Category: Holy Spirit

Putting On Our New Nature

The summer before I started high school, I got an edgy haircut and a vintage jean jacket at a thrift store in Berkeley. Dangling earrings and frosty “Zinc Pink” lipstick completed my look. It was all part of my master plan to reinvent myself as I launched into 9th grade. Another aspect of my new appearance included ditching shoes in favor of bare feet. My parents warned me of health and safety concerns, but it was to no avail. Over time, I developed thick callouses that desensitized me to sharp pebbles and rough surfaces.

Although I wanted to believe my feet were tough, they were still vulnerable to injury. I ignored that truth until I walked on scorching pavement one sweltering August afternoon. The tender burns were painful for weeks and the quarter-sized blood blisters remained on the balls of my feet for months. They served as a humbling reminder of my foolish choice to cast common sense aside for the sake of looking cool (in my own mind, at least).

Even though I wear shoes most of the time now, it’s still a challenge to prevent callouses from developing on my feet during the summer months. To keep them from becoming too thick, I buff my feet with a file in the shower a few times a week. If I wait too long, the callouses get tougher and harder to remove. (Apologies to squeamish readers who find this a bit too graphic.)

Strangely, I thought of that regular part of my hygiene routine as I read Ephesians recently: “With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.” (Ephesians 4:17-19, NLT)

In this passage, the word “Gentiles” refers to those who do not follow Jesus or value God’s ways. Their closed minds and hard hearts cause them to be desensitized to sexual sin and to engage in activities that dishonor God, moving them further away from Him. Similar to my feet, they develop thick callouses on their hearts that give them the illusion of invincibility. Believing they are experiencing ultimate freedom, they are actually enslaving themselves with an unquenchable thirst for pleasure that only increases as it’s given free rein in their lives. Like the burns on my bare feet, people pursuing sexual gratification outside of God’s clear boundaries don’t realize the pain they’re ultimately causing to themselves and others in their lives.

Believers’ attitudes and behaviors in the realm of sexuality look markedly different, however. Paul asserts: “But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:20-23, NLT)

Paul reminds believers that we’re meant to live differently. The callouses that deaden us to sin have been removed from our hearts, lovingly buffed away by the grace of Christ. Our habits, behaviors and attitudes about sexual activity set us apart from the world because we have a “new nature.” Rather than taking our cues from social norms, personal feelings, or physical urges, we seek the wisdom of the Bible as our guide.

Of course, with the steady influence of the world all around us, it’s still easy for believers to fall into misguided views on this topic. When we ignore truth in Scripture and float with the current of popular culture, we’re bound to make compromises when it comes to our views on sex. Rather than being deceived or confused, let’s stand solidly on the wisdom of God’s Word that has remained unchanging for thousands of years. Let’s open our Bibles and allow God’s truth to buff away the callouses of the world that numb us to sensuality and lust. Let’s stop normalizing habits of mind and body that ultimately damage our souls and our relationships.

Maybe it’s time to consider where you’ve let the world influence you more than God’s Word. Are you willing to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart and convict you of any changes you need to make? How about committing to seeking God’s wisdom instead of letting our culture be your guide? This isn’t about guilt or shame, but about eliminating the sin that’s hurting us and hindering our spiritual growth. It starts in our hearts and minds long before it’s expressed in our behavior.

God knows us and knows our struggles. He loves us and wants what’s best for us. Tasha Layton’s song “Look What You Done” provides a poignant reminder of God’s grace and power to change even the most deeply rooted sin in our lives. Click here to listen.

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Love People Podcast

Unzipping the tent, I poked my head into the opening searching for an empty spot to drop my bags. Inside, the teen girls lounging on sleeping bags smiled and introduced themselves, immediately putting me at ease. After a two year hiatus due to COVID, we were re-launching our church’s annual student mission trip to Mexico. With both of my sons now out of high school, it was my first time going solo. Feeling a little insecure, I wondered if the students would be excited about having an “older” leader like me. Their initial greeting on the first day quelled my fears and enabled me to dive in and get to know the girls throughout the week. 

As we spent time talking about our faith each night after the campfire program, I was inspired to see how mature and genuine the girls were about their relationships with Jesus. Their eagerness to grow, serve, and learn was far beyond what I’d been like in high school. I wondered how I could spur on their desire for spiritual maturity after the trip, but was hesitant to add another commitment to my schedule.

A few months after we returned home, one of the girls reached out to me following an impactful experience on our church’s houseboat trip. Sitting with me in a coffee shop, she gushed about how her faith had come to life even more and wondered if I had ideas for how she could continue growing. Compelled by the Holy Spirit, words tumbled out of my mouth before I had time to think. I heard myself offering to meet with her regularly and suggesting we invite the other girls from our Mexico tent to join us. She accepted my offer without hesitation. When I reached out to the other girls, all three said “yes” immediately too. We had no idea how we’d sync up our busy schedules, but God showed us the way. Soon, the five of us began meeting from 7 to 8 every Friday morning. 

For the past school year, we’ve staked out a quiet corner in a local bagel shop, pushed two small tables together and studied Scripture (We’ve covered all twenty-one chapters of the Gospel of John and are now knee deep in Ephesians). Each week I’ve written a short lesson to guide our discussion. Pouring into these young women and watching them grow in faith has been a highlight of the year for me. The Lord always seems to multiply my time to prepare for our mornings together. Never once has it felt like a burden or an obligation.

All four girls recently graduated from high school and will be moving away to attend college in the fall. We’ll continue meeting as much as possible this summer until it’s time for them to leave. I well up with gratitude and joy as I think of them and how God has shaped them this year. What would I have missed if I’d listened to my insecurity and skipped the Mexico trip? Or if I’d decided I didn’t have time to meet with them for Bible study this year? By responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit I’ve been equipped to carry out His plans. 

One of my greatest joys has been cheering on the girls in the different places they’ve chosen to serve and explore their gifts this year. Each of them has made choices that have set them apart from their peers. They have lived worthy of the calling they’ve received (Ephesian 4:1). These young women are maturing spiritually as they discover and use the gifts God has given them. Unlike the majority of their peers, they are “no longer …infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:14, NIV).

One of the girls recently started a podcast that gives her a platform to explore different aspects of her walk with Jesus. I had the privilege of being interviewed by her recently and am excited to share our conversation. Her questions gave me a chance to look back and reflect on the different places the Lord has called me. I’ve realized that most of my spiritual growth has happened as He’s pushed me beyond what’s comfortable into situations where I had no choice but to rely on His leading and wisdom. I hope and pray listening to our conversation will prompt you to consider where God may be calling you to trust Him and to let Him use you in a new way.

And now, sit back and enjoy the Love People Podcast.

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Living as a Temple

Smoothing the wet stucco onto the side of the small house felt satisfying. Just four days earlier, our group of 250+ people had arrived in a rural valley on the outskirts of Tijuana, Mexico to build twelve simple homes for families in need. Each day’s work included careful reading of building instructions followed by intense physical labor. We shoveled rocks, mixed concrete by hand, carried buckets of sand and water, measured and sawed boards, then hammered walls and roof panels. Next, we wrapped the walls in baling wire, felt paper, and chicken wire before getting to the final stage of applying stucco. Each step of the process required a complete understanding of the instructions before proceeding. Any mistakes had to be corrected so that the house would be sturdy. So, smoothing on the stucco the last day felt like a huge accomplishment after all the work that had led up to it.

Although the homes we built were simple, I’m guessing we experienced a similar, albeit lesser, feeling of satisfaction to Moses when he finished the construction of the Tabernacle. Executing the many detailed, specific instructions from the Lord must have taken incredible focus and keen organizational skills. So, completing it was quite a feat: “And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.” (Exodus 40:33b, 34, 38, NIV)

The Lord no longer leads His people with a pillar of flames, but make no mistake, His fire still burns brightly through all who follow Jesus. The New Testament explains that the disciples traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Weeks with all other Jews. It was fifty days after Passover and Jesus’ resurrection and ascension: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4, NIV) At this moment the Lord fulfilled the promise Jesus made earlier to send His Holy Spirit: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth…But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:16b, 17, 26, NIV)

The physical dwelling place for God is no longer in an ornate tabernacle or a stately temple, but within the bodies of all Christ-followers. The Apostle Paul explains, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV) How amazing that the fire that guided the Israelites in Exodus and filled the apostles at Pentecost now resides within each follower of Jesus.

“If God meant simply to convey the idea that the Spirit lives within the believer, He could well have used words such as ‘home,’ ‘house,’ or ‘residence.’ But by choosing the word ‘temple’ to describe the Spirit’s dwelling, He conveys the idea that our bodies are the shrine, or the sacred place, in which the Spirit not only lives, but is worshiped, revered, and honored. Therefore, how we behave, think and speak, and what we let into the temple through our eyes and ears becomes critically important as well, for every thought, word and deed is in His view.”1

Paul emphasizes this in Romans when he says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

So, how do we honor God with our bodies as temples and behave as living sacrifices?

Live guided by the Spirit instead of the flesh: Living by the flesh means following natural/ sinful impulses without regard for God. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” (Galatians 5:16-17, NIV) For further understanding on the difference between living by the Spirit and the flesh, see Galatians 5:13-6:10.

Don’t side with the world. Ask the Spirit to reveal where you may be compromising your faith and drifting into ways of the world by living and thinking with indifference or hostility to God and His will. “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4, NIV) See also, 1 John 2:15-17.

Don’t grieve/quench the Spirit. “The Holy Spirit is a fire dwelling in each believer. He wants to express Himself in our actions and attitudes. When believers do not allow the Spirit to be seen in our actions or we do what we know is wrong, we suppress or quench the Spirit.”2 Ask the Lord to eliminate patterns of thought and behavior that dishonor Him.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:29-32, NIV) See also 2 Thessalonians 5:16-22.

Moses followed the intricate plans the Lord gave him for the Tabernacle with painstaking accuracy and attention to detail. We can emulate him by applying the wisdom of Jesus– the true and better Moses: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25, NIV)

Take a moment to worship the Lord by clicking here and listening to Brandon Lake’s “Living Sacrifice.”

Inspired by God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press 2022, Week 10.

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1. https://www.gotquestions.org/body

2.https://www.gotquestions.org/grieve-quench-Holy-Spirit.html

Wearing God’s Glory

Opening the door, the student aide walked in with a message from the school office. Furrowing her brow, she scanned the classroom before turning to me and asking, “Where’s the teacher?” Grimacing and willing my face not to turn red, I snatched the note from her hand and replied, “I’m the teacher, I’ll take care of that, thanks.” 

I was a few weeks into my first year teaching and trying desperately to command the respect of my high school pupils. At twenty-three years old, it had only been five years since I’d graduated from their ranks. After a few embarrassing run-ins like this one, I was determined to differentiate myself from the teens on campus. So, I headed to the mall to buy some clothes that were more tailored and less youthful. Until the students got to know me, I knew what I wore needed to set me apart from them. 

Although it happened years ago, I remembered this season in my life as I read the instructions about the clothing for the priests serving in the Tabernacle. What they wore showed they were different; they’d been set apart by God to perform sacred duties: “For Aaron’s sons you shall make coats and sashes and caps. You shall make them for glory and beauty. And you shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them and ordain them and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests.” (Exodus 28:40-41, ESV) Covered with precious gemstones, the ornate priestly garb displayed the Lord’s glory, beauty, dignity, and honor (“glory and beauty” are used in the ESV, “dignity and honor” are used in the NIV).   

Today we might be tempted to view this as interesting but irrelevant information. Because of Jesus, we no longer need priests to make blood sacrifices on our behalf. However, the New Testament clarifies that every follower of Jesus now serves in this role: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV) 

We too, are a royal priesthood called to live set apart from the world around us. Instead of sacrificing animals, our charge is to tell people Christ made the sacrifice for them. We get to help others move from the darkness of sin and death to the light of God’s love and mercy.

While we’re no longer required to wear elaborate clothing like the priests serving in the Tabernacle, Scripture still emphasizes the importance of adorning ourselves with glory, beauty, dignity and honor: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14, NIV) 

Through the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ display character qualities that set them apart from the world. Let’s consider each piece of “clothing” and how wearing it honors the Lord and reveals Him to others.

Compassion is “a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.”1 Demonstrating compassion gives us an opportunity to show the Lord’s love and concern for people in difficult and vulnerable situations. If you’re not naturally compassionate, consider asking the Holy Spirit to increase it in you. Then, invite Him to lead you to people who would be blessed by receiving it.

Kindness is being benevolent, considerate, and helpful to others. Kind people look outward beyond their own needs and desires to notice others. Through kind words and actions, we reveal the fruit of the Spirit and become the hands and feet of Jesus. Try praying for the Lord to fill you with His kindness, then be on the lookout for someone who needs it today.

Humility is “not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”2 C.S. Lewis said a truly humble person “will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.”3 Pride and self-absorption stand in opposition to humility. It may be challenging, but consider asking the Lord to humble you and to help you to think of yourself less frequently.

Gentleness is the quality of being free from harshness, sternness, or violence. It is being docile, soft, and delicate.4 Scripture explains, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1, NIV). Gentleness diffuses tension and softens defensiveness. Do others feel soothed by your words or stirred up by them? Ask the Lord to give you more of this fruit of the Spirit if it’s lacking in your character.

Patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.”4 This vital fruit of the Spirit is in short supply in our world today, so demonstrating it to others makes believers stand out from the crowd. If patience is a struggle for you, ask the Spirit to pour it out on your life to bless you and those in your presence.

Forgiveness is releasing resentment for wrongs and offenses committed against you. It means letting go of grudges and relinquishing your hurt to the Lord. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15, NIV) The world tells us to stoke the fires of resentment and to hold fast to grudges. However, remembering God’s forgiveness should compel us to offer grace and forgiveness to those who sin against us.

Clothing ourselves with the characteristics of Christ reveals God’s presence in the world. Like the priests of ancient Israel, we bring the Lord’s glory and beauty to those around us. Dan Bremnes’ song “Fingerprints” will inspire you to remember the important part you play in shining God’s light into darkness. Click here to listen.

Inspired by God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press 2022, Week 8.

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1. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/compassion

2. Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, Zondervan, 2002.

3. C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Geoffrey Bles, 1952.

4 https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gentle

5. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=definition+of+patience&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

Spreading Christ’s Aroma

Clenching a pipe between his teeth, my grandpa would light sweet-smelling tobacco and stand puffing away in our garage. This is one of my most vivid childhood memories. Every year he would travel from Philadelphia to California to spend two weeks with the family of his only child, my mom. His visits included a few predictable elements: he would always bring mint bark from his favorite candy shop on the Jersey shore and rye bread from a Jewish deli in Philadelphia. At some point during the visit my grandpa would bake a Philadelphia cheesecake (he eschewed the “lesser” New York cheesecake with a crust that he considered too sweet). But the thing I remember most about my grandpa’s visits is the spicy, pungent scent of tobacco that would permeate our garage long after he’d flown back to Pennsylvania. I don’t smell pipe tobacco very often, but when I do, it makes me smile.

That sweet fragrance of my grandpa’s tobacco came to mind as I learned about the outer court of the Israelites’ Tent of Meeting in Exodus recently. I never realized the important role fragrance played as an element of worship. Outside the Holy Place, a powerful mix of acrid smells wafted through the courtyard; the comingled scents of livestock, urine, manure, and blood were probably overpowering as the people brought animals to be sacrificed. 

In contrast, a sweeter scent met the nostrils of any priest entering the Holy Place. The Lord gave Moses a specific recipe of spices to combine and explained: “Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil.” He instructed Moses to consecrate all objects inside the Tent of Meeting by anointing them. Additionally, the Lord told Moses to anoint Aaron and his sons, consecrating them as priests. He concluded by explaining, “This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from their people.” (Exodus 30:25 & 31-33)

The smell the people would detect on the priests would be uniquely associated with the Lord. It was sacred and signified what Scripture reiterates numerous times: “The Lord is God; besides him there is no other.” (Deuteronomy 4:35b, NIV)

Here’s the part that’s most inspiring, though. Each element of the Tent of Meeting pointed the way to Jesus and has corresponding facets in the Christian faith. When it comes to the aroma of God, here’s what the Apostle Paul explains in the New Testament:

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:14-16, NIV)

“Paul’s metaphor would be readily understood by his audience, with the apostle and his co-laborers portrayed as victorious soldiers in a triumphal procession. During these Roman military parades, captives of war would be marched through the streets as garlands of flowers were carried and incense was burned to the gods. The aromatic perfumes wafted on the air as spectators and those in the procession breathed in their fragrance. At the parade’s finale, many prisoners would be put to death. Thus, the aromas were pleasing and life-giving to the victors, but they were the smell of death to those who had been defeated.”1

Unlike the Roman processions, every person now has the option to side with the victor by accepting Christ. The truth of the gospel causes people to face the reality of their sin. Those who smell the aroma of life recognize they need the blood of Jesus to atone for their sins. Those who smell the aroma of death hear the truth and reject it—preferring to ignore sin or re-frame it rather than admitting it. Jesus states this clearly in John’s gospel: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36, NIV)

The New Testament declares that followers of Jesus are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9)  So, just as the priests came out of the Tabernacle emitting the smell of the sacred oil and incense, followers of Jesus give off the scent of Christ through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

We have the privilege and responsibility of spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Christ wherever we go. The smell of Jesus is always good, right, and true, but that doesn’t mean it’s always nice, easy, or pleasant. Some people will be drawn to it and others will be repelled by it. Jesus told His disciples: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15:18-19, NIV)

If you’re walking with Jesus, you’re going to smell like Him. Sometimes people are going to like this about you, and sometimes they’re not. Don’t be tempted to veer from the truth, even when it’s not popular. True life and freedom are found only in Christ: “Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” (John 8:31b-32, NIV)

Envisioning Jesus leading a triumphal procession in victory over death and sin inspires celebration in me. Click here and “smell” the aroma of victory as you listen to Phil Wickham’s “Battle Belongs.”

Inspired by God of Freedom by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press 2022, Week 7.

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1. “What does it mean that Christians are the aroma of christ?”gotquestions.org.

Faithfulness and Fruitfulness

Moses opens the book of Exodus saying, “the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.” (Exodus 1:7, NIV) The language he chooses echoes phrases sprinkled throughout Genesis starting with the Lord’s words to Adam and Eve: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number.’” (Genesis 1:28a, NIV) This same command with a promise repeats nine times in Genesis as God speaks to Noah (9:1), Abraham (17:2,6 & 22:17), Isaac (26:4), Jacob (28:14 & 35:11) and Joseph (48:4). 

The Lord reveals His faithfulness by blessing His people with fruitfulness. Jacob’s family arrives in Egypt from Canaan with about 70 family members. Over 400 years later, they return to Canaan as a nation of two million.

Just as physical intimacy between a man and a woman bears the fruit of children, intimacy with the Lord brings fruitfulness to our lives in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus explains this saying, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5 & 8, NIV)

I’ve been marveling at God’s faithfulness and fruitfulness lately thinking about a person He dropped into my life nine months ago. Over the Christmas holidays I was inspired to pray that the Lord would lead me to a younger woman who wanted mentoring and discipling. Little did I know that there was a 20-year-old girl who, at the same time, was praying God would save her from loneliness and show her His goodness.  

In January, I received an e-mail from the daughter of an old friend from Bible study. She was looking to connect with other believers and wanted information about a women’s Bible study at my church. The next day, she showed up with her Bible in hand, undeterred by the significant age gap between the rest of the group and her. As our meeting wrapped up for the day, I invited her to have coffee with me. 

We clutched paper coffee cups that January afternoon sitting at a table outside in the weak sunlight. It didn’t take long for the conversation to go deep–she was an old soul with wisdom beyond her years. I could see that she had first-hand experience with God’s faithfulness and was eager to grow in her knowledge of His Word and to connect with Christian community. Feeling prompted by the Holy Spirit, I said, “This may sound weird, but I think you’re the answer to something I’ve been praying about lately. Would you be up for meeting with me weekly to talk, pray, and study the Bible?” Without hesitation, she said yes.

I’m still in awe of how God showed His faithfulness and produced incredible fruit in our friendship. As we studied the pages of Scripture together, the Lord used His Word to teach us the way of Jesus. We prayed together, grappled with hard passages, and talked about how to apply what we were reading to real life. Sometimes I asked questions or challenged her to think differently. I also encouraged her to try new things that felt a little scary—like joining a small group of young women and attending an interest meeting to serve on the worship team at church. She was tentative and reserved, but willing to risk. With each new person she met and activity she tried, I watched her bloom like a flower, one petal at a time. 

Tijuana, Mexico

The pace of her blossoming increased when she agreed to join me on our church’s annual trip to build homes in Mexico. On the first evening there, she was hesitant and fearful to lead nightly discussions in her tent, so we prayed together that God would give her confidence and wisdom. And He did. As the week unfolded, I watched the Lord use her to connect with and inspire others. Her tender heart, warm smile, and ability to see beauty in everything and everyone drew people to her. It wasn’t surprising when the students begged her to become a leader at youth group.

Two months later, we lead students together on our church’s annual houseboat trip. She barely resembled the tentative, shy, and lonely young woman I’d shared coffee with six months earlier. I listened with amazement as she spoke words of wisdom and grace to the girls on our boat during small group discussions. Each night, she also sang with the worship band; her passion for Jesus and openness to the Holy Spirit were palpable as she led. It was as if everyone at camp was transported to the throne room of heaven as we sang at the water’s edge.

Our weekly coffee dates have continued, only now she’s fitting them in between time ministering to students, leading worship, and sharing life with others. A few weeks ago, I stood beaming with joy listening to her give her testimony to over 130 students at a public high school. They were riveted. She explained her transformation in a post on Instagram, “I will be honest and say that at the beginning of this year I let loneliness blanket hope. I cried out to the Lord that He would save me, because He has before. I didn’t know how or really fully believe that He could. I prayed prayers I couldn’t imagine He would answer so beautifully, and then I watched Him turn my life around. ‘Taste and see that the Lord is Good.’ The Lord is so good to me. A taste, just a glimmer, and my heart is on fire for Jesus. He keeps His promises.”1

Her words highlight God’s unfaltering faithfulness; abiding in Him produces fruit in our lives. He empowers us to do what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19- “Go and make disciples.” I’ve seen His fruit as I’ve poured into her and walked alongside her. Paul’s prayer in Colossians captures our journey: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:9-12, NIV). We have experienced the Spirit’s fruit of love, joy, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness in abundance. (Galatians 5:22- 23) It’s all come from abiding with Jesus and inviting the Holy Spirit to have His way in our lives. 

Soon, my sweet friend will be leaving for discipleship training school with Youth with a Mission. I’ll miss her like crazy, but I can’t wait to see what else God has in store for her. Our simple prayers before we met opened the door for the Lord to give each of us joy and fulfillment far beyond what we could have asked or imagined. (Ephesians 3:20) God can do the same in you. Will you commit to walking closely beside Him? Invite Him to use you and watch the fruit He’ll produce in your life as you follow His leading.

The Lord’s faithfulness enables our fruitfulness so that every person can know Him and receive deliverance from sin. Cain’s song “The Commission” is a beautiful rendition of the Great Commission from Matthew 28:19. Click here to listen.

1. Breezy Bochenek, Instagram post 9-14-22. To learn more about Breezy’s story, click here to visit her website.

Post inspired by Week 2 in Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

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Your Body Matters to God

There’s a lot of talk in the world today about our bodies. Controversies about what we can and can’t do with them, how we can alter them, and how to handle our sexuality dominate news headlines, social media posts, and personal conversations. They are confusing and deeply personal subjects. Many of us struggle silently, wondering where to find answers. The internet abounds with advice, but how do we know what we can trust? For those who follow Jesus, there’s one obvious place we can look to find answers: the Bible. As the designer of our bodies, God has deep wisdom to offer us on some of the most confusing issues today. Let’s explore a few key points Scripture makes regarding our bodies and how they relate to our identity.

1. Your Body is a Dwelling Place for the Holy Spirit

Accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sin opens the door for us to have a relationship with God. This isn’t only great news for life after death, it also means the Holy Spirit comes to live within us: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them…All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’” (John 14:23,25-26, NIV)

It’s amazing to realize that the Spirit of God resides within us when we surrender our lives to Christ. He teaches us God’s ways and reminds us what Jesus taught in the Scriptures. What a gift it is to have access to His wisdom and guidance any time we ask. How often are you tapping into this incredible power inside of you?

2. Your Body is a Temple

With the Holy Spirit living inside of us, it makes sense that God sees our bodies as His temple: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”  (1 Cor 3:16, NIV)

God cherishes us, so the way we treat our bodies matters to Him. The way others treat our bodies also matters to the Lord. Just as buildings with spiritual significance deserve honor and reverence, the Lord has a high view of our bodies and calls us to treat them with dignity and respect. Do we treat them like we believe that’s true?

3. You Are Made in God’s Image

Humans have the distinct honor of being made in God’s image. Unlike animals, we are visual representations of God—much in the same way children resemble their parents: “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 we see similarities between parents and children in appearance, personality, giftedness, and character, we have correlating characteristics with God. We are His offspring and reflect His glory. He’s given us gifts, talents, and skills that bless others and make the world a better place. Our acts of goodness, love, and beauty point back to our Creator and reveal His character. The Bible gives us operating instructions for life–are we looking to it to form our characters and guide our choices?

4. You Are Known by God

Not only did the Lord make us in His image, He also knows us intimately, both body and soul. David’s eloquent words capture this beautifully:

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely…

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book   before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16, NIV)

God knows us better than we know ourselves. So, if we’re His children, our Heavenly Father should be the one we turn to for answers to hard questions. He is trustworthy and good; filtering the challenging topics of our time through His Word leads us to His unchanging truth. When we come across perspectives in the Bible that differ from the prevailing views of our society, we need to grapple with the Lord in prayer and seek the wisdom of godly people with biblical knowledge. If we’re floating with the tide of popular opinion or following the loudest voices, we’re missing out on the rock-solid truth found in the Bible.

God loves you and wants what’s best for you. He designed your body and has good plans for you. He is trustworthy and faithful. It’s just that simple. Will you prioritize seeking His wisdom over believing the confusing messages in our world today?

If you’re ready for a deeper dive into related topics, scroll down for some suggestions on podcasts, books and articles. 

No matter where you stand, be comforted by the truth that God knows and loves you fully. Let that sink in by listening to “Known” by Tauren Wells.

Podcasts: 

God & Sexuality by John Mark Comer and Jon Tyson

Live No Lies Podcast Episode 4: John Mark Comer & Dr. Nancy Pearcy on gender, abortion, sex and more

Books: 

Live No Lies by John Mark Comer 

Love Thy Body by Dr. Nancy Pearcy

Articles:

got questions.org is an excellent resource to find answers from the Bible to many different questions.

How is the Sexual Revolution Affecting Women and Girls Today?

Spirit Come Down

I’ve had the same worship song playing on repeat in my mind for several weeks—ever since I got home from serving as a leader at our church’s annual houseboat trip for high school students. Living on a boat with thirteen teenage girls and another adult leader alongside 23 other houseboats was both exhausting and exhilarating. There’s something awe-inspiring about staking boats to a piece of land, setting up camp, and creating a vibrant, Christ-centered community.

Spending a week away from the world not only provided respite from normal responsibilities, it also freed us to connect with one another and the Lord. Without many of the distractions of regular life at home, we had time to play outside, enjoy creation, worship God, pray together, and learn from the Bible. Perhaps most impactful were the times we gathered by the water’s edge nightly to sing worship songs and listen to a teaching from Scripture. 

We started the week by inviting the Holy Spirit to move among us, and He didn’t disappoint. Sitting on the shoreline looking out at the lake, I thought of the words in the opening lines of Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2, NIV)

That same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation transformed hearts and lives on a rocky shoreline at Lake Shasta. But long before students set foot on the boats or dipped their toes into the water, the prayers of many people laid the groundwork for that week at camp. Some of us gathered as a group to pray, many of us also prayed on our own. The day before students arrived, I felt prompted to pray for specific kids by name. At the end of the week, I brushed tears out of my eyes as some of those students professed their faith in Jesus before being immersed in the waters of baptism. Many others saw similar answers to prayer as they listened to students share about their lives being transformed.

Since returning home, I’ve thought a lot about how the Spirit moved at camp. Being away from daily routines, having time and space to enjoy creation, and focusing on spiritual growth opened the floodgates for the Holy Spirit to work. Although the camp experience was powerful, the same Spirit who hovered over the waters there is with us always. Jesus made this clear in His teaching: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17, NIV)

So, while it’s easier to focus on the Spirit when we’re surrounded by the beauty of creation with our days scheduled around worship, prayer, and spiritual conversations, we can still find Him in regular life too. The Bible assures us: “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” (1 John 4:12-15, NIV)

This year I’ve been praying God would make me more aware of His presence on a daily basis. I’m beginning to notice not just the obvious places where He reveals Himself (like on the shores of Lake Shasta while singing worship songs), but in the subtle ways He answers simple prayers, reassures me with encouraging words, or prompts me to show love to others.

The Holy Spirit lives within every follower of Jesus, but we can invite Him to fill us and spill out from us in increasing measure each day. The experience on Houseboats was inspiring, but God’s presence isn’t only in places of beauty and respite. If, like me, you want to see more of the Holy Spirit in your life, invite Him to pour Himself out on you, to lead you, and to prompt you every day. 

Ever since singing it on Houseboats, I can’t get the words of “Rest on Us” out of my head. Enjoy this short video clip from our week at Lake Shasta:

Or, listen to the full length version by  Maverick City Music and let it become your ongoing prayer. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qryRCbNYro

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Small Beginnings

Tearing out the sheet of binder paper, I wrote a bullet-pointed list of discussion questions based on a Bible passage I’d been studying. Each week I’d take my hand-written questions and photocopy them in my sorority’s study lounge, known as “The Pit” because of its location in the basement of our house. Climbing the steps to the expansive living room, I’d sit on the floor near the fireplace glancing regularly at my watch, waiting to see if anyone would come.

Inviting girls in my house to join a Bible study had been a stunning leap of faith for me as a sophomore in college. Before God had emboldened me, I’d always been someone that craved approval and validation from others. I liked fitting in, not creating a stir. This venture launched me way past the limits of my comfort zone. Not everyone cheered on my efforts. As you might imagine, Bible study veered beyond the typical activities for girls at my secular university. Some weeks ten of my sorority sisters would show up, others no one would come. 

I didn’t know that God was preparing me for many other opportunities to write, lead, teach, mentor, and serve. Looking back, I see how the Lord used that time to equip and prepare me to walk alongside others growing in faith. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of pouring into a variety of women at different seasons in my life. Usually it’s only a few, but over time this has added up to a lot of lives.

That’s what I thought of when I read this passage: “Do not despise these small beginnings for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10a, NLT)

So often when God prompts us to act, we expect big, splashy results immediately. When we don’t get them, we become discouraged and want to quit. Or, we get distracted and lose our focus, as the Jews re-building the temple did in the book of Haggai.

Jennifer Rothschild encourages us saying, “You may feel small, insignificant, thinking who you are or where you are is unimportant compared to the seemingly big significance of others’ lives and situations. But no one and nothing is really small and insignificant. The big impact of small things can be overlooked if we aren’t careful… God does know your name. He doesn’t overlook you just because somebody has a bigger problem, a bigger project, or a bigger personality. No matter how big the world is and no matter how small you may feel, God has called you to take courage and finish the work He has called you to…Let His voice be louder than the outside voice of opposition and that nagging inner voice that tries to convince you that you are too small for your call.”1 

Recently, I returned from IF:Gathering—a conference attended by thousands of women in person and online all over the world. Sitting in the audience with 4000 other women, I watched as one gifted speaker after another took the stage. Their teaching energized me and spurred on my faith. But, if I’m honest, there were moments that I also felt a little angsty and cynical. I’m not proud to admit that I slipped into comparison mode a few times. As soon as I did this, joy drained out of me. Listening to accomplished speakers with multiple published books and thousands of followers made my own efforts to impact others for Jesus seem small by comparison.  For a few moments I bounced between envy and self-doubt, until the Holy Spirit reminded me of truth. 

I couldn’t stay in a negative mindset for long when I remembered the good things God has done in and through me. The fact that friends had accepted my invitation to spend time and money flying 1500 miles to attend IF:Gathering was cause for celebration. My “small beginning” with my traveling companions started almost 9 years ago when I invited them to join a Bible study to explore the Christian faith. Seeing how much they’ve grown is a testament to the way God uses small beginnings to bring big results. But this takes time; typically we don’t get the instant gratification we crave when it comes to matters of faith.

I wonder if you can relate to my feelings. Are you ever tempted to dismiss or discount a work of the Lord in your life? Do you ever feel like the part you play isn’t big or important enough? Some small beginnings lead to big things that are large in size—like Jennie Allen’s vision to start IF:Gathering. But other small beginnings lead to things that are big in value—like journeying alongside a few people consistently and helping them to grow spiritually over time. Taking the step of faith to respond to God’s prompting matters more than the size of what He’s calling you to do.

Is there something you’ve begun that’s stalling right now? Do you need to re-engage with that small group Bible study you’ve stopped attending? Or, is it time to reach out again to that neighbor you’ve been meaning to invite for coffee? Do you sense God stirring in you to mentor someone? Or is it time to ask a more mature believer to mentor you? What about starting that Bible study with your neighbors that you’ve been talking about for years? Or is it time to say “yes” to that invitation into leadership that seems like a big stretch for you?

Let this song we sang at IF:Gathering inspire you. Click here to listen to “God of Revival” by Phil Wickham.

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  1. Jennifer Rothschild, Take Courage: A Study of Haggai, Lifeway Press 2020, 60-61.

Bold and Gentle

Weaving through the crowd on my way to class was always an adventure in college. As I walked through the heart of campus, people milling on the main pathway peppered passersby with a barrage of requests. They called out asking us to sign petitions, offering tickets to movie screenings, and handing out pamphlets espousing political agendas. Some of them were annoying or aggressive, others were intriguing. But there was one person that always made my heart hammer with anger and embarrassment when he visited campus. He would stand on a stairway to the side of the walkway holding a hand-made sign that read: “Sinners: Repent or burn in hell!” As if that wasn’t jarring enough, he would shout harsh judgements at us based on Bible verses taken out of context. There was never a trace of love in his words.

Sometimes students would stop and engage in animated conversations with him; often they escalated into shouting matches. For me, as a follower of Jesus trying to be a light on my dark campus, this man’s presence was devastating. I feared people who knew I was a believer would lump me in the same bucket with him and that any chance of sharing the gospel would be ruined. His boldness and passion to share his faith lacked the balance of love and grace.

I thought of the importance of that symmetry when I read Priscilla Shirer’s words this week: “BE UNASHAMED—public and bold in your allegiance to Him.”1 Being bold, public, and unashamed doesn’t imply that we have license to be rude or aggressive as we show allegiance to Jesus. Peter explains: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16, NIV italics added) We need to engage others with respect no matter how strongly we disagree with their stances, especially in matters of faith. If we bait others or lash out with hurtful words, it’s unlikely they’ll be open to hearing anything we say. How we treat people matters as much as the words we say.

Imagine throwing a rubber ball against a wall. The harder you throw it, the more forcefully it bounces back at you. The same is true with our words. When our passionate feelings lead us to speak with anger, judgement, or harshness, it’s likely that’s what we’ll get in return. In the book of Romans, Paul tells us that God’s kindness is intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4). When we’re bold with our kindness to others, it’s more likely to soften the tone of their responses to us. It might even open the door for more genuine conversations about our faith.

In another one of his letters Paul says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6, NIV) We need to think carefully before we speak, text, or post comments about sensitive topics. “Our words should impact our conversations for the better as we bring a different ‘flavor’ to our interactions, build others up, and share as well as defend the gospel.”2 The world already has an atmosphere that’s divisive and contentious. It doesn’t need harsh words from Christians making things worse. It’s important to consider others’ perspectives and not to stoke bitterness or animosity on purpose. Sarcasm and insensitive humor often alienate and marginalize. So, let’s demonstrate allegiance to Christ in a manner that is empathetic and filled with grace. 

Strong opinions and feelings often stem from personal experiences. If someone riles you with a viewpoint that you know opposes Scripture, take a deep breath and pray instead of reacting immediately. Anger and harshness often cover pain and hurt. Instead of responding with indignation, take the wisdom of James to heart: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20, NIV) 

Our world gravitates toward quick reactions and sharp retorts, but meaningful conversations that explore differing viewpoints rarely occur in this environment. It takes love, patience, and perseverance to show allegiance to Jesus in a way that will draw others to Him. 

If we want to be bold, we need to start by cultivating our relationship with the Holy Spirit “until His presence overflows in our actions, attitudes, and ambitions. His fruit and His gifts become outworked through our lives…His fire is what we need if we expect to live up to our calling and experience the freedom of serving others with selfless joy and real power.”3

What do others experience when they interact with you? What tone do you project as you speak, text, or post online? How do you treat people as you go about your day? Click here and listen to “Relate” by For King and Country and let it inspire you to be bold with your love but gentle and empathetic as you encounter those who think differently.

  1. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 175   
  2. GotQuestions.org, “Why are we told to ‘let your words be seasoned with salt’ (Colossians 4:6)?”
  3. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 183

Photo Credit: pixabay.com

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