Today’s Word

Confession: sometimes when I see people in need, I ask myself if they really deserve my help. Isn’t that human nature? We want to be the judge. Also, I get really frustrated when people don’t appreciate or say “thank you” for my help. But the truth is, our service to other people isn’t really done for them in the first place. It’s done for Jesus. Jesus said “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40 CSB). When I read this verse, I used to visualize a homeless person out begging by an underpass. Surely they are the least of these. Now, I’ve had a paradigm shift. Turns out, the least of these isn’t the homeless person with a cardboard sign. The least of these is me. I’m the one who was dead in sin covered up in the filthy rags of my own self-righteousness. I’m the one who had nothing good to offer God. The only thing I gave Him was the sin that made my salvation necessary. I’m beginning to see that I don’t determine who’s worthy or not, because I certainly wasn’t worthy. When my feet were filthy from walking in sin, Jesus washed my feet! So, when you set out to serve someone, don’t ask: do they deserve it? None of us do. It’s not done for them anyways. It’s done for Him. Serving is done to Jesus. This means that my eyes are on Jesus. I’m focused on Him. Walking with Him day by day, I stay on the lookout for divine appointments. A servant doesn’t concern himself too much with his own needs. Servants are present, mindful, humble, observant, looking for divine appointments. Wherever you are, be all there.

Without saying a word, Jesus gave his disciples an object lesson for the ages. For three years, He taught this motley crew of disciples in boats, on roads, in crowds, and on a mountainside. Now, at their last meal, all His teaching and love culminated in washing their feet. All His love. All His passion. All His desire for them to continue following God – it all culminated in this one moment. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Who you are speaks so loud I cannot hear what you say.” Jesus washing feet fully reflected His character. If you lived in Jesus’ day, you’d walk the dusty roads in sandals. Your feet would constantly be exposed to the elements. By the end of the day, your feet would be tired, dirty, and smelly. Not exactly a good situation. Even worse, there was no indoor plumbing. People would often dump pots of excrement into the streets, so your feet would get covered with that too. Get the picture? I’m a clean freak. I don't like dirty feet. I don't like smelly feet. Feet are kinda weird. So, I don’t think I would have been a good fit for living in the first century. In that day, the host of a dinner would have his servants wash the guests’ feet. It was a custom to help them clean up before supper. What is it about serving others that changes our perspective? My wife often says, “Ministry is messy.” It’s not easy to serve other people. Their feet may be cleaner than in Jesus’ day, but helping others with problems like poverty, addiction, mental illness, and broken homes leads to some pretty messy situations. Nevertheless, Galatians 5:13 tells us to “serve one another in love.” That’s what Jesus did for us. And remembering Him in our service makes all the difference.

After nine decades of life, mostly spent in the ministry, Pastor Chuck Swindoll said "The longer I live. the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past: we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes." Your attitude will determine your altitude!

When we get saved, we are given a purpose: serve others. Share the Gospel. Live it out by being a servant like Jesus. This means that there are no small things when it comes to service. The world may never recognize our service or know our names, but that’s ok, because God does. As I write this note, two ladies in our church are watching our toddlers while my wife is out of town. Their service is just as great as writing this book. President John F. Kennedy challenged America to put a man on the moon. According to a popular legend, during a tour of NASA headquarters in 1961, President Kennedy encountered a janitor mopping the floors. “Why are you working so late?” Kennedy asked. “Mr President,” the janitor responded, “I’m helping put a man on the moon.” Whether it’s mopping a floor or taking out the trash, everything we do for God makes an eternal difference. Nothing we do in His name is ever wasted. Benjamin Franklin wisely said “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for someone else.” Mother Teresa was known worldwide for serving “the least of these.” As a young nun in Calcutta, India, she left her safe convent school to live and serve in the slums. Her passion was serving people who were afflicted with leprosy and dying alone in the streets. The ministry she founded, Missionaries of Charity, now has a global impact in serving others, helping the poor, those without homes, and those suffering from AIDS. Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, among numerous other awards, honors, and honorary degrees. She traveled and spoke all over the world about the need to help the poor. Her listeners would often be motivated to help the poor, sick, and downtrodden in Calcutta. Over and over, she got the same request: “I want to help the poor and the lepers.  Please tell me how I can join you and work with you in Calcutta.” Mother Teresa always responded with four simple words:  “Find your own Calcutta.” Where will you serve?

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” Jesus knew why He was born, why he lived, and why he died. Jesus came to earth on a divine rescue mission. His people, the Jews, were under cruel Roman oppression. They were looking for a great leader – someone like a military hero, a conquering king, or a political powerhouse to show up and give the Romans what they had coming. Instead, God knew their greatest need was not physical liberation but spiritual salvation. So their souls needed to be rescued from the oppression and slavery that sin brings. God knew this, so He gave them a servant – His only begotten Son. Even when everyone else didn’t understand, Jesus stayed focused on His eternal purpose of serving others. He told his disciples: I didn’t come here to be an earthly king and have everyone serve me. I came to serve you and give my life so you can enjoy being with God forever. Of course, we aren’t Jesus. That’s why we need Him. That’s why He “gave His life as a ransom” for us. We need salvation, and we need to know our purpose. The legendary orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein was once asked, "What is the hardest instrument to play?" Without a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that's a problem! And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony." Jesus says greatness is a willingness to pick up the second fiddle and create harmony by working together to advance God’s kingdom. When we humble ourselves and serve, He promises to exalt us (James 4:10). C.T. Studd was a world-famous cricket player who dedicated his life to missions. He once said: Only one life will soon be past Only what’s done for Christ will last!”

My wife and I recently walked through an estate sale on a rare morning without our kids. I didn’t know the couple who had passed away, but as I walked through their home, their possessions gave me clues to the lives they lived. I found myself in a little bedroom looking at a wall. On it was a framed Ph.D. diploma earned by the husband years earlier. It was on sale for just a few dollars. I wondered how much time, energy, and effort he put into that degree. A Ph.D. is undoubtedly an amazing accomplishment, and I'm all for education, but in the end, the piece of paper ended up for sale at a bargain price. At the end of our lives, our positions, degrees, awards, and trophies won’t really matter. But what will matter is the service we’ve done in God’s name for His kingdom. True leadership isn’t found in a title, but in a willingness to serve. When we help others and set them up for success, we live out the kind of leadership Jesus talked about.

Jesus said there are people in the world who will use and abuse power for their own purposes. They crave power and will do anything to get it. Nothing’s really changed today. That’s why a book titled “The 48 Laws of Power” is one of the most popular books ever. I just checked Amazon’s charts, and it was their #10 most-sold book in the world last week… over two decades after it was first published. It’s sold over four million copies and is reportedly one of the most requested books in prisons. Go figure. We all know people who are like the tyrants that Jesus mentioned use their position to get what they want: a bad boss, a corrupt politician, even a hangry toddler. Jesus said people who follow Him are supposed to act completely different. Instead of seeking power, He tells them to serve people. Incredible, this is where Jesus says greatness is found: humbling yourself and serving people. Serving is how you can make a difference. Serving is how you can leave a legacy that outlasts you. Serving is how you can become a great leader. Jesus is full of paradoxes like this. The last will be first. You can only save your life by losing it. These statements don’t make sense on the surface, but when you dig a little deeper, you find profound truth about God’s kingdom. And the divine logic of this paradox- greatness in serving others- flies in the face of all that the world says is true about leadership.

Here's a quote that'll stop you dead in your tracks. “Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.” Francis Chan What would you do if you knew you had only one more day to live? There once was a great theologian named Tim McGraw who told us exactly what he’d do: skydiving, Rocky Mountain climbing, and going 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu! If I knew it was my last day, I suppose I would spend time with my wife and kids, take a dip in my hot tub one last time, and get my favorite Blizzard from Dairy Queen (Medium Royal Deluxe New York Cheesecake with fudge – don’t knock it until you try it). Truth is, none of us knows when our last day to live will be. But Jesus knew exactly when his last day would be. Guess what he did? He washed feet. Jesus was the greatest person in human history (so great we measure the chronology of the world by his life: BC and AD). Jesus’ words inspire us to ask: How can we find greatness through service? What does serving others look like? If it’s done in Jesus’ name with a grateful heart, it’s full of significance. We never are more like Jesus than when we serve.

Studies show that 72% of Americans believe in heaven. 58% of them believe in hell. But there’s a groundbreaking new study out that tells us 100% of people will die! The Bible says “it’s appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgement.” No matter how we try to distract ourselves from it, deny it, or delay it – we all one day will pass from this life. After death, we will all stand before God. God raised Jesus from the dead to defeat death. Death doesn’t have to be a question mark. We don’t have to wonder about it or what happens after it. Death doesn’t have to be a period either – it’s definitely not the end of the story. With Jesus, death is just a comma – a transition from earthly life to eternal life! When I was growing up, my childhood hero was the legendary basketball player "Pistol Pete" Maravich. He set all kinds of records and won championships, but perhaps his biggest record still stands. When he played basketball at LSU from 1968 to 1970, he set the NCAA scoring record with 3,667 career points. Did I mention that this record was set before the three-point line was implemented? Shortly before he died abruptly and tragically, “Pistol Pete” Maravich looked back on his life and said: “On a November night in 1982, I sat in my den staring at the television. Around midnight, I turned off the set and quietly slipped into bed. I pondered the impact alcohol had on my life and my family. For hours, I lay awake tortured by my memories; I had a revelation. I saw all my sin. I then heard a voice. “Be Strong. Lift Thine Own Heart.” The words were delivered as “loud as thunder.” Having experienced a transcendental moment, I prayed for salvation. With tears in my eyes, I said, “Jesus, I know you are real because I have tried everything else.” When I took God into my heart, it was the first true happiness I ever had.I am saved through the grace of God by Jesus Christ. I won every trophy and award in my life and I always wanted more. Jesus Christ was placed on the cross to save us. The thing about Christianity is that it is your choice. You cannot work or earn it and I understand it now. All of the awards are pale to the glory of God and what the Lord has done in my life. I would not trade my position in Christ for a thousand Hall of Fame rings or a hundred million dollars. There is nothing like the joy of Jesus Christ in my life.” Do you have that type of joy in your life? You can have it… it’s found through finding out who you are in Jesus Christ.

I spent almost a decade working directly with teenagers. Time and time again, I saw them “missing something.” Many times, they were searching for something bigger than themselves, a real purpose for their lives. I have a hunch that it’s not just teenagers who are searching for purpose in life. A recent study in the United Kingdom found that 8 in 10 people believe their life lacks meaning and purpose. The world gives us unsatisfying and empty answers to the question of purpose. The famous atheist Bertrand Russell said we have no choice but to build our lives on the “firm foundation of unyielding despair.” Theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss concluded, “We now know that we are more insignificant than we ever imagined. If you get rid of everything we see, the universe is essentially the same. We constitute a 1 percent bit of pollution in a universe . . . we are completely irrelevant.” Pretty depressing. The prominent worldview of today is that we came from nothing and are headed to nothing… so it’s reasonable to conclude that nothing really matters. No wonder depression, anxiety, and suicide are at unprecedented levels. The Bible tells us a story that’s completely different. That’s why Paul told the philosophers at Athens that they came from God, but that God was not an idol formed by hands, but a Person, an eternal Person who gives purpose. There is a purpose to human history, and there’s a purpose to your story. Paul said that God’s purpose was for people to know God – and that he is not far from any one of us. That’s because God is a God who really wants us to know Him! Personally. Relationally. Daily. is that true for you today?

The people of Athens had so many idols, but they didn’t want to leave one out and make one of them mad accidentally. So, they made an altar to the “unknown God.” Paul told them that we exist because God exists. The only way you can know who you really are is by knowing the One Who made you. St. Augustine once said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Who made you is the only one who can tell you who you are made to be. So, the question is, “How can I know God?” In John 17:3 Jesus said “this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (NKJV). The way to know God is to know His Son, Jesus Christ in a personal relationship. The Bible calls this relationship being “born again.” When you’re born again, everything changes – including your identity! The identity that God gives us through Jesus brings security that is out-of-this-world because it’s security and peace that is not from this world. That’s what Jesus said in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (NLT). When the world says you are an accident, God says you are His child. When the world says you’re worthless, God says I bought you with a price. When the world says you’re good for nothing, God says I want to use you. When everyone abandons you, God says I’m a friend who sticks closer than a brother. When you lose your job, your spouse walks out, and all your friends abandon you, God says you are saved, sealed, and secure in His love. He says “I will never leave you or forsake you.” When your identity is found in the cross, You are forgiven. You are accepted. You are healed. You are known. You are whole. You are free. You are loved. Greatness begins when you shift from ignorance about your identity to security in your identity.

In Acts 17, Paul stood up before the smartest men in the world in Athens and told them about Jesus. The city of Athens was the center of the world’s culture, art, architecture, and philosophy. Around Athens, there were hundreds and hundreds of idols that people worshipped. There were temples to Greek gods and shrines all over the place – so much so that they said that in Athens, it was easier to find a god than a person! Paul got up on top of Mars Hill (the Areopagus), where the philosophers and wise men would get together and debate ideas. As he was speaking to them, they could all look down from the top of the hill into the city and see all their idols. He told them: So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about” (Acts 17: 22-23 NLT). The people in Athens found their identity in the idols they worshipped. Worship is giving worth to someone or something. Their idols were what they valued the very most. We may not have physical idols today, but we still have idols. We think these idols will give us identity. That somehow they will satisfy us with purpose and we can say like Pistol Pete “I’ve made it.” Maybe your idol is your stuff – the things you possess: a nice car, a big house, or the latest iPhone. Possessions aren’t bad on their own, but possessions become idols when they possess us. John Rockefeller was America’s first billionaire and the world’s richest man. A reporter once asked him, “Mr. Rockefeller, how much is enough?” Rockefeller replied, “A little bit more.” Stuff never satisfies – we always want more. Maybe it’s not stuff. Maybe you find your identity in what you do. Your job title. Your popularity. Your talents and abilities. Maybe it’s not in any of those things. Maybe you’re stuck because your identity is tied to someone abusing you, labeling you a failure or mistake, or telling you that you’ll never be good for anything. Maybe your past failures are what is keeping you from knowing who you really are. Here’s the good news: Who you are is not defined by what you have. Who you are is not defined by what you do. Who you are is not defined by what you’ve done. Or what’s been done to you. Or what others have said about you. Who you are is defined by what God says about you!

A missionary to Africa told the story of an elderly woman who was reached with the gospel. Though she was blind and could neither read nor write, she wanted to share her new found faith with others. She went to the missionary and asked for a copy of the Bible in French. When she got it, she asked the missionary to underline John 3:16 in red and mark the page it was on so she could find it. The missionary wanted to see what she would do, so one day he followed her. In the afternoon, just before school let out, she made her way to the front door. As the boys came out when school was dismissed, she would stop one and ask if he knew how to read French. When he said “Yes” she would ask him to read the verse that was marked in red. Then she would ask, “Do you know what this means?” and tell him about Christ. The missionary said that twenty-four of the school boys that lady led to the Lord became pastors. (Source: Colossians and Philemon: The Supremacy of Christ, R. Kent Hughes).

In Super Bowl LI (2017), the Atlanta Falcons led the New England Patriots 28-3 in the third quarter. Although the statistical models said their chance of winning the Lombardi trophy was 99.8%, the Falcons let off the gas and the Patriots rallied to win in overtime. As the saying goes, "it's not how you start, it's how you finish." Although King Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest man to ever live, he didn't finish strong. God gave him many blessings, but Solomon took them for granted and allowed the people around him to lead him away from God. Two questions today: 1. Are you on track to "finish strong"? 2. Are the people around you helping you get closer to God or pushing you farther away from Him?

A lot of people suffer from a disease called "stinkin' thinkin'." We take what someone else said about us, what we saw on YouTube, or what someone did to us and make it a thought spiral. Author Jennie Allen once said "The danger of toxic thinking is it produces an alternate reality, one in which distorted reasoning actually seems to make sense.” The world says we should fight this battle through emptying our minds and discovering our "true selves." God gives us a better way. Through Jesus, we have the SUPERNATURAL ability to take our thoughts and submit them to His Lordship and control. Through intaking His Word, meditating on His promises, and releasing our burdens to Him in prayer, we can fight the battles in our minds with weapons that are truly not of this world!

Yesterday, we learned how the lion is mentioned in Scripture over 150 times. Animals are awesome illustrations of God's character and also teach us lessons He wants us to learn. Have you ever seen anyone who just looked guilty? I'm not talking about judging people. It's just they were acting shady for some reason or another. It was obvious. That's kind of the thought behind the first part of this Proverbs quote: "The wicked flee when no one pursues." When you're living and walking in darkness, you're always looking around the corner, always having to cover up, always having to hide. What a miserable way to live, burdened with guilt, shame, and a guilty conscience. The Bible contrasts the wicked person with the righteous person. The person who has been made right with God is as bold as a lion. I'm no zoologist, but lion don't really walk around being scared of other animals. Most of the clips I've seen of lions are either them taking a nap or killing something. Doesn't really seem like they're worried about much else. The Bible says the righteous person is as bold as a lion. They don't have to worry about pleasing other people or over-explaining themselves or their motives because they have already submitted their entire lives to Jesus. Isaiah tells us that our own righteousness is like filthy rags, but Second Corinthians tells us that Jesus became sin for us so that in Him we could become the righteousness of God. That gives us boldness and confidence to come to the throne of grace in our time of need. That righteousness gives us boldness in proclaiming the gospel and sharing the message, no matter our past. That boldness allows us to love out loud, just like Jesus.

After talking about four **little** animals (see yesterday), God gives three more examples of animals who are **big**! The animals who are little show us humility, and the big animals show us majesty. The first animal mentioned in the verse is the lion. The Bible says that the lion is "the mightiest among beasts." When we think about lions, we think about The Lion King or African lions, but did you know that in Bible times, the most common lion in the Holy Land was the Asiatic lion? This lion species weighs significantly more than African lions. In fact, there's a historical record of an Indian emperor slaying one that was 660 lbs back in the 17th century! By comparison, the average African lion is only 440 lbs. Lions are referenced over 150 times in the Bible and are symbolic of power, strength, and royalty. Jesus is "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah" according to Revelation 5:5. Just like Proverbs 30:30 says, Jesus, the Lion of Judah doesn't back down before anyone. He is humble, as he came to this earth as a suffering servant who died for our sin. He is also majestic and a roaring lion with all power, who will come back to judge all the earth. Are you ready for his return today?

Did you know the Bible lists over a hundred different species of animals? That's pretty cool. Animals are used in God's plan many times, like Jonah and the whale, Balaam's donkey, and the donkey that Jesus rode to Jerusalem. As I was walking in the woods behind our church this morning, I was amazed at all of the creatures around me. We get so caught up in our screens and indoor lives that we forget about the awesome creation that points us to the amazing Creator. Proverbs is a short book that packs a punch. There are 31 chapters, one for every day of the month. In Proverbs 30, one pastor notices a pattern: "we see the ant with the lesson of preparation, the badger with the lesson of protection, the locust with the lesson on partnership, and the (lizard) with the lesson on perseverance." That's a pretty interesting thought: four different small animals, four different lessons. The ant gathers up food in good times so that there's enough in bad times. That teaches me that we ought to be wise stewards of what God has given us and not just consume everything we receive. The badger provides protection and sees for itself, sees danger ahead, and avoids it. That tells me that we need to discern the times that we're in and avoid evil. The locusts work together to survive and thrive. That teaches me that we need to work together in the body of Christ to get things done, provide for the needs of others, and share the gospel. A tiny lizard or gecko is defenseless but is agile and flexible enough to squeeze into tiny spaces and make it into king's palaces showing us that we can persevere and keep on going with God. Think about the example of these little animals today as you follow Jesus!

The Bible has a lot to say about words. The tone, timing, and choice of our words all have a powerful effect on our lives and the lives of those we speak to. We've all had a time when we felt "stuck" or in despair, and then God sent a friend to speak words of life and encouragement to us. Isn't it amazing how just one conversation can put the wind back into our sails, help us stand a little taller, and keep on going? According to Proverbs 15:4, our words can bring healing and life to our relationships, or they can be perverse and crush other people's spirits. What kind of words will you choose to use today?

In Luke 8, we encounter more people who started walking with God. These disciples, men and women, got the opportunity to literally, physically walk with God in the flesh, Jesus Christ. One of them was named Mary Magdalene. We know that she came from Magdala, which was a town in the southwest corner of Galilee. We know that Jesus healed her by casting out seven demons, and we know that she was one of the first witnesses to Jesus' resurrection. She became a bold witness for God. Others have speculated about Mary Magdalene's past. We don't know a whole lot, but we know that she had a dramatic turn from darkness to light when the demons were cast away. Demons are fallen angels who disobey God. They don't have the same power as God, but they can afflict, torment, and even possess people who do not have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. That's what the Bible teaches. Jesus set Mary Magdalene free, so she followed him. She proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God. As Jesus shared in verse 11, the seed is the word of God. Some will hear and receive it. Sometimes the seed will fall on stony ground. Sometimes people will receive the seed for a season and then fall away. Our job, like Mary Magdalene, is to follow and stay faithful. God's job is to bring the harvest. Don't get weary in following today. Be faithful and trust God to bring the harvest as you share Jesus.

Did you know the oldest person in the world is 117 years old? Mrs. Ethel Caterham was born on August 21, 1909. In her lifetime, the Titanic sank, World War I was fought, the Great Depression was survived, World War II was fought... and that's all that happened in less than half of her life. Truly unbelievable! In Genesis 17, God speaks to Abram. He's not quite as old as Ethel at this point, but he's 99 years old. I imagine he had thought about God's promises given to him before over many years. Then God shows up and asks Abram to walk with him. Abram fell on his face, and God reiterated his covenant to give Abram a son and bless him through a multitude of nations. If you read all about Abraham from Genesis 11 to Genesis 25, you realize that he was far from perfect. But in James 2:23, Abraham is called "God's friend." That's not said about anybody else in the Bible. Galatians 3:7 tells us that all believers in Jesus are children of Abraham. God has already given us an amazing blessing through the seed of Abraham, His own Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus can change anybody, whether you're 9, 99, or 117. That's good news!

At our church in South Arkansas, we just finished up an annual tradition: Camo Sunday. It's just a fun way to celebrate the onset of deer season, which is right up there with Christmas and Easter around here. There are dozens of different types of camo that people can wear to hunt or just show off the latest fashion. The U.S. military officially has four active kinds or patterns of camo, but there are some that have been retired, like desert camouflage, frog skin, and tiger stripe military camo. Kind of cool to think about! Obviously, the main use of camo in the wild is to conceal or cover. If we use that definition of camo, Adam and Eve were the first ones to conceal themselves, but they didn't do a very good job of it. After they sinned and disobeyed God's one rule of not eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, after living with Him in paradise with no pain, sorrow, or death, and after they believed the lie that God didn't want what was best for them, the Bible says they sewed fig leaves together and hid from God. The only problem is you can't hide from God. That's why He's God. He knows everything and sees everything, and nobody can hide from His presence, but because of His holiness, Adam and Eve realized that their sinfulness separated them from Him. The fig leaves were a pitiful type of camo. God ended up providing the first blood sacrifice to cover them. I believe that's a foreshadowing of the Lamb of God, Jesus, who covers our sin and shame so that we can walk in the freedom. We don't have to hide from God when our life is hidden with Christ in Him.

No doubt about it - we're living in the most overloaded, overstimulated, and over hyper-stressed generation in history. We have more information than ever before, but less transformation. We have more knowledge but less wisdom. We have more convenience but less time. I think it's because we've left God out of it. Author Iris Delgado says "so many people today are so stressed out they hardly have time for intimacy with God. They really want to get away and pray, study the Word, and meditate, but time seems to fly too fast. Before you know it, it's time to collapse in bed and wait for the alarm clock to ring to do the same things all over again." Jesus gives us a better way! He offers to take all of our anxieties, cares, and concerns because of His care for us (1 Peter 5:7). He lovingly invites us to follow Him, knowing that His way of living give true peace, rest, and satisfaction. Will you slow down just to be with him today? Will you be still and know that he is God? This reset will reshape everything about your life.

Of all the characters in the Bible, one of my favorite examples of someone walking with God is Hannah. Hannah's name means "grace, favor, or compassion." Hannah had a longing for a child. She had a natural desire to have a family, but she struggled with infertility. Having friends and church members walking through infertility, I can only see part of the anguish, heartbreak, and brokenness they walk through. The Bible tells us that Hannah's brokenness drew her close to God. She would go every year from her home in the country to the temple to worship. At the temple, she prayed deeply and wept bitterly. The Bible says God keeps all of our tears in His bottle (Psalm 56:8). Hannah is an example of someone who walked with God through pain, even when she didn't know when or how her story would end. One thing I've noticed is that in hard times, people either draw closer to God or go further away and hide from Him. God is big enough for our bitterness, pain, deep emotions, and anguish. He is also big enough to answer our prayers. I'm not saying our prayers always get answered exactly the way we think, but when Hannah prayed, look who she prayed to: "God Almighty"... the God who can do anything... nothing is impossible for Him. Whatever you're walking through, there is a certain closeness to God that comes when we open up our weakness and pray for Him to show Himself strong in us. He uses our broken things to make beautiful things.

Turn on the news, scroll through TikTok, look at your YouTube feed... it seems like the wickedness of the world is getting worse by the day. The Bible talks about a time that looked pretty similar. It was so bad that every thought and intention that men had was "only evil continually." It was so bad that the Lord regretted making man. It was so bad that God was grieved. It broke his heart. Because God is holy, he can't tolerate wickedness. But the Bible says that there is one man who found grace in the eyes of God. His name was Noah. In Hebrew, his name is very similar in sound to the word for "relief" or "rest." Noah obeyed God and his commandments the best he knew how, even in the middle of a wicked generation. He went against the flow of what everybody else was doing. Remember, only dead things go with the flow. Noah was alive, and the Bible says that he walked and lived in habitual fellowship with God. The way to walking with the Holy God is holiness. The way to holiness is habits. Specifically, a habit of yielding to Jesus and allowing Him to abide and live in us. To walk with us, to shape our thoughts, attitudes, intentions, and affections so that they are not wicked, but instead pleasing to God. God's power and presence through Jesus is the only way we can be holy as God commands us to do, because Jesus obeyed in our place. He is the great Ark of safety. Anyone can come into Him and find safety, security, rest, and protection from sin and judgment.

In the Bible, Enoch is somewhat of a mystery man. He's only mentioned in the passages that we just read. We know from the genealogy in Genesis and the family tree that Enoch was the great-great-great-great-grandson of Adam. Enoch is the very first person in the Bible specifically mentioned as a person who walked with God. Here's one mystery about Enoch. Why was he taken away into heaven? Some people believe he is one of the two witnesses that are mentioned in Revelation. They speculate that Enoch and Elijah (the only other person who was taken into heaven without tasting death) will be the two that are prophesied as preaching the gospel and being martyred for the faith. Maybe, like Robert Stack in the creepy trench coat, we'll get a chance to solve an unsolved mystery one day. Until then, what the Bible says is sufficient. What we do know about Enoch is that he walked faithfully with God. In the Bible, your name really meant something. Enoch's name means "dedicated" or "trained up." In other words, he allowed God to train him in godliness and trust throughout the course of his life. No one's perfect. I'm sure there are times when Enoch struggled in his faith, but his life was a walk with God, a communion and fellowship with his Creator, in the direction of faithfulness and obedience. If someone zoomed out at the picture of your life and had to sum up your whole life, would they be able to say, like Enoch, that you pleased God and walked with God throughout your life? We can't change our yesterdays, but God can forgive us for our past and set us on his path of righteousness as we walk day by day, step by step, moment by moment with him. Are you willing to do that today?

You've probably heard the joke about the little boy who told his parents excitedly, "I know what God's name is!" After saying this over and over they finally gave in and said, "Okay what is God's name?" The little boy said, "Andy." His parents said, "How do you know that?" He said, "Because of that song we sing in church… Andy he walks with me, Andy talks with me, Andy tells me I am his own." Bad preacher joke aside, the first example of someone walking with God in the Bible is the first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve. Before they disobeyed God, we infer from the passage today that God walked with them in the garden as He gave them meaningful work to do, performed the first marriage ceremony between Adam and Eve, and intimately knew them. This walking with God was possible because there was no sin. It was completely paradise and perfection in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, things dramatically changed. They instinctively hid from God because God is holy and they had disobeyed His one rule. Because of their sin there would be big consequences, not just for them but for the rest of the world. However even in their sin, God went walking in the garden. Isn't that an amazing thought? When we sin, we run and hide from God but God, in his love, pursues us. That's why Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost, to walk among us and find people far from God and give them forgiveness and eternal life. In Genesis 3:15 God promised to send a Savior, a rescuer, to crush the serpent, Satan. This Savior, the Messiah Jesus, would walk among us, as John 1 says. He would give us the ability to walk with God through redeeming us from sin, rescuing us from death, and regenerating us with brand-new spiritual life. Do you have a real walk with God because of Jesus today?

I love this time of year when summer turns to fall. Where I live in South Arkansas, that means the temperature goes from 100° to 90° from summer to fall-ish. Not that I'm complaining; it makes a big difference to my mental health. We are blessed to have 48 beautiful acres on our church property with people who keep up beautiful trails. When the weather is right, I enjoy praying and walking and spending time with God. Did you know there are many times in the Bible when it's described that a person walked with God? The prophet Micah told us that God wants us to do good, to act just, to love mercy, and to walk in humility with God. My problem is I often run ahead of God or lag behind. The Bible reminds me of the importance of slowing down to be with God and to walk with Him step by step, moment by moment. Someone once said that God gives us just enough light for the step we're on. I like that. There are many decisions, circumstances, and activities tomorrow holds that are out of my control. I just need to trust and walk with God in the present moment. To make it really practical, let me share a beautiful thought from one of the best books I've read in the last year: "Jesus and Your Mental Health" by Rebecca Maxwell, LMFT." She says: "walking outside, especially in nature, is shown to have a significant positive impact on anxiety in a variety of studies? One of the reasons behind the reduction in anxiety is lateral eye movements that come with walking. While walking, your eyes move laterally back and forth to guide you. These eye movements quiet the activity in the amygdala (the emotional center in the brain responsible for detecting threats." When you and I walk with the Good Shepherd day by day, we can be still and know that He is God, that He's making a way for us, even looking out for threats and keeping us from harm. In addition to walking with God spiritually, why don't you take a walk with Him physically today? Imagine how much better you'll feel.

Did you know that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was verified by over 500 human eyewitnesses? John began First John saying about Jesus: "that . . . which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands — this is the Word of life." As a young man, John physically walked with Jesus and had an up-close, personal view of Jesus's life and ministry, his death, burial, and resurrection. John himself was a human testimony, a natural witness to Jesus. In the last chapter, John tells us about three supernatural witnesses to Jesus: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. He says "Even if we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is greater." What is the testimony of God, and is God still giving witness to the power of Jesus today? Let's look at the three witnesses John mentions. 1. The Spirit. Jesus said the Holy Spirit would bear witness of Him in John 15:26 (CSB): “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me." The Holy Spirit is God's presence on earth to convict people of their sin and to point them to the Savior, Jesus. When the Holy Spirit convicts somebody of their sin and they are saved and radically changed, that's a testimony that the Holy Spirit is alive and working today -- supernaturally. 2. The Water. When Jesus was baptized (what I think John meant by "the water"), there was a supernatural sign, and heaven opened up. Mark 1 says that the Spirit of God descended down on Jesus like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." Whenever somebody follows in obedience by getting baptized, they show they are united with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. There's a supernatural testimony every time someone gets baptized! 3. The Blood. Hebrews says that the blood of Jesus is a testimony, speaking a better word than the blood of Abel (Adam's son who was murdered by his brother). 1 John 1 says if we walk in the light as Jesus is in the light, we have fellowship with God, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from sin. The blood still testifies today because the blood of Jesus still changes lives. What an amazing thought! God sent His Son Jesus, and He continues to testify of Jesus through His supernatural Word, through the Holy Spirit, through water baptism, and the blood of Jesus, which can save anybody!

In 1875, there was a painter in Paris named Marcel de Leclure. He decided he was so in love with a woman named Magdalene de Villalore that he hired a scribe to write a letter to her repeating the words in French, "I love you," 1,875,000 times. Incredibly, Marcel dictated each phrase of "I love you" every time, and the scribe wrote. The scribe read it back to him every time, and the phrase was spoken and written 5.6 million times. Robert Ripley said about this story: "Never was love made manifest by as great an expenditure of time and effort." With all due respect to Ripley, that's not true. Jesus is the fullest expression of God's love and demonstrated God's love even to the point of death on the cross. I love how John makes it plain. We love because he first loved us. We love other people because he loved us. If we don't love other people, we don't love God or even know Him. John 15:9, Jesus said the same thing: "I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. You must go on living in my love." This radical, amazing, sacrificial love from above shows and shares Jesus with a lost and dying world. That's why John says, "for in this world we are just like Him." You may be the only Jesus someone else sees today. Abide in His love and let it flow on to others.