God takes drastic measures to prepare his people for the works he's prepared for them. As Christ's followers, we are his handiwork, his masterpiece, his workmanship. Our beautifully transformed lives are a demonstration of his work. We are proof that he is a masterful artist! He created us in Christ Jesus—which is to say he saved us to follow him--for the purpose of doing the good works he's prepared for us to do. Jesus saved Peter because he wanted to, but also because he'd prepared good … [Read more...]
Where to Find Courage to Continue Following Jesus
How Does Jesus Give Us the Courage to Continue Following? Jesus did not promise that following him would be a walk in the park, but he did say that he would always be with us and would show himself to us along the way. Now, I'll be honest. On some days, that sounds like a consolation prize. Like maybe we thought following Jesus would make things easy and fun, but it turns out we only get the promise that he will be with us and "show himself to us." Jesus Shows Himself to … [Read more...]
How Does Jesus Prepare Us to Continue Following?
In a book titled A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson talks about the difference between being a tourist and a pilgrim as you follow Jesus. Tourists like highlights and quick inspiration. Pilgrims, on the other hand, "spend [their] lives going some place."* As followers of Jesus, we are going to God, and Jesus is the way (see John 14:6). But it's not a quick flight. It's "a long obedience in the same direction." As we walk with him, we may stumble over failure or jump into … [Read more...]
What Does Jesus Do for Disappointed Followers?
The apostle Peter followed Jesus around Israel for three years. He walked with him, learned from him, and witnessed mind-blowing miracles by which Jesus declared himself to be the rescuing King God had promised. Each miracle—opening the eyes of the blind, making a paralyzed man walk, feeding thousands of people by multiplying a few loaves of bread—were glimpses of the kind of kingdom Jesus would establish for his followers. A kingdom of wholeness, abundance, and holiness. And that was exactly … [Read more...]
The Gospel According to… Halloween?
What if the gospel is more like Halloween than Christmas? If you grew up hearing that Halloween was the celebration of evil, you might feel as shocked as I did when the question was posed to me. When I considered how the two holidays might relate to the gospel, the thought of Halloween being a superior picture seemed downright heretical. Until I took my youngest son trick-or-treating. Costume design is not my forte, so my son dressed in his baseball pants, his team t-shirt, … [Read more...]
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