In the Days of…

Luke 1:5-25

The days we have in this life are a gift and we should revere God with them.  So why is it so easy to start believing it is our time to do with as we want?  Or why do we so quickly lose sight of whose story we are actually a part of? 

Our text this week begins, “In the days of Herod, king of Judea…”  The phrase works as a historical marker for the first advent when the Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us.  But that opening phrase is also a reminder of how time is often viewed in terms of who appears to be in control and have the most say over people’s lives.  In those days, Herod was the Jewish king, referred to by some as Herod “the great”.  He was revered by many in that region which likely included some of the Jewish priests as he was acclaimed for building up parts of the temple.  The account goes on to describe Zechariah, a man “serving as priest before God” within a division of other priests during that time.  He was chosen by lots to go into the Jerusalem temple and burn incense.  In that moment, Zechariah encountered something greater than Herod and anything else on earth.  He was reminded of the greater story that he was a part of when the angel, Gabriel, appeared next to the altar and scared Zechariah.  Acting as a messenger for God, Gabriel brought assurance to Zechariah that his prayers had been heard and that God had a miraculous plan in store for him and his family that would bring joy and gladness to them while also making “ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 

Let us remember, Herod was the kind of ruler that would kill in order to hold onto a kingdom that would soon pass away.  It will be the same with all other earthly rulers that their kingdoms will pass away.  But by God’s design, we have a resurrected & glorified Ruler in Jesus Christ that gave His own innocent life in order to build up His people and prepare them for His perfect eternal Kingdom to come in the Day of the LORD.

Nowadays, much like generations before, it is easy for us to forget whose days we are truly living in.  We can also get caught up in the messages of the heavyweight influencers today.  Sometimes the fears of the world become the fears of the church.  But let us be quick to remember our God who is greater and went so far as to step into the world to become like us in the flesh in order to show He is the Savior with us and the King for us.  May we not fear the things of this world but instead be in awe of our great God and His Word.  Let us live like priests preparing for His Kingdom and His Righteousness above all else.  And let us find our peace in Jesus while hoping He will come again as He promised!

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

A Message about a Messenger

Malachi 4:1-6

Long ago, as time began, God planted a garden for the man and woman He had created.  It had everything they needed, and God would walk and talk with them in the cool of the day. But there was one restriction, only one.  The Deceiver came and convinced them that something that looked so good surely could not harm them...and so, they hungered for what God had forbidden, and ate.  Sin always comes with a consequence and so the ground was cursed with thistles and weeds, and the man and woman with toil and hard labor.  And to the Deceiver, God said, “the offspring of the woman will crush your head.” 

He’s coming. 

Isaiah, the prophet of old, told us a Son would be born, and His name would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” 

He’s coming. 

Malachi tells of a forerunner, a herald, (every King has one) who will come in the spirit of Elijah and his message will be “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Zacharias declared a benedictus after the birth of his son, John, and prophesied, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways to give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death.” 

He’s coming. 

In Malachi 3, we learned that the Lord who is coming is like a “refiner’s fire and a fullers’ soap.”  These are not meant to destroy, but to purify and cleanse. In Matthew 1:20-21, an angel appeared to Joseph and said, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.  This child has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. She shall give birth to a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS for He will save His people from their sins.” 

He’s coming. 

The last words to Israel, before 400 years of silence, is about the judgement of the arrogant and every evil doer. But for those who fear the Lord’s name, the “sun of righteousness” will rise with healing in its wings. How does one escape this terrible judgement of the Lord? Malachi 4:4 says “Remember the law of Moses, My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.” Yes, we now live in a dispensation of Grace, but that doesn’t negate the need for us to obey the commandments of God. I read on Facebook – there are a few good posts – that the reason we have 17,000 pages in our law books is because we cannot follow ten laws on a tablet made of stone. How true! And God knew we couldn’t consistently keep them on our own, so He sent His Son to pay the ransom for our sins, and sent the Holy Spirit to help us in our weaknesses. Our part is to confess our sins and believe in Him as our Savior.

Because of His bountiful, tender, merciful love, God sent us warnings through the prophets and the writers of the Word.  Malachi’s prophecy points to John the Baptist who came before Christ preaching repentance, saying that after him was coming one whose shoe John was not worthy to untie, the one of whom he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” 

It was all God’s mercy.  Over and over He shows His love, over and over he forgives, over and over He warns and sends messages for us to draw close to God and purify ourselves through repentance. 

He’s coming. 

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of His coming to earth to teach and give us the good news; and to suffer and die and rise again to defeat sin and the grave.  But that isn't the end. In Acts 1:11 after Jesus ascends to heaven, two angels stood beside them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This same Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” 

He’s coming. 

Hebrews 9:28 says, “To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” 

He’s coming. Are you ready? Are you eagerly looking for Him? 

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Waiting for Jesus, 

Jo 

How would you want to be remembered by a King?

If God was listening in on a conversation you were having with a group of people about the things going on in this world, what would He overhear you say? Would you want your words recorded in God's book? Would you be in favor of your King's remembrance? 

It seems in this passage we have 2 groups of people that Malachi is referring to. The first group, a faithless group, is gathered and talking about how serving God does not benefit them, and their efforts are in vain. God describes their words in Malachi chapter 3 as hard and rude. Some translations describe them as arrogant and harsh. They tell God evildoers are exalted and prosper and even seem to escape God and go unpunished. If that is so, then what is the point?

At times I have felt like this group, weary of the violence and suffering around me. Hurt, angry and lost in my own hardships. Pitted in pain and comparison. Arrogantly judging and coveting what others have. Often asking God “What about me, am I not good enough? I am doing all the things, why do bad things still happen?”

The second group, the faithful, were talking with each other and in their discussion, filled with awe and reverence for the Lord. God listened in and saw the respect and reverence of those who had honored His name. The Lord recorded in a book of remembrance the names of everyone who had faith. God, in this passage, refers to himself as “God-of-the-Angel-Armies” and declares that the faithful “are His, all his and they’ll get special treatment when I go into action. I will treat them with the same consideration and kindness that parents give the child who honors them and once more, you’ll see the difference it makes between being a person who does the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”  

When I think of this, I think of the many times I have sat with believers and heard amazing testimonies of God’s greatness: How lives are completely turned around, and the conversation is not about earthly possessions but of love for God and all He created, and the deep repentance that leads to salvation, and eyes fixed on Jesus.

I am grateful for God’s reminder in this passage that living a life dedicated to God’s will is not fought in vain. For it is a matter of eternal life and eternal death. The rain falls on the just and unjust, and we know God to be faithful and just and in this He has provided salvation through His son Christ Jesus. Have faith, my family, in knowing that a smile, a kind loving word, a handshake or a hug carried out with the love our savior Christ Jesus has modeled for us is an immeasurable amount of wealth! The richness of God’s love and His previsions is eternal. My prayer is that when life starts to shake us and we find ourselves in a crowded room of people, that we remember God’s ultimate sacrifice for us in Christ and we encourage each other to live devoted to God's will. 

Nikki Fiedler

When You Can’t See What’s Ahead

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." It's comforting to hear that God has a plan for us, but believing it, especially during times of change and challenge, is much harder.

For the past year, I've been struggling with constant anxiety and fear whenever I think about college and the future. The pressure to choose the "right" path is overwhelming me, and it's so easy to get caught up in worries about making mistakes. It's hard to remember it's okay not to have all the answers right now. I often expect God's plan to magically align with what I want, with no hardships or struggle. But it's important to recognize that God's plan doesn't always unfold as I expect. Instead of fixating on a specific outcome, I need to focus more on the opportunities and choices being given each day, and how to use them to grow, learn, and help others.

Anxiety and fear are natural responses when we're uncertain about what lies ahead. Feeling anxious doesn't mean you lack faith, it means you're human. It's important not to get caught up in "what ifs" but to remember that being a follower of God doesn't spare us from suffering, challenges, and fear. In those moments, we must turn to God for hope and courage as we navigate the unknown. Following God allows us to trust that even in scary and confusing times, our journey has immense purpose, and we are safe with Christ, who cares for us. It means acknowledging that things won't always be okay, but receiving strength from the Holy Spirit. We are not alone and there is always hope for our future in God.

The Bible doesn't dismiss feelings of fear and anxiety but offers guidance on dealing with them. Matthew 6:25-34 encourages us not to worry about the future, urging us to prioritize seeking God above all else and trusting that he will provide what we need. I remember as a kid, singing our Bible verses as songs, one that always stuck out to me the most was Philippians 4:6-7, which reminds us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." 

What if the next time we are tempted to get caught up in our worries, we turn to prayer instead? What if, instead of spiraling in fear, we share our thoughts with God, being thankful for what He has given us, and asking Him to meet our needs? When we do, His grace will protect our thoughts and feelings, He will guard our hearts and minds and provide us with peace that surpasses understanding. It turns out, He can give us a hope and a future because He IS our hope and He holds our future. We are forever safe with Him. 

Eva Runyon

He Gave Himself

Malachi 3:6-12

"Yay, a Bible passage about money!" - you right now

In this passage, the Lord rebukes His people for their lack of tithing.

God invites His people to return to Him. And to do so - specifically by returning to tithing. He uses very strong language, saying that they have actually been "robbing" Him (4x in 3:8-9) by not tithing!

What is tithing? To us, tithing is maybe a churchy word that we assume simply means an offering or donation. In both Hebrew and English, the word is actually simply derived from the word "ten," and it means a tenth.

So to tithe is to give a tenth of our resources to God.

And said a bit more strongly, the tenth *already* belongs to God (of course, it ALL belongs to God). So the act of tithing is our recognition that that tenth belongs to God - it's His. And we are setting it aside for His use.

From their earliest days, God's people were commanded by Him to tithe (Leviticus 27:30-32).

But it was not without a greater purpose. God's design through tithing was that there would be resources for the needy people of the community: the Levites (priests), the sojourners, the fatherless, and the widows (Deuteronomy 14:22-29, esp. v. 29).

And now in Malachi's day - God's people, just as they had always done (3:7), "turned aside" from God's command to tithe. They were selfishly hoarding up their resources for themselves, while the needy of their community would have gone without.

They were robbing God, and robbing one another.

---

God's design has always been that through blessing us, others would be blessed. Yes, He blesses us (praise Him!). But His intention is never that the blessing stop on us. But that it would then extend to others.

Two passages to consider:

     >>>Psalm 67:1-4

"May God be gracious to us and bless us
And make his face to shine upon us, Selah
That your way may be known on earth,
Your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
Let all the peoples praise you!
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy..."

As we read Psalm 67, we might arrive at the Selah at the end of verse 1, give a hearty "Amen!" and contentedly close our Bibles.

But you notice: the psalm continues!

Why does the psalmist desire God's grace and blessing? For God's face to shine on His people?

SO THAT His way would be known on earth.
SO THAT His saving power would be known among all the nations.
SO THAT the peoples would praise Him!
SO THAT the nations would sing for joy!

God's blessing isn't desired so that it can stop on His people. We desire His blessing so that His blessing can flow *through* us, bless others, and ultimately result in people coming to know God through faith in Jesus!

     >>>Ephesians 4:28

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."

In this one verse, there are three ways that a person can view their work and their income.

1. stealing (obviously wrong)
2. "... let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something..."

Many of us live in such a way that we assume the verse ends there. We labor. We work. And we do so, so that we can have something. So that we can make an income, and have resources to live our lives.

But once again, the verse continues!

3. "... let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need."

In Paul's view, we work and we labor, not just so that we can have. But so that we can have something to share with those in need.

God's blessing is not to stop on us.
His blessing is to flow through us to others.

---

We might ask, what can motivate us to live in such a way? We are commanded to tithe, to give, and to share. But is there a motivation - a foundation - underneath these commands that might be helpful to us?

If you happen to have your Bible open to Ephesians 4 still, let your eyes drift down a few verses to verse 32, and also into the beginning of chapter 5.

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

The rhythm of the New testament is always,
"Live in this way.
But live in this way
Because God has already done this for you in Jesus."

Why should I be kind?
Because God has been kind to you first. In Jesus.

Why should I forgive?
Because God has forgiven you first. In Jesus.

Why should I walk in love?
Because God has loved you first. Through the sacrifice of Jesus.

And so in light of Malachi 3, we might ask,

Why should I tithe?
Why should I be generous?
Why should I give and share with others?

Because God has been generous to you first. In Jesus.

He gave - not just a tenth - "As Christ loved us and gave *Himself* up for us."

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
That though he was rich,
Yet for your sake he became poor,
So that you by his poverty might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:9

- Joe

Awesome Reverence

Malachi 2:17 – 3:5

What are you most afraid of right now?  That is a question that can reveal so much if you are willing to answer it honestly. 

In our text this week, Malachi is prophesying God’s Word to the people of Israel.  They’ve been warned that they have a serious spiritual problem.  God calls out the lies that His people are believing.  Lies like these are causing them to not care about what God cares about.  But God speaks over the lies so the world can know for certain that there will be judgement on unrighteous living and injustice towards others and turn from their evil ways. 

Are you whole?  That question requires most of us to evaluate the first question.  The spiritual reality is most likely that if I am MOST afraid of anything other than not hearing and following the Word of God in my life then I am spiritually out of sync with what God cares about and it will result in a serious spiritual problem for me that can have lasting damage on others. 

As prophesied here in Malachi, the GOOD NEWS is that God promises to make a way for our soul concern to be that of hearing and following His Word through the coming and refining work of His Son.  The GOOD NEWS is that God can bring our hearts and minds in line with His Word through the purifying work of His Son.  When the Lord pours out His Spirit upon us and impresses His Word in us it will lead to life changing worship that will guide us and others to live according to His gracious way. 

What is God’s position in your life right now?  Is anything standing in the way?  What else in this world can stand against His Word?  What witness has been given so you can know that God has your best interest in mind? 

Spend some time right now asking God to help you be honest in asking and answering each of the above-mentioned questions.  May the results be such that our lives become a pleasing offering and living sacrifice for the only One worthy of our most awesome reverence. 

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

Commitment

Malachi 2:10-16

I have had the unfortunate experience of witnessing the marriages of several friends and family members end in divorce. Some ended because of abuse and/or neglect, some because of immaturity, and some because of “irreconcilable” differences. Every one of these situations is heartbreaking in its own way, but to me, the saddest reason for a marriage ending is due to infidelity. In those situations, it often feels as though one or both people in the marriage find it easier to enter into another relationship without making the effort of reconciliation with their spouse. These situations lead to feelings of betrayal and inadequacy, as well as the grief that accompanies any divorce.

Many of the men in Judah had commitment issues in the days of Malachi. It seems that a lot of these men had grown tired of their wives and decided that it was time to get a divorce and marry a younger woman. To make matters worse, these new wives were the pagan gentile women that God had expressly forbidden them to marry! Somewhat predictably, it didn’t take long for these men, who had so callously abandoned their Jewish families, to abandon God as well and begin to worship the pagan gods of their new spouses. They broke their covenant with God as thoughtlessly as they had broken their marriage covenant with their wives. To add insult to injury, they blamed God when he refused to honor their sacrifices in the Temple.

We may be tempted to judge those faithless men of Judah, but how often do we “cheat” on the Lord with the idols we tend to populate our lives with? Just as one of God’s goals in the institution of marriage is the creation of Godly children, so it is the Church, as the Bride of Christ, to help create new Believers! The Church cannot fulfill this mission well if it is based on anything (worldly power, monetary wealth, etc.) other than the blood of Jesus! God’s call to the men of Judah was one of repentance and an exhortation to guard themselves in their spirit so that they would remain faithful, and this is the same call he makes to us as well. We must practice regular self-examination of our hearts so that we can be restored through repentance. May we rest in the knowledge that Jesus, our great Bridegroom, is always faithful to forgive.

Walking by faith,

Mike

Take it to Heart

Malachi 2:1-9

It’s so easy to fall into a cycle of “going through the motions” with God. You appear to be doing all the right things – reading your Bible, going to church, praying (sometimes), and serving in one way or another, but you don’t see any real fruit growing in your life from these things.

You hear about other people’s big encounters with God, and you wonder when it’s going to be your turn. But the thing is – God isn’t just looking for people who can follow spiritual rituals, He desires deep and heartfelt followers.

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “For the Lord does not see as man sees: for man looks on outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Sometimes, we can appear to be close to God on the outside but on the inside, our hearts are miles away. So, where is your heart?

God has a unique calling and plan for us all. He has designed us in a beautiful way, allowing each of us to bring different gifts, talents, and responsibilities to the table. However, if our use of these gifts is not coming from a place of love, we are doing a disservice to ourselves and those around us.

True obedience to God does not come from following rules but rather is a result of loving God so much that there is a deep desire in our heart to honor him with our lives. It’s truly all about the posture of our heart. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Everything flows from the heart! If our heart is not in the right place, we are not going to feel equipped to live up to what God is calling us to do. So how do we get our hearts right?

There is a quote I love that speaks on this. It says,

“To leak Jesus, we must be soaked in Him first. We cannot bypass the importance of time alone with Him. Intimacy with Him is the drenching and filling so that we can overflow. Passion is an outward expression of inward intimacy.”

Refining our hearts into a place where the fruits of the spirit flow is a process. It takes effort and real intimacy with God. Thankfully, God will help us get there, but we have to do some work too.

So instead of just reading our Bibles, let’s ask God to speak to our hearts through His word.

Instead of just showing up to church, let’s walk in the building with a heart wide open, expecting God to move.

Instead of just serving, let your service be an overflow of love.

Instead of just singing worship songs, ask God to draw your heart closer to Him through your praise.

God is inviting us to go deeper – not just to do the things of God, but to know the heart of God. Let’s stop performing and start building real intimacy with Him. When our hearts are aligned with His, everything else will flow from that place. Don’t get stuck in the motions, but really take it to heart – that’s where the real change begins.

Carmen K

Give of your best to the Master

Malachi 1:6-14 

On May 4, 2000, a computer virus known as the “Love Bug” infected millions of computers with an enticing email subject line - “I love you.”  If the recipient opened it, it wormed its way to all the contacts on the recipient’s list. 

Ted Canova, a news director in Minneapolis said, “I stepped away from my desk for 30 minutes and when I came back, there were 177 people who were in love with me.”  Was it really love?  Was it true honor? No, it was a scam. 

The first thing that God says to Israel in Malachi is “I have loved you.” His love is a perfect, complete, patient, sacrificial love, greater than we can comprehend.  In the New Testament, Jesus says in John 14:15, “If YOU love ME, keep my commandments.”  This is a theme throughout the Bible and should be the way that we express our love back to the Lord. 

In verses 6-14 God gives Malachi a message for the priesthood of Israel, “Where is my honor, where is my respect, you despise my name because you present defiled food upon my altar.”  

The priests were offering blind, lame, stolen and sick animals, which was considered a defilement of the Lord’s Table.  

Their sarcastic answer....”How have we done this?”  Have you ever confronted a child with chocolate all over his face right before dinner and he gives you that innocent wide-eyed look and says “What?” as if he has no idea what he has done?  I imagine this same kind of feigning of innocence from the priests of Israel. 

God tells them that if they offered these sickly, stolen animals to their government leaders they would be rejected, and shouldn’t their respect for the Lord be even higher.  They knew the commandments regarding sacrifice from Leviticus and were responsible to carry out those instructions and even teach them, yet they totally disregarded them. They were keeping the best for themselves and allowing the people to do the same. It wasn’t love, it was disobedience.  They were trying to scam God. 

II Samuel 24:18-25 tells of a time when King David sinned against God, and the prophet Gad told him to offer a sacrifice on the threshing floor that belonged to Araunah.  When Araunah found out why David had come to his threshing floor, in respect for David as King, he offered him the threshing floor, an ox for the sacrifice and even the wood for the altar free of charge.  David refused this generous gift and told Araunah, “I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord that cost me nothing.” What a different attitude from the priests in Malachi. 

In Romans 12:1, Paul urges believers to “present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable sacrifice.”  We no longer have to offer an animal as a sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus was the perfect, unblemished lamb of God who offered Himself for us once and for all.  Our “reasonable” response should be to offer ourselves as a living and holy sacrifice.  

How do we present our bodies to God?  The scripture tells us to live lives of purity and obedience, and to love God with all our hearts, minds, and strength.  The word “strength” in this verse means “muchness.”  It describes loving God with the best of all you have....your gifts, talents, money, possessions, words, actions, and thoughts. It means to live in obedience to God’s word and not to live according to your own wants.  

An old song goes like this:  “Give of your best to the Master, give Him first place in your heart. Give Him first place in your service, consecrate every part...” 

Jacob Stam, International President of the Gideons, was once overheard praying, “Oh, Lord, the only thing most of us know about sacrifice is how to spell it!” Our culture is very much concerned with personal pleasure and comfort, but as Christians we are to live a different way. 

Remember the widow’s mite.  Your offering doesn’t have to be big, it should just be the best that you have. 

Jo 

When the Prophet Brings a Mirror

Malachi 1:1-5

The Old Testament prophets occasionally foretold coming judgement on nations of the world. Other times, the prophets brought the Lord’s rebuke to Israel- God’s own people. Such is the book of Malachi. 

Malachi was written, not to warn Israel about the wickedness of another nation, but to confront them with their own sickness. God’s people had settled for a facade of religion while their hearts were far from him. 

Sometimes the prophet shows up with a mirror.

By nature, I prefer to dwell on my best attributes while ignoring the areas I am lacking. It’s not really pleasant to be faced with my shortfalls. I think this is true of most people. We compare ourselves to someone “worse” than us so we can feel better about ourselves. We settle for half-hearted effort because it’s more than what our neighbor is doing. 

Sometimes we are forced to see ourselves as we are. 

When I go to get my hair cut and colored, the stylist will first brush it straight. I see myself in the mirror and frankly, I look haggard. So much grey! Do I really have such dark circles under my eyes? When did my ends get so split? But then, in that chair, the stylist works his magic, and a couple of hours later I’m fluffing my hair, freshening up my lip gloss, and feeling GOOD! 

Malachi reminds us the day of the Lord is coming. “But who can stand when He appears? For he will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver.” Malachi has brought the mirror to show Israel what they truly look like, and to warn them- what they have going on is not the vibe, and the Refiner is coming. Over these next few weeks we too are invited to look in the mirror of God’s Word for ourselves. It might be painful. We’ve become accustomed to comparing ourselves to culture, rather than to the Word. We’ve set the bar low, but the Lord wants (and deserves) our very best- nothing less than lives-laid-down in devotion. 

While Malachi brought the mirror, the Lord of all has brought something far better than fresh hair color and make up. He’s here to make us new, by the power of His Spirit. So take a deep breath, say a prayer, and prepare to be changed. He loves us!

Natalie

Basking in the Son

2 Peter 3:11-18

I’ve recently been fortunate to share in the harvest of a few tomato gardens of friends and family.  Of course, all I need is an excuse to make up a BLT sandwich and the tomatoes quickly go to good use.  It did seem to take a bit longer this year to get our share.  When the tomatoes finally arrived, they did not disappoint, having good presentation, texture and taste.  But we did have to wait for them to ripen before they could be reaped.

In our text this week, Peter is closing out his second letter to his dear friends in the church.  He ends with words that direct their focus onto Jesus, His grace, and His eternal glory.  In his first letter, Peter writes that “According to His great mercy, He (God) has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  Peter’s words offer so much hope for each of us as we must wait for His return.  This living hope will carry us through and lead us to live in ways that bring honor to Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Until He comes again, our hearts must revel in the truth of the Gospel.  And our lives must bear genuine spiritual fruit that will bless the world.  Waiting is hard but it is part of God’s patient plan.  Living hope gives us confidence to know that He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it in the day of Christ Jesus.  Let us eagerly expect and hasten that day! 

While we wait, let us pray earnestly as Jesus teaches us for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.  While we wait, may we be on guard against false teachings that undermine our spiritual foundation in Christ by knowing the truth of the Gospel.  And while we wait, God help us to ripen without spot or blemish in the grace and knowledge of Him who is our rightful King and invincible Hero, Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and in His eternal reaping. 

Grateful & Hopeful in Christ,

Jon

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