Mexico Missions Trip: Day 2 Church, Potluck, Casa Abba, Waves

Hola!

Church:

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” The psalmist declares in Psalm 133:1. It was so wonderful to experience the truth of these words today while attending at Casa Ebenezer church (I mistakingly put another ministry that also partners with Casa Ebenezer in my first draft). Brother Gaby Morales and his wife Veronica host church weekly in their house. It was so good to meet the members of the church and worship together with them.

David Keiper had the experience and joy of sharing his testimony with the church. He was asked a few minutes before church started but was ready and willing. It was exciting to see him speak through an interpreter sharing the Good News of what Christ has done in his life. He shared a phrase that caught his attention in Bible school, “nothing you do can cause God to love you more, and nothing you do can cause God to love you less, it’s not about what you do.” God’s unconditional love has been displayed for us in Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. 

(Kayla interpreting for brother Gaby)

Alexa was the young lady’s name who led worship, but she did a fantastic job. Singing familiar praise songs in a different country and a different language is awesome! It was on a Haiti trip that several students pointed out that hearing a familiar song in a different language brought the realization that God is not just an American God, he is God of the whole world. Amen! It was so good to experience that once again.

I am so thankful for brother Gaby inviting me to preach to their congregation today. Jocsan Morales, Kayla’s husband and Gaby and Veronica’s son, interpreted the sermon. I am always intimidated to speak through an interpreter. Remembering to pause and allow him to repeat is a difficult thing for me, so I have to manuscript my notes telling me where to stop. Even in doing this, it feels awkward. Years ago, I was invited to preach in a different country, and I declined because speaking through an interpreter is out of my comfort zone. Yesterday’s post talked about that. Jocsan was so easy to work with and he communicated so effectively! I hope and pray my sermon on Psalm 30 was a blessing.

(Me preaching and Jocsan interpreting)

Brother Gaby shared a few thoughts at the end of the service and pointed out to all of us that we did not coordinate the topic or what I was going to say. Gaby and I had only just met on Saturday and had very little interaction. And yet the message God had laid on my heart was exactly what he had been teaching. It was humbling to see God’s hand at work and the unity he had prepared between us. 

Potluck:

Once a month Casa Ebenezer (edited) hosts a potluck dinner. I want to praise God that it coordinated with the day we were there! Jocsan promised me I would get to taste some real Mexican food, and he was right! The food was delicious, and our team was so happy. It was also a great opportunity for us to spend more time with the people from the church. I don’t know all the names of the food, but it was all so very good!

Casa Abba:

(The gate to Casa Abba)

After lunch we took a drive to the property that Casa Abba will be built on. Kayla and Jocsan walked us around the land sharing their vision and dreams of what would happen in this place. It is so exciting to be here at the beginning of their planning trusting God will supply all their needs and fulfill their dreams. Now future trips will have the opportunity to see the progress and participate in the story.

(Our transportation for the week! another amazing story of God's provision to share)

Jocsan and Kayla shared the story of their well. It is a story of how God will use an event to try your faith, testing whether you will stand firm in your trust, and waiting on him to deliver. The digging of the well proved to be a struggle and it appeared that there was no water where they were told to dig. As the struggle to believe the well will produce water grew, God showed up. A little water came from the rock. A few days later, a little more came. And then a little more. God came through and delivered. When Kayla first told me this story, after rejoicing and thanking God, I said, “you know God is known for causing rocks to produce water right?’ You’ll have to read Moses’ story in Exodus 17 to know the story.

(Jocsan giving an overview of the property and plans)

(it was awesome to be on site and hear the story)

We had the opportunity to stop by Kayla and Jocsan’s lovely home for a quick change. It is a beautiful home they are building, and the team loved hanging with their dogs.

Kayla and Jocsan Morales in front of their home

hanging out in the courtyard

Waves:

Going down didn't seem as steep

Puerto Escondido has world renowned beaches that are known for their surfing. Ohioans are not used to big waves, I mean Lake Erie tries, but nothing like the beautiful Pacific Ocean waves we saw today. On the way to church we did stop at the beach to see the surfers for a few minutes. That only made us want to go to the beach more. This afternoon we hiked down some steps to a wonderful inlet with some super fun waves. All of us had a blast enjoying the waves. It was my first-time swimming in the Pacific Ocean! Some bought fresh coconuts, others tried some homemade coconut ice-cream, all of us got some sun.  

Anna and Emma having some fun!

there is photo evidence that I am here ;)

I know, some of you are saying this sounds more like a vacation than a missions trip. There is intentionality behind that. Tomorrow starts the work part of the trip. Sunday is a day of rest and an opportunity to connect with the church. I also think that short term missions trips are learning experiences. I think it is important to learn from the local people, experience their culture, and explore God’s creation. We want to be agents of the Gospel and create memories that will last a lifetime. Stay tuned, you will hear of some exciting stories over the next couple of days! Thanks for following our trip!

Mexico Trip: Pre-Trip and Travel Day

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “when God calls you, he calls you to die,” referring to the words of Jesus Christ about taking up our cross daily and following him. The Christian life is to be a life lived by faith and out of our comfort zone. I must confess that it is far to easy to slide into the comfort zone of “normal” life and lose the edge that living by faith. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why I allow myself to slip into complacency or safety when I have experienced so much good from God when I have stepped out in faith. Living by faith is more than developing a good routine and living a good and godly life. It is stepping out into the unknown and being willing to risk something in the name of Jesus for his glory. 

It is possible in our everyday context to live by faith daily. There are opportunities all around us that we are often unaware of because we are not paying attention. Wednesday night I reminded the youth group that God is always working and doing amazing things, we don’t see it because our focus is on other things (self, technology, entertainment, grades, relationships or the lack thereof, work, etc.). This week I have been reminded why I value leading missions trips for the youth group: stepping out in faith.

When Kayla Morales and I began talking in January about this trip, we had no idea what we would be getting into or who would be going. We just knew that it was an opportunity for God to do something amazing! I always have appreciated Kayla’s joy, energy, and passion for Jesus. When I offered to push the trip until next year to give her more time to coordinate things in Mexico, she was quick to say, “nope I think we can do it this year! Yep, let’s do it!” And so the story began. 

I guessed on the estimated cost of the trip (plane tickets, in country expense, etc). We began recruiting. God provided the team, generous donors, and the support of Lakeside Christian Church! The journey had begun, but I forgot the personal risks I was taking as a youth pastor trying to lead students to love and follow Jesus more. In calling others to step out in faith, requires you to step out in faith. Along the way, we need to teach things about God, but what if God doesn’t show up the way you think he should? Where is the money going to come from? So much to figure out and to trust God with.

Almost immediately, several team members applied for their passports, which are currently taking between 8-9 weeks for an expedited return. (Insert joke about our government’s efficiency) As the weeks went by, the worries and anxieties about the passports arriving in time began to become very real. Money and passports became a big concern. I felt that these worries and situations are very teachable moments. I began to worry about things too and felt like we need a good reminder about trusting God in faith, not being anxious and believing God will supply. After all Isaiah 26:3 says that God will, “keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on him.” Trusting God leads to a peaceful mind. Deal! 

Good news, a few passports came in! We expected the others to follow, but two didn’t arrive. David’s passport was returned to him with insufficient time for him to mail it in. He had to set up a in person meeting at the passport agency. The only open spot was in Detroit for the day before we flew out. That added some stress and anxiety for us. However, David had an appointment and now we just needed to trust that God would provide in time. 

Aside from David’s passport, we were still waiting on one more, Lela’s. Lela mailed hers in earlier than others, but it still had not arrived. Earlier this week she called, and they said it had not been mailed and they had no appointments available. There were still a few days for things to change, but it was difficult to stay positive. I thought we needed to be reminded of the importance of prayer and partnering in prayer for specific things. In my mind I thought, “wow God this is a perfect opportunity for you to deliver in a miraculous way for a great object lesson.” However, I admit that I doubted, not God’s ability, but the reality of the situation. 

This is where risk in teaching students came into play. Jesus said in Mark 11 to ask of the Father, believing, and you will receive. Jesus said it, who am I to say something different. I encouraged the kids to pray in faith, believing God could deliver, and trusting him with the outcome. I had to suppress the “what if God doesn’t do it” thoughts. The youth group, parents, the church, and so many others have been praying for this trip, and I desperately wanted our team to be complete and see God’s hand move. 

Thursday came and I texted Lela, “any news?” She responded “nope, it’s not looking good.” My heart sank. I was hoping for a Thursday answer to prayer, and I tried not to be negative. Friday morning came around and I wanted to send an encouraging note but start trying to think of what I would say if she couldn’t join us on the trip. I simply said, “I’m praying for you, what time does your mail come?” I did not hear back to her for some time. 

I began looking at Delta’s website to figure out cancelation policies. I all but considered it a done deal when Lela texted me a picture of her passport! I couldn’t believe it. They said it was not in the mail, how could it arrive! Lela was stoked and excitedly praised God. She shared the good news in the group chat and the joy was multiplied! A couple of hours later, David sent a picture with his passport! 

I should not be surprised. I have seen God do these kinds of things several times, but it always gets me. He is so good to us and is ready to bless those who step out in faith. This is just the beginning, but it already has been a powerful lesson to trust the mighty hand of God!

Travel Day

We all made it to the airport by 3:30AM and waited for Delta to open their check in counter at 4:00AM. We encountered a little issue checking in that was resolved quickly but took up some time. We made it through security just fine and had a few minutes before boarding our 6:00AM flight. I am thankful to say that all our flights went well but landing in Atlanta we only had 45 minutes to land at the farthest gate in the B terminal and run to the E terminal to catch our flight to Mexico City. It was a hustle, and we barely made the tram, thankfully we made it in two different cars at the same time. As we walked up to the gate, we were the last to board, but we made it! Thankfully, Delta has a “Track your bag” feature and I was notified that our bags had made the transfer as well.

We landed in Mexico City for a 5 hour layover. We found some seats together and try to rest from our early morning. Most of us barely could sleep in the busy airport. Finally the time came for our last flight to Puerto Escondido. It was the smoothest flight and the smoothest landing of the day. The airport here is small but really cool. Everybody appreciated being able to get in and out quickly. Kayla and Jocsan met us with their family. We loaded our luggage up in a truck and the team hoped in a van and headed to our hotel. It was a nice evening meeting the family, having dinner, getting a swim, and talking about the coming week. We are so thankful to be safe and getting settled in for the night. Thanks for following along and praying for our travels. 

A Picture of Maturity

Have you ever tried to describe something and found it very difficult to put into words, so you said, “let me show you a picture?” Having a smartphone with the internet and a camera makes it so much easier in those situations. It’s been said that “a picture is worth a thousand words” to express the meaning that “seeing something is better for learning than having it described.” 

God has designed you to take in so much information through the eyes that it is hard to convey the depth and precision in words. When we say that a picture is “beautiful” we man so much more than what that one word can convey. Words are powerful and we can learn to use them in transforming ways, but that is another lesson for another day. Pictures illicit immediate reactions and defined meanings. 

Your Life is a Picture

It's the same way with our faith. You can tell someone you are a Christian, tell them the Gospel, but if your life isn’t a picture of Christ then your words will lose power. You see, your life is a picture of your faith. Your actions, attitudes, and words become a canvas for others to looking into your worldview and see what you believe. 

How do you think an objective viewer of your life would describe you? Your faith? 

Paul wanted to encourage the Thessalonian Christians, and us today, to be mature believers. He wrote a letter to them to describe a picture of a mature, committed Christian. He does this by describing what their life should be focused on and what they should be pursuing in 1 Thessalonians 4.

He begins by telling them that they should live a life that is becoming holy or set apart (1 Thess. 4:1-8). What is holiness? Volleyball season is starting soon and my players have to have a pair of shows that are only worn in the gym. These shows are “set apart” for volleyball. Their shows are “holy unto volleyball” or “sanctified for volleyball.” This means they will only be used in a certain environment for a certain purpose to preserve them for effectiveness and longevity. It also is a rule to protect the expensive wooden floors of the court. 

When a sports player has holy, set apart, shoes, it benefits her and others in several ways. The shoes stay stronger, last longer, support better, and keep their traction allowing for quick movements in the game. It also means outside dirt, dust, and debris stay off the court. When street shows track dirt onto a court, or wet shoes leave behind a puddle, it makes the floor slippery, potentially leading to injury. 

A Christian’s life is like those shoes, they are to be set apart unto God for His purpose. Being set apart unto God benefits the Christian and those around them. Paul encourages the Christians to be set apart in the way they behave, by abstaining from any form of sex outside of marriage, in self-control over their bodies, and to live pure lives. His advice about purity in sexuality is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago. We live in an over-sexualized culture and pure, modest living today stands out to the unbelievers. 

A Christian is to live a life that learns to love others more, a genuine love for others (1 Thess. 4:9-10). This is a basic one, but one that needs repeated. God has taught them from the beginning to love others. God is love, and he has given the greatest example of love in Jesus Christ, and he calls us to grow in our love for others. A Christian who is unloving is no Christian at all. How are you at loving others? 

Paul encourages the Thessalonians that they have already demonstrated that they love others, however, they need to continue to do this more and more. Here at Lakeside, we say that we need to Love God and Care for others. This means that our love for God needs to and will flow in our love and care for others. 

A Christian is to live a life that is growing in hope, focusing on the guarantees in the promises of God (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Hopeful living is a confidence that God is in control in this life and the next life. A Christian believes in the return of Christ, the ultimate justice that God will bring, and an eternal life with God in heaven. When you believe something is guaranteed you have confidence in it. How is your confidence in the future hope? What are your thoughts on heaven? On the return of Christ? Paul writes that we should find encouragement, not fear, in our thoughts about heaven.

A Christian is to live a life that is growing in respect, knowing that it is earned (1 Thess. 4:11-12). Taking care of your own business, doing what needs to be done, and not mooching from others causes people to respect you. Working hard and staying out of trouble earns respect. Some of the Thessalonians had become so focused on the return of Christ that they stopped their jobs and just waited. The longer they waited the hungrier they became. Soon they started trying to live off of others charity and became busybodies and nuisances. Paul pointed out that this did not make Christ look good, but became a distraction to the truth.

Instead, live in such a way that people see Christ in you and want what you have (Matt. 5:16). Lebron said it, “nothing is given, everything is earned.” Don’t look for a handout, work for it. Our life is a picture of what we believe, is it worth looking at?

Here are a few tips on how to live a mature life:

1. Take the high road, pick and choose your fights (2 Tim. 2:23). This will help you make clear decisions (Rom. 12:2).

2. Be open to others, welcoming and hospitable (1 Pet. 4:8-9). This will develop stronger friendships (Rom. 12:10).

3. Be confident in Christ, knowing his words (John 15:10). This will result in a vibrant faith (John 15:5).

4. Have the end in mind, look to the eternal (1 Pet. 1:3-4). This will result in others coming to faith in Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:16). 

Rest for Your Souls

Jeremiah 6:16

Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ (English Standard Version)

Matthew 11:28–30

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 

These two passages are the only times this phrase, “find rest for your souls,” occurs. Once in the Hebrew Scriptures, which we call the Old Testament, and once in the Christian Scriptures, which we call the New Testament. In both covenants, God points out that you are looking for something that seems unobtainable: rest for your souls.

In Jeremiah 6, the prophet Jeremiah is calling the people back to a right relationship with God. Stop, stand still, look back at the ancient paths, the historical faithfulness of God, the good promises of God and recognize God is at work. But stopping and looking at the right path is not enough; you must walk it to find rest for your soul. 

When I was in 7th grade, I had the opportunity to go on a West Virginia back packing trip with the Chapel in Akron’s junior high ministry. It’s been so long that I don’t remember how many of us went, but it was large enough that we had to break into two groups and go in opposite directions. Our team leader, Dan, told us he chose the hard way for our group, and all of us boys cheered! 

We had not idea what we were getting into, just that we were hiking into the woods and were going to rough it for a few days. Dan led us into the woods up a mountain trail. The trail was narrow, it was steep, and the cheers began to fade. We were moving through some difficult trails. We made it to camp the first night completely exhausted, but had to set up our tents, make a fire, eat MREs and go to bed. 

The next morning, we packed up our camp and began hiking, what we hoped would be easier. It was not. On this day we hiked up one mountain, down into the valley and up a second mountain. I was beginning to get frustrated that Dan made this trip so difficult. We were three days away from the bus, out in the middle of the wilderness, exhausted, sleeping in tents, and thinking that we had a few more days of this. I began to regret this trip, but Dan had a plan and he promised we would enjoy this. So far, I was not.

The next morning, the path leveled out and became very pleasant. We came upon the other group, they were all laughing, joking, and looked refreshed, and my group looked tired and worn out. We exchanged a few stories and then went our separate ways. They went down the path we came from, and we headed down the path they came from. 

Dan’s plan began to unfold for us in the next few miles. We conquered the mountains at the beginning of the trip, and now we were hiking the flat ground along the river. We set up camp early, went for a swim, found refreshment in the mountain streams. The next days were a breeze, light, and full of fun. By the time we got back to the bus, our group was refreshed, energetic, and full of smiles. The other group was stinky, tired, and grumpy.

Jeremiah’s exhortation is a call to the harder path, the narrow path, the ancient path, but it leads to a place of rest and refreshment. The unfortunate truth is we are like the Israelites who hear the call and say, “no I want to go the easy way.” The problem with the easy way is that it ends hard, it gets more difficult, and the stakes are much higher than a Jr High backpacking trip.

Because we are all sinners who desire the easy way out, we are all destined for judgment. We didn’t listen to Jeremiah’s call to return to God and experience his rest in our souls. But God, who is rich and mercy and grace, sent his own Son to enter into our space, in our flesh, and lived a perfect life. During his ministry, Jesus once again brought up the need to find rest for our souls. This time he didn’t call to the ancient paths, but he calls us unto himself. He recognizes that we are weary and heavy laden, he sees that we are desperate and needy, and he has compassion on us. 

Come to Jesus and he will give rest to your soul. Rest is an amazing gift. True rest is hard to find and rest that reaches all the way to our soul is impossible to find apart from the grace of Jesus. 

Several years ago, I took a group of teens on our first trip to Haiti. On that trip we visited hell, or at least the closest thing to hell on earth that I have experienced, for it was dark and wicked. It was an orphanage run by wicked men who neglected children so they could make money. They made promises of education, teaching English, and care in order to get children, but it was scam. Our leader took groups there so he could try to keep the men accountable and to make sure these children would receive a hot meal while we were present. 

My niece, Marissa, was with us. Almost immediately upon our arrival, a little girl fan to Marissa, climbed up in her lap and fell asleep hugging her. This girl was unbathed, wearing the only clothes she had, which haven’t been washed in a long time. Marissa didn’t hesitate. She didn’t bulk at picking up this child because she was stinky and dirty. She embraced her. 

They sat like that for hours. Later, I told my niece that her presence provides that beautiful little girl safety, to the point that she fell sound asleep. Honestly, I want to cry once again just thinking about how precious that moment was. Thankfully, Children’s Services found out about that place and shut it down, but it left an indelible mark on our lives. 

In that picture, the little girl represents all of our souls. Desperate. Unclean. Malnourished. Sleep deprived. Abandoned. Abused. In need of rest. Marissa is a picture of Christ. He sees our filth, our need, our desperation and he says, “Come, climb up on my lap, let me embrace you so you feel secure, loved, and kept. In my embrace you will find rest that goes to your very soul.”

That is the Gospel. That is God’s love. And he keeps us for all of eternity. Our team had to leave, and it was heart wrenching to pull away. But Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.

Jesus is the source of our rest, but we have to walk in his rest. Just like Jeremiah called to Israel to walk the ancient paths, Jesus calls us to follow him. We have to walk in the way that leads to rest.

Just a few practical ways that we can walk in the rest that Jesus provides. 

Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly, Abandon Annually

Divert Daily – 

Psalm 1:1–2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

King David knew he had to set aside time every day to experience the rest from God. Divert means to look away, to redirect, to draw to a different course. Recognizing that we get caught up in daily tasks and struggles of this world, we need to pause and remember God in our daily life. Doing a daily quiet time, devotional, and prayer time is a powerful way to invite the rest that Jesus gives. 

Smartphones, TVs, Social Media, music, movies, etc. are often distractions from connecting with Jesus. They fill our minds with things that cause anxiety, frustrations, and sinful desires. Daily you need to make a plan to control these devices or remove them completely. 

Since we are talking about rest, think about sleep. You need a good night of sleep, but often your devices are distracting you from sleep. You need to shut off the devices, slow down your schedule, and get some sleep. Trust that Jesus’ embrace will be enough and rest. 

Withdraw Weekly

Exodus 20:8–10

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work… 

Sabbath rest is built into the creative order. You need a day of rest. In order to experience the rest Jesus has provided, you need to learn how to set aside one day to trust him with your activities. That means stop from work. As a student, you need at least one day a week where you don’t have to study or do schoolwork. As a worker, you need at least one day a week where you do not have to do your job. This takes planning ahead and preparation. A sabbath rest is doing things that allows you to stop thinking about your primary occupation and trust that God will cover it for you. 

Abandon Annually

Psalm 23:1–3

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Most of you take a vacation every year. You stop school and work to leave for some form of recreation. This rejuvenates you to come back to the daily grind. Consider this spiritually. What is at least one thing you can do annually that will recharge you spiritually? Each year, I attend a conference or two to be encouraged spiritually. I get away where I am a learner and a student again. 

Occasionally I will take time to just disappear to be alone with God and make it a spiritual retreat. Mission trips are good ways to do this. Consider doing something different once a year to retreat and find rest for your soul in Christ. 

In all these things, it starts off like the first few days of my backpacking trip, a struggle. However, when you stick with it, it will lead you by the cool waters and you will find the refreshment that Jesus promises you. 

God IS King

Psalm 24:7–10 

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!

What do you know about kingship? As Americans, we know relatively little about kingship. We play “king of the hill” or try to become “king” in foursquare, but that only brings the connotation of strength and winning. We know that our country was start as a rebellion against the king of England, who was a tyrant and taxed us without representation. But that was over 200 years ago.

We don’t really understand kingship, other than some romanticized version of the European kings in recent history and stories. When the Bible talks about kings, it is referring to the Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) understanding of kings. 

The ANE king was the ultimate rule in their realm where the people and the land belong to the king. It was expected that the oldest son of the king would become the next king. They were to defend their kingdom and were leaders of the army. 

They also set the religious tone for the kingdom. In the ANE the king would select a god or gods for the kingdom to worship. The ANE king would be the mediator and representative of that god to the people. In some ANE cultures, the king was considered divine, such as Pharaoh in Egypt. ANE kings that were depicted in carvings or reliefs, were shown as larger than every other person in the picture, this was to demonstrate his divinity. 

An ANE king would rule over a city-state, a country, or even an empire. When the kings would go out to battle, it was considered a battle between the gods of those cities/empires. This is why Goliath called out to the Israelites and blasphemed God, he was saying that the god of the Philistines was greater than the God of the Israelites. He obviously learned his lesson.

ANE people thought gods had regions and you could travel to another land to get away from a god. This is why Jonah hopped on that boat, he thought he could get away from the local realm of YHWH. He learned his lesson, that YHWH is King of the Universe.

ANE kings ruled with fear and power. If you offended an ANE king, he could have you killed on a whim. Consider the story of Esther and how she feared for her life to go before the king without being invited. ANE kings had complete ownership and commanded authority that often times corrupted their understanding of themselves and others. 

With these thoughts swirling, consider what the ANE people would have thought about when they heard that God is King, the King of kings.

Read Psalm 99.

What might an ANE person think about after reading this?

God is described as King, one to be feared, that is consistent with an ANE understanding. “The King in his might loves…” destroying other cities? Taking many wives? Expanding his empire? Punishing the criminals? None of those.

Rather, the King in his might loves justice. He uses his power in purity for the good of his people. The way he wields his power doesn’t bring his people to cower before him but they sing his praises. 

He is also described as a forgiving king, which again sets him apart from the cruel ANE kings. In Psalm 99 we encounter a description of God as King who is worthy of worship. Who is to be feared, revered, respected, and loved because he is just, merciful, and forgiving. 

When we think of the God of the Bible, we need to remember that He is our King. Like the ANE kings, God’s decrees are ultimate, and we belong to Him. Unlike the ANE kings, God is full of mercy, compassion, and good. He wants us to come to Him and find our refuge and help (Ps 47:2; Ps 9:9-10; Prov 18:10).

God is good, kind, merciful, compassionate, and forgiving. He demonstrated how much love He has for His creation by sending his only Son to die for us (Rom 5:8). ANE kingship is passed from father to son. God was willing to put his heir on the cross for our behalf. Jesus bore our sins on the cross and conquered death in the resurrection. He invites us to follow Him by trusting in Him. Those who trust Christ are adopted into the family of God and joint heirs with Jesus. That’s huge…something to be explored at another time. 

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our King, and we are His people. We need to remember that he uses his might for our good and He executes justice. He is a King worthy of our worship. 

God IS...

Key Verse: Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (ESV)

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (KJV)

    I used to tease a friend of mine that his girlfriend did not exist because I had never met her. He said she would be hanging out at the house, but when I would get home, he said I just missed her. Our paths never crossed, so I began to think he was making her up. It happened so frequently that we had a running joke.  

    However, I actually knew she existed long before I ever met her. Why? The way he talked about her, described her, and say her name left an impression that she was real. Also, the way he began to change his behaviors, his diet, and his appearance testified to the reality of this “mystery” girl.

    It didn’t take much for me to believe she was real. I finally met her, and they are now married. It’s a cute story, however it teaches us something true about our relationship with God.

God IS…REAL

    It begins with faith, trust, belief. Faith that God does exist. God is real. I shared the ESV and the KJV verse today, because I grew up on the KJV and memorized Hebrews 11:6 in the KJV. I love the way it says “must believe that he is.” 

    In order to come to God, you must first believe that God IS, that he exists. We may not be able to see him with our eyes (John 20:29), but we can see the evidence of God all around us in nature, in others, and in his Word. Psalm 8 and 19 point us to the beauty of creation. Psalm 139 reveals the hand of God in how God made us and has a plan for us. Its basic and foundational, but acknowledging the existence of God is the starting point. 

God IS…a REWARDER

    The author of Hebrews boils faith down to two elements, God exists and God gives rewards to those who seek him. God is real and he is gracious. God is knowable and relatable. God delights to give good gifts to those who love him (James 1:17). 

    God’s ultimate reward is the forgiveness of sins through his Son, Jesus Christ. God gave Jesus in the ultimate display of love and kindness, inviting sinners into a right relationship with him. 

God IS…REVEALED

    God has disclosed himself on the pages of Scripture and throughout creation. Romans 1 tells us that nature declares the existence of God. John 20:30-31 tells us what was written was so that we might believe in the revealed Son of God.

    Several years ago, I wrote a lesson on the names of God. Each name of God in the Bible reveals a layer of who he is. Some of the names of God have been transliterated from Hebrew into English, such as Elohim, or Jehovah Jireh. And others have been translated into English, such as God Almighty, or the God who sees. Either way we state them, when we pause and recognize the names of God and what they reveal about God, we will be drawn closer to him because they are his revelation to us. 

    I was struck by the name El-Roi, or the God who sees, when reading about Hagar and Ishmael in Genesis 16. In her distress, Hagar cries out to God and he sees her and rescues her. Hagar is not Sarah, she was not the woman of promise. Her participation in Sarah’s plan led to frustration, hurt, and isolation. Sin does that. Yet God sees her in her affliction and compassionately cares for her. El-Roi reminds us that he hasn’t forgotten about us, he is aware, and he will rescue us. 

God IS…TRANSFORMING

    Those who know God, who are in a right relationship with Jesus, will be changed. Knowing God is different than just knowing about God. The difference is between information and transformation. Information alone makes you smart and you can pass the test. Transformation changes you and makes you wise. 

    Knowing God in a personal relationship is the difference between a caterpillar and a butterfly. Like my friend dating the “mystery” girl, the evidence of a changed life, changed behavior, and changed appetite demonstrated the reality of someone in his life. Likewise, a changed life is testimony to the reality of that God IS to the world around us. Knowing God exist should lead you to be aware of his presence in your daily life and cause you to joyfully obey him in whatever you do!

Jesus Understands

Hebrews 4:14–16

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

What causes you to be anxious, depressed, or feel lonely? It was not too long ago when most children and teens would not resonate with these descriptors. Unfortunately, in our post-pandemic, social media infused society, anxiety, depression, and loneliness is on the rise in our children, teens, and adults.

Sitting in a doctor’s office waiting for a test result is a lonely experience that can be rife with anxious thoughts, however the doctor’s demeanor, tone, and answer can alleviate those feelings in a matter of moments with a hopeful response. What are we supposed to do when we have these feelings throughout the course of a normal day? When there is no reason to have them, no impending report, just a nagging, almost sickening sensation deep in our chest, where are we to turn?

Consider this Holy Week, the events that transpired in the life of Christ the week leading up to his crucifixion. What emotions, feelings, and thoughts were swirling around in his head? How did Jesus cope with anxiety, depression, and loneliness? 

So, you might be hung up on my explicit statement that Jesus had anxious, depressed, and lonely thoughts. Some might even be offended by that implication. Jesus was human, was he not? Anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, fear, happiness, joy, love, etc. are emotional responses that all humans experience in some way or another. 

    “But isn’t it a sin to be anxious or depressed?” It is unfortunate that some have used the Bible or the pulpit to make harsh statements that have characterized certain emotional responses as sin, to the point that it has caused a sense of guilt and shame that has pushed people deeper into their affliction. Anxiety, depression, and loneliness can in fact become a sinful state of mind or be the result of holding on to sin in your life, but that is for a separate lesson. Understanding our emotional state, the severity of it, and the process we go through can help us determine how to handle them. 

If you are having a hard time understanding your emotions, I encourage you to invite someone into your process. You may need to talk to a Christian Counselor or therapist to help understand what is going on. There is no shame in seeking help. When our thought processes go unchecked, they can develop into something bigger than we can handle ourselves, and we need Christian brothers and sisters to help carry our burdens (Galatians 6:2).

    Jesus is human, and he lived his earthly life as any man would. Jesus was misunderstood, mocked, rejected, betrayed, and disappointed. Jesus experienced loneliness, grief, poverty, and tempted yet he did not sin. Jesus stated to his disciples, “my soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matt. 26:38). Jesus anxiously cried out three times to the Father, “if it is possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matt. 26:39, 42, 44). In all these things, Jesus did not give in to sin and allow human emotions to overcome him. He remained faithful to his calling, and he obeyed the Father, “your will be done” (Matt. 26:42).  

    The human body will process traumatic experiences by releasing different hormones to help cope with the stress. When these hormones are released, they cause the body and mind to sense different feelings and emotions. Sometimes it will be exhaustion, an acute sense of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and so on. Jesus is human, and his body produced adrenaline, which mean he experienced the adrenaline crash (consider the story of Elijah on Mt Carmel 1 Kings 18ff). 

    This is why the author of Hebrews says we have a great high priest in Jesus Christ who can sympathize with our struggles. He endured through the most difficult of trials to become the perfect sacrifice for you and me. Because he understands the human condition, he understands when you bring your fears, anxiety, depression, and loneliness to him. He wants you to come boldly to his throne of judgement to receive his wrath? No…his throne of grace so that you can receive mercy in your time of need. 

As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I want you to know that Jesus understands you. He knows the human struggles. He knows your pain, your loneliness, your grief, your depression, and he loves you. He went through it and has come out victorious, so that you too can be victorious. 

Some practical things you can do when you have these emotions is to start by recognizing your physical body and meeting your physical needs. When is the last time you had a good night’s sleep? Do you need to set some time aside to take an uninterrupted nap? How is your diet? Have you been eating healthy or unhealthy foods? When is the last time you exercised? It’s not like you need to do a HIIT method, just go for a walk regularly, a hike, bike ride, or play a sport. These will help bring your body back into rhythm.

Remember what Jesus went through by reflecting on these verses. Talk to Jesus about them and how you are processing them. It is super helpful to recognize that you are not alone in these feelings, how much more to know that the Son of God understands them too. Memorizing the Word of God is a powerful tool to help your mind process difficult emotions. 

Jesus would often go off to pray. Developing a prayer routine will help you invite God into your process. Remember he knows you better than you know yourself. Consider praying Psalm 139:23-24. While you look it up, meditate on the whole psalm. Consider Psalm 103 or pray a lament like Psalm 13. 

Invite others into your process. Jesus invited the disciples to go and pray with him, and even gave them a charge to pray with him. You do not have to battle these feelings alone. Invite godly friends, mentors, pastors, or trained counselors to help you. The earlier you begin the conversation the better. The longer you hold on to the feelings internally the harder it will be to begin the conversation, but once you do you will be blessed. Again, if you have had persistent anxiety or depression, you may want to talk to your pastor or seek a Christian counselor soon. 

Celebrate the good things God has done in your life. Remember his faithfulness to his Word. 

Whether you are facing a test, a health issue, a relational issue, or just struggling on a normal Wednesday, Jesus understands. He can sympathize with your feelings and he loves you. Picture it like sitting in Doctor’s office waiting for the test result, full of anxiety, fear, depression, and loneliness. Jesus walks in with a smile on his face, a soft but strong tone to his voice, and an arm around your shoulder saying, “everything is going to be ok.” All it takes is a little encouragement for our feelings to dissipate. Jesus is a big God, and he can handle the big stuff. Trust him.