Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“And he said to him, ‘Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’” – Judges 6:15

It’s easy to understand Gideon’s question. After all, he was an unimpressive individual from an unimpressive family. Not notably brave. Not notably clever. Not notably strong. How could he possibly lead the fight to set his people free??? God’s answer is very clear in the next verse – it isn’t about the person. It’s about the Living God with that person!

God often does His most extraordinary works through ordinary people willing to do whatever He asks them to do in His power and presence. With God’s Spirit in us, there’s nothing a follower of Jesus can’t accomplish if it’s God’s will. Just because he or she can’t possibly do something in their own abilities and resources doesn’t mean God can’t do it through them. So, what about you? What might God be calling you to do in His power and presence? Do you know? Have you asked?

If you have some idea of what God might want you to do for His Kingdom, are you doing it? Are you willing to do it? Are you willing to do it in His power and presence (not your own)? Are you still wondering like Gideon did how God could possibly do it through you? Don’t worry so much about that last part. If God is calling you to do something, simply draw nearer to Him and answer His call! #FollowJesus

“But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” – Acts 9:13-15

Only Jesus can turn His greatest enemy into His greatest evangelist! Jesus took Saul of Tarsus, a zealous Pharisee who hated Him and His followers, and He flipped Saul right around. In a moment, the overwhelming reality of Jesus’ holy and glorious presence pulled Saul off the wrong path and onto the right path, transforming his enormous knowledge and zeal into an asset for Christ’s Kingdom. In the history of the church, there has been nobody else like Saul. However, Jesus is always working to turn enemies into evangelists!

There’s so much we can learn from this. We see the grace of Jesus illustrated as He loves and calls a man who’d been tormenting, torturing, and killing followers of Jesus. Saul did nothing to earn Christ’s forgiveness and inclusion in His kingdom, but Jesus gave it to him anyway. Saul would later call himself “the foremost of sinners” while marveling at the grace of Jesus. We also see how Jesus doesn’t just look for the most talented person already on His team. He calls and qualifies people from every walk of life, including His enemies. Once they trust in Him, they’re radically changed and suitable for service to King Jesus. Such was the case for Saul, who quickly began preaching the good news of Jesus Christ after his baptism.

We also see how difficult it is for Christians to believe that the Gospel has truly changed someone they fear or hate. Even though we believe the Gospel, it can still be a struggle to believe Jesus could love and save certain people. We can be skeptical of the very miracle that has saved us. And yet, we must believe. We must cling to the hope of the Gospel, praying and trusting that Jesus can turn around even His most hardened opponent. We must trust in the Lord, His power, and His wisdom in choosing and appointing those He selects. So, whom should you be praying for? What enemy of the faith are you praying Jesus will turn into a great evangelist? Take your time and pray right now. #FollowJesus

“And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.” – Acts 8:1

Back in Acts chapter 1, Jesus told His followers to go tell people about Him throughout Judea, Samaria, and the rest of the world. However, after a considerable amount of time had passed, the entire Christian movement was still concentrated in Jerusalem. It’s hard to blame them for this. They loved being together and their fellowship was beautiful! Then, persecution broke out. Suddenly, Jerusalem wasn’t such a comfortable place anymore. Suddenly, the followers of Jesus had no choice but to go out to Judea and Samaria.

Just like that, the command of Jesus finally began moving forward. Just like that, the Great Commission was under way. Just like that, Christians went and made disciples in Judea and Samaria. The Gospel finally began to advance throughout the world. Why? Because of persecution!

This is a powerful lesson and reminder to us. Though we’d all prefer comfort and safety, that rarely helps move the church forward. History reveals that the church thrives best and the Gospel spreads fastest whenever and wherever it is uncomfortable, unwise, and unsafe to be a Christian. Why? Because then Christians must rely on God, His Spirit, and His power rather than themselves, their resources, and their power. When we’re genuinely yielding our lives to the Spirit’s power, remarkable things happen in the world!

The simple reality is that comfort and peace are terrible temptations for churches and their members. They make it very hard to keep the main thing the main thing. After all, there are so many delightful distractions to which we quickly grow attached. So, perhaps, if we’re serious about completing the Great Commission, we need to pray for a bit less comfort and safety for believers and a bit more boldness and dependence on Holy Spirit power. Are you ready to pray like that? #FollowJesus

“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:20b

We often talk about the Great Commission. That’s the command Jesus gave to all believers to go and make disciples of people from every nation, language, and ethnic group on earth. However, today we aren’t focused so much on that command. Instead, we reflect on the wonderful promise Jesus makes at the end of the Great Commission. The promise that He is with us always until He returns at the end of the age.

The original Greek text for this sentence literally says that Jesus is with us “all the days”. All of them. Take a moment to think about that. If Jesus is your Lord, He isn’t just with you some of the days. He isn’t just with you on the days when you do great things for Him. He isn’t just with you on pleasant, sunny, happy days. Jesus is with you every single day. The good days and the bad days. The days of triumph and the days of tragedy and defeat. The days you’re fully devoted to Him and the days you trip and fall back into sin. The days you feel strong and the days you’re utterly broken in weakness.

This is the power to live for Christ in our broken, fallen, dark, chaotic, frightening world! This is the power to share hope in Christ amidst disease, disability, disaster, and death! The promise that Jesus – crucified, dead, buried, and risen from the dead – reigns in power over the universe with ALL authority. And He is in you and with you ALL days. You’re never alone. You’re never abandoned. You’re never rejected or ignored. You can truly make disciples wherever you are and wherever you go. Just #FollowJesus because He’s always with you!

“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” – Acts 4:34-35

What a powerful image of what happens when the people of God are completely filled with the Holy Spirit! Needs get met without asking. No guilt, no compulsion, no commands. People voluntarily share in deeply sacrificial ways to care for needy brothers and sisters. No one took advantage of their brothers and sisters. No one turned a blind eye to their brothers and sisters. The love was genuine and the fellowship was deep and powerful.

For those following Jesus today, these verses should be challenging and convicting. They simply don’t describe our lived experiences, by and large. These verses should bring questions flooding into our minds… What depths of community, love, and fellowship have we been missing out on? What blessings of God have we failed to experience? Are we too cautious, too careful, and too concerned with our own financial security and future? Are we too skeptical, too cynical, or too contemptuous of fellow believers in need? What would it be like to be so profoundly filled by the Holy Spirit that this sort of thing happened regularly?

Rather than trying to imitate the external behaviors of giving and sharing sacrificially, the more urgent question is how can we recreate the internal situation described in these verses? How can we experience the total filling of the Holy Spirit both personally and within our churches? So that we would also feel led to completely follow the Spirit’s leading in giving, sharing, and caring? So that we would be driven by faith over fear, love over security, and trust in God rather than our earthly possessions.

Pursue the Holy Spirit’s rule over your life and those in your circle of friends. Really fast and pray for the Spirit to work as you submit to His leadership, avoid sin in your life, and wait in prayerful worship. If we all do, then perhaps the world will once again see community, love, and fellowship like this! #FollowJesus