“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” —Psalm 51:10

Cyclist Lance Armstrong overcame incredible personal adversity to reach the highest levels of success. Then, just as spectacularly, he fell from grace in a public scandal that destroyed not only his reputation, but also the reputations of many others who had devoted themselves to him—in the end, tarnishing the entire sport of professional cycling.

Amidst Armstrong’s “doping” years, he and others involved had rationalized that taking illegal performance enhancing substances was a “necessary evil,” whether it be to stay competitive in a sport where others were doping, to protect sponsors, or to sustain a “benevolence” movement that was giving hope to so many cancer survivors. But once you convince yourself that one evil is necessary, it always breeds a justification for the necessity of other evils to cover up the initial one.

That’s precisely what happened to David after he sought out an adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. Once he discovered that she was pregnant with his baby, he went into full damage control mode rather than repentance mode, in which he attempted to cover up the scandal with a “necessary evil” of manipulating and deceiving Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband. When the manipulation tactic didn’t work, David used his power to engineer another self-protecting necessary evil—a murderous plot to take Uriah’s life, even though Uriah had been as loyal to David as any person could be.

Eventually David’s sin found him out, as it does with all of us. Though forgiveness and restoration in his relationship with God was realized, the terrible consequences of his sin impacted his house for generations.

I believe that every “big” scandal once began with a “little” evil.

I believe that every “big” scandal once began with a “little” evil. Forests of public shame were once tiny seedlings of secret sins. All the human suffering we see in our world today can be traced back to taking a small bite out of a little piece of fruit that God said was off limits. Every addiction can be traced back to one small decision to cross a line. Children don’t dream of growing up to become drug addicts, prostitutes, or inmates. A man doesn’t stand at the wedding altar, thinking, “I will one day betray my spouse.” No, that happens from repeated little glances, hidden fantasies, and slight flirts that all grow up to become big sins.

Maybe there is a sin in your life that once bothered your conscience but has now become acceptable. We don’t get to a place of having a “seared” conscience overnight, it is the result of calculated “little” sins getting rationalized over and over again as we get comfortable with them. We need to recognize the little evils for what they are, confess them, and repent of them before they take us further than we want to go and keep us longer than we want to stay.

Proverbs 28:13 says, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” David acknowledged his sin in Psalm 51 and sincerely cried out to God for a pure heart. He asked God to restore the pre-scandal joy that once danced in his soul. The whole tone of this psalm is that all persons are sinners and need God’s mercy. The psalm intends to keep the entire congregation from ever presuming on God’s grace. Think about that as you seek to confront the little sins in your life and abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

“Heavenly Father, help me to see sin as You do. Protect me from rationalizing necessary evils or justifying so-called little sins in my life. Help me to see that no sin is little with you, and that my sin nailed Jesus to the cross to absorb your judgment and wrath. Holy Spirit, empower me to live a life of bold integrity in all of my pursuits, with a pure and clean heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. What public scandal has shocked you the most?
2. In what ways is sin progressive?
3. What can we learn about ourselves from David’s scandal and cover-up crusade? What can we learn about God from Psalm 51? What is the Good News here?
4. What little sins, or “necessary evils,” have you grown comfortable with? What are you doing today that bothered your conscience in the past?
5. Is there a sin that needs to be confessed? Is there a joy that needs to be restored? Is there an area of vulnerability that needs to be guarded with your integrity?

The post Lance Armstrong and Necessary Evils appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” —Matthew 20:26

We live in a world that pushes us to make a great name for ourselves. Whether it’s going viral as an influencer on social media, being famous as an artist, outperforming the business competitors, having kids that stand out among their peers, or even having our church become bigger and “better” than others, the temptation to be “great” can be deceptively alluring. It can also be pride-filled and destructive.

In Genesis 11, a multitude of people gathered and said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” Their tower was a symbol of human autonomy, in which the city builders saw themselves determining and establishing their own destiny without any reference to the Lord.

What did the Lord think of these lofty ambitions?

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:5-9)

As a city, Babylon symbolized humanity’s ambition to dethrone God and make the earth its own (see Revelation 17–18). The Babel enterprise, still very much alive today, is all about human independence and self-sufficiency apart from God. The builders believe that they have no need of God. They are after their own glory. Their technology and social unity give them confidence in their own ability, and they have high aspirations of constructing a tower so great that its top reaches the heavens (11:4). God destroyed their work!

It’s important to note that God isn’t opposed to greatness, but He is against the fleshly drive that motivates us. Contrast chapter 11 with what happens next in chapter 12 of Genesis. The Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” What a difference a chapter makes!

Abraham truly became great—the father of many nations! God blessed him accordingly. We see that it is God’s business to bestow upon His own the measure of greatness He desires. When we try to seize greatness for ourselves instead of striving to be a blessing to others like Abram did, we dangerously miss the mark.

God’s word warns us that there is a downfall for those who live only to make a name for themselves. On the contrary, Jesus taught his disciples that even though the rulers of the Gentiles strive for greatness of power over others, “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” What if that was our aim this new year, to be a blessing-servant to others instead of chasing after worldly ambitions to make a great name for ourselves?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me to bear the name of Jesus in this world. Help me to be a blessing to those around me, seeking to bestow great love, great kindness, and great mercy to the glory of Christ. For in doing so to others, I will understand the true meaning of greatness. Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. What is one language you would love to be able to supernaturally speak without ever having to learn it?
2. What is it about greatness that has such a strong appeal to us as humans?
3. God gave Abram a command to “go” and then He would make his name great, and that he would be a blessing. What is God telling you to “go” and do in 2024?
4. What does Jesus-like servanthood look like in your life right now?
5. Do you need to repent of any selfish pursuits of greatness in your life?

The post The Making of a Great Name appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” —John 14:6

Issues of inclusion and exclusion lie at the heart of our society’s most contested social issues. I find it ironic that today some of the most self-proclaimed inclusion advocates have little room in their world for people of differing views. It seems that the people boasting the loudest about their own “inclusiveness,” are the same ones having their list of social “acceptables” getting smaller by the day.

Here is the question that none of us can avoid: Is Jesus inclusive or exclusive? The answer is both. Jesus was indeed the most inclusive person ever to walk this earth. From the lowliest outcast to the wealthiest and most corrupt (think Zacchaeus), and every social class in between, Jesus made room at the table for every person He encountered. No one in the history of the world has ever been more inclusive to people who have messed up their own lives, than the person of Jesus. Not one repentant sinner has He ever shunned or rejected— “whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Not one!

In other words, the Gospel is entirely inclusive—Christ offered truth, forgiveness, freedom, peace, and reconciliation with God to every single person on the planet. Unfortunately, most people will never take Him up on this offer. Jesus himself said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Though no one in history has ever been more inclusive of sinners than Jesus, neither has any person on this planet ever been more intolerant of sin. Jesus—perfectly divine—cannot be holy and tolerant of sin at the same time.

The incarnation is most indubitably God’s manifest salvation for every sinner, which includes all of us (Romans 3:23). However, Christ’s incarnation has never been about God’s “tolerance of sin” wrapped in human flesh. On the contrary, it is God’s intolerance of sin that brought about Jesus’ manifestation in human form and sentenced Him to a substitutionary death (see Romans 3:20; 5:8, and 2 Corinthians 5:21). God didn’t sweep our sin under the rug; He condemned it on the cross. If God could “tolerate” sin, Jesus would’ve never needed to die on the cross. Therefore, it was His intolerance that did the dirty work of atonement. The reason why we can be accepted by God as undeserving sinners, is the fact that God didn’t tolerate our sin, but rather dealt with it justly on the cross. Our holy and righteous God, whose “eyes are too pure to look on evil” and “cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Habakkuk 1:13), made a way for our sin to be atoned for and obliterated once and for all through the sacrificial death of Jesus.

The blood of Jesus carries the only merit for our salvation, which means Christ has an exclusive monopoly on the path to being reconciled with God. This Christ said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The scandal of Christianity is that Jesus is the only way. The early disciples proclaimed: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved,” and “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

Some will be offended by the inclusivity of Jesus. Others will be offended by the exclusivity of Jesus. He is in that sense, doubly offensive. In either offense, the root is a heart issue that refuses to acknowledge one’s own sin. In other words, the only way the Gospel isn’t good news to you is if you think you are good enough, righteous enough, or pure enough in your own flesh that you don’t need a Savior. This is the kind of pride that a holy, just, and inclusive God finds utterly offensive.

Consider: Jesus is the most inclusive person ever. But He still offends people. Jesus also couldn’t have been more exclusive with the truth that He is the only the way to God. And this still offends people. It is human pride that brings about the offense, not the measure of inclusivity or exclusivity of Jesus. Don’t aim to win the award for being the most inclusive person (Jesus already owns that!). Don’t fear being labeled an exclusive person (Jesus already has a monopoly on that!). Focus on the more eternally significant issue of being a faithful follower of Jesus. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me not to fret over being inclusive or exclusive. Jesus continues to offend folks who think He is too much of one or the other, and as I follow Him, I too will be found offensive. Remind me there are no rewards in heaven for being praised by man, only rewards for being faithful to You. Help me to be faithful, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. In our modern society, what is a picture of inclusivity? Exclusivity?
2. What makes people more conscious of being labeled “inclusive” or “exclusive” rather than simply being Christ-conscious?
3. What is the Good News of today’s text in John 14? Is there a beauty in this passage as it pertains to Christ’s exclusive promise?
4. In what ways can you become more Christ-conscious, rather than living in conscious fear of how people are labeling you?
5. Is there a sin of pride, self-sufficiency, or fear of man that you need to confess to God?

The post Jesus is the Most Inclusive and Most Exclusive appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” —Matthew 9:18

After Aaron Rodgers went down with a season ending injury on Monday night football, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ well wishes for the 39-year-old New York Jets quarterback took on a completely different meaning—all because of a lack of punctuation.

Joining countless other players who shared social media messages after the 4-time league MVP sustained the devastating injury, Mahomes wrote that he was “praying” for Rodgers, but the absence of a comma changed the sentiment of the post significantly.

“Hate that man… Praying for the best,” the two-time Super Bowl champion wrote.

Quickly realizing how something as simple as a comma can change the whole meaning of a post, Mahomes edited the post to read “Hate that, man…” and acknowledged it in a subsequent message. But appropriate commas aren’t just critical to a well-intended social media post, they are also essential to how we live out our faith.

A comma is a commonly used punctuation mark that is used to separate two words, phrases or clauses in a sentence. A comma also indicates a short pause, meaning the statement is not over and that there is more to come. It’s been said, “Never put a period where God has placed a comma.” In other words, the comma means there is still more to the story God is writing.

In Matthew 9:18-26, we see a game-changing comma in two separate situations involving desperate people. The first one is found in verse 18, as a ruler named Jairus kneels before Jesus and pleads for his daughter’s life. This man had worldly power, influence, and money – none of which could help his daughter on her deathbed. After she has taken her last breath, he says to Jesus, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” While this man’s heartache was on the front side of the comma (his circumstances), his faith was on the other side of the comma (Jesus’ death-defying power).

A few verses later we see a corpse coming back to life!

Sandwiched in between this game-changing comma and its happy ending, we find a woman suffering with a discharge of blood. She had been in this hopeless, anemic, and weakened condition for more than twelve years. Moreover, her hemorrhaging would have made her ceremonially unclean, stigmatizing her as an outcast in most social and religious relations. Yet she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Wellness and wholeness were on the other side of the comma, but she couldn’t get beyond that comma apart from the healing touch of Jesus. Her faith is met with an amazing healing.

The psalmist wrote: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). Christ puts a comma where our suffering tells us to put a period. He puts a comma where our failure tells us we are finished. On the front side of the comma, we may see an uncertain future, financial hardship, sickness, fractured relationships, a broken marriage, a prodigal child, persecution, addiction, or a particular sin that has dominion over us. But on the other side of that comma, Jesus has already conquered it all.

I’m determined today that I’m not going to put a space or a period where God has intended for there to be a comma. I’m not going to live on the wrong side of that comma, either. How about you? Think about that as you seek to abide in Him, and trust in His promises this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, forgive me for those times I have lived on the wrong side of the comma—those times I have focused far too much on my circumstances over Your sovereignty. Forgive me for my worry, my fear, my anxiety, my cynicism, and my sin of unbelief. Holy Spirit, teach me what it means to live on the other side of the comma, in the resurrection life of Jesus. In His name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection and/or Group Discussion:

1. Have you ever been embarrassed by something you mistakenly posted on social media?
2. When have you put a period on something, that looking back now, you realize God intended to be a comma?
3. What can we learn about the faith of Jairus and the suffering woman in Matthew 9? What can we learn about Jesus?
4. What situation in your life right now are you tempted to put a period on, when God might be trying to grow your faith?
5. Is there a particular sin the Holy Spirit is convicting you of right now, that needs to be confessed and cleansed by the blood of Jesus?

The post Patrick Mahomes and the Lost Comma appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…” —Colossians 3:12

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they dress. It’s easy to recognize the profession of a person in uniform. It’s easy to detect the favorite team of a fan garbed in his team’s branding from head to toe. When I was in high school, I donned spandex pants and a lot of “metalhead” t-shirts while accessorizing with headbands and bandanas. My usual attire affirmed that I was a drummer in a rock band!

For Christians, our spiritual clothing speaks about who we are, and whose we are.

Last week we looked at how Paul told his readers to “put on,” or “clothe yourselves” in humility. In addition to compassion, kindness, and humility, Christ-followers are also instructed to be clothed in “meekness” (Colossians 3:12). The Greek word used here and in Galatians 5:23 is one of the hardest New Testament words to translate. It can also be rendered “gentleness.”

When this word praotēs is translated as “meekness,” it speaks to our inward state—how we are submitted to the Holy Spirit’s rule and reign in our hearts. When translated as “gentleness,” it can refer to the outward state—how we interact with and treat others. We are meek when we are humbled by the revelation that Christ has demonstrated mercy toward us undeservingly. We are gentle when we take that mercy we have been given and offer it to others respectfully—even if they are undeserving.

Titus was taught to be “gentle toward everyone” (Titus 3:2, NIV). Timothy was taught that “a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind [also translated ‘gentle’] to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people” (2 Timothy 2:24, NLT). Meekness has been described as power under control. The greatest and most powerful Person who ever lived was also a meek and humble man—“learn from Me, for I am gentle [meek] and humble in heart,” said Jesus (Matthew 11:29). Christ was omnipotent—so His meekness definitely wasn’t weakness.

To follow Jesus, is to learn from Jesus. We can see that Jesus never ran from a testy exchange with the Pharisees, and he even turned over some temple tables along the way. Surely Jesus didn’t lose his meekness in the heat of the moment, or temporarily suffer a lapse in gentleness. Maybe it’s just that we’ve mistaken meekness and gentleness with being nice. But I’ve never read where the Pharisees called Jesus a “really nice” guy. Jesus wasn’t soft, passive, or evasive of conflict in his ministry. He didn’t quarrel over trivial matters, but He also didn’t shy away from truth or rebuke when it needed to be spoken. So, what do we make of that? I don’t believe that Christians are to be spineless sooks. What if being clothed in meekness looks more like a strength than softness?

Greek war horses were “meeked” in the sense that they were trained to stay in the battle rather than flee at the sound of loud canons. As meek Christians, we are to stay in the battle and not retreat. We take a firm stand when it is necessary but should always aim to do it the way Jesus did. We should handle conflict with temperance, rather than run from it in fear. At Antioch, Paul opposed Peter [a believer] “to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.” I hope this was done in meekness. Peter told Christians to share their faith with unbelievers in “gentleness and respect.”

Meekness [gentleness] is a fruit of the Spirit. It’s a “strength” God gives to us in exchange for our “weakness,” as we surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It doesn’t come from willpower, but God’s power. Meekness keeps us in the battle, emboldens us to speak truth, enables us to face conflict rightly, and clothes us to share our faith with others without backing down. Meekness is God’s strength in us, and that is powerful. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me to surrender my weakness in exchange for the strength of Christ’s meekness. Holy Spirit, empower me to stay in the battle and never retreat from demonstrating the Gospel boldly. For you have not given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. Do you tend to avoid conflict, or embrace it?
2. When Jesus confronted the Pharisees or turned over the money tables in the temple, do you think he lacked meekness, or was it being manifested in a different way?
3. Why do you think it is important for us to not mistake passiveness, softness, or weakness as meekness?
4. What do you think meekness looks like in a person fully controlled by the Holy Spirit?
5. How will you lean into God’s power this week to allow the Holy Spirit to produce in you a meekness that is humble, firm, strong, powerful, respectful, temperate, gentle, truth-speaking, sin-confronting, and life-giving?

The post Meekness Isn’t Weakness appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” —1 Corinthians 1:30

“The Cathedral of Baseball” refers to the old Yankee Stadium located in the Bronx, in New York City. It was the home ballpark for the New York Yankees from 1923 to 2008. It’s also called “The House That Ruth Built,” derived from Babe Ruth, the once “hopeless, incorrigible” kid from Baltimore, whose prime years as a baseball superstar coincided with the stadium’s opening and the beginning of the Yankees’ winning history.

In 1 Chronicles 17, David desired to build a cathedral-like house of worship for the ark of God’s covenant. After conquering Jerusalem and successfully bringing the ark of the covenant back into the city, David shared this desire with Nathan the prophet: “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”

David’s wish to build this temple for God was met with refusal:

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in. For I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent and from dwelling to dwelling…’” (1 Chronicles 17:3–5 ESV)

Instead of David building a house for God, God promised to build a house for David, which became realized in the form of a sure and perpetual dynasty. In fact, God says of the Davidic house and kingdom, that it is “my house and… my kingdom.” In other words, God’s eternal, heavenly kingdom will be present in and expressed through the Davidic kingdom.

This is the very heart of the Gospel message. Our eternal salvation has nothing to do with what we can build for God, but everything to do with what Jesus has built for us through His atonement on the cross. We don’t offer Jesus our own righteousness, rather He offers us His righteousness as our only justification before a holy God. Our relationship with God is built on nothing more or less than the saving work of Jesus. Forgiveness for our sins, reconciliation with God, peace in our hearts, a new beginning… this is all a result of what God builds for us through Christ.

This promise is not only realized in this lifetime, but the one to come. For Jesus has promised:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1–4)

Jesus is building for us an eternal dwelling, that where He is, we can be with Him forever. He is the Master Builder, and like David did, our only reasonable response should be to worship Him: “There is none like you, O Lord, and there is no God besides you” (1 Chronicles 17:20). Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Even the most commendable of my deeds are nothing but filthy rags compared to the holy and perfect nature of Jesus Christ. I recognize my deficiency before you, I confess my sins, and I receive what you have built for me through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—forgiveness, reconciliation, peace, and eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. When have you built something really impressive?
2. Do you think it was good that David wanted to build a house for God? (1 Kings 8:18)
3. What do you find significant about David’s prayer in vv. 16-27? What characteristics of this prayer should we emulate in our worship?
4. What is your response when you fully consider all that God has done for you through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ?
5. How can you express worship and gratitude this week for what God has built for you and continues to build for your future?

The post The House That God Built appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” —Mark 4:41

They called it the “unsinkable” ship. Titanic was a state-of-the-art craft and the largest vessel built in its time. Yet just four days into her maiden voyage, the luxury liner became an icy graveyard for over 1,500 people at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean after striking an iceberg on April 14, 1912.

Tragically, Titanic wasn’t unsinkable.

However, we do find a true unsinkable boat in Mark 4:35-41. This one wasn’t unsinkable because of its massive size or astute engineering. Based on archaeology, this type of boat was probably about 26 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 4 feet high. No, this measly little vessel wasn’t unsinkable because of human prowess, but divine presence.

What’s interesting about this passage is that Jesus led his disciples right into a violent storm. Jonah once ended up in a storm because of his disobedience, but the disciples found themselves in a precarious storm because of their obedience to Jesus. Following Jesus doesn’t immunize us from hardship or trouble. Sometimes following Jesus puts us in difficult situations. Yet the same Jesus who commanded the disciples to go into the storm also promised them where they would end up. Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s go perish in the middle of the sea.” No, he told his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.”

Yet, Jesus had the audacity to go to sleep on them in the middle of a crisis. They protest his apparent indifference: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Sometimes it feels like Jesus is sleeping as we go through the storm, like God led us into a place and forgot about us. It’s in times like these that we should remember that the same Jesus who was asleep in that little vessel one stormy night at sea, is the same Jesus who speaks to the winds and waves in our lives—and they listen.

Jesus awoke, rebuked the storm, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then he asked his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Jesus didn’t say, “Wow, what a storm!” Instead, he marveled over the disciple’s lack of faith. The storm could not disturb Jesus, but the unbelief of His disciples did disturb him. I wonder if He might put forth a similar question to us? “After all that I have done in you and for you, why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” It takes a mature faith to trust the “sleeping” Jesus in our storms. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, storms in life are inevitable. In times of weakness, we struggle with doubts and fears. We are even vulnerable to feeling sorry for ourselves. We confess that we often struggle with deceiving thoughts about how you care for us. We bring our sin of unbelief to you. We ask you to strengthen our faith. Holy Spirit, remind us there is always a beautifully redemptive ‘other side’ to the storm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. What do you find most fascinating about the story of the Titanic?
2. When have you felt that God led you into a storm and then went to sleep?
3. In what ways have you seen the “beautifully” redemptive side of storms in your life?
4. If thinking that Jesus doesn’t care about us is an indication of a lack of faith, how would you measure your faith right now? This past week?
5. In what ways can you prepare yourself to go through life’s storms with more faith and trust in the ONE Who truly is unsinkable?

The post The Unsinkable Ship appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.” —Psalm 78:4

When Damar Hamlin collapsed on Monday Night Football, the whole nation embraced a tone, if not a posture of prayer. Everyone was in agreement that the situation was dire and intervention was urgent. Yet isn’t it baffling how quickly people turned from a position of dependence on divine help to a posture of defiance after that man walked out of the hospital alive? Though Mr. Hamlin continues to give the credit to God for saving his life, many are offended by that and only want to credit the medical personnel who assisted the football player on the field. Many want to rob God of the glory He deserves, and the miracle He gave, as an entire nation seemed to be interceding for one man in a moment of crisis.

After a crippled man was healed at Lystra, the crowds began to worship (give all the credit) to Paul and Barnabas because they were the instruments God used to initiate the process. “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men,” they hailed. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them… for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” Yet even with this rebuke, they still couldn’t be restrained in offering praise to them.

God specializes in doing things thought impossible. But when our praise gets misdirected to the instruments of God’s sovereign dispensation rather than back to the goodness of the living God who has graciously performed the impossible, we stand in the same shoes as those in Lystra—whether intentionally or inadvertently, we can find ourselves in a place of robbing God of His glory. This is very fresh with me as I have received a remarkable healing from God just recently.

A year ago, I was diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency, a disease that medical professionals state, “can’t be cured,” only “managed.” The doctor advised me to consider getting stents immediately or in the near future. Though I was peacefully resigned to accepting this as my “thorn in the flesh,” many people around the world continued to pray fervently for my healing. And while in Korea earlier this year, I sense the Holy Spirit’s conviction to prepare for divine healing and to consider what it would look like to “steward that healing” well. I sensed God cultivating my heart to be “ready” to declare His praises and “record” of His deeds on the other end of that healing.

When I visited the vascular specialist last Friday, the test results were phenomenal. Last year my right leg vein had a 6.3mm opening when it was supposed to be 10-14mm. Today it is between 11mm and 15mm in various areas of blood flow. The doctor’s eyes got a little wider when she said “15.” I thought about that promise of Ephesians 3:20… “Now unto Him that is able to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE all that we ask or think”!!! That’s a God who can get us into the “15” range—ABOVE just the normal range. According to most medical professionals, that doesn’t just happen without surgical procedures.

I’m not one of those “name-it-claim-it” guys, but when God shows up big and does the apparent impossible, ONLY He is worthy of the glory. My doctors have been helpful. They have my respect and appreciation, but they won’t get the praise. My diet has been conducive to “managing” the situation, but that diet is not capable of reversing what God reversed. I love that this passage in Acts 14 was written by Luke, a physician who didn’t rob God of the glory He deserved. Neither will I rob Him of His goodness in my life!

Perhaps God has showed up big in your life in the past and you failed to honor Him with the glory He deserves. May I say that it is never too late to proclaim the excellencies and the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). It’s never too late to share with others the testimonies of all that God has done. Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, may I be one who is always ready to declare the wonderful deeds of your majesty. May I always live to tell the miracles you have performed, that I would be a faithful steward of your grace in my life. God, thank you for healing me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Application:

1. Why do you think people lean into God during desperate moments, yet are so quick to turn away from Him when the crisis is over?
2. When have you received God’s providence in such a way that you just couldn’t help but to share it with others?
3. When have you failed to steward God’s providence well?
4. What is your biggest takeaway from this text (Acts 14:8-18)?
5. In what way might the Holy Spirit be leading you to “steward” God’s grace well, or flesh out old or new testimonies in praise of His providence?

The post Robbing God of His Glory appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” —Luke 18:1

If you know of George Müller, director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, UK, you know that his life was characterized by depth and intimacy of prayer. One day he began praying for five of his lost friends. After many months, one of them came to the Lord. Ten years later, two others were converted. It took 25 years before the fourth man was saved. Müller persevered in prayer for some 52 years until his death for the fifth friend, never giving up hope for his friend’s surrender to Jesus! His faith was rewarded, for soon after Müller’s funeral the last one was saved.

In our nature, we are prone to give up on prayer when we don’t see the results we hope for—especially when it involves disappointment, loss, injustice, or suffering. We can get discouraged or distracted, and we can even struggle with disbelief. For this reason, Jesus told his followers a parable “to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1-8).

The parable spoke of a judge who neither feared God nor respected man and was hounded by a widow in the city who kept coming to him repeatedly and saying, “Give me justice against my adversary.” As a widow, she would’ve been marginalized in her society and a vulnerable target of oppression and fraud. Yet this poor woman’s persistence was the only asset she had in seeking justice from this “unjust” judge, as she kept coming to him day after day.

For a while the judge refused, but he couldn’t shake the woman’s resilience. He finally said, “Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.” That expression “beat me down” can be interpreted as “stun me”—a metaphor taken from boxers, who bruise each other. The Greek word hypopiazo literally means “to give a black eye,” “to give intolerable annoyance,” or to “wear one out.” The unjust judge finally acquiesced and gave the widow what she wanted because he was worn down by her importunity.

The point of the parable was clear—If an unjust judge finally grants the widow’s “prayer,” how much more will God answer the prayers of his elect? She petitioned an unjust magistrate. We petition a perfectly just King who can never be worn down by our coming. God can never be stunned by our pleading. He can never be annoyed by us employing the kind of bold prayerful persistence that Jesus himself taught us to have. From God’s perspective, justice will come to his elect speedily even when it seems delayed from a human perspective. The real question is, will He find faith in those He taught to be persistent? In other words, “will He find men and women who are still praying, who have not given up, who have not lost heart?”

Jesus taught his disciples to pray continually, to keep coming day after day, affirming that God rewards such bold persistence. Remember that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, you are a rewarder of those who seek you diligently and continually. Help me to never lose heart in the face of my struggles, my disappointments, and my setbacks. Remind me to be persistent in prayer through all the daily stuff of life, and to be filled with wide-eyed and wonder-filled expectation of how you are going to show up and show off. In Jesus’ name, Amen.   

Questions for Personal Application or Group Discussion:

1. In your own words, how do you picture this resilient widow?
2. What can we learn about God’s character in contrast to the unjust judge?
3. Why is it difficult to keep praying continuously when God’s response is delayed? What might be gained by praying continuously when the answer is delayed?
4. Can you think of something worth a lifetime of persistent prayer and faith?
5. What do you hear the Spirit saying to you, and what action should you take in response to Jesus’ teaching about prayer?

The post The Persistent Widow appeared first on Jimmy Larche.

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” —Luke 1:37

When I was young, my mother taught me the importance of using my manners when asking for something. The “way” you ask is just as important as the “what” in your ask.

When the angel Gabriel showed up and told Zechariah, “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son” who would be the forerunner of the promised Messiah, the priest asked, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (v. 18). He was swiftly rewarded with a gift of muteness—a spiritual gift my wife is constantly praying for me to receive!

The angel told him “You will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” Yet just a few verses later when that same angel showed up and told Mary she would conceive and give birth to the Son of God, she asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” Mary was gifted with the assurance of being filled and overshadowed with the Holy Spirit, and that “nothing will be impossible with God” (vv. 35-37)—or more literally translated: for no word of God shall be powerless.

Mary’s question was logical. She asked the same question Zachariah asked, but his question was asked in skeptical unbelief, and her question was asked in wonder-filled faith.

While Zechariah was overcome with muteness, Mary was “overshadowed,” which means “to cover with a cloud.” In the Bible, a cloud is often associated with the visible manifestation of the glory and presence of God, as in the cloud of Shekinah glory (Exodus 16:10, 19:9, 24:16, 34:5, 40:34) or the cloud of transfiguration (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:34).

Zechariah got stuck in his doubt, while Mary received in faith, “Let it be to me according to your word.” This is the right-sized response to all of God’s promises. Elizabeth, in recognizing her cousin’s active faith affirmed, “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord” (v. 45).

It is reasonable to ask “how” God is going to accomplish something. But how we ask “how” makes a huge difference in what overcomes us in the process. We can ask in faith or we can become crippled by our doubts. Neither response changes Who God is nor what His promise has decreed, but the response will most certainly determine what overtakes us in the process. I don’t want to be spiritually mute or deaf this week, I desire to be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit as I take God at His Word over my life and trust that “nothing will be impossible with God.” Think about that as you seek to abide in Him this week.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help me to be right-sized in my response to all of your promises. Help my unbelief, to exchange it for that wide-eyed and wonder-filled faith that Mary expressed from a heart of worship. You are a God Who is able, and I will ask you “how” in a manner according to your unlimited ability rather than my limited reasonability. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Questions for Personal Application or Group Discussion:

1. What important manners did you learn growing up?
2. In what area of your life have you been wrestling with “how” God is going to show up?
3. What can this passage teach us about the character of God? What can it teach us about worship and how we should respond to God’s promises?
4. Are there any doubts, skepticism, or trepidations in your heart that you need to confess about God’s ability or trustworthiness?
5. What specific attribute or promise of God needs an intentional response of “worship” from your heart right now?

The post How Are You Asking “How”? appeared first on Jimmy Larche.