Today, we have no idea how many will show up. It could be two. But I am excited to discuss the Scripture this morning with whoever comes.

Matthew 20:17–28 gives us a lot to think about.

What do we learn about humanity?

What do we learn about God? Anything about Jesus?

If this is true, how might it impact life?

Is there anything you feel prompted to do or change?

How might you share the impact of this story with someone else?

Recently, we read Psalm 121: “My help comes from the Lord… He will keep you from all harm,” and “He will not let your foot slip.”

If I’m honest, that doesn’t feel true.

This morning I read Psalm 128: “Happy is everyone who fears the Lord… You shall be happy and it shall go well with you… Your wife will be like a fruitful vine.”

If I’m honest, it doesn’t feel like our life right now.

Cancer sucks. Chemo is hard. Most days don’t feel happy.

So what do you do when Scripture paints a picture that doesn’t match your circumstances?

First, understand the context. Who was this scripture written to?

Second, discover how the truths found might relate to your life. You can do this by asking questions of the text.

Maybe “your foot will not slip” doesn’t mean you won’t walk through valleys; maybe it means you won’t ultimately fall.

Maybe “happy is everyone who fears the Lord… you shall be happy and it shall go well with you” doesn’t mean comfort or ease; maybe it points us to recognizing that God is with us — and even in the hard, you can find a sense of happiness.

Sometimes Scripture doesn’t align with what you feel in the moment. That doesn’t make it untrue.

We’re still walking, still trusting, and even here — our faith hasn’t slipped.

They become life giving.

The sickness, disease, and heartache we face today may look different than what we read about in Scripture, but the human suffering is the same, and God is the same. In the Bible we read of leprosy. Today we face cancer. The names are different, but the pain, fear, and desperation are not.

Jesus came and was present with those who were suffering. He did not avoid their pain or explain it away. He touched the sick. He healed. And He wept. He met people right where they were.

As I walk with my wife through this season of cancer, I have felt the presence of God in powerful ways. While praying over her, while singing worship with her, and in the quiet moments when words fall short and tears take over.

God invites us to cry out to Him. He welcomes our prayers for healing, for strength, and for the defeat of what seeks to harm us. He is not distant from our suffering.

God is so good, even here, even now.

In our conversations, I challenged them to imagine holding their situation in their hands, feeling the weight, and then simply saying, “God, I don’t know what to do with this. Will you help me? Will you help them? Would you increase my belief in you?”

Often, we come to God with seemingly unreasonable requests and then feel disappointed when He doesn’t fulfill our desires. Demanding, “God, do this or else I won’t believe,” seems unreasonable to me. What if we approached God with open hands and minds, willing to let God be God? Maybe His ways are not our ways. Maybe God isn’t orchestrating every event. But perhaps, just maybe, He is open to interacting in response to our belief—that He can move mountains, change hearts, and be with us in the valley of the shadow of death.

Hold out open hands, and let’s see what God might do!

He mentioned that he is starting to look for a church for himself and his family. I asked him what was leading him in this direction. He said something along the lines of, “I grew up Catholic and then began to do my own thing. With all that is going on in our society, I want to lean back in and try to understand what God’s perspective is.”

Wow!

This morning, as I read the scriptures, I was reminded of this conversation when I came across the phrase “Cease Opposing God.”

Without saying it, this is what I heard this young man say. So many of us allow our own desires to rule and dominate our beliefs and actions. What would happen if our desire was to simply “cease opposing God”?

What would happen if we began to ask God to reveal to us what He thinks? What would happen if we asked God to show us what to believe and how to interact with the world?

The issues of the day are complex. The division on issues is real. We end up hating each other because we have opposing views on significant matters. What if we began to agree that together, we are going to simply seek to “stop opposing God”? That we are going to lean in, have hard conversations, listen, learn, and study the scriptures, trusting that God will guide us into all truth. We don’t need to walk away from those we disagree with. We can just have open and honest dialogue.

This will likely be hard for me to flesh out, but this is my desire. I believe God wants me to be able to disagree with the brother down the road, and yet still grab a coffee with him. We don’t need to be like the religious leaders in the scriptures who sought to kill those who opposed their views.

Practicing the way of Jesus invites us to live differently. Let’s do this together!

When addressing threats to our country, it’s crucial to handle the situation humanely. Defining a threat can be complex, but I believe the law should guide us. If someone enters our country without following the legal process, they pose a potential threat. We know nothing about them, and if they’re willing to break the law to enter, what other laws might they be willing to break?

Refugees who enter legally are a different story. I have many friends who have come to the US legally, for one reason or another, and I welcome them. True refugees should be welcomed as I believe the scriptures call us to respond to those in need. Our issues are not a result of refugees. Our issues are a result of us simply allowing a free for all, welcoming, and caring for those who enter without following the rules. The reward for you making into the country cannot be congratulations, now you get to stay.

That said, these individuals should be treated with dignity during their departure. They should be provided with basic necessities and have the legal process for reentry explained to them.

Freedom does not mean a land without boundaries. This approach doesn’t work in our homes, schools, or country. There must be accountability for our actions. People Matter, but so do the boundaries of Freedom.

So this morning, I woke and read Psalm 145. This is a declaration about who God is and let me tell you this DECLARATION is something to get excited about.

Psalm 145

You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them.

The Lord watches over all who love him…

My hope is built on who God is, nothing more, nothing less. The Circumstances on life will always disappoint, but God is faithful. Call on Him, He hears you. Call on Him, He can save you. Call on Him for He DECLARES you are loved!

Our world is changing at an unprecedented pace, fueled by the rapid dissemination of ideas and trends through social media. This leaves us questioning: who sets our cultural trends and beliefs? How do we respond to a culture that swings from one extreme to another so quickly?

As a follower of Jesus, I’m reminded of my father-in-law’s wisdom. In his latest book he says, “We must intentionally make ourselves culture-shapers even when it would be far more comfortable to turn our backs and associate only with our fellow like-minded exiles.” (Peter Teague “Jesus Leader”). His words emphasize the importance of actively engaging with the world around us rather than retreating into comfortable circles of like-minded individuals.

As culture-shapers, it’s crucial to understand that we don’t have to embrace every new trend or thought that arises. Nor do we need to withdraw from society and only associate with those who share our views. We can stay true to our core values and beliefs while positively influencing the culture around us. The scriptures provide us with a solid foundation, offering timeless truths that go beyond fleeting trends and passing waves of thought.

The Bible allows us to build our lives on principles that will stand the test of time. These truths guide us toward a lifestyle of consistency and integrity, regardless of the changing cultural landscape.

I encourage you to pick up a Bible and read it. Attend a Bible study or church service and engage in Christian thought. Let’s start a trend of truth and a lifestyle of consistency together.

I know several good people who have encountered hardships in one way or another.

As I read this morning’s text, I couldn’t help but think of these dear friends.

Some have not been able to have children of their own. Others have had health issues or physical ailments, and some have lost loved ones in accidents. Life is hard.

When speaking of Elizabeth and Zachariah, the scriptures state: “Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren.”

I don’t know the whys, but this Scripture declares that you can be living right and even be blameless before God, doing exactly what He wants for your life, and still experience suffering. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. God is not punishing you.

God is love. He loves you. Jesus came to show us what God is like. I believe He would have sat with you in your pain and disappointment. I believe He would have cried with you. I know that He was willing to die for the brokenness you are experiencing. He wants to see the world made right!

This doesn’t make sense to me. If any of you are like me, the reality is, we don’t have it all together. We don’t have all of the answers. Every day is filled with its own struggles. What would happen if we admitted I’m not all right. I’m not OK. Most days I’m just barely getting by.

What would happen if we began to ask for help in the midst of our struggles. At work. Hey I don’t understand how to do this effectively. At home. Hey kids I don’t have time to do your laundry, can you help? To another soccer mom, my schedule is packed, is there any way you can bring my kid home from practice?

What if we began to reach out to those who we knew may be struggling? What if we started asking each other “how are you doing” and actually meaning it? Hey can I help you do “Blank”. My issue is I often don’t make the time to listen, when I ask the question. I am too busy accomplishing my own task. I’m not alright. I’m not okay.

What if somebody in the places your life is stationed is asking for help? Do you hear them? Will you listen? Will you be willing to let them know, I’m not alright and that’s okay, because you and me, we are not alone. Let’s start humbly asking for help.