“And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.” – Ezekiel 20:44

After a very long recitation of Israel’s idolatry, rebellion, and sin across centuries, God makes this wonderful promise…. He won’t deal with them as they deserve. He won’t deal with them the way they deal with Him. Instead, He will deal with them with amazing grace. They’d constantly broken the covenant. They’d constantly rebelled. But rather than destroy them as per the terms of the covenant, God would be gracious toward them. He would be merciful.

Why? Because that’s His fundamental name and nature. Hundreds of years earlier, God had revealed Himself to Moses to be fundamentally merciful, gracious, patient, loving, and faithful. He repeatedly affirmed this across the centuries. It is God’s nature and glory to be merciful and gracious toward people who deserve only righteous wrath and just punishment. This hasn’t changed. It can’t change. It is God’s nature.

Remember this – because it’s also God’s approach toward you. Even after you mess up, fail, embarrass yourself, sin, or fall short yet again. God won’t deal with you in the petty, sinful, or shameful way you’ve dealt with Him. Through faith in Jesus Christ, God will deal with you in grace and mercy. With patience, love, and faithfulness. Don’t hide from Him, run to Him! Confess your failures and ask His forgiveness in the name of Jesus. Take your weaknesses, hurts, and broken places to Him for strengthening and healing. It is God’s delight and glory to pour out amazing grace on you today. That isn’t merely to bless you. It is for His glory and the sake of His name and reputation, so that others will come to know the He is God. #FollowJesus

“When iniquities prevail against me,
you atone for our transgressions.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple!”
– Psalm 65:3-4

This is the gracious invitation of God through faith in Jesus Christ! When you stumble and fall into sin, Jesus has already atoned for that sin through His perfect, sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead. When you once again fall short of God’s command and expectation, don’t beat yourself up about it endlessly. Don’t try to atone for it yourself. Take it to God in confession and repentance, trusting in the finished work of Jesus on the cross.

Your sins have been paid for and God will freely forgive you (1 John 1:9). After that, rejoice in the grace and presence of the Lord! Through faith in Christ, God has chosen you and brought you near to Him. His Spirit lives in you and you live in His presence. Don’t dwell in guilt or shame. Dwell in God’s love and grace. Your Father in Heaven loves you!

Fill yourself with God’s presence rather than the things of the world. Find your identity and essence as God’s precious child rather than identifying yourself by your possessions, accomplishments, or sins. Realize that lasting joy and satisfaction are freely available in the Lord. Be satisfied in His goodness. Rejoice in the holiness of His Temple – which is YOU because the Holy Spirit lives in you. #FollowJesus and be truly blessed!

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” – 2 Corinthians 4:17

This is the wonderful truth that describes every life devoted to serving the Lord Jesus Christ! Yes, there may be hardship here on earth… Paul certainly knew what he was talking about in this regard, enduring beatings, whippings, stoning, shipwrecks, deprivation, and unjust imprisonments for Jesus. There may be suffering for your faith. There may be persecution. There may be illness, weakness, injustice, and poverty. But if you’re following Jesus, then the difficulties of this earthly life are merely a blink of the eye compared to the glories awaiting you in Heaven. Glories that will never end.

Earthly life may last for 50, 70, or 100 years, but eternity lasts forever. After you’ve been there for millions of years, you still have forever in your future! Your faithful service to Jesus Christ here on earth will be blessed forever. Every sacrifice you make to bless others in the name of Jesus will be rewarded. The way you represent Jesus well to everyone you encountered will be celebrated for millions and millions of years. As you bask in the glory of the presence of Jesus, you’ll know that every painful step you took here on earth has somehow made that glory even more satisfying.

Don’t lose heart. Don’t lose focus. Don’t grow weary of doing good in this dark and broken world. Love the Lord. Love your neighbor. Share the Gospel. Make disciples. #FollowJesus

“When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.”
– Psalm 56:3

There will likely be times in your life that are simply overwhelming. Times when your fear is real and completely valid. In those times, remember that God is a very present help to His people. God wants to use those times to build your trust in Him. To teach you how to walk through the valley of the shadow of death with Him. Contrary to the popular myth (which is absolutely a myth), God will absolutely give you more than you can handle. He’ll permit more struggles and setbacks than you can sort through on your own.

This is so you will learn to walk in His strength and the power of His Spirit rather than your own strength and spirit. It’s in these overwhelming and frightening times that you need to be completely open and honest with God. Confessing your fears. Admit your inadequacy. Lift up your concerns. Trusting in the Lord. If Jesus is your Lord, then He is in you and with you. His Spirit seals and will strengthen you. He will give you your daily bread when you ask for it. You’re never alone and never abandoned! Do what God has made you to do. Do what God has called you to do. Do what God has prepared for you to do, no matter how intimidating or overwhelming. Trust in God despite your fears. #FollowJesus

“And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.” – 2 Samuel 6:8

King David had his people transport the Ark of the Covenant in ways that disobeyed God’s clear guidance. Ways that failed to respect God’s holiness. Unfortunately, a well-meaning man named Uzzah paid the ultimate price for David’s error. What was David’s first response to this tragedy? He got angry even though it was his own fault. Just another way that King David is like us.

After all, what’s our first reaction when our disobedience to God results in obvious and disastrous consequences? We usually get mad! We get mad because God sometimes makes us feel the consequences for our bad decisions. We get mad because our good idea didn’t turn out to be so good after all. Our pride is wounded. Our reputation is diminished. We’re embarrassed. We look to blame others. We look to blame God. We look to blame anyone other than ourselves. Our first response is seldom humble introspection or sorrow for our sins or mistakes.

We need to reprogram ourselves. The Holy Spirit living in every believer makes that possible. We don’t have to default to anger. We can, with God’s help, learn to default to humility, self-control, honest reflection, and genuine sorrow. As we grow closer to Jesus, these things will supernaturally come out of us. But it begins with realizing that our default instinct, like David’s, is wrong. Don’t get mad, #FollowJesus

Let’s all try to grow past that. While it would be ideal if followers of Jesus never sinned or made foolish choices.