JRMITCH85 Decisions, Faith, Hope

Don’t Cut Corners

When something works, we try and replicate it to varying success. In cooking, this trial and error in making something delicious with the perfect satisfaction is often recorded in a recipe. When we have developed enough recipes, we gather them in a cookbook, and future generations can look at what we have made and replicate it. However, in recipes that are filled with long and complicated steps, people are tempted to cut out some of the steps. Unfortunately, many times, when steps are skipped or altered, the meal does not come out looking the way it was intended.

In the following passage, God delivers a recipe of deliverance for the Hebrew people. Follow these directions, and deliverance will be yours, but if you cut corners and don’t obey this God-given message, things won’t turn out how they would hope. The instructions are specific, and God provides the only way that the Pharaoh will grant them freedom. This will be a day of remembrance for the Israelites, because no corners are cut or instructions skipped. 

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight. 7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 12:1–14.

Just as God delivered Israel from bondage in Egypt, God delivers us from the slavery of sin that bonds us to the punishment of death. To bring freedom to the people of Israel meant that death was coming for many, and even when God sought to have the people freed by many other methods, nine plagues failed to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Thus, death became necessary. Similarly, we failed to follow God’s previous instructions and guidance for salvation by continuously falling short of the standards in the law and perpetually cutting corners, looking for an easy way. However, Jesus followed the instructions exactly as they needed to be followed and thus provided remediation for sin. No corners were cut, even though Jesus knew the difficulty and what following the instructions meant for His life.

The result of not following the law or cutting corners is death. Nonetheless, it doesn’t stop us from looking for a shortcut. The instructions given to the Israelites in this passage were specific; the instructions from God called out the specific sacrifice, time, and method. Follow these instructions exactly, and death will pass over your homes; if not, the penalty is death. Our minds read this and wonder if maybe we would have cut a corner here and there to be able to get past some of the qualifications. Our society has careers built upon finding loopholes in laws and tax codes to cut as many corners as possible. However, there are no loopholes in God’s law; it requires us to follow it, or the penalty is death. Fortunately, Jesus paid that penalty for us but reminds us that even though we have sinned and subsequently redeemed, we are still commanded to follow God’s recipe to love God and love our neighbor.

According to God, there is no cutting the corner of the command to follow Jesus in loving God and our neighbor. There are no acceptable excuses to follow Jesus in love; it doesn’t matter how difficult we find it to carry out. We must share God’s love with everyone. It is cutting corners to omit anyone from our purview, even if we vehemently disagree with them. God has laid out the church’s mission is to bring the people to the source of salvation, Jesus. However, when the church dehumanizes and participates in the cycle of hatred and violence, it removes itself from love. The church doesn’t get to cut the corner of offering love to those who are hard to love, nor does it cut the corner of striving after unity with all. God has given the church a mission to bring people to an understanding of salvation through Christ Jesus. Through this mission, the church will change the world as long as it follows the recipe of God, not the world’s recipes.

God laid out a recipe for us to help build a beautiful, grace-filled world and even provided the necessary ingredients to make it. God gave us grace through Jesus, a perfect demonstration of what loving people look like, and a church to carry out the mission. The people of God lack nothing to construct a kingdom of love, grace, mercy, hope, and peace, but we must get out of our own way of corner-cutting to make things easier on us. Quit cutting corners and start following Jesus, and the church that will be built on that will look a lot more like Jesus and less like the organizations and governments of the world.

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith, Hope

The Christ Follower Test

Today, loyalty tests are intended to show if you are true to your convictions and beliefs. As a music fan, people will frequently determine your fandom if you listen to obscure demo tapes of your favorite bands or if you have a special edition album and saw them in concert before they were famous. The same type of test has taken root in politics, corporations, and even faith. As Christians, throughout history, we have subjected others and been subjected to many tests to determine if someone is a “true Christian.” However, each instance of implementing something like this has caused a split in the church. While Christians have varying beliefs on many issues, none of us stand in any position to declare absolute authority in doctrine; instead, to follow Christ, our oaths and words should be replaced with our love and care for one another and dedication to worship and prayer.

Following God is not about doing what others think; it requires us to set aside what everyone else might think and give it all to God in worship. Each step toward testing based on the proper doctrine needs to be measured against how Paul told us in Romans about how a Christian should treat others.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 12:9–21.

To follow Christ requires us to set aside anything that is forced or imitating anything that doesn’t fulfill our true intention in coming to faith. How we live must glorify God, and we cannot act as people who just go through the motions to live such that we mimic what other Christians think we should do. The more we do this, the more we look like someone posing as a Christian rather than living in the way God requires. Paul opens this passage by telling us, “Let love be genuine.” True love cannot be faked; we cannot pose as someone who loves someone; instead, our hearts must be transformed to look more like Christ. Christ’s heart, when encountering evil, fought against it, not by destroying people, but by sacrificing His freedom to overcome evil. 

Typically, a test differentiates us from others, isolating the person who passes from those who fail. However, because of sin in our lives, we have all failed and fallen short of the level necessary to pass the test. Therefore, the Christ follower doesn’t strive to disqualify people from God’s Kingdom but instead necessitates all disciples to bring others into the love of God. Paul reminds us that even those who oppose us must be welcomed in, and we show God’s love more by acting as a contrast to how they treat us. Thus, any tests for following Christ aren’t for us to administer to others; instead, they measure us against the standard to which we hold ourselves. 

Ultimately, the test we must pass is treating one another so that we communicate the Gospel regardless of the person. Is someone hurting? Then, we must grant them comfort. Is there injustice in our world? Our mission is to bring justice and peace. No matter the circumstances where people find themselves, a follower of Christ always brings HOPE to the table and peace to the world, and in all things, they strive for unity and share the love of God. Are you a faithful follower of Christ? Good, then do as Christ instructs you, not for my sake or the sake of others, but for the spread and sharing of the Gospel with the world.

JRMITCH85 Faith, Hope

Jesus Is Enough

“Be Prepared.” The Boy Scout Motto is lived out by walking with Jesus. Even when we lack the ability or materials as followers of Christ, everything must begin with an acknowledgment that Jesus is enough to carry out the mission of the church. As we look at the stories of Jesus and how He cared for the people to which He ministered, we see the Gospel proclaimed without a building campaign or fundraising efforts. Through the power of Jesus, the people heard the Gospel preached and experienced the Gospel enacted through the filling of their stomachs.

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 14:13–21.

Too often, we look for excuses as to why we cannot finish a job. I’m too old, or too young, I don’t have enough money, I’m too busy, or our church is too small are all reasons we give as to why we are limited in our abilities to carry out the mission of the Gospel. Just like the disciples found the desolation of the area as an excuse that they could not feed the people, however, when Jesus wants to show the power of Grace, nothing can hold Him back. The revelation of God’s Glory only took five loaves and two fish. Jesus was not only sufficient for the job but provided an abundance as there were leftovers that exceeded the original blessing.

If God could feed more than five thousand with a small amount of food, imagine what Jesus can do in our churches. The people of God need to set aside excuses and go forth into the world, whether mighty or small, and meek and follow Jesus in sharing the Gospel. The Glory of God can shine through us, but we must let go of our preconceived notions that we need something more to act as the church. Jesus is enough for us to carry out His goal to reach people with His grace.

JRMITCH85 Faith, Hope

What It Means To Be Justified

“I belong”

Many people worry about belonging. It doesn’t just have to be Middle School kids seeking approval from their peers. Everyone wants to have a place where they feel safe and free from the fear of social awkwardness and trouble that inevitably arises in our society. Too many in my generation eschewed social norms because none of us fit into the boxes that try and define us, but that left many lacking belonging.

The Church is intended to be a place where people belong. Jesus’ sacrifice was a justification that we belong in a relationship with God and one another, no matter what circumstance of life we have previously been. Therefore, it is important that the church does not put additional qualifications to become part of a God’s family because Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection were enough to give us proper standing before God.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ro 8:26–30.

Paul reminds us about the gift Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we belong to God and that we don’t have to try and figure out where we fit in the world because the Holy Spirit tells us that through Jesus, we belong to God. We don’t need to have perfect incantations because the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf in all circumstances before God and in the world. Amid our needs, the Holy Spirit gives us everything and works for good in our lives. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we come in contact with God’s glory that reminds us that only God grants the authority to justify and the Almighty says, “You belong.”

JRMITCH85 Hope

The Unprecedented

Greatness often leads to or comes from might and power. Often military might define the great Empires of the World. As empires spread through the world, conquering peoples and nations, they did it through the strength of their armies and intimidated the nations that dared to stand up to them. This past week we celebrated the American founding leaders standing up to the world power of the day and declaring independence. While this may not have been the first time a smaller nation decided to stand up to one with a much larger military, it began a war that would ultimately lead to our nation’s founding. The colonists fought unconventionally but still used weapons, and ultimately with the help of early allies providing military support, were able to win independence from the British. 

However, the greatness that comes through our obedience to God needs no weapons or military might. Our voices of praise will ultimately show the power of the Holy Spirit over the forces of darkness in the world. God’s Power upends the world in an unprecedented fashion. As the people of Israel left Egypt, they did so without raising a fist, but God’s force eventually persuaded Pharaoh to send them away. As the armies of mighty Egypt pursued them, God allowed them to be saved not through fighting but through God’s Power. 

During the prophets’ time, Israel had to fight against armies invading from the outside. However, mighty armies would ultimately rise and defeat Israel, and Zechariah wrote to the people after their return to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. The people had previously relied on their might to save them but now return after their humiliation. Below you will find Zechariah’s words reminding the people of Jerusalem that they will not rely on force but on praise, hope, and peace.

9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10  I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11  As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12  Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Zec 9:9–12.

Looking through history, we create heroes and idols of prior greatness. When we don’t give God total praise for our blessings, we are in danger of humiliation or, rather, forced humility. The people of Jerusalem were defeated and sent into exile because they did not grant their whole worship to God. However, God heard the cries for mercy, and they returned to rebuild the city and the temple. The neighbors surrounded them, mocked them, and even tried to stop their work, but when they worshipped and relied on God to lead, the work could be completed. The prophet also reminds us that any work we do for God must begin with worship and praise. 

From worship, God grants the people hope. The assurance that the work will be completed comes from the knowledge that God completed the work of salvation by bringing the people back to Jerusalem and granted them the mission to rebuild the temple so that they could fulfill the call to be a light to the nations. So too, God gives us the call to be a light to our neighborhood and world, and we have the assurance that God will guide us toward success because God completed the work of our salvation in an unprecedented manner by humbly dying on the cross. No matter what tries to hold us back, God frees us to carry out the Gospel and share hope with the world.

When many of the people faced opposition, they might have felt more comfortable if the armies had surrounded and protected them. However, God instructs them that their defense will not come from instruments of war but rather through humility and peace; true power will come from God. Jerusalem would become a place where God would show unprecedented glory to the world. To the people of Zechariah’s day, God was setting down all weapons and instead would change the world through peace. The temple’s purpose was to be a place of prayer and to bring all humanity to peace with the Almighty God. Jesus embodies the temple with His body. Christians see the foretelling of how Jesus would enter Jerusalem in humility and by bringing peace through sacrifice instead of instruments of war as many expected. God reminds us that peace transforms the community and reconciles the world to Himself through peace. 

Zechariah reminds the people that through unprecedented means, God brought the people back to Jerusalem, and through more unprecedented means, God will help them complete their mission. God calls them to worship, hope, and peace to bring God’s glory to the world. God calls the church to set aside the ways the world would use for influence and return to bring God glory through our unprecedented worship.

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith, Hope

Free From Judgment

As we approach Independence Day in the United States, we hear the word “FREEDOM” in the songs we sing, written on clothing and bumper stickers, but as we look at freedom, God reminds us that we are called to proclaim that our true freedom doesn’t come from the Declaration of Independence or The Constitution of the United States of America. Jesus grants us freedom that was purchased with the sacrifice of His life alone. With this freedom, we need to thank our Lord for seeing our need and loving us enough to break the bonds that sin had on our lives and live in a way that proclaims God’s freedom to the world.

Jesus, in the Gospel of Matthew, during the Sermon on the Mount, reminds us that as we proclaim freedom from sin, we also understand that Christ has freed us from judgment. God’s judgment on our sin would mean certain death, but Jesus interposed His life for ours. We should wake up every day singing about our freedom in Christ. Many of our songs and prayers ask Jesus to break us free from illness, financial hardship, or some other oppressive force. The following passage reminds us that as followers of Christ, we are called to remind people that Jesus frees us and not to become an oppressive force from which people need relief.

The following is Matthew’s recording of Christ’s words.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 7:1–5.

When we read the words Jesus spoke to the crowd, there has been a misappropriation of judgment in the faith community. Judgment has a place in God’s Kingdom, but it is not intended for the followers to use as a tool against one another. Judgment is God’s prerogative to determine between that which is good and that which is evil. Good leads us to a greater relationship with God and others, which connects us to the Almighty. As we grow in our relationship with God, we allow God to communicate the areas of our life that need to be cleaned up. However, Jesus speaks to the crowds because judgment was too often used as a weapon against others. The Pharisees judged Jesus for His deeds. Similarly, they judged people as sinners and derogatorily acted toward them, and looked down on them and their associates. As Christians, we too often take a similar tactic, using judgment to boost our ego and ensure we hold onto a higher status over and against others. Jesus warns us against judgment because we will never fully understand another’s situation, and thus judgment shuts down our attempt at connecting with others.

The person that judges places themselves in the judgment seat that belongs to God alone. Jesus was sent to us to bring us peace, and that peace unites people under Christ. The character of Jesus would make Him the only person that could hold up to the standard of judging established in the Gospel. Therefore, only Jesus can judge the world, but time and time again, Jesus uses this judgment to bring peace into people’s lives. Therefore, we need to follow Jesus and help proclaim freedom into the lives of the people in our community as found in the Gospel. When we judge, our focus isn’t on how we can better follow Christ, but rather we focus on others’ shortcomings. This will also be a result of pushing people away as they would not want to live among us, partially due to not wanting to be an object of our scorn, but also that they don’t want to be around someone with such negativity.  Jesus unites people and invites people to come to the mercy seat. In front of Jesus, we are equals, but judging tries to place ourselves above others.

Freedom from sin to live in the love of Christ is the message we are called to share with the world. The law was established by God to guide us toward the truth. However, people viewed the law as a shackle preventing them from accessing the Almighty, but Jesus freed us from the judgment in the law, to live as free to live in God’s love. Jesus looked at how people would sit in judgment with one another and saw how ridiculous people looked judging one another because all of us were mired in sin. Thus Jesus presented this obviously hyperbolic analogy that when we stand in judgment with anyone else, we blind ourselves to our own faults. Our faults alone are enough to keep us out of the Kingdom, and we need a loving God to grant us hope, making peace between us and God. Thus when we judge, we set aside freedom to live antithetically to the Gospel because we proclaim that Jesus’ sacrifice isn’t enough.

The Gospel calls out to us to lighten the load of people by calling them to come to Christ. The judgment adds to the burdens of the world and instead creates division and broken relationships. The Pharisees embodied the way of judgment and created a situation where people not only felt as if they couldn’t live up to the standards but also that they were devoid of hope. Jesus frees us from the burden and grants the world peace that only the Gospel could.

JRMITCH85 Faith, Hope

The Gospel Proclaimed

A plethora of voices surrounds us. Our companions and loved ones communicate with us while our employers provide instructions on performing our tasks. We receive their distinct viewpoints on the events unfolding in the world through various media outlets, such as news sources, social media, and podcasts. Additionally, figures in positions of authority articulate expectations and guidelines for our behavior and lifestyle. With so much noise around us, it may be hard to understand what we should say and when especially in mixed groups. However, Paul reminds us that no matter what is being said, we should always strive to proclaim the Gospel in all circumstances. Therefore, when we find the opportunity to speak, may the love of God come forth from our mouths.

We must always proclaim the Gospel because we comprehend that the messages thrown around us can be confusing, and the world strains to find any cohesion to a message of hope in our loud environment. The Gospel reminds us that no matter where we come from, where we are right now, and what our status will be in the future, we are empowered to share God’s loving grace with everyone, and no one is exempt. Therefore, brothers and sisters, there is no excuse for us; as long as we live, we can share God’s message of freedom with all the people.

The Gospel’s spread was paramount to Paul after his encounter with Jesus. He fought with Jews, Romans, and other Christians to ensure that the Gospel would remain GOOD NEWS. This passion ultimately landed him in prison, where we presume he wrote this letter to the people of Phillippi. Never fearing the repercussions, Paul was confident that his imprisonment would ultimately lead to a more complete proclamation of the Gospel worldwide.

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and I rejoice.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 1:12–18.

No matter your circumstances before or now, God can and will use them to advance the Gospel. Paul understood that his predicament in prison allowed God’s message to travel to Rome. In this situation, we can learn from Paul that instead of looking at our lives and sitting and wallowing or worrying, we can look at the obstacles placed before us as unique opportunities to share the Grace of God. Hardship tempts us to focus on what we can’t do, but the Holy Spirit empowers us to use even adverse events in our lives to pursue the message of God from a new perspective. From prison, Paul had access to people and authorities that he couldn’t have had if his missionary journeys did not have opposition, and Paul took advantage by bringing the Gospel with him to the center of power. We, like Paul, need to look at where we have been, where we are going, and how we can bring the Gospel with us and share it with people to whom we didn’t have access and in places we were not previously. We need to understand that by proclaiming the Gospel, we don’t “win” souls; that is the job of the Holy Spirit. We, instead, offer encouragement to others that boldly following Christ offers a witness to the power of Christ over even the darkest situation.

Even among Christian circles, several voices proclaim Christ but do not do so that the name of Christ will be lifted, but rather that their profile would be lifted or that they could use the church’s influence to obtain power and influence over people. The message of the Gospel cannot focus on selfish ambitions because the Gospel is about proclaiming freedom from sin, which is powerful. It comes as no surprise that those that seek after power would be intrigued and interested in being able to harness this power for their ends. Such abuse of God’s power can lead to adverse reactions toward the church and division among Christians. Paul reminds us that no matter people’s intentions, the Gospel is powerful enough to be proclaimed despite the proclaimer’s intent. We see this in situations where people proclaim messages with malicious intent, but people turn to Christ anyway. When this happens, Paul rejoices, and we should rejoice as well. 

God calls us to follow Paul’s example and focus on the proclamation. The Christians voicing the Gospel with their mouths, living the Gospel with their bodies, and embracing the Gospel with their minds bring unity, truth, hope, peace, and love to the whole world. No one is exempt from this mission; you are never too old, too young, too bright, too unintelligent, too outgoing, or too shy to share the Gospel with the world. Christ came bringing release to all those captive to sin, and there is no one that we can deem unworthy of God’s grace. Therefore, pray for your enemies, even those that mean to harm you, because if they are redeemed, we rejoice. Until there is no more life in our bodies, God calls us to proclaim the Gospel.

The Gospel reminds us what Christ has done for the world, and our lives need to be representative of an understanding that we are not the focus, but instead, we need to reflect God’s love for others. There is no excuse to drive division among one another; rather, we strive to lift others up. God calls us to proclaim the Gospel in all seasons, even in our deepest despair, because in doing that, we will show Gospel and encourage others in their need. Paul would agree with the phrase often attributed to St Francis, “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words.”

JRMITCH85 Character, Faith, Hope

Following Jesus

“Are you in, or are you out?” The famous question from reality television often gets asked of people in the church. From the church’s beginning, there have been questions and debates about which people belong in our worship services and fellowship. The debates have ravaged the church about the requirements for the Kingdom of God, ultimately leading to splits among followers. However, when we look at the life of Jesus, we can see that he converses and spends time with people that many would claim are on the outside. This encounter made the religious elites uncomfortable and created a rift, ultimately leading to the conspiracy to kill Jesus. 

The following passage in the Gospel of Matthew shows us how Jesus ultimately called the outsiders and sinners to come and sit at His side.

9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Mt 9:9–13.

Jesus passes by one of these undesirables, a tax collector who has taken part in a profession that has taken advantage of his people and would be seen as a traitor to the religious elite, a tax collector. Jesus doesn’t pass by him and hurl insults or pass by and ignore him, but rather Jesus simply asks him to join him as he passes. This action was something that someone of Jesus’ stature would never have done, and thus a surprise to Matthew. Matthew was likelier to hear sermons about how he was a vile sinner than to be invited to join the party. Additionally, they created a particular subclass by pulling out the tax collector from the rest of the sinners with whom Jesus was spending time. When the church casts people out because of their prejudices, they create a subclass of people who thus behave more like the religious elite than Jesus. 

The Pharisees looked at the scene before them and began to ridicule Jesus and the disciples. They didn’t openly address Jesus but spoke loudly enough for Jesus to hear. This passive-aggressive judgment of the disciples and Jesus points out to everyone around that they disapprove of the people with whom Jesus chose to surround Him. When we surround ourselves with sinners, and the subclasses of sinners out in the world, the religious among us will scorn and ridicule our decisions. Sometimes this will be quiet and behind our backs; other times, the words won’t be directed at us but will be loud enough for us to hear; while still, other times, we may face the ridicule head-on. When facing scorn for the people we share a table with, comfort yourself that Jesus faced the same, and God calls us to the outcast, and to share the love of Jesus with sinners, even the sinners that get called out specifically. So that when asked why we hang out with sinners, we can answer, “I do because I’m following Jesus’ lead.”

Much of Jesus’ ministry was spent sharing the good news with the undesirables of society. Often the people around Jesus and the situation pointed out how this behavior was highly irregular and bucked many of the traditional norms. However, in every circumstance, Jesus reminded them that the Gospel was not just for the religious elites, but rather the Good News of forgiveness and redemption is for sinners and those that fall short of the Glory of God. Jesus did not participate in the revelry and sin, but He spent time and opened up the mystery of the mercy of God to people that the Pharisees and Sadducees had previously shut out. In following Jesus, we must walk with, eat with, and share life with the sinners, the religious shut out of the church. God desires us to do the work of the Gospel rather than ensure that we look the part. If we sacrifice time with people to show ourselves holy, we aren’t fulfilling the call of God to show mercy to the world. Follow Jesus’ lead and embody God’s mercy to the sinners and outcasts from the church. 

To follow the lead of Christ, the church must fulfill its role as a healer of the sick, mender of the broken, and sanctuary for the lost. As we fulfill the role given by Jesus, we seek out the brokenhearted, the government official, the immigrant, the lawbreaker, the hurting, the homeless, and all those the church is called to bring the hope of salvation. We cast aside all thoughts about how we look to the outside and embrace the mission of Jesus to show mercy and not mere sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. Instead, let us sacrifice our perfect image for the love of God for all people. By doing this act, we truly follow the example Jesus set out for us.

JRMITCH85 Faith, Hope

Troubles Come and Go, But God Remains

At the core of modern life, we find trouble. Trouble finds us during bad decisions, but trouble also waits for us when we do everything right. Often we can’t connect any rhyme or reason for our troubles, although we often strive to point at something as the cause of our issues. Doing such will take us in different directions that simply distract us from the benefit that God provides during our trials.

The Psalmist exemplifies that all trials must be wrapped in a firm knowledge that The Almighty God surrounds any calamity. Our trust in God must be our central focus during trouble, as it focuses the follower of God on their purpose. The 93rd Psalm uses the flood example to remind us that God is always greater no matter what problems arise.

Psalm 93 

1 The Lord reigns; he is robed in majesty; 

the Lord is robed; he has put on strength as his belt. 

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. 

2  Your throne is established from of old; 

you are from everlasting. 

3  The floods have lifted up, O Lord, 

the floods have lifted up their voice; 

the floods lift up their roaring. 

4  Mightier than the thunders of many waters, 

mightier than the waves of the sea, 

the Lord on high is mighty! 

5  Your decrees are very trustworthy; 

holiness befits your house, 

O Lord, forevermore.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 93:1–5.

Every person that has ever lived has experienced trouble. Trouble wants us to focus on it, obsess over it, and allow it to dictate every decision. That’s precisely what makes it trouble. The inconvenience and distress that each circumstance brings up can derail any plans we have because if we fixate upon them, they will become the steering wheel of our lives. However, we all must understand that no matter what path we take, whether perfect or problematic, troubles will find their way into our lives. The Psalm begins with a focus on God and finishes with how God is greater than any problem, but right in the middle, the flood waters come. Therefore, problems are a part of life, and it has nothing to do with how we live.

As trouble arises, we lose sight of our purpose because our vision gets distorted when we focus on problems and troubles. When we think more about our problems than our purpose with God, we start thinking about how to gain retributive justice because someone must’ve done this to us. However, trying to obtain revenge for our troubles is sinful and something we must steer clear of doing. The Psalmist guides us through this because even when trouble arises in the midst of our praise, while it may guide us away from worship, prayer and praise will lead us back to the source of our worship and toward the solution to our problems.

Trust in God is our only route toward fulfillment and grace-filled living. Troubles will continually arise around us, striving to distract us from the goodness God has for us. They constantly say, “Look at me!” They are often looked at and focused upon to divide humanity through blaming and hatred. However, God reminds us that none of these problems are enough to break us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and instead of dividing, Jesus calls us to the foot of the cross and unity in faith.

JRMITCH85 Decisions, Faith, Hope

Now What

Approaching Pentecost, a festival day that celebrates God by setting aside the first fruits and the beginning of the harvest, and commemorating the giving of the Torah, or Law, to the World, finds us in a particular circumstance where we as the church also celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. Throughout time, God has prepared the people of God for a beneficial life by granting us people and gifts of blessing to walk through the world and carry out the mission of God. However, too often, we want more.

Jesus was preparing to leave the disciples but wouldn’t physically leave them alone. Like many of us with a loved one that passed, or a friend that we lost touch with, even those of us with children, we often want more time with them, just as the disciples wanted more time with Jesus. Without Jesus, many of them felt rudderless and without direction. However, in preparation for one of the three festivals that required travel to Jerusalem, and just as God showed up to give the Torah, God showed up with the triune presence in the form of the Holy Spirit. Below we look at the narrative as delivered in Acts.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ac 2:1–4.

The significance of this event reminds us that God does not idly sit back and watch creation but actively participates in believers’ lives. We often don’t feel as if God is present; however, the problem with our feelings is that they deceive us and can lead us to act in a way that does not bring glory to God. The presence that the disciples experienced at Pentecost was not a feeling but rather an experience that completely overwhelmed their understanding of the Holy Spirit. While we can get overwhelmed that our experience was not the same as the Apostles, the same promise exists for us that existed for them, that God walks with us through life. Any doubts or concerns that arise in us necessitate our examination of how, even when they wanted more of Jesus, God granted a presence that never fades or goes away. No longer would the disciples or us need to worry the refrain from the Fifty-first Psalm because God would no longer take the Holy Spirit away or cast us away from the Presence.

With confidence that God was by their side, the disciples boldly spoke the truth to the many sojourners that had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The power that the Holy Spirit gave them enabled people from diverse backgrounds to hear the Gospel, which was packaged for their ears and understanding. In the same way, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to package the Gospel as it comes out of our mouths and exudes from our bodies so that the people around us can understand and draw near to God without first needing to become more like us. God calls us to help people follow the Triune God, not people to follow us; therefore, as we deliver the message of the Gospel, we need to ensure that the Holy Spirit guides and directs people to Jesus and the Father, and may our words simply fade into the background.

This must necessarily bring comfort. We do not need to worry about saying the wrong thing if we lean into the Holy Spirit to guide our words, thoughts, and actions. We don’t save people, nor do we cause people to have a transformed life, because that is purely the action of the Holy Spirit. However, even though we do not save people, God invites us in mission as the Church. The early church learned to heed this call and allowed the Holy Spirit to guide and direct them through the synagogues teaching the Gospel. Thousands came to know the saving work of Jesus as the Holy Spirit spoke, and Paul continued this mission through the Gentile world. Everywhere they turned, they faced persecution and opposition, yet they persisted because of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, as God’s church, we must persist through whatever excuses we come up with and share the Gospel with the world.

The early church was empowered to go out and do more than this relatively small group of people could have imagined doing, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the number of people joining the church could not be counted. However, we sit back in comfort and complain about the coffee served at fellowship hour. Let us rise out of our comfort this Pentecost and celebrate this day as the time we, as a church, remember the gift God gave us and allow the Holy Spirit to use us unencumbered. Let this not just be a day where we wear red or orange to church but a day where we all share the Gospel with the world. God loves the world and asks the Church to go out and tell them.