“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).’ – John 1:40-42

This is a critical moment in the history of the world! Andrew met Jesus and believed He was the Messiah. The first thing he did after that was find his brother, tell him about Jesus the Messiah, and bring him to Jesus. Andrew, while certainly important, is not especially famous. Peter is, well, Peter – apostle, pastor, evangelist, author of Scripture, leader of the early church.

What a simple, yet difficult thing, yet critical thing Andrew did! To go to someone he cared about, tell him about Jesus, and bring him to Him. We’re called to do the same, to be Andrews in the lives of others. Yes, it can be difficult, but it’s also both simple and critical. Your efforts may not only change their present and eternal future, it may change the world!!!

Who do you care about who needs to meet Jesus? Will you be faithful to be his or her Andrew???

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14

What an extraordinary moment! The eternal Word, who was with God in the beginning and who was God, became flesh and lived among us. The event we call Christmas was the pivotal moment in history when the divine Son of God took on human flesh and a human nature, stepping into our fallen world.

By doing so, He could live the perfect life we can’t, defeating every temptation thrown at Him. By doing so, He could give Himself as a perfect, innocent sacrifice sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sins. By doing so, He became our Savior, a Savior who understands the difficulties and pain of ordinary human existence and so truly understands when we cry out to Him. By doing so, Jesus brought grace and truth into our lives when we embrace Him. What a glorious moment!!!

“But I am like a green olive tree
in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God
forever and ever.”
– Psalm 52:8

God’s steadfast love (“hesed” in Hebrew) is spoken of over and over again throughout Scripture. It’s central to His character. He is the God of steadfast love. His love is quite unlike our shallow human (especially 21st century) notions of love. God’s steadfast love is unwavering and unchanging. It isn’t conditional or transactional. It doesn’t increase or decrease based on His mood, the weather, what we’ve done for Him lately, or the situation of the world.

God’s steadfast love is an unshakable foundation upon which we can build our lives. The Psalmist describes God’s love as the source of perpetual nourishment and life-giving abundance that makes him like a green olive tree. By making the commitment to trust in God’s love forever, he knows he is forever fruitful and healthy.

During this time of uncertainty, difficulty, frustration, anxiety, and genuine suffering, put your trust in God’s steadfast love. Though the world around you may feel hostile and strange, God’s love will provide all you need to thrive. This is the love that never fails. This is the love that sent His Son Jesus into this world to suffer and die for our sins. This is the love that raised Jesus from the dead and the love that fills us with a fountain of living water when we put our faith in Jesus. This is the love that forgives our every sin and mistake in Christ and the love that in Christ we will enjoy forever and ever in God’s presence.

“Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!”
– Psalm 51:2

The good news is that delightedly God answers this prayer through Jesus Christ! When we put our faith in Jesus, embracing Him as Lord and Savior, God forgives us. Whatever we have done, or whatever we do, when we confess it to God and ask His forgiveness in Christ, we have it. Jesus took the penalty for our sin, so that God could forgive us graciously, mercifully, kindly, and lovingly.

When you ask God’s forgiveness, understand that His forgiveness is total! It isn’t grudging, it isn’t conditional, it isn’t simply being stored up to throw back in your face later. God freely forgives us, cleans us up, and restores us to Him. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise or use your guilt to manipulate you!

If you’re struggling with guilt from something in your past or present, ask God’s forgiveness and understand that it’s yours immediately and completely. Let your guilt go, because in God’s eyes, it’s already gone! Know deep in your soul that in Christ you are a new creation, you are clean, you are forgiven. In Christ you have meaning, purpose, and value as a human being. Say good-bye to guilt and shame and embrace your loving Savior Jesus. Find peace in the presence of God your Father.

“So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.” – Joshua 6:20

We live in an age that routinely sits in judgment on the plans of God, the revealed will of God, and the nature of God Himself. We think it right, necessary, and appropriate to determine which parts of God’s Word, will, and plan “make sense” to us, which seem appropriate for our image of a God of the Universe, and which are “still relevant”. Anything we don’t agree with personally we explain away or rationalize ignoring. Even people who claim to love God tend to pick and choose from God’s Word like someone walking down a long buffet line.

Enough! As we see in the story of the fall of Jericho, our responsibility and right isn’t to question God’s plan and decide whether He makes sense from our perspective. Our responsibility is to respond in faith, simple, childlike faith, and actually do what He says. Sometimes God’s plan makes no sense to us. There may well be aspects of His design with which we disagree. But He is the sovereign Creator of the universe and He operates at a completely different level of understanding than we do!

We need to embrace Him as Lord and when we do, that means actually embracing His design for our lives rather than constantly questioning it. The Israelites had to think God’s plan to bring down the city wall was crazy. But they followed it anyway. Faithful, joyful, confident obedience when we don’t understand is often the test the refines and strengthens our faith. When we obey in faith, rather than constantly critically judging God in reason, we are likely to ultimately realize the wisdom of God and catch a glimpse of His glory. When we obey despite not understanding or agreeing, we will be blessed!