Worth Every Penny

“My son,’” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

– Luke 15:31-32

Few things are as disappointing as buying a product or service that fails to meet expectations — especially if it was expensive. For example, maybe you heard about a new restaurant that piqued your interest. You went online and checked out the menu, read several reviews, and even asked your friends and co-workers for their opinions. But once you were seated at the table, you quickly saw through the hype. The dining room was shabby, the waiter was rude … and that $75 entrée wasn’t even appetizing. 

On the other hand, what about that expensive Caribbean cruise? You perused several tourist websites, watched The Travel Channel, and spoke with friends who'd recently returned from the same excursion. And although your ticket's cost meant weeks of cutting back on regular expenses, the tropical islands you visited were gorgeous, the cuisine was superb, and you even made some new friends along the way. Yes, that extravagant vacation put a dent in your bank account. But the memories you made were priceless.

The Bible also confirms the worth of some costly purchases. For example, there’s Jesus’ famous story about the Prodigal Son, where a loving father welcomes back his wayward — and totally undeserving — child, who had burned through his entire inheritance on outrageously wasteful living. Christ also told about a man who sold his possessions to buy a field. And not just any field, but one that held buried treasure. Although the price tag was staggering, the man did whatever it took to obtain that land at any cost.

These parables illustrate how God puts his love into action to bring you and me into his family and provide belonging. Perhaps the most familiar passage in the New Testament, John 3:16, declares that he loves the world so much that he gave his only Son (Jesus) so that those who believe in him will have eternal life. Our Creator willingly let Jesus suffer and die on the cross in our place to pay for our wrongdoings — past, present, and future. And unlike Christ — who lived a perfect, sin-free existence — we all rightfully deserve death because of our lawlessness. But God’s grace offers us forgiveness and a fresh start if we’re only willing to accept it.

Jesus paid the exorbitant price to save us from ourselves. And compared to our costly, regrettable purchases, this one was worth every penny.

Stormy Weather

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

– Mark 4:37-38

Turn on the TV and surf the Web and try to avoid the nonstop news stories about politics, crime, and civil unrest. And it’s no easier to escape the 24/7 coverage of natural disasters, corruption, and the storm clouds of international conflict. But living with unsettling headlines is nothing new. In fact, about 2,000 years ago, Jesus proclaimed these words of assurance that are just as relevant to modern-day Christ-followers as they were to his first disciples:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

In one form or another, storms are everywhere. And there’s no way to avoid them — even after we’ve switched off the smartphone and clicked away from Instagram and Facebook. For some people, the tempest might be a job loss or bankruptcy. For others, it’s a chronic illness or the prospect of major surgery. Maybe your storm involves family or relationship issues like a divorce or the loss of a loved one. And this raises a good question: Does God even care about our personal hurricanes, earthquakes, and flash floods? 

The good news is that we worship a God who’s much greater than any natural disaster, economic difficulty, or international dispute. Ours is a God who literally spoke the universe into creation, formed great mountain ranges with his hands, and parted the seas with a breath. With just a word, he calmed the stormy waters of Lake Galilee that had threatened to drown Jesus’ small band of followers. And even more amazing is that he knows his creation (including you and me) by name.

Let’s also remember that God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purpose. And while our Mighty Creator doesn’t remove every storm from our presence, he proves his power and presence within them. 

Indeed, there will be times when lightning flashes and thunder rumbles overhead. But the storms that seem so great today will become laughably insignificant tomorrow. Moreover, we can rest assured that amidst all the wind and rain, blue skies are on the horizon for those with Christ as their Savior.

U-Turn

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

– Matthew 1:21

Turkey, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie weren’t the only treats on this Thanksgiving’s menu. In addition to consuming thousands of calories in a single sitting, millions of Americans also tuned into three National Football League matchups — another beloved holiday tradition. With that in mind, let’s rewind almost a century for more gridiron competition … but this time involving a legend named Roy “Wrong Way” Riegels.

It was the 1929 Rose Bowl, and Riegels — who played center for the University of California Golden Bears — retrieved his teammate’s fumble on the Georgia Tech 30-yard line. But instead of simply falling on the ball or advancing it, Riegels turned around and dashed 69 yards in the wrong direction toward his own team’s end zone. Golden Bear quarterback Benny Lonn finally caught up to his confused teammate at the 3-yard line and tried to turn him around. But it was too late, and the Georgia Tech defense swarmed over Riegels and tackled him just in front of the end zone.

The result? The Golden Bears eventually lost the game 8-7, while opponent Georgia Tech claimed their second national championship. After his infamous play, Riegels was in despair. 

“Coach, I can’t do it. I’ve ruined you, I’ve ruined myself, I’ve ruined the University of California. I couldn’t face that crowd to save my life.” 

“Roy,” responded his coach, Nibs Price, “Get up and go back out there — the game is only half over.”

That’s good advice for anyone who’s made a wrong turn or two in life, which means all of us. And it’s also a reminder that centuries before Roy Riegels lost his way on the football field, Jesus assured his own followers that they wouldn’t lose theirs once he completed his earthly mission and returned to God:

“If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever,” Christ explained. “He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”

Later, Jesus added: “I have spoken these things to you while I remain with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”

For modern-day Christ-followers like you and me, the Holy Spirit empowers us to do God’s will and bear fruit for his kingdom. That’s why we should always remain alert to his prompts and teachings, which can come from just about anywhere. It might be a Bible passage that pops out with new meaning. Or maybe it’s a spiritual truth that emerges during a Small Group discussion. And the Holy Spirit can also speak through a conversation with a friend or stranger, or even out of an odd circumstance in the workplace. The possibilities are endless.

Let’s remember that the Holy Spirit — our wonderful Counselor — doesn’t just give us advice. He also exposes the truth and invites transformation. So, have you gone the wrong way along your faith journey? He’s ready to help you make that much-needed U-turn.

Family Reunion

This is the family history of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of David, and David came from the family of Abraham.

– Matthew 1:1

When you were in grade school, were you one of the popular kids? Or were you — like many children — a bit awkward and introverted? If you weren’t part of the clique, chances are that you were the odd man out when choosing teams for kickball.

Things don’t change as we get older, whether it’s on the playground or in the office park. How many times have you been turned down for that big promotion or lost out to another job candidate? And has your boss ever criticized your sales presentation in front of your co-workers? Rejection can be brutal. 

But there IS some good news, even for those of us who were never asked to the senior prom or chosen for the varsity football team. And it’s much more important and lasting:

Our Creator — the most powerful and loving Presence in the universe — not only knows you and me by name, he’s also chosen us to join his family. That means that once we’ve put our faith in his son, Jesus, we become an adopted child of God. As John 3:16 reminds us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

As children of God, we’ll have quite an inheritance to enjoy for eternity. But we don’t have to wait until we die to enjoy some of these incredible family benefits. One is the privilege of knowing God in a personal relationship. Through prayer, we can come to him directly with our troubles, needs, and joys. It’s this close bond that helps us overcome the rough spots that we’re bound to face as part of the human experience.

It's also reassuring to know that God isn’t a strict, unknowable taskmaster who waits to zap us when we do wrong. Instead, our Creator is a warm, reassuring, and loving Father. Jesus even referred to God as Abba — a child’s word that translates into English as daddy.  

The incredible truth is that God has redeemed every Believer as his adopted children. If you haven’t already done so, today’s the day to join his family by thanking him and responding in faith, “Yes, Abba!”

 

All Things New

“He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.”

– Ruth 4:15

Ever had a computer or smartphone that’s infected by a virus or malware? If so, you know that helpless feeling when it crashes, freezes, or slows to a maddening crawl. And soon enough, that once top-of-the-line machine becomes nothing more than an expensive plastic paperweight.

But don’t lose hope. There are expert technicians who can clean out such infections and prevent future performance issues with your device. So, a once-dead phone or computer can often be restored to better-than-new condition. 

Every Christ-follower over the last 2,000 years can relate to this modern-day illustration. Like a reconfigured smartphone that now reboots without hesitation, we become born again once we put our faith in Jesus. And it’s at that point that we start over with a clean slate — ready to do good works to advance God’s kingdom. Think about all the times over the years that we’ve mistreated others, all the lies we’ve told, and all the time we’ve wasted: it’s all forgiven because Jesus paid the penalty we deserve by dying for you and me on the cross. 

Now declared justified in God’s eyes, we can look forward to an eternity of joy with our Creator. But until that day when we meet our Savior face to face, we’re empowered to live restored, fruit-bearing, Spirit-filled lives, which the apostle Paul explains in his letter to the Galatians:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

It's through Jesus — and Jesus alone — that we find our restoration. And it’s through him that all things become new again.

Family of Faith

“Who are you?” he asked.

“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

– Ruth 3:9

Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away. And it’s a reminder that the holidays can be either a time of joy and togetherness — or stress and conflict. In fact, stress expert Elizabeth Scott, M.S. comments that "many a happy holiday has been found by groups of people who have decided to celebrate with friends instead of family."

It's a sad commentary on the state of modern society. And in many ways, it's also a reflection of human nature. Whenever families gather, tensions can mount for just about any reason. Sometimes it's because of intrusions into personal space, like when the in-laws spend the night (or week) in a home that's already too close for comfort. There's also that outcast teenager who perceives their older relatives as judgmental, critical, or demanding. And let's not forget those pleasant conversations over Christmas dinner about politics and religion.

If this hits too close to home, you're in good company. Jesus himself — the Son of God — was often misunderstood by those closest to him: 

"A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family," the Savior once told his disciples.

Since even our own families can misinterpret our actions, have you ever wondered if God, our Heavenly Father, really understands all the mundane problems, annoyances, and trials that we face every day? 

He does. 

In fact, Luke's gospel tells us that Jesus was born amidst the poorest of circumstances — with an animal's feeding trough as his first bed. But that’s the way it had to be. From the beginning, our Creator knew that men and women were without hope because of the rebellious ways they lived out their lives. So, his response was to come to Earth in human form to live out the perfect life. That meant living among us through the sin-free Jesus Christ — the only acceptable sacrifice for our countless transgressions. And since the wages of sin is death, he’d pay the price for all of us through his unjust crucifixion between two common criminals.

Jesus fulfilled the soul-saving mission God had planned for him since the foundation of the world. The result was that our sin-debt was paid in full. And 2,000 years later, people around the globe continue to accept the Savior's gracious invitation to join his family of faith.

 

 

Generous Toward God

“May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

– Ruth 2:12

Compared to most of the world's population, Americans are incredibly rich. When we're hungry for a snack, all we have to do is walk to the kitchen for some fresh fruit — or, more realistically — a bag of chips. And if we're running low on supplies, a quick trip to the supermarket or Walmart fills up the fridge in no time. Even those of us on government assistance are rich by the world's standards. 

As Christ-followers (rich or poor), we're called to be generous with our possessions and resources. That’s because God blesses you and me in a myriad of ways, day in and day out. And since he's also the ultimate giver, and he wants us to be that way, too.

Think about the many blessings from our Creator. They vary, but likely include things like our health, job, home, family, friends, and church. And what about God's ultimate gift: forgiveness of our sins and an eternal relationship with him through our faith in Jesus?

God also wants every Christ-follower to abandon greed. But to do that, we must trust him rather than our riches. After all, bank accounts and retirement funds can shrink overnight through unexpected circumstances and economic uncertainties. Just ask anyone who’s between jobs.

As the apostle Paul explains in 1 Timothy, being generous toward God and his purposes renders much more than a warm feeling of self-satisfaction. Think of it as a guaranteed high-yield investment with dividends that you'll enjoy forever in the world to come. Our Creator challenges us to overturn our preconceived notions about money and possessions. And it's through his design that giving generously becomes getting more:

"By doing that, they will be saving a treasure for themselves as a strong foundation for the future," Paul says. "Then they will be able to have the life that is true life."

It's every Christ-follower's mission to serve as God's hands and feet on earth by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and housing the homeless. So, by making generosity a spiritual habit, we'll become more like him to help change our world for the better. Jesus sums it up through this reminder to us in Matthew 25:40:

"... 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"