Penny for Your Thoughts

It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 

– 3 John 3

The U.S. Treasury minted about 540 billion Lincoln pennies between the coin’s 1909 introduction and the series’ end in November 2025. And nearly each one features the motto In God We Trust inscribed by Honest Abe’s profile. 

You’ll also see the phrase E Pluribus Unum — Latin for Out of many, one — on the penny’s flip side. An early motto of the United States, it’s a reminder that our nation was born when the 13 Colonies united behind the common cause of liberty. The Founding Fathers from Massachusetts often clashed politically and socially with their compatriots from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Georgia. But they set aside their many differences to write the Declaration of Independence, win the Revolutionary War, and eventually ratify the Constitution.

Here’s where the Bible lesson comes in: The Church — meaning all Christ-followers on Earth — is also an entity that’s marked by distinct differences. Believers come from various religious traditions and have a broad range of preferences regarding worship music and sermon style. Likewise, the Church is also a place where all races are welcome and present. It mingles the rich, the poor, and the middle class. But what unites them all — or at least should bring them together — is a common faith and focus on Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Shortly before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus prayed to his Father (God) about the Church — and not just his original followers, but also Believers like you and me in the centuries to follow: 

"I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Christ’s prayer for his followers’ unity links the dusty streets of 1st century Israel with the crowded superhighways of modern North America and Europe … and everywhere in between. Moreover, it’s a reminder that Believers were never meant to go through life alone. Instead, we’re to gather regularly to share our joys, troubles, triumphs — and even doubts — all to strengthen our walks of faith. We’re also secure in God’s love, so there’s no need to compete for recognition or control. And that means we can use what we have to strengthen others … and help God’s work flourish. 

As Believers united in Jesus, we’re indeed one out of many. And it’s also in God we must trust.

The Naked Truth

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

– 2 John 6

First published in 1837, The Emperor’s New Clothes is a beloved short story by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. He wrote that there was once an emperor whose life revolved around fashion. This ruler even had a stylish outfit for every hour of the day. So it happened that two swindlers — claiming to be master weavers — arrived at his castle. And they assured the chic royal that they could tailor a unique suit of clothes for him from the magnificent cloth they would weave.

The emperor agreed to the frauds’ terms and gave them an extravagant down payment to begin their work. Eager to learn about his outfit’s status, the emperor sent his prime minister to inspect the tailors’ progress. Much to the prime minister’s surprise, he found only empty looms. But he was afraid to reveal his ignorance when the conmen asked for his thoughts about the imaginary fabric’s vivid colors and pattern. The prime minister replied that he was very impressed with their craftsmanship. And then he complied with the tailors’ new demands for more money and gold thread to complete their work.

“Is not the cloth magnificent?" asked two high government officials when the emperor came to view the progress for himself. "See here, the splendid pattern, the glorious colors," they proclaimed. Each pointed to the empty looms. And each thought that the others could see the material. 

"What can this mean?" said the Emperor to himself. "Am I so stupid? Am I not fit to be Emperor? This is disastrous," he thought. But aloud he said, "Oh, the cloth is perfectly wonderful. It has a splendid pattern and such charming colors." And he nodded his approval, smiled appreciatively, and stared at the empty looms.

The day soon came for the emperor’s grand procession — the celebrated occasion when His Majesty would reveal his new suit of clothes. As he walked by, the emperor’s subjects could only gasp at the spectacle. Silence enveloped the room. But no one dared to proclaim the remarkable sight before their eyes. Finally, a little boy pointed at the emperor and stated the obvious:

“Look!” said the youth. “The emperor has nothing on.”

It’s a lesson for every Christ-follower: Real love and truth belong together. And because love cares about people, it also cares about what’s true — which means love requires discernment. Hans Christian Andersen’s nearly 200-year-old tale also says much about our modern society. Its well-intentioned characters followed the politically correct path and told the emperor what he wanted to hear. But it took a naïve child to reveal the naked truth.

Give It a Rest

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

– Matthew 11:29

Climbing the career ladder, beating tight deadlines, and closing the deal are all marks of success in Western society. Millions of Americans even skip or cut short their well-earned vacations because they’re either afraid to fall behind at work or they can’t find time on their busy calendars. A study by jobs and recruitment website Glassdoor reveals that on average, American workers use only 54% of their eligible vacation time. For workers under "use-it-or-lose-it" company policies, this translates to hundreds of millions of completely forfeited days and billions of dollars in lost benefits nationwide.

Jesus had the world’s most important job — saving humanity from its sins — and his routine was often nonstop. In just three years he cured disease, raised the dead, and even calmed a raging storm. So, with such a tight schedule, it would seem like Christ would have little or no time to take a break or even socialize. But Scripture reveals that he indeed enjoyed quality off-time, and often with those who mattered the most to him. Jesus also admonished his busy disciples to give it a rest from time to time:

“Now come along to some quiet place by yourselves, and rest for a little while,” said Jesus, for there were people coming and going incessantly so that they had not even time for meals.

Likewise, Luke’s gospel records the time when Jesus visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary. While Martha busily prepared the food and straightened the house for a gathering, her sister Mary opted to take time out to listen to Christ’s message. Upset with Mary’s attitude, Martha complained to Jesus about the apparent injustice. But instead of scolding her sister, Jesus commended Mary for choosing the most important thing: quality time with him. 

Wouldn’t it be nice to interrupt our non-stop routines to recharge our batteries and forget the everyday grind? The Bible teaches that well-earned rest is part of God’s design. With that in mind, let’s take a break from our daily busyness so we can take time to be with Him.