No Cookie Cutter Approach Here
For those who are fans of the NFL, you may know that some teams script their first 15 offensive plays. This means, regardless of the situations and circumstances, they are going to run the ones they’ve designed and called. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Having a plan and running with it regardless of external circumstances can be a good thing, but it can also have its downside. One area where it doesn’t work to have a rigid plan is when dealing with grief, and no one teaches us this better than Jesus.
As the Lord approaches the two women In John 11, He encounters two very different personalities and approaches to grief (this is because we grieve in ways that are consistent with our personalities). Martha seems to be very much a woman of action. She wants a result: the resurrection of Lazarus. So she goes to Jesus with a request. And the Lord meets her in her grief with a promise (v. 23, “Your brother will rise again.”) What Martha needed was a word. Jesus gave that to her.
But then there’s Mary. She didn’t go with Martha. She stayed back at the house until Martha went and got her and brought her to Him. And immediately upon seeing Him, she breaks down in tears. What is Jesus’ response? No words. No promises. Instead, He grieves with her. While Martha needed a word, Mary needed a touch. And Jesus knew that. And Jesus did not have the first 15 plays of how to deal with grief scripted out. Don’t you love that about Him?
We will all deal with grief in life. It’s inevitable. The encouraging thing here is that Jesus will meet us where we are with what we need. The challenging thing here is that we should be thinking about the same kinds of things as we encounter friends and family in their grief. Figuring out what people need, and then being there for them, is the way of the Master.
Scott Smith
Care Pastor
Perfect Timing
It’s too late, they thought. When Jesus finally showed up, Martha and Mary thought He was too late. The two sisters expected Jesus to come immediately, but He decided to wait instead. When He finally came, the sisters said to Him, “Lord, if you had been here on time, our brother Lazarus would not have died (John 11:21; 32).” Martha and Mary didn’t know that Jesus was never late to any of His divine appointments. Jesus was always on time, and He was never in a rush. The fact that Lazarus was already dead didn’t mean that Jesus came too late; it only meant that the timing He followed was different. Jesus' earthly life and ministry were shaped by God the Father's presence, love, power, and purpose. In other words, Jesus always moved in sync with His Father’s perfect timing. You see, Jesus always followed His Father’s agenda and moved according to His timing to show His works and display His glory. In John 6:38, Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
When Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, He had the power to heal him just by saying it, as He did in the past (John 4:50), but instead, Jesus waited. He waited not because He wanted Lazarus and his sisters to suffer but because the Father had a greater plan for them. As Jesus called Lazarus into life, the suffering, the pain, and the mourning of this family turned into a powerful witness of the mighty works of God through Jesus Christ in their lives (John 12:1-11).
Jesus was committed to following His Father’s directives, and I would suggest that as followers of Jesus, we should do the same. Throughout Scripture, God constantly invites us to surrender the control of our lives to Him, but unfortunately, most of us struggle to do so. Getting our desire for control out of the way to follow God’s plan and timing with our lives is not easy, but doing so is crucial for walking with Christ. Most of us will agree that having total and complete control over everything in our lives and around us is appealing. But we cannot ignore that God is always persuading us to trust Him and to patiently wait for His perfect timing. My hope and prayer is that this devo will encourage you to do so.
Today, God is still on the move, doing mighty things in His perfect timing on behalf of His people. So, let’s be reminded that yielding control of our lives to God, as Jesus did, enables us to be used for the glory of His Name.
Esteban Tapia
Teaching Pastor
Hanukkah
John 10:22
Pop quiz… where is the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah mentioned in the Bible? It’s only mentioned in one place. Any ideas? John 10:22. In that passage, John wrote,
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter… (John 10:22)
The Feast of Dedication is also known as Hanukkah.
So, what was the Feast of Dedication and what might John be telling us about this teaching of Jesus? The Feast of Dedication was a commemoration of the rededication of the temple by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 BC. This was in response to the assault on the Jews and Judaism in 167 BC by the Assyrian king, Antiochus Epiphanes, who claimed to be a deity (“God manifest), who attacked Jerusalem and desecrated the temple. He ultimately sacrificed a pig on the temple altar to a pagan god. In response, the people led by Maccabaeus overthrew their oppressors, took back the temple, and rededicated it to God. The Jewish people celebrated the rededication for 8 days and it was decreed that the Feast of Dedication should be held at the same time every year.
You might be thinking, well that’s a great history lesson, but what does it have to do with my life? That’s a fair question. If you read through John 10:22-42, you’ll see people struggling with what Jesus was teaching and wanting him to offer more proof and more plainly tell them what he wanted them to know. Jesus then made the clear claim, “I and the Father are one.” He was claiming to be God, to be their long-awaited Savior and Messiah. The people’s response to Jesus’ clarity was picking up stones to kill him (v. 33). It turned out they had enough clarity to kill him, but not enough to believe in him.
Catch the irony: they were celebrating the Feast of Dedication where they remember the dedication of the Temple. The Temple was the place where people came to worship God - it was, in a sense, the overlap of heaven and earth. Now, Jesus, the “Word made flesh” is “tabernacling” among them … (John 1:14) and they missed him! The ultimate fulfillment of the Feast was staring them in the face and they resisted belief, they refused to worship. They are celebrating God’s work in the past, but missing him in the present.
I think there are times when we are far more comfortable celebrating what he did in the past than we are about anticipating and expecting God’s work in the present. God’s faithfulness in the past, in events like the ones celebrated during Hanukkah, should give us confidence that God is at work in the present. He’s the same faithful God!
Today, take a moment to think back on God’s faithfulness. Then allow his past faithfulness to inspire you to open your heart more fully to his presence in your life today.
Pastor Ryan Paulson
A Shrewd Remark Saves the Day
The Pharisees picked up rocks to kill Jesus again.
This time he said, “I and the Father are one” John 10:30, and they freaked out about it.
Smartly, Jesus reminds them of the power he displayed, that they had all witnessed, as he asks, “Which of the good deeds that I’ve done are you preparing to kill me for?” They reply, “Not for good deeds, but for you, a mere man, making yourself out to be God!”
Then, Jesus gave them something to think about that they were not ready for. He quotes Psalm 82:6 to them. Psalm 82 is a tricky passage for modern scholars and for modern believers. Perhaps it was a tricky passage for the Jews at that time too. Psalm 82:1 uses the Hebrew word for God, Elohim, followed by singular modifiers indicating the one true God. Then, it uses Elohim along with plural modifiers indicating gods that are subject to the one true God. God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
Verse 6 uses Elohim again in the plural and explains that these beings are sons of God. I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;”
Psalm 82 seems to be a divine reckoning or a divine pronouncement on angels that have forsaken their roles and service to the Lord. Some theologians argue that it is a referendum to the corrupt kings of the earth. Men were elevated to kingly and God-given positions and were given earthly authority that was absolute amongst men, almost divine, but paltry compared to God’s ultimate authority.
Maybe the Pharisees argued over the same idea. Does this reference to “gods” who are “sons of the most high” refer to heavenly beings or to men? It is likely that some of the Pharisees standing there with rocks in hand to kill Jesus had argued that this passage referred to men. So, in a moment of quick thinking, Jesus brings up the passage. John 10:34-36:
Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?
This line of reasoning made them pause. It says they still sought to arrest him but gave up trying to kill him right there. Jesus taught his disciples, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise (or shrewd) as serpents and innocent as doves” Matt 10:16. Pray that we will be quick with our thinking and that our knowledge and trust of the Bible will be strong enough to help us in every situation.
John Riley
Junior High Pastor
Miraculous Works
John 10-22-42
Have you ever made up your mind about someone before really getting to know them and understand them? Do we take time to observe what they are really about, rather than jumping to conclusions because they are different or we've heard rumors? I’m sure I have and then had to ask the Lord’s forgiveness and possibly the person’s.
In John 10 when Jesus said, “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me” is a challenge to them. Once again we see Jesus surrounded by accusers demanding he tell them plainly who he was. In verse 23, again Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me.” In other words, if all of the miraculous things I’ve done don’t prove to you that I am who I say I am, then nothing I say will convince you. These were prideful “religious” leaders who didn’t want to believe because they wanted to be right. Jesus was a threat to their legalistic ideas. And Jesus was definitely different. Shouldn’t actions speak louder than words?
The word “works” in Greek literally means “actions” or “deeds” Jesus' list of proofs for His critics referred to "works" in the sense of divine miracles (John 5:36). Still they did not believe him. The problem wasn’t that Jesus was unclear about who He was and where He came from. The problem was the religious leaders had hearts of unbelief they wanted to blame on Jesus.
Has any Christian you know done any or all of the miracles Jesus did? John won the highest praise of Jesus yet he didn’t do any “miracles.” He had a high character and the special work he did had a deep and lasting influence, that is undeniable. Love was at the center of John and Jesus’ relationship so much so that Jesus asked John to care for his own mother.
Paul contends that we are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works. Our “good works” don’t save us, they come as a result of believing Jesus is the son of God and putting our faith and trust in him. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
We were created for a relationship with our Abba Father, and good works are a result of that relationship. Good works might just mean being kind, forgiving someone who hasn’t apologized, praying (for someone who has been unkind to you); or things maybe only God knows about but they make a difference and are good works. Whether your “works” are below the radar or in plain sight for all to see, he delights in you. Give him all the glory..
Deb Hill
Tell Us Plainly
So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” - John 10:24
After ten chapters in the book of John, it is pretty difficult to understand how anyone could still be confused about Jesus’ identity. By this point, Jesus had healed people in their sight, he had fed the 5000, and his teachings had been so clearly dangerous that they had already started plotting his death. However, this group still assumes that Jesus is speaking in code, so they plead with him to just “tell us plainly.”
I wonder what would have happened if Jesus would have said definitively: “Read my lips… I am the Messiah.” Would they have dropped everything to follow Jesus? Something tells me they wouldn’t… and that something is actually my own experience. There have been many times in my life when I have expressed a similar sentiment to God. I have said things like, “God if you would tell me plainly, then I will share my faith with this person.” Or, “If you just make it clear, then I will follow your plan.” Or back when I was younger, “If you just send a shooting star, then I’ll know that she’s the one for me.”
We are not that different from these Jewish leaders. We too tend to crave certainty and clarity because this is where we feel safe. Let’s face it, deep down, we really don’t like being put in situations where we have to step out in faith. Faith is risky and dangerous. It is full of ambiguity and unknowns. Faith and trust are just unnatural. We long for the clear and the plain… this is where we are most comfortable.
However, Jesus’ call is to join him in the frightening field of faith. He refuses to give us certainty and he is far too nuanced to appease our desire for “plain.” Jesus will only be found when we join him on his adventure of faith.
So, will you join him into the unknown? Let’s be people who stop expecting the plain and start running toward Jesus’ great adventure of faith.
Josh Rose
Reclaiming Confidence
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
John 10:27-30
I spent a good chunk of my life worried about the possibility of losing my faith. I’ve seen people fall away, and I’ve seen my sin defeat my own fervent intentions. In Romans 7, Paul describes the maddening dichotomy of yearning to do good yet actually doing evil. What if I found myself somehow turning from God, given the apparent flimsiness of my intent? There’s real uncertainty there if I’m the sole proprietor of my faith, of my own will.
Our confidence is rooted in Christ and the Father's hold on us. Knowing this, we can breathe easy and enjoy the Lord’s peace. We might wander as sheep do, but not even ourselves will snatch us from their hands. We can then boldly continue to walk our imperfect faith without fear of our own wandering hearts. After all, the entire trinity is involved!
The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers us, and the Father and Son hold us as we are guided, protected, and provided for throughout our lives. Think about the role each person of the trinity plays in your life. It’s beautifully and fantastically intricate! I think when our faith becomes sight, we will see and marvel at how intimately close and involved our triune God was in our lives.
Jonathan Duncan
Praying for Laborers
Matt. 9:36-38
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.”
“Unreached People Groups” “The 10-40 Window” “The Unfinished Task” These are all various names people in the mission world use to describe those who have not met Jesus and because of one reason or another, may not ever even meet a Jesus-follower. In this day and age of social media and smartphones that seems remarkably hard to believe. But here we are in 2023 and over 42% of the world’s population falls into this category. An overwhelmingly ‘unfinished task’ indeed.
As daunting as this may seem, this passage in Matthew shows us how Jesus responded to this very same situation.
“Now, when Jesus saw the crowds…” My first observation is that Jesus saw the crowds. It may seem like a small thing, but I think about how easy it is to go about my day and not ‘see’ anyone. I can check off things on my to-do list, run errands, even do churchy things, and get to the end of the day without truly seeing another person. To see someone implies that Jesus understood their situation. Our first step is to ask Jesus to open our eyes. If there are 7,400 unreached people groups ‘somewhere, out there’, what can we do to bring them a little closer to home? The Joshua Project is a wonderful tool that provides detailed information about unreached people groups. I encourage you to check it out and just start seeing a few of them.
“...he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd…” Jesus was working- he was preaching, teaching, and healing. Yet instead of being frustrated by these sheep-like people, (which, if you recall from Pastor Ryan a few weeks ago, is not a good thing!), he had compassion on them. Compassion is the right response to those who do not yet know Jesus.
“...plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.” Jesus then tells his disciples to pray. The task is daunting- but think about how much more so back when Jesus gave this instruction to his disciples. This should be part of our prayer for every unreached people group or place. Ask the Lord to stir the hearts of his people and send them to areas of urgent spiritual need. Eventually, we want indigenous believers making disciples and multiplying churches, but until then, pray that the Lord would send workers from near and far to make Christ known.
(If you would like to join a group that prays regularly for unreached people groups and workers, check out our Global Focus Groups that meet on Monday and Wednesday nights)
The Outreach Team
God Moves People Groups
Acts 17:26-27
From one person God created every human nation to live on the whole earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands. God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us.
In his address to the cosmopolitan people of Athens, the apostle Paul gives us an incredible picture of the sovereignty of God over all the people groups in the world. God made “every nation” from one man, Adam, which means all people groups are part of the same race, the human race. We have different ethnicities, languages, and cultural backgrounds, but all people groups are made by God. And God has even determined “allotted periods” and the “boundaries” of where they live.
Consider what this means for today’s refugee crisis and the unprecedented movements of people across the globe. Even in a world tainted by sin, where a variety of sinful factors cause the displacement of people, God is ultimately sovereign. And he is able to redeem all situations to draw people to himself. When you look at the world through this lens, you realize that the movements of people are not an accident. There is a sovereign God who desires all people groups to know him, and sometimes he brings these people groups right to our doorstep. Whether it’s international students, families fleeing violence in their home country, or simply individuals looking to build a better life, the “nations” are right around us.
So let’s take advantage of these sovereignly-orchestrated opportunities to make disciples of all nations right where we live, work, and play. This means being alert to those of different ethnicities in our communities and being intentional about demonstrating and sharing the gospel with them. We might be their first opportunity to meet a Christian face-to-face. The movements of people might be one way that God provides unprecedented gospel access in our day.
The Outreach Team
The Language Barrier
Genesis 11:7
Come, let’s go down and mix up their language there so they won’t understand each other’s language.
Revelation 7:9
After this, I looked, and there was a great crowd that no one could number. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
Did you know there are over 7,300 languages in the world? One obstacle to the Gospel spreading is language barriers. From the tower of Babel in Genesis, we see humanity divided by language and relationships broken as a consequence of sin. And with over 17,000 people groups identified today, the world is still very much divided. However, we know how this story ends- with every people group and in every language, praising the Lamb of God.
The gospel still needs to be proclaimed and translated into thousands of different languages. Sadly, many unreached people groups lack a full (or, in some cases, partial) translation of the Bible. Even if they did respond in faith to a gospel presentation, they wouldn’t be able to experience the growth that comes from regularly reading God’s word.
Supporting Bible translation and distribution has been a big part of Emmanuel Faith’s outreach endeavors. EFCC missionaries are working on translation projects for a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea. Others are involved in paraphrasing passages for ethnic minorities in India. Another assists with mapping the progress of translation around the world.
Let’s pray that the Bible would be translated into every known language and that people groups from every corner of the globe would be able to meditate on and be transformed by the Scriptures.
The Outreach Team