Podcasts about yet jesus

In 1948, the modern State of Israel was established—an event that triggered the fulfillment of several key Bible prophecies and reshaped world history. But how much do we truly understand about Israel, Palestine, and the biblical truths surrounding them? In this episode, we open God's Word for clear, scriptural insight on a topic often clouded by misinformation.Today's digital world has been called one of the greatest “web con jobs” in history, and many believers have unknowingly absorbed distorted ideas about culture, politics, and prophecy. But the Lord reminds us that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” If we want discernment, we must return to Scripture—not to scholars who deny its inspiration and authority.We also discuss how modern culture often flaunts a lack of wisdom and spiritual understanding. From public displays of broken homes to the glorifying of sinful lifestyles, America is broadcasting confusion to the world. Yet Jesus warned, “Take heed that the light which is in thee be not darkness.”Join us as we seek biblical clarity on Israel, discernment in a deceptive age, and a deeper understanding of what God sees—and what He expects—from His people today.The Voice in the Wilderness does not endorse any link or other material found at buzzsprout.More at https://www.thevoiceinthewilderness.org/

Read OnlineWhile still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29Today's Gospel takes place during the midpoint of Jesus' public ministry. By this time, He had healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, preached many powerful sermons, and changed many hearts. Despite that, many in the crowds did not believe in Him and demanded more signs.Additionally, the Pharisees were becoming increasingly hostile toward our Lord. In Luke's Gospel, they confront and criticize Jesus several times before this passage. In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses His rebuke to these Pharisees and the unbelieving crowds.If Jesus' generation was “an evil generation,” what would He say about our own? In many ways, we are becoming a global culture. While there are countless faithful followers of Christ worldwide, evil seems to be more pervasive today, perhaps more noticeable due to the ease of worldwide communication.Though Jesus delivered His sermons to specific people in His time, His words transcend time and are meant for every generation. When He says, “This generation is an evil generation…,” we must understand that He is also speaking to us today.When Jesus says His generation “seeks a sign,” He points out a common human temptation. Many approach the Gospel skeptically, demanding irrefutable proof that they should change their lives, believe in the Good News, and abandon sin. In today's world, some even glorify sin, treating virtue as outdated or foolish. This distorted outlook leads many to disregard the most important sign of all—Jesus' Death and Resurrection.Yet Jesus is clear: “…no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Jonah's three days in the belly of the fish prefigured Jesus' three days in the tomb. In other words, Jesus' Death and Resurrection is the one and only sign given to us. This is striking because so many fail to pay attention to this ultimate sign of salvation. In the end, we can only change ourselves and hope that our conversion becomes a witness to others.Do you believe in this sign? Do you believe that Jesus' Life, Death, and Resurrection is the sole path to salvation? Most likely, you do. But how deep is that belief?Though Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry, He did so as a response to the faith already present in those around Him. Today, the same is true. Physical miracles mean little compared to the saving Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. They are merely reflections of the greatest miracle—eternal salvation. If you truly want to witness a miracle, turn to this supreme gift of grace and mercy. Believe with all your heart, and you will witness the transformation of your soul, which is the greatest miracle of all. Reflect today on Jesus' rebuke of the evil surrounding us, which demands proof but refuses to see the one sign that truly matters. The only proof Jesus offers is the grace that transforms us. When we discover and embrace this grace, we will know, believe, and be changed. Open your heart to the miracle of conversion that God desires to bestow upon you, and become a witness of Christ's greatest miracle for others to see. My miraculous Lord, though many in every age seek superficial signs, You offer the one true miracle that brings salvation—Your Life, Death, and Resurrection. Please help me to believe with unwavering faith, and protect me from the evil of this generation. Transform my heart so that I may be the fruit of the miracle You wish to give to the world. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Jonah by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.   Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Praying in the Garden “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” Mark 14:32 Gethsemane is an olive garden, but its name means olive press. That matters. Because on this night, Jesus is being pressed—pressed by sorrow, dread, betrayal, and the weight of what's coming. Mark tells us He is “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” This is not stoic Jesus. This is anguished Jesus. And what does He do when the pressure becomes unbearable? He prays. Jesus does not numb Himself, distract Himself, or power through. He withdraws. He falls to the ground. He calls God Abba—Father. Prayer, for Jesus, is not a performance or a duty. It is refuge. When everything feels like too much, He runs toward His Father, not away. Gethsemane shows us that prayer is not something strong people do; it's where desperate people hide. It's the place we go when words fail, when explanations run dry, when all we can offer is our presence and our pain. And Jesus doesn't pray safely. He prays honestly. “Take this cup from me.” He asks for what He wants. He names His desire without fear, without editing, without pretending. This is stunning. If that prayer were answered, salvation would never come. Yet Jesus still prays it. Why? Because He trusts His Father completely. He knows God will never give Him something that isn't ultimately good—even if it's something He deeply wants in the moment. That means prayer is not just refuge; it's freedom. Freedom to ask. Freedom to risk honesty. Freedom from the fear that God might mishandle our requests. Jesus shows us we don't have to tiptoe around God with cautious, half-formed prayers. We can say what we actually want, while still surrendering to the Father we trust. “Not my will, but yours” is not fear—it's confidence in God's goodness. Then Jesus returns to His friends and finds them asleep. Three times. And He says something revealing: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Prayer, Jesus insists, changes things. Not by giving us control, but by shifting where our strength comes from. The disciples skip prayer and later reach for a sword. The result? Chaos, fear, failure. Human strength cannot produce kingdom change. Prayer can. Because prayer moves us from self-reliance to God-dependence. It is the place where weak people receive power they do not possess on their own. Gethsemane invites us into a different vision of prayer. Not a burden, but a refuge. Not a risk, but a freedom. Not a formality, but a means of real change. So go to your place. Say what you're actually feeling. Ask for what you actually want. And trust the Father who meets you there.

Being religious is not the same as being transformed.In this message, John Gunter explores the encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus in John chapter 3. Nicodemus represents the curious, the moral, and the spiritually serious. Yet Jesus confronts him with a truth that cuts through effort and heritage. Unless one is born from above, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.This sermon reminds us that salvation is not inherited, achieved, or reasoned into existence. It is received. God gives a new heart. The Spirit produces life. The invitation is not to control the process but to surrender to it.Key Themes:The difference between curiosity and transformationThe limits of religious effortThe promise of a new heart and new SpiritTrusting God rather than trusting our own systems

What does it really mean to be born again?In John 3, Jesus has a midnight conversation with a religious leader named Nicodemus—a man with status, knowledge, and reputation. Yet Jesus tells him something shocking: religion, heritage, and effort aren't enough. To see and enter the kingdom of God, a person must be born again—born from above—by the Spirit of God.In this message from Come and See (Part 5), we explore:-Why Nicodemus came to Jesus at night-What Jesus meant by being “born of water and the Spirit”-How new birth is a work God does for us, not something we achieve-Why eternal life begins with new breath-How Jesus meets us in our midnight moments with transformation, not condemnationThis sermon is an invitation—not to try harder—but to receive new life.

Worship with us 9 + 11am 390 N 400 E Bountiful, UT 84010 https://www.flourishinggrace.org/plan-your-visit As we continue our verse by verse journey through the Gospel of Luke, we arrive at the triumphal entry of Jesus in Luke 19:28 to 44. This passage is often read on Palm Sunday, yet Luke highlights specific details to answer a defining question for every person: what kind of King is Jesus? In a world where leadership shapes families, workplaces, communities, and nations, Luke invites us to consider who is truly in charge and who is shaping our lives. We may assume we are fully in control of our decisions, priorities, and identity, but every day we are influenced by voices, desires, fears, pressures, and countless messages that compete for authority over our hearts. The question is not whether something or someone is ruling us, but what kind of ruler it is and whether it can actually give us life. In this sermon, Pastor Benjer shows how Luke reveals Jesus as a King with real authority. Jesus intentionally fulfills Old Testament prophecy as He enters Jerusalem, including the promise from Zechariah that Israel's King would come humble and riding on a donkey. Jesus directs His disciples to a colt that has never been ridden, and His words, “The Lord has need of it,” point to His rightful claim over all things. The crowds respond with praise, quoting Scripture and celebrating Jesus as King, while the Pharisees recognize the danger of His claim. Jesus is not merely a teacher with good ideas, but the promised Messiah, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Luke makes clear that Jesus has authority not only over a city and a moment in history, but over creation itself. Luke also reveals Jesus as a King who is humble. While earthly rulers enter with power displays and war horses, Jesus comes on a donkey. He does not enter Jerusalem for conquest, but for sacrifice. His path to victory goes through the cross. This confronts our expectations because we often want a Messiah who confirms our strength, protects our preferences, and defeats our enemies on our timeline. Yet Jesus redefines power through surrender, calling His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. True strength in the Kingdom of God is marked by humility, service, obedience, and love. The way of Jesus challenges cultural definitions of greatness and invites us to lay down our rights for the good of others, beginning in our homes, relationships, workplaces, and communities. Finally, Luke shows Jesus as a King who saves. As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, He does not posture in anger. He weeps. His tears reveal His heart for the people who are about to reject Him. He longs for them to know “the things that make for peace,” not merely the absence of conflict, but reconciliation with God. Jesus warns of the consequences of refusing His visitation, and the passage shows both the seriousness of judgment and the tenderness of His mercy. Jesus came to save, not to condemn. His authority is not cold control, and His humility is not weakness. Together they reveal the heart of a Savior King who willingly lays down His life so that sinners can be forgiven, made new, and brought home to God. If you are exploring faith, this message is an invitation to consider Jesus honestly. Either He is the promised King who came to die and rise again, or He is not. If you are a Christian, this passage calls you to yield every area of life to His authority and to follow His way of humility. Flourishing Grace Church exists to help ordinary people encounter an extraordinary God, and we pray this sermon strengthens your faith, steadies your heart, and leads you to trust King Jesus more deeply.

In the natural world there is a law that says, 'for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.' But in the Kingdom of God, the ‘way things work' is different…When pressure comes, when opposition rises, when negativity provokes; the instinct is to react. Yet Jesus teaches a different way. Not eye for eye. Not reaction for reaction. But Spirit-led response rooted in joy, trust, and divine nature.In this message, we explore:• Why people resist the goodness of God• How fear, insecurity, hurt, and familiarity can block breakthrough• The difference between instinct and obedience to the Holy Spirit• Why reacting keeps you trapped, and how joy sets you free!• What it means to walk the “narrow way” with graceYou were created to be bright, radiant with the joy of the Lord, strengthened by grace and marked by gladness!There is a better law at work in the Kingdom.And it leads to life.Be challenged. Be encouraged. Be transformed.Visit Our Website for more content, info, and to support our Ministry.

Many people today seek to approach God on their own terms. Rather than asking what it truly takes to enter the Kingdom of God, we often assume we know what is best. We walk a path we have deemed worthy simply because it feels right to us. This mindset can lead to what I would call “soft universalism.” We may claim the name of Christ, yet quietly choose the parts of Scripture we like while setting aside the parts that challenge us. We begin to shape our own understanding of what it takes to enter the Kingdom of God and pursue that version instead. Tragically, this can lead to the sobering reality Jesus speaks of in Matthew 7, when some will hear the heartbreaking words, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” So the question still stands: How do we enter the Kingdom of God? Jesus, in His love and clarity, does not leave us without an answer. This week, as we dive into John 3:1–21, we will look at His interaction with Nicodemus, where He addresses this very question. Nicodemus wrestles with Jesus’ answer because of the spiritual darkness that blinds him—and, if we are honest, can blind each of us as well. Yet Jesus makes it abundantly clear that we must enter the Kingdom on His terms, not our own. Would you join us this Sunday and prayerfully prepare your heart to consider this life-shaping question: How do we enter the Kingdom of God? Pastor Brandon For this week's Scripture and notes: http://bible.com/events/49559550

2026-02-15: “Do you want to get well?” It seems like such a simple question that would lead to an obvious answer. Yet Jesus asks this question more than once because the answer isn't as obvious as we think it is. Many people don't want to be well. Many people would rather be a victim than a victor. In this third sign in John's Gospel, Jesus confronts both paralysis and religious conformity, inviting one man—and all of us—to choose true wholeness.

Read OnlineJesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Mark 7:31–32Throughout Jesus' public ministry, His actions, while purely charitable, were often deliberate and provocative. His words and deeds testified to the true meaning of the Mosaic Law by exposing the damaging legalism of many Pharisees, whose misinterpretations deeply influenced God's Chosen People. For example, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath (cf. Mark 3:1–6) and cured a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years (cf. John 5:1–18). In both cases, Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath rest as interpreted by the Pharisaic traditions. By challenging these restrictive and erroneous interpretations, Jesus demonstrated that the Sabbath is a day for mercy, healing, and honoring God, not a burdensome observance of human traditions. Jesus boldly lived the Mosaic Law as it was intended, while challenging the erroneous practices and beliefs He encountered. Another act of deliberate and charitable provocation was Jesus' ministry among the Gentiles. At that time, observant Jews often avoided direct interactions with Gentiles, considering them ritually unclean and outside the covenant community of Israel. Yet Jesus traveled into Gentile regions such as Tyre, Sidon, and the Decapolis. In today's Gospel, Jesus traveled from Tyre to Sidon and then to the Decapolis, where He healed a deaf and mute man. Being predominantly Gentile regions, they were marked by pagan worship, Hellenistic culture, and lifestyles often incompatible with Jewish religious practices. It is likely that Jesus' companions—the Twelve—were surprised and uneasy during these visits, but that was precisely the point. Their journey to these territories was itself a lesson Jesus intended to teach. By engaging with Gentiles, Jesus revealed that God's salvation is not limited to Israel but extends to all nations, fulfilling the promise made to Abraham: “All the families of the earth will find blessing in you” (Genesis 12:3). In doing so, Jesus began preparing His disciples to shed nationalistic biases and embrace the universal scope of God's covenant of salvation.The healing of the deaf and mute man carries profound significance. First, by performing the miracle in predominantly Gentile territory, Jesus directed its meaning beyond the Jews to all peoples of every nation. The message is clear: By healing the man's deafness, Jesus teaches that all must hear the saving message of the Gospel. By healing his speech impediment, Jesus further teaches that all who hear the Gospel are called to proclaim it.Though the manner of this healing—putting “his finger into the man's ears and, spitting, touched his tongue”—is rich with symbolism, it also reveals Jesus' personal and compassionate approach. For a deaf and mute man, spoken words alone would not have conveyed what Jesus was about to do. By using touch and visible gestures, Jesus communicated with the man in a way he could understand, engaging him personally and tenderly. This reflects the boundless compassion of Jesus, Who meets each of us where we are.Reflect today on the lesson the Twelve learned as they traveled with Jesus through Gentile and pagan regions. As followers of Christ, we must learn not only from His words but also from His actions. The Creed, the Sacraments, and the moral teachings of the Church are not meant for Catholics alone but for all people. At times, sharing the Gospel might require charitable provocation within the social circles in which we live and work. We must strive to do so in ways that people can understand, setting aside artificial or inconsequential traditions that obstruct the message. True compassion leads us to every person, making us instruments of their salvation, knowing that the message we bring is for all, so that “all the families of the earth” may find blessing in God through you.My compassionate and provocative Lord, You confidently and lovingly challenged the burdensome and restrictive traditions that had overshadowed the true spirit of the Mosaic Law, pointing Your disciples—and us—to the universal scope of Your saving mission. Grant me the courage and wisdom to be an instrument of Your Gospel to everyone I meet. Help me to love them where they are, with the tenderness and compassion You show, so that they, too, may be drawn into the joy of Your eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: unknown, (Markusmaler und Gehilfe), Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Jesus tells His disciples something shocking: “It is to your advantage that I go away.” To grieving followers who had walked with Him daily, nothing sounded less advantageous than Jesus leaving. Yet Jesus explains that His departure would usher in something even greater—the arrival of the Holy Spirit.BIBLE VERSE References: JOHN 16:1-15 | MATTHEW 14:7 | MATTHEW 8:14 | MARK 4:41 | MARK 14:66-72 | JOHN 12:42-43 | MATTHEW 25:23 | MATTHEW 3:17 | MARK 8:34-38 | 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 | 2 CORINTHIANS 1:5 | PHILIPPIANS 1:29 | ISAIAH 64:6 | 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21 | LUKE 11:13*Music tracks by Blue Dot Sessions titled “Glass Beads” and “Come As You Were” were featured in this episode

In this message from Mark 10:17–27, we continue our in-depth exposition of Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler, focusing on evangelism, law and gospel, and why Jesus allowed what most would consider the hottest prospect in the New Testament to walk away. This is Part 4 of the Rich Young Ruler series. Jesus encounters a man who was a sincere seeker—moral, sincere, eager, respectful, Bible-literate, and desperate for eternal life. And he sought it from Jesus. From a human perspective, this is the kind of man many churches today would celebrate, affirm, and quickly usher into membership. Yet Jesus does something shocking. Instead of "closing the deal," Jesus presses the law deeper. If you enjoy the episode, please consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving a 5-stars rating. This helps others find the podcast. My sermons are the fruit of nearly 30 years of pastoral ministry, biblical counseling, formal seminary training, and a lifelong passion for God's Word. Since childhood, I've been drawn to the beauty and power of expository preaching—opening Scripture verse by verse and applying it to real life. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute, I spent the next 27 years serving as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, and host of the Food For Your Soul radio broadcast. Along the way, I also earned a Master of Sacred Literature and a Doctor of Religious Studies. For more content from D. Richard Ferguson, visit TreasuringGod.com. Follow on social: • Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DarrellFerguson • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darrell.r.ferguson/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dr.DRichardFerguson

Jesus Was Mocked on the Cross—And So Will You | Matthew 27:33-44The world mocked Jesus as He hung on the cross. "If you're God's son, come down!" they shouted. But here's what they didn't understand: God's vindication doesn't look like the world's vindication. Jesus didn't come down from the cross to prove Himself—He stayed on it. And three days later, the empty tomb said everything.If you're facing mockery for your faith, if you're waiting for God to defend you, or if you're wondering why He isn't showing up the way you expected—this message is for you.In this sermon, we walk through Matthew 27:33-44 and uncover four powerful truths about Christ's crucifixion:TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Intro - The Most Evil Day in History [02:04] The Crucifixion Begins [06:08] Golgotha: The Place of the Skull [08:19] Jesus Takes Our Place [16:26] Penal Substitutionary Atonement Explained [19:07] Prophecy Fulfilled: Psalm 22 [24:02] The Religious Leaders Mock Jesus [29:18] Moses, Miriam, and God's Vindication [33:42] Worship That Goes Deeper Than "He Loves Me" [35:34] How Jesus Responded to Mockery [36:25] Christianity Isn't About Being Understood [39:06] After the Amen Q&AKEY TAKEAWAYS:Let it humble you - You're the soldier, the mocker, the one who deserved the cross. Yet Jesus died instead of you.Let it fuel authentic worship - When you see Jesus didn't just die for you but instead of you, worship goes infinitely deeper.Respond with steadfast obedience - Like Jesus, you don't need the final word. God will vindicate you.Stop trying to be understood - Christianity isn't about being understood. It's about where you stand in Christ.The resurrection proves God will vindicate His children. You may face mockery now, but one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.CONNECT WITH US: 

Jesus Was Mocked on the Cross—And So Will You | Matthew 27:33-44The world mocked Jesus as He hung on the cross. "If you're God's son, come down!" they shouted. But here's what they didn't understand: God's vindication doesn't look like the world's vindication. Jesus didn't come down from the cross to prove Himself—He stayed on it. And three days later, the empty tomb said everything.If you're facing mockery for your faith, if you're waiting for God to defend you, or if you're wondering why He isn't showing up the way you expected—this message is for you.In this sermon, we walk through Matthew 27:33-44 and uncover four powerful truths about Christ's crucifixion:TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Intro - The Most Evil Day in History [02:04] The Crucifixion Begins [06:08] Golgotha: The Place of the Skull [08:19] Jesus Takes Our Place [16:26] Penal Substitutionary Atonement Explained [19:07] Prophecy Fulfilled: Psalm 22 [24:02] The Religious Leaders Mock Jesus [29:18] Moses, Miriam, and God's Vindication [33:42] Worship That Goes Deeper Than "He Loves Me" [35:34] How Jesus Responded to Mockery [36:25] Christianity Isn't About Being Understood [39:06] After the Amen Q&AKEY TAKEAWAYS:Let it humble you - You're the soldier, the mocker, the one who deserved the cross. Yet Jesus died instead of you.Let it fuel authentic worship - When you see Jesus didn't just die for you but instead of you, worship goes infinitely deeper.Respond with steadfast obedience - Like Jesus, you don't need the final word. God will vindicate you.Stop trying to be understood - Christianity isn't about being understood. It's about where you stand in Christ.The resurrection proves God will vindicate His children. You may face mockery now, but one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.CONNECT WITH US: 

A popular Valentine's Day gift is a stuffed animal. Many of us can remember a special stuffed animal from our own childhoods. These toys provide comfort and companionship. In fact, many adults still hold on to a beloved stuffed friend from their youth. They symbolize a sense of security that we turn to when we need solace, highlighting our innate human desire for closeness and comfort. These treasured items often come worn and stained, showing their age. They're not perfect, but a brand new stuffed animal in pristine condition simply can't replace the love and memories tied to the original. Despite their dirty and shabby appearance, these stuffed animals remain cherished. The stains and wear from years of affection only add character. Just as these toys are loved in their imperfect state, God loves us with all our flaws and imperfections. The story of Jesus touching and healing the leper reinforces this truth. The leper, considered untouchable and required to live in isolation, approaches Jesus, only asking for healing. He believed he was unworthy of physical contact. Yet Jesus touches him anyway, demonstrating compassion, acceptance, and the healing power of touch. Touch conveys love, safety, and blessing. God never forces Himself on us. Instead, He meets us with love, refuses to abandon us, and sees our unique value even in our brokenness.

A popular Valentine's Day gift is a stuffed animal. Many of us can remember a special stuffed animal from our own childhoods. These toys provide comfort and companionship. In fact, many adults still hold on to a beloved stuffed friend from their youth. They symbolize a sense of security that we turn to when we need solace, highlighting our innate human desire for closeness and comfort. These treasured items often come worn and stained, showing their age. They're not perfect, but a brand new stuffed animal in pristine condition simply can't replace the love and memories tied to the original. Despite their dirty and shabby appearance, these stuffed animals remain cherished. The stains and wear from years of affection only add character. Just as these toys are loved in their imperfect state, God loves us with all our flaws and imperfections. The story of Jesus touching and healing the leper reinforces this truth. The leper, considered untouchable and required to live in isolation, approaches Jesus, only asking for healing. He believed he was unworthy of physical contact. Yet Jesus touches him anyway, demonstrating compassion, acceptance, and the healing power of touch. Touch conveys love, safety, and blessing. God never forces Himself on us. Instead, He meets us with love, refuses to abandon us, and sees our unique value even in our brokenness.

The Fear of the Lord: Reverent Trust That Shapes the Christian Life Show: Anchored in the Word (Servants of Grace Podcast)Host: Dave Jenkins Show Summary What does it mean to fear the Lord and why does it matter for everyday Christian living? In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins explains that the fear of God is not terror that drives us away, but reverent trust that draws us near. The fear of the Lord produces wisdom, deepens worship, drives out lesser fears, and shapes how we read Scripture, pray, fight sin, endure trials, and live with confidence in God's unshakable kingdom. Audio Player Video Player Episode Notes Key Scriptures Psalm 111:10 Proverbs 1:7 Hebrews 12:28–29 Acts 9:31 Matthew 10:28–31 Big Idea The fear of the Lord is trusting reverence a weighty, joyful awareness of God's holiness that leads to wisdom, worship, obedience, and freedom from the fear of man. Full Article What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord? Few phrases appear as often in Scripture and are misunderstood as often as “the fear of the Lord.” Some hear that phrase and imagine dread, anxiety, or the kind of terror that makes a person run and hide. But that is not how the Bible teaches God's people to understand this fear. Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 1:7 adds, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Isaiah calls the fear of the Lord a treasure for God's people (Isa. 33:6). And the book of Acts describes the early church as walking “in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:31). The fear of the Lord is not presented as a passing theme, but as a foundational mark of faithful living. The Fear of the Lord Is Not Terror, but Trusting Reverence When Scripture calls believers to fear God, it is not calling us to the kind of fear that makes us run away from Him. It is the kind of fear that draws us near—because it recognizes who God is. He is holy. He is righteous. He is sovereign. He is mighty. And He is worthy of obedience, honor, and worship. In other words, the fear of the Lord is a trembling that loves God—not a terror that hides from Him. Think of Isaiah in Isaiah 6. He sees the glory of the Lord, trembles, and confesses his sin. Yet God cleanses him and sends him on mission. Or consider Peter in Luke 5. When Jesus fills the nets with fish, Peter falls down and says, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Yet Jesus does not cast him away He draws him near and says, “Do not be afraid.” True fear of God humbles us, exposes our sin, and then drives us to the grace and mercy of God. The Fear of the Lord Produces Wisdom Proverbs tells us plainly that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Why? Because fearing God rightly does at least three vital things. It puts God in His proper place as holy and authoritative. Since God is God, His Word is true, His commands are good, and His ways lead to life. It puts us in our proper place as dependent and needy. We are not wise on our own. We are not strong on our own. We are not righteous on our own. But God is all these things, and He supplies what we lack. It reorients how we see the world. Life stops being about self-rule and becomes about God's rule. Life stops being about our wisdom and becomes about God's wisdom. Wisdom begins when we bow before a sovereign God as revealed in His Word. Foolishness begins when we refuse to bow to Him. The Fear of the Lord Drives Out Lesser Fears One of the great paradoxes of Scripture is this: when you fear the Lord, you fear nothing else. And when you do not fear the Lord, you fear everything else. The fear of the Lord frees us from the fear of man, the fear of the future, the fear of suffering, and the fear of death. Why? Because the God you fear is the God who saves you, keeps you, and holds you. Jesus says in Matthew 10: “Do not fear those who kill the body… rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” And then He immediately comforts His people by reminding them they are of more value than many sparrows. The fear of the Lord produces both sobriety and security—because God is holy, and God is also faithful. The Fear of the Lord Fuels Worship and Joyful Obedience The fear of the Lord is not cold, dry, or distant. It produces worship. It produces delight. It produces obedience rooted in love. Hebrews 12:28–29 calls believers to offer acceptable worship “with reverence and awe,” because our God is a consuming fire. God's holiness is weighty. His glory is real. His presence is not casual. A casual view of God leads to casual obedience. A weighty and biblical view of God leads to joyful obedience. This is why Acts 9:31 says the early church walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit not fear or comfort, but fear and comfort together. The fear of the Lord and the comfort of God are not enemies; they belong together in the Christian life. How the Fear of the Lord Shapes Everyday Christian Living What does the fear of the Lord look like on Monday morning? It shapes how you read the Word of God—you come recognizing it is God's authoritative voice. It shapes how you pray—boldly, yet humbly; confidently, yet reverently. It shapes how you fight sin—you take sin seriously because God takes sin seriously. It shapes how you love others—you aim to honor God in relationships, home, and church. It shapes how you endure trials—you rest in God's sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness even when life is painful. Walking in the fear of the Lord aligns your whole life under God's authority and God's grace as revealed in His Word not as a burden, but as a blessing. Final Encouragement Psalm 112:1 says, “Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments.” The fear of the Lord is to delight in Him. To bow before Him is to find life in Him. To reverence Him is to rest in Him. May God help each of us to walk in the fear of the Lord with reverence, with joy, with trust, and with confidence in His unshakable kingdom. Episode Highlights The fear of the Lord is not terror—it is reverent trust that draws us near to God. The fear of the Lord produces wisdom by putting God in His rightful place and us in ours. The fear of the Lord drives out lesser fears—especially the fear of man, the future, and suffering. The fear of the Lord fuels worship marked by reverence and awe, because our God is holy. The fear of the Lord shapes daily life: Bible intake, prayer, holiness, relationships, endurance, and joy. Takeaways Ask the Lord to give you a weighty view of His holiness and a warm confidence in His grace. Identify where the fear of man is controlling you—and replace it with reverent trust in God. Approach Scripture and prayer with humility, confidence, and reverence. Let the fear of the Lord produce joyful obedience rather than casual Christianity. Call to Action If this episode encouraged you, please consider: Subscribe to the Servants of Grace Podcast for more biblical teaching. Share this episode with a friend or your church small group. Thank you for listening. May the Lord help us walk in the fear of the Lord with reverence, joy, trust, and confidence in His unshakable kingdom. For more from Anchored in the Word with Dave please visit our page at Servants of Grace or at our YouTube.

History is a psyop. Our pasts are written to separate us from truths of who we are. It's all part of a grander scheme of trauma based programming, to leave us vulnerable to the puppet masters will. Yet Jesus is rising and with it comes the truths that are uncomfortable and shocking. Don't fall to the trap of fatalism. Focus on the joy and the life given to us by Christ; it is there for everyone in the moment. Futures are unknown, time lines are not ours to tend, but our relationship with God lives in every moment we breathe and live. Embrace the gift of life. #BardsFM_Morning #BePresent #BeMindfulAndHumble Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS BardsFM CAP, Celebrating 50 Million Downloads: https://ambitiousfaith.net Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here EMF Solutions to keep your home safe: https://www.emfsol.com/?aff=bards Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS: TreadliteBroadforks.com No Knot Today Natural Skin Products: NoKnotToday.com Health, Nutrition and Detox Consulting: HealthIsLocal.com Destination Real Food Book on Amazon: click here Images In Bloom Soaps and Things: ImagesInBloom.com Angeline Design: AngelineDesign.com DONATE: Click here Mailing Address: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Most of us move through life feeling stretched, rushed, or distracted, trying to fit spiritual growth into the margins. Yet Jesus invites His people into something far richer, a life deeply connected to God, rooted in His people, and purposeful in the world. Today's message brings those truths down to earth, showing how ordinary rhythms like daily scripture, weekly community, and prayerful mission can shape a life that reflects the heart of Christ. It's about learning to walk with Him in the everyday.

Read OnlineWhen the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Luke 2:22–24The Presentation of the Lord reveals two beautiful paradoxes: the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the ritual redemption of Jesus, her firstborn Son. Both actions follow the Law of Moses, yet each unveils a deeper mystery about Christ and His Mother, offering us a mystery to enter and an example to follow.First, we ponder the Blessed Virgin Mary's purification. The Law stated that a woman who gave birth to a son needed ritual purification (cf. Leviticus 12). Yet Mary, being immaculately conceived and preserved entirely from all stain of sin, had no need for purification. Nevertheless, she fulfilled the Law, setting before us a model of perfect humility and obedience. Knowing her own interior purity, she could have objected, but she did not, because she valued obedience to God's law above her own justification. She teaches us that true holiness embraces humble submission over self-assertion. Humility, in its beauty and holiness, always conquers pride's selfishness and self-elevation. Our Blessed Mother knew and lived that.The second paradox is found in Jesus' presentation. The Law required every firstborn son to be presented to the Lord and redeemed in remembrance of the Passover (cf. Exodus 13; Numbers 3 and 18). Yet Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the true High Priest and Spotless Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He needed no redemption, for He is God Himself. Still, Christ was presented in the Temple so that we might be presented with Him to the Father. In His humility, He united Himself to our human nature—without sin—so that we might be truly consecrated to God through Him. Again, virtue wins out, as Christ invites us to share in His humility.The Presentation also foreshadows the other ways Jesus would redeem us through His human life. In His Baptism, though sinless, He submits to a rite of repentance so we might be sanctified through baptism ourselves. In His Passion, though innocent, He suffers for us, paying our debt—a debt we must humbly admit that we cannot repay on our own. In His Resurrection, His humility is crowned with eternal glory, opening the way for us to share in His divine life—if we humble ourselves with Him.Like our Blessed Mother, we are called to submit obediently to God's will, rejecting the pride that tempts us to think we are above certain duties or sacrifices. True holiness embraces sacrifice freely out of love, rather than seeking exemption from it. Even undeserved hardships bear fruit when endured with Christ. True holiness also perceives the beauty of joyful obedience to God's will, rather than asserting our own.Like Jesus, we are called to offer ourselves completely to the Father. As Jesus was ritually offered in the Temple, we must see ourselves in that offering. He was offered for us. By uniting ourselves with Him in His humility, we are redeemed through His offering to the Father. We become children in the Son, received by the Father who accepted Christ's perfect offering. In Him, our offering becomes perfect, and we find our eternal home with the Father. Reflect today on the hidden ways God invites you to imitate these paradoxes. Are there areas where you resist humble obedience, preferring your own will over God's? Are there sacrifices you are tempted to avoid, forgetting that true love embraces the Cross? Offer yourself to the Father with Mary's obedience and Christ's perfect humility so that your life, like theirs, may become a pure offering of love. Most humble Lord, You were obedient to the Father's will in all things. From the mystery of Your Incarnation, to Your humble birth in a cave, Your ritual presentation and redemption in the Temple, and Your sacrificial Death and Resurrection, You acted with perfect holiness, humility, and obedience. Please draw me into Your life—into Your Presentation to the Father, Your Death, and Your Resurrection. Live within me, dear Lord, so that I may live in You, sharing in the glory You desire to bestow. Jesus, I trust in You.  Images via Adobe Stock - Main & FeaturedSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Pride is one of the most destructive forces in our spiritual lives, and it runs rampant even among those of us deeply committed to serving God. We see this played out in Luke 9 as Jesus teaches His disciples about true greatness. The disciples are so focused on themselves, arguing about which of them is greatest, completely missing the point that their very selection as Jesus' followers was an act of God's unmerited grace. Yet Jesus, who held all authority in heaven and earth, came humbly. He was born to a poor family, served others by washing their feet, and submitted Himself to death on a cross. If Christ Himself refused to grasp at pride despite having every right to it, how can we justify being prideful in our own accomplishments, our own groups, or our own zeal for ministry?We must guard against pride in three critical ways. First, we must not be prideful in our own greatness, remembering that everything we are comes from God's grace alone. Second, we must not be prideful in our groups or denominations, but instead focus on the unified mission of reaching a lost world for Christ. Third, we must check our zeal and passion, ensuring our motives align with Jesus' heart to seek and save the lost rather than condemn them. Like John, who transformed from wanting to call down fire on those who rejected Jesus to becoming the beloved disciple who wrote that God is love, we too can be radically changed by Christ. So I challenge you today to lay down your pride at the foot of the cross and focus only on what Christ has accomplished through His grace.

Jesus taught that the true measure of giving isn't the size of the gift but the heart behind it. Generosity begins long before anything leaves our hands. It starts with what we treasure, love, and worship.Few writers explore the inner life of faith as clearly as Pierce Taylor Hibbs, senior writer at Westminster Theological Seminary and the author of more than twenty books on Christian living. In today's episode, he joins us to invite believers to examine not just the act of giving but the spiritual forces beneath it.In a recent article for the latest issue of Faithful Steward magazine titled "Motive Is Everything," he draws from counselor David Powlison to explain that there's always a “sun” around which the planets of our lives turn. We're always pulled toward something—success, security, comfort, pleasure, affirmation, or money—because we're created to worship. The question isn't whether we worship, but what we worship.When the created things we enjoy begin to occupy the center, Scripture calls it idolatry. Money is especially powerful in this way because it overlaps with pleasure and power. It promises control over life and the ability to enjoy it—two desires that easily eclipse our devotion to God if left unchecked.To explore the heart behind generosity, Hibbs points to one of Scripture's most striking stories: the widow's offering in Mark 12. We don't know her name, but Jesus knew her heart. While others gave large sums, she dropped two small coins into the temple treasury—an amount no one else would have celebrated. Yet Jesus did. He saw not the amount but the motive.That's the point: Giving is never merely transactional. It's deeply spiritual. It reveals what we value most.Hibbs notes that Scripture treats the heart—the lebab—as the control center of our lives. The Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck wrote that the heart is the source of both our rational and volitional life. It shapes what we think, desire, choose, and pursue. Outward actions are merely the visible tip of an iceberg. Beneath them lies motive.Jesus makes the same point in Luke 6:45: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good…for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Our generosity flows from whatever we treasure most. If we treasure God, giving becomes worship. If we treasure self, giving becomes calculation, obligation, or strategy.This reframes generosity. It's not just about allocating money. It's about the posture of the soul. It includes time, attention, hospitality, compassion, and quiet acts of service—not only dollars in a plate.So how do we cultivate godly motives? Hibbs suggests beginning with Scripture—especially the Gospels—and watching how Jesus treats people. Jesus continually draws attention to what's happening beneath the surface: motives, desires, and loves.We don't wait for perfectly pure motives to give—we'll never act if we do. But we do allow the Spirit to search us, shape us, and re-center our hearts on Christ, the God who gives first so that we might become givers.On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:My son owns a rental property in Baltimore, but the tenant hasn't paid rent for two months. This has happened before, and it's putting financial strain on his family. We're debating whether to sell the house, but it would need some work. If we keep it, are there any tax deductions or benefits since the tenant isn't paying? What should my son do?I'm 64 and still working full time, but I'd like to withdraw money from my 401(k). Since I'm over 59½, can I do that without the 10% penalty even though I'm still employed? What should I know about taxes and plan rules?My wife is retired and in her 60s, but I'm not yet at retirement age. We're both on the mortgage. Can we still get a reverse mortgage, or do both borrowers have to meet the age requirement?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Motive Is Everything by Pierce Taylor Hibbs (Faithful Steward Issue 4 Article)The Book of Giving: How the God Who Gives Can Make Us Givers by Pierce Taylor HibbsOur Ultimate Treasure: A 21-Day Journey to Faithful StewardshipWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This powerful message takes us deep into Luke 22:31, where we witness one of the most mystifying exchanges in Scripture: Satan actually asking God for permission to test Peter. What unfolds is a masterclass in understanding divine purpose within our trials. The imagery of wheat being sifted becomes central—when wheat is thrown into the air, the wind blows away the chaff while the true seed falls back to the ground. Whatever can be blown away in our lives during trials will be removed, leaving only what is genuine and valuable. Peter's greatest weakness, his fear of man's opinion, became the very area Satan targeted. Yet Jesus didn't pray that Peter would avoid the trial; He prayed that Peter's faith would not fail. This distinction is crucial for us to understand: God often allows us to go through difficulties not to destroy us, but to strengthen us. Peter's journey from denying Christ three times to boldly preaching at Pentecost and converting 3,000 souls shows us that our moments of failure are not the end of our story. They are often the beginning of our transformation. The same weakness that caused Peter to crumble became his greatest strength after the Holy Spirit filled him. We discover that Jesus is never disillusioned with us because He never had illusions about us in the first place. He sees our failures as opportunities for transformation, and our trials as pathways to becoming who He envisioned us to be. Find a C3 Church Near You: https://www.c3churchglobal.com   If you want to give to help C3 Church Global plant new churches around the world, head to https://www.c3churchglobal.com/giving   Follow Me On Social Media: https://www.youtube.com/@Philpringle?sub_confirmation=1  https://instagram.com/philpringle https://www.facebook.com/psphilpringle https://www.tiktok.com/@philpringl https://twitter.com/philpringle    Purchase a copy of my books today: https://philpringle.com/store 

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012426.cfmFather Jason Lewis, MIC confronts a question that has echoed since the time of Christ: Who is Jesus, really? As the Gospel recounts, some of Jesus' own relatives believed He was “out of his mind,” while the scribes accused Him of acting by the power of evil. Yet Jesus' works—healing the sick, casting out demons, forgiving sins—force a decision that cannot be avoided.Father Jason draws on the classic trilemma, popularized by C.S. Lewis: Jesus can only be one of three things—lunatic, liar, or Lord. A mere “good moral teacher” is not an option. As Lewis argued, a man who claimed divine authority and spoke as Jesus did could not simply be misunderstood or exaggerated. Either His claims were false, making Him gravely deceptive or delusional, or they were true, demanding our faith and obedience. Scripture itself bears witness to this truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:1, 14; NABRE).The Church has always proclaimed this same confession of faith. Saint Peter declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16; NABRE), not by human reasoning alone, but by revelation from the Father. Father Jason reminds us that the fruit of Christ's life and teachings confirms this identity. Lies do not produce saints. Deception does not transform the world through sacrificial love, truth, and mercy across centuries.Because Jesus is Lord, He does more than teach—He gives Himself. In the Eucharist, entrusted to the Apostles and handed down through the priesthood, Christ remains truly present to nourish His people and draw them into divine life. This is the heart of the Gospel and the foundation of Christian faith.To grow deeper in your understanding of how Christ continues His saving work through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012026.cfmIn the Gospel, Jesus' repeated conflicts with the Pharisees over the Sabbath reveal not rebellion against God's law, but a restoration of its true purpose. As Father Mark Baron, MIC explains, the Pharisees arose during a time of intense pressure to preserve Jewish identity. Their zeal to protect the Law led them to build layers of manmade regulations meant to prevent even the possibility of sin. What began as devotion slowly became a burden.When the disciples plucked heads of grain, the Pharisees accused them of unlawful work. Yet Jesus responds with divine clarity: “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath” (Mk 2:27; NABRE). God did not establish the Sabbath to enslave His people in fear, but to sanctify them. The commandment to rest is ordered toward holiness, not anxiety.Scripture confirms this purpose. “Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy” (Ex 20:8; NABRE). The Sabbath is a sign that God sanctifies His people, forming them into a holy nation (ref. Ex 31:13–14). To sanctify means to make holy, to perfect us in goodness. When rest becomes fear-driven rule keeping, the heart of the law is lost.Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, restores it to its original intention: human flourishing through worship, surrender, and love. This is fulfilled for Christians in the Lord's Day, when the faithful gather for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass is not a burden imposed by God, but a gift through which He sanctifies us. To neglect it knowingly is not freedom, but loss.God's commandments are always a “yes” to life, goodness, and holiness. When rightly understood, they draw us closer to Him and restore us to what we were created to be.To deepen your understanding of how God sanctifies us through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

Most of us want deep change, but we want it fast. We long for peace without patience, love without pruning, and freedom without formation. Yet Jesus tells us the truth: lasting transformation only happens through abiding. Just as branches don't produce fruit by effort, we cannot become who God intends apart from a life rooted in Christ. We all abide somewhere—and whatever we abide in is forming us. Jesus reveals Himself as the true Vine, the One who supplies life, love, and growth. As we remain in Him, the Spirit reshapes our desires, heals our wounds, and forms us into people of love, joy, and self-control. This is not an overnight miracle, but a long obedience in the same direction. The invitation is hopeful and freeing: make your home in the love of Jesus, and trust that over time, He will shape your life into something beautiful and strong.

This weekend in worship we continue our parable series with Jesus' short, surprising pictures of the Kingdom of God. The mustard seed and the leaven look small and ordinary. Yet Jesus shows that His reign grows in ways we can't always see and in ways that become unmistakable over time. The Kingdom does not depend on our strength or our scale. It depends on the King who is at work. We'll also connect these parables to the ways Jesus continues to build His Kingdom through ordinary means today. God's Word, the font, and the life of His Church can look simple on the surface, but they carry the power and promises of Jesus. And as we receive His gifts, we're freed to reflect His light and love in small, faithful moments. Words that point to Jesus, quiet prayers, and everyday mercy that God uses to bless others. Daniel 2:34–35, 44–45 Colossians 1:3-6 Matthew 13:31–33

This week's message takes us into one of the most profound conversations in Scripture: Jesus meeting with Nicodemus under the cover of night. Here was a man who thought he knew everything about God—a religious leader, a Pharisee, someone steeped in moral living and theological knowledge. Yet Jesus tells him something startling: none of it is enough. We must be born again. This isn't about adding a little spiritual polish to our existing lives or filling in some gaps with religious activity. It's about a complete transformation, a radical internal renewal by the Holy Spirit that changes everything—our identity, our loves, our values, our very being. The sermon draws on the prophet Ezekiel's vision of dry bones coming to life, reminding us that what God offers isn't improvement but resurrection. We're challenged to examine what truly defines us: Is it our career, our relationships, our status? Or have we allowed God's love in Christ to reorder our affections so that our primary identity is as beloved children of God? The beautiful truth is that God didn't come to condemn us but to save us—not just from the penalty of sin, but to transform us daily into the image of Jesus. This is both terrifying and liberating: we must die to ourselves to truly live.

“After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.” (Mark 16:9–11 NLT) Of all the people Jesus could have appeared to first after His resurrection, He appeared to Mary Magdalene. Mary was yet another in a long line of unlikely people entrusted by the Lord with important responsibilities. Think about it. Jacob was an opportunist who tricked both his brother and his father to get what he wanted (see Genesis 27:1–40). Moses was a murderer who had no confidence in his ability to speak, let alone lead an entire nation out of enslavement (see Exodus 3:1–4:17). Rahab was a prostitute living in enemy territory (see Joshua 2:1–24). Gideon responded to God’s call with these words: “How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” (Judges 6:15 NLT). David was such an unlikely candidate to be anointed king that his own father dismissed the possibility (see 1 Samuel 16:1–13). Esther was a young Jewish girl who became the queen of Persia after winning a beauty contest (see Esther 2:1–20). The “faith hall of fame” in Hebrews 11 is filled with inductees who probably wouldn’t have made the ballot if their peers had been on the selection committee. But, as God explained to Samuel, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). The Lord will not overlook anyone whose heart is attuned to Him. The women who followed Jesus and supported His ministry certainly recognized that. It would be an understatement to say that women were not held in high regard in first-century Israel. Many rabbis taught that it was better for the words of the Law to be burned than to be delivered by a woman. Yet Jesus chose a woman to be the first herald of His resurrection. It’s also worth noting that women were the last people at the cross and the first people at the tomb. Mary Magdalene had courage that many men lacked when Jesus was crucified. She stood by Him through it all. In fact, the Bible tells us that after He was crucified, Mary “saw where Jesus’ body was laid” (Mark 15:47 NLT). She watched as they took His body from the cross, wrapped it, and placed it in a tomb that belonged to Joseph of Arimathea. And Mary, along with other women, arrived at the tomb very early on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus’ body with spices (see Mark 16:1–2). Mary’s faithfulness was rewarded with a key role in history. The Lord says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT). God rewards the diligent. He will reveal His truths to those who set aside time in their day to seek the Lord, who prioritize His Word, and wait upon Him. Reflection question: What does spiritual diligence look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life can be exhausting & heart-wrenching at times. In hard times, life has a way of emptying us of joy and hope. Yet Jesus promises to deliver us from our spiritual emptiness & fill us up in and through the hardships of this temporal life. But, how do people respond to this offer? Let's dive in and be challenged and encouraged by God's inspired Word this morning!

January 11, 2026: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard. Amen. Now, if you have been here these past few weeks of Christmastide and the Feast of the Epiphany, you would be right thinking that Jesus sure grows up fast, I mean we just celebrated his birth, then last week he's a kid being visited by Magi, and now he's a grown man! I mean, at this rate, a week from now should be Palm Sunday, right? Wrong. Well, sort of – Ash Wednesday is coming up in just a few weeks, so buckle up. Still, you couldn't be blamed for feeling a bit of lectionary whiplash right about now. Kinda the way you feel the day after Christmas when there's stuff in the stores for Valentine's Day, which I do NOT appreciate given that happens to be my birthday, and there is no need to rush it. But, back to the texts we heard today from the Gospel of Matthew and from Isaiah. In the gospel we here the story of Jesus' baptism. Left off of what we heard today, is what Jesus does just afterward. He is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit where he encounters evil. And in the wake of all that has happened in our nation this past year, and most recently, this past week, it would seem a message we very much need today. I will speak more about that in a minute, but it is important to first underscore what we are hearing in today's texts – about Christ's baptism, yes, but also about our own. Our collect today, the prayer we offered at the beginning of this service, was this: “Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made…” This isn't just a dunk in some water – this is a contract with God – a covenant we make in the name of Christ, and that is sealed by the Holy Spirit. And in our passage this morning from Isaiah, we hear some of what that covenant requires of us. About the prophet, God says “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Now, think about that…and then hear again the vows we all make at baptism either for ourselves, or was made by our parents, and Godparents, and we later confirmed. We promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and striving for justice and peace among all peoples, respecting the dignity of every human being.” See, the thing is…when we are baptized, we are baptized into something…or really baptized into someone. It is an identity that comes with a calling – the calling to free the captives, fight for justice and peace, and to love and serve. We are baptized into a life of Christ – because we are the body of Christ alive in the world today. And as the body of Christ, we don't just leave the waters of baptism, grab a towel, and continue as though nothing happened. We do as he did after his baptism – we live the life we are called to live – a life of ministry in a broken world – a life of wilderness moments when we are challenged, and pushed to the brink. And Lordy, we are in the wilderness now. This past week our government continued its horrific, unconstitutional, racist, and cruel violence against the people of our nation. Renee Nicole Good, a US citizen and young mother of three, was gunned down while in her car by an ICE agent in Minneapolis this past Wednesday. Her wife, Becca Good, is left to care for their 6 year old son. The video of the attack is brutal to watch, and the lies about her and the incident by our government just add to the horror. Renee is not the first to be killed, or tortured, or imprisoned unlawfully. She sadly will not be the last. In fact, on Thursday, the very next night, two more people were shot by ICE agents in their vehicle in Portland. These are very dark days for our nation and for the world. Like many of you, I have been at more than one vigil in response – one of them just down the street from my home on the Newton Green– which is in the middle of a very red part of our Garden State. Like the other vigils, it was a community gathered in love amidst tragedy and hate. Sadly, even as we stood together, someone shouted out from a passing truck “ICE, ICE, Baby!” The cruelty of our President and his followers seems to be the point. Yet we were not deterred, and continued to stand together to be a witness to the horror that has taken yet another life. One of the things I have said at these vigils is that our faith is one that follows a man who preached love and peace, and was executed by the government because of it. Yet his resurrection taught us all that light will always overcome darkness, life is stronger than death, and love will always defeat hate. It is the only thing that can. Renee Good understood that truth. Her wife, Becca Good, said in a statement after her murder, said: “I am now left to raise our son and to continue teaching him, as Renee believed, that there are people building a better world for him. That the people who did this had fear and anger in their hearts, and we need to show them a better way.” Indeed we do. We must. Because love is the only way out of this long national nightmare. We must stand as a testament to the power of love – to heal, to restore, to change the world – because that is what we committed to in our own baptism. So, we will keep on fighting for the suffering Christ in our midst, never forgetting Renee and all the other victims. That is how we will change the world – one step, one vigil, one march, one act of kindness, one moment of courage at a time. But that does not mean the road will be easy for us. It certainly wasn't for Jesus. He had his time in the wilderness, and we are now deep within it too. Today, we are faced with a seemingly never-ending onslaught of cruelty by those who should be servants of the people. We are worn to the bone by the vitriolic hate our President, his team, and his supporters spew nearly hour by hour, all amid a daily avalanche of lies and purposeful misdirection by the ones we are supposed to trust. The purpose is to knock us off center and keep us so disoriented that we feel helpless, hopeless, and filled with rage. Why would they want this? It's simple really – it is so we respond with the same in kind. For evil knows that darkness will feed darkness, hate will fuel hate, violence will breed violence. They fan the flames to incite those who oppose them to be just like them, which will give them fodder to increase the violence in a never-ending cycle. And in moments like this, it is very tempting to give into it. Why not fight fire with fire – violence with violence, hate with hate. We feel so drawn to it, do we not, if we are honest with ourselves? But the thing is, we need to consider who tries to draw us to hate and violence. Remember what happened to Jesus in the wilderness – the evil one spoke to him – catching him when he was worn from his long journey in that place – and showing him a path forward that seemed so simple. If Jesus would only turn aside from God, everything would be great – he would be great – the evil one said. You could understand the temptation. I mean – he was promised he could turn stone into bread – that would solve all the hunger in the world. He could be made king over everyone – imagine today if you could take the power away from all the world's brutal dictators, including our own? Yet Jesus knew that isn't the path toward peace, toward wholeness, toward grace. It wasn't for him, and it most certainly isn't for us. To be clear – righteous anger at injustice is good and will propel us to act like Christ, and overturn tables of oppression. But anger rooted in hate will only lead to violence and a turning away from Christ – that can never be our way forward. No, not for those who are baptized into him. We are meant to choose another way. At that vigil the other night in Newton, the organizer wanted to close with the hymn Amazing Grace, but wasn't sure of the words. So, I stood beside her and helped lead everyone in singing those lyrics of redemption. One of those verses is: Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; 'tis grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home. Grace is God's gift to us, and it, not hate, will always lead us through the wilderness and to home – where we will be grounded in the knowledge and love of Christ, and renewed to live as we are called to live in our baptismal covenant. And folks – that will change the world. It really will. God's grace is how we will get through this. Love is how we will change it. After I spoke at the vigil in Newton, a young mother of two boys – a teen of about 14 years old or so, and the other about 10 – came up to me. The teen apparently had told his mom after listening to me that he wanted to go to church, and she – a person who had been harmed by her own church experience – wanted to know where I was a priest, feeling that it would be inclusive. Since our parish is so far from where this was, I told them of another one they should try. That conversation filled me with hope – to see young people yearning for a relationship with God. And it is certainly something seen a lot these days as church attendance by all ages is on the rise. I believe that this is a sign of the future of the church, as people seek a way forward, and they witness us living out our lives in Christ. Because so many people today are yearning for an alternative to the madness they are witnessing. In a world filled with conflict, violence, hate, war, poverty, and abuse of the environment – seekers hope to be connected to something they sense is larger than all of that – stronger than all of that – to a God that loves unconditionally, and a faith community that reflects that love openly, consistently, and with intention. They are looking for comfort and peace, yes, but most especially, they want to know that God loves them in a place that welcomes everyone, amid a world that wants to exclude them. That is why what we do here is so important. It feeds us in a time of deep hunger, but it also is food for the world. Here is where we are given the strength for our wilderness journey. Here we offer that food of life to others. Here we are reminded of our baptismal contract with God – a life of prophetic witness, rooted in the love of Christ, that calls us to speak truth, to act for justice, to stand for peace, to offer hope and love to a people in darkness. We have made a commitment to God to be the ones to speak up against those who traffic in hate and violence. To be the ones to stand against those who seek to oppress and marginalize. To be the ones to respond to hate with love and lies with truth. And especially to be the ones to counter the racist, homophobic, and sexist, words and actions by earthly rulers and proclaim in the streets, in the halls of government, in our churches, and everywhere in the world that God loves EVERYONE– NO EXCEPTIONS – and so will we. For like the prophet in Isaiah, and like our savior in whose name we are baptized, we too were given “as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” There are many in prisons now – dungeons of bigotry and oppression, poverty, hopelessness, loneliness, and addiction. This is not time to throw the covers over our head and attend the church of the Holy Comforter. This is not a time to tune out. This is not a time to not pay attention. This is not a time to forget who we are, and whose we are. This is the time for us to be who we were born and baptized to be – prophets of his light, grace, and love – God's beloved agents of transformation. And there is nothing – no President or other leader, no ICE agent or army, no person or organization, that can stop what we, together, and by God's grace, will bring about – the overturning of evil, and the restoration of the world. They may have killed Renee Good, but by the good in each of us, rooted in the love of Christ – we will prevail. Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Sermon-January-11-2026-1.m4a The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge January 11, 2026 The First Sunday After The Epiphany 1st Reading – Isaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 29 2nd Reading – Acts 10:34-43 Gospel – Matthew 3:13-17 The post “The Good In Us” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

Chocolate MilkJohn 20:21-22 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.This verse takes place after Jesus has been crucified. The apostles are all locked up in the upper room because they are afraid that if the Jewish people knew where they were, they would be crucified, too. I am sure this was a very confusing time for the apostles. They had been living life with Jesus for the last few years. Every day, extraordinary things happened. Then they find out that Jesus is going to be crucified. I mean, they knew Jesus had enemies, but I don't think they understood what was truly going on. How could they? How is it possible to comprehend the man they had been following, the man they knew was the one true king, was going to be crucified? The Messiah was supposed to come and deliver them from their captors. Yet Jesus hadn't defeated the Romans yet. How could He be leaving them?I am sure this thought was going through so many people's minds at the time. It must have been very confusing. They had read or been taught that when the Messiah comes, He will save them. They assume this means He will save them from the Roman occupation. They don't realize that Jesus is here for much bigger things. Jesus has come to save their souls.The apostles are locked in the upper room, and Jesus appears to them. I wonder if they were frightened at first. I wonder if they asked Him if it was really Him. Take a minute, close your eyes, and try to picture what it was like for them in that upper room. The man they thought was the Lord was crucified, and then they felt they needed to lock themselves in a room for fear of death, and then Jesus appeared to them in this locked room. I wonder if they thought He was a ghost? I wonder what they were thinking, what was going through their mind.It says in the verse above this one that Jesus showed them his hands and feet, and then they rejoiced that He had risen. The first thing that Jesus did, even before showing them His hands and feet, was to impart peace to them. The first thing He said in that room was, “Peace be with you.” I think this makes perfect sense because they probably weren't very peaceful. They were scared and unsure of what to do next.After Jesus shows them his wounds, and they rejoice that He has returned, Jesus talks to them. “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Jesus knows they are confused about what just happened and what is going to happen. They had been following Jesus. That was their job, their life for the last several years. They had to have been wondering what they were going to do now that Jesus was gone. Then Jesus appeared and told them what to do. He told them that He was sending them out to do the works that He did. This gives them some direction and some guidance.However, how could they go out and do the things that He did when they were scared of persecution? The next line answers this. It says, “When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit to build them up and give them strength. The Holy Spirit gave them a holy boldness to go out and proclaim the good news about Jesus Christ. It gave them the courage to come out of the locked room and say all the things they had been taught to say. They witnessed all they had seen and heard over the several years they were with Jesus. They had the courage to leave the room, and that very same day, they baptized 3,000.This is the same Holy Spirit that each one of us has living inside of us. We each, you and I, have the Spirit of Christ living inside of us. We have the potential to have this same holy boldness that the apostles exhibited. We have the potential to do all the signs and wonders that they did. The reason for this is that they were only capable of doing signs and wonders because Jesus gave them the authority, and He gave the Holy Spirit. Jesus didn't just give these gifts to the apostles, and then they died with them 2,000 years ago. When Jesus gave them to the apostles, He was giving them to all those who were to follow after them as well.If you have been baptized, you have received the Holy Spirit. This means you have all the power and all the courage that the apostles had living inside of you. You just have to access it. There is an analogy that I heard in Encounter Ministries, and I have also heard it at the Life in the Spirit seminars. I am not sure exactly how it goes, but it basically compares our lives to a glass of chocolate milk. Our life before the Holy Spirit, before baptism, is just plain milk. However, when you add the Holy Spirit, it is like you are adding chocolate sauce to the milk. Now that we have added the chocolate sauce, do we automatically have chocolate milk? No, we need to stir the milk to spread the chocolate sauce all around. This is similar to the Holy Spirit.The Holy Spirit can give you the power and the courage to do many things, but you need to call up it. You need to step out in faith and believe that it will be there to help you. Once you start calling upon the Holy Spirit to help you, then you will begin to see extraordinary things start to happen all around you. All you have to do is read the book of Acts in the Bible to see all the amazing things the apostles accomplished once they had the Holy Spirit living inside of them. Check out the book of Acts and then decide what amazing things you are going to do with this beautiful gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave us.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask you to bless all those listening today. Lord, thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit. You are amazing. Thank you for giving us the authority to do the works that Jesus did and even greater works now that He is with you in Heaven. Lord, we ask that you help us to see the ways you want us to use the power of the Holy Spirit in our own lives. Help us to see what you want us to do. We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with our will and in Jesus' holy name, Amen!Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus. I look forward to meeting you here again on Monday. Remember, Jesus loves you, and so do I! Have a blessed weekend!Today's Word from the Lord was received in August 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, I give you the grace to see the uncut diamond in the burdens of your life, which appear to be just a hard, cold rock. I shine like a diamond within them. I bless you through them. I get you through them. I have much joy for you. I have much planned for you. Trust and come through the burdens.” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

Introduction We conclude our series of God's family. We focus on Christ's baptism as presented in Luke and Matthew. While critics often point to differences between the Gospel accounts as contradictions, Scripture itself treats multiple witnesses as a strength, not a weakness. Each evangelist emphasizes different aspects of the same event to reveal deeper theological meaning. Luke and Matthew are not competing narrators; they are complementary witnesses. Luke highlights humility, reversal, and inclusion, while Matthew emphasizes fulfillment, covenant faithfulness, and judgment. Together, they teach us not only who Christ is, but what it means to belong to God's family. Jesus is the great equalizer. Luke's Report of Christ's Debut Luke carefully crafts a narrative in which social expectations are overturned. He introduces John the Baptist through the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Remember that this is an elite, priestly family. The controversy is that they are barren. This carries cultural shame. Though Luke assures us they were righteous, their childlessness would have been interpreted by society as divine displeasure. Their exalted place in their genealogy is taken away. They are humbled. However, the Lord exalts them in his timing. John's birth removes that reproach. His birth restores their honorable place. There is a parallel story of Mary. She is a peasant woman. We do not know her genealogy. She is young and should be praising Elizabeth. Astonishingly, when Mary visits Elizabeth, it is Elizabeth who humbles herself, recognizing Mary as the more significant figure. The unborn John leaps in the womb, and Mary responds with the Magnificat. Mary does not exalt herself, but celebrates that God lifts up the humble. He also humbles the exalted. These stories form the backdrop for Christ's baptism. Luke summarizes Christ's baptism, but he does so after John goes to prison. This kingdom is established by the humble being exalted. Christ will submit to death to be raised to life. The baptism communciates Christ's movement. The heavens open and the Spirit descends like a dove. We would expect judgment like in the flood or echoes in Isaiah. Luke wants us to see that Christ secures the lowly to exalt them in the new family. Matthew's Report of Christ's Debut Matthew introduces John the Baptist abruptly. There is no backstory for John. He appears, and he is preaching. John arrives as a prophetic firebrand proclaiming judgment. His harshest words are aimed not at moral outcasts but at the religious elite. Matthew wants Israel to understand that covenant membership alone does not equal righteousness. Joseph's role reinforces this theme. Matthew gives Joseph a voice to emphasize that Christ really is in David's line (2 Sam. 7). Matthew shows that Jesus does not merely erase Adam's sin. Christ's mission is to relieve and fulfill Israel's story. He is Israel's messiah who cleanses his people and secures the nations. This framework climaxes in Christ's baptism. John recognizes the theological tension: the Messiah does not need cleansing. John needs his cleansing from Christ. Yet Jesus insists that baptism is necessary “to fulfill all righteousness.” Christ is submitting to judgment. The first judgment with heaven opening. He bears the judgment Israel deserved and consecrates Himself to cleanse His people. Matthew emphasizes that God's promises move from prophetic assertion to historical fulfillment in Christ alone. What is Baptism? Luke and Matthew do not contradict one another; they emphasize different facets of the same redemptive reality. Luke highlights that the humble are welcomed into God's family. The outsiders and the unworthy people need their exaltation in Christ. Matthew highlights how redemption is accomplished through Christ reliving Israel's history. The elite bear testimony showing that Christ really is king. Luke shows Christ forming a new international family where identity is grounded in grace, not status. Matthew shows Christ as the covenantal redeemer who submits to divine judgment so His people may live. Together, they proclaim that Christ is both the humble King and the righteous Judge, the one who humbles the proud and raises the lowly by first humbling Himself unto death. The family of God, therefore, is neither a refuge for self-righteous elites nor a consolation prize for the weak. We must see ourselves as members of a redeemed community united under one Messiah who has borne judgment and secured peace. We are not a worthy people, but a people who have been made worthy. Conclusion Both Luke and Matthew testify that true shalom is found only in Christ. This is not a shallow peace of tolerance or coexistence, but a restored communion with God. Christ does not merely endure us; He redeems us. He enters judgment, fulfills righteousness, and rises triumphant so that heaven's verdict of death is overturned. Whether we are tempted to trust in our prestige or despair over our brokenness, the call is the same: find your identity in Christ alone. He is the great equalizer. We note that the exalted must kneel, the humble are raised, and all who come find life in Him. As we move forward, we are reminded that our entire existence is situated in Christ. As the saying attributed to Luther puts it: Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose today, and is coming again tomorrow. This is not a life of terror, but of confidence. The Redeemer has overcome. Our consecration, our joy, and our power are found in Him alone. Let us live before his face as we walk in HIs power, seeking to conform to Him.

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: John 12-14 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today's episode for December 22nd, Hunter, your Bible Reading Coach, warmly invites you to join him as he guides us through an uplifting passage from the Gospel of John, chapters 12 through 14. As we near Christmas, Hunter reflects on the themes of increasing light, exploring Jesus's final days, his teachings, and the transformative gift he offers—peace of mind and heart. Through heartfelt readings and thoughtful prayers, Hunter encourages listeners to embrace the peace that only Christ can give, even amidst life's anxieties. You'll hear about the power of spiritual habits, the depth of Jesus's love, and practical encouragement for nurturing peace in your own heart and home. So find a quiet moment, settle in, and let today's journey through God's word infuse your day with hope and light. TODAY'S DEVOTION: He offers us a gift—his peace. In today's reading, Hunter shares how Jesus says, "I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart." At this time of year, when gifts are on our minds and hearts can be weighed down with anxiety or trouble, Jesus offers something that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. It's a unique peace, his peace. Not the fleeting peace the world tries to offer, not the absence of trouble or the guarantee of comfort, but a settled confidence that comes from him alone. It's easy for our minds to be troubled by so many things—our future, our families, our finances, our health. Yet Jesus, the living Word, the miracle worker, the one who raised the dead and gave himself for all humanity, comes to us and says, "I have a gift for you." He, the Creator of all things, offers to quiet those anxieties and bring peace to the places in our lives that are unsettled, wounded, or confused. This isn't just a theoretical peace—it's an invitation to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Advocate Jesus promised would be with us. The Spirit helps us to recognize and receive the gift that Jesus is giving—a peace not as the world gives, but as only he can give. We are invited to take time, especially today, to sit with this generous gift and allow ourselves to live in the light, joy, and love of it. We are invited to let this peace shape our hearts and lives. That's a prayer Hunter has for his own soul. It's the prayer he has for his family. And it's the prayer he has for you. Peace of mind and heart—may it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

In the noise and rush of the Christmas season, it’s easy to let the message of Christ fade into the background like familiar music we barely notice. Yet Jesus did not come merely as a gift to be received and set aside—He came as a King to be welcomed, worshiped, and responded to. Scripture proclaims that the Christ child is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3). Born in humble flesh, Jesus is both Savior and Sustainer, worthy of our full devotion. This season invites us to prepare room in our hearts, step away from distractions, and bow in awe before the Newborn King. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why Jesus is more than a gift—He is a living presence who calls for a response. Discover how the incarnation reveals the radiance and glory of God in human form. Reflect on how busyness and consumerism can dull our worship during Christmas. Understand why Christ’s birth calls us to humility, surrender, and praise. Be encouraged to prepare space in your life for Jesus as King, not merely as a seasonal tradition. Bible Verse References Hebrews 1:3 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/1-3.html Your Daily Prayer Jesus, I step away from the noise and distractions of this world to worship You. You are the radiance of God’s glory, the humble King who came to dwell among us and sustain us by Your powerful word. I open my heart to You anew and make room for Your presence in my life. You are worthy of all praise, honor, and devotion. Thank You for Your grace, Your nearness, and Your unending love. May my life be lived each day in response to who You are.Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily moments of Scripture, reflection, and prayer. Leave a rating or review to help others discover this podcast. Visit LifeAudio.com to explore more Christ-centered podcasts. Read more Christmas devotionals and worship-focused articles at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Bible study tools and Scripture exploration:BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Christmas devotionals and worship resources:Crosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus' arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this final week of Advent, Christopher explores the loneliness of the human condition juxtaposed with a God who is with us in every mess and who invites us to love by leading with mercy.  Reflection Questions: How do you experience belovedness in your body?  What would it look like for you to trust your own experience of God's Love? Where do you hope to make a place for the freshness of God's Love in your life?

Whether through John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph, or the shepherds, we have seen how God showed that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior, at his arrival. Yet Jesus' didn't only show up in this world. He arrived to reveal the heart of God for His people. He arrived to reveal the heart of man. Let's see who He is and take hold of Jesus this Christmas.Luke 2.21-40

I had another episode planned for today, but at the last minute I decided to rerun this Christmas episode for you. I think this will become our traditional Christmas episode here at Gnostic Insights. And, if you are new to this podcast, welcome! Next week’s episode will be controversial, so I thought it best to wait until after Christmas for its release. Today, we're going to look at the nature of the Christ—the who, what, why of Christ. Most people are familiar with seeing the baby Jesus in the manger and that's what we celebrate at Christmas time, the birth of the Christ on Earth in the form of a human. But the Christ is an ethereal creature that predates the birth of Jesus. Jesus and the Christ aren't exactly the same, although Jesus was fully Christ. The Christ predates the birth of the human known as Jesus. So, let's learn more about the Christ and why the Christ figure is so essential to us Second Order Powers.  Gnosticism is the forerunner of the modern Christian faith. As such, a better understanding of the figure of the Christ is essential to understanding both Gnosticism and Christianity. The cosmology that I talk about here on the podcast was well known to Jesus and his original followers, but it was cut out of Christianity about 1700 years ago by the Nicene Council, at the urging of the Pope and the Roman Emperor. Because this theology was subtracted from orthodox Christianity, many of the ideas of gnostic cosmology sound odd and unfamiliar to modern churchgoers. Some of the ideas may even sound heretical at first glance due to their unfamiliarity. Yet the theology contained in these early scriptures makes sense of so many puzzling aspects of Christian faith that they must be reexamined. That's why I call the Substack The Gnostic Reformation. I'm confident that once you understand gnostic Christianity, you will better understand your relationship with God. According to gnostic cosmology as laid out in the Nag Hammadi, we humans and all other forms of life on Earth, from bacteria and eukaryotes on up, are the fruit of the Pleroma and Logos. We Second Order Powers find ourselves locked in a never-ending battle for dominion over the Earth with forces that were generated as a result of the Fall. Due to the law of mutual combat, we have forgotten our origin in the Fullness and our mission to bring love and harmony to creation and have instead taken on many of the characteristics of the shadows of the Deficiency. The Second Order Powers are locked in a never-ending war with the Deficiency. Here below, we constantly battle the physical forces of death and entropy, as well as the spiritual forces of vice, sin, delusion and despair. In order to restore memory and reason to the Second Order Powers, the Aeons of the Fullness, every one of them individually and all of them collectively, gave glory in unison to their Father while praying for a helper to bring peace to the Deficiency and forgiveness to Logos. Out of this focused prayer, a unique fruit emerged, one that contained all of the capabilities and powers of the Fullness, along with all of the love and eternal qualities of the Father. The singular fruit of the Fullness and the Father is known by various names: the Christ, the Savior and the Redeemer, the Advocate, the Light, and the Beloved. In Simple Explanation terms, the Christ is a perfect and full fractal of the Father and the Son, all rolled-up into one perfect form. Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was both perfect man and perfect God incarnate. Christian Gnostics believed the same. Here is a more complete explanation of who Jesus was. It's said that Jesus was conceived without sin because he carried within his body the perfection of man and God. This would mean that Jesus was perfect and true to the original DNA formula for humanity. Hence the importance of the virgin birth that then imparted that perfect DNA to the baby. Jesus was also without negative karma attached to his soul, as his soul was the soul of God. The components of Jesus's body were also without sin, as the cells and flesh that became Jesus were in fact the Aeons of the Fullness incarnate. As Colossians 1:19 says, “For God was pleased to have all his Fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on Earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.” This one sentence from Colossians contains the entire Christian Gnostic Gospel. Because Jesus brought along the entire Fullness of the Pleroma when he incarnated, every aspect of the Father and Son came to material instantiation on Earth. In this manner, the eternal God experienced the finite life of us Second Order Powers and all of the struggle between birth and death that plague us all. Here is how the Tripartite Tractate of the Nag Hammadi scriptures describes this process: “As for those of the shadow, Logos separated himself from them in every way, since they fight against him and are not at all humble before him. The stumbling which happened to the Aeons of the Father was brought to them as if it were their own, in a careful and non-malicious and immensely sweet way. It was brought to the Fullnesses so that they might be instructed about the Deficiency by the single One, from whom alone they all received strength to eliminate the defects. They gathered together, asking the Father, with beneficent intent, that there be aid from above from the Father for his glory, since the defective one could not become perfect in any other way unless it was the will of the Pleroma of the Father, which he had drawn to himself, revealed, and given to the defective one. Then, from the harmony, in a joyous willingness which had come into being, they brought forth the fruit which was a begetting from the harmony, a unity, a possession of the Fullnesses, revealing the countenance of the Father of whom the Aeons thought as they gave glory and prayed for help for their brother with a wish in which the Father counted himself with them. Thus it was willingly and gladly that they brought forth the fruit. And he made manifest the agreement of the revelation of his union with them, which was his beloved Son, but the Son in whom the Fullnesses are pleased to put himself on them as a garment through which he gave perfection to the defective one and gave confirmation to those who are perfect, the One who is properly called Savior and the Redeemer and the Well-pleasing One, and the Beloved, the One to whom prayers have been offered, and the Christ and the light of those appointed in accordance with the ones from whom he was brought forth, since he has become the names of the positions which were given to him. Yet what other name may be applied to him except the Son, as we have previously said, since he is the knowledge of the Father whom he wanted them to know? Not only did the Aeons generate the countenance of the Father to whom they gave praise, but also they generated their own, for the Aeons who give glory, generated their countenance and their face. They came forth in a multifaceted form in order that the one to whom help was to be given might see those to whom he had prayed for help. He also sees the One who gave it to him.” (That is from the Tripartite Tractate sections 85 through 87.) So you see, the mission of the Christ, as stated in Colossians, was to redeem all of creation, including the fallen Aeon who had founded our material universe. Because the Christ came to redeem everyone, the body of Jesus came to Earth with every one of the Fullnesses on board. For every fallen spirit, the Christ brought forth their own personal and recognizable Savior. Redemption has already taken place. It is up to the Second Order Powers and the one who fell to recognize and accept that redemption in order to complete the mission of the Christ. In Simple Explanation terms, the Christ brought the correcting formula for all of our spirits and souls, each unique and personally formulated to meet our individual needs. The baptism of the Christ washes away the mental and spiritual confusion brought on by the endless war with shadows of the Fall. Gnostics are apocalyptic, as are Christians. Gnostics believe that some day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus, the Christ, is Lord. Repentance and redemption comes harder for some than for others. Some souls take more time to recognize and remember. Ultimately, though, there comes a day of reckoning, for the Father will not be denied forever. There will soon come a day when the Deficiency ends. On that day, a new economy will unite Heaven and Earth, and all souls will find their joyful place in Paradise. The only forms banished to the outer darkness will be the shadows and phantoms of the Fall, which did not exist within the Father's consciousness from the beginning. These shadows are not real and they will have no home with us in Paradise. The hierarchy of the Fullness of God dreams of Paradise. Logos crowns the hierarchy and contains fractals of all the other Aeons. Now here's a gnostic perspective of Jesus on the cross. One of the central themes of the Christian faith is the death of Jesus on the cross. Christians the world over focus on the body of Jesus hanging on the cross, and I've often wondered, why this fixation of Jesus on the cross? Why is the crucifix the focal point of every church and altar? Why do people wear the cross as jewelry or hang a crucifix in their bedroom? The obvious answer Christians give is that without the cross, Jesus could not have saved humanity from sin, for he bore our sins into the grave with his death and they were washed away with his resurrection from the dead. Praise be to God, but why the cross? If Jesus had been stoned to death or drowned or beaten or thrown from a high tower, would we still feel such affinity for the stone, a lake, a club or a roof? I don't think so. I think there is something very special about the shape of the cross itself. I ask this question because Jesus never said, I'm soon to pass on from this world, and I want you to focus on my body hanging on the cross as I take on the sins of the world. And yet, that's what people do, as if that were the entire point of the Gospel. As far as I can tell, Jesus did not ask for his death and resurrection to be the focal point of worship. What Jesus actually said was: “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30), and, “Whoever welcomes me welcomes the Father that sent me” (Luke 9:48). In other words, Jesus acknowledged himself in reference to his Father and he deflected glory to his Father. Yet Jesus is worshipped by modern Christians to the extent that the Father almost goes unmentioned. Thank goodness for the Lord's prayer, which is directed to the Father and not to the Son. Jesus taught it to be said to the Father; he did not teach it to be recited to himself. No slight to the Son, of course, we're merely emphasizing the importance of the God Above All Gods. During the last supper, Jesus instructed his followers to think of his broken body as they break and eat bread and to consider his blood as the fulfillment of a contract with humanity as they drink wine. This is what Jesus left the church as instruction regarding his death. He did not instruct them to erect images of crosses and to worship him hanging on a cross, as if he were stuck up there forever. Yes, Protestants have allowed Jesus to come down off the cross and therefore their crosses are unoccupied to remind us that Jesus resurrected, but still the focus is on the cross. Again—why the cross in particular? Here is the symbolism of the cross as I understand it. We who dwell on Earth are engaged in endless warfare with the Imitation that always seeks to lure us away from our Father in Heaven. Oftentimes we don't even realize we're engaged in warfare with the Imitation, because it can appear disguised as goodness. This is what is meant by the Devil being a liar. Things are proposed “for our own good,” but they're not; they're proposed for power and control. We Second Order of Powers are engaged in this endless warfare and, although we come from a good disposition of the Father and the Fullness, we have forgotten our heavenly nature and become deluded because of rage and other passions and addictions. The Christ came to Earth in the form of a Son of Man to bring the Third Order of Powers to Earth as the solution to overcoming the phantoms of the Imitation that have mired the Second Order Powers in error and ignorance. Those who have eyes to see the Christ are able to remember their Father in Heaven. Those who remember their Father in Heaven and repent from the Imitation are redeemed. Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of the promise to redeem the fallen. Jesus as the Son of God and the Son of Man brought salvation to the Deficiency and restored it to the Kingdom of Heaven. The reason the cross looks as it does and occupies such a central role in worship is that the cross represents human beings. The Cross is shaped like a human, a Son of Man. It is no accident that Jesus was crucified on a cross because Jesus is a Son of Man, the Son of Man. The Cross should remind us that humankind has been redeemed by the body and blood of Christ in an even more profound way than acknowledging the indignity and suffering of Christ on the cross. It should remind us that the Son of God—the Christ—bridged with the form of his human body spirit-to-matter, which is top-to-bottom, and neighbor-to-neighbor, which is side-to-side, just as the shape of the cross. In the Gnostic Gospel, redemption comes to all of creation through the incarnation of the Son of God into the body of the Son of Man. The manner of the Savior's birth, death, and resurrection will come to every soul as they realize their Father is in Heaven and to Heaven they will return. For, as it says, “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” That affirmation comes from the New Testament (Philippians 2:10). It just takes time. We aren't there yet because of the common delusion of presumptuous thought, which causes people to behave selfishly. Ego must first make way for the love of Christ to take over the throne of the Self. Only then may you rise above the egoic imitation, for then you will have a champion and a king. The very public way that Jesus was crucified and the very public way that he resurrected gives us all hope of the same: Jesus demonstrates proof of resurrection and his life, death, and resurrection is about all of us, not only about the Christ. Jesus is the exemplar of our resurrection. And, by the way, in a Gnostic sense, which could be considered heretical by many Christians, the story of Jesus and the Christ and the Father don't even have to be believed as historical fact, which many nay-sayers make the cornerstone of their argument against Christ and God. The very concepts themselves—the very thoughts, the mind—is what carries this. We are consciousness and this Christ story is in our consciousness for our salvation. Think on that… I acknowledge that this is a very different version of Christianity than has been traditionally presented to us. This is gnosis that was originally contained in the sacred scriptures that formed the New Testament prior to the Pope and Emperor of Rome getting their hands on it and stripping it out. It's nice to know. I hope you get it. It doesn't really matter, because all you need to know is that we come from the Father and to the Father we will return. That is the bottom line. We are emanations directly of the Father and the Father has promised to save us all and bring us all home. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.” This has been taken to mean that one must acknowledge the power of the Christ before the Christ can redeem you. But, you see, this would put all of the power of redemption in your hands rather than Christ's. The Christ will redeem all Second Order Powers by the end of time, with or without your prior acknowledgment. All redemption comes to the Father through the Christ, and that is in Christ's hands. What accepting the Christ now does for you is open the door for the Third Order Powers to enter your egoic soul. This power makes it possible to live a joyous and virtuous life. It allows the love of the Father to flow through you and out into the world. And it eases your transition after the physical death of your body, so you may enter the afterlife without fear, knowing that you rest in the Pleroma of the Christ. The Final Economy is our foretaste of Paradise. No more shadows, no more sorrow. I hope that this information is helpful to you and will help you remember your gnosis. Merry Christmas. God bless us all. And onward and upward. If you are getting any gnosis from this information, please consider supporting Gnostic Insights with a generous donation. It helps keep me motivated. I’m a one-person enterprise with full responsibility for every aspect of this podcast, from writing to recording to editing to artwork to paying for the hosting services that bring this gnosis to you. I could really use some more support! Please do what you can. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Name *FirstLastEmail *Stripe Credit Card *Choose your item *Item A - $10.00Item B - $25.00Item C - $50.00Total$0.00Submit

It is easy, almost natural, to be owned by our stuff. Yet Jesus says that we are to care for the poor, which sometimes means we must sell something we have in order to do that. It may not be appealing, but as Christians we should ask God what He wants us to sell so that we may help someone in need who may potentially become a brother or sister in Christ.

It is easy, almost natural, to be owned by our stuff. Yet Jesus says that we are to care for the poor, which sometimes means we must sell something we have in order to do that. It may not be appealing, but as Christians we should ask God what He wants us to sell so that we may help someone in need who may potentially become a brother or sister in Christ. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/640/29?v=20251111

If you want to follow Jesus, you must hate your father and mother, your spouse and even your kids. These words seem not only harsh but they seem to contradict the very commands God has given to us. Yet Jesus said them. Today, Dr. Philip Ryken helps us try to understand what Jesus meant, and how we can follow him on Every Last Word. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/581/29?v=20251111

If you want to follow Jesus, you must hate your father and mother, your spouse and even your kids. These words seem not only harsh but they seem to contradict the very commands God has given to us. Yet Jesus said them. Today we'll be trying to understand what Jesus meant, and how we can follow him. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/790/29?v=20251111

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus' arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this third week of Advent, Christopher looks at the fragility of God being with us in even the most challenging and harrowing of times.  Reflection: What does your soul rejoice in? Is it harder for you to find joy in giving mercy or in receiving mercy? What is your prayer to the God of Upheaval?

Life moves fast—much faster than our souls were designed to run. Between responsibilities, noise, technology, and distractions, our minds rarely find quiet. Yet Jesus invites us into something radically countercultural: a secret place of stillness with Him. In this devotion, Keri Eichberger reminds us that solitude isn’t merely the absence of people—it's the intentional presence of God. True rest doesn’t come from binge-watching shows, scrolling endlessly, or escaping reality. It comes from withdrawing to be alone with the Lord, letting Him replenish what life drains. Solitude with God is a spiritual practice—a rhythm Jesus modeled throughout His earthly ministry. When we step away from the world’s constant chatter and allow silence to settle in, we make space to hear His voice again. We find peace, clarity, comfort, and spiritual renewal that no substitute can provide. And here's the beautiful thing: As we learn to savor God’s presence in private, His peace begins to follow us everywhere. Solitude becomes something we can carry within us—transforming busy rooms, chaotic moments, and overwhelming days. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” — Matthew 6:6 Main Takeaways Solitude isn’t isolation—it’s intentionally entering God’s presence. God desires to meet us in stillness, away from noise and distraction. Solitude strengthens our ability to sense God’s presence throughout everyday life. The secret place with God brings spiritual renewal, clarity, and rest. Practicing silence and prayer becomes a portable sanctuary for the soul. Today’s Prayer Glorious God, You are the sweetest gift of solitude. When I retreat from the noise of the world and quiet my heart before You, I find peace and nourishment that only You can give. I confess that I often turn to lesser things to soothe what only Your presence can heal. Teach me to prioritize stillness. Make solitude with You a regular rhythm of my life—one that becomes so natural that I can turn to You anytime, anywhere. Quiet my distractions. Relax my striving. Help me learn to savor Your holy, life-giving presence. Fill me with Your love, joy, and peace as I rest in You today. In Jesus’ precious name,Amen. Reflection Scriptures Psalm 46:10 Isaiah 30:15 Mark 1:35 Psalm 62:1 Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer on LifeAudio.com Share today’s devotion with someone who needs rest in God Explore related topics on Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com: How to hear God in the quiet What solitude with Jesus looks like Breaking busyness with biblical rest Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Presented by Julie Busteed We don't use the word abide very often today. Yet Jesus uses it eleven times in John 15. The scene is the Last Supper. He has just washed his disciples' feet, and now he is teaching and praying for them—sharing his final words with them before the crucifixion. Because Jesus emphasizes this word so strongly, it's worth pausing to understand what he meant. He says: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:4–5, ESV). The Greek word menō, translated “abide,” means to remain, stay, or dwell. It's an active word—not passive—implying an ongoing, intentional relationship. Some Bible translations even use the word remain. Matthew Henry, in his commentary, highlights the context well: Jesus was about to leave his disciples after being with them for three years. The disciples would soon face the temptation to drift from him, from each other, and from his teaching—perhaps even to return to the old patterns of the law. Jesus impresses on them the urgent importance of remaining in him and in community with one another. And he assures them that the helper, the Holy Spirit, would come to strengthen and sustain them.[1] In this passage, Jesus uses the image of the vine and the branches. Believers in Christ are the branches; he is the vine. A life of fruitfulness depends on staying connected to him. To abide in Christ starts with a relationship. The first step is to come to him as Lord and Savior, recognizing your need for forgiveness and grace. But that's only the beginning. As you follow him, the relationship grows deeper. You learn who he is, what he teaches, and how he calls each of us to live in obedience to him. To love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Abiding is a lifelong journey of growing, obeying, and staying connected. — [1] Matthew Henry, “John 15,” Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, BibleGateway, n.d., https://www.biblegateway.com/.

In this Advent reflection, Msgr. John Esseff turns to the figure of John the Baptist and the call to repentance that prepares the way for the Lord. He explains that John stands at the culmination of Old Testament prophecy, announcing the arrival of the Messiah and calling all people to conversion. Yet Jesus teaches that the least in the kingdom is greater than John, because Christians carry Christ within them. This means the true tragedy is not simply breaking commandments but failing to live as Christ in the world. The post The 2nd Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this Advent reflection, Msgr. John Esseff turns to the figure of John the Baptist and the call to repentance that prepares the way for the Lord. He explains that John stands at the culmination of Old Testament prophecy, announcing the arrival of the Messiah and calling all people to conversion. Yet Jesus teaches that the least in the kingdom is greater than John, because Christians carry Christ within them. This means the true tragedy is not simply breaking commandments but failing to live as Christ in the world. The post The 2nd Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Whether conscious or unconscious, we often view much of our humanity in opposition to our spiritual life. We know our predilections to vices and addictions. We find ourselves making and breaking the same commitments or resolutions each year for change that remains elusive. We realize we are intensely engaged in the same argument or relational rut, as predictable as Black Friday sales. Yet Jesus' arrival on earth speaks a different understanding of our humanness. Divinity is moving into our neighborhood, not to price us out of the block, but to show us the sacred in our skin, breath, thoughts, desires, quirks, and connections. We are invited to wait and watch for the Beloved and Beautiful in the imprint of humanness. In this second week of Advent, Vanessa looks at the fragility of God being with us in even the most challenging and harrowing of times.  Reflection  Where do you spy God? Where do you long to see peace realized in your personal life? What can you do to bring peace to others?

This Giving Tuesday, help us meet the spiritual moment! Give now. “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT) One way to prepare our hearts for Christmas and foster a spirit of genuine gratitude is to consider what Jesus laid aside, for our sake, when He came to earth. His is not a rags-to-riches story; it’s a riches-to-rags story. The apostle Paul wrote, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). We may not be able to wrap our minds around the glory of Heaven. But we can imagine the pure joy of being in God’s presence. We can guess at what it’s like to be worshipped nonstop by adoring angels. Yet Jesus set those things aside to squeeze His infinite presence into a container of flesh and make Himself vulnerable to the people He created. Let’s also consider the existence that Jesus embraced when He came. He could have been born in the most elegant mansion on the ritziest boulevard in Rome. He could have had aristocratic parents who boasted of their pedigree. He could have had the finest clothes from the most exclusive shops. He could have had legions of servants to respond to His every whim. But He chose none of that. Instead, Jesus humbled Himself. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT). God came into our world—not as an all-powerful deity, but as a baby, born to humble parents in a humble setting. The Creator of the universe was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Like many other aspects of the Christmas story, we have romanticized the environment of Jesus’ birth. We decorate our homes with nativity sets that make the scene seem cozy, comfortable, and heartwarming. We see the baby Jesus surrounded not only by His loving parents but also by His shepherd friends, His wise men friends, and His animal friends. But in sanitizing the circumstances of Jesus’ birth, we lose the raw, powerful meaning behind them. The stable or barn (or maybe even cave) where Christ was born was cold and damp. It also would have smelled. God incarnate was born on a dirt floor used by animals. Our Savior came not as a monarch draped in gold and silk, but as a baby wrapped in rags. Jesus went from being a sovereign to a servant. He went from the glory of God to a stable filled with animals. It has been said that history swings on the hinge of the door of a stable in Bethlehem. As you prepare for Christmas, think about what Jesus left behind to dwell among us. Jesus took His place in a manger so that we might have a home in Heaven. Reflection question: How can we, as Jesus’ followers, humble ourselves for His sake? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What comes to mind when you think of God's posture toward you? All of us long to know for certain that Abba looks at us with eyes of love, but it's easy to project our own judgment and rejection onto his heart for us. Yet Jesus reconciles the love of God to us through his empathy and desires that we become familiar with his loving gaze of delight.Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi get practical about cultivating a loving friendship with Jesus. You'll be blessed with fresh insight into scriptures that ooze Jesus' empathy as you're equipped with help to nourish your soul through his ever-deepening love and care.Resources for this Episode:Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for YouAttend a Soul Shepherding RetreatDonate to Support Soul Shepherding and Soul Talks*Please note: You'll receive the BOGO discount on Deeply Loved by adding two copies to your cart in our shop. This sale runs until November 27, 2025. Click the link above to get this special deal.