This blessing represents an ideal condition for someone who follows God. The first part of the blessing is for protection. Because God is all-powerful, He is our ultimate Protector.
The second part is a prayer for grace from God. For God’s face to shine upon someone is for the favor of God to be on them. But for this to happen, we need to be in relationship with God. We ought to spend time with God each day, learning from Him and receiving His grace through His Spirit.
The last part of the blessing is for God’s face to turn towards us. This means that God is looking out for our good. And there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor because He gives it freely.
The primary way that God blesses us today is through a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we have faith in Jesus, our future is eternally secure in Him. After we begin a relationship with Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within us and empowers our new life.
God’s grace, favor, and protection are all available to us.
Knowing Scripture...
Paul’s letter to the Colossians is rich with insight into who Jesus is, what He has done, and how we should respond.
He wrote to encourage them to keep their eyes on Jesus, to live a life worthy of their calling, to be full of love for one another, and to…
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Colossians 3:16 ESV
Since the Church was new at this point, it didn’t have a complete, written Bible. So, when Paul told Christians to let the “word of Christ dwell” in them richly—he would have been referring to the teachings of Jesus they’d learned from Paul and others.
Because access to written Scripture was limited, this new Church needed to be encouraged and reminded to stay faithful in teaching one another. And one of the ways they did this was through praising God together and being thankful for all He had done.
We now have an incredible gift in the Bible. We have the full counsel of God from both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Through God’s Word, we can know God’s plan and purposes, the story and truth of Jesus, and how we are to live as followers of Christ together. And, we can encourage one another as we study and learn Scripture together.
So, take time in your day to read God’s Word. Study its content and context. Discover God's character, plans, purposes, and love as you allow His Word to dwell in you richly. Then, try to spend time with other believers and discuss what you’ve read.
Our Hands on Christ's Head
“He himself bore our sins in his body.”
To subjectively benefit from the work of the high priest in the scapegoat ritual on the day of atonement (Leviticus 16:20-22), the individual Israelite had to exercise both penitence and faith. Penitence is a sincere and humble acknowledgment of one’s sins. Faith, in this instance, is believing God’s testimony that his sins were transferred to the goat and that the guilt of them no longer hung over his head.
Of course, the scapegoat could not itself carry away the sins of the people. It was only symbolic of the true scapegoat to come, Jesus Christ. Today we see the reality of the symbol. We see Jesus as the one who not only propitiated the wrath of God, symbolized by the sacrifice of the first goat, but who also removed our sins from God’s presence, symbolized by the second goat led away into the desert, bearing the sins of the people.
Those same two attitudes, penitence and faith, are necessary for all of us today who rely on Christ for salvation. We must acknowledge ourselves as sinners before a holy God. We must, so to speak, lay our hands on Christ’s head and confess over him all our transgression and rebellion. We acknowledge ourselves as sinners before a holy God, and we face up to particular sins we’re aware of.
This heartfelt penitence and faith should characterize our lives throughout every day. We not only come to God through faith in Christ as both our propitiation and our scapegoat, we must live in his presence every day on the same basis. We must believe that just as the Old Testament scapegoat symbolically carried away the sins of the Jews from the presence of God, so Jesus actually carried away our sins.
The Shepherd's Promise...
Psalm 23 is a poem about God as our Shepherd. It’s all about how God knows what is best for us. He knows who we are and the paths we should walk in life. Because He is our Shepherd, He also is our Protector, guarding us from evil.
At the end of Psalm 23, there is a promise for us. For those who follow God and listen to His guidance, the writer says that goodness and mercy will follow us.
What does it mean that God’s goodness and mercy will follow us?
It doesn’t mean that life will go according to our plans. It also doesn’t mean life will be free of pain and problems. Psalm 23:4 tells us that we will still have to walk through dark valleys in life.
Here’s what it does mean: God will always be with us. God will always be good to us. Life may not always be easy, but God promises to always be good.
Because of these truths, the writer of this Psalm says that his desire is to be with God in God’s house forever. We ought to desire the same thing as well. It’s because of God’s goodness and mercy that we will one day join Him in heaven to be with Him forever.
Take some time today to consider God as your Shepherd, who cares for you and protects you. Thank Him that His goodness and mercy will never end but will follow you every day of your life.
Keep in Step...
When we trust in Jesus as our Savior, we’re given the gift of grace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. To put it simply, the Holy Spirit is God. We are given God! The Holy Spirit leads, guides, and works in and through us.
There are times when we’re tempted to run ahead of the Spirit. Because, if we’re honest, He’s not always moving as quickly as we’d like. We might even question if He’s moving or if He cares. That’s why walking with God requires patience.
There are other times when we’re tempted to lag behind the Spirit. Because, at times, He might be guiding us somewhere that might make us a little uncomfortable. It takes effort, intentionality, and both physical and emotional strength. That’s why walking with God requires courage.
We can keep in step with the Spirit by sticking close to Him—paying attention, talking to Him, reading His Word, and being in community with those who love Him.
Because when we’re committed to sticking close to Him, one thing is certain: The Holy Spirit will guide you—every step of the way.
Timeless Wisdom
Timeless Wisdom
After being rescued from Egyptian slavery and wandering around in the wilderness for 40 years, the Hebrew people finally stood at the edge of the land God had promised.
Though their long-time leader, Moses, had just died, God appointed Joshua to take his place. During this transition of authority, God gave Joshua some wise advice:
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8 NIV
God gave the Law to Israel through Moses. These instructions reveal God’s intentions, character, and heart.
And even though God was speaking directly to Joshua at that time, His advice holds timeless wisdom for us today…
Reading, listening to, and thinking deeply about God's story informs and shapes us.
When we meditate on His Word, study its contents, and understand its core message—everything changes.
People of Peace...
In his letter to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul explained that those who had been given new life in Christ not only had a redeemed future but also a new reality.
Instead of being confined to a hopeless world, they had an eternal hope.
Instead of being powerless against sin, they had the power to fight back.
Instead of continuing cycles of chaos, brokenness, and trauma, they could be people of peace.
Paul went on to say...
“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” (Col. 3:15)
With Christ, we can take off our “old self”, which is continuously being made into the image of God.
Prayer… “God, in the midst of everything that is happening in my life and in this world, I ask for Your peace to rule in my heart and life. Thank you for making Your unwavering peace available to me. Come into every area of my iife and be the focus of my mind, heart, and actions. Let me find comfort and rest in your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Embrace God's Guidance...
Pause and take a moment to reflect on the last time you truly allowed yourself to be led by someone else—the kind of leading that required you to give up control and trust the person leading you.
If we’re honest, many of us struggle in some way to completely surrender trust. And even when we do decide to surrender, we might still slightly find ourselves trying to taking back some measure of control.
We fear being hurt.
We fear vulnerability.
We fear being misled.
We fear rejection.
But here's the truth: when we place our fears in the hands of a loving God, it readies our hearts to cultivate a deeper intimacy with Him.
God knows your heart, He sees your struggles, and He's aware of your weaknesses. And He's there—right there, in the midst of your anxieties and fears—ready to guide you, teach you, and lead you to truth. Allow the words echoed by the psalmist to be your prayer today…
Love in Truth
As Christians, our lives are to be patterned after Jesus.
When Jesus came to earth, He lived among people of the first century. During His ministry, Jesus spoke many things concerning the love and kingdom of God. But He also displayed that love through healing people and setting them free with truth.
Jesus loves through both word and action. He communicates the love of God through His words and showed others love through His actions.
In the same way, Christians should also follow Jesus as our model. However, many Christians are more comfortable doing one or the other. Some are more comfortable telling others the truth, and others are more comfortable showing love by helping others.
1 John 3:18 tells us that we need to do both in order to love people the way Christ has loved us. People don’t just need to hear the truth; they need to see it through love. But it’s not just enough to help others; we also need to share the message of Jesus Christ with them.
Think about your own life. Consider how you can take small steps to practice telling others the truth in love or showing people love through your actions.
Taken from "A Good Word" from Dallas Theological Seminary...
In an encounter recorded in the Gospels, a wealthy man met Jesus on the road and, addressing Him as “good teacher,” asked “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17 NET). Jesus took hold of the word “good” and would not answer the man’s eternal life question until He explained goodness: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus said in reply, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18 NET). Like the wealthy man, we tend to use the word “good” without much thought for what it really means. Jesus defines “good” as the character of God and wanted the man to understand he was speaking to someone who really is good: God Himself.
The Greek word translated “good” in this passage is the adjective ἀγαθός (agathos). It has a synonym in the adjective καλός (kalos); these two words are used almost identically in the New Testament, though sometimes καλός tends to emphasize the attractiveness (“beauty”1) or observable quality of good. In Matthew 7:17, these two terms for “good” appear together: “every good (ἀγαθός) tree bears good (καλός) fruit.”
The wealthy man was concerned with what he could do to acquire eternal life. But the Bible tells us God saves people not by works but for “good (ἀγαθός) works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:9–10 NIV).
God redeems believers to represent Him as His special people who are “zealous for good (καλός) works” (Titus 2:14 ESV). These good works God has ready for believers to do are meant to bring others to Him, as Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good (καλός) deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV).
God’s goodness overflows to meet physical needs as Christians serve one another by working, “doing good (ἀγαθός)… to share with the one who has need” (Ephesians 4:28 NET). Likewise, God’s goodness works through us to meet spiritual needs when our speech is “good (ἀγαθός) for building up” (Ephesians 4:29 ESV).
God has good works for us to do, and He works all things for good for us. When the Bible says, “in all things God works for the good (ἀγαθός) of those who love him” (Romans 8:28 NIV), we must not imagine that it means everything will go our way. Rather, it is God who—through the adversity and opposition we face in this life—is doing His good will for us to “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29 NIV).
Let us, therefore, be transformed by our good God. And may we be ready to do the good works God provides, so that the world will see how glorious our “good teacher” is.
Throne of Grace
We’ve all messed up.
We’ve all done things, seen things, and said things we regret. We’ve all sinned—ignoring God’s commands and rebelling against His ways. And we know it, too. This is because God gave us the ability to discern right from wrong. His Word reveals His righteousness and magnifies our lack and need for Him.
The bad news is our sin separates us from a holy God.
But the good news is Jesus has already bridged the gap.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, lived the perfect life we couldn’t and died the brutal death we should’ve—becoming the final and ultimate sacrifice. He’s paid our debt, cleared our names, and defeated death itself by rising back to life. And now, as the author of Hebrews suggests, we have an open invitation into His presence…
Grace or Duty?
“Trust in him, and he will act.”
There’s no question that we’re responsible to pursue holiness with all the intensity the word pursue implies. Every moral imperative in the Bible addresses itself to our responsibility to discipline ourselves unto godliness. We aren’t just to "turn it all over to the Lord" and let him live his life through us. Rather, we’re to love one another, to put to death the misdeeds of the body, and to put off the old man and put on the new man.
If we’re to make any progress in the pursuit of holiness, we must assume our responsibility to discipline or train ourselves. But we’re to do all this in total dependence on the Holy Spirit to work in us and strengthen us with the strength that is in Christ.
Sometimes we don’t sense that we’re experiencing his strength. Instead we experience deep, agonizing failure. We may even weep over our sins and wonder why the Holy Spirit doesn’t come to our aid and strengthen us against the onslaught of temptation. We identify with Paul when he said, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do" (Romans 7:15, NIV).
Why doesn’t the Spirit always strengthen us? There are several possible reasons. He may be letting us see the sinfulness of our own hearts. He may be causing us to realize how weak we are in ourselves and how dependent on him we really are. Perhaps he is curbing a tendency toward spiritual pride and causing us to grow in humility. Whatever the reason, which we may never know, our responsibility is to utterly depend on him. Sovereignly and with infinite wisdom, he determines how best to respond to our dependence. (Excerpt taken from The Discipline of Grace)
Conversations that Give...
We laugh, and we grieve.
We offer encouragement and voice concerns.
We agree and debate.
We communicate to complete tasks and coordinate schedules.
We make small talk and make plans.
We contemplate life’s mysteries together.
Conversations are a part of life, and each interaction is as unique as the person we’re talking to.
In the book of Colossians, Paul and Timothy advised the believers to live wisely, especially among those who weren’t believers, and to make the most of each opportunity (Colossians 4:5). They went on to say:
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6 NIV
This sounds good—but what does it actually mean to be “full of grace” and “seasoned with salt”?
Full of grace. Grace is a free and undeserved gift. So even if someone is difficult or disagrees with our opinions, we can still communicate with kindness and respect. Grace gives kindness without condition—and so can we.
Seasoned with salt. Salt is an essential mineral used for preservation and seasoning. As Christ-followers, we are compelled by His love to be living preservatives of His story while sharing His message with passion and flavor.
Does this mean we should become full-time people pleasers? Or that we’ll have all the answers? Of course not. But like 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
It’s not just about what we say but how we say it. In our everyday conversations, we can honor Christ by speaking intentionally and gracefully.
Light it up!
Picture it: a big city with tall buildings, a hilltop village surrounded by vibrant farms, an oceanside community on top of a giant bluff. Cities are impressive on their own, but they’re undeniably radiant when they’re high upon a hill. And, they’re extra brilliant when they’re saturated with light.
Speaking to the crowds and His disciples in His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told them:
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”
Matthew 5:14 NLT
As He continued His message, Jesus explained, like a city on a hill or a lamp on a stand, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
Jesus often used metaphors to get people thinking, so here are three things to consider as you reflect on Matthew 5:14...
Light it Up - We’re chosen. We can’t do anything to. Earn the honor and responsibility of being a light-reflector. It’s a title given to us and not earned.
Light it Up - Don’t hide it. God’s light shines brightly when we’re truly following Him, it is obvious and undeniable.
Light it Up - Compelled to worship. The purpose of carrying this light isn’t to draw attention to ourselves but to compel others to worship God.
An Unwavering Hope
Job’s hope throughout his trial is rooted in God's character and promises. Even through his discouragement, He consistently reminds himself of God’s justice and love. Job 19:25-27 is a powerful statement of Job’s hope in God.
God is Job’s ultimate redeemer. Regardless of how circumstances change in his life, God is the one who ultimately rescues him in the end. After the suffering and grief passes, God will still remain. This is the hope that Job holds on to.
We can learn something from Job. All of us will go through seasons of suffering and grief. When this happens, it is important that we cling to God's hope and promises. Regardless of how long each season lasts, we know that God is the One who will ultimately redeem us in the end.
The promises of God will always remain because we know God is faithful to fulfill them (Hebrews 10:23). When everything is shaking around us, God will still be the solid Rock we can stand on.
And even if our suffering doesn’t end during our time on Earth, we have the hope of eternal life with God. We should always be looking forward to that moment when we will join Him in eternity.
Take some time to thank God for all He has done for you. If you're in a difficult season, pray for your hope to be anchored in Him. Spend some time thinking about God’s promises. As you do, you’ll begin to see how God’s promises shape the way you live.
Everything starts with Faith!
Did you know that you can please God? We often talk about the various commands and regulations that God gives, and we talk a lot about the good things God gives us. But have you ever considered the ways you can please God?
The first thing Hebrews 11:6 tells us is that we need faith to please God. Those who do not believe in God cannot please Him.
There is a difference between having a true relationship with God and performing religious tasks without faith. We don’t have to earn a relationship with God because it is something He gives us freely. Those who have faith can please God, not because we have to, but because we get to. When we have faith in God, our hearts are changed, and we begin to desire to please God through our words and actions.
Hebrews 11:6 also tells us that God rewards those who seek Him. This doesn't mean God will give us whatever we want in life, but rather, it means that those who genuinely seek a relationship with God will find it.
And in this passage, God Himself is the gift we receive!
Refreshed
Do you know someone who constantly pours themselves out?
They’re generous with their words, unselfish with their time, and openhanded with their money. And yet, somehow, they always seem to have more to give.
The author of Proverbs, traditionally attributed to King Solomon, said this:
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
Proverbs 11:25 NLT
King Solomon knew a thing or two about generosity. In fact, Scripture tells us: “King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth” (1 Kings 10:23). But he was also generous, spending years of his life funding and building the temple in Jerusalem, as well as sharing what he had learned with others.
Some of the most miserable people on earth are also the most selfish people on earth. But if you’ve ever been generous with your life—whether you’ve given financially, contributed your expertise, invested your time, opened up your home, or offered spiritual, emotional, and physical support—you know from experience: those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Of course, we shouldn’t give to get. And we also must apply God’s wisdom when it comes to setting boundaries and avoiding burnout. But Jesus is the King of an upside-down Kingdom, where:
The last will be first.
The greatest will be a servant.
Those who give up their life will save it.
Jesus even told a story of a poor woman who gave more than anyone else—because she gave everything she had (Mark 12:41-44).
You don’t have to be rich to be generous; you just need a heart that is willing to serve.
So today, instead of a scarcity mindset, let’s have a mindset of abundance. Our God has unlimited strength, power, and resources.
"What do you have that you did not receive?"
We actually cannot give God anything that he has not first given to us. David recognized this fact when the leaders of Israel gave so generously for the building of the temple. In his prayer of praise to God he said, "Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own" (1 Chronicles 29:14,16).
David knew he and his people had not given anything to God that wasn’t his already. Even our service to God comes from his hand. As the prophet Isaiah said, "Lord, . . . all that we have accomplished you have done for us" (Isaiah 26:12, NIV). Paul summed it up rather conclusively when he said of God, "nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything" (Acts 17:25). When our every breath is a gift from God, there’s really nothing left to give that hasn’t been first given to us.
Where does that leave us? It leaves us in the blessed position of being eleventh-hour workers in God’s kingdom (Matthew 20:1-16). It leaves us going home at the end of the day from God’s vineyard profoundly grateful, knowing that the gracious landowner has been generous beyond all measure. In a word, it leaves us content, and "there is great gain in godliness with contentment" (1 Timothy 6:6).
Our Everlasting God
In Isaiah 40:28, we see that God is eternal. He is everlasting. God is the same today as He was a thousand years ago and will be a thousand years from today. This is an incredibly comforting truth that God will always be the same loving and dependable God He’s always been.
We never have to worry that God will act differently than what we learn about Him in Scripture. The same God who created the heavens and the earth is the same God who loves and cares for you today.
Because God is eternal, He knows the beginning and the end. Therefore, we can trust Him in the midst of our journey, that He knows what He is doing, and that all things will work out for His good.
Take a moment to consider how great God is. Thank Him for being faithful, just, and merciful. Thank Him for being our Savior, Creator, and King. Worship Him in awe for being eternal and all-knowing.
Wrath and Love
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree.”
While Jesus hung on the cross, darkness came over the land from noon until three o’clock. During those awful three hours, Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath in our place—the cup that we should have drunk. He drained it to its dregs.
We do not know all that transpired during those terrible hours. Scripture draws a veil over them for the most part. We do know that the physical suffering Jesus endured was only a feeble picture of the suffering of his soul. And part of that suffering was the very real forsakenness by his Father. Toward the end of that time he cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). The night before, he had been strengthened by divine assistance (Luke 22:43), but now he was left alone. God turned his back on his own dearly loved Son.
We can perhaps better understand what transpired that day by considering Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (NIV). Christ was "made sin" for us by a judicial act of God; he charged the guilt of our sin to Jesus.
However, we must always keep in mind the distinction between Christ’s sinlessness in his personal being and his sin-bearing in his official liability to God’s wrath. He was the sinless sin-bearer. Though officially guilty as our representative, he was personally the object of the Father’s everlasting love and delight.
Should this not make us bow in adoration at such matchless love, that the Father would subject the object of his supreme delight to his unmitigated wrath for our sake?