Leprosy as a Symbol Leprosy is referred to many times in the Bible. Leprosy is often used symbolically to represent sin and how sin separates us from God. Leprosy was a horrific disease. Did you know that the symptoms of advanced leprosy can include loss of portions of your nose and fingers, painful sores on the bottom of your feet, paralysis of your hands and feet, vision loss and blindness, and severe nerve damage among others? There was no cure. Thankfully, God has provided a cure for sin and our separation from God in His Son, Jesus. Jesus has had mercy on us! Unclean Lepers The only way ancient Israelites had of dealing with this highly contagious disease was to banish people from their homes into leper colonies. If the lepers went out in public they couldn't come withing 6 feet of another person and they were required to say loudly, "Unclean, Unclean", as a warning to others of their presence. The only way a leper could be allowed back into normal society was if the temple priest declared him healed. Their separation mirrors our own separation from God due to sin. Leprosy Symbolic Of Sin Leprosy covered a person's skin, just as sin that covers our lives. Psalm 32:1 tells us that a man is blessed whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is covered. Before God, we are all unclean without the covering of the blood of Christ over our lives. As Isaiah declares in Isaiah 6:5 he is a man of " unclean lips " and in Luke 5:8 Peter tells the Lord to " Go away from me, because I am a sinful man! ". Leprosy separated people from other people, similarly, sin separates us from God. In Biblical times people could do nothing to cure themselves of leprosy, just as we can do nothing to cure our sinful natures. Only Christ's death and resurrection can cleanse us of sin. Jesus And The Ten Lepers In Luke 17: 11-19 we read the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Jesus makes a habit of touching the lives of those considered untouchable. Jesus reaches out in the Gospels time after time to the outcast, the outsider, the unlovable, and the unwanted. His example is our example. Do we ignore those who don't look like us, have as much as we have or perhaps don't behave in a socially acceptable way? These are the very people that Jesus spends the most time with. Later in the story we find out that one of these lepers was not only diseased but also outcast because he was a Samaritan. Jesus, Have Mercy On Us As the lepers approach Jesus on the road they call him " Master " or teacher as we would say. They ask him to have mercy on them. They don't specifically ask for healing, but simply the mercy of God, which to them meant healing from the horrible disease they had been afflicted with. Jesus's response was to tell them to go to the priest so he can declare them healed and clean, as was required by Jewish law (Leviticus 14). In response, they immediately head in the direction of Jerusalem to the priest, even though they had not yet been healed. They responded in faith and along the way realized they had been healed. But before they could be declared clean, one of them, the leper who was a Samaritan, turned back and fell at the feet of Jesus, praising God and giving Jesus thanks. Jesus asks the Samaritan where are the others? Is there none but you to give thanks to God for this great blessing? It is God's will that we give thanks to God in every circumstance. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We should say, "Lord, thank you!" even when we don't feel like it. Notice that, though the Samaritan has already been physically healed of his disease, Jesus tells him, “ Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well. ” (Luke 17:19). The implication is that the man was both healed physically and healed spiritually. His faith had saved him. We are not told this of the rest of the lepers who were physically healed but did not turn back to give thanks. This teaches us that no one is outside of God's saving grace. The Samaritan was not a Jew. This showed that God's forgiveness was for everyone. 1 Timothy 2:6 tells us that Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all people. Don't Wait To Feel Worthy Today, if we have not been saved by faith in Christ, we are also unclean. But our compassionate and merciful God has made a way for us to be healed, washed clean of the stains of sin. The lepers asked for mercy, they probably didn't feel worthy to even ask, but they did. We don't have to wait till we feel worthy either. God's mercy is there waiting for us, always near. Just as the Samaritan outsider was more responsive to Jesus than the Jewish lepers were, so sometimes, those of us who think of ourselves as the most religious church goers may not be as responsive to His call as those outside of our church. Maybe outsiders more clearly see their need than we do. Faith In Action Another thing we see in this story is that the lepers acted on their faith before they were actually healed. They believed so strongly that Jesus was telling them they would be healed they didn't wait to see proof. They headed straight for the priest to be declared healed. We can also act on faith and believe in what God will do for us even if we don't see it just yet. As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Take Time To Be Thankful Being thankful takes a moment. Maybe we are so busy we delay or forget to give thanks. It is clear from this story that being thankful should be our very first response. We pray, thank, and bless the Lord for His benefits first and foremost. The lepers had a faith journey and ours is no different. Cry Out To Jesus In the same way that the lepers called to Jesus from " far off ", we can also call to Him even though our sin has caused us to be far from Jesus. We can always go before the throne of God, no matter our circumstances, and cry out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Luke 17:13

Thinking of Others First As a Christians how do you picture yourself dying? Haven't we worried about having the time to ask God one last time to forgive us. What if we die and don't have time or what if we have time, but instead of asking forgiveness for ourselves, we ask it for others? There is one in the Bible who did just that - Stephen. Full Of Faith And Power The Bible describes Stephen as being " full of faith and the Holy Spirit " (Acts 6:5). After Stephen and others were chosen to be deacons, the apostles laid hands on them. Again it repeats in verse 8 that Stephen was " full of faith and power " and because of this he did " great wonders and signs ". This power was from the Holy Spirit. Stephen Accuses The Council Certain men rose up who weren't able to confront Stephen directly because of his great wisdom and the spirit within him, so they enlisted people to lie about him saying that he had blasphemed. When Stephen was hauled before the council, he seemed to relish the opportunity to speak about the great faith of his fathers, and how, in spite of their lives and the words of the prophets, the Jewish nation rejected them just as they now rejected Jesus, the Just One. " Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.” Acts 7: 52-53 Stephen Sees Jesus Stephen most assuredly knew what the outcome of such language would be. He did not ask, " What can man do to me? " because he knew he had nothing to fear with God on his side (Psalm 118:6). He had just called his accusers " betrayers and murderers " of the promised Messiah. Then in the midst of the chaos that these charges brought, Stephen was blessed with a vision from God. He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. As an exclamation mark to the end of his Spirit filled sermon, Stephen added insult to injury by proclaiming his vision to his accusers. Acts says that Stephen " gazed into Heaven " (Acts 7:55). He was expecting something. He was longing for something. He wanted to see his home. God graciously granted Stephen's desire. When we seek Jesus, when we look for Him with all of our hearts, we too will find Him. Stephen Is Killed As Stephen was led out to be stoned, the crowd laid their coats at the feet of another figure of importance in the Bible, Paul (at that time known as Saul). In the midst of the stoning Stephen stood and prayed to our Lord Jesus. This was the first recorded instance of prayers being addressed to Jesus in Heaven. Then kneeling, Stephen cried out with a loud voice, surely strengthened by the Holy Spirit, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” (Acts 7: 60). Stephen prayed for others, not himself. He was concerned with forgiveness. Stephen couldn't see into their hearts like Jesus could. He didn't say, " Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. " Where Jesus prayed to His Father, Stephen prayed to Jesus. Knowing they would kill him; Stephen was obedient to the way of truth all the way to death. He forgave them just as Jesus forgave His persecutors. Stephen prayed to Jesus to receive his spirit. It was Jesus, the cornerstone that was rejected, that he prayed to (Acts 4:11-12). Then the Word says he " fell asleep ". This term was often used when death came to people of faith. Saul Consents To Stephen's Death The very next verse in Acts 8:1 tells us that Saul " was consenting to his death ". Did Stephen's death play a role in the conversion of Saul? Only God knows that. Surely though Saul must have remembered Stephen's death. Where the mob was in a frenzy, Stephen was calm. Where the mob was out for revenge, Stephen was forgiving. Where the mob was full of liars, Stephen spoke of the Truth. What a contrast. What a witness! Stephen's Concern Was For Others What struck me also was that Stephen, full of faith and power, in his last moments does not beg God to forgive his sins. Stephen prayed for others not for himself at the moment of his death. Stephen had taken care of his relationship with the Lord long before he lay in a broken, bloody heap before the mob. He wasn't worried about himself. He was concerned for those who did not know Jesus. Where is our concern?

Religious Persecution Worldwide According to Open Doors USA, in 2021 alone, worldwide, approximately 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000 or more were kidnapped. Additionally over 5,000 churches and other religious facilities were destroyed. "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13: 5-6 Real Persecution This is persecution, real persecution. The top three countries for persecution were Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia. Will there come a time when the U.S. makes the list of countries where Christianity is persecuted the most? Most likely yes, but obviously we're not there yet. If we have problems facing the mild persecution that exists in this country now, what might happen in the future? Are we willing to face persecution for the Lord's sake? In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul tells us that if we live godly lives we will suffer persecution. Notice the world ALL. Persecution, to some degree, literally comes with the territory of being a Christian. Blessed To Be Hated Jesus says in Luke 6:22 that we are blessed when we are hated, excluded, reviled and even called evil if it is for His sake. Jesus here seems to describe, in many ways, the kind of persecution that American Christians may see. Do people hate you for your beliefs? Do people exclude you because you are "weird"? Do people make fun of you and call you names like Bible Thumper or Holy Roller, for example? Do they say you are evil because you call evil out for what it is? Cancelled Today if we live a Christian life we may be "cancelled" by popular culture. Our online identities may be destroyed by those who hate the truth of the word of God. They call us stupid, uneducated, or judgmental. What makes modern persecution especially difficult is that it often comes without physical chains. Social pressure, loss of reputation, and public shaming can be just as effective at silencing believers as imprisonment. When faithfulness to Christ costs friendships, careers, or social standing, the temptation is to soften the truth or remain silent. Yet Scripture consistently calls believers to faithfulness, not comfort. What is often overlooked is that persecution exposes what we truly value. When following Christ costs nothing, commitment is easy. But when faith brings loss, of approval, opportunity, or comfort, it reveals whether Jesus is truly Lord or merely convenient. Scripture never promises safety; it promises presence. God does not call us to survive quietly, but to remain faithful openly, trusting that obedience is never wasted, even when it is costly. Heap Coals Of Fire And what is our response? Do we call down God's punishment on those who speak evil of us? I have seen many Christians do this. No, Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:44, to love our enemies and to bless people who curse us. He says to do good to them and pray for them. We treat those who persecute us the same way that Jesus did. We love them. In Romans 12:20, Paul says to feed your enemy and give him drink, because when we do this we heap " coals of fire on his head. " Heaping coals of fire on his head implies that a person will feel remorse when they see their evil being returned with good. They may not show it, but it will happen. Show Humility We are to show humility and meekness before those who despise us. We are not supposed to keep our values secret, but we are also not supposed to brag as though God loves us and not others. We are to stand for Jesus while we give grace to others as it was given to us—undeservedly. Are We Strange? I read something this week that reminds me of this topic. The statement was that if we go to church on Sunday's that's viewed as pretty normal, but if we talk about Jesus throughout the week then we're strange. It's ok to study the Bible, but if you start an online Bible study blog, well then that's just weird. Or maybe you decide to post beautiful scriptures routinely, maybe some people will think that's just too much. Invisible Christians Some people want us to be invisible Christians, even some of our Christian friends would prefer this. There will come a time though, even here in the U.S., when Christians will have to choose. Do they serve Christ or not? What Can Man Do To Me? And as we quoted at the beginning - " What can man do to me? " Man may take my life, he may make me feel like an outcast, he may imprison me, he may ridicule me, but Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:10 that we are blessed when we are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. The kingdom of heaven is our promise. What greater reward can there be than to live with our God in Heaven eternally? Enjoy this song by the Newsboys, Guilty- Persecuted for Christ.

Hope at the End of Scripture In Revelation 22, the very last chapter of the Bible, what do we find? We find hope and faithfulness. Life cannot continue without hope. There is judgment and yet, hope . After the clouds of judgment have passed John's great vision of our future ends on that note. And what is repeated no less than three times in this chapter? Behold I am coming quickly or soon (Revelation 22: 7,12,20). In these three verses Jesus tells us we are blessed to keep the words of this prophecy, He will reward us " according to our work ", and finally John says, " Amen, Come Lord Jesus " to His promise of a quick return. "I Am Coming Quickly”: What Jesus Meant One might think, "Well, 2,000 years doesn't seem very soon," but in the Greek soon ( tachy ) means suddenly. It refers more to how He will appear than any kind of timeline. As Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36 His return will be sudden and unpredictable. The Word says, " when we least expect it " (Luke 12:40). Even more, 1 Corinthians 15:52 describes just how quickly, as Paul says it will be in " a moment in the twinkling of an eye ." But the promise of Christ’s sudden return is not given merely to inform us, it is meant to shape how we live while we wait. Hope and Faithfulness in Revelation 22 What these verses give us is hope. Biblical hope is not passive; it actively changes how believers think, live, and obey. No matter what era we have lived, are living, or will live, we live in the hope of Christ's return and the joy of living in His Holy city is ever present to us. What does it matter whether we have hope or not? Hope is not simply a wish but something that actively purifies us, just as 1 John 3:3 explains, And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Hope helps us turn from sin, desire righteousness, and encourages us to be less attached to this world. It helps us live differently than someone without hope. Hope gives us the ability to be faithful, have endurance during difficult times and helps us choose obedience over convenience. Scripture shows how faith, hope, and perseverance are linked. Remember Hebrews 11:1, " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for... " Faith gives us an assurance that promises of things to come will actually happen. That same faith even grows when we experience trials and tribulations (Romans 5:3-5). We choose submission to God because we have a hope that goes beyond this world. If God delays a decade or a thousand years, hope does not weaken, it remains firm. Our hope never ceases. Delay, Mercy, and God’s Patience For God, time is not constrained by the days or the years (2 Peter 3:8-9). He is longsuffering because His heart's desire is that " all should come to repentance. " Any delay we feel in Christ's coming is because He desires to give grace to all who will receive it. While we wait, He does not leave us without direction or instruction. He tells us we are blessed by keeping the words of this book (Revelation 22:7). Blessed to Keep the Words—and Our Works What does it mean that we are blessed to keep the words of this prophecy? Whether we understand perfectly every word in Revelation does not matter. We are blessed when we read it, study it, and remember its warnings and its promises of blessings. Christians have endured many trials and murderous times by remembering these Words of hope from John's great book. The hope that helps us endure hardship is the same hope that tells us our choices right now actually matter forever. Hope allows us to face judgment without fear. In Revelation 22:12 we are told we are blessed according to what we have done. In 2 Corinthians 5:10 we hear similar words, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." This is not the judgment seat of those who reject Christ. This one is only for those of us who have called on Him and received His salvation. Paul tells us in Romans 2:6 that God " will render to each one according to His deeds. " Paul continues in Romans 2:10, " glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good. " But all of this only if a person has been justified and sanctified by the righteousness of Christ. The obedience God loves comes from faith, and faith comes from our trust in the mercy of God. Scripture never separates works from faith, but it never confuses their order either. Works, then, are not the basis of salvation, but the visible fruit of a life truly joined to Christ. Revelation 22:14 tells us that we are blessed to do his commandments. Some translations read, " blessed are those who washed their robes ." This beautiful imagery points to the same truth: our robes are washed in the blood of Christ and if we truly follow Him we will keep His commandments. We are blessed to enter the gates of the City and eat of the Tree of Life. Jesus Himself told us in John 14:15, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments ." “Amen, Come Lord Jesus”: The Final Hope A mere six verses later we hear the Apostle with great joy, saying " Amen, Come Lord Jesus ." Can there be any more joyous moment for us as Christians to think of our Lord coming to earth to bring His church home? Finally, after all the pain and suffering of this life we go to a beautiful, heavenly city with the River of Life flowing from the throne of God. Shouldn't we all each day repeat these words with John. If His return does not come within our earthly lifetime, our hope does not fail or diminish. And when our life ends on this earth, if we are still waiting, we will not have to wait any longer for then we will be with Him. This is our hope, our longing and expectation, that our Savior is faithful and true to His Holy Word. Indeed faith is believing that our Father is faithful in all things. His promises are true. His joy will be our joy throughout eternity. If we read the book of Revelation for what it is meant to be we will see that it is God's greatest and final warning of what will become of us if we reject Him. No one can say they were not told. But it doesn't just stop at warning unbelievers, no, it proceeds to try to describe the glories of life with Him in Heaven. Judgment is not God’s final word—restoration is. The Bible mentions hope approximately 140 times. God knows the importance of never losing hope. In the great love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, the three abiding characteristics are faith, hope, and love. The faith and hope we find in Revelation 22 is grounded in the all abiding love of our Father. God's promise of hope for believers gives us confidence that God will finish what He has promised, complete restoration. In Genesis we begin with Eden's tree of life , a garden, and God in the midst of His creation. Sadly all of this was lost. At the end of Revelation, we see all of this restored. So we have a great hope of a complete restoration. It is as it was always meant to be. To all of this glory we can say with the Shulamite woman in Song of Solomon 8:14, Make haste, my Beloved!

"We must not forget that though God be our Father He is also our Sovereign, and that while we be His children, we are likewise His subjects." (A.W. Pink, Elijah ) How often do we forget who it is that we are really addressing in prayer? Let's look at some of the role models of faith and how they prayed to their Father. Elijah's prayer in 1 Kings 18, among others, teaches us to humbly prayer for God's promises, specifically, repeatedly, and fervently Role Models of Prayer In Genesis 18:27, Abraham addresses God in prayer and says of himself that he is but " dust and ashes ". In Daniel's vision of the glorious man, Daniel says that he had no strength left in him and his face became pale (Daniel 10:8). In Isaiah 6:2, we read that even the seraphim in Heaven veil their faces before God. Before Moses approached the burning bush (Exodus 3), before the glory of our God, Moses hid his face and removed his shoes. He was on holy ground. In the garden before His arrest, our Savior fell on His face before His Father in prayer. Elijah's Prayer - Withdraw In 1 Kings 18:42-46, Elijah prays for rain. We are told that Elijah withdrew from the crowds to pray. He needed to clear his mind of the world. He needed to put all of his focus on the One to whom he was praying. So we should do the same. Jesus told us this in Matthew 6:6 when He instructed us to go into our closet and shut the door. We may not literally go into a closet but the point here is separation, separation from the world. Pray with Humility In verse 42, we are told how Elijah prayed. He prayed bowed down with his face between his knees. " Cast himself down upon the earth " is how the King James Version describes it. Before God he prays with humility and reverence. We are told in Scripture to serve the Lord with humility . Often people like to quote Hebrews 4:16 that tells us to go boldly to the throne of grace, but that doesn't mean that we should go before God without humility. 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." We know that before God we are unworthy of anything, but when we recognize our unworthiness before Him and His glory, He hears us. Pray for God's Promises Elijah prayed for rain. God had already promised him that it would rain. Why should Elijah pray for something already promised? When we pray for God's promises, it helps us to recognize Who it is that has made the promise. Who it is that is our provider? James 4:2 reminds us that we don't have things because we don't ask for them. The Lord prayed, " They kingdom come, they will be done." Of course God's will would be done. Of course it was going to happen, but still Jesus prayed for it. When we pray according to God's will, this is what it means. Pray always that God will find us standing on the promises He has made. Pray Specifically Another thing about Elijah's prayer is that it is very specific. Have you ever caught yourself praying in such a vague way that you might not even recognize the answer if it came? Prayer in the Gospels is always specific. We often pray that God would bless our friends and loved ones. But how do we want God to bless them? When we ask forgiveness for our sins are we specific? Do we prayerfully consider our sins and ask God to forgive them by name? Pray Repeatedly We also learn that Elijah did not just pray one time but repeatedly. Seven times Elijah prayed God's will. He didn't give up. He knew the promise and he prayed for it until it happened. Each time Elijah prayed he looked for the rain. He knew it was coming, but it would come in God's time, not his and so he prayed again until a tiny cloud was seen on the horizon. In Luke 18:1 our Savior reminds us to continue to pray and not lose heart, in other words, don't get discouraged. Remember our Lord is faithful. Pray Fervently Finally, Elijah's prayer was fervent. James 5:17 tells us Elijah prayed fervently (sometimes translated earnestly). Hebrews 5:7 says that Jesus's prayers were accompanied with crying and tears. James 5:16 says that the effective prayer of a righteous man is a fervent prayer, one prayed with passionate intensity. The scripture often compares prayer to seeking, knocking, striving, or crying. Prayer is not some bland thing we offer up to God in an off handed, bored sort of way. It is the outpouring of our spirit to Him. A Man Like Us When James speaks of Elijah, he reminds his readers that Elijah was a man just like us. We often think of these great prophets of old as being such lofty examples of righteousness that we could never be like them, but that is not what James says. Elijah was a man like us, used by God powerfully, and so can we if we take some lessons from him. He is an example of effectual prayer . For more on Elijah click here . Elijah Prays for Rain

Who Do We War Against In a recent group I was in, one of the members called on us to become warriors, warriors for God. Warriors seems an odd description for Christians. Perhaps it brings to mind images of the Crusades, not a very loving time in Christian history. That's not what she was talking about. Our war as Paul tells us in Ephesians is not against " flesh and blood " but against the enemy, Satan. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12 God's Strength Earlier in Ephesians 6:10 Paul tells us to find our strength in the Lord and in His might. Paul emphasizes that our strength to resist the Devil does not come from ourselves but that it is God's strength. He is our overcomer. If you feel like you can't wrestle against evil you would be right, but God can and will through you. Warriors For God Prepare But we must prepare ourselves for this battle. Genesis 4:7 reminds us that sin is crouching at the door waiting to pounce. Ephesians 6:13-17 describes the armor that we need as Christians to " withstand in the evil day ". The armor includes truth, righteousness, preparation of the gospel, faith, salvation, and the word of God. In Paul's description of our armor note that there is no protection for your back. If we turn and run we have no defense. Paul gives us many ways to defend ourselves but notice again there is only ONE weapon of offense. Only one way that we can attack and that is our spiritual sword —the word of God. Stir Yourselves Up " Our enemies are mighty and we are without strength but our Redeemer is almighty and in the power of His might we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer?" Matthew Henry's commentary We are called to stand, like a warrior, facing the enemy head on. As Matthew Henry stated we must "stir ourselves up" . We must not neglect to answer the call of God as we may have in the past. The Christian life is a battle we must be prepared for. This Present Age In this present age we see Satan and his demons advancing on our nation, on our children, our families like never before. We are called to stand and to submit to God. James 4:7 says the Devil will run when we resist him. Now more than ever we need women and men to stand, to not neglect the call of God. In Proverbs 30:11-14 we read about a generation that: curses its father and doesn't bless its mother; a generation that thinks it's pure and yet is filthy; a proud generation with teeth like swords and fangs like knives that they use to devour the poor and needy. Do you feel like I do that this is a description of our generation? This is a generation that needs warriors. This is a generation that needs men and women who are strong in faith and who know the word. They need training. Train Our Children In Deuteronomy 11:18-19 we are told to train our children in the word. We need to train them to use their sword—the word of God. And how can we teach our children if we don't know the word ourselves? Dear Father, We pray that we would draw our strength from You to be the warriors for God you would have us to be. That we would be courageous and stand armed with your word. That we would fight against the Devil for ourselves, our family and our world. That we would truly write your words on our hearts. That we would stand and stir ourselves up to be overcomers. In your Son Jesus' name, AMEN Stand Strong in the Lord

The Body of Christ and the Value of Every Member Imagine if I told you my liver was going to leave my body and try to function on its own, you’d think I had lost my mind. Or if I said I wanted to get rid of my stomach because all it did was want to eat and make me gain weight, I know you would worry about me. And yet we frequently don't see the usefulness of a member of our church, or the real need for someone who seems to contribute very little (1 Corinthians 12:22–23). Sometimes we don’t value the contributions others bring or we fail to understand them and quietly wish they would go elsewhere. But Scripture tells us we are all a necessary and needed part of the body of Christ. Just as no part of the human body can be dismissed without harm, no member of Christ’s body is without purpose. Only through unity in the body of Christ can we fulfill God's will (Ephesians 4:16). Paul’s Teaching on Spiritual Gifts in Romans 12 As Paul tells us Romans 12:4-5, "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another." Paul lists examples of God's good gifts given by His grace and tells us if we have them, use them (Romans 12:6-8). It's not complicated, it's obedience: If you have the gift of prophecy - then prophesy. If your gift is ministry - then minister. If teaching - then teach. If exhorting - then exhort. If giving - give generously. If leading - lead with diligence. If showing mercy - then do it cheerfully. Why Every Gift Matters in the Church Ah, but I can hear it now: "I have no gift. I'm not good at anything." Oh, but you do have a gift, Scripture affirms that (1 Peter 4:10). Maybe we need to grow and become better at using our gift. Perhaps fear has kept you from using it. But God calls us to obedience, not excuses. When each of us faithfully uses the gift God has given, the whole body grows stronger, and Christ is glorified. Each gift we have is necessary for the body of Christ to function properly (Ephesians 4:16). No matter how small or how large of a gift all are equally necessary. If you have been blessed with a more prominent gift that others see don't despise the smaller gifts of others. The key here is that whatever we have to use to build up the body is just that, a gift. It is given to us out of God's mercy and graciousness. The important thing to understand is that we are not Christians in isolation. We are the ultimate team, and yet more than that because we are one body "in Christ" and "members of one another". What one person does or does not do affects the entire body of Christ - his Church, his beloved bride on this Earth. But our gifts are not meant to be used in isolation—they bind us together into one body. Unity in the Body of Christ: Unity Beyond Differences In Acts 2:42 we are told, " And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. " The word fellowship in Greek is " koinōnia ". It doesn't just mean to get together for a church potluck or dinner, or to socialize for a few moments before church begins, it has a deeper meaning. Our shared values and beliefs and our joining together in doing God's work should lead to an active relationship with one another. Too often we barely know one another's name. We are to deeply trust and know one another so we can encourage each other and share our burdens. This fellowship is not shallow, but rooted in the Spirit’s work of uniting us into one body. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12:13, "For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. " and in Galatians 3:28, " There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus ." There is no sexism in our oneness with Christ, there is no difference in social status, there is no difference in ethnic backgrounds, in Him there are no distinctions because we have all received the same Holy Spirit who lives within us. The importance of this is that we all have one purpose—to do good, give God glory, and spread the message of salvation to the world. Now how we work together to do this is different because of our different gifts. This theme of oneness resonates throughout the Bible. We are married and become " one flesh " (Genesis 2:24). The Lord our God is one God. Even though we believe He is one being in three distinct persons, equal in glory and essence: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet carrying out different roles in creation and redemption. And His Church, His bride, is also one with Him, just as a husband and wife are. Each of us plays our role and each calling is important. Love as the Bond of Unity in Christ Just as our bodies can't operate successfully with missing parts, this oneness that Scripture talks about, implies that in marriage or in the Church, proper functioning means everything working together as one. In the same way, the perfect unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows us that wholeness is essential. God is one, not because each Person is optional, but because each is eternally and inseparably part of His being. Likewise, the body of Christ cannot be whole if we dismiss the value of any member. The thing that binds us together is love, for God is love. This same idea of oneness is not just for the church, but also woven into the fabric of marriage itself. The marriage covenant is based on love, " Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the church" ( Ephesians 5:25 ). We love God and each other as His sons and daughters. Jesus loves us so much He gave His life for us " while we were yet sinners " ( Romans 5:8 ). Love is what drives us to share Jesus with the world. Love unites us in purpose with God's will. It binds us together in harmony (Colossians 3:14). And God's love expressed through the Holy Spirit is what transforms us into new creations. Paul speaks of us being "in Christ" 164 times, this is how important Paul deems this teaching. William Kynes in his article, " Union with Christ: the Sum of our Salvation " says: "This union with Christ spans space and time— so that Paul can say that the Christian has died with Christ (Rm. 6:1-11; Gal. 2:20); the Christian has been resurrected with Christ (Eph. 2:5f; Col. 3:1f.), the Christian has ascended with Christ to share now in his reign in the heavenly places (Rm. 5:17; Eph. 2:6) and the Christian is destined to share Christ’s coming glory with him (Phil 3:20f; 1 Jn. 3:2). When Paul discusses marriage he compares it to our union with Christ. In Him we find our identity and the meaning for our life. Ephesians 5:30 says, " For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. " We become one with Him as husbands and wives become one with each other. This is known sometimes as a mystical union. Paul himself calls it a " great mystery " (Ephesians 5:32). Words fail us when we try to describe being " in Him. " As husband and wives our joys and our sorrows are shared. We see this same thought when Paul (Saul) is converted on the road to Damascus, " Saul, Saul why do you persecute me? ", Jesus says to him. Paul was persecuting the Church, which as Jesus notes, is the same as persecuting Him. In Philippians 2:2 Paul speaks of our shared joy, "fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. " Jesus prayed in the garden before His crucifixion for us, imploring God to make us one as He is one with His Father. " I in them, and you in me " Jesus prays (John 17:23). Please don't be confused. This doesn't mean that we become God, but in a spiritual sense we are united with Him through the Holy Spirit. This is why we can hope. Without God and this spiritual union with Him there is no hope. The Bride of Christ in Song of Solomon The Shunamite woman in Song of Solomon says to her beloved future spouse, "Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame"  (Song of Solomon 8:6). In Old Testament times, seals were highly valued symbols of ownership. Such seals were so valuable that they were kept close—near the heart or worn on the arm. She pledges herself in a love as permanent as death to her beloved. Our Hope in Christ’s Return as His Bride You and I belong to our Lord. Just as the Shunamite woman and her beloved were to become husband and wife, so we as the Church will one day be presented as the bride of Christ. Believers in Jesus Christ are the bride of Christ, and we eagerly wait for the time when we will be united with our Bridegroom. As we await His return, we remain faithful to Him and say with all who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, “ Come, Lord Jesus! ” (Revelation 22:20). Even now we can say, "My beloved is mine, and I am his"  (Song of Solomon 2:16). The two shall become one . Our unity in the body of Christ, our gifts, and the blessings we receive all flow from the eternal love He set on us before the foundation of the world. And this love, stronger than death and sealed by His Spirit, is the bond that makes us one with Him forever.

“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.” —Mother Teresa The Holy Spirit and the Love of God The Holy Spirit is God's answer to loneliness and feeling unloved. Romans 5:5 tells us that God's love is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul's heartfelt prayer to the Ephesians is that they be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to comprehend the enormity of the love of Christ. Paul wants them not to just know about Christ's love, but to fully grasp it in their heart of hearts. The same power that lives in Christ, lives in us, because we are born again by the Holy Spirit . Paul wants the Ephesian Christians to be sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit in their lives. As Jeremy Linneman puts it, "Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is the primary difference between a dry, complacent believer and a warm, passionate one." Our Comforter and Advocate The Holy Spirit that lives within us is a witness to God's love for us. He is our paraclete the Bible tells us. Parakletos is a Greek word that refers to legal counsel, like a family attorney. In Romans 8:26 Paul tells us that the Holy spirit intercedes for us with God. To intercede means to intervene on behalf of another person. When we don't know what to say to God in prayer, when we are so distraught that words just don't seem adequate, the Holy Spirit steps in on our behalf to communicate those innermost thoughts and feelings to God. God in His great love for us gives us this undeserved blessing. We don't struggle in this life alone, because we have a Comforter. Jesus has much to say about the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter" or as it is sometimes translated, the "Helper"(John 14:16; John 14:26; John15:26). Finding peace through the Holy Spirit helps us to face trials. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." John 15: 26 The Spirit of Truth Who Guides Us Our Comforter comes from, and in fact, proceeds from the Father. This same Holy Spirit who was active at the creation of the world (Genesis 1:2) lives in us as believers. The Holy Spirit according to Jesus, convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8). This conviction should lead to repentance and salvation, but when people oppose Jesus, they have no excuse because they have rejected the conviction of the Holy Spirit Himself. In John 16:13 (a) Jesus also tells us, " when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit of God is our guide to know truth. What a great blessing it is to know that if we let Him, He will lead us into all truth. Gifts Given for the Good of the Body The Holy Spirit blesses our Christian walk with gifts. These gifts are to be used for others. They are listed in 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10. They are: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Other gifts to equip us for ministry are mentioned in Ephesians 4:7-12. They are: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. In Romans 12: 3-8 we read that different gifts are given according to the grace of God: prophesy, ministry, teaching, exhortation (encouragers like Barnabas), giving, being a leader and being merciful. The Holy Spirit empowers each of us to live out our calling for God. Using the Gifts God Has Given A gift, by definition, is something that doesn't necessarily have to be accepted. Perhaps God has given you a gift but you have never exercised it. Perhaps you wonder if you even have any gift at all. You probably know people who seem to be using their gifts, I know I do. I have friends who are great encouragers, friends who are incredibly generous, friends who show mercy, who have great faith, who are teachers of the Word, and on and on. What is your gift? Have you used it for the benefit of others? Paul begins 1 Corinthians 1:4 by saying he hopes the Corinthians (as a whole) are not lacking in any spiritual gifts. The body of Christ needs these gifts to be exercised. This is how we build each other up in faith. Fruit That Reveals Who We Belong To The result of these gifts of the Spirit are the fruits of the Spirit. Our fruit is the proof of who we belong to. Listed in Galatians 5:22-23 they are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we can imagine a tree, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are its roots and the fruits of the Spirit are the fruits that grow on the tree. What is our purpose? Our purpose is to grow in love and wisdom so we can share Christ with others. The Same Power That Raised Christ In Ephesians 1:17-20, Paul tells the Ephesians that he prays they will be given the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Paul prays that the Ephesians will understand the hope they have, the richness of their inheritance and the incomparable power that works in the life of a believer. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, that now Paul says, lives in them. Can we begin to fathom that power? Can we get a glimmer of comprehension that that power truly lives in us? Jesus told his disciples in Acts 1:8 that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit for a purpose. Jesus says we will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus tells His disciples, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," What purpose does the Holy Spirit have for your life and your gifts? Whatever purpose it is, the same power lives in us that rose Jesus from the grave, and He will strengthen you for His plans. Enjoy the beautiful song, "Same Power" by Jeremy Camp. Click here .

How Do We Stand for God? The Lord asks us to stand for Him. When people stand for their convictions, they usually pay for it. Rarely do people stand up for things, especially unpopular things, and not face persecution. Have we stood as God expects us to? Have we held firm in our convictions? Are we standing for truth in a world that opposes God? Sometimes standing firm means refusing to compromise, even in small things. It may not be dramatic. It might look like quietly refusing to laugh at a crude joke, or not joining in when gossip starts. It could be politely declining to participate in something that would violate your conscience. These moments rarely make headlines, but they still matter to God. Small choices build the habit of faithfulness. If we can’t stand in the little things, how will we stand when the pressure truly comes? Faithful living is not about grand gestures—it’s about daily obedience. Is Life Easy? Often we are so careful to not hurt anyone's feelings that we stay silent. Think about famous people you have heard of that have stood for their convictions - Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, Mother Teresa. Was life easy for these people? No, of course not. If life is easy for us maybe we are not standing for those convictions like we should. Daniel reminds us of three who stood for what's right and were thrown into a fiery furnace for it (Daniel 3:8-25). These men were miraculously saved, but this is not always the case. They found their strength to stand in God. In 2 Corinthians 10: 4-6, Paul says our warfare is " mighty in God. " Are we trying to find our strength to stand in ourselves or in God? Paul continues to say that every thought we have must be obedient to Christ. Mighty Weapons Paul says our weapons are not carnal, meaning not of the flesh. We oppose unbelief with the power of God's Holy Spirit in His word. The weapons God has given us pull down the strongholds , the arguments, that people who don't know Christ use to justify their disbelief. The Gospel is soul transforming. Effective Proclamations From the atheist who claims intellectual superiority because of their disbelief to the young kid in high school who just doesn't see Christianity as cool or relevant, we have the tools we need to proclaim Christ effectively. While some will never understand the gracious gift of God, to those who are being saved it is " the power of God " I Corinthians 1:18. Standing for Truth in a World That Opposes God We are in a fight to " take every thought captive " for Christ. These beliefs and thoughts are the ideas that unbelievers have and they can be brought under the control of Christ. What are our weapons? Faith, truth, righteousness, love, proclaiming the Word of God, and prayer. We oppose unbelief by using our best weapon - the Gospel. We know our God is bigger than anything formed against Him. He gives us the power through his Holy Spirit to pull down thoughts and ideas in people that try to rise up and exalt themselves above the knowledge of God. In this world evil opposes God but standing for truth is not done alone. God is our strength because He stands with us. Don't Use the Tools of the World We can't oppose evil successfully with the tools of the world. We can't use our own "wisdom", we can't play their games and win. We can't seek approval from them. We can't fight with a worldly church and flashy programs that look like the secular world. If we fight with these tools we have lost the battle. Stand for God When we fight with our spiritual weapons we have to be willing to stand for God. To do this though we must stand in the faith with courage. "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13 To do this though we must stand in one spirit and one mind. In Philippians 1:27, Paul tells us our conduct should " be worthy of the gospel of Christ ." He says we should " strive together for the faith of the gospel. " Our oneness will help us do this. To do this though we must stand in the freedom from condemnation that Christ has given us (Galatians 5:1). We must also stand perfectly and completely in the will of God (Colossians 4:12). Visible Convictions We often underestimate how visible our convictions truly are. The world is watching, even when we don’t realize it. When we live with integrity, speak truth in love, and remain unshaken in our beliefs, people take notice. Some may mock or reject us, but others may quietly be drawn to the hope within us. Peter reminds us to always be ready to give an answer for that hope (1 Peter 3:15). Our steadfastness may be the very thing God uses to open someone’s heart to the Gospel. So we don’t stand just for our own sake. We stand because eternity is at stake! It is Time! It is time to pray! It is time today to choose whom we will serve! It is time to put oil in our lamps and be ready! It is time to study to be approved! It is time to know that the same power lives in us that raised Jesus from the dead! It is time to STAND! Listen to the Newsboys sing STAND Stand With Courage

A Man in Bondage and Despair In Mark chapter 5, we read the story of a demon possessed man from the country of the Gadarenes. This man lived in the cemetery, seemed to be exceptionally strong because chains could not bind him, and day and night he was yelling and cutting himself. He led a completely uncontrolled and undisciplined life. He lived a lonely life. People tried to help him by binding him with chains but they could not. Satan's power over the man was complete. He even went so far as to harm himself by cutting. Today we see so many people living similarly. They are lonely, no one seems to be able to help them, they are filled with anger, and sadly they often resort to self-harm. They may not all be demon possessed, but they definitely have one thing in common. They lack God. After the demon possessed man was delivered, he obeyed Jesus’ command to make known His deeds and gave thanks for what the Lord had done. The Power of Jesus Over Darkness As soon as the man saw Jesus he ran towards Him. He even acknowledged that Jesus was the Son of God. The demons in Hell know who God is. Acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God does not make one a Christian. Even running after Jesus does not. It is the Holy Spirit who changes us and makes us one with Christ. This demon possessed man is about to find this out. The man runs toward Jesus, but then also asks Jesus not to torment him. He is torn between the One who can save him from the demons, who he knows is the Son of God, and serving the one who possesses him. Satan is powerful, but not more powerful than the voice of our Lord. Jesus commands the unclean spirit to " come out of the man ". And then Jesus asks the spirit his name, to which the demon possessed man replies, " Legion ". The Demons’ Defeat and the People’s Response A legion was a Roman military unit consisting usually of about 5200 men. It was well organized, effective and feared. The demonic spirit is trying to intimidate Jesus. Look at us it seems to say, we are too strong for you, too organized and too many. What can you do to us? But the unclean spirit also knows who is in charge now. Jesus has confronted them and they know they will have to give up this body they have inhabited. The unclean spirit begs Jesus to be sent into the herd of 2,000 pigs nearby. To the people of Israel the pig was an unclean animal. A perfect place for an unclean spirit to want to dwell. The fact that someone was raising pigs in the area is evidence that the man lived among Gentiles. Jesus is about to show people that His ministry was not just to the Jews. The unclean spirits had no foreknowledge of their impending doom. They did not know that the pigs would be driven crazy and would all rush off of a cliff into the sea. The man was delivered! The demons were gone. His deliverer, his transformer, his Savior was our Lord. The people that had seen this miracle then went out telling others about the wonderful fact this man had his life back. Jesus had saved him from this life of torture, self-loathing and anger, but they also told about the destruction of the swine. The people who heard the story had an odd reaction. They asked Jesus to leave their country. Perhaps they were afraid of what happened, not understanding this power that Jesus had. More likely though, as impressive as the transformed life of the demon possessed man was, they mourned the loss of their income. The pigs were dead. These people apparently placed money before everything. Seeing where their hearts lay, Jesus left. A Transformed Life and a New Mission Where are our hearts? When God asks something hard from us, perhaps something that causes us to lose our financial security, how do we respond? Do we just wish Jesus would go away and quit bothering us? Be careful, because you might get your wish. The formerly demon possessed man had the opposite reaction. He wanted to stay near to His Savior. He wanted to be in a safe place where He could experience Jesus's love on a daily basis, first hand. What does Jesus say, "No". Why? Because He had a task for the man. In Mark 5: 19(b) Jesus tells him, “ Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” Make Known His Deeds Among the People Jesus wants the man to spread the good news. He wants him to go boldly with his testimony. The man obeys our Lord. It would have been much easier for him to stay with the Lord, but Jesus sends him out into the world to share His story. We are told in Psalm 105:1-2, "Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!" The man proceeds to share the compassion of Jesus towards him, and shares his transformed life with others. The scripture says he told his story in " Decapolis ", literally ten gentile cities in the area. What was the result of this? The people " marveled " at his news. This is the first time in the book of Mark that we see Jesus encouraging someone to share their story of healing and restoration, and it is an area of Gentiles. Later on in Mark 7, we see Jesus returning to the Decapolis, healing a deaf person and restoring their speech. It then says that they were " astonished beyond measure ". No doubt the man's story had spread and people had become more open to the Lord. "Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan." Matthew 4: 25 What a magnificent story of victory this man had. His was a heart transformed . His story was instrumental in spreading the word to the gentiles thanks to his obedience to Jesus. What magnificent story of the Lord's compassion do you have that He would have you share? Let us go out and make known His deeds!

We all place our trust somewhere. We expect our relationships to hold us up, our work to provide security, our plans to succeed, and our health to last. Most days, those expectations seem reasonable. But when life shifts, when security is shaken and control slips away, what we trust in is revealed very quickly. Loyalty is easy when things are going well. It is tested when they are not. Scripture repeatedly shows that the question is not whether God is faithful, but whether we are loyal to God, when trust becomes costly. Scripture gives us a clear example of what happens when loyalty to God slowly gives way to reliance on human strength. No Longer Loyal to God In 2 Chronicles chapters 14-16 we read about King Asa of Judah. He trusted in God when he was young but after years of things going smoothly it seems he had wandered from that trust. He began to look to the world instead of his Lord for strength and help. He took for granted his relationship to God and forgot Him in his time of need. He thought that he was in control, not God. King Asa was no longer loyal to God. God sent Asa a clear message, one that revealed both the problem and the promise tied to loyalty. "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 2 Chronicles chapter 16 tells us that King Asa had gone for help to the neighboring nation of Syria instead of waiting on the Lord. He had relied on things of this world for his help instead of God. By doing this the king showed that He did not trust God to take care of him and his nation. The king was not loyal to the One who he had a covenant with. Sometimes when we struggle in life, we feel that God has abandoned us but perhaps it is God longing to teach us something. On whom do we depend? The world or the One who shows Himself strong on our behalf? King Asa’s failure was not a lack of intelligence or effort, but a decision to trust himself and others instead of the Lord. The Problem with Relying on Yourself In King Asa's mind his overtures to the nation of Syria worked, but God saw the bigger picture. God's way would have been a victory that would have lasted but the king's way caused problems for a century for the people of Judah. God saw the bigger problem was Syria. There is a reason Proverbs reminds us not to lean on our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5) How many times have we created more problems than we solved simply by relying on ourselves and how we thought things should be done instead of relying on God? What looked like success in the moment was actually the beginning of long-term trouble. The Lord is searching for a loyal heart. He wants to show His strength on our behalf. He sees our trials and tribulations and loves us enough to act on our behalf. God sees our distress, He has strength to give us but He requires something—loyalty. Where do we place our trust? When King Asa was told this we read further that he was angry. He didn't want to hear the truth. He didn't want to know that he was wrong. His trust was in the world, not in God. Sadly, we read that even in death, this king did not reach out to God, but to man alone. Asa’s story is not just ancient history; it mirrors a struggle believers still face today. The Christian life requires strength to live it. We may not be like the king in 2 Chronicles, warring against another nation, but nonetheless we are in a war. The Christian life is a battle , a spiritual war. The strength to fight that war doesn't come from other people, or ourselves, but from God. To live a Christian life successfully we have to learn to let go of the control we mistakenly believe we have. God is in control not us. A loyal heart learns to accept God's control. Loyalty to God is not passive; it is learned, practiced, and expressed through obedience. Trust, Loyalty, and Obedience When someone is in the military and of lower rank, they learn to be loyal to those above them who know more than they do. What they are asked to do many times may seem foolish or dangerous but their trust is that those in charge have the greater good in mind. They learn that loyalty demands obedience . Their loyalty is rewarded, just as our loyalty to God will be rewarded. Who of us would not want the strength of the Lord on our side? The Lord Supplies our Needs and Blesses Us Isaiah 40:29 reminds us that to those that are weak and have no more strength left the Lord supplies their needs. It is He who gives us power and might. Psalm 84:5 tells us that our happiness is found when God is our strength. Sometimes life can be so overwhelming. We face tragedy, loss, heart ache, and sickness but in times like these, and in good times as well, we have to look to God not the circumstances that are around us. Scripture consistently points us back to the same truth: strength does not originate with us. The Lord is searching for His loyal ones so He can bless them. As Christians we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit living in us. How can we be anything but loyal? God has blessed us with His Son, with forgiveness and with everlasting life with Him. If someone gave their child's life for you and forgave a deep wrong that you had done to them would you not be loyal to that person? In return for our loyalty the Lord promises to " show Himself strong " for us. Our Strength Lies in God In Romans 4: 17(b) Paul speaks of the faith of Abraham and emphasizes who his hope was in, "God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did." In our lives, God is our life, our strength and our hope. It is in Him that we have victory, not in ourselves. A loyal life is one lived under the shelter and protection of the strength of God. Oh what a life that would be if every day when we wake we would remind ourselves where our strength lies—in Him. God Shows Himself Strong

Rule Following isn't Worship What if Jesus hurt your feelings? Jesus did have some very harsh things to say to some people. Almost exclusively they were said to the religious leaders of the day. These men thought they knew it all. They had reduced their belief in God to a formula. Do X and then Y will happen. Follow the law to the letter and then you will be right in God's eyes. They were wrong however. This kind of rule following will never bring rest for our souls. Liars and Fools What did Jesus say to them? He called them liars, fools, blind, hypocrites and even told them their father was the devil. Why would our loving Savior speak so harshly to these people? Because they had taken worship and turned it into something not of the heart. Their obedience was superficial. Jesus said they didn't practice what they preached (Matthew 23:3) and that they neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The Pharisees were very influential among the common people. They placed their oral traditions as equal to the words of God in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament). In essence they were adding things to God's word. Not all Pharisees were opposed to Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, as was Paul. Paul recognized that true righteousness could only be accomplished through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. In Galatians 3:11, Paul states that no righteousness can be found in obedience to the law. Faith in Christ was the only way. It is Jesus who fulfills the law. The Pharisees prided themselves on their knowledge of the laws of Moses and their oral traditions. They approached God as if He were a prize to be won through hard work and dedication. Following this law became a source of pride for the Pharisees, something they did to be "seen by men." Today when we call someone a Pharisee it means that they are self righteous and hypocritical. They Bind Heavy Burdens Speaking of the Pharisees, Jesus said this, "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men" (Matthew 23:4-5). Following the letter of the law was burdensome because it was impossible. The Pharisees had added hundreds of laws and regulations to the existing 613 in the Law of Moses. The tragedy of legalism is that it blinds us to the heart of God. When religion becomes only a list of rules to keep, we lose sight of the One those rules were meant to lead us to. The Pharisees searched the Scriptures diligently but missed the very Savior standing before them. In the same way, if we focus only on outward performance, we risk missing the gentle voice of Jesus calling us into a living, loving relationship with Him. Rest For Our Souls Contrast this to what Jesus says of Himself in Matthew 11: 28-30, " Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” When we come to Jesus, we are freed from the weight of trying to earn God's approval. His rest is not the absence of effort but the peace that comes from knowing we are already loved and accepted through faith. He is an anchor for our soul . Obedience then becomes a joyful response, not a burden. True worship flows from gratitude, not from fear of failing to measure up. Our Relationship To God When we look at our relationship to God, what do we see? Do we see a person who does good things only so others will see and be impressed? Do we make faith in God burdensome, a list of "no's" to be followed to the letter? Do we pride ourselves on how good we are? Do we, deep down, devalue the sacrifice of Christ on the cross because we just don't think we're really that bad? When we measure our faith by what we do rather than who we know, we miss the heart of the gospel. God isn’t impressed by our performance—He desires our devotion. True worship flows from love, not obligation. When our hearts belong to Him, obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden, and our service springs from gratitude instead of guilt. The Pharisees were teaching that actions, not faith; deeds, not love; and rules, not mercy, were all that was required to be in right relationship with God. Jesus upended their teaching. The most important rule Jesus told them was to love God and love others. Love is greater than faith and hope. When we truly do this, that is when we we can learn from our Savior. That is when we can find rest for our souls. That is when the good that we do will be real.