Category: Thoughts and Meditations

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8

Can you confidently say this about yourself? As Paul neared the end of his life, this was his self-assessment. As a young man, he’d been a terrible enemy of Christ and His church. However, after he met Jesus, Paul had “fought the good fight” ever since. He devoted his life to serving and glorifying Jesus. To making disciples of Jesus. To planting churches for Jesus. He’d held tightly to his faith despite abuse, persecution, and multiple years spent in jail.

Have you fought the good fight? Your ministry is probably meant to look very different from Paul’s. Nonetheless, you’re definitely called to serve and glorify Jesus, making disciples. Day in and day out. Year after year. In good times and in bad times. Have you invested your time, energy, and resources to that service? To helping others know Jesus and obey Him? If not, it isn’t too late! Jesus always meets us where we are and happily guides us into deeper faith and obedience. If you aren’t currently fighting the good fight for Jesus, get started today!

Have you kept the faith, even in the face of opposition? You probably won’t endure what Paul did, but you’ll definitely face pressure to keep quiet about Jesus or to compromise His commands to make others happy. Don’t do it! Don’t trade the eternal glory of the faith for temporary peace and quiet in your life. If you already have, it isn’t too late to ask Christ’s forgiveness and move forward in true faith. If you aren’t currently keeping the faith, start today!

God will abundantly bless, honor, and reward everyone who reaches the end of their life and can say what Paul said. The good news of the gospel is that regardless of your past or present, you can commit right now to live like this going forward. Fight the good fight. Run the race Jesus has prepared for you. Keep the faith. #FollowJesus

“For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
– Psalm 22:16-18

At the cross, soldiers gambled for His clothes.
At the cross, leaders watched His suffering in triumph.
At the cross, mockers mocked and scoffers scoffed.
At the cross, sin was paid for with innocent blood.
At the cross, justice was done once for all time.
At the cross, grace was set free.
At the cross, Jesus endured God’s righteous anger so you’ll never have to.
Remember your Savior on the cross today and #FollowJesus, even to the cross!

“Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.”
– Psalm 27:12

Today of all days, we remember that what David prayed wouldn’t happen to him is exactly what happened to the Son of David. The Messiah, the Christ, the eternal King of Israel, Jesus, ate a final meal with His disciples. He sat down to that meal knowing that one of them would soon betray Him to His death. Jesus entered that meal knowing that shortly afterward, His adversaries would take Him. That they would line up so many false witnesses against Him that they couldn’t get even get the lies sorted out. Jesus knew this night would end in violence followed by condemnation, torture, and excruciating death the next day.

John’s gospel reminds us that Jesus knew what lay before Him, and yet, He loved His followers to the end. To a false trial. To a cross. To a tomb. To glory in Heaven forever. Jesus spent that night in friendship, love, teaching, and prayer precisely so He could accomplish our salvation and begin God’s work to restore all of creation.

It is a marvelous thing to contemplate! A beautiful thing. A sobering thing. A terrible thing. A powerful thing. Take time to think about Jesus. Your Lord. Your Savior. Your God come in the flesh. Waiting for what lay before Him. For your sake and for the glory of His Father in Heaven. Rejoice! Weep! Pray! #FollowJesus

“Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!”
– Psalm 25:6-7

The psalmist’s prayer, and the deepest need of our own souls, is fulfilled through what we contemplate and celebrate this particular week. There is no greater evidence of God’s enduring steadfast love and mercy than what Jesus did for all of us on the cross. God demonstrated love beyond anything we could possibly imagine by sending His Son into the world to rescue us from our sins. When the sinless Son of God gave Himself over to a horrifying death on a cross, it was precisely so God’s love, mercy, and grace could be lavished upon His people. Including you!

It’s only through the work of Christ on the cross, His sacrificial death, burial, and physical resurrection, that our sins are forgiven as a gift of God’s grace given through faith in Jesus. Because Jesus died and rose, God will not remember your sins once you have confessed them to Him and asked forgiveness. He doesn’t think about them. He doesn’t talk about them. He doesn’t remind you of them. Because Jesus died and rose, God only thinks about you with steadfast, loyal, faithful love you honestly don’t deserve. Because God is love. God is gracious. God is merciful. That’s His nature. And because at the cross, Jesus satisfied the perfect justice, righteousness, holiness, and wrath of God.

Take time to meditate on God’s mercy proven by the cross. Give thanks for His forgiveness given through the cross. Delight in His love poured out at the cross. And remember the terrible price Jesus paid to answer this prayer! Believe, remember, and #FollowJesus

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.”
– Psalm 23:4

The Lord IS our Shepherd! This week we remember that our Good Shepherd went through the valley of the shadow of death Himself. Jesus moved ever forward that week toward the Cross on which He would die. Toward the tomb His body would inhabit for a few days. Toward the glorious Resurrection we will celebrate on Sunday!

Nobody understands the valley of the shadow of death better than Jesus! He has experienced both dying and death personally. He certainly knows what’s on the other side of death. Who better to walk with you through seasons of sickness, sorrow, danger, and grief than the Risen Shepherd? If you have trusted your life to Him, then He has promised He will never leave your or forsake you. Jesus is always with you through your journey of life, every step of the way. He comforts, protects, strengthens, and even carries you through the dark valley of the shadow of death. He died and rose so that everyone who believes in Him will eventually come through the other side of that valley, rejoicing in the promised land of eternal life in His presence. #FollowJesus