“What man is there who desires life
and loves many days, that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking deceit.”
– Psalm 34:12-13

This is a great reminder as a divided nation heads into a particularly divisive season. Though you will see and hear much that is infuriating, offensive, and discouraging, followers of Jesus can’t respond in the same way. So don’t!!!

God blesses His people when we restrain our words, speaking only truth and life in love. A Christian must not speak, like, share, repost, or retweet lies and must care enough to make sure something is true before hitting that button! Feeling true and satisfying you aren’t the test. Is it actually true? God blesses a controlled tongue because only a controlled tongue can glorify Him. An uncontrolled tongue is a tool of Satan.

Even when you’re burning with the temptation to really “blast ‘em” you must not. Should you speak up against evil? Of course! But not in a way that is evil, vicious, or cruel itself. If you have the truth, it doesn’t need to be covered with poison. Should you speak about what’s important to you? Certainly, but do it in a way that is loving and honest, not hateful and false.

Jesus changed the world with love, honesty, and truth. Admittedly, He was crucified for it but that was for our benefit as well. His Spirit lives within every true Christian. If you’re a believer, then you have that same power and should be willing to suffer to change the world. This year, resolve to speak like Jesus, post like Jesus, and tweet like Jesus. #FollowJesus

“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;”
– Luke 1:52

As Mary declared in this verse, God began a great reversal of fortune with the coming of His Kingdom in Jesus Christ. Through Christ, those of low social standing who entrust their lives to Jesus are raised up. In Christ, we’re adopted by the King of the Universe, united with His Son, and sealed by His Spirit. We are co-heirs with Jesus, princes and princesses raised up with Him to reign alongside Him. No matter how difficult or depressed your situation may become on earth, you’re exalted in God’s eyes. God sees you, He loves you, and He exalts you!

Meanwhile, those who’ve grown wealthy and powerful by exploiting the sinful systems of the world will one day be brought down in judgment. Those who’ve profited from injustice will receive true, eternal justice. Temporary power on earth, if rooted in sin and use for evil or selfish purposes, will become eternal powerlessness apart from God’s presence.

Make no mistake, there are godly people of power and influence on earth. Praise God for the good they have opportunity to do for God’s Kingdom! If you’re one of them, recognize that your situation is a stewardship entrusted to you by God to use well on His behalf. Use your blessings to further God’s Kingdom by proclaiming good news and opposing evil throughout the world. Live by the same values God does, including His concern for the uplift of those in low and difficult situations. #FollowJesus

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” – Luke 1:37

How often do you think in terms of what’s possible and impossible? Children generally don’t but once we get a little older most older folks do. It becomes ingrained in us by parents, peers, teachers, classmates, coworkers, or employers. And yet, as an angel stood explaining to Mary how her aged and infertile relative Elizabeth was going to have a baby as a sign that Mary herself was going to have a baby without an earthly father, the angel emphasized that nothing is impossible with God. Nothing!

Think about it, repeat it, and believe it. Nothing will be impossible with God. Yes, He has usual ways of operating in the well-ordered world that He created. Nonetheless, He can do anything He wants and nothing is impossible for Him. In light of that, be faithful in prayer and ask the impossible. As you grow in understanding God’s will and desire to expand His Kingdom on Earth and make disciples of all nations, ask God to do the impossible. He may choose to or He may choose to wait or He may have a better way to accomplish His will. But it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask!

When you’re facing an impossible situation, take it God in prayer. As a follower of Jesus, approach God’s throne with the confidence of His beloved child and ask for the grace and mercy you need to get past the seemingly impossible. Let God surprise you! #FollowJesus

“Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us” – Luke 1:2

The beginning of Luke’s gospel is a wonderful reassurance for our skeptical age. Luke explains that he conducted meticulous research and eyewitness interviews. Under the direction and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Luke wrote an organized, sound, evidence-based history of the conception, birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. He did this so that we can be confident about what we’ve been taught, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Resurrected Lord and Savior!

The Christian faith isn’t built on legend or myth. The gospel accounts weren’t written hundreds of years later. Our faith in Jesus is rooted in the personal experience and eyewitness testimony of those who were with Him at every stage of His earthly life. Our faith is a rational, grounded, reasonable faith. As extraordinary as the idea of physical resurrection is, we can trust that it actually happened, because the people who talked with, ate with, and touched the risen Jesus shared their stories. They also invested their lives and deaths in repeating those stories to anyone who would listen.

Are there things that are difficult to understand or explain about our faith? Of course, that’s why it requires faith. Nonetheless, that doesn’t make them less true! Trust the Bible. Rejoice in the orderly, eyewitness accounts God has provided for us through inspired authors of Scripture. Trust Jesus! #FollowJesus

“Let all the earth fear the Lord;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.”
– Psalm 33:8-9

Take a moment to consider… God SPOKE the universe into existence. He didn’t go into His workshop and hammer away for awhile. He didn’t perform various tests and experiments. He didn’t develop models and prototypes. God spoke and everything came into existence from nothing. Extraordinary!!!!

That’s power beyond anything we can remotely comprehend! Humans have created beautiful and amazing things. But they always require time and materials. God didn’t need either of those. He spoke, and it came to be. Think about that and simply be in awe of God! Take time to praise Him for His power to create which is infinitely beyond our capacity to create. Be in wonder. Be in awe. Worship your Creator!

In practical terms, we often take God lightly. Our culture is dismissive toward Him. It trivializes Him as “the man upstairs” if it acknowledges Him at all. Even as Christians, we can be so focused on the truth of His love and kindness toward us that we forget God’s awesome majesty and authority as our Creator. Never lose sight of His love and relationship with you in Jesus Christ but immerse yourself in awe and reverence for Him. Let your mind be blown away by His power, His transcendence, and His holiness. Praise God. #FollowJesus