As footage from California’s wildfires fills our newsfeeds and social media platforms, it can be difficult even to find words to pray. These are some of the most devastating fires the state has ever seen. Please join us in praying God’s Word and His character over all we see unfolding. Each Scripture passage is followed by a suggested prayer in italics.

“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. 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.” (Romans 8:26-27)

Lord, the aftermath of these wildfires is difficult to comprehend. In a posture of humility, I’m responding in prayer. Thank You for Your Spirit, who intercedes for me according to Your will. I’m trusting in that reality right now as I come to You.

THE CHARACTER OF GOD

“You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” (Nehemiah 9:6)

God, You are the Creator and Sustainer of all life. Your heart desires for Your creation to flourish. Our world is broken, and all of creation groans because of sin’s curse.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah” (Psalm 46:1-3)

God, You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. God, I claim this truth over every family and individual affected by California’s wildfires. Let them embrace You as their help and their source of safety and stability. In the face of incredible danger and destruction, be their very strength.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” (Psalm 34:18)

God, You are the Father of compassion. It is Your nature. You are not dismissive and cold toward the suffering of mankind. Your heart bends toward the hurting. Lord, show Your compassion toward the victims of California’s wildfires – toward those who have been evacuated and displaced, toward those who have lost homes, toward those whose homes lie in the path of wildfires, toward first responders, and toward the families of those who have lost their lives. Lord, be near. Grant comfort.

THE INTERCESSION OF BELIEVERS

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16b)

God, nothing is impossible for You. I pray for a miracle in California. You’ve calmed winds in the past; please calm them again. May Your hand and Your intervention reveal Your great power and presence. Please grant protection and creative collaboration to first responders as they fight flames and smoke. Please use the enormity of this natural disaster to remind us of the fragility of life and of our great need for You.

THE DILEMMA OF SUFFERING

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Father, natural disasters like this one pierce our hearts afresh with the reality that our world is filled with pain. Thank You for the promise of Jesus’ triumph. Lord, You alone can take devastation and bring forth good from it. You are sovereign and in control. Your thoughts and purposes are higher than ours. You are able to grant supernatural peace and hope in the middle of disaster because of Your victory over the powers of darkness. In the face of heartbreak and desperation, help souls turn toward you in humble dependence instead of turning away from You in bitterness.

THE HOPE WE HAVE

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.” (Acts 3:19-21)

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

Father, one day You will fully restore Your creation. You will make all things right. Lord, my heart longs for that day, especially as I see the ravages of sin’s curse in this world. Creation groans. Hear the lament of Your church, Lord. Thank You for the promise of a new Heaven and a new Earth. Thank you for placing the Spirit of Jesus within me, so that I can share Your hope with the world around me. God, raise up Your church to share hope right now. Strengthen local congregations in Los Angeles and its surrounding regions to clearly demonstrate Your love in action. May hurting families see Your hope demonstrated by Your church. Even so come, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

The 2024 General Election in the U.S. is upon us. That statement alone is bound to elicit a variety of emotions in each of us! Nevertheless, we are called as believers to represent Christ in every aspect of our lives, including our citizenship in a politically polarized culture:

2 Corinthians 5:20a
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. 

We hope this short list of practical suggestions will help all of us to approach election week with intention and seek to lift high the name of Jesus in our inner being and our outward interactions.

10 WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR ELECTION WEEK 

1. Approach election week with a heart posture of gratitude.

Thank God for the freedoms we currently enjoy and for the measure of influence we have been given through our constitutional right to vote.   

2. Honor God with the measure of influence you have been given.

Make plans to vote in accordance with Biblical convictions. The policies authorized by local and national governments affect life issues that the Bible speaks about directly. Learn where the candidates stand on these critical issues: https://ivoterguide.com/voter-guide. Reference Indiana polling locations and ballot information: https://indianavoters.in.gov/.

3. Anchor yourself in your God-given identity.

During an especially divisive time, remind yourself that your identity as an image bearer and child of God should distinguish you more prominently than your political affiliations do. As believers, our primary citizenship is in heaven, and our earthly citizenship should be leveraged for the realization of God’s glory and His kingdom. (Philippians 3:20-21, Matthew 6:33, 1 Peter 2:9-12)

4. Seek to regard others first as fellow image bearers with eternal souls. (2 Cor. 5:16)

In a season where many are quick to lament the brokenness in our political system and in the world at large, look for opportunities to share the hope we have been given in Christ, who has overcome this world and and offers eternal peace. (John 16:33, 1 Peter 3:15)

5. Use your words wisely.

Between campaign rhetoric, commentary by news anchors and political analysists, talk shows, commercials, and the opinions shared by friends and family, we are flooded with messaging. So, in a sea of speech, let wisdom characterize your words. Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue (speech) has the power of life and death. Further, believers are called to act as beacons of truth in a world plagued by the enemy’s deception. May we be known as those who speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) and whose speech gives grace to the hearer. (Ephesians 4:29)

6. Pray specifically.

Pull up a sample ballot (https://indianavoters.in.gov/) and pray over the names, all parties aside. Each name represents a soul and a family of individuals who need prayer for wisdom, guidance, and protection. Many names represent individuals and families in need of salvation.  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

7. Pray for spiritual revival in our country.

God’s heart beats for repentance and revival, not desiring that any should perish apart from His love. (2 Peter 3:9) Our greatest need in America is for men, women, and children to find new life in Christ. Pray that we would see widespread repentance and salvation in our lifetime, and that God would help us to actively engage in sharing the Gospel toward that end.

8. Set yourself up for success.

You know you pretty well. You know what triggers you to operate in the flesh rather than to follow the Spirit. During election season, evaluate your engagement with news media, social media, and personal dialogue. Allowing the Holy Spirit to help you discern the sources you consult, the time you spend consuming media, and the individuals you engage in conversation could prove valuable.

9. If you vote in person, show kindness to election workers.

Look them in the eye and thank them for serving our community. It may be the highlight of their day.

10. Exercise trust with the election outcome.

In advance, purposefully resolve to respond with godliness. If you lead a family, lead them to respond by praising the Lord, regardless of the outcome. Our hope does not rest in which candidate is elected to a powerful position, but rather in the God who is all-powerful. Determine to act as salt and light by the way you respond. (Daniel 2:21, Colossians 1:16-17, Proverbs 16:33, Job 42:2, Psalm 33:20-22, Matthew 5:13-16)

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May our engagement with this election season align with the heart of Jesus Christ, who embodied the fullness of grace and truth. (John 1:14) In election season and beyond, may we echo David’s prayer in Psalm 19:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

If you’re struggling, this one’s for you.
It’s for the ones who are hanging on.
The ones who, given enough silence and space, would certainly fall apart.
The ones who are holding onto distraction like a life preserver in order not to face the turmoil inside of them.

It’s for more people than you’d think. Everyone carries burdens – even those that don’t wear them on their sleeves. Why? Because we live in a broken world that groans for restoration. (Romans 8:22-23) 

And if it’s for you, then may you embrace this truth: Your Shepherd sees you.  

YOUR SHEPHERD SEES YOU.

I’m not sure how that falls on your ears. If you’re like me, then your mind is quick to accept it and move on. Mental assent…check. Even agreement. But does it resonate? Does it change anything in your spirit?

In Scripture, we see an Egyptian servant named Hagar claim this truth. In a desperate situation with literally nowhere to go, the angel of the LORD found her. In the most vulnerable place, God rushed in with hope. He gave her a glimpse of the way He would continue to lead and provide for her – even in her pain. And in response to His care, Hagar addressed him as “El Roi” – the God who sees.  (Genesis 16)

I think the goodness of God’s seeing us isn’t just that He knows the extent of our condition or the impact made by our circumstances. It’s that He knows our deepest needs and actually moves toward us in compassion and intention to act in our best interest.  

What good is a shepherd who sees one of his sheep in danger and does nothing? A good shepherd sees and acts. His sheep find comfort in his presence and attention because they’ve learned by experience to trust that He will not only watch over them but preserve and care for them. Christ is truly our Good Shepherd. (John 10) While His actions don’t always bring about a change in circumstances, we can absolutely trust them to accomplish His good purposes for us. (Jeremiah 29:11, Job 23:10, Psalm 33:11)

Do you believe that God actually sees you, and that He really has compassion on you? Do you believe He really does care? Deeper still, do you believe He will faithfully meet your deepest needs? Do you believe He is moving toward you to care for you?

In seasons of suffering, we desperately need these reminders over and over, like truth washing over us in waves. When the tide goes out and takes with it our façade of strength and strips away all our defenses, God faithfully refills the exposed spaces with His truth and grace.  

He really is present with you. He really does dwell with you. He really is working in and through you. He really is shepherding you with a purpose, even though He occasionally leads you through shadows.

Your Shepherd Transforms You. 

When suffering knocks at our door, it’s so easy to strain toward relief from the discomfort. Every native instinct screams, “This isn’t right!” We want to hit the accelerator and get out of there as quickly as possible. But shedding the discomfort can also forfeit something hidden and valuable beyond measure.

Discomfort is the very condition where transformation of the heart takes place. Forging of our faith leaves us stronger than before. God’s track record of faithfulness in our lives is lengthened. Our trust in Him grows deeper. Suffering provides new vantage points to behold His character. It unlocks new territory to journey with Him and creates a deeper bond with Him than we ever dreamed possible.

But those processes can only be performed by the Lord in a malleable heart. Our invitation is to lean in and stay open-hearted and moldable. (James 1:12)

Struggling believer, take heart. In your season of being worlds from “OK”, God is taking painful circumstances and distilling something very precious from them. What our enemy intends for evil, He can and will reclaim for good. Seasons of suffering offer us the gift of deeper sensitivity to God’s presence and movement.

It’s going to be ok, not primarily because “this too shall pass”, but because you have a faithful shepherd who has promised you His presence in and out of storms. He prepares a table for you right in front of your enemies. (Psalm 23)

And it’s actually ok because He’s there.

““Jesus, You promised
Those You’ve been given
You’ll keep a hold of
With no conditions
Here in this desert
Is my oasis
A table prepared
A feast of Your faithfulness””

— Bethany Barnard, "Feast of Your Faithfulness"

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Suggested Resources

A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23

Pain To Purpose Devotional

All My Questions

ALAINA ROBERTS | ADMIN. ASSISTANT
WORSHIP MINISTRY

Alaina Roberts is the Administrative Assistant for FBC’s Worship Ministry. She is passionate about the importance of speaking truth, and she loves expressing that through worship leading and writing. She’s happiest when taking adventures with her husband Josh, or when she has a cup of light roast coffee in hand. (Real mug, preferably.)

Summer is an awesome time to build community, especially for young adults. College students have returned home, calendars are typically lighter, and the warm weather is begging to be enjoyed! We sat down with Andreya Miller to learn more about opportunities at FBC for young adults not only to connect, but to make this summer count for eternity. Andreya serves both as FBC’s Communications Director and as a leader in The Bridge 1825 - FBC’s young adult ministry. So, if you’re a young adult, or you know someone who is, enjoy our Q+A with Andreya below!

What’s the story behind the name, “The Bridge 1825”?  

“The Bridge” comes from the idea of bridging the gap between your teen years and adulthood. It’s this “in-between” space where you’re on your own, but you haven’t moved into the next stage of life yet. “1825” is the age range of our group: 18-25 year-olds.

What’s been your personal story with The Bridge?  

It started off as a unique opportunity for my friend Arin and I. When we first started coming to FBC in 2021, we really just desired a community, and we didn’t have one. So it was basically us and a couple of our friends. We started coming here and asked around about a young adults group, and FBC didn’t have one at the time. So it was put on Arin’s heart to organize one. When we met with leadership at FBC, we learned that Matt and Shari Cox were in the beginning stages of establishing a space for young adults to connect. A few months later, Matt reached out to us and gave us the opportunity to be involved in it from the start. We met at his house - 12 of us who helped start it - and that’s how it began.

What does a normal gathering look like?  

Normally we do a study, a game, and snacks. In the summer months, we do a lot outside - volleyball, pickleball, or wiffle ball. Occasionally, we will do special nights of worship. Outside of Tuesdays, we do a lot of random stuff. We’ll put something in the group chat and whoever can come, comes.

What’s the craziest / most random THING you’ve done at THE Bridge?

I know immediately! We did hide-and-seek in the church building. There were people everywhere. I hid in a trashcan…I also hid in a cabinet…I definitely feel like that was the craziest thing we’ve done!  

How has God used this community in your life? 

Being a leader in The Bridge has helped me lead in other areas of my life. It’s really equipped me in ways I wouldn’t have expected it to. When I first started, I was on the leadership team, but I didn’t have responsibilities or take ownership yet. Once I gained more responsibilities, I wanted to make sure I was leading well and being a good example for other people. In that way, it’s really grown my character.

Besides leadership, being part of this community alone has grown me. You feel so lost and so lonely in that “18-25 gap”. No one in that stage of life has everything figured out, so you’re trying to answer questions like, “What do I want to do with my life?...Who am I?…What was I created for?...What’s my purpose?”

If you’re navigating all of that without community, it gets really hard and really lonely. So, Bridge has helped so much with that aspect. I have incredible friends, and we encourage each other in the Lord. We’re all like-minded, and we hold each other accountable. Being able to have friends that you enjoy being around helps a lot with the loneliness that you can experience in your 20s.

One thing I love about Bridge is that everyone is who they are; no one’s putting on a front. We’re very honest about where we’re at. I also love seeing everyone’s hunger for the Word. Right now, we’re going through the book of Matthew just a few verses at a time. It’s so good.

How have you seen THE bridge connect young adults OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WALLS?

Initially, it was just Bridge. Then last year, Arin and I had the idea to also play volleyball on Monday nights. It started off as just a handful of friends. This year, we decided to open it up and see what would happen. We met in a local church’s gym and invited everyone we could possibly think of. We started off with one court and had ten people the first night…and then it grew to fifty people! We were packing that gym every single week. It’s crazy. Now, we play outside at Goshen College during these summer months. Our attendance at Bridge has grown so much just from volleyball. There are people there who don’t go to church but have heard about it and started coming, or they’re looking for a young adult group, and we direct them to Bridge and invite them to come and join us.

What advice would you give to FBC college students who are home for the summer? How can you make one summer at home count for eternity? 

I would definitely encourage them to get into community. Even if it’s just for the summer, see how God will bless you in taking steps of obedience and surrounding yourself with godly people who encourage you to get into the Word and spend time with Jesus and just encourage you in your walk with Christ. It is such a gift that you don’t always realize that you’re missing until you have it. You’ll wonder, “How did I ever go without that?!”

The greatest thing is to spend time in the Word every single day. That is the biggest thing that’s going to change you. Spend time with God. Be intentional with the time that you have – whether that’s spending meaningful time with your family or the friends that you have here at home. Just be purposeful with your time, and don’t waste it. Maybe you do have friends here, but they cause you to go back to old habits; maybe this summer, you could make a shift.

How can new 18-25 year olds get involved WITH THE BRIDGE?

I think the big thing is, show up to something! Come join us for one of the Tuesday gatherings. We have an Instagram page that we update all the time. You can also go to the website.

We all sit together in second service in the front of the Worship Center. We’d love to meet new people if they feel confident enough to come up and say “Hi”. We’d totally love to meet them, add them to the GroupMe chat and make them feel comfortable coming to Bridge.

ANDREYA MILLER | COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Andreya Miller has a passion for using her gifts and knowledge to serve God’s people and her church family, which makes her a GREAT fit for our Communications Director here at FBC. She has a heart for the local church, as well as for those in other countries facing poverty and/or persecution for their faith. For inspiration, Andreya loves being immersed in nature (preferably the ocean!), and she happily owns the titles of aunt, coffee lover, sister, and friend. A really good day for Andreya would probably include a Star Wars marathon with an almond milk latte in hand. 

REACH Student Ministries is embarking on a short-term missions trip this summer, to the Dominican Republic! We sat down with our student pastor, Emerson Bandemer, to learn more about the trip. Below, you’ll find specific ways to pray, and hear from a couple of excited students.

Here’s our conversation with Emerson!

What kinds of missions work will REACH SM engage IN?

DIFREN FAMILY | FBC MISSIONARIES

On this trip, we will be partner with our FBC Missionaries, Sadrac and Sarah Difren, on the mission field in the Dominican Republic.

The primary focus that I’m emphasizing is evangelism. I want the students to be sharing their faith and the Gospel as much as they possibly can. It will be evangelism through the avenues of VBS and sports camp. They will have the opportunity to go into the villages and invite kids to VBS, to sports camp, and to church. Every group that goes out into the villages will have a translator. These invitation conversations are the window for students to share why these events are important, as well as to share their own personal testimonies of faith. During VBS and sports camps, the Gospel will be clearly presented, and students will serve in a shoulder-to-shoulder context. On one of the days, our team will feed the community a meal, and we will also have opportunity to support a ministry called Lily House that ministers to survivors of trafficking and exploitation. At the end of the week, we will have a large part in leading church services through testimonies and worship songs. It’s going to be a FULL week!

this trip is a HUGE extension of our church’s mission to Love God, Love People, and Influence our World with the Gospel of Christ. How do you think this trip will help that mission come alive for the students involved – in an even deeper way?

On the surface, most people think of a missions trip as “outreach” – and it totally is; we will have the opportunity to serve the local community there. It fits into our church’s mission to influence the world with the Gospel. But it doesn’t stop there.

Our primary focus in our mission at FBC is to EQUIP BELIEVERS…to love God, love people, and influence the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How does a short-term missions trip equip our students? Well, you have to do some things that push you out of your comfort zone in order to learn and be completely dependent on God. I know that each Gospel conversation our students have on the field will strengthen them to continue sharing Christ at home.  

As these students’ pastor, I know that the more the students are selflessly giving, the greater the impact will be. If they can fully engage in selfless service, take in the experience, and learn as much as they possibly can, they will be changed in a way that directly impacts the amount of influence they will have in our own community here in REACH, but also in their own communities at school, in their extracurricular activities, in their sports teams, or whatever it is that they’re doing.

What are some of your prayers for the students who are participating?

I pray for an authentic passion for the Lord as they return – that something would click in their faith that really makes it their own and that they would develop this urgency to share and spread the Gospel.

I also pray for camaraderie within the team. A healthy community and bond is always super special. My prayer is that this would carry over into our ministry, where our vision is to foster a culture where everyone knows they are wanted, welcome, and loved.

How HAS YOUR PRIOR INVOLVEMENT WITH SHORT-TERM MISSIONS impactED your life & ministry?

God has always placed an emphasis on evangelism in my life. In high school I went on two missions trips within the same year – one to Chicago, and one to the D.R. The trip to the D.R. was VBS focused, so I was communicating the love of Christ through my actions, body language, and through interacting with the kids. You can’t talk with them because of the language barrier, but you can play with them. They’re overjoyed that you’re there, and they have the biggest smiles on their faces. My experience in inner-city Chicago was the opposite. You’ve got this kid with a hardened exterior, an iPhone, and an Apple watch, not conveying happiness that you’re there…but you get to directly share the Gospel in conversation. The kids in the D.R. had so little, and they’re joyful. The kid in Chicago “had everything” and was so broken.
The need for Christ – and for the church – is the same in both contexts, but it’s revealed in very different ways. Regardless of appearances or perceptions, whether people have much or very little, all of us are in need of the grace of Jesus.  

HOW WOULD YOU ASK THE FBC FAMILY TO PRAY SPECIFICALLY?

1. Please pray for a softening of the hearts of people that we will encounter, that the Lord would already start preparing them to receive the Gospel. (Of course, we want to see the harvest, but we understand that sometimes we are seed planters.) I would love for my kids to see transformation and have a conversation with someone that accepts Jesus! We don’t know who those people are but God does.  

2. Please pray for as many opportunities to share the Gospel as possible. For example, when we go to the villages and go door-to-door, pray that we are able to share personal testimonies of faith with entire families. Pray that God would maximize our reach.

3. Please pray for safety. Pray that God goes before us and gives us safe passage as we travel internationally, as well as on the ground in the Dominican Republic.

Thank you for lifting up our team in prayer!

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WE ASKED A COUPLE OF STUDENTS, “WHAT ARE TWO THINGS ABOUT THE TRIP THAT REALLY EXCITE YOU!?”

“I’m so excited to see how God works differently in everybody’s lives and especially to see how He will push me out of my comfort zone to further His Kingdom! I’m also super excited just to be with the kids and love on them like Jesus calls us to! (And a bonus is that I’m excited for the food because it’s so so good! 🤩)” - Brooke Coursen

“Being able to go out of the country for my first time and to learn about what the culture is like in other countries; to be able to use the talents God has given me to serve others!” - Luke Kaminer

We can’t wait to see how God is going to use these students to advance the Kingdom and win hearts over for Jesus!

EMERSON BANDEMER | STUDENT PASTOR

Emerson Bandemer is the Student Pastor at FBC. Emerson is most passionate about helping students become a vital part of the body of Christ. Though teenagers are young, God still wants to use them to expand His Kingdom, today. Not when they’re older, not next year, not tomorrow, but today! Emerson and his wife, Cara, met in college. They have three beautiful kids, Rilynn, Beckham, and Lainey. In his free time, he likes to spend quality time with his family, play with his kids, watch sports, smoke meat, eat smoked meat, and stay active!

Someone wise once said, “You’ve gotta know your ‘why’.” Those who know their “why”, will go to impressive lengths for it.

For example:

• They will spend extra time and money to eat nutrient-rich foods.

• They will do the intimidating home-reno project.

• They will sit at the living room table helping their kids with algebra homework.

• They will put in extra hours on the job.

• They will have hard conversations and do the thing they don’t want to do.

• They will expend their time and energy to serve those who can’t offer them anything in return.

Behind every worthwhile task is an equally-worthy “why”.

And that’s great…until we find ourselves tired, or cynical, or burnt out…until we lose sight of what that “why” even was to begin with. Have you ever found yourself here?

• “Is it really going to matter if I give a gentle answer this time, when all I will get in return is an insult hurled back at me?”

• “Is it really going to matter if I stay on that serving team?”

• “I’m just going through the motions. I feel ragged and I keep doing things because I know I should, but I don’t feel anything anymore.”

• “Living the Christian life isn’t easy. In fact, in a lot of ways, my life was easier before I gave it to Jesus. Is this really worth it?” 

If you’re here – or in a similar space, then take a deep breath and let these words set up camp in your soul:

“THEREFORE, my beloved brothers; be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

This sounds so good, right?! We know deep down that we need this steadfast, immovable quality. We need a rock-solid assurance that yes…it really is worth it. At the end of the day, Yes - it really is going to matter.

Regardless of the task at hand, we need to remember our deepest, most essential “why”, and Paul reminds us of it with crystal clarity. In order to see it, we have to zoom out and observe the chapter as a whole.

1 CORINTHIANS 15

Paul wrote this chapter because the Corinthian church was flirting with some dangerous false teaching. They lived smack-dab in the middle of a culture that scoffed at the reality of bodily resurrection. Paul saw the massive problem caused by that kind of thinking. So, he laid out a scenario to give some perspective:

“If A, then B.”

IF A,	Then B.
If resurrection wasn’t real,	it wasn’t real for Jesus. (15:13, 16)
If Jesus wasn’t resurrected,	Paul's preaching and the Corinthian's belief would have been useless. (15:14, 17)
If Jesus wasn’t resurrected,	Paul and the apostles would have been misrepresenting God. (15:15)
If Jesus wasn’t resurrected,	believers had no hope of Christ’s finished atonement for their sins. (15:17)
If Jesus wasn’t resurrected,	those who had died had believed in vain and would have no hope of heaven. (15:18)
If Jesus wasn’t resurrected,	believers wouldn’t have any hope beyond fleeting, earthly pleasures. (15:19)
And if all of that were true,	no one on earth would be more pitiful than them.  (15:19)

That’s pretty grim. But then, on the heels of the worst-case scenario picture Paul painted, he declares the greatest news:

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (vs. 20)

(Can you hear the mic drop?!)

Christ HAS BEEN raised! And we who are united to Him by grace through faith, will follow Him in resurrection – not only the resurrection of our bodies in the future, but a resurrected hope, life, purpose, and existence for today! And because we are united to the Victor, we will also come out victorious over sin and death through Christ. (vs. 56-57)

Good thing that “IF A” isn’t true!! Thank God that we don’t live a “Then B” existence!

It’s with this context that we return to verse 58:

“THEREFORE, my beloved brothers; be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (vs. 58)

Paul was addressing a specific danger to the Corinthian church. But the truth he delivered actually speaks into the rhythms of our daily lives as followers of Christ:

If you’ve ever felt like living for God doesn’t matter…like your attempts to share Christ don’t matter…like your unseen acts of compassion don’t matter….then Paul is shouting, “THEY’RE NOT IN VAIN!…THEY MATTER!” And here’s why:

We have resurrection life right now and forever. Jesus’ resurrection, as Theologian John Boys said, “is the Amen of all His promises.” It infuses every act with eternal significance. It is the reason we have hope for more than this life only. Our faith would be in vain, HAD JESUS NOT RESURRECTED.

Our “Why” is that He DID.

OUR “WHY”

Our “why” is that He really did rise and validate everything He said on earth and everything that was prophesied about Him. He really did take away our bondage to the law and our slavery to sin. He really did give us eternal life that doesn’t end in death. He really did give us a purpose that will last for eternity and He really did free us from having to try and satisfy souls created for Heaven with hollow and fleeting earthly trinkets.  

God does not make a mockery of His children.
We never have to fear that all He promised is not true.
We never have to fear spending our lives in vain.
God did not give us a hope for this life only.

And, as believers, that is our “why”.

That is why we can remain steadfast in an uncertain world.
That is why we can remain immovable when circumstances change and people fail.
That is why we can abound in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor is not in vain.

If you’ve lost your “why”, then let Paul place it back into your hands.
Your belief system and your Biblical worldview is safe in the finished work of Jesus.
You are united with Him and can find freedom from addiction to sin – and the misery of trying to earn right standing before God.
You are liberated from trying to find your purpose in people or possessions or popularity.

Jesus really rose.
That means you don’t have to live for things that will pass away.
That means that you have a purpose that death can’t touch.

So, let this “why” fill your spiritual sails and propel you into the good works God has ordained for you to walk in today.
Every act done for His glory will never return void.
What you do is eternally valuable, and Jesus’ resurrection guarantees it.

What does the phrase, “All Hail” conjure up in your mind? America doesn’t have a monarch, and the phrase isn’t part of our everyday vernacular.

So, when we sing, “All Hail King Jesus”, what do we actually mean?

“HAIL”

The English word for “hail” is a translation of the Greek word, “chairo”:

Strong's #5463: chairo (pronounced khah'-ee-ro)
a primary verb; to be "cheer"ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well:--farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hall, joy(- fully), rejoice.

“Hail” has since been used for centuries as a means to greet rulers and royalty with honor, allegiance, and goodwill. But our cry to “Hail King Jesus” differs from every salutation made to an earthly authority. Jesus stands alone! He is the eternal King and the living God! We are right to “hail” Jesus with all of our worship, praise, adoration, affection, and devotion.

“ALL HAIL” 

What about “All?” “…All Hail.” Well, that adds a whole new layer of meaning:

When we say, “All hail King Jesus”, we express a desire for every man, woman, and child to joyfully acknowledge and proclaim Jesus’ supreme Lordship and eternal majesty.

Author and Pastor David Platt describes it in this way:

“…He is not merely a personal Lord and Savior who is worthy of individual approval. Ultimately, Jesus is the cosmic Lord and Savior who is worthy of everyone’s eternal praise.”

THE LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Scripture assures us that, one day, all of creation will address Him in this way:  

Isaiah 45:22-23 (ESV)

22 “Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5:13-14 (ESV)

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Although this cry will sound from all of creation, the heartbreaking reality is that some will proclaim it without redemption and without eternal hope. God’s supremacy doesn’t depend on who acknowledges it. God’s supremacy is the truest reality – the strongest universal law. To quote Pastor John MacArthur, “We do not ‘make’ Christ Lord; He is Lord!”

THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

In all of His holiness and perfect justice, this is the beckoning heart of our Lord: “[He] is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) The best news is that salvation by grace through faith is freely available right now!  

Isaiah 55:6-7 (ESV)

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, then your desire for all to hail Him springs from your own experiential knowledge of His worth. You have tasted and seen that He is good. You know Him as refuge because He has been that for you. You call Him Prince of Peace because you have been calmed and comforted by Him. He is your Savior, your Redeemer, your Shepherd, and your Great High Priest. He is Emmanuel – God with us.

The invitation for all to hail Jesus as King is an invitation to something better than we could dream or imagine!

“…His name will be the hope of all the world.” – Matthew 12:21

So, may the desire for all to hail King Jesus compel us - in this moment and each to come - to share His greatness and glory with others. May all hail King Jesus, the Lord of Heaven and Earth. May all hail King Jesus, the Savior of the World.

What’s the most meaningful gift someone has given you?

Most likely, it meant so much because that person knew you REALLY well.

That person knew your interests and values. Maybe even your quirks.

The gift was personal to YOU.

The gifts we receive say something about us.

The gifts we give say something about the people we give them to.

Although the Three Wise Men in Matthew 2 did not know Jesus personally, their gifts told volumes about their recipient. Somehow, they knew that Jesus was worthy of their worship. They knew that Jesus was royalty. For this reason, they selected gifts that were customarily given to kings.

James Montgomery Boice provides these helpful insights about the significance of the three gifts they presented Jesus:

• “Gold is the metal of kings. When gold was presented to Jesus, it acknowledged His right to rule.”

• “Incense…was used in the temple worship. It was mixed with the oil that was used to anoint the priests of Israel. In presenting this gift the wise men pointed to Christ as our great High Priest, the one whose whole life was acceptable and well pleasing to His Father.”

• “Myrrh was used for embalming. It was a gift of faith. We do not know precisely what the wise men may have known or guessed about Christ’s ministry, but we do know that the Old Testament again and again foretold his suffering.”

Jesus received gifts that pointed directly to His prophesied role as Messiah. They whispered promises of all that He would do on our behalf – both in His earthly ministry, and echoing into eternity as our King of Kings, our Great High Priest, and our Risen Savior. They were gifts that spoke the Gospel.

THREE Applications

1. This Christmas, enjoy the sweetness of relationships that make each gift under the tree meaningful. Each one tells a story of personal bonds between family and friends.

2. Believer, take a moment to remember what God’s gift of salvation communicates about you. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” The gift of eternal life means that you are deeply and dearly loved by the Living God. By a miracle of grace and mercy on the cross of Christ, you will spend forever enjoying His presence.

3. Finally, ponder what your gifts to God communicate. Each act of service, every loving deed, each display of compassion toward a hurting world, each financial offering, each lyric sung in worship, is a gift that powerfully declares something about God’s great worth.

   I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

   Your devotion to Christ is a gift that speaks powerfully about Him. What do we have, that we have not first received? We can give love offerings to God because He first loved us. He has absolutely filled our lives. And out of the overflow, we lift up our very lives – all we have to bring. He is worthy of it all.

If you’re like us, you’ve been taking in the heartbreaking headlines, images, and videos coming out of Israel and Palestine during the past few days. Sometimes, it’s hard to even know what to pray for. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is faithful to intercede for the burdens on our hearts when we can’t find the words (Romans 8:26-27).

Nevertheless, we’ve compiled a list of guided prayers below, to serve as a resource for you. They are organized using the “ACTS” prayer method. Our hope is that you read this post in a posture of prayer. If you’d like, you can hover over the Scripture references to read the complementary passages included as added prayer prompts.

ADORATION

 God, our Eternal King,

• We praise You for the absolute holiness and purity of Your character. You are set apart from the sin which corrupts human hearts and leads to senseless crime. All of Your intentions are good and true. (Psalm 145:17, Psalm 18:30, Deuteronomy 32:4)

• We call to mind Your sovereignty over every era of human existence. Nothing falls outside the realm of Your control. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12, Job 12:10, 42:2)
  

• You alone are the God who can repurpose evil for good, bending the evil intentions of mankind into stories of hope and redemption. (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28-29)
  

• You are the Warrior-King, the defender of the helpless. You will never abandon Your chosen people. (Exodus 15:2-3, Psalm 62:5-7, Isaiah 49:7-9, Jeremiah 3:14-18)

• You will put an end to the violence of the wicked. (Psalm 7:9, Psalm 37:27-28)
  

• You are the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 23:4, Revelation 21:4, Isaiah 25:8)  

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CONFESSION 

Father, in humility, we ask you to:

• Forgive us for the seasons when our trivial pursuits result in prayerlessness. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Psalm 5:3, James 5:16)

• Forgive us for our complacency toward the sufferings of others. (Hebrews 13:3, Philippians 2:4)
  

• Forgive us for often elevating our own self-preservation above Your purposes. (Matthew 16:25, Philippians 1:21)
  

• Forgive us for any instances where righteous indignation has turned to sinful anger in our hearts. (Ephesians 4:26-27, James 1:19-20)

• Forgive us for the roots of bitterness and selfishness in our own hearts that have led us to treat others with contempt or hatred, even in our thoughts. (Matthew 5:21-22)
  

• Forgive us for surrendering to fear. (Luke 12:32, 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 10:28)
  

• Forgive us for moments of despondency and hopelessness that disregard Your sovereignty and supremacy, paralyzing us from the pursuit of Your kingdom. (Romans 15:13, Romans 12:12)

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THANKSGIVING

Gracious Lord, we:

• Thank You for Your great compassion toward the suffering and oppressed. (Isaiah 61:1, Jeremiah 30:8)
  

• Thank You for extending comfort to those in peril. (Psalm 94:18-19, Psalm 40:1-3)
  

• Thank You that You are not far off, but rather, intimately involved in the affairs of mankind. (Acts 17:27-28, Daniel 4:17)
  

• Thank you for our eternal hope. Thank You for the promise that even death cannot separate believers from Your love and Your eternal life. (Romans 8:38-39)
  

• Thank You for the promise of everlasting peace. (John 14:27, Revelation 22:1-5)

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SUPPLICATION

According to Your will, we earnestly ask You:

• To extend mercy. (Psalm 25:6)
  

• To give us a heart for the suffering and oppressed. (Galatians 6:2, Psalm 82:3)
  

• To protect civilians in Israel and in the Gaza Strip. (Psalm 3:3, Psalm 46:1)
  

• To rescue hostages. (Psalm 34:4-7, Psalm 146:7)
  

• To reunite families and enable those affected by transportation closures to return home. (Psalm 27:5, Psalm 32:7)
  

• To transform the hearts of the persecutors. No one is beyond the reach of Your redemptive hand. (1 Timothy 2:4, Matthew 5:44)
  

• To grant wisdom to those in government positions. (Proverbs 21:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-4)
  

• To fortify and mobilize believers in the Middle East to share hope. (Psalm 31:24)
  

• To help us trust in Your redemptive plan as it unfolds in the Middle East. (Matthew 24:6-13)
  

• To help us recognize the spiritual battles manifesting themselves through physical battles. Please grant us an eternal perspective. (Ephesians 6:12)
  

• To use this crisis to turn the hearts of Jewish men, women, and children to their true Savior, Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 45:22, Romans 9:1-5)
  

• To surround Your people, as You have promised. (Psalm 125:2, John 16:33)

We pray all this in the powerful name of Jesus,
Amen

It’s a complicated time to talk about solitude.

• A percentage of Americans grapple with the fear of being alone, dubbed as “monophobia” or “autophobia”. (A global pandemic DIDN’T help us out much in this department!)

• The medical community has published findings that loneliness (and its destructive wake) in America is at an all-time high.[i] And yet, being “alone” doesn’t necessarily equal being “lonely”. (Ever felt lonely in the middle of a crowd?)

• Some suggest loneliness is less about who’s around, and more about the lack of healthy relational connection, a dilemma further complicated by the role of technology.

• We’re both dazzled by a new frontier of tech like we’ve never seen before, but we’re equally concerned about the dangerous physiological effects of excessive screen time.

• Terms like “mindfulness”, “grounding”, and “self-care” are circulating all over. It seems like outdoor recreation and mental health are making a comeback.

It feels like we, as a culture, are trying to figure out what we really need as it pertains to our humanity and our surroundings.

As followers of Jesus, what are we supposed to think about it all? What role does “solitude” play in our cultural moment? What is it? What isn’t it? Is it possible it’s the most underrated thing we all need?

WHAT IT’S NOT:

First of all, what ISN’T solitude?

1. It’s not merely being physically alone. It’s possible to have plenty of “solo” time in your daily routine and never truly experience solitude. Solitude, rightly understood, is about intentionally quieting your soul and your surroundings. Solitude doesn’t happen on accident.

2. It’s not being lonely. If we hope to embrace a healthy, Scriptural version of solitude, we need to recognize its distinction from loneliness. Loneliness is a negative emotion that reveals real or perceived unmet relational desires. Solitude is a state of intentional alone time for the positive purpose of renewal or reflection. Author John Thomas helps us with this:

   “…could it also be the case that the loneliness epidemic is not simply a result of being alone more often, but of being unprepared for alone time? Instead of conceptualizing alone time as healthy and productive — as solitude — it is viewed as a menace, a problem to be solved. If as a society we sought not to eradicate loneliness but to cultivate the capacity for solitude would we not be better served?”
   Sherry Turkle, Author and Professor at MIT, said it this way: “If we don’t know the satisfaction of solitude, we only know the panic of loneliness.”

3. It’s not the absence of community. Thinker and lover of God, Donald Whitney, provides this perspective:

   “Biblical reality calls us to family, fellowship, evangelism, ministry, and other aspects of life together in the local church for the sake of Christ and His kingdom. And yet, sometimes our souls crave separation from the noise and crowds into silence and solitude. Just as we must engage with others for some of the disciplines of the Christian life, so there are times when we must temporarily withdraw into the disciplines of silence and solitude…Without silence and solitude, we can be active, but shallow. Without fellowship we can be deep, but stagnant. Christlikeness requires both sides of the equation.”

   Jesus Himself taught us the value of solitude by example. Drawing away for solitude should not come at the expense of community. Instead, it is a discipline that should grow in tandem with the discipline of cultivating community.

WHAT IT IS:

Donald Whitney once again helps us out with this definition for solitude: “Solitude is the Spiritual Discipline of voluntarily and temporarily withdrawing to privacy for spiritual purposes.”

The value of solitude is its ability to clear off the mental clutter and set the table for spiritual renewal. Solitude isn’t an end in itself. Rather, solitude serves us by creating an atmosphere for our souls to finally commune with God.

CLEAR OFF THE CLUTTER

Solitude cuts through the siren calls of earthly pursuits. Author Greg Morse paints this (all-too relatable) picture:

“When I desire the world, when I grow too busy to be alone with God, when the world in my pocket entices me more than the world of the Scriptures, my soul stretches and thins, ‘like butter scraped over too much bread.’  My weakened desires take me away from God into my phone. I follow Jonah into the Tarshish of technology. And when I set sail several times, it becomes easier and easier to go again, and harder and harder to sit with God as before. My soul fidgets, anxious for something, anything to distract and entertain me. As I stick my hand in again and again for more and more salty snacks, my appetite for the great feast diminishes.”  

In his book, “Wisdom Pyramid,” author Brett McCracken describes our dance with social media this way:

“The sickness I feel – which so many people feel – is akin to that of the slot machine addict. We’ve been conditioned in a Pavlovian way to keep putting proverbial coins in the machine. The dings and flashes of our push notifications give us dopamine hits that keep us hooked, as they were engineered to do. We want to see who pinged us, what people are saying about our photos, and what’s getting the mobs riled up today. IT’s terrible for us, and we know it, but it’s like other vices – alcohol, tobacco, sugar – it’s addictive.”

The answer isn’t villainizing media or technology. However, we need to have a realistic grasp on whatever it is that distracts us, for it has the counterfeit capacity to consume our time and captivate our hearts.

SET THE TABLE

Distractions in check. Deep breaths taken. Now what? What actually happens in solitude?

For the believer, solitude is more about PRESENCE than it is about PRIVACY. Fellowship with God is the truest reward of solitude.

Author David Mathis gets to the heart of solitude here:

“…Merely getting away isn’t enough. There is benefit to be had in just letting your soul decompress and getting out of the concrete jungle, enjoying nature, and letting your soul breathe fresh air. But there’s nothing distinctly Christian about that. For those of us who are in Christ, we want to come back better, not only rested, but more ready to love and sacrifice. We want to find new clarity, resolve, and initiative, or return primed to re-double our efforts, by faith, in our callings in the home, among friends, at work, and in the body of Christ.

Getting away, quiet and alone, is no special grace on its own. But the goal is to create a context for enhancing our hearing from God in His word and responding back to Him in prayer. Silence and solitude, then, are not direct means of grace in themselves, but they can grease the skids…for more direct encounters with God in His word and prayer.”

Here are a few ideas:

• Be still. Acknowledge that, despite the contents of your day, your week, this month – God is sovereignly in control, seated on the Throne. He is not in a hurry, even though you may have been. You can find rest here.

• Recognize God’s glory in all that surrounds you. Apart from Him, nothing was made that has been made. (John 1)

  His ingenuity and brilliance are written all over the created world.

• Let the evidence of His glory lead you to praise. Give your mind space to reflect on His many attributes, one after another.

• Lean into gratitude. Start by thanking God for those blessings that easily come to mind (i.e. your family, a place to live, a job, a car to drive, etc.). Then, enter into thankfulness for the spiritual blessings He has given you in Christ. (Hint: You could use Ephesians 1 for this!)

• Meditate on and memorize a verse or passage of scripture.

• Pray. The “A.C.T.S.” method (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) is a great place to start.

START SMALL; START SOMEWHERE.

Start small.

Susanna Wesley, wife to evangelist Charles Wesley, in a houseful of children, was known to pull her apron over her head when she needed solitude. Doubtless, the fabric did little to diminish the noise or the chaos around her, but in that small “tent”, Susanna found a haven from the distractions and met with God. Maybe you don’t have an hour every morning. Maybe you have 5 minutes on your front porch at the end of the day. Claim it. The Lord will meet you there.

Start somewhere.

As stated earlier, the world knows the value of being outside. There’s nothing distinctly biblical about it. However, there is something profoundly good about meeting with God in the middle of the created world He fashioned. Nature has a way of pointing us to Him at every juncture. Psalm 19:1 tells us that, “the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” As a bonus, outdoor retreats have this advantage: they’re (usually) quiet!

However and wherever you start, we pray God uses the simple practice of solitude in your life to bring you closer to Him.

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WE ASKED OUR STAFF ABOUT THEIR favorite places to find solitude:

Andreya Miller: Pumpkin Vine Trail

Mackenzie Thornton: Boot Lake Nature Preserve

Travis Smith: My hunting properties, in the woods high in a tree, or out on the water before sunrise setting up decoys!!!

Alaina Roberts: Cobus Creek County Park, Pokagon State Park

Crystalin Trossen: Bonneyville Mill County Park, Notre Dame Campus (Especially around the lake / Grotto area)

Annie Bechtel: Potato Creek is always nice. Weko Beach / Indiana Dunes have nice areas to walk around.

Phil Byars: My answer is “The Woods”. Not a particular woods…it can be any woods! The Woodland Trails, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park, Dr. T.K. Lawless Park, Ox Bow Park, Sitting in a tree stand in “The Woods” in my backyard! These and many others have offered that place of solitude at differing times throughout the years.

[i] https://www.npr.org/2023/05/02/1173418268/loneliness-connection-mental-health-dementia-surgeon-general#:~:text=The%20report%20released%20on%20Tuesday,experiencing%20measurable%20levels%20of%20loneliness.

We’ve really enjoyed singing “New Name Written Down in Glory” at FBC on Sunday mornings. It’s one of those anthems that each of us who have a story of faith in Christ can grab hold of and sing like it’s our own…because it is! We sing the same set of lyrics, and yet we represent hundreds of unique stories of personal transformation in Jesus Christ.

ORIGIN STORY

The song dates all the way back to 1910, when a pharmacist-turned songwriter named Charles Austin Miles penned these words under the title of “A New Name in Glory”:

I was once a sinner, but I came 
Pardon to receive from my Lord. 
This was freely given, and I found 
That He always kept His word. 

There's a new name written down in glory, 
And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 
Oh yes, it's mine! (Yes, it's mine!)
And the white-robed Angels sing the story, 
A sinner has come home. (Has come home.)
For there's a new name written down in glory, 
And it's mine, (And it's mine,) 
Oh yes, it's mine! (Yes, it's mine!) 
With my sins forgiven I am bound for heaven, 
Nevermore to roam.

I was humbly kneeling at the cross, 
Fearing naught but God's angry frown, 
When the heavens opened and I saw 
That my name was written down.

In the Book 'tis written, "Saved by grace." 
Oh, the joy that came to my soul! 
Now I am forgiven, and I know 
By the blood I am made whole.

Two years later, Charles would write the beloved hymn, “In the Garden”.[i] After his 37 year tenure as editor and manager at the Hall Mack Publishing Company, the business was purchased by Homer Rodeheaver, and based in Winona Lake, Indiana.[ii] Charles’ involvement in the publishing company continued.[iii]

Charles Miles passed away in 1946. It seems his desires for his own legacy have been realized:

“It is as a writer of gospel songs I am proud to be known, for in that way I may be of the most use to my Master, whom I serve willingly although not as efficiently as is my desire.”[iv]
- Charles Austin Miles

Fast Forward to 2021…

Songwriters Charity Gayle, David Gentiles, Denita Gibbs, and student artists from The Emerging Sound, penned the lyrics and melody for “New Name Written Down In Glory” built on the foundation Charles Miles laid in 1910.

A NEW NAME

“WRITTEN DOWN IN GLORY”

Revelation 13:8 speaks of The Lamb’s Book of Life. In it are contained the names of those who belong to God, who will enjoy eternity in His presence. Scripture teaches that these names were, amazingly, recorded “before the foundation of the world.”

“AND IT’S MINE”

Earlier in Revelation 2, Jesus speaks to a church faced with the challenge of remaining true to the gospel in the face of false teaching:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers…I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” (Revelation 2:17)  

Co-writer David Gentiles reflects on the significance of the white stone:

“In the ancient law courts, white and black stones were used for registering the verdicts of juries—black for guilty, white for not guilty. You and I are found guilty under the penalty of sin without the work of Jesus breaking sin’s power and applying the perfection of Jesus’ sacrifice upon our sin to redeem us from death and liberate us to eternal life! …If Jesus is your Savior and Lord you can be confident that you have a white stone with your new name waiting for you in eternity. ‘There is a New Name Written Down in Glory’ and it’s yours!” 

Theologian and Author David Guzik offers the following context about the “new name” written on the stone:

“One idea behind this new, secret name is that it shows what an intimate relationship we have with God…Another idea associated with the new name is simply the assurance it gives of our heavenly destination. Your name is there, waiting for you. It is as if your ‘reservation’ in heaven is made.”

“THE I AM TELLS ME WHO I AM”

As children of God, our identity is secure. “Who I am” is not left up to the dictates of the world or even to our own introspection. The believer’s identity, at its deepest level, is, beloved, chosen, adopted, justified, forgiven, empowered, and free. (Ephesians 2, Romans 8)

If only we were able to sit down and share a conversation with Charles Austin Miles! We could have asked him what passages of Scripture inspired his choice of words. Whatever his response might have been, this we know to be true: We worship the One who authors our stories. He is in the business of transferring souls out of the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). He is, through Jesus Christ, welcoming us into our truest identity. “I am who I am because the I AM tells me who I am.”

Hallelujah - It was written down in glory all along.

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[i] http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/i/l/e/miles_ca.htm

[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_Rodeheaver#cite_note-13

[iii] https://www.staugustine.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2015/03/05/story-behind-song-garden/16247416007/

[iv] http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/i/l/e/miles_ca.htm

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“You are not your own.” It’s hard to imagine a statement more foreign to our society. In our cultural moment, self-discovery, individualism, and autonomy are applauded, and morality is relegated to the dictates of personal preference.  Our culture screams: “I AM MY OWN!”

…And yet…1 Corinthians 6 tells us that, as believers in Christ…we aren’t.

Why? And how does the believer living in the middle of an individualism-obsessed society understand that to be “good”? Thankfully, God’s sufficient Word speaks right into the heart of these questions:

1. WE’VE BEEN RANSOMED.

“… you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
1 Peter 1:18-19

The price for our ransom from death and darkness was the precious blood of Christ.

2. WE’VE BEEN TRANSFERRED.

“[God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13-14

What a gracious change of scenery…of everything. In salvation, our whole atmosphere, our whole composition, was changed. Our heart of stone was replaced with a heart of flesh. We now live in a new Kingdom, with a new King, and a new mission.

3. WE’VE BEEN SET FREE.

“And he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
2 Corinthians 5:15

Our salvation fundamentally changes who we’re living for. If we’re honest, our calling to deny ourselves stings a little, and Scripture doesn’t shy away from that. The Bible teaches that, by default, our hearts bend toward self-gratification. We’ll be wrestling with that until we get to Heaven (Romans 7:14-25). But, Scripture is also clear that at the moment of salvation, the power of sin in our lives is broken, and we aren’t enslaved to our flesh anymore:

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."
Romans 6:20-22 

The fruit of slavery to sin (and self) is bitter;
The fruit of serving Jesus is sweet.

“Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.”
Romans 7:4-6

Scripture is clear that we’re always serving someone, period. But the goodness of the gospel actually transforms our perception of servanthood itself. Servanthood, through a gospel-lens, shatters all stigmas of bondage and oppression. Instead, the Spirit works in our hearts to give us the desire and capacity to please God instead of ourselves (Philippians 2:13). It is a joy to serve such a good King. And as we do, He transforms us into the most whole version of ourselves.

“I AM NOT MY OWN”

“I am not my own” isn’t oppressive or depersonalizing for the believer in Christ. “I am not my own” is actually profoundly good news, because living in the context of relationship with God liberates us to become the truest version of ourselves. The world contends that, to deny oneself is to deny goodness and self-expression. Far from it! As each of us is sanctified to look more like Jesus, we find ourselves increasingly able to walk in our redeemed agency, personality and individuality in a way that blesses the world around us. Belonging to Christ does not suppress our inherent personhood; it reclaims it! When we understand this, living “not our own” becomes a gracious act of liberation, not an oppressive stifling of our individuality. Jesus restores the very meaning of selfhood.

IN REAL LIFE 

So, what if, instead of viewing self-denial as a joyless, obligatory act, God’s Word is inviting us into something much better? Here it is:

“…Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
Galatians 5:16

What if we started to recognize each impasse between our flesh and the Spirit as an opportunity to step into the liberty won by Jesus for us? We are not our own. We have been set free from captivity to our own agenda, and called to advance His agenda and His Kingdom instead. And in the end, we can trust that the fruit of this choice will be sweet, not bitter, as we allow God to make us look more like Jesus.

---

Picture this: You’re driving to an engagement that you don’t care to attend. The strain of small talk just feels like too much on this particular day. As you get closer, you tell yourself it shouldn’t be a big deal, but you feel a low-key dread creeping in nonetheless. You console yourself with a game plan to slip in, look for familiar faces, check off a few conversations, and then slip out at the soonest appropriate moment. You pull into a parking space, put on your (social) game face, and walk in fueled by obligation and the coffee you drank on the way over. “Let’s get this over with.”

But what if it could look like this?

You take a moment on your drive to be gut-honest with the Lord. This event is pretty much the last place you want to be. Socializing and small talk feels way more intimidating than it should. You know your need for your Shepherd in this moment. You take a breath and ask Him to remind you what’s true, and what’s needed in this moment. The Holy Spirit reminds you that you’re not your own, and that you are not shackled to serving your own agenda. Instead, you have been invited to walk in the Spirit and serve a better agenda that transcends the demands of your flesh. Although your feelings and inclinations in this moment are valid, they hold no grip on you. Your thoughts shift to what Jesus’ agenda may be for this day, for this social engagement. Maybe you’ll encounter someone who can’t see past a crippling burden in their life and needs hope. Maybe there’s a conversation God has ordained for you that will unlock the unfolding of His will in someone else’s life, and He has chosen you to set it into motion. Maybe someone there really needs to be seen and heard and loved. Maybe you’ll walk in and uncover an opportunity to serve someone or walk in your calling as salt or as light (Matthew 5:13-16).

As you pull into a parking space, you still feel nervous, but you notice that the sense of dread has tapered off. You ask the Lord for grace to bless others and be kingdom-minded in this window of time. You don’t have to walk into this function with dread masked by a smile. You don’t have to wish the minutes by. You have been freed from social anxiety. You’ve been given a better agenda. You are liberated to look for the spaces Jesus wants to touch and transform. You are freed to look outside of yourself and your proclivities. And the whipped cream on top? You know that when you leave, you can trust that your surrender will yield the sweet fruit of adopting His agenda instead of your own.

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“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
2 Corinthians 3:17

We were saved for more than enjoying eternal security while we live in bondage to our flesh. We were saved for something more abundant. (John 10:10) We’ve been invited into honesty. Dependance. Grace. Freedom. Wholeness. Blessing. Life in His Kingdom. Praise the Lord, we are not our own.

And that’s really, really good news.

O Lord, my Kind Refiner,

You know the way that I take. (Job 23:10)
You do not stand aloof, calloused to my afflictions.
You are not detached or distant from my pain.
Instead, You keep count of my tossings;
You collect my tears in Your bottle. (Psalm 56:8)

In Your kindness, You sent your Son into the middle of mankind’s brokenness - Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief - that I might have a High Priest who sympathizes with my weaknesses. Jesus has plumbed the depths of my humanity; in this, I find comfort.

Once again, I tether my heart to this truth:
You will bring to completion the good work you began in me. (Philippians 1:6)
You alone know what is needed to accomplish this.
The purposes and intentions you have ordained for my life are secure in Your hand.
You have never, and will never, allow a trial to beset me that You do not have plans to use.

With this knowledge, give me the grace to submit to the trials in my path.
Reveal to me my own functional definition of peace:
In the places I have defined peace as the absence of trial, or as the immediate deliverance from circumstantial pain…
In the moments I have desired relief from pressure more than relying on Your presence,
help me to redefine peace according to Your Word.
Remind me that true peace guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus amidst trial.
Remind me that, “Your presence in trouble has been far better than the absence of trouble without You.”*
In the moments my heart yearns to escape my pain with the world’s broken vices, rescue me with Your mercy.  

Show me, after the pattern of Job, how to respond in my pain with authentic, brokenhearted worship - never charging You with wrongdoing for what You have allowed - but rather, blessing Your Name as I cling to You for strength. (Job 1:20-22)

Flood my mind with evidences of Your grace, Your abundant blessings toward me, that overwhelm my current afflictions.

Reveal to me the capacity of prayer to uphold my soul as I abide in You.
When my soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to Your Word. (Psalm 119:28)
Bring healing to my innermost being as I testify of Your goodness to others through the contours of my story.

When I plead for deliverance before You ordain it, remind me that Your grace is all that I need.

Invite me into a deeper type of joy than a shallow façade of happiness.
Invite me to delight in Your character, in which my hope is securely anchored.
Allow me to be honest with my emotions within the community in which You have placed me.
Invite me into a rhythm of focusing all of my energy on seeking You in the middle of my trial.

With Jeremiah, allow my heart to resolve:

21 But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”
(Lamentations 3:22-24)

Remind me that my present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in me. (Romans 8:18) In Your grace, grant me an eternal perspective. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

Whether my deliverance comes tomorrow or in Heaven, You will sustain me to the end, so that I will be blameless on the day of my Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:8) My deliverance is imminent! 

Only a God like You, supreme in Your kindness and goodness, would transform the trials of Your children into instruments that make us whole. Suffering is a universal experience on earth, but You have redeemed the suffering of those who know You.

You know the way that I take; And when You have tested me, I will come forth as gold! (Job 23:10)

In the name of my Faithful Shepherd,
The Author and Perfecter of my faith,
Jesus,

Amen.

*Quote from Article written by Vaneetha Rendall Risner

“If I can help even one person, I think it would be worth it all.”

In 2022, Kathy was prompted to reach out to FBC and share her personal story of adoption. Her heart behind it is summed up perfectly in her remark above - helping others. In recent years, Kathy has unfolded the intricate story of her biological family. Realizing the position her mother found herself in before giving birth, Kathy made it a personal life mission to love and help young girls who find themselves in a similar place. We were thrilled to share Kathy’s story in our services on Sanctity of Life Sunday (January 22). It’s an honor to help Kathy reach others with the beautiful testimony of what God has done, and of His sovereignty, love, and purpose for each human life. If you know someone who may be encouraged by it, please consider sharing!

During our conversation with her, Kathy shared two passages that the Lord has written on her heart during her journey:

Jeremiah 1:5a (NIV)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)

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

We’re already seeing an abundant response to this year’s Season of Generosity launch, and we’ve only just begun!

You’ve probably heard about the two main ways to get involved:

1. Giving of your time and energy by participating in one of our local service opportunities

2. Giving of your financial resources to bless one of our local or global ministry partners

We encourage you, first and foremost, to spend some time asking God to lay some of these opportunities on your heart. As you are drawn to certain serving initiatives or financial needs, you can jump in by signing up to serve, or by giving to our “Season of Generosity” fund.

Maybe you’ve already chosen some serving opportunities to jump into. Maybe you’ve thought about what it could look like to give extravagantly. That’s amazing!

If you’re looking for ways to go one step further…or to lean in a little more intentionally with your kids about what generosity looks like…or to carry Season of Generosity into your home and your routines…we’ve got some ideas.

Below, you’ll find a list of 10 ULTRA-PRACTICAL (and creative) ways to infuse your everyday life with generosity in this season.  

START HERE…

• Grab a mason jar and a handful of popsicle sticks and write down the names of our FBC Missionaries and Season of Generosity Partners on the popsicle sticks. Before each meal, have someone pick out a stick at random, and then pray for that missionary or organization.
  

• At the beginning of the week, write the name of an FBC missionary or Season of Generosity partner on the bathroom mirror with a dry erase marker and pray as often as you see it.
  

• Take a “prayer walk” around your neighborhood (solo, with a friend, spouse, or your family) to pray over our local and global ministry partners.
  

• Pick out one of this year’s 3 global partners and make a recipe from the region where they serve. (Think Middle Eastern, Indian, or Chilean Food!) Pinterest is brimming with international recipes you can make with common ingredients! Before you dig in, pray for the corresponding missionary.

  • Bassam Banoura - Middle East

  • Abraham Thomas - India

  • Alejandro Armijo - Chile
    

• Invite a new friend or a neighbor to serve with you. Serving together is a great way to build connection and bless our community at the same time!
  

• Check out products that support this year’s ministry partners. Most are made locally!

  • Church Community Services | Soup of Success Products

  • The Crossing | Micro-businesses: Spark Candles & X-Treme Tree Services

  • Trail Life USA | Featured Products
    

• Follow the social media platforms of the organizations we partner with to stay connected and informed.

  • Cultivate Culinary | Facebook | Instagram

  • Church Community Services | Facebook | Instagram

  • Faith Mission | Facebook

  • RETA | Facebook | Instagram

  • Ribbon of Hope | Facebook

  • Michiana Biblical Counseling Center | Facebook

  • The Crossing School of Business & Entrepreneurship | Facebook | Instagram

  • SPA Women’s Ministry Homes | Facebook | Instagram

  • Trail Life USA | Facebook | Instagram

  • Fresh Paint on the Road | Facebook

  • Time to Revive | Facebook | Instagram
    

• Treat our service opportunities as springboards. Ask ministry leaders if there are ways to continue volunteering in the future. Keep “spreading the cheer” by delivering boxes of donuts or Christmas cookies in your own neighborhood.

• Next time you’re at the store, allow one of your kiddos to pick out a toy to donate to RETA’s November Toy Drive, or take advantage of a sale at the grocery store to pick up something extra for Bristol Food Pantry’s November Food Drive. (For the full experience, allow your kids to personally drop off the donation in the big boxes in the Commons on Sunday morning!)

  • Check out RETA’s Toy Drive List here.

  • Check out Bristol Food Pantry’s List here.
    

• On your way to serve, leverage the car ride to talk to your kids about the “why” behind the “what” that they’re about to do. How will it bless the recipients?  

Have some additional creative ideas? Share them below!

“There's honey in the rock
Water in the stone
Manna on the ground
No matter where I go
I don't need to worry now that I know
Everything I need You've got
There's honey in the rock.”

We recently introduced this song at FBC. Haven’t heard it before? Give it a listen here:

Honey In The Rock

Unless you’ve spent some time in the book of Exodus, you might find yourself wondering why in the world we’re singing about finding water in stones and honey in rocks. (Seems unlikely.) (And if you’re new to church, you’re definitely wondering what “manna on the ground” is all about.) Stay with us. It’s so good.

Brandon Lake, Brooke Ligertwood, and Mitch Wong wrote the song with Psalm 81:16 in mind:

Psalm 81:16

“But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (ESV)

But, we actually see the concept of “honey from the rock” much earlier in Scripture. It’s found in Deuteronomy 32 – a song Moses wrote describing how God tenderly cared for His people during their journey through the wilderness:

Deuteronomy 32:9-13 (HCSB)

9 But the Lord’s portion is His people,
Jacob, His own inheritance.

10 He found him in a desolate land,
in a barren, howling wilderness;
He surrounded him, cared for him,
and protected him as the pupil of His eye.
11 He watches over His nest like an eagle
and hovers over His young;
He spreads His wings, catches him,
and lifts him up on His pinions.
12 The Lord alone led him,
with no help from a foreign god.
13 He made him ride on the heights of the land
and eat the produce of the field.
He nourished him with honey from the rock
and oil from flint-like rock…

God’s pattern in the wilderness? Providing nourishment from the unlikeliest sources. Exodus tells us that:

• He brought sweet, clean water out of a bitter water source in Marah. (Exodus 15:22-27)

• He sent birds and bread from Heaven to eat (Chicken sandwich, anyone?). (Exodus 16:13-15)

• He sprung water out of a rock at Horeb. (Exodus 17:5-6)

It’s no surprise, then, that He can also bring honey from a rock and olives from stony ground.

One commentary suggests the following:

"The high places" and "the fields" are specially applicable to the tablelands of Gilead as are the allusions to the herds and flocks, the honey of the wild bees which hive in the crevices of the rocks, the oil from the olive as it grew singly or in small clumps on the tops of hills where scarcely anything else would grow…”

-       Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

The God we serve PROVIDES IN THE WILDERNESS.

Later on in Psalm 81, when Asaph revisits the “honey from the rock” idea, it’s from a different angle. This time, it’s mourning Israel’s rebellion against God, even though He had given the Israelites every reason to trust Him in the wilderness. Verse 16 serves as the conclusion of a really sad string of verses that could be summarized by the words, “if only”. If only Israel had listened to God’s voice instead of giving their hearts to idols, God would have been so ready to once again pour out blessing on them against all odds.

The truth is…That’s still His heart - to satisfy His people.

What does that mean for us?

Well, here’s what it doesn’t mean: “Let’s be faithful to God so He can give us the 21st-century-equivalent of “honey from the rock”.

Rather, the idea is this: we serve a God whose very character is - and always has been - to satisfy His people in the middle of our wildernesses as we continue following Him.

Even in the height of our struggles and painful seasons, sweetness can be found in the Lord’s presence. His goodness brings us joy that satisfies more deeply than favorable circumstances ever could.

A QUESTION

This leads us to a question that’s so good for each of our souls to wrestle with:

“How have I experienced God in the wilderness?”

Through it all, who has He proven to be toward me?

Jeremiah 2 records a piercing question from God toward His people in the midst of their rebellion:

“I remember how eager you were to please Me as a young bride long ago, how you loved Me and followed Me even through the barren wilderness…Have I been like a desert to Israel? Have I been to them like a land of darkness? Why then do My people say, ‘At least we are free from God! We don’t need Him anymore!’” (Jeremiah 2:2b, 31)

In other words, God is asking His people,

“Is there a reason you have forsaken Me?

Have I given you a reason to doubt My faithfulness to you?

Are you rebelling against Me because your experience of Me has given you reason to be disillusioned by Me?

No.

I led you THROUGH the wilderness.

I am not your wilderness.

Darkness and desert has NOT been your experience of Me.

I’ve led you THROUGH them both.

Your experience of Me has been miraculous deliverance from unbelievable and impossible situations.

Your experience of Me has been water in the stone, honey from the rock, manna on the ground.

Your experience of Me has been that I alone can satisfy you completely.”

Which brings us back to that question.

“How have I experienced God in the wilderness?”

May we be a people who resoundingly answer:

• “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2).

• “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” (Psalm 27:1a)

• “The Lord is the stronghold of my life.” (Psalm 27:1b)

• “[His] Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

• “The Lord is my banner.” (Exodus 17:15)

• “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26b)

• “The Lord is my Shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1a)

When we’ve reflected on who our God has been to us in the wilderness, we will be able to joyfully testify:

 I keep looking, I keep finding
You keep giving, keep providing
I have all that I need
You are all that I need…

And…

Oh, how sweet, how sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus
Oh, how sweet, how sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus
Oh, how sweet, how sweet it is
To trust in You, Jesus.

Selah.

How have you experienced God in your wildernesses? Leave a comment below.

Faithful God,
Creator of time and seasons,
In Your generosity, You have brought us to the dawn of another autumn. (Genesis 1:14, Psalms 74:16-17, Psalms 104:19)

As we mark the sunset of summer,
Fill us with gratitude for the good things You’ve given us to enjoy in its warmth. (James 1:17)

In this season marked by renewed academic pursuits of many,
Invigorate us also to renew our desire to be students of Your Word. (Psalm 119:103, Colossians 3:16)

In the changing routines of our family or of those dear to us,
In the flurry of lunch packing, evening sporting events, and homework assignments,
Give us steadfast hearts stayed on You as we trust in You. (Isaiah 26:3-4, Hebrews 13:8)

As new settings provide fresh opportunities for interaction,
Let us make much of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

In the challenges we will face in this season, both known and unknown,
We rest in this: each challenge is foreseen by You, and bends to Your good purposes.
In your kindness, our challenges in this season will make us more like Jesus. (Romans 8:28-29)

In Your love, expose the mirage of our own strength.
Let us instead thirst for Your grace and wisdom, which are generously supplied, should we ask. (1 Chronicles 16:11, Psalm 121:1-2, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 15:5, Hebrews 4:15-16, James 1:5)

Amidst all that will surely fill our days,
Let us seek first Your Kingdom,
And there find every need supplied. (Psalm 84:11, Matthew 6:33)

We love reveals.

We love the final scenes of each Fixer Upper episode when Chip and Joanna roll aside the ridiculously large canvases to unveil their finished masterpiece.

We love the “first look” on the wedding day.

We love the latest and most outrageous gender reveals on social media.

Some of us even love watching videos of sidewalks being power-washed to reveal a sparkling, like-new surface. We’re always captivated (and deeply satisfied) by the transformation.

The Christ follower knows that we love reveals because we were created to.

We love them because we were made in the image of a God who loves reveals.

Someday, we may ask the Lord about what wasn’t recorded in Genesis 2:15. We are told that, “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.” What did those moments hold? (Oh to be a fly on the wall!) What was Adam’s reaction to the paradise he was placed in the middle of? Did God watch the wonder spread across his face? Did it bring God joy to see His definitively “good” creation being met with delight?

Reveals span the pages of Scripture. Most significant are those where God reveals His own glory to individuals. Just to name a few:

• Jacob’s vision of God enthroned in Heaven (Genesis 28:12-17)

• Moses hidden in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:18-23)

• Daniel’s vision of the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-10)

• Isaiah’s vision of the throne room (Isaiah 6:1-5)

• Jesus’ mountain transfiguration before Peter, James, & John (Matthew 17:1-8)

• John’s vision of God enthroned in Heaven (Revelation 4)

JESUS’ REVEAL

In what has been referenced as the “Farewell Discourse” (John 13-17), Jesus speaks of His own coming reveal. In chapter 14, He describes the dwelling place He is about to go and prepare for His followers:

John 14:2-3

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Later on, in chapter 17, Jesus speaks again about our joining Him in glory, but this time, it isn’t our dwelling place being revealed:

John 17:24

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

Jesus prays a prayer of desperate desire to reveal His glory to us in Heaven.

There is a treasure store of meaning in this request of Jesus. Charles Spurgeon expands on it here:

“I feel confident that the meeting of departed friends, the society of apostles, prophets priests, and martyrs, will amplify the joy of the redeemed. But still the sun that will give them the greatest light to their joy, will be the fact that they are with Jesus Christ and behold His face. And now there may be other employments in heaven, but that mentioned in the text is the chief one, ‘That they may behold my glory.’”

Charles Spurgeon, April 18th, 1858, The Redeemer’s Prayer

We think and read and speak often about our excitement to enjoy the glories of heaven. We dream about our experience and our perspective of the coming “reveal.” But have we considered God’s perspective on it? Have we considered our Savior’s longing to be the grand revealer? To finally unveil to us His glory in its fullness?

We loved this insight that Gino Desimone shared with our congregation last Sunday:

This thought is so worthy of our meditation. That our Savior longs to show us not only the vastness of what He’s building for us, but also the fulness of His glory, is an undiscovered facet of His heart we are invited to treasure.

Again, listen to Charles Spurgeon relish this desire of Christ:

“Notice the occupation of those who are with Jesus: ‘That they may behold my glory.’ I do not wonder that Jesus wants His dear ones to be with Him for this purpose, since love always pines for a partner in its joys. When I have been abroad, and have been specially charmed with glorious scenery, I have a hundred times felt myself saying, almost involuntarily, ‘How I wish that my dear wife could be here! I should enjoy this a hundred times as much if she could but see it!’ It is an instinct of affection to seek fellowship in joy. The Lord Jesus is truly human, and He feels this unselfish desire of every loving human heart, and therefore says, ‘Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.’ Our Lord graciously permits His disciples to have fellowship with Him in His sufferings, and hence He is all the more desirous that they should participate in His glory. He knows that nothing will be a greater joy to them than to see Him exalted; therefore He would give them this highest form of delight…It is joy to Jesus to let us behold His joy, and it will be glory to us to behold His glory.”

Charles Spurgeon, March 21st, 1886, Why They Leave Us

Sometimes, we forget that Jesus made Himself like us. He clothed Himself in humanity. He knows what it is to get excited about surprising someone. He knows the sweet anticipation of giving an intentional gift. He knows the satisfaction of designing something and celebrating the accomplishment with others as they enjoy a product of hard work and thoughtful intent. He knows the instinctual longing to share in the realization of something profoundly good.

What does this mean for us?

We have an opportunity to take something that is so central to our human experience and tie spiritual significance to it. We know what it is to be filled with anticipation - what it is to “pull off a reveal”.

The invitation for us is to allow our everyday anticipations to become small preludes - reflections - likenesses, of a Savior who eagerly awaits a glorious reveal of His own.

As you prepare your guest room for a family member from out of town,
As you surprise your spouse with breakfast in bed,
As you renovate a room in your home,
As you serve a meal that requires hours of preparation and set the table,
As you land on the perfect birthday gift for a cherished friend,
As you perform a musical piece after weeks of rigorous practice,
As you spontaneously drop off coffee to a coworker or neighbor,
As you complete a presentation and share your vision with your team,
As you give someone a tour of your new home,
As you put the finishing touches on a car you’re detailing,
or,
As you drop something in the mail for someone who’s not expecting it,

You share a piece of Christ’s heart.
You share something in common with His experience.

Let your small anticipations lead your mind and heart to your Savior today.
He can’t wait to show you what He’s working on.
He can’t wait to show you His glory - fully revealed.

“And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.”
Colossians 3:4, NLT

There’s a fierce pursuit and gritty determination that burns in the spirits of God’s men.

There’s a mounting hunger for the type of work that’s dangerous to the enemy.

There’s a source of delight far superior to the fleeting comforts of ease and passivity.

There’s a steady strength unlocked by the exchange of self-reliance for God-dependence.  

There’s a vigilant loyalty to honor the lowly and protect the vulnerable.

And there’s an identity-forged confidence that’s unafraid to display tenderness, understanding that the Lion was also the Lamb.

The spirit in a man of God is to be prized and honored.

So, this Father’s Day, we rise up and we bless you, men. We bless you for the virtues this world disparages as cheap. We bless you for patterning your life after your older brother Jesus, while you lead others to do the same (Hebrews 2:11). A company of brothers has gone before - a company of the redeemed. May their legacy infuse your steps with strength as you pass down the heritage of biblical manhood to future generations.

---

May you comprehend as tangibly as Adam, that you were made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26)

May you lead as a man who walks with God like Enoch. (Genesis 5:24)

May you be found righteous like Noah, though the whole world rejects God. (Genesis 6:5-9)

May you, like Job, choose to bless the Lord in the middle of your affliction. (Job 1:21-22)

May you, like Abraham, let nothing cause you to waver concerning God’s promise. (Romans 4:20-21)

May your life, as Isaac’s, stand as living proof that God fulfills His word. (Genesis 21:1-2)

May you walk in the sovereign & undeserved blessing of God, like Jacob. (Genesis 35:9-12)

May you, with Joseph, witness God take what the enemy intended for evil and use it for good. (Genesis 50:20)

In the way of Moses, may your acts of obedience result in miraculous deliverance. (Exodus 3:10)

With the zeal of Joshua, may your knowledge of God’s presence vanquish fear and fortify you for battle. (Joshua 1:9)

May you join Caleb in history as a man with a different spirit, who followed the Lord fully. (Numbers 14:24)

May you walk in purpose with the valor God supplies, just as He bestowed to Gideon. (Judges 6:12)

May you determine with Samson that your strength comes from the Lord. (Judges 16:28-30)

May God use you, as He did Boaz, to epitomize His nature to protect, provide, and redeem. (Ruth 2:8-9, 3:9)

May you say often, with Samuel: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)

May you, like David, chase the heart of God in the seasons of your exaltation, desperation, repentance, and redemption. (Psalm 63:1)

May you, conclude with Solomon, that God alone can satisfy. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

May you share, with Elijah, a singular and consuming desire for the glory of God. (1 Kings 18:36-37)

May you, like Elisha, yearn for a double portion of the spiritual zeal of your fathers in the faith. (2 Kings 2:9)

May you share Hosea’s profound certainty of God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful people. (Hosea 2:23)

Like Isaiah, may you spend your life stirring up the hope of God in the hearts of weary people. (Isaiah 40:31)

May you carry on Hezekiah’s legacy to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. (2 Kings 18:5)

May you stand with Josiah to read the words of God to the people He has entrusted to you. (2 Kings 23:1-3)

May God fortify you as an iron wall amidst opposition, just like Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 1:18)

May the sum of your life experience match the testimony of Daniel: God doesn’t abandon His own. (Daniel 6:21-22)

May you see yourself in Mordecai, whose influence God used to preserve His people. (Esther 4:12-14)

May you, shoulder to shoulder with Nehemiah, build your portion of the kingdom of God. (Nehemiah 2:17-18)

Like Joseph of Nazareth, may you trust God to do the unimaginable. (Matthew 1:20-25)

May you share in the joy of John the Baptist as your decrease becomes Jesus’ increase. (John 3:28-30)

May you live in the uncommon humility and honesty of an unnamed father who confessed, “I believe; help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

May your allegiance to Christ echo down through future generations with the words of Peter: “Where else would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68-69)

May your most treasured identity mirror John’s as a disciple whom Jesus loves. (John 13:23)

Like Stephen, may you live your life full of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 7:55)

May you proclaim from the mountaintops with Paul that God can use anyone. (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

May you, with Timothy, be known for your genuine faith. (2 Timothy 1:5)

And may you, with Jude, become a living doxology, ever pointing to “the One who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever.” (Jude 24-25)

Amen.

Last summer, I went to war in my backyard. The “front lines” were situated around a mulberry tree and some purple irises that blanket the grass around it. My enemy? Poison Ivy. Somehow, it had managed to wind its way under, over, and throughout the tree, iris leaves, and a nearby fence. It would multiply itself weekly. For a while, I tried treating it with a DIY Pinterest concoction. Sure enough, the leaves shriveled up, but never for long. After several topical attempts, I got serious. Someone with a greener thumb than I have told me it propagates itself with vines that grow underground, and the only way to truly eliminate it is to dig it out.

So, covered from head to toe and armed with double layers of protective gloves, I set out. I started with the sinister trios closest to me, wedging my fingers underneath to find their roots, without success; the tips of the vines were too young and too fragile to pull on without breaking. In frustration, I broke off all the leaves I could see – a far cry from a lasting solution. After regrouping, I tried to locate some of the vines closer to the base of the tree. There they lay, tangled and matted together in what seemed like an impenetrable above-ground network of burgundy cords. I started yanking on the vines until, drenched in sweat, muscles trembling, and mulberries embedded in my hair, I had filled up a garbage can of my leafy opponents.

I made a good dent in the poison ivy that day, but more rewarding than the blow I dealt it was the lesson God taught me along the way. The process became such a spiritual metaphor. As I took hold of those crimson roots and pulled, I watched what had been hidden under the surface of the ground become visible. My eyes traced the vine, leaf by leaf, as it sprung out of the earth, eventually dislodging the tip, until I held the entire strand in my (thoroughly gloved) hand. This method proved far more effective than merely plucking at the leaves in plain sight.

It dawned on me that the sin in our lives develops very much the same way. It thrives just under the surface. Its visible evidence springs up in our actions, tracing direct, underground lines all the way to the source. Scripture teaches that sin’s roots can be found in the heart – the command center of our lives – the very core of our thoughts, will, and emotions. The roots run deep. James 4:1 tells us that our passions are literally at war within us. We know the dangers of letting these vines grow unchecked. Sin not only poisons our own environment and chokes out our capacity to thrive in the space God has given us, but it poses a dangerous threat to those we invite into the environment of our lives. John Owen puts it this way: “Be Killing Sin, or Sin will be Killing You.”

So, with good intentions, we set out to remove it. If we’re overly ambitious, we even dare to pluck every visible “leaf” we can see. Things look better in the yard – at least for a few days. We’re disheartened, though, when we return to find the same sinful patterns growing even faster where we had labored before.

The truth is that we won’t make much lasting progress with behavioral modification alone.

It is in grasping the roots and digging them out that we find victory over the obstinate, insidious sin patterns in our hearts. It’s not easy. It’s messy and sweaty and frustrating and makes your spiritual muscles shake and you might find mulberries in your hair. We’re often not prepared for the grittiness and the strain that fighting sin involves. John Owen describes our tendency to underestimate the challenge:

“Men look upon it as an easy task and as that which will be carried on with a little diligence and ordinary attendance. But do we think it is for nothing that the Holy Spirit expresses the duty of opposing sin and weakening its power by mortification, killing or putting to death?...Everything will do its utmost to preserve its life and being. So will sin too; and if it is not constantly pursued with diligence and holy violence, it will escape our assaults. Let no man think he can kill sin with few, easy or gentle strokes.”

This realization humbles us. We quickly realize we are unevenly matched for both the volume of the earth, the complexity of the root system, and the tenacious hold it has on the soil. I love the way theologian J.C. Ryle describes this tension:

So deeply planted are the roots of human corruption, that even after we are born again, renewed, “washed, sanctified, justified,” and made living members of Christ, these roots remain alive in the bottom of our hearts, and, like the leprosy in the walls of the house, we never get rid of them until the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved. Sin, no doubt, in the believer’s heart, has no longer dominion. It is checked, controlled, mortified, and crucified by the expulsive power of the new principle of grace. The life of a believer is a life of victory, and not of failure. But the very struggles which go on within his bosom, the fight that he finds it needful to fight daily, the watchful jealousy which he is obliged to exercise over his inner man, the contest between the flesh and the spirit, the inward “groanings” which no one knows but he who has experienced them – all, all testify to the same great truth, all show the enormous power and vitality of sin. Mighty indeed must that foe be who even when crucified is still alive!”

 
As I followed the vines to their origin that day in the yard, I eventually landed on the root bundle about a foot underground. The main vine was as thick as a tree limb. Even with a shovel, I needed help to dislodge it.

This reveals another crucial spiritual truth:

Fighting our sin involves extreme personal dedication, but we cannot do it in our own power.

Paul, in Romans 7, gives a pretty vulnerable account of his struggle with sin:

“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:15,18)

Our hope of victory over the twisting roots of sin does not come from our efforts alone. We don’t have what it takes. This is where the precious Word of God meets us with a GLORIOUS and HOPEFUL reality:

• “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

• “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

• “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live…” (Romans 8:13)
  

God alone is able to fully uproot sin in our hearts, and He has CHOSEN TO DO IT IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES.

God has not only given His power, but has also given us unsearchable resources for the task – one of which is each other.

We put a high value on Biblical Counseling and the community provided by Life Groups at FBC because they allows us to partner together to do the hard work of uprooting sin in our lives with the strength that God supplies. Where simply plucking the leaves hasn’t been successful, we dig out the roots, shoulder to shoulder. As a tool, He has given us His Word, which alone is able to unearth the poisonous roots of sin below the surface. Behavioral modification might remove the visible shoots, but God’s Word plumbs the depths of what is hidden from plain sight:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

This is hard work. Messy and painful work. But it works. And it’s pretty amazing to watch as the Holy Spirit uproots a string of frustrating sin patterns that have always seemed impossible to kill. True Christian community is committed to the gritty work of laying hold of those vines and dealing with their roots. And freedom is found as sinister, crimson-tipped leaves fly upward.

There are still occasional and stubborn poison ivy remnants under the mulberry tree in our yard. I’ve learned that it’s a process that takes diligent and ruthless attention – the “holy violence” John Owen described. And on a heart level, it’s a process that won’t be finished until Heaven, when the Master Gardener perfects the soil of my heart once and for all. Until then, I’ll keep doing battle with the sin in my heart as God reveals it to me, in the context of the community He has given. 

And by His grace and because of the gospel, I can confidently echo Paul’s words:

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6

Alaina Roberts is the Administrative Assistant for FBC’s Worship Ministry. She is passionate about the importance of speaking truth, and she loves expressing that through worship leading and writing. She’s happiest when taking adventures with her husband Josh, or when she has a cup of coffee in hand. (Real mug, preferably.)