"...nor give place to the devil..." (Ephesians 4:27)

There was a Haitian pastor who was looking to buy a house. A man was selling a nice place on a nice piece of land for $2,000. The pastor couldn't afford it, so they began to negotiate. Finally, the seller agreed to come down to $1,000, but with one condition: he would maintain ownership of a single nail on the outside of the front door. Just one nail. That would still be his. The pastor figured he was getting a good deal, paid the thousand dollars, and moved his family in.

Years later, the original owner came back and said he wanted the property back. The pastor refused. Their family had grown up there. This was home. They went back and forth over it. Finally, the original owner found the dead carcass of an animal and hung it on that nail, then walked away. It was his nail. The house became unlivable. He kept replacing it with carcass after carcass. When they tried to force him to remove it, he pointed out that he owned the nail. Eventually the pastor's family had to sell the property back because they simply couldn't live there anymore. They had given access. It was just a nail.

Just a little bitterness. Just a little unforgiveness. Just a little gutter talk. Just a little. But that's all it takes. None of these things seem particularly dangerous in isolation. That's exactly the point. The devil doesn't need a wide-open door. He just needs a nail.

Have you ever had a stray cat show up at your house? Your kids want to keep it. You say absolutely not, don't feed it. But your sympathetic child, when you're not watching, gives it a little water, a little milk, a little food. Next thing you know, your kids are calling it by name. That's how it starts. Little by little, you allow a little white lie, a little unresolved anger. That thing grows. What started as a foothold becomes a stronghold, like cords wrapping around you one by one. Now you are in bondage.

Put away the bitterness. Put away the wrath, the clamor, the evil speaking, all of it. Don't let the devil have that access to your life. Whatever you've been stuffing down, whatever you've convinced yourself is no big deal, bring it to God. Because everything the enemy needs to make your life unlivable, he can hang on a single nail.

Paul's answer is simple and found in verse 32: be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. God's people should be the best forgivers in the world, because they have experienced ultimate forgiveness when they asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Anything one person can forgive another in this life is nothing compared to what we've been forgiven of against a holy God. There is simply no comparison. And so we forgive as Christ has forgiven us. Hallelujah!

Reflection Question: What access are you currently giving to the devil?

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to forgive the way You have forgiven me. Where I've held on to bitterness and given the enemy access, I ask You to forgive me today. I want my actions to reflect the life of Christ. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: Enemy Access Denied (Ephesians 4:25-32): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/3vjtypj/17-enemy-access-denied-eph-4-25-32

"Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Not all anger is sinful. Paul acknowledges that. There is a righteous kind. In the Gospels, Jesus drove the money changers out of the temple at least twice, and the Bible describes Him as angry. He saw the corruption, everyone making money off God's people who were just trying to worship. Matthew 21:13 says, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of thieves." He was angry in the right way, at the right thing, in the right spirit. He was angry, but He did not sin.

He was also angry when parents tried to bring their children to Him and the disciples turned them away, treating it like childish business not worth His time. Jesus was angry and said in Matthew 19:14, "Don't forbid them from coming to Me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." That is righteous anger. It is real anger, but it is holy anger.

But be careful not to convince yourself that your temper is merely righteous indignation. The quick temper you carry, the slow burn you hold onto, may not be righteous anger at all. It may just be a lack of self-control. God's people should be governing those attitudes in their hearts and lives.

"Don't let the sun go down on your wrath" is not a literal statement about sunsets, as if to say, "Don't be angry as the sun is going down." There was a married couple who took it very literally and told their pastor, "We've tried hard not to go to sleep angry. We haven't slept in three weeks." The point is this: don't go to bed with unresolved anger in your heart. It won't just go away. It builds until it explodes. Deal with it.

Paul maps out the stages of unchecked anger in verse 31, which reads, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."
 

• Bitterness is the slow burn on the inside. 
• Wrath is when it turns active and outward.
• Clamor is when you become vocal, arguing and shouting.
• Evil speaking is when you begin to assassinate someone's character. "I hate you. You are just no good."
• And then there is malice, where it has built up so much that you actually desire to injure another person.

Hebrews 12:15 warns us not to let a root of bitterness take hold in our hearts. It's easy to stuff your emotions, push them down, bury them. But one man said that when you stuff your emotions, your body keeps score. Those toxic emotions don't stay buried.

God's people are called to forgive because Christ forgave them. Anything one person can forgive another in this life is nothing compared to what we've been forgiven of against a holy God. There is no comparison. Forgive as Christ has forgiven you. Deal with your anger before it deals with you.

Reflection Question: Is there a slow burn of bitterness or unresolved anger you've been burying instead of asking God to help you forgive?

Dear Heavenly Father, I don't want to give the devil a foothold through my anger. Help me deal honestly with what I'm feeling, bring it to You, and choose the path of forgiveness. Guard my heart against bitterness. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: Enemy Access Denied (Ephesians 4:25-32): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/3vjtypj/17-enemy-access-denied-eph-4-25-32

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:29-30)

That word "corrupt" comes from the same root we use for rotten fruit, rotten vegetables, spoiled food. A corrupt word pollutes. This warning can be applied to off-color jokes, profanity, dirty stories, vulgarity, coarse jesting, lying, slandering, and gossiping. Do you think of those things as sin? Do you think of them as having no place in the heart and vocabulary of a child of God?

Profanity should not be in our vocabulary. When someone starts to tell you an off-color joke and says it's not too dirty, God's people ought to find a polite way out of that conversation. People should recognize, "I can't talk the way I normally do because so-and-so is here." That's not being "holier-than-thou". That's just being different, which is exactly what Paul has been calling us to.

When we use corrupt words and let our untamed tongue call the shots, we grieve the Holy Spirit. He is not a force. He is a Person. You can't grieve a force. You grieve someone you know intimately. Don't grieve Him.

Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit." You can plant hope in someone's heart with a few words. Or discourage them just as fast. Do you have words a parent or coach spoke to you as a child that still echo in your mind? "You'll never make it." "You'll never measure up." If those words caused harm, don't repeat them to someone else. Let it stop with you.

William Temple once said, "The most influential of all educational factors is the conversation in a child's home." Think about the difference between a home where a child hears, "Can't you do anything right? What's wrong with you?" versus one where they hear, "I'm really proud of you. Good thinking."

I read about a man who worked hard all day on his lawn because his dad had asked him to. When his dad came home, he looked around and said, "Good job." That made his whole day. Just two words. If two words can do that much for someone, surely we can choose a gracious word over a critical one.

The Greek word for "slander" is diabolos. Some of you will recognize that because it's the same word for the devil. When we slander, when we accuse, when we tear people down, we are behaving like the devil himself, the accuser of the brethren. When we allow our tongue to go there, we are giving the enemy an access point in our lives. When we build up, encourage, and use words that heal, we sound like Jesus! Our words reveal what's inside of us. Christians should speak differently because of the changed life within us.

Reflection Question: Who in your life right now needs a genuine word of encouragement from you?

Dear Heavenly Father, set a guard over my mouth today. Help me speak words that build up and not tear down. Where I have used my tongue to hurt, gossip, or slander, forgive me. I want to reflect You to others in my life. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: Enemy Access Denied (Ephesians 4:25-32): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/3vjtypj/17-enemy-access-denied-eph-4-25-32

"Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need." (Ephesians 4:28)

When we steal, it is a sin, and we give the devil access to our lives. We often justify it in our own minds. A few examples are all it takes, and most of us will start squirming a little. We steal when we take what doesn't belong to us. We steal when we cheat our employers. We steal when we don't give an honest day's work for an honest day's pay.

God's people ought to be people of excellence. The greatest workers should be Christians. Sometimes we watch the news and see shoplifters gang up and go to stores in groups, stealing and getting out before the police can catch them. Who pays the price for those thefts? The consumer. Prices go up to cover security costs. Who gets hurt in the long run? Families who depended on a store that's now closed because theft made it impossible to stay open.  Some stores lock basic items behind glass where you have to call an associate just to get what you need. That is all a direct response to theft.

God's people should never be caught stealing. Cheating is theft too. Claiming someone else's work as your own, whether in a business deal or in school, is stealing. Be the person who stands on their own, works hard, and does jobs and assignments with integrity.

Lamentations 3:27 says, "It is good for a young man to bear the yoke in his youth." It's good to learn a strong work ethic early in life. One of my mentors in ministry, Dr. Bill, once quoted his mother as saying, "Bill, it's a sin to make a B when you can make an A." That may sound hard, but the basic meaning is: are you giving your best effort?

There was a teacher who had a football player in his class who wasn't much of a student, yet kept making great grades. The teacher was convinced he was cheating but couldn't catch him. Finally, on a test with ten questions, the sharp student next to the football player answered nine and left number ten blank, writing, "I don't know the answer to this question." When the football player turned in his paper, his answer to number ten read, "I don't know either."

God's people are to be known for integrity and industry. When we steal or cheat, we give the devil access to our lives. Notice also the reason Paul gives for working hard. Not so you can have more for yourself. He says work so you can have something to give to someone in need. Work hard so you can be generous. Jesus said in John 10:10 that the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. That's the devil. But Jesus came so we might have life more abundantly. The devil steals. God's people reflect Jesus when we work, build, and are generous.

Reflection Question: Where in your daily work are you settling for less than your best?

Dear Heavenly Father, help me be a person of excellence, integrity, and industry in everything I put my hands to. Where I have cut corners or taken what was not mine, forgive me. I want to reflect You in every area of my life. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: Enemy Access Denied (Ephesians 4:25-32): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/3vjtypj/17-enemy-access-denied-eph-4-25-32

"Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another." (Ephesians 4:25)

When Paul says "putting away lying," the Greek carries a definite article. It doesn't say lying. It says THE lie. That changes everything. The lie Paul is pointing to is this: your life is no different from the unsaved person you claim you're no longer like. The lie that your lifestyle could be exactly the same as the person right down the road who has never given their life to Jesus Christ.

Paul has been describing how lost people live. Now he's saying your life is supposed to be different. Jesus confirmed it in John 8:44 when He called the devil "a liar and the father of it." We swallow that lie every time we say, "I told Jesus to be my Lord, but if I'm being honest, there's no real change in my life. I live the same way I lived before."

My mother-in-law once shared a verse with me that I never forgot. Psalm 119:29 (New Living Translation) reads, "Keep me from lying to myself." That is a prayer. Oh God, help me not lie to myself. That echoes exactly what Paul is saying here. Put away the lie.

Paul also says we should speak truth to one another as members of a body, because bodies depend on telling themselves the truth. Imagine seeing a hot stove but misreading the signals. Your hand moves toward it, but instead of pulling away, your body registers nothing. What could have been a small burn, treated with ice, becomes a much bigger problem - all because the body was lying to itself.

A child of God was never intended to be in bondage to sin. That's what Jesus came to break. Something happened on the inside of you that is real and different. You are free to live for Jesus. James 4:6-7 says to submit to God, then resist the devil, and he will flee. A lot of Christians skip straight to resisting and wonder why it's not working. Submit first. Then you are in position to resist, and he will flee.

Reflection Question: Is there an area where you believe you are lying to yourself? What will it take to be honest?

Dear Heavenly Father, keep me from lying to myself. Show me the places where I have accepted the devil's lie that nothing needs to change. Something happened on the inside of me when I gave my life to You. Help me live like it. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: Enemy Access Denied (Ephesians 4:25-32): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/3vjtypj/17-enemy-access-denied-eph-4-25-32

Matthew 5:12 - "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Jesus says, "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad." That may not make sense to us. How in the world are we supposed to rejoice when we're being persecuted? Let me tell you why.

First, rejoice because you have the opportunity to show the sincerity of your faith. Do you know what got everyone's attention in that first century? Those twelve disciples - eleven of them outside of Judas - all of them died for their faith. All of them died saying Jesus is the risen Messiah. Every one of them was martyred.

Let me tell you the story of Peter. Peter and his wife were in Rome, and the officials were trying to get them to recant. Peter says, "I'm not going to recant." And so they say, "Well, then you're going to be crucified just like your master Jesus was crucified." And Peter's only request was that he would be crucified upside down. Before they crucified Peter, they let him watch his wife die a martyr's death. As his wife is going to be martyred, Peter yells out, "Remember the Lord." Then, Peter was crucified and died. All eleven disciples died proclaiming that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and that He was raised from the dead. One of the church fathers, Tertullian, said, "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." Their persecution showed the authenticity of their faith, and it was used to plant God's message into the hearts of those who saw their sincerity. Rejoice, because you are able to show the sincerity of your faith.

Second, rejoice because you are able to make a difference for Jesus even in the midst of persecution. Paul was in prison, and in Philippians 1:12-14, he expresses his gratitude for being imprisoned. He says, "And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear" (Philippians 1:12-14, NLT).

Here’s Paul, who wanted to start churches all over the known world but was sidelined when he was imprisoned. Paul states, "It's wonderful because now I've been able to share the gospel with those who are in prison with me. I've been able to encourage them in their faith. Not only that," at that time, he was chained to a guard for hours. He had a captive audience, right? He would share the gospel for as long as he had with them, and then a new guard would come in. Paul would say, "Great, I have another person to share the gospel with for several hours. You can't go anywhere." Rejoice, the gospel is advancing.

Third, rejoice because God is pleased with our faithfulness in persecution, and that's all that really matters. It reminds me of a story about a violinist who performed a concert that was simply wonderful. After he finished, the audience rose to their feet, applauding continuously and cheering for an encore. They wanted him to come back on stage. The emcee went backstage and urged him to return, saying, "You need to come back out and perform more. They want to hear something else."

The violinist replied, "I don’t want to." The emcee insisted, "But listen to them! They’re cheering for you. You did so well!" The violinist responded, "Not everyone is cheering."

Confused, the emcee asked, "What do you mean? Look out there." The violinist pointed to a man seated in the balcony who wasn’t clapping. "You see that man? He’s my teacher. If he’s not happy, then he's not cheering. It doesn’t matter if everyone else is cheering. He's the only one that matters to me."

That's the heart we need when facing persecution - we're not performing for the applause of the crowd. We're living for an audience of One. When God is pleased with our faithfulness in the face of persecution, that's all that matters. Rejoice, God sees your faithfulness. These are the rewards that make any hardship we go through worth it.

Reflection Question: When persecution comes your way, can you see it as an opportunity to show the sincerity of your faith?

Dear God, help me to rejoice even in persecution, knowing that I have the opportunity to show that my faith is genuine. Remind me that I'm Your child, and nothing can change that. May I live my life to bring honor and glory and praise to You Alone. I love You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Believers Under Fire" (Matthew 5:10-12): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/7p55s6j/8-believers-under-fire

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers." - 1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV)

I love the Summer Olympics, especially track and field, since I used to run track. What's the most exciting moment of any race? The last 20, 40, 50 yards toward the end. The athletes are at full stride, pushing themselves to the limit with everything they have, finishing with complete purpose and focus.

Lydia and I watch ball games together - well, let me rephrase that. I watch ball games while she sits beside me, reading or watching funny videos on her phone. Inevitably, there's one minute to go, and one team is down by one or two points; she gets up and says, "Well, it's time to go to bed."

I'm like, "This is the very end! This is what counts most! The game hangs in the balance!" But she's done. She's checked out. Why? Because her mind wasn't in it to begin with. My mind, focus, and energy have been fully engaged in this game, and in those final minutes, everybody who's invested is on high alert.

That's what Peter is saying. Live with intentionality. It's one minute to go, and the game hangs in the balance. This is the deciding moment. Live with purpose, intentionality, and focus.

When Peter says "be serious," he means have sound judgment - keep a good head on your shoulders, live with a sound mind. "Watchful" originally meant to abstain from wine but came to convey being sober-minded, not allowing things to influence your mind or lower your morals. Be clear-minded, wise, and exercise sound judgment.

"The end of all things is at hand." Eternity is just around the corner. Live with intentionality. Live your life focused on prayer. What are we doing when we pray? We're asking God to move in our situation or circumstance. Peter reminds his readers that Christ's second coming may soon occur, or they may unexpectedly enter eternity. Eternity is just around the corner.

Here's the question that should grip every heart: How would it impact your life if you knew you didn't have long to live? What relationships would you rebuild? What distractions would you avoid? What activities would you pursue? Peter says live like that right now.

Reflection Question: What "distractions" are keeping you from living with the focus and intensity of a runner in the final stretch?

Father, help me to run this race of faith with the intensity of an Olympic athlete in the final stretch. Don't let me be distracted or lose focus when the stakes are highest. Give me clarity of mind and purity of heart. Help me to be serious about prayer and watchful in my spirit. I want to finish strong for You, living every day as if it could be my last. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "On the Edge of Eternity" (1 Peter 4:7-11): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cx4wgnb/20-on-the-edge-of-eternity-1-peter-4-7-11

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

I love how honest this verse is. “If it is possible…” Sometimes, even when you do everything right, peace doesn’t come quickly. Even Jesus—perfect love in human flesh—had opponents. So Scripture says, “as much as depends on you.” In other words, be faithful to your part. Do what a peacemaker does. Take the initiative.

What does that look like? Jesus gives us a very practical picture in Matthew 5:23-24. If you’re in worship and you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First be reconciled; then come back and offer your gift. Don’t hide behind religious activity. Don’t delay. That’s peacemaking.

I remember a time years ago when I knew I had offended someone. The Holy Spirit wouldn’t let me rest. I called and said, “Let me take you to lunch.” And at that table, I said, “Brother, I’m sorry.” Now, he could have offered a word of apology, too, but he didn’t. You say, “Then why apologize?” Because as much as it depends on me, I want to live peaceably with all. Peacemakers go first.

And when you do, remember this: forgiveness is free, but trust is earned. I think about when parents find their little ones with crumbs on their chubby fingers and their mouths after they’ve been in the cookie jar they weren’t supposed to be in. They get corrected, they say they’re sorry, and parents forgive them. But the parents don’t put the cookie jar back in the same place that day. They wisely put the cookies higher. In time, they may be able to trust again, but it will have to be earned.

In our relationships, which are a lot more complex than cookies, we should forgive fully, but it will still be wise to set boundaries while trust is being rebuilt.

Peacemaking also means learning to see from the other person’s perspective. Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” What if we slowed down long enough to ask, “How does this look through their eyes?” That mindset reduces defensiveness and encourages understanding.

One practical tip is to remember that when we are confronting an issue, we should attack the problem, not the person. We should be careful to use the right kind of words, even if we are upset. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification.” We can disagree without being disagreeable.

I once had a theological disagreement with a national figure. I didn’t run to social media or blast them publicly. I reached out directly. We went back and forth, sharing convictions and concerns. We still disagreed, but at the end of our conversation, he said, “Thank you for how you’ve had this discussion.” That’s what peacemakers do: truth with grace, conviction with kindness.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Psalm 133:1). Unity means we are united to the same Lord and, because of that, we will do everything within our power, as much as depends on us, to make peace.

Reflection Question: What step can you take today that would honor God and pursue peace?

Father, as much as it depends on me, help me live peaceably with all. Give me humility to apologize, courage to initiate, wisdom to set healthy boundaries, and grace to speak words that build up. Make me a true bridge builder today. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Adapted from "Becoming a Bridge-Builder": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/5dw2p8w/7-become-a-bridge-builder

"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God... that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:10-11 (NKJV)

With the end in mind, we must serve where God has gifted us. We can't do everything, but we must use what God has given us. Peter says God's grace is "manifold" - a term meaning multicolored in the Greek. There are all kinds of people with diverse gifts, and as good stewards, we must utilize these gifts for God's purposes.

Peter breaks down spiritual gifts into two categories: speaking gifts and serving gifts. If you have a speaking gift - whether as a teacher, Bible study leader, or any role where you communicate God's truth - "let him speak as the oracles of God." You don't get to invent the message. You're an echo of God's Word, pointing people to Scripture, not to your own imagination.

If you have a serving gift, "let him do it as with the ability which God supplies." Don't minister in your own strength; serve in God's strength. You're a steward, saying "yes sir" to whatever He's asked you to do.

What has God gifted you to do? Are you serving in that capacity? The truth is, you think you have tomorrow and the next day - you'll get to it next year, or the year after. You just don't have time right now. However, God's Word declares that the end of all things is at hand. Get busy with what God has gifted you to do.

Stephen Covey recommended writing a personal mission statement - describing the virtues you want to exhibit, the goals you want to achieve. I see Peter's mission statement at the end of this passage: "That in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Whatever you're doing, do it for God's glory. Do it to lift up Jesus Christ. All dominion belongs to Him.

So, how are you living in light of eternity? Have you remained expectant of His soon coming? Are you living with focus, knowing tomorrow may not be here? Have you discovered your spiritual gifts, and are you employing them for God's purposes?

Picture yourself at the end of your life, looking back. What does that older self say to you? Tomorrow is not promised to anyone. We are that close to eternity. Life goes by as fast as you can snap your fingers. Live with intentionality. Live with purpose, with all your energy focused not on doing what you want to do, but on doing what God called you to do - living for others, not just yourself.

Reflection Question: What specific gift has God given you, and how are you using it right now to serve others and glorify Him?

Lord, help me to identify and faithfully use the gifts You've given me. Whether I'm called to speak Your truth or serve in practical ways, let me do it in Your strength, not my own. Don't let me put off until tomorrow what You're calling me to do today. Give me urgency about serving You and clarity about my purpose. May everything I do bring glory to Jesus Christ, to whom belongs all glory and dominion forever. I want to hear "well done" when I stand before You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "On the Edge of Eternity" (1 Peter 4:7-11): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/cx4wgnb/20-on-the-edge-of-eternity-1-peter-4-7-11

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

C.H. Spurgeon would personally interview new converts or those interested in membership. Instead of just coming forward like people do today, he would talk to each person individually during the week, ask questions, and decide whether to accept or reject them based on their Christian testimony. Once, he was speaking with a maid who worked in someone's house. He asked her, "Tell me why you are converted. How can I know that you have a changed life and that you've given your life to Jesus?" She replied, "Before I became a Christian, my employer would tell me to sweep not only where she could see but also under the rugs. I never swept under the rugs. But since I became a Christian, I sweep under the rugs."

Don't you see how God will change the life of someone who gives their heart to Jesus? In this story, no one is watching, but there's a difference. Jesus Christ has made that difference. We, too, can trust in the power of the cross. Jesus Christ not only paid the penalty for our sins, which would be enough—that's forgiveness—but then He also gives us the power of the cross, which breaks the hold of sin over our lives. My chains are gone. I've been set free. We should certainly praise the Lord that Jesus Christ forgives me of my sins and has saved me from the penalty of those sins. But don't stop there. He gave us the power to live in victory over sin. He gave us the power to live differently from the world around us.

1 Peter 4:1–6 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.
4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Martin Luther wrote that wonderful song, "Rock of Ages." In it, he says, "be of sin the double cure - saved from wrath and make me pure." The "double cure" refers to forgiving sin and also giving us power over sin, which Jesus Christ did for us. It'd be good enough if forgiveness were all that was there at Calvary, but He does more than that. Sin shall not have dominion over you.

Reflection Question: What are the "under the rug" areas of your life where only God sees - and how is your changed life showing up there?

Lord, help me to have integrity in the small things, the hidden things, the private moments. Thank You that You didn't just forgive my sin, but You gave me power to live differently. Let that power show up in how I work, how I treat people, and how I live when no one else can see. In Jesus' name, amen.

Adapted from "Ready for Battle" (1 Peter 4:1-6): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/9n23qdh/19-ready-for-battle-1-peter-4-1-6

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

If we’re going to be peacemakers, we need a clear view of the ultimate Peacemaker. On one side stands holy God; on the other, sinful humanity. The gulf is real, and it is wide. We cannot get to Him; we cannot make ourselves worthy. But Jesus - fully God, fully man - steps in as the Mediator. He takes the Father by the hand and us by the hand, and through His cross He brings us together. That is the greatest bridge ever built.

And having received that kind of reconciliation, we get to reflect it. We are called sons and daughters of God because we take after our Heavenly Father. Barnabas did just that. Saul (later called Paul) had fiercely persecuted the church. Then Christ saved him. When Saul wanted to join the believers in Jerusalem, they were terrified - and who could blame them? But Barnabas stepped in. He built a bridge. He took Saul, brought him to the apostles, and told the story of his conversion and bold preaching in Damascus (Acts 9:26–27). On Barnabas’ word—on his bridge—the church received their former enemy as a brother.

Barnabas did it again with John Mark. On that first missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas, the pressure mounted, and John Mark turned back (Acts 13:13). When it came time to go again, Barnabas wanted to give him another chance. Paul said, essentially, “Absolutely not.” The contention was so sharp they parted ways: Paul took Silas; Barnabas took Mark (Acts 15:36–41). In hindsight, Barnabas was right to believe that John Mark wouldn't repeat what he did in the first journey. Years later, Paul himself would write, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). And Mark would pen the Gospel that bears his name. That’s peacemaking. Barnabas saw John Mark's potential and believed God could still use him.

David also lived through this experience with King Saul. He had every opportunity to take Saul’s life and justify it. In the cave at En Gedi, David quietly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe rather than taking his head, then called out, “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:1–12, especially v. 6). Later, he refused again to harm Saul when he found him sleeping (1 Samuel 26:9–11). In both moments, David said, in essence, “I’m not your enemy.” He entrusted justice to God. That’s peacemaking with courage and restraint. He refused to repay evil for evil, choosing to keep the bridge intact even when you could burn it and feel justified.

Let me share an illustration that highlights the power of bridge-building, even in everyday life. Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy once brought together two rival newspaper editors who could never agree on anything. He sat them side by side, each holding a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich, under a caption that read: “We don’t agree on anything, but we do agree on this.”

If a businessman can bridge rivals over a sandwich, how much more can the love of Christ reconcile hearts in light of the Cross? Peacemaking is not about glossing over differences. It is about creating a place where truth and grace can be spoken, heard, and lived. But we can never express the peace of God unless we have first experienced peace with God.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). And “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Once peace with God is settled, the peace of God can flow through us to others. Only then can we be the peacemaker in our homes, our church, or our city.

Let’s build some bridges today; not flimsy ones that collapse under pressure, but gospel bridges strong enough to carry the weight of real offenses, real differences, or real pain. The Holy Spirit has poured God's love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), and it's more than enough for the task.

Reflection Question: With whom is God inviting you to build a bridge? What specific step will you take today?

Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Mediator, for making peace between holy God and me through Your cross. Use me to reconcile, to restore, and to rebuild. Teach me to speak truth with love, to take the first step and build a strong bridge in my relationships. Make me worthy of the name “child of God” by how I initiate peace. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Adapted from "Becoming a Bridge-Builder": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/5dw2p8w/7-become-a-bridge-builder

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:3)

Have you ever wondered why some people can look at a sunset and see only colors and clouds, while others see the signature of God? The difference isn't in what they're looking at, but in how they see. Jesus told Nicodemus: "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus was a religious leader. The Bible calls him "The teacher of Israel." This man was thoroughly familiar with the Torah. He could quote Scripture all day long. But Jesus says to him, "You can't even see the kingdom of God unless you're born again." Knowledge wasn't his problem. Spiritual sight was his problem.

Helen Keller was once asked, "Isn't it terrible to be blind?" She wisely replied, "Better to be blind and see with your heart than to have two good eyes and see nothing." What an incredible statement! This woman who lived in physical darkness could see with the eyes of her heart.

You see, the pure in heart have eyes that truly see (Matthew 5:8). Paul refers to the "eyes of your understanding being enlightened" in Ephesians 1:18. They can look at the same world everybody else sees, but they perceive what others miss - God's handiwork, God's fingerprints, God's activity.

This spiritual vision isn't automatic. According to Matthew 5:3-11, it starts with being poor in spirit - that first rung on the ladder where we come to the end of ourselves and say, "God, I need you." Then we mourn over our sin, we become teachable, we hunger for righteousness, and we grow in mercy. As we progress up that ladder Jesus laid out in the Beatitudes, we develop a pure heart that can truly see.

My dad experienced this transformation. He gave his life to Christ in his thirties. About two weeks after his conversion, he said love just overwhelmed him. He was so excited about God! He would drive the same path he'd driven for 20 years, walk past the same tree he'd seen for years and years, but now he had this overwhelming love for the tree. He said, "I just wanted to go up and hug the tree!" He loved everything. Why? Because now he could see God. He could worship the God who created all that he saw. Praise the Lord!

This is what happens when you have a pure heart - the world doesn't change, but your vision does. You begin to see God everywhere - in nature, in history, in Scripture, and in the everyday circumstances of life.

I read a story about a woman who had very little. She would go out on her porch every day and pray vocal prayers about all the things going on in her life. This annoyed her neighbor, who was an atheist. This neighbor would often jeer at her, saying, "Don't you know there is no God? You're just talking to yourself!"

But she kept praying. One day, she was out there praying, "Oh God, I need some food. I don't have any money to buy food, but I'm hungry and only You can meet my needs."

The atheist thought he would trick the woman, so he went to the grocery store, bought a bunch of groceries, and left them on her porch. In the afternoon, she goes back out and sees the groceries. She immediately lifted her hands and said, "Praise the Lord! You met my need! I was hungry, and You're feeding me now!"

This atheist jumped out of the bushes laughing at her: "You are a foolish woman! I was the one who bought those groceries! There is no God!"

She didn't skip a beat. She lifted her hands and said, "Praise the Lord! You have fed me, and You got the devil to pay for it!"

That's a silly story, but notice she looked past the human actions to see the Divine intervention and provision.

What are you seeing in your world today? Are you seeing just human actions or natural occurrences, or are you seeing God at work? Jesus promises that the pure in heart will see God - not just someday in heaven, but right now, in the everyday moments of life.

Reflection Question: What might God be doing around you that you're missing because the eyes of your heart are not enlightened?

Dear Lord, please open the eyes of my understanding today. Help me to see You in nature, in Your Word, and in the circumstances of my life. I want to recognize Your provision and Your Divine intervention in the everyday events of my life. I praise You in advance for what You will show me today! In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Do You Want to See God?": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/9tp8ys8/6-do-you-want-to-see-god

"Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, NKJV)

When Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness," He's talking about holy living. Let me tell you about three different levels of holy living.

The first level is like when you discipline children. You teach them right from wrong by saying, "If you do this wrong thing, you'll get disciplined." That can be compared to a kind of holiness because you think God will punish you if you don't. Sometimes people say, "I don't talk that way because I don't want lightning to strike me." That's not an accurate picture of God.

It is important to clarify that Hebrews 12 does indeed state that God will discipline His children when they are living in unrepentant sin. If you can live any old way you want and God never does anything to correct you, it shows you're an illegitimate child—not really one of His children. I have said at times, "God wouldn't let me get away with that." Do you feel that way? When God lovingly disciplines us, it shows we are His children. So, there is a level of holy living where you avoid sin because you don't want to displease God or be punished.

The second level of holy living is seeking a reward. You live a holy life because you want good things to happen to you. If you read Proverbs, you'll see lifestyle choices and their repercussions. Do right, and God's blessing will be on your life. Even non-Christians figure some of this out—living right generally leads to better outcomes.

Psalm 84:11 says, "The Lord God is a sun and shield. He gives grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly." There's a reward for holy living.

But we should move past these first two levels. It's like having a "honey-do" list from your spouse. You might do the work because you don't want to "hear it" from your spouse (discipline), or because things go better when you work through the list (reward). But these are not the best reasons, nor does that make a happy home.

The third and highest level is where we live holy lives simply to glorify God. We do what honors Him not from fear of punishment or desire for reward, but because we want to make Him look good to the watching world.

The word "glory" (doxa) means to make something seem bigger, better, more beautiful. It's like a magnifying glass. When we live holy lives, we're putting a magnifying glass on God's goodness so others can see His beauty and glory. This happens when we "live for the glory of God". This level of holy living is what God's people should want to exhibit. Jesus Christ died for us, we can certainly live for Him. Amen?

Reflection Question: Which level of holy living best describes your current relationship with God—avoiding punishment, seeking rewards, or just simply to glorify Him with your life?

Father, I want to move beyond immature motivations in my relationship with You. Help me grow past just avoiding punishment or seeking rewards. Create in me a heart that hungers for righteousness simply because You deserve all glory and honor. May everything I do magnify Your goodness to the watching world. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Hunger for Holiness": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/xjchmry/4-hunger-for-holiness

Loneliness is one of the most common human emotions, yet it can be one of the most difficult to overcome. Even as Christians who know God is always present, we can still experience deep feelings of isolation. Dr. Gary Oliver, a Christian counselor, has offered five practical steps to help conquer loneliness: [see Real Men Have Feelings Too (Chicago, Ill: Moody, 1993), 153-162.]

1. Look Up: Develop Your Relationship with God
Remember that as Christians, we're never truly alone. God promises, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Instead of praying "God be with me," try praying "Lord, help me be more aware of Your presence."

Other Verses to Remember:

• "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7)
• "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1)
• "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5)

2. Look Behind: Reflect on Yourself
Take time to analyze why you feel lonely. Complete this sentence: "I experience loneliness when..." This self-reflection might reveal unrealistic expectations, an unhealthy focus on weaknesses rather than strengths, or patterns of holding people at arm's length due to past rejection.

3. Look At: Learn to Communicate with Others
In our digital age, we must intentionally develop communication skills:

• Quality communication takes time: Don't rush relationships.
• Communication involves more than words: Pay attention to non-verbal cues.
• Communication involves listening: Ecclesiastes 3:7 reminds us there's "a time to be silent."
• Small talk matters: These seemingly trivial conversations are often where real relationships begin.

4. Look to Others: Develop Relationships
Remember that "a man who has friends must himself be friendly" (Proverbs 18:24). Take the initiative! Don't wait for others to approach you - be the one who reaches out first.

5. Look Around: Find Creative Solutions
Talk with people who have overcome loneliness. What worked for them? Consider how you might help others who are lonely. Sometimes in reaching out to serve others, we find our own loneliness diminishing.

This week, take concrete steps to address loneliness in your life:

• Cultivate awareness of God's presence: Set aside time each day to acknowledge that God is with you, reading Scripture passages that remind you of His constant presence.
• Take initiative in relationships: Identify one person you can reach out to this week. Send a text, make a call, or invite them for coffee.
• What ministry or service opportunity could you join where you'll work alongside others toward a common goal? Sign up this week.

Remember, God designed us for relationship - first with Him, then with others. You don't have to face loneliness alone.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word, even on difficult topics like loneliness. Help me to remember that You are always with me. Strengthen my awareness of Your presence and guide me to build relationships with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9)
 
Discouragement may be satan’s number one weapon. Adrian Rogers says, “There’s a legend that tells about the devil one day, who was auctioning off his tools—you know, the tools that he wrecks every work of God with—and he had all of his tools out there. There was pride, and the price on pride. And there was laziness, and there was arrogance, and there was hate, and there was envy, and there was jealousy, and all of these tools. And he had a high price on all of them. But there was one tool that had a sign under it: “Not for Sale”—sort of a strange looking tool. And someone said, “What is that tool, and why isn’t it for sale?” He said, “Well, I couldn’t afford to get rid of that one. That’s my chief tool. It’s discouragement.” And the friend said, “Well, why is it so important?” “Well,” he said, “with this tool I can get into a heart and pry it open. And once I get into that heart, I can do most anything I want. Discouragement is my chief tool.”[1]
 
Bob Russell says, “A lot of preachers, who don’t have a problem with immorality or false doctrine, get discouraged because they see so little growth and see so few responses to the invitation. Teachers, who began with such high ideals in the public system and started with the goals of imparting knowledge and guiding lives, get discouraged and lose their vision. Christian businessmen begin with the goals of starting a business, hiring godly people, making money and being generous with the profits only to get discouraged as they see their salesmen transfer to their competitor, or people not appreciating what they are doing. Parents want to rear their children to know the Lord, but they get discouraged as their children become teenagers and begin resisting and rebelling against the Lord. Moses once got so disgusted with the children of Israel that he prayed, “God, just wipe them off the map!” Elijah once got so discouraged with his responsibility that he prayed, “God, just take my life – I’m the only prophet left in Israel.” [2]

Russell continues, “There is a difference between depression and discouragement. Depression is a prolonged period of melancholy often brought on by a series of circumstances, while discouragement is a temporary loss of enthusiasm for a particular task. Discouragement focuses on a goal that seems unattainable.”[3]

The dictionary defines discourage as “to deprive of courage, to deter, to dishearten, to hinder.” The New Testament uses three Greek words to carry the idea of being disheartened, dispirited, or discouraged. We always translate them as “to faint” or “to grow weary.” For example …“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21). 2 Corinthians 4:1 says, “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” … [I]n Ephesians 3:13, Paul writes, “Do not lose heart at my tribulations for you.” Jesus brings up the subject in the context of prayer. “He spoke a parable to them,” Luke 18:1 tells us, “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” [4]
 
Reflection Question: What area of your life have you been tempted to give up on? How can you ask God for renewed strength to keep going?

Lord, I confess that discouragement has crept into my heart at times. Help me to remember your promise that my labor is not in vain. Give me the strength to persevere, even when I don’t see the results. Keep my heart focused on you and your purpose for my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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

   [1] Adrian Rogers, “Dealing with Discouragement,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Ne 4.
   [2] Transcribed from Bob Russell audio sermon, “Dealing with Discouragement,” from Nehemiah.
   [3] Ibid.
   [4] David Jeremiah, Slaying the Giants in Your Life (Nashville, TN: W Pub., 2001), 22.

"Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him." - 1 Peter 3:22 (NKJV)

There's a story about one of our presidents who would bring in future ambassadors to certain countries. He would go over to a globe and ask, "Now, where is your country?" That ambassador sometimes would point out the country he was being sent to. Each time, the president would spin the globe back around, put his finger on the United States, and say, "No, this is your country. You're being placed there on assignment, but this is your country."

Don't forget, this is your country. You're being placed there on assignment, but this is your country. In Philippians 3:20, Paul says, "For our citizenship is in heaven." Don't forget that your citizenship is in heaven. In Philippians 1:27, he says, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ." And that word "conduct" is the word from which we get "citizen". He's saying, and the New Living Translation says it this way, "Conduct yourselves as citizens of heaven." You may live here on this earth, but as Jesus would say, "You are in this world, but you're not of this world" (See John 17:16).

So where is your country? Is it where you're living physically? No. Your homeland is up in heaven. Your allegiance is to Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

What's our purpose here? An ambassador has a mission and has been given an assignment from their home country. God has also sent us into this world to be ambassadors for Him.

2 Corinthians 5:20 says, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."

We share a mission. While not everyone may understand, appreciate, or grasp our Christian beliefs, we are sent from heaven as ambassadors for Jesus Christ to faithfully represent Him to a watching world.

Some of us gave our lives to Jesus many years ago. We need to live our lives in such a way that our allegiance is clear and we're not ashamed of Him. We've stopped living for ourselves with ourselves on the throne, and we've said, "Jesus, You are on the throne of my life. I want to live for You."

Never forget Whose side you're on. Don't be ashamed of Him. Remember your public allegiance and remember that Jesus Christ leads the winning team.

Reflection Question: How does viewing yourself as an ambassador from heaven, representing Jesus, change the way you interact with people who don't share your faith or understand your Christian convictions?

Dear heavenly Father, help me remember that I am a citizen of heaven, placed here on assignment as Your ambassador. My true country is with You, where Jesus sits at Your right hand with all angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him. When I feel pressure to conform to this world's values or hide my faith, remind me of my true identity and mission. Give me wisdom to represent You well and courage to never be ashamed of You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Adapted from "Whose Side Are You On?": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/gz6wj94/18-whose-side-are-you-on-1-peter-3-18-22

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15)

The prepared answer starts with allegiance to Jesus—not just as Savior, but as Lord. The word "Lord" involves Christ's ownership and being master of our lives. Romans 10:13 doesn't say "whoever calls on the name of the Savior shall be saved"—it says "whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).

Jesus is called "Savior" 24 times in the New Testament, but "Lord" 433 times. He wants to be your Savior, but the agreement you must make to be a Christian is this: "I'll be your Savior if you'll make me your Lord."

After settling that allegiance, you need a prepared answer. "Always be ready to give a defense"—that word "defense" is the Greek word "apologia," meaning apologetics. We're defending our faith, telling not just what we believe but why we believe it.

If you want some good answers for the questions that a skeptical world would ask, consider authors like Norman Geisler and Frank Turek. They've written a book together called "I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist," which gives you good answers for defending your faith.

If a skeptic were to ask you for a reason for your hope in Christ, what would you say? If a loved one was on their deathbed and asked you, "Do you have hope beyond the grave? What's going to happen when I die?" could you respond to them?

We must be ready to share with meekness (gentleness—strength under control) and fear (respect). You're not trying to win an argument; you're trying to win a person to Jesus Christ. There are times when you may win the argument, but you don't win the person to Jesus. Keep the goal of the conversation in front of you. You want them to experience the same hope you have in Jesus. We are to make ourselves available to God and be ready when those conversations arise.

Reflection Question: Have you truly made Jesus the Lord (Master) of your life, or are you trying to keep control while wanting Him as Savior only?

Lord Jesus, I don't want You to be just my Savior—I want You to be my Lord. Help me surrender control of my life to You completely. Prepare me to give answers for the hope I have in You, with gentleness and respect, always seeking to win people, not just arguments. In Your Name, amen.

Adapted from "Witnessing in the Real World": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/s2bd93j/17-witnessing-in-the-real-world-1-peter-3-13-17

"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." (1 Peter 3:14)

It's interesting that Peter himself was less than bold initially. On the night of Jesus' betrayal, when a little girl said, "Hey, that's one of His followers," Peter responded, "I don't know the man." Three times he denied knowing Christ. But something happened. Jesus died on the cross, paying for the sins of humanity, and rose from the dead. Peter repented, and Jesus restored him (John 21:15-19).

Jesus told His disciples in Luke 24:49 to "tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high." In Acts 1:8, He promised, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me" (Acts 1:8).

The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). When people couldn't understand what was happening, Peter rose with boldness and declared, "These men are not drunk, as you suppose. They are filled with the Holy Spirit" (see Acts 2:15). He preached that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and was raised from the dead as Savior of the world, and 3,000 souls gave their lives to Christ.

The infilling of the Holy Spirit transformed this cowardly witness into a strong witness for Jesus! This same Holy Spirit power is available to us today.

Now Peter was telling God's people that persecution was coming, but while it existed, they were to be witnesses for Jesus Christ. In verse 13, Peter asks, "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" That word "followers" really means "zealous"—passionate. If you're living for good, benefiting society, and blessing humanity, who's going to harm you? Few, if any.

But he also says, "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed." In Greek, this is in the optative mood—it's a possibility, probably not going to happen, but it might. You may not be experiencing persecution today, but it may come tomorrow.

I think of John Bunyan, who wrote "Pilgrim's Progress" while spending years in prison simply for preaching the gospel. They told him he could get out if he agreed to stop preaching, and he responded, "If you let me out today, I will, by God's help, preach tomorrow."

Second Timothy 3:12 promises: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." If you choose to live to honor Jesus Christ, your values will conflict with this world's values. Jesus said in Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets."

If you're not experiencing some level of persecution for Christ's sake, perhaps it's because you're going in the same direction as this world.

Reflection Question: What fears keep you from being a bold witness for Christ, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit's power to overcome them?

Heavenly Father, like Peter, I sometimes struggle with fear when it comes to witnessing for You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit's boldness. Help me remember that even if I face opposition for righteousness' sake, I am blessed. Give me the courage to stand firm. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Witnessing in the Real World": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/s2bd93j/17-witnessing-in-the-real-world-1-peter-3-13-17

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. Having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed." (1 Peter 3:15-16)

Peter emphasizes "having a good conscience", meaning your walk matches your talk, your life matches your lips. You're not talking about Jesus setting you free while living for this world. Your life is preaching all week long so that when you open your mouth, there's authenticity and integrity.

First Timothy 4:16 says, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." If you take heed to your doctrine - what you believe - and take heed to yourself, your lifestyle, your conduct, you'll impact not only yourself but also those who see you and hear you.

Let me share a story that illustrates this perfectly. I was at the Southern Baptist Convention, and they were interviewing Mark Richt, who was the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs for a long time, then became Miami Hurricanes' head coach as well, and now he's retired.

Mark Richt was an assistant coach for Florida State University under Bobby Bowden, who was a vocal Christian. Something tragic had occurred. One of the players had been tragically killed, and Bobby Bowden was talking to the rest of the team. He said, "Man, I don't know where you would be if that had happened to you, if you don't know where you will spend eternity." Then he gave them the gospel. This was in the locker room, not at church or a revival service.

He was telling them about Jesus Christ paying for their sin, coming into their life, securing their destiny in heaven. "Won't you please make the decision to get your heart right with God? Give your life to Jesus." He was telling them just like a coach would tell them to block and tackle - he was telling them to give their lives to Jesus.

Mark Richt said, "He was talking to the players, but it was convicting my heart." He went into Bobby Bowden's office the next day and said, "Coach, I don't know where I would spend eternity, and I want Jesus in my life." Bobby Bowden pulled him off to the side and said, "Right here in my office, I'll pray with you." And he prayed with him to receive Christ.

Mark Richt became a vocal Christian witness. He would use his public appearances or public statements to talk about his relationship with Christ. While he was talking about sports and his witness for Christ, one sports writer was in the audience who was there to get an interview, but instead he was hearing Mark Richt's gospel witness.

So he went in and saw Mark Richt and said, "Mark, you were talking yesterday about your Christian witness. I want Christ in my life." Mark Richt said, "Well, Bobby Bowden prayed with me in his office. I'll pray with you in my office," and led that man to Christ.

That man, Todd Unzicker, started serving in different local churches, and today is the Executive Director for North Carolina Baptists. I'm showing you this to see how Bobby Bowden's witness led Mark Richt to faith in Christ, which then led to Todd Unzicker giving his life to Christ, not to mention the countless people that those men have impacted for the gospel, witnessing in the real world.

After I shared this story in church, a woman came up to me and told me an additional story. She said there's someone she knows who knows Bobby Bowden personally, and she got permission to share this story. It was in the 1990s, and Bowden was getting an endorsement contract. Bobby Bowden would typically wear a cross on his lapel all the time while he was coaching as a Christian witness. This endorsement contract came along and said, "Well, we've got one thing that we need you to do. We need you to take that cross off and put our logo on in its place."

Bobby Bowden's response was, "Listen, you can fire me if you want to. I'm not taking the cross off my lapel." So they allowed him to keep it on. That year, he won the national championship. It was as if God was blessing him, in part, because of his own stand for Christ.

We cannot pay for our salvation. We've been saved by grace through faith. But we can show our appreciation for Jesus Christ by how we live our lives as a Christian witness and how we use our opportunities when they become available to us.

Reflection Question: Does your daily life reflect your words about Christ, and what changes might you need to make to ensure your walk matches your talk?

Father, help my life be a living testimony of Your transforming power. May my conduct be so consistent with my faith that opportunities to witness will arise that I may share the hope I have in Jesus Christ with others. Give me courage and boldness to lead others to You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Witnessing in the Real World": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/s2bd93j/17-witnessing-in-the-real-world-1-peter-3-13-17

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." (1 Peter 3:15)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1)

There was a famous atheist, Anthony Flew, who wrote over 40 books on atheism, defending his belief that there was no God. Then in his eighties, he discovered information about DNA and the complexity of life, and he had made a decision early in his life for decades. He said, "I'm going to follow the evidence where it takes me. I'm going to admit it if I see that there's evidence for God."

Finally, Lee Strobel—a great apologist who has given answers for what you believe and why you should believe it—interviewed him and asked, "What happened?" Flew said, "I always said I would follow the evidence where it took me." He said, "I can no longer deny the existence of an intelligent being, a God." In particular, he saw the complexity of DNA.

The truth is, all we have to do is look around and see the evidence for God all around us, pointing to a Creator. If I walked in the woods and saw a smartphone on the ground, I wouldn't just say that it evolved. I would say somebody put it there, right? In the same way, we look all around us and see the complexity of this world. We must admit there is a God.

Romans 1-2 also says there's evidence within our own selves—the moral code that all of us have inside of us (Romans 1-2). Yes, we can silence it. Yes, we can discourage it. Yes, we can twist it as our society continues to try to do. But that moral code from the beginning knows right from wrong. It doesn't matter if you go into a Western society or a society that has never owned a Bible—there's a moral code within the heart of man and woman. What is that? It's the straight line of God saying, "This is right, this is wrong." And then we compare our own crookedness to that straight line. It's pointing to the fact that there is a God.

Perhaps you're thinking, "I don't have a PhD. I don't know how to defend my faith like this. I don't know how to rationally explain these things to someone who has questions." Everyone has the power of their own testimony.

In John chapter 9, there was a man whom Jesus healed who had been born blind (John 9:1-41). When he could now see, the religious leaders were interrogating him, demanding answers about how this miracle occurred. They peppered him with questions: "How did this happen? What did He do? Who is this man?"

Finally, the formerly blind man said with simple honesty, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see" (John 9:25).

It's the persuasiveness of a personal testimony. This is what I was like before I became a Christian. This is what Jesus did in my life, and this is what I have become since becoming a Christian. He has set me free. Whether we're equipped with scholarly evidence or simple personal testimony, we always have a reason to give for the hope that is within us.

Reflection Question: How has God revealed Himself to you through creation, conscience, or personal experience that you could share with others?

Dear God, thank You for revealing Yourself through the beauty and complexity of creation and through the moral conscience You've placed within us. Help me see Your evidence all around me and be ready to share both the logical and personal reasons for my faith, especially my own testimony of how You've changed my life. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Witnessing in the Real World": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/s2bd93j/17-witnessing-in-the-real-world-1-peter-3-13-17

"I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." - Romans 12:3 (NKJV)

When Peter calls us to be "courteous," (1 Peter 3:8), the Greek word actually means "humble-minded." It calls for an honest estimate of yourself. Humility doesn't mean thinking less of yourself - you are made in God's image, gifted by Him for service. As C.S. Lewis wisely said, humility isn't thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less. It's about considering others more than you consider yourself.

Someone aptly noted: "If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn't get there by himself." Similarly, any contribution we make to God's kingdom has been enabled by others and ultimately by God's grace.

F.B. Meyer once thought of God's gifts as being on shelves - the taller you grew spiritually, the higher gifts you could reach. Then he realized that God's best gifts are actually on the lower shelves, accessible only as we humble ourselves. First Peter 5:5 reminds us that "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

We'll never interact as the family of God as we ought, unless we first recognize our need for one another - that we're dependent on each other.

Reflection Question: In what areas of your life might pride be keeping you from God's best gifts? How can you lower yourself to reach those "lower shelf" blessings today?

Lord, help me to have an honest assessment of myself - neither thinking too highly nor too lowly, but recognizing my need for You and others. Give me the humility to receive Your grace and to serve others selflessly. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Enjoying the Good Life" (1 Peter 3:8-12): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/275rcc6/16-enjoying-the-good-life-1-peter-3-8-12

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;" - 1 Peter 3:8

Having compassion means sympathy - the ability to feel another's pain in your own heart. Romans 12:15 says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." When was the last time you truly wept with someone who was weeping? When did you last feel genuinely hurt when hearing of another's difficulty? Jesus, seeing the great needs of humanity, "was moved with compassion" (Matthew 9:36). This emotional engagement with others' welfare is essential to the good life.

"love as brothers..." Brotherly love (the Greek word phileo) binds us as family. If you have taken the name of Jesus Christ (in other words, you are a believer), His blood creates an unbreakable family bond between us. We're going to spend eternity together! There should be a stronger tie with God's family than with any earthly relationship.

I remember doing mission work overseas and meeting a passionate believer who spoke no English. I couldn't speak his language, and my interpreter was not around me at the time. Despite the language barrier, I could see in his eyes - and he in mine - that we were united in the family of God. The interpreter soon came, and we were able to communicate. We hadn't known one another before this mission trip, but our goals were the same. Our priorities centered on the work of the kingdom of God. We served the same Lord. We were (and are) family.

"Be tenderhearted..." Tender-heartedness goes beyond sympathy to action. It's not enough to feel sorry for someone; we must take action to help meet their needs. This compassion expresses itself practically in the family of God.

Reflection Question: Can you think of a time when someone's hurt became hurt in your own heart? How might God be calling you to move from sympathy to action in someone's life today?

Father, give me a heart that truly feels for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Show me practical ways to express Your love through my actions. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Enjoying the Good Life" (1 Peter 3:8-12): https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/275rcc6/16-enjoying-the-good-life-1-peter-3-8-12

"And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:24 (NKJV)

Reproduce the character of Jesus in your life. The whole point of this extended passage in Ephesians 4 is that once you become a Christian, you will express the new life within by changing your conduct. Sometimes people push back and say, "Stop telling us the do's and don'ts of Scripture. You're just trying to tell us to be moral people." But this passage tells us that the new life within will express itself through a change in our lifestyle.

So what does that look like? Paul gives us several very practical expressions of the new life within.

Tell the Truth
Ephesians 4:25 continues, "Therefore, putting away lying, 'Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,' for we are members of one another."

You tell the truth even in small areas. You no longer lie, even what some call "little white lies." Christians will be truthful because of the new life within.  

Manage Your Anger
Verse 26 says, “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath."

There was a husband and wife who went to a counselor, and the counselor told them, "Don't go to bed angry with one another. Figure it out, settle it, then go to bed." They came back a month later, and the counselor asked how it was going. The husband said, "Well, we've been following that command. We have not gone to bed angry." The counselor said, "How's that working out?" He said, "We haven't slept in three weeks."

Lydia and I have stayed up very late sometimes, but we will not go to bed angry with one another. The Bible tells us not to, and that's reason enough.

You may not know this, but Jesus was angry at times. He walked into the temple, turned over the tables of the money changers, and said, "My house will be a house of prayer. You have made it a den of thieves." He was angry, but he was angry at the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. One preacher said the best way to be angry and not sin is to be angry at nothing but sin. Jesus was angry at sin.

When we hold onto wrath and let it fester, we give place to the devil (verse 27). We unknowingly open the door for the devil to run havoc in our lives, our marriages, and our homes.

Live with Integrity
Ephesians 4:28 says, "Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need."

Don't steal. Work hard. Do honest labor. Christians should be the most trustworthy people in the entire community. Not because everyone else is doing it, and not because the boss is watching. As Christians, we should express integrity in our work life. We are different. We should be known for it.

Watch Your Words
Ephesians 4:29 continues, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

A direct application of this verse for Christians is how we conduct ourselves online through social media. If you are being vicious online as a believer, you need to cut it out.

Another direct application is that Christians should not use cuss words or tell vulgar jokes. If cuss words are still coming out of your mouth, the Holy Spirit wants to deal with that. I understand if you're a new believer and that's all you knew growing up. But as you grow in the things of God, the Holy Spirit will convict you and tell you to clean up your mouth.

You've heard, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." That is a lie. Words hurt. Our words should encourage people. It should not be cutting and hurtful and spiteful and "got you this time" and "said exactly what was on my mind."

Your words should reflect Jesus to the people around you. If you have a problem with your mouth, read Proverbs over and over again. It says a lot about the tongue.

Forgive Generously
Ephesians 4:31–32 (NKJV)
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

"Voice of the Martyrs" once published Pastor Dmitri's story. In the eighties, he was beaten with a hammer for his faith in Christ so severely that he became a quadriplegic. He was thrown into prison, unable to move, lying in his own filth, with other prisoners doing what little they could to help. Years passed. Then a change in government came, and the prisoners were released.

One day, someone came to Pastor Dmitri's room. He recognized the man immediately. It was the officer who had held the hammer. The man got on his knees and said, "Please forgive me. I shouldn't have done it. You're not the only one I did this to. I did it to countless others. I don't even know if you can forgive me, but I'm sorry."

Pastor Dmitri looked at him with tears in his eyes and said, "I wish more than anything that I could feel my arms and move them, so I could wrap them around you and tell you that I have been praying for you every single day. I forgive you, and I love you."

When you, as a Christian, hear a story like that, something should stir in you. You should say, "I want to respond like that." Why? Because you know Jesus would respond like that. So how do you become that person?

Stop living with one foot in the world and one foot in the Word. Live wholeheartedly for Jesus. Receive Him as Lord and Savior. Realize that the old "you" is gone. Renew your mind with the Word of God. Finally, begin to reproduce the character of Jesus in your life. Little by little, day by day. Pastor Dmitri did not wake up one day and decide to forgive. It was years and years of letting the life of Christ change him from the inside out. When the moment came, the natural response was to reflect the character of Jesus.

Reflection Question: Of all the areas Paul addresses in Ephesians 4, which one is hardest for you right now: telling the truth, managing your anger, living with integrity, cleaning up your words, or forgiving someone who has wronged you? What is one step you can take today to let the life that is within you begin to show on the outside?

"Dear Heavenly Father, I want to tell the truth, manage my anger in a way that honors You, keep my words full of grace, and forgive others the way You have forgiven me. I know I cannot do this on my own. I need Your Holy Spirit working in me and through me. Help my natural response to reflect the character of Jesus. In Jesus' Name, amen."

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

"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind." - Ephesians 4:23 (NKJV)

Ephesians 4:23 gives us the central truth of real life change. If you want to change your lifestyle, you first have to change your mind. Repentance is a Greek word that means to change your mind. But it is not just a mental shift. It is a change of mind that leads to a change of behavior. I no longer want to live for sin. I no longer want the priorities of this world. So I will put Jesus first, and my conduct will follow from that decision. But the mind has to change first.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” - Romans 12:2, NKJV

Conformity with the world is pressure from the outside squeezing you in. As one version says, “Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold.” Don't let the world do that to you, but the verse does not stop at the warning. It gives you the answer. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

That word "transformation" describes life from the inside that expresses itself on the outside. It is pressure from the inside pushing out the life of God, showing itself in everyday life. That is the transformation Jesus Christ wants from each of us as His children.

He does not just want us to imitate Him. He does not just want us to pick up a few of Jesus' mannerisms. He wants it to be natural. He wants it to be something real within that pushes itself out, so that we really and truly do reflect Jesus to our lost world, to our neighbors, to our friends, to our relatives, where we really are showing Jesus to someone else.

How? By the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

“Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” - James 1:21, NKJV

If you just heard that, you might think it is saying that if you want to save your soul, you receive the implanted Word. But that is not what it is saying. That word “save” is the Greek word we use for restore. Maybe you have had some furniture that needed to be restored. It is the same piece, but it needs to look new. It needs to be scrubbed. It needs to be painted. It needs to be refinished.

Receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to restore you to the place you were supposed to be all along. It can restore your life. Then verse 22-24 says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was."

You know how that goes. You glance in the mirror and say, “Looks pretty good.” Then you walk out the door, and sure enough, you missed the hair sticking straight up in the back of your head. You didn't pay attention. You didn't stop long enough to really look.

Renewing your mind works the same way. It does not happen because you glanced at your Bible one time. It does not happen because you quickly listened to a sermon or sat through a Sunday school class and moved on. That just makes you like the man who hears but doesn't do.

So how do you get God's Word into your heart so it renews your mind? Joshua 1:8 describes it, “But this Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Everybody wants good success. The Bible promises it to the person who meditates on the Word. But what does it mean to meditate? Do you know how to worry? Yes, we all do.

Worry is meditation in reverse. Worry is meditating on your problems. Worry is meditating on the bad news of this world.

Meditation is the same process, only turned toward God. It is thinking and processing and going over and over in your mind God's power, His strength, His Word, and letting it roll through your thinking again and again.

If you have ever seen a cow chew its cud, you have seen the picture. The cow chews the grass, swallows it, brings it back up, chews it again, swallows it again, and brings it back up again. The cow does it again and again. It is getting every bit of nutritional value out of that grass. That is the picture of meditation.

So if you want to change your behavior, start by meditating on God's Word.

Meditate on God's Word about marriage. Meditate on what it looks like to put God first in your home. Think through all the verses about a husband leading his family, a wife being loving and supportive, and a mother and father raising their children to honor Christ. What does it mean to have a God-honoring, Christ-honoring marriage and family? Meditate on that, and your mind will begin to affect your actions. The next time you want to argue with your spouse, a verse of Scripture comes to mind. The next time you want to lash out at your son or daughter, a verse of Scripture comes to your mind.

Try this for the next month. Every single day, read the book of Ephesians. It is six chapters. It won't take long. Read chapters 1-6 on day one. Do it again on day two. Then day three. Keep going for the whole month. You know what you will discover? You will be meditating.

Every single thing that happens in your life, your mind will go back to a verse from Ephesians. Your mind will be trained and attuned to what God has to say about those subjects.

That is meditating in God's Word. That is renewing your mind, and it is what gives you the power to be restored and changed from the inside out.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to change your behavior, and what does God’s Word say about that area?

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to renew my mind with Your Word. I know that if I want to change my behavior, I first have to allow You to change my thinking. Teach me to meditate on Your Word. Help me to turn Your promises over and over in my mind instead of turning my problems over and over in my mind. Help me to be faithful to Your Word every day. May Your truth rise to the surface when I need it most. In Jesus' Name, amen.

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

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." - Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)

It's easy to let fear take over your thinking. Paul's prescription in this verse isn't complicated, but it is convicting: resolve to think positively. Not just wishful thinking, but a deliberate decision to fill your mind with what is true, noble, and praiseworthy rather than with fear, speculation, and worst-case scenarios.

How much of the news are you watching? I'm not talking about staying informed. I mean continuously letting your mind absorb all the problems and fear-mongeringout there. At some point, you have to turn it off and start meditating on what is true, what is noble, what is trustworthy.

Think about it — you wake up in the morning, and the first thing you do is turn on the news. You eat your breakfast with the news. You drive to work listening to talk radio breaking down the news. You get to work, and everybody's talking about the news. You come home and turn on the news again. You go to bed with the news on. And then you wonder why you can't sleep, why you're anxious, why you feel hopeless. You have fed your mind a steady diet of fear, and you're surprised you're afraid.

I'm not saying be uninformed. I'm saying be careful how much you consume. There's a difference between checking the news and being consumed by the news. At some point, more information isn't making you better prepared — it's just making you more afraid. The reporters aren't going to give you peace. The analysts aren't going to give you hope. The commentators aren't going to give you strength. Only God can do that, and you can't hear His voice when you've got the noise turned all the way up.

Here's what I want to challenge you to do instead. Think of the praiseworthy things that are going on in our world right now — the places where God is using this situation in a positive way. No, it's not ideal. But at the same time, God is moving.

Personally, you can do the same. You can say, "God, I'm going to meditate on what You're doing in the midst of all that I'm going through right now. It's not ideal. I'm going to ask You for what I need, but I'm going to trust You. I'm going to thank You in advance. I'm going to thank You for what You're doing in my life. And then I'm going to resolve to have a positive outlook."

That's not denial. That's not pretending everything is fine. That is faith. That is choosing to put the magnifying glass on God's power rather than on the size of your problem.

The word "think" means to "meditate," which carries the idea of muttering something over and over and over again. God says in Joshua 1:8, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do all that is written therein — for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Don't you want success? Don't you want to be prosperous? The promise in Joshua 1:8 is tied to one thing: meditating. Meditate on what? Meditate on God's Word. Not on the problem. Not on the crisis. Not on the worst-case scenario. On God's Word.

Proverbs 4:20-22 says, "My son, attend to my words, incline your ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart, for they are life to those that find them and medicine to all their flesh."

The Word of God is medicine to all your flesh. It heals. It restores. It brings life to what is broken.

Now, I want to make sure you understand what the writer means when he says, "My son, attend to my words." Here's an example that makes sense to me. Suppose you came up to me and said, "Pastor Josh, I need your attention." And you notice I'm walking kind of fast, moving with purpose. And I say to you, "I want to talk to you, I want to help you, but there's first something I must attend to."

Now, am I saying that what you need isn't important? No. What I'm saying is that I have something more important that I must attend to first.

That's what the writer of Proverbs is saying in Proverbs 4:20. He's not saying the other things in your life aren't important. He's saying, this is of the highest importance. My son — put My Word first. You want to experience God's peace? Put God's Word first. You want to walk through this crisis without falling apart? Put God's Word first.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of a good report — meditate. Think on these things.

So, decide today to have a positive outlook, not because everything is perfect, but because God can handle it. Your situation has not changed, but your perspective has.

Reflection Question: Are you meditating on your problems or on God's Word, which promises His power to help you with your problems?

Heavenly Father, I confess that I have spent too much time looking at the problem and not enough time looking at You. Help me to turn off the noise and open Your Word. Teach me to meditate on Your promises again and again until they go from my head into my heart. I choose today to look for what You are doing in the middle of what I'm going through. I thank You in advance. I trust You. And I resolve to have a positive outlook — not because of my circumstances, but because of You. In Jesus' Name, amen.

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