Category: God’s Love

You Will be With Me in Paradise

Jennifer Rothschild’s Heaven Bible study walks participants through many Scriptures in the Old and New Testaments that give us insights about Heaven. It feels irresponsible and redundant for me to summarize such complex theology and nuanced perspectives in brief blog posts. However, as I’ve worked through her study, personal experiences related to the end of life and Heaven have come to mind. So, instead of unpacking the workbook sessions, I’ll share a few stories that I hope will bring hope and encouragement to you. First up is a reflection on a journey I took with an unlikely companion as her life was coming to a close.

A few times a year I used to walk across the street to my elderly neighbor’s faded blue house. With my young sons in tow, we’d bring flowers from our yard or treats from our kitchen to brighten her day. She didn’t drive and rarely left the house. The first few times we knocked on her door, she was suspicious and stone-faced. She stood at the threshold to shield us from the mess inside as we tried making small talk over the droning of her TV. But behind a tangle of gray hair and a haze of cigarette smoke we were surprised to discover a wry sense of humor and a trove of fascinating stories. With each visit, the door opened wider until one day, she invited us inside.

Over the years Maxine shared fragments of her life story.  Many of the memories were sad, but she recollected them with surprising detachment. In time I pieced together a history that helped me understand her hardened exterior. A bitter divorce from a cheating husband left Maxine feeling rejected and alone. When her younger sister with four small kids was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Maxine moved in to care for her. After the loss of her sister, she stayed to help with the kids and eventually found temporary comfort in the arms of her grieving brother in law. A short-lived romance ended with guilt, shame, and estrangement from the nieces and nephews she’d nurtured through the death of their mom.

Our paths crossed later when she retired and moved into the house across the street to care for her aging mother. Bitterness had already grown deep roots in her heart by then and she remained at a cool distance when we’d stop by to visit. When her mom died a few years later, we didn’t hear about it until several months had passed. Knocking on the door to offer belated condolences, a card and flowers, her gruff demeanor revealed protective layers she’d put on after one too many losses. Still, that act of compassion opened the door for a slowly growing friendship in the years that followed.

One afternoon almost a decade later, I heard from a different neighbor that the “old lady in the blue house” had been taken away in an ambulance. While in the hospital, her doctors determined living alone was no longer a viable option, so Maxine made plans to sell her house and move into a board and care home. Her health continued on a steady decline there over the following weeks. One day I arrived to find her in bed staring vacantly toward the television. Josie, the House Director, was on the phone making arrangements for hospice care. I’d had several conversations with Josie during my visits and we’d bonded realizing we shared a common faith and a desire to see Maxine experience God’s love.

Despite my hopes, discussing spiritual things had never been comfortable between Maxine and me. She knew about my faith and had sometimes poked fun at me for visiting her to earn “Brownie Points” in Heaven. I longed for her to accept God’s love before she died but felt awkward and unsure what to say.  Sitting on the edge of her bed, I breathed a silent prayer for courage. “Maxine, do you know why I’ve been helping you so much?”  She raised her eyebrows, tried to speak and sighed in defeat.  My heart pounded as I continued, “I want you to know that God loves you. I believe He put me in your life to help you, just like you cared for your sister and your mom in their last days.”  She frowned, but I kept talking, “You and I have different opinions about God, but I’m going to keep telling you He loves you until you believe it.”  Unable to retort with her usual sarcasm, she remained quiet until her eyelids grew heavy. Hoping to continue the conversation, I left planning to return the next day.

The phone rang while I was making school lunches for my boys the following morning. “Hi, Marybeth? It’s Josie.” Dreading what she’d say next, I squeezed my eyes shut. “I   wanted to let you know that Maxine passed away last night.”

Disappointment and sadness overwhelmed me.  My throat tightened and tears formed in the corners of my eyes before spilling down my cheeks. How could she be gone already?

Josie continued, “I called to tell you about the last conversation I had with Maxine.”  I wiped my nose and took a deep breath as she continued.  “Every day I told her God loved her, but she never seemed to believe me. Last night I took a chance and asked if she wanted to accept the Lord’s love and be with Him forever. I think she must have known the end was near because instead of rolling her eyes she answered ‘yes.’ Maxine prayed with me to receive God’s love and forgiveness through Jesus. She passed away a few hours later.”

The lump in my throat kept me from responding.  As the tears flowed down my cheeks, I stammered, “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that. Thank you so much for telling me.”  Hanging up, I dried my cheeks with my sleeve and thanked God for the time He’d given me to show my neighbor she was loved.

Looking back, I see Maxine’s life contained a steady stream of hurt and disappointment that had become the mortar for a thick wall of pride.  A powerful combination of rejection and loss had made her feel unlovable and alone. It had been safer for her to withdraw from the world than to risk being abandoned again. Believing she’d made too many mistakes, she assumed even God wouldn’t want her. Ultimately, her crumbling health dismantled the wall of pride, allowing her to accept a love she could enjoy forever.

Weeks later, two of Maxine’s old friends knocked on my door looking for information about her. There hadn’t been a funeral and they wanted to celebrate her life, so they invited another neighbor and me to have lunch and share stories about her. Many of the snippets I’d heard about her life made more sense with context from her friends. They knew her as a wild, worldly woman with a sharp tongue, a flair for fashion, and bad luck in love. Because she’d cut off contact after moving in with her mom, they never saw the broken old woman she became. Nor did they know she died as the cherished daughter of the King, redeemed by the love of One who would never leave her.

Maxine’s story reminds me of the thief on the cross who believed Jesus was the Savior and heard Him say, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NIV) Maybe you’re lamenting the hard heart of a friend or family member. Let Maxine’s story remind you never to lose hope. God can pierce even the thickest wall of pride with His love, mercy and grace—even in the final moments of life. Or maybe you’re someone who doesn’t believe God could love or forgive you. Consider these hope-filled words from the Bible and let them lead you to believe and be saved:

 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son…If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness… If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (John 3:16-18, 1 John 1:8-9, Romans 10:9, NIV)

Post inspired by Jennifer Rothschild’s Heaven.  Order your copy using this link.

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Passion of the King: Matthew 27-28

This week I have the daunting privilege of teaching on Matthew chapters 27-28 covering Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and the Great Commission. Speaking on such weighty topics in a fixed amount of time means I can’t include many of the interesting things I learned while diving into these chapters. So, today’s post includes some  information that enhanced my understanding of the text. Use the bold headings to find the topics that interest you. (The link to my teaching will be on the “videos” page of my website when it’s available.)

Chapter 27:

Judas Returns the Thirty Pieces of Silver

When Judas changes his mind and returns the 30 pieces of silver the Jewish leaders paid him to betray Jesus, he confesses, “I have sinned…for I have betrayed innocent blood.” The chief priests reply, “What is that to us?…That’s your responsibility.” (27:4, NIV) The lack of concern for an innocent man being condemned and for another man confessing his sin shows just how far the religious leaders have veered from being the spiritual shepherds of the children of Israel. They care only about ensuring that the threat to their power will be eliminated with the crucifixion of Jesus. Like them, tunnel vision and personal pride often prevent us from seeing our shortcomings or the hurt we cause others.

His Blood Be on Our Heads

A commentary I read explains this well: “Pilate believed Jesus was innocent and had not committed a crime deserving crucifixion, so he tried to convince the Jews of this. Matthew 27:24 notes, ‘So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ The Jews were adamant about crucifying Jesus and were willing to accept the blame and consequences for it, including punishment upon their own children. At this point, Pilate gave in to their demands and allowed the crucifixion to proceed.”

The commentary continues, “Those who sought the death of Jesus desired it so much they were willing to accept the consequences upon them and their children for it. This is in contrast with Pilate, who sought release from this responsibility, but who still gave in and had Jesus crucified. Both Jews and Gentiles were involved in the death of Jesus, yet Jesus died so all people would have the opportunity to be saved (John 3:16–18). We are called to respond to the opportunity to believe in Jesus and His salvation, recognizing that His sacrifice was made for all of humanity (Galatians 3:25–29; 2 Peter 3:8–13; 1 John 2:2).”1

Jen Wilkin points out the ironic twist that Jesus’ blood is on the heads of all who confess their sin, acknowledge the atoning sacrifice He made in their place, and receive forgiveness from the Lord. What was meant as a curse became a blessing.

Mocking Turns to Awe

Roman soldiers gather to mock Jesus before His crucifixion. “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. ’Hail, king of the Jews!’ they said.” (27:28-29, NIV) Pretending to bow down in worship, they make Jesus the butt of a cruel and vicious joke. Yet a few hours later “When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” (27:54, NIV) Worship offered in jest becomes genuine when the soldiers recognize Jesus is who He claimed to be.

Simon of Cyrene Helps Carry the Cross

Jen Wilkin highlights the absence of the disciples in this moment when Jesus’ physical strength gives out. He told His followers “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” but they desert their Rabbi and Savior at His moment of greatest anguish. (Matthew 16:24, NIV) When He needs the supportive presence of His closest followers and literal help carrying His cross, they are nowhere to be found. Roman soldiers force a stranger in the crowd to step in where Jesus’ disciples fail Him. Despite this, He still refers to the disciples as His brothers and continues in relationship with them after His resurrection (28:10). This is an incredible picture of His grace and forgiveness.

Women from Galilee

Matthew mentions women witnessing Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection several times throughout these chapters (27:55-56, 61, 28:1-10). While the women are powerless to change the circumstances, their presence communicates a deep love and devotion to Jesus. Peter and the rest of the male disciples have deserted Him, but Jesus likely takes comfort in the presence of faithful women who have followed and supported Him throughout His ministry.

Women are the first to arrive at the tomb after the Sabbath and Jesus appears to women first after His resurrection. He tells them to bear witness to others about what has happened. Jen Wilkin points out that at a time in history and culture when the voices of women were devalued by society, Jesus entrusts them with this sacred task, and they carry it out without delay.

Temple Curtain Tearing

Part of mourning in the Jewish faith is a ritual called “kriah” which is a physical act of tearing clothing meant to show the metaphorical tear in the heart that occurs at the death of a loved one. The tear in the temple curtain was an outward symbol of the deep grief of the Father over the sin of the world and the crucifixion of His son to atone for it. At the same time, the tear represented new and direct access to the Lord without the need for priests as an intermediary or the temple as the place for sacrifice. With the death of Christ, animal sacrifices would no longer be necessary because Jesus atoned for sin once and for all (Hebrews 10:1-14).

Joseph of Arimathea

Matthew describes Joseph as “a rich man” who had become a disciple of Jesus. Joseph honors Jesus by preparing His body for burial before the Sabbath and laying it in “his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.” (27:60, NIV) Jen Wilkin comments that this provides additional perspective for the story of the rich young man in Matthew 19 who couldn’t part with his wealth to follow Jesus. Being rich wasn’t the problem, it was that “he didn’t know how to relate to wealth in a way that allowed him to serve the Lord, Christ.”2 In contrast, Joseph uses his wealth to meet a felt need and honor the Lord.

 Chapter 28

The First Day of the Week

Matthew highlights that the resurrection takes place after the Sabbath, on the first day of the week. This is not a coincidence but is symbolic, revealing it is the dawn of a new era; a new thing is happening. It is the first day of a new age. The resurrection changes everything.3

 They Worshipped Him, But Some Doubted

After the resurrection, “The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.” (28:16-17, NIV) There is no shame in doubting—even the disciples did it in the presence of the risen Jesus. It’s healthy and wise to acknowledge doubt and to grapple with hard questions. Hearing how others have dealt with it can build our faith and forge meaningful connections between people. In contrast, avoiding difficult questions and letting doubt linger can lead to feelings of isolation, instability, and cynicism. Doubt and faith are not mutually exclusive.

The Great Commission

Matthew closes his gospel with Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (28:18b-20, NIV)

 In this powerful statement Jesus reveals the culmination of so many promises and prophecies. Here are a few of the most crucial ones:

-Image Bearers of God: The Lord created humans to be a representation of Him: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV) Just as humans bear the image of God, followers of Christ take on His character and bear His image to the world.

-The Cultural Mandate from Genesis 1:28: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” Similarly, Jesus commissions His followers to take His authority and advance His kingdom on earth by sharing the gospel and making disciples. Just as intimacy between Adam and Eve multiplied the human race, intimacy with Christ produces spiritual fruit that multiplies His disciples.

-The Head Crusher: When Adam and Eve rebel, they unknowingly give authority over the earth to the enemy and taint God’s perfect world with sin. In His mercy, the Lord promises He will one day save the world through Eve’s offspring. To the deceiving serpent, the Lord pronounces this curse: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 NIV) At the crucifixion the enemy strikes, but with His resurrection, Jesus crushes his head and reclaims authority for His image bearers on earth.

-All Nations Will Be Blessed: God promises Abraham “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3b) The opening lines of Matthew’s Gospel show the lineage of Jesus that connects Him to Abraham. Through the blood of Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles (aka “all peoples on earth”) can receive the blessings of forgiveness from sin and reconciliation with the Lord.

As we wrap up this study of the Gospel of Matthew, there is still much to process and deeper layers to be excavated at a future time. Just like the disciples, we are works in progress– we don’t understand everything Jesus says and we often struggle with sin. But, we can take heart from Jesus’ final words to His disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (28:2-b, NIV) What a comfort to know He’s with us through the presence of the Holy Spirit and that He provides all that we need to keep pressing on.

Posts in this series are based on Tara Leigh Cobble’s Knowing Jesus as King.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

  1. https://www.compellingtruth.org/His-blood-be-on-us.html
  2. Jen Wilkin, “Matthew: Crucifixion”, The Village Church Resources, Feb. 13, 2018
  3. Jen Wilkin, “Matthew: Resurrection”, The Village Church Resources, Feb. 21, 2018

(Note, many ideas in this post were inspired by these two teachings from Jen Wilkin.)

Tensions of the King: Matthew 20-22

Intensity builds in Matthew’s gospel as we move into the final week of Jesus’ life. Kicking off this section, Jesus tells a parable about workers in a vineyard. Those hired first agree to a fair wage and toil throughout the day while others join them at different points. When it’s time to clock out, all of the workers receive the same wage, despite the differing numbers of hours worked. This is a picture of God’s audacious unfairness—the generosity He shows by allowing the undeserving to receive what they did not earn. He reveals this in every sinner who claims righteousness through Christ.

The chapter continues with Jesus predicting His death and resurrection for a third time as He makes His way to Jerusalem with His disciples for Passover. Next the mother of James and John asks Jesus to grant her sons the privilege of sitting at His right and left hands when He comes into His kingdom. Jesus uses her request to reiterate His purpose: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (20:26-28, NIV)

Chapter 20 opens with the Triumphal Entry, marking Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover and the beginning of the last week of His pre-resurrection life. If you grew up in church, you may remember waving palm fronds on Palm Sunday to open Holy Week.

Approaching Jerusalem, Jesus sends two of the disciples ahead saying “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Matthew explains, “This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:‘Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

The disciples do as Jesus instructs and bring the donkey and colt back. As they lead Him into Jerusalem “A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” (21:2-4, 8-9, NIV)

Matthew writes this gospel to convince Jewish people that Jesus actually was the Messiah and King they’d been anticipating for centuries. He quotes the prophecy from Zechariah 9:9 to show that Jesus fulfills it by entering Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey. In the ancient Middle Eastern world, leaders rode horses if they rode to war, but donkeys if they came in peace. Tara Leigh Cobble explains, “He entered in meekness—not majesty—on an animal made for service, not battle.”1

The people shouted “Hosanna” which means “Save now!” It was both a praise and a petition that they were reciting from Psalm 118. The Jewish people were desperate for relief from the oppression of Rome and expected the Messiah to arrive as a political hero and a conquering king. They wanted Him to fix their problems in the moment and didn’t understand His greater purpose. Jesus came to offer reconciliation and eternal peace with His Father, but the people were only looking for relief in their current circumstances. They cared more about what was happening outside of them than within their own hearts.

While it’s easy to see how they missed the point, we may be more like the crowd than we’d like to admit. Sometimes we want Jesus to wave a magic wand and make everything better when He’s inviting us into something of eternal significance that’s much bigger and deeper. Following Jesus brings lasting, inner peace that far exceeds the comfort we find in circumstances going the way we want. In the Gospel of John Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27, NIV)

The Triumphal Entry was the official presentation of Jesus as the Messiah—the rightful descendant of King David. Matthew highlights to the Jewish people that Jesus is the Savior and King they’d been waiting for who had been promised in the Old Testament starting in Genesis 3. The crowd jumps on the bandwagon to worship Jesus but (spoiler alert) they will be quick to turn on Him a few days later and call for His crucifixion.

I wonder sometimes, how are we like the crowd on Palm Sunday? Are we more interested in a Jesus who provides quick fixes for our current circumstances than heart-level life transformation? Do we join the enthusiastic crowd that praises Jesus when He’s popular without bothering to pursue Him privately when no one else is looking? Or, do we recognize that He’s King but refuse to relinquish control of our lives to Him?

In the remaining passages in chapters 21 & 22, Jesus continues to emphasize the importance of genuine faith, humility, and purity of heart. He overturns tables in the temple courtyard to chastise opportunistic businesspeople who are taking advantage of others. He goes head to head with the Pharisees who are trying to entrap Him and teaches several parables that contrast the hard hearts of the prideful Jewish elite with the receptivity of sinners and outcasts. This section also includes the greatest commandment: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (22:37-40, NIV)

As our study moves towards Jesus’ final teachings and the events of Holy Week, let’s stop and consider our own hearts. What are you learning in Matthew’s gospel that’s changing the way you see yourself and how you respond to the Lord? Pray that God continues to soften your heart, open your eyes, and draw you deeper into life in His upside kingdom.

Follow along with our study by ordering your copy of Tara Leigh Cobble’s Knowing Jesus as King.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

  1. Tara Leigh Cobble, Knowing Jesus as King, Bethany House Publishers, 2024, 161

Seven Bowls

Never get between a mama bear and her cubs. This is true with both literal bears and human mothers. The wrath of my inner “mama bear” has only been aroused a few times, but when it has, my instinct to protect and defend my boys has reared up in ways that have surprised even me. Recognizing this innate characteristic in all moms may help us to understand how Jen Wilkin explains God’s wrath: “[It] is not the opposite of His love. Rather, it is an expression of His love. Because He deeply loves the saints, any harm done to them necessarily stirs His wrath. No love, no wrath.” (101)

So far in Revelation we’ve read about seven letters written to seven churches, seven seals opened by the Lamb, seven trumpets heralding God’s judgement, and seven histories giving us a window into realities from the past, present, and future. Now, we turn to another set of seven: “In the judgement of the seven bowls, all who have not called on the name of Christ are given the cup of God’s wrath, whose contents they themselves have produced.” (p. 101) Pastor Matt Chandler contends the parallel descriptions in the seals, trumpets, and bowls represent three views of the same events from different perspectives: we see the seal judgement from the perspective of the suffering saints, the trumpets from the perspective of the unrepentant earth dwellers, and the bowls from the perspective of Jesus in the throne room.

Revelation 15 circles back to the throne room of heaven in preparation for the bowl judgements. (Verses 1-4 were covered in my previous post, “Seven Histories.”) Now, John describes seven angels coming out of the temple with seven golden bowls containing God’s wrath. “Then the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.” (15:8) In His mercy, God has given numerous opportunities for the hard-hearted to repent with partial judgements. Now, His wrath will be poured out in full measure. Jen Wilkin contends that no one can enter the temple because the time for the priests’ prayers of intercession for the people has come to a close.

While the notion of God’s final judgement makes us squirm with discomfort, we can’t take this out of context. Why is it so easy for us to feel critical of God’s wrath but so hard to tell others about Him? Keep in mind, the day of God’s wrath has not yet arrived; there is still time for us to pray for the lost and unrepentant. New Testament texts refer to all believers as priests (see 1 Peter 2:9), so interceding for others in prayer is meant to be a regular practice for us.  In his second epistle, Peter says, “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9, CSB)  Jen Wilkin asks, “For whom are you praying regularly and fervently to know the Lord and to walk according to His statutes?” (105)

Revelation 16 moves into the vision of the bowls of wrath being poured onto the earth. As with other portions of Revelation, we see a recapitulation of some of the Egyptian plagues from Exodus that affect different domains of the earth: sky, land, and water.

The First Bowl: God’s wrath pours out on earth dwellers as “painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped its image.”(16:2) The mark of the beast that previously enabled people to buy and sell now brings intense physical pain, much like the sixth plague in Exodus 9:8-12.

The Second and Third Bowls: Seas, rivers, and springs turn to blood. God brings justice for the martyred saints to the earth dwellers: “Because they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, you have given them blood to drink; they deserve it!” (16:6)

The Fourth Bowl: Affecting the heavens, this bowl allows people to be scorched with fire from intense heat of the sun. “So they blasphemed the name of God, who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory.” (16:9b) Instead of recognizing God’s power and their need for Him, earth dwellers remain stubborn and hard-hearted, profaning His name.

The Fifth Bowl: An angel pours out his bowl and the world is plunged into darkness, just like the ninth plague in Exodus 10:21-21. “People gnawed their tongues because of their pain and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they did not repent of their works.” (16:1b-11) How often do we blame God for pain and refuse to acknowledge how sin in played a role in causing it? Being indignant with the Lord because we live in a fallen world shows a lack of understanding about the measures He has taken to redeem us:  “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, CSB)

The Sixth Bowl: With the sixth bowl, the Euphrates River dries up “to prepare the way for the kings of the east.” Three unclean spirits that look like frogs emerge from the mouths of the dragon and the two beasts. “For they are demonic spirits performing signs, who travel to the kings of the whole world to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God the Almighty.” (16:14) John follows this vision with a warning from Jesus, “Look, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who is alert and remains clothed so that he may not go around naked and people see his shame.” (16:15) Several parables and teachings of Jesus convey the importance of being prepared and alert for Jesus’ return including Matthew 22, 24 & 25. As believers, we demonstrate our readiness by walking in a manner worthy of our calling, as Paul describes, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV)

The Seventh Bowl: As an angel pours out the seventh bowl into the air, “a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne saying, ‘it is done!’” (16:17b) Following the voice, lightning, thunder, an earthquake, and hundred-pound hailstones pummel the earth. The city splits in three parts, Babylon falls as God gives “her the cup filled with the wine of his fierce anger.” (16:19) Still, people “blasphemed God for the plague of hail.” (16:21b) Pastor Matt Chandler explains, “God’s wrath is pure and sinless. His holiness incinerates anything that hasn’t been covered by the blood of Jesus. His holiness decimates unrighteousness.” Once God’s wrath ends, those delivered from it by Christ will live eternally lavished by God’s love.

Many of us are uncomfortable with the concept of a holy God exacting justice. But people choose God’s wrath by rejecting Him, despite the way He lovingly reaches out to humankind in every generation: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20, NIV)

Pastor Matt Chandler contends that God’s wrath poured out into the air is targeted at the enemy. Those who reject Christ are condemned alongside Him. For believers, it’s a different story: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:1-5, NIV). God makes His grace available, but those who choose to be disobedient and suppress the truth receive His wrath alongside the enemy of our souls.

Jesus says it this way: “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:18-21, NIV)

Let’s continue to walk worthy of our calling in Christ and to respond with humble repentance when the Spirit convicts us of sin so we can live the life of flourishing God intended for us from the beginning.

Jen Wilkin, Revelation: Eternal King, Everlasting Kingdom, Lifeway Press, 2024.

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Matt Chandler, “Revelation: Seven Bowls- Week 9” sermon, The Village Church, April 12, 2021. Available on YouTube by clicking here.

Life in the Kingdom

If you’ve ever watched a show and taken a break between seasons, you know the value of the recap after the opening credits that says, “Previously on…”

Since we’ve had some time off, let’s do a quick review of where we left off in From Beginning to Forever by Elizabeth Woodson. Here are the highlights of Session 4 “A Divided Kingdom”: Joshua leads the Israelites into the promised land; judges rule over Israel until the people demand a king. Saul becomes the first king but loses God’s favor when he disobeys Him. David becomes the next king and, although he commits some major sins, he shows repentance and seeks God’s heart. Solomon succeeds David as king and is wise and wealthy, but unfaithful to the Lord by marrying Gentile women and worshipping their false gods. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, becomes king and the kingdom splits in two—Israel to the north and Judah to the south. Disobedience to God causes both nations to be taken captive and exiled at different times—the northern kingdom of Israel in Assyria and the southern kingdom of Judah in Babylon. After exile, those from the southern kingdom return and rebuild the temple and walls of Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah. The Jewish people continue to struggle with disobedience and worship false gods in the years that follow. (Phew–we just covered a lot of ground!)

This week, we circle back to the same time period to examine the wisdom literature of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs and all of the major and minor prophets in the Old Testament. These twenty-two books teach us what it means to live as people of God “during the in-between moments of joy, sorrow, anger, and celebration.” (Woodson, 98) With so much rich content in Elizabeth Woodson’s book, let’s pull out some key points that prompt personal reflection, soul searching, and prayer.

Job: Living in obedience to God doesn’t mean we avoid pain and suffering. The wisdom offered in the book of Job focuses on how we respond to hardship.  “Job’s story taught Israel, and also teaches us, that righteousness and suffering are not contradictory but two sides of the same coin.” (Woodson, 100) Often in our culture today, we see pain, hardships, challenges, and trials as “bad” because we’ve been taught to prize comfort and ease. But through Job and others in Scripture, we see pain and hardship are tools God uses for ultimate good.

Our reflex is to avoid pain or to numb ourselves in the midst of it. But, what if, instead of turning away, we leaned into it? What if we asked God what He wanted us to learn from it or how He wanted to reveal Himself through it? What if, instead of being angry or offended when we go through trials, we counted them as joy, just as James encourages us to do: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

Psalms: The 150 songs written by a variety of authors including David and Moses “don’t rush past emotion but give space for our gamut of emotions to be felt and expressed before the Lord…Whether the psalmist was expressing bitter sorrow or exuberant joy, he was ultimately leading the reader to worship the Lord. The life of flourishing is one fully engaged in the worship of God, even during the hardest seasons.” (Woodson, 101)

Is worshiping God the first response you have in difficult times of life? Do you believe true flourishing comes from obeying the Lord? If so, how has your life shown this to be true?

Proverbs: The thirty-one chapters of Proverbs show us “how to live God’s way in God’s world…[but they are] principles, not promises.” (Woodson, 103) Proverbs sets up contrasting ways to live—the way of wisdom or the way of folly. It shows that “Only by following Him can we be formed into the kind of people who experience true flourishing in His kingdom.” (Woodson, 104) If we want the blessing and benefit of living within God’s kingdom, our focus needs to be on aligning with His will, not expecting Him to do things our way.

What practices have you incorporated into your daily rhythms that keep you walking the path of wisdom and aligning with God’s will? When you veer into folly, what safeguards do you have in place to bring you back into the way of wisdom?

Ecclesiastes: This book’s author, Solomon, had all that life could give any one person—wealth, power, relationships, and wisdom. Yet, he “realized that ultimate meaning was not found in possessions, intellect, or experiences but in God.” (Woodson, 105)

Where are you prone to seek ultimate meaning in life other than God? What distracts you most from spiritual pursuits? How might the frustration, disappointment, resentment, fear, or hurt that you experience be an indicator that you’re seeking fulfillment in something other than the Lord?

Song of Songs: This series of love poems reveals a flourishing, vibrant relationship between a husband and wife. Elsewhere in Scripture we see that marriage is a picture of the relationship between Christ and His church. Intimacy, mutual submission, and willingness to serve one another reveal love on many levels.

How has our culture cheapened the sacredness of marriage and sexual flourishing? How are you tempted to buy into the “low view” of marriage as a legal contract instead of a holy covenant?

The Prophets: The seventeen books of prophecy that make up the last chunk of the Old Testament were written by “covenant enforcers” to urge the Israelites to “obey the covenant, reminding them of the blessings that would come from obedience and the curses from disobedience…They spoke of consequences but also gave Israel encouragement, reminding the people of the hope of their promised King.” (Woodson, 107) Prophets warned the people to return to God when they strayed before they were exiled, encouraged them to trust God and not lose hope during exile, and urged them to stay on track once they returned to Judah. In every season of Israel’s history, the prophets admonished the people not to engage in social injustice or idol worship. “God showed His patience through the message of the prophets, giving the Israelites a long time to repent and return to living as His people in obedience to the covenant. But He was also faithful, upholding the promises of judgement He made to Israel, even as far back as Moses.” (Woodson, 110)

In our culture, we are often quick to reject words of conviction or correction and react to the concept of God’s judgement by feeling offended (It’s not that different from the Israelites’ reaction to the prophets). We live in a period when truth is relative and based solely on feelings and opinions. But our choices to ignore God’s Word impact us and others. As my pastor likes to say, “sin splashes.” If we’re following Jesus, we need to be open and responsive to conviction. Rather than hiding our sin or making excuses, we need to follow the example of David and see confession and repentance as an opportunity to restore a right relationship with the Lord: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV) We need the wisdom and discernment to stand firm in a culture that tells us right and wrong are based on personal preference.

Do you float with the current of popular culture without considering where it differs from God’s ways? Do you know where you’re vulnerable to sin? Are you open to conviction and willing to be held accountable?

With so many questions in this post, one or two might have poked at you and made you uncomfortable. Consider stopping to pray and admit your feelings of conviction to God. Invite Him to speak to you and ask for His help to obey Him where you’ve veered off course. His mercies are new every morning and He’s always ready to hear your heart and help you realign with His.

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Elizabeth Woodson, From Beginning to Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture, Lifeway Press, 2022.

Rooted and Established

At the tender age of six, I was starting first grade at a new school. My family was in the process of moving to a town an hour away, but our new home wasn’t ready yet. So, my four older siblings and I spent the first six weeks of the school year commuting with our dad to our new schools. Every morning I woke up in the dark feeling utter dread. A lump would form in my throat and I’d fight back tears when my mom kissed me goodbye. As our station wagon rumbled down the freeway, the anxious butterflies in my stomach intensified with every mile. I dreaded being away from the comfort and security of my mom’s presence and felt untethered and cast adrift in a sea of unfamiliar faces at my new school.

My tearful departures didn’t let up until one day when my mom leaned down to hug me and said, “Even though I can’t be there with you, Jesus can. Just remember that He’s there holding your hand, no matter what.” Her words were such a comfort to me that my tears began to ebb. Every day after that I’d plead, “Tell me again, mom. Tell me about Jesus holding my hand.” Armed with that reassuring knowledge, the angst I’d felt soon faded. 

I’m grateful my mom used that emotional season to point me to Jesus, knowing His presence would comfort me when hers couldn’t. In the midst of my struggles, she taught me to change my perspective so that I could grow stronger and learn to trust Jesus for myself. Like a tree held firmly by deep roots, I learned that attaching myself to Him kept me secure, no matter what challenges I encountered. (See Psalm 1:1-3 and Jeremiah 17:7-8 for other examples of this tree metaphor in Scripture.)

That story came to mind as I read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3: “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19, NIV)

Here, Paul wraps up three chapters explaining our new identity as children of God and inclusion as fellow citizens with His chosen people. Now he prays we will grasp the magnitude of our new status and live like we believe it’s true. Being rooted and established in love means knowing who we are because we know WHOSE we are—beloved children of the King of Kings. Through the sacrifice of Christ, God did everything necessary to root us in Him; Paul prays that we would grasp this incredible truth with every fiber of our being.

The word “power” used in this translation is the Greek word “katalambano” which means: to take eagerly, seize, possess, apprehend, attain, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive.1 It “implies more than a mental understanding. It literally means ‘to take hold of something and make it one’s own.’ In order for the Ephesian Christians to truly understand the ‘love that surpasses knowledge,’ they needed to go beyond hearsay. This kind of comprehension is experiential. It requires us to take hold of a truth and define ourselves by it. Paul was encouraging them—and all saints everywhere—to meditate on what it means to be fully loved by God for the sake of Christ. He wanted them to grasp God’s love in all its fullness; to know … God’s love is all-encompassing, far exceeding our ability to comprehend. Its breadth and length and height and depth are staggering. It requires meditation, soul-searching, and honesty in order to draw near enough to God to comprehend His nature (James 4:8).”2

My “experiential knowledge” of God’s love began in first grade. The reassurance that Jesus was holding my hand gave me the comfort and security I longed to have. I’ve continued to build on my knowledge and experience since then– growing deeper roots in God’s love through prayer, studying Scripture, and practicing the way of Jesus.

How often do you marvel at the fullness of God’s love for you? How does knowing that He loves you beyond comprehension affect the way you view yourself and interact with others? Regardless of your answers, there’s always an opportunity to deepen your understanding and experience the Lord more fully. Consider spending time in prayer this week inviting God to expand your capacity to experience His love and to let it change your perspective.

Was this forwarded to you? You can receive new posts automatically in your inbox by going to www.marybethmccullum.com, entering your e-mail address and clicking “subscribe.”

Inspired by Ephesians: A Study of Faith and Practice by Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes and Melissa Kruger, Lifeway Press, 2024.

1. Strong’s Concordance 2638 

2. Got Questions, “What Does It Mean to Comprehend the ‘Breadth, Length, Height, Depth’ in Ephesians 3:18?”