Author: Brian Burdett

“And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:37-39

We like to make things complicated, but Jesus makes things simple: love God with every part of your being all the time and love literally everyone you encounter as you love yourself. It’s clear, concise, and comprehensive. All of us, all people, all the time.

But it certainly isn’t easy! To love God with all our heart, soul, and mind when those parts would really rather love ourselves is a huge challenge and won’t happen by accident. It requires discipline developed from really knowing and seeking the Lord through Jesus Christ. It requires an active choice for God no matter what pops up, no matter what situation we’re in, no matter how much we might disagree with God’s plans. It requires focus, determination, and yes, genuine love!

Loving our neighbors can be even harder, because they can so unlovable. That’s the point, it doesn’t matter who they are, we need to love them anyway, just as God loves us no matter who we are! We must love our neighbors because they were created in God’s image just like us. Period.

It can be easy for Christians to emphasize one of these at the expense of the other: either claiming to love God but not really caring about those He created in His image, or busily loving people and using that as an excuse to reimagine God and not love Him as He is. Neither of these is an option – as followers of Christ, we must diligently obey both these commandments!

#FOLLOWJESUS

NOTE: While Pastor Brian is on sabbatical, we offer this devotional which was originally published on February 3, 2020.

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’” – Matthew 22:20-21

While this is a fascinating lesson on paying taxes, there’s a much deeper question raised by Jesus’ teaching. What things are God’s? What are we supposed to give to Him?

The coin was due to Caesar because it carried Caesar’s image and inscription. What carries the image and inscription of God? We do! We are each uniquely made in God’s image and His inscription is written into our very DNA. What then are we to give God? Ourselves! What portion of ourselves? ALL of ourselves.

Probably the greatest issue that prevents Christians from growing and fully experiencing God’s pleasure is that we refuse to give ALL of ourselves. Too often we want to budget a certain portion of our time, energy, and resources to God as if He were one of several good and worthy causes.

That isn’t what He asks for and it isn’t what He rewards. He invites and commands us to give ALL of ourselves. To fully commit every aspect of our life to Him – work and leisure, church and family, mind and body, wealth and talents. He’s clear about the rewards of such faithfulness: the experience of His joy, the joy of following Jesus to the cross, increasing Christlikeness, and rewards in eternity.

What’s holding you back from fully committing ALL of yourself to God? Are you willing to try fully giving to God what belongs to Him for a season? You won’t regret it!

NOTE: While Pastor Brian is on sabbatical, we offer this devotional which was originally published on February 3, 2021.

“But Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 19:14

What does it mean to be like a child with respect to the Kingdom of Heaven? How do we have child-like faith in an age of cynicism, sarcasm, misinformation, radical autonomy, and doubt?

Jesus’ words aren’t an invitation to be satisfied in ignorance or disinterested in matters of theology. After all, children are always full of questions! However, as adults, we have a tendency to gradually let our pursuit of questions and answers, certainty and knowledge crowd out or control our faith. Our goal in studying the Bible, learning the great truths about God, and engaging arguments for and against Christianity shouldn’t be to replace, limit, or put asterisks on our faith. Knowledge can’t save us – only faith in Christ can! Our faith must come first and our studies and debates should enrich and fuel our faith, not the other way around.

Little children ask numerous questions, but they always believe. They trust in the authority and capability of their parents even as they bombard us with questions. Likewise, as we wrestle with matters of faith, the Bible, and Christianity, we must do so in complete trust in God’s authority and ability to do all that the Bible reports He’s done and all that it promises He’ll do. Rather than approaching our faith by asking “how could God possibly do that” we ought to begin with awe, wonder, and respect for what the supreme and sovereign Creator has done.

Grow in your knowledge of God and His Word. Grow in your knowledge of church history and theology. But even more important, grow in your faith and don’t ever make your faith bow to your limited knowledge. That’s the difference between the faith of a child and that of a jaded, cynical, post-modern adult.

NOTE: While Pastor Brian is on sabbatical, we offer this devotional which was originally published on January 27, 2021.

“But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.”
– Psalm 147:11

What a wondrous encouragement for a year that’s been so difficult and discouraging for so many! To fear the Lord doesn’t mean to be afraid in the shallow modern sense. Among other things, to fear the Lord means to deeply honor the divine Creator and His nature, to fully respect and submit to His authority, and to hold His holiness and majesty in awe.

This verse is intentionally paralleling the first and second concept – to fear the Lord is to put our hope and trust in His steadfast, unchanging, unshakeable love and faithfulness. To truly hope in His love (i.e. to build your life on that foundation) is to fear Him. This is true because fear of the Lord is grounded in knowing who He is and He is steadfast love.

So know this on this Eve of Christmas Eve… If you love the Lord, if you find your hope and strength in Him, if you live in awe of His majesty, mercy, grace, patience, justice, goodness, holiness, righteousness, wisdom, power, and love, then God takes pleasure in you. The Creator of the Universe takes pleasure in you personally.

God doesn’t measure you by any of the world’s standards. He doesn’t take pleasure in your job title, bank balance, home value, or the sticker price of your car. He doesn’t measure you by your health, wealth, or situation. God loves and takes pleasure in your heart, if it is submitted to Him. In a year full of disappointments and frustrations, take joy in this – God delights in you as you delight in Him.

NOTE: While Pastor Brian is on sabbatical, we offer this devotional which was originally published on December 23, 2020.

“After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile.” – Genesis 41:1

In our high-speed, no wait, immediate gratification 21st Century American culture, we get frustrated if we have to wait for two weeks. Yet, after God helped Joseph interpret the dreams of two high Egyptian officials, giving him the opportunity to build and “work his network”, Joseph still had to wait two more years in an Egyptian prison for the next step in God’s plan to unfold. Two years!

Can you imagine having the faith and patience to wait two years? In prison? Joseph certainly thought that helping Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer would be his big break, but then…nothing. The man completely forgot Joseph existed. And Joseph had to wait for two years. Because it wasn’t yet the right time.

We doubt God, grow frustrated with Him, and question His love, presence, goodness, and even existence when forced to wait for the answers to our prayers. However, the Bible is consistently clear: God moves on His timetable, not ours. His patience is infinitely greater than ours, as is His wisdom and understanding. While we think in terms of hours and days, God thinks in years and centuries.

It’s helpful to recognize those places in the Bible where faithful waiting is demonstrated, because they help us to stay patient and faithful as we wait for God’s next step in unfolding the plan for our lives. God is present with you. God has a plan and it is good. Rather than doubting God because He doesn’t move on your timetable, learn to love and pursue God as He helps you wait to move on His!

NOTE: While Pastor Brian is on sabbatical, we offer this devotional which was originally published on January 20, 2021.