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. 

Fear Not

Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.

– 1 John 4:18

It’s said that the admonition Fear Not appears in the Bible 365 times — one for every day of the year. But that assurance doesn’t inoculate Christ-followers from all anxiety and trepidation. For one reason or another, even seasoned Believers might be afraid to say yes to God. 

Why is that? First, we too often think of our Lord as a cosmic consultant, who offers well-intentioned suggestions rather than the all-knowing Creator who made us, loves us, and wants only the best for us. But saying no to God is perhaps the most basic form of sin. And mankind has been doing that since the first pages of Genesis with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Let’s also consider that saying no and playing it safe is a basic human instinct. Fleeing from danger (real or perceived) is logical when we consider our innate desire for self-preservation. Likewise, we might resist God when he calls us to do something that’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. After all, taking that first step can be awkward, difficult — and sometimes scary.

Perhaps selfishness is the primary reason so many of us fear saying yes to God. Agreeing with God often means we’re saying no to us. But when we turn our back on God, we must prepare for spiritual turmoil. God knows what He wants and how He wants to do it. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves in a much worse situation after our refusal. As the saying goes, sometimes we must feel the heat before we can see the light.

The good news is that God loved you and me before we loved Him. And since we’re Believers, He’s secured us in Christ. That means we don’t have to let fear govern our relationship with Him … or our relationships with others. 

With this in mind, let’s surrender our anxiety and fears, step out in faith, and serve as His hands and feet in our neighborhoods, the community, and the world. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light shine like that in the sight of men. Let them see the good things you do and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Identity Theft

See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him.

– 1 John 3:1

Identity theft is a growing crime involving the illicit use of personally identifiable information — like credit card numbers and Social Security details — for financial or personal gain. A recent annual Javelin Strategy & Research study revealed that criminals stole about $43 billion from U.S. consumers and impacted more than 16 million people. What’s more, over 70% of identity theft victims experienced some form of digital account takeover, including their online banking and social media accounts.

The damage from each incident can take thousands of dollars and several years to repair. But believe it or not, there’s another kind of identity theft that’s much more serious. It’s one that robs its victims of the abundant life they should develop and enjoy as Christ-followers.

How does this happen? Far too many people unknowingly assume a false identity through the negative messages they receive early in life. A common example is a parent telling their child that “they’ll never amount to anything” or that they need to set low expectations for their career or other critical life milestones. Over and over, children hear that they’re “just not smart enough” or “don’t have what it takes to make it.” And repeated early and often enough, these fictions can become self-fulfilling.

How do we take back our rightful identities? It’s a challenge that calls for a spiritual reality check. First, let’s look back at our past and identify and examine the negative messages we received early in life. Then think about who gave us these messages. Can we honestly say that these painful “observations” were true? The real truth is that we all have God-given talents and abilities. And our Creator knows each of us by name!

Whether it’s committed by a cyber-criminal or a sibling, identity theft of any kind is both destructive and debilitating. But here’s the good news: Knowing that we’re children of God gives us a settled identity that frees us from constantly trying to prove ourselves. And with our selfhood revealed, we’re free to love others actively — and approach our real Father with confidence.

Liberty or Death

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

– 1 John 5:5

Americans enjoy countless rights and privileges protected through federal, state, and local laws. And the First Amendment of the United States Constitution even guarantees our freedom to worship God as we see fit. But if we look at things through Jesus’ perspective, no one (of any nationality) has any real freedom. The truth is that we’re all slaves!

Regardless of what’s written in our Bill of Rights or President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, everyone without exception is a slave to someone or something. They might not have literal chains around their wrists and ankles. But as Christ puts it so bluntly:

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

This type of sin represents bondage to the world’s values, and it comes in many forms. It might be slavery to money and possessions, pleasure, fame, career — or even religion. But whatever its form, it boils down to substituting false, man-made gods for the One and Only True Creator.

Christ-followers like you and me are also slaves. The big difference, however, is that we willingly choose to give up the temporary things of this world for the true freedom gained from an eternal relationship with the Savior. And as our love for Him grows, our obedience becomes the natural expression of that love and the way we resist the competing loves of the world.

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey,” writes the apostle Paul, “whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Paul’s question reveals that our choice is one of liberty or death: following Jesus or following sin.

Is this a difficult decision? Let’s remember that our earthly possessions aren’t really our own, and we certainly can't expect them to last. We can lose our jobs unexpectedly through a layoff, and our homes and property can be ruined through a natural or man-made disaster. Serious health issues can arise at any time. And of course, the mortality rate for everyone is 100%.

The fact is that one day we WILL lose it all in one way or another. And unfortunately, most people will choose to do it through their slavery to sin. But there’s a far better and more satisfying choice: bondage to a very kind master through acceptance of Jesus’ generous offer of eternal life.

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever," Christ assures us. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

 

Love Like Jesus

The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us.

– 1 John 1:2

God is love.

We find this remarkable, three-word declaration in the New Testament book of 1 John. And it’s the good news that the world needs. But a quick check of the headlines reveals that society is looking for love in all the wrong places. Rather than embracing their Creator for comfort, wisdom, and security, most people choose to follow the false gods of money, entertainment, materialism, and pleasure — to name just a few.

God’s response is to reach out in love to them by using Christ-followers like you and me. Jesus calls us the light of the world. And that means we’re to illuminate faith, hope, and action so that people see our good works and glorify God. The implications for Believers are great because we’re called to be beacons of truth amidst the bleakness of the mundane. And to succeed in this mission, we must understand and convey God’s wonderful plan for his creation. However, the world doesn’t really care about how much we know. It just wants to know how much we care. 

The takeaway is that we must love like Jesus. But where do we begin?

We can start by sharing God’s love through character, which means bringing sincerity and hope to every interaction. Through community, we can bring unity to every relationship. And with communication (listening and speaking), we can show that we care enough to engage people where they are — and all while sharing the Good News of Christ in both word and deed:

“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech,” the apostle John explains, “but in truth and action.”

God's love brings us into real fellowship with Him and with his people. But we can’t continue that fellowship by pretending that we're perfect. Instead, it’s up to you and me as Christ-followers to walk honestly in the light. As Jesus encouraged his disciples through Matthew 5:16:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

That’s how we’ll love like Jesus.

Overcoming the Inevitable

“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”

– Luke 24:6-7

Why do so many people worry about dying? 

For those who aren’t Christ-followers, death represents the inevitable and the unknown. It’s a gaping, black hole. And who knows what’s at the bottom of the pit — or who’s on the other side? 

That’s not reassuring. But here’s some good news: If you’ve put your faith in Jesus as your Savior, you have nothing to fear from death. In fact, dying is simply the transition between our relatively brief existence on Earth and an eternity of joy with our Creator. All our troubles, tears, and sorrows will be things of the past. That’s something to anticipate rather than fear!

How is this possible? Because mankind is helpless to follow their Creator's perfect law, God did so himself in the form of a man (Jesus). He willingly accepted death on a Roman cross in the place of sinners like you and me. Then, Christ proved he was God-in-the-flesh by rising to life in accordance with Old Testament prophesies written centuries earlier. The huge stone that had sealed Jesus’ grave was rolled away, and the tomb was empty:

“I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” Jesus proclaims in Revelation 1:18. “I have authority over death and the world of the dead.”

One day, death will take you. But if you’ve put your faith in Jesus, death can’t keep you. It’s through the resurrection that he’s already defeated the grave: 

“I am the resurrection and the life,” the Savior announces through John’s gospel. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

The resurrection confirms everything Jesus claimed — and all the while launching his followers into mission. Likewise, it’s why we can believe Christ’s promises and have confidence in our eternal future. Because he conquered death, every Believer will overcome the inevitable.

Taking One for the Team

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 

– Luke 23:34

Taking one for the team means sacrificing for the good of the many.

It's an idiom that originates from baseball, where a weak hitter lets himself be struck by a pitch so the next batter has a chance at the plate. In the business world, a highly paid executive might take one for the team by accepting a pay cut so their employees can get a raise. And yet another example is someone who volunteers to babysit their neighbor’s twin 2-year-olds so the beleaguered parents can enjoy a rare night out.

Jesus’ crucifixion to pay for your sins and mine is the ultimate example of taking one for the team. Since mankind always falls short of God’s standards of perfection, Christ was willing to cover the exorbitant price by accepting the punishment we all so rightly deserve. It's thanks to his sacrifice that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

There are also situations where Believers must take one for the team. For example, it’s in Genesis that we read about the origins of the Jewish people through God’s promise of a son to the patriarch Abraham:

“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky,” the Lord declared, “and as the sand on the seashore.”

After years of fervent prayer, Abraham's wife Sarah finally became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac, even though the couple was very old. They were thrilled and grateful for their long-awaited child. But soon came God's unexpected call:

"Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah," he told Abraham. "Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

It was a shocking demand that made no sense to Abraham because God would never ask for something so precious. (Or would he?) Even so, Abraham obeyed God in faith, took Isaac to Moriah, and built a sacrificial altar. But just as he raised his knife to slay Isaac, one of God's angels called out:

"Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way! Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son."

Abraham proved his devotion to his Creator, and his descendants indeed spread across the earth. One of his ancestors was Jesus Christ, who 2,000 years later would also prove his devotion by purchasing our salvation on the cross through his sacrificial love and forgiveness. He took one for the team.

Hot Pursuit

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

– Luke 19: 9-10

When asked by one of the Pharisees — a strict religious sect — to name the greatest of God’s laws, Jesus astounded his audience by the simplicity and clarity of his response:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment,” Jesus said. “And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Christ’s declaration reminds us that love is an action word. In Luke’s gospel we find the story of the Prodigal Son, where a loving father welcomes back his wayward — and totally undeserving — child with open arms. Let’s also consider Jesus’ parable of the shepherd, who searched tirelessly for a single missing sheep. When he finally found it, he returned it triumphantly to the flock. Christ also told his disciples about a man who sold all his possessions to buy a field. But it wasn’t just any plot of land. Instead, it was one that held buried treasure. And while the cost to buy the field was staggering, the man did whatever it took to gain the prize.

These parables underscore the fact that Jesus pursues those who are far from God. After all, God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son (Jesus) so that those who believe in him will have eternal life. God willingly let Christ suffer and die in our place to pay for our many sins — past, present, and future. 

The result for every Believer will be an eternity of peace and joy with our Creator. And it all starts the moment we stop running away from God … and start putting our faith in Jesus.

In God We Trust

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

– Luke 18:29-30

Thanks to the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), the money you deposit at a member bank — up to at least $250,000 — is protected if that bank fails. But it wasn’t always that way. 

During the Great Depression, thousands of banks failed after anxious depositors tried to withdraw their funds en masse, and the life savings of millions of Americans was wiped out in the process. The FDIC’s launch in 1933 helped restore confidence in the nation’s banking system. So, for nearly a century, depositors have trusted the federal government’s promise that they won’t lose a penny in their FDIC-insured accounts.

This ironclad guarantee continues to stabilize our nation because citizens know they can literally bank on it. There’s no need for accountholders to panic or lose sleep, regardless of the headlines. And that’s a comforting thought in these tough economic times. But perhaps we should find greater solace in the motto that’s printed on every dollar bill:

In God We Trust

The Bible is packed with reasons for trusting our Creator. For example, the Lord assured the Israelites who had left Egypt that he would drive out the nations before them and give them the Promised Land. God also promised to one day re-gather his scattered people (the Jews) from around the globe. About 2,500 years later in 1948, he did just that through the emergence of the State of Israel. And no doubt our Creator kept his greatest promise through the birth of the world’s Savior (Jesus) in an obscure outpost of the Roman Empire.

The Scriptures also predicted Jesus’ crucifixion centuries before it happened. His resurrection just days later not only defeated the power of sin and death, it cancelled the astounding debt that you and I owe for willfully breaking God’s perfect Law and failing to live up to his standards of perfection. We were guilty and powerless. Now — by putting our faith in Jesus — we’re forgiven, free, and empowered to do God’s will through our words, thoughts, and deeds.

It’s no wonder that Believers trust their rock-solid Creator rather than their transitory wealth, status, or self-righteousness. The promises God makes are the same promises he keeps. And in these uncertain times, it’s reassuring to know that we can take that to the bank. 

Father Knows Best

“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

– Luke 11:13

What’s the best advice your father ever gave you? 

That’s the question Real Simple magazine posed to its readers several years ago. Here are a few of the savvy answers the publication received:

• If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.
• Never try to solve problems at night. They always seem worse than they do in the morning.
• You don’t have to answer the phone just because it rings.
• Life is better when you have a good time … and bring someone along for the ride.

A father's words can have a profound impact (good or bad) on his home and children. And everything he says and does — and how he lives out his life — makes an eternal difference to those around him. This was also true for Jesus. He called God (his own Father) Abba, which translates to Daddy. As Christ-followers, we, too, have the extraordinary privilege of knowing God as our loving Abba. So, it should come as no surprise that he has some important advice for his children: you and me.

One way we can get it is through the Bible — especially the book of Proverbs, which is full of thoughtful guidance from wise, God-centered people, who traveled their faith-journeys centuries before our time. And their words to us today are not only insightful, relevant, and trustworthy, they’re also inspired by our Creator.

It’s when we finally take God’s messages to heart that we begin a transformation into the men and women he wants us to be. Eventually, we mature enough in our faith that he shows us glimpses of his reality. And like an inquisitive child who’s finally learned a lesson or two the hard way, we begin to see through new eyes from our Father’s perspective.

Unfortunately, we tend to learn slowly. So, to help us understand, he had to reveal himself by literally putting a human face on the divine. God lived out the human experience without sin in the form of Jesus Christ — even if his creation didn’t recognize him at the time:

“Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?” Jesus once asked his inquisitive disciple. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Jesus’ comments were a simple answer to humanity’s ultimate question. If we want to know the who-what-where and why of God, we first must know Christ — the One he’s already sent to us. Because the more we know and experience the Son, the more we’ll need to know and experience the Father.

That’s some good advice for every Believer to remember … and live out. After all, God is our Father. And he knows best.

The A-Team

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

– Luke 10:2

What do The Dirty Dozen, The Bad News Bears, and The A-Team have in common?

These popular old school classics share the same general plotline: A group of unlikely misfits works together to achieve their objective despite significant obstacles. The characters argue with each other and face numerous setbacks along the way. But they eventually rally behind their leader, beat long odds, and accomplish the improbable.

It’s a feel-good story that never grows old. And it really IS an old story — about 2,000 years-old — to be specific.

In this case it’s the second half of the Bible, which is better known as the New Testament. Much of its real-life plot revolves around a group of unlikely characters, who learn from their all-knowing leader (Jesus) to change the course of history. We read that these diverse individuals were Christ’s hand-picked followers. Some were fishermen, one was a tax collector, and another (Simon the Zealot) might be considered a terrorist by today’s standards. Think of them as the original Dirty Dozen.

Known as apostles, they were a dubious group for such an important assignment: Changing the world for Christ’s kingdom one person at a time. But since it’s a mission that continues to this day, maybe it’s no surprise that God still chooses society’s outsiders, outcasts, and the otherwise unremarkable to do his will.

Some modern-day Christ-followers work for insurance companies, supermarkets, retail stores, and banks. Others are homemakers, sales representatives, police officers, and marketing executives. And many are between jobs, retired, or working part-time. But for all their differences, there’s a common denominator: a fervent belief in Jesus as their Savior. It’s this same belief that helps them share the joys and overcome the struggles, disappointments, and even tragedies that are entwined in the human experience.

Along the way, these Believers have also learned a vital lesson: Their own strength and wisdom is worth little toward surmounting the world’s obstacles. But this is to their advantage:

“That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties,” the apostle Paul proclaims. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

And indeed, God does much through the weaknesses of these so-called Everyday Joes. Families are fed, clothed, and housed through their contributions and work in local food pantries, the Salvation Army, and similar organizations. The sick are cured through the efforts of healthcare professionals, who also happen to trust Jesus. And still other Christ-followers teach the illiterate to read and the undereducated to gain critical life and job skills.

That’s a brief list of the ways Jesus can change the world when you and I join his mission and adopt his priorities. As the A-Team’s leader — Colonel Hannibal Smith — so aptly put it in every episode:

“I love it when a plan comes together!”

 

Smoke and Mirrors

 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

– Luke 9:35 

Slot machines and music concerts may draw big crowds in Las Vegas, but magic acts like Penn & Teller, Mat Franco, and Shin Lim are sometimes the hottest tickets in town. Their clever illusions and sleight of hand are designed to trick the eye — and all while deceiving the audience that it’s possible to make an elephant disappear into thin air. The crowd knows there must be a trick, yet they still want to believe the incredible. Meanwhile, the magician never reveals the truth: the secrets behind their hocus-pocus.

Revelation reaches a much higher level when one's eyes are opened to a spiritual truth that changes everything. For Christ-followers it happens when God shows us we’ve taken the wrong path in some area of life. Then there's the ultimate eye-opener: when non-believers awaken to the fact that Jesus is more than a teacher or prophet — He’s God’s Messiah. 

"I am the way, the truth and the life,” Christ declares in John 14:6. “No one comes to the Father except through me."

It’s then that God’s light shines through. They realize they’ve broken God’s perfect Law … and they need Jesus as their Savior. Unfortunately, most of the world still chooses to remain deceived amidst the utter darkness of its existence. Consider Pontius Pilate’s rhetorical question to Christ in John 18:38: 

“What is truth?”

The Truth that Pilate questioned is a Person rather than a concept. Moreover, He’s quite near to those who seek Him. As Christ-followers, we can access Him through the Bible, prayer … and even wise counsel from fellow Believers. And that’s also why we should have less trouble than others with discerning what’s right and wrong — even though millions have already redefined good and bad to create their own morality and truth. So, amidst this increasingly murky backdrop of deception, let’s look at our own reflection and ask ourselves:

Do our words, thoughts, and deeds have substance … or are they just smoke and mirrors?

Membership Has Its Privileges

So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.” 

-- Luke 7:22

In 1987, American Express launched the Membership Has Its Privileges advertising campaign, which revolutionized the credit card industry by shifting its marketing focus from a transactional payment tool to an exclusive lifestyle club. The campaign’s commercials depicted wealthy cardmembers enjoying exotic vacations, upscale dining, and VIP event access. Their underlying message was that American Express cardmembers — unlike the general public — qualify for exclusive perks and an elite lifestyle. 

American Express recognized the attraction of exclusivity, which starts early and extends long into adulthood. For example, were you one of the popular elementary school kids who was always picked first for the kickball team … or were you the odd-man-out nearly every time? And if you grew up in the 70s, 80s, or 90s, were you always wearing the latest pair of designer jeans or Air Jordans?

Here's some good news, particularly for those of us who were never crowned king or queen of the high school prom or lettered on the varsity football team. And it covers something much more important and lasting:

God — the most powerful and loving Presence in the universe — has invited you and me to join his royal family. Once we put our faith in Jesus as our savior, we become an adopted son or daughter of our Creator, who also happens to be the ultimate loving Father (“Abba”). And as God’s children, we’ll enjoy an amazing inheritance for eternity.

It’s an offer that seems too simple and good to be true, but it’s not. In fact, Jesus welcomes, heals, and restores — regardless of our social status or background. And we don’t have to wait until we die to enjoy some of these perks and benefits. One is the privilege of knowing God within a personal relationship. Through prayer, we can come to him directly with our joys, needs, and sorrows. It’s this close bond that helps us overcome the obstacles and challenges we’re guaranteed to face in life.

This amazing offer is open to all. But it’s also exclusive because only those who put their faith in Christ alone will be welcomed into the Kingdom. It’s a crucial reminder that membership indeed has its privileges, and Jesus long ago paid our entrance fee. Now it’s up to you and me to respond: “Yes, Abba!”

Why We Serve

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

– Luke 6:35

In 1942, the U.S. Government premiered the first film from a series called Why We Fight. Produced by legendary Hollywood director Frank Capra, these powerful motion pictures were designed to educate America’s armed forces and the public about the causes of World War II and the principles on which our nation stood. 

Fast-forward to 2026, and Christ-followers are still fighting powerful adversaries. For example, the media is actively promoting cultural narratives that oppose the faith — and all while attacking those who refuse to accept unbiblical perspectives, lifestyles, and initiatives. Likewise, many government leaders and bureaucrats are either looking the other way, or they’re helping to spread the corrosive messaging. What was once evil is now considered good, and what’s good is now considered evil. 

While darkness and confusion seem to reign these days, let’s not be discouraged. After all, life in God’s kingdom operates differently than the kingdoms of this world. Let’s consider Jesus’ declaration in Matthew 5:16 to some of his earliest followers:

“Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

What does he mean by light? It’s really that inner Power that God grants each Believer for exhibiting his goodness through word and deed. That light might appear in the form of helping an elderly neighbor by running a much-needed errand … or volunteering to manage a co-worker’s project when they’re struggling to finish an earlier assignment. Or it might involve cleaning up a community park or visiting residents at a local assisted living center. The possibilities are endless.

Believers are called to be Jesus’ hands and feet on earth while we wait for his return or that day when he calls us back home. Until then, let’s remember that serving others makes us more like our Savior, which is another good reason to follow in his footsteps:

“In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served,” Jesus explains. “He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people."

With apologies to Frank Capra, the question for Christ-followers isn’t why we fight. Instead, it’s why we serve.

The Fixer Upper

Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

– Luke 5:31-32

Although home renovation is hardly a new concept, the related house-flipping industry has more recent origins. The principle behind flipping is to buy a foreclosed or otherwise distressed property at a bargain-basement price, fix it up quickly, and then sell it for a big profit. For example, the Magnolia Network’s popular TV series The Fixer Upper follows Waco, TX-based Chip and Joanna Gaines as they renovate the worst homes in the best neighborhoods. The results from their shared efforts are nothing less than spectacular. What were once useless eyesores are transformed into cherished homesteads.

Every Christ-follower can relate to this illustration. Like run-down properties made new, we become born again once we accept Jesus Christ through faith as our Savior. We start over at that point with a clean slate with God — now ready and able to do good works to advance his Kingdom. All our failures and sins (past, present, and future) have been forgiven. And it’s all because Jesus willingly paid that heavy price and died in our place on the cross.

As new Christ-followers we become transformed in the way we live, the way we see the world, and the way we look toward the future. But like a weather-worn house with a bad foundation, the renovation takes time … and it’s on the Master Builder’s timetable. Ezekiel 36:26 offers us this amazing promise:

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

God — like those home pros we watch on TV — enjoys transforming the worthless into the worthwhile. And he tends to accomplish his plans in some unlikely ways and places through some even more unlikely people.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” our Creator proclaims through the book of Isaiah. “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

Liberty or Death

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will  baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” 

– Luke 3:16

Americans enjoy countless rights and privileges protected under federal, state, and local laws. And the First Amendment of the Constitution even guarantees our freedom to worship God as we see fit. But if we look at things through Jesus’ perspective, no one (of any nationality) has any real freedom. The truth is that we’re all slaves! 

Regardless of what’s written in our Bill of Rights or President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, everyone without exception is a slave to someone or something. They might not have literal chains around their ankles. But as Jesus puts it so bluntly:

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

This type of sin represents bondage to the world’s values, and it comes in many forms. It might be slavery to money and possessions, pleasure, fame, career — or even religion. But whatever its form, it boils down to substituting false, man-made gods for the One and Only True Creator.

Christ-followers are also slaves. The big difference, however, is that they willingly choose to give up the temporary things of this world for the true freedom gained from an eternal relationship with the Savior.

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey,” writes the apostle Paul, “whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Paul’s question reveals that our choice is one of liberty or death: following Jesus or following sin.

Is this a difficult decision? Let’s remember that our earthly possessions aren’t really our own, and we certainly can't expect them to last. We can lose our jobs unexpectedly through a layoff, and our homes and property can be ruined through a natural or man-made disaster. Serious health issues can arise at any time. And let’s face it: the mortality rate for everyone is 100%.

The fact is that one day we WILL lose it all in one way or another. And unfortunately, most people will choose to do it through their slavery to sin. But there’s a far better and more satisfying choice: bondage to a very kind master through acceptance of Jesus’ generous offer of eternal life.

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever," Christ assures us. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

 

Hope Personified

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

– Luke 1:32-33

One of the great things about the English language is that a single word can mean so many different things. For example, we might say that we love going to church, we love pizza, and we’d love for our football team to win the Super Bowl.

The same is true for the word hope. We hope that food and gas prices will decline. We hope we’ll make it to the office on time. And we also put our hope for eternal salvation in Jesus. After all, He’s the fulfillment of God’s promises … and the Savior for all people.

Christ-centered hope isn't anchored to empty promises. During his brief time on earth, Jesus cured the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins, and became a living sacrifice to pay the price for all the wrongs of the world — just as God had planned it at the foundation of the world. Christ’s resurrection from the grave — just as he had predicted it — proved his mastery over death. And 2,000 years later, the Savior’s words continue to change lives and render hope. 

Jesus’ status as hope personified is a certainty that every Believer should embrace. But sometimes that’s easier said than done because there are situations where we can't see the big picture. We don’t know the life-changing people and circumstances that God will place into our existence. And we also don’t have his vantage point of knowing what’s around the corner and miles up the road. Moreover, it’s hard for us to see a greater purpose in our lives when we're going through the pain of unemployment, lingering illness, family issues, or even death. But God is in control. And for those who trust and follow him, he offers this assurance:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you,” says our Creator. “Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

To borrow the title of an old-time Gospel song, this promise is nothing less than Blessed Assurance. We know without a doubt that God — through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross — has taken care of our past, present, and future. So, in a world marked by tragedy, sorrow, and uncertainty, we can still find hope for today … and tomorrow.

 

Follow the Leader

“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.” 

– John 15:5

Imagine that it’s nighttime, and it’s raining so hard that you can barely see over your car’s hood. The fog and mist have rolled in. And you can’t risk slowing down or pulling over to the roadside. It’s a multi-vehicle accident just waiting to happen.

So, how can you make it safely to your destination? 

When it’s raining cats and dogs, sometimes the best move is a serious game of Follow the Leader. That means following the dim red taillights of the vehicle ahead of you and matching the driver’s every turn. When he taps his brakes, you do, too. And if he bears right, you don’t ask questions. That’s because you know he can see what’s up ahead. Danger awaits if you try to make it on your own. So ultimately, it’s a matter of trust.

Isn’t that also true for every Christ-follower — as well as the pastors, elders, and teachers who lead them? Jesus asked his disciples to follow him into storms, hostile crowds, and towns full of unbelievers. Those were hazardous situations. But like that lead driver on the highway, Jesus could see what was ahead. And he led those who believed in Him to experience life in its fullest.

That was fine 2,000 years ago. But what does it mean to follow Christ in the 21st century?

Simply put, Believers should imitate Jesus. That means following His example of communion with God through regular prayer, Bible reading, worship, and gathering with other believers. We can also mimic our Savior by being a friend to the weak and helpless, sharing our material blessings, and being an advocate for justice. And that barely scratches the surface.

If you’re of a certain age, maybe you wore a What Would Jesus Do (WWJD) bracelet or had the bumper sticker on your car. And it’s still the BIG question — more so now than ever considering these stormy days of social, economic, and political turmoil. Indeed, what would Jesus do? 

There’s only one way to find out. Let's follow the Leader!