At church I often reference the fact that we live in a fallen, broken world. And I know that the challenges and struggles of this world can feel daunting at times. It can feel like a relentless bombardment, leaving us weary and disheartened, and wondering if there will ever be relief.

But in these moments, we must remember the unchanging truth that God is our deliverer. He is not distant or indifferent to our struggles. Instead, He is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives, working tirelessly to rescue us from the clutches of the enemy.

In Exodus 14:14, we find these comforting words: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” This verse reminds us that the battle is not ours to fight alone. God Himself is our champion, fighting on our behalf with unmatched power and authority. We need only to trust in His deliverance and remain steadfast in our faith.

Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see countless examples of God’s deliverance. From the Israelites crossing the Red Sea to Daniel in the lion’s den, His faithfulness shines brightly, illuminating the darkness with the promise of salvation. And just as He delivered them, so too will He deliver us.

Psalm 34:17 declares, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” No matter how scary our circumstances may seem, God hears our cries and responds with compassion and grace. He is not deaf to our pleas, nor is He indifferent to our pain. He is a loving Father who longs to bring us out of the darkness and into His marvelous light.

Even when it feels like the continuous attacks of the enemy will never cease, we can take refuge in the promise of Psalm 18:2: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”In God alone we find our ultimate protection and security. He is our rock in times of trouble, our stronghold in the face of adversity.

So let us lift our eyes to the mountains, knowing that our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2). Let us stand firm in the knowledge that God has delivered us in the past, He is delivering us in the present, and He will continue to deliver us in the future.

In the midst of all the challenges and uncertainties we experience in life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and alone. We live in a time where we are more “connected” than ever through technology, and yet more and more people are experiencing profound feelings of isolation and loneliness. 

Loneliness and isolation have never been God’s plan for our lives. We were created for relationship—relationship with God and relationship with others. And the key to understanding God’s heart for relationship is His limitless love for each of us.

Throughout the Bible, we encounter many expressions of God’s love—from the creation of life to the redeeming sacrifice of His son Jesus on the cross. These truths powerfully demonstrate His unconditional love and desire for relationship. And this amazing love and relationship is seen through His powerful presence. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” In the depths of our loneliness and despair, God’s presence surrounds us like an unwavering embrace, offering comfort, strength, and hope. He longs for us to draw near to Him, to seek intimacy with Him, and to grow in our relationship with Him.

As well, the more we cultivate our relationship with God, the more we recognize the importance of fostering relationships with others. In John 13 Jesus emphasizes the commandment to love one another as He has loved us. In the same way God created us for relationship with Him, He also created us for relationship with one another. He knows that we find support, encouragement, and accountability in our relationships with other believers. 

As we seek to develop meaningful relationships with others, it’s important to understand that these relationships require intentionality and vulnerability. We’re called to extend grace, to forgive, and to love unconditionally in the same way that God does for us. True relationship requires consistent time, honesty, and authenticity so that we can reflect the love of God to one another. 

Ultimately, our relationships with God and with others are intertwined, each enriching and enhancing the other. As we grow in our love for God, we are compelled to love others selflessly and sacrificially. And as we cultivate meaningful relationships with others, we deepen our understanding of God’s love and His desire for us to live in loving community. May we embrace God’s call to love and be loved, knowing that in relationship with God and with one another, we find true connection and fulfillment.

We live in a world that is bustling and constantly going in all different directions. Each day, we face a multitude of choices and decisions and distractions that affect our lives and our future. And in the midst of all the voices trying to tell us which way to go, there’s one steady, unwavering voice that calls us towards truth and righteousness—the voice of our Creator, our Heavenly Father. 

Psalm 119:105 beautifully illustrates this truth: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. ” In a world engulfed in darkness, God’s Word shines brightly, illuminating our way forward, guiding our steps with divine wisdom and grace.

The truth is—with all the voices out there—it’s easy to lose sight of the one voice that truly matters. Our world bombards us with its ever-changing standards of success, beauty, and happiness, leaving us disoriented and disillusioned. But in the midst of this chaos, God’s Word remains steadfast, offering timeless truth and eternal principles that hold firm regardless of shifting cultural tides.

Jesus Himself warned us of the dangers of listening to false voices, likening them to thieves and robbers who seek to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Yet, He reassured us that His voice brings abundant life—a life marked by peace, joy, and purpose. As His sheep, we are called to tune our ears to His voice, recognizing it above all others and allowing it to guide us along the narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

Reading Scripture isn’t a religious duty where we merely check off a box, it’s a vital lifeline that connects us to the heart of God. Just as a branch withers if it’s not connected to the vine, our souls languish without our connection to the Lord (“our daily bread”). God’s Word gives us the nourishment we need. It sustains us, strengthens us, and enables us to withstand the storms of life, and it allows us to flourish in the midst of adversity.

As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we discover not only God’s will for our lives but also His unchanging character and unconditional love. We find comfort in His promises, guidance in His commands, and wisdom in His teachings. And as we walk in obedience to His Word, we experience the fulfillment and joy that can only come from living in alignment with His purposes.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word—a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path. Help us to treasure and cherish your Scriptures, recognizing the powerful role they play in our lives. Help us to prioritize time in Your Word. Give us ears to hear Your voice above the clamor of the world and hearts that are receptive to Your truth. May Your Word dwell richly in us, shaping our thoughts, words, and actions according to Your will. Lead us, O Lord, in the way everlasting, and grant us the courage to follow wherever You lead us.  – Amen.

In Malachi 3:2-3, we see a vivid image of God as a refiner’s fire. It paints this picture of God purifying His people in the same way precious metals are purified. This metaphor conveys both the intensity and purpose of God’s refining work in our lives.

Just as a refiner carefully heats metal to remove impurities, God’s refining fire purges us of those things that hinder our relationship with Him. This process can be uncomfortable and even painful, but it is necessary for our spiritual growth and transformation.

If you aren’t familiar with the refining process of silver or gold, they take the precious metal and subject it to intense heat until it literally melts. In this liquid form, impurities rise to the surface and they are skimmed away, leaving behind pure, gleaming metal. 

In the same way, God’s refining fire helps expose and remove the impurities in our own lives. Through trials, challenges, and the work of the Holy Spirit, God seeks to purge us of anything that gets in the way of our relationship with Him.

This process removes our impurities and reveals our true identity as God’s children. And just as pure gold or silver reflects the image of the refiner, we are meant to reflect the image of our heavenly Father. As the apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

The refining process is difficult, but it’s not meant to hurt us. It’s meant to bring to light things that are hidden as part of the lifelong process of sanctification. It’s meant to mold us and transform us into the people God has called us to be. When we’ve given our lives to the Lord, our sins do not discount us from God’s work: they are opportunities for God to work in us, ongoingly refining and purifying us. And our trials and struggles are not meaningless: they are opportunities for God to work through us, shaping us into vessels of His love and grace who positively impact the people around us.

So, when you find yourself in the midst of the refining fire, remember that God is at work, purifying and perfecting you for His purposes. Embrace the process with faith and perseverance knowing that, through it, you are being made more like Christ and being prepared to bear fruit that will glorify God.

This past week, we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Easter and the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. One of the things I talked about in my Easter message is the fact that the resurrection opened up the opportunity for us to live life to the fullest right now.

Unfortunately, many of us have a tendency to dwell in the past. Whether that’s struggling with past failures, struggling with things we feel God didn’t do for us, or struggling with the hurt or failure of others. We often allow these things to keep us from living the life God intended each of us to live right now.

We also have this way of seeing the resurrection as something that points to the future. Where someday, down the road, we will go to heaven and all our fears and struggles will be over. And though that is true, He has also given us the opportunity for abundant life right now. Hope for a glorious future shouldn’t keep us from living the life that God has called us to live today.

Jesus came to untangle our past and allow the hope of our future to seep into our present—so that we can live the lives He’s called us to live right here, right now: lives full of His love, hope, and joy; lives that are impacting those around us.

John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The eternal life that He has given us doesn’t start when our time on this earth comes to an end. The eternal life that He’s given us starts the minute we say yes to Him. Are we living that eternal life right now? Are we living our lives the way God has called us to live?

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You loved us so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to make a way for us to experience eternal life. Help us to grab hold of that life right now and to live it to the fullest. May we walk in the power of Your Spirit and be the light and life you have called us to be in a world that so desperately needs us. -Amen

Today is what the church refers to as Good Friday: a day to remember what Jesus did for us on the cross; a time for us to reflect on the profound depth of God’s love demonstrated through Jesus’ sacrifice.

In Romans 5:8 it says: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Imagine a vast ocean, stretching endlessly before you, with its immeasurable depths. This ocean represents God’s endless love, a love so deep that it surpasses our human understanding. It is within this unfathomable love that Jesus willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Reflecting on Good Friday allows us to dive into the depths of God’s love, understanding that it was not our works or righteousness that compelled Christ to the cross, but His overwhelming love for each one of us.

In 1 Peter 2:24 we read: “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

The cross is a symbol of both agony and redemption. Jesus endured unimaginable suffering, bearing the weight of our sins upon His shoulders. However, His sacrifice was not in vain. Through His death and resurrection, we are offered the gift of salvation and the opportunity to be reconciled with God. Reflecting on Good Friday allows us to contemplate the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice and the hope it brings to all of us in this broken and hurting world.

John 3:16 reminds us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Good Friday serves as a powerful reminder of God’s sacrificial love and the promise of eternal life through our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a time to humbly kneel at the foot of the cross—acknowledging our need for mercy and redemption—and surrender our lives to the Savior who willingly laid down His life for us. As we reflect on the significance of Good Friday, may we feel the weight and beauty of God’s gift to us and be filled with gratitude and awe for the unconditional love God demonstrated through the cross.

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly suffered and died on the cross for our sins. Help us to reflect deeply on the significance of Good Friday and to never take for granted the price that was paid for our redemption. May we be forever transformed by Your love and live our lives in humble obedience to Your will. In Your precious Son’s name. -Amen

Over the past several weeks, I’ve had a couple different conversations on the topic of decision-making. It’s hard for us to make decisions that we know will ultimately affect our future. Many of us desire to follow Jesus but worry about each decision: whether it’s what He would have us do or not.

This week as I was preparing my message, I ended up reading through Psalm 23 and I realized it has some great insight on decision-making. As our Shepherd, God guides and leads us along the right path, especially in the midst of life’s toughest decisions and uncertainties.

Psalm 23:1-3a says this: “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”

Imagine standing at a crossroads faced with a multitude of paths stretching out before you. Each path represents a decision to be made, a choice that could significantly impact your life’s journey. In these moments of uncertainty, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed and unsure of which direction to take. However, as believers, we can take comfort in knowing that we have a loving Shepherd who guides and leads us along the right path.

Much like an experienced mountain guide who knows the mountain like the back of their hand and skillfully leads their hikers through treacherous terrain, God knows the intricate details of our future. And He also knows the intricate details of our lives. He knows the paths that lie ahead and which direction would be uniquely best for each of us. He leads us with wisdom and discernment, guiding us away from harm and towards greener pastures.

As His sheep, He calls us to trust in Him completely, surrendering our plans and desires to His perfect will and trusting Him to get us back on the right path even when we make mistakes. When we acknowledge God as our Shepherd and submit our ways to Him, He promises to make our paths straight. This doesn’t mean that the journey will always be easy or without challenges, but it assures us that God will lead us in the direction that is best for us. When we fix our eyes on Him and His promises, we can trust that He will lead us through all of life’s ups and downs.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our Shepherd who guides and leads us along the right path. Help us to trust in Your wisdom and submit our ways to Your perfect will. May we find comfort and peace in knowing that You are with us every step of the way. Lead us, O Lord, and help us to follow you wherever You want to take us. -Amen.

In 1 John 4:16-21 we read: “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” 

I don’t think I fully realized this until recent years: The only way I can love God is by relying on His love to fill me first.

Think about that. Repeat it. Let it settle.

We love because He first loved us. That’s what these verses say.

And, yet, I think of all the times that I have tried so hard to love in my own strength and my own power, with my own understanding. No wonder we (humans) struggle with the two greatest commandments: to love God and love people. 

Honestly, this fundamental truth has changed my priorities in my prayer life. This is a portion of my first prayer each morning: “Please fill me with Your love and let everything in my life flow out of that…Help me to receive from You, rather than trying to control my surroundings.”

What changes in our lives when we pray this way? For me, nearly everything has changed in my knowing and loving God, as well as my loving people. There is no striving in it because I’m both trusting in and relying on God’s love to do the work in me.

I don’t do it perfectly. I forget sometimes. But, most days, this simple realization and request give me the capacity and desire and strength to love like Jesus loves because I’m using His love as fuel, and operating from a place of abundance. God is love—there is no shortage.

My blog this week is another devotional my wife did for our church:

“When he (Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”  -Matthew 9:36

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  -Luke 18:16-17

When my kids were small, I taught them not to stare at people. I thought I was teaching them to be socially aware and, in some ways, I was. However, lately I’ve been thinking about how this morphs in our understanding as we get older and can actually make us less like Jesus if we’re not careful.

I recently heard that children ask about 250 questions a day, whereas adults ask only about 20 questions a day. You see, kids are new to “the whole thing” and have a lot of questions. I believe we can agree that young children often stare at people that are foreign to them in order to try to understand their world. They see something different and their gaze lingers a little longer to try to make sense of it. This can be uncomfortable, both for the parent and for the person who is being observed. But—before a certain age—the child isn’t judging what they see, but simply trying to make sense of it. They’re trying to understand the person within the context of the world they’re getting to know.

Maybe you can see where I’m going with this: Sometimes, as adults, it might be good to purposefully look at the people around us—especially those who are different than us—both to try to understand them and, in doing so, to make them part of “our world,” instead of someone with whom we should avoid eye contact. And maybe we can try to ask more questions and cultivate a heart of curiosity, rather than judgment.

The thing is, Jesus loves every other person on earth just as much as He loves you. Every person has inherent worth simply because they are made in the image of God. And, if we’re going to be like Jesus, we are going to engage people who are different from us: people who might make us uncomfortable; people who might have different beliefs, values, and morals. We cannot lose sight of the fact that Jesus purposefully and regularly engaged and made eye contact with people who we might easily avoid.

I’m certainly not saying that we should start staring at people who are different than us. But maybe we can make an effort to make eye contact with others and engage those people that God allows to cross our path. My youth pastor said it this way, “Walk slowly through the crowd.” If we want to be like Jesus, we have to see people, have compassion for them, and then engage them.

This week in our men’s group, the topic was loving our enemies and one of the key points was forgiveness. This created some great discussion as we talked about the challenges of forgiving those who have hurt us or our loved ones.

Jesus taught extensively on forgiveness during His time here on earth. In the Lord’s Prayer, He instructed His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”(Matthew 6:12). And Jesus emphasized the link between receiving forgiveness and extending it to others. 

He illustrated this truth through the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35), as he points out the immeasurable grace we have received from God and the importance of reflecting that same kind of grace to others.

The story of Joseph which I referenced in last week’s blog is an amazing example of the power of forgiveness. If you aren’t familiar with his story, he was betrayed by his brothers who were jealous of him. They sold him into slavery, and he was subjected to unjust suffering for years. 

Joseph could have harbored bitterness and sought revenge but, years later when his brothers showed up at the place where he now had great authority and power over them, his response to them was one of forgiveness. When he revealed who he was to his brothers, he said, “Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” (Genesis 45:5). Joseph recognized the hand of God in his circumstances and chose forgiveness over resentment. And healing took place between him and his brothers.

When we forgive, we aren’t condoning anyone’s wrongdoing. Instead, we are choosing to release the grip of resentment and entrust justice to God. Our forgiveness frees us from the chains of bitterness and opens our hearts to healing and reconciliation. As Corrie ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, famously said, “Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”

Opportunities to practice forgiveness are all around us. Whether it’s forgiving a friend who has betrayed our trust, reconciling with a family member with whom we’ve had a falling out, or extending grace to a stranger who has wronged us, forgiveness is a testament to the transformative power of God’s love working within us.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the amazing grace You have poured out upon us through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus. Give us the strength and wisdom to forgive as we have been forgiven and to extend mercy as we have received mercy. Help us to release the burdens of bitterness and resentment, and instead, clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. May Your love shine through us as we embrace the transformative power of forgiveness. —Amen.