"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" — Philippians 4:4

At the turn of the 20th century, around 1905, a woman and her husband, an evangelist, traveled to New York. During their visit, they met an older couple, Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle, who left an impact on them.

The Doolittles had their share of struggles and ailments, yet they radiated cheerfulness and joy. Curious, the evangelist and his wife asked, "How is it that you can be so cheerful despite your troubles?"

Mrs. Doolittle's response was simple but thought-provoking: "Because I know His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He's watching me."

This phrase stayed with Civilla Martin, the evangelist's wife, and inspired her to write the beloved hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." The song reminds us that we can sing because we're happy, we can sing because we're free, and we can rest in the assurance that God watches over us.

As the hymn beautifully declares:
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
 
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me.

Joy isn't just an emotion; it's a deliberate choice that we make regardless of our circumstances. The Apostle Paul understood this deeply. Writing from a prison cell, he encouraged believers to "rejoice in the Lord always."

This wasn't a form of ignorant positivity or denial of the hardships he faced. Instead, it reflected the truth: joy is anchored in Who God is, not in what's happening around us.

Choosing to rejoice is like carrying an umbrella in a storm — the rain may still fall, but we are protected. Each day that we decide to focus on joy, especially in the face of trials, we build a foundation of peace and stability that anxiety cannot easily shake.

Reflection Question: What specific attributes of God can you focus on today that will help you choose joy regardless of your circumstances?

Lord, help me to find my joy in Who You are rather than in my circumstances. Teach me to rejoice even when it's difficult, knowing that You remain unchanging and faithful. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: "God's Answer for Worry": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/2m83fmg/9-god-s-answer-for-worry

"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." - Ephesians 4:17–18 (NKJV)

Years ago, I was eating with my seven-year-old. I looked over and said, "Son, stop smacking while you eat." He looked right back at me and said, "Daddy, don't say 'stop smacking.' Say 'chew with your mouth closed.'" He didn’t want to be told what not to do. He wanted me to be more positive. (He also didn’t see the irony in the fact that he just told me what not to do). But I thought, “This is the world in miniature.” We don't want to hear the negative. We don't want to be told what to stop doing. But Paul begins this section about the new life in Christ with a negative command. He will follow it with positive commands too, but he starts with the stop.

In Ephesians 4:17, Paul writes, "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind." He's talking about people who don't know God, who have never surrendered their lives to Jesus. Don't walk the way they walk.

And how do they walk? In the futility of their mind. That doesn't mean they're not smart. They might be brilliant academically, brilliant in their field. And yet there's a futility to the mind of anyone who has not given their life to Jesus. That word “futility” means empty, useless. You can have achievement after achievement after achievement, and if it is not leading you toward a personal relationship with Jesus, it is leading to a dead end.

Paul continues in verse 18: "having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart."  A futile mind leads to a darkened understanding, which leads to a lifestyle of sin and moral compromise. It's just downward steps, one after another. They don't even think straight anymore.

The Message paraphrase puts it this way: "So I insist, and God backs me up on this, that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch, not only with God, but with reality itself." Have you spent time with a coworker, a friend, a family member where it feels like they've lost their grip on reality? They didn't start there. At first, they were just rejecting God. But they kept going down that path and eventually lost their sense of what's real, what's true, what's right.

In July of 1945, the USS Indianapolis was heading home from the Pacific after delivering a cargo of enriched uranium that contributed to the end of World War II. A Japanese attack sank the cruiser. Of the roughly 1,200 men on board, about 300 lost their lives almost immediately. The remaining 900 were stranded in open ocean with no fresh water, a blazing sun overhead, and sharks circling below. Four nights and five days later, only about 316 survived.

One of those survivors was the Chief Medical Officer, Captain Lewis Haynes. He said,

"When the hot sun came out and we were in this crystal clear water, you were so thirsty you couldn't believe it wasn't good enough to drink. I had a hard time convincing the men they should not drink it. The really young ones, you take away their hope, their water, their food, they would drink the salt water and they would go fast. I can remember striking men who were drinking the salt water just trying to stop them. They would get dehydrated and then become maniacal. They would lose their minds." [1]

He also described mass hallucinations. One man would see something, and then everyone else would see the same thing. He said even he had to fight hallucinations off and on, but something always brought him back. The salt water was right there. It looked drinkable. He had to keep convincing the men around him: don't drink that. You'd think it would satisfy you, and instead you'd just want more, which would lead to more dehydration, more hallucinations, and one step closer to death.

Meanwhile Jesus offers Himself as living water. John 7:37-38 reads, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" The Bible also says that as Christians, we have Jesus inside us by the Holy Spirit. We have the living water inside of us. While He offers us the truth and the right way to live, the devil is handing out salt water. It looks like just what you need. It looks like it might satisfy. But it never does.

I remember going on a mission trip with a friend, and we were clearly told: "Don't drink the water. Your American stomachs aren't used to it." Under the blazing July sun, the man in charge of handing out water kept pouring cup after cup for everyone. He got so thirsty that, in the end, he started drinking the water himself. You can guess what happened next. He spent the rest of the week paying the price.

That is what the devil offers. "Just live for this." "Pursue this." And you know what it does? It pollutes your mind and leads to the same hallucinations. Why do people agree with so much of what this world system says? Because they've been drinking its water. It doesn't satisfy them, and it doesn't satisfy their neighbor either, all while Jesus is standing there offering living water.

Reflection Question: What "salt water" has the world been handing you lately, and in what specific area of your life do you need to stop drinking it and turn to Jesus instead?

Dear Heavenly Father, Forgive me for drinking what the world hands out and then wondering why I feel empty. Right now, I choose to stop. I choose to turn to You. You are the living water, and I need You more than anything this world can offer. Fill me, Lord. Renew my mind. Clear out every hallucination the enemy has fed me. Help me see what is real, what is true, and what is right. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: The Path to True Life Change (Eph. 4:17-24)

[1] Naval Historical Center, “Recollections of the Sinking of USS Indianapolis (CA-35) by Capt. Lewis L. Haynes,” http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq30-5.htm. As quoted by Bryan Chappell in Ephesians: Reformed Expository Commentary (P&R Publishing, 2009), 215-216.

"...that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24 (NKJV)

Have you ever seen a T-ball game where there's that one kid who has clearly watched a lot of professional baseball? He's got the sunglasses his hero wears, the name-brand gloves the pros use, the chewing gum, even a certain kind of bat. He imitates his baseball hero right down to the way he spits into his hands before he swings. The whole thing is built on the hope that if I can do what they do, dress like they dress, carry myself the way they carry themselves, maybe I can hit the ball the way the pros hit it. And you have to smile at that.

I gave my life to Christ at 14, and I wanted to imitate the spiritual heroes around me. My dad was one of them. I would watch him pace back and forth while he prayed down in the basement, just walking and praying. So when I started learning how to pray, I paced back and forth too. I didn't know yet that you didn't have to pace. I just knew that's what my spiritual hero did.

I had a pastor who held his Bible a certain way as he walked around on Sunday mornings, and I picked up that habit. People would say, "You even look holy when you hold your Bible like that." It wasn't until I became a preacher myself that I realized why he held it that way. He was holding his place where he was going to begin. That's all it was. Well, I'm not doing it to look holy. I'm just doing it to hold my place in my Bible.

The point is, you can imitate the outward mannerisms of a godly person, but imitation doesn't transform you into the image of Christ. You won't grow into the kind of Christian your spiritual hero is unless you do what that hero did. Unless you spend time in God's Word and allow it to transform your mind. Unless you spend time in God's presence in prayer. Unless you start developing yourself from the inside out.

You see that spiritual hero, patient in the middle of trials that would make someone else completely lose their temper. You see them endure under a heavy burden that would make someone else crumble. You see them walk away from a temptation that would cause others to stumble.

There's a story about a pastor fixing something in his yard when the neighbor kid was just standing at the fence, staring at him. The pastor kept working. Then he hit his thumb with the hammer. While he was shaking it out, he looked up, and the kid was still just watching. The pastor said, "Why are you staring at me?" The kid said, "I just want to know what a preacher says when he hits his thumb."

We are all kind of like tea bags. Different kinds of teabags look the same until you put them in boiling hot water. That's when their true color emerges. Our true colors will emerge, too, when things are hard.

We look at our spiritual heroes and think, "If I just try harder, if I can will myself to be that kind of Christian, then I can get there, too." But you can wish it and will it all you want. If you have not picked up certain godly habits and put off other destructive habits, the best you can hope for is imitation.

There was a kid on a farm whose dad was sitting with the preacher one afternoon. The son came busting through the door, completely oblivious that company was there. He held a dead rat by the tail, excited to show it off. "Dad, look at this rat! I saw him behind the barn, and I hit him over the head with a two-by-four, and then I slammed him against the wall, and then I shoved him into the ground, and then..." He saw the preacher; he paused, and said piously, "And then, Preacher... the Lord called him home." He thought he needed to be pious and religious. God wants more than imitation.

We can pretend to be pious. We can try to be holy. Or we can recognize that a real path to true life change exists. God wants us to be godly and Christ-like. He wants to conform us into the image of Christ. That's more than imitation. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." "Transformed" means changing from the inside out. It doesn't mean just to "look" holy, but to "be" holy.

Reflection question: Are you content just looking holy, or do you want to be holy? What needs to change?

Dear Heavenly Father, I don't want to just look the part. I want to be changed from the inside out, not just cleaned up on the outside. Forgive me for the times I've settled for imitation when You were offering transformation. Today I choose to put off what no longer belongs in my life, and I choose to put on the new man You created me to be. Renew my mind with Your Word. Shape my character and make me the kind of person who reflects You. I trust You to do in me what I cannot do on my own. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: The Path to True Life Change (Eph. 4:17-24)

"And [Jesus] said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.’" — Mark 4:26-27 (NKJV)

Have you ever felt like your efforts for God aren’t making a difference? Like no matter how hard you work, pray, or serve, the results just aren’t visible? This feeling is especially common in ministry, parenting, or any role where you’re investing in others. Yet Jesus gives us a beautiful reminder in Mark 4:26-27: the work of God’s kingdom doesn’t depend on us seeing the results—it depends on Him.

Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a man scattering seed on the ground. The man does his part—planting the seed—but the growth happens in a way he doesn’t understand. While he goes about his daily life, sleeping and rising, the seed is growing in the soil. He doesn’t see the process happening, but it’s still at work. The results are in God’s hands, not the farmer’s.

Ministry can be a lonely and discouraging road. Whether you’re a pastor, a teacher, or simply trying to live faithfully, there are moments when discouragement whispers, “You’re failing.” One of the greatest pastors to have ever lived was Charles Spurgeon. However, he once wrote, "Discouragement … creeps over my heart and makes me go with heaviness to my work.… It is dreadfully weakening." [1] Satan loves to make God's workers think that they are not making a difference.

Warren Wiersbe, writing in Prokope, reminds us that pastors are not superhuman—they face the same struggles, fears, and frustrations as everyone else. Yet, for some reason, many people assume that ministers, or those who serve God, are immune to discouragement.

Wiersbe outlines four common sources of frustration for those in ministry: [2]

1. Unreachable Goals: The desire to “do it all” or see immediate results often leads to disappointment.
2. Unmanageable Schedules: The constant demands of ministry can wear down even the strongest leaders.
3. Uncomfortable Situations: Navigating difficult conversations, conflict, or criticism can be draining.
4. Unbearable Problems: The weight of bearing others’ burdens or feeling responsible for outcomes can feel overwhelming.

George Morrison wisely observed that “God rarely allows His servants to see how much good they are doing, so you will have to work by faith and leave the results to Him. We’ll get the report and the reward when we stand before Him in glory, not one minute before.”[2]
   
This means that much of what we do for God must be done in faith, trusting that He is working behind the scenes. The full impact of our work won’t be revealed until we stand before Him in glory.

"W. A. Criswell was perhaps the best-known pastor in the world during his long tenure at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. His sermons, personal efforts, and multiple books have been the means of winning untold numbers to Christ.

"But in Criswell’s biography, author Billy Keith tells an interesting story about the man who led Criswell to the Lord. It was when W. A. was ten years old, and Rev. John Hicks came to his small Texas town to conduct a revival meeting. Hicks stayed in the Criswell home during his two-week campaign. Young W. A. was greatly taken with John Hicks, and one day he asked permission to leave school to attend the 10 o’clock service at the church. Entering the chapel, he sat directly behind his mother and drank in every word that Hicks spoke. When Hicks gave the invitation, the lad went forward and, with tears, took Jesus Christ as his Savior.

"Years later, when Criswell was a world-renowned pastor, he recounted his conversion to a friend of his, Wallace Basset.

"'Would you repeat that, W. A.?' Basset asked.

"He repeated the story.

"'I just can’t imagine that,' Basset said. 'Johnny Hicks was a dear friend of mine, and he was here in Baylor Hospital in his last illness of which he died. I went often to see Johnny and one day as I sat beside him, he said, "Wallace, my life is over, my preaching days are done, and I’ve never done anything for Jesus. I’ve failed, Wallace, I’ve failed." ’ ”

"Those were the last words the old preacher ever spoke. He didn’t realize how successful he had been in just that one conversion." [3]

Hicks, in his final days, thinks to himself, “I’ve never done anything for Jesus. I’ve failed.” What he didn’t know was that one young boy in one revival meeting would grow up to become one of the most influential pastors in modern history, leading thousands to Christ. Hicks never saw the fruit of his ministry, but God had used him mightily.

This story reminds us that success in God’s eyes isn’t about numbers, recognition, or visible results. It’s about faithfulness. Sometimes, the seeds we plant won’t bear fruit until years, or even decades, later. We may never know how God has used our prayers, our conversations, or our acts of service to impact someone’s life. But we can trust Him to bring the harvest in His perfect time.

If you’ve ever felt like you’ve failed, remember this: success in ministry is not measured by the world’s standards. God calls us to obey, to abide, and to trust Him with the results.

Reflection Question: Are there areas in your life where you feel like you’ve failed? How can you trust God to bring fruit from your faithfulness, even if you don’t see it now?

Lord, I often feel like my efforts are small and insignificant. I look for results and wonder if I’ve done enough or made a difference. Help me to remember that success is not about what I see but about being faithful to Your call. Thank You for the reminder that my labor is not in vain when it is done for you. Strengthen me to keep going, even when I don’t see the fruit. Help me to trust you with the results, knowing that You are always working. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Adapted from: "God's Answer for Discouragement": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/zmvsph4/8-god-s-answer-for-discouragement

[1] Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Messages of Hope and Faith (Cleveland, Ohio: Publish House of the Evangelical Association, n.d.).
[2] Warren W. Wiersbe, “Formula for Frustration,” Prokopè, May-June 1987, 1–2.
[3] Billy Keith, W. A. Criswell (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1973), 21, 124.

"Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there." —Psalm 139:7-8 (NIV)

Mother Theresa once said, “The world’s greatest tragedy is unwantedness; the world’s greatest disease is loneliness.”[1]

Philip Zimbardo, writing in Psychology Today, has said, “There is no more destructive influence on physical and mental health than the isolation of you from me and of us from them.” He points to studies that show loneliness as a central agent of depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, rape, suicide, mass murder, and a wide variety of diseases. We’ve all seen the polls that point to shorter life spans for lonely people.[2]

What is Loneliness?[3]
- Loneliness is Not SOLITUDE (being alone).
- You can be LONESOME, but not lonely.
- You can be lonely IN A CROWD.

David Jeremiah writes, “What is loneliness? I don’t know how to define it; all I can do is describe it. It’s an underlying anxiety at having no one close, a sharp ache in a moment of grief, and an empty feeling in the pit of the stomach when we know we have no one to whom we can turn.” [4]
 
Loneliness is not isolation. It is insulation. It is the feeling cut off. It is feeling unnoticed, unloved, uncared, unneeded, and maybe even unnecessary.
- The Old Testament Hebrew word for "lonely" is shamem, which means "to be desolate."
- The New Testament word eremos means "desert places."
- Loneliness is the state of sadness that comes from feeling alone, isolated or cut off from others.
- A person can feel a lack of connection with others even when in their presence.

Everyone has three basic psychological and spiritual needs.[5]
1) Everybody needs someone to love and to share intimately with.
2) Everybody needs someone who can understand, to know how they feel and says, "Yes, I understand, I care."
3) Everybody needs to be needed and wanted.

Loneliness isn’t just about being physically alone—it’s about feeling unseen, unneeded, and unknown. Even in a crowded room, we can feel invisible. But there’s a truth we often forget: God’s presence is never absent, even in our loneliest moments.

Psalm 139 beautifully reminds us that we are never out of God’s reach. Whether we are at the highest peak of joy or the lowest valley of despair, He is there. David, the psalmist, knew this well. He had moments of isolation, fleeing from enemies and feeling forgotten. Yet, he clung to the truth that God’s Spirit never left him.

Today, you might feel alone—perhaps in your workplace, at home, or even in your church. But remember, God is not distant. He is closer than your next breath, fully aware of your struggles, and lovingly present in your life.

Reflection Question: When have you felt alone and needed to be reminded of God’s presence?

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for never leaving me, even when I feel alone. Help me to recognize Your nearness in every moment, and may Your presence comfort me in my times of need. Teach me to trust that You are with me, no matter where I go or what I face. In Jesus’ Name, amen."

Adapted from "God's Answer for Loneliness": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/5md6t56/7-god-s-answer-for-loneliness

 
[1] As quoted in Tim Clinton, The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2009), 151.
[2] Philip Zimbardo, “The Age of Indifference,” Psychology Today, 30 August 1980.
[3] Based on Adrian Rogers, Mastering Your Emotions (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1988), 99-100.
[4] David Jeremiah, Overcoming Loneliness: Study Guide (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1997), 8.
[5] Rogers, 101.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?" — Psalm 27:1 (NIV) 

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, fear doesn't completely disappear before we need to act. In these moments, we can learn from Elizabeth Elliot, whose husband, Jim, was murdered by the very people he was trying to reach with the Gospel. She shared about the four missionaries in Ecuador and how she was consumed and controlled by fear. Every time she began to step out, fear stopped her. Consumed by fear that paralyzed her from moving forward, she received life-changing advice from a friend: "Why don't you just do it afraid?" Fear wasn't completely removed from Elizabeth, but it no longer immobilized her.

Courage isn't the absence of fear but action in the presence of fear. As someone once said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." God doesn't always remove our fears before calling us to act. Sometimes, He wants us to exercise our faith by stepping out despite our trembling hearts. When we do, we discover His faithfulness in new ways.

When the Golden Gate Bridge was built, there were no safety nets underneath, and the construction progressed from one side to the other. The builders worked in fear, and a few unfortunately fell to their deaths in the water. This made the endeavor quite daunting, causing work to proceed slowly with many delays.

Eventually, the builders decided they needed a solution. They created a safety net underneath where the bridge was being built. As a result, work progressed at an incredible pace, and there were no further casualties. While some workers did fall, they landed safely on the net, which gave everyone confidence. They could focus on their work without the constant fear of falling.

We must recognize that we have a safety net too; His name is Jesus. For those of us who have placed our faith in Him, our eternal destiny is secured in heaven. So, what’s the worst that can happen when God asks us to take a step forward? We should be bold and take action.

Today, is there something God is calling you to do that frightens you? Instead of waiting for the fear to disappear completely, consider taking a step forward while still feeling afraid. Trust that God will be with you, providing the strength and courage you need in the moment. You don't have to wait until you feel brave. You just need to trust the God who is with you. Hebrews 13:5 says, "...For God has said, 'I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.'"

Remember that we have the ultimate safety net in Christ. For believers, our eternal destiny is secure. As Billy Graham often said, "God and me are a majority." With God on our side, what do we truly have to fear?

Reflection Question: What is God calling you to do that you've been postponing until you "feel ready" or "aren't afraid anymore"?

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise to never leave or forsake me. Give me the courage to step out in faith even when I still feel afraid. Help me trust Your presence more than my feelings. Use my obedience, even when it's trembling obedience, to accomplish Your purposes. In Jesus' name, amen.

From "God's Answer for Fear": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cr3n4pv/6-god-s-answer-for-fear

"The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe." - Proverbs 29:25

One of the most common fears that holds believers back is the fear of what others will think or do. This fear of man can prevent us from following God's direction, speaking truth, or stepping out in faith. Proverbs directly addresses this, warning that the fear of man is a snare - a trap that catches us and restricts our movement. When we're more concerned about human approval than God's approval, we've fallen into this trap. If we are afraid of people's approval, God's word says, that's a snare. We won't move when God tells us to move. We won't do what God tells us to do.

Joshua faced this challenge when following the legendary Moses. God said in Joshua 1:2, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them – to the Israelites.” Moses had led the people of Israel for forty years. An entire generation of Israelites had died in the wilderness. The present group had known no other leader than Moses. The fear of comparison, of not measuring up, could have paralyzed him.

The antidote to the fear of man (or any other fear) is to trust in the Lord. God said in Joshua 1:5, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (see also Hebrews 13:5-6; Isaiah 41:10, 13) God reassured Joshua that he was God's chosen leader to lead the people in this next season.

We have to trust in God's promises. When we truly believe that God is our Helper and Protector, the opinions and actions of others lose their power over us. This doesn't mean we become insensitive to others, but rather that we prioritize God's perspective above all else.

Joshua focused on God's promise: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." This enabled him to lead with courage despite what others might think.

Today, identify one area where the fear of man might be holding you back. Is there something God is calling you to do, but you're hesitating because of what others might think? Remember that God also says to you today, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Reflection Question: In what specific situation are you allowing the fear of others' opinions prevent you from following God's leading?

Lord, forgive me for the times I've been more concerned about pleasing people than pleasing You. Free me from the snare of fearing what others think or might do. Help me trust in Your protection and approval above all else. Give me courage to follow You even when it might invite criticism. In Jesus' name, amen.

From "God's Answer for Fear": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cr3n4pv/6-god-s-answer-for-fear

Ephesians 4:13–15 (NKJV)
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.

Some of you have young children at home. Maybe you have a measuring place somewhere in a closet where you're tracking the height of your children, and the older child is a little taller than the younger one, and they're competing with each other, which is a fun little game until mom or dad shows up. Compared to the adult, the children are so short, so small.

When we compare ourselves to one another, we say, "Well, I'm more spiritual than that person," or "I'm closer to Jesus than that person." Yeah, but are you as tall as Jesus? He says to the full stature of Christ, the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Christians should never be content with their spiritual growth until they are on the level of Jesus, which they will never attain in this life. Philippians 1:6 says "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." His work is not going to stop until you look like Jesus. Romans 8:29 says, "For those whom He did foreknow, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son." Every person who has given their life to Christ: the purpose of your life is to look more and more like Jesus Christ.

Sometimes we think the more spiritual person is the one who is more gifted. But here Paul is connecting spiritual growth not to spiritual gifts. He's just saying we are all to grow so that we can stop being children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Think about the cults, groups like Mormonism and the Jehovah's Witnesses. They use terms similar to our Christian faith, but all they're doing is siphoning Christians away from real, authentic, orthodox Christianity. They're deceiving people who do not know the Bible. They're adding to the Scriptures. They come knocking on someone's door, using Christian terms like "Jehovah" or "Elohim", but they have altered the Bible and are not representing Jesus, God, or the Bible rightly. The person who has not taken time to learn what the Bible actually teaches can be taken captive by these deceitful groups.

Remember, the way to spot a counterfeit dollar bill is not by studying all the counterfeits. All you have to do is study the real, and then all the counterfeits will reveal themselves. We ground ourselves in good, sound, Biblical doctrine, and then when somebody comes knocking on our door, we recognize the counterfeit right away: "No, that's not the teaching of the Bible. That's an error." But you have to grow up spiritually to get there, so that you're not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting described in verse 14.

Another evidence of this maturity is "speaking the truth in love" (verse 15). Children, and maybe even some teenagers, might know the truth but communicate it harshly to others. But spiritual maturity means speaking the truth in love. Jesus came full of truth, but He also came full of grace. Look at the woman caught in adultery in the Gospel of John. The religious leaders say to Jesus, "She's caught in adultery. Our law says she's supposed to be stoned to death." And Jesus says, "He who is without sin, cast the first stone." One by one, they drop their stones and walk away. Jesus looks at the woman and says, "Where are your accusers?" They're gone. "Neither do I condemn you."

You might say, "That's full of grace. That's what we should do." But don't stop there. He finishes by saying, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." He calls what she did sin. That is speaking the truth in love. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is share the truth with an individual in the right spirit and with a loving disposition.

Finally, we mature by growing in our dependence on one another. Paul describes us as a whole body in Ephesians 4:16, "joined and knit together by what every joint supplies." There is an interdependence in the body of Christ that we should grow to appreciate. When you're an infant, you are totally dependent on someone else. The adults have everything you need, and they have to take care of you. Then you enter that time period of teenage life, maybe early twenties, and what do you get? Independence. You think, "I don't need anybody. I can make something happen all on my own." But then as you mature into adulthood, you realize it's not total dependency, and it's not total independence. It's interdependency. We do need one another. I'm strong when you're weak. You're strong when I'm weak. We lean on one another, and we become the body of Christ that Jesus wants us to be.

So, are you as tall as Jesus? How content are you in your spiritual walk? Are you maturing as a child of God? Do you look more like Jesus this year than you did last year? Are you more patient? More faithful? Can you be counted on more for the cause of Christ this year than last year? These are the evidences of spiritual growth.

Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I have been too easily satisfied with where I am spiritually. Forgive me for comparing myself to others instead of measuring myself against the stature of Christ. Ground me in Your Word so that I am not deceived or shaken. Teach me to speak the truth in love, the way Jesus did. And help me to embrace the people You have placed around me, knowing I need them, and they need me. Thank You for conforming me into the image of Christ, day by day. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out the sermon "Our Part in God's Plan" (Ephesians 4:7-16):  https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/fpz7c66/15-our-part-in-god-s-plan-eph-4-7-16

"And He [Jesus] Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12

Christians are not just forgiven, not just set free, not just heaven-bound, praise the Lord. The Bible also describes that we have been given a gift. Jesus gave gifts to men and women. If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, the promise of the Bible is that you have a gift. You say, "I'm not gifted." Yes, you are. This passage lists five gifts: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. But it's not a complete list of the spiritual gifts, the charismata, that God has given. Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, 1 Peter 4:11, 1 Corinthians 7:7, Ephesians 4:11 — all of these passages together give us around 21 different gifts when you total them all up. And even then, none of those lists are exhaustive. God gives gifts to His children, and there is a purpose for those gifts.

Ephesians 4:12 describes the purposes of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher: to equip the saints for the work of ministry and the edifying of the body of Christ. All of us have a part to play. Every single one of us should have in our heart this desire to serve, this desire to minister to one another, to recognize that we have a gift and we need to use it for the glory of God. Just looking at this list of five, two gifts are clearly seen in today's church. We see pastors and teachers in today's church. They are easily understood and visible. However, the other three need explanation.

Now, some people say, "The gift of the apostles is no longer valid today - that was only for biblical times," and they are right that there will never be an apostle today like there was in the New Testament. There were twelve apostles, the disciples. You also have Paul described as an apostle, and Matthias described as an apostle to replace Judas. After the first century, no one has been an apostle like them. That gift was given for the establishment of the early church.

However, I believe there is an expression of that gift seen today. The word apostle means "one sent on a mission." That describes the work of a missionary. The missionary is someone who plows new territory, new ground where the gospel is not known. None of the gift lists use the word "missionary," but in the apostle, you see someone with this heartbeat to go and pioneer something that doesn't already exist. They are not in the category of the original apostles, but it is still a gift that today's church is benefiting from.

What about the word prophet? There is no prophet today in the same sense as in biblical days. But the word prophet or prophecy just means "to speak for God". Prophecy in the Bible related both to "foretelling future events" and "forthtelling a message from God." While I do not see the first area expressed today, I do see this prophetic gift evident today in people speaking a message from God - "forthtelling". This is to a lesser degree than what is in biblical days and is anchored to God's Written Word, but it is still "speaking for God." [See the book "The Gift of Prophecy" by theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem for a thorough explanation.]

What about the evangelist? Sometimes you hear people say, "There's no real gift of evangelism," or "Everybody's supposed to evangelize." Of course everybody IS supposed to evangelize. Yet here you have this gift of the evangelist listed. There is something special about it, a level of evangelizing above what all of us are required to do.

Who can deny the evangelistic impact of a Billy Graham or D. L. Moody? And there are others who are lesser known, but very effective in leading people to Christ. It is a vital gift.

Evangelism is the responsibility of all, but there is also a gift of the evangelist. This works the same way with the "gift of giving" in Romans 12:3-8. Some people have that special gift, but all of us are supposed to give. There is the "gift of service", but all of us are supposed to serve. There is a "gift of mercy", and you might say, "I just don't have the gift of mercy." That doesn't give you a right not to be merciful. All of us should be expressing mercy, and yet some people have a special gift. A strong church will have all of this diversity in spiritual gifts in its fellowship.

So what is YOUR contribution?

In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus is teaching a crowd, and He asks Peter, who doesn't know Him very well at this point, if He can use his boat to drift off a little so He can speak to the crowd better. Peter allows it. Afterward, Jesus tells Peter to throw down his nets. Peter obeys. Think specifically about the symbolism of this event in Peter's life:

• Jesus is not asking Peter to do what he cannot do. He is asking Peter to do what he can do. 
• He's not borrowing somebody else's boat. He says, "Peter, let Me use your boat." 
• He's not telling Peter to throw down twenty nets. Peter doesn't have twenty nets. He says, "Peter, throw down your nets."

And sometimes we get nervous and say, "What am I supposed to do? What does God want me to do?" The point is that God is asking you to do what you can do. You are a steward of your gift, not a steward of someone else's gift. You don't have to stress over all the gifts mentioned. Serve in your giftedness and rejoice in the diversity of the other gifts evident within the local church. Cheer each other on in their gifts.

I have taken mission trips regularly throughout my adult life and ministry. I see those trips as a stewardship of my gift. I feel I uniquely have something to offer in those settings, whether it is training pastors and church leaders or encouraging persecuted believers in difficult contexts. There's this feeling of responsibility that God has given me something that I've got to give, that I've got to share, and that I've got to serve with. In every Christian's heart and in your mind, there should be that same desire to serve with the gifts God has given you.

Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us to lay aside the weights that so easily beset us and run the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Run your race. Don't run someone else's race. Throw down YOUR nets. Say, "Jesus, You can use MY boat."

What's our response to God's generosity to us? It's to say, "All that I have belongs to You. How can I minister with the gift that You gave me? You gave it to me, and because of that, I'm a steward of it."

You cannot earn your salvation, but you can show how grateful you are for your salvation by how you minister to one another with your gifts. Has He given you the gift of teaching? The gift of mercy? The gift of giving? The gift of evangelism? The gift of service? There is something you can do to expand His kingdom.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have sat on the sidelines, convinced that I have nothing to offer. Help me not to covet the gifts of others, but to be faithful with what You have placed in my hands. You can use my boat. I will throw down my nets. I will use my gift to expand Your kingdom and build Your church. Thank You for the gifts You have entrusted to me. I pray You always find me faithful. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out the sermon "Our Part in God's Plan" (Ephesians 4:7-16):  https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/fpz7c66/15-our-part-in-god-s-plan-eph-4-7-16

In Ephesians 4:8, Paul quotes from the Psalms: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Then he adds this question: if He ascended, what does that imply? That He first descended. He descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.

This is the God who came down. In Philippians 2:5-8, Paul describes it from a different angle: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Let this mindset be in you. Think of others more than you think of yourself. If you read Philippians 2:1-4, Paul is saying, do not live for yourself; live for others, the way Jesus lived for someone other than Himself.

He is God, and yet He came down. He did not have to, but He chose to. We magnify a God who came down. Sometimes you will hear someone say, "If God would just show Himself to me. If He would just appear, if He would come down and make Himself known." God DID do that! Jesus Christ came down. We needed Him, and He came down. He could have stayed in heaven, but we needed a Savior.

Let this mindset be in you. Think of others more than you think of yourself. Paul is saying, "Do not live for yourself. Live for others, the way Jesus lived for someone other than Himself."

No human person could save anyone else from their sin, because our sins were not against one another. Our sins were against the God of the universe. We sin because we want to, and we sin because we have to, because of the sin nature that has been birthed inside each one of us. That sin carries a punishment that no human being could pay for. There is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (see 1 Timothy 2:5).

Jesus did not look at our plight from a distance and say, "Look at what they've done with themselves. I didn't design them to live this way, and here they are, continuing to stumble, continuing to sin." No. He came down. As Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." No one took Jesus's life. He laid it down. He died a sinner's death. He was punished as a sinner.

He who knew no sin was made to be sin on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus was made sin on the cross. He experienced total separation from His heavenly Father. He was bearing the full weight of our sin. Then, at the end, He says, "It is finished." The debt has been paid. Jesus was that sacrifice. He died for our sins on the cross.

So why do we sing about Jesus? Because He came down. Why do we worship Him on Resurrection Sunday? Because He came down. But He did not remain down. He descended, and then He ascended. Hallelujah!

Reflection Question: How does remembering that Jesus came down and laid down His life change the way you live for others?

Dear Heavenly Father, help me remember that Jesus came down because I needed a Savior, and teach me to live for others as He did. Thank You for seeing my greatest need and showing up to meet that need. I needed salvation, and You provided a way for me to be forgiven. I love You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out the sermon "Our Part in God's Plan" (Ephesians 4:7-16):  https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/fpz7c66/15-our-part-in-god-s-plan-eph-4-7-16

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) - Ephesians 4:7-10 (NKJV)

God's plan, orchestrated from eternity past, was this. He knew our sinful condition. He knew we were human. He knew we would stumble, we would fall, we would live bound and held captive in our sin. And in His plan He would send His only Son to die for our sins, to rescue us, to reclaim us, to transfer us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, so that we would experience the new life of Christ within us. So where do you find yourself in that plan?

Over the course of the first three chapters of Ephesians, you see that God has a plan. God has a purpose. God has a design. Everything is moving toward accomplishing that plan. But now we want to ask a specific question: where do we fit? What does He have in store for you and me?

Steven Spielberg directed a film a while back called Saving Private Ryan. Some men who have actually been on the battlefield have said that Spielberg somehow captured what combat is really like. The movie is not perfect, of course, but it is a powerful and fairly honest portrayal of the chaos, fear, and cost of war.

In the movie, there are four brothers in the Ryan family. Three of them have already been killed in the war. And when the army realizes that their mother is about to receive the news that three of her sons are dead, a decision is made that she is not going to lose the fourth one too.

So orders are given. A captain named John Miller is told to take a small group of men - about seven of them - and go find Private James Ryan, who is somewhere behind enemy lines. Their mission is to find him and bring him home safely, so that at least one of those four brothers can live.

The film opens with an older man standing in the American cemetery at Normandy, overcome with emotion. He is looking at a grave, and as he stands there, the movie takes us back into the story of what happened.

Then, near the end of the film, after almost everyone on that rescue team has been killed trying to save this one young private, Captain Miller is lying there with barely enough breath left in his lungs. Private Ryan comes close to hear him. And Miller looks at him and says two words: “Earn this.”

It is a moving scene, because that really is the whole movie in a nutshell. Here is a man who has been rescued from the battlefield by people who paid with their lives, multiplied lives, and what is asked of him is simply: earn this.

The other moving part is when Private Ryan, now an old man, is standing at that grave reflecting on everything that was sacrificed to rescue him. He is overcome. He hears those words ringing in his mind. His wife comes up and asks if he is okay, and he turns to her and says, "Tell me I'm a good man. Tell me I've lived a good life." What he means is: have I been worthy of the sacrifice others made for me? Have I lived in a way that reflects what they gave? Did I earn it?

This loosely connects to Ephesians 4:7-10, where Jesus' sacrifice purchased our salvation and "He gave gifts to men," but it pictures a couple of things. We too have been rescued from a battlefield. We too have been rescued from our life of sin. We too have had Someone lay down His life for us. We cannot earn our salvation - that is what Jesus did on the cross. He died so that we do not have to. He paid for our sins so that we do not have to pay for them. He was punished for our sins so that we would not have to be punished.

But maybe we can hear those words just a little differently. Maybe instead of the captain looking at the private and saying, "Earn this," we hear Jesus saying: "Live in such a way that shows you are grateful for the sacrifice." 

Have you reflected on what Jesus did? The great depths He went to in order to rescue you from your life of sin? And the question I keep coming back to is this: what is my response?

Maybe you recognize the sacrifice He made, but you have not stopped to really think about what He did on the cross. Maybe you have experienced His salvation, and you have said, "Thank you, Lord," but you have not taken it to the next level and started living in a way that reflects what He did for you. We cannot pay for our salvation, but we can show our gratitude, and Ephesians 4:7-16 overall points us to two ways of doing that: 1) We help build His kingdom, and 2) We grow our own lives as children of God.

We cannot pay for our salvation, but we can live in a way that reflects our gratitude for what He did for us.

Reflection Question: Have you stopped to think about what Jesus did for you, and is your life showing gratitude for His sacrifice?

Dear Heavenly Father, help me reflect on what Jesus did for me and live in a way that shows my gratitude for His sacrifice. Help me find my place in Your plan, building Your kingdom and growing as a child of God. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out the sermon "Our Part in God's Plan" (Ephesians 4:7-16):  https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/fpz7c66/15-our-part-in-god-s-plan-eph-4-7-16

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." — Psalm 56:3 (ESV)

The dictionary lists about 700 kinds of phobias:

1. Acrophobia: fear of high places.
2. Claustrophobia: fear of closed places.
3. Agoraphobia: fear of open places.
4. Pathophobia: fear of disease.
5. Ergophobia: fear of work.
6. Photophobia: fear of light.
7. Phobophobia: fear of fear.

 
You don’t have to be a weak person to be a fearful person. Strong people are, sometimes, very much afraid. Julius Caesar, to whose ears the shouts of the enemy were music, was afraid of thunder. And, if it would thunder, he would want to get underground into a cave. He just would quake. Peter the Great—the Czar of Russia, the great political and military leader—was afraid to cross a bridge. And, he would put one foot onto a bridge and would begin to tremble.

Consider this:

• “Fear is an unpleasant and often strong feeling caused by anticipation or awareness of threat or danger… Fear comes from the Old English faer, which means sudden calamity or danger. It suggests a state of alarm or dread. If it is strong enough it can immobilize you. It prepares you for a key response: flight, fight or freeze.”[1]
• “We are born with only two fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned or acquired, primarily from the adversary, Satan.”[2]
• “Fear becomes a problem when a person is afraid of things that are not real or when the feeling of fear is out of proportion to the real danger present.”[3]

 
Fear can distort our perception of reality. Imagine a man walking across a frozen pond. At first, he moves confidently, but then doubt creeps in: What if the ice isn’t thick enough? What if it cracks? Fear overwhelms him, and he drops to his hands and knees, crawling slowly, trying to spread his weight. He feels trapped, paralyzed by the thought that disaster is imminent.

As he slowly inches forward, a sled pulled by a pack of snowdogs rushes past him. The sled is many times heavier than he is, yet it glides across the ice with ease. The man realizes that the ice was never the problem—it was his fear, magnified by false assumptions. The ice beneath him was far stronger than he thought, and he had been safe all along.

Fear often works the same way in life. One person used the acrostic FEAR to say: "False Evidence Appearing Real." It magnifies the "what-ifs" and blinds us to God's strength that can hold us up. God’s promises are our foundation, stronger than any frozen pond. When we feel fear rise, we must trust in God’s strength, not in our own perceptions. He is always faithful, even when we doubt.

Reflection Question: What fear in your life might be based on false assumptions or exaggerated danger?

Lord, help me not to let my fears control me. Teach me to trust You and Your strength instead of my own limited understanding. Thank You for being my firm foundation. In Jesus' Name, amen.

From "God's Answer for Fear": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cr3n4pv/6-god-s-answer-for-fear

[1] Gary Oliver, Real Men Have Feelings Too (Chicago: Moody Press, 1993), 78-79.
[2] Bob Russell, Life Preservers: God’s Promises for Troubled Times (Cincinnati, OH: Standard, 1997), 8.
[3] Tim Clinton, The Quick-Reference Guide to Biblical Counseling (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 2009), 117.

In 1 Peter 3:1-6, we see God’s guidance for how a godly wife can influence her husband for Christ. Someone once described marriage as being like a dance. In a dance, there is a leader and a follower. The leader guides and sets the direction, and the follower complements that leadership, creating beauty and harmony in motion.
 
There was a story about a championship dance team - a man and a woman - who were asked about their roles during an interview. The woman laughed and said, “Yes, he leads, but let’s be honest - I have to do all the moves backwards, and I have to do it in heels. So I’ve got the harder job!”
 
In marriage, both roles are vital, and both require effort and grace. I hope you’ll see God’s plan for your home - not just how it can be a blessing to your spouse, but how it can also be a powerful witness to the world around you.
 
1. Her Submissive Attitude
 
Peter begins by addressing the wife’s submissive attitude:
 
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives” (v. 1).
 
The principle of submission is woven into God’s design for all areas of life. Peter has been addressing submission in society, in the workplace, and now in the home.
 
Some of us might bristle at this idea, thinking, “Well, I’m an independent person. I live in a free country. Nobody tells me what to do!” But Scripture is clear. God has established order in society, and we are instructed to submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1). Submission is not a dirty word - it’s part of God’s ideal for us.
 
Peter also addresses submission in the workplace. Some might say, “My boss isn’t going to tell me what to do!” But that’s not the attitude Scripture teaches. Imagine if Jesus had that mindset. Peter just finished pointing to Jesus in 1 Peter 2 as the ultimate example of submission.
 
Now, in the same way, Peter says, “Wives, be submissive to your own husbands.” The Greek word for “submission” (hupotasso) means “to arrange under” or “to align with.” It is about willingly aligning yourself under God’s order - not inferiority, not inequality - but order.
 
And let’s clarify something important: This does not mean that women are to submit to all men. Scripture is very specific here - this is about wives submitting to their own husbands in the home. It does not mean the wife is inferior or that the husband is superior. That’s not the point at all.
 
In fact, Galatians 3:28 reminds us that in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” When it comes to value, worth, and standing before God, men and women are completely equal. Even when Scripture talks about headship in the home, like in Ephesians 6:4, it says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord.” It doesn’t say, “Obey your father only.” There is a shared responsibility and partnership in the home, but there is also a structure of order.
 
Think about the relationship between God the Father and God the Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:28, “My Father is greater than I,” but also said in John 10:30, “I and My Father are one.” So, which is it? Well, it’s both. Jesus and the Father are equal in essence, power, and Deity. Yet, within the Trinity, there is an order.
 
Philippians 2:5–8 (NKJV)
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
 
Jesus is fully God. He was, is, and always will be equal with the Father. Yet, He willingly submitted Himself to the Father’s plan, even to the point of death. Does that submission make Him inferior? Of course not. It’s about order, not value.
 
Paul reiterates this in 1 Corinthians 11:3, where he writes, “The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.” Even within the Godhead, we see submission. Jesus submitted to the Father’s will when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
 
So, in 1 Peter 3:1, when Peter says, “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands,” he’s pointing to that same principle. It’s not about inferiority; it’s about reflecting God’s order in the home. And he goes on to say that this submission can have a powerful impact: “Even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.”
 
This is where actions speak louder than words. Think about it—your life is always speaking, even when you’re silent. It reminds me of the game charades. Imagine you’re trying to act out the word running—it’s easy, right? You just pretend to run, and everyone gets it immediately. But then someone gets a word like “hope” or “kindness”, and they’re left standing there, unsure of how to act it out.
 
In the same way, Peter is speaking to these first-century wives who had come to Christ and were now facing tension in their homes. Their husbands were unbelievers, and this new faith had created a strain. Peter’s message to them is clear: Don’t let there be unnecessary tension in your home. Instead, he encourages them to remain loyal to their husbands and to live in such a way that their very lifestyle communicates the gospel.
 
Peter is saying, “Let your life preach. Let your love and conduct show the love of Christ.” He’s telling these wives that their husbands should know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that there is no other human being more important to them than their spouse. And that message - the message of love and respect - will resonate louder than any words ever could.
 
Now, someone might think, “I know what I’ll do! I’ll turn on the Christian radio station as loud as I can when my husband gets home. Or I’ll slip little gospel tracts into his lunch bag every day. Maybe I’ll make sure the car is always tuned to the Christian channel, even if he wasn’t listening to it before. Or I’ll arrange for Christian men to drop by and invite him to church.”
 
While none of those things are inherently bad, Peter’s point is this: Your life will preach louder than all of that combined. It’s not about forcing the message onto your spouse; it’s about living it out in a way that’s undeniable.
 
Peter commends a believing wife’s Christlike behavior, which will draw him in and soften his heart in ways words alone never could.
 
2. Her Superior Attraction
 
Next, Peter emphasizes the importance of a wife’s inner beauty. In today’s world, so much value is placed on physical beauty. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with physical beauty, Scripture reminds us of its limits. Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised.” A woman who has a deep reverence for God possesses a beauty that never fades.
 
Let’s be honest - physical beauty changes as we age. Notice I’m saying it the right way: it changes. And that’s natural. There’s nothing wrong with that. But Peter’s focus is on an enduring beauty, one that doesn’t fade. In 1 Peter 3:3, he writes, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward - arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel.”
 
Now, some have taken this verse too far, suggesting that women shouldn’t wear jewelry, style their hair, or wear makeup. But that’s not what Peter is saying. If he were, then he’d also be saying, “Don’t put on clothes,” which, of course, isn’t the point at all. Peter isn’t forbidding outward adornment; he’s saying, “Don’t let your beauty be merely outward.”
 
Instead, Peter encourages women to emphasize what matters most. In verse 4, he says, “Rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
 
This inner beauty - the kind that doesn’t fade - is where the priority should lie. Peter is calling for a godly woman to cultivate her inner self, her heart, because that’s the kind of beauty that lasts a lifetime and into eternity. It’s also the kind of beauty that can draw an unbelieving husband toward Christ.
 
1 Timothy 4:7–8 says, “…exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” While physical exercise and care for the body have some value, the greater priority is spiritual discipline.
 
Think about how much time, energy, and money we spend on physical exercise and appearance - there’s nothing wrong with that - but Peter reminds us that the priority for a godly woman is the hidden person on the inside. Why? Because that inner beauty will remain and will be winsome, attractive, and impactful, especially to an unbelieving spouse.
 
Peter also touches on the character of this inner beauty, focusing on two qualities: gentleness and a quiet spirit.
 
Some might think gentleness means weakness, but that’s not what Scripture teaches. Jesus Himself says in Matthew 11:29-30, “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.” That word “gentle” is the same idea Peter uses here, and it means “strength under control.” Gentleness isn’t weakness—it’s power that is restrained and directed.
 
In fact, gentleness is listed as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” So when Peter says a woman’s beauty should include gentleness, he’s saying her strength, her responses, her words - all of it - should be under God’s control, under the lordship of Jesus. And that kind of beauty is far more attractive than anything merely physical.

Then Peter mentions a quiet spirit. Sometimes we misunderstand this to mean a woman should simply be silent, but that’s not what the word truly means. A quiet spirit is one that is calm, steady, and unshaken. Think of a peaceful lake, calm and still, reflecting the beauty around it. It’s a woman who rests in the Lord, trusting Him in all circumstances.
 
When life is disturbing and when people are disturbed, a godly woman can bring a calmness without adding to the disturbance. A godly woman, who is undisturbed within herself, can help quiet and calm things down in a home. That kind of spirit, Peter says, is precious in the sight of God.
 
So, Peter is not devaluing outward beauty, but he’s pointing to a greater, incorruptible beauty - one that flows from a gentle and quiet spirit, rooted in God. That kind of beauty not only pleases the Lord but also has the power to draw others, especially an unbelieving spouse, to Christ.
 
 3. Her Spiritual Appeal
 
The final thing I want you to see is her spiritual appeal. In 1 Peter 3:1, Peter explains that the way a believing wife lives her life can be winsome and attractive, drawing her husband toward the gospel. Peter isn’t saying this guarantees salvation, but it does create a powerful opportunity for it to happen. He writes that a husband “without a word may be won by the conduct of their wives.”
 
Peter even points to the example of Sarah, Abraham’s wife in the Old Testament, as a model of this kind of spiritual attractiveness. Sarah is described in Scripture as physically beautiful—so much so that when she and Abraham traveled to Egypt, Abraham feared for his life. He told Sarah, “Say you are my sister, so that I may be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you” (Genesis 12:13). That’s how attractive she was—Abraham thought others might kill him just to keep her.
 
Yet Peter doesn’t focus on Sarah’s outward beauty. Instead, he recognizes her inner beauty - her respect and submission to her husband, even in challenging situations. When Abraham told Sarah to leave their home and follow him to an unknown land, she went with him, trusting in both her husband and God’s plan. When Abraham made the wrong choice in Egypt by asking her to lie, Sarah went along with it - not because it was right, but because she trusted God would ultimately protect and guide them. And God did hold Abraham accountable for his actions, but Sarah’s willingness to follow demonstrated her respect and trust.
 
In Genesis 18, when three visitors - one of whom was the Lord - came to Abraham and announced that Sarah would have a child, Abraham rushed into the tent and asked Sarah to prepare a meal for their guests. Sarah didn’t respond with frustration or disrespect, even though she could have. Instead, she willingly helped. This is the kind of respect Peter commends.
 
In 1 Peter 3:6, it says Sarah “obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.” Now, this doesn’t mean she saw Abraham as her Savior or Master but rather that she showed him deep respect. Peter encourages wives to emulate this kind of respect for their husbands.
 
In verse 5, Peter explains that this kind of behavior comes from trusting in God. “For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.” These women entrusted themselves to God, just as Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father’s will, even when it led to the cross.

And then Peter says something powerful in the second half of verse 6: “Whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” This means living out your faith in front of your spouse without fear. Even if your husband opposes the gospel, you can live boldly, trusting God with the outcome.
 
One writer put it this way: “His obstinacy will not scare her away from her faith.” In other words, a godly wife doesn’t shrink back from living out her Christian convictions, even in the face of opposition. She remains steadfast, trusting that her life and conduct will speak volumes.
 
A powerful example of this in church history is Monica, the mother of Augustine. Monica’s husband, Patricius, wasn’t a believer. Yet Monica served him with love and respect, living out her faith consistently. By the end of his life, Patricius gave his heart to Christ. Reflecting on his parents, Augustine wrote this tribute to Monica: “She served her husband as her master and did all she could to win him for You, O God, by her conduct, by which You made her so beautiful. Finally, when her husband was at the end of his earthly span, she gained him for You.”
 
This is exactly what Peter is describing - a life so beautiful, both spiritually and physically, that it draws others toward Christ. Every person must ultimately choose to come to God on their own, but a godly wife can remove every excuse her husband might have. She can make the gospel irresistible by the way she lives and loves.
 
But let me be clear - this doesn’t mean the husband doesn’t need to hear the gospel. Living out your faith is crucial, but so is sharing the message. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Every person needs to hear the gospel and respond by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior.
 
So, wives, let your life be a testimony - a living example of Christ’s love. Pray for your husband, live out your faith, and when the opportunity comes, share the gospel message. Together, your words and your actions can point him to the Savior.
 
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the beautiful design You have for marriage and the roles You’ve given us to reflect Your love and order. Lord, help me to live out my faith with a quiet strength, letting my actions and attitude speak louder than my words. Help me cultivate a gentle and quiet spirit that brings peace and reflects Your grace in my home. When challenges arise, give me the courage to trust You fully and to remain steadfast in my faith. May my life be a testimony of Your transforming power, drawing my spouse and others closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Christians today are living in a culture that is moving in a completely different direction than the one God calls us to. The culture says to go one way, but we, as God’s people, live under the lordship of Jesus Christ, following the truths found in His Word. If Jesus Christ is truly Lord, that truth should be demonstrated in how we treat His Word and how we live our lives.

As Christians, we are going against the flow of this world, walking in obedience to Christ.
In the first century, Peter wrote to believers scattered throughout Roman colonies in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). These believers were Roman citizens, but they were no longer living in Rome. They found themselves misunderstood and mistreated by the culture around them.

Peter’s message to them remains clear and relevant for us today:  Don’t be surprised when the world doesn’t understand your priorities as a Christian. Expect it. Anticipate it. And use it as an opportunity to further the gospel message.
 
Peter shows how submission—an idea that is countercultural both then and now—can be a powerful witness in different areas of life:

Submission in Society  

In chapter 2, Peter called Christians to submit to governing authorities, even when the government was corrupt or misunderstood their faith. Remember, in the first century, Christians declared, “Jesus is Lord,” which directly contradicted Rome’s claim that “Caesar is Lord.” Yet Peter still said, “Submit to the governing authorities” (1 Peter 2:13-14).

Does this mean we obey the government when it commands us to sin? Absolutely not!
For example, in Exodus 1, Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew boys, but they refused—choosing to obey God rather than man. Similarly, in Acts 5:29, Peter and John were told to stop preaching in Jesus’ name. Their response? “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

These examples remind us that submission to earthly authorities does not include disobedience to God. However, these exceptions shouldn’t be used as an excuse to justify rebellion or a lack of submission in everyday life.
 
Peter’s challenge to us is this: As Christians, we should be known for our submission to governing authorities because we recognize that God has ordained them for our good (Romans 13:1-2).

Submission in the Workplace  

Peter also addressed submission in the context of employment. He urged believers to submit to their employers—even those who were harsh or unfair.

As Christians, our work ethic and attitude should reflect our faith. We should strive to be the kind of employees who honor God through our diligence and integrity. Peter’s point was simple: Submission in the workplace is a powerful witness to those around us.
 
Submission in Christ’s Example  

At the end of chapter 2, Peter pointed to Jesus as the ultimate example of submission. Jesus submitted to the Father’s will by willingly going to the cross for our sins. He endured suffering, rejection, and death to accomplish God’s plan of salvation.

Now, Peter carries this theme of submission into the home in 1 Peter 3:1-6:
 
Submission in the Home  

1 Peter 3:1-6 (NKJV):  
¹ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,  
² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.  
³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—  
⁴ rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.  
⁵ For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,  
⁶ as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.  

The context of this passage is essential to understanding what Peter is really addressing. This is about a spiritual mismatch—a situation where two individuals are married, but one becomes a Christian while the other does not share the same faith.
 
As a result, tension arises in the home. The unbelieving husband may feel suspicious or confused. He doesn’t understand his wife’s new loyalty to Jesus or her priorities. She’s spending time with people he doesn’t know, attending church services he’s unfamiliar with, and her devotion to Jesus seems to overshadow her loyalty to him.

Peter’s advice to these women is to let your life preach. Peter writes, “…they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.” This doesn’t mean the husband doesn’t need to hear the gospel, but it emphasizes that a godly life speaks louder than words. A life marked by love, respect, and Christlike behavior can soften even the hardest heart.
 
A Broader Principle for All Marriages  

While this passage specifically addresses spiritual mismatches, it applies to all marriages. Peter encourages wives to cultivate a spirit of submission—not out of inferiority, but out of trust in God’s plan for the home.
 
But let’s clarify: Submission does not mean wives are inferior to their husbands. Galatians 3:28 reminds us that, in Christ, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Submission is about order, not value. It’s about reflecting God’s design for the home.  God has established divine authority and order in every area of life: the government, the church, the workplace, and the home. His design is that husbands lovingly lead their families, and wives graciously submit to that leadership.
 
This design is countercultural. The world tells us that submission is weakness, but God’s Word shows us that submission is strength under control.  As Peter reminds us, this kind of submission has a powerful impact—not only on our marriages but also on the world around us.

Many years ago[1], there was a small, two-engine airplane preparing to take off in bad weather. A handful of people were on board, and the pilot had already cranked up the engines, ready to go. Suddenly, through the flashes of lightning, you could see the silhouette of a man running toward the plane. He got on board and had a heated exchange with the pilot.  

  Then that man turned to the passengers and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is [such-and-such], and I am the developer of this aircraft. I’m the one who designed it. I know what this plane can and cannot do, and I’m telling you it is not safe to fly in these conditions. The storm is too dangerous for this aircraft. My recommendation is that you come off the plane with me.”
 
  The pilot then addressed the passengers and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been flying this plane for years. I know exactly what it’s capable of. Don’t worry—we’re fine. Buckle up, and we’ll get to our destination on time.”

  Now imagine yourself sitting there. What would you do?
 
  Only one woman out of the group chose to get off the plane. She left with the developer. That woman was Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of one of our presidents. And moments later, the plane attempted to take off, but it crashed in the storm. Tragically, every person on board lost their life. The only one spared was the woman who listened to the creator of the aircraft.

  When we read the Bible and see God’s instructions for the home, we are faced with a decision. God comes to us and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, I am the Creator of the home. I’m the One who designed marriage. I created you, and I created your spouse. I know how you’re meant to interact. Follow My way.”
 
  But then, the voice of the world’s culture steps up and says, “Don’t listen to that outdated thinking! I know what works and what doesn’t. If you follow what the Bible says, you’ll be mistreated, taken advantage of, and mishandled. Don’t submit. Do it your way.”

  So, whose voice are you going to listen to? The One who created marriage and knows how it can flourish, or the world’s culture, which promises freedom but so often leads to destruction? The choice is yours.

  God’s ways are always best. When we follow His design, not only can our homes flourish, but they can also become a powerful witness to the world around us.
 
  Let your life preach. Let your love and conduct reflect the gospel. And trust God to work through you—even in the most challenging circumstances.

  Whether in society, the workplace, or the home, submission is a powerful witness. It’s not about weakness—it’s about faith, trust, and obedience to God’s plan.
 
  So, ask yourself today: Are you willing to follow God’s design? Will you let your life be a testimony of His grace and love?  The choice is yours. Let’s choose to honor God in every area of our lives.

  “Heavenly Father, I want to live out my faith in a way that draws others to You. I pray my actions and attitude reflect Your love and grace, especially in my relationships. Help me to submit to the authorities You have placed in my life, showing respect and honor as a reflection of my faith in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
 
 [1] Taken from Bob Russell, “Distinctions of a Christian Marriage”, 3-8-1987.

Ephesians 4:7-8 (NKJV) "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.'"

My dad was a carpenter. He loved all kinds of woodworking, like building custom cabinets. The smell of sawdust reminds me of him and the time I spent in his shop growing up. The sound of an electric saw also makes me very nostalgic. Dad genuinely felt God had gifted him that way, and he used it to bless people.

Well, being a carpenter, Dad had all kinds of tools. He told me one time, "It's tough being a carpenter." I asked why. He said, "Because every job requires another tool. It doesn't matter what job I'm on, I always realize there's another tool, another bit, or some other little thing I have to go get from the store." He said it would've been easier being a painter. You buy the paint, a ladder, and a couple of types of brushes - that's it. But not a carpenter. Dad had a whole shop full of tools. Some he rarely used, but he still kept them because certain jobs required certain tools.

I'd go to those job sites with him. We'd "work together," which meant he did most of the actual work while I ran back and forth getting his tools. The problem was I didn't know the names for any of his tools. So, I'd go back and forth. "The blue one." "This one is blue." "Not that one." I'd say, "I don't know which one you want." He'd go to the truck and pull out this tiny little thing and say, "This. This is what I needed." Then he'd go right back to work. We did that for about an hour before I started saying, "Dad, I'm hungry." ... It's so tough to get good help these days.

When Lydia and I were first married, I didn't have access to all of his tools. I just had a couple of things, and I didn't want to spend money on buying tools. I remember trying to hammer something with a stapler. It never worked, but I couldn't find my hammer. I had to learn that certain tools work for certain jobs.

As someone who teaches others God's Word, my toolbox is my library. Just like Dad, I have different books that I use for different messages that I prepare. Years after I have read a book, while I'm thinking and preparing a message, that book will come back to my mind; I'll locate it and find something useful to share from it.

This verse says that Jesus Christ "gave gifts to us". There are several passages from God's Word that tell us about those gifts:

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 - for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

Romans 12:6-8 - Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ephesians 4:11 - He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

1 Corinthians 12:28 - And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

1 Peter 4:9-10 - Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Corinthians 7:7 - For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

When you put all of these lists together, you will have a list that looks something like this:

22 Gifts in the Bible
 
I. SPEAKING Gifts
1) Apostle
2) Prophet
3) Evangelism
4) Pastor
5) Teacher
6) Exhortation
7) The Word of Wisdom
8) The Word of Knowledge
 
II. SERVING Gifts
1) Faith
2) Helps
3) Mercy
4) Hospitality
5) Giving
6) Discernment
7) Administration
8) Leadership
9) Chastity (or Singleness)
10) Serving or Ministry

III. SIGNIFYING Gifts
1) Gifts of Healings
2) Miracles
3) Gift of Tongues
4) Interpretation of Tongues
 
Old Testament extra: Craftsmanship (Ex 35:20-35; 36:1-3)

What if we looked at each person in the church as a useful, but different, tool? Here's what the passage is saying. Grace was given to each one of us, not the same grace, but according to the measure of Christ's gift. The size and shape of your gifting has been specifically chosen. Jesus gave you a gift for a purpose. The things that come naturally to you, the things that feel like nothing special, may be exactly what someone else needs most. That very well may be your special gift. Don't look at someone else's gifting and wish you had it. You have a tool selected by the Master, and you have been placed where you are for a specific reason or job. The Master Carpenter knows exactly which tool He needs for the next job. The question is: Do you know which tool you have?

Reflection Question: What tool/gift has Jesus personally given to you? What comes naturally to you? Do you know where He wants you to serve?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for gifting me on purpose. Help me stop overlooking what comes naturally to me and start seeing it as a tool in Your hands. Show me where to use it for the good of Your church and to fulfill Your purposes in my life. In Jesus' Name, amen.

1 Peter 2:11 says “…abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” The word “war”, in the Greek language, implies an ongoing engagement, not a single battle. The fleshly lusts will maintain an ongoing war inside of your mind, emotions and will that no one can see. It is invisible, but significant.

We come to church and smile at one another. Someone asks, "How's it going?" We say, “Great!” or “Fine!” or “Better than I deserve!” - but no one really knows the invisible war that's going on in our lives where we are battling the flesh that is in us and the world that is around us. This battle is described in 1 John 2:15-17.

1 John 2:15–17 (NKJV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Christians experience this invisible war because we know there are certain lifestyles and behaviors we are to avoid, but we also have appetites which God gave us to satisfy.  Peter is specifically saying to abstain from sexual immorality, but God gave us the appetite for sexual intimacy. This appetite is designed by God to be satisfied in the confines of a marriage between a husband and a wife (see Genesis 2:24 and Hebrews 13:4).

Sadly, people today often choose to satisfy that appetite in ways that God did not intend - fornication (sex before marriage), adultery (sex with anyone other than your marriage partner), homosexuality, addiction to pornography, etc. The inner war moves beyond that person to include guilt from past addictions, difficulty with forgiving oneself over past relationships, divorce, and broken homes. Peter speaks of the inner war as the result of indulging the flesh, but we know the end result impacts others as well.

This can be applied to other areas as well. God gave us the appetite to eat and drink, but we should abstain from overindulgence or an unhealthy diet. God gave us the appetite to achieve, but we should abstain from becoming a workaholic. God gave us the appetite for rest, but we should abstain from laziness. Peter says, “For your own good, abstain. If you don’t, you will experience an ongoing war in your very soul.”

Wayne Grudem writes, “Such a command implies that inward desires are not uncontrollable but can be consciously nurtured or restrained—a needed rebuke to our modern society which takes feelings as a morally neutral ‘given’ and disparages any who would say that some feelings and desires are wrong.”[1]

God's Word says some feelings and desires are wrong and don’t need to be acted upon. Our world argues, "No way, if I feel it, it must be right. If I want to do it, then I should be allowed to do it." God's Word says abstain from “fleshly lusts”, and God never tells us to do something that He does not also give us the power to accomplish. God says abstain so He has given you the power to say “no” to that temptation.

Galatians 5:16-25 contrasts the Spirit-filled life and the flesh-filled life.

Galatians 5:16–25 (NKJV)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
 
The Christian who wants to live in victory over the sins of the flesh should remember Galatians 5:16, which reads, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” The “not” is emphatic in the Greek, meaning, “You will not ever fulfill the lust of the flesh.” It is a powerful promise from God’s Word. Do the things you ought to do, and you will not do the things you ought not to do. Spend your time focusing on the Spirit-filled life. Fill your life with what would please God. We sing a wonderful song entitled, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” which includes these lines:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

Those fleshly temptations will begin to lose their appeal when you are in love with Jesus, filling your life with that which God has provided for you to enjoy. Jesus wants to meet our needs. He wants to satisfy those appetites, but in a way that is healthy and life-giving. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” It doesn’t mean that you won’t be tempted to sin. You will still have to say “no” to temptations. However, instead of always saying “no” to the wrong things, we should focus primarily on saying “yes” to the right things! Our minds should be consumed with the positive rather than the negative.

The battle of the flesh and the spirit can be imagined as a fight between two dogs. The dog that will win is the one that is fed, because they are stronger. As a Christian, if you feed the flesh, the lower nature, the base instincts that dominate this world, you will do battle in your soul. You feed your spirit as you read the Bible, pray, live in community with the people of God in a local church, serve God and others with your gifts, share your faith with others, and enjoy those things that God commends in His Word. If God says “yes” to it, enjoy it! If God says “no” to it, abstain from it.

Another way to gain victory over the “fleshly lusts” is to see the end result of giving in. Lust leads to sin, and sin leads to death.
 
James 1:13–15 (NKJV)
13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
 
When I was a Youth Pastor, I encouraged the teenagers to “look for the hook” – that is, look past the bait. Every enticement of the world has a “hook”. Jesus said the devil comes to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10), and he will try to accomplish this by enticing you to sin. You may think, “Pastor, that’s a lesson for the teenagers,” but it still applies to all of us.

David was not a teenager when he fell into sin with Bathsheba. Noah was not a teenager when he got drunk and naked after being delivered from the world-wide flood. Abraham was married when he went into Egypt and lied about his wife Sarah to the Pharaoh. The truth is, enticements to sin come to adults just as they do to teenagers.

When advertisements come to sinful behaviors and lifestyles, they never show you the end result of that addiction. Look at alcohol advertisements. They show you young, thin, happy adults having a good time. They never show you the addiction, the wasted money, the broken homes, or the regret from decisions made under the influence of alcohol. Advertisers show you the worm, which is the bait to lure you. They never show you the hook. Look for the hook.

I'm not a fisherman, I've only fished a couple of times, but I remember one in particular where we had a competition to see who could catch the most fish in an hour. We'd also give an award to the person who caught the biggest fish and another award to the person who caught the smallest fish.

Well, I didn't know how to fish very well. So someone graciously helped me by providing me with a reel, attaching the hook, and putting a little worm on the line.  I put it in the water and sat there for 45 minutes. While others were catching fish left and right, I saw no bites whatsoever. A few times I thought I might have caught something, but when I pulled it up, it was just seaweed. I threw it back in the water and waited again.

Finally, with only 10 minutes left in the competition and still no catch, someone tactfully came up to me and asked to see my hook. When I pulled it up, it was covered in seaweed. He wiped off the old stuff, put two large worms on the hook in such a way that made it look like four worms, and said, "Now throw that in." Two minutes later, I caught something! I even took home one of the awards - the smallest fish award. I was very proud of that award. The truth is, I was trying to entice these fish with a hook and no bait. No fish is enticed with a hook.

Satan is smarter than that. He will not entice you with poverty, addiction, divorce, estrangement from family, or anything else he wants you to experience. He will entice you with fornication, adultery, alcohol, recreational drugs, pornography, and a whole host of other “baits”. You have to be smart enough to “look for the hook” and avoid it. Realize this warning is for our good! God is protecting us from heartache and disappointment. He loves us and wants to give us abundant life! Say “yes” to God’s best. Abstain from fleshly lusts!

Another way to gain victory over the fleshly lusts is to take drastic action against sin. Jesus says in Matthew 5:30, “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Jesus is not saying to physically dismember yourself. He’s metaphorically saying take drastic steps to avoid sin. Establish guardrails that will keep you from giving into fleshly lusts.

The world may never understand the guardrails that we establish that protect us and keep our integrity intact. Even if they don’t understand, we are remaining faithful to God and serve as good examples before others. “The Billy Graham Rule” refers to a decision that Billy Graham made early in his ministry to never meet, travel or dine alone with another woman other than his wife. Graham knew that he was away from his family a lot, and he wanted to maintain his faithfulness to Ruth and his integrity before others.

This rule came to the forefront of American politics when it was revealed that Mike Pence, a conservative Christian politician, kept the same rule. Many did not understand the rationale. One writer explained the reaction of many who did not understand Pence’s practice, “How sexist! screamed half of the internet…. Conservative Christians who attempted to stand up for Pence were quickly shouted down.”[2] Leah Marie Ann Klett interviewed Pence and wrote about this for The Christian Post. She wrote,
 
Reflecting on the polarizing reactions to his adherence to the rule, Pence stressed that maintaining professional boundaries has not hindered opportunities for women in his team, instead fostering a respectful work environment.

“It was remarkable that we were being criticized for putting a premium on respecting our marriage and avoiding the appearance of impropriety and also creating conditions in the workplace that were respectful of the men and women that worked with us,” Pence said.[3]

Pence and Graham, along with many, many others who live by this rule are simply prioritizing their marriages and staying faithful to their spouses. This may sound drastic, but the goal is to set up guardrails and avoid the conditions that would make it easy to sin. These are a few principles, though there are others, that can help us to live out the command in 1 Peter 2:11 to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

“Dear Lord, thank You for warning me away from temptations that will draw me away from Your best for my life. I want to abstain from the fleshly lusts. I want to experience Your victory. Help me walk in the Spirit. Help me look for the hook. Help me establish guardrails. I pray that I will be the man (or, woman) of integrity and purity You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

[1] Wayne Grudem, 1 Peter, Tyndale NT Commentaries, vol. 17 (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 122.
[2] https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/03/mike-pence-and-the-sexism-of-the-billy-graham-rule/521328/.
[3] https://www.christianpost.com/books/mike-pence-on-the-billy-graham-rule-and-whats-next.html.

1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” “Sojourners” and “pilgrims” enforces the idea that Christians are to be different from the people of this world. This world is not a Christian’s permanent home. It is temporary, and our true citizenship is in heaven. “Fleshly lusts” points to the fact that this world, empowered by the devil, tempts Christians through fleshly lusts. These are unwholesome desires that would have been natural to indulge before trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord. But, as long as we live in this world, we will continue to contend with the flesh. The temptation is to satisfy a normal, healthy appetite in an unholy way.

For example, God has given us a sexual drive, and yet he gives us a way to meet the appetite. He commends marriage between a husband and a wife where they can fulfill that sexual drive. Yet, here, Peter says to abstain from fleshly lusts, which seeks to indulge the flesh in unholy ways. He warns them if they do not abstain it will “war against the soul.” He is commending this abstinence for their own good.
 
Adrian Rogers once said it this way, “Every time God says ‘Thou shalt not’ in Scripture, He is saying, ‘Don’t hurt yourself.’ Whenever God says in Scripture ‘Thou shalt,’ He is saying, ‘Help yourself to happiness.’”[1] It has been expressed this way: God condemns sin because it is bad for us. It’s not bad for us because God condemns it. Oftentimes we say to ourselves, “Well, God condemns it so I should avoid it,” but we ought to think deeper and say, “God condemns it because it's bad for me.” These statements simply convey the fact that God loves us enough to warn us away from hurting ourselves by our own poor choices.

  Christians often tolerate habits in their lives which are weights to all that God wants to do through them. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” If you have ever noticed track and field athletes, they are not wearing anything that would weigh them down or slow down their pace. This verse means there can be weights that hold us back. These are not necessarily sins. He refers to both “weights” and “sins” that “so easily ensnare us.” The New Living Translates it this way, “…let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

  Some things in this world may look attractive and may appear that they can meet that appetite. However, it’s an unholy thing. It’s not as God designed. It’s not as God commands. It’s for our own good. God’s word of warning is to “abstain” from those things for our own good.

  God is not opposed to your having fun. The Christian life should be exciting. However, when you live according to God’s standards, you will have fun and not feel guilty the next day. Peter is trying to say there are God-honoring ways to meet your needs, and there are unhealthy, fleshly ways which ultimately will not satisfy. Christians should avoid satisfying the flesh. There will be an inner battle. Your “soul” is your mind, will and emotions. For the sake of your own inner peace, don’t give in to those fleshly desires. A mature Christian understands the need to avoid certain behaviors and habits.

  In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says, "I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." If it is not good for him, Paul will avoid it. He will discipline his life. God wants to build His church with mature believers who can live disciplined lives for His glory.

  God wants His followers to influence this world for Him. 1 Peter 2:12 adds, “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” If Christians are connecting with the people of God, ministering according to who they are in Christ and disciplining their lives to reflect holiness, the fourth mark will be an ever-growing influence on society as a whole.
 
  1 Peter 2:9 states, “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The word "proclaim" literally means “to evangelize out” or “to advertise.” Our mission is to advertise God's beauty to the world around us. God wants us to proclaim in such a way that we may evangelize the glories of God to a watching world.

  Peter is encouraging God’s people to live our lives in such a way that even when others may misunderstand or speak negatively about us, they will ultimately recognize our good deeds and praise God. Our actions speak louder than our words, and the way we live before others can either attract or repel people from Christ. We can preach the gospel with our words, but we also need to preach the gospel with our lives as well. You may have someone twist your biblical convictions or twist what you say in a negative way, but your life lived before them will shine through.

  The end of verse 12 says they will “glorify God in the day of visitation”. This means when God visits a person in judgment, they will either say one of two statements. They may say, “This person’s words and conduct led me to Christ. I glorify God through the good works I saw in this person’s life.” Or, they may glorify God in the day of visitation though they shunned Christ in this life.

  Philippians 2:9–11 (NKJV)
 9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 
 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 
 11and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
  The day of visitation, or of judgment, will be a time of reminder to them that they not only heard the gospel, they also saw the gospel lived out before them. If they rejected Christ in this life, they will be condemned.

  Ruth Graham once said, "A saint is someone who makes it easier for someone to believe in Jesus.” We should ask ourselves if we, through our words and actions, are drawing people to Christ or keeping them from Christ. Our mission is to point people to Jesus, drawing people to Jesus and sharing the hope they can find in Jesus. God wants to use each of His people to build His Church and accomplish His mission in the world.
  
“Dead God, I pray my life reflects You to others. I pray that I would make it easy for someone to believe in You and love You. I love You, Lord. Help me be a witness for You. May I never be ashamed to follow You. Give me Your strength to live for You and point people to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
 
   [1] https://x.com/lwfministries/status/1214361148306415617, accessed 8/8/2024.

In God’s church, one’s ministry is discovered through one’s identity. 1 Peter 2:9 explains that identity in four ways: “a chosen generation,” “a royal priesthood,” “a holy nation,” and “His own special people.” This is how Jesus describes His followers.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “you are a chosen generation.” The word “generation” literally means “the elect offspring.” It is describing when life begins creating life. This simply means that you are in the family of God. He identifies you now not as an offspring of God. John 3:3 says, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’”

He continues, “you are a royal priesthood.” The word “royal” means “kingly.” You are a kingly priest. Did you know that you are royalty? Did you know that you are a king, a queen?

There was a television show called “Suddenly Royal” which showed a mechanic named David Howe from Maryland who discovered he was royalty. How does he interact with royal society? How is he supposed to act? Morgan Wright wrote about his story,

“It’s just a bizarre story and unbelievable story. A lot of people ask me what I get, and not much, something I can claim,” said Drew Howe, manager at Mr. Tire and king of the Isle of Man.
Howe actually got much more when he discovered he was a king. He appeared on TLC’s “Suddenly Royal” which aired last year and documented his trip to the Isle of Man.
This all stemmed as a result of Howe researching his ancestry online and posting to social media about his findings.
“Started posting stuff online, and then eventually I got an email one day – a guy saying he was a genealogist in London and said he thought I might be the king of Isle of Man,” Howe said.
Howe’s claim to fame is well documented and even well supported. An official royal press release states that David Howe is the legal heir to the Kingdom of Mann and the Isles.
The stamp of approval, however, came from the queen herself. Queen Elizabeth II published a legal notice to Howe and his claim as hereditary de jure King of Man.
“Back in 2007, my claim was Gazetted in the London Gazette – that’s the Queen’s paper of record. So, if the White House put out a publication, that’s essentially what the London Gazette is,” Howe said.
He’s an everyday guy and family man, but he has an extraordinary background.
“Early on, it was kind of surreal, but now it’s part of everyday life balancing being a manager for Mr. Tire and being a king, where I really don’t have to do anything,” Howe said.
His duties as king are limited as the head of state, and the Lord of Mann is Queen Elizabeth II. [1]

 While this is certainly noteworthy, something far more significant is realizing that every Christian is suddenly royal in God’s eyes!
 
 We are not simply royal, we are priests. In the Old Testament, the Levitical priesthood, from the tribe of Levi, would serve as the priests for the nation of Israel. They were the only ones who would be offering sacrifices in the temple. Only one of them would be annually selected to offer incense in the Holy of Holies. Before John the Baptist was born, Zachariah was serving in the temple, along with the other priests, when he was chosen to offer incense that year. It was during that event, Gabriel spoke to him that John the Baptist would be born from Elizabeth, Zachariah’s wife, in her old age. That year, he alone was given access to the Holy of Holies.
 
 Well, Matthew 27:51 records how the temple curtain, keeping people from the Holy of Holies, was torn from top to bottom after Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. This symbolized that God’s presence could be accessed by anyone, not simply by one chosen priest. Now, through what Jesus did on the cross, anyone could enter the Holy of Holies, or have access to God. Today, the Old Testament Levitical priesthood is no longer needed. Today, believers are priests and can come into the presence of God. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” So, as priests, believers have access to God.

  A priest is also someone who represents the people before God and represents God before the people. In Roman Catholicism, priests are referred to as “pontifex”, and the Pope is referred to as “pontifex maximus” or “greatest pontif.” The term "pontifex" originally referred to a member of the principal college of priests in ancient Rome. The word itself derives from Latin roots meaning "bridge builder.” Priests are bridge builders between God and man.
 
 God’s people today are to be bridges bringing people to Jesus Christ. Jesus Alone can take care of their sin problem. For those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, He will forgive them, cleanse them and bring them into the family of God. However, Christians can be bridge builders, bringing sinful man to holy God.

   A priest is also someone who offers sacrifices. Psalm 51:17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart.” Hebrews 13:15 says our praise and worship are sacrifices to God. Romans 12:1 says we can offer ourselves as “living sacrifices” to God. Philippians 4:18 says ones’ financial offerings can be a sweet-smelling incense before God.

  We are also called “a holy nation.” Isaiah 6:1-8 and Revelation 4:8 describe scenes in heaven where angels are surrounding the throne, saying “holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The characteristic of God highlighted by the angels is His holiness. Likewise, children of God should be known for their holiness.
 
 To be holy means to be clean in a polluted world. We get the words “sacred” and “set apart” from the word “holy”. It means being set apart, both from something and to something. A wedding band symbolizes two spouses being set apart in two different ways. Both spouses are set apart from all others, committing themselves to stay faithful to each other. There should be no competition outside of one’s marriage. Also, both spouses are also set apart to each other. This describes dedication and loyalty to one another. Spiritually, we should be set apart from sin. We should be set apart to God.

  To be holy also means to be different. Christians are living their lives differently than the people of this world. Christians are moving in a different direction. There is a philosophy amongst some of God’s people that the church must become more like the world in order to reach them. However, the Bible says that God’s people are different from this world. It’s actually when the church is different from the world that it inevitably attracts the world. Don’t be ashamed for living differently from friends, neighbors, family members or coworkers who are not Christians. The child of God should be walking the straight and narrow path, reflecting God to this world.

  Lastly, we are also called “His own special people.” I learned the phrase in the King James Version, which expresses it as a “peculiar people.” When Lydia and I were dating and just getting to know one another, she would say, “You’re kind of peculiar.” I told her that was in the Bible, and quoted this verse. Well, this phrase does not mean that if you are a Christian, you will be odd. The phrase can be illustrated this way. Imagine drawing a circle and proclaiming everything in that circle as belonging to God. It designates ownership. Christians belong to God. That’s why the newer versions will describe it as a special possession of God.
 
 One’s ministry should be expressed through these identities. Because we are in the family of God, our ministry should reflect God’s loving desire to grow that family. Because we are royal priests, our ministry should bring to God. Because we are holy, our ministry should be dedicated to God. Because we belong to God, our ministry should reflect His desire for our lives. These identities will guide our ministry to be Christ-honoring and reflecting God to others.
 
 “Father God, I praise You that You have brought me into the family of God! I am royalty! I am a priest! I am set apart for You! I am special to You! I offer my life to You as a sacrifice of my worship. You are worthy of my worship. I love You, In Jesus’ name, amen.”
 
   [1] https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/frederick-md-man-finds-out-hes-a-king-after-online-ancestry-research/, accessed 8/7/2024.

Perhaps you do not feel as though you are significant. However, God has a special place for you in His church. Martin Luther once said, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.“[1] Positively speaking, when I understand that I, too, am nothing, perhaps God can make something out of me. We need to realize that God wants to make something special out of us.

God's Word uses different images to convey how His church is to function. His church functions like a family. Ephesians 2:19 says, “You are members of God’s family” (NLT). Believers in Christ are brothers and sisters in Christ and are part of the family of God. His church functions like a body. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” His church functions like a bride. Ephesians 5:25-27 speaks to how husbands and wives relate to each other in marriage, and how it reflects Christ and His bride, the church. These images help us understand how a church is to function together.

In 1 Peter 2, the church is visualized like a building. He previously stated that Christ is the Cornerstone, and we are living stones being built together. Believers collectively are the building of God. We sometimes will state that we are “going to church” for worship. That’s fine, as long as we keep in mind that the building is not the church – believers are the church. Christians are the bricks, and God is placing each brick together to be His building for holy purposes.

We should come to the place where we understand our value is found in God’s church. There is nothing very special about the bricks, but there is something wonderful about the building. I read that one architect described building this way: “Good architecture is not an arrangement of beautiful materials; it is a beautiful arrangement of materials.”[2]

You and I are the materials God will use. We've given our life to Jesus Christ, and God is going to make something extraordinary out of something common. Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:16-18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."

In God’s Church, there is a special initiation that brings people together. Something happens when a person says, “Jesus, be my Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

1 Peter 2:5 says, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices." In this building, Jesus is the Cornerstone, but we are living stones. First, we come to Christ and then, we become like Christ. We are identified as a living stone, but what is our purpose?

The purpose of a stone is not to lie alone in a field. In my backyard, I have some gardening stones; some form a neat border wall, while others are stacked behind the garage. A stone on its own in a field doesn't serve much purpose unless it's connected to a building. Once a stone or brick is attached to a building, it gains a purpose.

A wall serves the purpose of protection and stability for the building. More bricks make a stronger building that safeguards from external elements. Walls are valuable for what they enclose. A brick is valuable only when it finds its place, just as we're meant to find our place in the building Jesus is constructing.

We should forever dismiss the idea of being a solitary Christian, thinking that we can be Christian without going to church. While it's true that you can be a Christian without attending church, if Jesus is truly your Lord, then He wants to use you to contribute to something special in His kingdom. He wants to build something out of you, but you're just one part of it. This highlights how we all rely on each other. Are you playing your part in the building of God's kingdom?

We must understand that our value lies in our unity, and we cannot say to one another, "I don't need you here," or claim that someone doesn't need us. We all need each other. We are interdependent and interconnected as the people of God. The church is not just a physical building, but we, as a community of believers, are the church. We unite to construct this beautiful building for the glory of God, relying on each other's support and cooperation.

Let's remember to support and encourage one another as we live in Christian community. Hebrews 10:25 says, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” The Living Bible paraphrases it this way, “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage…”

Picture yourself as a brick in the beautiful building God is constructing. Jesus holds us together (see Colossians 1:17). Look up and reassure the brick, “Stay strong!” Look to the left and say, “Stay with me!” Look to the brick on the right and say, “We’re in this together!” This is how we should keep encouraging each other as we are built together by Christ!

Remember how the Church is illustrated as a body in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27? Notice some of the verses from that passage:

1 Corinthians 12:12, 18, 21, 26-27 (NKJV)
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. …
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. …
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” …
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Each body part is important to the body. One important observation is that if a body part became severed from the rest of the body, its vitality and life would be gone. It is no longer valuable to the rest of the body. This passage highlights also that the weaker, less visible members of the body are oftentimes more significant to the body as well. 1 Corinthians 12:22–24 says, “No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it.”

Whether we are talking about the parts of a body or the bricks of a building, believers must see their value in the collective whole of the Church. We need one another. Every member is valuable.

“Lord, thank You, that You are showing me how valuable I am to You and to Your church. I pray that I find my place in Your body. I pray that I appreciate where You have placed me, to serve You and Your people and to touch people for You. I rejoice that You have placed me where I am. I will thrive in what You have called me to do. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

[1] https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/colorful-sayings-of-colorful-luther, accessed 8/72024.
[2] Adrian Rogers, “Life on the Rock,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), 1 Pe 2:4–9.

1 Peter 2:4–5 says, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
 
In John 6:51, Jesus refers to Himself as the “living bread.” In John 4:13-14 and John 7:37-39, Jesus says He is the Source of “living water.” Well, in 1 Peter 2:4, Jesus is referred to as the “living stone.” That phrase “living stone” is oxymoronic, because it communicates something with life and something that is inanimate. Stones represent stability. Stones represent something that cannot change. Jesus is sturdy and stable. Yet, He is not a dead stone. He is alive.

Then, the next verse describes how He brings life from the dead. When you come to Him, and believe on Him, then you, too, become a living stone. 1 Peter 2:5 says, “you also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices.” The process is: first you come to Jesus (the cornerstone), and then you become like Jesus (a living stone).

The King of Sparta in Ancient Greece would brag about the “mighty walls of Sparta.” How massive. How strong. One day a king came to visit. He asked, “I've heard about the massive walls of Sparta, where are they?” The King pointed to the well-disciplined soldiers of Sparta, and he said, “There are the mighty walls of Sparta!”

God is able to build up a spiritual house out of these living stones. A church is made up of people, not brick and mortar. The building may perish, but the church still exists because of the people of God. Individually, we may be a stone. Collectively, we are a building that God is putting together, one stone at a time. The building continues to grow as people continue to come to Jesus and become like Jesus. All for the glory of God.

Hebrews 3:6 says, “but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 adds, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” Believers are the house of God. We are the building of God.

The main verb of this verse is “are being built.” Some translations mistakenly turn this sentence into an imperative, “be built up.” However, it seems to be best translated as an indicative, a statement of something that is actually happening. They were being built up. Additionally, the verb is in the passive voice, which means it was something being done to them. They were not building themselves up. Someone else was building them up. His name is Jesus.

One toy that our boys always enjoyed playing with as they were younger were Magnetic plastic tiles. They are plastic shapes, but they have magnets all around the edges. They are able to be connected pretty quickly in order to build whatever structure you may want to build. Well, what is holding these plastic squares together? If they were just plastic shapes, they would just collapse. They couldn’t hold together. However, with the magnetic force at work, you can build enormous structures as one more plastic square or rectangle is attached at the right location. Now, this is a picture of the church. Believers all over the world join together as Christians. What force holds the church together? Jesus!

Colossians 1:17 says, “He [Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (NIV). We may walk around and think, “What’s keeping me on earth?” The answer is gravity. It is a force we cannot see. In the same way, Jesus Christ, the living stone, as people come to Him, esteem Him as precious, and believe on Him, He grafts them in. He adds to the building. He holds all of His followers together as living stones being built together for His glory!

“Dear God, thank You for making me one of Your children through what Jesus did for me. Thank You for connecting me to other believers as Your church. I pray that I stay faithful to You and to Your church. I pray that others can count on me to do my part in Your church. I pray our unity glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

"one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:6

If you are tuning a row of old pianos, you don't tune the first one and then tune the second to the first and the third to the second, right on down the line. If you test the last piano against the first, they are going to be off. The way to tune them all is to have one measuring standard. You tune every single piano to that one instrument, and then they are all in tune with each other. Each piano would be adjusted by using the same standard.

That is the answer to our unity in a local church. Get every single believer is anchored to Jesus. As we fall in love with Jesus and follow wholeheartedly the same Book - the Bible - truly, we look beside ourselves and say to each other, "You believe what I believe; you have the same priorities I have." The unity is not external pressure. It is not just putting everybody in the same room. It is anchoring every heart to the same core: Jesus, the same Word of God, "one God and Father of us all, one body, one faith."

When Lydia and I were dating, we came from different denominational backgrounds, and we talked about those differences over and over again. I finally looked at her and said, "We are going to come together on some of these differences at some point." She said, "Why do you say that? How can you be sure?" I said, "Because I love Jesus, and I know you love Jesus. I am anchoring my life to the Word of God, and I know you are too. We have the same Holy Spirit. He is going to work those differences out." And today, she says she is glad I could see that she was right. (I'm joking)

In reality, even though our backgrounds matter, as long as we are focusing on the same standard, we will move closer and closer to one another.

Here is what settles it for me. When we get to heaven, there won't be a Baptist village and a Pentecostal village and a Presbyterian village. The angels aren't going to ask what denomination you belonged to. Nobody is going to care about that. The only thing that will matter is what you believed about Jesus. We won't be having Pentecostal worship services at 3pm and Baptist worship services at 5pm. We are not going to be worshiping our differences. We are going to be worshiping Him.

So when you start getting bent out of shape over something small, ask yourself this: "Do I love Jesus more than I love my preference? Is this more about Him or about me getting my way?" If ten other believers tell you it's a small thing, it's probably a small thing. We all have the same Holy Spirit. We have the same Book. We worship the same Jesus. So move together as one Body in Christ, becoming something greater than any one of us could ever be alone. Stay unified by loving Jesus more than any preference you hold. Love Him more than anything else. He is the Anchor. He is our tuning instrument. That is what true unity in the church looks like. Hallelujah!

Reflection Question: Are you tuning yourself to one other? Or to Jesus and His Word?

Dear Heavenly Father, anchor my heart to Jesus and to Your Word. Where I have loved my preferences more than I love You, forgive me. Tune me to You, and bring me into tune with Your church. I look forward to worshipping together in heaven with my brothers and sisters. Help me display that same unity today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out: The Seven Pillars of Christian Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gcssrmc/14-seven-pillars-for-christian-unity-eph-4-4-6

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16

No matter what background you come from, whether you grew up non-denominational, Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, or something else, if you've lived long enough, you've probably noticed some of the strengths found in each of those traditions. My mentor, Dr. Bill, used to call himself a Bapto-metho-palian-congre-presby-gationalist. He felt affinity to some of each of these traditions and denominations. He collected the best of each denomination he studied and recognized the unity that existed in major doctrines.

Now, this isn't unity for unity's sake. There are differences and convictions we hold as believers. But sometimes we separate over really small issues. We go all in on a doctrine that has nothing to do with anybody's salvation, and instead of tolerating a difference of opinion or preference, we draw hard lines.

For example, take the subject of the end-time events prophesied in many places, like Daniel or the Book of Revelation. There are many different ideas, even in one congregation, about what is going to happen, and everybody is using the same Bible. We're committed to the Word, look at the same texts, and arrive at different conclusions. These convictions matter, but they do not keep one out of heaven. Disagreements abound on that subject.

Another example is how we interact with the Holy Spirit. Different denominations understand His work differently. I was not raised Southern Baptist. I chose to be one as an adult. What I found among Southern Baptists was a strong commitment to the Word of God and a passionate focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was drawn to their proclamation of God's Word being without error, in the original manuscripts, and infallible. I appreciated their desire to be guided by God's Word above other sources of authority (like personal experiences, which can be subjective and easily manipulated by emotions). I loved their desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, expanding God's kingdom through evangelism and missions. These were two reasons I chose to be a Southern Baptist.

But I'll be honest. For a time, I couldn't fully tell whether Southern Baptists had missed something important about the power, ministry, and Person of the Holy Spirit. The context I was raised in had a strong emphasis on the ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is very real to me, and His work is vital in my life.

Dr. Bill Bennett helped settle that for me. He had grown up Southern Baptist, gone to a Southern Baptist seminary, but he had also understood the reality of the Holy Spirit, which he said he did not learn from Southern Baptists. He blended a head full of Bible with a heart full of passionate zeal for the ministry of the Holy Spirit, depending on Him as a Person, not an influence, not a power, not an "it."

He would make statements like, "The Holy Spirit is RESIDENT in your life at salvation, but He wants to be PRESIDENT through His infilling." He said, "All Spirit and No Word, you BLOW UP. All Word and No Spirit, you DRY UP. But with both the Spirit and the Word, you GROW UP." He showed me that the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit are two sides of the same coin. You show me somebody who is fully in love with Jesus, fully submitted to His Lordship, and I'll show you somebody who is filled with the Holy Spirit. You show me somebody truly filled with the Holy Spirit, and I'll show you somebody living under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

So, I realized if Dr. Bill could be a Southern Baptist, so could I. I feel like my background has influenced me. I, too, feel like I am a Bapto-metho-palian-congre-presby-gationalist. I'm proud of what Southern Baptists have taught me, but I also understand that I can learn from anyone who holds God's Word as final authority and seeks to be guided by the Bible. I have learned from biblically faithful Presbyterians (like R. C. Sproul), non-Southern Baptist Baptists (like John Macarthur), Christian Church (like Bob Russell and Max Lucado), nondenominational (like John Ortberg, Jim Cymbala, Tony Evans, and Chuck Swindoll), and the list goes on and on. I can also collect the strengths God has put in His people wherever I find them.

The Bible is our common ground. We can hold our convictions and lock arms with others to expand the kingdom of God. We don't have to wait until we have enough of our own crowd behind us to get something done for the gospel. We have more that unites us than divides us.

Reflection Question: What strength has God placed in another believer's denomination or tradition that you have learned from?

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your Word and for those You have used to help me grow. Please keep me from dividing over minor issues and teach me to learn from others. I am grateful for Your Word, which is my ultimate authority. I desire to honor You and guide others to You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out: The Seven Pillars of Christian Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gcssrmc/14-seven-pillars-for-christian-unity-eph-4-4-6

Note: I found this image through a Google search, but I couldn't find the source, so I can't properly direct someone to it. I like it, though. 

"There is ...one Spirit" ... "one Lord" ... "one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." - Ephesians 4:4–6 (NKJV)

Paul says there is "one Spirit", "one Lord" (Jesus), and "one Father" in Ephesians 4:4-6. Notice that in these three simple verses he gives you the whole Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Paul is intentional about giving you all three.

The word "Trinity" comes from the Latin "Trinitas", first used by the early Church father Tertullian (150-160 AD). It literally means: "Three-ness", derived from trinus — meaning "threefold" or "three at a time". "tria" simply meaning "three". Tertullian gave us the classic Latin statement: "Una Substantia, Tres Personae" (One Substance, Three Persons). This statement attempts to understand our God, as One in substance, but Three in Persons.

Someone may ask, "Isn't that three gods?" The answer is "No." Deuteronomy 6:4 says, "The Lord our God, the Lord is one." We serve one God. But He is a Trinitarian God.

Romans 11:34, in the Message paraphrase, reads, “Is there anyone around who can explain God?” It is impossible to fully comprehend or explain the Trinity. One silly statement I have never forgotten is, "If you deny the Trinity, you will lose your soul. If you try to explain the Trinity, you will lose your mind."  

Three passages in Scripture help show the oneness and threeness of the Trinitarian Godhead. Genesis 1:26 says, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image." "God" is singular. "Us" and "Our" are plural. In Isaiah 6:8, God says, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" "I send" is singular. "For Us" is plural. In Matthew 3:16-18, you see all three in the same moment at the baptism of Jesus. Jesus comes up out of the water, the Spirit comes down like a dove, and a voice from heaven says, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We keep trying to understand this in physical ways, but our illustrations never quite fully convey the full three-ness and one-ness of the Godhead. An apple has seeds, the part you eat, called the flesh, and the outer part, called the skin. Three parts, but still just one apple. An egg has yolk, white, and shell, still one egg. Water can be steam, liquid, and ice, and it's all still H2O. These illustrations can help explain the concept of the Trinity, especially to children.

The best illustration I have come across was offered by M.R. DeHaan, who tied it to the biblical statement in 1 John 1:5: "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all." He pointed out that the scientific analysis of sunlight reveals three kinds of rays. The chemical ray, which is invisible and can neither be seen nor felt. The light ray, which can be seen but cannot be felt. And the heat ray, which can be felt but cannot be seen. God the Father corresponds to the chemical ray, because, as John 1:18 says, "no man has seen God at any time." God the Son, Jesus, Who is the "Light of the world" (John 8:12), corresponds to the light ray, which can be seen but not felt. God the Holy Spirit corresponds to the heat ray, which cannot be seen but can certainly be felt. Still not a perfect illustration, but it gives you something to hold the threeness and the oneness together with.

The entire Godhead was involved in your salvation. Dr. Bill Bennett explained the teamwork of the Trinity in salvation like three members of a medical team: There is the doctor who diagnoses the disease and prescribes treatment; the pharmacist who provides the remedy; and the nurse who faithfully waits at the patient’s bedside and administers that which the doctor has prescribed and the pharmacist has prepared. In this analogy, the Doctor represents God the Father, Who diagnosed the need of the sinner and prescribed the remedy. The Pharmacist represents God the Son, Who by achieving a perfect human life provides through His shed blood the only specific cure for sin. The Nurse represents God the Holy Spirit, Who applies the remedy by making the Word of God come alive in our hearts and giving the sinner faith to be saved. In one sentence, the Trinity in salvation is like this:

• The Father thought up our salvation;
  
• The Son bought and paid for our salvation; and
  
• The Holy Spirit brought salvation to us and makes it real to each of us personally. 

Why does this matter for our unity as Christians? Because some Christians do not appreciate all three. They may magnify the Father and the Son, Jesus, but forget about the Spirit. Some Christians only magnify the Holy Spirit. But we, as Christians, shouldn't settle for two out of three. We need to fully appreciate all that the trinitarian God provides in our lives and worship Him as One Who Alone is worthy of our praise. We hold all three together, because that is Who God is. That full worship brings us together as Christians.

Reflection Question: Are you fully appreciating each member of the Trinitarian Godhead - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Or, have you neglected One in your worship?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You thought my salvation, Your Son bought it, and Your Spirit brought it and applied it to me personally. Help me honor Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as I walk with You today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out: The Seven Pillars of Christian Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gcssrmc/14-seven-pillars-for-christian-unity-eph-4-4-6

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism." - Ephesians 4:4-5

For years now, social media has been making us a promise. The promise is that technology will bring us closer together than ever before and help us build deeper, more lasting relationships. That promise has not been fulfilled. All you have to do is scroll for ten minutes to realize that instead of more unity, we have more divisiveness. To get attention quickly, people make statements online that often wouldn't be made in person. People go to their corners. People quickly "unfriend" others or are impatient to dialogue. Algorithms give us what we want to see, but they do not give us true community. We can have hundreds or thousands of social media "friends" but not feel known, seen, or loved by others.

An MIT professor named Sherry Turkle gave a TED Talk and later released a book called Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other. What makes it interesting is that fifteen years before that book, Turkle had given a completely different TED Talk celebrating the possibilities of social media, the connections it could build, the relationships it could deepen. Then, after watching what actually happened over those fifteen years, she went back and revised her findings. Instead of greater connectedness, she found dissatisfaction and alienation.

You don't need a book to tell you how divisive things get online. It is so easy to throw verbal bombs at people you will never meet and never be held accountable to. Social media doesn't bring us together as promised. It often pushes us apart. Sadly, the church is not immune, either. The church needs to use technology because it can aid evangelism. Social media can supplement what is happening in person, but it should not, if at all possible, be a substitute for face-to-face community with others.

Ephesians reveals a different, and indeed a better, vision for unity. The beauty of a united church goes beyond mere surface-level connections. It is rooted in our shared beliefs. What holds churches together is theological in nature and grounded in what we collectively hold to be true.

Paul was writing to the church at Ephesus, but this letter circulated among churches all through Asia Minor, or modern-day Turkey. The miracle he describes is not only that sinful people are reconciled to a holy God through the blood of Jesus, though that alone is worth celebrating. Paul highlights that because of what Jesus did on the cross, He also brings together people who would never otherwise associate. Jews and Gentiles, side by side, brought into one family.

I saw a picture of that not long ago at a pastor's conference overseas. I was surrounded by pastors and leaders from Bible-believing churches that weren't necessarily Baptist. They began singing in their own language, one I didn't understand, but I picked up the tune. It was "Because He Lives." They sang in their language, and I sang in mine, and there was a camaraderie, something pulling us together. Our shared faith.

Technology can aid real connection, but it must begin with our common bond. One body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. This is the ground we stand on together. Our shared faith in Jesus Christ keeps us united when cultural, language, and physical barriers exist.

So the next time you feel that pull to spend all of your time online, remember that real connection is not built by technology. Community is built in the body of Christ through the truths we hold in God's Word. We find our community by worshipping together our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Get around the people God put in your church family, and let those shared beliefs bring you together. A screen will never do for you what the local body of Christ can do.

Reflection Question: How have you been expecting technology to give you the connection that only the body of Christ can give?

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I have looked to technology for community instead of Your church family. I need to be with the local body of believers. Help me find my place in Your church. I want to grow closer to You and to other believers. Thank You for my local church and for the universal church worldwide, where we share one Lord, one hope, one faith, one baptism, and one Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Check out: The Seven Pillars of Christian Unity (Ephesians 4:4-6): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gcssrmc/14-seven-pillars-for-christian-unity-eph-4-4-6

Jesus, as this cornerstone, was rejected by men. After saying Jesus is a chief cornerstone, Peter says in 1 Peter 2:6-8, “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.”

The word “rejected” here means “having studied and analyzed the facts, finding that person to not be acceptable.” It's not just ignorantly saying, “Oh well, I didn't know who Jesus was.” It means gathering all of the information, analyzing the data, knowing the details, and then coming to the conclusion that you are going to reject Jesus.

When Jesus walked this earth, he ministered to God’s people. He healed others. He taught. He performed miracles. He forgave sins. However, the religious leaders rejected Him. They knew the Scriptures and could observe how He ministered in the power of God, but they still rejected Him. They sought to find a way to crucify Him, which they ultimately did.

People not only reject Jesus, but they also reject His followers. You may feel rejection from coworkers, friends, family members, neighbors or even strangers because of your devotion to Jesus. Consider this: If the majority of the people of this world were wrong about Jesus when He walked this earth, why does it matter what they think of you today? Why does it matter if they reject you today? Jesus would say, “If they rejected Me, they’re going to reject you. If they rejected the Teacher, why would they not reject the student?”

In John 15:18-19, Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Peter is making it plain and clear. Jesus has been rejected by others. He’s just in their way, so they reject Him.

Matthew 19:16-26 tells the familiar story where Jesus is introduced to the rich young ruler. The young man comes to Jesus and says, “What do I need to do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus, as God, knows the hearts and thoughts of people, and He understood the specific stumbling block for this rich young ruler. He says, "Honor your father and mother. Don't steal, don't kill." Jesus mentioned some of the commandments, but not all of them. He knew that this rich young ruler had mastered these commands.

The rich young ruler responds, "Well, all of these things I've done since I was a child." Then Jesus said, "But one thing you lack," and He pinpointed the idolatry of the rich young ruler's heart by saying, "Go and sell all you have and give it all to the poor. Come and follow me." The rich young ruler hung his head and walked away because he had a lot of possessions.

Jesus wasn't creating a universal command for all to obey, but He was pinpointing the idolatry of the rich young ruler's heart. Jesus knew he was a good moralistic person, but he also idolized money and material possessions. He didn't own things. Those things owned him. Jesus was encouraging him by saying, "Let them go. I'm worth more than that. Let them go. Come and follow me." Jesus only extended similar invitations to “come and follow Him” to those who would ultimately be His twelve disciples. How sad to observe this rich young ruler as he hung his head and walked away because he had a lot of material possessions.

It reminds me of individuals who would like to come to Jesus because they like the idea of forgiveness of sins. They may attend church because they enjoy the inspirational presence of God’s people. They enjoy the exciting music. They may feel entertained by the performance of professional music. They may enjoy the fellowship or comradery that can be found in a Bible study or Sunday School class. Then, the preacher gets up and preaches on the requirements of the gospel, and these same people back up. These same folks may reject hearing the preacher say, “Don’t allow that idolatry to grip your heart,” or ask challenging questions, like, “What are those things that are standing in your way from fully giving your heart and devotion to Jesus?”

They enjoy the music, the inspirational thoughts, the friends, but they will reject Jesus when He tells them to let go of the idols of the heart. Jesus has become to them a stumbling block and a stone of offense. That’s what the first-century people did. They heard Jesus teach, they watched Him perform miracles and still they shouted, “Crucify Him!”

Sometimes we ask ourselves the question, “What will God do to those who have never heard the gospel? What will happen to those people when they die?” And, there is a Bible answer for that. However, in light of these particular verses, we should ask ourselves, “What will God do to those who have clearly heard the gospel and have had the opportunity to understand the claims of Jesus Christ? They recognize that Jesus is not only the crucified Savior but also the risen Lord, Who proved He accomplished what He promised — dying for the sins of the world. What will happen to those who have heard this truth and yet dismiss it, concluding, ‘That's not for me’?”[1]

Jesus rebuked the cities in Matthew 11:20-24 that had witnessed His ministry and yet rejected Him.

Matthew 11:20–24 (NKJV)
20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 
21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 
22But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 
23And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 
24But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
 
These cities had seen the miracles. Capernaum, in particular, was the great headquarters of Jesus’ ministry. If any city had seen and heard Jesus it was Capernaum. Because they rejected Him, Jesus said to Capernaum in verse 24 that their judgment will be worse than the judgment that will come to Sodom, that immoral city. Verse 23 says, “If the same miracles had been done in Sodom and Gomorrah (those immoral cities), they would have repented.”

This is what it means to reject the cornerstone. Peter says that the temple builders rejected the cornerstone. They were annoyed by this stone. It was a rock of offense. It was a stumbling block. So, they threw it into the valley to get it out of the way. Later on they realized, “That was not just an awkwardly shaped stone. That was the cornerstone. The temple must have its cornerstone.”

Jesus is saying, “I am that stone that was rejected by men, but to those who know Me, they have esteemed Me as precious” (see 1 Peter 2:7).

“Dear Jesus, I choose to say ‘Yes’ to You! You are my Lord and Savior! I trust You today. Though others reject You, and may reject me as one of Your followers, I pray I would never be ashamed of being called one of Your followers. I love You. Amen.”
 
[1] Paraphrased from Adrian Rogers, “Life on the Rock,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), 1 Pe 2:4–9.