“You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, ‘How have we wearied him?’ By saying, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.’ Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?’” – Malachi 2:17

Try not to weary the Lord with your words! That’s just good, solid life advice… Fortunately, the Bible gives us some examples of words that weary and frustrate the Lord when spoken by His people. One that’s popular today is saying that God is fine with sin and delighted with people engaged in unrepentant sin. That’s a total lie (proclaimed by many, including churches)! He isn’t!

God certainly is love. However, that doesn’t mean He has no opinion about, or turns a blind eye toward, sinful behavior. God is also perfectly holy and righteous! All sin must be dealt with and can’t be ignored. That’s true whether you’re talking about sexual sin, false teaching, or injustice, cruelty, and hard-heartedness toward the poor and vulnerable around you. That’s true whether the sin is greed, sinful anger, gossip, lying, substance abuse, or pride. Don’t try to pretend, excuse, explain, or affirm sin and call it good. Don’t lie and claim that God delights in people who make a habit of practicing sin. Those who are happily engaging in sin – whatever that sin is – are not in a good place with the Lord! To say otherwise is to lie about God’s nature.

Likewise, God grows tired of complaints about how the universe is being managed, when those complaints become our excuse to not obey Him. The Bible tells us to expect all sorts of calamity during our earthly lives. We live in a world that is thoroughly infected and affected by human sin at every level. Injustice is going to happen – for a period of time. Eventually, Jesus will return and all injustice will be dealt with. Those who are wicked will be dealt with for all eternity and God’s perfect justice will be done THEN and forever afterward (not necessarily now). Complaining about that which God has already explained in His word grows wearisome to Him when it becomes our reason not to delight in God and commit ourselves to #FollowJesus

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” – John 16:7

What a remarkable statement! On the night before His death, Jesus explained to His disciples that it was to their advantage that He die, rise, and ascend to Heaven while they remained on earth. How could that possibly be true? What could be better than having Jesus walking with them and teaching them every day???

Having His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God living in them, empowering them, transforming them, teaching them, and correcting them whenever they need it!!! According to the Lord, Himself, having the Spirit of Christ giving you the power to do the work of Jesus is even more valuable than having His physical presence with you.

Remember this truth, and treasure it, because the Helper lives in you if Jesus is your Lord! The moment you believe and entrust your life to Jesus, you were sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Jesus has sent Him to you! This is an incredible reality that should transform your life completely over time! The question is whether you’re tapping into that power and enjoying the advantage of having the Helper? Are you living a Spirit-filled and led life? Do you truly #FollowJesus?

“Then I said to them, ‘If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.’ And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.” – Zechariah 11:12

As Christmas Eve dawns and we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior, this verse reminds us of the price that had already been placed on His life centuries earlier – the rather ordinary sum of 30 pieces of silver. That babe in the manger, the Lamb of God, God’s precious gift of salvation grew up to be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Wise men searched for Jesus to give Him precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And yet, one of His disciples would sell Him out for a mere 30 pieces of silver.

At Christmas, God the Son came to us in flesh. He lived a perfect, sinless life full of extraordinary teaching and miracles. Then He went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, sent there by the powers of the world who paid just 30 pieces of silver for the opportunity. As you prepare to make much of Jesus today and tomorrow, take time to meditate on His infinite worth and glory. But don’t forget to consider the paltry sum for which He was betrayed. The eternal Son and King of Kings was born into humble circumstances in Bethlehem and was betrayed for a humble price in the end. And yet, it wasn’t the end. Today, Jesus reigns over the universe in glory and one day, perhaps soon, He will return to make all things new. #FollowJesus

“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, ‘Do you understand what I have done to you?'” – John 13:12

Can you even begin to imagine what it must have been like for Jesus to wash the dusty feet of His followers? Some who were enthusiastic but headstrong and foolish… Some who loved Him but struggled with pride and the desire for power… Some who heard Him for years but never really “got” His message… Some who’d seen Him do great things but remained timid and fearful… One who would soon betray Him to His death… Jesus knew all these things about the men whose feet He washed. He washed them anyway. Because of His love, His grace, His purpose. To teach and set an eternal example.

If Jesus is your Lord, then He has washed you as well. Not your feet but every aspect of your soul. With His lifeblood. Even though you may (still) be very similar to those disciples. Headstrong or foolish, prideful or seeking power, hearing but never really “getting”, fearful, or sinful and betraying Jesus once more. We aren’t different from the disciples. Not in this regard. And yet, Jesus washed us clean anyway as well. Because of His love, His grace, His purpose. To teach and set an eternal example.

Whose feet are you being called to wash (probably figuratively)? Whom will you serve, even though they may be headstrong or foolish, prideful or seeking power, listening but never really “getting” it, fearful, sinful, or even traitorous. What difficult person are you called to love and serve because Jesus has loved and served you? To whom will you show grace they don’t deserve because that’s what the word grace means? Where will you #FollowJesus?