothy 2

In His human nature, Jesus never once acted or thought in a way contrary to His divine nature. He always wanted what the Father wanted even as He was wanting the things that a human properly wants. (Satan tried multiple times to test/tempt Jesus to move from natural human desires to sinful ones.) We can be sure that Jesus was not praying, “I don’t want this,” as though His human will was pulling away from the Father’s will. That would suggest an inner conflict of Jesus that Scripture doesn’t teach. Although the human will of Jesus was authentically expressed as He considered the excruciating experience (including, but not limited to, becoming sin on our behalf) that awaited Him, His request of the Father did not imply a refusal to obey Him. No, no, no. There was no sin in Him! Ever. I have come to believe, therefore, it is of utmost importance that we understand Gethsemane’s portrait of Jesus. When He asked for the cup to be removed, it was not a prayer of disapproval or rejection of the Father’s plan. But it was a human desire - without sin - for the Father to remove this particular agony. Since the scriptures tell us that death is an enemy, it is natural for any person to not want to suffer and die. Of course Jesus desired life rather than death! He was human!
Stunning, isn’t it?! It is why the Gethsemane Pray-er is so precious to me. Jesus put on flesh so He could die for flesh, and this garden moment may be the most significant illustration of His own humanity. Based on the descriptive words used by the gospel writers, I believe it was the hardest moment of His life on earth. (And he’d had some difficult moments!) The Gethsemane hours reveal how far the Son would go to redeem us, and the depths of His human sorrow as it was unfolding.

“Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death — that is, the devil — and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. Therefore, He had to be like His brothers and sisters in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since He Himself has suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2

The Place.

Gethsemane’s location on the Mount of Olives is not without significance. Beyond the ridge, the land itself camouflages the presence of anyone needing a natural concealment from authorities. That means that Jesus physically stood at ‘the door of escape’. Within just an hour, He could have walked far enough away to disappear from the ones who would come to arrest Him. He had ‘disappeared in the crowd’ several times before that moment. But on this day, the day for which He was intentionally waiting, He turned His back on the escape door to face God’s will that lay in front of Him. He could have so easily saved Himself in that moment, yet He submitted to His Father’s will.

Gethsemane, then, was not revealing a Son who was trying to convince Himself to obey His Father. It was revealing the paradoxical nature of a Son who fully embraced the Father’s will, even as His human nature experienced the deepest possible horror of what obedience cost. Know this: Jesus didn’t save us by being less human! He saved us as the truly-human One who, unlike the first Adam, trusted the Father perfectly. The first Adam in the first garden said “My will over Yours, God.” The second Adam in another garden prayed, “Not My will but Yours, God.” The posture and prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane offers us an example of how to escape the snare of the enemy of our souls, though not necessarily the suffering, as we surrender to God’s good will and purposes.

The Prayer.

Please take this cup of suffering away from Me.
We might have imagined something different if it wasn’t recorded for us. Maybe we expected Jesus to pray something more kingdom-focused like, “God, whatever You want is exactly what I want.” But He didn’t pray exactly like that. He instead prayed like any son who recognizes that what is coming will completely empty him of every bit of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual stamina he’s ever possessed.
Yes, the prayer in Gethsemane helps us understand that surrender isn’t the absence of desire for something else. It’s much more profound. What was happening in Jesus’ request was showing us complete trust and obedience in God’s way, whatever that way would include. In essence, Jesus way praying, Father, this is not what I want in My humanity. But I trust You more than I trust what I want.

Nevertheless.
Jesus shows us that praying “Please take this from me” is not necessarily unbelief. As the perfect Son, He did not make this request out of uncertainty about God’s goodness or greatness. He knew the Father could remove the cup just as much as He knew the Father’s purposes were greater than His immediate relief. By faith, we attempt to grasp this distinction between natural human desire and moral opposition to God’s will, because Jesus experienced the first but never the second! Jesus’ will was totally surrendered to the Father even as His humanity grimaced under the weight of His anguish. The Gospels repeatedly emphasize the ‘absolute paradox’ (Kierkegaard) of the God-Man, which I believe peaks in Gethsemane where our Lord and Savior submits to God the Father in deliberate surrender as a Son. His “nevertheless” teaches us that the holiest heart posture is demonstrated when we surrender to the will of God even when our natural human desires ruthlessly press against it.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
During His earthly life, He offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Hebrews 4

These truth offers us a rich understanding of the necessity of prayer in our fight against the enemy’s schemes. We don’t have to pretend we have no natural desires, fears, or grief. We can come boldly to our Father and ask for relief in our suffering and trials. But the key to bringing our sincere pleas and honest feelings to the Father is that we are able to include a “nevertheless.” When He prayed in the garden, Jesus was showing us what it looks like when humanity surrenders to God’s will rather than choosing an alternative, even a reasonable one. His obedience leads me to consider my own human response to suffering. Because of the idolatry that lingers in my old self, I must constantly resist the type of surrender that comes with a condition attached to it. Instead of praying a “nevertheless” prayer, I have found myself saying “anything but this, Lord.” Suffering can often expose what resides within me, revealing a deeper issue. It may not be what I actually verbalize to God, but sometimes my heart holds something different than full surrender when it thinks: “I don’t trust You with this, God, and I don’t believe this could possibly be good, so I want my will more than I want Yours if this means losing.”

Although it’s very human to shrink away from suffering, when we make demands of God we cross a line and move into unholy territory. Jesus experienced the former without the latter. He could say, “Father, take this cup away from Me,” while His heart remained completely yielded to the Father. There was no heart of rebellion within Himself that held onto or sought glory apart from God’s plan (as the first Adam did). Since I’m very aware of my tendency in trials to not trust God, each time I sing the words, ‘Jesus is better. Make my heart believe,’ I am singing a prayer from the depths of my soul!

The Purpose.

Think of Him who endured such opposition against Himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.
Hebrews 12

Think of Him!
Jesus didn’t merely tell us how to yield to God’s will, He is the One who submitted perfectly on our behalf. And now, by the power of His Spirit, we are able to follow Him into that same posture. This very thing I do not want may be precisely what God is asking of me so that I might demonstrate His power and glory by declaring, “Your will be done!" Not because this isn’t painful, and not because this doesn’t matter to Him. But because the Father is trustworthy even in this. At the moment of fear and doubt, I must cling to what I know is true. To Who I know is true. Times of deep sorrow call for the kind of trust that can accept when God says “My grace is sufficient” instead of “healing is yours.” I’ve learned that it is not because He delights in our suffering, but because He delights in our sanctification. I have witnessed again and again that He is working something in those who trust Him through the pain. It is in the posture of surrender and trust that Jesus becomes such a beautiful Savior for us.

Although He was the Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ 5‭

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.”
1 Corinthians 10

One of the most sanctifying realizations is that sometimes the thing we’re asking God to remove is the very thing He intends to use to make us more like Christ. It’s where Gethsemane becomes both a comfort and an invitation. One blogger wrote, Maybe the whole reason I was born is so I can sit with Christ for an hour in the Garden at Gethsemane. Whew! Though my good Shepherd has mercy for my ‘anything but this’ moments, He invites me to move from that posture to ‘nevertheless.’
For.My.Good.
Sometimes it takes a longer stay in the prayer garden to get to that, but I’m willing to keep pursuing the kind of faith that prays, “Father, I don’t desire this suffering, and my heart is tempted to resist You because of it, BUT …
teach me to want You more than I want relief.”

And maybe, just maybe, nevertheless will settle into my soul like it has always been meant to be.

We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory. What shall we say about such wonderful things as these …
If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself.
Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
Romans 8

The story of Jesus’ coming is all too often relegated to the Christmas season. Although most people (especially in the west) recognize the image of His birth in silhouette form, limiting the significance of His coming to a holiday vibe often diminishes the importance of faith and repentance in The Story. Maybe His entrance into the world was near December, and maybe it wasn’t. But the purpose of His coming is not at all about the when. It’s all about the Who and the why.
Jesus came to the earth as a human! And it changed everything. (So I’d encourage you not to skip this one just because it’s a familiar story to you. And even though it may take a longer sitting to get through it.)

My readers know I can use many words to share my thoughts about life from my vantage point. But I simply can’t justify using my words to talk about God’s goodness without zeroing in, from time to time, on the purpose of Christ’s coming. Paul said “everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Although I am fairly certain that in all my writing I give credit to God for all that’s good in my life, I want to be sure that I keep telling you that it is knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior that is the foundation of my peace and joy and hope. “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ since it is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes. What is most important is that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”

The gospel.
It is the good news that Jesus Christ came to earth to live a sinless life, die on the cross for humanity’s sin, and rise from the dead to declare His power over the grave. Those who believe and receive this work of Christ as the only way to God, are given eternal life and peace with Him. The Story we sing using the above lyrics takes us from the incarnation through the resurrection and return of Christ. It tells why He came. Scripture’s version goes like this…

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through Him God create everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.
And though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave, and was born as a human being. The Word made His home among us. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required. A man named Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen Your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!’ When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.
(John 1, Phil 2, Matt 2, Luke 2)

Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His public ministry. One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus Himself was baptized. As He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on Him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, ‘You are My dearly loved Son, and you bring Me great joy.’
Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. When He returned to the village of Nazareth, His boyhood home, He went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, for He has anointed Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.’ He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at Him intently. Then He began to speak to them. ‘The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!’

Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for Him, and when they finally found Him, they begged him not to leave them. But He replied, ‘I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.’ So He continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea. When the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked His disciples, ‘Why does He eat with such scum?^’ When Jesus heard this, He told them, ‘Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.’
Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And the apostles were witnesses of all He did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem.
(Luke 4-5, Mark 6, Acts 10)

It was time for the Passover celebration, and Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this world and return to His Father. He had loved His disciples during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end. Jesus knew that the Father had given Him authority over everything and that He had come from God and would return to God.
Jesus said ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in Me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with Me where I am. I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.’
His disciples said, ‘Now we understand that You know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that You came from God.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘I am not alone because the Father is with Me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.’
After saying these things, a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, arrived at the olive grove. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him, so He stepped forward to meet them. ‘Who are you looking for?’ He asked. ‘Jesus the Nazarene,’ they replied. ‘I am He,’ Jesus said, and they all drew back and fell to the ground! ‘I am the One you want, let these others go.’ So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied Him up.
(John 14-18)

When they had nailed Him to the cross, Pilate posted a sign on the cross that read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews.’ The leading priests objected and said to Pilate, ‘Change it to ‘He said, I am King of the Jews.’ Pilate replied, ‘No, what I have written, I have written.’
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. And God made Him who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.
At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have You abandoned me?’ Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, ‘It is finished!’
Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. Jesus humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
(Matt 27, John 19, 2 Cor 5, Phil 2)

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. Two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. ‘Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day.’ Then they remembered that He had said this.
That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus Himself suddenly came and began walking with them. Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
(Luke 24)

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, “Lord, has the time come for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom?’ He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After saying this, He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see Him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from heaven in the same way you saw Him go. Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem.

On the day of Pentecost, all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd. ‘People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through Him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and His prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed Him to a cross and killed Him. But God released Him from the horrors of death and raised Him back to life, for death could not keep Him in its grip.
Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave Him among the dead or allow His body to rot in the grave. God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. .
He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. Just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory. So even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.
(Acts 1-2, Rom 1, Rom 8, Col 1)

And now He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God His Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen. Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. Yes! Amen!
‘I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.’ (Phil 2, Rev 1)

What a story!
Definitely not a story to be reserved for certain seasons. Our Creator God, in Jesus, came to rescue humanity and return us to an eternity with Him. We are the reason He came. And He came not merely bringing God’s Word or pointing us toward God’s light. He IS the Word and He IS the Light. It is through God putting on flesh - experiencing death and resurrection - that we are reconciled to Him. And the glorious truth is that reconciliation doesn’t end with Jesus dying or rising from the dead. It ends with His promise.

“So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.”

Ephesians 1

So … we praise God! Look at what He has done! Look at who He is! Look at what He came to accomplish! Paul was reminding the Ephesians what God has done so their hearts would respond in worship. What Christ has done should always be the motivation of how we live, to the praise of God. It is what preaching the gospel to ourselves everyday is all about.

This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; He alone is God. Amen.

I’ll let the chorus in the song I began with sound the benediction of my post.

That’s why we praise Him.
That’s why we sing.
That’s why we offer Him our everything.
That’s why we bow down and worship the King.
‘Cause He gave His everything!!

Watch The Story Film

By nature, I thrive on knowing what’s next. I know this is a natured behavior rather than a nurtured one because I have had to push against it for much of my life. Thankfully, I was raised by parents who wanted me to understand that the practice of accommodating others usually produces a more peaceful and contented life. In my formative adolescent years, they patiently directed me toward accepting a change of plans and cooperating in certain circumstances that required a degree of adaptability. The lessons have served me well since it was eventually revealed to me that most people aren’t living just to make me happy.

To be fair to our good ol’ human nature, we all come with natural bents. In themselves they aren’t always bad, and most of us long for others to accept and accommodate for what feels normal to us. Schedulers desire for others to appreciate order. Those who live more spontaneously hope that people will join them in their enthusiasm over an impromptu plan. Since neither approach is inherently right or wrong, let’s agree that different only means different. In fact, God often uses our differences to shape us. The impulsive people in my life have stretched me in ways I never would have chosen for myself. They have strengthened a “risk muscle” I didn’t know I needed.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous writing, Brent’s recent changes have us navigating more moments which stand by themselves, less connected to the previous ones or the following ones. And since this is not my natural bent, it calls for adjustment in my attitude and in my behavior. That is when I bring to mind three important words of my favorite hymn: strength for today.

Today is where faith walks.

This week I’ve been thinking about how my current season is truly a lesson in the good purposes of God’s. Maybe what is unfolding is the answer to many of the prayers I have prayed for God to sanctify me, purify me, and teach me to trust Him more completely. I know what biblical faith is. (The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is evidence of what is not seen.) But we can all probably give a testimony to how this is only fully grasped when we’re living in it. So I keep praying for grace to receive - by faith - the good moment I’m in (which is seen), even if it never grows into the hour or days I hoped (which is unseen). This is the evidence of faith. And it is God’s work!

Tim Keller has said that when we fully comprehend the gospel, it will free us from the belief that everything depends on us. And more and more I see how it requires a commitment to trust in the finished work of Christ … alone. It is a confidence in what He did on the cross (not passivity or laziness) that helps me rest in the hope that God is faithfully accomplishing His purposes even when my plans are interrupted. I’m preaching to my soul: I’m dressed in His righteousness alone!

“I rejoice greatly in the Lord, I exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a groom wears a turban and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah‬ ‭61‬)

“I consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith.

Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself. (Philippians‬ ‭3‬)

“Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (Corinthians‬ ‭5‬)

Christ is my righteousness. And yet we are becoming His righteousness. Amazingly, righteousness is both a status that is graced us by God and a real-life transformation happening in us over time. We sing this prayer: You’re My one defense, my righteousness. Oh God, how I need You!

I’m realizing one of the unexpected gains in these days of uncertainty is the way God is teaching me to acknowledge my need. I can’t help but notice that peace comes by daily walking in and with Jesus. Just recently I mentioned to a friend that God sanctifies us by allowing circumstances that require us to live contrary to our natural wiring. And since I have often prayed for more patience, trust, surrender, and contentment, I just have to believe that my prayers for God to sanctify me and purify me are being answered in these days. C. S. Lewis wrote that “Relying on God has to begin all over again everyday as if nothing had yet been done.”

A long obedience in the same direction.

My desire as a writer is to write the right things that will encourage others. But much more than that, I pray I’m living out the right things to honor my good Father. If all I’m doing is merely analyzing and recording the truths I learn, it’s wasting my time and bringing me a false sense of security. What I really need is to allow them to reshape the way I respond to a life I didn’t expect. The Christian life has never been about accumulating thoughts, however true or right they may be. It’s about being transformed by the Truth Himself.

Most of us understand that the Christian life is lived on ordinary Tuesdays, which possibly include interrupted plans and shifted routines due to outside circumstances. This is life. As believers, it is the sanctifying life! And sometimes we don’t recognize how much God has changed us until we notice we’re responding differently than we once would have. I am so thankful God is patient with all of us. He knows us and works with us and waits for us. The apostle John revealed that the disciples did not understand Jesus’ words or actions at the time. Only after His resurrection did they remember and understand. When they looked back and realized what God had been teaching them all along, their hindsight led them to worship. That’s my life, too! The only way to see the goodness of God running after me is to look back at the ways He’s brought me through the fire and the darkest nights.

When you cannot trace His hand, trust His heart.

Even though I have known that God doesn’t promise to show us the entire road, leaning into His promises to only direct the next step is not always easy. I sure hope that years from now I will look back on this season and realize how God was using it. Hindsight may just reveal that while I thought I was learning how to live one moment at a time, God was actually teaching me to rest in Him one moment at a time. In his book The Mystery of Providence, John Flavel wrote, “The providence of God is like Hebrew [words] – it can only be read backwards.” He wasn’t saying we can understand everything in hindsight. Rather, he meant that God’s providence often becomes clearer only after we’ve walked through it. While we’re in the middle of the story, events can seem confusing or even contradictory. It’s in looking back that we begin to see threads of God’s wisdom that were invisible at the time.

Whether or not every detail unfolds exactly as I hope, I can see God’s faithfulness most clearly in hindsight. And I do hope my encouragement to others to trust God isn’t an attempt to offer an easy answer, but a witness to a faithful God in the middle of unanswered questions. So, you have permission to check me on it. I’m very aware that those who are closest to me know if I am simply mastering a new doctrine or if I’m being mastered by Jesus.

Scripture teaches us that even when we do not understand God’s ways, we do know His character. And in His good providence, He’s doing good things. His providence is not merely reacting to our lives, but it is His weaving of every thread, even painful ones, into His good purposes. In Romans 8, Paul surprisingly says that God’s greatest promise is not primarily that life will work out as we planned, but that we are being conformed to the image of Christ. In His Word, God has revealed to us that as we are in the present, we are reading only one page of a story whose Author already knows the ending.

I’ll close with this thought.

What we know from Genesis 39 is that “the Lord was with Joseph” in ways he may not have noticed or understood at the time. But years later he was able to say to his brothers, “You planned evil against me but God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people.” I only recently realized that Joseph couldn’t have said this from the pit or the prison. He could only say it after years of watching God’s hand unfold. In essence, Joseph had learned that:

God is IN this.

God is FOR me.

My life is but a weaving between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
and I in foolish pride forget He sees the upper,
and I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly will God unroll the canvas and reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful in the weaver’s skillful hand as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares;
nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those who leave the choice to Him.

Corrie ten Boom

You may not feel okay right now. It means you’re a human who is waiting, hoping and longing to be made new. Thankfully our feelings are not the end of the story. We can know that not feeling okay doesn’t mean we’re not okay.

“For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

IGBOK

It is because of the disorientating nature of darkness that some of us fear it. We lose our bearings in the dark, and we cannot see the path ahead. In those moments, we question what might be above us or below us or around us. And fear only mounts as the dark get darker. Even in the moments we may decide to move forward slowly, grasping for something familiar in which we can illuminate the dark, fear magnifies the effects of darkness. The darkness becomes especially loud when we are walking through a dark room and discover that the light switch - the one we finally felt our way to - doesn’t work. There have been certain seasons of darkness in which I reached for certainty to only find more questions. I searched for direction from God’s word and prayer but found silence instead.
I admit I’ve wondered if God can see me stumbling around in dark, feeling mostly dread and fear of what might be next. Maybe you’ve prayed for Him to reach out His hand toward you through the darkness so that you can grasp it tight, but the comforting touch of the good Shepherd hasn’t emerged as quickly as you hoped.
I’ve been there.

But this I’ve come to know: The darkness that limits me does not limit Him! God has never squinted into my circumstances nor has He ever been surprised or confused by them. From Genesis to Revelation, the story of redemption is revealed by a movement from darkness to light. We can be assured that the darkness has never threatened God, because light has always flowed from Him.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night” — even the darkness is not dark to You. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you. For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with You.
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬

Light.
It is much more than a metaphor in Scripture. It is woven through it from the beginning, revealing who God is and how He relates to His people. The most vivid contrast is that while darkness is often the setting of our experience, light is the unchanging reality of God’s presence. The first recorded words of God in Scripture reveal His very nature. God brings order from chaos, hope from emptiness, and … light into darkness! From the very beginning, darkness has never been an obstacle to Him. And it is His everlasting light that shines into our hearts and illuminates what was hidden from our sight before. That is, the face of Jesus!

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.
Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.”
And it was so. God made the two great lights — the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night — as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1

The god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
‭‭For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ.
Now we have THIS treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. Therefore we do not give up!
Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬

God never asks me to pretend the darkness isn’t dark. He simply reminds me that it isn’t dark to Him. The God who declared, “Let there be light,” has never been intimidated by the night. He is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. His presence is not diminished by our circumstance and His wisdom is not clouded by our confusion. His love does not become uncertain because our future is. As a child, I thought it was the darkness that was my enemy. But as I’ve walked in the light of the Lord for all these years, I have learned that my peace was never dependent on the lights being on. It was always dependent on Who was with me. It is why I’m able to sincerely sing “When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace. In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.” And I have to believe it’s why David could write, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley [or shadow of death], I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.”

Even though.
Even when.
Even as.
In this life, there will be a valley for you and for me. But in the valley, even in the valley, it is not darkness to God because the presence of the Shepherd brings the light. It turns out that the opposite of dread is not daylight. It is the certainty of the presence of God. And when He is present, dread no longer has the final word.

How priceless Your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. For the wellspring of life is with you. By means of Your light we see light. Spread Your faithful love over those who know You, and Your righteousness over the upright in heart.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭36‬

No guilt in life, no fear in death, THIS is the power of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand.
Till He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife;
who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God Thy gold refine ‘til all success be nobleness, and every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on Thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!

In light of my recent enthusiasm around the US soccer team advancing to play for the World Cup, along with the country’s 250th birthday celebration, I am trying to find the right question to ask myself.

“Should I love my country?” is not the question I should ask. “How do I love my country in a way that helps me love Christ even more?” seems to be a more biblically appropriate question.

On any given Sunday, believers in America are joined spiritually by brothers and sisters worshiping across the globe. Some are in underground churches in Asia while others are meeting quietly in homes spread out through the Middle East. Still others sing under trees in Africa as those across the way gather in cathedrals throughout Europe. Some of these worship in freedom, though many more than we would think worship at tremendous personal cost. There’s something about the gathering of God’s people that always reminds me of what God said to the depressed prophet Elijah. “I have left seven thousand for Myself who have not bowed down to Baal!”  Paul goes on to write to the believers in Rome: “In the same way, then, there is also at the present time a remnant chosen by grace.”

I can’t help but believe, then, that the centerpiece of our worship today must never become the nation in which we happen to live. Even if it’s a good one. As we gather this weekend under one flag, millions of believers spread across the globe will gather under others. We want to keep that perspective as we celebrate, because God indeed has a People … all over the world! The global message to the believers in the scriptures (especially Acts-Revelation) was one of challenge and encouragement. The writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, focused on the hope that every believer has as part of a future kingdom that will include all the nations:

One kingdom - a kingdom made up of every tribe and language and people and nation.

One voice - proclaiming the worth of Jesus

One LORD - the Lamb on the throne

So how does that inform my heart in the present day? It reminds me that just as the local church, gathered thousands of years ago under the shadow of the Roman Empire, was instructed to pray for the rulers and governing authorities, so should we. As united believers, we should thank God for His mercy on our nation these 250 years. We should intercede for our leaders by asking God to grant peace, justice, and righteousness in the land we love.

Beyond that, believers were taught to lawfully pay the taxes that were due, even when they disagreed with the ones who collected them. And so should we. Surprisingly, Jesus instructed His followers to have financial integrity in their own personal finances as it pertained to their oppressors. Just as their ultimate allegiance and spiritual devotion were to God, and knowing earthly rulers are flawed, people should still fulfill their governmental duties.

Most of all, just as the people of God were instructed to live peaceably with all their neighbors as much as it depended on them, so should we. We are called to be a part of the great reconciliation - the one that connects us to each other as we are connected to the God of the universe through Jesus Christ.

This way of thinking shouldn’t diminish my love for my country as I consider its place in the kingdom of God. I hope it puts that love in its proper position… beneath a greater allegiance. “Rightly ordered loves” is a biblical way of thinking about our allegiances. Sin often consists of loving good things in the wrong order. I don’t believe scripture is calling me to love my country less. But I do believe it calls me to love Christ and His global church most! And that call stirs me to love and serve my neighbors, the ones all over the world.

The Church of Jesus Christ has outlived every empire it has ever known. It outlived Rome. It outlived Byzantium. It outlived the British Empire. One day it will outlive the United States as well. And it is not because America is unimportant to God. It is because every earthly nation has an expiration date. Long after every earthly nation has risen and fallen, the kingdom of Christ will still stand. That is why Christians can be the best citizens of their country without ever confusing their country with the Kingdom of God.

So how do I love my country in a way that helps me love Christ even more?

I can stand respectfully for the national anthem while remembering that one day every anthem will be silenced before the throne of Christ, and millions of voices will join the same chorus: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord!

I can celebrate a gold medal won by our country while rejoicing even more that God is gathering worshipers from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

I can thank God for personal freedoms while remembering that millions of faithful believers worship Christ under governments very different from our own.

Jesus promised to build His Church. He is where Christians place their deepest loyalty, their highest love, and their greatest hope. One day every flag that represents a nation will give way to a far greater banner of glory stretched brilliantly across the sky as the heavens burst open to the King of kings. On that Day, before the throne of God will stand a redeemed people united forever in the worship of the Lamb.

And the congregation in every local church is rehearsing for that Day on each and every Lord’s Day,

no matter what nation we are in!

Language is an amazing gift from God, but words themselves are never the destination. Instead of giving us a theological dictionary, God gave us narratives, letters, songs, wisdom, prophecy, and even apocalyptic revelations so we would watch for the author’s meaning and not just parse individual words. Though I often write about my love for words, I’m not intending to communicate my affection for the words themselves. It is in the use of words, carefully woven together, that we are able to express or clarify what we mean to say. Even as listeners, we move beyond someone’s literal words to discover the intended meaning of what they are sharing with us. This is why we should approach the scriptures like we do our everyday conversation.

While I completely agree with Bible teacher Jen Wilkin that the Bible is much more than a “love letter” to me personally, it is not something other than that! It is most certainly a profound declaration of who God is. But as we study it, we uncover His character and are led to accept His love for us while growing in our love for Him. That is why I can unapologetically say the goal of Bible study should always be to understand what the words were intended to communicate rather than simply to translate them. No one wants to receive a message from someone who is sharing about themselves, and telling us how they feel about us, using words we’ve never learned. What makes language a gift is that it serves as a bridge. And we know that every useful bridge crosses some sort of gap. The right approach to biblical interpretation is not to change the message in hopes of resolving or removing the gap; it is to dig deeply into the scriptures with trustworthy guides who will help us cross successfully. A mistake we can make when studying the Bible is assuming that because we can read the English words, we automatically grasp the author’s intended meaning. But since the scriptures weren’t written in English, we should always look deeper into context and intent.

Thankfully, we are living in a time (2026) and place (United States) that affords us almost limitless access to bible translators who help us understand what the author(s) was communicating. That is why I’ve come to believe that real biblical accuracy is not nearly as much about translating words as it is about translating meaning. Well-intentioned bible students who challenge us to hold tightly to specific words, even when it changes the meaning, are not preserving the Scriptures. They are instead mishandling them! The best translation for an earnest bible student is one that bridges that cultural chasm by faithfully delivering the author’s original heart and meaning into our modern language.

Now, for the sake of clarification, please understand that I do not believe it is ever our job in bible study to invent the meaning of what has been written. My time spent in bible study should not be an attempt at making the Bible say something new or current for the sake of fitting it into my life. As I’ve said before, I do not study the scriptures to find out what they mean to and for me. The way we unlock the meaning of the teaching in the scriptures is always discovered by seeking what God intended through the human author. It’s about working hard enough to hear what it has always been saying. The joy is in the discovery of God’s heart through our faithful study. When Paul encouraged Timothy to rightly interpret the scriptures, he was instructing him to not merely read the words but to seek the meaning behind the words. The teacher’s desire for the student was that he understood fully what the scriptures were teaching. This would be the natural occurrence for the original hearers of the scriptures who would have grasped certain things we sometimes don’t pick up on immediately. The idioms and cultural expressions which were second nature to the original readers are often misunderstand by the modern reader. We want to be aware that we will not rightly interpret the scriptures unless we do the work of historical and cultural contextualization.

Consider the fascinating aspect of our own language in how we become accustomed to rarely pausing at the literal words included in common sayings. We instinctively move to the intended meaning. If someone responds to my request for an update on an endeavor in their lives by saying they “pulled the plug on it,” I am not thinking about fingers grasping an electrical cord. I would be thinking about ending something. They might mean they are canceling the project, pausing the funding, or shutting down the event. The physical act of pulling a plug isn’t really the point at all. Or if that friend said they “pulled the trigger” on buying that new home, I’d instinctively know it’s not about the movement of a finger. We use that phrase to communicate that we are initiating something, making that final decision, or setting an anticipated plan into motion.
Interestingly, we use these two phrases to mean opposite things. They have grown beyond the original mechanics of the words to communicate a certain action. We all know that this is how language works, and that words become carriers for ideas much larger than their literal definitions. And just as we understand this naturally in our own language, we should expect to find it among the pages of scripture. Those who read or heard common expressions did so with ears trained by their own language and culture.

After years of studying the bible with others, I have come to believe that the best Bible students are those who continually ask, “What did the author intend to communicate?” I’m so thankful the Bible wasn’t written as a collection of isolated dictionary entries that we need to memorize. It was delivered by God Himself, through His Spirit, to real authors who were writing in common language to real people in that day. They used literary expression that included poetry, metaphors, irony, hyperbole, idioms, and symbolism because that’s how people have communicated. Knowing this does not makes the Bible less trustworthy, but it should make us more careful students. We can know and trust that God did not inspire disconnected words floating in space. He inspired authors who intentionally communicated truth! And our responsibility is not merely to define the words, it is to understand what those inspired authors meant by those words.

Only then have we truly heard the voice of Scripture.

Your rules are marvelous, therefore I observe them.
Your instructions are a doorway through which light shines.
They give insight to the untrained.
I open my mouth and pant, because I long for Your commands.
Turn toward me and extend mercy to me, as You typically do to Your loyal followers.
Direct my steps by Your word.
Psalm 119

Most of you who know us well understand we want to be transparent about what is happening in our lives. We are open to people checking in and asking questions about what is next for us. In fact, we are so thankful for you, our friends and family! But it’s hard to even know what ‘next’ will look like. The changes we have noticed are most often seen in the day-to-day of short-term memory loss. With this new normal, taking it one day at a time is our coping strategy. I can’t say enough about all the ways we have been so blessed to be part of the family of Calvary Church. Brent is able to continue to serve in the Missions Department (although in a different capacity than he was), and he has even preached several times in the past year. To be clear, he is aware of the difference this disease makes in his day-to-day duties. Even though he continues to press ahead with what is in front of him, he also knows that details are often lost and his comprehension is just not what it once was. I’d love to tell you how your prayers are being answered for a slow progression, but it’s also true there is no real measurement for this disease. (Of course, we give all glory to God either way!)

As we meet new friends who are also on this journey, I’m continually noticing just how varied this disease can be. Some people are diagnosed from the beginning with a specific kind of Alzheimer’s, although this is not the case with Brent. I am beginning to realize we are on a path of constant transition and learning. And it requires everyone involved to find new ways to connect, communicate, and support one another through the ever-changing challenges. I want everyone to know that one of the things it has not yet taken from him is his smile or his ability to laugh at funny things … even himself. At the convention, we saw so many friends we have had through the years, and Brent was delighted to see them all. I did not have to remind him once of who those people were. It was quite evident to me they all are still very close to his heart, and he didn’t miss a beat with that.

So, how can you continue to pray for us? Mainly, please know how much we desire to keep our awareness of the Lord‘s nearness in the day-to-day. That’s what we desire most of all. Interestingly, 40 years ago we said these vows to each other:

“With God as my Helper: I, Brent, will be the initiator in spiritual matters in our new family by striving to keep my personal walk with Christ fresh, intimate, and up to date. I promise to do my best to order my priorities so that the Lord Jesus will be first, you will be second, our children third, and our ministry fourth.”

“With God as my Helper: I, Melodye, will be by your side in times of fruitfulness as well as disappointments. I will stand by you and take up for you in every circumstance. I promise to honor, respect, exhort, and trust you and provide a loving and a happy home for you.”

Whew. How little we knew then what would transpire and push against those vows.
And yet, Brent’s personal devotional life has been his most consistent practice all the years I have known him. Getting up early to read God‘s word and to pray has been a discipline and habit for the 40 years we’ve been married, and even way before that. But I have noticed that the biggest change in this daily practice is his ability to express what he’s learning in his reading or what is on his heart in prayer. Although we continue to talk about the ways the Lord is working in our lives and in the world around us, there are ways in which that looks different as he struggles to remember. This is, honestly, my most difficult reality. I am learning to dialogue now with the realization that we may not be picking up where we left off as we have always done. More and more, Brent shares things he is learning as if we have not talked about them for all these years together. Thankfully, I can tell you that those things that are convictional - what he is passionate about and what stirs him - are still the same! He has not changed in how he sees the world, the scriptures, or the Lord! He may not remember how he has reached some of the conclusions he has, but he is still coming to the same ones he always has. (Foremost in his heart and mind is the good providence of God!!)

[If you’d like a more practical request, we’d love prayers for wisdom in what to pursue when it comes to treatment and meds. This is unknown territory for sure!]

Are there days I feel sad and weak? Are there days I ask the Lord why we’re walking this road? There are! I wish I could say that His grace helps me remain in a constant state of positivity and peacefulness. But that would be dishonest and hypocritical. To be sure, I do not always have the right words or a heavenly perspective or even unselfish prayers. I also don’t always feel like He is answering some of my prayers. However, it is in those moments I call on Jesus to help me sincerely pray, “not my will, but Yours be done.” And I can testify that He has never failed me.
As we walk this emerging road together, there are some ways in which we are each walking it separately and alone. Just like I don’t know what it feels like to lose your ability to remember what you’ve always known, Brent doesn’t know what it feels like to lose the person that once was present. We are trying to talk through all these things as best we can, but again there is no guideline or roadmap for this. I do know that every prayer you pray for us is heard by a caring and loving God. I also know that He is good. This is something I know that I know that I know.

So to summarize as best I can …
What I do know is that our good Father sees us.
What I do know is that He is near.
What I do know is that He is for us.
What I do know is that He stays.
And because of these constants, I am able to say with Paul that His grace continues to be sufficient for me to get up and face each day with hope.

I have so much to be thankful for these days. I know the prayers of friends are sustaining me. I wake up so many mornings and rehearse what the psalmist says that reminds me of what is true: “I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me by Your wise advice, and then You will lead me to a position of honor. Whom do I have in heaven but You? On earth there is no one I desire but You. My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.”

Once again I will say it: IGBOK, y’all.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.
Corrie ten Boom

So many thoughts have been swirling around in my head for the past few weeks. Some of them have made their way out of my mind and into my mouth as I’ve engaged in much discussion the past couple weeks. Included in the conversations were my 30-something daughters, my 40-something SIL, my 60-something sister and my 80-something mama. Several age groups were represented, and all are strong women in their own right.
But … there were also fathers, brothers, grandfathers and husbands who participated in these conversations. Admittedly, our family has strong convictions (aka, opinions) if we have anything! I inform you of this to explain that my current conclusions have not been made quickly, nor are they formed with only a little consideration.

Those who know me well in my roles would tell you I have never sought to find my value in a title, a platform, or a position. I have never needed to do that. My sweet daddy taught me early on that my value was settled at the cross, and I am free to embrace whatever role God gives me because I can trust Him. I was graced to be raised in an inclusive environment that demonstrated to me a fundamental belief that all individuals inherently possess equal dignity and human rights. I was also taught that this perspective does not require equivalent roles since human value is tied to existence and not economic utility or function! Since I have personally assessed the biblical roles for men and women accompanied by the weight of a life lived with Christ, these thoughts do not come merely as a theological argument. I acknowledge with deep gratitude that I’ve been given the gift of being surrounded by men who value the women in their circles. Throughout my life, I have had a voice at the table. Neither my preacher-daddy nor my preacher-hubby have ever given me a reason to shrink back due to the different opinions I have. And as parents raising three daughters in a pastor’s home, we also made sure our girls knew they were not only allowed to speak but were also invited to respectfully press against what was being said.
So as I think about the SBC discussion around roles, I find myself returning to the simple truth that God’s design is always good, even when it differs from the assumptions of our culture.

For those who know it, we may recall that the creation story contains the ways in which chaos ensues when humans try to grab hold of a position that is God’s alone or when we attempt to alter His plan. But I do not believe that chaos was what God wanted! When God created man and woman, it was a creation that included a two-part humanity.

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, so they may rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move on the earth.” God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.
Genesis 1:26-28

In His original design, our Creator God did not intend for men and women to become competitors for influence or significance in His kingdom. Scripture repeatedly presents us as equally created in God’s image, as equally redeemed by Christ, as equal co-laborers with Him, and as equally as valuable to the mission of the church. The New Testament is filled with examples of faithful women whose ministry helped shape the early church. That is why I reject the idea that a woman’s worth is determined by the positions she can hold. Our value comes solely from being created in God’s image just as a man was. And as women of The Faith, our value becomes even greater because of who we are in Christ. However, as valuable as we are in the kingdom of God, I do believe that Scripture assigns certain leadership responsibilities in the home and in the church to qualified men. And by calling them ‘qualified’, I am not referring to ability, intelligence, gifting, or importance. The scriptural qualifications are rooted in sacrifice and servanthood based on the life of submission we find in Jesus. So, for me, the issue was never meant to be about superiority or inferiority. It was always meant to be about faithfulness and humility.

So also Christ did not glorify Himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified Him was God, who said to Him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered You,” as also in another place God says, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
During His earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death and He was heard because of His devotion. Although He was a son, He learned obedience through the things He suffered. And by being perfected in this way, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, and He was designated by God as high priest.
Hebrews 5

Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth …
Philippians 2

Based on Jesus’ example, it’s become clear to me that different roles do not diminish anyone’s standing in God’s family, nor do different responsibilities imply different value. In God’s kingdom, faithfulness has always mattered more than position, and obedience has always mattered more than status. I have come to believe that the Church is strongest when men and women embrace God’s design together, seeking how they can best be faithful and obedient to Him. As men lead and serve with humility, sacrifice, and accountability, and as women lead and serve with strength, wisdom, and God-given influence, we become indispensable partners in the work of the gospel. I stand on the shoulders of so many wise and excellent men and women who have gone before me. As a woman, however, I am deeply indebted to the women who have modeled Jesus by teaching me, encouraging me, discipling me, and praying for me through all my years of growing in godliness. Their impact on me and so many other women in the church is immeasurable. By celebrating the unique and essential role God has given them, I am hopefully communicating the value of biblical distinctions in church leadership by never minimizing their contribution.

One of the challenges in this conversation is that our culture often measures significance by authority, visibility, or position. But again, I’m not talking about leadership in those terms. I’m talking about leading others by our faithfulness and obedience to God’s ways. Jochebed, Hannah, Ruth, Mary (Jesus’ mother), Mary & Martha, Priscilla, Lydia, Eunice and so many others never held an office. And yet, the influence and lasting legacy of these women was profound, even though their roles were different from those of prophets, priests, apostles, or elders. With this in mind, I view biblical complementarity as a scriptural teaching of the ways in which God has designed men and women to contribute differently, recognizing that neither can flourish without the other.

The kingdom of God has always operated differently than the kingdoms of this world. As we engage with one another in this conversation, we simply must be aware of how Jesus Himself challenged the world’s definition of greatness. When I read the teaching of Jesus and follow His ministry, I see a pattern that flows something like this: serving above ruling, humility above status, obedience above prominence. And ultimately we see the greatest sacrifice of all in His willingness to die when He could have easily proven everyone wrong. Maybe that’s why I hope this conversation will begin less often with, “Who gets to lead?” and more with, “How has God called me to be faithful?” When viewed through that lens, the issue becomes less about power - or even influence – and becomes more about our trust in our good Father.

Influence in the ‘church’: Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.
Acts 18

Influence in the ‘family’: I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you. Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1

In this discussion of roles, I have always desired to hold a deep commitment to the authority of Scripture alongside a deep appreciation for the indispensable ministry of women. As too many conversations about men and women in the church have quickly become debates about power or rights, I am thankful for the ways Scripture consistently points us toward faithfulness in God’s good design. I admit that my choice to obey God is not because I fully understand every aspect of His instructions or order. I obey Him because I trust in the One who created me and who chased me with His mercy. And I’m hoping that you, especially my women friends, will be strengthened by my conviction, not discouraged or angered by it. My prayer is that as we hold these together (scriptural authority and our value to God), we are able to celebrate God’s wisdom in the order of all things rather than defend a position.

“God doesn’t do anything in His sovereign will that isn’t both wise and loving. If God is for you, who can be against you? We don’t trust God simply because someone tells us to. We trust God because He is God. He is holy and awesome and righteous in every way. We can trust God because we don’t serve a God who is only sovereign and wise. He is also infinitely loving.”
Trillia Newbell

“Are you following this?”

Sometimes when we asked that question, we mean: “Do you understand?” We are confirming that the listener is tracking. For example, a teacher explains an equation to their students, or a friend tells a complicated story to an interested peer group, or a pastor exposits a difficult passage of Scripture. In these situations, we aren’t asking, “Are you behind me?” We are really asking “Are you with me? Can you see what I’m saying?”

“Are you following them?”

In the current digital age, this question has become web-based/screen-based in nature. “Do you follow them?” is asking questions like, Do you subscribe? Do you watch? Do you keep up with their content? Do you give them your attention? In this social media world of online-only content and virtual-only platforms, following often requires very little of us. After we scroll, there’s a simple tap of a button … and instantly we become a follower. With only the occasional engagement and passive observation from a distance, we can follow someone online for years and never develop personal connection to them.

“Follow ME!”

When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He meant something entirely different than what we’ve come to understand followership to be. Following Jesus was never about casual association. Jesus was not inviting the disciples to keep up with His teachings when it was convenient for them. This was not a call to check in with Him occasionally, nor was it an offer for them to add His voice to the collection of voices they were already listening to. To follow Jesus meant to leave something behind. The ‘following fishermen’ left their nets and the family business. The ‘following tax collector’ left his tables. The ‘following radical’ had to lay aside the agenda to overthrow the Roman government. Other followers left status and safety and certainty. Most followers of Jesus left everything that had been familiar to them before.

Following Jesus meant letting go of anything that would create a barrier to full participation in His mission. It meant walking close enough to Him to learn His ways and accept His divine commission. It was about becoming transformed by Him. It was a followership that would take someone from merely understanding His words to surrendering to His instruction and guidance. In fact, we know the disciples did not always follow Jesus in the “we get what You’re saying” sense. He was constantly explaining more to them because they did not understand. On multiple occasions, His disciples followed Jesus even before they comprehended what He was saying. What deep trust they grew to have in their Good Teacher that they would be willing to follow Him (physically) before they followed Him (mentally)!

“I will follow!”

Just like those disciples, there are moments when we understand Jesus clearly and there are moments we must choose to trust Him enough to keep walking with Him and behind Him toward the unknown. In the social media world, being a follower of someone has a remoteness about it. I would even say that today’s followership mentality has misinformed a generation of people who view it as mere consumption. When I say I am following someone, it almost immediately invokes an online mindset of minimal commitment. Following in current language is a response to someone’s need for our attention, but it costs us nothing. That’s not at all what Jesus calls us to. Following Him in real life demands our allegiance, costing us everything.

Jesus was not looking for spectators, and He was not building an empire. He wasn’t even looking to gain a large audience. Jesus was asking people to follow Him into a surrendered life that leads to life everlasting. And He never hid where His road would take those who chose to follow, even though some just did not get it. Many people in the Gospels followed the crowds around Jesus without truly following Jesus Himself. That feels especially relevant in a social-media age, doesn’t it?

Everyone follows something.
The question is not whether we follow. The question is who we follow!

One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed Him. A little farther up the shore He saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And He called them to come, too. They immediately followed Him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Matthew 4

Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, 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 and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Mark 8

Then He asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah sent from God!” Jesus warned His disciples not to tell anyone who He was. “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things. He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day He will be raised from the dead.”
Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow Me.”
Luke 9

“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what He meant, so He explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
John 10

(His words before mine!)

Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught.

Luke 1

Studying through the gospel of Luke prompted a deeper dive into the early history of the Church. In that digging, I became interested in the impact of Constantine the Great on Christianity. I discovered that he’s a highly debated person in church history because two things seemed to be true about his influence and impact. I discovered that Christianity spread dramatically under him, but that it also became entangled with political power in ways that created long-term problems.

[Insert history lesson here for context.]

Before Constantine, Christians were often marginalized and periodically persecuted within the Roman Empire. After his conversion and the Edict of Milan in AD 313, some good things happened for those who considered themselves Christians. Although Christianity did not become the state religion until AD 380, the Edict of Milan established tolerance that had been denied to the Church. Not only did it lessen the brutality that had been part of the “Great Persecution”, it also provided legal protection for Christians, gave more churches much-needed funding, elevated religious leaders socially, and expanded the Christian influence rapidly. There is little doubt that Christianity spread because of Constantine’s support.

BUT many historians and theologians argue that something changed spiritually when the Church moved from being a suffering minority to being connected with imperial power. Many saw the spiritual dangers in Christianity became culturally advantageous. Before Constantine, following Jesus could cost you your life. After Constantine, becoming “Christian” increasingly carried social and political benefits. This likely led to many nominal conversions. Sooo … the Church gained political influence that was accompanied by political temptations.

In that day, religious leaders (bishops at the time) began interacting with emperors in such a way as to impact wealth, courts, and state power. The lines of faith and empire sometimes became blended and blurred. The Church that once stood apart from empire had to wrestle with how close it should be to it. Instead of the kingdom of God being clearly distinct from earthly kingdoms, Christianity became identified with Roman identity and state interests.
At times, unity became enforced politically rather than spiritually.

Although Constantine seemed to understand the impact religious unity had on the stability of the empire, history repeatedly shows that whenever the church becomes too dependent on political power, it risks confusing the kingdom of God with earthly kingdoms. Councils such as First Council of Nicaea were important for defending doctrine, but political involvement also introduced questions about state influence over the church. While it’s true that Constantine opened a door for the gospel to spread freely, it seems to me that a door also opened for Christianity to become institutionalized and culturally diluted.

My takeaway:
As a pondered recently the words of Jesus in Luke’s gospel about the kingdom of God, I realized how important it is not to oversimplify someone like Constantine as either a hero or a villain. There are reasons to believe his faith was genuine since history records how he publicly honored Christ and helped end Christian persecution. He was even known to regularly listen to the teaching of scripture and support the church. But maybe his faith was immature and small. For example, as a ‘political figure’ his political instincts remained throughout his reign, and he sometimes used Christianity for political gain. It has been recorded by some historians that pagan imagery and practices remained present during his rule. After some research (and just to be clear, no matter what history we study, the human factor is involved with it!), I concluded that post-Constantine Church history is really the story of Christians trying to navigate the Church/State tension that still exists today.

When we study the New Testament, we can’t deny that the church grew most powerfully in its witness during days of suffering. The early Christians had almost no political influence, yet the gospel spread throughout the empire. For me, the deeper lesson from Constantine’s influence is that Christianity tends to be at its strongest spiritually when its power comes from faithfulness rather than cultural dominance.
That does not mean, though, that Christians should avoid public life or government entirely. It does mean that history repeatedly shows that whenever the church becomes too dependent on political power, it risks confusing the kingdom of God with earthly kingdoms.

I find it fascinating that the Gospel of Luke feels almost prophetic in its description of later church history even though it doesn’t directly address it. Luke consistently separates admiration of Jesus from actual surrender to Him. He reminds the reader that many of the folks who gathered around Jesus and listened to Him, ate with Him, marveled at His teaching, sought His healing, and even call Him “Lord” were not going be in the kingdom of God! Jesus repeatedly stresses the necessity of humility and repentance from everyone. And that includes all the religious leaders. Last week I was studying Luke 13 specifically. It provided some powerful insight into how a society can become “Christianized” externally while struggling with the inward reality Jesus taught and offered.
And in moments like these, I must accept that Christian history may be more complex than simple. It’s the time I must accept the reality that the kingdom of God may include people whose genuine faith was not as recognizable as I would hope, even mixed with worldly influence. It is with this understanding of humanity’s propensity to want the benefits of both worlds that personal surrender must happen.

The truth is (it seems to be) that Christians under Constantine were more protected, more influential, and more visible. But it also true that they were more vulnerable to compromise, more connected to power, and even more mixed internally. I’m much more aware now how this tension mirrors many of Jesus’ parables. In the ‘kingdom of God’ there’s a field where sincerity and insincerity exist together until the harvest. In the ‘kingdom of God’ there is a mustard seed which becomes a tree large enough for birds to nest in its branches. In the ‘kingdom of God’ there’s just a little leaven that spreads throughout loaves and loaves of bread that feeds many. The ‘kingdom of God’ is like a great banquet and a treasure and a pearl of great price. The ‘kingdom of God’ includes lost things and found things, and it includes mercy and judgment. The New Testament seems to anticipate that once the gospel spreads, there will always be a mixture of sincere disciples & cultural followers, genuine fruit & outward religion.

My conclusion (as of today):
As I have wrestled with the tension of it all, I decided I do not want to miss how God used the historical moments of the past to spread the gospel! Christianity under Constantine gained legal freedoms I still enjoy. Scriptures could be copied more openly, churches could gather publicly, missionaries could travel more safely, theological debates could happen in the open, AND the gospel spread into entire regions. But although Constantine helped Christianity spread outwardly, outward growth always carries the danger of inward dilution. And the scriptures are always calling the genuine seeker back to the central issue: “Do you want to truly know and follow THIS Jesus … no matter who is the emperor?!”

The response to that question was prophesied by Jesus, and it is quite the caution for us all. It is recorded by Matthew and Luke:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’
But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’”

“Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.
And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.

My mama taught me there are two words that are ‘God’s words.’ She said that He alone is able to use them truthfully. Those two words are “always” and “never.” I’ve come to see for myself just how right she was. God’s declaration of always being with us, and never forsaking us is an oath made by the One Who can not lie, Who can not change, and Who can not break a promise.

I love singing about God and I love singing to God. Scripture teaches us to do both. But I also believe we need to have our minds engaged as we sing and worship . . .

You are not a God, created by human hands.
You are not a God, dependent on any mortal man.
You are not a God in need of anything we can give.
By Your plan, that's just the way it is.

You're the only God whose power none can contend.
You're the only God whose name and praise will never end.
You're the only God who's worthy of everything we can give.
You are God and that's just the way it is!

You are God alone from before time began.
You were on Your throne,
You are God alone!
And right now in the good times and bad,
You are on Your throne and You are God alone!
Unchangeable, unshakable, unstoppable -
that's what You are!

“This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says:
I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but Me.
Who, like Me, can announce the future? Let him say so and make a case before Me, since I have established an ancient people. Let these gods declare the coming things, and what will take place. Do not be startled or afraid. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are my witnesses!
Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I do not know any.

This is what the Lord, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says: I am the Lord, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by Myself; who alone spread out the earth; who destroys the omens of the false prophets and makes fools of diviners; who confounds the wise and makes their knowledge foolishness; who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers; who says to Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and to the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt,’ and I will restore her ruins; who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry,’ and I will dry up your rivers; who says to Cyrus, ‘My shepherd, he will fulfill all My pleasure” and says to Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Its foundation will be laid.’”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44‬

“Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around His chest. The hair of His head was white as wool — white as snow — and His eyes like a fiery flame.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look — I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭1‬

God can do anything because He is omnipotent.
God can't act against His own nature because He is immutable.
God won't do evil and He won’t let evil temptation sway Him because He is holy.
God will keep His promises because He is the Faithful and True One.

Will God act on your behalf for your good and His glory? He will!
Because there’s nothing He can’t do.
Will God ever fail you? He won’t.
Because He cannot fail. He must prevail.

I read a book years ago that described what “being the church” should look like. The first chapter included several scenarios of daily life. At the end of each scenario (which described a scene where someone was serving someone else in the church by repairing their car, babysitting, taking meals, etc) a line would read:
This is church. I’ve thought about that many times through the years.

I decided earlier this week that I would write a blog post today describing how foster care looks. It has been a pretty good week, and I have seen some changes made. I have observed the boys’ hearts turning toward God’s love. But it’s always amazing to see how God works in our lives to keep things real. And genuine. And authentic. And so very DAILY.
What I’m saying is: This is foster care.

This day started well. On most Saturdays, the boys wake up fairly early. Thankfully, Daddy B is always willing to do the morning routine ... he’s even cheerful about it. Sometimes all the boys get ready and are gone for the morning before the girls get up. (And yes, I do know how blessed I am!) Today, though, Brent and Josh had some plans of their own. So the girls took the Saturday morning “keep ‘em busy” duties. Our first stop was Goodwill, where the boys have been begging to go for a couple of weeks. We purchased some clothes and toys and had a fun morning before coming home. The boys were pleased with all the purchases and laughingly jumped back into the car with their bags.
Yes, this is foster care.

As she often does, Lauren very graciously began making lunch for everyone. Then it hit. The middlest (we call him T) lost control over too much ketchup on his hotdog ... the very hotdog that someone else had worked for, bought for him, cooked for him and served him! He instantly became a victim of an overly-ketchuped hotdog! As he spiraled out of control, ran out of the room, screamed out in anger that he hated us all and hoped we would die, we all watched and waited. His two brothers became silent and eventually went outside to play. But his big sisters were crushed. The same little boy who had earlier asked for a piggy back ride, sat in their laps giving hugs and kisses galore, and couldn’t stop saying how much he loved them was now crushing their hearts with his words. Oh, the sting. The one who had made the lunch out of genuine and heartfelt love and care couldn’t contain her heartbreak of all that was happening. The tears began to flow.
This is foster care.

I gradually talked him back to the land of the living from his hiding spot behind the couch downstairs, but he was still angry and lashing out. I reminded him that love is more than a word, that kisses are more than a show, and that being a family is more than just the fun times. He was mostly quiet and listened. But even now as I type this blog post (hours later), he has left for the park with Daddy B and was still pouting when he slammed the door on the way out. He called us to apologize not long after he left, but I’m pretty sure it was prompted by a dad who isn’t a fan of rewarding such disrespectful behavior with an afternoon at the park. Brent wanted T to know that it’s not healthy to simply dismiss such hateful words spoken to people who have spent a morning caring and giving.
And so, I’m kind of sad about all of it.
Yet, this is foster care.

I remember something Beth Moore said years ago when speaking of her adopted son who came into their lives with lots of issues. She believed that she could “love him to wholeness.” But she couldn’t. Whether it’s running away and hiding behind a couch or sitting in silence at the table when your little brother is having a meltdown, “I guess sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.” And there aren’t enough hugs or kisses or new clothes or toys. When there has been so much fear and hiding and running and stealing, there is hardly enough emotional space for learning to genuinely receive and give love. It most certainly doesn’t happen overnight.
So, here I sit.
This is foster care.

Parenting is never easy. But there was no way they could have prepared us to become parents to kids we did not know. Fixing what they’ve seen, heard and felt for most of their growing up years goes way beyond my own abilities ... and reach. I clearly recognize that I can’t just love them to wholeness.
I remember a song sung by Debbie Boone in the eighties, and it’s my prayer often for the boys who have come through our home:

Can You reach my friend?
You’re the only One who can.
Lord, I know You love him, so help him understand.
Can you reach my friend?
Bring his searching to an end.
Help him give his heart to You.

Like every single person in the world, our three boys need Jesus. And it’s our prayer and desire that we will love them to the One who brings healing and hope.

This.Is.Foster.Care.

Note: We had three brothers for 1 year before they were reunited with grandma. We learned so much from them that year! (9 years, 7 years and 5 years)

Following is what Josh wrote to him those years ago: (No editing. No "filters".)

My family has fostered a total of seven children. Our many adventures with these children has helped us all bond. Each one makes all of them a part of this family. The hardest part the foster care has been letting them go. Bryson was the first we had to let go after we had him for 18 months. In these months we bonded over building tents, mowing the grass, eating together, and my favorite was potty training!! These are some of the good things that happen together. But they weren't all good. There are also some things that weren't good to happen.

There were times he would throw temper tantrums because he did not get his way. It was hard to love him when that happened, but we did anyway. I would say that these were the moments when we would grow together the most. I've heard many of my coaches say "the more you put into something the harder it will be to quit." This not only applies to sports but to life in general and especially fostering. Anything that we stick with that gets hard becomes more important to us because we feel we sacrificed to get it. There is no point in sacrificing something you plan on quitting. Your input makes you wish you can stick around for the output. 

When foster siblings become difficult, we continue to show love because this is what makes us different. The normal reason a child is in foster care is because of a lack of love somewhere along the way. If we show them love, we show them Christ. This is why our family does foster care. This is also what makes it so hard - because we do not get to adopt them and keep them. This was the hard part about Bryson. The entire time we had him, I hoped we would keep him. In the end we didn't get to.

My advice to you overall is to love them. Make them your family and invest in them, but don't expect to keep them. The only place guaranteed you can keep them is in your heart.

Josh Reeves, circa 2014

So I’m “throwing it back” today by posting some thoughts I had 15 years ago when we began our foster care journey. I’ll also be sharing some of my old blog posts throughout this month. I decided I am not going to change anything, although if I was writing now I might see some things differently. But I’m going to share the thoughts exactly as I had them at the time I wrote this. Maybe they’ll encourage some of you on your journey.

Feb, 2011

ANOTHER Great Adventure …

It seems like Steven Curtis Chapman’s song The Great Adventure has been our life theme song. Ha! But here we go again….To discover all the new horizons just waiting to be explored. This is what we were created for!

We have just filled out the initial paper work, put it in the stamped envelope and it’s ready to go to our local Foster Care and Adoption Services agency! I’m praying even as we seal this that God will be over it all, leading us in every way and preparing our hearts for what is next. I was moved by what the lady in the office told Brent. “If every church in Rapid City had only two or three families that would commit to fostering, there would be NO children without families!” Okay, LORD. We will do our part.

A couple of the questions in Self Assessment brought a smile. Mostly because I realize that God’s timing is always best. In my earliest years of parenting, I think I would have answered these questions differently. So I’m glad that God is good to lead us along in our lives and prepare us for His purposes as we go. I have certainly seen how He has worked in my life to shape my attitudes and thoughts in ways that I would not have necessarily considered. A couple of questions particularly stand out:

1. All that children in foster care need is a lot of love.
2. I did a pretty good job with my children, so I think I’ll be a good foster parent.

I realize more than ever that parenting is really just a journey of grace! I have tried (well, I usually tried) to be a good parent. To pray for my kids. To love them. To cheer them. To discipline them.
But after these almost 24 years, I realize that God is so clearly the One that brings about His glory in the lives of our children. Foster children do need love, as do all children. I did do a “pretty good job” as a mom. But as I pondered these statements, I prayed again that God would give us the heart to do our part in living out our religion (James 1:27) whatever the outcome is. It’s not about investing in some child’s life to improve them! It’s about obedience to God, whatever happens. We will do our part by serving these “orphaned” children until God moves them out of our lives. My goal is to TRUST Him, not TRANSFORM them

So here goes. A new phase. A new adventure.
God, You are in control as always. May this be about Your kingdom. Your glory. And Your honor! Our heart is to bring more worshippers to You. It begins where we are and spreads to the nations. But it’s all dependent on Your work. I give this to You …. TODAY anyway. Hard days will possibly (probably) come. I am hoping to have this kind of faith for those days too.
Amen.

“Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to …”

Sounds noble.
Sounds righteous.
Sounds like a statement from someone who wants to obey God.

But it wasn’t.

These were the words used by those who intentionally hid their true selves. They were so dangerous, in fact, that Jesus stopped one time in the middle of a large crowd and warned His disciples of their danger: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Although some early manuscripts don’t  include the story of the woman caught in adultery, it undoubtedly reflects the heart of Jesus we see throughout Scripture. And because of the uncertainty, I would never build core doctrine only on this passage. Thankfully, the truths we glean from this encounter are taught throughout the pages of the Bible. Even scholars who note the textual issue still believe this story carries the authentic voice and character of Jesus. It fits with all the ways He interacts with sinners, and all the ways the religious leaders were bothered by it.

I don’t think that the opposite of humility is arrogance. I believe the opposite of humility is hypocrisy. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus stands against the Pharisees and corrects their misunderstanding of the Law: “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” He also said “the Law is fulfilled in one word: Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Jesus often forced the hand of the proud religious folks by exposing their misuse of the Law. In those moments, they either walked away or grumbled their annoyance out loud. Sometimes Jesus would be left with the crowd, and He would then explain His teaching to those who would hear. His point was not that the religious leaders should become sinless, but that righteousness and justice should be founded on a gracious spirit. When it’s not, what you get is the heartlessness and hypocrisy of Pharisaism.

The term hypocrite, derived from Greek for "stage actor," was applied to the religious leaders because they were seen to be living a lie by proudly projecting holiness when their hearts were far from God. Many of the Pharisees had perfected hypocrisy. Jesus described them as "whitewashed tombs". They performed religious acts of praying, fasting, and tithing so they would be recognized and praised by others. They maintained a righteous appearance and ignored their internal spiritual condition. They focused on minor technicalities of the Law while ignoring the essential aspects like justice, mercy, and faithfulness. They imposed severe burdens on others while failing to follow their own rules. They upheld human traditions over the direct commands of God.

Hypocrisy is an interesting concept. And though we consider it a vice, the church does not address it nearly enough. We also may not understand the ways hypocrisy should be dealt with in our lives. First and foremost, it’s not something we should be naming in others.

Through the years, I’ve come to understand that I am not qualified to call out a hypocrite other than myself. Even that can be tricky because I am sometimes unaware of my own heart!  But if I understand hypocrisy correctly, the only One who could truthfully and rightfully call someone a hypocrite is Jesus. He not only knew the Law, He knew the meaning of the Law. He also knew the heart of someone who appeared to be keeping the Law.

Although scripture teaches us that the lives shaped by God will be evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit, we are not capable of perfectly determining the motive or motivation of someone. Fruit matters because it reveals what’s being rooted in the heart. But Jesus warned us to be careful about assuming the position of judge since we can’t see the histories, wounds, or the hidden work of God within someone. We humans have a limited perspective, only knowing what we see. Jesus see things as they really are.

Think about how often Jesus exposed hypocrisy in the religious leaders. They were usually technically correct, but they were relationally cold and harsh. Even when they rightly identified the sins they observed, they had no posture of compassion and restoration. They repeatedly broke the two-fold commandment of love, and their judgments didn’t lead people to have a heart for God. In contrast, Jesus offered His most severe rebuke (almost exclusively) toward the hypocritical attitude of the scribes and Pharisees. Not the “sinners.” I’m always amazed at how He could name sin more clearly than anyone and yet sinners were drawn to Him. That’s because His discernment was never detached from compassion.

I have discovered that it is not about me deciding whether I will practice discernment, but it’s how and why I do it. When I care more about being right than  about someone’s holiness, I’ve got it wrong! If I take only my observations and declare a verdict on a person, I am reducing someone to what I can see externally. But humility and grace help me to recognize how much of the story is still unseen. To be sure, hypocrisy is rampant. It’s just that I can’t call it out with certainty.

And does it really matter if we miss it?

I believe it matters immensely. I would even go as far as to say it’s a gospel issue that directly impacts a person’s view of salvation. Calling out hypocrisy has become common practice in far too many people within religious circles. There’s a big difference between saying “The fruit you’re exhibiting is concerning” and “I know exactly who you are.” One invites dialogue that will hopefully lead to clarity and change. The other attitude assumes authority that belongs to God alone. I know how easy it is to form an opinion about someone based on what I am seeing or hearing. And as a Bible student, I am accustomed to reading how the motives of the Pharisees were often exposed. But I have to keep reminding myself that the reader is privy to what was hidden in the hearts of the hypocrite. We get a perspective that offers us information not available to all. Usually, those who were in the crowd did not know the hypocrisy which lurked among their leaders.

The biggest miss by those who taught in the synagogue was that they didn’t recognize Jesus! The very thing they were supposed to be was overshadowed by their desire to do. Jesus came to fulfill the Law’s demands, yet in their resistance and arrogance they completely missed the truth that was on display before their eyes. Jesus came to reveal how righteousness comes on the basis of grace. Hypocrisy happens when we put works in the place of that grace. Jesus taught the people to obey God and reject sin because they had been rescued by God’s mercy, not because they feared stoning. This is the pervasive message of the New Testament. Jesus was crucified by the Law-keepers because He exalted Himself above the Law. But He maintained that not the smallest part of the law would change UNTIL all was accomplished. By fulfilling the obligation the Law demands, Jesus established a higher, heart-centered standard. He was able to alter some of the sanctions by pointing to its main goal of God-exalting love.

I have come to believe that hypocrisy begins with misunderstanding, misapplying and misusing the scriptures. It happens when someone is blinded to Who Jesus is. Hypocrisy is an intentional and internal rejection of scriptures’ teaching about Jesus and the way to God. And it can only be identified by God, the One who knows all things.

Yes, the Lord is crushed by our sin. He despises it. But pursuing holiness without a profound experience of grace in our own lives is what produces hypocrisy in ourselves and leads to a lack of doctrinal integrity. Jesus came into the world to provide grace through His death on the cross. He came to establish the holiness, righteousness, and justice that the Law required but we could not fulfill.

So let’s come humbly to Jesus for grace.
And let’s reserve our judgments for the Pharisee we find … in ourselves.

It's a day to remember the love of Jesus and how He served others. It’s the time we think about the life Jesus lived in servitude. It’s when we meditate on what it looked like for the God who created us to stoop to wash the feet of His betrayer.
But we don't need to live today as though we don't know what happens on Sunday. I am so thankful we get to talk about the events in this 'Holy Week' in light of the resurrection!! We KNOW something good is about to happen! And the power of the resurrection of Jesus is found in how we live now, as we wait for THAT Day!

So now,
there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.
And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you!!
Romans 8

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. It is this Good News that saves you. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then He was seen by James and later by all the apostles.
Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.
And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died!

So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back.

But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?”
What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.

There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. The sun has one kind of glory, while the moon and stars each have another kind. And even the stars differ from each other in their glory. It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead.

Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever.
Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory.
They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.
They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.

For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. The Scriptures tell us, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living person.’ But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit!
What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret:

We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
‭‭1 Corinthians 14-15

God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

So, God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear.

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. The light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, 'Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.'
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
Ephesians

So, never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.
With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with Me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time—

to show us His grace through Christ Jesus.

And now He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News!
I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in Whom I trust,
and I am sure that He is able
to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return.

Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.
A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone,
be able to teach,
and be patient with difficult people.
Gently instruct those who oppose the truth.
Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David,
was raised from the dead.

This is the Good News I preach!
The word of God cannot be chained. So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.
If we deny Him, He will deny us.

If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.

REMIND EVERYONE ABOUT THESE THINGS,
and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
‭‭2 Timothy‬

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After saying this, He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see Him. As they strained to see Him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from heaven in the same way you saw Him go!”

“In the event of an emergency, whom do you want us to contact?”

That question seems so simple on paper: A name. A number. A relationship.
But for many it carries the weight of a bigger story.

No one really prepares you for the day your “emergency contact” changes. As I was filling out paperwork recently I got stuck on the question that should have been simple. Before that day, I wouldn’t have even hesitated. Brent’s name would have filled that line without me thinking about it. I’d even say I have written it down for 40 years with much certainty. After all, he’s my person. He has been the one that is there for me. Not just on paper of course, but in every sense of the word. I’ve looked to him during late-night worries, in unexpected moments, and in the decisions that felt too heavy to carry alone. In the big emergencies and in all the little ones, he has shown up as quickly as possible to fix it! Or at least to settle me.
He has always been the one I called.

But life has shifted in ways I never expected.
With the small but noticeable changes in him since his recent diagnosis (of early onset Alzheimer’s), that question on all the forms doesn’t feel as simple anymore. It’s not that he is incapable of knowing what to do, it’s that little unexpected details are a disruption for him these days. So I found myself pausing, staring at the blank line longer than I should have, feeling the weight of what it now represents. It is not just logistics, of course. Many of you know exactly what I mean. It is that big change in our earthly reality of something once so sure that is now uncertain. I realize there are many people who carry versions of this. Some through loss, some through distance, and some through seasons you didn’t choose. In this life on earth there will be the curveballs no one prepares us for. The kinds of moments when you realize the person you would have written down may need to change. And that’s not a simple fix.

Who do I even put? It’s not that I don’t have people. By God’s grace, I do! But it’s just different since none of them quite fit the category the form is asking for. For some of you, especially those walking through life as a single adult, maybe you have wondered for years, Who do I write down? I now understand how that ‘simple’ question can expose something so much deeper. Who shows up for us when it really matters? Who knows the details? Who would answer the call?
What is revealed in that now-uncomfortable question, however, is a reminder of something sacred in our human existence. Since creation, the plan of God was connection. We must rehearse the truth about our God-ordained need for each other. The ache we feel around those questions is not weakness. By design we were created to be known, to be cared for, to be held in community.

But…
I am also quite aware of the brokenness of the human condition. Even within the most supported life, every “emergency contact” has limits. Phones die. People miss calls. Even the most faithful friend cannot be everywhere at once. There will be times our very best contact will be unavailable for one reason or another. The good news is that I am living in this other-world reality (which is my most real reality), and I don’t exist only in the realm of what I can seen or touch. I know this to be true because I’ve personally experienced the presence of the invisible One who never misses the call to help. I simply must remember to let my anchor sink to the depths of the sea where there’s only one sure foundation that holds us fast.

As I sat there with my paper work, I sensed a reminder rise up in me that was preaching to my soul: No one is without help! In these days of considering what to write on that blank line, I need to remember there is still a certainty. I may live with many unknowns, but I can still rest in the certainty of God’s promises.
I am never alone.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
The LORD Almighty is with us.

Read that again. The psalmist says God is a very present help in trouble. Not eventually present. Not mostly present. Very present. Closer than any name we could write on a form. It is an intentional word. The Greek word (mᵊ’ōḏ) carries the meaning of “abundance; to a great degree, exceeding; with muchness.” That’s Emmanuel, folks.
And although this known truth doesn’t erase the need for people in my life, and it doesn’t sting any less that my new reality is to write a different name on that line, there’s something about the ever-present nature of my good Shepherd that brings me such comfort. I readily admit things are changing in ways I wish they weren’t. But I have an anchor in which to stay afloat in the waves. I know that I know that I know something. Life is brief. And I know that I know that I know Someone! God is good. Before any name is ever written on the emergency contact line, before any call is ever made, I am already known, already seen, and already held.

I remember how You provided,
how You held me through the night.
I remember how You sustained me when You stepped in to save my life.
If I knew then what I know now,
I would be still and let You work it out.

Jesus, I was tossed in the water, but I never went under.
You were always on time!
Jesus, when I went through the fire, You were right there beside me.
You were always on time!
You are always, always, always on time.

I remember how You carried me when I couldn’t take a step.
I remember how You loved me when I couldn’t love myself .
There’s never been a day, never been a minute, never been a moment that You weren’t in it.

There’s never been a time that You didn’t see me through, God.
So I worship You!

Scripture gives us much more global and honest language than we westerners often use. Women like Hannah, Rachel, and Naomi experienced not just personal sorrow, but social reproach and deep communal loss. As women who were misunderstood, grieved and desperate, their stories echo far beyond our western mindset and perspective. I’m so thankful that the Bible doesn’t minimize the ache of empty arms, nor does it reduce it to a Sunday-school lesson. As such, I want to always be shifting away from my internal processing of what I think I know to praying more often for God’s heart in all suffering. I want it to become more of a habit to pray for women around the world who are suffering great loss and great sorrow.
And even though prayer is the best starting place, it goes beyond that.

We must listen more than we speak. I’m raising my hand over here because I’m almost always guilty of speaking before listening. But instead of assuming a shared experience, I want to do better to ask sincere questions: What does this loss mean where you live? How does your community respond? What makes this heavier? Global empathy grows when we let women outside our context or circles define their own grief, rather than fitting it into our categories. Jesus consistently moved toward grief without ranking it. Whether it was the widow of Nain losing her only son or Mary and Martha grieving Lazarus, He entered into their sorrow personally and compassionately. He gives us a model that transcends culture and reminds us to draw near to the broken, not rushing the process of grief.

If we’re honest, part of the hard work of caring is letting our hearts be stretched. Global empathy costs us something as it dismantles our assumptions. It invites us into a deeper, shared sorrow. Because we have a God who does not overlook a single tear, we are called to become engaged in the grief of others across the world. It is one way we reflect the heart of God. It is He Who sees every woman in every village and every city who has longed for a child, carried a child, or lost a child. It is He Who knows every name. So, I keep challenging myself and committing myself to be more thoughtful in how I speak or write publicly, especially in Christian spaces. When I talk about the blessings of motherhood or God’s goodness, I want to remember that for many women globally, those words land on very real wounds. Expanding my language to acknowledge both joy and longing makes room for more women to feel seen.

You may be thinking, ‘but I do live here’. (The majority of my readers are American.) And for most of us, it will be nearly impossible to become actively involved in supporting women around the world who are experiencing childlessness and grief in spaces outside our western context. I want to be sensitive to that reality. And I recognize that in my attempts to stretch hearts and minds to see and think outside of what is in front of us, I sometimes miss opportunities to speak to hearts that need encouragement in my context. I certainly don’t intend to be a discourager! My deepest desire is to grow in the same attitude as Christ by being “humble and thinking of others as better than myself. [I do not want to] look out only for my own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Just like Jesus, I want to let go of anything that keeps me from obedience. “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privilege!”

Sitting near me at any given time are women who conceive easily, sometimes unexpectedly. Sitting beside them are women who are praying through tears each month. There are baby showers and pregnancy announcements constantly woven into the lives of those carrying deep, often unseen grief. In these moments, I sense the pressure that many friends feel to say the right thing. But often (I’m preaching to myself here), the most loving thing is to have the right posture more than the right words. For the woman experiencing joy, there can be a temptation to either minimize her own celebration out of guilt, or over-explain it in an attempt to soften the moment. But joy is not wrong. The invitation from scripture to “weep with those who weep” is not meant to call us to shrink from our joy, but to express it with gentleness and an awareness even while celebrating. And for the woman experiencing loss, there can be a different pressure to respond with immediate happiness for others, even when her heart is breaking. True biblical fellowship makes room for both weeping and rejoicing at the same time.

One of the more subtle challenges in communities of women, especially in close friendships and church circles, is learning how to hold different stories at the same table. In Scripture, God most certainly honors physical motherhood. But He also consistently shows that a woman’s worth and calling are not limited to that. I realize that people mean well when they say “motherhood is the highest calling of a woman,” but it isn’t scriptural nor is it helpful. I don’t believe we should place motherhood on a pedestal that God Himself does not. Some have put a reverence and power, maybe even idolatrous thinking, on motherhood that God did not intend. The kingdom of God multiplies through spiritual fruit, discipleship, and faithfulness in ways that cross biological boundaries. That is a truth that needs to be shared because it can be deeply freeing. Our highest calling is to know God and to make Him known. It the highest calling, whether we are married or single, mothers or not. Although we should never offer such truth as a replacement for grief, it can serve as a reminder to suffering women of their dignity and purpose in their childlessness.

Grief whispers the unseen sorrows of women around the world. It is a universal language, connecting hearts across continents with a much-too-often unspoken sadness or shame. Becoming Christlike is a process of learning to carry both celebration and sorrow without comparison. Jesus never treated one person’s joy as a threat to another’s pain, nor someone’s pain as a disruption to joy. He honored each person fully, leaving an example for us. We want to become women who are able to celebrate wholeheartedly with one friend and sit quietly in grief with another. Sometimes that is in the very same circle at the very same time. And sometimes that’s considering a woman in a culture and context far removed from us.
When we do this, we begin to reflect a real love that makes room for every story at the table. It also remembers those not at the table who desperately need our empathy and prayers.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Eph 6

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
Remember also those being mistreated … as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
Heb 13

One of the wonders of our God is that He never has to choose between being above us and being near us. He reigns over the whole universe, never allowing our individual lives to escape His attention. The same God who stretches beyond the edges of creation also bends to hear the whisper of a single prayer. Scripture constantly holds these two truths together: God is immeasurably great and, at the very same time, deeply good and personal. I’ve written it repeatedly that maybe the very best prayer we teach our kids is “God is great. God is good. Let’s thank Him.”

The psalmist captures God’s greatness and goodness throughout scripture’s songbook, but Psalm 145 so clearly expresses both!

I will exalt You, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise You every day; yes, I will praise You forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness! Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let them proclaim Your power. I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor and Your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim Your greatness.

Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about Your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation. All of our works will thank you, Lord, and Your faithful followers will praise You. They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom; they will give examples of Your power. They will tell about Your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of Your reign. For Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps His promises; He is gracious in all He does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their load. The eyes of all look to You in hope. The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks of God’s greatness (He is above all) and goodness (He is near):

Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give Him advice or teach Him? Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does He need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach Him what is right or show Him the path of justice? No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Scripture does not leave us with a distant God who merely surveys the world from above. The Bible continually brings His greatness down into personal nearness. He is more than just watching us. He is actively looking for those He can strengthen and comfort. Jesus taught His followers about a great and good Father. The same God who holds galaxies in place also notices details so small we barely see them ourselves. It is this God who fills heaven and earth, yet knows the inner life of every single person. Matthew recorded Jesus’ words: What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Enter Google Earth.

A few years ago, a friend introduced me to this virtual globe providing a 3-D representation of Earth. (Yes, I was late to the game for sure!) For those three people who don’t know about this, it allows users to explore Earth, viewing its buildings, navigating its streets, and even zooming in on personal locations. Gradually zooming out, thousands of feet in the air, houses and streets disappear. Almost magically, a specific focus is replaced with a broad view of cities, then nations, and then continents. Today, I spotted Brent’s location on my phone. From across the ocean, I saw right where he was. When I zoomed out, way out, I was reminded of the greatness and nearness of our God. Although Brent and I are thousands of miles apart - with oceans, continents, and time zones separating us - God does not experience distance this way. He who sees the whole earth at once also sees Brent clearly. He knew where he was at every moment of this day. (I only knew where he was while he had access to Wi-Fi! 😊) The glorious and beautiful truth, though, is that at the same time He was ‘following’ Brent’s location, the LORD of all creation was hearing my prayers from here. The One who is watching over him in Uganda is the One who listens to my request for him from Florida.

Indescribable, uncontainable.
You placed the stars in the sky, and You know them by name! You are amazing, God!
Incomparable, unchangeable.
You see the depths of my heart, and You love me the same! You are amazing, God!

So here I am. Amazed and assured.
As I pray for Brent across the ocean, I am not sending words up into the clouds or into the distance of space hoping they find their way to heaven. The God who sees the whole world knows and sees him. He’s zoomed in. He who rules heaven and earth is present and conditioned to hear every prayer that is prayed for Brent … and for every other human whose name is brought before the throne of grace. The LORD’s greatness assures me that nothing is beyond His power, and His goodness assures me that no prayer of mine is beneath His care.

PS: Thanks to all of you who are praying for Brent and the Calvary team in Uganda. He gave me a good report this morning, and it was great to visit with him ‘face to face'. Please continue to pray for the Lord to move in great power as they share the gospel with those who have not received it, and as they teach the Word to pastors who don’t have the regular access to the rich teaching of God’s word we are so accustomed to here in the west.
And please add Shannon to your regular prayer list. She has planted herself there among the people, and I know that our prayers sustain her! To read more about her, I wrote about her work when I returned home from there: