Author: Brian Burdett

“Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” – 1 Corinthians 15:6

Jesus rose from the dead. Paul wants us to understand that he and we have devoted our lives to a historical fact. Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, was crucified, dead, and buried. Then, He physically rose from the dead. This isn’t a fairy tale, a hallucination, or a legend created after the fact. This was a historical event that his early readers could verify by talking to any of the hundreds of witnesses who saw Jesus alive. Who saw Him eat. Who touched Him or saw others touch Him. Paul is essentially challenging skeptics to go check things out for themselves because there were so many eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus still alive at the time.

This truth is vitally important as chapter 15 explains. The physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central event of our faith. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, neither will we. Because Jesus rose, we who believe in Him will also rise to eternal life. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, His sacrifice wasn’t sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins. Because Jesus rose, we who believe in Him are forgiven our sins and set free from guilt and shame. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then we have no long-term future and should just maximize physical pleasure on earth. Because Jesus rose, our future is eternal and our greatest rewards will be in God’s presence.

Because Jesus rose, we who believe in Him have a purpose for our lives – to proclaim hope and make disciples. This mission is worth any amount of inconvenience, sacrifice, danger, and even the risk of death. This mission is greater than any person or any church because Jesus is alive and He wants many others to live with Him forever! #FollowJesus

“And all Judah rejoiced over the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and had sought him with their whole desire, and he was found by them, and the Lord gave them rest all around.” – 2 Chronicles 15:15

God isn’t hiding! While He seldom forces Himself on those who aren’t interested in Him, He’s always ready to embrace anyone who sincerely looks for Him. Over and over in Scripture, God promises that if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him. Under King Asa, the nation of Judah sought the Lord and found Him. Their reward was peace that surpasses all understanding.

Romans 10:13 promises that everyone who sincerely calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. In this verse, an entire country sought the Lord and found Him, swearing a renewed oath of loyalty to the Lord as their God. Let us pray for such an awakening in our own community and country!!! Pray for the day when people by the thousands and millions will call on the name of the Lord, crying out with a genuine hunger to know their Creator. When they do, they will find Him in the person and presence of Jesus.

God isn’t hiding. He is preparing for another great awakening. Pray for that to begin. Work diligently to make it happen through your own efforts to share the love and good news of Jesus Christ. #FollowJesus

“And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.” – 2 Chronicles 12:14

Leadership is no place for half-hearted godliness! King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, only turned to God when he was scared. The rest of the time, he lived by his own ideas and opinions, and those of his foolish advisors. The results were disastrous for Israel! The kingdom was divided, invaded, looted, and subjugated to Pharaoh of Egypt. Every time Rehoboam grudgingly turned to God, the Lord was gracious toward him. But Rehoboam couldn’t stay focused on following God for very long. So much was lost because of the king’s half-hearted faith!

None of us live in ancient Israel today. The covenant of grace we live by under Lord Jesus is different from the covenant of law Rehoboam was under. Nonetheless, this principle hasn’t changed. Every nation benefits when it has genuinely godly leadership. We’re all commanded to pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:2). Make time, today and every day, to pray for leaders at every level of government to turn their hearts fully toward God. Pray for them to receive and follow God’s wisdom rather than human cunning. Be faithful in these prayers, for our broken world and broken political systems surely need this! #FollowJesus

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” – 1 Corinthians 11:26

Why do Christians celebrate the Lord’s Supper? First and foremost, because Jesus said to. He ordained this celebration as an ongoing reminder and proclamation of His sacrifice until the day He returns. It’s a visible, tangible reminder of His death on the cross that established the new covenant of grace under which we live. It engages all our senses – eyes, ears, smell, touch, and taste – to remember the body of our Savior broken and hanging on a cross with His innocent blood running down it to establish that new covenant.

The Lord’s Supper reminds us of the terrible cost of our glorious freedom in Christ, the infinite price paid so that God’s wrath would pass over us. However, it does more than that. The local church is the body of Christ on earth until He returns. The Lord’s Supper is an expression of our unity as that body. It is a public affirmation that in Christ, we are made one. The church has many members but is one body, united in one Spirit. The Lord’s Supper proclaims that and affirms our bonds of love and unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It reminds our hearts, which can be prone to selfish wandering, that we are part of one greater body.

The Lord’s Supper also reminds us that we’re in ongoing union with Christ. We are “in Christ” and the Lord’s Supper is a visible reminder that He is with us at all times and all situations. That didn’t just happen randomly…. Jesus suffered and died to make that happen! We celebrate that whenever we take that bit of bread and drink with all that they represent. It reminds us, encourages us, and strengthens us as we #FollowJesus every day.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

The immediate context and application of this verse is about food. In Christ, we have enormous freedom to eat or drink pretty much anything – unless we firmly believe we shouldn’t. In which case, it’s wrong for us (personally) to eat or drink it. However, the principle expressed here applies to much more than just what and where we eat and drink. Do EVERYTHING for God’s glory.

This simple principle resolves many of the dilemmas that Christians can sometimes overthink. Am I allowed to do this thing? Should I do it? The answer depends on how you answer two other questions…. Does it glorify God? Will you do it in a spirit that brings glory to God? If so, go for it. If not, don’t do it.

To be clear, this isn’t a way to rationalize sin. Sin NEVER brings glory to God. It’s impossible to glorify God through your sin. However, there are many, many things in life that are morally ambiguous and about which Christians disagree (often loudly). Foods. Drinks. Music. Movies and TV. Books. Phones. Apps. Clothes. Time. If the Bible isn’t explicit one way or the other, then Christians probably have freedom. That’s where this principle is helpful. As you do the thing, will you do it to glorify God? Will it bring glory to God? If not, don’t do it.

This principle is simple, yet powerful for daily decision making. Do all to the glory of God. #FollowJesus