Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’” – Mark 1:27

The miracles of Jesus were primarily done to draw people to His teaching. His jaw-dropping power was proof that His stunning words should be listened to and obeyed. Jesus didn’t speak, teach, or preach like anyone else on earth. He didn’t debate, discuss, or equivocate. He didn’t stand on the ideas and interpretations of rabbis and scholars. He spoke directly and authoritatively as the Son of God on earth. Given that radical difference in teaching style and content, why should anyone listen to Him? Because He also had the power of God’s Son!

It’s helpful for us to understand the relationship between the miracles of Jesus and His words. Miracles were never the main event – they were performed to draw attention to the fact that God’s Kingdom had come into the world through Christ. That’s most likely why there tend to be relatively few dramatic miracles in parts of the world where the words of Jesus are well-known, widely taught, and at least respected. Miracles draw crowds but the word of Christ raises the spiritually dead to life!

To this day, we sometimes get so focused on the miracles of Jesus that we think more about them than we do His words. Make no mistake, the words are far more important! His words are life. His words are truth. He taught with authority. He proved that authority by the miracles He did. So, what are you doing about that authority? Do you take His words seriously? Do you view them as a matter of life and death? Do you pray for God’s hep to live in obedience to the words of Jesus? Have you submitted to the authority of Jesus as your Lord? #FollowJesus

“And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.” – Acts 28:15

Never underestimate the power of simply showing up! Paul and his friends were finally nearing Rome after two years of imprisonment followed by a catastrophic shipwreck and a long winter of waiting for safe traveling weather. Once they arrived, Paul would face a trial for his life before the unpredictable Roman emperor. It’s no wonder he was feeling a bit down and discouraged!

Then some fellow Christians came out to meet them on their way. There’s no reason to think they’d met before. It wasn’t a reunion of long-lost friends. These followers of Jesus simply heard that a brother in Christ was coming to the region under less than ideal circumstances. So they went and offered encouragement. We have no idea what they said or did but it probably wasn’t earth-shattering in content. Nonetheless, it was enough to get Paul praising God as he instantly felt less isolated, more loved, and greatly encouraged.

Those unknown Christians didn’t need to have the “right words” to make this bad situation good. It was still a bad situation. However, it was better than before, simply because they came to visit. God was praised and the discouraged took courage because those believers made the short trip out to meet, greet, encourage, and pray. The power of that moment didn’t come from great speeches, deep wisdom, or miracle-working prayer. The power came from the fact that they simply showed up.

Embrace their example! Show up for someone going through a tough situation. Think about who might be encouraged if you visited them. Then visit them. Don’t worry about having the right words – there may not be right words. Don’t worry about what you’ll do, just go! Seek out the discouraged and make them feel cared for, loved, and a bit less lonely. Just show up! #FollowJesus

“And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head.” – Matthew 27:30

Who would do this?!? Who would spit on Jesus? Who would mock Him, humiliate Him, and hit Him on the head? Surely it was a group of pagan Roman soldiers. Casual dealers in pain and death. Excited for the opportunity to practice cruelty without restraint. Ugly men earning God’s eternal wrath.

Who else would do this?!? Every Christian… every time we deliberately sin. When we, who’ve been raised to new spiritual life, jump back into the cesspool of sin and death from which we were saved, by practicing one of our favorite sins, we’re spitting on Christ. We’re telling Jesus that we don’t take His sacrifice seriously. We say thanks for the cleansing blood, please keep it coming…

Don’t spit on Jesus! Whatever tempts you to sin, fight it! Whether it’s the sort of sin that makes headlines or the kind where you claim, “it doesn’t hurt anyone”, it’s spitting on Jesus. Uncontrolled anger… greed… sexual sin of any sort… gossip… dividing believers… dallying with dark spiritual things… cruelty or criminality toward others… Whatever it is, fight it.

Every Christian will fall into sin from time to time. When you do, there is always grace to cover that – repent and be forgiven. But when we jump into sin without the slightest bit of concern or resistance, full of ourselves and confident that we’re right and God needs to leave us alone – that’s when we spit on Jesus once more. In fact, Hebrews 6:6 says that we crucify Him once again, warning us of the terrible spiritual consequences of doing that. So, whatever tempts you to sin, don’t excuse it. Don’t explain why it isn’t a big deal. Don’t embrace it. Don’t celebrate it. Fight it. Get help fighting it. Crucify it. #FollowJesus

“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.” – Matthew 24:5

Followers of Jesus must be extremely discerning about ANYONE making bold claims about themselves. Be wary of highly dynamic, exciting, charismatic individuals who claim (or have people claiming) they’ve been anointed by God (which is what Christ means). Reject the claims of anyone claiming to be some sort of Savior. In our modern era of instant global communication, it’s easy for a compelling individual to use familiar religious language and a big personality to gather huge followings online or in person. Even, or especially, among Christians.

The Bible repeatedly warns us not to be deceived by false prophets and messiahs. Obviously, God knows this will be a problem for us, so pay attention to these warnings! Jesus is absolutely coming back. When He does, His return will be as unmistakable as a bolt of lightning arcing across the night sky. He won’t be subtle and low-key like His first coming. You don’t have to worry about missing Jesus when He returns. Instead, be very, very careful about looking for Christ in all the wrong people and places. Don’t put your love, zeal, trust, or loyalty that should be reserved for Jesus toward anyone else.

If you find yourself becoming extremely excited about any human being, check yourself. Explore those feelings. Try to think objectively about that person. What has you so excited? Is it something appropriate for a human being or are you beginning to fall for a false messiah? Accept no substitutes! #FollowJesus

“The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’” – Acts 23:11

Sometimes Jesus’ understanding of good news is very different from ours. But guess what, He’s right!!! Paul had been hauled before riotous crowds that wanted him dead. While spending another night in jail, Jesus appeared to him and delivered good news. The mob wouldn’t manage to kill him. Instead, Paul would be taken as a prisoner to Rome to tell people about Jesus in the same way he had in Jerusalem… at risk for his life, without freedom, and without an alternative. Wouldn’t you love to get good news like that?!?

To Paul (or to us when we find ourselves in a similarly difficult situation), this might not have sounded like awesome news. Continued imprisonment. Years without freedom to travel for his ministry. Continued risk to his life. Ongoing violent and dangerous opposition. In ourselves, we would naturally consider this to be terrible news. But not Jesus!

To Jesus, this was wonderful news! He would be glorified through Paul’s faithful witness in chains. Many souls would be saved as they heard Paul’s testimony about Jesus during the period of years this process would take. Paul would be forced to act in the strength and power of Jesus because he was powerless. This is world-changing good news to Jesus and He’s right!

Realize that life isn’t always going to go the way you hope, imagine, or expect. That doesn’t mean Jesus isn’t present with you, loving you, sustaining you, and empowering you. It just means that He understands much better than you what’s truly good – for you and for those you encounter in your journey with Him. #FollowJesus