God’s Heart for Humanity

2 Peter 3:1-10

“… He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

I want to focus on this verse because it reveals a characteristic of God’s heart that we all so desperately need to cling to. This world can be a dark place, we all know that, and in a time of such division and hate it’s so easy to turn to God in anger wondering where He is…

If God is so good, why do bad things happen?

I’ve noticed this is a question that so many people wrestle with and one that keeps us from fully stepping into a relationship with God or even believing in Him at all. We can’t fathom the idea that a God who is so loving and good could possibly exist in a world that is so evil and cruel.

I don’t think we will ever be able to fully understand why horrible things happen in this world, but from what I have come to know about God’s heart, one thing I can be sure of is that He would never, ever wish evil upon His children whom He so deeply loves. In fact, I believe that seeing horrible things happen (no matter who is affected) absolutely breaks His heart into pieces.

But if He loves us so much, why doesn’t He stop bad things from happening?

Well, the short answer is because we have free will and we live in a broken world. Yes, God can do anything, He is God. He has the power to stop bad things from happening in this world, and I believe He often does, but if He stopped every single bad thing from happening, He would be taking away the free will He has given us to decide how we want to live. Bad things do not happen because God is cruel. We are the ones who choose division over unity and violence over love time and time again. WE do, not God.

So, what if instead of asking “God, why is this happening,” we started asking “God, where is your heart in this, help me to see who you are.”

God’s deepest desire is for all of us to come to Him so that He can cover us in the depths of His love and transform our hearts to reflect His. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” THIS is God’s heart for us, and in it, we can find hope even when the world feels heavy and dark.

My prayer for us all is that we can have the courage to rest in God’s arms at times when it feels easier to run away. I pray that we choose to let God transform our hearts so that we can see ourselves and others the way He sees us. And most importantly, I pray that we begin to reflect God’s character, and choose love, not only toward those who we like or those who agree with us, but toward every human being, everywhere ♡

Carmen K

Walking

2 Peter 2:10-22

Near the end of the previous school year, Gwen and I began working on getting healthier. To this end, we started adjusting our diet and increasing our physical activity to lose weight and improve our overall physical health. One of my personal goals, as a diabetic, was to bring my blood sugar levels back into an acceptable range. We even loaded apps onto our phones that help us track our steps, as well as offering other incentives and suggestions to help us maximize our efforts. The downside to some of these apps, since they are free, is that they come with ads that you must watch to access some functions of the app. Not coincidentally, many of these advertisements are for “miracle” weight loss pills, apps that promise “easy” exercise routines that provide instant results, and “magical” creams that you apply before you go to bed that will tighten up all your loose and flabby skin while you sleep—basically, all the benefits of a healthy lifestyle without all the work.

The desire to get maximum rewards for minimal effort isn’t anything new. In the scripture passage for this week, the Apostle Peter had to confront this kind of thinking as it threatened to infect the early church. It seems that there was a group of people in some of these congregations that Peter labels as “false teachers” who were promoting a sin-driven form of the Gospel. The message was simple: you can sin all you want and still enjoy the benefits of salvation! The problem with this mindset is that it is only partially correct. They understood that their salvation didn’t depend on their own righteousness. What they didn’t understand is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ demands a choice and a change!

During the work week, I have a break from 8:15 am to 10:30 am. During those breaks, I go to a local park and walk about three miles before I go back to work. Every time I walk, I reach a point where I am tempted to quit before I reach my goal. At those points, I must choose to keep walking, so that I may see the change in myself that I want to see. Christ made the walk that led to the cross and our salvation; now we must choose to walk with him so that we may be transformed into his likeness, so that the world may see Him in us and perhaps choose to join us in the walk. Thank God there are no short-cuts!

Walking with Jesus,

Mike

The Importance of a Direct Relationship with God

2 Peter 1:20-2:10

When your connection to God depends solely on someone else’s perspective and you never seek to know God personally, you become vulnerable to deception. Jesus often warned about false teachers in the Bible, frequently referring to the Pharisees—those most knowledgeable of God’s Word. But why were those who had memorized the Torah, the sacred text, so often guilty of misleading others? Their motivation was personal gain, driven by greed rather than a desire to follow God’s will.

Jesus’s death on the cross opened the way for all people to draw near to God and enter heaven, not just those from a specific lineage. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”—this means everyone is included. Eternal life does not depend solely on biblical knowledge or good deeds. Jesus clearly teaches that without knowing Him, one cannot come to the Father.

How, then, do we come to know Jesus and discern truth from falsehood? It begins with prayer—asking God to reveal the right path. Building relationships with others who walk in faith is important; ask God to lead you to individuals, groups, or a church community. Read the Bible not just for information, but to develop a genuine relationship with God and to understand who God is. Bring your questions to God in prayer and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you, praying in Jesus’ name so that you will not be misled by false teachers.

If you realize you have followed a false teacher, ask God for forgiveness, repent and allow Him to guide you back to Him.  Knowing God—who God is, what God values, and how God sees humanity—equips you to recognize deception. We are called to biblically challenge leadership, ask questions, and measure teachings against scripture. As lawlessness and deception increase, as foretold, remember the unchanging nature of God: the same God who judged angels, protected Noah, condemned Sodom and Gomorrah, and rescued Lot will also protect the faithful and hold the unrighteous accountable.

This is the same God who sent His Son to bear our punishment, giving us a way to be saved from judgment. My prayer is that we grow in faith by knowing our Savior and trust that no matter what happens in our lives, God is working for His will, the will to save us from evil. 

Nikki Fiedler

Well Pleased

2 Peter 1:12-19

"The message of Jesus is just a myth! It's something that Peter and the other apostles made up!"

We know from chapter 2:1 that, in Peter's audience, false teachers are rising up.

And in this week's paragraph (1:12-19), it seems that he's wanting to address some of their false teaching: the accusation that Peter's message about Jesus is a "cleverly devised myth" (1:16)

And Peter's response is simply to slide his resume across the table:

"... we were eyewitnesses of his majesty...

When he received honor and glory from God the Father, 

And the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory...

We ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven,

For we were with him on the holy mountain."

(1:16-18)

In other words:

"I was there.

On the mountain.

I saw THE. GLORY. OF. GOD.

I heard THE. VOICE. OF. GOD."

It's hard to beat that!

And ultimately where Peter is going in the following verses is to say:

What we have in the "prophetic word," the Scriptures, is "something more sure" (1:19).

Which is incredible!

But in this moment, where I want to focus is that "very voice borne from heaven."

On that mountain - what we typically call the Mount of Transfiguration - Peter, James, and John heard the very voice of God.

What did that voice say? 

Have you ever thought about all the things that God could have said to the disciples in that moment? He could have really done us some favors...

He could have shed some light on creation: more specifics of how He did it, and how old the Earth really is.

He could have told us more specifics about the end times: given us some specific dates, and really cleared up some things! 

But God was not concerned with any of that. 

He had one simple message on that mountain. It was the same, simple message that He had at the baptism of Jesus (Mark 1:11).

"This is my beloved Son.

With whom I am well pleased."

With this simple message, God is bringing us inside the Trinity. He is giving us insight into a relationship older than history itself: the relationship between God the Father, and God the son.

"I love my Son.

I am well pleased with my Son."

If you are a parent reading this, you have - albeit just a whisper - an understanding of this "well pleased with my son."

It started the moment you found out that the pregnancy test was positive. It soared in the hospital room, when you held your child for the first time. And with every year that passes: the joy, the delight in your child grows and grows.

And this is just an echo of the infinite delight that God the Father has in his Son Jesus. 

-—

And believer in Jesus,

what is even more stunning is this:

this delight has been extended to you.

The Scriptures teach that by faith, we have UNION with Jesus.

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I live, but Christ who lives in me... (Galatians 2:20)."

"... you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3)."

Or we can look up just a few verses in our chapter, 2 Peter 1:4 - we have become "partakers in the divine nature."

And what that means is this:

The same infinite delight that God the Father has in Jesus - He has in you, because of Jesus. 

On the cross, for a moment (and in a way we don't fully understand), this delight was withheld. The One who had no sin was made sin for us.

Where there once had been only infinite pleasure and delight, justice now brought displeasure and separation. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

But what a great exchange! The Son of God received this from His Father, so that - by our union with Him - we know the delight of God the Father.

My friend, hear the voice from heaven today.

And let His voice transform your day, and fill it with joy, and with worship.

All because of Jesus, these words are for you too:

"You are my son, whom I love.

With you, I am well pleased!"

"You are my daughter whom I love.

With you, I am well pleased!"

- Joe 

It Doesn't Stop at Faith

2 Peter 1:5-11

Choosing to accept Christ into our hearts and receive His grace and forgiveness is the most important and precious decision we can make in all of our spiritual lives. However, our walk with God should not end once that moment passes. Rather, it should be a decision that projects us into a deep and intimate relationship with the Lord, leading us to experience this same grace in new ways every single day.

Being a Christian in my early 20s, something I have noticed is that there are a lot of people my age who stop at faith. They have made the choice to accept Christ into their hearts, they believe in God and in His forgiveness, but they stop there. They label themselves as Christians but continue to live life the same way and fail to grow in their personal relationship with God.

There have certainly been times where I have been in a place like this, but I have realized that failing to go deep with God prevents us from experiencing the fullness of life that He wants to give us. One of my favorite Bible verses is John 10:10. It says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Having faith is a beautiful thing that a lot of people in this world lack, but why stop at faith when God has so much more for us?

Just like any other relationship, our relationship with God takes effort. Faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love are not attributes that come to us immediately, but qualities that build upon each other as we deepen our relationship with God. Seeing these virtues appear in our lives in new ways is evidence of God’s transforming power in our hearts.

Verse 9 brings us to an important point. It says, “For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sin.” In order to experience the abundance of life God wants to give us, we need to develop an eternal mindset, always keeping eternity and God’s never-ending grace in view.

There have been moments in my life where I have felt God’s grace so evidently that it actually felt like a physical weight was being lifted off my shoulders. However, as time goes by, I find myself getting wrapped up in the busyness of life and forgetting these moments, once again preventing myself from fully experiencing the abundance of life with God.

God doesn’t want just a one-time experience with us. He wants us to come to Him every single day with every single struggle we face. He wants to draw us closer to His heart through all that we do, so don’t stop at faith. Let God’s grace fill your hearts, not just in that initial moment where you accept him, not just on Sunday mornings, but every single day.

Carmen K

Knowing

2 Peter 1:1-4

Recently, Gwen and I celebrated our thirtieth wedding anniversary, and it got me thinking about all that we’ve been through together over the past three decades. A lot has happened in that time—some happy and some not so much. We got to see our son get married; we became grandparents in 2009 and again in 2020. We’ve celebrated many birthdays and mourned the loss of many of our family members and friends, and we’ve experienced job loss and job changes, times when we had abundance, and times when we had next to nothing. As I look back, it amazes me how far we’ve come. Gwen and I were casual friends for about a year before we started dating. During that time, we knew each other on a fairly superficial level; however, after more than 30 years together, it’s safe to say that we now know each other more deeply than anyone else knows us. The other thing I’ve come to see is that, in that time, we’ve been transformed for the better by the depth of that knowledge.

Second Peter is addressed to a group of churches afflicted by a common problem: false teaching had begun to infiltrate these churches. Interestingly, he begins this letter by commending them (and us) to keep growing in their faith. It goes something like this: apart from Christ, we are corrupt and sinful, but when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our sins are forgiven and Christ’s righteousness is credited to us. Another benefit of giving our lives to Christ is that God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. With this new level of intimacy, we begin to know Jesus rather than just knowing about him. As our knowledge of Christ deepens, we begin to understand God’s call on our lives to reflect his glory and goodness to the rest of the world. Furthermore, God’s Spirit empowers us to live out that calling and fully enjoy God’s promises! As those promises forge a greater connection to God, they enable us to resist the world’s temptations.

My hope and prayer is that we may all strive to know Christ more deeply, so that we may stand strong against the attacks of our Enemy and reflect the love and mercy of Christ to a world desperately in need of healing.

Following in Christ’s footsteps,

Mike

Lions and Limits

1 Peter 5:8-14 

Here at the end of Peter’s first letter he admonishes believers to “cast all your anxiety (cares) upon Him because He cares for you.”  What a wonderful thought that we have a Savior who invites us to cast our worries, fears, and doubts upon Him because He loves us so much. 

Oddly enough, Peter continues in verse 8 by telling us something that most certainly could cause MUCH anxiety, fear, and worry.  He says “be sober of spirit, be on the alert; your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. To devour means to eat up voraciously or to consume destructively or recklessly.  Yikes!  His goal is to devour our relationships, destroy our families, consume our joy and our faith in Jesus and completely undo our commitment to separate ourselves from the world and live for Him.  Peter’s warning starts with “be sober”.  This sobriety is not the opposite of drunkenness, but rather the opposite of complacency.  It means to stay focused, aware of what is happening around us, and serious about our walk with God. 

Peter calls the devil a lion, but God has had His own pride of lions throughout scripture.  First Chronicles tells us that courageous men from the tribe of Gad came to David in the wilderness to join his mighty men. It is said that they were “men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, who were swift as gazelles on the mountains, and whose faces were like the faces of lions.” 

Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are bold as a lion!” 

And there is another lion.  C.S. Lewis called Him Aslan in his Chronicles of Narnia.  The Bible calls Him the Lion of Judah.  Satan is but a poor counterfeit of our Great Kingly Lion. The devil harasses, intimidates and tries to terrify, but his power is lacking and limited.  The Lion of Judah possesses divine power as Creator, Sovereign Lord, King of Kings and the very Son of God. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world! 

Peter tells us to resist this wily enemy, firm in our faith.  We have an entire suit of armor designed by God for us to be able to “resist in the evil day and stand firm.” Faith is our shield that extinguishes the fiery darts thrown at us by Satan.  This struggle may cause suffering and hardship, but we are not alone in our struggles. Verse 10 assures us it is only for a “little while,” which is a repeat of chapter 1:6 where Peter tells his readers that “now, for a little while you have been distressed by various trials.” This prowling, roaring lion is limited, and our God is greater! 

We rarely pay much attention to the end of a letter in the Bible, but Peter ends his first letter by telling them to greet one another with a kiss.  In chapter 4:8 he says “above all” keep fervent in your love for one another.   

My grandparents lived in the apartment above us and as kids we ran up the long flight of stairs almost every day to get cookies, or freshly baked bread and butter.  All our neighborhood friends came with us.  My Italian grandmother kissed us all as we came in and again as we left, adding a “God Bless You.”  That kiss as we entered meant “I’m glad you came” and the one as we left meant “I hope you come again.” In today’s church this could be a hug, a warm handshake, a pat on the back, or a “God bless you.”  I think Peter just wants us to express our love and keep that connection that is so important in resisting that prowling lion. 

“So come on my soul, don’t you get shy on me, lift up your song, ‘cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs, get up and praise the Lord!” 

xo 

Jo 

Elders

1 Peter 5:1-7

In view of Peter’s exhortation to elders in this week’s sermon text, I asked our elders at The Bridge to share their reflections on this passage and what serving as an Elder or “under shepherd” means to them. Here is what they said.

Our Identity as Shepherds Under Christ

Tom Helfrich:

“I like the fact that the passage says we are shepherding God’s flock. It reminds me when Jesus asked Peter, ‘Do you love me? Then feed MY sheep.’ We belong to Him. We are His. We are called to be shepherds, eager and willing to serve as examples to the flock. We have so many in our church that do this. It is such an encouragement and blessing to see. Thankful to be a part of God’s flock at the Bridge.”

Pastor Jon:

“If the Chief Shepherd cares so deeply for His sheep and His under shepherds, then we should take each other seriously and act humbly toward each other, evermore minding the Mighty Hand of the Good Shepherd overseeing what is for all of our good.”

Shepherding in Community

Pastor Steven:

“Specifically, being one of many elders at the Bridge means I am not alone in my shepherding and spiritual oversight of people. The Chief Shepherd shepherds us all and as an under shepherd there are others shepherding alongside me and shepherding me. It’s always a joyful thing to witness the Lord leading His people to green pastures and still waters and restore their souls. When we get to be eyewitnesses of His work, our awe of God grows and our love for His people increases.”

Alex Pfister:

“It takes many people to run a church, from pastors and staff to volunteers and elders, to of course, the congregation. God gives us each special talents and it’s been rewarding to work with the other Elders and see their specific gifts. From knowing just the right words to say, to leading gracefully, to providing financial stewardship, it’s an example of how God calls us to shepherd and be shepherded to.”

Faithful Stewardship of God’s People

Dan Nickel:

Elders are necessary for “shepherding the church at the institutional level in a responsible manner and at an individual level that allows for human flourishing and the spreading of the Gospel.”

Personal Growth and Gratitude in the Role

Alex Pfister:

“Our family is an extension of this, so being put into an Elder role is a reminder for me, my wife, and kids to live in a way that is pleasing to God, though we are certainly not perfect in doing that. I’m grateful to Martha as she provides me counsel and wisdom to help lead the church, which has been rewarding for us to go through together.”

Matt Phelps: 

“It’s an honorable yet serious thing to be an under shepherd.  So, for me it’s a call to share the same love and grace that Christ Jesus our Chief Shepherd, gives me daily.”

In this small portion of 1 Peter, he lays out expectations for both elders and the church. The qualities he highlights are important for us to reflect on. 

“Be shepherds…willingly…eager to serve…not pursuing dishonest gain nor lording your position over those entrusted to you but be examples to the flock. In the same way, those who aren’t elders, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, be humble toward one another. Humble yourselves before God. Cast your anxiety on God because He cares for you.”

That sounds like the life Jesus led-the example He gave us- faithfully serving in humility, even unto death. 

While our default mode is seldom to lay down our lives in humility, trusting ourselves to the care of the Lord, another Apostle tells us this is actually possible because of the Holy Spirit. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” As we contemplate His glory through the text this week, will you humbly ask God to stir up your love for Him and to transform you into his image with ever-increasing glory? 

Thank you to Pastor Steven, Pastor Jon, Tom Helfrich, Dan Nickel, Alex Pfister, and Matt Phelps for your thoughts, but more importantly for the prayerful care you give to leading Christ’s church and His people here at The Bridge. 

May Christ be magnified in all of us.

Natalie

Cause & Origin Investigations

1 Peter 4:12-19

Fire can be immensely painful and ruinous especially when it results in the loss of physical life.  The natural inclination is to try to avoid such a hazard although to save a life one might risk it all.  Most will try to prevent deadly fires but there are a few who actually like to start them.  When serious fires occur, cause and origin fire investigations are conducted to determine the facts surrounding them. 

In our text this week, Peter writes to remind Christians to expect painful suffering in our lives as we share in the mission of following Jesus.  The fiery trials Peter is addressing are not a result of our own wrongdoing but come as persecution for the good work of sharing the gospel truth about Jesus.  Incredible encouragement is provided by God’s Spirit of glory as it rests upon Christians.  It is greater than anything else in this world and has the power to help us persevere through any test.

Another thing I’ve come to learn about big fires is that they can draw big crowds.  It’s no different in our suffering as Christians, the bigger the test the greater the witness we have to a watching world.  Suffering will come to all of us but no Christian should purposely be the cause of that suffering on someone else.  Instead, the fiery trials are another opportunity for us and the world to investigate the cause and origin of the LIVING HOPE that is in us and available to all.  In any trial, we can know that our Savior is holding on to us as we go through it.  Our faith can endure because Jesus Christ lives.   

In the serious trials, may each of us hold onto Jesus like we know He holds onto us.  Let us continue His rescue mission where we risk all together with Him for a world of people in need of saving.  And while we go through pain, may we find greater faith in Christ to carry us through.  Because of God’s steadfast love and resurrection power revealed through Jesus, we can trust in our eternal Creator who is faithful to us for the promise of eternal life.

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Go Home, You're Drunk

(There are five verses here, but I will only be looking at verse 7 with you. But there is a lot to meditate on and study in 8-11! Love, hospitality, and using our gifts!)

1 Peter 4:7...

"The end of all things is at hand;

therefore be self-controlled and sober minded

for the sake of your prayers."

"Be sober-minded." It's not the first time that Peter has exhorted us in this way in the letter (1:13), and he will do it again (5:8).

Our English Bibles add the suffix "minded," which is not wrong, but it's actually not there in the original language: It's simply "sober." At its most basic meaning, we think of it as a synonym for "serious," and rightly so.

So Peter is admonishing his audience (and us),

Get *serious* about your life.

Get serious about how you live.

Wake up!

Don't just coast spiritually.

You are staring suffering and trial in the face (4:12).

This is not a time to coast, or be passive in how you live your life.

Additionally, there is greater meaning to the word "sober." We often use the word in contrast to the concept of drunkenness. When we describe someone who is *not* drunk, they are "sober." It is true for us now in English, and the word had the same meaning in Peter's day and language as well.

So let's expand on our understanding of "sober" with this lens. Peter's word to us is to "be sober." Let's ask, what does it mean in Peter's mind to be "drunk"? And I think we get a couple answers when we look at the remaining parts of the verse...

     1. When I'm not thinking about eternity, I'm "drunk.

Peter begins the verse: "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be... sober minded..."

We might be surprised to read a New Testament writer, who lived 2,000 years ago, say, "The end of all things is at hand." Obviously at this point in history, Christ has still not returned. So is it really right to say, "The end of all things is at hand"?

It's helpful to know that the New Testament writers consistently use this type of language ("the end of all things," "the last times," etc.) to refer to the period of time that was:

(a) inaugurated by the death and resurrection of Jesus, and

(b) will be completed with His return.

For example, earlier in the letter (1:20), Peter said this,

"[Christ] was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you"

So even though this period of time has lasted (at this point) 2,000 years, we like Peter are living in these last times, or at "the end of all things."

Keep in mind what Peter also wrote (2 Peter 3:8): "Do not overlook this one fact beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is one day."

To us, it's been 2,000 years.

To God, it's just been a couple of days.

All that to say... we are living at "the end of all things." We are living between the First Coming of Jesus, and His Second Coming. This life, though marked by suffering (1:6; 4:12) is not all there is. Jesus is coming back! Eternity is long, and it is real.

And Peter is saying to us: the fact that we are living at "the end of all things" should cause us to live sober: with seriousness, with sobriety.

And the opposite is also true: when I'm ignoring eternity, completely wrapped up in this present life, and living life like this is all there is, I'm "drunk."

I'm confused.

I'm not in-tune with reality.

And I'm not thinking clearly about life - this one, and the next. 

Peter says, "The end of all things is at hand, so be sober..."

     2. When I'm not praying, I'm "drunk."

Peter says to be "sober minded for the sake of your prayers." In Peter's mind,

Prayerfulness flows out of this sobriety. And,

Prayerlessness flows out of "drunkenness."

When I don't pray, it's clear that I am unaware of my constant need for God. (Constant!)

When I don't pray, I'm trying to live life in my own power and strength.

When I don't pray, I'm living like a practical atheist - as if God isn't even there.

There's a word for this, Peter says. You're "drunk."

You're confused.

You're not in-tune with reality.

You're caught up in your circumstances.

And you're not thinking clearly about God, yourself, and your constant need of Him.

---

What describes you today, my friend? 

Is your life marked by this sobriety?

Is your life marked by prayerfulness?

Is your life marked by having your thoughts on eternity?

Or is your life marked by this "drunkenness"?

There is a common phrase in the social media world of memes and comments, when someone is out of line, or isn't making any sense: "Go home; you're drunk."

Maybe it's a bit silly to phrase it like this! But perhaps the Lord is saying the same thing to us today:

"Go home; you're drunk."

In other words, He says to us:

"Stop living like this is all there is. 

Stop living like I'm not there.

Stop your prayerlessness.

Stop your drunkenness.

COME HOME TO ME.

My Son died to bring you to Me." (3:18)

And as we come home to Him, He will give us the strength to live lives of sobriety and prayerfulness.

Notice this beautiful phrase in 4:11 (Peter speaking in the context of serving): "... by the strength that God supplies..."

Our takeaway should not be: "I need to just try harder. I need to pull myself up by my bootstraps, and be sober in my own strength."

No, God will supply the strength. Peter wants to say to us:

"Be sober-minded in the strength that God supplies,

in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.

To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.

Amen."

- Joe

YOLO ain't a thing. It's a fallacy.

1st Peter Chapter 4 verses 1-6

You’ve lived 30 years of your life as a pagan who doesn’t know the true God. God? What God? You go through life, partaking in all that this world has to offer. YOLO to the max! Doing what you felt was right in your own eyes. You have no one to answer to and can do whatever you want with no consequences for your actions.  You give in to every desire until one day, you meet Jesus. 
 
That encounter changes you and the things you were into before are no longer alluring, for now you understand eternal death is the consequence for your actions. You have had this awesome encounter and now it all seems so different. The things you did in the past don’t bring the same pleasure. You see how empty it all was. Knowing that another had to die in your place to take your punishment, gives you a newfound desire to live not for your flesh, or to make others happy, but to live in the Spirit according to the will of God. 
 
In ancient times, Jews considered Gentiles unclean and repulsive. Describing them as “less than dogs”. Yet there would be “a light” for them and that Savior would bring them justice. “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.” “Therefore since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin.” He has finished with sin once and for all, and filled with his Spirit, we too, can turn away from sin and toward the fullness of life offered in Jesus Christ.

YOLO ain't a thing. You don't only live once, there is life beyond the here and now. What we do in this life matters now and for eternity! Think like Jesus, love like Jesus and let the spirit guide you. Have you ever made decisions that were flesh driven? How did those flesh driven decisions impact your life? Have you had an encounter with Jesus and if so, did that encounter change your reaction to your flesh driven desires? Take a moment to ask Jesus to show you the ways you are led by flesh and not by the spirit. Ask Him to be a light into the darkness and thank Jesus for guiding you along the way.

Nikki Fiedler

God, I Don’t Know What You’re Doing, but I Trust You

1 Peter 3:8-22

“For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil” 1 Peter 3:17

Imagine if the moment we accept Christ into our hearts, we are granted the “superpower” of seeing into the future. Suddenly, we know everything that happens in our lives from that point on. There is no more wondering what God is doing, no more questions, no more suffering, no more doubting – everything becomes clear. I think deep down, this is what all of us want. We want answers. We want to know how the story ends, and we want to take the path with the least amount of suffering to get there.

But what if God cares about us too much to give us the answers we so desperately crave? Remaining faithful to God and walking in obedience is far from easy, especially when it costs you something. There have been times where I’ve begged God to let me have things my way when deep down, I knew that He was pulling me in a different direction. Fortunately, He loves us enough to give us what we need, not what we want.

If it wasn’t for suffering, loss, disappointment, heartbreak, confusion etc, we would never be able to understand the depth of God’s care. He cares enough to allow us to suffer in order to teach our hearts how to fully rely on Him. In this passage, Peter references Noah, giving us a beautiful example of what it looks like to walk in obedience even when it doesn’t make sense. Noah built the ark with no signs of the flood coming, likely facing ridicule from those around him.

Sometimes our steps of obedience don’t make sense to those around us, or even to us. We don’t always know right away what God is doing, and in the moment, it’s hard – but what a beautiful opportunity to turn our eyes to Him saying,

God, I don’t know what you’re doing, but I trust you.

I don’t know where you’re taking me, but I trust you.

I don’t yet understand, but I trust you.

Even in the waiting – I trust you.

Even when it doesn’t make sense – I trust you.

Even when everything seems to be falling apart – I trust you.

And remember, the greatest thing that has ever happened, Jesus dying for our sins and defeating death, involved a great deal of suffering and waiting. The most beautiful gifts from God are oftentimes on the other side of something hard. At the end of the day, the suffering that comes from walking in obedience to the Lord, is never wasted, and will always lead us closer to God’s heart and His perfect plan for us.

Carmen K

In the Same Way

If you grew up a Hebrew in New Testament times, most of the people around you were also Hebrew. Yes, your country was occupied by Rome, but you were allowed to live your life according to Torah and follow the customs and culture of your people. As Christianity expanded throughout the Empire, and Gentiles began to follow the Way of Christ, they were faced with a new dilemma: What does it look like to faithfully live as a citizen in the Kingdom of Christ, when everyone around you worships Caesar and his Empire? 

Roman culture was steeped in the philosophy of the ancient Greeks, which taught that to be ethical and virtuous, one must participate in politics. Accordingly, since women could not participate in politics, they were not able to develop these characteristics. In fact, Aristotle thought women were “defective men” and were inferior in every way. Imagine the dignity that Christianity restored to slaves and women in that culture! 

In 1 Peter 2:11-12, Peter told the Church, “Don’t live like the Gentiles.  They may call you evildoers because of it, but as they observe your excellent behavior (in the face of opposition), there’s a chance they will one day glorify God because of the way you lived.” He then sets before them what these good deeds may look like for them as citizens, and for those who are servants. Now, he addresses wives and husbands. 

The text isn’t exhaustive. Peter doesn’t cover every possible scenario a new convert might face. He does give general examples, which follow one after the other. You may seem powerless in the face of Empire, but “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” You have been called out of darkness but still live in a world that is dark. Don’t be hasty to change your circumstances. Follow Christ where He has called you. Wives, in the same way that citizens submit to the government and servants submit to their masters, you submit to your husbands and develop your inner person, while trusting the Lord with your husband’s soul. Husbands, in the same way, you submit yourselves to these earthly authorities and live with your wives, not like they are “deformed men”, but as fellow heirs of the Kingdom. 

Today, we don’t live under Caesar’s rule, and in some respects the world is different. Yet, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Empires still oppress, and people are still in bondage. Wives still lean on their words, and husbands on their physical strength. But we don’t belong to the Empire, we belong to the Kingdom of Light. With Christ as our example, may we live like Him, so the whole world will see our good deeds and our love for one another and glorify our Father in heaven. 

His is the Kingdom!

Natalie

Represent

1 Peter 2:11-25

A few months ago, I was attending a meeting for the leadership team of the Alpha course that was going on at that time and, as we were wrapping up our time together, we began to pray for each other. One by one, we vocalized our prayer requests. There were prayers for healing, for guidance, and for new opportunities; however, when it came to me, I hesitated to share what was troubling my heart. My problem was that I was angry; I was angry at the world and at humanity in general. As I looked around, it seemed like all I saw was injustice, hatred, corruption, and apathy. I found myself daydreaming about how I wanted God to punish those I held most responsible for the mess that the world was in. Fortunately, God gave me the wisdom to avoid all forms of social media during this season so that I didn’t explode on someone in my self-righteous fury. Clearly, I needed an attitude adjustment.

First Peter was written to a group of people who found themselves in a precarious situation. They were immigrants and refugees fleeing religious persecution in their homelands, only to find more religious persecution waiting for them in the communities in which they had sought sanctuary. I can’t imagine what that must have been like—the fear that must have come from not only being an ethnic minority, but a religious minority as well! The conditions that those early Christian communities faced could easily have led to despair, frustration, and anger. Peter was aware of these conditions, and as a pastor, he offered words of wisdom and encouragement. Knowing that the pressures they were under might lead them to sin, he warned them to be diligent in avoiding the temptations of the world. He then urged them to see their trials as an opportunity and a blessing. The persecution they faced was an opportunity because it allowed them to model the character of Christ to the unbelievers who surrounded them. By showing love and respect to those who might oppress them, their lives became a part of their testimonies! He went on to say that the persecution was a blessing because it connected them to Christ in a deeper way. Jesus faced incredible persecution, yet he faced it with courage, love, and forgiveness.

My hope and my prayer is that as we face the brokenness of the world around us, we may meet it as those whose lives reflect the very nature of Jesus to the hurting and the lost!

Following in Christ’s footsteps,

Mike

Pebbles and Priests

1 Peter 2:1-10

I grew up in Niagara Falls, New York.  The waterfall connects Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.  Our family spent many summer days enjoying picnics and swimming on the beach near Old Fort Niagara on Lake Ontario.  The beach wasn't sandy, it was rocky.  As kids, we spent lots of time walking along the shore looking at the rocks and picking out unusually shaped and colored rocks to take home.  Most of them could easy fit in our pockets.  This fun pastime carried into my adult life as my husband and I collected rocks along with our boys on beaches at Cape Cod, Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula, and babbling streams in the Rocky Mountains.  Most of them have found homes in my garden or on bookshelves.

Google will tell you where the oldest rocks are in the world and about some famous rocks, such as the Rock of Gibralter, Stonehenge, Plymouth Rock, and the Blarney stone.

Jewish believers would have been familiar with the many references to God as "the Rock."

Deuteronomy 32:13 says, "He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just."  Psalms 18:2 says, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock in whom I take refuge."  Psalms 18:31 asks, "Who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?"  One of my Mom's favorite verses was Exodus 33:21 where God says, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock."

Peter also was familiar with the metaphor of rocks.  In Matthew 16, Jesus asks the disciples, "Who do you say that I am?"  Peter answers, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus blesses Peter and confirms that God revealed this to him.  Then Jesus says, "You are Peter (Petros, meaning small stone) and upon this Petra (Large foundational rock) I will build my church.  It is the confession of Christ as the Son of God upon which the church is built.

Here in Peter's letter he tells believers about several new identities that they have in Christ Jesus.  Believers have been called the "Body of Christ" and the "Temple of the Holy Spirit."  Now Peter refers to them as "living stones" being built up as a "spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."  The foundation or chief cornerstone for this building is The Rock, Christ Jesus!

In verse 9, Peter tells us, "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession.  Chosen, royal, holy, words that we are so unworthy of except that Christ has made us worthy and given us these new identities.  Now we belong.  Have you ever felt left out?  Well now you belong to a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation so that you may proclaim with all believers "the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

"The wise man built his house upon the rock, and the rains came tumbling down.  The rains came down and the floods came up, but the house on the rock stood firm!"  (Did you just sing that with me?)

May we put aside sin and get into the Word.  Build your life on the Rock, Christ Jesus.

With living hope,

Jo

A Series of Fortunate Events

1 Peter 1:13 - 25

A favorite hymn of mine recites, “How sweet to hold a newborn baby…”  It’s a phenomenon that many of us were fortunate to experience with our church this past Sunday morning.  I thank God that we get to celebrate precious moments in life like this together.  We continue to celebrate birthdays each year as a sign of our fortune in sharing time with the one that is growing and maturing through life. 

The youngest of my children is reaching a milestone age next week and I’m grateful for the man God has shaped him to be and feel so fortunate for the gospel community he’s experienced in his 21 years.  Fortunately for him, ever since he was a newborn, he has been consistently rubbing shoulders with God’s people through the church family placed around him in various seasons along his faith journey.  Fortunately, these moments have been deeply impacting and foundational to who he is today and where his hope will come from.  Those that know my son would also describe him as very active.  Life requires us to be active, some of us more than others.  Newborns must grow and become more active in their responsibilities to care for themselves and others.  Likewise, those of us who are fortunate to have been ransomed with the precious blood of Christ have an active part to play in God’s mission for His church to prepare for sober-minded actions that glorify God and love others through uncertain times. 

In our text this week, Peter is writing to Christians using action statements for how we should now live in light of all that we have heard and know personally about Jesus as the Christ – things into which angels long to look, things that draw us closer to God’s heart, things that lead us to love one another in ways that please God.  You and I have an active part to play.  Peter says, “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” There is much here that Peter directs us to act on and sets our hearts apart from futile perspectives in order that we are transformed by the fortune we have in Christ. 

Let us dwell deeply on our fortune in Christ so that we will be compelled to live in such a way that the power of the Gospel is on display for the watching world around us in how we live now.  The faith journey continues for you, me, and my son with each new day and the choices we make on what we will set our hope on going forward.  May our hope be set fully on that fortunate word of the Lord we heard preached to us when we were born again.  Jesus said that even the angels threw a party over it – how fortunate are those who are in Christ Jesus!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Are You There, God?

Gripping the podium, I stood before The Bridge teens, “It’s likely the darkest days in your life are yet to come. The time you spend learning about God’s character now, will anchor you in truth on the days when you cannot see any light.” I told them, as we read through Genesis 1-3, the attributes of God that were most evident to me are God’s transcendence and immanence. “We need to know God is bigger than our circumstances, yet not far off. He’s with us in our sorrow.” 

It was January 22. 

The Lord already knew that on January 26, I’d find myself mere yards from where I now stood, lying in a cold parking lot with a severely injured leg. 

“What situations tempt you to believe God’s posture to you is not one of kindness? When are you tempted to believe God isn’t good?” I asked them. 

I try not to dwell on the accumulated losses my family has experienced over the past several years. Grief can take you out, but I’ve found that without ever touching a bottle to your lips, it’s possible to move through life fast enough and scroll long enough, to drown your sorrows. And so, over the past four months, it’s not merely my loss of mobility I’ve mourned. Endless hours provided countless opportunities to remind the Lord of every tear I’ve cried. 

Are you there, God? Do you care, God? Why, God? I can’t, God. It’s too much. It hurts too badly. I can’t endure this. What if? Why now? What next? Why me? 

In many ways God is incomprehensible to our finite minds. Even so, he has chosen to reveal himself to us through his word, in his Son, and by the Spirit. In some mysterious way, God is able, and always does, work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, IN ALL THINGS. 

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I have not seen him, but I love him. 

I love him because he sees me. He holds me. He was and is always with me. He is both transcendent over every circumstance in my life, and immanent-closer than a breath. I don’t see him now, but I believe in him, and am filled with joy. He is for me. 

God, you are for me. You taught me these lessons in the dark and I will proclaim them in the light. 

Therefore I will not lose heart. 

We will not lose heart. 

“Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

As we study 1 Peter over the coming months, listen to what Peter tells us about God. This letter from an Apostle who once denied Jesus out of fear of suffering, and addressed to a Church beset by persecution, has much to teach us. Friends, there are just some aspects of God’s character we experience most profoundly in the dark. 

Don’t be afraid. 

Natalie

(If you're a parent looking for resources to teach your kids about God's character, register for a Summer Challenge kit at https://thebridgealton.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2946995

If you find yourself experiencing an extended season of sorrow, or doubts about God, we offer a Grief Group, and an upcoming study on Disappointment with God. More info can be found on Church Center.)

What You Meant for Evil, God Meant for Good

Genesis 48-50

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Genesis 50:20).

Have you ever heard of the “butterfly effect?” It’s the idea that a seemingly insignificant event can lead to enormous consequences overtime. A common metaphor used to explain this concept is that a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil could set off a tornado in Texas.

Recently, there was a trend on social media where people would tell how they saw the “butterfly effect” at work in their lives. They explained how one small decision caused a ripple effect that significantly impacted the course of their lives. Usually, the stories went something like this: “The butterfly effect is real because if I never would have walked in that random coffee shop, I would have never met my husband” or “The butterfly effect is real because if I never would have gone to that stranger’s Bible study, I would have never met my best friend.”

In Genesis, we see this sort of ripple effect occur in Joseph’s life. Joseph’s brothers mistreated him in numerous ways including selling him into slavery. This act of jealousy was intended for evil, but placed Joseph exactly where he needed to be in order to be used by God in big ways. What Joseph’s brothers meant for evil, God used for good.

What if the “butterfly effect” is really proof of God’s intentional hand in every single little thing that occurs in our lives. What if that girl didn’t walk into that coffee shop by chance, but she walked into that coffee shop because it was exactly what God had planned for her from the beginning of time?

Whether we can see it or not, God is in the details. He’s constantly working behind the scenes to lead us exactly where He wants us. In Romans, we learn that “God works all things together for the good of those who love Him...” (Romans 8:28). He can use anything, no matter how small and no matter how painful.

This “butterfly effect,” or should we call it the “God effect,” shows us how much our everyday decisions matter. You never know what God is going to do with one small “yes” from us. A seemingly insignificant decision like deciding to pray for a friend, to smile at a stranger, or to start a conversation with someone new, could be used by God in incredible and powerful ways.

Although we may not always understand what He is doing, we can rest assured knowing that even when we can’t see the whole picture, God is on our side and is working everything out for our good and His glory.

Carmen K

Alive

Genesis 45-47

In 2005, we got the call that no parent ever wants to get: our son had been in a bad car accident. The only details shared were that his car had been totaled and that he had been taken by ambulance to the hospital. I remember struggling to keep it together as waves of fear washed over me. The drive to the emergency room is a blur, but I remember clearly walking up to the desk in panic and asking about him. We were guided to one of the examination rooms, where we found him lying on the table with a cervical collar around his neck. He was banged up, but the X-rays showed no spinal damage and he was released later that night. As harrowing as the drive to the E.R. had been, the drive home felt like our son had been raised from the dead.

In Genesis 37, we are introduced to Joseph, Jacob's favorite son. However, Joseph was not the favorite of his brothers; in fact, their anger with him reached the point that they ambushed him, beat him up, and sold him into slavery in Egypt. They then dipped his coat in goat’s blood and took it back to Jacob and told him that his beloved son was dead. The Bible records Jacob’s reaction to the news, “Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep (NLT).

Fast forward twenty-two years, and Joseph is now second in command of Egypt, and he is finally reunited with his father. Genesis 46:29-30 gives us the details of this reunion: “Joseph prepared his chariot and traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob. When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive.” (NLT). I can’t even imagine the wave of emotions that Jacob must have felt!

When I read this account of Joseph, I think of Jesus. Joseph was betrayed and forsaken by his brothers, presumed dead by his father and, from his family's point of view, he returned from the dead offering forgiveness, saving them from famine, and blessing them with a new home where they would all be together!

As great as Joseph’s story is, Jesus’ is even greater! Jesus literally returned from the dead, offered us forgiveness for all our sins, saved us from death, and promised us that we would be with him in paradise forever! Let us praise God and give thanks for all the ways we are alive in Jesus!

Following in Christ’s footsteps,

Mike

Mercy from El-Shaddai

First things first, a summary of these three chapters...

- After a focus on Joseph in chapters 39-41, Moses, our storyteller, returns to Joseph's father Jacob, and his 11 brothers. In a beautiful segue, Moses says at the end of chapter 41 that "all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain." As we will find out, this will include Jacob and his family!

- Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for food. But, not finding his sons to be dependable - and we all know why - he keeps the other son of Rachel, Benjamin, back home with him. 

- In the sovereignty of God, the sons of Jacob encounter their brother, Joseph. Joseph recognizes them, but they do not recognize him.

- To test them, Joseph speaks roughly to his brothers, accuses them of being spies, and puts them in prison. After a few days, Joseph releases them (except Simeon) to return home, but requires that they bring their youngest brother Benjamin back. (Joseph wants to see his only full-brother.)

- On their return, the brothers discover that the money they had paid for the food is back in their sacks! They tell their father Jacob everything that has happened, and he grieves, because he does not want to lose his other son from Rachel.

- After some time, Jacob sends them back to Egypt - with Benjamin - for more food, and Judah pledges that if Benjamin does not return, he will bear the blame forever. (43:8-9)

- Joseph has his brothers over for a feast. When he saw Benjamin, his compassion grew warm" for him (43:30). Benjamin was given a 5x portion at the feast!

- Joseph's test of his brothers comes to a culmination: he once again sends them on their way with full sacks of food and money, but he also puts his silver cup in Benjamin's sack, essentially framing him.

- When it is discovered that the cup is in Benjamin's sack, Judah - remember, the very one whose idea it was to sell Joseph into slavery (37:26-27) - steps forward. He explains that his father's life is so bound up in Benjamin's, that they will not return home without Benjamin. Judah pledges himself in Benjamin's place, and says that he will "bear the blame." (44:30-34)

- Spoiler Alert: The big reveal of Joseph to his brothers will be in chapter 45!

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Psalm 40:12 says this,

     For evils have encompassed me beyond number,

     My iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see,

     They are more than the hairs of my head,

     My heart fails me.

In this part of the story, it seems that the brothers of Joseph could resonate well with the Psalm verse above. Their selling of Joseph into slavery is likely 20 years in the rearview mirror, but they cannot shake the guilt of this sin they have committed.

We know this because their immediate thought in response to the difficulties they face in Egypt (unbeknownst to them, at the actual hand of Joseph!) is, "This is because of what we did to Joseph 20 years ago."

     "Then they said to one another, 'In truth, we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.'"

      - Genesis 42:21

Time has not erased the sin, the stain, or the guilt.

Their evils have encompassed them.

Their iniquities have overtaken them.

But, there would be *mercy* for the brothers of Joseph.

In the heart of this section, as Jacob is preparing to send Benjamin off to Egypt with his other sons, he says something that it would do well for us to linger on...

"May God Almighty grant you mercy..." (43:14)

"God Almighty." You might be familiar with it in the Hebrew: El-Shaddai. It could mean "God Almighty", or could mean some version of, "God, the All-Sufficient One." The God who provides, nourishes, and comforts.

And we have seen this title for God before in Genesis...

- When God came to Jacob's grandpa Abraham in Gen. 17 to establish the covenant with him, His first words to him were "I am God Almighty" (El-Shaddai).

- In Jacob's own story, his father Isaac blessed him in the name of El-Shaddai (28:3), and he, just like Abraham, received the covenant promises from El-Shaddai (35:11).

And it is this El-Shaddai who will grant *mercy* to them.

What is mercy? In Bible study, we often (rightly) link together mercy with grace - they are two sides of the same coin...

- Grace is God giving us what we do NOT deserve: kindness, love, and blessing.

- Mercy is God NOT giving us what we do deserve: judgment, separation, and wrath

Additionally, "mercy" here in 43:14 is the Hebrew word "racham," - a word often used in the Old Testament as a parallel word to the "hesed" (steadfast love) of God. For example, David's prayer of repentance in Psalm 51:1...

     Have mercy on me, O God,

     according to your steadfast love (hesed);

     according to your abundant mercy (racham)

     blot out my transgressions.

And it is this same "racham" (ESV translates it "compassion") that warms within Joseph when he sees his brother Benjamin (43:30).

Because of the evil they had done to their brother, 20 years before, these brothers stood guilty. They deserve judgment, separation, and wrath. They were in desperate need of the "racham," the mercy of God.

---

Friends, take a moment to reflect on the sin in your own life. Let us join with the sons of Jacob in acknowledging that we too are sinners. We too are in desperate need of mercy.

Perhaps you too could say with the Psalmist, "evils have encompassed me beyond number, my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see."

But we rejoice that God - El Shaddai - has had mercy on us through His Son, Jesus.

Jesus - just like his ancestor Judah - stood in our place, and bore our blame. The judgment, separation, and wrath that we deserved - Jesus took on Himself on the cross.

Through Jesus, "racham" flows to us from God Almighty.

Therefore, we can join with the Psalmist in Psalm 40, and say this...

     "As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy (racham) from me;

     Your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me!"

     Psalm 40:11

- Joe