When was the last time you drove in silence? No radio, no music, no podcast, just… silence. Recently, I have been making an intentional attempt to take occasional abstinences from any “electronic stimulation” in the car as I drive. I’ve also made an attempt to occasionally not watch TV or listen to a podcast while I eat or exercise. And while at first it felt somewhat strange and uncomfortable, eventually I learned something I want to share with you today. I learned about the sermon of silence.

Defining The Sermon of Silence

You’re probably wondering what I mean by the “sermon of silence”. How can silence speak or preach when the very definition of silence is the complete absence of sound? Well, silence is often used in reference to an external silence, the removal of external noise and stimuli. However, when the volume of external silence is turned down, the volume of internal noise can turn up. In other words, when there is external silence, our minds begin to move. In external silence, our human minds can’t help but board some neurological train of thought. In silence, our minds are given room to ruminate, culminating in what many would say is the dreadful and disturbing sermon of silence. In silence, questions, anxieties, dreams, and pains arise, feelings and thoughts that we would often rather ignore. The sermon of silence refers to the questions, anxieties, dreams, pains, and other thoughts that emerge in the midst of silence.

Why We Silence of the Sermon of Silence

Why do I say that many find the sermon of silence dreadful and disturbing? Well, if we’re honest, many of us have an uneasiness with just…. saying or hearing nothing. Why? Several authors have commented on our fear of quiet, boredom, and silence.

Tony Reinke, in his book 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You says, “Staring at the ceilings of our quiet bedrooms, with only thoughts about ourselves, reality, and God, is unbearable… Our pings, alerts, and push notifications all redirect us from our greatest needs and realities… To numb the sting of this [or our] emptiness, we turn to the “new and powerful antidepressants of a non-pharmaceutical variety”-- our smartphones…. [we] want anything to break the silence that makes [us] feel the weight of [our] mortality.”

Anna Lembke, in her book Dopamine Nation says, “Boredom is not just boring. It can also be terrifying. It forces us to come face-to-face with bigger questions of meaning and purpose.”

Charles Spurgeon said, “Quietude, some men cannot abide, because it reveals their inner poverty.”

Blaise Pascal said, “I have discovered that all the unhappiness of men arises from one single fact, that they cannot stay quietly in their own chamber.”

The point? In the midst of quiet we hear a message we don’t want to hear. In the sermon of silence we hear our unanswered questions, disquieting anxieties, dormant dreams, and aching pains. Because of its convictional and confrontational message, we are wary, daresay scared of the sermon of silence. So instead of listening, learning, and growing from its message, we settle with an unhelpful alternative. We silence it.

How We Silence of the Sermon of Silence

How so? In a couple ways to be sure, but one rises far above the others. Distraction. We deafen our ears to the sermon of silence with endless distraction.

Tony Reinke quoting Blaise Pascal in the same book says, “The human appetite for distraction is high in every age, because distractions give us easy escape from the silence and solitude whereby we become acquainted with our finitude, our inescapable mortality, and the distance of God from all our desires, hopes, and pleasures.” Isn’t that so true? Often, whether intentionally or unintentionally, instead of dealing with our unanswered questions, disquieting anxieties, dormant dreams, and aching pains, we distract ourselves from them. We use the noise of distraction to drown out the noise of the message we really need to hear. We do anything we can to drown out the sermon of silence.

We deafen our ears to the sermon of silence with endless distraction… Often, whether intentionally or unintentionally, instead of dealing with our unanswered questions, disquieting anxieties, dormant dreams, and aching pains, we distract ourselves from them.

The Danger of Drowning Out the Sermon of Silence

But don’t we do this to our detriment? Suppose instead of silencing the noise of our quiet, we listened to it? Suppose instead of avoiding the sermon, we embraced it, listening and learning from it with humble ears? Suppose we let the reality of our mortality remind us of the fact that we are in fact made for another world? Suppose we recognized and reckoned with our limitations and fears, bravely and Biblically faced our fears and anxieties, and patiently and persistently worked towards our dreams and ambitions?

The second half of the quote I mentioned earlier from Anna Lembke says, “Boredom is also an opportunity for discovery and invention. It creates the space necessary for a new thought to form, without which we’re endlessly reacting to stimuli around us, rather than allowing ourselves to be within lived experiences.” Additionally, the Bible tells and teaches us that silence makes space for us to hear and see the power and provision of our God. (Psalm 46:10, Exodus 14:14). The Bible teaches us that there are times when we simply watch while he works, we listen while he leads, and we are silent when we speak. (Exodus 14:14, Psalm 37:7 62:1-2,5). There are times when the best thing we could possibly say is actually nothing at all.

The Bible teaches us that there are times when we simply watch while he works, we listen while he leads, and we are silent when we speak. (Exodus 14:14, Psalm 37:7 62:1-2,5). There are times when the best thing we could possibly say is actually nothing at all.

Listen, Learn, and Live in Light of the Sermon of Silence

So today, I want to encourage you to join me in seeking to listen to, learn from, and live in response to the sermon of silence. Occasionally remove all external stimuli– in the car, during a meal, or as you exercise. And as you do, take mental notes from the message your sermon of silence preaches. Face the feelings of emptiness, confront your greatest needs and realities, and feel the weight of your inescapable mortality and finitude through occasional times of silence.

Because, just like a faithful gospel sermon, the sermon of silence is meant to convict and confront so that it can comfort and console. The message our silence reveals can teach us crucial lessons about hearts and direct us to the only God who answers all of our questions, comforts us in our anxieties, fulfills us amidst unmet dreams, heals us from aching pains, and satisfies us with all we need.

When Bible Reading Becomes Boring

Hebrews 4:12 says that God’s Word is living and active. Then why when we read it does it often feel dead and dormant? Hebrews 4:12 says that God’s Word discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Then why in reading it does it often seem to have no internal effect? Why is it that we often fail to be enthralled and engaged with the book that contains the greatest story ever told?

If we’re honest, there are often times when our Bible reading can feel, well, boring. There are times when our intake of the satisfying water of life seems to just ineffectively wash over a stony heart and disengaged mind. Are the truths in Hebrews 4:12 then wrong? Or is there something wrong with us?

It’s All About the Approach

While there may be different factors at play, one reason our Bible reading could be boring is because of the way we are approaching it. If a soldier approached the battlefield like a baseball game, or a surgeon approached a heart transplant as if he were playing the board game operation, the ensuing results would be disastrous.

Similarly, we often approach our times of Bible reading unpreparedly and inappropriately. Instead of approaching the Bible like a treasure trove of wisdom, we approach it like an old box of old books. Instead of approaching the Bible for encounter with the living God, we approach it for a quick verse to get us through the day. Then, like the soldier being confused with why he got shot, or the surgeon being puzzled at the ravenous infection in his patient, we wonder why we are so often bored with the beauty of the Bible. Just like a soldier entering battle or a surgeon preparing for surgery, the way we approach God’s Word, or the mindset that we approach God’s Word with matters. It’s not just our practices during reading the Bible that matters, it’s also the posture our hearts are in before we even open our Bibles.

So today, using the help of Matt Smethurst’s excellent little book, “Before You Open Your Bible: Nine Heart Postures for Approaching God’s Word”, we are going to look at five heart postures (the ones that most impacted me from the book) we are to have as we approach God’s Word. Considering many of us are embarking on a year of reading through the Bible in a year or in some other form or fashion, my hope and prayer is that this article can usher some wind into the sails of our Scripture-studying! For oh, how dangerous it is to become bored with the living and active Word of God!

Approach your Bible prayerfully

The first heart posture is approaching your Bible prayerfully. In his book (which I’ll be quoting all throughout this article), Matt Smethurst says, “Prayerless Christianity is powerless Christianity”. Without the power of God in our lives, we cannot live and breathe in relationship with Jesus (John 15:5). So how then do we access this power? One major way is through prayer. Prayer expresses our dependence and reliance upon God’s power.

In light of this then, it becomes essential to approach God’s Word with prayer. Because as we read God’s Word, we need His Spirit to open our eyes to see, soften our hearts to receive, and strengthen our wills to respond. As we approach our Bible reading, we have to cry along with the Psalmist, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” (Psalm 119:18). As we approach our Bibles, we must approach them prayerfully!

As we read God’s Word, we need His Spirit to open our eyes to see, soften our hearts to receive, and strengthen our wills to respond.

Approach your Bible humbly

Secondly, we must approach our Bibles humbly. Approaching humbly can mean two things. Firstly, it means acknowledging that we don’t know it all. This can be a major temptation for those who have spent a lot of time in God’s Word. Experience in mining the depths of God’s Word can produce a temptation to subconsciously suppose that there’s no more gold to find in the caves of God’s Word. Yet there is a dangerous tendency and temptation. The reality is, we will never arrive at a place of Biblical-literacy or spiritual maturity where God’s Word ceases to reveal new insights and instructions. Matthew Henry says, “Take pains while you live…The Scripture still affords new things, to those who search them.” There’s always more to be found– for those who search hard and with humility.

“Take pains while you live…The Scripture still affords new things, to those who search them.” (Matthew Henry)

Secondly, approaching the Bible humbly can also mean appreciating the kindness of God to reveal Himself to us in his Word. Do we realize that so many historic Christians were not privileged to have God’s Word instantly accessible? Do we realize that Moses, David, and Paul didn’t even have a Bible to open? Reflection upon these realities ought to produce in us a profound humility that the God of the universe would choose to speak to us. Oh how should we listen with an attentive and humble ear!

Approach your Bible desperately

The third way we ought to approach our Bibles is desperately. Oftentimes in the Bible, we see that it self-describes itself as food. Matt Smethurst says, “If you read the Bible, you’ll never get the impression that it’s meant to be a mere hobby in your life. It’s meant to be your food.” However, oftentimes we approach the Bible not like one starved and hungry for nourishment, but as one who is tired of having the same meal again. We fail to be like the newborn infants 1 Peter 2:2 describes, who “long for the pure spiritual milk”. When we approach the Bible, we need to approach it remembering what Jesus says in the last part of John 15:5, for apart from me you can do nothing. We need to approach the Bible remembering that the health of our souls depends upon the nourishment that only Scripture can provide. To again quote Smethurst, “Your soul will wither and die without your Bible. Approach it desperately”.

“Your soul will wither and die without your Bible. Approach it desperately”. (Matt Smethurst)

Approach your Bible obediently

The fourth way to approach our Bibles is obediently. What does this mean? Well for one, it means always ultimately submitting and surrendering to what the Bible says. It means approaching the Bible with a heart ready to say, “yes Lord” to whatever he speaks through it. In every conversation, the Bible gets the final word.

I think it’s also important to remember that approaching the Bible obediently is for our good. Matt Smethurst says, “Biblical obedience is not about keeping an arbitrary set of rules; it’s about living in accordance with our design, in harmony with our Maker. Because he wants us to flourish, he restricts us in order to truly free us. He prohibits us to drive us to what is good. He lays boundaries with hands of love.” This is important! Obedience to God’s Word is not a burden meant to hinder our happiness, but a blessing that guards and grows our happiness. We need to approach the Bible obediently! It will further our good, not our gloom.

Obedience to God’s Word is not a burden meant to hinder our happiness, but a blessing that guards and grows our happiness.

Approach your Bible communally

Fifth and finally, we need to approach our Bibles communally. Approaching our Bibles communally means a couple of different things. It means we need the good insights others have gleaned as they studied the Bible. It means we need the gracious correction of others to help us live out what we learn in the Bible. It means we need the genuine encouragement of others when we feel we have no strength to listen to and live out the Bible. It means that we can’t do it on our own. We need the good insights, gracious correction, genuine encouragement, and help of other believers as we read the Bible.

Matt Smethurst paraphrasing Colin Hansen says, “It’s imperative, therefore, that we approach Scripture alongside others, in the context of a diverse community, otherwise our experience will limit us, our preferences will govern us, and our biases will blind us.” As we approach the Bible we need to acknowledge that we can’t rock it out alone. We need to approach the Bible communally.

Bear with Bible-Reading Boredom!

To end this article, I want to briefly mention two other heart postures (these aren’t in the book) we should have as we approach God’s Word: consistently and perseveringly. Because here’s the thing. The inevitable truth is that there will be days when reading God’s Word is difficult. Sin and Satan will often cause our eyes to be blinded to the radiant beauty and majesty of God’s Word. However in spite of the opposition and obstacles, we must turn to God’s Word anyway, and regularly so. Though it’s sometimes difficult, we must never fail to consistently and perseveringly dig for the treasures found in God’s Word. So hard though it may be, keep on reading and studying God’s Word, for, as Matt Smethurst says, “Your Bible is a bottomless treasure chest of beauty and wonder, strength and joy. May you approach it for the rest of your days as if that’s true because it is.” So bear with the occasional Bible-reading boredom my friend. For 364 days of rock is worth 1 day of pure, priceless, and precious gold!

For more on heart postures we ought to have when approaching God’s Word, buy and read Matt Smethurst’s book here! I highly encourage you get it and read it, it is very helpful!

It’s that time of year again. 2025 is done and 2026 has begun. All of a sudden, gyms are full, motivation is high, and resolve fills the air. But we all know the story. More often than not, the abundance of resolve quickly dissolves. January’s motivation quickly turns into April’s misery. Determined diligence gives way to repeated disappointment. Year after year, people start out strong, but then burn out midway, and completely quit halfway through.

This typical story makes me feel wary of and hesitant to make New Year’s resolutions. It also makes me think, is there really a point to them? Should people still bother making New Year’s resolutions? After doing some thinking, I have to conclude that they are still helpful. I think that people see the new year as an opportunity for a fresh start, and decide to take action on aspirations for change that they’ve long had. Additionally, we have time stamps, calendars, birthdays, holidays, memorials, and seasons for a reason. (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

However, I also can’t help but think that we can do a little better in the way we make New Year’s resolutions and thus avoid the high rate of resolution-burnout that so frequently occurs. To aid in this endeavour, in this article I’m going to talk about a mindset shift we can have towards resolutions and resolve, and two principles to keep in mind as we engage in accomplishing our resolutions.

The Reason for Resolve

As I stated earlier, the prevalence of failure in New Year’s resolutions makes me wonder, why even bother with New Year’s resolutions? In fact, why bother with resolve in general? Oxford Languages defines the word resolve as “to decide firmly on a course of action”. Resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” Resolve refers to determination, grit, and an unwavering commitment to do or not do something.

Upon reflection on the definition and quality of resolve, I clearly see it is a quality that we as Christians ought to embody. Why? Because the Christian life requires resolve. It requires determination, commitment, and perseverance. It requires a decision and commitment to follow Jesus and kill our indwelling sin. It requires us to exert the strenuous energy and effort necessary to be faithful to Christ and His Word. Resolve is a quality essential for Christian faithfulness and fruitfulness.

It follows then that a mindset of resolve is one that ought to define the Christian every day of the year, not just in January and February. Though time stamps are helpful for measuring progress, the amount of effort and resolve we put in Christlikeness should not be increased solely in the first two months of the year!

Jonathan Edwards, in his famous list of resolutions said, “ I am resolved to live with all my might while I live!” In other words, he resolved to always be resolved. He sought to make the mindset of resolve a way of life as opposed to a momentary and sensational feeling of inspiration. He sought to ingrain resolve into the small ordinary moments of every day. He sought to live by and with a determination to make the name of God look as beautiful and awesome as it is in everything he did. And I think we ought to as well. One mindset we should carry with us all the days of our lives is the resolve to always be resolved!

Lifestyle over Lists

With that being said, I now want to talk about two principles to keep in mind as we seek to accomplish our New Year’s resolutions.

The first one is lifestyle over lists. What I mean by that is, striving to change your lifestyle over checking a list, or in other words, crafting your resolutions to shape who you are, as opposed to what you want to accomplish. There is nothing wrong with having specific goals and putting those goals on lists. The very reason we make lists is to provide clarity, structure, measurability, and accountability for ourselves as we seek change. However, the risk of lists is that once we fail to meet our specific goals, or succeed in accomplishing a specific goal, we return to our old way of living. We temporarily check off lists, without permanently changing our lifestyle.

James Clear in his bestselling book Atomic Habits says, “True behavior change is identity change. You might start a habit because of motivation, but the only reason you’ll stick with one is that it becomes part of your identity… Improvements are only temporary until they become part of who you are.” Do you see? Real change comes not from checking a list, but from changing your lifestyle.

James Clear’s concept of behavior change being rooted in identity is also related to a Biblical and prominent Pauline concept. Just think of Romans 6:2-4, “how can we who have died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Here, Paul is saying to the Romans, your worldly behavior contradicts your Christ-given identity! You ought to stop living in sin because a sinful lifestyle doesn’t align with you are in Christ. Instead, you “must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.” You must remember your identity and live in light of it. So as you make New Year’s resolutions (which as Christians, should all be ultimately aimed at growing in Christlikeness), remember, it is about changing your lifestyle, not checking a list. The latter is temporary, the former is lasting!

Gospel and Grace over Grind and Guilt

The second principle is gospel and grace over grind and grit. What I mean by this is seeking to have a gospel-centered and grace-fueled resolve over a performance-driven and guilt-fueled resolve. This is really important. Because, as we just discussed, your identity has a significant connection to your behavior.

However, when we remove the gospel and grace from the conversation, we start changing our behavior for a self-idealized identity instead of from our God-given identity. When our resolve is not undergirded with the gospel and with grace, we start “grinding” to prove ourselves or to ease our guilty consciences.

2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that in Christ we are a new creation with a new identity. Our lives are now hidden with him and therefore should now reflect his life. Gospel and grace over grind and guilt means we seek not to redefine our identity with behavior change and resolutions, but to realign our behavior with the identity we already have and the righteousness of Christ that has been imputed to us.

Another reason this gospel-centered and grace-fueled resolve is important is because as fallen and finite human beings, failure is inevitable. Unfortunately, part of living in a fallen world means that on this earth, perfection is not possible. However, our hope to keep on being resolved amidst failure is that God has promised to complete the work He began in us. As 2 Timothy 2:13 says, even when we are faithless, he is faithful.

So as you seek to implement your resolutions, do not do so from guilt and for the sake of performance. Don’t seek behavior change to earn favor, good-standing, and acceptance before God. Do it in response to the gift you’ve been freely given in Christ. Do it centered on the gospel, and fueled by God’s grace.

Resolve to Always Be Resolved!

As we enter a new year, my prayer is that the Lord will grant us all the resolve to always be resolved. As the multiplicity of tragic deaths at the end of 2025 poignantly reminded us, every moment, hour, day, and year is a precious gift from God. Because of the scarcity and therefore preciousness of time, we must steward it well. Because we never know which day could be our last (James 4:14), we must strive to live every day like it’s our last.

So this year, may our resolve be much and fruit be plentiful. And may our faithful God continue to sanctify us until the Lord Jesus Christ returns. He who has called us is faithful, He will surely do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Happy New Year, and remember to resolve to always be resolved!

Good morning everyone!

Christmas break is in full swing for college students here in Florida. I enjoy being on break from school, but it also presents a fresh set of challenges, challenges primarily not to waste time and spiritually backslide. Please be praying that the Lord will help me and my fellow college students stay productive and purposeful over the break! As always, there are several article resources listed below. Also, check out the Christmas article I wrote earlier this week if you missed it! I pray all these resources can be an encouragement and blessing. Have a blessed weekend!

Weekly Articles and Additional Resources:

AI Christian Benchmark

This helpful resource from The Gospel Coalition is about the theological reliability of popular AI software is quite long, but helpful. Read it if you have the time and desire!

On Micromanaging Your Habits

Why the Rise of ‘Sex’ Robots Should Alarm the Church

A Prayer for Communion with Christ

AI Won’t Destroy Education. Just the Opposite.

How to Fight Your Phone Idolatry

The Surprising Glory of Christmas

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“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”. Many of us will hear the voice of Andy Williams in our speakers and stores this Christmas season. And yet, as much as I and many of us love the Christmas season, for many Christmas is a very difficult time of the year.

For the hurting and unhappy, Christmas means an exerted effort to hide deep pain. It means wrestling with deep loneliness as another lonely Christmas passes. It means recoiling at past painful memories associated with the Christmas season. Or it means remembering the happy Christmases of the past which are exactly that, the past. For some, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. For some, it is the most miserable time of the year.

Interestingly, secular Christmas messaging and marketing seem to purport that the coming of the Christmas season magically results in the disappearance of trials and troubles. In our modern Christmas celebrations, there doesn’t seem to be room for the hurting and unhappy. In fact, there’s a name for those who come to Christmas parties killing the mood with mention of their sorrows and sufferings: the Grinch.

Christmas Doesn’t Ignore Your Pain

But not the Biblical Christmas story. The Biblical Christmas story allows and makes room for beauty and joy in spite of the circumstances we find ourselves in. For the Christian, Christmas doesn’t have to be the most miserable time of the year, and also doesn’t have to be a time where we pretend that it’s the most wonderful time of the year. For the Christian, the Christmas story doesn’t ignore our pain, but instead invites us to the person who knows and experienced our pain, and came to finally and fully destroy the source of that pain.

So maybe this Christmas, it doesn’t feel like the “most wonderful time of the year.” Maybe this Christmas you are hurting and unhappy. Maybe your heart isn’t glowing, you won’t be mistletoeing, and no matter how hard you try you can’t feel good cheer. Take heart, dear friend. There is hope for you this Christmas.

In fact, if that description fits you this Christmas, you need to listen and lean in even more to the Christmas story. Because at the heart of the Christmas story is God incarnate who came not for the whole, jolly, and happy, but the broken, hurting, and despairing. If you’re hurting and unhappy this Christmas, listen closely, because the story of Christmas is exactly what you need.

Remember the Real Christmas Story

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Christmas story, the story of Jesus’ birth? For many of us, we probably think of aesthetic nativity scenes with wise men and shepherds, a bright and shining star illuminating the sky, or cute baby Jesus wrapped in clean white swaddling cloths and lying in a sturdy wooden manger with fresh and wonderfully smelling hay. The images that pop into our head have likely been largely influenced by cultural notions of how Jesus was born.

When we look at Scripture however, we find that Jesus’ birth was anything but pretty and picture-perfect. On the contrary, from start to finish, the Biblical Christmas story is steeped in pain and difficulty. The Christmas story doesn’t ignore pain. It is engulfed with pain. So put on your imagination caps for a moment and consider with me the circumstances and context of Jesus’ birth.

A Strange Way to Save the World

For one, there’s the controversy of the virgin birth. As much as Mary and Joseph did no wrong, there were assuredly many personal, social, and familial challenges they encountered and a plethora of rumours going around. It was likely a complicated and stressful time.

Then consider the journey to Bethlem. Remember, Mary and Joseph didn’t have the luxury of speedy and comfortable long-distance transportation that we have today. Mary probably took the donkey express while Joseph traveled on his ten-toe turbos. The journey to Bethlehem would’ve been long and laborious. Not to mention that they were traveling to Bethlehem for civil purposes. Just imagine the ancient version of the DMV, but probably way worse. It would’ve been miserable.

Then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, Joseph and Mary couldn’t find anywhere to stay. And Mary was pregnant! For all you superhero moms out there, I’m sure you can only imagine how the circumstances excacerbated Mary’s prenatal labor pains. And for all the husbands, just imagine what Joseph must’ve been thinking. “This is no way to provide for my wife and soon to be son!” “What am I to do if I can’t find anywhere for us to stay??” I think we can all get the point. Joseph and Mary were certainly anxious, afraid, and uncertain of how their story would end. Complexity and chaos is woven into the fabric of this story!

Although there’s much more that could be said, lastly consider the unsanitary and unusual “hospital” where Jesus was born. Contrary to what our North Americanized and aesthetically pleasing nativity scenes portray, Jesus was born in an unsanitary, unsterilized, and unfit place. He was placed in a manger where dirty animals ate from, and was surrounded by smelly and noisy cattle. It was hardly an ideal situation. As stated before, from start to finish the story of Jesus’ birth is anything from pretty or picture-perfect. It is filled with tension, stress, difficulty, and pain.

When Misery Gives Way to Majesty

And yet, amidst the inconvenience and endless amount of difficulties, something majestic and miraculous takes place. In a historic and climactic moment, great misery gives way to glorious majesty. In what many would call the most miserable of moments and terrible of times, Jesus Christ, the hope and Savior of the world is born! There are breathtaking scenes to imagine! In the countryside, angels rejoice and break into heavenly song, far away, famous rulers travel long and far to humbly bow before the true Ruler of all, and Mary quietly rejoices that God would use her broken vessel to carry the greatest and most glorious figure in all of human history.

So don’t you see? Amidst all the pain, and fatigue, and uncertainty emerges a little baby boy who will bring hope and life to the nations of all the earth. Hope, peace, and joy come not because of the absence of difficulty, suffering, and sorrow, but because of the presence of hope, peace, joy, and life, Jesus Christ the Son of God. This is the beauty of the Christmas story! This is what enables us to say, even amidst our pain, that it is a truly wonderful time of the year!

True Hope and Real Happiness in the Story of Christmas: Christ Has Come!

So if you’re hurting and unhappy this Christmas season remember, the Christmas story doesn’t ignore your pain, it recognizes your pain, resonates with your pain, and points you to the person who can give you peace and joy in the midst of your pain. This Christmas, God invites you to look to the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. He invites you to not only consider the story of a little baby’s birth, but to also consider the story of a grown man’s death. This Christmas, He invites you to lay your burdens at the foot of the cross and find the hope, peace, and joy that is unwavering, uncircumstantial, and unending; the salvation from the Savior who came for us sinners and slaves! That is your hope this Christmas. That is the truth that can comfort you in your hurt and give you joy in your unhappiness. That is the true beauty of Christmas and the real reason why it can be the most wonderful time of the year.

(P.S. The inspiration for this article title is from a song called It Never Gets Old, a Christmas song by my artist friend Damara Melissa. Give it a listen here!)

It amazes me every year. School starts back up in August and September, fall comes around in October, Thanksgiving sneaks up in November, and before you know it it is once again the “most wonderful time of the year”: Christmas. For Christians, the Christmas season is one of particular significance. It is much more than a time to simply eat lots of food and spend a lot of money.

For Christians, Christmas is a time when we celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ to save the world. It’s a time when we reflect on the time in history when the long-awaited Messiah, King, and Savior of the world took on human flesh and was born to a virgin. It’s a time when we celebrate the genesis (genesis in Greek means origin or birth) of the gospel, when Jesus came to the earth to save us from our sins.

If you’re anything like me, however, it can become all too easy to become bored with this Christmas story. If I’m not careful, I can slowly slip into apathy and disinterest in the Christmas story and can lose a sense of genuine and sincere awe at the theological truths we celebrate at Christmas.

Another important truth I’m often tempted to become bored with is the gospel. The gospel is one of the most important truths in all of Scripture. The entire Bible revolves around the story of God working out redemption through Jesus Christ. And if redemption is the gate, then the gospel is the key. To use another analogy, if the destination of the Bible story is redemption, then the path to that destination is the gospel. Its importance can hardly be overemphasized.

Today then, in response to the aforementioned predicaments, we’re going to look at four gospel truths from one of the most popular Christmas passages, Matthew 1:21. And my prayer is that in doing so the Lord will open the eyes of our hearts to behold the glory of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Christmas story! (1 Cor 4:6).

Matthew 1:21 says, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” We’ll be honing in on the second half of that verse.

The Gospel is about a Savior

The first gospel truth this verse shows us is that the gospel is about a Savior. The word for gospel in Greek is euangelion, and it means “good news”. And at the center of this gospel, this good news, is a man named Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. At the very heart of this good news is not a doctrine, a set of rules or requirements, or another pragmatic solution, it is a person named Jesus Christ. And He came as the Savior of the world.

The Gospel accomplishes our salvation

The second gospel truth we see in this verse is that the gospel accomplishes salvation. The gospel is about a person sent to accomplish a mission: salvation. Jesus came to save. He came to rescue, restore, and redeem. All the Bible leading up to this passage in Matthew screams desperately for the need of a Savior bringing salvation. And when Jesus comes to earth, He comes as just that.

The Gospel is applied for sinners

The third gospel truth this verse shows us is that the gospel is applied for sinners. Who exactly did this Savior come to save? Jesus came to save his people. He came as a Savior with salvation for sinners. The Bible couldn’t be more clear. “For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 6:23). The final verdict in the divine courtroom is an irreversible sentence of eternal death. The wage, what the sinners is owed and entitled to based on what he did, is eternal death.

Who is a sinner? A sinner is anyone who has violated God’s law. Have you lied before? Have you stolen? Have you lusted? Have you been angry? Have you cheated? Then you are a sinner, and according to divine law are deserving of eternal death.

Do you see now why this gospel message is so important? The good news of the gospel loses its glory when we forget about the terrible wages of sin. However, because of the gospel, we don’t have to be doomed to damnation. Because of this Savior who brings salvation to us sinners, we can have hope. Because this good news is for sinners.

The Gospel abolishes slaves

Which leads to the last and final gospel truth our verse reveals. The gospel abolishes slaves. This is just a different way of saying the gospel brings freedom. One of the many miserable effects of sin is that it not only damns us later, but enslaves us now. Sin wreaks death and destruction both in the life to come and in the life we now live. It distorts divine design and poisons and pollutes every sphere of the human experience. Like the people of Israel in Egypt, sin results in cruel slavery.

Yet, the glory and beauty of the gospel is that it abolishes this terrible slavery. The gospel breaks the chains of sin and enables us to walk in newness of life. The gospel is the good news about a Savior who brings salvation to sinners and freedom to slaves.

The Glory of The Good News

What makes this good news so glorious? The gospel message isn’t just an arbitrary and intellectually correct proposition. The glory of the gospel is that it saved this sinner and this slave. Jesus Christ died for my sins and brought about my freedom. And oh, how there is great beauty, magnificence, and glory in that reality! In a world filled with sinners and slaves, the gospel offers salvation and a Savior. It doesn’t just offer the road to redemption, it offers our road to redemption. The gospel is the good news about a Savior who accomplishes salvation for sinners and abolishes slavery for slaves! This is the glory of the gospel!

Pray for New Sights of Gospel Glory

This Christmas season, I pray that we would all have eyes to see behold the beauty and glory of the gospel. This Christmas season, my prayer is that we would see God’s plan of salvation woven all throughout the Christmas story. My prayer is that no matter how many times we hear the Christmas story and reflect on the gospel message it will never get old. This Christmas, let us pray for new sights of gospel glory! For truly the message of Christmas and the gospel is one that brings peace on earth and good will towards men. The gospel is the good news that a Savior came to bring salvation for sinners and slaves like you me. And that’s a message I call glorious.

Good morning everyone!

As you all may have noticed I stopped sending this edition of DTFR in the past couple of weeks. To be honest, I wasn’t sure it was providing much value and so decided to forego it. However, after further deliberation, I’ve concluded that it would still be helpful to send these weekly resources, if not solely for the sake of forcing me to research and read them myself! So, I hope these can be helpful for you! To see some of the places where I find these articles and to check out more resources from reputable ministries, visit the resource page here!

Weekly Articles and Additional Resources:

Would Jesus Use Tiktok?

Is Harry Potter Really Witchcraft? (check out this VERY interesting conversation between Jim Hamilton and Sean DeMars on the Harry Potter books and other literature on the Room for Nuance podcast!)

The Importance of Being Sincere

Patient Urgency: The Pace of a Fruitful Life

Keeping Your Well Full: Pouring Out Without Running Dry

What’s the Point of Longevity?

The Post-Literate Pastor

The Danger of Defensive Sanctification

Girls are Less Interested in Getting Married Than Boys. And Here’s Why.

The Gospel Coalition 2025 Book Awards (for books nerds like me :))

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2 Timothy 2:11-13

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Ministry is not easy work. Especially Biblically faithful ministry. Dave Harvey in his book “The Clay Pot Conspiracy”, says, “The journey towards ministry maturity and fruitfulness fixes us on a path toward weakness.” Talk to any faithful and seasoned pastor and they’ll tell you about days filled with difficulty and suffering, innumerable days when they wanted to give up. Speaking more broadly, the Christian life as a whole is not easy. As we see in 2 Timothy 3:12, gospel-proclamation promises gospel-persecution. And day after day we all have to wage the war against the world, Satan, and our indwelling sin. Compile all these realities together and we can often feel burdened down by the immense weight of our weaknesses. Compile these realities together and they can seem like a massive rock threatening to crush us on the hill of life. What hope is there? How can the Christian remain faithful in spite of their flaws, failures, and finitude?

In today’s verse Paul encourages Timothy with bedrock truths meant to help the faithful Christian stay afloat in the storms of life. Oh how precious are the pills Scripture offers us for our many sicknesses! Let’s take a look at God’s Word.

Our verses for today read, “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13). Paul starts these verses referring to a “trustworthy saying”, likely quoting a popular truism, creed, or axiom of the day. In this saying we see three things which we’ll look at today: two promises for the faithful, one warning to the faithless, and one comfort for the flawed.

First, two promises for the faithful. The first promise says, “if we have died with him, we will also live with him.” Some have interpreted this verse to be referring to a spiritual death, similar to what Paul describes in Romans 6:8. Others have interpreted this verse to be referring to a literal death, or martyrdom, when one physically dies for the sake of Christ. Regardless of which interpretation Paul intended to convey, both interpretations give us the assurance that those who join in suffering for the sake of Christ will also join in celebrating with Christ. Whether we die with Christ by daily dying to ourselves and picking up the crosses we have each been called to bear, or whether we literally give up our lives in martyrdom for the sake of Jesus’ name, we can be sure that Christ is with us now (Matt 28:20), and we will be with Him for all eternity (1 Thess 4:17, 5:10). It is the promise to those who endure!

The second promise says, “if we endure, we will also reign with him.” In other words, not only will the faithful take part in Christ’s reward, but they will also take part in Christ’s reign. However there is a condition to the sharing of Christ’s rule and reign, endurance to the end. We must remain faithful to the finish line. Jesus, in Matthew 10:22 says, “and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Acts 14:23b, says that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” So yes, we will encounter difficulty and hardship. Yes, we will be persecuted as we proclaim the gospel. But the road to glory is paved with suffering. However, we may be sure, it is the road to glory. And how much better to suffer on the road to glory then to sing on the road to damnation! On the days when the fire of our trials and troubles feels like it will consume us, we can take hope in the promise that if we endure, we will reign with Christ. So persevere and press on we must!

The road to glory is paved with suffering. However, we may be sure, it is the road to glory. And how much better to suffer on the road to glory then to sing on the road to damnation!

After these two promises to the faithful, we then see one warning to the faithless. The last part of verse 12 says, “if we deny him, he also will deny us”. As sure as the promise of reward and rule it is the faithful, just as sure is the certainty of destruction and denial for the faithless. Matthew 10:32-33 says, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” Do you see? For those who refuse now to receive Jesus, Jesus will then later refuse to receive. Ultimate denial of Christ guarantees ultimate denial before Christ. Oh how the faithless must see this warning and repent before it is too late! For if we deny him, He will deny us!

For those who refuse now to receive Jesus, Jesus will then later refuse to receive. Ultimate denial of Christ guarantees ultimate denial before Christ.

Lastly, our verses show us a comfort to the flawed. Verse 13 says, “if we are faithless, he remains faithful– for he cannot deny himself.” Some have interpreted this verse to be a parallel warning to the one discussed at the end of verse 13. However, it is more likely to be a comfort for the momentarily faithless Peter than it is a warning to the ultimately faithless Judas, and for these two reasons. For one, this verse undergoes a tense shift, shifting from future apostasy to present-day faithlessness. The tense shift could likely indicate a change of topic. Secondly, and this reason resonantes most with me, the inclusion of grace for temporary lapses in faithfulness most comprehensively covers and addresses the Christian experience. After all, all may not turn out to be ultimately faithless like Judas, but all of us have been guilty of temporal faithlessness like Peter! To continue the analogy used earlier, how often have we all fallen on our road to glory! And how often do we continue to fall! However, what this verse is comforting and consoling us with is the recurring Biblical truth that the author of our salvation is also the finisher of our salvation. He who leads to green pastures for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:3), will also finish the work He began in us for His name’s sake! (Phillipians 1:6). Our ultimately and constantly faithful God will not cast us away in the midst of our failures to be faithful! Our God must be consistent with His own character, which means that the steadiness of His faithfulness, is the surety of our finishing! Because God cannot deny Himself, His glory becomes our good! What a precious and comforting truth this is for the flawed and finite Christian!

Our God must be consistent with His own character, which means that the steadiness of His faithfulness, is the surety of our finishing! Because God cannot deny Himself, His glory becomes our good!

I don’t know about you, but I am grateful for passages like these. As often as possible, my heart needs to hear iterations of these promises for the faithful, warning to the faithless, and comforts for the flawed. I need this because it is so easy to be weighed down with discouragement in our endeavors of everyday faithfulness to Jesus Christ! As mentioned earlier, the war against the world, the devil, and my own sinful flesh can often wear us thin. Yet, passages like today’s and others like it put a kick in my walk with the Lord and inspire me to keep striving for excellent faithfulness day after day.

He who was gracious to call us, will also be faithful to keep us.

Another passage that comforts me in moments of weakness, and one that will serve as a fitting closing is 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. In it Paul says, “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” I love this! We pray for endurance in our personal processes of sanctification and suffering, for the preservation of purity in our body, soul, and spirit, and we do so full of faith and replete with confidence knowing that He who was gracious to call us, will also be faithful to keep us. Praise God for the way He exhorts us to endure through His Word! May we all endure gladly and joyfully today, trusting wholly in the God who is faithful in our failings. Amen!

2 Timothy 2:10

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

What gets you out of bed every morning? On those days when you feel especially sluggish and particularly lazy, what makes you get up and start the day anyway? On days when you feel like giving up, what energizes your endurance? The apostle Paul makes it clear what energized him day in and day out.

Our verse for today says, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” What energized the apostle Paul? Our verse today reveals two things that energized the endurance of the apostle Paul. And two things that ought to energize us as well. Let’s look at the first.

Firstly, we see that Paul’s endurance is energized by the power of God’s Word. Notice that our verse begins with the word therefore. Let’s look at verses 8-10 to see how they connect. Paul says, “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” Do you see what Paul is saying here? Paul’s response of “enduring everything for the sake of the elect” is built upon the premise of the boundless power of God’s Word. If God’s Word was a mere compilation of insightful and interesting moral methods and principles, Paul would have no reason to endure for the sake of elect. If God’s Word was not living and active, containing the message of the gospel that is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16), Paul couldn’t endure everything for the sake of the elect. Paul’s endurance is energized by the boundless, limitless, and awesome power of God’s Word.

Additionally, and secondly, Paul’s endurance is energized by the promise of salvation for the elect. Notice what Paul says, “I endure everything for the sake of the elect. Without getting into the nitty-gritty of the doctrine of election, over which there is unfortunately much controversy, one thing is clear in this verse. Paul’s ability to endure is enhanced and energized by the truth and promise that God has chosen men and women to be adopted as sons and daughters into the family of God. This also means that contrary to the practice of some who subscribe to the Reformed view of the doctrine of election, election ought to make us more, not less passionate and zealous in our efforts to reach the lost with the gospel of Christ. The Scriptural truth that God has sovereignly elected some to believe and hope in Christ does not in any way negate our responsibility to engage in evangelism and ministry. On the contrary, it stirs and helps sustain our efforts. The promise of election is what necessitates the practice of evangelism. The truth of God’s election assures us that our evangelistic efforts are not in vain, compels and catalyzes us to endure in the difficult work of everyday faithfulness to the gospel and to God. The doctrine of election ought to energize our ability to endure!

The promise of election is what necessitates the practice of evangelism.

So, are you energized by reflection upon the power of God’s Word? Does the certainty of election cause in your life a prioritization of evangelism? Does a burden for the lost stir up in you a determination to keep on zealously and passionately following Jesus? In a culture that idolizes comfort and convenience, it can be very easy to neglect pondering the lost, pursuing the lost, and preaching to the lost. How often do we think about those around us who don’t know Jesus (pondering)? Do we go throughout our days heartbroken over those who don’t have a saving relationship with Jesus? How often do we make an effort to initiate a conversation or interaction with an unbeliever (pursue)? Do our schedules allow for times of intentional time spent with unbelievers? And when was the last time we took an unbeliever through the wonders of the gospel (preach)? When was the last time we explained to someone the greatness of our sin but the much surpassing greatness of our Savior?

It is important to note that evangelism is also a command given to every Christian (Matt 28:18-20). It is not an optional add-on for extroverts, “super-saints”, or pastors, but a mandate given to the ordinary Christian. Yes, it may come easier and more naturally to some, but it must come in some form and fashion to all. Does this mean that all of us need to drop what we’re doing and become street preachers? Or go on regular evangelistic expeditions? Probably not! It does mean, however, that all of us, according to our various gifting and context, need to be factoring evangelism into the equation of our regular Christian responsibility and discipline. We can also be encouraged by this reality: we don’t elect souls to salvation, God does. We just proclaim the truth of salvation, not apply it. So after we’ve prayed and presented the gospel we leave the results up to God. We plant and He waters. We faithfully preach, and He sovereignly saves.

We also should consider that as much as evangelism is a command it also is meant to be a joy. Our verse for today shows us that it ought to be a practice that sends energetic waves through our spines. And I can personally attest to the fact that nothing beats the thrill of post-evangelism. The thought that God can use us to be a means of grace that causes someone to obtain the salvation and hope that is in Christ Jesus has a special ability to energize our endurance and power our perseverance in the race of this life.

So today’s takeaway? We must let the power of God’s Word, the promise of election, and the practice of evangelism energize our spiritual endurance. Romans 10:14-17 says, How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us?” So faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Truly, how beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the gospel! Today, let’s pray that God will cause election and evangelism to energize us to endure. Let’s pray for hearts that are on fire for the lost and for lives that are spent being poured out for the sake of the salvation of many. For truly, we must endure in order that the elect may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus! Help us to do so Lord we pray! Amen!

2 Timothy 2:8-9

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound!

A paradox is something that at first glance seems contradictory, but after deeper thought can be rationally plausible and possible. Throughout the Bible, there are what I’ll call “progress paradoxes”, meaning, ways of progressing forward which seem contradictory, but upon deeper thought actually makes sense. For example, the way to be the greatest of all is to be the least of all. (Matthew 20:26). If you want to be first, you have to be last. (Matthew 20:27). In order to gain much, you have to lose all. (Matthew 16:25). In order to truly live, you have to first truly die (Luke 17:33.) And in order to keep moving forward, you have to keep looking backwards.

In today’s verses, Paul gives us two reminders that aid us in faithfully enduring as soldiers of Christ Jesus. He tells us two ways we need to look backward if we want to keep faithfully moving forward until the end. Let’s look into God’s Word.

Firstly, Paul says to remember the person of Jesus in the gospel. 2 Timothy 2:8-9a says, “remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.” As I just mentioned, Paul here is instructing Timothy to look backwards and remember the person of Jesus in the gospel in order to move forward in faithfulness. But how could Timothy forget about Jesus, the central figure of the Christian faith? Well, two answers come to mind. For one, we humans are spiritual amnesiacs. Our finite and fallen hearts and minds are always forgetting the truth and in need of constant reminders to re-focus our wandering hearts. Secondly, Paul here is likely talking about a functional forgetfulness as opposed to a cognitive forgetfulness. In other words, Timothy may be able to cognitively recall the person (offspring of David) and work (risen from the dead) of Jesus in his head, and yet still functionally forget and fail to be affected and moved toward obedience by these same truths in his heart. Thus, Paul is calling Timothy to remember Jesus not as a distant theological reality and being but as an accessible comforter and close friend. Paul is calling Timothy to remember and abide in Jesus apart from whom he can do nothing. (John 15:5).

“We humans are spiritual amnesiacs. Our finite and fallen hearts and minds are always forgetting the truth and in need of constant reminders to re-focus our wandering hearts.”

The second way Paul calls us to look back is to remember the power of God through His Word. Verse 9 says, “for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the Word of God is not bound!” Paul’s ability to impact and influence those around him was limited. Even as he writes to Timothy he is imprisoned, bound in chains and without the ability to travel around preaching the gospel and strengthening churches. Yet, in spite of his imprisonment, Paul declares the glorious reality that God’s Word is not bound. Where Paul can’t reach, God’s Word can reach. God’s Word, unlike Paul, is not confined to the boundaries of space and time. Paul knew that for years after he would pass from this earth, the gospel as preached and proclaimed through the Word of God would continue to impact and influence hearts and minds for the glory of God! He knew that the scope of God’s Word far exceeds the petty scope of mortal ability! He knew the incredible power of God’s Word.

And yet isn’t it easy for us to forget this truth? We constantly run the risk of domesticating and dumbing down the raw power and impact of God’s Word. We forget that God’s Word isn’t just a book but is the very breathed out Word of God. And do we realize what can happen when our God speaks a word? He can create an uncontrollable and incomprehensible universe. He can calm raging storms with a simple sentence. He can cast out evil spirits, cure infirmities and diseases, and call dead men to walk in life. He can take a hardened heart of stone, and turn into a heart of flesh. This is the power of the Word of God! And the same God that spoke the universe into existence, healed the sick and oppressed, and raised the dead to life is the same God that has revealed Himself to us in His Word! Oh how we fail to treat God’s Word as the powerful weapon and effective instrument that it is! As we read it we must remember that it is not simply a collection of instructions and stories. It is a book with heart-transforming and life-changing capabilities. It is a book with immeasurable power, power accessible and available at our fingertips!

So are we remembering the person of Jesus Christ as preached in the gospel? Do we recognize the power of God through His Word? As mentioned earlier, it is relatively easy to cognitively recall these truths, but much harder to be functionally affected by them. Even as I write this right now, and in writing DTFR in general, I have to remind myself that God’s Word is not just a book for writing material, but a book that is meant to be obeyed and lived. And in doing service for Jesus Christ, how easy it is to forget to be with Him! How easy it is to be busy for God and yet never spend substantive time with God!

Which is why we must take time to sit back and reflect on the truths from which all other ministerial endeavors stem. If we want to endure and play the long-game, we need to look back and remember the person for which we are playing (Jesus), and the power by which we are enabled to keep playing (God’s Word). To keep moving forward, we have to keep looking backwards. We must resolve to remember!

Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in in us that which is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Truly, we pray that God would equip us with all that we need to endure in service to Him. And may all that we do be a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice, serving to further the glory of His great name. Amen!

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

You’ve got to dig a dig a dig a dig a dig a little deeper! Dig a dig a dig a dig a dig don’t be a sleeper. Study the Word of God, put your shovel in the sod, just dig a dig a dig a dig a dig a little deeper! Those are lyrics from a VBS I attended many years ago. As we sang the song there would be accompanying actions, where everyone would motion shoveling in sod while swinging their arms back and forth. It was a fun time!

However, catchy and memorable as the song was, the VBS tune was right– it is so important to dig into the Word of God. And yet, oftentimes in our personal study of God’s Word there are moments when we come upon obstacles, rocks in the soil that prevent us from striking the gold nuggets of Biblical wisdom and insight. The reality is, the Bible can be a difficult book to study. However, as difficult as it may be at times, it is more than possible. And in today’s verse, Paul tells us two key things that we ought to remember as we seek to gain the gold of understanding found in God’s Word.

Our verse for today says, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Tim 2:7). The first way in which we gain the gold of understanding in God’s Word is through seeing our responsibility of diligent reflection. After Paul has given Timothy three metaphors for understanding the nature of a steadfast, suffering soldier, he presumes that Timothy may have a degree of confusion. He assumes that Timothy will have a need to meditate and ponder upon what Paul has given him instruction in. So, in order that Timothy may arrive at a proper understanding, Paul calls Timothy to diligent reflection. Now, in the context of this passage, Paul is calling Timothy to think over the exhortations, encouragements, and commands he has given him. However, the principle of diligent reflection of Scripture can be applied to all of the Bible, not just 2 Timothy in particular.

In other words, how do we apply the principle of diligent reflection when it comes to our understanding of God’s Word? Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, a famous British preacher and pastor, once said in reply to a man who said his preaching was inspiring, “Ninety-five percent of inspiration is perspiration.” Isn’t that good? What Dr. Morgan was implying in his response is that gaining Biblical insight and inspiration often takes sweaty and difficult work. For us to get Biblical insights of gold, we have to do the difficult work of diligent and reflective digging. No wonder then in Proverbs 2:4-5 Solomon likens the pursuit of wisdom to the pursuit of gold. If we want to find Biblical gold, we have to dig for it!

“For us to get Biblical insights of gold, we have to do the difficult work of diligent and reflective digging.”

As important as diligent reflection is, however, we can’t gain the gold of understanding from God’s Word without another key ingredient. Because in addition to seeing our responsibility of diligent reflection, we also need to see God’s role of divine revelation. The second half of verse 7 says, “for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Gaining the gold of understanding God’s Word requires the conjoining of human effort and divine empowerment. As Proverbs 2:6 says, God is the ultimate source of wisdom and knowledge, so without him we cannot gain true understanding. Likewise, as important as God’s role is in understanding and insight, we also cannot neglect or de-emphasize our responsibility. So what do we do? Well, we do both. We diligently reflect and God supernaturally reveals. Our diligent reflection leads to God’s divine revelation. As we dig deep into God’s Word through patient and persistent reflection, eventually we begin to hit upon nuggets of gold revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. (Eph 1:17-18, 1 Cor 2:10-13).

“We diligently reflect and God supernaturally reveals. Our diligent reflection leads to God’s divine revelation. As we dig deep into God’s Word through patient and persistent reflection, eventually we begin to hit upon nuggets of gold revealed to us through the Holy Spirit.”

One additional key element to remember in gaining the gold of Biblical understanding is the role of prayer. Because yes, God is able, willing, and wanting to reveal great things to us in His Word, but sometimes, “texts will often refuse to reveal their treasures till you open them with the key of prayer.” (Charles Spurgeon). Matt Smethurst, in his excellent little book, “Before You Open Your Bible” says, “I am convinced that a prayerless approach to God’s Word is a major reason for the low-level dissatisfaction that hums beneath the surface of our lives… for prayerless Christianity is powerless Christianity.” In other words, we feel no power because we offer no prayer! If we want the river of God’s divine revelation to pour out over our lives, we need to persistently pray for God to open the dam! To add on to the quote referenced earlier, if illumination and inspiration from God’s Word comes through perspiration, then it also needs to come through prayer. We use prayer as the key that will unlock the great treasures hidden within God’s Word. And we must remember, the treasures are there! As Matthew Henry said, “Take pains while you live… The Scripture still affords new things, to those who search them”. We must pray as we seek to gain the gold of understanding from God’s Word!

“I am convinced that a prayerless approach to God’s Word is a major reason for the low-level dissatisfaction that hums beneath the surface of our lives… for prayerless Christianity is powerless Christianity.” (Matt Smethurst)

So as we are seeking to understand God’s Word, do we understand our role of diligent reflection and God’s role of divine revelation? If we want to truly gain understanding we have to recognize and respond to both of these Scriptural realities. We have to see that heart-revealing, soul-searching, and spirit-convicting illumination from God’s Word lies in the balance of our human effort and God’s divine impartation. As we diligently reflect, God supernaturally reveals.

“There is no fruit so sweet, no drink so satisfying, no wisdom so wonderful, and no gold so precious as that found in the awesome and inspired Word of God!”

Psalm 119:13-18 says, “Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statues; I will not forget your word. Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” May the words of these verses be the cry of our hearts today. Would we cry out to God for divine revelation, and lean on the Holy Spirit in prayer as we diligently reflect. For truly there is no fruit so sweet, no drink so satisfying, no wisdom so wonderful, and no gold so precious as that found in the awesome and inspired Word of God! Oh that we would be diligent to learn it, eager to love it, and most importantly faithful to live it all to the glory of our God. Amen!

2 Timothy 2:6

It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Nursing school is no joke. As many of you know, this past summer I began my journey in nursing school. While I expected it to be a challenge, I didn’t have an accurate idea of why it would be challenging or in what ways it would be challenging. After surviving the first semester, I can now confidently say that the challenges lived up to their hype– it was (and is!) very difficult! However, as difficult as nursing school is, heading into it I knew one thing that you don’t have to be in nursing school to learn. If you work hard, study hard, and do what you need to do when you need to do it, you can succeed. And conversely, if you cut corners, don’t pay attention, procrastinate, and disregard instructions, you can expect to not do well. Work hard and you win. Live in laziness and you lose.

In the past couple of weeks, we’ve explored two analogies and derived two principles from those analogies that help us understand the characteristics of a steadfast, suffering soldier. Firstly we saw, don’t be derailed by distraction, but have the missional focus of a soldier. Secondly we saw, don’t be disqualified because of indiscipline, but have the rule-shaped regimen of an athlete. Today we explore the third and final principle which helps us understand what it means to be a steadfast, suffering soldier.

Paul says in verse 6, “It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” In other words, Paul is encouraging and exhorting us and Timothy: don’t get less because of laziness, but have the hard-working dedication of a farmer.

Farmers are known for being hard-workers. While new technologies and modern equipment have made the profession far less physically labor-intensive, historically farming was one of the most physically strenuous and demanding professions. And in addition to requiring long hours of labor, the work of a farmer is ordinary, unexciting, and repetitive. Unlike the soldier’s thrill in battle and the athlete’s buzz in competition, the farmer’s work consists of waking up, working long and laborious hours doing mundane tasks, and then doing it again. Large crops don’t grow overnight, so farmers are required to work on fields that fail to provide the immediate satisfaction of a job well done. It takes weeks and months of patient, hard-working dedication before the farmer can reap the fruits of his labor. To be a farmer requires a patient kind of dedication that few possess.

However, for those who do exert that rare, patient dedication, for those who do put in the work day after day and week after week, sowing patiently and intentionally, they will reap in due time (Gal 6:7). Unlike the sluggard who has nothing to reap because he put in no effort sow, (Prov 20:4, 24:30-31), the farmer gets first dibs from the best selection of the crops. Because he sows well, he reaps well. Because he works hard, he wins big.

What then does this mean for the Christian walk? As always, the intentional selection of Paul’s analogy greatly influences the direction of our application. And though this passage could be interpreted as a Biblical warrant for pastors being paid and receiving “the wages due the worker”, I agree with one commentator in concluding that this isn’t Paul main emphasis in this passage. In this passage, Paul is talking about a general principle of working hard in life and ministry. The Greek word for hard-working used in this text, kopiaō, speaks to a strenuous kind of toil and an intense kind of labor. In other words, Paul is telling Timothy the attitude he needs to have towards his work. Instead of getting less because of laziness, Paul is encouraging Timothy and us to work hard so that we can win big.

John Stott, in his commentary on 2 Timothy makes one application from this passage of hard-work in holiness. He quotes from one of my favorite books, Holiness by J.C. Ryle, where Ryle says, “Anything that requires exertion and labor is entirely against the grain of our hearts. But the soul can have “no gains without pains.” (Ryle, Holiness, pg 42.) In other words, we need to work hard at being holy. To reap the harvest of holiness, we must labor at sowing seeds through spiritual disciplines. (which we talked about last week!). Though we don’t work hard in spiritual disciplines to earn our salvation, part of the reality of sanctification is that the extent of our input determines the amount of our output. If we fail to invest in our holiness, we ought not be surprised when we see no or little growth. If we sow few seeds, why would we expect much fruit? As J.C. Ryle said above, our souls can have no gains without pains. To see gains in godliness we have to patiently and consistently sow seeds like a hardworking and dedicated farmer.

“Anything that requires exertion and labor is entirely against the grain of our hearts. But the soul can have “no gains without pains.” (J.C. Ryle)

To see gains in godliness we have to patiently and consistently sow seeds like a hardworking and dedicated farmer.

One other application John Stott makes from this passage is the harvest of converts in ministry. For those of us not in full time ministry however, I would extend the application to meaning the fruit of our influence in the lives of those around us. Do we work hard at inviting others into our lives for formal and informal discipleship? Are there people who are direct beneficiaries of our labors of love? Or are we lazy with our love? While Scripture is clear that true growth ultimately lies in the sovereign hand of God (1 Cor 2:6), it is equally clear in Scripture that God gives growth through the toils and labor of his faithful servants. Though God ultimately makes the plant sprout, I don’t think it is a stretch to say that God will fail to bless those who are lazy in sowing seeds of intentional and sacrificial love. The parable of the talents show us that God intends for us to be hard-working stewards of the time, talents, and treasures that we have been entrusted with. (Matthew 25:14-30, 2 Tim 1:6). God takes the little the lazy have and gives it to those who will actually invest and increase it! (Matt 25:29). Thus, the principle mentioned earlier has full Biblical warrant and weight. Paul, in his effort to exhort us to be steadfast, suffering soldiers, says, don’t get less because of laziness, but have the hardworking dedication of a farmer!

2 Timothy 2:10-13 says, “Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” These verses are a fitting ending because they both remind us of one of the reasons why we ought to toil, labor, and work hard (for the salvation and spirituality of others), while also reminding us that all outcomes ultimately rest in the unwavering faithfulness and steadfastness of our glorious God. For even in our bouts of laziness and seasons of spiritual stagnation, God still moves, still works, and still expands his kingdom. And in light of this unchanging reality, may we strive to be missionally focused soldiers, regimented and disciplined athletes, and hardworking and dedicated farmers to the glory of God and good of others. Oh God, help us to faithfully endure suffering for the sake of the glorious gospel! Amen!

2 Timothy 2:5

An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Our family loves to watch track and field. We don’t follow all the minor events throughout the year, but whenever it comes time for World Championships or the Olympics, we are all in. One race we particularly enjoy is the 4x100 meter relay race. The 4x100 meter race, though exciting and energizing, is one of the most technical races in track and field. The race consists of several teams with 4 athletes on each team. Each player runs 100 meters while holding a baton, and at the end of their 100 meters, hands off the baton to the next runner. The catch, however, is that as each athlete hands off the baton, they have to do so while staying in their lane and before reaching a marked out point on the track. Because of the technicality and difficulty of this race, virtually every track competition at least one team is disqualified because of a failure to meet these two rules. Because they run outside the lines or don’t hand off the baton in time, they lose their chances at winning and are out of the competition. If they don’t run according to the specific rules and requirements, they are disqualified.

Now, just like how in the 4x100 there are certain rules and requirements for running the race, in the race of this life God has also given us certain rules and requirements, track lines, if you will, that we are meant to run within and marked boundaries that we are not supposed to cross. And similarly to how running outside of the track and field rules results in disqualification, anyone who fails to run within God’s parameters will also be disqualified. Only those who compete according to rules get crowned and only those who meet the requirements get rewarded. So how do we run within God’s requirements? How do we ensure that we are not disqualified from the race of this life? Let’s look and learn what God’s Word has to say.

Our verse for today reads, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” In other words, the principle we draw from this verse is this: don’t be disqualified because of indiscipline, but have the rule-shaped regimen of an athlete. Our verse today in 2 Timothy is not the first and only instance where Paul uses the analogy of athletics to give us a better understanding of how we are to live the Christian life. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Do you see the similar messages in these two verses?

The cumulative calling of these passages is to live a life of discipline and diligence both to positively win the prize and to negatively avoid falling into spiritual wreckage and ruin. The reality and risk of disqualification is the impetus for Biblically-informed and shaped discipline. Like an athlete preparing months ahead for a big competition, we as Christians ought to look at what God’s Word requires and teaches, and begin to develop disciplines centered around those principles.

Then, as our verse tells us, we will receive the prize. Not a prize that is perishable, momentary, and of this world, but the prize that is imperishable, eternal, and for the world to come— the prize of the crown of righteousness, which God will award to all who have loved his appearing and lived a life centered upon the wisdom and ways of His Word. Similar to the way athletes create regimens and routines to set themselves for victory, we as Christians must strive to live lives filled with Biblically-based disciplines that will set us up for spiritual victory.

So what do your spiritual disciplines look like? Don Whitney, in his very helpful and popular book on Spiritual Disciplines says that spiritual disciplines “are those practices found in Scripture that promote spiritual growth among believers in the gospel of Christ. They are habits of devotion and experiential Christianity that have been practiced by the people of God since biblical times.” Spiritual disciplines are practices like Bible reading, prayer, Scripture memorization, evangelism, and learning more about who God is.

So are you exerting spiritual sweat to grow in the grace of Christ Jesus? Do you seek to read your Bible regularly even when it’s difficult? Do you make a habit of persistent prayer? Do you look and pray for moments to share the gospel? Do you make it a priority to attend and serve in your local church? Do you take time to meditate on the gospel and consider the health of your spiritual life? Do you have a mindset that vigorously seeks to kill sin? Are you even aware of your struggles with sin? All these questions and more can help us to diagnose the degree of spiritual discipline we have in our lives. Ironically, many of us apply and exert great discipline in areas of physical fitness, health, work, relationships, and hobbies, and yet when it comes to our relationship with the Lord, we fail to even break a sweat.

“Many of us apply and exert great discipline in areas of physical fitness, health, work, relationships, and hobbies, and yet when it comes with our relationship with the Lord, we fail to even break a sweat.”

Though we all know that to do anything great or worthwhile we must work hard, we somehow think that we can do great things for the Lord without being soaked in spiritual sweat. Today, God through His Word is telling us to think and act so no longer! If we want to grow in godliness and endure in suffering for the sake of the gospel, we need to have the rule–shaped regimen of an athlete to avoid being disqualified because of indiscipline.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 says, “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” I love that! We must train ourselves for godliness! We must devote and discipline ourselves to invest in and sweat for something that will benefit us presently and for all eternity– godliness and increasing conformity to the image of Christ!

So as we go throughout our day and week, let’s remember to have the mental determination and disciplined lifestyle of an athlete in our walks with the Lord. And as we do, may we do so remembering that we do not practice spiritual disciplines for the sake of doing them, but because of what they accomplish and lead to– a closer, sweeter, and stronger relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh God, help us to be disciplined and not disqualified! Amen!

For this week’s DTFR, we will be taking a break from 2 Timothy and considering the reality that God uses ordinary people to bring about extraordinary change. My prayer is that it will inspire you to live your life with a renewed and relentless resolve to glorify God and make His name known throughout all the earth. Happy reading!

Utter Despair, Righteous Anger, Renewed Resolve

For many of you, the past couple of weeks have been filled with days of sorrow and heartache. From the cruel and unexpected public murder of Charlie Kirk, a school shooting in Denver, an innocent Ukrainian killed in plain sight, and the senseless, unexpected, and utterly heartbreaking murder of a dear friend, now more than ever, we feel, see, and mourn the effects of living in an irretrievably broken world.

For some of us, maybe all the tragedy and trial has led us to a point of despair. We feel like hope is lost and that true change cannot come. For some of us, maybe we feel a strong sense of anger. Passionate, furious, and fiery anger, some of it righteous, some of it maybe tainted with our understandable yet sinful lusts for vengeance. For some of us, maybe the recent events have re-ignited our passion to make a difference. The fires that were once dim have burst into flames through the oil of injustices and wrongdoings. If ever we had a reason to fight faithfully, it is now.

For me personally, the latter has been my emotional response to the tragic events of late. There has been a renewed resolve to make a difference. A renewed resolve to walk in my God-given purpose with zeal and endurance. A desire not to waste my life. A resolve not to squander my time on things of unimportance and a desire to see glimmers of hope, change, and gospel transformation in the people and places around me. It is the desire to really make a difference.

Does What I Do Matter?

However, there are times when against the backdrop of all the evil and problems of our world, my day-to-day attempts at faithfulness and obedience can seem like pennies given towards a debt of evil that exceeds billions. Recently, I, and maybe you too, have been asking the question, does what I do really matter? Can my life really help to turn the tide of evil in our world? Can I really make a difference?

You Can Make A Difference

As I think about it, the answer has to be yes and no. Yes because God in His grace has given us agency– we have the ability to make choices that have consequences for the better or worse. And however impactful or influential we may think those choices are, significant change is always made of extraordinary amounts of people being faithful in ordinary things. Although movements and institutions of great change are often kickstarted by influential and impactful leaders and figures, God’s Word shows us time and time again that God’s formula for extraordinary change is everyone devoting everything to Him everyday in simple and ordinary ways.

God’s formula for extraordinary change is everyone devoting everything to Him everyday in simple and ordinary ways.

Just consider what would happen if every Christian in North America shared the gospel with two people and took up a discipling relationship with one person. There would quite literally be a doubling of the Christian population and a dramatic increase in spiritual maturity!

And yet why does that not happen? Because seemingly unimportant, uninfluential, and simple people like you and me can often forget that the way we live can really make a difference. The road to massive change begins with simple people like you and me taking small steps and realizing that what we do does make a difference. We just have to have eyes to see it and the courage to live like it.

And Then Again, You Can’t

So yes we can make a change. But then again, we can’t! What do I mean? Well, we can’t really make a difference in the sense that we aren’t the ones who actually bring about change. Only God can bring about true change. Think about it. As Christians, we understand that the greatest problem that plagues our world is the problem of sin. Since the beginning of time, the black spot on the white cloth of paradise and perfect peace has always been sin. And only through the gospel taking root in people’s hearts through the power of God and outpouring of the Holy Spirit can real change come. God’s Word is clear in teaching us that He is the ultimate one who calls people to Himself and brings about the miraculous work of heart regeneration leading to life transformation. (Ezekiel 36:26-27). So as we plan our ways and build our houses we do so knowing that the final and ultimate outcome is in the hands of our sovereign and good God. (Proverbs 16:9, Psalm 127:1). As we labor to make a difference for the better, we remember and remind ourselves that ultimately change comes through God’s sovereign plans being carried out through our passion for and pursuit of ordinary and dogged faithfulness.

Change comes through God’s sovereign plans being carried out through our passion for and pursuit of ordinary and dogged faithfulness.

Dare to Make A Difference

So now that we see that what we do really does make a difference, the question then becomes how do we really make a difference?

In the rest of the article I’ll talk about seven ways we can really make a difference in the people and places around us.

1. Know Your Purpose

Firstly, it’s important that we know our purpose. God has created each and every one us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7,21), and gives us certain universal and clear guidelines for living and thinking. So know what God says about your identity and who you are in Christ. (Eph 1:4-5, 2:19, 2 Cor 5:17, 1 John 3:1) Know what God’s will for holiness is in our lives and what He commissions us to do. (Matthew 16:24, 28:18-20, Romans 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, Ephesians 4:17). Know your God-given purpose for living on this earth.

2. Manage Your Areas of Responsibility

Secondly, we can make a difference is through managing our areas of responsibility. Ultimately, we can’t effectively serve others and make a change in our world if our lives are characterized by chaos. As they say on airplanes, you have to first put on your airbag before you can be a source of helpful assistance to others. So if you want to really make a difference in the lives of others, do a quick assessment and analysis of how well you’re managing your various responsibilities (work, school, church, relationships, personal health and wellbeing, etc!). Create a stable life that is strong enough to bear up the burdens of others, and holy enough to be worthy of imitation. (Gal 6:2, 1 Cor 11:1).

3. What Are Your Abilities and Ambitions?

Thirdly, ask and assess, what are my abilities and ambitions? Scripture is clear that God gives us our gifts and abilities for the building up of His church. (1 Cor 12:7). We are given our gifts to serve and build up others. I also believe that God gives all of us different ambitions and desires that help to give us clarity on the ways we can practically serve Him and His people. Your desires are likely linked to the specific way you are called to make a difference, and your abilities are likely guides for the avenues where you ought to serve.

Your desires are likely linked to the specific way you are called to make a difference, and your abilities are likely guides for the avenues where you ought to serve.

Some of us have a passion for evangelism, others for hospitality, others for teaching, others for defending the unborn, helping the poor, reaching youth and college students, or caring for the disabled. So know your abilities and ambitions and always show up with a humble heart that is ready to be used in any way necessary.

4. Assess What Institutions and Communities You Can Start or Support and Strengthen

Fourthly, to really make a difference we should assess what institutions and communities we can help to start or support and strengthen. Are you serving faithfully in your local church? Have you considered getting involved with a local institution that seeks to uphold justice and do good to others? Or is God maybe calling you to start one of those institutions and communities? Whatever it may be, seek to ascertain the ways in which you can start or support and strengthen local institutions and communities. Significant change can be never done alone. We need each other and always do more when we work together. So get involved with your local church and institutions that promote good, and start making a change for the better!

5. Prioritize the Pursuit of Personal Holiness

Fifth, to we need to prioritize the pursuit of personal holiness. Striving for change is ultimately about seeing people’s lives transformed and impacted for the better through the gospel of Jesus Christ. And a major way the gospel is spread is through not only spreading the gospel with our lips, but showing the gospel with our lives. (Matthew 5:16).

The gospel is spread is through not only spreading the gospel with our lips, but showing the gospel with our lives. (Matthew 5:16).

As the general mission statement for DTFR says, the goal is not only to learn God’s Word and love God’s Word, but also live God’s Word. So in your pursuit of public change, never fail to prioritize personal holiness. Additionally, remember that you can’t lead where you won’t go and you can’t teach what you don’t know. In other words, practice what you preach and live a life that is filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Anything you do will be all the more effective if it is accompanied by a holy, pure, and righteous life. (1 Thessalonians 1:5a).

6. Remember the Goal Is Always God and the Gospel

Sixth, remember that the goal in change is always to point people to God and the gospel. Our good works are meant to point people to our Father in heaven (Matt 5:16). As mentioned earlier, freedom from the penalty and power of sin, the root of all change, can only come through the Holy Spirit imprinting the message of the gospel deep upon our hearts. (Ezekiel 36:26-27, Titus 3:4-7). So as we seek to make a difference we must not ever forget the deeper, unseen, and yet ever-present spiritual war we are waging. (Eph 6:12). Satan hates gospel-produced change, and as we have seen so clearly as of late, will stop at nothing to undo any good that is done. Which is why we must point people to the one true source of hope and life. (John 14:6, 17:3).

7. Cling to Christ: Our Hope in Life and Death!

Last but not least, I am encouraged and encourage you with this truth: amidst all our pain and efforts to produce change, our ultimate, sure, and steadfast hope is in Jesus Christ. As we wage war against the evil in our world, we have the hope and peace of knowing that the battle is already won and the eventual outcome already sure. (John 16:33, 1 John 4:4). Unlike the world, in the midst of pain and tragedy, we as children of God joyfully, tearfully, boldly, loudly, and continually proclaim that Christ and Christ alone is our hope in life and death! And that, dear friends, is the truth we cling to and meditate upon above all. It is the reason why what we do can really make a difference.

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Your phone buzzes. As you pick it up you’re instantly bombarded with an onslaught of notifications. The football game at 1pm this Sunday. The hockey season beginning soon. The latest news headline. Text messages from old friends. Emails waiting to be tackled. The latest movie release. The newest season of your favorite show. Notifications upon notifications, updates upon updates, distractions upon distractions.

Tony Reinke, in his book 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, says that most of us “check our smartphones about 81,500 times each year, or once every 4.3 waking minutes of our waking lives.” We live digitally distracted lives. And while our phones and technology are not the sole sources of our often all too common distractedness, they highlight and epitomize our culture’s addiction to instant gratification and our susceptibility to constant distraction. So how do we deal with distraction? How do we stay focused in a world that is on a 24/7 mission to seduce us to its passions and pleasures?

Because if we want to be Christians who faithfully endure in suffering for the sake of the gospel and daily pick up our cross with courage and confidence, our verses today teach us that we must not let distraction derail us. Let’s see what God’s Word has to say!

Our verses for today read, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). Up to this point in 2 Timothy, Paul has already established that suffering is an inevitable inclusion in the package of faithfulness to the Lord. (v8, 12). And yet, we see that here again he is reminding and calling Timothy (and us!) to share and participate in suffering for the sake of the gospel. In this call to suffering however, Paul uses three analogies, and gives three principles to help Timothy and us better understand what it means to be a steadfast and suffering soldier in God’s army. Principle number one is this: Don’t be derailed by distraction, but have the missional focus of a soldier.

Verse 4 says, “No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” Now, I am no military expert or war-strategy genius, but I am knowledgeable enough to know this: A distracted soldier is a dead soldier. When you’re on the battlefield, focus on the mission at hand is essential. On the battlefield, soldiers have no room for dilly-dallying and “hanging around”, they simply must accomplish the assigned mission and do it while staying alive. There is a special kind of intensity, intentionality, and missional focus that any good soldier is required to have.

“A distracted soldier is a dead soldier.”

So when Paul uses the analogy of a soldier to help Timothy understand what it means to share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus, he’s telling us that just as a soldier is characterized with an intense and unwavering missional-focus, so we too, as soldiers in the Lord’s army ought to be characterized with an intense and unwavering missional-focus.

Paul is not telling us here that we can’t ever be lighthearted or ever enjoy God’s good gifts. He isn’t intending to create a dichotomy between “secular and sacred”, and isn’t calling us to completely ostracize ourselves from this world. However, what he is doing is warning us from getting entangled in preoccupations that prevent us from maximizing our time, treasure, and talents for the glory of God and the good of others. Paul is bidding us remember that good things had too much or in the wrong ways become bad things. He is reminding us that God-given delights enjoyed and experienced disproportionately become God-displeasing and mission-derailing distractions. Just like how a train that gets derailed runs off the tracks into ruin and catastrophe, when our lives become characterized by distraction we are dangerously treading the path of spiritual catastrophe, and become ineffective in the furthering of God’s great commission (Matthew 28:18-20). If we want to faithfully endure as effective and obedient Christians, we must not let ourselves become derailed by distraction!

“God-given delights enjoyed and experienced disproportionately become God-displeasing and mission-derailing distractions.”

In verse 4 Paul reminds us of one more important truth. He reminds us not only of the mindset we ought to have in the mission, but also of the master we aim to please in the mission. Because as we seek to embody the missional-focus of a soldier, we can’t forget who it is that we daily fight for: our general and commander in chief Jesus Christ! As we daily battle with our spiritual weapons of warfare, we must always wage war intending and longing to hear the words of Matthew 25:23a, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Our main motivation as soldiers of Christ Jesus is not to advance in the military chain of command, but to make our Lord and Savior known in all the ends of the earth.

“Our main motivation as soldiers of Christ Jesus is not to advance in the military chain of command, but to make our Lord and Savior known in all the ends of the earth.”

So in what ways are we currently being derailed by distraction? What habit, activity, or practice, is hindering your gospel-effectiveness? To diagnose the degree of your distractedness, Tony Reinke helpfully says, “True distractions include anything (even a good thing) that veils our spiritual eyes from the shortness of time and from the urgency of the season of heightened expectation as we await the summing up of all history.” What is causing you to forget the grand redemptive story that we get to play a part in? What is veiling your spiritual eyes, and weakening your eternal excitement and anticipation? What distraction is derailing your God-given mission as a soldier of Christ Jesus?

I’ve heard it said that if the devil can’t destroy you eternally for heaven, then he will distract you constantly while you are on this earth. That helpful quote reminds me and all of us that we must beware of the small and subtle ways in which our Adversary the devil seeks to distract and worse destroy our souls. (1 Peter 5:8). Because left unattended to and unaddressed, the devil’s quiet and small distractions can lead to a loud and major destruction! We must beware of the devil’s distractions!

I also have to often remind myself that as a Christian I am not called to have a minimalistic mindset. My goal is not to do the least I can do to still be able to comfortably and confidently describe myself as a faithful Christian. My goal is to use every second, minute, hour, and day for the glory of God and good of others. My goal is to be the servant who is out investing and multiplying the talents he has been given (Matt 25:16-17) and the Christian fanning into flame the spiritual gifts I have been entrusted with. (2 Timothy 1:6). As a soldier of Christ Jesus I need to remind myself that my general gave up His very life so that I may be daily purified for his possession and tirelessly zealous for good works done in his service. (Titus 2:14). As a soldier of Christ Jesus, I am not to be derailed by distraction, but am to be devoted, disciplined, and diligent in service to my Savior and King. (2 Tim 2:4). Oh how easy it is to be allured by the pleasures of this world!

1 Peter 1:13-16, and 2:11 says, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy for I am holy.” Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Today, let us pray that God will help us to be sober-minded and missionally-focused. Let’s pray that as we wage war against the passions of our souls and the lies of Satan and this world, we will be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and excited for the crown of righteousness that awaits all who endure in suffering for the sake of the gospel. May God make all of us more effective soldiers in his global army! And may we be steadfast and suffering soldiers who do not let distraction derail us!

Good morning everyone!

This week on the 12th, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. I want to quickly and publicly congratulate and commend them for the way they have loved God and each other faithfully for over 25 years. What a testament to the faithfulness and grace of God! If you know my parents, maybe shoot them a text or give them a phone call wishing them a happy anniversary! Outside of that, I’m praying that for all my fellow college students the return to classes and coursework this week is a smooth one. May we work hard and continue to trust God through our schooling. Have a great weekend, and as always, check out a resource or two below!

Weekly Articles and Additional Resources:

Life Is Short. So Do a Life Audit

What Hath Hogwarts to Do with Jerusalem?

7 Signs You’re Sowing to the Flesh— and What to Do About It

In My Father’s School Are Many Classrooms

When Are You Ready for Marriage? A Father’s Guide to Christian Dating and Character

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Do you ever struggle with feelings of unhappiness? Do you ever experience a looming or lingering sense of dissatisfaction and discontentment? My presumption would be that your answer is yes. But what do you do when you face such feelings? How do you find greater happiness and joy? Bobby Jaimieson, in his book Everything Is Never Enough: Ecclesiastes’ Surprising Path to Resilient Happiness, opens the book by saying:

I first heard of this book while listening to a podcast episode, and upon hearing its title, “Everything Is Never Enough”, it immediately piqued my interest. Everything Is Never Enough was first a sermon series that Bobby Jamieson preached during his time as an associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church. (Interestingly, when it was announced that Bobby was to begin a series on Ecclesiastes at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, a member quipped to the senior pastor Mark Dever, “Pastor, a series on Ecclesiastes is the last thing I need.” So much for an encouraging beginning!). Beneficial to anyone who experiences consistent or oscillating feelings of unhappiness, joylessness, discontentment, and/or dissatisfaction, in this book, Jaimieson aims to wrestle with the truths of Ecclesiastes while drawing from the works of several critics and sociologists on modernity.

As the title indicates, the main burden and pulse throughout this book, and arguably throughout Ecclesiastes, is the idea that everything is never enough. Many of you have probably heard the quip, “if I just had this, then I would have enough.” Many of us think and suppose that if we just had that job we’d be happy. Or if we just had that girl as our girlfriend or that boy as our boyfriend then, most definitely then we’d have enough. Or maybe if we were just cancer-free, or finally married, or for once financially stable, or at last restored with our family, then we’d have enough. The words that could fill the blank space in the statement, “if I had _____ then I’d have enough” are simply endless. But could it be that we are seeking ultimate fulfillment from things that lack the capacity to give us the ultimate and holistic purposefulness we seek from them? Could our search for pleasure be likened to sailing to the end of a horizon? Or walking to the end of a treadmill? Because, “one way to be unhappy is to lack what you most want. Another is to get all you could possibly want and discover that everything is never enough.”

As briefly mentioned in the subtitle, Everything is Enough walks “Ecclesiastes’ surprising path to resilient happiness.” The book of Ecclesiastes “tells the story of someone who saw it all, got it all, experienced it all, and in the end found fault with it all.” It tells the story of someone who, upon receiving all he could imagine, ask for, and think of, comes to the scary, frustrating, and despairing realization that everything is never enough.

Personally, I have always found the book of Ecclesiastes particularly confusing and provocative, yet simultaneously fascinating and insightful. “Arguably the Bible’s only work of philosophy”, Ecclesiastes is authored by Qohelet, more commonly known as “The Preacher”. And Qohelet, in the book of Ecclesiastes, as Jamieson notes, “is the ultimate buzzkill. His questions and provocations and pronouncements are like a five-thousand-degree furnace that turns all superficial solutions to ash.” Ecclesiastes also has an unfamiliar “literary structure [which] defies tidy analysis” and confronts us to ask some of life’s biggest questions. It is a book that, as just mentioned, has often left me confused, frustrated, and yet interested.

Now, after reading Everything Is Never Enough, I can confidently say that my understanding of the book of Ecclesiastes and its life-altering implications have happily increased. I have seen that though Ecclesiastes understandably gives much cause for consternation and confusion, it is also a book with universally relevant and applicable insights that arguably also most clearly, accurately, and resonantly speak to our current cultural moment and age. It is a book with fruits that deserve to be picked and eaten, and Bobby Jamieson wonderfully helps us to do so.

And let me give you a brief warning as well. Because, “what is true of Ecclesiastes is true of this book too: You have to let it hurt you before it will heal you, and let it demolish before it can rebuild.” However, don’t let this discourage you from reading this title. After all,

This book truly was an axe that helped to crack open parts of my heart that I didn’t even know were icily frozen. This book teaches us not to turn God’s good gifts into ultimate saviors and enables and equips us to more effectively enjoy the fleeting time we’ve been allotted on this earth.

So if you yearn for greater joy and happiness, I eagerly commend this book to you. Filled with helpful insights, provoking and yet necessary statements, and most importantly the truth of God’s Word, Everything is Never Enough will undoubtedly help to deepen your happiness and increase your satisfaction in the God that you serve. It will help you to realize that “happiness comes not from trying to make this world satisfy all your desires but from realizing that it never will.” It will bid you recognize that “happiness begins to glimpse new dimensions when you begin to discover that everything is never enough.”

Order and read Everything is Never Enough here!

There is a special bond of love that the church of Jesus Christ shares. In Paul’s closing words to the Ephesian church, his great affection and love for the church shines bright. There is a mutual interest in each other’s well-being (v21), the effusion of much encouragement (v22), and a desire for relational peace and love with one another. (23-24).

As we gather this morning in church, are our interactions marked by such a sweet and incorruptible love? Do we have genuine interest and affection for the person sitting next to us? Do we wish grace and peace upon those we come in contact with? This morning, my prayer is that the sweet and incorruptible love of Jesus Christ will mark both our worship and fellowship. May we be thankful that even when we were undeserving, God set his love upon us, and may we dispense that love freely to others in response. (1 John 4:7,11). Have a blessed morning at church!

Ephesians 6:21-24

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychius the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

(Sadly, as of today, this will be the last Sunday morning meditation. I hope these morning meditations have been a blessing! Let me know if you would like them to continue!)

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Good morning everyone!

One of the benefits of the internet is the plethora of Biblical and theological resources that it provides. Sometimes however, it's hard to know where to start looking for sound resources or hard to navigate and filter through the abundance of resources out there. To help combat this issue, each week here on DTFR, I scour the web and gather together several articles (and often a podcast episode or sermon) that I find to be particularly helpful and insightful. My hope is that these articles can exhort and encourage you in your walk with Christ, help you think wisely and biblically about different issues and topics, and be a blessing to someone close to you who you think could benefit as well. Lastly, there is a resource page on this Substack with a compilation of several trusted resource ministries to check out. I hope you have a good weekend and God bless!

Weekly Articles and Additional Resources:

As Gen Z Turns to the Occult, How Should We Respond?

One of the Most Difficult Challenges We Will Face

Are You Ready for the AI Apocalypse?

Any Other Refuge Is a Prison

Dress Your Heart for Worship

Why Being Late to Church Matters

When Broken Relationships Break Your Heart

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2 Timothy 2:2

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

I want to present you with two options. Number one, you can get $1000 every day for 30 days, or number two, you get one cent doubled every day for 30 days. Which one would you choose? $1000 added every day? Or 1 cent multiplied every day? If you chose option 1, by day 30 you would receive $30,000 dollars. A hefty sum! However, if you chose option 2, by day 30 you would receive an astounding and exceedingly greater $10,737,418.23. Quite a difference isn’t it? It also teaches us an important, and not necessarily obvious lesson as well. You get more when you multiply!

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul says to Timothy, “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” As Paul begins to move from introductory comments, encouragements, and exhortations, Paul presents Timothy with another aspect of faithfulness in pastoral ministry. A mindset and method of multiplication. Paul knew that ministry was not meant to be done alone. He knew that one of the inevitable realities of life is that people die, meaning leaders come and go. He also knew, unlike many churches and ministries today, that a church’s vision and mission could not be built around one person (unless that person is Jesus Christ of course!). Thus, Paul is seeking to impart to Timothy a mindset of multiplication, specifically among those who will lead the church.

In the first half of verse 2 Paul models the method of multiplication, showing how even in his very own mentoring and discipling of Timothy, the method of multiplication is already at play. In the second half of verse 2 Paul then goes on to lay forth the mission of multiplication and tells Timothy to do what Paul has been modeling for him, finding and equipping faithful men, who can then find and equip other faithful men, who then find and equip other faithful men, and so on and so forth. Paul is also intentional in his usage of faithful men. Given that Timothy is seeking entrust to, set before, or present these men with the precious truths of God’s Word and the gospel to tell and teach others about, Paul says to only invest time in faithful men. Men who have proven themselves in godly character and conduct, and men who are committed to serving Jesus Christ and loving those around them.

Now given the context of this letter, it could be that the “men” referred to here are prospective elders and pastors who have been gifted to both publicly and privately teach God’s Word. However the Greek word for man used here, anthrōpos, refers to both men and women, indicating that Paul could be giving more general instruction on cultivating a mindset and practice of multiplication in the church.

I am likely to think that in this verse Paul is referring to raising up future male leadership in the church, however, for our purposes and application today, it is clear that finding and equipping faithful Christians who can then go find and equip other faithful Christians is central to God’s growth strategy for the church. God intended for growth to happen not through addition but through multiplication. Even Jesus himself chose to spend a large portion of his time investing in a central twelve disciples instead of devoting his time and efforts to reaching the entire world (which he could’ve done!). Instead of reaching the entire world himself, he identified, taught, and trained up twelve men who could then use what they had learned to reach the world with the gospels themselves. He too understood that you get more when you multiply!

Additionally, more than merely being a more efficient means of growth, multiplicity and seeking to pour into those around us ensure that the truths of the gospel and God’s Word are entrusted to generation after generation. In fact, if you look closely at verse 2, you’ll see that four generational handoffs and bestowments of truth take place. One faithful Christian, to another, to another, to another. That is God’s means and method of spreading his truth throughout the world.

So by way of application, which faithful men and/or women are around us that we could pour into? Are we seeking to impart the wisdom and truth that we have received to others? Discipling and pouring into others can definitely be hard work. It takes a lot of love, humility, intentionality, and consistency. But the fruit is worth it! Even in my own life I continue to reap the fruit of the many who have spent countless hours discipling and pouring into me. I’m sure all of us can think of people who have selflessly spent time pouring into our cups of spiritual growth and maturity. Is it not fitting then that we seek to serve others in the ways that we have been served?

Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.” What a great reminder of the multiplying nature of our faith! It is also an assurance that as we seek to be faithful to Scripture’s method of multiplication, Jesus will be with us always. As we plant and nurture faithfully, God will water and give growth fittingly. As we seek to be obedient to Scripture’s mandate and method of multiplication, God promises to be present. We have all that we need to be instruments in the hands of our Redeemer, spreading his glory throughout all the earth.

So as we were reminded in 2 Timothy, may we look for ways to teach faithful brothers and sisters who can go and teach others also. And may the glory of God be proclaimed faithfully by all generations to come.